CHAPTER 47

The cold, darkness, and pain sucked at her as she struggled to open her mouth to draw in a breath.  Even the slow movement of blood in her veins caused pain.  Someone was cradling her.  Gentle hands touched her throbbing neck and brushed hair away from her face as she struggled motionlessly.  Something hot and wet fell against her cheek but she could not move to brush it away.

"I never once held her when she was alive."  The person holding her said.

Sherri tried to explain she was alive but it seemed only her mind was free.  Slowly her heartbeat increased and she felt warmth return to her.  As death released its hold on her body she started to quiver.

"Great gods!"  She was nearly dropped as the person holding her realised that was her movements, not his own.  "I think she is alive!"

She slowly opened her eyes to see the human form of Quin holding her.  Vanyel and Stef crouched on either side of him.  Yfandes stood looking over his shoulder.

She turned her head slowly and found Nick standing next to the bloody body of Kevyn.  Quin-Kris, held her tightly to his chest, blocking her view of her beloved's body.  A tear escaped as she remembered how he had looked in that ghostly Grove.

:Kevyn?:  She called.

"She stabbed him."  Her father explained.

She ignored him and reached for Kevyn, her hand shook but she gripped his hand.  Pain still hung on every limb.

"It's a miracle."  Stefen said in amazement.  "She was dead, I know she was."

Sherri closed her eyes as everything Kevyn felt and thought flooded her.  :I love you.:

Kevyn weakly squeezed her hand.  :Damn, this hurts more than dying.:

:Living always does.:  She reminded him.

Her weak laughter and Nick's stunned expression was all the others need to know there had been a second miracle.

~ * ~

The memorial for the lifebonded Heralds was heart wrenching for all who attended.  Icestone had made the journey and stood with Myra and the twins.  Del, her raven, sat on her shoulder observing everything in his normal, mournful manner.  The wreaths, flowers, and keepsakes littered the ruined walls of the Grove Temple.  Candles burned everywhere one would stand. 

Myra wiped her eyes and bit back tears.  The twins still didn't understand why Aunty Sherri and Uncle Kev would never return.  Death had never touched them before.  They only understood all these people were here to say goodbye to the Heralds.  Myra had found the past few months hard to bear.  Kevyn had been a close friend since they were trainees and Sherri was her best friend. 

Selenay stood among the Heralds, still no tears had fallen for the pair.  Too many Heralds had died at her command.  This seemed even more tragic in that Sherri had died to save the people of Valdemar from herself.  Their names were already etched on the monument bearing the names of all the Heralds who had died for Valdemar.  The story that Ferris had told was now being spread around the country in the form of three songs from the bards that had been present that night.

Only Favram and Avren of her uncles felt up to facing the memorial.  They stood apart from the crowd staring at the evidence of remembrance.  Regrets piled on regrets weighed upon them.

Among the gifts and tokens, hidden by a bouquet, was a stack of letters, every one of them read and committed to memory as they had tried to grasp something of Sherri now that she was gone.

"What can we say?"  Someone said solemnly.  "The mere presence of so many people speaks volumes about these wonderful people.  They gave selflessly, they loved completely, and their strength stands to become legendary."

Myra hesitated.  "May the Gods hold them close."

Slowly people started to move away in smaller groups.  Most remembering their fallen friends.  Myra made her way to the grieving brothers leaving the twins with their father, who had returned from his posting at k'Vala with Icestone.

"I am sorry."  She said softly.  "I wish it had never happened."

Both of them nodded silently.

"If there is anything I could do…"  Myra let the offer trial off; it was obvious there was nothing she could say that would easy their pain.

~ * ~

Sherri was forced to sit by the lingering weakness.  There was no way she was going to be able to reach the loft and their bed.

Kevyn was in just as bad shape.  Neither had fully recovered from their experience with Death and after a long day of trying every type of shield known they were both exhausted.

Sherri's Gift was completely awake and she couldn't bear the touch of anyone, not even the spirits.

