Am I Mercedes Lackey?
No?
You are...RIGHT! That's all cleared up. I don't own.
:colons: are Mindspeech, [brackets] Alettea's thoughts.
Muse responsible: Chaesa.
Still revamping! Thanks again, mysticmoods!
--------------------------------------------
I looked around eagerly. I was out of the Field! There was so much to see!
And my Call wasn't tugging hard enough to keep pulling me when I stopped in a marketplace to sniff at a vegetable stand.
There was some strange sort of red thing. It smelled too sharp to be an apple...
The standkeeper saw me nosing it, and said, "Have a tomato, lady."
I nodded my thanks and bit into the one he held out to me.
It was delicious! The standkeeper grinned as I finished it. I nuzzled him briefly in thanks, then turned. My Call was still pulling, pulling.
After a while, I began to notice the longing stares of those who cleared my path-the yearning gazes that said that they wished I would look into their eyes...
I concentrated on my Call, trying my best to tune them out.
It led me to the northeastern gate of Haven, where I broke into a lazy canter, a pace I could hold for candlemarks.
North and east, east and north.
I realized I was heading towards Iftel.
[Uh...I hope my Chosen isn't in Iftel. That could turn nasty.]
Still I cantered northeast.
I held my pace for candlemarks. It didn't strain me much, but I wasn't used to the tack, and it was rubbing at me unpleasantly.
I turned off the road, heading for a Waystation. I'd be glad when my Chosen was with me-then I would have someone to talk to.
I spent the night there, then galloped north and east once more.
On and on I continued, for days, weeks.
I decided not to experiment with my wings for now-my Call was pulling far too strongly.
At last, I was so close to Iftel I could see the border.
And my Chosen lived in a Border settlement.
I sped up, galloping to her. I knew her name in my heart-Namyata.
Namyata.
---------------------------------
(AN: Quick interlude-Namyata's POV.)
I dodged from Mosage, anxious to stay far away from the woman who called herself my mistress. [Why now? What happened to turn her into this...creature?]
Mosage hadn't been cruel to me before, but ever since I had shared a dream which I thought amusing, she had been hard on me. [I know she thinks I'm dimwitted, but this is going too far.]
I pressed against a building, getting lost in the shadow for a moment. Hearing a snatch of raucous singing, I instinctively formed the harp- movements with my fingers.
That harp...it hadn't been particularly good; the tone had been odd, several of the strings snapped, and the frame had been badly carved and worse painted with a figure of a woman with a fish tail. What she was supposed to be, I had no clue...but it had been all I had.
[Until that dream, when Mosage chopped it into kindling.]
A small commotion lured me from my hiding place. [What-oh-]
It was a riderless Companion. Everyone in town knew what that meant-it only remained to see who it would Choose.
And, against my sensibility-[Please, Choose me...]
--------------------------------------------------------------
I reached the settlement, surrounded by a high wall, manned with several Guards. The Guard at the gate recognized a Companion and let me in.
I perked up, arching my neck and flagging my tail.
It caused quite some stir in the town. I looked for her, looked for Namyata.
I saw her fiery red hair in the gathering of people in the village square.
I trotted straight up to her and nuzzled her. She gaped at me, staring as if I had been a dream that was now real, as if she had had her deepest wish granted.
I spoke into her mind, her heart, twisting her soul and mine, forming the bond which I had waited for so long. :I am Alettea. I Choose you, Namyata. You will be a Herald, now. I love you and will never leave you.:
Namyata's flashing green eyes looked into my blue, her lip trembling slightly.
I was busy firming the bond, sending love-support-comfort down it like a flood-unstoppable.
But I heard a harsh call. Namyata automatically cringed against my side.
What? Someone was threatening my Chosen? MY Chosen?
I saw who as the owner of the voice came through the crowd-a deceptively motherly-looking woman with a voice like a crow. "Namyata! What are you doing now? Come back here, scum! You have chores to finish!"
Excuse me? This was MY Chosen she was talking about, right? Yes, MY Chosen.
I bristled. I wished I could growl.
Namyata glared defiance, still cowering against me. Yes, the woman was threatening my Chosen. MY Chosen. Such pretty words. My. Chosen.
