Disclaimer: All right, all right! *glares at annoying disclaimer person*
I should follow etcetera-cat's example and get an alter-ego to do this for
me. Or a muse...Oi! Scheherezade!
Scheherezade: *appears* Yes?
Fireblade: It is now your job to do disclaimers! At least until I get another muse or alter-ego or something to do it! And don't try backing out- you ARE my chief muse, as you keep reminding me!
Scheherezade: WHAT? But I-oh. All right, but you will NOT be happy after-
*reviewers glare*
Scheherezade: Oh, all right. *does classic Wheel of Time sniff* Fireblade, who so kindly forced me to this, does not own Velgarth, the idea for Heralds and Companions, the idea for lifebonds, the idea for the Wheel of Time world-
Fireblade: Oi! JUST the Mercedes Lackey section! Not EVERYTHING!
Scheherezade: *mutters for a minute* All Fireblade owns in this fic is the characters, unless she refers to Vanyel, Sunsinger and Shadowdancer, etc. Oh yes, and the plot. *to Blade* Happy?
Fireblade: Um...*sees Scheherezade glaring and decides not to argue with her most temperamental muse* Yeah, I'm happy.
Scheherezade: *vanishes*
Muse responsible: Krathnae
:colons: are Mindspeech, [brackets] are Kamaria's thoughts, as Alain tends to think in Mindspeech, so Ramya hears everything...
Oh-I think I forgot to put this in-Alain means, "Handsome," so it fits...ehehe...
Whoa! Now the A/Ns at the top of the story are more than a page! Shutting up so you can read the story!
------------------------------------------
Kamaria, startled by Alain's sudden action, didn't struggle, despite her usual reserve in public.
She caught a glimpse of the Earl over Alain's shoulder as he turned her. His face was livid.
Then, she lost herself in Alain.
The Earl started forward, but a hand gripped his shoulder in an iron grip.
Lord Garethe Chantrea leaned down to the Earl, and said firmly and coldly, "Kindly keep your mouth off my daughter."
The Earl gulped-in his younger days, Garethe Chantrea had been known to challenge others to duels right and left.
And won them.
Luckily, after Garethe became General Garethe Chantrea, he had calmed and now thought everything out with the precision of a great military leader.
Garethe had planned this with the lightning action of an officer in the heat of battle while sitting in the front row. The Earl was off-balance, startled by the loss of his Council position, and furious at his new station as Earl Stablehand.
Yes, this was a good moment to attack. Garethe struck the killing blow, leaning down still further and quietly whispering something in the Earl's ear.
The Earl went from purple to white, and began to shake. He didn't even resist as the Guard dragged him away.
Lord Garethe stood for a moment, watching his daughter. "I suppose she'll have to marry him now-no, wait, she will marry him now," he murmured to no one.
Alain, hearing the Guard's distinctive metal-spurred bootclicks and the Earl being dragged away, lifted his lips from Kamaria's.
She looked at him for a moment, breathless.
Alain smiled his crooked grin and put a finger to her lips. "Later," he whispered.
Kamaria suddenly turned very red. Ramya cackled in his mind as Alain winced inwardly. :I suppose that was stupid. I forgot she has to move at her own pace, now, since the kidnap.:
Ramya said, gleefully, :Yes, that was stupid, Chosen,: then dissolved into fits of laughter. No doubt she looked very strange.
Kamaria composed her face and readjusted her skirts. [What-later? Oh. No- I can't. I just-I just can't, yet. Maybe later later?]
Her confused thoughts continued until her father coughed.
Kamaria saw him-really saw him-for the first time. "Father!" she said, dodging her plinth to hug him.
Garethe squeezed his daughter, then said, "You did the Chantreas proud."
Kamaria beamed. This was the highest praise she could ever earn from her father-strict, but fair and kind. With a soft spot for his own children.
Alain sneezed. Kamaria disentangled herself from her father, then said, "Father, this is Trainee Alain, my lifebonded. Alain, this is my father, Lord-General Garethe Chantrea."
Alain bowed politely. Lord Garethe bowed slightly in return. "I'm glad my daughter has finally found love. And, unlike many, I have no objection to lowborn-highborn marriages."
Kamaria flushed again. "Married?" she squeaked. "Already?"
Alain's head snapped towards his lifebonded, alarmed. On the outside, she was simply flushing, but inside-
A tangle of emotions, everything every which way, so complex his head spun.
And this down the lifebond, which was so deep it was difficult to make out.
Tentatively, he tried what he had not tried before-he Mindsensed for Kamaria's presence.
And met-
The same tangle of emotions, pain-relief-forlorn-sorrow-joy-embarrassment- confusion...
Alain withdrew, startled. :You were right-she does have natural shields. And-: he sent an image of the tangle to Ramya.
