Galina hurried inside, she was scared about what had happened, and wondered
how she knew things she shouldn't know. She nearly ran into two of her
yearmates.
"Galina! What's wrong?" She looked up to see Lance and Katrina. Lance looked handsome as ever with his disheveled brown hair and warm brown eyes. Right now those eyes held concern for her. Next to him, Katrina also looked as amazing as ever. Her waist-length, raven hair was perfect as usual. No matter what she did, it seemed to never get messed up. Her deep blue eyes also held concern.
Galina looked away. "Nothing. I was just out in Companion's Field." She knew the excuse was lame and that neither of them believed her. They were so close that if something was wrong with one, the others always knew. Katrina looked at her. "Did you go to see Elizabeth?" She asked. Galina started. She hadn't even seen her Companion when she was out there. : Love? : She 'spoke. : Where were you? Do you know what is going on? : While she waited for her Companion to answer, Galina quietly answered Katrina's question. "No, I didn't even see her. " She very quietly filled them in on what had happened.
Lance put an arm around her. "Well, it's not a bad thing, or Elizabeth would have done something right?" Galina nodded. That was true. Elizabeth had never steered her wrong before. : It wasn't exactly bad, love. : Elizabeth told her. : It was just.different. : Galina frowned. What kind of an answer was that? Unfortunately it was a typical answer from a Companion. She really didn't expect a normal answer, but she had to ask anyway. : What do you mean by that? Do you know what's going on with me? : Elizabeth didn't answer, and for some reason, that made Galina angry. : I know that you know. Why won't you tell me? Is it something I have to figure out on my own? : She felt an affirmative and then Elizabeth replied. : I do know, love. But I can't tell you. It is either something you will figure out on your own, or that you will never figure out. Either way, I cannot interfere. :
Galina was about to reply, when she realized that Lance and Katrina were still watching her. She sighed, "I asked Elizabeth if she knows what's going on. She told me that she does, but that she can't tell me. She says she can't interfere in any way."
Lance looked angry at that, Katrina just looked thoughtful. It was Katrina who spoke, "Maybe you should ask this Tylendel person. There is no reason for him to not tell you, if he knows." Lance nodded, "And if he doesn't know, maybe he can help you figure it out."
Galina looked between them and nodded. What they said did make sense. She had felt drawn to him. He would most likely be willing to help her.
A bell sounded, signaling the end of lunch. Katrina looked at Galina, "We have to go to class, but if there's any way we can help, don't hesitate to ask." Galina nodded again, "Where are you both going? I have a session to work on my Mage-Gift. I never had any trouble with classes until now." Lance sighed, "At least your Gift doesn't make people fear you. Firestarting is definitely not what I would have chosen, had I been given the choice." Katrina put an around around him, "At least your Gifts are interesting." She told her friends. "I'm stuck with boring old Fetching."
Another bell sounded, signaling the beginning of the next class. The three looked at each other and chorused. "Late again," and then took off at a run for their next class.
* * *
'Lendel stood there for a while, alone, as the Companions drifted off one by one. He knew, somehow, that he should know this Galina. She reminded him so damn much of Gala. It was uncanny. And Gala was the only possible one who could have known about his promise to Staven. She had known him inside and out. Even Van hadn't known. All he had known was his need for revenge. 'Lendel winced at how he had used Van to get that revenge. He briefly wondered where Van was, but decided that he was probably spending time with Yfandes, and decided not to bother him. He walked alone for a while, lost in thought.
* * *
Vanyel walked quietly with Yfandes. He had been confused before, but now he was even more so. : 'Fandes? That wasn't Gala, was it? : He asked He knew it was impossible, but he also trusted 'Lendel's reaction. Yfandes' reply was simple. : I can't really say, love. : He knew he probably should have been angry about that, he had thought that he and Yfandes were past keeping secrets from each other, after all that they'd been through together. But there were obviously some things that it was not necessary to know.
He felt a wave of love and reassurance from her. : I'm sorry, love. : He told her. : I'm not angry. I think I'm just depressing myself. Things are so confusing. :
Yfandes nuzzled him lightly. : I know, love, but we will figure things out. I am sorry that I can't say anything about this. I know after all that we've been through, that secrets between us just aren't right. : Vanyel interrupted before she could continue. : I know. : He told her. : I'm not angry with you. I do understand. :
They walked together in silence for a while.
* * *
'Lendel looked up as he approached the Collegium, he had decided to go find Galina, to talk to her some more. There were a couple of Trainees in the hallway, so he decided to ask them if they knew where he could find her.
When he got close enough for them to hear him, he spoke up. "Excuse me." They both turned to look at him. The boy, who had disheveled brown hair and brown eyes, looked at him questioningly. The girl, with long raven hair and deep blue eyes, spoke. "Can we help you?"
