Fanfic:Lesson's Learned

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Lesson's Learned
Author(s)
  • Chance Darksbane (player)
  • Toby Selwyn
Character(s)
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As the sun had finally crested on the horizon and was coming into view, all of the early sounds of the morning were beginning to come alive. Having just finished his normal morning practice in the Arena, he began to think of his Da and how he wanted to see him again so very badly. Reaching into his shirt he pulled out the medallion that he always wore now, the one bearing the Amyrlin's and M'Hael's personal sigil he thought about how far he had come since arriving at the Tower. One of his greatest desires was to make his Da proud of him, he could not wait to see him again to tell him all that had happened since the day he left home to come to the Grey Tower. With a smile on his face, he stood there watching the sunrise.

After a little while he picked up his things and headed back to his room in the Dedicated quarters. When he arrived he freshened up and changed clothes. His Mentor had planned a special outing today for the two of them. M'Hael Keyeren had mentioned it was a surprise, and Chance felt sure it would be. Keyeren Asha'man had become Chance's mentor shortly after his arrival to the tower and had taken Chance under his wing and taught him many things. Chance looked up to Keyeren with respect and admiration and always looked forward to the lessons and things that he taught him. Today they were going riding somewhere, exactly where Chance did not know but he was looking forward to it. Obviously to learn something from his mentor. There came a knock on his door, when he opened it, a messenger asked "Are you Chance Darksbane?", Chance replied yes I am. The messenger handed him a small scroll and said "This arrived for you this morning."

Chance thanked him and closed his door and opened it up. It was a letter from his da'.

Excited, Chance began to read.

Chance,

My dear son. I have decided that I can no longer wait to tell you the truth about the things you need to know. I could not bring myself to tell you these things the day you left for the Grey Tower. It was hard enough to watch you leave as it was. I only hope that one day you will be able to forgive me, for what I am about to tell you. A long time ago when I was a member of the Queen's Guard, I met your Ma and we fell in love. When my service was up we got married and started the farm. When I found out your Ma had the gift and was a wilder, I withdrew from her only short of acknowledging her existence. The same way but even more so than I did with you when you started showing the signs. Your mother emotionally distraught and being refused attention by me, had an affair with my Brother Raolin who also was a "wilder". Them having that in common, must have drawn them to each other. Shortly after the Taint, or the "Rot" as it was referred to back then took Raolin's life, you were born. I still loved your Ma enough that I could not turn you away totally, so I decided to raise you as my own son. I consoled myself in the fact that you were a Darksbane, true by name and blood. I still ignored your Ma' though, and it was not long before she slipped into a deep depression over what she had allowed to happen. She gave up on life and soon died. She did love you Chance and named you accordingly hoping that you had just that. I prayed to the Light that you would not recieve this gift that had through my ignorance and prejudices caused me to turn my back on your Ma', and that had killed her and my brother. So I raised you as my own, hoping you would escape the gift. However when you started showing the signs I went into denial thinking "Light no, Not my son too." I thought if I ignored it, it would go away. I have failed three people in my life all of which were very dear to me. Please son understand that I love you with all my heart and I wish I could turn back time to correct my wrongs but I can not. I only hop!e that one day you will be able to forgive Me, your Ma' and your Uncle Raolin. I love you Chance, and may the Light have mercy on my soul,

Owen

Chance slowly sat down on his bed, tears welling up in his eyes and anger in hi s heart. Feeling like he was being torn apart from the inside out, he tried desperately to grab the void. After a while he got up, put the letter in his pocket and headed for the stables to meet his mentor and find out what the lesson was he would learn today, other than the one he just had.


Keyeren smiled at Tiger, the ginger tom cat sitting on the wall which ran alongside the stable. Later then, brother. Good hunting. Keyeren had discovered his talent of animal talking while on his travels before establishing the Grey Tower. His was specifically related to felines. Tiger replied with the farewell of his kind - not words, rather images and emotions.

