DISCLAIMER- I do not own anything in this story except the characters! All ideas belong to Mercedes Lackey, and I guess that some also belong to Larry Dixon! :) Thanks!
I don't have much to say this time for comments, except to say that I must thank you all for your wonderful reviews that I get every so often. I know that my spelling is bad, and I'm trying to fix it up a bit before I go much further with my fics!
P.S. I don't think that I mentioned this before, but this story is dedicated to the memory of a little girl that was killed a few years ago in a city in Ontario, Canada. The Companion, Naomi, is named after her. Thanks.
P.S.S. Sorry about this, but I must tell you that the second part of this chapter, is about five days later than the first part. Just thought that it might be nice to warn you! Also, the small third part, is not in any character's perspective, only something that will help move along the fic!
Chapter 4, A Healer's Touch
Naomi stumbled into her stall. It was past sundown and Raven and her and had been working all afternoon on connecting her to the Companion's 'Web.' It was odd for her, for she could now Feel the presence of a whole bunch of beings around her, mind you, those beings were mostly far away.
Naomi laid down on the soft hay and examined the newly formed bond. She could Feel
Raven in the stall two down from her, and he was moving anxiously, as if he were trying to decide whether or not he was going to do something or not.
:Are you alright? I can Feel you, you Feel restless.: Naomi reluctantly rose from her spot and walked slowly to Ravens stall where he was pacing cautiously.
:Quite alright, I'm just trying to decide on something that I thought might be good for me, but now as I think on it, I'm not so sure any more.: Raven looked up at her and Naomi got lost in his blue eyes, she felt as if she were swimming in a lake, like most of the humans around here did on hot summer days. She Felt him in front of her and she could sense his unease, even more than when she had only her sense to guide her, rather than the bond that they now shared. :Naomi, I'm starting to feel things for you, things that I am afraid to confront. Now that I am seeing past the differences that you once had, which were mainly caused by the fact that I could not Feel you, I'm, I think I'm falling for you my dear.: Raven looked down at the stone floor of he stable.
Naomi walked up to Raven and nudged him softly with her nose, so that he looked up into her purple eyes. :Raven, I too am feeling those things, it is strange, but if we are going to get done what Rolan is counting on you to do and teach me, hen we must confront these feelings before they interfere with our work. You get what I'm trying to say?:
:I do, but I have never really felt this way with another Companion before, though I have heard of these types of relationships before in stories that my father used to tell me about companions that lived long ago. I thought it just a tale that Companions could fall in love with one another, even be lifebonded to one another. I've heard of Heralds being lifebonded and being in love, but, well,: Raven paused in mid-sentence and Naomi could Feel him thinking profusely. :Well, I guess that some of us are Heralds come back to life, that it is only right that we also could be lifebonded, mind you, it might take a while for one to find that bond, since times are constantly changing and spirits are constantly coming and going.:
:Raven, are you saying what I think you're saying?: Naomi was confused, how could Raven think that their relationship could be anything different than two Companions being attracted to each other.
:What do you think I'm thinking, my dear?: Ravens eyes were pleading, he was hoping that she was not thinking the opposite of his thoughts, and sadly, Naomi had to let him down, his expectations were high, too high.
:Raven, do you think that we are lifebonded?: Naomi held her breath, and that was when she Felt it. Naomi felt that Hand that Raven was talking about reach towards her, except, this hand was different than the one that he had shown her. To Naomi's Inner Eye, the hand was a blue colour, while the Hand that Raven had shown her, was white. She did not know what to do. should she accept the Hand he was giving her and seal their bond, or should she break it, and along with the Hand, Raven's heart?
Raven stepped forward, he was holding out the bond that he could feel that connected him with this strange Companion. If she did not accept it, he did not know what he would do. Since Naomi was unaware of her bonds, she could not Feel the lifebond as he could. :Naomi, we are, I can Feel the bond in the back of my mind, and it's starting to take me over. You are unable to Feel it, since you cannot Feel any of the bonds you hold with another person until you accept them into you!: Raven was hoping with all his might hat she would accept him.
Naomi stepped back a few paces, and examined the Hand again. It was radiating love, a love that she never had before, seen before or even heard of before between Companions. She could Feel the love, and knew, from past experience, that this was indeed a lifebond. Naomi sighed, she was happy that in fact, Raven had not mistaken a minor infatuation with a lifebond.
That was when she decided. Naomi Reached out with her Inner Hand and touched his. They connected instantly and the bond grew inside her as quickly as a sand pit swallowing a mouse. Raven's love filled her and she felt as if she were floating in the clouds that covered the sky on a sunny summer day. :Raven, I'm sorry that I doubted you feeling this, will you forgive me?: Naomi walked back to Raven. He wrapped his neck over her withers, and she lay her head softly onto his back.
:Forgiven my dear, I'm just glad that you examined the bond before deciding what you were going to do. I'm not sure what would have happened if you had declined. I might have lost it and, well, let's not talk about that.: Raven's Mind voice was full of happiness.
:Raven, what are we to do now, we are lifebonded, which means that it would be heart breaking to split us up, one here and one at Haven. I must go back, since I am truly a Companion and I have not yet Chosen. How can we move around this?: Naomi was worried that they would have to split, but she could tell that Raven was not worried, since she could Feel his thoughtfulness for an idea that had popped into his mind. :You have an idea?:
:Well, Géven used to be a teacher at the Collegium, and I know that the person who took his place, would rather have come out here to take care of this situation that teach the Trainees. I'm thinking that maybe that Herald will switch places with Géven and I can also go to Haven. I think that it might take a while more that it will to get you ready to go, so I might be a little later arriving than you. I'm sure that you would not mind, am I right?: Raven pulled his head back and looked at her.
:That would be wonderful Raven, but I think that we should worry about that in the morning, and not now. Sleep is calling me and it is a battle I am slowly losing!: Naomi yawned and closed her yes half way.
:I know what you mean my dear, and there is enough space here in my stall for the both of us to sleep comfortably. Would you care to share my stall?: Raven laid down and looked up to Naomi, waiting for her to join him.
:I would love to.: Naomi laid down beside her new found lifebond, and closed her eyes, yes, her relationship with Raven was turning out to be a great one.
Naomi woke to find that the stall she had been sharing with Raven for the past few days, was empty except for her and the straw and hay. Naomi rose and found that the stable boys did not wake her today, but instead they left a bucket of oats outside the stall which she guessed was supposed to be her morning meal. As she munched away, she thought about what had been happening around the hold since she got here.
The past few days, since she had become lifebonded, were the best she had ever had. Raven had started to use a lot of Mage power around her, and he had begun teaching her how to use her own. Her coat was changing colour as the days went by. Now, not only did she have light purple eyes again, she also had a blaze down her face, four stockings, and her mane and tail had begun to show streaks of white. Naomi was the happiest thing on the hold.
At that moment, while she was admiring her achievements, she heard a big commotion near the door that Naomi had been using to visit her still ill rider, who Midori said that she was surprised was still living. Naomi decided that a commotion is always a good place for a Companion to be, since they often made uneasy crowds calm again.
When Naomi walked out of the stable, she could see that quite a large crowd had gathered at the Healer's hallway door. 'Was another brought in?' Naomi thought that maybe someone had brought in a new patient, and they were worse off than even Aoko was.
As Naomi approached the crowd, she could see what all te commotion was about. There, in the middle of the crowd, was Aoko, fine and dandy, not even getting support from Midori, who was standing beside her. Naomi used her strong nose to move people out of the way, so that she could go and see the girl. As Naomi walked up to Midori and Aoko, Midori ran forward.
"Naomi! Look at Aoko, she's perfectly fine now! I went into her room to check and see how she was doing, and she was wandering around the room, looking at the books that were on the shelf next to the door!" Midori got to Naomi, pushing people from the crowd in different directions, Aoko following close behind.
"Midori, why are you talking to that horse?" Aoko looked at Naomi as if she recognized her, but still did not know who exactly she was. Naomi was confused about that for a moment, and then remembered that she had been using her Mage power, and she was starting to get bleached, so Aoko would not recognize her, unless told who exactly she was.
Before answering Aoko questions, Midori forced the crowds to disperse, and then turned towards the young and confused girl. "Aoko, this is no horse, this is a Companion." When Aoko made the movement as if she were going to say something, Midori put her hand up and continued on. "I know, I know, she does not look like a Companion, but for some odd reason, she is a different colour, and is now learning how she can alter that, but that is for her to explain to you and not me. Also, if you didn't notice, this is Naomi, the 'horse' that rode in on."
"But Midori, the one I took from Edinbrook was a horse that was black, and not a Companion that is black with white markings. Are you trying to trick me?" Aoko looked scared and confused, why should she believe this crazy story that Midori was weaving?
:Because Aoko, I am that horse you rode out of the town and into here on. I was banished from Valdemar about six years ago, and went to Karse. That is where your father bought me and took me to you as a present. from then on, I was with you on your farm, until the town was raided by bandits and I brought you here to get healing, and I see that you have found that!: Naomi looked at Aoko as she talked, and as their Mind conversation lengthened, Aoko's eyes grew wider and wider.
"Midori, do you think that I'm alright already? I mean I think that I just heard the Companion talking in my head, and I don't think that that is possible! Am I hearing things?" Aoko looked frightened out of her wits. Naomi remembered those days back at the farm when Aoko used to talk to her about Companions and about how she wanted to be Chosen one day, and about all that Companions could do, including talk Mind to Mind with their Heralds.
"Aoko, my child, you should know that Companions do that with who ever they choose, and I guess that you are just special enough to have been chosen by her to hear her voice!" Midori smiled down at the worried girl, who was now clinging onto her green robes.
Aoko smiled slightly, "I guess that I should remember that, especially since I used to talk to Naomi about Companions." Aoko let go of the Healer's robes slowly, and cautiously walked up to Naomi, holding her hand out to her, and that was when Naomi Felt it.
Naomi changed to her Inner Eye, and saw what she had been waiting for, for her whole life. Aoko was holding out her hand to her, as well as the bonding Hand, which she probably didn't even notice that she was doing. Naomi examined the Hand and saw what Raven had been talking about.
The Hand was white and transparent, with wisps gently flowing off of it at random points in time. It was leaking a feeling of want and need, and well as the dearest love that most people left untouched their whole lives, except when bonding to either a Companion or a lifebond. she could see that no evil thoughts could been seen by through the hand, no red or green coloured strands entered the hand at any time. Naomi knew what this was, this was the Hand of her Chosen, the one that would become a Herald and would do great good towards the Kingdom of Valdemar. This was what she wanted, and now she could get it.
As Aoko came into reaching distance with her real hand, Naomi grabbed onto her mental Hand as well as nudging her real hand with her soft nose. :Aoko, I am the Companion Naomi, and I Choose you.:
At that moment, Aoko's eyes filled with tears and she dashed over to Naomi and hugged her neck, while rubbing her face in her soft black mane. Naomi could feel the tears of joy sinking into her coat and drying, this was another of the best days of her life.
Naomi decided that it was time to get some answers thought, and Mind Spoke with Midori. :Midori, I would like some answers about her sudden get well. But, as even you know, the first few ours of a bond, need that time to strengthen, and I think that it would be best that Aoko and I go for a short ride outside the hold, alone. So you need to inform me of the progress that she made when I get back, and get her settled. tonight I will visit you outside her healing room and you need to tell me exactly what happened, you hear me?: Naomi gave a stunning glare towards Midori, as if to say that she knew something was wrong with Aoko speed in healing, and Naomi wanted to know it all.
:I understand Naomi, and I shall be there, until tonight.: Midori nodded as her and walked away, most likely going to clean the healing room for Aoko's probably long stay.
But that was for Midori to look after, right now, it was Naomi's job to strengthen the bond she had just made with Aoko, and that took time that was quickly seeping away as the day went on.
Naomi and Aoko's bond flowed strong and well, except one small part of it, one part that Naomi had not seen when she accepted that Bond into her mind. A small little section of what was the Wrist part of the Hand, was coloured unlike the rest of the hand.
Covered by a wisp that had flown off the Hand when Naomi was studying that part of the Hand, was a small part of the Wrist that green and red, the colours of evil and blood.
Would this effect Aoko and Naomi's bond, or would in vanish with time, no one knows, and no one knows that it is even there now..........