"I hope so." 'Lendel replied. "I was wondering if either of you might know where I can find Galina?" The questioning look in the boy's eyes turned to suspicion, but he still did not talk. It was the girl who answered once again. "She's in a session right now." She looked at him, "But we can tell her you were looking for her." She waited for him to supply his name. He did so. "I am Tylendel. Just please tell her I need to speak with her." The girl nodded, "We'll do that." 'Lendel nodded, and headed back down the hall.
* * *
Galina sighed in frustration. She usually had trouble with the session to work on her Mage-Gift, but today had been worse. She had not been able to concentrate at all, and finally her teacher had sent her away. He had told her not to come back until she could do better. She would think he didn't like her, by the way he acted, except he was a Herald, and he would teach her to his best ability even if he didn't like her. It was strange, but she really didn't like him. She sighed again. Oh well. She didn't have a choice in her teachers.
She was so distracted that she didn't see the person in front of her until she literally ran into him. She looked up to see Tylendel standing in front of her. "I'm sorry." She began, but he interrupted her. "It's alright, but I need to talk to you." Galina nodded and followed him back to his room.
* * *
'Lendel motioned for her to sit and then sat across from her. He looked at the young blonde. He could tell by her manner that she was usually a very merry and mischievous person. Right now, though, she was very serious and she looked a bit scared. Of me? He wondered. He hoped not. For some reason he liked her.
He had had this whole speech planned. It was all about how he didn't know how she knew the things about him that she knew, but he was going to find out no matter what. As he rehearsed it in his head, he realized how cold it sounded. He decided to not use the speech and to just go with whatever popped into his head.
He looked at her. "I had this whole speech about what I was going to say to you. But I really don't think it's appropriate, and now I don't know what to say to you." Galina looked a bit surprised at his honesty, and her words confirmed that. "I am surprised that you're being so honest with me, considering that you don't even know me."
"But I do."
She looked at him sharply, "How? How do you know me?" His reply was simple. "The same way you know me, I suppose." Galina nodded, that made sense. "So, you don't know what's going on either?" She asked him. He shook his head, "I wish I did." He sighed. "I am so confused. I feel like I know you, and you somehow know things only one being could know about me."
Galina looked at him, "Gala?" She asked. He nodded. "Yes, Gala. She was my Companion. She." He paused and swallowed hard, "She.repudiated me."
Galina looked down, "Oh.I.I knew that." She looked at him, and he felt lost in her sapphire eyes. "That was her mistake, not yours. She didn't realize what she was doing, how much you really needed her at that moment. She didn't realize that Vanyel wouldn't be enough for you if she died, after you'd already lost Staven."
"Galina! What's wrong?" She looked up to see Lance and Katrina. Lance looked handsome as ever with his disheveled brown hair and warm brown eyes. Right now those eyes held concern for her. Next to him, Katrina also looked as amazing as ever. Her waist-length, raven hair was perfect as usual. No matter what she did, it seemed to never get messed up. Her deep blue eyes also held concern.
Galina looked away. "Nothing. I was just out in Companion's Field." She knew the excuse was lame and that neither of them believed her. They were so close that if something was wrong with one, the others always knew. Katrina looked at her. "Did you go to see Elizabeth?" She asked. Galina started. She hadn't even seen her Companion when she was out there. : Love? : She 'spoke. : Where were you? Do you know what is going on? : While she waited for her Companion to answer, Galina quietly answered Katrina's question. "No, I didn't even see her. " She very quietly filled them in on what had happened.
Lance put an arm around her. "Well, it's not a bad thing, or Elizabeth would have done something right?" Galina nodded. That was true. Elizabeth had never steered her wrong before. : It wasn't exactly bad, love. : Elizabeth told her. : It was just.different. : Galina frowned. What kind of an answer was that? Unfortunately it was a typical answer from a Companion. She really didn't expect a normal answer, but she had to ask anyway. : What do you mean by that? Do you know what's going on with me? : Elizabeth didn't answer, and for some reason, that made Galina angry. : I know that you know. Why won't you tell me? Is it something I have to figure out on my own? : She felt an affirmative and then Elizabeth replied. : I do know, love. But I can't tell you. It is either something you will figure out on your own, or that you will never figure out. Either way, I cannot interfere. :
Galina was about to reply, when she realized that Lance and Katrina were still watching her. She sighed, "I asked Elizabeth if she knows what's going on. She told me that she does, but that she can't tell me. She says she can't interfere in any way."
Lance looked angry at that, Katrina just looked thoughtful. It was Katrina who spoke, "Maybe you should ask this Tylendel person. There is no reason for him to not tell you, if he knows." Lance nodded, "And if he doesn't know, maybe he can help you figure it out."
Galina looked between them and nodded. What they said did make sense. She had felt drawn to him. He would most likely be willing to help her.
