Nothing belongs to me except some of the characters. Velgarth belongs to
Misty. For any of you who may be wondering, I don't think Lee will ever
meet Vaschel, but it's only my little thought at the moment. (Vaschel is
from Of the Clans no Longer) Vaschel comes to the Collegium before Lee.
Not sure how far back. I'll specify in my next chappie of Clans. Back to
Hindsight.
[brackets] indicate Lee's thoughts. :colons: indicate Mindspeech. The Heraldic Gift of Hindsight is also mine. ~-~-~ indicates a vision, beginning and end.
Muses Responsible: Scheherezade and Chaesa
--------------------------
The bell boomed above Lee's head. She sat up with a start and left her room. :It's just dinnertime. Don't panic-just follow everyone else,: said Tess from her vantage point in Lee's mind.
:Thanks.: replied Lee. She followed a group of Grays down the hall and into a room filled with tables. She blinked. There were so many! Lee bit her lip. There didn't seem to be anywhere to sit.
:Jali, Taliesin, and Lale are over at the second table to your left.: said Tess helpfully.
Lee walked towards the table holding her year-mates. However, her klutzy instincts kicked in on the third step she took, had her trip over her own feet, and somersault/sprawl six feet ahead.
The Grays laughed. Lee stood, her face burning. "Heyla!" said a new voice. "Um...you! The one who just tripped! Over here!"
Lee looked for the owner-and saw it was Taliesin. He grinned cheerily and waved her over to their table.
Lee sat, her face still red. "You must be our new year-mate," said Lale.
"Um, yes. I'm Leila, but everybody calls me Lee," replied Lee.
"Hi, Lee! Just got here? Eat!" said Jali, the only other girl at the table other than Lee. "Your other year-mate who's already here, Temya, has table duty."
Lee looked at the sheer quantity of the food and ate. "Where're you from?" asked Taliesin.
"Cherrybrook. It's southwest of Haven. I was Chosen yesterday, by Tess," said Lee after she had swallowed.
"I'm from Sweetsprings, Lale's from Lake Evendim, and Taliesin's from Rethwellan," said Jali. "Oh, and Temya is a Haven native."
Lee nodded and continued eating. The other three chatted among themselves as Lee listened. "Lee?" asked Taliesin, "I could show you around after dinner if you'd like."
"Thank you!" said Lee joyfully. "I haven't been able to find my way around at all!"
Taliesin grinned. "My pleasure, oh Queen of the Klutzes." He bowed.
"Hey!" protested Lee.
"Well, it's true!" insisted Taliesin.
Lee gave up and accepted her new title.
Lee got over most of her shyness that evening, finding the courage to laugh and joke with her year-mates. Temya came and joined Lee, Jali, Lale, and Taliesin, bowing when Taliesin informed her of Lee's new nickname.
:Will you come outside now?: asked Tess plaintively, :I want to show you to my friends!:
:All right!: said Lee. Then, to her year-mates, "Can we go to Companion's Field now?"
They agreed unanimously.
After they cleared their plates, Lale, Taliesin, Jali, Temya, and Lee hiked down to the Field. Lee felt strange in her new Grays, but forgot everything at the sight of Tess. "Tess!" she cried, running forward-only to trip and accidentally cartwheel over to the right.
"All hail the Queen of the Klutzes!" shouted Taliesin as Lee stood. "Where'd you learn those acrobatics?" he asked as Lee brushed herself off. "Oh-my twin older brothers taught them to me. They want to be entertainers, and since I'm so clumsy, they figured they should teach me as much as they could. I know how to cartwheel, somersault, and do flips, but I'm STILL a klutz," said Lee.
She demonstrated a handless cartwheel, ending with a backflip. Her year- mates clapped. Tess nickered. Lee devoted her attention to her Companion, realizing that there were several others behind her. :These are my friends. And your year-mates' Companions, most of them.: said Tess.
Lee waved to the other Companions, grinning. She looked at one of them, and seemed to somersault. [Not again!] she thought...
