Disclaimer: See chapter one

Chapter 5 - Strange Dreams

Vanyel finished his dinner and went down to the kitchens to beg a meal for Tantris and Llyria. He made
sure they gave him only what could be kept out; cold meats, fruit, vegetables, and the like. He didn't
want it to get spoiled before they'd had a chance to eat it. He had a feeling that Tantris might be a
little too tired to eat anything else anyway.

He took the tray with the covered dishes over to the Healer's Collegium to the girl's room and found
them both fast asleep, his friend's arm draped naturally over Llyria. Smiling to himself, he set the
tray down on the chair where they'd see it when they woke up and took himself off to his bed. It was
late for him as well and he had a lot planned for the next day.

Almost as if the Herald-mage's presence was a catalyst, Llyria began to dream.

She found herself in a valley of some sort, with unnaturally straight walls of ice and rock stretching
out for miles. Vanyel was there as well, looking slightly different than he did now, though she couldn't
place it. His once-white uniform was stained and torn, and he looked haggard and almost haunted. She
waited for him to place a spell on her, making her invisible to both normal and mage-sight, then they
both ran almost into the arms of the waiting army.

There, Vanyel did battle with some lesser mages, his strength being worn down with each one he overcame,
blood running down his leg and into his boot. He was waiting for someone. Someone who appeared soon
enough, someone who made her blood run cold at the sight.

He was almost the mirror image of the Herald-Mage, in every way. Where Vanyel was silver-eyed and -haired,
this man was dark-eyed and -haired. Even down to the clothing he wore, ebony as night. Llyria shivered.
She knew what she had to do but it still scared her half to death. It mattered not however, this evil man
and his army had to be stopped and she was willing to do whatever it took.

As the two men sparred verbally, she worked her way carefully around to opposing mage's side, trying not to
give herself away while awaiting Vanyel's signal. Soon, the evil mage raised his arms, a signal that the
words had ended and the fight was about to begin in earnest. She tensed, waiting for the right moment to
strike, a serrated knife held in her hand.

The mage battle had begun with Vanyel's refusal to join with Leareth and Yfandes return, and for a while,
it looked like it was going to be a stalemate. Then, with dismay, she saw panic in Vanyel's eyes, something
she'd never seen before in all the time she'd known him.

:Llyria! Quickly, this mage is far more powerful than I am. He's got other mages feeding him power from
the other side of those hills. Power I can't hope to match on my own. You will need to strike soon, if not
now!: his mind-voice was urgent.

She sent back an affirmation, and as the mage raised his arms for another levinbolt attack, she struck, right
between the shoulder blades. The bolts meant for Vanyel struck her instead, as he turned in shock and surprise.
The current ran between both of them, and Vanyel chose that moment to make his move, sending all the
power he had in one final strike, tho not THE Final Strike. That he was saving in reserve. It hit its mark,
vapourising Leareth and half of his army and sending Llyria spinning free of the currents that had run
between herself and the evil mage, having burnt away the protections and the shielding spell he'd placed on
her.

She knew she was dying as she hit the ground. Every nerve was afire with pain from burns and other injuries,
and she could see that the Herald-Mage knew it too. He cradled her in his arms, tears of heart-felt pain
and sorrow running down his emaciated features.

She smiled, almost absently, and struggled to raise her hand to his cheek in a vain attempt to comfort him.

"It's all right, I've done my part," she said out loud, her voice clouded with pain. "You don't need to
worry about me any more. I'll be fine..." she smiled and began to sing quietly. "Don't cry for me, my dear
Vanyel. The truth is, I'll never leave here. Though it may get harder for you to see me, I will be near you,
and always will be."

Her eyes dimmed and her hand fell to the ground, limp.

Llyria woke with start, screaming and crying. The dream had been so real and she could still feel the
pain it brought. Tantris had caught some of the dream; the bond between them was so strong he could feel
almost everything she did. He'd shared some of her dream and it filled him with dread. He held her as she
wept, trying his best to calm her down. When nothing he could do worked, he called for the healers and for
his friend. He hoped that the Herald-Mage could help shed some light on what had just happened. With a wry
mind-voice, Delian spoke to him briefly.

:It seems we can add one more Gift to her already impressive arsenal. That seemed like a ForeSight dream
if I ever saw one:

Tantris sat up in shock. He didn't need to hear that right now, and he said as much to his Companion who
wisely kept silent.