"You should let up a little."  Kris warned.  The still human Companion was uncertain of how to reverse whatever he did.  After the first few days it just seemed easier to call him by the name he bore as a human.  "You aren't making things better by working yourselves to death everyday."

"I have to."  Sherri said tiredly.  "Every time I think of stopping, I see those children."

Kris took a crudely carved third seat and rested his elbows on the table.  "How two are you feeling, honestly?"

"Strained."  Sherri admitted.

"Tired."  Kevyn added.

"I was thinking you three have been trying magic based shields.  What about mind magic shields?  I know we did before, but if we use them within, like you have been using the magic shields we may have some success."  Kris suggested.  "I am not a mage, but I have experience in training mind magic."

Sherri glanced at the other occupants of the room.  "No harm in trying."

"Rest tomorrow, I want you to be as rested as possible."  Kris ordered. 

"Of course teacher."  Sherri gave him a strained grin.

~ * ~

Kevyn toyed with the deck of cards waiting impatiently for Sherri to reappear.  She had Kris had left at dawn every day for the past three weeks and everyday she had returned exhausted just after dark.

A rabbit and wild root stew was simmering on the hearth as the darkness settled like a blanket.  He could sense Vanyel, Stefen, and Yfandes waiting just as impatiently.

"It seems all we ever do is wait."  Kevyn commented as he shuffled the cards yet again.

:It certainly wears on the nerves.:  Stefen agreed testily.  :If we had just thought to keep an eye on that darkness…:

"Should have's don't mend the bridge."  Kevyn said reflexively.

The snap of a twig made them all jump.  Sherri opened the door and stared at them for several seconds, her eyes were bright with tears as she rushed towards Kevyn, nearly knocking him from his chair as she collided with his chest.

Kevyn brought his arms up to hold her close, his cheek pressed against her temple.  Sobs of relief wracked her body as her tears soaked his collar.

"I did it."  She said unnecessarily.

Kris stood in the doorway looking ready to drop but proud.  A tired smile played on his lips.  "I think I will sleep in the shelter tonight."

Sherri drew back and wiped the tears from her eyes and laughed.  Kevyn cupped her face between his hands.

 She didn't need to tell him that everyone else had left the small cottage.

"So we can head back soon?"  Kevyn asked.

"We could, I mastered the rudimentary shield today, experimentation will take care of the rest, but there is the slight problem of my Companion."  She reminded him and shifted so her head rested on his shoulder.  "It feels so good to be able to touch you again."

"So what can we do?  Kris doesn't even know what he did."  Kevyn pointed out.

"I have been thinking about that.  I saw how they tried to stop Jelana that night.  Nick couldn't touch her and she was immune to Vanyel's magic, both are still based in the 'real' world.  Stef could touch her and he's a spirit.  For Kris's magic to have touched her it would have to be based in the spiritual realm."

"So he's a ghost?"

"No, I wouldn't be able to read him so clearly if he was a ghost, I think that at that moment that he released all that energy he identified more with being Herald Kris and being my father than with being my Companion and he simply change himself."

"So how do we revert it?"

"Not a clue.  We don't have access to that kind of energy."

"You do."  Kevyn pointed out.  "If spirits can tap you why can't you tap the spiritual realm and use it to turn him back into a Companion."

"Because he has always identified more with being Herald Kris.  If I could use that power I doubt I could change him."  Sherri trailed her finger down one side of his face.  "Let's leave that until tomorrow.  I don't want to spoil this moment for anything."

~ * ~

The straw was itchy but it was better than some places he had slept and the fire kept the cold chill away.  Kris chuckled at his train of thought.

:What?:  Nick asked from his position just a few feet away.

"I just realised I was feeling put out for having to sleep in a stable."  Kris admitted. 

:Soon you won't have a choice, unless you want to climb into her room again.:  Nick pointed out.

