"Wow Kethry! You look amazing in your whites!" Kethrys best friend Sasha praised. Kethry stood in front of her mirror gazing at how wonderful her new white uniform was. 4 long years of training had finally paid off. She had worked extremely hard in her mage class, and achieved the rank of Master Mage, and had even become a great swordswoman and archer in weapons.
"I'm so excited for the ceremony!" Sasha said happily.
"Wow! You do look stunning!" Kethry heard a familiar voice enter her room. She turned.
"Trevor!" She jumped into his arms. "You're back from internship! I missed you so much!" Kethry said so happily.
"Yes, and I brought you a graduation Gift, but I'll have to show you it later." He smiled.
Kethry could almost cry. This was the happiest moment of her life. She had done her hair up in curls, and put on makeup. She was ready for the ceremony in front of the Queen and court.
"Lets go!" Sasha exclaimed. "The nobles are coming! It's about time!"
Sasha, Kethry and Trevor all headed up to the great hall. There was a mass of colors. Green, White, Blue, Red, the different colors of garmets worn by the nobles… every color imaginable. Trevor and Sasha took their seats among the other whites, while Kethry headed up with a group of her classmates also about to receive the official title as herald.
"Good evening ladies and gentlemen of Valdemar." Queen Selenay began. Kethry could feel butterflies forming in her stomach.
"Today is a great day… the graduation of these trainees into their full colors. I would like to start with the Healers first." Then Herald Talia went through the list of Healer trainees, presenting them to the court. After that she listed off the Bards, and Artificers. Finally she reached the Heralds.
"And now for the Herald Trainees. These individuals have worked endless amounts of hours, for a position that is not always glamorous, but they do It with honor and dignity, and they are protectors of Valdemar… here are your new heralds." Talia listed the names of the new heralds. She finally got to Kethrys and Kethry stood up from her spot with the grays, and into the circle of heralds, very proudly.
Sasha and Trevor cheered happily for Kethry, and greeted her at the Heraldic circle.
"Well done love." Trevor said proudly.
The music started up for the ball to begin. "Care to dance? Herald Kethry" Trevor asked.
"Why certainly!" Kethry said excitedly. They danced almost every song. Even Sasha got a few dates to dance with. Kethry was pretty good at dancing, since she had to learn it back home, and then it was part of her weapons training as well.
Finally the ceremony had ended, and Sasha left with her dancing partner. Kethry chuckled. "Hmm, looks like Sasha has got a new boyfriend." She smiled.
Trevor nodded. "Uh-huh." He smiled too. "Oh yes. I have to show you your present." He said grinning. He lead her to his new suite, and opened the door slowly.
Kethry gasped. "Trevor! What have you been doing?" She asked suspiciously, but she was amazed. There were rose pedals spread all over the floor, with a few candles lit on the desks. She had a slight feeling she knew what was going on.
Trevor walked over to the desk to grab a small box. "Since this is mid summers eve… and it's a little after when we first met…" He paused grinning. He kneeled down on one knee, and opened the box. "Kethry, I love you. You're my best friend, and my love. Will you marry me?"
Kethry gasped. The ring was a small silver band, with a round, perfectly cut diamond in the center. "Of course I well Trevor!" She said, almost in tears of joy. "I love you!" She gave him a huge hug, and he put the ring on her left finger. He stood up and kissed her, and swung her around.
They spent the evening alone in his suite, relaxing, and celebrating. "You know?" Trevor said finally. "It IS mid summers eve. There's still plenty of parties going on. How about we join them?" He grinned.
Kethry nodded. "Sounds like a fabulous idea." She took his hand and they headed down to companions field. There was a gathering of heralds, and a few bards. The bards were playing music, while the heralds were dancing and drinking merrily. They had a fine time talking and dancing with their friends.
Finally, well into the next morning, Trevor and Kethry headed back to his suites. Kethry fell asleep instantly next to Trevor. Trevor pulled the sheets over her, and blew out the candles.
The next morning Kethry heard a knock on the door and some brief muttering, but was too tired to get up. Finally she heard Trevors sweet voice. "Darling… I have some bad news…"
She got up at that. "What?" She asked concerned.
"I… have to go out on circuit…." He said sadly. "There is some trouble in the north that the Queen wishes to have straightened out. I must go immediately."
"NO!" Kethry said desperately. "Please… stay… be careful…" Tears slowly rolling down her cheeks.
Trevor hugged her. "I know… I'll be careful. Don't worry. I'll come back… I promise." He quickly packed his things, and gave her another kiss and headed out the door.
Kethry watched him head out to companions field and put on a cloak and ran out too him. She kissed him. "Don't go…" She sighed.
"Kethry… you know were heralds… I must do as the Queen says… it's not easy sometimes." He said, trying to console her. "They tell you that in classes…"
"I know… but why…why now?" Kethry said, still trying to make sense of it.
"Kethry…" Trevor sighed and hugged her. "I don't know… I promise I'll be back though." He kissed her passionately. "I should only be gone for a few weeks."
Kethry nodded, the tears still coming. "I'll miss you love." She told him, and watched him mount on Gyatha. She patted his companion on the neck.
"I'll miss you too." He said, and turned Gyatha towards the gates.
Kethry watched the pair walk away into the distance. Finally they disappeared on the horizon. She couldn't help but cry. "Please be careful…" She sighed. She slowly turned around and walked back to Trevors suite. She curled up in a chair, and cried.
Sasha burst through the door. "Kethry! I heard… I'm sorry…" She said, hugging Kethry. "It'll be ok…He'll come back, don't worry."
Kethry nodded. She tried to calm down. There was no point in wallowing in misery… he was gone, and there was nothing she could do about it. She sighed, and stood up.