~-~-~
Lee hovered over a strange man as he tried to scrape ice off his tower roof. She could tell he wanted to see something in the sky, since he kept looking up anxiously. Suddenly, there was a small flash of light my his ankle and he fell, giving one gasp as his heart failed.
Lee watched as a Guard came running to him, crying, "Herald Kilchas!"
He knelt beside the body of what was apparently Herald Kilchas. Lee didn't quite remember who he was.
A man came running onto the Field, and Lee watched him. As he came more into view, she saw raven hair streaked with white and silver eyes. She gasped silently. This could only be Herald Vanyel...
~-~-~
Lee shook her head fiercely and stared at the Companion who had triggered the vision. Tess, who was seemingly unaware, was animatedly talking to the other Companions and Lee at the same time. :...and that's Kilchas, over there. That's all of them.:
Then, in private-mode to Lee, :What was that? It seemed like Foresight, but it wasn't fuzzy. Foresight is always fuzzy. I know because when I was a Heral-anyway, your vision was crystal-clear.: said Tess.
Lee shrugged, but her mood was dampened. Lee knew perfectly well what it actually was-a vision of the past. Should she tell Tess?
:You don't have to tell me anything you don't want to, dear. I'd just appreciate it if you did...: said Tess, wistfully.
:Never mind.: answered Lee, carefully dropping a veil over the thought.
"Time for your tour!" said Taliesin.
"Coming," smiled Tess.
Taliesin led her back out of Companion's Field, the other three still talking to their Companions. :Bye, Tess. See you soon!: said Lee.
Taliesin pointed at a building. "That's Bardic, and that's Healer's. Over there are the stables for the regular horses, and over there is the tack shed for the Companions. And here are the Collegium gardens."
Taliesin turned along a path, still talking animatedly. Lee watched her feet, making sure she didn't trip. "And there's the Palace," finished Taliesin. "How can you talk so fast and long?" asked Lee.
"It comes from living in Rethwellan. With all the complicated three-breath- for-normal-people names, you get extraordinary lungpower. I can say Rethwellan's King's full name and titles in two breaths. Most people need four!" replied Taliesin cheerfully.
Lee nodded, slightly dazed. The moon was rising. Taliesin turned onto a path following the River Terilee. Lee followed, still half-lost.
Taliesin sat on a log under an overhanging ledge. Lee sat beside him.
"Um. There's one more thing you should know," said Taliesin, very seriously.
Lee blinked.
"I've never told anyone this before, except Nalani, of course, but-" Taliesin took a deep breath, then began talking quickly and softly.
"I was born in a large city in Rethwellan. I'm actually a son of a minor noble. My father was always obsessed with our reputation and rising higher in the Court. As his eldest son, I was expected to hold up that image. But..." Taliesin took another deep breath. Lee watched him, not moving.
"Well-in Rethwellan, they're very against-shaych people. So, you can imagine what my father did when he learned-when he learned I was shaych," said Taliesin, carefully.
Lee blinked again. "My father-my father punished me, then disowned me. Just after I left home, Nalani came for me, and I came here, but I haven't told anyone since." Taliesin bit his lip. "I just met you-but I know that I can trust you. Somehow. I have a small Gift of Empathy. Very small. But it can tell me who I can trust...you don't mind, do you?"
Lee said, "What does being shaych have to do with the price of peas on the Dhorisa Plains? Of course I don't mind. Why would I? You're a person! A good person! And if-if you need someone, I'm here."
[That was interesting.] thought Lee. [I was half-sure he was going to romance me! Just shows you can't predict anything, I guess.]
Taliesin said, "Actually, I do need someone. Not precisely a someone. Just...some human who doesn't mind giving a shoulder to-to what my father considered less than an animal."
In response, Lee hugged him. She extended some new sense, and heard a few of his thoughts by mistake. When she 'heard' what his father had done to Taliesin-Lee wanted to go and kill him. [And all this on my first night here. I'm bushed, but Taliesin needs me. I'll stay for a while.]
