My Internet has been returned, and so, it is time for the Chappy everyone has been awaiting with baited breath ;). Drum rolls

Well, before we get to that, must thank faithful reviewers. I love you! Snugs You people have no idea how happy I get when I get that pretty little review email.

Lurks in Shadows: Don't worry; I'll try not to get lazy or ditch the story ;) Besides, I'm getting attached to my luffly characters.

Fireblade K'Chona: blush I'm telling you guys, at this rate, my head isn't going to fit into my room anymore ;)

Crinzin13: :D Silly Companions. Yes, I'm quite proud of that one myself. Gah, did I say she was going to get Chosen? Oh yeah, I did. Oops. Well, wait a few paragraphs, and you'll get your wish.

Wizard116: :D Geez, I wonder what could happen as she gets closer and closer to the Collegia. Could be anything, really. And I shall never abandon the story. Me loves the reviews WAY too much.

PrettyKittyOreo: Looks innocent I never said that. ;)

Shadowdancer: There shall be more. Soon, hopefully. Depends on how much homework I get. kicks teachers

Anyway, switching back to Lan's PoV, here comes the long awaited masterpiece.

Chapter 5: Choosings

Lan was enjoying his first day of his new status. He had been informed the previous day that, having gotten recommendations from each of his Companion Instructors in turn, he was ready for the rank of a full adult Companion.

It would have been nice if the sun had been blazing merrily in the cloudless sky, the grass warm and soft under his feet, but it was not to be. A few candlemarks after dawn, the Havens had opened up, showering icy rain down on Companions Field and turning the sky a nasty slate gray. Not that Lan had anything against rain, but for such an auspicious event, he would have preferred to have been able to say, looking back on it, that it had been a beautiful day.

Even Rolan was looking slightly less than dignified, though only slightly, as a result of the weather conditions. He had ducked into the stable the previous night looking wet and put upon. He shook his head, and water droplets flew from his mane to adorn various places around the stalls.

:Laran, all of your instructors have talked, and we have made a decision.: Rolan began.

'Oh no, what did I do NOW?' Lan thought to himself, only half in jest. Sometimes he felt as though he would never be a "proper" Companion. Everything he did just seemed to be not quite good enough for his teachers.

:We are passing you into the adult rank. Congratulations, youngling.: Rolan Spoke, blunt as ever.

Lan felt as though he had been put through a particularly nasty session with Rolan at warp speed. Namely, as though he had been kicked by a large hoofed Companion multiple times, hard.

:I. what?: Lan groped for the MindSpeech thread as he lost it in his surprise.

:You passed. Now, if you'll forgive me, it is wet, and I have duties to attend to.: Rolan, somehow still managing to look somewhat dignified even dripping with rain and muck, made a stately exit, leaving Lan staring after him in belief.

He had been hoping for this day since what seemed like forever. A Companion in truth, ready to seek out a Chosen.

If Companions could sing, Lan would have been singing. As it was, he had set out for a brisk gallop around the Field, completely ignoring the rain and muck that plastered him.

After a good grooming from the stable hands, he had fallen asleep in his stall, and woken up later than usual, at first afraid he had slept in, but, as his new status slowly sank in, he had relaxed and enjoyed the extra sleep.

He shook his head, feeling slightly tired again. 'Oh well,' he thought to himself. 'No harm in being slothful for one day.' His head drooped, and he began to drop off into slumber. He…

…He looked down, to see, for the first time in years, two feet, and not hoofed either. He looked around the city. 'If this were my last day to live, what would I want to see? In a way, it is my last day, and I want to do everything.' He did not consciously direct his feet, he just allowed himself to wander where he would. No chance of getting lost, he knew this city well enough. He looked around…

Lan snapped out of the vision, dumbfounded by what had happened to him. Had he eaten some bad grass or something?

He ran out of the stable, searching for someone who might know what was happening to him. He nearly ran straight into Rolan, who was coming in his direction as fast as he could.

:Youngling, you are projecting distress all over the Field. What in Havens is the matter?:

Lan projected into Rolan's mind that first vision, and the little flickers of the same that had been lancing through his head all the way across the Field.

To Lan's chagrin, Rolan began to laugh. :Youngling, there is nothing to be alarmed about. It is just your Chosen Calling you.:

:My, my Chosen? KALIRA! I'M COMING, KALIRA!: Lan MindShouted, oblivious to the fact that he was projecting across the entire Field, all the control he had so carefully learned going merrily skyward in his glee.