Keyeren turned to Autumn, his tall palomino, and talked to her softly as he saddled her. He couldn't talk to her as he could Tiger, but soft words never went amiss with animals. As he led her out of her stall, Chance dashed through the doorway, and hastily bowed to his mentor. He straightened, and Keyeren said "Good morning, Chance. I hope you're prepared for the day out."

"Yes" the Dedicated replied. Keyeren could sense that something seemed wrong, somehow Chance was hurting inside, and was about to ask what was wrong when Chance turned to saddle his own horse. Keyeren got the message, and closed his mouth.

"Chance, today I'd like to see whether you have any talents like mine, that of animal communication. No one else in the Tower has it, not that I know of anyway, but perhaps you will." The Dedicated kept working on his horse, his back to Keyeren. "We're going to go to the woods, where there'll be many animals. Chance, is that ok?"

Chance nodded, and seemed to brighten a little, but Keyeren could still sense a kind of tenseness in his mentee's posture. Once both horses were ready, the two mounted, and Keyeren trotted Autumn out of the stable, and out of the Tower grounds, with Chance following, and down the mountainside towards the dark forest...


When Chance caught up, he patted Warflame on his side, the big grey dun stallion was still a bit arrogant, he had only been broken recently. M'Hael I feel the need to apologize for my behavior back there, I just have a lot on my mind. It's ok Chance, do you wish to discuss what it is that has obviously got your mind so busy? Well yes I do M'Hael but, first I want to enjoy the day. Chance then explained to Keyeren that even at a young age that he seemed to have a connection with horses. My Da' raises and trains horses and I have been around them all my life. Da' swears that I have an affinity with them. Take Warflame here, the reason I have him is no one else could get near him, much less break him. They were going to put him down and I said no! let me try! Well all the stable hands laughed at me. An hour later I was riding him. You should have seen the look on their faces M'Hael! He is actually a good boy, just needed a little understanding.

Chance then looked over at Keyeren and said, M'Hael I know I will enjoy this lesson. They rode along, talking and Keyeren pointing out several animals along the way. Chance was glad that this was going to be fun and the M'Hael was always a font of wisdom. As they rode on Chance listened to all the M'Hael had to say.


Keyeren realised that whatever was on Chance's mind was serious, but that the Dedicated was looking for a good, fun day. Keyeren knew that discussing problems would just spoil all that, so he let it go for the time being. He intended to have a long talk with Chance when they returned to the Grey Tower, however.

As they trotted along, Autumn beside Warflame, Keyeren pointed out various animals and birds. They saw a rabbit, a fox, a deer, and many others. With each Keyeren gave Chance the same instructions - open your mind, clear your thoughts of everything but that animal. Imagine you are that animal, thinking as it would think. However, Chance didn't seem to be getting anywhere with any of them, and Keyeren was slightly disappointed. He knew it would tak e time for Chance's talent to develop - if indeed he had a talent in this area - but he'd been hoping for some kind of result now.

Suddenly, he recalled what Chance had said earlier: Da swears that I have an affinity with them. Keyeren almost hit himself for not thinking of it before. Keyeren reined in Autumn, and, slightly surprised, Chance followed suit with Warflame. "Chance, I want you to dismount." Slightly puzzled, the Dedicated did so, and Keyeren also dismounted. He then took Warflame's reigns from Chance - the grey skittered a bit, but eventually acquiesced - and held one horse to each side of him. He then positioned Chance directly opposite.

"Chance. Now, repeat your exercise, focus on the horses, or just one if you wish. You are one with them, one with their emotions, their instincts..." As Keyeren droned on, Chance's eyes went out of focus as he concentrated. Suddenly, the Dedicated's eyes opened wide, and he looked at Keyeren, surprise painted all over his face. Keyeren grinned back. Finally, they were onto something!


Chance, eyes opened wide looking to the M'Hael. With a big smile on his face he walked over to Warflame and rubbed his nose. When he said hello Flame, his stallion neighed slighty and lowered his head onto Chance's chest. Warflame was actually showing affection! Chance also understood his neigh in a way he never had before! Smiling at the M'Hael he took a step towards Autumn, the Palomino neighed saying hello! Looking back to his M'Hael, Chance said I can understand them! I mean, I can really understand them! I can see through their eyes, I can think what they think! Wow this is unbelievable!

