And on it goes--- Cover my legal butt again: Misty Lackey owns I don't.
ENJOY!!!
Chapter 7 Aftermath
Talia was already at Healer's when Alberich came striding in carrying 'Flame. Selenay was waiting for a report from her. Alberich didn't acknowledge her just putting his burden down gently and getting out of the Mind Healer's way. Darkfire had stuck his head in the outside door that lead to the garden. Ayren sat in the tree just outside the room. Alberich closed the door as he left the room and took a chair from the waiting area. He placed it next to the door and sat, crossing his arms. Kero strode in and handed him his sword without a word. She left again shaking her head at Talia's curious face.
Talia, of course, had seen and heard the entire story, up until they went into the vale and the barrier was erected, through Rolan. She had rushed to Healer's waiting for 'Flame to arrive. When she looked out again she saw Alberich striding across the grounds carrying a small lump with a Healer racing at his heels. Shortly after that Kero had came striding behind them. :She held a sword on Firesong,: Rolan commented sounding amused in Talia's mind. :Watch out he's heading toward you and he doesn't look happy.:
Talia sighed and unconsciously straightened her tunic. She stood and waited for the powerful Adept. He came sailing in the door, his robes fluttering around him, and his mask clicking. Silverfox was with him. She held up a hand to stop them from going any further. "Wait, the Healer is still with her." Firesong stopped. "There is nothing you can do for her."
"Nothing?" He snapped. "In case you've forgotten, Queen's Own, I am a Healing Adept."
Talia heard Alberich stand behind her and barely kept her own temper. "I have not forgotten, Firesong. However, you pushed her to this. She made it quite clear that she didn't want you to know what had happened to her. And yet you insisted. You attacked her stallion. Demanded answers of him, knowing it would bring her out. Knowing you would find out what you HAD to know." Talia found herself beginning to lose her own temper. She shut her mouth seeing Selenay, Dirk and Daren coming towards them.
"I have a right to know!" Firesong said almost shouting. "I am her brother dammit!"
A Healer came running down the hall. "OUT! NOW!" She yelled at all of them, including Selenay. "OUT! I will NOT have you in here shouting!" She turned to make the same demand of Alberich but saw him sitting stoically with a naked blade across his lap. She rethought herself then and turned to point imperiously out the door, indicating all should leave.
The group left quickly, though emotions were still running high. Talia immediately turned and faced Firesong. Usually she was so calm and collected. Everyone was surprised to see her losing her temper so easily. "You weren't here when she was first here. Even through her shielding and my own I could feel her loneliness. Her fear. Her... Gods her self-hatred." She wiped a weary hand across her face. "She hates herself, Firesong. She feels its her fault your mother died and Starfall hates her. She thinks that she did something to get herself banned from the Vales." Talia slumped slightly, through her shields still overwhelmed by what she felt from 'Flame. "And you pushed. You attacked the only family she had." She turned from Firesong then and walked close enough for Dirk to put his arm around her.
Silverfox echoed the movement with his own beloved. The two groups stood looking at each other. Both were very worried about the young woman, yet neither really understood what had happened to her and so couldn't help her. Firesong felt truly defeated for the first time in his life. His sister had been truly traumatized by what had happened to her. Then he knew what he wanted to do. Moving out of Silverfox's embrace, he opened himself to the power of the Heartstone beneath the palace. :Starfall!: He Sent the urgent call towards k'Valdemar. Quickly his father's sleepy mindvoice answered.
:Firesong? What is it? What's wrong?: With every word he sounded more alert and greater worry colored the words.
:Father I need you to make all haste to Haven.: Firesong let his own worry shade the words, :Hurry. I'll explain when you get here.: He didn't give his father time to say anything more instead, breaking the link. It was all he could do. He would make both 'Flame and his father see that this feud between them was ridiculous. He would save his sister.
Inside there were now two MindHealer's working on 'Flame. The damage to her sanity was extensive. In,fact neither knew how she had been functioning up until now. They couldn't reach a conscious part of her yet. It was like she had retreated so far that none would be able to reach her. While they worked on her, a Trainee was changing her clothes into something less restrictive. He sucked in a breath of agony when he saw the scars crisscrossing her torso. Still he remained professional and got her into a nightgown with as little fuss as possible, trying not to disturb the two working on her.
