It's been two years, since Harry had been chosen, his bond with Morgan was strong as was his Mage-Gift as such, and he was enrolled at the Mage Collegium once his gift had been fully developed. He made his way back to his room feeling even more drained than ever.

He was trying to decide on who to convince to sneak a tray of food, because he didn't want to drag himself to the common room. He opened the door to his room and blinked owlishly at the tray of food sitting on his desk.

Harry shook his head in acceptance 'She knows me to damn well.'

"I do not know you that well." Corina giggled as she was sitting on Harry's bed.

"Right that's why you just happen to bring by dinner just as I get out of class." He teased her.

"Not at all, dearheart. Dasher made the comment that you looked like you were about to drop dead at your threshold, so I decided to be a good friend and snag you a tray. You're lucky that you didn't have dishwashing tonight." Corina answers lightly. "Besides your gift is slightly better than mine is, and mine came on me early."

"Yes, indeed I am, but I'm super lucky to have you as such a good friend." Harry replied

Corina rolled her eyes, "Enough with your attitude. Eat, for I will force feed you." She stood up.

As she passed by, Harry gave her a quick hug in thanks then he sat down to eat.

"Bryan said he would drop by to get the tray, but I got to run, I have foal-watch tonight." Corina informs.

"Okay thanks Rina." Harry replied

Corina left without another word.

During the last two years, the two Trainees had built a strong friendship. Even if they didn't admit it, they were attracted to each other in other ways then just a strong friendship.

Their other year mates saw this as well as the companions. Most days they spent their time when studying just relaxing with each other.

Harry finished his dinner, and set the tray beside his door on in the hall. He then crawled into bed, he was so drained he had enough energy left to untie his boots. His sleep was full of strange dreams of a castle and that looked like a school of some kind.

Morgan's presence overwhelmed Harry's mind, as he went into a dreamless slumber.

The following day, Harry woke up to something or someone tapping on his door. Harry got out of bed when the tapping started to get impatient. He opened the door and saw his mentor Jerome standing there in Whites.

"Jerome, good to see you." Harry looked closer at him "You got your Whites congratulation!"

"Surprised the hellfire out of me." Jerome replied, he wriggled in the unfamiliar uniform.

"Well to tell the truth I did think it would have taken you a bit longer." Harry joked.

"Very funny." Jerome replied dryly, "Just wait until it's your turn."

"I can hardly wait." Harry said with a cocky grin.

"Kero still hasn't beaten that smirk off you?" Jerome questions, "I might have to remind her to flatten your ego."

"Kero hasn't but Elspeth has done a good job of it." Harry responds

Jerome shook his head, "Well, I just wanted to show off my new clothes."

"Well I would say you look great but I would be lying." Harry teased his former mentor.

"Hopefully a year and half from now, I will remember to beat you with a practice blade." Jerome replied

"Not with Rina doing that all ready." Harry states

Jerome rolled his eyes; he might as well remember to tie those two together in the Salle one evening with all exits blocked.

Harry backtracked "When are you leaving?"

"In a couple of days." Jerome answers, He let himself into Harry's room, and sat down on the chair at the desk, "I need to ask you something, and I want an honest answer."

Harry looked at his mentor's eyes wondering what he wants "Sure I'll try but I make no guarantees."

Jerome scratched the side of his nose, before looking his friend straight in the eyes, "How do you really feel about Corina, everyone has noticed that she hasn't been taking anyone to her bed and you know that we're not saints when it comes to the ways of man and woman?"

Harry was taken aback by the question he looked around and gave a light blushed "I like her, she's a great friend and yes I may even care for her more than a friend."

Jerome nods to himself answering some unspoken question, "The way you two are acting, I swear you are lifebonded."

"What lifebonded? No, that can't be right, wouldn't we know it if that was true?" Harry questions

"That's does not happen often, just ask Herald Dirk about his time avoiding his lifebond with Queen's Own Herald Talia, it's enough to make a Trainee want to slap him for being stupid." Jerome answers, then he went on to explain what a lifebond is, and the only couples in the Circle that are known to be lifebonded, that didn't include Herald-Mage Elspeth because Darkwind wasn't a Herald.