About then an Eagle cried out overhead. Chance looked around and up into the sky. Closing his eyes, he opened his mind and cleared all of his thoughts of everything except the Eagle. He imagined he was the Eagle, thinking what the Eagle was thinking. In his mind he could see through the Eagle's eyes, seeing what it was seeing while it was flying, he could see himself standing there with the M'Hael, and Warflame and Autumn. When he opened his eyes, the Eagle cried out and Chance shouted thank you my friend, I will!

When Chance turned back and looked at his mentor, he started to say something, but before the words came out his mentor smiled and said, "I know Chance". The M'Hael had a huge grin on his face. They stood there for a moment and watched their friend fly off into the horizon.


Keyeren grinned at Chance as the Dedicated's eyes went out of focus, and his head tilted to the sky. Looking up, Keyeren saw an eagle soaring below the clouds. He was slightly startled. Wow! Horses and eagles? I've never come across anyone who can speak to more than one kind of animal! He thought to himself, but then, I've never come across anyone else who can speak to any kind of animal before. Suddenly his face darkened. There had been one previous Grey Tower citizen who'd been able to communicate with birds, but the M'Hael's memories of said person weren't fond.

But today was a happy day. Chance was happy - although there still seemed to be something on his mind - and Keyeren was overjoyed that his mentee had developed such a wonderful, and rare, Talent. "So, my friend, where to next?" He asked Chance. "Shall we see what else we can discover about you? Shall we see whether you can talk to other types of animals, or do you wish to return to the Tower?" Keyeren secretly hoped Chance would want to continue - maybe Keyeren could communicate with other animals, if he could he wanted to find out - but he wouldn't go against his friend's wishes...


M'Hael I wish to continue! I am having too much fun and learning too much to stop now! As long as that's ok with you, that is. Chance then said I do wish to talk about what is bothering me Father, but may it wait until later? Chance had learned that the M'Hael was very observant and could sense things that most overlooked. The last thing he wanted to do now was ruin the day. Chance stood patiently waiting for his reply!


"Of course, Chance, I'd love to keep going." Keyeren was very pleased, it looked like the day would keep bringing up surprises. Motioning for Chance to remount his horse, Keyeren quickly jumped onto Autumn's back, and with a brisk nudge with his heels, she was trotting on through the forest.

For a good half hour the pair rode around the mountainside, through the forests for most of the way. Keyeren tested his skills with other animals, but didn't seem to be having any success. During their ride, Keyeren talked to Chance about his past, how he'd been forced to leave his home in the Two Rivers when it had been found he could channel, and how during the next few years he had founded the Grey Tower.

Chance seemed genuinely interested, for which Keyeren was very grateful - it was a topic he often found hard to talk about. He found it easy with Chance, however - the two were firm friends. And so the day wore on, the two men winding down the mountainside, talking, watching for animals, and generally relaxing...


After a long day of fun, and a lot of good conversation, they started heading back. I have really enjoyed today's lesson M'Hael! I hope that I continue to develop this new talent you have taught me! Chance was excited about what he had learned and that he and Keyeren were becoming good friends, even though he always out of respect called him M'Hael. I am glad I came to the Grey Tower, I feel at home here!


As they rode back through the trees, Keyeren grinned at Chance. "Chance, you are nearly Asha'man - indeed, I believe you will be tested soon after we return." Chance looked a picture of surprise and happiness, and Keyeren smiled. "In private, Chance, please do away with the formalities. We are friends, Chance. Light! We are blood-brothers! Please, call me Keyeren. I too have had a great trip, and I'm so happy for you for discovering your new Talent - it is indeed something very rare and wonderful. Now, back to the Tower, and back to your duties, Chance. Please, come and visit me in my study whenever you wish."

Chance nodded, and smiled at Keyeren. The two spent the rest of the journey in silence, enjoying the great outdoors, and as the sun was setting behind the mountains, they arrived home...