Note: I have not been able to refer back to the books, so my spelling should be off. I do not do this on purpose,

Adara's Secret

Chapter Two

She felt as is she was swimming in an ocean. She was so free. She wasn't scared anymore. That endless blue expanse should have scared her, it would have too, but she was anchored. She was safe.

"I am Rive. I Choose You."

It was as if a great wave washed her clean.

All too soon her Companion, HER Companion, looked away and nodded to the group behind Adara.

Adara remembered then. She looked into those faces, she knew those terms from somewhere. She was, in all accounts, in a book. Maybe a book that has not yet written, maybe it was just a scratch paper that a college student was writing on, but this, this couldn't happen.

All around her, the noises faded, the colors dimmed, and the world turned black.

___

Mmmm this is nice. I'm so warm. When did my bed get this soft? Am at Camo's again? Someone is talking. Gary must have forgotten his hearing aids again. He always has the TV really loud when he forgets those. But, wait, that doesn't sound like a TV, it is too close. I don't know that voice. What is she saying? I... I don't understand.

I try to open my eyes, they seem to be stuck. I wiggle my fingers a bit, those still work. Slowly I reach up to my eyes, they are crusted over, yuck. I have always had sensitive eyes. My face attracts objects. More specifically, my mouth and eyes attract objects. I always get that stray hair or eyelash in my eyes. Most likely, with all that green, I got a slight case of allergies. Slowly, I pull the crusts out of my eyelashes. I force my eyes open and blink, it is dark out, I notice a flickering light in the corner.

Ow! My head. I quickly close my eyes and use my hands to block out that too bright candle. Someone speaks; the light in the room is dimmed. I slowly peak around my fingers. A green robed person moved in front of the light. She says something, I shake my head, I don't understand. She lifts my hand up and puts a warm mug in it. She pushes this to my face and says that word again. Oh! She wants me to drink! I lift the mug up to my lips and sniff. My eyes go wide and I push it away from my face. That smells horrible. She once again pushes this substance to my face. She motions to her head and makes a face as if it was in pain. She points to the drink and relaxes her face. I nod; this drink will help with the headache.

I take a deep breath and plug my nose before chugging this thing. It is awful. As soon as I finish she replaces the mug with a piece of bread. She makes a disgusting face and motions to take a bite. I think she meant to say that the bread is to make the taste go away. I hope. Gingerly, I take a tiny bite. Freshly baked, still warm, whole grain! I smile and take a bigger bite. I could get used to this type of food! The woman nods and walks out of the door. I look around at this room. It is very small; the one bed, a table with the candle on it, a small dresser, white walls, a door the she used and another door. I wonder where this goes. I slowly sit up, remembering the pain I had from just looking at the candle. I stop and look at the candle. My head is already doing better! I am wearing a loose robe. Better than the hospital gowns where I am from. How do they manage to make clothing that makes you feel more exposed than when you are actually nude? I am covered and it is warm so I don't bother to explore the dresser.

On closer inspection, the door seems to be made of two parts, much like those seen in the country, or ticket booths. I just want to look out, so I only open the top part. I guess they have some sort of heating device because when I open that I get a small gust of cold air. Burrrr! It is sunny out, and I seem to be next to a well manicured garden. There is a white shape sniffing at the leaves near by. No, it is a rather large white shape. It turns to look at me and I see a gleam of humor in her eyes.

:Good afternoon, Chosen:

I stop. The voice triggers a memory.

"Chosen?"

:Yes dear, I Chose you.:

"How? Why?"

:As to "how" I formed a bond between us, the link was there so I knew you where to be my other half. Why? I can not say. You have very strong gifts and a powerful mind, but even though I am a Companion, I do not know everything.:

"I know that, I read that in the books. You where once a Herald, just like all the other Companions, except the grove-born... They where called by Valdemar himself."

:How do you know this? What books?:

"The books that are written in my world. They are, where? Fiction. I read them, well most of them. Hey, how do you know what I am saying when everyone else is speaking something weird?"

:I learned when I Chose you, plus you are echoing through our bond.:

"Can I learn the other language?"

:You will.:

There was a knock on the other door. I looked to Rive and she nodded. I walked to the other door, leaving the door to Rive open. The scarred man was there.

:Alberich:

"Alberich?"

The man paused, and then said something I couldn't understand. I looked to Rive.

:He is surprised you know his name, he wants to take you to the dean to get your classes in order, but I would wait until you have a better grasp on our language. Repeat after me...:

"I ar.. am seary... sorry... Rive trasluted... trans...late fur muh...for me."

I blush at my lack of language skills, but he nods, and says something else before closing the door.

:He says he understands, Valdemerian was not his first language as well. If I am to translate for you then he will meet you in the garden after you are properly dressed.:

I walk to the dresser and pull out some fabric, it isn't something I have seen before and I glance at Rive.

:If you keep the top of this door open I will tell you how to get dressed. I will also make sure that no one comes this way.:

I nod and look through the clothes as she gives me the names of them. I did notice that they have simple bands in place of a proper bra. I go through the next drawer and find my clothes, freshly clean. I pick out my bra and panties, I want to be able to wear the outfit, but I will stick to my comfort area, whether I have to learn to sew my own clothes or not. I slowly got dressed with her direction. I hear Alberich try to get past Rive. He can't.

He may have grown up in these times, He may be used to this type of clothes, I am not. It will take me awhile.

I look in the mirror and notice how badly tangled my curly hair got. Let the man wait. I look like a rat nested in my hair. I shuffle around for a few more minutes, looking for anything that resembles a hair brush, but I only find a comb. This will take awhile. I think Alberich is swearing. He should learn how to wait. I am pretty fast with my hair nonetheless; I rarely do more than put it in a pony tail or a simple braid. I have nothing to put my hair up with. At first glance he must have thought my hair was shoulder length, combed out, it rested at the bottom of my ribcage.

I think I am ready and nod to myself as I open the bottom half of the door and step out to meet the Weaponsmaster.

He is pacing, not a good sign. I remember the language barrier and ask Rive to remind him that I am unused to their type of clothes. She sends me something like laughter and informs me that she has been trying to do just that. He looks at me and sighs. Turning and walking away I guess that I am to follow him. I remember that there is no language barrier in mindspeach, so I turn to Rive.

"How do I speak like you? It may be easier for me to talk with him if I can."

I don't know how she does it, but she shows me my mind and pulls a string. She wordlessly tells me that this in my mindspeach gift. I take hold of it remembering the stories I find Alberich 's mind and tap on it. He looks at me, I think he is confused. I make a knocking motion with my hands and he nods.

:I am not used to this, am I doing it right?:

:Yes, I am taking you to the dean of the Heralds Collegium.: