Disclaimer: I've just realized that I've completely forgotten about these little things. I hope I don't get sued or anything. Nothing in here, except that plot and a few characters belongs to me. Everything else, unfortunately, doesn't. It's all Misty's.
Thanks to all my wonderful reviewers. You've been great. I know that this is a little slow going and I'm terrible about updating, but hey, I'm busy. The plot'll speed up soon, I promise. Don't get too bored, and if you are, read some of my other stuff. To Seer Vixen, Alberich may not be small or green, but he's definitely a fighting machine. He's also strict with his students, but rather soft-hearted like Yoda. They also have the same problem with syntax. So what if Alberich's accent sounds like Yoda? Besides, a lot of the time, he was rather hurried and most people fall back into their native grammatical structures when they're hurried or nervous. And this is slightly after Talia (she's still a student) and he talked that way sometimes around her. However, I appreciate the review and the constructive criticism. I'm sorry if it bothers you.
Chapter Six
The common room was not what Mairi had expected. She had expected something like the Boar's Head, all loud raucous noise and flailing men. What she found was something completely different and entirely friendly. There was noise, but it was the noise of youngsters, of children. It was an ordered chaos, and a sea of gray, interspersed here and there with small groups of white. Long wooden tables and benches crossed the wooden floor in an orderly manner and students- no, Trainees, she reminded herself- were seated everywhere, all pushing and shoving good-naturedness. Aderyn, who had stopped when Mairi did, put two hands on Mairi's back and gently shoved her into the door. She propelled her through the sea of tables and oceans of people to a table in the corner, where eyes turned to meet them.
"This is Mairi," Aderyn said. "Chosen of Aranya, aged fourteen. Mairi, these are Shania, Ciara, Elaric, Flauvius, Arun, and Danaë." She pointed to each of them in turn as she named them, shoved some of them to one side, and climbed in-between, pulling Mairi down with her. The conversations immediately started up again, and Aderyn raced into them, headlong, giving Mairi a chance to contemplate her surroundings. She found herself sandwiched between Aderyn and Danaë, a tall quiet girl with long black hair and green eyes in an oval, cheerful face with a mouth that was permanently turned up at the edges. She only exchanged quiet pleasantries with Mairi over the course of the meal, which consisted of small rounds of bread, tender meat, and cooked greens. It was easily the best meal Mairi had ever tasted, and she enjoyed it tremendously though she didn't eat herself full. No thief ever filled up on food for that made one drowsy and less alert. And even though Mairi was in a safe place, she couldn't afford to be anything less than completely alert.
After supper, Mairi tried to sneak away, thinking that Aderyn had better things to do than escort her around. But Aderyn caught her as she was getting up and led her away, down the long hallways and outside. The evening air was fresh and felt good to Mairi after breathing the recycled air in the common room.
"Now," Aderyn said. "I have a little coursework to do, but I figured you might want to see your Companion. Actually, it gives me a chance to spend a little time with mine too. So I'm taking you to a little corner of the Companion's field. It's actually quite close by, so you shouldn't have trouble getting back. Until you know the place better, just go back the way you came. If you got lost, your Companion'll let my Companion know and Ritiah will tell me and I'll come get you. Don't hesitate, it's what I'm here for. Look," she said suddenly, pointing across the river. Two white Companions were racing across the field at them and the two girls hurried across the bridge to meet them. Even at this distance, Mairi could tell which Companion Aranya was from the two mares. She was slighter than Aderyn's Ritiah, but her lines were built with so much swiftness that Mairi was sure that, unladen, she could outrace the wind with her flowing white tail streaming behind her.
: Wow: Aranya's voice said, silkily smooth in her mind. :So many compliments all at once. Keep it up and I might become vain. But: she said indignantly:I can go just as fast with you on my back for you are my Chosen and I will bear you anywhere. Hop up, and I'll show you.: Mairi considered it shortly and then realized a very important thing- she couldn't ride. She explained that abashedly to Aranya. :Any fool can ride: was Aranya's retort. :And you have me. Up you go, not a moment to waste. I'll take it slow, but soon Keren will have you riding like you were born in the saddle.: Mairi looked around and noticed that Aderyn had left, probably while she was talking to Aranya. Well, there's no one to see me fall, she thought very privately. Aranya led her over to a large stump where she was instructed to mount up. With very many tries, Mairi was finally able to sit on Aranya's back where she was instructed to grab with her knees and hold a bit of Aranya's mane to hang on and Mairi spent a blissful and brilliant time on Aranya's back, having Aranya teach her how to ride, never knowing that Aranya was having choice words with one Dantris, the Companion of Keren, the riding instructor.
At Aranya's suggestion, Mairi slid off shortly. Aranya told her that she didn't have riding muscles yet and if she didn't get off now, she'd be sore in the morning. Mairi knew the suggestion as a good one and spent the rest of the time walking next to Aranya and exploring the Companion's Field. After a good hour or so, Aranya told her it was probably time to go and get some sleep, for tomorrow would be a big day. Besides, she had to wash up before bed, didn't she? Mairi agreed reluctantly, knowing that she had to go and looking forward to another hot bath, but completely not wanting to leave the side of her beloved Companion. She realized that Aranya had brought her back to where they had met and she embraced the Companion before setting off in the direction she came.
The washroom, when she reached it, was relatively empty so she figured she must either be early or late. Either way, she enjoyed having the room all to herself and sank blissfully into her second hot bath of the day, washing herself down with mint scented soap and drying off with a warm, soft towel. She sent her uniform down a chute like Aderyn had told her, slipped into her new dressing gown, gathered up her things, and went padding down the hallway. There were lights coming out the bottom of some of the rooms, so she figured it must not be too late. As she walked towards her own room, a luxury that se never thought she'd have, Aderyn looked into the hall from her room, gave her a smile, and wished her a quiet good night. Mairi slowly smiled back, and ducked into her own room. She put her things away, and crept into the soft warm bed. Alternatively curling up and stretching out to fully enjoy the first real bed of her life, she fell sound asleep.