A/N: Alright! I know the whole 'blind character' thing is over done, but I'm hoping to do something new with it. I've based this on a concept Miss Lackey's used in a few books, the 'words and will of a mage have power.' And she points out that Randale's sickness is genetic, and in a couple of books it's proven that mages can change the body; why not genetics too? And anyway, Stefen would thrive and Van's nursemaid. Poor Van... meheeheehee...

:I know, sweetling. I know. I'd give my sight to take this from you.:

Vanyel opened his eyes, coming awake all at once. The floor's too hard to be my bed, too warm and even to be dirt or stone. Where...? It's dark. He sat up, blinking. I can't see a thing, it's pitch black.

:'Fandes? Where am I?: He mindcalled. He felt Yfandes wake up.

:Your room, where else?: She asked sleepily. :And why?:

...what time is it? He supposed that if it was early- or late- enough, it might be pitch-black.

:Sometime before ten candlemarks. You'll be late to the spellcasting.:

:What? Then why is it so dark?:

:Dark? Van, it's light out.: She answered, sounding worried. :What on earth is going on?:

:Not sure.: Vanyel felt around, making sure he wasn't going to fall on anything. He shoved the blankets away and climbed off the pallet. He stood up carefully, scowling. :What in the havens happened? My eyes don't hurt.:

:The wine?:

:Have you ever heard of something like this happening from wine?: He snapped, irritated. :Sorry, love. My head hurts.:

:If you must get drunk with little boys...:

:'Fandes...:

:Sorry. But I don't feel sorry for the hangover.: She added.

I need to get dressed. 'Fandes is right, I need to be ready for that damn spellcasting. He felt his way around the room for the bellpull. If I can get a servant to bring willowbark tea and a healer...

His hand brushed something, knocking it over. Whatever it was, it shattered on the ground. Oh, dammit. He winced.

"...what...?" He heard movement from his bed; Stefen had woken up. I'm not surprised, no one could have slept through that. Except maybe Mekeal.

"Sorry, knocked it over." Vanyel said cheerfully. "How do you feel?"

"Uh..." He heard the boy clambering out of the bed. "Fine, I guess."

"I see." Vanyel turned blindly. His hip hit the table the wine had been sitting on and toppled ove.r Stefen yelped.

"Damn." Vanyel cursed.

"Herald Vanyel? What's wrong?"

"Not sure." Van muttered, scowling. "I can't see a thing."

"What?" Stefen sounded alarmed. Footsteps hurried over, and a hand rested on his forehead. "Are you sick? You don't have a fever..."

Vanyel shook his head, displacing the hand. "No, just a hangover. And this cursed darkness..."

"Should we get a healer?"

"That's what I was trying to do, get to the bellpull."

"...you went the wrong way."

"I don't exactly have a sense of direction right now..."

Stefen sighed. "...can you get dressed if I bring you clothes?"

"Of course, I don't really need sight for that."

"Right. I'll take you to a Healer."

"I was going to send a servant for one..."

"Pfft. You'd either get a trainee or someone who'd need to drag you there anyway. Here." Stefen pressed a piece of clothing into Vanyel's hand.

"Thanks." Vanyel tugged off the shirt he'd slept in and pulled the new one over his head. He heard a sharp intake of breath of Stefen. "What's wrong?"

"N-nothing." The boy stammered. "Here." The boy handed him a pair of pants. "I- I'm going to go get dressed!" The boy practically fled.

Vanyel blinked, confused. "What did I do?" He asked out loud. He shrugged it off and changed his pants, scowling. :'Fandes?:

:Yes?:

:Can you tell Kellan and the others what happened? I have the feeling we'll need to postpone the spellcasting.:

:Good idea. If Savil came after you without knowing what was going on...:

:Exactly.: He agreed.

:Alright. So Stefen's going to take care of you, hmm?:

:You know I don't need a nursemaid.: He sent, annoyed.

:If this is permanent, you might.: She answered soberly. :You do realize what this will mean?:

It felt like a stone had dropped into his stomach. :It won't be permanent.: He insisted. :The healers can fix it.:

"I'm sorry. There's nothing I, nor any Healer in the world, can do." Healer Elda told him, taking her hands away from his temples.

"What? Why?" He demanded, clenching his fists. This couldn't be permanent. Valdemar needed him, dammit!

"It's... it's a part of you." She told him. "Like your hair being black or your eyes being silver."

"It wasn't yesterday, how could it be today?" He wanted to know, scowling. Stefen set his hand on Vanyel's. Vanyel ignored the small shiver that ran down his spine at the touch.

"I believe a spell changed how your eyes work. You can no longer see light."

"Nothing's gotten past my shields. Nothing's even tested them! How?"

"Either it was a spell you did, or you have an enemy good enough to do that."

Vanyel frowned. A spell I did?

:Yfandes, have I done anything recently that might cause this?:

:No.: She answered immediately.

