Disclaimer: Valdemar is owned by Mercedes Lackey as are certain characters.
Chapter 1: Pulled
Seren stared at the firecone. She was dreaming of it again. Ever since she had turned fourteen the little thing had haunted her dreams. Not every night, but still staring at something in a dream no matter how few times she had the dream could get annoying. There wasn't anything she could do about it though. In the dream she wasn't able to do anything but stare at the tree.
The first few times she had thought something else was going to happen but it never did. There was only the firecone. The only thing to do was to wait for the dream to end.
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Seren stared at the seeds she had tossed out for the chickens. Her mind was completely blank as it had been since she woke up from that dream. It was a constant, like the needto go somewhere. Twice this morning she had caught herself just starting to walk down the road to go where ever it was she felt like she was being pulled. It was confusing. There wasn't any where she needed to be but it felt like there was.
Shaking her head she went into the stable, it was time to check on the two old work horses before her father took them out. Involuntarily her body tried to move in a different direction, the same direction she had tried to go earlier. Fighting it she tripped and fell into the fence post. Her body gave up trying to move in any direction as pain flared in her side.
"Seren? What do you think your doing?" her little brother Torcall asked walking out the door with her father. "I really hope that's not some new dace, it looks scary."
Seren glared at him from her bent over position. "Leave your sister be Torcall," her father said mildly as he started out for the field. Her brother stuck his tongue out at her before running after him.
She frowned after them for a moment before trying to move again. Slowly she took a step towards the stable. This time her body obeyed her and she made it to the stable. That was as far as she got though as her body tried to turn to go the other way. Seren let out a slight cry, it felt as though she had no control over her own body. Somethingwas pulling her the way it wanted and it felt as though it wasn't going to let go until it got her where it wanted.
In an attempt to stop herself she grabbed the post she had slammed into earlier. Clinging to it she did manage to stop. Holding to the post tightly so her body wouldn't start trying to go somewhere again she sank to the ground. She was shaking, her body still was trying to leave. Seren closed her eyes and clung to the post even tighter.
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"Seren, are you all right?" she turned her head to see her mother standing over her hands on her hips and her long auburn hair (the hair Seren had inherited) up in a tight bun. "Seren, what's wrong?"
"I'm sorry," she didn't want to tell her mother that her body was trying to take her somewhere that she didn't even know. They'd think she was crazy!
"For what? Darling, what is wrong?" her mother's voice was low and insistent.
"Nothing," she shook her head and started to stand. "I.. I should finish my chores."
Slowly she turned towards the stable again hoping her body would work this time. It didn't. For the fifth time her body started to go the wrong way. Her mother grabbed her arm.
"Where are you going?" the only emotion in her voice was confusion.
Seren decided she wouldn't be able to hide it. Desperate she said, "I don't know," she started crying. "I-I can't control my body. It- It's l-like something is trying to pull me s-somewhere. I d-don't know what's happening!" she broke down sobbing. "Please believe me!"
"I do honey, I do," she brushed the girls hair back trying to soothe her. "Lets go inside, yes? Maybe that will help."
"B-but my chores?" the girl looked up at her mother.
"Don't worry about them they'll get done."
With her mother holding on to her she made it inside without trying to go off somewhere.
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"Perry, I can't figure out what in the nine hells is wrong with her! She was out side clinging to the fence and said it was because something was trying to get her body to go somewhere! And since I've got her inside she jumped up twice to go somewhere! And the second time she was asleep Perry! Asleep!" Seren winced hearing her mother yelling.
"I don't know what could be wrong either Lynn," her father's voice was calm. "I think though we should call a healer."
"It isn't an illness Perry! We know the magic is back, what if some mage is trying to get her! We need a Herald!"
"Lynn, we can't just go and demand a Herald come. Lets try a healer, if need be maybe the healer can bring a Herald but first a healer,"Seren winced again at his words.
Her mother believed her, but it sounded as if her father thought she was crazy. Worrying she pulled her blankets tighter. What if I am crazy she thought to herself. What will happen if I am?
"Seren?" her father was now at her door. "Are you awake?" he murmured softly. Seren didn't answer. She didn't want to talk. After a moment he walked away. Seren buried down in her blankets to sleep.
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The firecone again. This time it was different though. Older. Taller. Suddenly she felt the pull again. The same pull she had been feeling during the day. It was coming from the firecone. It wanted her to come to it.
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Seren stared out her window with the blanket wrapped around her shoulders. The healer had already come and pronounced her fine. He had given her a potion though to help her sleep saying to use it. He had told her parents that she should spend the next few days in bed. It wasn't working though. She still had the dreams and with each one the pull got stronger.
She was sure that if it went on any longer nothing would stop her from leaving. Not only that but she was no longer certain that she didn't want to go. It had finally gotten her curious. Before she had been scared, now she just wanted to know what it was that was trying to reach her. It wasn't night yet but Seren was thinking of following the pull when everyone was asleep (they had stopped watching her after the healer came). She wanted to know. Seren went back to bed to wait.
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Seren looked back at the house as she slipped off onto the path. She was letting the pull lead her body. She wasn't going to fight this time. It finally felt right to follow. Still it felt horrible to leave her family like this. She had left a note but she knew that wouldn't be enough, they'd still search for her. She had to go though. Straightening her pack that carried her supplies she hoped they'd forgive her when she came back.