CHAPTER 43

Sherri was struggling to pull in a full breath when Quin reached her.  The weakness had hit her like a lightening bolt that ripped the energy from her.  Quin used his nose and legs to roll her on to her side.

Suddenly Sherri's persistent exhaustion and weakness made sense, her own mother had been drawing on her with absolutely no regard for Sherri's well being, again.

Kevyn and Nick crashed through the forest with no thought for the peace they were disturbing. 

:Is she breathing evenly?:  Van demanded.

:No, her breathing is shallow and irregular, I don't think she is fully conscious.:

Kevyn didn't wait for Nick to stop, instead jumping to the ground and staggering the last few steps to her side.  He quickly pulled her onto his lap and fed her energy from his personal reserves.

"Oh, gods."  Slowly she opened her eyes as Kevyn pulled her back to the living.

Kevyn pressed a kiss to her forehead, his tears trailed on to her forehead.  "What happened?"

:Her mother was drawing on her.:  Quin explained coldly.

:Keep her warm.:  Van advised.

Sherri looked to where she saw her long time friend as if he was as solid as Kevyn or Nick.  "You are looking well for a dead man."

:You had another attack.:  Yfandes observed sorrowfully.

:Her mother triggered it.  Sherri sensed her.  I wish we had connected it before.  We may have prevented this.:

Stef kneeled next to her and stroked her cheek.  It was an almost cold sensation but comforting.  Kevyn bundled her in his own tunic and picked her up. 

"Sorry for worrying you."  Sherri rested her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes and sighed.  She was still exhausted.

"Don't worry about it."  Kevyn carefully juggled her as he mounted Quin, who had knelt for them.  :Just don't do it again.:

Sherri chuckled and closed her eyes.  :No promises.:

~ * ~

Amelie clutched her hand to breast and remained frozen as the Companion charged off.  Her mind ran in circles as she slowly replayed the events since she had spoken to Sherria.

Absently she stroked the flawless skin over her heart where she plunged in the knife, an act she didn't remember.

She remembered the overwhelming feeling of despair.  She remembered in the candlemarks before she gave into the pain, she had stared at the tiny infant.  She was so sweet and perfect, Amelie loved her with all her heart.  Suddenly her baby was older than Amelie had been that night.  Sherri's hatred was obvious.

Poor little thing.

Had she ruined everyone's life?  Did her brothers hate her? 

It was amazing how what she had once thought was for the best was now obviously selfish.

Amelie stared about the destroyed room. 

What had she done?

~ * ~

"Stop hovering."  Sherri grumbled and pushed away the blanket Kevyn had tucked around her when he had set her in the chair.  Kevyn had alternated between silence and chatting aimlessly ever since they had returned.

"You are going to get cold."  Kevyn admonished.

"Why don't you just say it?  You are upset that I didn't tell you that another attack was coming.  I know, I Saw it."  She grabbed his arm and kept him from turning away.  "And why didn't you tell me about my mother.  I know you all knew."

Kevyn gave in and sat in the chair across from her.  "We didn't want to worry you."

"Well, it was a hell of a surprise to open my eyes and find my dead mother staring at me!"  Her voice echoed to the rafters.

:She is obviously feeling better.:  Stefen commented dryly. 

"Don't you start."  Sherri ordered.  "Kevyn, this is hell enough already, I didn't tell you because I wanted to forget it was coming.  Besides, what could you have done?"

"We could have moved sooner."  Kevyn protested.

"No, we couldn't."  Sherri said firmly.  "I may love the forest, but I draw the line at sharing my bed with mice!"

"What would you like to eat?"  Kevyn changed the subject as he walked away.

Her legs shook as she forced herself to stand.  "I am going to go lie down."

"You need to eat.  Or at least tap into the Heartstone and replenish your reserves."

"I am not hungry and the Heartstone is for critical situations."

"And you don't think this is critical?  You are so drained you can barely stand.  You need to restore your power reserves in case it happens again."  Kevyn was nearly shouting. 

"Kevyn, if she did manage to drain me to nothing it would only hurry the inevitable.  I hate this waiting.  I want it over."

"So why don't you go jump off a cliff or take some argonel and be done with it?"  Kevyn demanded.

"Because I don't want to die!"  Sherri yelled.  Tears were pouring down her face.  "I don't want to lose you."

"You won't lose me."  Kevyn wrapped his arms around her and buried his face in her hair.

"You know as well as I that you don't want to die either."  She said into his chest.  "I don't want you to.  I want you to live.  I want you to see the twins grow up."

"Gods, what a mess we are in."  Kevyn said softly.

~ * ~

Quin couldn't hear their words but he could sense Sherri's mood.  What he wouldn't give to take it from her.

