This is a shorter chapter than usual.  I'm having trouble picking it up again after Talia's death. I'm probably going to end up jumping forward a bit.

Disclaimer:  I don't Own Mercedes Lackey.  See?  It's that simple!

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Devina came back to consciousness slowly.  Her head felt like it was going to split open.  She didn't know what was going on.  Her mind was hazy.  She wanted to open her eyes and see what was going on.

            :Don't open your eyes, Devina,: said a comforting familiar voice. :You'll make your reaction headache worse.:

            :Taliesin?: she asked groggily.  :What happened?:

            :You exerted your Gifts a bit too much,: he said.  :You passed out from your reaction headache, and nearly died.:

            :Oh, oh gods…: Devina said, as she remembered what had given her the reaction headache.  :Talia and Rolan are…:

            :Dead,: Taliesin said gently.  :As are Ahrhodie and Dirk.  The shock stopped Dirk's heart, and Ahrhodie went with him.:

            :Four lives!: Devina said. :We lost two heralds and two Companions, one pair the Queen's Own.:  Tears ran down her face despite her closed eyes. 

            :But you saved the rest of the people in the Palace Complex,:  Taliesin said, his words accompanied by comforting feelings.  He did not speak until Devina had mastered herself again.  :Chosen, you had some questions for me, did you not?:  He said.  :I will answer them now the best I can.:

            :Why – why did you Choose me?: she asked.

            :Because you were the best one to succeed Talia,:  he said.  :And not only that, I Chose you because…because…oh, Devina, I can't tell you, because I don't fully understand myself, but know that it had more to do with you than a new Queen's Own.:

            :It's all right,: she said.  :Why did Rolan die?  Why didn't he Choose me?:

            :He didn't Chose you because of the unusually strong bond he shared with Talia.  It was strong enough to take him with her when she died.  Rolan knew it would happen.:

            :How long have I been unconscious?:  she asked.

            :If you count today, about five days.:  he said.

            Devina mulled this over.  :They didn't catch him, did they?:

            :No.:

            Devina was silent for a while.

:They had the funeral already.:  she said, more of a statement than anything else.

            :Yes,: he said, sending an image of two graves covered in flowers.  :Yesterday.:

            Devina slowly curled into a fetal position, tears squeezing their way out of her closed eyes, and down her cheeks.  She felt Taliesin as a comforting presence in her mind, and clung to him.  After almost a candlemark of crying, she felt herself drifting off to sleep again.

            :Don't worry about anything, Chosen.:  Taliesin said.  :You can deal with things when you feel better.:

            She smiled and fell asleep.

))^^((#%#))^^((

            When Devina drifted back into consciousness, she could hear someone next to her.

            :?: she sent to Taliesin.

            :It's Jemmie,:  he said.  :He and Cy have been visiting you a lot.:

            :Can I open my eyes?:  She asked.

            :Yes.  It's evening.:

            She opened her eyes, and turned her head to look at Jemmie.  His eyes looked sore from crying, and he was a little pale, but otherwise he looked fine.  Strong even.

            He saw her looking at him and smiled.  "Good morning."

            "More like goodnight," she said dryly.

            "How do you feel?"

            "My head still hurts, but otherwise I'm all right,"  she said.  She looked down.  "I'm sorry, about your parents."

            "It's all right,"  Jemmie said, his smile sad.  "They lived a good life.  And I know they loved me."

            It was then that Devina noticed that Jemmie was dressed in the gray uniform of a herald trainee.

            "You were Chosen?" she said, her voice happy.

            "Yes.  Her name is Eris."  He said.  "She was…one of Rolan's and Ahrhodie's foals."  He looked down,  one of his hand clenching tighter unconsciously.

            Devina looked down.  "Gee, I was trying to make you happy, and it didn't work,"  Devina said quietly.

            "I'm sorry," said Jemmie, putting a hand on hers in a very natural gesture.  "It's just I'm still in a little shock about this whole thing.  I mean, my parents dying, and getting Chosen, and you being sick…it's just a lot to absorb."

            "I understand," said Devina.  For a few moments they didn't speak, the silence oddly comforting.  Devina looked up at Jemmie and smiled at him, and he smiled back.  Something in both their stomachs fluttered.  They started to lean toward each other, both of them almost unaware that they were dong so.

            "Devina!"

            They both jumped and moved away-Jemmie took his hand from Devina's- as Cy bounced into the room and gave Devina a big hug.

            "I was so worried about you!"  said Cy.  She glanced at Jemmie.  "Well, we were worried."

            "Yeah," said Jemmie.  He felt like something should have happened that didn't.  He tried to pinpoint it, then sighed and gave up.  After all, it couldn't have been that important if I forgot to do it.

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Like I said, very short chapter. 

Sigh.  I think the review response will be longer than the chapter.

Cerulean Sky:  Hey, I don't see any problem.  I know a couple that had read the Mage Wars and The owls series.  That was weird.

yourfavoritedragon:  Yes, it was convenient wasn't it?  And look!  I made her awake!

silvervine: Hey, I cried during the first pokemon when Ash got all petrified and stuff.  It was just so sad…And no, I don't know what you mean.

Fireblade: LOL.  That is an interesting thing to ponder, isn't it?

Lady Silver Dragon: No, not Mokuba's puppydog eyes of Dooom! No! Can't…resist…cuteness…aaahh!

kmina03: There's no harm in wondering, but no, that was not my original intent.

Thank you all for reviewing!!

Now review some more!

-ElvenRanger-