By Erin Meddaugh
Disclaimer: don't own anything but the plot.
Chapter one: Dissent.
"well Rris," Elspeth said with a smile, getting up off the floor to go sit with Darkwind. She leaned gingerly onto his shoulder, "it looks as if you are going to have all of us at your disposal for sometime."
:yes: Rris replied, bounding in place. :yes! I will make histories of all of it: and he abruptly settled, fixed Darkwind with his direct and intelligent gaze, and demanded:now. You, Darkwind. Begin at the beginning, and leave nothing out.:
Darkwind slowly picked up the battered map of Valdemar and threatened Rris with it.
Elspeth burst into laughter, laughing until tears came to her eyes. "Don't kill him Ashke; he's a bard and has immunity here."
"Impudence, you mean." Darkwind muttered. Then smiled, and gently put the map back down.
"It all began," he said, as if he were a master storyteller, "on the day we left home."
Rris cocked his head to one side, curiously. :ksheyna: he asked, puzzled.
"No," Darkwind replied, his eyes on Elspeth and not the Kyree "home Valdemar."
Treyvan thought that the blinding light of the Avatars could never be matched. But it was challenged and eclipsed then, by the light in Elspeth's eyes.
'Wow' though Hermione as she closed the book. 'Who ever thought it could be this fascinating?'
She had just finished reading the new set of books that had entered the library just this week. She had checked out the first of the three books on the day they had Arrived. Winds of fate had introduced her to the world of Valdemar and she was hooked. It had everything she ever wanted in an adventure book. Along with Adventure it had mystery, romance, and a very powerful, evil sorcerer named ma'ar. She had wanted to learn more about this world so she checked out the second Book, winds of change. This book was as good as the first, and kept her enthralled enough to read the third book, winds of fury. When she was finished the only Response she could have gathered was wow. This had to be the best series she had ever read. She was just about to take the book back to madam Pince, when the Library door opened and Harry, Ron and Ginny entered. They were looking about the room, searching for someone, or something. Harry was the first to spot Hermione and made his way over to her.
"Hey, Hermione." Harry said cheerfully as he approached her. "We've been looking all over for you."
"And this is the last place you look?" she asked incredulously.
"Well considering the fact that it's a Saturday, and a very sunny one at that mind you. We were hoping that you were out enjoying the weather." Ron told her with
A hint of sarcasm in his voice. "But instead we find you in the dark and dingy library."
"And this surprised you?" Hermione asked adding her own sarcasm into her voice.
"Oh, no. Not surprised Hermione," Ron groaned "Hoped maybe but we were definitely not surprised."
Hermione shot Ron a skeptical look.
"So." Ginny changed the subject, with a glare at Ron. "Why are you sitting in here and not enjoying the nice day?"
"Oh!" Hermione gasped, she looked down at the book in her hands. "I was reading this book. It was so wonderful; I just couldn't put it down!" she held out the Book for them to see.
"Not another bloody book Hermione!" Ron groaned "Haven't you read enough books to last you a lifetime?"
"Oh! Ron, Will you shut up!" Ginny glared "so she likes to read. Get over it!"
Ron gaped at Ginny.
Ginny ignored Ron and turned back to Hermione. "What's it about?" she asked.
"Well, it's about a girl named Elspeth. She finds that she has to learn how to use magic, so she seeks out this tribe of people called the Teleydras and get them to teach her the forgotten magic's. She takes a sword called need and her friend Skiff with her. During her time with them she faces a wizard named Mornalithe Falconsbane and at the end they learn that he is actually the Evil sorcerer Ma'ar, and that he has returned from many centuries that have passed." Hermione finished her brief summation.
"Gee. Sounds a bit daft if you ask me." Ron mumbled
"Wow." Ginny smiled at Hermione then glared at Ron. "Sounds great."
"Yeah" Harry said in agreement with Ginny.
Hermione looked at Harry in surprise. "you agree with Ginny, Harry?" she asked.
Harry nodded and Hermione began to realize that Harry seemed to agree with what ever Ginny tended to say more than not these days. Hermione kept a keen eye on him as the conversation continued and she noticed more often than not that Harry would steal glances at her. Hermione wasn't quite sure yet but she had a very good feeling that Harry was smitten with Ginny.
R
After a bit of discussion, well more like Ron still complaining that they were still in the library and not outside. Ginny decided that it was time for her to depart from the group.
"Well," Ginny said standing. "I'm going to go back to the common room."
With that Ginny stood and headed to the door. At the same moment Hermione noticed that the book in her hands had started to glow.
"Oh!" She gasped. "I don't think that's supposed to happen."
Hermione, Ron and Harry leaned in closer to the book. Their eyes widened as the glow moved to swallow them.
"I really don't think it's supposed to do that!" Harry managed
They felt a tiny jolt and watched the library disappear. They landed on a soft patch of grass and looked about them. A moment later they watched as Ginny joined them.
R
Ginny turned back to the group as she heard Hermione's gasp. She watched in horror as they moved in closer to the book, which now was glowing and disappeared. She let out a strangled cry and ran to the book. She picked up the still glowing book and felt the glow surround her. She tried to drop the book but it was too late. She felt a jolt and no longer found herself in the library. She was sitting on a patch of soft grass and looked around at her surroundings.