:She'll be alright.:  Yfandes assured him.

:For now.:  Quin answered harshly.  :I wonder if we will be stuck here as well.:

:I hope so.  For purely selfish reasons, of course.  Another Companion and another female would be a Haven send.:  Yfandes said wryly.  :What did you try with her?:

:Before the block?  Every type of shield I knew of; at every strength, at every distance from her body from touching the skin to arm's length.  We have tried shielding her externally.  That Gift is pure hell on her.:

:I can't understand why the Gods would have a Gift that couldn't be controlled.  It doesn't make sense.:

:Maybe there is a way, but we have exhausted our options and her ability to cope.: 

:I wish I could have seen her and spoken to her while the block was working.  I always wondered what she would be like with out that burden.:

:Bossy, competent, happy.: 

:She has always been bossy and competent and I like to think she was happy at least sometimes when she was out here.:

:I think she was.:

Nick joined them under the tree.  :Am I interrupting?:

:No.  Please, join us.:  Yfandes said graciously.

:Have you come up with a new plan?:  Nick asked resignedly.

:No.  Regrettably.:  Quin glanced towards the stone cottage.

:Just how bad is she?:  Nick asked.  :We have a right to know.:

:She is strained but not near the breaking point yet.  I would recommend keeping her mother away.:

:Not a problem.:  Yfandes assured them.  :She's gone.:

:What?:  Both Companions chorused.

:After you spoke to her she returned to the keep.  I followed to make certain she would stop using Sherri's power.  Shortly after she returned to her room she vanished completely.:

:So she could be anywhere?:  Quin said with obvious concern.

:No.  She moved on to the Havens.  She won't return.  I am glad your words reached her.:  Yfandes quickly assured him.

:That is one blessing.  Surely she will feel more comfortable now since she is no longer being stalked by her mother.:  Nick said optimistically.  :I won't deny that I am hoping they will take this chance and set up a home together.  They need some normalcy.:

:Considering that they are both highborn, a small cottage does not qualify as normal for them.:  Quin pointed out.

:It is still better than running themselves ragged and then having the twins to deal with.:  Nick countered.  :Actually, at this moment, I pity Myra.  I bet the girls are having a royal fit over the loss of Kev and Sherri.:

:Who are the twins?:  Yfandes asked.

:Herald Myra's twin girls, Nerita and Hana.  Kevyn and Sherri took care of them for over a year.  Almost every night 'Aunt Sherri' and 'Uncle Kev' were interrupted by them demanding stories or to be tucked in, or one of a thousand other demands.:  Quin snorted in amusement at the fond memories.

:Kevyn was almost always complaining about his total lack of love life.:  Nick confessed.  :Things would be getting warm and sure as sunrise the girls would burst in so they would have to make a made scramble for their clothes.  Actually, the night before they left they woke to the darlings asking why their beloved aunt and uncle were naked.:

:The poor dears.:  Yfandes laughed.  :Van and Stef had a similar problem, only it was duty and pages sent them scrambling for cover.  They no longer have that problem at least.:

A friendly silence reigned for several minutes.

:It seems the blow up is over.:  Quin observed.  :I am thankful they can't bare to see the other miserable.:

:Tell me about it.  Mardic and Donni were the same way.  Do you remember them, Fandes?:

:They weren't as sweet as Vanyel and Stef or Sherri and Kevyn but when they were in a room together you could sense to bond between them.:  Yfandes explained to Quin.

:Savil taught us all so we were rather close, even though they were younger than me.  It is almost mind boggling to think back that far.:  Dominick stared off into the trees.  :They died shortly before I did.:

:Dirk and Talia, made each other miserable for weeks before Dirk fell sick from standing in the rain constantly, watching her but trying to leave her to me.  Afterwards, when he saved her, they were so…:

:I know.:  Fandes chortled.  :You should have seen Van and Stef when they were first reunited in the forest.  You would think the world existed solely for them.:

Nick sighed and lowered his head slightly.  :It is hard to admit that I am jealous of them.:

:Not a very Companion-like emotion.:  Fandes agreed.  :And now we have two pairings to deal with.:

:What I wouldn't give for the sanity of some ordinary, un-lifebonded Heralds right now.  They are just too…obsessive with each other right now.  Every fibre of their beings are focused on making each other feel better.:  Nick grumbled.

:Sanity?  Heralds?  What grass have you been eating?:  Quin tossed his head.  :Who would call someone who wears white on a battle field sane?:

:The same grass as you brother.:  Nick retorted.  :And considering we are now standing on four legs, eating said grass, and having no choice in the colour of our wardrobe we can hardly call ourselves sane either.:

Yfandes's mind voice echoed in their heads.  :Gods, I have missed this.: