Title: Whispers in the Air Ch02

Author: SourPicklesFX

Rating: PG-13

Pairings: Undecided

Warnings: many and various, but nothing too bad

Disclaimer: Like I said before, really doesn't belong to me

~*~*~*~

Our life is twofold; Sleep hath its own world,

A boundary between the things misnamed

Death and existence: Sleep hath its own world,

~*~*~*~

I woke to a tangle of disoriented dreams. Groaning with pain, I sat up and looked around the familiar surrounding, which evoked unspeakable secrets. Obernewtyn. It was only my first week upon arrival at Obernewtyn in lud knows how long, and already the feeling of apprehension daunted me.

Looking around the familiar cool room, I sat up and made my way to Lantis. I immediately knew that this was the healers' hall. Both Lantis and I had been taken to here after he passed his test to enroll into Obernewtyn. Drained both physically and emotionally Lantis collapsed on the wet grass after his test. Fearing for the worst, I attempted to deep probe and heal him but inadvertently made everyone think I had fainted over him. Now looking at him I felt like a large rock had been lifted of my shoulders. He looked peaceful, a childish smirk upon his face as if satisfied with his achievement, but the youthful innocence was now less apparent after this ordeal.

I let my eyes rove around the room constantly reminding myself to not let my emotions carry me away. I needed to keep my profile low and not cause suspicions.

As I had predicted they had taken Lantis here. Unconsciously my thoughts wandered to the last winter thaw when history and fate itself made a mockery of me.

3months ago…

"Lantisssssssssssssss!" screeched my grandmother Rowan. "Just what have you been doing to these girls, their parents are complaining that girls have been seeing ghosts or some thing."

"Uh…err…"

"Don't you err… me young lad, "

Then Lantis out of desperate measures pleaded me for help, giving me one of his well know angel smiles. Unfortunately, Rowan saw him. "No, you will not help him, Elaria, for luds sake he's 16 already. I'm sure answering a question wouldn't kill him."

Looking at the odd pair before me, one old plastered with anger across its face, the other young, innocent and adorable. I couldn't help it and laughed with barely contained mirth, much to everyone's amazement. Sometimes, I truly pitted those that were not misfits; they simply did not understand the concept of art and power of an extended mind. Lantis only projected a few images of wolves that I mentally sent him. His talent, though not much was a mixture of Empath and coercive which I saw fit to train.

"I was only playing gran! No harm done!" Lantis muttered, looking betrayed at my lack of concern.

" It better now Lantis, I didn't bring you up to be a trouble maker!" Rowan's eyes narrowed peering at Lantis with a speculative gaze and walked away.

Surprisingly we were never punished for Lantis' mischief and soon it was forgotten amongst the hectic harvest season. I was kept busy by helping Rowan (as I never felt comfortable calling her Gran) gather herbs for her job as a healer and Lantis worked with his grandfather Nulan on the farms. But I stopped training Lantis as I feared the discovery of my powers, because even if misfits where accepted into the community now, all those labeled where still sent to Obernewtyn for training.

Days and months pasted and finally as the winter snow had descended upon us, Rowan took off one day without explanation. A few days later, a frazzled looking young man pounded on our front door even before the sunrise. Yawning and tired from my interrupted sleep I opened the door to the frantic shouts of a young boy not much older than Lantis. From his rumpled clothes to the wet and rather sad looking hair of his, he must not have had much more sleep than I.

"There's an important message from Healer Rowan and I am to take both you and Lantis to her immediately, please pack enough clothes for a long journey" He shouted.

"Alright, I will wake Lantis and gather my clothes and my dog." I replied.

"Please don't take too long! You guys are expected this morning!"

The premonition of fear and uneasiness suddenly smothered my senses, yet seeing no reason to refuse I left him waiting at the door, wrote a message for Nulan and woke Lantis. Even as I was riding on the carriage to god knows where it never occur to me that Rowan would be Dardelan's personal healer. It wasn't as if there was only one healer in Sutrium. Nor did I realize that he would be the ruler of the new council with his wife Bruna. I groaned inwardly, for my sheer stupidity and bad luck. It seemed trouble still creped upon me under the most unpredictable circumstances.

