Disclaimer: I don't own wither the Harry Potter series or the Valdemar Universe. They belong to J.K. Rowling and Mercedes Lackey, respectively. Seriously, if I owned those series, things would be a lot different, or focused on completely different aspects or eras.

Rant: Yeah, I wrote this up after finishing the first draft of Gambler. I gotta say, after a long story like that, this short and sweet piece on a completely different topic just sort of flowed. Regardless, I hope you all enjoy this tale.

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Three days after her unannounced arrival, the girl woke up. She was terrified, and had no idea where she was. Everybody around her spoke in some strange language – one she couldn't even recognize, like she could from some languages spoken by actors on the television. They were all dressed strangely, in colorful clothes and in exotic styles. Their hair was died to resemble birds, or braided with beads or feathers.

She spent much of the time she was awake curled up into a ball, confused. She wasn't in her cupboard, so Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon were sure to punish her. These strange people were certainly the evil Freaks that would gobble her up, too. She shivered, thinking on how Aunt Petunia had told her that they especially liked little Freaks like her.

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Tyrsell, King-Stag of the dyheli – the telepathic deer-like beings who lived alongside the peoples of the Vales – projected what he found in the child's mind to the Council. It was horrifying, really. Years of degradation by her own relatives, solidifying – in her mind at least – that the girl was useless, and the lowest of the low. It was, frankly, even more terrible than the inference Darian had misunderstood by the villagers of Errold's Grove that Darian was worthless, and could only be apprenticed to the low-status individual Justyn, a Wizard who had lost the ability to channel a lot of his magic after he was injured in the war against Ancar. They had seen him as pretty much useless, as most of what he did for the village didn't actually use any magic, and so Darian like he was worth no more than rubbish.

Unlike the villagers, however, it was clear that the girl's aunt and uncle had intended for this to happen. It was, in a word, sickening. Darian's lips thinned, as did Lord Breon's. Keisha was biting her lip in distress, while Firesong and Starfall just looked furious, as did several others in the Tayledras contingent. The Heralds had the vague look on their faces, which was often seen when they were speaking with their Companions. The Errold's Grove contingent looked disapproving at the concept that anyone could treat his or her own kin in such a fashion. Kel, the gryphon, looked even more fierce than usual.

The meeting had been called because somebody had used an unknown magic to appear within the Vale's defenses. It was both worrying and intriguing – the ability to bypass their magical protections was indeed worrying; however, the possibility of a magical means of transportation that could be used after the Mage Storms had caught everyone's interest. No one had been able to open Gateways – the previously usable method of magical travel – since the world's magic had been redistributed, and according to those in the know, they wouldn't be able to be used for at least another century. The age and condition of the intruder was another matter entirely.

"Given the last memories Tyrsell could find in her mind, I don't think that she came here intentionally," said the graying Lord of Kelmskeep, Breon.

"I agree," noted Firesong. "In fact, while I think the method of travel was indeed something that her magic performed, I do not believe this was something she herself did."

"What do you mean, it wasn't something she herself did," inquired Wintersky, the head scout of k'Valdemar Vale.

"When father and I went over the magical residue from the spell that brought her here, we found something odd."

"Odd?"

Firesong nodded at his father, Starfall, who answered the question. "While my son and I were inspecting the residual magic from when the child appeared in my home, we found not only her own magic, but traces of divine magic."

"You mean – "

He nodded. "We think, when she wished to be able to be 'anywhere else,' her wish was heard by one of the gods and granted."

There was an excited murmur throughout the hall where they were gathered. Gods didn't meddle on a whim, which meant that the girl was probably going to have something rather important to do in the future.

The council talked and debated for a while longer, and it was about a half an hour before Tyrsell piped up once more, his calm, soothing mind-voice resonating in all their minds.

:: I am willing to implant some of the local languages into her mind. Starfall, as the one who found her, do you find this acceptable? ::

The older mage sat, fingers tapping on his chin in thought, before he nodded. "It will be trying enough to deal with adjusting to living here in the Vale without the added difficulty of being unable to speak the same language as her compounding the issue. If you would teach her Tayledras and Valdemaran, I would appreciate it."

