Disclaimer: All Valdemar related items in the below story are the possessions of Mercedes Lackey, not me.

A/N Okay, another chapter. (Wow I think this is the shortest A/N yet!)

            We spent three uneventful days on the way back to Martin's town.  Our Heralds were busy buying supplies and planning the quickest route home.  Since the Heralds who had been captured had all been assumed dead their circuit routes were already covered. Garth's herald was needed in Haven by the queen and Martin had to go in for training.  That left Ralph and I to finish our route alone.  We only had about a month left but it was still irritating that after all we had accomplished we would not be going home yet.

            While the humans were busy we companions grazed and amused the town's children.  This turned out to be a most rewarding exercise as the children stuffed us with candies, fruits, and carrots.  They also got our coats all sticky and that too was good because it meant a nice long grooming from our chosen later.

            I was dozing and munching under the tender ministrations of a group of maybe a half dozen younglings when the others had to leave.  I turned my head enough to watch them going.

            :Bye,: I called lazily after the poor unfortunates who had to leave, before realizing that leaving meant going home which was better even than being treated like a princess.  Still, I could enjoy my snacks while I had them and then pine for home.

            :What'll I ever do with you Asia?: Elsa remarked some time later her voice tinted half with horror half with laughter at the fact that I was covered in sticky goop.

            :Wash me, and brush me, and umm, feed me more sticky sweets than these kiddies so I'll still love you most?:

            :Ha!  I don't think so … if I tried to outdo those kids you'd be so roly poly I wouldn't be able to ride you!:

            :So?:

            :So we wouldn't ever get home, and if we ever did the circle would half kill me for letting you get that fat!  Not to mention the riding teacher, do you even understand how many times we would have to run the obstacle course?:

            :Okay, you can just groom me out until my coat shines then.  And maybe dye my fur?  I get kind of sick of white sometimes … :

            :It wouldn't stick.  The coloring from the candy all over you is already half faded out.:

            :Spoil sport!:

            :Come on into the barn if you want that brushing Asia.:

            I glanced up at the sky and realized it was starting to darken.  Apparently we were staying here tonight.  That suited me just fine, one less day on circuit then.  We wouldn't be staying in towns once we restarted on circuit.  Way stations were more impartial.  I preferred towns.

            I shook the kids off of me and reported to the stable to allow Elsa to groom me until, as requested, my coat sparkled.

            :On second thought, I like white just fine.:

            :Because it's like snow?:

            :No, are you implying that I am coldhearted?: I asked with mock indignation, :No, I like it because it's so pure, just like me!: I added haughtily.

            :Pure as manure!:

            :A bit more than that at least.:

            :Fine, but I don't think that you should be taking on airs my dear.  By this time tomorrow you will be mud to your fetlocks and sleeping in the woods near a way station.:

            :Don't remind me.:

            :Sorry love,: Elsa replied stroking my neck.  I sighed and relaxed into her caresses.  We lapsed into silent companionship for a few moments.

            "I've got to go dear, we are leaving quite early tomorrow," Elsa said, patting me as final time before leaving.  A bedraggled looking Ralph came in as my chosen left.

            :What happened to you pasture pony?:

            :Those kids, and don't you act high and mighty, I saw Elsa leaving with your brushes!:

            :Yes, but I got my chosen out here!:

            :Bart was willing to come out, I saw no reason to bother him when the grooms would be perfectly happy to brush me.:

            :Prove it!:  I said with a snicker.

            Instead of responding Ralph walked straight up to the groom who sat dozing in the far corner.  He nudged the boy awake and then waited patiently for him to stir.  When the groom sat up and blinked Ralph stamped his hoof meaningfully.  Unfortunately the groom didn't know what meaning the gesture was meant to convey.

            "What do you want boy?" the groom grumbled.  Ralph left and returned with a brush clasped firmly in his teeth.

            "Oh, yeah, you're pretty dirty, aren't you?  Well, isn't that what your chosen is for?  Oh well," the groom sighed, "I may as well do it for him, and he's probably too busy to care for you anyway."

            Ralph snorted angrily at the snub to his chosen, but he relented when then groom led him over to the wash stall for a thorough cleaning.  When the groom finished with him Ralph sighed and went to lie in his stall.  As soon as the groom was back to sleep he rolled in the scratchy straw contentedly.

            :Feeling better Ralphy?:

            :Yes,: he replied happily.

            :Good.:

            :Why don't we have a peek into what our chosen are doing?:

            :Would that be wise?:

            :Sure, why not?:

            :Alright, this could be interesting.:

            I thought for a moment and then I was looking out through Elsa's eyes.  She was sitting on the bed in one of their adjoining rooms.  Bart was standing in the doorway between the two rooms. 

            "Well, internee, you're nearly done with this circuit."

            "Yes, but I miss home.  I miss Haven."

            "That's not entirely bad, we all miss it when we're away.  But duty comes first for heralds."

            "I know … is it bad that I sort of regret what we did back there?"

            "No, it would be bad if you didn't.  You weren't one of them anymore, but you still knew them.  Killing should never be pleasant for you El, if it ever becomes fun that is the day you should stop."