Taliesin began to cry. Lee heard a few more of his thoughts that he seemed to be "projecting" at random. :Gods, gods. Someone, at least, doesn't mind. Gods, I've needed this...:
Lee soothed Taliesin gently, as if he was Berry crying over a scraped knee. "Shhh. I won't tell anyone if you don't want me to. But it'll be damn hard to keep this from Tess," said Lee.
"Thank you," replied Taliesin, "Sorry. I've needed that for so long-Nalani let me cry on her, but never another human. Not that I've exactly told any other human..."
"Done?" inquired Lee.
"Yes." Taliesin replied, straightening and blowing his nose on his handkerchief.
Lee grinned. "And I really don't mind, oh loyal subject of the Klutzes."
Taliesin laughed.
Lee grinned. "Let's go, bwana." [Bwana? Where did that come from?]
:Bermuda, probably.: said Tess.
:Where?: asked Lee, very confused.
:Never mind.:
Taliesin said, "Heyla!" and waved to his Companion, Nalani, over on the other riverbank. Tess was close behind.
"Let's ride!" said Lee.
"Sure. Since not all our year-mates are here yet, we don't have lessons. Let's go!" said Taliesin.
Lee jumped from rock to rock to the other side and mounted Tess.
They rode.
-----------------------
Hahaha! HAHAHAHA! Who saw THAT coming? Now Lee and Taliesin are friends! But ya gotta have friiennnndss...
*is interrupted by Scheherezade whacking her with a pillow*
OK. None of Lee's other year-mates are shaych. So that's all cleared up. Pie for these people:
Herald Mistylenna: You'll find out!
Rosethorn: No Talia/Dirk fluff because THEY AREN'T EVEN BORN YET! Sorry. I'm reeeeallly sugar-high. WHEEE!
Cat: Thank you!
Aristel: Scheherezade thanks you. Which is a rare thing. *ducks another pillow thrown by Scheherezade*
Senashenta: Oops. Lol. I'm not changing it, people can just wonder! Bwahaha! BWAHAHAHA! *Scheherezade whacks Fireblade with yet another pillow* Geez...Scheherezade has quite an arsenal.
Etcetera-cat: Thankees! *bows and blows kisses*
*crickets*
Erm. I guess I'll go work on other stuff then! Thank you, my fine reviewers!
Wind to thy wings!
~Fireblade
[brackets] indicate Lee's thoughts. :colons: indicate Mindspeech. The Heraldic Gift of Hindsight is also mine. ~-~-~ indicates a vision, beginning and end.
Muses Responsible: Scheherezade and Chaesa
--------------------------
The bell boomed above Lee's head. She sat up with a start and left her room. :It's just dinnertime. Don't panic-just follow everyone else,: said Tess from her vantage point in Lee's mind.
:Thanks.: replied Lee. She followed a group of Grays down the hall and into a room filled with tables. She blinked. There were so many! Lee bit her lip. There didn't seem to be anywhere to sit.
:Jali, Taliesin, and Lale are over at the second table to your left.: said Tess helpfully.
Lee walked towards the table holding her year-mates. However, her klutzy instincts kicked in on the third step she took, had her trip over her own feet, and somersault/sprawl six feet ahead.
The Grays laughed. Lee stood, her face burning. "Heyla!" said a new voice. "Um...you! The one who just tripped! Over here!"
Lee looked for the owner-and saw it was Taliesin. He grinned cheerily and waved her over to their table.
Lee sat, her face still red. "You must be our new year-mate," said Lale.
"Um, yes. I'm Leila, but everybody calls me Lee," replied Lee.
"Hi, Lee! Just got here? Eat!" said Jali, the only other girl at the table other than Lee. "Your other year-mate who's already here, Temya, has table duty."
Lee looked at the sheer quantity of the food and ate. "Where're you from?" asked Taliesin.
"Cherrybrook. It's southwest of Haven. I was Chosen yesterday, by Tess," said Lee after she had swallowed.
"I'm from Sweetsprings, Lale's from Lake Evendim, and Taliesin's from Rethwellan," said Jali. "Oh, and Temya is a Haven native."