~*~*~*~

Over the years the New Council and not altered much. The building ever so eerie never failed to remind me of my humiliations and sacrifices, and even now it continued to taunt me with the sour irony of my current fate which has once again brought me to the steps of judgment. I glanced at the small but imposing building and stood next to Rowan patiently. I did not want to know why Lantis and I are standing among a sea of young children.

"Greetings Rowan Healer of the ninth order, my old friend." Smiled Dardelan.

"Greetings to you too my friend. I dare say you look thin today. Are you sure you can handle examining misfits." Said Rowan mildly, turning around then waving a finger at me and the dozen of children around me to emphasis her point.

"Shit", I exclaimed. Not the most eloquent of phrases, but it was well suited to the situation, because the next second Elii emerged behind Dardelan eyes piercing through me with a mystified expression that I would have sworn he knew me. Then he slowly turned around as if reluctant to lose me, I let out my breath that I have been unconsciously holding.

I shook my head and hoped fervently that my time on the farms with Lantis and Rowan would have changed my intelligent if not rather suspicious behaviour. Then reflecting that I was powerful and experienced enough to handle the situation, I sighed deeply. At least my suspicions about what was happening was true, this was indeed a testing ground for possible misfit talents, and looking at the sheer number of people it appeared to be an annual event.

"Well don't just stand there like some zombie" Rowan sneered at the others and me edgily. "This is the Council court we're talking about, I don't want you to be looking like some misfit. It'll defile our pure reputation."

I eyed them warily. Jasper defensively leapt to my side, and licked my fingers sending a shiver down my spine. "Do not concern yourself over such small matters, ElspethInnle. The Funaga/Rowan does not want to accept that he/Lantis is a misfit, but she will come to her senses soon. She means no harm."

I merely nodded and followed Lantis up the familiar stone steps. Reading between the lines, I would say that Rowan must be despondent about Lantis' power, but I cannot find a reason for her sudden mood change. Sensing my discomfort Lantis entwined his arm with mine and gave my hand a tight squeeze. "Do not worry yourself over this, she is only pissed off because she'll miss us when we leave. She loves us. A-and even if she doesn't I'll still love you." Added Lantis shyly giving me a light peck as the great doors came into view.

The doors of the great council opened slowly to reveal a few unexpected figures. First standing next to Lantis and I and giving him a warm welcome was - much to my dismay - Malik.

"Hi dad!" said an over zealous Lantis to Malik, and I nearly fainted on the spot. If some had told me years ago that Malik would greet us misfits with such respect and bore a misfit son, I would have thought that I was a subject of some gag. Now it seems nothing cannot come true. However, judging from the dismissive glance he gave me it appeared that his acceptance of misfits did not extend beyond his son.

"Look how much you've grown since I last saw you," Malik said proudly. "Mother has certainly been a good influence. Though I don't approve of her taking in random street rats"

I looked up, surprised at the vehemence behind his words. "I didn't think Lantis' dad would be so rude."

"Why you!"

Thankfully a bell interrupted the profanity he was going to utter and not wanting to be any part of his anger I turned and followed the voice beckonin

The room I was lead to was quite large, at the front sat Rowan and Dardelan in a heated discussion facing the rest of the room. Beside them on a lower table were many recognizable faces. Brydda, Elii, Malik, not to mention Freya were only a few old faces. The rows of seats facing the front was occupied with, no doubt new young children and their families, and since the Orphanage system was plundered years ago there were no bitter orphan faces among the crowd. Naturally, no one looked up as I came in.

"Do not fear ElspethInnle is protected by I." Jasper encouraged me. "Watch out for the trained misfits. Better for you to put up your mind shield than to be surprised."

I nodded tensely. Jasper always knew what was best for me.

"Well now," said Dardelan in a brisk voice thankfully eyeing me with disinterest.. "We will begin this trial. I understand that this is a routine affair. Now, those who wish to enroll in Obernewtyn please stand in a line along the left wall, and come up in pairs as I call you."

Names were read out in pairs and frighten children cautiously approached the front of the line of judges. I was too far away to hear conversation, and since blowing my cover was not a clever choice, I decided to defeat my curiosity and wait until my turn. I didn't have to wait long as many pairs before me were turned away with disheartened faces and so far only one teenager has been accepted.

"Hey Lantis?"

"Uh?" he whispered.

"Why did they only accept one girl?" I asked thinking it was a stupid question.

