Before Harry knew it, Midwinter holiday came upon him. Harry was checking his bags to make sure he had everything he needed for his trip home.
There was a knock on his door.
"It's open, come on in." He called out.
"I can't open the door, my hands are full." Corina responded
Harry went over to the door and let his friend in to his room.
Corina bit her lip as she held out a bundle to Harry, "Happy Midwinter."
Harry blushed and stammered out a thank you and placed the bundle on his bed "Happy Midwinter to you as well, Rina." as he passed a small box to her.
Corina opened the box, "When did you have time to get this?"
Harry smiled "I found it from that one merchant that was at the market last week, I hope you like it."
"I take it you asked Dasher through Morgan if I would like this?" Corina asked, "Because I do." She then looked at Harry, "Are you going to open mine?"
He looked at the quilt and fell in love with it "How did you do this? This is great thank you, Rina." as he pulled her in to a tight hug.
Corina's heart flip-flopped in her chest, "I made it, I had more than enough cloth for two quilts, and I made a few pillows for Stephen, Rowena, and Bryan." She then looked at the bookcase, "I thought you needed a thicker quilt."
"I did, but I love the picture on it that must have taken forever to make." He folded it once more and placed it in his bags to take home with him.
"You don't need to take it with you, besides I doubt Morgan can carry all that. You're acting like you're leaving on your Internship," Corina stated, "But I thought I should give it to you now, since you're leaving."
Harry looked over at his bags, shook his head. "Lord of Lights, I always do this." and began to repack his bags once more.
Corina shook her head and helped out with Harry's repacking, "I would say think of this as packing for your internship, take only what you need." Therefore, she set aside his cloak, and extra pair of boots. "You just need a few spare uniforms."
"Ugh this is why father said I need to pay attention to when he packed his travel bags. I stink at this." Harry stated
"There, now next time, you need to pack. I won't be there." Corina concluded as she closed the traveling pack.
"Yeah dear." Harry half teased.
Corina shook her head, before leaving Harry alone. Harry just smiled and grabbed his bag and headed out the door as well.
Morgan waited in the stable; the stable hands had already gotten her tack ready.
: Ready to hit the road and head for home.: he asked as jumped into the saddle.
:Hit the road, yes.: Morgan replied
Harry and Morgan both went out the gate that led to the road that would led back to the estate.
:Just think after you pass your internship, this is what it's going to be like for us.: Morgan stated as her hooves chimed on the road.
:True but for right now i just want to see mother and father once more, and get some answers from them.: Harry replied
:What are you going to do if you don't like the answers, you receive?: Morgan questioned
: Don't know yet I'll cross that bridge when i get to it.: Harry answered while shaking his head
:You mean we'll cross that bridge.: Morgan corrected, :What concerns you, concerns me as well, Chosen.:
: Your right it is the two of us in this.: Harry replied awed that Morgan was reaffirming her bond with him.
Morgan didn't reply; she just sped up. She wanted to reach a village before nightfall. After two days of traveling, Harry finally reached the Ashkevron estate.
As Harry neared the manor house he saw that the manor was dressed up for the midwinter feast. Morgan entered the yard and went around to the stables, where the horses were kept. She went into a special loose box. Harry dismounted and wondered about this stall. He took Morgan's tack from her and placed in storage area, and noticed a plate that was faded, he rubbed it with his sleeve, it seemed like centuries of grim came off, and he gasped. The plaque was in ancient Valdemaren, it read: Yfandes.
Harry stowed the tack in the area and went back to the loose box, and looked around the frame of the box.
He wonders why he never noticed it before.
Morgan wondered why her Chosen was checking the frame of the stall. :Chosen, what are you doing?:
:I think this stall used to belong to Yfandes. Herald-Mage Vanyel's Companion.: Harry answered as he looked around the frame for the same plaque and could not find it.
Morgan looked around the stall. :Seems to me, this was used as storage before you were Chosen.:
Harry just shrugged and went to the grain storage and gave Morgan a generous amount, and filled up a bucket of water within easy reach, before he gathered his bags and went inside the manor.
"Harry, I'm glad to see your home." his mother greeted with a hug.