Ramya "looked" at it, and sent back, tinged orange with confusion, :relief I can understand-the Earl and the trial and all-joy, embarrassment and confusion are natural again for this type of situation, but...pain? Forlorn? Sorrow? I'm sorry, Chosen, but I can't make anything of those. And pay attention-Lord Garethe is trying to speak to you!:
Alain looked back at the Lord-General. "I'm sorry-I missed that."
Lord Garethe smiled. "Thank you for rescuing my daughter. You were ingenious. Have you healed well?"
Alain nodded. "My leg's fine, the rope burns are gone-and the bruises from the wagon have vanished."
Lord Garethe's face tightened slightly. "A wagon?"
Kamaria bit her lip as Alain continued explaining the circumstances of their kidnap. [Father is NOT going to be happy about that...]
Lord Garethe's face closed, taking on the look of a general about to deploy his forces. "I need to speak to the judge about this. It would have been wise to mention in the trial."
Alain looked uncertainly after him, then said to Kamaria, "Is he angry?"
Kamaria looked back at him. "No, he's not. He was really happy then- that's high praise, to be complimented, thanked, and asked about your health in the same few breaths!"
Alain sighed with relief. "Good. Let's get out of these...peacock feathers." He frowned down at his Formal Grays.
Kamaria slid her hand into his. "You look wonderful, Al-love."
[I suppose I have to call him by something other than his name. That wasn't the best place to, perhaps-but this lifebond seems to have been the whim of the gods. Whoever instated it, though, I thank forever.]
Alain looked at Kamaria, startled. :Did she just call me a pet name? If she did, it's progress in the bond...:
Ramya said, :Yes, she did. Not really a pet name-just "love." It's a start-the bond is deepening.:
Alain squeezed Kamaria's hand, gently, and they left the courtroom together.
-------------------------------------
The lifebond is taking root! Finally! No, they're not going to...*coughcough* this time, Kamaria's still in shock mentally from the whole Earl thing, Alain's not going to push her, and Kamaria isn't really sure about this whole lifebond thing. I mean, she doesn't have anyone to ask for advice, and Alain has Ramya...
Who gets pie today?
Fergiaj: I've been wondering for a while...where did you get your name? Anyway, thanks!
Wyntyr: Well, he's got rich brown hair, blue-green eyes, a handsome face...yeah, Alain does look great in Formal Grays! And he's all Kamaria's...*grin*
Kyalia: Abrupt? What do you mean? If it's startling, well, Kamaria is startled and scared and all the emotional tangly things...yeah, I'm being strange today. *chases dust bunny*
Thankees! (And can someone help me find someone to do my disclaimers? Scheherezade is NOT going to be happy with me...)
And cause I feel like it, the next chappie is dedicated to whoever reviews first!
~Fireblade and muses
Scheherezade: *appears* Yes?
Fireblade: It is now your job to do disclaimers! At least until I get another muse or alter-ego or something to do it! And don't try backing out- you ARE my chief muse, as you keep reminding me!
Scheherezade: WHAT? But I-oh. All right, but you will NOT be happy after-
*reviewers glare*
Scheherezade: Oh, all right. *does classic Wheel of Time sniff* Fireblade, who so kindly forced me to this, does not own Velgarth, the idea for Heralds and Companions, the idea for lifebonds, the idea for the Wheel of Time world-
Fireblade: Oi! JUST the Mercedes Lackey section! Not EVERYTHING!
Scheherezade: *mutters for a minute* All Fireblade owns in this fic is the characters, unless she refers to Vanyel, Sunsinger and Shadowdancer, etc. Oh yes, and the plot. *to Blade* Happy?
Fireblade: Um...*sees Scheherezade glaring and decides not to argue with her most temperamental muse* Yeah, I'm happy.
Scheherezade: *vanishes*
Muse responsible: Krathnae
:colons: are Mindspeech, [brackets] are Kamaria's thoughts, as Alain tends to think in Mindspeech, so Ramya hears everything...
Oh-I think I forgot to put this in-Alain means, "Handsome," so it fits...ehehe...
Whoa! Now the A/Ns at the top of the story are more than a page! Shutting up so you can read the story!
------------------------------------------
Kamaria, startled by Alain's sudden action, didn't struggle, despite her usual reserve in public.
She caught a glimpse of the Earl over Alain's shoulder as he turned her. His face was livid.
Then, she lost herself in Alain.
The Earl started forward, but a hand gripped his shoulder in an iron grip.
Lord Garethe Chantrea leaned down to the Earl, and said firmly and coldly, "Kindly keep your mouth off my daughter."
The Earl gulped-in his younger days, Garethe Chantrea had been known to challenge others to duels right and left.
And won them.
Luckily, after Garethe became General Garethe Chantrea, he had calmed and now thought everything out with the precision of a great military leader.
Garethe had planned this with the lightning action of an officer in the heat of battle while sitting in the front row. The Earl was off-balance, startled by the loss of his Council position, and furious at his new station as Earl Stablehand.
Yes, this was a good moment to attack. Garethe struck the killing blow, leaning down still further and quietly whispering something in the Earl's ear.