Bad Alettea. I mentally kicked myself and somehow bent around Namyata, shielding her from the woman-who apparently hadn't really noticed me.
:Namyata, mount up. Please. Once you're on my back, then I can run!:
There was another thing to this as well. If I was to defend my Chosen, I would have to rear.
And to rear would mean my wings would appear.
I did NOT want that to happen. Most certainly NOT.
Did I mention I didn't want it to happen?
Namyata was still standing on my other side.
:Mount up, Chosen! Hurry!: I said, flavoring the words with more love.
I couldn't help it.
The woman had recovered and was coming closer.
Namyata scrambled onto my back and took the reins. "What are you playing at, girl?" shouted that woman. "Where's the Herald?"
I snorted and pawed the ground. "Get off her back, girl!" screamed the woman.
She reached for Namyata's leg.
Pure and terrible fear rushed down the bond, overwhelming everything else. I was angry now! How dare she threaten my Chosen? MY Chosen?
I spun quickly, putting my body between Namyata's leg and the woman's grasping hand.
The woman tried again. This time, I closed my teeth around her wrist and Looked at her.
[To the nine hells with the Silence,] I decided. :You. Will. Stop. Manhandling. My. Chosen. Now.: I said, enunciating each word clearly in her mind.
The woman glared up at me. I released her wrist-and galloped away, making a beeline for Haven.
:Don't worry, Chosen. I'm here. You're mine now.:
Namyata held her seat well, considering she doubtfully had any riding experience.
My hooves chimed as I cantered back to the edge of the town. The Guards let me go, then closed the gate.
Soon, there was only us two on a thread of a road.
Namyata began to sing "Windrider Unchained"
I was stunned by the sheer power of her voice. [Whoa! She can sing! Ironic she would pick that song...incredible voice. I wonder how good she'd be with an instrument.]
"Darklord of shadows his fetters is weaving, binds him in darkness as deep as despair..." Namyata sang in a clear, flutelike voice.
Then it hit me. [She has the Bardic Gift!]
I wondered what other Gifts she had. I probed gently. Very gently. [Let's see...Bardic quite a bit stronger than average-she'd make one damn fine Bard. Mindspeech. Yes, Mindspeech. Average. No Healing, no Fetching...]
I was distracted momentarily by the sudden surge in her Bardic Gift as Namyata wrought pure song. "...flees the avenger, Windrider Unchained!"
It was filled with joy, surging up, up, up, until I, too, wanted to fly.
:Wonderful, Namyata!: I mentally applauded her. :Ah...Chosen, I'm going to poke in your head for a second, just enough to tell what Gifts you have.:
Namyata nodded and waited. I gently prodded the Gift section of her mind, to see what Gifts she had. There was a strong bit of Bardic, to my surprise, Mindspeech, and some Foresight.
:You have Mindspeech, Foresight-and a very strong Bardic Gift.:
"I do?" said Namyata, in a small voice.
:Yes, Chosen. You have an incredible voice-do you play an instrument?: I asked, sending pride down the bond.
"I-I don't play. All I do is sing and-well, I once picked out a tune on this harp I found. But Mosage-that woman-when I told her about a dream I had, she chopped it into kindling. I've never touched one since."
Namyata's voice was quieter now, half-cringing.
:You can tell me anything, Chosen,: I sent, filling it with love and sympathy.
Namyata hesitated, then out poured her words.
"My mother died in a raid from bandits-I never knew my father. The innkeeper-Mosage-took me in. I've worked there since I was eight."
Namyata drew a steadying breath. "Mosage-used to be kind to me, but ever since she chopped up the harp, she's become cruel. Everything from starving me to working the late-night shifts at the inn, which she only used to have the older girls do-"
She fell silent. I was filled with fury. [How dare that-that excuse for a human being do this? To MY Chosen, no less?]
I wanted to go pound her into goo. No, not goo. I wanted to grind her bones to dust, then crush the dust to nothing.
I was careful not to let this leak down the bond.
But I was still angry!
Namyata said, "How about you?"
I realized she was talking to me. [To spill or not to spill? That is the question. Well, why not? She is my Chosen!] And, deeper so it was hardly conscious, [And Taver's gone...who else do I have to share it with?]
