Chapter Five: Another Start, Another Life
PHM: Oh, yea! I'm on a writing spree!
Nomara: But you're not as hyper….will it be as good…
PHM: -scurries off to get Mt. Dew- MWAHAHAHA!!!!
Nomara: -.-….Nice….
PHM: Ok, well, I don't own Mrs. Lackey's stuff, and you know who I own, 'cause you've never read of them before now!!! –Laughs-
Nomara: Just let them read….
Blah, blah- thought
/blah, blah\- memory
:blah: -thought from Pellia to Mina or Mina to Pellia
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Enchantingly Dark. So beautifully crisp and dark. Whirling around the shadows as a rider on a tea cup, Mina sat in Darkness…alone. Shadows wrapped their lying embrace around her, telling her lies that she would never believe. Yet, they cringed back as an undying Light enshrouded Mina, protecting her from the dark-hued strangers of the Night. This Light was true beauty. "I ne'er saw true beauty till this night." The only thought that clouded Mina's mind now was how her and this Light could stay together, their hearts and minds as one.
:We will be together always, dearheart…Chosen. I will always be here for you.: The voice was a delicate whisper that arose from the Light, swirling Mina in its arms like a happy friend. The Light and she would always be together.
:Good…:
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Wind softly stroked Mina's blonde hair and the air smelled sweetly of foreign herbs. It was at least noon, Mina could tell even with her eyes closed. Everyone busied around her, even the animals outside had long ago risen from their beds. The girl sat there, feeling as though she wanted to be free, running along a hill alone and well; and at the same time, she wanted to sit and sleep more. She decided against simply sleeping there for the noise had become too much with the screech of a hawk and a grumble from her stomach. Slowly groaning as she began to sit up, Mina opened her eyes to the bright world around her.
"Well Heyla there!! Glad to see you're awake, Mina." The voice seemed familiar, vaguely, like a puzzle or maze that looked easy to solve but took a genius to figure it out. The woman who spoke had long blonde hair, wavy really, down to her shoulders. And she had to most stunning emerald and earthy gaze Mina had ever seen. They seemed so wise, yet so young, and so deliciously happy. Her clothes looked strange as well as Mina gazed over her. They were green, forest green really, with a faint outline of brown and a lighter green around the hems. She had a feather in her hair and a necklace made of what looked to be acorns around her neck. Other beads wrapped nonchalantly around her waist as a belt, and the green sleeves on the outfit were rolled up. A basket of herbs rested next to Mina's bed and more in the smiling woman's hand.
And all of this was noticed by the girl in a mere moment.
"He…y…la…" Mina stated weakly back, finding her voice in a very odd place hiding her in mind. Her blue eyes glazed over for a moment before the woman helped her sit straight.
"You've been asleep for almost three days! I'm glad Pellia found you. My Healing got rid of the poison and most of the wound, though you'll have a nice scar. We did help though." The woman stated smiling, (does she ever frown?) as she opened up the curtains to let the sun greet the child. Mina shrieked back, shrieking just a bit as the sun hit her dark eyes. Yet, Mina sucked in what the woman stated and answered with a hand over her eyes.
"How do you know my name? Who is Pellia? Who are you? And who is we?" Mina gingerly removed her hand from her face, testing the strength of the sun as she stared at the woman. She was talking to a small thing, and turned to Mina only when she was finished. Mina looked appalled at such an odd creature lurking within a house. The woman laughed at the child's expression.
"It is only a hertasi! You think you've never seen one before!" The woman laughed, her hand slapping her stomach gently, but she stopped abruptly as she looked at Mina once again. The girl was frightened. Her blue eyes were wide with fear and her mouth was ajar about two inches. The woman came over a cautiously sat next to Mina, her hand on the girl's pale shoulder. "Oh, and to forget we never brought you here. No wonder you have so many questions… May-" The woman had been about to say "Maybe you should sit down," but remembering Mina already sat she changed her words.
