A/N The voices in my head have named themselves!! Cami has just introduced herself to me! She is fully responsible for the interpretation of this story and everything to do with the plot line except for Reyna's memory (see below).
Disclaimer: have you noticed the title of this site? I am the fan. This is the fiction. Therefore, I OWN NOTHING!!! (Except for Meri, Reyna, Liem, Avireay, and Jayms!!)
A/N This story is actually loosely based on fact. I'm the POV of Reyna and I actually stalked a guy named James on New Years. He stalked me too- and anyway, it's a long story. He's hot and my sister thinks I'm going to marry him someday. Random. Anyways, I haven't seen him since, so the rest of the story is pure fiction!! Yeah!! (milky way bar and Buri208, you know James as the guy I stalked on New Years Eve.).
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Herald-Trainee Reyna Ashkevron sat back against the trunk of a large oak tree. Her Companion, Liem, was nowhere to be seen, though that was hardly a surprise at the moment. Whenever she got lost in her own thoughts, Liem tended to disappear in order for her to be able to work through everything on her own. He said deep thoughts weren't really his thing. At the moment, she was most definitely lost in thought, though she couldn't fathom why she kept dwelling on this one memory.
It was three years ago. She'd been twelve at the time. Her favorite sibling, Medren, her half brother, had come back to Forst Reach after spending several months in Haven. Medren always had the best stories, and news and he usually brought interesting people with him. This time, he was accompanied by Bard Stefen and a Journeyman Bard named Jayms, who was four years older than her. Seeing Stefen again made the whole visit even better- although she'd known Stef since she was very little, he rarely came to Forst Reach with Medren. He usually had better stories- stories about Uncle Vanyel and his Companion Yfandes, about King's Own Jisa and King Treven, and darker ones too, about a feud between two families that ended badly for everyone involved.
The three of them had reached the Keep about a candlemark before sunset. She'd helped her older cousin, Dany, with the horses. Melody, Stef's older mare, was her favorite of the three, the other two being Medren's placid Jeni and the new horse, Jaym's gelding, Copper. Once the horses had been groomed and fed, the two of them had returned to join the crowd around the three Bards. She'd given both Medren and Stef the obligatory hug, before going to dinner.
Jayms, Medren and Stef had sat at the high table with Father. Medren and Stef were used to this by now, but Jayms looked rather uncomfortable. The shy Journeyman had hardly said anything, other than a quiet greeting for Father and Mother. "We're just passing through, Meke," Stef told Father. "We are leaving in the morning, unfortunately."
As soon as he could politely, Jayms left the hall. On a whim, she'd pushed back my chair a minute after he'd left and set off after him. "What are you doing?" Dany asked.
She grinned. "I'm going to follow him." Dany didn't inquire further and she didn't tell him anything else.
She'd followed him around for the rest of the night. When she'd finally stopped following him around and went back to the hall where Stef and Medren were giving an impromptu concert for all of the many Ashkevrons there –it wasn't every day you had two Bards in residence, one of whom was the most famous Bard in Valdemar. After a few minutes, who had been standing directly across from her, but Jayms. He couldn't see the Bards from his viewpoint, but he sure as hell could see her. She'd watched him as best as she could out of the corner of her eye, but when she'd jerked her head out of the music, he was gone. She'd sworn softly, but let it go. She hadn't seen him since.
She couldn't get the damn Journeyman Bard out of her head. Two years later, Liem had come along, and she'd packed up her life and moved it to Haven. She'd forgotten about Jayms and –to a certain extent- stopped really caring about the life she'd left behind at Forst Reach. Honestly, she didn't really care. Sure, she loved her family, but sometimes they could be a little- well- big. With her Gift of particularly strong Thoughtsensing, being around that many people about a year ago had been awful for her. Now, she was fine and her shields were ingrained and locked in place. But that fear of crowds still lingered and was part of the reason she never returned to Forst Reach to visit. The other was that her favorite relatives –Medren, Stef and her sister, Ariel- were here in the capital. Medren and Stef were Bards and Ariel was Chosen.
She heaved herself to her feet and Mindcalled Liem. :Come over here! I need a ride back to the Collegium. I've got classes!!:
:Lazy,: he jibed. Her Companion came trotting into view. He was small for a stallion, which suited her fine. At fifteen, she was small and slender for her age, and probably wasn't going to grow much more. The size of their pair was made up for by their speed. On Liem's back, she was faster than almost every other Companion in the Field. She brushed red hair –a legacy from her mother- out of her eyes and vaulted onto the back of her best friend, wincing slightly at the pull it took. :You need to shrink,: she informed him as he picked up an easy lope back to the Collegium.
:I'm no more likely to shrink than you are to be as tall as Des,; Liem retorted, naming one of her friends, who, at thirteen, was taller than all the other Trainees and still growing.
:There's no help for it is there?: she said with mock seriousness. :You'll be as short as I am within a week.: Liem snorted.
:Keep dreaming,: he informed her. :By the way, what were you thinking about?:
:Something really random,: she assured him. :A Bardic Journeyman Stef brought to Forst Reach two years ago. Weird, huh.: Liem tossed his head in an unmistakable nod.
:You were right,: he said. :For once. It really is random.:
:I'm always right, you just never believe me.:
:Who's the all knowing Companion?:
:Not you.:
:That hurts.: Liem surged forward into a gallop in order to give Reyna practice in a dismount she had just learned. It was a tricky move and required precise timing. Reyna had gotten no few bruises from it. She swung her left leg over Liem's back and sat sidesaddle for a second before pushing off and landing feet away from the Companion, who was now feet away.
:See you tonight.: she called. :I promise, I'll come watch the sunset.: She heard Liem whinny, the sound carrying across to her.
:You'd better!: She smiled and walked into the Collegium.
Her mentor, Herald Meri, met her at the door of their suite. "Reyna!" she said in relief. "Your lesson is cancelled for today. I need to meet with the King's Own about a new Trainee. She needs to talk to him- the boy is going to be a nightmare!"
"Why?" she asked quickly. Her mentor smiled tiredly.
"Former assassin. I'll be back late. You and Avireay have the suite to yourselves tonight. Don't get into too much trouble." Avireay was her fellow protégé –also a girl- and the two of them were fast friends. Reyna's jaw dropped as her mentor swept out of the room. A former assassin? Chosen? This would cause a stir! I wonder if he'll be in with me and Avireay. He –or she- would be an interesting classmate!
:He probably will be,: Liem said, making an entry into her mind. :He's a Thoughtsenser- it's the reason he's a former assassin. Siri –his Companion- says in addition to being in an awkward position, he's positively stricken. A few weeks ago, his Gift came into play- while he was completing a- job.: Reyna shuddered.
:Poor kid.: She sympathized with the newly Chosen completely. Meri would be a good mentor for him- one of the stronger Thoughtsensers in the Circle, she would help him get his 'Gift' under control, and fast. Liem's presence retreated for a moment before returning quickly.
:Taver says Jisa says Stef wants to talk to you,: he said quickly. :You should meet him down by Bardic Collegium.: Reyna's look turned thoughtful.
:I wonder what he wants,: she asked her Companion. Liem replied with the feel of a shrug.
:I don't know. Taver told me Jisa didn't know either, but it wasn't of earth shattering importance.:
:I'll be there faster than you.:
:No fair! You're closer!:
:For once in my life, I can beat you, horse!: She set off at a respectable pace, down the hall. Halfway to Bardic, she almost ran into a slender girl in Trainee Grays. "Avireay, Meri says no lessons. She has to talk to the King's Own about a new Trainee. Former assassin."
"Interesting." It took more than an assassin in the Circle to shake the pretty ash blonde's calm. An earthquake was about the only thing remotely likely to do that, and she'd probably be calm as anything, helping Healers and Heralds save the wounded. Her Companion made up for her, though. Tam was skittish and became excited about everything. They balanced each other nicely. "Is he going to join us among the ranks of Meri's Trainees?"
"Liem thinks so. He's a Thoughtsenser." Reyna glanced hall. "I got to go. Stef wants to meet me at Bardic." Avireay smiled.
"Can I come?" she asked, green eyes begging. She had a decent voice, loved to sing and probably would have tried to get into Bardic, at least as a minstrel, had it not been for Tam. She adored Stef and played on Reyna's connections mercilessly.
"Course," Reyna said, grinning. "What are friends for anyway, Av?" She laughed and joined Reyna, walking at a slightly more dignified pace towards Bardic.
Much to Reyna's chagrin, Liem had beaten them there. His blue eyes twinkled. :Haha,: he taunted. Reyna stuck her tongue out at him before turning to the two red-clad men standing next to him, one with red hair, one with brown. She embraced the red-head. "Hello Stef!" she said. The Bard smiled at her.
"Hello Reyna. Nice to see you and Liem." His eyes lit on Avireay instantly. "Nice to see you again Avireay."
"Nice to see you again, Stefen," Avireay said with utmost respect in her voice.
"Why did you want to see me?" Reyna asked. The brown-haired Bard stepped forward and Reyna's eyes widened in shock. It was Jayms.
"I see you remember Jayms," Stef said, smiling. "Shut your mouth Reyna. Fly catching is not a profitable pastime, at least for a Trainee. We're in Haven, probably for good this time at least for him, and I was wondering if you would be so kind as to reacquaint him with the place. He hasn't been here for three years or so, and I have something I need to do."
"Sure," she said, trying to avoid Jayms' eyes. Why do I feel so jittery? "Avireay and I would love to."
"At least until Avireay runs into Shayn," her friend added. "Then I'm most likely to take advantage of a free afternoon." Reyna smiled knowingly at her. Shayn was another of the Trainees who'd been getting progressively closer to Avireay over the last year. And Avireay was definitely interested in being more than friends; to all appearances, it was mutual. Stef grinned at Avireay.
"Thank you," he said. He left quickly, walking away at a fast pace. There was a moment of silence before Avireay saved the situation.
"I'm Avireay," she said quickly, shooting a glance at Reyna. "I'm a Herald Trainee. This is Trainee Reyna Ashkevron and her Companion Liem."
Jayms smiled slightly. He's really cute when he smiles. "I'm Jayms. I'm a Journeyman Bard, and will be for probably another year." Liem snorted.
:I'm going back to my nice grass,: he commented quickly. :I certainly don't need to be here, listening to you think about how handsome milord Journeyman is.: Reyna blushed slightly, blessing the dark tan still on her cheeks this early in fall. It hid most of her blush. As Liem loped away, she turned back to Jayms and Avireay. He is handsome, she realized. His dark brown hair was cut shorter than was currently fashionable, close to his head. Expressive green eyes stared out above high cheekbones and a strong nose. He was taller than her but quite a bit, but then again, so was everyone else in Valdemar. She smiled, feeling almost shy.
:You're right,: she admitted to Liem. To her surprise, the Companion didn't answer.
She and Avireay proceeded to give Jayms a complete tour of the Palace and grounds. After less than a candlemark, she found herself losing her shyness and getting to know him. She found herself liking him even more as they talked. By the time Avireay found Shayn and left with him, they were talking and laughing like old friends.
The sky was beginning to turn pink in the west when Liem called her. :Please come watch the sunset?: he begged. Reyna smiled.
:Alright,: she said. :Meet me at the fence.: A feeling of happiness and Liem broke the link –or as much as any link between a Herald Companion pair could ever be broken.
"What did Liem say?" Jayms asked. She looked at him, startled.
"How did you know?" she blurted.
He smiled. "I've been around enough Heralds to recognize Mindspeech. Your eyes unfocus," he informed her. She smiled again.
"The big baby wanted me to come watch the sunset with him." She looked at Jayms. "Would- would you like to come?" He looked at first startled, then pleased.
"Sure!" he said. "If Liem wouldn't mind-" She waved it off.
"He won't. Don't worry." The two of them walked down to the Companion's Field. Liem didn't look particularly surprised to see Jayms there, and didn't comment.
The sunset was glorious, turning the entire sky red, orange and pink. They were silent, but companionably so. When dark finally set in and Jayms finally spoke, Reyna found that during the sunset, she had somehow moved so she was leaning against Jayms' shoulder, with his arm draped around her waist. "Nice sunset," he said quietly. She jerked her head off his shoulder.
"Yes." He smiled at her.
:You should probably head back,: Liem hinted. Reyna pushed to her feet.
"Liem just said we should probably head back," she said. Jayms stood as well.
"We probably should," he admitted. Together they walked back, separating at the fence surrounding the Companion's Field.
"I'll see you around," she called over her shoulder.
"See you soon, Reyna Ashkevron," he called back.
A/N this was supposed to be a one-shot but, thanks to Cami, there's probably going to be one more chap. They don't put the purple button there for looks, people. PLEASE review!!! Until the next chappie! ~Queen's Own