Disclaimer: Since this is a new fic I am rewording the disclaimer but it's still here 'cause unfortunately I still don't own any of the below ideas that can be found in the 'real' Valdemar *sigh*.
A/N hey, thanks to Magdellin, your reviews are an inspiration! Thanks to Stee too! To anyone else who reads this, I have cookies for everyone how reviews!! (Internet cookies) right, well enjoy chapter 3!
As soon as my last class for the day let out I ran for companion's field. My first day had gone superbly well. I had made it to all of my classes on time, but the best part was that I was in the advanced group for singing. This meant I was actually trained by a bard and not some journey-man level trainee. I was so happy that I nearly ran into Savannah on my way to tell her about it.
Due to my shock at nearly running her down it took me a moment to realize two things. One, she was on the outside of companion's field. The second being that she was in dress tack.
"Oh, no…" I whispered. She was leaving, going to choose, "Good luck Savannah," I added quietly.
:Cheer up laddie, it isn't the end of the world, before you know it I'll be back. I'm quite proud of you Cye!:
"You! I thought your mother had taught you not to talk to the uninitiate," I accused, this was the first time she had spoken me directly.
:Just because I didn't talk to you doesn't mean I couldn't, you were much more fun when you didn't expect an answer!:
"Oh, get on with you mare, go find your chosen!" I shooed her down the road.
She sent me the mental equivalent of a wink and positively pranced to the gate, neck arched, feet placed exactingly, chiming like a church-bell.
:You'll have to come visit me when I get back…you can teach my chosen where my itchy spots are!:
"You're just like your spoiled mother," I shouted back playfully. She craned her neck around and I got the strangest impression that had she had human features she would have stuck her tongue out at me.
:I heard that!: a familiar voice complained to me.
"I didn't mean it that way Asia," I whined heading for the companion stable. As expected Asia was eagerly waiting for a treat.
"Doesn't Mother feed you?" I asked as she gobbled down her fifth carrot.
:Of course, but what self-respecting companion would give up a willingly offered meal?:
"The lot of you are great big grain bags is what you are … and ungrateful at that!"
:There, there dear, it takes some heralds to figure that out; being that you're such a smart boy can you figure out what I want now?:
"Peace and quiet?"
:Close, a smile, come now … you look as if your best friend had died.:
"I don't have a best friend," I grumped.
:Well la-de-da, aren't you just special! I'll talk to you later, when you are in a better mood. And just so you know Savannah would be distressed to hear she wasn't your friend anymore.:
I ignored Asia and she started to move away. After staring at the ground for a few moments I went back to my room, hoping against hope that Eben would be out.
As luck would have it he was. This was good, because I was no longer able to hold back my bitter tears.
"If she were my friend she wouldn't have gone off to choose someone who could never love her as much as I do!" I hissed as I ripped the pillows and blankets off of my bed. I then piled them on top of the mattress and crawled under them to sob myself to sleep.
I lost track of time in my blanket cavern. I must have fallen asleep though, because the next thing I knew fresh air assaulted my tear-streaked face and Eben's country burr struck my ears.
"My but you're a hard little chap to wake! You missed supper," he said cheerfully.
"I don't feel like eating," I replied shortly.
"You feeling all right?"
"Yes!"
Eben peered into my face, "What you been crying about?" he asked kindly.
"Nothing! I wasn't crying," I amended realizing my error.
"Sure you weren't, and I'm Herald Vanyel!"
"Why aren't you in whites?" I replied sharply.
"Look, calm down kid, if you don't want to talk about it fine," he shrugged, "I brought you something to eat. I figured you could use the nourishment."
"Thanks," I said more amiably. I got out of bed and accepted the food. Eben lit some candles.
"Did you get your schoolwork done?" Eben asked sitting backwards in his chair so he could face me.
"Uh-uh," I grunted around a bite of bread.
"You should, it's due back tomorrow."
"Yeah, I will."
"Do you want help with it?"
"No, do I look stupid to you? I can do my own work thanks," I exploded.
"I didn't mean it that way, I just know that when I came I would have appreciated a helping hand."
"Whatever," I grunted in return, then, feeling sorry that I had been taking my feelings out on him I relented, "My best friend left today…"
"Oh," Eben replied, waiting for me to go on if I chose.
"She went to find a new best friend."
"Who is she?" Eben asked calmly.
"Savannah. We grew up together … she's a companion, my mother and father's companion's only foal, and she left to chose today," I sniffled, "I know it sounds stupid but I always kind of hoped that I could be her herald," I forced a smile there, "but now she can chose the right herald for her, instead of having to put up with me."
"Come on now Cye, surely life isn't all that bad? If she went to chose she'll be back, with a new friend for you."
I shook my head, "I wouldn't be a good friend to whomever she chose, I would be too jealous."