Lee nodded and continued eating. The other three chatted among themselves as Lee listened. "Lee?" asked Taliesin, "I could show you around after dinner if you'd like."
"Thank you!" said Lee joyfully. "I haven't been able to find my way around at all!"
Taliesin grinned. "My pleasure, oh Queen of the Klutzes." He bowed.
"Hey!" protested Lee.
"Well, it's true!" insisted Taliesin.
Lee gave up and accepted her new title.
Lee got over most of her shyness that evening, finding the courage to laugh and joke with her year-mates. Temya came and joined Lee, Jali, Lale, and Taliesin, bowing when Taliesin informed her of Lee's new nickname.
:Will you come outside now?: asked Tess plaintively, :I want to show you to my friends!:
:All right!: said Lee. Then, to her year-mates, "Can we go to Companion's Field now?"
They agreed unanimously.
After they cleared their plates, Lale, Taliesin, Jali, Temya, and Lee hiked down to the Field. Lee felt strange in her new Grays, but forgot everything at the sight of Tess. "Tess!" she cried, running forward-only to trip and accidentally cartwheel over to the right.
"All hail the Queen of the Klutzes!" shouted Taliesin as Lee stood. "Where'd you learn those acrobatics?" he asked as Lee brushed herself off. "Oh-my twin older brothers taught them to me. They want to be entertainers, and since I'm so clumsy, they figured they should teach me as much as they could. I know how to cartwheel, somersault, and do flips, but I'm STILL a klutz," said Lee.
She demonstrated a handless cartwheel, ending with a backflip. Her year- mates clapped. Tess nickered. Lee devoted her attention to her Companion, realizing that there were several others behind her. :These are my friends. And your year-mates' Companions, most of them.: said Tess.
Lee waved to the other Companions, grinning. She looked at one of them, and seemed to somersault. [Not again!] she thought...
~-~-~
Lee hovered over a strange man as he tried to scrape ice off his tower roof. She could tell he wanted to see something in the sky, since he kept looking up anxiously. Suddenly, there was a small flash of light my his ankle and he fell, giving one gasp as his heart failed.
Lee watched as a Guard came running to him, crying, "Herald Kilchas!"
He knelt beside the body of what was apparently Herald Kilchas. Lee didn't quite remember who he was.
A man came running onto the Field, and Lee watched him. As he came more into view, she saw raven hair streaked with white and silver eyes. She gasped silently. This could only be Herald Vanyel...
~-~-~
Lee shook her head fiercely and stared at the Companion who had triggered the vision. Tess, who was seemingly unaware, was animatedly talking to the other Companions and Lee at the same time. :...and that's Kilchas, over there. That's all of them.:
Then, in private-mode to Lee, :What was that? It seemed like Foresight, but it wasn't fuzzy. Foresight is always fuzzy. I know because when I was a Heral-anyway, your vision was crystal-clear.: said Tess.
Lee shrugged, but her mood was dampened. Lee knew perfectly well what it actually was-a vision of the past. Should she tell Tess?
:You don't have to tell me anything you don't want to, dear. I'd just appreciate it if you did...: said Tess, wistfully.
:Never mind.: answered Lee, carefully dropping a veil over the thought.
"Time for your tour!" said Taliesin.
"Coming," smiled Tess.
Taliesin led her back out of Companion's Field, the other three still talking to their Companions. :Bye, Tess. See you soon!: said Lee.
Taliesin pointed at a building. "That's Bardic, and that's Healer's. Over there are the stables for the regular horses, and over there is the tack shed for the Companions. And here are the Collegium gardens."
Taliesin turned along a path, still talking animatedly. Lee watched her feet, making sure she didn't trip. "And there's the Palace," finished Taliesin. "How can you talk so fast and long?" asked Lee.
"It comes from living in Rethwellan. With all the complicated three-breath- for-normal-people names, you get extraordinary lungpower. I can say Rethwellan's King's full name and titles in two breaths. Most people need four!" replied Taliesin cheerfully.
Lee nodded, slightly dazed. The moon was rising. Taliesin turned onto a path following the River Terilee. Lee followed, still half-lost.
