~Memories~

By Ola

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A/N~ aii, sorry about taking so long to update! And thanks for all the reviews! Big hugs! =)

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Part 24~

"Hey, where have you been?!"

"With Shedlington's captain. Don't ask." He slumped on a chair opposite Lan. "You look way too happy Lan. Where have you coming from?"

"We went to see the prophetess. By the way, she asked you to come see her."

"Huh. What did she tell you?"

"That my friend Jack here, is gay." Sindarin gave the other guy a tired look.

"Lan. Drop it. The joke's getting old." He stood up and left.

"Ah. He takes all the fun out of life."

Without turning, he said: "I heard that!"

"You were meant to. And don't role your eyes at me!"

"How do you know I…never mind." Sindarin heaved a sigh and turned the corner, going up to his room, while Lan and Jack stayed and talked into the night.

"Sorry pal. Don't know what's gotten into him." Jack shrugged noncommittally and they talked some more.

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Disputes? Minor disputes? That's what he called them? Jeez. I would say this is one of those bigger ones, so where's the herald when you need him? Yawn. Oh my god, this is so boring. Especially since I can't participate. And that's crap. How am I supposed to learn if I don't make mistakes of my own? Oh well. I only I could take a little nap, here, under that tree, while those two twerps over there finally decide who owns this piece of land. Piece of land? Pff…a foot wide. Can't they just divide it in two? Another sigh.

Lan closed her cloak more tightly against the chilly wind and sat on a nearby fence, closing her eyes to keep them from tearing and stinging. Stupid wind. Stupid people. Why can't they discuss this inside, over a mug of cider? Ah, why ever did I choose to become a guard? Is that basically all they do? Listen to someone ramble on about nothing? Do you WANT the guards to do something else? Said a little voice in her head, as the image of a large man running behind her with a raised sword flashed before her eyes. She shuddered. Mmm, did that old lady really wanted to see me again? And Sindarin? Why? Did she have something…prophetic…to tell us? No way. Naaa…or else, she would have told me that when I first saw her if it was so important…maybe she just wants company. Maybe she's bored by everyone else because she knows them too well. Huh, poor lady, she…

"Ahh!!" she almost jumped in surprise when someone touched her shoulder, but she forgot she was sitting on a rather precarious seat, and had to flail her arms around to keep her balance. She glared at Jack, who was obviously amused by it.

"Don't you ever do that again," she growled.

"Well, don't you ever stop paying attention then, trainee," he chided, his smile growing even bigger. "Come, we are done here." At Lan's obvious joy at hearing those news, Jack finally broke into a real laughter.

But the day wasn't NEARLY close to being done. When the girl finally entered the inn, the sun had gone down a while before. She slowly trudged up the stairs and fell into bed, and neither thought about nor wanted to go see the old lady.

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During the night, the wind had brought in a cover of dark clouds; it was still cold and windy, and now with the prospect of rain added to the mix, few people who didn't have to, went outside. Even children stayed inside, although that was probably more their mother's wish than theirs. In any case, there was also little work for the guards, and some time after noon, Lan finally found Sindarin, and paid the old lady the wished for visit. Nothing had changed in those two days. The wind was still strong and prickly, and the house looked even grayer, even older, without the sun.

"So you have decided to come." Was that a question? Am I supposed to answer? Mmm, er… she just nodded, and introduced Sindarin, wondering what was going on in his mind. The lady's mouth quirked up in something that could be interpreted as her smile, then turned strangely sad, as if melancholy. She beckoned them closer, her frail hand like a skinny old bird, and softly said:

"You three should be very careful…"

"Errr, three?" Lan looked around for another person.

"Have you no ears girl?" the lady snapped. Lan's eyes became even bigger, and she glanced at Sindarin. He was as confused as her, and as unsure. They looked back at the lady, sitting in her large chair as if it was a distorted throne, when they heard her chuckle. "Yes yes, I know about you, and about you too." She pointed at Sindarin. "Whether I want to or not." After a long pause, she resumed "you cannot change the future, but you can make it easier to endure, so listen well. For you THREE, it will be hard. Very hard. Especially for the third. You young prince, are very headstrong. Do not let your mind rule your heart. Things are not always what they seem. Have hope and keep your promises. And you, young one, I can only tell you to remember. For what good it will do. Remember. Remember. And do not be afraid…" her voice dwindled; lost in the soft howl of the wind.

"What am I supposed to remember? A person? An event?...a particular time?"

"Remember. Remember." The soft voice was like the wind, here one moment, passing through their ears then gone elsewhere, leaving the house silent again. Lan did not feel comfortable. There was too much here she did not understand. She squeezed Sindarin's hand, and felt his strong warm response.

"Thank you for the advice, wise lady. We are much grateful for this information." He bowed respectfully and Lan clumsily followed his example. A little smile appeared on the lady's face; an echo of her youth and her happiness.

"Go into the world younglings. It is yours to do with as you wish." Another delicate puff of morning air, gone in a heartbeat. The old lady seemed to grow smaller, to shrivel on herself, and to become nothing more than a very very old woman with glassy blue eyes starring at something only she could see, a sad smile on her papery, wrinkled face.

They left, ghostly "…remember…         …remember

                                                                                                …remember…"

following them as they descended the two flights of stairs, until a gust of strong wind tugged at them, and the words flew away, as light as feathers, invisible, insubstantial…only a memory.

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A/N~ and now for some comments =)

-falcon rider- since the guards in Shedlington were all guides/mentors for Lan's group, they had to know about who the new ones were. Their captain told them. And for your second question: well, I don't know. I didn't ask him. =)

-the little mermaid- jealously eh? Lol. Dunno. Maybe? *grins*. Thanks! Sorry bout not posting earlier. (don't even have an excuse!)

-Eri- thanks. Keep on pretending then, cause I don't have the time to go back and change that part now *wink*

-jaded soul- "Elspeth" right. *taps her forehead with the heel of her palm* oops =) I never said I was good with names. Sigh. Hey, that's called poetic liscence =) (although I think I may be abusing it a bit here =). Thanks for dropping a review! =) and a long one at that! Mmm, chosen? Dunno *grins* you'll see =)

that was a wonderful explanation! Thanks! You're the best! I'll try to incorporate it somehow (can i?) or maybe go back and twitch the plot around a bit =)

-trina ti- it still has a bit ore chapters. And a sequel =) be afraid. Be very afraid =)

-maqdellin- welcome aboard! Sigh. Yep, Elspeth. Oh well =) I'm from the USA, cold, snowy Connecticut. =)