"Uh-oh." Ginny whispered to herself.
"Gin?" she heard Ron's voice behind her.
Ginny stood up and faced her brother. "R-Ron? Where are we?" she stammered
Ron shrugged his shoulder's and the others were about to speak as four white horses came up to the group. The horses broke off from each other and stepped in front of each of the four teens.
Ginny found her self staring into a pair of sapphire eyes.
: My name is Jaidens and I choose you:
R
Ron watched as four horses came up to them and each one stepped in front of him and his friends. Ron heard a voice in his head as he looked into a pair of blue eyes.
: My name is Syndar and I choose you:
R
Hermione was just about to tell them where they were as a group of four white horses came up. She knew that these were companions and what they represented but she was still awed at the sight that she was beholding. Each of the companions stepped in front of her and her friends. She locked eyes with the one in front of her and heard a deep voice in her head.
: My name is Blaze and I choose you:
R
Harry looked at Ron's face as he spoke to Ginny. He noticed Ron go pale and followed his gaze. Four white horses appear out of nowhere. They moved together never missing a step and as they reached the group they split up. Each took one of the teens and made eye contact. Harry stared into the eyes of the one in front of him.
: My name is Kaia and I choose you:
R
"Um. What just happened?" Ginny asked breathlessly.
Harry and Ron shrugged their shoulders.
Hermione however simply said "we've been chosen."
Ron looked at her "chosen? What do you mean chosen?" he asked confused "chosen for what?"
"We have been chosen to be Heralds." She told him.
"Oh? And that is just supposed to explain this?" Ron asked incredulously "chosen she says! Well sorry to burst your bubble Hermione but that doesn't help!"
"I really don't know how to explain this Ron. I'm sorry." Hermione shrugged.
"Ok, so we've been chosen" Harry said. "But how do we decline it?"
"You don't" Hermione said simply.
"Well, where in bloody hell are we?" Ron asked, shouting "and how did we get here!"
Hermione started to open her mouth when the others erupted into their own wild explanations of where they were. Hermione tried to interject but they were not listening.
: chosen: Syndar sent
Ron's head snapped up and he stared at his, well all he could describe was horse. "What?" he said aloud.
Ginny clicked her tongue in annoyance. "Haven't you been listening?" she growled then proceeded to explain what she had been saying again.
: They can't hear me chosen. Only you can, so it is better if you just speak into your mind: Syndar explained. :I will be able to hear you that way:
: We can speak into each other's minds: Ron thought.
: Yes Chosen: Syndar sent
:ok this is way too weird: Ron thought panicked :first of all how in bloody hell can a horse talk:
: I. Am. Not. A. Horse: Syndar stamped his hoof :I am a companion:
: Well that would be all good and well if I knew what a bloody companion was: Ron mind growled
: You will in good time chosen. But for now I think that you should listen to the bushy one: Syndar told him. : She knows where you are:
: Yeah: Ron sent : Well who asked you:
: It's my duty to advise you chosen: Syndar told him
: Well, there's only one response I have to that: Ron told him, he then proceeded to blow raspberries at his companion.
Harry and Ginny stopped their discussion as Hermione joined them and looked at Ron as if he'd gone mad.
"What?" Ron snapped.
"Uh. Ron, why did you just blow raspberries at your horse?" Harry asked.
: Not Horse dear, companion: Harry heard a female voice say to him.
: Huh: Harry thought.
: We are not horses, we are companions: the voice chided.
Harry's eyes widened as he looked at his companion.
Ginny took over the conversation. "Well?" she tapped her foot impatiently and looked in Ron's direction.
"Well what?" Ron practically shouted in annoyance.
Ginny studied him for a moment, and then sighed. "Ron, have you gone mad?" she asked eyeing him.
"No!" he shouted
"Then why did you blow raspberries at your horse?" Ginny asked impatiently
At that moment the four companions moved to stand in a line. Hermione watched them wearily out of the corner of her eye as she moved a bit closer to Ginny.
"Um. Gin?" Hermione started but could not finish, for at that moment all four of the companions stomped their hooves and mind shouted in unison
: WE ARE NOT HORSES:
All four of the teens grabbed their heads and fell to the ground. They groaned in pain and as the pain ebbed a bit, Ron and Harry looked at each other.
"Bloody hell!" they said together and groaned as the pain shot through their heads again.
R
When the pain had gone and they could move again the foursome stood up and looked at their companions. Then they turned to each other, but neither of them ever made the mistake of calling their companions horses again.
"So." Ron managed, once he found his voice. "I hate to bring up old subjects but have we ever figured out where we are?"
Harry and Ginny shook their heads. They then turned to Hermione.
"Oh sure!" Hermione rolled her eyes. "Now you want my input."
"Come on Hermione." Ron pleaded. "Do you know where we are?"
"Of course I do."
"Well?" Harry asked
"Well what?" Hermione countered with a smile. She was enjoying the fact that they were trying to drag the information out of her.
"Where are we?" Ron snapped.
