Disclaimer: Valdemar, Heralds, Companions etc … none of that belongs to me, it's all the property of Mercedes Lackey. I'm just borrowing the characters for a while … apart from Aline who is most definitely mine : )

A/N: And here we are again – a little longer than I had anticipated because my new laptop doesn't have Word on it! Of all the stupid … so gotta find and install that now. What fun.

-Updated 23/5 – Darkwind and Elspeth are NOT married

Queen's Own: Joey looks sheepish ooookay … kinda think I exaggerated the number of chappies I have written : ) it's more like 1 or 2 … which means I've got to write some more! Anyway, enough ramblings, here's the chapter:

faeborn2930: Good to see that I haven't scared you away with all the random death! Happy reading : )

Desert Angel: Nooooooo! Don't die!!! Here's the chappie, here's the chappie!

Hildi-chan: Glad you like the dream sequence, that was one of those ideas that just springs up midstory so it's nice to see that it worked : )

PrettyKittyOreo: dangles chappie on a fishing line hehe – naa, only kidding: here you go!

Lizai: give that girl a cookie!

firelilly: okay, not sure how to say this without sounding like a know-it-all freak but … here goes: first, the distance from Errold's Grove to k'Valdemar is never discussed in this story. The 4 months is the distance from k'Valdemar to Haven (and is probably inaccurate but hey – they had bad weather) sorry about the confusion. Also … Joey winces away from sounding so officious in Owlknight, Darian's home is described as an ekele several times – though I know what you mean about it's shape. It is kinda weird. Phew, that aside, thanks for the review!!

moonwing: FINALLY someone has woken up! I dragged that out a bit, didn't I? And as for who's going to wake up next … read on and see …

spicyeggplant: now this is the kind of review that writers live for! Thanks SOOO much for everything you said – it really made me day! It's so hard to judge your own writing but when a complete stranger compliments you like that well … thanks : ) : ) : )

Okay, random thanks over with an on with the chappie. Chapter 10 is dedicated to spicyeggplant who is not only a new reader (always welcome) but brightened up my day with an awesome review! Thanks!!!!

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After the Storm

By: JoeyStar

Timeframe: Set a year or so after Owlknight

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(Healer's Collegium – main room)

The news that Herald-Mage Elspeth, daughter of the Queen, had finally awakened from her stupor was greeted heartily by not only her fellow Heralds, but by the populace at large. At last it seemed that the dark pall that had been hanging over Haven since the attack, was lifting.

Since hearing of her daughter's impending recovery, Selenay had been hurrying from one room to the next, frantically splitting her time between her two remaining children. Subsequently, the general running of the country had been thrown into disarray and a frantic Teren, Kyril and Dirk had been forced to take on the weight of making important decisions in the queen's absence. No one wanted to tell Selenay that she more pressing matters to attend to than the nurse her children. Especially not after Kris's death.

As for Elspeth herself, in the five days that had followed her night communing with Eldan she had stayed very much alone, speaking only to Talia, Skif and strangely enough, Firesong. While it was an improvement upon the silence of the past week, her behaviour was still unusual enough to precipitate comments from the other Heralds, especially the Queen herself, whom Elspeth still remained silent for.

Firesong slumped inelegantly into a soft chair alongside Darkwind's bed, grateful that there was no one else around to see him apart from the room's two unconscious occupants. Darian and Keisha, he knew, were resting, having been up half the night expending the powers in an attempt to awaken Darkwind.

They had failed of course and had retreated to the guest rooms they had been provided with, leaning on each other for support in a vain attempt to stave off exhaustion.

Firesong, though he would never admit it, was proud of them. It certainly hadn't been the introduction to Haven that he had expected Keisha and Darian to receive, but they had both risen to the task admirably, working alongside the Collegium's Healers without a word of complaint.

But it wasn't just the fact that they were exemplary students that allowed Darion and Keisha to work in such tense and strained circumstances. Both of them, Darian especially, had suffered with loss and though his student never spoke of it, Firesong knew that the loss of his old master Justyn and the raising of Errold's Grove had had a larger impact on the young Mage than he would admit. It saddened Firesong to think that two so young had already suffered so much.

His firebird crooned from where it was perched next to Darkwind's Vree, trying it's best to get some kind – any kind – of reaction from the shivering forest gyre. Firesong glanced up at Aya as the firebird hung it's head, a couple of loose sparks drifting down to fizzle out when they touched Darkwind's still form. He sighed, feeling impossibly weary, and turned his attention back to the bed.

Oh Star-Eyed … what's wrong with him?

'Still no change ke'chara?' A quiet voice enquired from the doorway. Firesong looked across the room to see Silverfox leaning against the doorframe, his arms crossed over his chest. The door, which Firesong hadn't heard open or close, was firmly shut once more. It showed the Healing-Adept just how insular his thoughts had been.

'No.' Firesong breathed, smiling at his partner. He was suddenly relieved to have a distraction from the maudlin thoughts that had been filling his day so far. He beckoned Silverfox over and the graceful kestra'chern glided across the room to join him, folding into a chair on the other side of Darkwind's bed.

'Hmm … then they are no worse.' Silverfox pointed out.

'Nor any better.' Firesong countered glumly, feeling the weight of his position pressing down on top of him. He was probably the most powerful Healing-Adept in the world and he could do nothing for either Princess Lyra, or Darkwind. While Lyra's continued unconsciousness was due to the fact that her wounds were so severe she was barely clinging onto life, Darkwind's were a confusion that even Firesong didn't understand. There was clearly something unnatural about his friend's condition … but Firesong was at a lost as to say what that was.

'Do not be so hard on yourself ashke.' Silverfox chided him gently, dark eyes full of compassion. 'Thank the Star-Eyed that we are here at all.'

'For all the good our presence has done,' Firesong muttered, his mood darkening.

Silverfox titled his head to one side, his curtain of flowing dark hair almost obscuring his expression. 'So, you believe your presence here to have been of no use?'

'What have I done that could not be done by others?' Firesong questioned, his tone harsh. 'There are plenty of Healer's here who could have cared for Darkwind and the princess as well as I.'

'But what of Elspeth? What of her pain? Can you truly say that you have done nothing for her?'

'Well no, but –'

'And Darkwind? Do you honestly believe that he will ever awaken if his care is left to Haven's healers?'

'Well, I –'

It almost seemed as if Silverfox was enjoying himself. He probably was; no one else could catch Firesong off-guard, he had to make the most of the opportunity.

Finally, the Tayledras Adept held his hands up in defeat, a slight smile curving across his scarred lips. 'All right, I'm convinced. But that doesn't mean I feel any better about the situation,' his eyes, shadowed by his mask, darted to where Darkwind was lying. His chest was still rising and falling steadily but that was the only indication that he was still alive.

'I do not think any of us do.' The kestra'chern followed his gaze. 'This … condition that Darkwind is suffering from. Know you nothing about it?'

Firesong shook his head, the tiny bells that had been braided into his hair, chiming softly. 'Beyond the fact that it is magical, then no.'

It was the first time that Silverfox had heard such a thought. 'Magical? You are certain?'

'I can think of little else to explain his situation.' Firesong reached over a drew the covers back, revealing Darkwind's bare chest and the angry scar that dissected it. 'There was more to his knife-thrust than simply a weapon powered by malice. No, there is something more … but what I do not know.'

'Yet.' Silverfox added firmly.

Firesong tapped the scar with his long fingers, wishing it would provide him with the answers he was so desperately seeking.

'Yet.'

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(Dirk's Office)

Dirk was almost finished for the day and was in the process of scanning the last parchment that demanded his attention when the door to his office flew open and slammed shut again, just as quickly. The only difference was that where there hadn't been someone before, a person was standing just inside his door.

'D-Dirk?' The voice stammered and through a combination of surprise and the fact that he had been staring at reports for the last four candlemarks, it took him several moments to realise that the figure was Talia.

She stumbled forward into the room, as unsteady on her feet as she had been when he had first seen her, in the road outside of Haven – the place where their lifebond had been born. Dirk surged up out of his chair with surprisingly grace for such a large man and caught her, smoothing her hair back from her forehead. It was then that he realised she was crying; in fact her whole slender frame shook with sobs.

