- Chapter 9 -

Afiona rested her head on her hand as she listened to the song.  His voice was incredible and the song obviously very dear to his heart.

"And still the forest of the North guards Valdemar from harm—

For Vanyel's dying curse is stronger far than mortal arm."  Stefen's voice filled the small room until he finished the last note.  "That is as far as I get.  I think it feels unfinished, like there should be more, two lines at least."

She drummed her fingers on the arm of her chair.  "I think you need something more in the beginning, instead of just jumping straight to the story, maybe something about other Heralds being Chosen and warned about magic's price with Vanyel as an example.  Then you can probably get a closing from that."

Stefen stared at her for several moments.  "Do you have any paper?"

She could practically see the possibilities her words had created take life in his eyes. 

"Of course."  She rose and padded barefoot across the stone floor to her desk and withdrew a stack of paper, a pot of ink, and a quill. 

He accepted the items and leaned forward to scratch out several lines.  "If I use lore instead…" He scratched out what he wrote and scribbled some more lines.  His unintelligible muttering was almost soothing.

Afiona sat back in her chair and waited.  Medren was best at simple ballads and she had watched him write several over the span of their friendship but he never had the intensity that Stefen was exhibiting now.  "You must miss him dreadfully."

"Pardon."  Stef paused in his writing to look up at her blankly.

"Herald Vanyel.  You are obviously determined to make this perfect for him."  She observed. 

Stef's eyes became haunted and distant.  "Of course I miss him.  He was - is my lifebonded."  The searing pain of the separation very evident in his voice as he spoke the simple words.

"I know."  She said softly.  "I have been around Heralds who had lost their Companions and they experienced much the same thing you are experiencing."

"And usually they commit suicide."  Stef said bitterly.

"You didn't."  She pointed out softly.  "Why?"

"It wasn't for lack of trying."  Stefen looked away trying to avoid her too knowing eyes.

Even with her shields up Afiona could Feel the pain he was trying to suppress

Afiona tucked her feet under herself, trying to make herself seem smaller and less threatening.  "Obviously something is holding you here then."

"A promise."  Stefen was surprised he was admitting such private confessions to a stranger.  She felt safe and familiar despite being a stranger, that was the only explanation it.

Afiona slid from her seat and sat on the low table in front of him.  "Who made you make such a promise?"

"Vanyel." He said the name simply. Seeing the look of confusion in her eyes, Stef explained further. "I went north after Randale died.  I wasn't needed here anymore and the pain was so bad."  He didn't resist as she gathered his hands in hers.  "I was about to drink this poison when some rocks dislodged from the roof of the cave and knocked it out of my hands.  Then he appeared."

Afiona waited patiently for him to continue, she refused to use her Gifts to force the words out, even if he needed to say them. 

"He needs me to convince Valdemar that Heralds are not some sort of second rate Herald Mages."

"That sounds like a life long task."

"It is."  Stefen admitted.

"And then you can join him?"

"Yes."  The wealth of feeling infused into that one word was incredible, longing, relief, desperation, it seemed to sum up his entire being.

 She could hear the tears in his voice and she touched his shoulder.  "It must feel like you are looking down an endless road, but you aren't.  Why don't you go traveling this summer?  If he is still in the north waiting for you, you could sit under a tree and talk to him, even if he won't answer.  And remember, no matter how bad it feels, you aren't alone here."  She forced him to meet her eyes.

"Thank you."  Stef suddenly pulled her close for a hug.

Gingerly she returned the embrace.  "Are you feeling better?"

"Are you sure you didn't use your mindhealing gift?"

"I am sure, I don't feel comfortable poking around in other people's minds." She admitted with a slight shrug. 

A frantic pounding interrupted them.  "Healer Afiona?  Are you there?"  A young, frenzied voice called.

"Come in, I am here."  She stood and was half way to the door when it swung open revealing a young man, maybe sixteen years old.

"I had foal watch and I didn't think anything was wrong at first but now she's down and she needs help."  The boy rambled off.

Afiona didn't recognize him as any of her students and there were no mares due to foal in the Healer's right now.  "What mare?  Where is she?"

"You have to come with me."

"Do you mean a Companion mare?"  Stef asked.

The boy nodded.

"Oh dear, go back to her, I'll be right there, I just need to gather a few things first."  Afiona immediately became all business, the understanding listener of a few moments ago gone.

The boy nodded and ran back down the hall without another word.

"You are responsible for the Companions as well?"  Stef asked, watching in awe as she efficiently gathered what she needed.