A bell sounded, signaling the end of lunch. Katrina looked at Galina, "We have to go to class, but if there's any way we can help, don't hesitate to ask." Galina nodded again, "Where are you both going? I have a session to work on my Mage-Gift. I never had any trouble with classes until now." Lance sighed, "At least your Gift doesn't make people fear you. Firestarting is definitely not what I would have chosen, had I been given the choice." Katrina put an around around him, "At least your Gifts are interesting." She told her friends. "I'm stuck with boring old Fetching."
Another bell sounded, signaling the beginning of the next class. The three looked at each other and chorused. "Late again," and then took off at a run for their next class.
* * *
'Lendel stood there for a while, alone, as the Companions drifted off one by one. He knew, somehow, that he should know this Galina. She reminded him so damn much of Gala. It was uncanny. And Gala was the only possible one who could have known about his promise to Staven. She had known him inside and out. Even Van hadn't known. All he had known was his need for revenge. 'Lendel winced at how he had used Van to get that revenge. He briefly wondered where Van was, but decided that he was probably spending time with Yfandes, and decided not to bother him. He walked alone for a while, lost in thought.
* * *
Vanyel walked quietly with Yfandes. He had been confused before, but now he was even more so. : 'Fandes? That wasn't Gala, was it? : He asked He knew it was impossible, but he also trusted 'Lendel's reaction. Yfandes' reply was simple. : I can't really say, love. : He knew he probably should have been angry about that, he had thought that he and Yfandes were past keeping secrets from each other, after all that they'd been through together. But there were obviously some things that it was not necessary to know.
He felt a wave of love and reassurance from her. : I'm sorry, love. : He told her. : I'm not angry. I think I'm just depressing myself. Things are so confusing. :
Yfandes nuzzled him lightly. : I know, love, but we will figure things out. I am sorry that I can't say anything about this. I know after all that we've been through, that secrets between us just aren't right. : Vanyel interrupted before she could continue. : I know. : He told her. : I'm not angry with you. I do understand. :
They walked together in silence for a while.
* * *
'Lendel looked up as he approached the Collegium, he had decided to go find Galina, to talk to her some more. There were a couple of Trainees in the hallway, so he decided to ask them if they knew where he could find her.
When he got close enough for them to hear him, he spoke up. "Excuse me." They both turned to look at him. The boy, who had disheveled brown hair and brown eyes, looked at him questioningly. The girl, with long raven hair and deep blue eyes, spoke. "Can we help you?"
"I hope so." 'Lendel replied. "I was wondering if either of you might know where I can find Galina?" The questioning look in the boy's eyes turned to suspicion, but he still did not talk. It was the girl who answered once again. "She's in a session right now." She looked at him, "But we can tell her you were looking for her." She waited for him to supply his name. He did so. "I am Tylendel. Just please tell her I need to speak with her." The girl nodded, "We'll do that." 'Lendel nodded, and headed back down the hall.
* * *
Galina sighed in frustration. She usually had trouble with the session to work on her Mage-Gift, but today had been worse. She had not been able to concentrate at all, and finally her teacher had sent her away. He had told her not to come back until she could do better. She would think he didn't like her, by the way he acted, except he was a Herald, and he would teach her to his best ability even if he didn't like her. It was strange, but she really didn't like him. She sighed again. Oh well. She didn't have a choice in her teachers.
She was so distracted that she didn't see the person in front of her until she literally ran into him. She looked up to see Tylendel standing in front of her. "I'm sorry." She began, but he interrupted her. "It's alright, but I need to talk to you." Galina nodded and followed him back to his room.
* * *
'Lendel motioned for her to sit and then sat across from her. He looked at the young blonde. He could tell by her manner that she was usually a very merry and mischievous person. Right now, though, she was very serious and she looked a bit scared. Of me? He wondered. He hoped not. For some reason he liked her.
He had had this whole speech planned. It was all about how he didn't know how she knew the things about him that she knew, but he was going to find out no matter what. As he rehearsed it in his head, he realized how cold it sounded. He decided to not use the speech and to just go with whatever popped into his head.
He looked at her. "I had this whole speech about what I was going to say to you. But I really don't think it's appropriate, and now I don't know what to say to you." Galina looked a bit surprised at his honesty, and her words confirmed that. "I am surprised that you're being so honest with me, considering that you don't even know me."
"But I do."
She looked at him sharply, "How? How do you know me?" His reply was simple. "The same way you know me, I suppose." Galina nodded, that made sense. "So, you don't know what's going on either?" She asked him. He shook his head, "I wish I did." He sighed. "I am so confused. I feel like I know you, and you somehow know things only one being could know about me."
Galina looked at him, "Gala?" She asked. He nodded. "Yes, Gala. She was my Companion. She." He paused and swallowed hard, "She.repudiated me."
Galina looked down, "Oh.I.I knew that." She looked at him, and he felt lost in her sapphire eyes. "That was her mistake, not yours. She didn't realize what she was doing, how much you really needed her at that moment. She didn't realize that Vanyel wouldn't be enough for you if she died, after you'd already lost Staven."