'Ssh, dearheart,' he whispered into her hair, knowing better than to demand an explanation from her.

Dirk led his lifebonded towards one of the room chairs, lifting off a pile of books so that she could sit down. He crouched down in front of her, still holding her tightly and waited until her sobs abated and she sat back.

'Elspeth?' He ventured quietly, when he was certain she was recovered enough to reply. It was a fair enough guess. Over the past few days Talia had been visiting Elspeth regularly in the evenings and each time had returned home, quiet and insular. This was the first time that she had come to him, though he knew something had been troubling her.

Talia nodded, curls bouncing as she sniffed inelegantly. When she finally looked up at Dirk, her eyes were full of tears and he wished then and there that he had the power to take her pain away.

'Gods Dirk, it was – it was worse this time … she's talking but I still don't understand what happened and all I can feel is the pain and –' she broke off, a tear trickling down her cheek. Dirk felt her shaking fingers tighten around his as she pulled him closer. 'Dirk … it's killing her.'

A shiver ran along Dirk's spine. Talia knew better than to use such weighty words in a frivolous manner. 'The pain?'

'The pain, Kris's death, Lyra, Darkwind – everything!' Talia's fevered voice rose and she visibly tried to calm herself. 'And I can't do anything because every time I get close, the pain overwhelms me! I can't shut it out!' She dissolved into tears again and Dirk rocked her helplessly, trying his best to console her about something he could never experience for himself.

After what seemed to be several candlemarks, but was most likely to be half a candlemark at the most, Talia pulled back and wiped a hand across her eyes. 'I'm okay now.'

'Are you sure?'

She nodded, squaring her shoulders and looking down at him, still crouched uncomfortably at her feet. Talia smiled fondly. 'You can get up now, you great lump.'

'I can? Thank goodness! My knees were about to give way. I'm not as young as I used to be.'

She laughed weakly as he rose to his feet, beaming down at her from underneath his normal mess of thatch-coloured hair. Dirk offered her his hand and she looked at it doubtfully.

'Come on, don't you want to see Jemmie?'

The thought of seeing her son brought new hope to Talia's heart and he accepted Dirk's hand, allowing him to pull her to her feet as if she weighed nothing at all.

As Dirk led her from the room, chatting nonsensically about how he had spent his day, Talia realised another moment in her life had come and gone. And though they would probably do the same thing the following evening after her daily visits to Elspeth, she now knew she had somewhere to come – someone who could help her through it. Dirk would always be there to offer his quiet support. And that made all the difference.

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(Twins' Suite)

Kero and Skif had returned to the scene of the crime.

It was late at night, barely a fraction of a candlemark away from the following day, but neither of the Heralds were unused to working in the dark. Though they had come from very different backgrounds – Skif being a thief and Kero a member of the Rethwellen aristocracy – they both had similar training under the hands of the old weapon's master Alberich. And they both knew a great deal about the nature of murder.

The room in which the terrible event had taken place had been left completely untouched, apart from the original investigative team would have been very careful and concise, but had turned up little evidence. Hence the presence of Skif and Kero and in the middle of the night so that their activities would not disturb anyone.

'Let's take this from the top.' Kero said quietly. They were standing outside the open door, which still bore the marks of An'desha's magic in the form of the melted handle, looking into the room. 'Obviously the Death Bell aroused everyone's suspicions.'

'Right.' Skif agreed.

'And the Companions raised the alarm?'

'Right again.'

'So then everyone ended up out here,' Kero gave the corridor a cursory glance, 'because the door wouldn't open.'

Skif nodded, deciding it was nice to do something other than saying 'right' all the time.

'Who tried to open the door?' Kero wanted to know.

Skif frowned, trying to recall the scene. 'It was Dirk.' He said after a moment. 'Dirk touched the handle first … and then he jerked back as if he had been bitten or something. He said the handle was protected by magic and that's when An'desha stepped forward to help.'

Something about that struck Kero as strange. How had Dirk known that the handle was protected by a magical spell of some kind? While the man's Fetching gift was unmatched in the Heraldic Circle, he had no mage gift to speak off. So how had he known?

'What happened next?' She asked, turning her attention back to the problem at hand.

