Valdemar 14

When I reappeared in the new world I saw that I was in a forest area of some sort. There were many trees around me. The trees all had little buildings on them. "What is this?" I ask out loud.

"Who are you?" I hear a voice that I know very well.

"Firesong?" I say spinning towards the voice. "How are you- what- where am I- wait is this k'Treva?"

"What are you talking about? How do you know my name? How are you in the Vale? Who are you?"

"I know you from a time other than now. I don't know what a Vale is. I also don't know how I'm here. As for who I am, I am Lizzy Clearsword. I would like to become a part of this clan."

"How- what?"

"I want to join your clan of k'Treva Tayledras. I promise there is no harm I wish to cause." At this point I have put every weapon I carry at his feet. I have many kinds of daggers and two swords.

"What? Prove you mean no harm."

"Search my mind." I proclaim.

"Are you sure? If there is anything suspicious you won't be allowed to join us."

"It's the only way to be sure. Words can be twisted. Search everything. I will drop every shield."

"You- wow. You are very certain of yourself."

"What's taking so long?" I grin. He dives into my mind taking care not to hurt me. :Thank you.:

:What?:

:You made sure not to harm me. Thanks.:

:Yeah.: He continued searching through my mind and sees all of my memories including the ones from other worlds. :What is this?: He asks seeing a memory of me playing The Shadow-Lover for him as well as me at the party.

:You. This is your future.:

:Wow. It's beautiful.: I can tell he's referring to the music.

:Thanks.:

"You are fine." He says pulling out of my mind.

"But-"

"If I trust you in the future then clearly you are fine, Lizzy Clearsword."

"Alrighty then."

"Now, you said you wished to be part of k'Treva? Be my Wingsister."

"Seriously?" I ask happily.

"Yes. Follow me." He takes me to a large stone in the center of this place. There was no one there but us. "Stay here." He leaves me alone so I go investigate the stone.

"This stone... It's alive." I touch it and I see the world around me fade as my consciousness is pulled into the stone. The 'mind' of the stone is a very slow thing. Almost sleepy.

"-Y!-izzy! Lizzy!" Firesong calls pulling me out of the stone. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah. I'm fine."

"Well it's time to begin the ceremony."

"Yes!"

"Alright. Let's put a truth spell on you." Another guy says. He looks like an old man. "Now do you bring any ill intent into this Vale?"

"No."

"Would you like to join our clan?"

"Yes."

"Hear, then the privileges of brotherhood: to come and go freely within all lands held by Tayledras k'Treva; to call upon your brothers in times of need; to ask of us teaching; to make your home among us. Hear also the responsibilities of brotherhood: to keep the secrets of the Clan; to neither bring nor lead strangers among us; to keep our lands and guard them as we do; to answer to our need if no other oath prevents; to teach when it is asked of you, aid when it is asked of you, give shelter and succor to your brothers of the Clan, of Tayledras, ,and of Shin'a'in. Can you be bound to these conditions?"

"Yes." I see many visions, a vision of the blasted crater that became the Dhorisha Plains, and the Sundering of the Clans. They are then shown the Tayledras moving north into the Pelagirs and asking their goddess for protection. I see the Star-Eyed's answer and the striking of the bargain.

"This is the last oath you must swear--that you will aid your brothers of the Clan in their duty, as your own oaths permit--and that never will you use what is taught you here for the sake of your own power, pride, and status."

"I will."

"Then let's celebrate this event!" He says and we spend the night partying. It's very fun I must say.

"You're a very pretty woman." A guy says.

"Uh yeah. You know, I have a fiancée. I'm taken. Stay away from me please." I walk off and explore the Vale coming across a clearing with firebirds. "Perfect!" I grin and look for the firebird who will end up as Teardrop. "Hello." I say smiling softly so as not to scare her off. I reach out one of my arms to the mint-green feathered bird. "Come here." I request softly and stroke the feathers on top of her head. She warily climbs onto my shoulder carefully so I'm not harmed.

"She's very pretty." The voice startled me but I carefully and slowly turned so I don't scare the bird on my shoulder. I saw Firesong in front of me.

"Hello." I smile as the firebird climbs back down to my wrist.

"I don't think she's a bondbird."

"I'll help her become one. I know she is the one I end up with."

"Oh because you came from the future."

"You know I also came from the past."

"Yeah. Really far into the past."

"Now how will I make Teardrop a bondbird?" I mutter slowly sitting on the grassy ground. "Hmm... I wonder... Aha!" I say the last part louder startling the others. "Teardrop." I say setting her on the ground. "Stay right there please." I proceed to draw something that looks like a magic circle but in fact, isn't. It's not for a spell at least. It's a way that my Kingdom has devised to give magical abilities to another. It isn't used often because it drains some of the magic from the creator of the circle. I give Teardrop some of all of my magic so that she can come with me back to my Kingdom at another time.

:Lizzy? Me Teardrop?:

:Yes.:

:Magic?:

:Lots. All yours.: I speak simply so she can understand me.

:Mine?:

:Yes.:

:Firesong.:

:What?:

:Hello.: Firesong says sounding confused.

:She's smart. This happened in the future as well. I didn't send our little chat to you but you heard it. Hah! Now I know what happened. She did!:

:Hmm. A bondbird that passes the shields put on it.:

:Has this happened before?:

:No. But it's interesting. I want to learn more. Teardrop?:

:Yes.:

:Thank you.: Then there's some silence. :How are you so powerful?: He directs this question to me.

:I'm not sure what you mean.:

:Teardrop has more magic than me. How are you so powerful?:

:No clue.:

:It's a bit much though.:

:Really?:

:Yeah. You're so powerful that you most likely could defeat my ancestor Vanyel.:

:Really? Are you sure?:

:Very.:

:Wow.:

:You are pretty powerful. How long do you plan on staying here?:

:Not long. I had to fulfill what happened in the past. At this point I will leave and hopefully show back up after I leave in the future.:

"Goodbye." Firesong smiles.

"Goodbye to you too!" I chant under my breath the spell to send me to the future of this world.

10 years in the future~

"What? But you just left!" Firesong says confused.

"I am Lizzy Clearsword k'Treva. Teardrop!"

"You- you remember?"

"More like I just came to the future Wingbrother."

"You have to leave soon don't you?" Firesong looks sad at the thought.

"Yes. But I can come back in the future."

"Well goodbye then."

"Not yet." I give him a hug. "I'll be gone soon but there's one last thing I need to do." I go and say goodbye to the people I met recently; Elspeth, Darkwind and Queen Selenay then leave.

"Watashi o ie ni tsureteitte, watashi ga satta toki made!"