"Yes."  Afiona said as she ran out the door to the medicine room and gathered the medicine's she may need, several blankets, and a med kit for Companions that was always kept in here. 

Stef relieved her of most the bulk of the burden when she returned to her room.  "Lead on Healer."

"Thank you."  She tossed over her shoulder as she hurried out into the gathering night.

"What could be wrong?"  Stef asked, labouring under the load and stumbling on unseen obstacles.

"Companion mares have just as much difficulty as humans when is comes to birth."  She explained without slowing down.  She knew the way to the Stables by heart and the pain of the Companion mare became more obvious, and more beckoning with each step she took.  The mare was frantic and in incredible pain.

When she entered the stable she found several white clad Heralds in the hall just outside the stall.

"Move it!"  She ordered and they parted for her.  "Everyone but her Chosen, out!"

"She hasn't Chosen."  Someone said as she passed.

She ignored them, focused on her patient.  The boy who had fetched her was kneeling at the mare's head.  "Easy lad, this isn't any of your doing."

"Are you sure?"  He asked, desperate for her assurances.

"I am sure."  She gave him a reassuring smile.

Before she even fell to her knees next to the mare she knew it was too late for the beautiful creature.  She could See the ruptured artery that was leaking her life's blood into her womb.  "You better leave, I'll take care of this." She said with as much confidence as she could muster even as she wanted to cry for the dying creature.

The boy nodded and vanished.

"She is my Companion's daughter."  A man said from the door.  "What is you honest opinion?"

Afiona ignored him, rolled up her sleeves, and poured a sterilizing liquid over her hands and arms.  While talking to the mare softly to the mare, she reached within her.  She could feel the foal's feet, as she had expected, only they were the hind feet.  "Breech."  She said loud enough to be heard by the man in the doorway.  "And she is bleeding internally."

"Damn."  The Herald at the door cursed. 

Afiona met the gaze of the mare. 

:Save my baby.:  The simple words were emblazoned in her mind with the mare's calm acceptance of her fate and her desperation for her child to survive.

She jumped at the unexpected speech.  :I will.:

The mare's head fell again as another contraction ripped through her.

"Pass me the kit."  Afiona said softly.  "And, please, sing for her."

Stefen stared at her stunned. 

"Please, just sing something calming."  She snapped, wishing instantly she could retract her tone.

"I will do my best."  Stefen assured her as he took a place at the mare's head, cradling it in his lap. 

As he started to sing the mare relaxed and her eyes drifted close.  Afiona was amazed at the waves of pain suddenly stopping before she remembered hearing about his odd Gift.

"Thank you."  She said, and turned back to her work.

~ * ~

Afiona swiped one bloody arm across her forehead as she looked down at the small foal, now wrapped in blankets.  It was barely breathing and it hadn't opened its eyes.

"Now what?"  Stefen stared down at the small creature, his voice hoarse from prolonged use.  Beside them was the lifeless body of the mare.

"Now we have to make sure the baby survives."  She started rubbing the foal with the blanket to dry him off.  "See what the Heralds can produce for milk for the little one."

Stefen nodded and vanished, leaving her with the foal.

:Time to wake up little one.:  She urged, putting as much compulsion into the sending as she dared.  It was obviously born before its time.

Slowly it opened a massive pair of blue eyes and stared up at her.

"Poor little thing."  She continued to rub him until he was dry.  His baby fuzz gleamed silver in the light of the lantern.  :Time to stand.  Show me how big you are and stand up.:

"Thank you Healer."  The Herald from before appeared in the doorway again.

"Don't thank me yet."  She said as she continued to hoist the drowsy colt to his feet.  "He is not out of the woods yet."

"There is a mare willing to nurse him."  Stef said as he peered around the doorway.  "How is he holding up?"

"Let's move him to a new stall first.  Help me pick him up."  She positioned herself at his front end and the Herald took his rear, together they moved him to a new stall that had already been prepared.  The surrogate Companion mare appeared almost immediately.

It took him a few tries but he mastered the art of nursing in moments.

She sighed and leaned back against the wall of the stall, every muscle in her body quivering with fatigue.  "I couldn't save his mother.  She had already lost too much blood."

"If the boy had been paying attention-" The Herald started to accuse.

"No."  She sat forward.  "The artery was torn so badly not even a dozen Healers could have saved her.  The contractions tore it even more."

"How do you do it?"  Stef asked.  "I mean, you took one look at the mare, knew she was going to die, and accepted it." She could sense he was torn as to how he should feel towards her now that the crisis had passed.