:I was born in Companion's Field, the night my mother went on Search. Now her Chosen, Jerele, is one fine Herald. Anyway, I went outside with my mother when she returned-will you swear to keep this secret?: I asked.
"Yes. I swear by the Havens," replied Namyata, sensing my urgency.
:Well-I woke up at night, and went running in the moonlight. I was a foal, you know. Anyway-I reared, and-well, you know the Wings of White Fire prophecy?:
Namyata was still as a stone. Finally, she replied, "Yes-I know it. Do you mean-"
I reared taking the pose of the Windrider. Namyata clung to my back, and gasped as my fiery wings flared and rippled from my shoulders.
:I hope you don't mind. I had no intention of fulfilling a prophecy,: I said, sheepishly, coming down. :I made a promise to Taver, the previous Grove-Born...but he died the day I went on Search, and you-well, normally it takes the newly Chosen a while to fully place their trust in the pretty white horsie.:
Namyata reached out with a trembling hand-and her hand passed through my wing.
It felt distinctly weird.
:Chosen?: I asked, gently.
"Oh. Sorry. Can you fly?" Namyata asked.
:I-don't know,: I replied, slowly. I fanned my wings out and folded them in.
"Try," said Namyata, her voice filled with excitement.
I stood in the middle of the small road, filled with trepidation. But my Chosen had asked. :All right,: I said.
I spread my wings and broke into a run, beating the air with them.
Flapping, flapping, flapping-
Going ever faster-
--------------------------------------
Heehee! Cliffhanger! Bwahaha!
Right. Who gets chocolate mousse today?
Cerulean Sky: Heehee! Cliffhanger! And you can't kill me, otherwise you'll never find out what happens!
Fergiaj: RAFO. :P (Read And Find Out)
Kierseth: Ooh! I got the Snoopy dance! Thank you! Here's more!
Kalyra Shadowdancer: Ooh! Thanks!
Faeborn2930: You love it? Aww, thanks!
Emerald Flame: Well, she's sorta aware already...
Etcetera-cat: Ooh! Thanks! I can think of no better judge about Companion POVs, unless it's Senashenta, who does winged Companion POVs!
Thank you all! Have chocolate mousse!
~Fireblade
No?
You are...RIGHT! That's all cleared up. I don't own.
:colons: are Mindspeech, [brackets] Alettea's thoughts.
Muse responsible: Chaesa.
Still revamping! Thanks again, mysticmoods!
--------------------------------------------
I looked around eagerly. I was out of the Field! There was so much to see!
And my Call wasn't tugging hard enough to keep pulling me when I stopped in a marketplace to sniff at a vegetable stand.
There was some strange sort of red thing. It smelled too sharp to be an apple...
The standkeeper saw me nosing it, and said, "Have a tomato, lady."
I nodded my thanks and bit into the one he held out to me.
It was delicious! The standkeeper grinned as I finished it. I nuzzled him briefly in thanks, then turned. My Call was still pulling, pulling.
After a while, I began to notice the longing stares of those who cleared my path-the yearning gazes that said that they wished I would look into their eyes...
I concentrated on my Call, trying my best to tune them out.
It led me to the northeastern gate of Haven, where I broke into a lazy canter, a pace I could hold for candlemarks.
North and east, east and north.
I realized I was heading towards Iftel.
[Uh...I hope my Chosen isn't in Iftel. That could turn nasty.]
Still I cantered northeast.
I held my pace for candlemarks. It didn't strain me much, but I wasn't used to the tack, and it was rubbing at me unpleasantly.
I turned off the road, heading for a Waystation. I'd be glad when my Chosen was with me-then I would have someone to talk to.
I spent the night there, then galloped north and east once more.
On and on I continued, for days, weeks.
I decided not to experiment with my wings for now-my Call was pulling far too strongly.
At last, I was so close to Iftel I could see the border.
And my Chosen lived in a Border settlement.
I sped up, galloping to her. I knew her name in my heart-Namyata.
Namyata.
---------------------------------
(AN: Quick interlude-Namyata's POV.)
I dodged from Mosage, anxious to stay far away from the woman who called herself my mistress. [Why now? What happened to turn her into this...creature?]
Mosage hadn't been cruel to me before, but ever since I had shared a dream which I thought amusing, she had been hard on me. [I know she thinks I'm dimwitted, but this is going too far.]
