Thank you to my kind reviewers. I will give you more pie if you review this
chappie. Pie for those who reviewed 2 at the end of this chappie. Valdemar
and everything in it belongs to Misty except for Cherrybrook, Tess, Lee,
and others who will eventually come into the story. I forgot to mention
this- Hindsight takes place during co-consorts Arden and Leesa's reign.
During Oathbound etc. [brackets] indicate Lee's thoughts. :colons: indicate
Mindspeech. The Heraldic Gift of Hindsight is also mine. ALL MINE! Sorry,
I'm sugar high at the moment-heeheehee. ~-~-~ indicates a vision, beginning
and end.
I am still in the middle of the rewrite.
Muse(s) responsible: Scheherezade and Chaesa
Hindsight is Ever-Perfect
---------------------
Lee blinked slowly. It felt like she had fallen off her bed again. But if she had fallen off her bed, then why was there a big bulk behind her?
She came fully awake. :Bright the day, sleepy one!: said Tess.
"You," said Lee as she disentangled herself from her cloak, "are disgustingly cheerful in the morning."
Tess made her chuckling noise again. Lee's heart softened and she hugged Tess around the neck. "Disgustingly cheerful or not, I do love you."
Tess stood after Lee unwound her arms and shivered her hide all over, ridding herself of bits of grass. Lee went to the stream and splashed her face. She reached into the packet her mother had packed, and found more bread. Lee chewed the bread as she regarded the saddle dubiously. She had barely lifted it off Tess. How was she supposed to get it back on?
Tess heard her thought and said, :Simple. I lay down, you lug it onto me. I stand up and you buckle the girth. Come on, we have to get to Haven! I want to show all my friends you! None of them have Chosen yet. We can get there today if I go full-out.:
"Isn't 'all my friends you' improper grammar?" joked Lee. She lifted the saddle as high as she could and tried to put it carefully on Tess's back. For all her efforts, the saddle still slipped to the side. "Sorry." Lee shoved it until it was more-or-less centered on Tess's back. Tess stood and patiently waited for Lee to tighten the girth. :Tighter. If you leave it that loose, you'll fall off, and I'll have a broken Chosen!:
"Oops," replied Lee, and tightened the girth. Tess shook to make sure it wouldn't fall off, and lowered her head for Lee to put on the hackamore. Lee stood back and pretended to examine Tess, while really only admiring her.
:Hurry up!: said Tess. "Impatient, are you?" said Lee, "Oh-please don't go full-out. I'll get saddle-sore." Lee finally gave in and mounted.
Immediately, Tess shot into a gallop like an arrow for a bow. Lee nearly fell. "Please! I'm not used to riding!"
:Oops.: replied Tess sheepishly as she slowed. Lee held on to the hackamore for dear life, because Tess's lope was still incredibly fast. But it was so smooth, so incredible-like flying. Lee sort of fell into a half-doze, feeling rather than thinking. They were going so fast. So smoothly. It felt nice.
~-~-~
Lee stared at the Companion, transfixed. The Companion tossed its head and pranced down the street, its silver hooves chiming gently. Lee watched, the bucket forgotten in her hand. The Companion paced ever closer, its eyes on Lee. She nudged open the gate to Lee's yard and stepped inside. Lee's knees quivered.
:My name is Tess. I Choose you, Leila. You will be a Herald, now.:
Lee drowned in blue as she looked into Tess's eyes. Tess reached into her heart, healing wounds Lee hadn't known she possessed. :We must go to Haven, Lee. Mount up!:
~-~-~
Lee came awake with a start. She had been reliving her Choosing, apparently for hours. Tess chuckled. :It's nice, remembering, isn't it? You must have been trancing-you sat still for candlemarks. You didn't even notice when I went full-out. We're reaching Haven.:
Lee looked eagerly at the approaching gray walls, then down at Tess, who wasn't even sweating. She wasn't sure, but she didn't think horses could gallop for candlemarks-but then, she knew next to nothing about horses. Lee was a bit disappointed in the way she had missed most of the day-but then, seeing it go by so fast would be scary.
:We're home!: trilled Tess. She slowed at the gates as the Guards nodded and let her through. "Home again, Tess? You haven't been gone long-but I guess your Chosen was pretty close! Heyla, young one." nodded one of them. Lee grinned back and turned her attention to the city.
Tess followed a winding path through the city as Lee tried to stare in every direction. The absence of cherry trees disoriented her slightly, but there was everything else. Now she felt more than ever the country bumpkin, as she wished she had two heads.
:Actually, you sort of do have two heads,: chuckled Tess, :because I'm part of you.: Lee discovered that she could see through Tess's eyes as well. There was sort of an overlay of what Tess saw over what Lee saw. It took a little getting used to, but Lee used it with delight. They reached another wall.