He left them shortly after and scuttled around Alberich who was still sitting there with a naked blade looking very grim. He went to find another Healer to have them look at the scars and see if there was anything to be done. Perhaps with the scars gone the damage to her mind would heal more rapidly. Within moments he was back with his mentor who strode briskly into the room. Alberich looked up in alarm, seeing that there were now three healers in the room. The Trainee stayed outside to briefly explain what was going on. The Weaponsmaster relaxed and agreed with the boy. He'd seen it as well. Sometimes removing the physical reminders helped heal the memories.
So he returned to his posture and kept a lethal look on his face. Mage or not, brother or not, Firesong had brought her to this when it had been painfully obvious to everyone that she had no desire to speak of things.
Outside the tension had not eased between those native to the Palace and the Tayledras. Firesong's face was still behind the mask. Silverfox stayed near him ready to offer support as he could. Darien and Keisha were waiting silently near the fence to Companion's Field. Talia was staying in Dirk's arms. Selenay stood quietly bracketed between Daren and Caryo. The tension was mounting and there was nothing anyone could do to dissolve it. Everything hinged on 'Flame's recovery. Finally someone came out and approached the groups. She was one of the MindHealers and she didn't look hopeful.
"I am Healer Ralea. My specialty is Healing the Mind for those who don't know me." She took in both groups and sighed. "When this happened before, we warned you that another episode could send her into a permanent catatonia. She would not let us Heal as much as we wanted to. Now, she has sunk very deeply into a coma. Honestly, I don't know whether we will be able to pull her out of it." She sighed very heavily. "In fact I rather doubt we will. 'Flame has given up. She has lost her hope that she had last time. The only thing left is for all of you to pray to whatever Gods you can for her."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ok I know its short but this is the best division trust me.
Reviewer thanks-
THANK YOU ALL WHO REVIEWED
I hope you are still enjoying this story.
Kyrette sniffs :How could they not? Its pure genius. Post quickly Cat. We don't want to lose them!:
He's a little vain. Did you notice?
So push the pretty purple button and review for him so he knows you love him.
ENJOY!!!
Chapter 7 Aftermath
Talia was already at Healer's when Alberich came striding in carrying 'Flame. Selenay was waiting for a report from her. Alberich didn't acknowledge her just putting his burden down gently and getting out of the Mind Healer's way. Darkfire had stuck his head in the outside door that lead to the garden. Ayren sat in the tree just outside the room. Alberich closed the door as he left the room and took a chair from the waiting area. He placed it next to the door and sat, crossing his arms. Kero strode in and handed him his sword without a word. She left again shaking her head at Talia's curious face.
Talia, of course, had seen and heard the entire story, up until they went into the vale and the barrier was erected, through Rolan. She had rushed to Healer's waiting for 'Flame to arrive. When she looked out again she saw Alberich striding across the grounds carrying a small lump with a Healer racing at his heels. Shortly after that Kero had came striding behind them. :She held a sword on Firesong,: Rolan commented sounding amused in Talia's mind. :Watch out he's heading toward you and he doesn't look happy.:
Talia sighed and unconsciously straightened her tunic. She stood and waited for the powerful Adept. He came sailing in the door, his robes fluttering around him, and his mask clicking. Silverfox was with him. She held up a hand to stop them from going any further. "Wait, the Healer is still with her." Firesong stopped. "There is nothing you can do for her."
"Nothing?" He snapped. "In case you've forgotten, Queen's Own, I am a Healing Adept."
Talia heard Alberich stand behind her and barely kept her own temper. "I have not forgotten, Firesong. However, you pushed her to this. She made it quite clear that she didn't want you to know what had happened to her. And yet you insisted. You attacked her stallion. Demanded answers of him, knowing it would bring her out. Knowing you would find out what you HAD to know." Talia found herself beginning to lose her own temper. She shut her mouth seeing Selenay, Dirk and Daren coming towards them.
"I have a right to know!" Firesong said almost shouting. "I am her brother dammit!"