            "Sure, but …"

            "You might always regret it El, but you don't need to.  You did what was right.  We've got to go early tomorrow alright?"

            "Yeah, and Mew, I- um," I sensed that she was terribly nervous about her next comment, "I love you," she blurted and then stared pointedly at the floor.

            Bart stood for a moment, before his footsteps approached.  She looked up into his eyes.

            "Me too," he said with a grin.  He placed a hand on her shoulder, "Now, it's really time for bed.  Good night," Bart kissed her cheek and went into the other room, shutting the door firmly behind him.

            Elsa shook her head, sighed and pulled back her sheets.  She went to sleep and I left her.

            :Did you see that Ralph?:

            :Yes, it is a life bond.  I knew it!: he crowed.

            :Great, now they're really going to be obsessed with each other.:

            :Oooh, we need to have a wedding planned for them.:

            :Please, you're getting a bit ahead of yourself.:

            :For normal people yes, but they're heralds.  They will be wedded at once when we get home.:

            :I suppose.:

           

            We left the next morning to finish our circuit.  Elsa had taken total control of everything by then and she did quite well.  We were bothered with nothing out of the ordinary. 

            That left Ralph and I with practically unlimited time to plan and fuss over Elsa and Bart's wedding.  They didn't know it yet, but the companions back at the collegium certainly did and they were telling a few strategic heralds to start the preparations.  It hadn't taken long for Ralph to convince me that our chosen would indeed be married.  They acted like a pair of star-struck clowns.

            So we spent the remainder of our circuit planning and being fed by children.  Elsa and Bart were too preoccupied with the circuit and each other to even notice our plotting.

            We returned to Haven late one evening.  The city looked like a dream, rising out of a hazy mist of fog.  Without consulting each other or our chosen Ralph and I picked up a fast trot.  The gate guards let us pass unchallenged.  I was reminded of the simple perfection of Miss Elmira's plan and sent thanks skyward that she was no longer at large.  Garth had informed us weeks ago that she was hanging from the traitor's gallows.  Those clan members who remained alive and devoted to her were in the deepest, darkest dungeons of Valdemar.

            I sighed finally all the trouble and anxiety were over.  No more clan, no more monotonous circuit.  We were finally home.

            :Elsa, I hope you don't mind but, um, we have a little celebration planned for you and Bart.:

            :What? When?:

            :Well, the day after tomorrow actually, it would have been tomorrow, but you see they need time to fit your dress.  They have it partly done, but there's only so much that can be done without you here.:

            :Dress?:

            :Well, you can't very well get married in you dirty old circuit whites!:

            "Married?!!!" she shrieked, her surprise causing her to slip out of her mind voice, "Asia, you have some explaining to do!!!"

            "What?" Bart squeaked at nearly the same time.  Apparently Ralph had also decided to share their plans.  With no easy way out the two of us spilled the entire plan each adding to the other with a sentence or two at a time.

            "All right you two, I don't know where you got this hair-brained idea, but …" Bart began.

            "Thank you," Elsa finished for him.

            "Right," he added, "we couldn't think of the best way to tell you, and all this time you knew."

            :That's right,: I crowed, :You should know better than to keep things from the all-knowing horsies.:

            :You aren't all-knowing Asia, get over it.:

            :Spoil-sport!:

            We passed the palace gate guard after a brief stop for him to check us off of his list.  With friendly banter we went to the companion's stable, where our chosen cared for us and our tack and then went off in search of food and their rooms.

            :That went remarkably well considering,: I said lazily settling into my favorite big loose stall.

            :Yup,: Ralph agreed wading into the stall beside mine.

            I sighed; the clan was completely and permanently taken care of.  Martin had already started his training.  The kidnapped companions were back to normal.  Bart and Elsa were getting married.  In short all was well.

A/N okay that's the end, we all know what a wedding looks like and nothing out of the ordinary happens at this one so there is no need to bore you with it.  That concludes this fic. 

Alastia Starsong sequel I might consider it, but I'd need enough requests for it to bother with it.  (not that I am in any way a review grubber!) if you had stories posted I'd put a plug for them here!

Mystik Surreality thanks for the review.  I'm glad it wasn't too corny. People if you are reading this try to r&r these author's stories okay they are good!

Trina Ti thanks for the correction.  I learned about the whites when I read the arrows trilogy, and I wrote that chapter before that  but thanks anyway, I appreciate the review.

if you had stories posted I'd put a plug for them here!

Light-fingers Cutthroat as always I love your reviews … who could possibly have hurried you away from your computer?  (it certainly wasn't me (okay so what if it was?)) People if you are reading this try to r&r these author's stories okay they are good!

anyway thanks for reading my fic.  I hope you enjoyed it.  I enjoyed writing it so that much is good.  Right, well thanks for reviews, I love all of you reviewers dearly. 

I guess I made up for a short opening a/n with a long closing one.  If any of you like harry potter fics or don't like harry potter himself I wrote a mocking parody of it on this account.