Harry began to pace around his room trying to make sense of what Jerome said "Look Jerome even if your right what am I supposed to do about it?"

Jerome shrugged, "I don't have that answer, because I guess I don't have a big enough heart to love a third person."

"I can't just go up to her and kiss her like we were a couple all ready." Harry stopped and looked out the window.

Jerome stood up, went over to his young brother, placing a hand on his shoulder. "I dislike this sentence but it's the only one likely to work, give it time, you still have a few more years of your training left, who knows what could happen from now and then."

Harry mumbled something in Karsite then turned to Jerome "I hope your right I really don't want things to get messed up between us."

Jerome shrugged "But I have to go, Herald Kyril wants to see me for something."

"Okay hope to see you before you leave." Harry replied

Jerome left.

Morgan sent a wordless summons for Harry, plain invitation to come join her.

Harry got dressed and went out to the field he saw Morgan waiting for him by the fence.

Morgan turned coaxingly and Harry got the hint to mount, they went to a spring that was in the Field. As they rode harry felt almost all his tensions flow right out of him. They got to the spring and Harry almost wanted Rina there with him.

"I might not be the one you're wishing for but perhaps, I can help?" a voice questions as the grass muted chime of Companion hooves signaled another Herald or Trainee.

Harry quickly turned to the voice surprised to see who it was walking to him. 'This was not the time for this' he thought.

Morgan shifted over to make room, her behavior changed slightly as she watched the stallion move into place. The Herald dismounted, "I'm Talia."

Harry saw who it was and gave a nervous smile "Greetings Herald Talia, what can I do for you."

"So formal? I think I might have to take after Selenay, and only be Queen's Own in the palace." Talia smiled "But honestly, you're giving me a headache, have been for some time, I just didn't have the time to come seek you out."

Harry sighed and sat down by the spring's edge "I don't know what you mean except till this morning I have been in control!"

Talia didn't mean to but she read into the trainee's emotional state, some things were bound to slip through without even trying, and from her experience emotional turmoil eroded Shields. "I used to think that before I went out on my Internship."

"I don't know what to do there is just too many things to think about." Harry replied

Talia nods, "Just be happy, when I was your age, I was already acting in my role as Queen's Own."

"I am happy but my former mentor just pointed out something that I really wish wasn't a possibility." Harry replied

"Let me guess, he thinks you're lifebonded to one of your year mates?" Talia questions

"Yes, but it can't be true." Harry answered looking out over the water of the spring.

"Why not?" Talia questions

"She's my best friend and I'd it's not true then I'll ruin that I would rather not deal with it than lose a good friend."

"You make it sound like being lifebonded is a nightmare, I can assure its not. Or else Ancar would still be alive and I would be dead if it weren't for Dirk." Talia responds

"No I don't think that at all but what if you're wrong and it wrecks our friendship?" Harry asked.

: What are you worried about Harry, you know Corina is not like that: Morgan states.

Talia sighed, "Lord of Light, you're just as stubborn as Dirk, if you don't at least acknowledge you have a lifebond that will cause a wreck, I speak from experience."

Harry shook his head and with a deep breath he agreed with her then asked "What do I do? I can't just expect her to just agree to it, can I?"

"Harry, you don't understand about lifebonding, it just happens, there is no logic behind it. And if she is feeling the same way, she might just be waiting for you to come to grips with it." Talia responds, she didn't say what she was going to that it was a real pain to have your own Companion sharing nights with your life-partner before you even got together is a real pain too.

Harry stood up with a look of determination "Fine I'll go and find out right now." He walked over to his companion.

Morgan stared at her Chosen,: If I had hands, I would smack myself in the face.:

"Well there might be a slight problem with that just because you have a free hour in the morning, doesn't really mean she does." Talia reasons, "Also, it wouldn't be very wise to bring up the topic in public just in case."