"At least you're honest about it."
"I've been perfectly wretched today," I confessed, "I yelled at Savannah, I yelled at Asia, and now I'm yelling at you!"
"Asia and Savannah are companions they will understand that you were hurting, and now that you've explained yourself so do I. How about a song to take your mind off of it?"
"Your song?" I asked wearily.
Eben shook his head and grinned, "Let's hear of Sun and Shadows."
"No, I've never gotten that song right!" I squeaked my objection.
Eben grinned slyly, "but you've never sung it with another bard before!"
"We aren't bards yet!"
Eben shrugged, "My mother always told me that a true bard is a bard from birth."
I had no real objection for that. So, with a helpless shrug I acquiesced.
"Good. I'll play the high part on flute and you sing the bass."
"But I always sing the soprano part!" I objected.
"Well, there's your problem then, this song can't be done right in a falsetto!"
"All right, I'll give it a try," I agreed grudgingly. Eben tapped out the beat for a measure and then he picked up the first verse with his flute. I waited until the next verse to add my voice. At first it sounded rusty to my ears, but soon the song transcended my misery and I felt as though I were observing it as opposed to singing it. The sweet sorrow certainly fit my mood marvelously.
As the last notes fluttered around us I finally smiled, "You were right!" I said incredulously.
Eben was grinning too, "You did beautifully! Now how about that homework?"
"I don't even want to think about it!"
"You'd better, it needs to be finished for tomorrow."
"Yeah," I said with a sigh. I went to my bed and dug through the tangle sheets to find my books. I finally pulled them triumphantly out and dumped them unceremoniously on my desk. I opened to my mathematics homework, and scribbled furiously for a moment. Then I stuck the sheet of parchment carefully inside the book, shut it and slid it to the side. I repeated this with four of my other subjects before glancing up at the time candle; a quarter candle-mark had passed.
"You actually did that work?" Eben asked skeptically with a raised eyebrow.
"Yes, I got most of it finished at the end of class, but it's all finished. Except my instrumental music. I've never been very good with instruments."
"Well, which did you pick?"
"Harp, they sound so pretty and one of the heralds could play one … he always looked so peaceful when he played …"
"Unfortunately you picked the one instrument that I know absolutely nothing about! But, I happen to have a friend who could help you with it."
"I could pick something else …" I volunteered.
"Let me see your hands," Eben said speculatively. I held out my hands for inspection. Eben took them in his own for a moment, measured them against his own and then nodded, "No, you chose right, the harp will suit you, I'll introduce you to Tatty tomorrow!"
"Tatty?"
"Tatiana, she's my year mate, and an excellent harpist."
"She'll help me?"
"If my assumption is correct than she will be only too glad to help you."
"What?" I asked, confused.
"You'll see lad, just do your best with the work tonight and we'll go see Tatty tomorrow after classes."
"Alright," I agreed doubtfully. I quickly bent back over my work and within another quarter candle mark I had a marginally satisfactory product.
With a tired yawn I put out my work candle and stretching glanced over to see what Eben was doing. He was humming a song to himself and poring over a paper.
"More schoolwork?" I asked. Eben jumped a bit and then blushed as he looked at me.
"Well, no, it's a … ummm…"
"An ummmm huh?" I teased.
"Yes, and ummm," Eben replied happily.
"Who's it from?"
"No one!" Eben squeaked.
"Come on, tell me!"
"It's none of your business roomy, go to sleep!"
"All right, you enjoy reading your ummm, from whoever it is … although if you're that embarrassed…" I let my sentence dangle.
"It's from Tatty's lil' sister," Eben mumbled and then rushed to explain as I set about reorganizing my messy bed, "She keeps trying to set me and Tatty up."
"I'm sure," I replied noncommittally.
"Oh come on, here, I'll let you read it."
"Oh, no I trust you," I said blandly.
"Come on, here read it," Eben shoved the note in front of my face. Smirking I read it, but my smirk didn't last long, it was just as Eben had said Tatty's little sister was sure that Eben and Tatty would make a fine couple, I managed to pick that much up between all the childish spelling errors.
"Satisfied? She sends them to both of us in the post monthly!" Eben complained.
"Why don't you mail her back and say the two of you are passionately in love?" I asked innocently.
"Ha, I've thought about it! But then we would get pounds of mail with her crowing that she had know we were perfect for each other, and we would have to stage a messy breakup before Tatty could go home to visit her family."
"Oh, then I guess you just have to put up with her."
"Guess so."
"Well, good night Eben."
"Good night Cye."
A/N alright there's some nasty Cye for everyone. I love it(cue the sarcasm) when the Valdemar books go on and on about the song of sun and shadow, so I figured I'd throw that in, anyway, please review if you've read this much, I'd write more tonight but I'm sick so this is it for now.