Disclaimer: Really. I hate going through this. Let's see. The characters and the plot line are mine. Velgarth is Misty's. This is from about 50 years after Vanyel dies. *sniff* I am not putting in Bard Stefen. He is not crucial to the plot.

For the record, Alettea means, roughly, "White Winged One," and Namyata (pronounced Na-me-ah-tah) means roughly "Swift Wind"

Yes, this is written with permission from Senashenta.

This actually begins in the Havens. In my mind, there is a "Rebirth Bell," (opposite of the Death Bell) that tolls 5 times when a normal human/Companion pair is reborn, 10 times when a legendary pair is reborn, 15 times when a Grove-born is reborn, and 20 times when a legendary Grove- born is reborn. (eg; the first Grove-Born Companion and King Valdemar)

Namyata and Alettea are both girls.

Oh, and the Wings of White Fire was so long ago that their names have been lost.

I'm revamping this! Thank you, mysticmoods, for booting me into a rewrite...much as I hate to admit it, this story really needs one.

Muse responsible: Chaesa

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Alettea and Namyata wandered through the Havens. The sun shone warm on their bodies as they drifted through a garden. Namyata had an arm draped over Alettea's shoulder, brushing one of the fiery wings with her fingertips.

"When do you think we'll be reborn?" asked Namyata.

:I really don't know,: replied Alettea. :I hope it's soon. I can only take so much of paradise.:

Namyata laughed.

One of the bright spirits that was one of the Grove-Born appeared beside them.

"Hello, Rolan," said Namyata.

:It is time.: said Rolan.

The Rebirth Bell tolled.

:Finally!: exulted Alettea.

"I'll see you in maybe a decade, Alettea," said Namyata.

:Remember, Chosen, I love you. Well, you won't have a past-life memory, but if you die, I die. So don't die.: said Alettea, grinning as much as a white horselike being can grin.

"I love you too," said Namyata.

Alettea reared and took on the pose of the Windrider on Valdemar's crest. Her wings shrank into her shoulders and vanished.

The Rebirth Bell tolled a second time.

Alettea could feel Namyata's soul being regathered, since she was to be reborn several years before Alettea. Time ran strangely in the Havens.

THREE

Namyata embraced Alettea's neck and kissed her nose. Alettea nuzzled her.

FOUR

Alettea Looked down from the Havens, and saw the body in a female Companion's womb that she would be inhabiting. It was similar to the one she had in the Havens, but a little more like the Windrider, which was good.

Namyata, too, was Looking. Her body would have fiery dark red hair, flashing green eyes, and a fighter's frame.

FIVE

:Your new body is beautiful, Namyata,: said Alettea. She approved.

SIX

The other Herald and Companion spirits looked at the bell, a bit worriedly. This had to be a legend being reborn...which meant that trouble was coming for Valdemar, meaning that many more would have to leave the Havens before Alettea and her Chosen returned...

SEVEN

Alettea's spirit was being compacted to fit her foal's body. Namyata too was shrinking, faster than Alettea.

EIGHT

:I love you, Chosen!: called Alettea one more time. This was the one part she didn't like, the separating from her Chosen.

NINE

"Love you too, Alettea!" cried Namyata.

TEN

The tone carried on, on, on...

~-~-

(AN: Tenses change. Now it's Alettea talking. She's a foal now...and a bit adrift.)

I was being squeezed. I didn't like it very much. At last I fell onto some new substance. I sniffed it. Some sort of grass.

"She's beautiful, Shamye," said a voice.

I picked up my head. I was being wiped by a girl in gray clothes and Mother was being soothed by a woman in white.

Shamye, my mother, wearily drooped her head down and sniffed me. I nuzzled back.

"Remember, Trainee Relene, that when a small Companion like Shamye is giving birth to a large foal, like this one..." I stopped listening. Boring.

My mother, Shamye, was small for a Companion, but had a runner's graceful form. I had a body that would grow much larger and taller, but right now I was all awkwardness.

I lurched to my feet and shook myself, then walked unsteadily over to Mother and nursed.

Mother threw up her sweat-soaked head and turned it dead north. She shifted, careful not to disturb me, but obviously agitated.

I continued feeding.

Mother nudged the Herald, nearly knocking her over, Mindspeaking to me, :My Call! I must go! Beloved Alettea, Mother needs to find her Chosen. Mother will be back soon.:

The Herald protested as Mother gently separated herself from me and trotted out of the stall. "Shamye, you've just gone through a long, hard labor! Surely-"

Mother nudged at her tack impatiently, making the bells chime. Stamping one of her hooves, she glared at the Herald. I didn't quite understand her expression, but her posture meant one thing-Mother was irritated.

The Herald found a bucket of water and doused Mother, washing away the sweat and birthing fluids. The majority of the water went down a drain built into the center of the stable for exactly that purpose, but some of it spattered my coat. It was cold! I shied away from it, and the Trainee stroked me gently.

I made a strange little mewping noise, the first sound to come from my throat.

Mother's voice softened. :Alettea, I don't want to leave you, but I need to find my Chosen. He will die by morning if I do not.:

I didn't like it, but she was impressing the importance on me. I gave in and, suddenly very tired, lay down to rest with a flop.

The Herald at last saddled Mother, still protesting, and she galloped out of the stable.

Trainee Relene lay down beside me, pulling a blanket over us. I snuggled into her warm body and fell asleep.

:Alettea?: asked Mother, nosing me gently.