I pressed against a building, getting lost in the shadow for a moment. Hearing a snatch of raucous singing, I instinctively formed the harp- movements with my fingers.
That harp...it hadn't been particularly good; the tone had been odd, several of the strings snapped, and the frame had been badly carved and worse painted with a figure of a woman with a fish tail. What she was supposed to be, I had no clue...but it had been all I had.
[Until that dream, when Mosage chopped it into kindling.]
A small commotion lured me from my hiding place. [What-oh-]
It was a riderless Companion. Everyone in town knew what that meant-it only remained to see who it would Choose.
And, against my sensibility-[Please, Choose me...]
--------------------------------------------------------------
I reached the settlement, surrounded by a high wall, manned with several Guards. The Guard at the gate recognized a Companion and let me in.
I perked up, arching my neck and flagging my tail.
It caused quite some stir in the town. I looked for her, looked for Namyata.
I saw her fiery red hair in the gathering of people in the village square.
I trotted straight up to her and nuzzled her. She gaped at me, staring as if I had been a dream that was now real, as if she had had her deepest wish granted.
I spoke into her mind, her heart, twisting her soul and mine, forming the bond which I had waited for so long. :I am Alettea. I Choose you, Namyata. You will be a Herald, now. I love you and will never leave you.:
Namyata's flashing green eyes looked into my blue, her lip trembling slightly.
I was busy firming the bond, sending love-support-comfort down it like a flood-unstoppable.
But I heard a harsh call. Namyata automatically cringed against my side.
What? Someone was threatening my Chosen? MY Chosen?
I saw who as the owner of the voice came through the crowd-a deceptively motherly-looking woman with a voice like a crow. "Namyata! What are you doing now? Come back here, scum! You have chores to finish!"
Excuse me? This was MY Chosen she was talking about, right? Yes, MY Chosen.
I bristled. I wished I could growl.
Namyata glared defiance, still cowering against me. Yes, the woman was threatening my Chosen. MY Chosen. Such pretty words. My. Chosen.
Bad Alettea. I mentally kicked myself and somehow bent around Namyata, shielding her from the woman-who apparently hadn't really noticed me.
:Namyata, mount up. Please. Once you're on my back, then I can run!:
There was another thing to this as well. If I was to defend my Chosen, I would have to rear.
And to rear would mean my wings would appear.
I did NOT want that to happen. Most certainly NOT.
Did I mention I didn't want it to happen?
Namyata was still standing on my other side.
:Mount up, Chosen! Hurry!: I said, flavoring the words with more love.
I couldn't help it.
The woman had recovered and was coming closer.
Namyata scrambled onto my back and took the reins. "What are you playing at, girl?" shouted that woman. "Where's the Herald?"
I snorted and pawed the ground. "Get off her back, girl!" screamed the woman.
She reached for Namyata's leg.
Pure and terrible fear rushed down the bond, overwhelming everything else. I was angry now! How dare she threaten my Chosen? MY Chosen?
I spun quickly, putting my body between Namyata's leg and the woman's grasping hand.
The woman tried again. This time, I closed my teeth around her wrist and Looked at her.
[To the nine hells with the Silence,] I decided. :You. Will. Stop. Manhandling. My. Chosen. Now.: I said, enunciating each word clearly in her mind.
The woman glared up at me. I released her wrist-and galloped away, making a beeline for Haven.
:Don't worry, Chosen. I'm here. You're mine now.:
Namyata held her seat well, considering she doubtfully had any riding experience.
My hooves chimed as I cantered back to the edge of the town. The Guards let me go, then closed the gate.
Soon, there was only us two on a thread of a road.
Namyata began to sing "Windrider Unchained"
I was stunned by the sheer power of her voice. [Whoa! She can sing! Ironic she would pick that song...incredible voice. I wonder how good she'd be with an instrument.]
"Darklord of shadows his fetters is weaving, binds him in darkness as deep as despair..." Namyata sang in a clear, flutelike voice.
Then it hit me. [She has the Bardic Gift!]
I wondered what other Gifts she had. I probed gently. Very gently. [Let's see...Bardic quite a bit stronger than average-she'd make one damn fine Bard. Mindspeech. Yes, Mindspeech. Average. No Healing, no Fetching...]
