Herald of Death Chapter 1: Closing of the Heart, a valdemar universe fanfic

HERALD OF DEATH: THE CLOSING OF THE HEART

Whatchamacallme: Yup, I finally got around to redoing this and uploading it. Sorry it took so long '

Disclaimer: I don't own the series Heralds of Valdemar. For if I did own Valdemar, you wouldn't one book, for I don't write very fast and so you would not have known Valdemar exists.

The quiet bleating of sheep; the calm stars overhead; all was peaceful at the holding. Then a smell; I recognize it, it's a WOLF! Run! Must run away! Away from the wolf! I ran as fast as I can, but it overtakes me. I'm on my side, the wolf has pinned me down. His head comes down rips out my throat.

Chailyn woke up screaming, clutching my throat. There was nothing but pain in her head and in her throat.

"Chailyn! Chailyn, wake up! It's only a dream; you're going to wake the Head Wife! Chailyn!" Day said shaking her half-sister's shoulders.

Chailyn's eyes lost their unearthly gaze as she jerked awake.

"There's a good girl," Day soothed.

After Chailyn was fully awake, she gasped, "Day, it was horrible! I was the sheep as it died. A wolf tore out its throat!"

"It's okay, Chai, I'm here now." Day pulled the sobbing girl close. After a while, the sobs turned into hiccups as she calmed down.

"Wolf! Wolf! He killed one of the sheep! Wolf! Wolf!" cried a shepherd as he ran down the street.

One of our sisters, who had woken at the sound of screaming, heard the alarm, "Good going Disaster, you just made another catastrophe."

"Serah! You know very well that Chailyn doesn't—"

"No, Day, she's right."

"What?" Day exclaimed.

"I should just run away then I wouldn't cause anything else to happen." Chailyn said gloomily.

"Chailyn! You can't do that!" Day said, whipping around to face her.

"I can too! And you know what! No one would care."

"I would care, Chai!" Day exclaimed, "I would be worried half to death!"

"You wouldn't you'd say, 'Oh, isn't that a shame, Chailyn running off like that. Well, life must go on!'"

"What's gotten into you lately, Chai?" Day worried.

"How would you feel if for four years straight you dreamt of nothing but death? Every night I dread to close my eyes, because I know that I will have a nightmare that surpasses anyone's you have ever known," the dark-blonde all but screamed at her only friend. "I've heard rumors that all the propositions for me marrying their sons are pulled back once they hear of my dreams. I've also heard that if Father doesn't get any offers soon I'm 'suddenly' going to have a 'calling' to become a priestess. Believe me, Day; I am not going to step one foot in a temple."

"You've heard the rumors too, huh. Well, I should have expected it; you're not as foolish as you seem to be," Day smiled timidly.

Day will never understand, Chailyn thought as she sighed.

The Head Wife came up, and sent the girls to their chores after they got dressed.

Several hours later Chailyn was sitting on the crest of a hill that overlooked the town, and near enough to hear the Head Wife's call.

Chailyn didn't know exactly how she fell asleep, but she did.

The village echoed with the sound of screaming and it reeked with the smell of fear and death. Finally the last scream faded and all was silent except the bleating of frightened sheep, and men running into the woods to cross the border.

All was calm; there wasn't any moaning because the raiders made sure that there was not one left breathing.

Then there was a sea of the bluest sapphire. It glittered with laughter, and it made me feel joyful, calm, safe.

It ended then abruptly, and she woke up with a start, but no scream passed her lips as was her custom after a nightmare.

Chailyn got up and ran to the house, but all was well. The eldest sister was cooking, the littlest playing with the mouser cat and the Head Wife was watching over it all. That is, until she saw the frightened girl with empty hands.

"Child," she snapped, "where is your wool you were given to card?"

"It is on the hill where I left it," she stammered bracing herself for the blow that was to come. It landed heavily on her cheek, and she knew she would have a mark there for a good while.

The Head Wife, seeing she had not ran to get the wool, pushed her out the door, "Well, go get it, Child. I want to see how much you have gotten done in a candle mark."

Chailyn ran all the way up the hill where she had been sleeping. She searched but it was not there. Then she started to panic and continued to search for several moments before she noticed the branches of a tree moving against the wind and barely controlled laughter coming from it.

Chailyn approached the tree with care; brothers in trees can be dangerous to one's heath.

"Looking for this I suppose?" her brother asked innocently, showing her the wool.

"Give it back, Varden."

"Why should I?" he said, dropping easily out of the tree.

"I'll get in trouble if you don't," said she, pleading with her older and taller brother.

"You'll be in worse trouble when I tell the Head Wife you were sleeping." Varden smiled wickedly.

"You wouldn't dare!" Chailyn exclaimed as eyes widened in fear.

"Oh, I think I could dare, beautiful sister." He said, still smiling. "What were you dreaming about this time, my darling sister? A goat or maybe another sheep. Oh, I know, you dreamt your own death."

"You wouldn't believe me even if I told you!" she shot back.

"I wouldn't? Is it that bad?" Varden said looking concerned.

"Yes, it is, but I'm not going to tell you! Now give me the wool," said an angry Chailyn.

"What do you have to give me in return?" he asked. "You tell me what you saw, and I'll give you your precious wool back."

"Will you tell the Head Wife that I was sleeping?"

"I might, and then I might not. I can assure you that I will tell her if you don't tell me what you saw."

"I saw our village's death, okay! Now, give me the wool!" she shouted.

"How?"

"Raiders."

"When?"

"I don't know! I never know when it's going to happen. Please, can I have my wool?" Chailyn pleaded, Head Wife would not be very happy with her taking so long.

Varden shrugged, turned to leave, and tossed the wool over his shoulder.

Chailyn caught the wool and ran as fast as she could to the kitchen.

Just as she had predicted, Head Wife wasn't very happy. So, the Head Wife punished her to Sheep Watch that night. Though, it wasn't quite punishment to Chailyn, for she actually cherished that time to herself.

The quiet bleating of sheep; the calm stars overhead; all was peaceful at the holding. But this time there was not interruption of the peace. Or at least, it didn't look like the peace was interrupted.

Raiders in the woods on the opposite side of the holding from the sheep pasture.

Then the woods exploded, as Chailyn looked on. The raiders fell on the holding with a passion.

Chailyn remembered her dream.

With the last scream, it was done. Chailyn knew that there was none left alive, so she didn't even go to look. Chailyn was on Sheep Watch by herself tonight, because everyone else was too tired to do it.

Chailyn buried her head in her arms and cried herself to sleep, because there wasn't a reason to watch the sheep anymore.

Chailyn stayed there for two days, too grieved to move.

Whatchamacallme: Thanks for reading; Review if you like. I accept all people's opinions unless it has nothing to do with the story. I also accept anonymous reviewers.