A Healer came running down the hall. "OUT! NOW!" She yelled at all of them, including Selenay. "OUT! I will NOT have you in here shouting!" She turned to make the same demand of Alberich but saw him sitting stoically with a naked blade across his lap. She rethought herself then and turned to point imperiously out the door, indicating all should leave.
The group left quickly, though emotions were still running high. Talia immediately turned and faced Firesong. Usually she was so calm and collected. Everyone was surprised to see her losing her temper so easily. "You weren't here when she was first here. Even through her shielding and my own I could feel her loneliness. Her fear. Her... Gods her self-hatred." She wiped a weary hand across her face. "She hates herself, Firesong. She feels its her fault your mother died and Starfall hates her. She thinks that she did something to get herself banned from the Vales." Talia slumped slightly, through her shields still overwhelmed by what she felt from 'Flame. "And you pushed. You attacked the only family she had." She turned from Firesong then and walked close enough for Dirk to put his arm around her.
Silverfox echoed the movement with his own beloved. The two groups stood looking at each other. Both were very worried about the young woman, yet neither really understood what had happened to her and so couldn't help her. Firesong felt truly defeated for the first time in his life. His sister had been truly traumatized by what had happened to her. Then he knew what he wanted to do. Moving out of Silverfox's embrace, he opened himself to the power of the Heartstone beneath the palace. :Starfall!: He Sent the urgent call towards k'Valdemar. Quickly his father's sleepy mindvoice answered.
:Firesong? What is it? What's wrong?: With every word he sounded more alert and greater worry colored the words.
:Father I need you to make all haste to Haven.: Firesong let his own worry shade the words, :Hurry. I'll explain when you get here.: He didn't give his father time to say anything more instead, breaking the link. It was all he could do. He would make both 'Flame and his father see that this feud between them was ridiculous. He would save his sister.
Inside there were now two MindHealer's working on 'Flame. The damage to her sanity was extensive. In,fact neither knew how she had been functioning up until now. They couldn't reach a conscious part of her yet. It was like she had retreated so far that none would be able to reach her. While they worked on her, a Trainee was changing her clothes into something less restrictive. He sucked in a breath of agony when he saw the scars crisscrossing her torso. Still he remained professional and got her into a nightgown with as little fuss as possible, trying not to disturb the two working on her.
He left them shortly after and scuttled around Alberich who was still sitting there with a naked blade looking very grim. He went to find another Healer to have them look at the scars and see if there was anything to be done. Perhaps with the scars gone the damage to her mind would heal more rapidly. Within moments he was back with his mentor who strode briskly into the room. Alberich looked up in alarm, seeing that there were now three healers in the room. The Trainee stayed outside to briefly explain what was going on. The Weaponsmaster relaxed and agreed with the boy. He'd seen it as well. Sometimes removing the physical reminders helped heal the memories.
So he returned to his posture and kept a lethal look on his face. Mage or not, brother or not, Firesong had brought her to this when it had been painfully obvious to everyone that she had no desire to speak of things.
Outside the tension had not eased between those native to the Palace and the Tayledras. Firesong's face was still behind the mask. Silverfox stayed near him ready to offer support as he could. Darien and Keisha were waiting silently near the fence to Companion's Field. Talia was staying in Dirk's arms. Selenay stood quietly bracketed between Daren and Caryo. The tension was mounting and there was nothing anyone could do to dissolve it. Everything hinged on 'Flame's recovery. Finally someone came out and approached the groups. She was one of the MindHealers and she didn't look hopeful.
"I am Healer Ralea. My specialty is Healing the Mind for those who don't know me." She took in both groups and sighed. "When this happened before, we warned you that another episode could send her into a permanent catatonia. She would not let us Heal as much as we wanted to. Now, she has sunk very deeply into a coma. Honestly, I don't know whether we will be able to pull her out of it." She sighed very heavily. "In fact I rather doubt we will. 'Flame has given up. She has lost her hope that she had last time. The only thing left is for all of you to pray to whatever Gods you can for her."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ok I know its short but this is the best division trust me.
Reviewer thanks-
THANK YOU ALL WHO REVIEWED
I hope you are still enjoying this story.
Kyrette sniffs :How could they not? Its pure genius. Post quickly Cat. We don't want to lose them!:
He's a little vain. Did you notice?
So push the pretty purple button and review for him so he knows you love him.