A/N: Thanks to MareofEarth, Andi, I Forget, and Serami Nefera for reviewing Chapter Nine! And here is the tenth one...

"… a Companion," I whispered, dropping to my hands at the main doors to the Heraldic Collegium.

"Daneric!" I heard behind me and turned, staring through my forelock at the human chasing me and I snorted lowly before sinking down into a human-like sit.

"What's wrong?" she asked, dropping down beside me after briefly looking around at the abandoned grounds- everyone was out celebrating or inside in the warmth.

"I'm not who you think I am," I whispered, feeling human tears sting my eyes.

"Dash said…" Teryl started, then asked, "Who are you?"

"Daneric," I whispered and she only stared at me with her calm brown eyes, "Daneric, Companion of Valdemar."

"Companion?" she echoed, looking puzzled.

I tore off a glove and showed her my pale, long white fingers and said, "These are not my hands." I touched my face, "This is not my face."

There was a shout and I looked up to see a boy in Heraldic trainee grays standing a few feet away, looking puzzled. His words echoed in my head and I realized he had said, "Can I help you?"

I felt like crying. I'd forgotten what it was like to be surrounded by Heralds. I nodded and stood up, pulling Teryl up as well. The boy eyed my bleached skin and hair and eyes- albinos weren't common even in a populated city like this one, and one so closely involved would recognize the white hair and blue eyes of a mage Adept, although my bleached skin was something else. The confusion was evident- Mage, or Albino?

"Take me to…" I paused- who to talk to first? "I need to speak with the Groveborn."

The boy started and then peered at me more closely before nodding, "All right."

Within moments I heard the soft chime of a Companion's hooves on cobblestones- the boy must have mind spoken his Companion, who spoke to the Groveborn. I felt an overwhelming sense of relief to be back with those I belonged to.

I turned around and saw Rolan, standing tall and majestic and I bowed my head to him in respect before saying, :It's me… Daneric. I was out to Choose and somehow… this happened.: I held out my hands before him, too ashamed to look him in the eye.

:Get Elspeth- and the others: I heard Rolan say to the boy and his Companion, and within moments there was only the three of us.

:Who is she: Rolan asked, peering at a very confused Teryl.

:A friend…: I said, feeling too embarrassed to relate the whole tale, :She has the Bardic Gift, although I don't think she's aware of it. She doesn't write, but she has Talent.:

:I'll send for someone from the Bardic Collegium: he said, and as he said it, I knew it would be done. I didn't feel so bad about keeping Teryl here, now that I knew Dash would be here soon as well.

"Daneric?" Teryl asked from behind me, her voice soft and a bit frightened. I turned around, and I could feel the Companion within me, so strongly that my human legs confused me and I almost fell.

"Someone from the Bardic Collegium is coming for you," I said and she peered at me queerly, as if she wasn't quite sure whether or not to ask if I was joking or to be hopeful that it was what she thought it was.

"Are you a Herald?" she asked instead, changing the subject, and glanced at Rolan.

I laughed and shook my head, "No, not quite. I'll explain everything, I promise- just when someone from Bardic comes here, go with them, all right?"

She nodded, looking worried and I turned back to Rolan, but his eyes were elsewhere and I saw a woman, Elspeth, and behind her, Darkwind, the Gryphons, and others I wasn't sure of. If only I'd made of a point of paying more attention to things and I'd be able to recognize them all!

I stood quietly as them came and stood before me, my head bowed, avoiding any of their gazes as Rolan translated my story over to them. And then I felt their gazes, amazed and disbelieving.

"Daneric?" Elspeth asked, "Is it true?"
I looked up at the Princess no longer heir and nodded slowly, "It is. Please… I want to be a Companion again."

She nodded and suddenly I felt the probes of several powerful Mages, touching me and feeling me and an excitement filled me along with the yearning to run once more, stretch out my white, hair coated legs and toss my shining mane and I could almost feel it again and-

"Daneric…" Elspeth said slowly and I realized they'd all be talking softly for a few minutes. I looked up once more, worried. Why weren't they changing me back? Was it the clothes? Need I get rid of them? I had no problem dancing naked in the snow- I'd done it once, I could do it again.

"Yes?" I asked, feeling frightened at the expression on her face, "You can change me back, right?"

She shook her head slowly and I fell to my human, human, knees, staring up at her, and then the rest, imploring them to smile and tell me they could, it was all okay- I'd be a Companion again.

"Sorry… Daneric," she said, and held my gaze with her Adept bleached eyes, "Nothing changed you. You changed yourself."

A/N: Sorry about the shortness, it's all in the stopping and starting point. The next chapters will be longer I promise! And up soon!

P.S. (Please review! hugs reviewers)