"It's not the first." He told her, trusting Yfandes' judgement. "Or the second, for that matter. It's impossible."

She sighed. "In my experience, nothing is impossible, and I'm over seventy." Vanyel blinked. She certainly didn't sound that old. "But I'll leave that sort of thing to you mages."

Vanyel muttered a curse.

"I'd be more crude, but you're in the right direction." She told him. "Take care of him."

"Course." Stefen answered. "From what Medren's told me, he's already terrible at taking care of himself." He took on a sorrowful tone. "I may even have to move in to keep him from somehow managing to kill himself..."

"Pfft. I've heard stories about you, young man. You just want..."

"How could you say such a thing? And they're all lies." Stefen mock-protested. "Or course I'd never attack a blind man!"

"Then what was Evan?"

"He wasn't completely blind!"

Van sighed. They're joking. Why are they joking? And what are they talking about anyway?

:They're trying to ease your mind, Chosen.: Yfandes answered. :Don't worry, we'll figure this out.: She soothed. :Just relax and let them fawn over you.:

:I don't WANT people to fawn over me!: He snapped.

"Van?" Van jumped. "Are you alright?"

"I was talking to Yfandes, sorry." Vanyel answered with a sigh.

"Alright. Do you want to go anywhere?"

"I'd like to see my aunt. I may have more power, but she has more experience. I want to see if she has any ideas."

Vanyel was starting to be unnerved by Savil's silence. "Aunt?"

"...Van, have you said anything like 'I'd give my sight' and really meant it?"

Vanyel blinked. "Yeah..."

"About what?"

"Randale. Why?" I'm starting to get a bad feeling.

Someone burst into the room, panting. "Herald Vanyel! The King needs you!"

Vanyel blinked. "What's wrong?"

"More like what's right! The King is getting better!"

Savil cursed. "I thought so. Stefen, help Van. We need to see the King."

"Vanyel!"

"Uncle Van!" Two whirlwinds hit Vanyel at once. Vanyel gasped, surprised, as the air was nearly knocked out of him. Stefen barely managed to keep Van from toppling over.

"Jisa- Shavri-"

"Let go of him!" Stefen snapped. Jisa and Shavri froze. "Can't you see something's wrong?"

:Father peacock?: Jisa sent, mindvoice tinged with worry. :What's going on?:

Van sighed. "Right now, I'm not quite sure." He said grimly. "How's Randale?"

"Feeling better than I have in years." Vanyel jumped.

"Dammit, make some noise!" He gasped, leaning on Stefen.

"I startled you?" Genuine confusion laced his voice, which was definitely stronger than it had been yesterday. Not quite 'strong,' but stronger. "Van, I'm standing right in front of you."

"I'm blind." Vanyel explained. "Savil apparently has some idea about what happened. Aunt?"

He felt Savil step up next to him. Stefen shifted next to him, seeming uncomfortable in the presence of royalty. Vanyel couldn't blame him. "Yes. Has anyone heard of the fact that a mage's words have power?"

"Yes..." Vanyel answered. "And the will."

"Well, the strength of that power is as relative as anything else. Someone like Van, who has enough power to level Haven if he wanted, well, his words and will are pretty strong."

"Oh, damn. Oh, damn." Vanyel cursed, venom lacing his words. Stefen awkwardly patted his shoulder.

"So when Van said he'd give his sight to... help Randale, I guess?"

"Yes."

"Well, he really did. I don't know why it was that strong, though. Even someone like Van shouldn't have completely healed Randale and destroyed his eyesight. The only thing I can think of is someone using a spell on him to make his spells stronger."

"I don't normally use those, and I wasn't yesterday."

Shavri let out a low moan. "Randi finally gets better, but at this cost..." She sighed.

"Van, you do know what this means...?" Jisa asked softly. "You won't be able to go out on field anymore. You're stuck here."

Van would have probably started crying if it weren't for his pride. Damn, damn, damn, damn, damn... why does everything happen to ME?

"Valdemar just lost it's best field mage." Randi said softly. "Damn."

But it could be worse... Randi is getting better. I know he's lost a lot of weight, but he can regain it now. He'll be better soon.

"It has it's king back, though.." Vanyel straightened. "And I can still do diplomacy." He said grimly. "It's not my specialty, but by the Gods, I am not going to let this ruin everything."

By the gods, it's ruined everything. Vanyel thunked his head on his desk, groaning. How the hell am I going to work in politics if I can't read?

"Van? Are you okay?" Stefen asked softly, sounding way too close. Vanyel jumped.

"Please, can you make a little noise?" He asked, holding back a curse. "My hearing isn't any better."

"Sorry." Stefen said. "What's wrong?"

"I just realized that I can't even do normal diplomacy." He answered. "How am I going to be able to go over treaties and agreements if I can't read?"