:Home!: said Tess again, and trotted through the gates. Lee looked around curiously. :This is your home for the next couple years.: said Tess. :That's Companion's Field right there. All the Companions live there. Visit! Often!:
"All right, silly white horse," Lee laughed. There was a Herald standing a few feet away, looking at her. :Dismount now, dear, and I'll see you later. This is Dean Hadley. He'll be teaching you Orientation. Almost all your year is here-Laksha went on Search a few weeks ago, but her Call is from up near Iftel, Rashte had to go down near Karse, so he's going to be dodging arrows for a while before finding his Chosen, but Nalani, Malian, Daire, and Keshka have already Chosen.:
"Um, and their Chosen's names are-what, exactly? Who are my year-mates?" asked Lee.
:Oh-right. Um, obviously I'm not going to know the names of Laksha or Rashte's Chosens until they get here, but Nalani's Chosen is Taliesin-he has a long name-Malian Chose Lale-his name sounds like yours!:
"And the rest?" prompted Lee, "Any girls?"
:Daire Chose Temya and Keshka Chose Jali. You have a lot of year-mates-7, if we combine all of you! Now go with Dean Hadley!:
Lee looked at the Dean and gulped.
"Don't be afraid of me, I don't bite. Much." chuckled the Dean.
Lee hugged Tess around the neck and walked after the Dean. She gaped at the Collegium. It was huge! Tess trotted away behind her, her hooves chiming gently. Lee followed the Dean through a door, looking everywhere at once.
"Don't strain your neck. You're here for the next four years!" said the Dean, leading her through a maze of hallways. Lee set herself to remembering the confusing combination. The Dean stopped in front of a door, and they went inside.
"New Trainee, Hadley?" asked a woman behind the desk.
"Her name's Lee. She needs uniforms. Lee, this is our Outfitter, Helve," replied the Dean.
Lee was measured and presented with every part of the uniform but boots. Those, she was told, would be custom-made for her. Helve led her to her room, a cozy perch on the second floor. Lee, having the habit of keeping things away from Berry, stowed her clothes in the wardrobe and placed her belongings above the reach of a toddler. She lay on the bed, looking out the window. She was very tired after such a long day, but she would have dinner in a few minutes...
----------------------------
Well, there's another chappie done! Told ya I'd have it up! Let's see- reviewer-thanking time. *ahem* Pie for everyone!
Little lisa: You must be psychic.
ElvenRanger and Dragon Queen: Enough description?
Etcetera-cat: Oops, sorry bout the ice cream on the ears!
Rosethorn: OK, less A/Ns this time. Happy?
Kadevi Chan: See Rosethorn's thing and have pie.
Lori: beta dearest! I like that! Thank you!
AlariaDragonlady: Yes, have pie. Have lots of pie. *hands about 8 pies to Alaria*
Now, while I slave away at Algebra and the next chappie, go read Of the Clans No Longer! Thank you! *bows* Don't forget to review this chappie, though!
~Fireblade and muses
I am still in the middle of the rewrite.
Muse(s) responsible: Scheherezade and Chaesa
Hindsight is Ever-Perfect
---------------------
Lee blinked slowly. It felt like she had fallen off her bed again. But if she had fallen off her bed, then why was there a big bulk behind her?
She came fully awake. :Bright the day, sleepy one!: said Tess.
"You," said Lee as she disentangled herself from her cloak, "are disgustingly cheerful in the morning."
Tess made her chuckling noise again. Lee's heart softened and she hugged Tess around the neck. "Disgustingly cheerful or not, I do love you."
Tess stood after Lee unwound her arms and shivered her hide all over, ridding herself of bits of grass. Lee went to the stream and splashed her face. She reached into the packet her mother had packed, and found more bread. Lee chewed the bread as she regarded the saddle dubiously. She had barely lifted it off Tess. How was she supposed to get it back on?
Tess heard her thought and said, :Simple. I lay down, you lug it onto me. I stand up and you buckle the girth. Come on, we have to get to Haven! I want to show all my friends you! None of them have Chosen yet. We can get there today if I go full-out.:
"Isn't 'all my friends you' improper grammar?" joked Lee. She lifted the saddle as high as she could and tried to put it carefully on Tess's back. For all her efforts, the saddle still slipped to the side. "Sorry." Lee shoved it until it was more-or-less centered on Tess's back. Tess stood and patiently waited for Lee to tighten the girth. :Tighter. If you leave it that loose, you'll fall off, and I'll have a broken Chosen!:
"Oops," replied Lee, and tightened the girth. Tess shook to make sure it wouldn't fall off, and lowered her head for Lee to put on the hackamore. Lee stood back and pretended to examine Tess, while really only admiring her.
:Hurry up!: said Tess. "Impatient, are you?" said Lee, "Oh-please don't go full-out. I'll get saddle-sore." Lee finally gave in and mounted.
Immediately, Tess shot into a gallop like an arrow for a bow. Lee nearly fell. "Please! I'm not used to riding!"