:: I will do so, then. Be aware, I will also be teaching her the Ghostcat Clan's language. You might want to have the hertasi concoct that potion of theirs to ease the pain and help her sleep. ::

He nodded, and looked at Ayshen. The little fellow clicked his claws together, before saying, "I will need some of Healer Keisha's herbs – most of the stores we have in the kitchens are running out. We haven't needed it in a while, so…" He made an odd, almost shrug-like gesture with his arms and shoulders as he trailed off.

Keisha told him that she had just the thing, and the three of them left the council hall. The rest of them chatted on more mundane matters for a while longer, before they too left for their own homes.

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Various herbs and a few berries were crushed in the mortar before Ayshen. The pestle was set off to the side, carefully cleaned so it wouldn't be able to contaminate any later concoctions that were to be made. He had a kettle hanging before the fire, and it was only a short time before it whistled out, proclaiming that its contents had reached its boiling point. He took a carafe, carefully scraped the crushed mixture into the bottom, and poured out a good quantity of boiling water. A small slender rod was grasped in deft, scaly hand and began mixing the contents of the carafe together. He let it steep for a bit, then grabbed the container by the delicate curve of its stylized handle, and made his way outside to where the Healer and dyheli waited.

:: I will implant the languages, and then I will take control of her to drink the tea. While I know you humans and hertasi often find such a thing reprehensible, with her current mindset, she wouldn't accept a drink from someone she doesn't know. ::

Ayshen saw Keisha grimace. His own tail twitched nervously, as well. The abilities of the deer-like people were vast and powerful, but their mindset was so different to both of their own that sometimes it made them uncomfortable. Especially in cases such as this: dyheli were herd-oriented, and the concept of such a thing occurring in their culture was almost commonplace. The King-stag would control the herd to get them to a safer place in case of an attack or natural disaster, and that was considered well and good to them. To other races, however, the very concept was disturbing.

Still, the other two nodded in agreement, and as they made their way to the building Keisha used in her capacity as Healer. The girl, blank of face, but with her eyes full of terror, made her way outside. Her eyes locked with those of Tyrsell's, and then she gave out a pained groan, grasping her head in pain. Then she made her way in an unnaturally stiff fashion towards Ayshen, who poured a cup of the tea, and then she drank it. She then made her way back into the building to endure the headache, and after the herbs kicked in, to rest.

When Keisha went in fifteen minutes later to check on the poor girl, she was out like a torch in a rainstorm.

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When Heather woke up, head still throbbing a bit in pain, she was confused and a bit scared. Last time she was awake, her body had moved without her telling it too! She had gotten up and walked outside, where she had seen the hertasi and dyheli along with the woman in Healer's Greens. Something painful happened, and then her body went and drank a horrible tea, and made its way back inside.

Wait a moment… Dyheli? Hertasi? Healers Greens? What in the world were those?

Then her mind calmly informed her what exactly those things were, pictures and concepts forming in her head in explanation and she realized that she wasn't even thinking in English! These words and concepts were things totally foreign to her, and then she realized it was not just one, but three different languages in her head. Confused, she curled up in a defensive posture, and she squeaked when a voice began talking to her in her head.

:: Calm down, young one. I am Tyrsell, King-stag of the dyheli. :: Information pertaining to the words he spoke flashed across her mind, and he began to explain the situation to her. While the words and their meanings were understood, the concept of people actually caring was something that she just couldn't process.

"It doesn't make sense," and "Life doesn't work that way," were among many of her replies. Her mind kept circling around all these new concepts, unable to process the strangeness of it all.

Animals couldn't talk.

Magic didn't exist, after all.

People don't just help other people.

Freaks weren't allowed to be happy.

As she began to grow tired once more, she closed her eyes. She was lying on a comfortable bed – she wasn't allowed on a bed – covered in warm blankets – she'd never been allowed to touch any other than to clean it – and felt safe. None of it made any sense to her. Her mind was whirling around in confusion before all descended to darkness.