Vanyel and the healer arrived at roughly the same time. He was not allowed in to see his friend until the
healer was satisfied that nothing had happened to her that was health-related so apart from giving her a
sleeping draught, he left and let Vanyel in to see the pair.

The expression on his friend's face alarmed the Herald-Mage.

"Tell me everything that happened," he demanded.

Tantris looked away. He didn't know what to say to him at that point so he felt it was better to just tell
him what he'd seen of the dream. He was still holding his sobbing lifebonded as he spoke.

As he spoke, Vanyel's alarm grew. It sounded eerily like the dreams he'd had after he'd first been Chosen,
up until he faced down the evil mage Krebain. They were slightly different though and he suspected that the
arrival of Llyria was the difference. His aunt Savil, as well as the Tayledras Adepts who'd trained him had
told him that although they were ForeSight dreams, nothing was set in stone and he told Tantris the same thing.

"I'm sure it's nothing to worry about. You know full well that nothing is ever exactly as ForeSight describes.
Situations change, choices determine what happens as much as anything else and I'm sure that there is nothing
to worry about."

He only wished he were as sanguine as he was trying to show. He could tell that Tantris was not convinced, nor
was the now-quiet girl in his arms. She looked at him with knowing eyes. He couldn't face her and looked away.
When he looked back at her, he could still see she knew he was lying but wasn't going to call him on it. At
least, not yet.

Vanyel shifted uncomfortably, but now that Llyria seemed to be calm he made his excuses and left, feeling
as if the world might come undone around his ears if he weren't careful.

Llyria looked up at Tantris, content to lie in his arms for a bit longer.

:I know you don't like it but I have had dreams before that have come true. Does this mean I have this Fore-
Sight that you've been going on about?: she asked him.

He looked at the door Vanyel had just gone through.

:Yes, I'm afraid it looks like you do. I don't know how I'm going to explain all of this to the Circle you know.
It's not every day that someone drops in on you, turns out to be your lifebonded, and having the particular
Gifts that you do. I mean, you're an incredible Empath, but you also have the Bardic Gift. What are they
going to do with you?: he scratched his head in confusion and smiled tentatively at her.

She smiled a little at his attempt to make a joke.

:I may have the Bardic Gift but I think it's more of an Empathic thing, than anything else, tho I could be wrong.
I have no desire to be a Bard. I may have the Gift, and may be able to sing and play some instruments but I
really do not want to be a Bard.: she confessed to Tantris.

He looked at her curiously.

:What DO you want?: he asked.

She looked thoughtful for a long while, then responded.

:I would like to be a healer I think. I have some small gift for herb healing I know that, I used to try to
heal us when...: she stopped, her eyes clouding with emotional pain.

Tantris tightened his arms around her in an attempt to comfort his lifebonded.

:It's all right, you don't have to say anything right now. There's time enough for that later. We should really
try to get some sleep, we have many long days ahead of us, trying to get things sorted out for you, and for me
as well. We're going to need proper quarters for one thing.:

She looked at him with slight alarm.

He grinned in amusement. :You've gone and forgotten we're lifebonded haven't you?: he teased.

She blushed and nodded, her face hidden by her lovely, long, dark hair. He longed to run it thru his fingers
and impulsively grasped the end of a strand. It felt soft to him and he wished that they didn't have a care
in the world and could live normal happy lives, or at least as normal and happy as life with a serving Herald
ever got.

Llyria's eyes fell on his face, his eyes closed in contentment as he rubbed the strand of her hair absently
in his fingers. She smiled and blushed even further, although he couldn't see it.

Snuggled safely in his arms, she felt safe for the first time in her life. She hoped it would last a long time.
Not knowing when, or even if, the dream she'd had earlier would come true, she vowed silently to herself that
she was going to take advantage of whatever time she had with Tantris and that she would try to be the best
person she could be and live life to the fullest, as much as she was able.

With that thought safely tucked away, she moved down in his arms to a prone position, making sure he was also
comfortable and they both fell asleep again, her head resting on his shoulder and his arms protectively around
her. She knew that her future would be decided in the coming days but was content to rest in the moment.


Anyone know the reference to the little song lyrics I tweaked and included? *winks* I just couldn't resist *smiles*