Disclaimer:Sigh: I do not own ML, HOV, Bards, Heralds or Healers. I do have one story all my own, but it's stuck in the land of writers block right now and really has nothing to do with this story at all, other than the fact that I just mentioned it a bit ago.
AN: In this chapter, some questions are answered, but more are raised! Muahahaha!
"I made it up a couple of years ago. But that's weird… that she would know the same song. I never, ever, told anyone else the song. And besides, how on earth would a character I've never heard of know it in a fic-" Stephanie cut herself of. Then, speaking slowly, she started again.
"I made it up. I don't know how… uh, another person would know it. Especially one from another… land."
"You're hiding something." Heklern said and Stephanie looked sharply up at him, but he wasn't paying much attention to her. He was now looking at someone else down the hallway.
Stephanie turned and looked where he was looking as a Full Herald in fancy white cloth came down the hallway. Her vest was definitely made of a plush velvet, probably woolen with a deep pile, and the pants were pristine linen. There were gold trimmings and even a gold circlet, and Stephanie new immediately who this was.
She bowed deeply, this time the bow was simple with great respect, rather than the flamboyant one she had mocked the other lady with.
Queen Seleney smiled at her and spoke in Karasite, unknowingly, or perhaps knowingly, imbuing the air with a Sense of what she was saying.
"You must be the newly chosen, by Vashul! How lovely!" She held out her hands and Stephanie hesitated only slightly before placing her hands in the Queen's.
"It's an honour to meet you…" Stephanie had never met anyone regal before. She had never even met a high politician or big CEO of a company. Still, with the Queen, she could feel the power. The Queen wasn't actively using it, she wasn't enforcing it on other people, but it was still there. And it was impressive.
"Oh hush now! I'm just a normal person." Seleney laughed, waving her hands.
Stephanie had to smile.
"I think you're a little more than just a regular person. None of the other Heralds could do what you do, madame, no matter what you try to tell us."
"Well aren't you a smart little cookie! Oh well, I must go off to yet another one of my endless meeting,." Seleney sighed. "Please, don't hesitate to come and talk with me if you need to."
Stephanie nodded as the Queen said hello to Heklern and then bade goodbye again, disappearing down the hallway.
"Does she always feel like that?" Stephanie asked, not caring if her sentence made no sense whatsoever.
"You mean that aura of power? Yeah, she does. I don't think she even realizes it, though." Heklern shook his head. "Anyways," he said as he continued his trek down the hallway. "We should get you to your room. I think the Dean said you were starting classes in a month, but that you were going to start some Valdemarian before that."
Stephanie frowned, she never had been the best student. Well, she had never been in a book before, so maybe it would be different…? Well, chances were she'd still procrastinate, what with Vashul and all of the things to see.
"Heklern…" She said hesitantly, a little unsure of how she should address him. "Do you think it would be possible for me to…ah… hang around the Bards more so than the Herald trainees at first?"
She knew that the question was an odd one, and she had no idea how he'd react. Sure, she knew that the Heralds were all nice and such, but back in high school she had been in choir, and hung out with the music and drama kids more than anyone else. In fact, she had been one of them. In her mind, the Bards were the equivalent, and the Heralds were more like Jocks. That would also probably put the blues as the 'popular' kids and the academic students. In fact, when she thought about it that way, the Collegium just seemed like a giant high school. If that were the case, then she would definitely feel more comfortable with the Bards at first.
"Well, I guess that would be alright… but we don't have many Karasite kids running around, so you'd stick out like a sore thumb." Heklern smiled at her.
"Hey, nothing tried, nothing gained, right? Besides, I'm not a kid. I'm turning nineteen the day after tomorrow." She crossed her arms in front of her and then uncrossed them, fixing her shirt.
"It's your birthing-day?" Heklern exclaimed. "How are you going to celebrate it?" He demanded.
"Uh, well…" Her face fell. Originally, she was going to go out to her first bar with her older sister and try alcohol for the first time. She had been nervous, of course, but excited. Ever since her sister had moved out, she hadn't seen her much. But she wasn;t home anymore.
"I don't want to talk about it." She simply stated, blinking furiously to make sure no tears fell. She clamped down on her emotion and subconsciously slumped, her previous posture gone.
"Okay, that's fine," Heklern said, although he clearly thought otherwise. He led her to her room and opened the door.
Inside was a bed and a dresser. There was one little window, giving a view of a tiny garden. The hallway seemed relatively quiet, being closer to the Bardic rooms than any other Heraldic room. It seemed as if someone had realized her preference before she had.
Stephanie was, to be truthful, only more depressed by the sparse room. She looked around it, her head hanging low, no energy in her movements.
"If you want," Heklern said, breaking the awkward silence. "I can give you a tour of the place."
Stephanie looked over at him, her eyes showing bags underneath them, her mind fiercely forcing back tears.
"I think I'd rather be alone." It was so soft that it wsas barely a whisper, and Heklern had to strain his ears to hear her.
"Alright…" He replied hesitantly. Then he seemed to make up his mind about something.
"But I'll be here first thing tomorrow morning to show you around." He waited for her to acknowledge what he said, so she nodded slightly, still looking around the empty room. It was comfortable, and not horrible, but it was just a room.
"Okay, see you then. I'm looking forwards to it." Heklern waited again, so Stephanie nodded again.
Still, he stood at the door, hesitating. She could Feel it. Slowly, she turned and looked at him.
A moment after their eyes connected, her face screwed up and she knew she was going to cry. Quickly, Steph turned and buried her face in her hands, holding her breath until at last a sob escaped.
Suddenly, Heklern was there, holding her in his arms and rubbing her back, making nonsense noises that were both annoying and soothing. That was all she needed, and she broke down, collapsing into his hug and sobbing as hard as she could. She didn't care that her nose was running, that her face was probably red and blotchy, or that her wails sounded like some badly-done-melodramatic-play.
Her mind just took her into a downwards spiral of despair.
AN: Why did he hug her? What shall she do about- ahm nevermind. I know there weren't many questions raised, but I do know that there will be much happening on the morrow! 'Cause I'm all emotional and sappy 'bout this part of the story, thanks to other things happening in my life. sighs This is what I get for listening to "I love you forever" on tape by Robert Munsch. grumbles Stupid really sad story that makes me cry...