"If you don't mind, mother; I need to take a bath." Harry responds, the daily baths at the Collegium were something he gotten used to, and he felt his skin crawl.
"Of course, you need to get all that dust from the road off you." as she moved to let him get settled.
Harry lifted up his traveling pack, before his mother could call for one of the servants to get it for him, went up to his room, got a clean uniform, and went to the bathroom. The manor had the same copper pipes as the Collegium did. After he had his bath, he felt much better.
As he made his way to meet his mother, he heard his father walking down the hall.
Jehan had the servants watching for his adopted son ever since the bard had delivered his letter saying he would be coming home for Midwinter.
Harry greeted his father with a smile " is everything well father missed me running a mock here."
Jehan looked up and barely recognize his son, the boy had put some muscle on since he was Chosen. "Not really, I save on tutors."
"And having the maids hunt me down for my lessons." Harry added
Jehan nods, "But that's for another day," he motioned to his son to join him.
Harry followed him to the great room where his mother was waiting for them. There was a fireplace, a bench seat with cushions, chairs, and Harry remembered past midwinters when he would play with his toy soldiers or just listening to his mother reading.
"So Harry, tell us about your training and have you made any good friends there?" his mother asked with a small smile on her face.
"I can't discuss my training, it's as much the same as when I lived here, only I can't escape to somewhere where I can be lazy and read." Harry answered, "I have a made a few new friends, some are older than me." He sat back into the chair, "Then there is Morgan."
"Yes, your Companion, do you two get along well I hope she's keeping you in line." His father joked.
"If we didn't get along, she would have left me already." Harry responded
:Not that I have any plans to do so right now: Morgan commented, as she was listening into her Chosen's thoughts.
:You're going to leave me with no real way out, aren't you?: Harry questioned
:Who me? Why would I do something like that?: Morgan replied her mind-voice was innocent. :Unless you want me to break down the door?:
:No no that's ok I don't want to spend my midwinter fixing a door.: Harry answered
:Good now, pay attention before your mother calls for a healer thinking you're having a fit.: Morgan stated as she stay silently in the back of Harry's mind.
"Yes mother, I'm sorry my mind wandered for a bit." Harry stated
"Mind wandered, Do you think I was born yesterday, I know that look, and I have seen it before. You were conversing with your Companion." His mother replied.
:She's good.: Morgan praised.
:Now you know why I could never hide anything from her: he sent back with a mental chuckle.
:Let's not match her wits with Sayvil.: Morgan replied :Haven doesn't have enough room for two big egos.:
:no doubt on that mark: Harry agreed
The three members of the family continued to talk, and Harry had found it informative yet boring at the same time. Somehow during the evening, over dinner the conversation had turned to Corina and Harry went on length about her right now to every single strand of hair was in place.
"Well son. you sound quite infatuated with this girl." Jehan spoke with a smirk.
"I do not know what you are talking about." Harry denied but he couldn't shake the feeling that he was being the topic of conversation with Corina's family as well. "You asked me, many questions. It's my turn."
"Well son that has never been a problem. " Jehan said but inside he was worried as to what he would ask.
Harry took a deep breath and braced himself for what could change his life even more then Morgan did. "I want to know where I came from."
Both his parents looked at each other and then turned to Harry his mother was the first to speak.
"We do not know." His mother stated softly
"What do you mean mother was I just some foundling left at your gates." Harry asked his eyes looking a bit wild.
"No, you were found by the fireplace, none of the servants were with child or had one when you were found." His mother answered. "It was like the Lord of Light blessed us with another son."
Harry just stood up and walked right out of the room.
Harry's mind was lost in a sea of emotions right now. He did not know what to think at this moment.
:Chosen?: Morgan asked
Harry didn't answer back he just went to his old hiding place.
:Chosen, You know I am here for you.: Morgan stated softly.
:I know but right now, I just need to be alone, I need to think.: he sent back.
Morgan retreated from Harry's mind; the Trainee suddenly found that his mind was a strange place without his Companion's presence.
Harry made his way yo to the loft, lay down in the hay, and just stared up at the roof of the barn.
Morgan raised her head and her sapphire eyes shown with concern. Never in her life as a human or a Companion had a child not know where he or she had come from.