Rolan winced and laid his ears back. :We have to talk about that, Laran. I don't think you really understand the situation. She is no longer Kalira. If you refer to her as Kalira even once, by accident, you could divulge the best kept secret of the Companions.:

Lan looked at the ground, rebuked. :I know that, sir, I really do. It is just that it has been so long, so very long, and I miss her. Surely you know that I would not do anything to compromise our secrets.: Even through Lan's distress, he felt a small surge of pride that he could refer to himself and the other Companions as a group of equals.

:I know you would not, Laran. Just…: For the first time in Lan's knowledge, Rolan looked to be at a loss for words. :Just be careful, youngling.:

:So, what do I do now?: Lan asked, half in an attempt to change the subject, and half in true need for knowledge. He wanted to do everything right, he had to prove himself worthy of his newly won rank.

:Nothing, yet. You will know what to do when it is time.: With that cryptic remark, Rolan strode away, leaving Lan staring after him in confusion.

After a while, Lan shrugged to himself. Far be it from him to question the wisdom of the premier stallion of the Herd. If Rolan said that he would know when it was time, he would know when it was time. He would just have to be patient and wait for that time to come.

Half a candlemark later, Lan was standing in the field thinking about how young the newest batch of Companion foals appeared to be. He knew that he was only nine or so short years older than them, but he felt ancient.

He had already discovered that distraction in the form of a useful task was impossibility, as every few minutes another wave of disorientation rolled over him, and, as he braced himself and stood stalk still, a vision of his Chosen flew into his mind.

The visions became closer and closer together, until they were accompanied by what could only be a glimmer of Foresight, the sound of hooves on the streets of Haven, and a vision of himself making his way towards Kelsin, as the visions had shown him that her name was.

:Rolan! Rolan! It's time! I knew, just like you said I would!: Lan caroled joyfully, pausing only long enough to leave his name with the gate guard before dashing through the gate and heading off into Haven, albeit at a slightly more sedate pace, as befitted a Companion on Search.

Oblivious to the stares of passersby, he followed his inner prompting, and just wandered down streets and through alleys, not choosing any direction in particular.

Almost everyone he passed, especially the children, stared at him. It felt as though they were trying to devour him with their hungry, pleading eyes, hoping, wishing that it would be them that he had come for, then fading to disappointment as he walked past, paying them no more mind than he paid the buildings that lined the streets. It was not that he wanted to be hurtful, or could not feel their distress, but his mind was bound on one thing, finding Kelsin and binding Her to him forever more.

'So lonely, so very lonely.' His mind chanted, in the same unconscious litany. He knew that he would never be complete until he found Her, and nothing else mattered.

At last, he walked down an alleyway and saw Her. She was walking along just in front of him, seemingly in a daze. He followed along behind Her, unsure of how to break the mood. Finally, she turned, and he looked into Her eyes.

The world stopped. It seemed as though Kelsin was glowing with a pale pink aura. She was the most beautiful sight Lan had ever seen. He reached out with an infinitesimally gentle MindTouch, running her memories through his mind, binding them together with the bonds that only death can break, augmenting and strengthening the LifeBond that was already asserting itself, although Lan was sure that Kel was unaware of it.

:I am Laran. I Chose you, Kelsin. You are the Soul Sister of my heart. We belong to each other, forever and after.: Lan intoned, rippling the link between them with all of his love, longing and acceptance.

:Laran.: It was all Kelsin said, all she needed to say, as a wash of pure love flowed from Kel to Lan. Without a further thought, Kel clambered up onto Laran's back, feeling as though she had just had a part of her soul returned to her.

A few moments later, however, Kelsin Sent doubtfully, as Laran paraded down the street, proudly showing off his Chosen :You know, Laran, I don't really know how to be a Herald. And, what about my things and my parents? What will they say?:

:I expect they will be proud, Kel. Being a Herald is a great honor. We will have your things sent to you at the Collegium, of course, and when we get there a Senior Herald will tell you everything you need to know. I know that you will be an excellent Herald, love.: Laran was amazed at his daring, slipping in that endearment at the end. He craned his head to look up at his Chosen, and he knew that, for the moment at least, his world was complete.