A/N: So sorry for the long, long wait. I (LIS) am filling in for QO because she asked me to, and I'm just nice like that. But I keep getting sidetracked. Sorry!

QO and Sami wanted to apologize also for the length of time the chap took, because they say it's also partly their fault.

LIS: Oh yes, and me and QO own Valdemar and everything. In fact, I think we may both just be Mercedes Lackey in disguise.

That's totally why we're posting on and not publishing this story for lots of money.

Yep.

(Hint hint: that was sarcasm.)

On to the chap! MUAHAHA.

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Oh, gods, I hate reaction-headaches. Meriya hurried through the hallways, staring intently at her feet and trying to ignore the pounding in her head. She had just escaped another Gift lesson of overextending herself. I wish I had my Whites right now, and could go off to some remote wilderness for a year and get away from all of this. That longing had caused herself to try too much, work too hard, in everything; especially when her Gift was involved. Meriya was fairly proficient in everything except for one thing; mastering her temper, at least where her gift was concerned. It would be a very, very bad thing if she set fire to some village, killing all residents, because she got annoyed by their silly complaints. And she would get annoyed, Meriya knew that.

All this thinking was making her head pound even more than it already was. She wanted nothing more right now than to shut herself in her room with a large pot of the headache-medicine tea and not be disturbed for the rest of the night.

But that was not what was to happen.

Hearing footsteps approaching her, Meriya shifted to the right to let whoever-it-was pass. She stifled a groan as a voice that was becoming all-too-familiar chirped- though not as perkily as normal, she noted- in a voice that grated at her already aching head, "Hi Meriya!"

She couldn't stand this, not now. "I have a reaction headache. Go away."

Alyx ignored the second part of her short speech. "I have a headache too! It hurts!" Amazing how he could make even that statement cheerful. "What's a reaction headache? How do you get one?"

"A reaction headache is a headache you get from over-using your gift. Now go away."

Once again, Alyx ignored the "Go away" and chirped on, "Oh. Doss said maybe you could give me something for the headache? Because it really hurts!" The way he said it was not very convincing.

Meriya groaned. "Fine. Follow me." She led him to her room, boiled water, and prepared the headache tea as quickly as possible, while Alyx prattled on, despite her lack of response. She downed the bitter stuff, unsweetened, without making a face, and then shoved the other mug into Alyx's hands. He took a sip and made a face.

"Eww! This is gross!"

Meriya shrugged. "You asked for it," she said indifferently, taking a twisted sort of pleasure in his expense. He sighed and drank the rest, little by little.

The tea took longer than usual to take effect. In fact...

In fact, she didn't feel any difference until the traces of Alyx's headache faded. Both of their headaches faded at the exact same time, actually...

How would I know? I've never been this good at reading people! But I seem to know what he's thinking, feeling, on some level...

This is scary.

Meriya was extremely confused. Extremely confused.

"Wow! This stuff really does work!" Alyx said, but something about the cheerful tone behind that statement wasn't quite right, she sensed...

What is going on? How am I getting all of this?

If I can sense his feelings, can he sense mine? She shivered involuntarily.

"Are you all right?" he said softly, his normally cheerful face twisted in concern. She didn't respond. "Meriya?"

"What?" She said suddenly, then, snapping out of her broodings with a slight blush, "Oh, yeah, I'm fine, of course! Why wouldn't I be?" He looked disbelieving, but let it drop.

"Okay!" His voice was gratingly cheerful again. "I guess I'm gonna leave now. See ya later!"

She almost smiled, relieved. "Bye." Closing and locking her door behind him, she sunk down on her bed again. Oh, gods, what is going on?

She sent out a probing thought. :Lyan?: No response. :Lyan?: she tried again. :I'm sorry about earlier. I shouldn't have yelled at you, or Alyx either.:

Now that got a response. :You're forgiven, Chosen.:

Meriya smiled in spite of herself, then fed him recent events. :Do you have any idea what's going on?:

:Sorry, Chosen.: he said simply. And he was, but not in the way she thought; he was sorry he couldn't tell her, sorry she had to figure it out for herself. But she did.

Meriya sighed. :Not so all-knowing then, are we?: she teased, trying to ignore the surge of disappointment that he couldn't help her. Lyan sent an image of him rolling his eyes, and dropped the link.

One last thought hit her. What if I somehow gave him that headache?

Well, serves him right, then. But surprisingly, she didn't feel satisfied like she thought would.

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A/N:There ya go. A chap. Sorry it took so long. And that it's shortish. Oh well...

QO would like to add that she will try to get the new chap out as soon as possible. Oh, and HAPPY NEW YEAR! Confetti for all!

Ysa: Sami's fault if next chap doesn't come out! I'm not doing another one until she does one! Reviews make me a happy lil muse! -hint, hint-

LIS: Yes, review please. Bye now!