In Companion's Field, unaware of the serious discussion taking place in the council chambers, Avalana sat with her twin sister, Natasha, in the peacefulness of the grove, softly singing a song of mourning. Jansen Felt her sorrow through her bond, and was flooding her with love and comfort in response. The two stood there until the bell rang for their evening classes before venturing out of the grove. Ava turned and, after hugging Jansen and Nata, ran off to her weapons class.
As she left, a very worried Gwena cantered over to Jansen and Natasha's Companion, Aderie. A Grove-born, worried? Something must be up. Something big and dangerous.
: Jansen, may I ask why your Chosen went to search on Vanyel Ashkevron last night? :
: No idea. It may have something to do with her Foresight gift, which is like Selenay's and Elspeth's rather than 'true' foresight. Why do you ask? :
: Oh…nothing. Just that Elspeth also had the same urge. I wonder…does this tie in with Alberich's gift? Pity none of the other Farseers see anything relevant right now…:
With the last few cryptic remarks, Gwena ambled off. Jansen turned his mind towards his Chosen, but found himself blocked off as she engaged in a mock battle. Mentally shrugging, he went back to grazing and pondering the mysteries of the Grove-borns.
"Ow. Ow, ow, ow ow and Ow." Ava commented to her twin as they stretched out in the hot tubs. HeraldsKerowyn and Alberichhad unexpectedly shown up, taken over the lesson andorganised a very intense session which resulted in lots of bruises and minor cuts. "I think I need a healer."
"I can sympathise, they did more or less the same thing to me last week. Well, luckily for you, I happen to have a touch of the gift." Natasha had a weak healing gift, and she used it now to help Avalana.
"Ah… that's MUCH better. Thanks!"
"No problem, its not…" Natasha's voice trailed off in mid sentence, as her eyes unfocussed and opened to their fullest extent, staring at thin air.
"Nata?"
"Haven is burning." came the response, in a harsh, grating voice that rubbed on her nerves. "Haven is burning, and fire is being called down. Birds are being crisped as they fly. Companions are screaming, dying in shared pain with their heralds."
: Jansen! Get Aderie to wake her up! :
: She can't! She's been blocked out! :
The awful voice continued. "Many try to flee, but only a few make it. Bright Havens-I'm too close!" Nata started shaking, and her eyes started to pin wildly as a scream burst from her throat.
"NATA! WAKE UP!" Ava slapped her on the face, hard.
Nata abruptly reverted to normal. She stared at Ava, then suddenly collapsed and started crying against the other girl.
"Shhh, its ok, lets get some clothes on, then we'll go see Talia, ok?" Ava desperately tried to calm down her twin, pushing her out of the bath into the changing rooms.
Talia frowned as she listened to the trainee's story. What she had described was almost identical to Alberich's vision, only much more intense. Avalana had kept an arm draped around Natasha the entire time, calming her down when she got too emotional.
"…and then I realise that I'm standing too near to the flames. Alarin turns and runs, but the fire catches up and I burn…" Natasha finally broke down into sobs against Ava.
Avalana spoke next. "I tried to get her to wake up and slapped her. She woke up and cried, and I dragged her here to see you."
Talia looked at the way Nata was leaning on Ava, and a sudden suspicion came to mind. Sending a query towards Rolan, she asked if the two were shaych, or even Lifebonded.
A definite feeling of dissent came over the link.
Another query, but this time she asked Dirk to relay it.
Dirk just gave her a look, telling her silently: they're non-identical twins, remember? :
: Am I really so tired that I forgot that! My gosh…can I petition the queen for a break? :
: No, dear, you can't. Pay attention, dear, this may be important. :
After Natasha had calmed down,Talia spoke. "I assume that Foresight really is one of your gifts, Natasha?"
"It's my only gift besides a tiny bit of Healing and Mindspeech, Queen's Own. I think I'm the strongest Foreseer inthe Allianceas of the moment."
"All right then. You have had a rather traumatising experience, so I suggest that you quickly eat dinner and sleep. You are excused from all further classes until after tomorrow's lunch. You may go. Ava, can you stay a while more, please?"
As her twin left the room, Ava focussed her attention on the heralds in front of her. Both looked tired and very serious, with Talia's eyebrows creasing until they almost met in the centre of her forehead. Whatever they were going to ask her must be really serious indeed.
Dirk spoke up. "Ava, I'm not really good with words, so I'll ask you bluntly. What were you doing researching Vanyel Ashkevron on the exact same night Herald-princess Elspeth had the prompting to?"
"I also have a touch of Foresight, sir, and I understand it's similar to Her Majesty's. I had a prompting for it in the morning, but I had a full day so I had to wait till the night to check it out. Why? Did I do something wrong?" Ava started to panic. Had she made a mistake? What was her punishment?
She felt her feelings being suppressed. Talia must be using her gift.
"No, you did nothing wrong. We just need to know why. Hmmm…you have Foresight, you say? And are you certain that this 'prompting' was Foresight and not just imagined?"
"I'm certain, sir. I'm keen on history, but I also happen to be in the middle of a book on Lavan Firestorm. I don't switch books halfway through reading one for no reason. Also, it feels like all the other times my really insignificant Foresight has hit me."
"Well then, thank you. You may go."
Once Ava had left the room, Talia turned to Dirk concernedly.
"Do you think…?"
"That the two feelings are connected? Most certainly. I wonder…why Vanyel?"
Talia was about to reply when a rain-sodden boy ran into the room suddenly, gasping "Milord Heralds, Queen Selenay requires your presence in the Temple. A new trainee has arrived, via a Gate."
Talia and Dirk looked at each other, mouths agape, before grabbing their cloaks and sprinting out into the rain.