"Wanna go to breakfast?" Sasha asked.
Kethry nodded. "Sure." They headed out the door.
"So… I heard he proposed!" Sasha said. "That's gotta be happy" She said grinning.
Kethry nodded. Smiling a little. She showed Sasha the ring.
Sasha grinned even brighter. "Great! I am sooo being your maid of honor!" Sasha chuckled.
Kethry laughed, feeling her spirits brighten a little. They headed down to breakfast and grabbed some food. "Good day ladies. Congrats Kethry on getting your whites." Mero said proudly.
Kethry smiled. "Thanks." They had all become good friends with Mero, in all there times of doing chores with him. Her and Sasha grabbed their plates and sat down, eating in silence for a while. Kethry was still in her depressive state.
"Oh c'mon Keth… you cant be depressed forever." Sasha sighed. "Or you'll make me depressed!"
"I know I know… I just have a bad feeling that something's going to go wrong…" Kethry sighed. "I hope he'll be ok…"
"Keth… he promised you he'd come back… that's all you can hope for… now… how about we go riding? I think your companion will cheer you up." Sasha replied.
Kethry nodded. "Alright." They both headed down to the stables. Kethry met Vryna.
:It'll be alright chosen.: Vryna said, nuzzling Kethry. :You have me… it'll be alright.:
Kethry woke up extremely early. It had been a week since Trevor had left. Kethry wasn't able to sleep at night since he had left. Kethry was beginning to worry, for he had not written her. She stood up. "I've had enough of this… I'm going to Dean Teren to see if anything has happened." She slung a robe over her long silk pajamas and turned to head out the door. But just as she opened the door, a page stood somewhat startled. Kethry face grew with concern, for a page at this hour meant only bad news…
"Uh… are you the lady Herald Kethry Beltran?" The page asked nervously.
Kethry nodded. "Yes…" She said slowly.
"The Dean wishes to see you." The page said.
Kethrys gut dropped. "I was just going to see him… thank you for your message." Kethry handed the page a few coppers, and ran down the hallway to the Dean. She tore open his office door, startling Teren.
Dean Teren looked up. "Er… hello Kethry… I have some rather bad and disturbing news for you."
Kethry sat down slowly, tears already forming down her face. "Something's wrong with Trevor isn't there…" Kethry said starting to sob.
The Deans face turned with sorrow. "I'm afraid so…" He began. "Trevor and Gyatha were attacked by guards on their return home." He paused to place a hand on Kethrys shoulder. "They killed them both."
Kethry broke into hysterical sobbing. "No! This cant be! I knew this would happen."
"The guards were employed by a noble… that's all we were able to get out of them at this point." Teren added. "We will conduct a truth spell later. For killing a Herald and a Companion is one of the highest forms of treason in this country."
Kethrys gut sank even further when he mentioned a noble… The last few years she had been getting hints from Daren… that he was around, and willing to wait for her. If he found out about Trevor… he probably WOULD have killed him… and that's what she expected.
"Teren?" She began.
"Yes Kethry?" He asked.
"I think I know who might've done it." She said between tears.
"Who?" Teren asked surprised.
"Lord Daren Destera." She stated.
Teren looked in shock. "Lord Daren? Why? How? Lord Daren is of the most respectable nobles…"
"Well… there is a past between us…"
"Oh really? You should have told us sooner." Teren told her.
"Yeah… well… we were once betrothed… the first moment I met him I could tell he was bad news… there was another time, just the day I was chosen… he tried to kidnap me… as I was on my way to the palace… Thankfully Vryna made a run for it until I was safe… Just recently now, I've been getting letters from him… saying that he would wait for me… He still wants me…" She started sobbing.
"Wow! This is really surprising you really should have told us sooner…" Daren repeated. "If anyone Is after you, its our job to keep you safe. I promise… we will conduct more searches into this…Im sorry you had to lose Trevor…"
Kethry nodded. She couldn't take anymore… she felt like she was suffocating. She ran out of the deans office crying. She ran out to companions field… the middle, right by the salle. She fell down on her knees crying. "Dammit… why Trevor… I knew it… I just knew it…." She cried.
She could feel her emotions taking control. Suddenly her mage gift went wild. Storm clouds rolled in. She couldn't feel herself anymore. She just wanted to die. "Why…"She cried. She felt all alone… her Gift was consuming her. Finally, she passed out on the ground. She felt blackness, and knew nothing. She traveled further into the dark. Not wanting to ever leave….
"Herald! Herald!" A healer called. He hurried over to the nearly dying Herald. "Please no! Don't die!" He didn't know what he was doing, but he fell to his knees, scooped the herald into his arms. He ran his hands through her hair, and used his mind magic to bring her at least back to consciousness. As soon as she made a movement, he rushed her back to the house of healing, and made a bed for her. He worked with her all night, trying to keep her back in consciousness. For some reason, this patient was different to him. He must have her live. She needed to live.
Kethry saw a dim ray of light, then soft murmuring. She opened her eyes to the soft glow of a dimly light room. "Where am I?" She groaned, a little confused… no…a little more than a bit confused.
"You're in the house of healing." A tall, black haired green-eyed, green-robed man appeared before her.
"Am I still in Haven?" Kethry asked.
The healer chuckled. "Yes you are. My name is Ryan by the way… I will be your attendant until you are better. I saved you from out in companions field."
"Thank you." Was all that Kethry could manage to say. She felt awful, but the presence of this healer seemed somewhat comforting. "Please stay!" She heard herself say, to somewhat surprise.
The healer smiled. "Don't worry. I will." He sat down in a chair beside her, watching over here.
Finally she drifted into a peacefull sleep. This time she didn't want to die though, all she felt was peace.