"Don't you know?" he answered. I gave him a queer look. "Well Elf, they only accept about 10 people every year, they'll take about 30 people up there then only a third can remain, that lest that's what I've heard. So it's pretty hard to get in."

"What happens to misfits that don't get accepted?"

"I heard they are either sent home to work or…. " He trailed off, looking ashen at the thought of where else they might send us to.

"Well then what if I don't get in and you do!" I asked desperately, hoping that I didn't have to reveal my powers to be with Lantis even though I knew I probably would.

"Oh, Elf-love don't disconcert yourself." Said Lantis wiping away my tears.

"Lantis and Elaria come forth."

"Here goes nothing," I whispered to myself, tightening my grip on Lantis.

"Do not be frightened Lantis, Elaria" said Dardelan. "You'll be passing a few tests to test your ability, either person is allowed to answer, and when you do you pass onto the next test, however you are not allowed to help each other. Understand?"

We both nodded our acknowledgments and stood before Brydda. "Hello kids, all you have to tell me is what is written in my hand." He said with a comic roll of his eyes as if he had repeated him self too many times. "And no CHEATING."

I looked at him vigilantly; checking his aura checked everyone else's before sending a needle shaped probe retrieving the answer within seconds without the slightest reaction from Brydda. I sighed slightly, and looked up, and my sigh immediately turned to a groan. Lantis obviously has no clue. He may be a greater empathy than I but that is the only ability he has.

"In your hand lies three words 'You many pass'," I said. "Am I right?"

Looking slightly happier now, Brydda left a dumbstruck Lantis and I towards Malik. I gulped. Hoping that he had forgotten the incident out side the council. "Welcome Elaria," he glared at me emphasizing that he still held his suspicions. "And my son. I would like to ask you a few questions, so I would be best to cooperate. First Elaria and Lantis why do you think you can get into Obernewtyn."

"Because Dad, I can do things others can't," announced Lantis proudly. "And she—"

"Now son I'm sure she can answer for herself." Said Malik evilly. "Plus I know perfectly well what you are able to do. So now Elaria, don't be shy…"

I stared, unable to think of and answer. "Well, err… cause I want to be with Lantis."

He shifted in his seat unsatisfied with my simple explanation. "Come with me to the corner." Then without warning I was dragged in front of Freya and Dameon. I suppressed a sudden urge to hug Dameon and remembered that I was no longer Elspeth.

"Malik," smiled Freya. "Don't scare these kids, Rushton will have my head if he knows! And one of them is your son too!"

"Whatever, Like I give a damn!" sneered Malik. "My Boy's fine, but the girl reminds me of … of her! Always has that air of insolence around her."

I looked up at him, hate and anger evidently burning green flames in my eyes. I mentally drew up my coercive powers and stepped behind Jasper. Lantis slowly moved to my side and rapped his arms around my shoulder in a protective gesture.

"And look at her now, hiding behind—"

"That's quite enough Malik." Demanded Dameon. "Look at the poor girl, she's scared senseless." Not scared senseless I wanted to correct him, it was more like anger and a desire to kill that made my face a shade whiter. I would've let out the biggest coercive probe in decades if I weren't for the fact that Lantis and Dameon would be hurt from the enormity of my anger. Somehow, I never did believe Malik would change.

"Well take a closer look, she's just planning revenge!" fumed Malik.

On impulse, I snapped at him. "Stop with the sarcasm Malik. You know perfectly well that Dameon cannot see. Stop being angry at Dardelan for old grudges years ago and grow up! So what if I look like that girl. I don't think I need comments from ex-rebels!" The second those word left my month I knew I had made an extremely stupid mistake.

Dameon looked at me incredulously, as if seeing me for the first time. "Incredible! How… did you know? I mean that I'm not blind any more, but I was in my youth."

Malik just gave him an 'I told you so look', shook his head tiredly and announced our acceptance. "But don't you think you'll be able to stay up there" He mocked me on his way out. "You assume yourself clever, is that so? Then you could not have been more foolish. I'm only letting you pass because of my son Lantis and that's it."

I let out a frustrated sigh and collapsed on Jasper. "That did not go well," I whined. "Alas, today will be the last day for me to witness nightfall."

A/N: What did you think? I know its kinda boring but I'm improving kay! So please tell me what you guys think. As they always say motivation is a wonderful yet elusive being.