Sighing, the woman took her hand off Mina's shoulder and began to answer Mina's questions. Her earthy eyes grew thoughtful, her beautiful brow furrowed in thought. Sighing once more, her voice decided to work. "I know your name, Mina, because I have been watching after you for the past…oh…two years or so. Carefully my husband and I followed you, making sure you lived to see another day. Until today…you got bit by a wyrsa, child." The woman stopped, gazing away from Mina's stunning sapphire eyes and down at her arm. A long scar remained from where Mina remembered the wyrsa bit her.
Mina thought back to that day…three days ago when she left to gather berries and wound up being chased by a wyrsa pack. Oh! It had been horrible! But you were saved… Mina recalled, her inner voice colored with awe and joy. Suddenly it clicked and the woman nodded as Mina's eyes grew large and she gasped. "Pellia!! Pellia is my…..Pellia is my Companion…." Mina whispered the words as though she would be killed if she spoke them. The woman nodded hard, going towards the window and pointing down at it.
"She has been worried sick to! Poor dear…But, for the rest of your explanations. Pellia will explain more later." The blonde sighed once more, happily this time, and went back over towards Mina. "I, Mina, am Keisha Firkin, Healer of K'Valdemar here in the Pelagris Forest. My husband, Darian, first found you wondering alone and knew that you were Gifted. Somehow he knew." The woman –Keisha- sighed wistfully as though she knew just what her husband –Darian- had been thinking at the time. Smiling once more and looking at Mina with such fondness that it seemed Mina was like her own daughter.
"Anyroad, the we I was referring to would be the Vale. All of us helped kill those wyrsa. It was lucky that Pellia killed the one that could've -and almost did- kill you." Keisha's eyes grew dark with concern as she absently stroked her left arm. The rhythm vibrated the bed. Up, Down, Up, Down, Down; On and on until Mina gently put her hand on Keisha's arm to cease her jerky movements. "Thanks…Perhaps you should come outside and say hello to your Companion there." Keisha stated, her bubbly self returning to greet the world. Opening the door to the very high room, Keisha looked back. "I'll be down stairs in the lower level of the ekele. We still don't like it very high, not natural Hawkbrothers. Try to get dressed yourself, but if you need help, call my name and I'll be up in a flash." Nodding her blonde head, Keisha disappeared down the stairs.
"Wow…A Companion….Hawkbrothers…hertasi…ekele…what next!? A rouge Heart stone? Wait...forget that…" Mina pulled herself out of the bed, gingerly putting her feet to the floor. It was cold, but nothing Mina was not used to. She put her weight down onto that foot and slid her other foot from the comfy, and rather fluffy, bed. Wistfully sighing (it seemed everyone did a lot of that here), Mina reluctantly left the cozy bed. As soon as she stood up, she fell. Her legs shook as she grabbed a hold of a nearby bed stand, gripping it with all of her power. Her body was exhausted, both spiritually and physically.
:You can do it…Come on…: It was a voice; a voice so full of love, so full of compassion that Mina seemed capable of flying the moment it spoke to her. She wanted to leap down from the short balcony and into the voice's arms, though she knew that she would just end up on the voice's back instead. Still, Mina would tell the voice how much she loved her back. :You can tell me, even from up there, Chosen.: The voice was colored with laughter and Mina could sense a presence lingering at the door way to her mind. Looking both ways first, Mina let her Companion enter her thoughts.
:Wow! Oh, my word!!!: Mina said into her Companion's –Pellia's- mind. It was amazing to the young girl. She could talk with her best friend, her closest family, her heart, without anyone hearing! Oh, her Father could never catch her now. Yet, Mina did not know how to express how she felt in words. What she felt was incomprehensible love and gratitude. Not knowing she had been doing it, Mina had sent those very feeling down the still weak link that the two shared.
:I will always love you, my Chosen. I will never, ever leave you. Even if your Father comes and takes you away, I will not let him. You are mine, and I am yours.: The words hit Mina in the heart and instantly tears of love, joy, and eternal happiness welled inside her eyes as she reached for her tunic. Quickly as her half wobbly body would allow her, Mina dressed and went down stairs.
The clothes she wore were oddly exotic, yet felt extremely wonderful against her skin. The colors of the water crossed her waist length tunic and the ribbon that held her hair up into its usual bun. Earth toned light browns colored her breeches and she twisted experimentally around for Keisha after she traveled downstairs. Keisha smiled and clapped. "The hertasi made that for you! First Vale gift…" Keisha got up from her work, her blonde hair wrapping around her angular face. Taking Mina by the hand, the two left to get Mina ready to go.