:I can't imagine what Rolan is going to say when he sees this.:  Kris gestured to his human form.  :I doubt anyone has any idea for fixing this.:

Yfandes chuckled.  :And you can't tell the Heralds what really happened.:

:I do wish I could stay like this and see Dirk and Talia again.:  Kris admitted. 

The slight distortion that indicated where Yfandes was settled next to him.  :She needs you as a Companion.:

"I know.  It is just an idle wish."  Kris shrugged.  "It is a pity you can't join us in Haven.  I imagine it has changed a great deal since your time."

:We haven't had a chance to return.  We are bound to the forest.  It is rather strange, but if Sherri hadn't left that single gittern string in the tree we would never have been able to return. One sentimental action…:

:Is this a Companion only discussion?:  Stef asked.

"Feel free to join us.  We were discussing returning to Haven."  Kris explained.

:And?:  Vanyel asked.

"No solution yet."  Kris confessed.  "I want to work with her more before we head back to make certain it won't go rogue again.  And we have no clues as to how I did this."

 :Too bad we can't just conjure up another Companion.  She'd be the first with two Companions at once but then you could stay human and she would still have a Companion.:  Stef said lightly.

"Van, do you know anything about shape shifting spells?"  Kris asked. 

:They are dangerous.  The best I could do is turn you into a horse and you would quickly come to have the brains of a horse.:

"That would be less than…ideal."  Kris admitted.

:And staying here forever is certainly not an option.:  Nick pointed out.  :I guess you just have to grow an extra set of legs.:

~ * ~

Kris was surprised to find them awake if not very rested the next morning shortly after dawn when he entered to change his clothing.

"We were just discussing you."  Sherri patted his place at the table.  "We have the beginnings of a plan."

"What for?"  Kris asked as he peeled off his clothing in favour of something without straw. 

"For you changing back to a Companion."  Sherri sipped her tea thoughtfully.  "I know you don't want too."

"Its not that-"  Kris started to explain.

"Don't worry, I understand."  Sherri stopped him.  "I was thinking about my mother, she couldn't leave until she finished her business.  What if you can't change back to Companion until you finish your business?"

"What do you mean?"  Kris took his place at the table.

"I mean Dirk and Talia.  I know you have been longing to speak with them again.  They were going to spend their anniversary at his family's holding this year.  Go see them.  Tell them it is only for a day or something.  Catch up."

"And if this doesn't work?"

"Then we will make more plans."  Sherri kissed his cheek.  "But showing up in Haven with a father who looks younger than me is not a plan."

Kris laughed.  "I would like to see Talia and Dirk, but I doubt that would make me change back."

:Kitten, I think his problem is he wants to act as your father instead of your Companion for at least a moment.:  Yfandes said so only she could hear.

Sherri sipped her tea again and met Kevyn's gaze.  :Marry me.:

"What?"  Kevyn nearly choked.

"I asked you to marry me."  Sherri repeated nervously.  "I know you have a ring.  I found it months ago and got the truth from Nick."

"You knew?"  Kevyn said in disbelief.

:Don't bring me into this.:  Nick protested.  :But it is about time one of you asked.:

"I want my closest friends there and this way I can have my father give me away.  I know it won't be binding by law but I would still like to have the ceremony here."  She explained.

:A Herald can perform a legal ceremony unless the laws have changed.:  Van pointed out.  :And I fit the role of Herald.:

Kris felt rather uncomfortable as the pair held hands over the table.  It was an obviously a private moment.

Kevyn turned to Kris.  "Do I have permission to marry your daughter?"

Kris refrained from laughing.  "You do, if you swear to love her as she deserves."

"I'll do my best."  Kevyn assured him. 

Sherri waited with bated breath.

"Then I accept."  Kevyn leaned across the table and kissed her.

"I'll be outside."  Kris excused himself quickly.

"We will have to have another ceremony to appease my brother and your uncles."  Kevyn warned as he moved around the table to take her hand and lead her back to their sleeping loft.