Taliesin sat on a log under an overhanging ledge. Lee sat beside him.
"Um. There's one more thing you should know," said Taliesin, very seriously.
Lee blinked.
"I've never told anyone this before, except Nalani, of course, but-" Taliesin took a deep breath, then began talking quickly and softly.
"I was born in a large city in Rethwellan. I'm actually a son of a minor noble. My father was always obsessed with our reputation and rising higher in the Court. As his eldest son, I was expected to hold up that image. But..." Taliesin took another deep breath. Lee watched him, not moving.
"Well-in Rethwellan, they're very against-shaych people. So, you can imagine what my father did when he learned-when he learned I was shaych," said Taliesin, carefully.
Lee blinked again. "My father-my father punished me, then disowned me. Just after I left home, Nalani came for me, and I came here, but I haven't told anyone since." Taliesin bit his lip. "I just met you-but I know that I can trust you. Somehow. I have a small Gift of Empathy. Very small. But it can tell me who I can trust...you don't mind, do you?"
Lee said, "What does being shaych have to do with the price of peas on the Dhorisa Plains? Of course I don't mind. Why would I? You're a person! A good person! And if-if you need someone, I'm here."
[That was interesting.] thought Lee. [I was half-sure he was going to romance me! Just shows you can't predict anything, I guess.]
Taliesin said, "Actually, I do need someone. Not precisely a someone. Just...some human who doesn't mind giving a shoulder to-to what my father considered less than an animal."
In response, Lee hugged him. She extended some new sense, and heard a few of his thoughts by mistake. When she 'heard' what his father had done to Taliesin-Lee wanted to go and kill him. [And all this on my first night here. I'm bushed, but Taliesin needs me. I'll stay for a while.]
Taliesin began to cry. Lee heard a few more of his thoughts that he seemed to be "projecting" at random. :Gods, gods. Someone, at least, doesn't mind. Gods, I've needed this...:
Lee soothed Taliesin gently, as if he was Berry crying over a scraped knee. "Shhh. I won't tell anyone if you don't want me to. But it'll be damn hard to keep this from Tess," said Lee.
"Thank you," replied Taliesin, "Sorry. I've needed that for so long-Nalani let me cry on her, but never another human. Not that I've exactly told any other human..."
"Done?" inquired Lee.
"Yes." Taliesin replied, straightening and blowing his nose on his handkerchief.
Lee grinned. "And I really don't mind, oh loyal subject of the Klutzes."
Taliesin laughed.
Lee grinned. "Let's go, bwana." [Bwana? Where did that come from?]
:Bermuda, probably.: said Tess.
:Where?: asked Lee, very confused.
:Never mind.:
Taliesin said, "Heyla!" and waved to his Companion, Nalani, over on the other riverbank. Tess was close behind.
"Let's ride!" said Lee.
"Sure. Since not all our year-mates are here yet, we don't have lessons. Let's go!" said Taliesin.
Lee jumped from rock to rock to the other side and mounted Tess.
They rode.
-----------------------
Hahaha! HAHAHAHA! Who saw THAT coming? Now Lee and Taliesin are friends! But ya gotta have friiennnndss...
*is interrupted by Scheherezade whacking her with a pillow*
OK. None of Lee's other year-mates are shaych. So that's all cleared up. Pie for these people:
Herald Mistylenna: You'll find out!
Rosethorn: No Talia/Dirk fluff because THEY AREN'T EVEN BORN YET! Sorry. I'm reeeeallly sugar-high. WHEEE!
Cat: Thank you!
Aristel: Scheherezade thanks you. Which is a rare thing. *ducks another pillow thrown by Scheherezade*
Senashenta: Oops. Lol. I'm not changing it, people can just wonder! Bwahaha! BWAHAHAHA! *Scheherezade whacks Fireblade with yet another pillow* Geez...Scheherezade has quite an arsenal.
Etcetera-cat: Thankees! *bows and blows kisses*
*crickets*
Erm. I guess I'll go work on other stuff then! Thank you, my fine reviewers!
Wind to thy wings!
~Fireblade