Skif walked forward and pushed the door gently aside. 'The door swung open and we ran into the room.'

'We?'

'Um … me, Dirk, Teren … the Queen and Prince … An'desha and Karal - I think he was there as well. Talia certainly.'

'And where did everyone go?'

Skif looked about him and then stepped into the room, careful to avoid the dried bloodstain on the carpet before the door, that they now knew belonged to Darkwind.

'Dirk entered the room first and … he stopped just within the doorway.' He reported slowly, speaking as he remembered. 'Prince Daren pushed him out of the way and then everyone got outside saw … saw Kris and Elspeth and Lyra …' he trailed off, looking angry. 'It was like a slaughterhouse.'

'What happened next?'

Skif thought for a moment. 'Talia went to Elspeth – I think she called for a Healer at some stage … then Queen Selenay came in and … well, I think you can imagine.'

Although Kero didn't want to, she knew what he meant.

'Daren got her out of the room, that left … me, Teren, An'desha … I think Karal went with the Queen. Talia was still with Elspeth and Dirk was somewhere in the middle of the room.'

Kero waited patiently as he paused, eyes distance. As if in a dream, Skif drifted across the room to one of the bloodstained chairs over by the window. His fingers grazed the top of it and Kero was about to rebuke him for touching the evidence when he spoke again.

'We all knew that Kris was dead … but no one wanted to say it. I got the fun job of searching for the pulse. So that put me over here, with Teren. An'desha I think was still be the door – yes, because when Devan came in he almost ran into An'desha.'

'What did Devan do?' Kero enquired, still trying to get the general picture about what had happened, as horrible as the job was.

'He went straight to Lyra, in that chair.' Skif pointed, his fingers trembling ever so slightly. 'Then An'desha was called over to deal with the magical blade that Lyra had been stabbed with and Dirk used his Fetching gift to get her to the Healers.'

'And Talia was still with Elspeth?'

Skif nodded. 'Devan left to look after Lyra and I decided I wanted to look around the suite a little more. Things like this,' he pointed to the wide bloodstain that Kero was standing next to, 'were puzzling me.'

'Because neither Kris, Lyra nor Elspeth were anywhere near to door,' Kero realised, quickly working out who the blood had to belong to. 'So, Darkwind?'

'At this stage no one knew he was here,' Skif commented, following the bloodstain as he had done those few weeks ago, 'until I found him just inside the door.' Kero followed his gaze and clearly noted to dried blood on the inside of the door. 'Teren and I stayed with him while Dirk got a Healer and then we took him to the Healers.'

'What about Elspeth and Talia?'

'I think they left when we were tending Darkwind. They certainly weren't there when we brought him out.'

'Right.' Kero dragged the word out as they walked back into the main room. She considered the bloodstain of Darkwind's that had given Skif pause. 'Do you think he was trying to open the door?'

Skif pulled the door closed and studied the back. Upon the pristine white surface there were spots of blood and the handle shone blackly in the candlelight.

'I'd say it was a fair assumption.'

'Which means that, for whatever reason, he couldn't get a message out any other way.'

'Any other way?' Skif echoed, sounding confused.

Kero elaborated. 'Through his bondbird Vree. Or to another Herald or Adept through mind-speech.'

'Ah.' Skif nodded his head slowly, comprehending at last.

'Which supports what the Companion's say. That neither Gwena, Jarlan, nor Elna before she passed, knew anything was wrong until the Death Bell rung.'

'So something was blocking the Herald-Companion bond?' Skif asked in alarm. 'But what could do that? Even at the height of the war with Hardorn – when Talia was captured by Ancar and Hulda – she could still communicate with Rolan! It was about the only thing she could so but if they couldn't block the bond … well, I don't think I want to know who can.'

Kero stared back at him, recalling the very few stories she had heard about Talia's time in Hardorn. She hadn't become a Herald until later and therefore what little she knew was second hand, but she had to admit that Skif had made an important point. And it was a frightening one.

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Is Elspeth EVER going to talk again? Is Darkwind EVER going to wake up? And what about poor old Lyra?

Guess you'll just have to wait for the next chappie to find out : )