Ginny looked at Hermione "We're in the book aren't we?" she asked somberly.
Hermione nodded. "Yes, we are in Valdemar." She stated.
"So how did we get here?" Harry asked.
She shrugged "your guess is as good as mine Harry."
"Okay. So now that we know where we are." Ron sighed "What do we do now?"
"We go to haven and start our training to become heralds." Hermione told him.
"Great!" Ron groaned "more school!"
Ginny giggled as Hermione rolled her eyes.
"How are we going to get to haven?" Harry asked
"By riding our companions." Hermione stated.
Their eyes grew wide as Harry, Ron and Ginny looked over at their companions.
"Ride?" Ron squeaked "I can't ride!"
"Neither can I Ron, but I assume that we are quite a way's from haven, judging by the fact that I don't see any sign of life out here what so ever and I personally don't want to walk it." She told Ron "and besides, you'll have to learn how to ride him eventually Ron so why not start now?"
Ron groaned but nodded.
They each moved to stand beside their companions and waited for Hermione's direction.
"Okay. So, what do we do?" Ron asked "how do we get on it?"
"Well. I'm no expert mind you. But from what I have seen muggles do. You put your foot into the stirrup, that the bar thing and you grab the saddle like so." She showed them by placing her hand on the saddle. "Then you lift your self up and swing your other leg over the saddle. Then you sit down and hold on."
They each did as Hermione showed them and were mounted a moment later. As soon as they were in the saddle, the four companions took off. At first the ride was quite uncomfortable but as the marks went by they all began to get used to it.
As they rode Harry's stomach began to growl. "Hey, Hermione!" he shouted to her "what do we do for food?"
"Well." Hermione looked thoughtful. "I think I remember something about what they call a waystation. It's supposed to have food there for the heralds and companions if they can't get to an inn."
"Well that's good." Harry shouted "At least we won't starve before we reach haven."
: We would never let you starve chosen: Kaia sent : No matter what we will always make sure you are taken care of.:
: Thank you: Harry replied : So how is it that we can talk like this:
: You have either the gift of mindspeech or animalspeech: she told him. : When you possess either of the two gifts you can communicate with us:
: Oh. So how do I know which one it is: Harry asked.
: Well if it is mindspeech then you can communicate with other heralds that have it: she told him. : If not then you just have animalspeech:
: Okay. So how do I know if the other's can hear me: he asked.
: Try talking to one of them through your mind: she suggested.
: Ok: Harry sent and eagerly turned to look at Ron. : Ron? Ron, can you hear me:
: Harry: Ron sent back : Is that you:
: Yeah it's me: Harry sent giddily : Isn't this great? We can communicate with each other by just thinking it:
: Yeah, I wonder if Hermione and Ginny can too: mentally sighed. : well, only one way to find out. You take Gin and I'll take Hermione:
Harry mentally nodded and turned his thoughts to Ginny : Gin: he sent : Gin, can you hear me:
: Harry: Ginny sent with surprise : how are we doing this Harry:
: It's called mindspeech from what my companion told me: he explained : Ron has it too and he is checking to see if Hermione has it as well:
: Oh. So if we want to communicate with each other and not wanting to shout we can do this: she asked
: Yep: he sent chuckling
: Cool:
: Hang on. Ron's contacting me: Harry sent. He then broke off contact with Ginny : Yeah Ron:
: Hermione's got it too: he groaned : And mind you she didn't like the surprise of me in her head:
Harry chuckled to himself.
They rode once again in silence as the companions slowed. It appeared as if they were searching for something. They must have found what they were looking for because they wavered from their path and came to a small building.
"Okay." Ron managed "so where are we now?"
"A waystation Ron!" Hermione snapped. She was still sore at him for speaking into her mind.
They dismounted, slowly for they were quite sore from riding all day. And started to make their way into the waystation. They were almost inside when their companion's voices stopped them.
: Wait: the four companions said in unison. They didn't shout this time though.
All four of them turned, groaning.
: We need to be groomed still: Ginny heard Jaidens send to her. : You need to groom us:
: How: she sent back : I've never done it before:
: Inside the shed there is a brush. Remove my tack and brush me down. Then you can feed us and yourselves: Ginny sighed. She moved to remove Jaidens's tack. She guessed that the others had been told the same thing because they were also removing their companion's tack. They took turns brushing down the companions. Harry got to go first because he knew how to cook and start fire's so while the others were grooming their companions, Harry went in and started a fire. He found a pot and ingredients to make a grain and berry porridge. The others came in as the porridge simmered. He instructed them to take enough grain out to the companions.
"Who left you in charge?" Ron grumbled as he grabbed a bag of grain and followed Hermione and Ginny out of the station.
As soon as all of the companions had been fed, Harry popped his head out of the door.
"Dinner's ready!" he called.
The others came in and ate the porridge hungrily. It was sweetened with some honey that Harry had found in the stores. After dinner they decided to call it a night. There was only one bed and the boy's decided to let the girls have it. They soon fell into a deep sleep, all but Harry who laid on the floor and wondered just what was ahead for them. He soon, however did find himself drifting into sleep as well.