I blinked. It was bright. Mother had a human on her back-a boy. I remembered his name. Jerele. He had a mop of red hair and brown eyes. He was also slumped forward in the saddle.

The Trainee behind me stood. "Gods!" she said, and hurried to pull Jerele down.

I watched. Jerele had a black eye and was beaten pretty badly. His shirt was gone, and there were whip streaks down his back. I walked up and sniffed him. Loudly.

Jerele smiled and scratched me between the ears. It felt good! I butted my nose against his hand, and he smiled.

:Alettea, this is my Chosen, Jerele. Jerele, this is my daughter, Alettea.:

Jerele nodded, still leaning on the other Trainee-and slumped suddenly. Cursing, the Trainee gently laid him down on the straw beside me and bolted from the stable. Mother sniffed her Chosen, obviously torn between nursing me and trying to help Jerele. Several minutes later, the Trainee came bolting back, followed by a man in a green robe, who immediately knelt beside Jerele. I moved back to the corner of the stall, uncomprehending of all this bustle.

The Trainee dumped a bucket of grains into Mother's feed box and started unsaddling her, then rubbed a brush over her sweat-soaked body.

Mother sighed heavily and buried her face in her feed box. I nursed eagerly.

I wanted to play. I frisked back and forth, jumping around my mother.

She consented. :All right, Alettea. We'll go outside, and I'll lie in the sun and sleep.: She fixed me with a mock-stern blue eye. :Remember this, Alettea, never have a foal the night before you go on Search. Luckily, Jerele was only a candlemark or two outside of Haven.:

I didn't understand this, so the information sank into my mind, vanishing until I needed it.

She trudged wearily out of her stall as I trotted and frisked, my short foal tail perked. The Healer ignored us, rubbing something into the wounds on Jerele's back.

We stepped into the sun. It was very bright. And warm.

There were other foals outside! I ran to greet them as my mother lay down a few feet off from a cluster of Companion mares.

They welcomed me in, and we played. It was fun! There was some mud which we rolled in and we chased each other around and around and around. I fell a lot, but the other foals waited patiently for me to get up before resuming the games.

I was washed off by a stableboy and went back to Mother, who was sleeping. I nursed, then fell asleep as well.

I woke up again late at night. The full moon was shining. I frisked in it, looking for other foals to play with, but Mother and I were alone.

This didn't bother me. I ran about in the moonlight, then stretched and tried to rear.

It didn't work. Undaunted, I tried again, unconsciously adopting the Windrider's pose.

Bright light! It flared on either side of me, white fire blazing like the sun!

I squealed and dropped down. I twisted my head back.

There were fiery objects attached to my shoulders, fully spread. I twitched my shoulder muscles. They moved. Spooked, I tried running away from them, but the things followed me!

:Mommy!: I cried, frightened.

She snorted and lifted her head, her eyes glazed in sleep. :Alettea? What is it?:

Her eyes widened and cleared as she took in the objects-no, wings, spreading from my shoulders.

:Taver!: she called into the night.

I had no clue whatsoever as to who she was talking to.

:TAVER!: she cried again.

Out of a stand of trees came a tall, lean stallion, galloping quickly towards my mother.

:Yes?: His voice held ages of wisdom. I didn't understand it-he was scary. I shied away.

Taver looked over at me, and started. :Gods above! What-when-:

Mother said to the stallion-the Grove-born-:She called me. I don't know how they appeared. Alettea, can you show us what you did?:

I obediently reared, taking the Windrider's pose-and the wings vanished.

Puzzled, I reared again, and they reappeared.

Oh. That's how they worked.

I fanned them out and tried to bite one of them. It didn't work.

The other drooped down to the grass-and set it on fire.

I shied back again, instinctively folding the fiery wings.

Taver came over to me and sniffed one. It didn't burn him.

He said, softly, :..."But when arises the need so great, Our spirits from the Havens await, And then in Valdemar's greatest pain-The Wings of White Fire shall rise again."

Mother blinked at Taver. :Are you saying...:

Taver replied, simply, :Yes.:

He turned to me. :Do you remember anything? Anything at all?:

That was a weird question, I thought. Hmm. Remember? Oh yeah! :Mommy said to never have a foal the night before you go on Search!:

Taver blinked and looked at my mother. :So Jerele is yours?:

:Yes. And I am tired. Am I hallucinating?: said Mother.

:No, Shamye, they're quite real. That wasn'twhat I meant, Alettea. Do you remember anything else? From before you were born?:

I cocked my head and thought very hard.

I felt, from somewhere high and bright and perfect, a presence Speak through me.

It said, :She bears the Wings of White Fire. Raise her well.:

Taver whispered, :Rolan. I hear you, brother.:

The presence smiled and evaporated.

I blinked. :Was that a remembery?:

:Memory, Alettea. No, not exactly.: said Mother.

I dismissed it as Taver began talking to me, making sure every word sank in. :Do not rear and reveal your wings to anyone except me, your Mother, and our Chosen unless your life or your Chosen's life depends on it until your Chosen is a Herald. Then, reveal to all.:

Mother said, :That includes Jerele?:

:Yes.:

I nodded and reared, lashing out with my hooves as if I were fighting.

Nothing happened.

I reared again, taking the Windrider pose. The wings vanished.

Taver said to Mother, :That will do. Make sure she remembers it.:

Mother nodded, and we both went to sleep once more.

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There we go. Sorry about the tense change. I hope you liked!

As always, REVIEW!

~Fireblade