To go to the new life that awaited her at the Collegium.
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The two had been traveling for a week's time. All the towns knew of her arrival from the Hawkbrothers, and all specially prepared a room for free, saying that "Any future Herald is worth all our gold!" Mina did not know how to respond and often did not end up staying in the room they granted her. Rather, she slipped down into the stable and slept with Pellia until a stable boy woke her. The cook would then give her breakfast and a packed lunch before they were on there way to the next town. But after a week, it was hard for Mina not to say "Are we there yet?" Biting her tongue often and looking ahead wistfully, Mina could only pray they reached Haven soon.
Pellia explained to Mina about Healers –like Keisha and others in Haven-, Bards –someone that played music- and Heralds. Mina had heard of Heralds before, from her Father. She also knew that Heralds were Demon-spawn and evil. But for Mina, defying her Father was not hard at all.
:There it is, Chosen: Pellia's MindVoice –as Mina now knew it was called- stated into her head. Whilst thinking, Mina did not realize that before them lie Haven. Truly magnificent were the first words to pop into Mina's head. Surrounded by thick walls of stone and guarded by Guardsmen in the royal blue of Valdemar, lay Mina's future –and only- home.
:Let's ride:
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By sundown, Pellia and Mina reached the Collegium. A smiling guardsmen had let them through (obviously Mina missed something the world had for EVERYONE smiled…) and the first picture of the Palace and the three Collegia was stunning. Pellia laughed, for it sounded much to like a laugh rather than a whicker, as Mina gasped and grabbed a hold of Pellia's white neck, her breath filling the air around them.
:I take it you like it….: Pellia had stated sarcastically, prancing a little as a couple of Bards walked by. The Bards laughed, their voices high pitched for being Full Bards.
:Are they Trainees? They don't look like the Bards you gave me pictures of: Pellia had sent Mina pictures along with everything she told Mina, making everything much easier for the girl to absorb. A mental nod was all the answer Mina needed. Stopping in front of the door, Pellia awaited something that Mina knew not of and her Companion decided against telling her.
A door closed behind them and Mina turned around in the saddle, Pellia soon turning around as well, and Mina gazed upon what had to be a Prince. He was stunning. His long silver, yes, a highly odd color, but silver nonetheless, reached almost to his waist. His face was angular, his chin stubborn and square, and his smile full and round, along with fresh crimson lips that glowed like rubies in the dying sun. Oh, and his eyes! The steel gray faded from translucent to a light blue before Mina. He was a sight Mina could live with for the rest of her life.
"Umm…Miss…" The man spoke, a friendly smile upon his face, and his voice danced with the air like a butterfly in a field. Mina simply stared, her mouth somewhat agape at the boy.
:Dramatic, aren't we…: Her Companion laughed at her, nudging her back into reality to answer the boy.
"My name is Mina…" The young blonde stated, though as soon as she said it she realized why the boy looked at her funny. She said it in Karsite! Smooth Mina…real smooth…Mina stated to herself, smiling at the boy and hopping down off of Pellia. "Let me try this again," she stated in Valdemerean, to the boys apparent relief. "My name is Mina Fallon, and I guess I'm the new Trainee here. I have no idea where I'm supposed to go, goodsir, so if you would just point me in the right direction…" Smiling a little wider Mina began to look around, her blue eyes shining with interest as she awaited the boys answer while feigning disinterest.
"Oh! Yes, sorry about that. Welcome to the Collegium, Mina. I'm Neo, and I'm going to be your mentor here…"
Pellia's laughter filled Mina's mind as she stared stupidly at Neo…her mentor and guide here at the Collegium.
:Looks like you're gunna have some fun here…: Pellia laughed into Mina's mind as the three headed towards the stable.
:Shut up, horse…:
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PHM: Tehehe!! Yuppers! So, now the fun begins. –Evil chuckle- Oh, I also want to thank all my supportive readers and reviewers, especially wizard116 and Lexi. You guys are the best! –huggles-
Loor: Don't forget to review!!!