"I can read it to you." Stefen answered, without a trace of hesitance. "I'd be happy to."

"Stefen, you're almost a Full Bard, right?"

"Yes."

"Will you have time to read and reread political documents a few pages long?"

"Yes."

"...How?"

"Three ways. The worst option is for me to quit being a Bard. The second worst option is for me to get some leave until we figure out how to fix your sight, which we might not ever do. The best option is to have someone assign me as your personal Bard, which means I have every excuse to stick with you, and I just have to write a song or two about you."

Vanyel winced. "I suppose I can count on you being truthful, at least?"

"Maybe some artistic license, but I'll stick to the facts as much as possible." Stefen promised.

"Why would you want to?"

"Why wouldn't I?" Stefen countered.

"Long, late nights rereading boring, political documents. Long, late nights probably acting as a scribe. The long walk from Bardic to here." Vanyel ticked off the first reasons he could think off.

"I already have long, late nights reading boring papers- not always political, but sometimes. I already have long, late nights writing countless words. And I'm sure I could get a room nearer. If not, well, at least I won't get fat."

Vanyel had to chuckle. "I don't see why you want to, though."

"Would you believe me if I said it was a sense of duty?"

"Would you believe me if I said yes?"

"No."

"You'd be right."

Stefen laughed. "Alright, fine, it's for my own selfish reasons."

"Like?"

"Well, I'll probably get some decent song fodder, for one thing. Stories straight from the lips of the hero! Bards would destroy their favorite instruments for this chance. Two, no stupid assignments in horrible areas. Three, I'm hoping to seduce you."

Van nearly choked. "What?"

"I said, three, I'm hoping to-"

"I heard you! But... Stefen, how old are you?"

"Seventeen."

"I'm in my thirties! I'm almost twice your age!"

"So?"

"You're... you're practically a kid!"

"Thank you, Herald Vanyel, for that astounding and insightful observation."

"How do you even know you're shaych?" Vanyel asked, trying a different tactic.

"Maybe the fact that I've had more lovers in the past two years then you've probably had in the last ten?" Stefen countered.

"Stefen... we met yesterday."

"True. I'm not expecting anything. But I'm sure as the Havens going to try." Stefen's hand touched his cheek. Vanyel jerked away, the area Stefen's cool fingers had touched tingling.

"I have enemies! You could get hurt!" Vanyel tried to calm down his rising panic. He was definitely going to lose control is Stefen did something drastic. And there wasn't much Vanyel could do to stop him, short of using magic on him.

"I have enemies. You could get hurt." Stefen pointed out. "And my enemies are probably a lot closer to home than yours are."

Damn him, he's probably right.

"My duty will come first."

"I'm a Bard, Van, so would mine. You should know I'd understand."

"We met yesterday."

"Yes, you said that already. I've had a bit of an obsession with you for a while, which is probably the real reason Medren set us up."

"Medren set us up?" Vanyel asked, startled.

"What did you think happened? Van, he's told me a lot about you. I knew you're shaych, and I also knew that you're as lonely as hellfires."

Lonely...? Damn. I didn't knew Medren had caught on.

"I also know you don't take proper care of yourself. I also know that you like company, despite trying to be the most unapproachable, aloof marble statue in the country."

Vanyel sighed. "Fine, I get it." He put his hands up in a gesture of surrender. Suddenly, so quickly Vanyel didn't have a chance to do anything, Stefen grabbed Vanyel's hands and kissed Vanyel softly- almost chastely- on the lips.

Vanyel froze, unable to pull away, not sure he wanted to. God- it's just like how it felt with 'Lendel-

Stefen let go and pulled away. "Sorry." He said quietly. "But... I couldn't resist. Do you want me to go?"

"No..." Vanyel stammered. "It's fine..." He got up, knocking the chair back. "I... it's late."

"Yes." Stefen agreed. "Are you tired?"

Van nodded, not trusting his voice. He wasn't really, but his body had reacted horribly strongly to even a chaste kiss. It's been far too long, I must just have been holding back too much. He told himself.

"I... see." From Stefen's tone, he wasn't convinced, but he didn't say anything. "Do you need any help?"

"No." Vanyel shook his head. "My sense of direction isn't horribly skewed anymore, I should be fine."

"Alright." He soundly vaguely disappointed. "Good night then, Van."

"Good night, Stefen." He heard Stefen step out the door.

"Van?"

"Hmm?"

"Be careful. I'll be here early to wake you up."

"How early."

"Er... ten candlemarks?"

"That's early?"

"...yes?"

Van chuckled. "That's fine. And Stefen-"

"Yes?"

"Thank you."

Even Vanyel wasn't sure just what he was thanking Stefen for.

'Everything' came to mind.

A/N: That was short. Ah, well. Guys, I'm really sorry. I can't believe I'm doing this, truth to tell. I'm now working on three stories at once. Updates will probably be slow. Sorry!