The Earl went from purple to white, and began to shake. He didn't even resist as the Guard dragged him away.
Lord Garethe stood for a moment, watching his daughter. "I suppose she'll have to marry him now-no, wait, she will marry him now," he murmured to no one.
Alain, hearing the Guard's distinctive metal-spurred bootclicks and the Earl being dragged away, lifted his lips from Kamaria's.
She looked at him for a moment, breathless.
Alain smiled his crooked grin and put a finger to her lips. "Later," he whispered.
Kamaria suddenly turned very red. Ramya cackled in his mind as Alain winced inwardly. :I suppose that was stupid. I forgot she has to move at her own pace, now, since the kidnap.:
Ramya said, gleefully, :Yes, that was stupid, Chosen,: then dissolved into fits of laughter. No doubt she looked very strange.
Kamaria composed her face and readjusted her skirts. [What-later? Oh. No- I can't. I just-I just can't, yet. Maybe later later?]
Her confused thoughts continued until her father coughed.
Kamaria saw him-really saw him-for the first time. "Father!" she said, dodging her plinth to hug him.
Garethe squeezed his daughter, then said, "You did the Chantreas proud."
Kamaria beamed. This was the highest praise she could ever earn from her father-strict, but fair and kind. With a soft spot for his own children.
Alain sneezed. Kamaria disentangled herself from her father, then said, "Father, this is Trainee Alain, my lifebonded. Alain, this is my father, Lord-General Garethe Chantrea."
Alain bowed politely. Lord Garethe bowed slightly in return. "I'm glad my daughter has finally found love. And, unlike many, I have no objection to lowborn-highborn marriages."
Kamaria flushed again. "Married?" she squeaked. "Already?"
Alain's head snapped towards his lifebonded, alarmed. On the outside, she was simply flushing, but inside-
A tangle of emotions, everything every which way, so complex his head spun.
And this down the lifebond, which was so deep it was difficult to make out.
Tentatively, he tried what he had not tried before-he Mindsensed for Kamaria's presence.
And met-
The same tangle of emotions, pain-relief-forlorn-sorrow-joy-embarrassment- confusion...
Alain withdrew, startled. :You were right-she does have natural shields. And-: he sent an image of the tangle to Ramya.
Ramya "looked" at it, and sent back, tinged orange with confusion, :relief I can understand-the Earl and the trial and all-joy, embarrassment and confusion are natural again for this type of situation, but...pain? Forlorn? Sorrow? I'm sorry, Chosen, but I can't make anything of those. And pay attention-Lord Garethe is trying to speak to you!:
Alain looked back at the Lord-General. "I'm sorry-I missed that."
Lord Garethe smiled. "Thank you for rescuing my daughter. You were ingenious. Have you healed well?"
Alain nodded. "My leg's fine, the rope burns are gone-and the bruises from the wagon have vanished."
Lord Garethe's face tightened slightly. "A wagon?"
Kamaria bit her lip as Alain continued explaining the circumstances of their kidnap. [Father is NOT going to be happy about that...]
Lord Garethe's face closed, taking on the look of a general about to deploy his forces. "I need to speak to the judge about this. It would have been wise to mention in the trial."
Alain looked uncertainly after him, then said to Kamaria, "Is he angry?"
Kamaria looked back at him. "No, he's not. He was really happy then- that's high praise, to be complimented, thanked, and asked about your health in the same few breaths!"
Alain sighed with relief. "Good. Let's get out of these...peacock feathers." He frowned down at his Formal Grays.
Kamaria slid her hand into his. "You look wonderful, Al-love."
[I suppose I have to call him by something other than his name. That wasn't the best place to, perhaps-but this lifebond seems to have been the whim of the gods. Whoever instated it, though, I thank forever.]
Alain looked at Kamaria, startled. :Did she just call me a pet name? If she did, it's progress in the bond...:
Ramya said, :Yes, she did. Not really a pet name-just "love." It's a start-the bond is deepening.:
Alain squeezed Kamaria's hand, gently, and they left the courtroom together.
-------------------------------------
The lifebond is taking root! Finally! No, they're not going to...*coughcough* this time, Kamaria's still in shock mentally from the whole Earl thing, Alain's not going to push her, and Kamaria isn't really sure about this whole lifebond thing. I mean, she doesn't have anyone to ask for advice, and Alain has Ramya...
Who gets pie today?
Fergiaj: I've been wondering for a while...where did you get your name? Anyway, thanks!
Wyntyr: Well, he's got rich brown hair, blue-green eyes, a handsome face...yeah, Alain does look great in Formal Grays! And he's all Kamaria's...*grin*
Kyalia: Abrupt? What do you mean? If it's startling, well, Kamaria is startled and scared and all the emotional tangly things...yeah, I'm being strange today. *chases dust bunny*
Thankees! (And can someone help me find someone to do my disclaimers? Scheherezade is NOT going to be happy with me...)
And cause I feel like it, the next chappie is dedicated to whoever reviews first!
~Fireblade and muses