"If there was even the slightest chance I could have saved her I would have done everything in my power to save her."  Afiona looked up at the two men.  "I would have given anything to help her, but she knew she was too far gone.  She asked me to save her baby."  Her voice sounded haunted, even to her own ears.

Tears poured out of her eyes and she quickly turned to face the colt. 

Stef shook out one of the spare blankets and wrapped it around her.  "Are you staying down here tonight?"

She nodded.  "I don't want to leave him alone yet, he is still too prone to infection."

"I'll get you some fresh clothing."  Stef offered and vanished once more.

"He's so tiny."  The Herald commented.

"He'll get bigger."  She rubbed her forehead, smearing more blood on her face.

"Why don't I watch him while you wash up?"

"No."  Her exhaustion was wearing on her nerves.  "Sorry, I don't mean to snap, but I can't leave him."

"I'll get you some warm water then."  The Herald said in understanding.

Alone with the Companion mare and foal she buried her face in her knees.  "Gods, what am I going to do?"

The mare gently nudged her arm.

Looking up into the understanding blue eyes she felt some measure of peace.  The colt, sated, staggered over to Afiona and collapsed next to her.

"You better get back to your own foal."  Afiona said as she stroked the colt's soft fur.

The mare seemed to smile at her before leaving her alone.  She could sense the baby-thoughts from the small form next to her; somehow it thought she was its mother.

"I wonder if anyone could tell me your name.  Little one won't suit you forever.  Unless I miss my guess you are going to be quite large my lad."

The colt stared up at her, not understanding her words but liking her voice.

The Herald was the first to return with a large bowl, some towels, and a bladder of warm water.

"I'm sorry, I haven't introduced myself.  I am Herald Lance."

The corner of her mouth twitched. 

"I was named after Herald Lancir, Queen Elspeth's Queen's Own.  Both my parent's are Heralds so…"  He smiled self effacingly and shrugged.

"Don't worry, I understand."  She assured him.

"How's he doing?"  Lance trailed a finger down the colt's side.

"He is tired and full."  Carefully she extricated herself from the sleeping foal and moved over to the water.  "I think he is going to be alright."

"Good."  The Herald poured the water into the basin.  "I ordered a pallet and some blankets brought down for you."

"Thank you."  Afiona slipped off her blood stained shirt, unmindful of her audience as used a small towel to start scrubbing herself clean.

"My gods, what happened to you?"

"What?"  She paused and looked down at herself before flushing bright red.  "They're old."

The scars covered her almost completely; only her head and hands were free of the marks.

"It looks like you were tortured."

"I was."  She snapped.  "By my own family."

"I'm sorry for prying, it's just a shock."  Lance sat back, his hands up in a gesture of surrender.

She vigorously scrubbed her arms and face then wrapped herself back up in the blanket.  "Next time keep your mouth shut when you are shocked then."

"I didn't mean to hurt you.  I hate to see anyone hurt.  Give me their names and I will hunt them down."

"They are dead."  Except for my brother, she added silently. 

"I am sorry to hear it."

"I hope these will do."  Stef stepped into the stall and handed her a loose shirt and a pair of loose greyish pants she normally slept in.

"Wonderful, thanks." 

Stef stared at her arm as she reached out to accept the clothing.

"Don't you dare start."  She growled at the bard and dropped the blanket to pull on the clean shirt.  She managed to change the remainder of her clothing without baring anything.  "Herald, can you tell me what his name is?"

"I don't know.  His mother didn't tell any of the others what she wanted to name him."  He answered after a short delay.  "I suppose you get the honours."

"Um, Nicodimus was my favourite name when I was little, I named my kitten that."

"A big name for a little Companion."  Lance observed.  "What does Nico think of it?"

"He is not thinking of much.  He is still sleepy."  She stroked his snowy white forehead.

"Are you going to raise him?"  Stef asked.

"He thinks I am his mother but a Companion is better suited to the task."

"Actually, the Companions approve of you taking care of him for the time being. 

Carmia says it would scar him to remove him from you know."  Herald Lance said, obviously surprised himself at the Companions' offer

"Carmia is your Companion?"  Afiona tried to clarify.

"And his grandmother."  Lance nodded.

Nico shifted so his head was on her lap and remained contentedly asleep.

"I'll go see to removing Tuni's body."  Lance stood.  "You look like you need to sleep."

"I'll tell the Healers you are down here and not to expect you for a few days."  Stef offered as he left.

Lance gave her one last glance the seemed to be filled with pity.  "I'll see you in the morning.  Thanks for saving Nico."

"It was my honor."  She yawned and slumped further down the wall.  She was asleep even before the men left the stable.