:Oops.: replied Tess sheepishly as she slowed. Lee held on to the hackamore for dear life, because Tess's lope was still incredibly fast. But it was so smooth, so incredible-like flying. Lee sort of fell into a half-doze, feeling rather than thinking. They were going so fast. So smoothly. It felt nice.
~-~-~
Lee stared at the Companion, transfixed. The Companion tossed its head and pranced down the street, its silver hooves chiming gently. Lee watched, the bucket forgotten in her hand. The Companion paced ever closer, its eyes on Lee. She nudged open the gate to Lee's yard and stepped inside. Lee's knees quivered.
:My name is Tess. I Choose you, Leila. You will be a Herald, now.:
Lee drowned in blue as she looked into Tess's eyes. Tess reached into her heart, healing wounds Lee hadn't known she possessed. :We must go to Haven, Lee. Mount up!:
~-~-~
Lee came awake with a start. She had been reliving her Choosing, apparently for hours. Tess chuckled. :It's nice, remembering, isn't it? You must have been trancing-you sat still for candlemarks. You didn't even notice when I went full-out. We're reaching Haven.:
Lee looked eagerly at the approaching gray walls, then down at Tess, who wasn't even sweating. She wasn't sure, but she didn't think horses could gallop for candlemarks-but then, she knew next to nothing about horses. Lee was a bit disappointed in the way she had missed most of the day-but then, seeing it go by so fast would be scary.
:We're home!: trilled Tess. She slowed at the gates as the Guards nodded and let her through. "Home again, Tess? You haven't been gone long-but I guess your Chosen was pretty close! Heyla, young one." nodded one of them. Lee grinned back and turned her attention to the city.
Tess followed a winding path through the city as Lee tried to stare in every direction. The absence of cherry trees disoriented her slightly, but there was everything else. Now she felt more than ever the country bumpkin, as she wished she had two heads.
:Actually, you sort of do have two heads,: chuckled Tess, :because I'm part of you.: Lee discovered that she could see through Tess's eyes as well. There was sort of an overlay of what Tess saw over what Lee saw. It took a little getting used to, but Lee used it with delight. They reached another wall.
:Home!: said Tess again, and trotted through the gates. Lee looked around curiously. :This is your home for the next couple years.: said Tess. :That's Companion's Field right there. All the Companions live there. Visit! Often!:
"All right, silly white horse," Lee laughed. There was a Herald standing a few feet away, looking at her. :Dismount now, dear, and I'll see you later. This is Dean Hadley. He'll be teaching you Orientation. Almost all your year is here-Laksha went on Search a few weeks ago, but her Call is from up near Iftel, Rashte had to go down near Karse, so he's going to be dodging arrows for a while before finding his Chosen, but Nalani, Malian, Daire, and Keshka have already Chosen.:
"Um, and their Chosen's names are-what, exactly? Who are my year-mates?" asked Lee.
:Oh-right. Um, obviously I'm not going to know the names of Laksha or Rashte's Chosens until they get here, but Nalani's Chosen is Taliesin-he has a long name-Malian Chose Lale-his name sounds like yours!:
"And the rest?" prompted Lee, "Any girls?"
:Daire Chose Temya and Keshka Chose Jali. You have a lot of year-mates-7, if we combine all of you! Now go with Dean Hadley!:
Lee looked at the Dean and gulped.
"Don't be afraid of me, I don't bite. Much." chuckled the Dean.
Lee hugged Tess around the neck and walked after the Dean. She gaped at the Collegium. It was huge! Tess trotted away behind her, her hooves chiming gently. Lee followed the Dean through a door, looking everywhere at once.
"Don't strain your neck. You're here for the next four years!" said the Dean, leading her through a maze of hallways. Lee set herself to remembering the confusing combination. The Dean stopped in front of a door, and they went inside.
"New Trainee, Hadley?" asked a woman behind the desk.
"Her name's Lee. She needs uniforms. Lee, this is our Outfitter, Helve," replied the Dean.
Lee was measured and presented with every part of the uniform but boots. Those, she was told, would be custom-made for her. Helve led her to her room, a cozy perch on the second floor. Lee, having the habit of keeping things away from Berry, stowed her clothes in the wardrobe and placed her belongings above the reach of a toddler. She lay on the bed, looking out the window. She was very tired after such a long day, but she would have dinner in a few minutes...
----------------------------
Well, there's another chappie done! Told ya I'd have it up! Let's see- reviewer-thanking time. *ahem* Pie for everyone!
Little lisa: You must be psychic.
ElvenRanger and Dragon Queen: Enough description?
Etcetera-cat: Oops, sorry bout the ice cream on the ears!
Rosethorn: OK, less A/Ns this time. Happy?
Kadevi Chan: See Rosethorn's thing and have pie.
Lori: beta dearest! I like that! Thank you!
AlariaDragonlady: Yes, have pie. Have lots of pie. *hands about 8 pies to Alaria*
Now, while I slave away at Algebra and the next chappie, go read Of the Clans No Longer! Thank you! *bows* Don't forget to review this chappie, though!
~Fireblade and muses