I was distracted momentarily by the sudden surge in her Bardic Gift as Namyata wrought pure song. "...flees the avenger, Windrider Unchained!"
It was filled with joy, surging up, up, up, until I, too, wanted to fly.
:Wonderful, Namyata!: I mentally applauded her. :Ah...Chosen, I'm going to poke in your head for a second, just enough to tell what Gifts you have.:
Namyata nodded and waited. I gently prodded the Gift section of her mind, to see what Gifts she had. There was a strong bit of Bardic, to my surprise, Mindspeech, and some Foresight.
:You have Mindspeech, Foresight-and a very strong Bardic Gift.:
"I do?" said Namyata, in a small voice.
:Yes, Chosen. You have an incredible voice-do you play an instrument?: I asked, sending pride down the bond.
"I-I don't play. All I do is sing and-well, I once picked out a tune on this harp I found. But Mosage-that woman-when I told her about a dream I had, she chopped it into kindling. I've never touched one since."
Namyata's voice was quieter now, half-cringing.
:You can tell me anything, Chosen,: I sent, filling it with love and sympathy.
Namyata hesitated, then out poured her words.
"My mother died in a raid from bandits-I never knew my father. The innkeeper-Mosage-took me in. I've worked there since I was eight."
Namyata drew a steadying breath. "Mosage-used to be kind to me, but ever since she chopped up the harp, she's become cruel. Everything from starving me to working the late-night shifts at the inn, which she only used to have the older girls do-"
She fell silent. I was filled with fury. [How dare that-that excuse for a human being do this? To MY Chosen, no less?]
I wanted to go pound her into goo. No, not goo. I wanted to grind her bones to dust, then crush the dust to nothing.
I was careful not to let this leak down the bond.
But I was still angry!
Namyata said, "How about you?"
I realized she was talking to me. [To spill or not to spill? That is the question. Well, why not? She is my Chosen!] And, deeper so it was hardly conscious, [And Taver's gone...who else do I have to share it with?]
:I was born in Companion's Field, the night my mother went on Search. Now her Chosen, Jerele, is one fine Herald. Anyway, I went outside with my mother when she returned-will you swear to keep this secret?: I asked.
"Yes. I swear by the Havens," replied Namyata, sensing my urgency.
:Well-I woke up at night, and went running in the moonlight. I was a foal, you know. Anyway-I reared, and-well, you know the Wings of White Fire prophecy?:
Namyata was still as a stone. Finally, she replied, "Yes-I know it. Do you mean-"
I reared taking the pose of the Windrider. Namyata clung to my back, and gasped as my fiery wings flared and rippled from my shoulders.
:I hope you don't mind. I had no intention of fulfilling a prophecy,: I said, sheepishly, coming down. :I made a promise to Taver, the previous Grove-Born...but he died the day I went on Search, and you-well, normally it takes the newly Chosen a while to fully place their trust in the pretty white horsie.:
Namyata reached out with a trembling hand-and her hand passed through my wing.
It felt distinctly weird.
:Chosen?: I asked, gently.
"Oh. Sorry. Can you fly?" Namyata asked.
:I-don't know,: I replied, slowly. I fanned my wings out and folded them in.
"Try," said Namyata, her voice filled with excitement.
I stood in the middle of the small road, filled with trepidation. But my Chosen had asked. :All right,: I said.
I spread my wings and broke into a run, beating the air with them.
Flapping, flapping, flapping-
Going ever faster-
--------------------------------------
Heehee! Cliffhanger! Bwahaha!
Right. Who gets chocolate mousse today?
Cerulean Sky: Heehee! Cliffhanger! And you can't kill me, otherwise you'll never find out what happens!
Fergiaj: RAFO. :P (Read And Find Out)
Kierseth: Ooh! I got the Snoopy dance! Thank you! Here's more!
Kalyra Shadowdancer: Ooh! Thanks!
Faeborn2930: You love it? Aww, thanks!
Emerald Flame: Well, she's sorta aware already...
Etcetera-cat: Ooh! Thanks! I can think of no better judge about Companion POVs, unless it's Senashenta, who does winged Companion POVs!
Thank you all! Have chocolate mousse!
~Fireblade
