Airotciv here, making up for what LIS didn't respond to, and current responses. You all get…. Pizza? Vrrall, when have people ever given out /pizza/ to reviewers? Oh well, whatever.

Pixy: For the question you asked, Stef and 'Lendel were part of the same soul, but the gods have decided that Van needs both Stef and 'Lendel. So, they're now two separate souls, although they might recognize each other… Yeah, I don't get that either. Who knows. Here's some pizza.

Caelistes: Yes, we have got a lot of reviews… But more can't hurt, right? And I updated. And here's another update. –hands slice of pizza-

Insert Name Here: Here's another chapter. With pizza attached!

I Have No Name, Hahahahahaha..cough sorry: We'll promise to write more. Or I'll have to shoot the other people helping with this. And they wouldn't like that, would they? Nooo, they wouldn't. And, since you made me laugh, you get two pieces of pizza.

LIS: Oh, shut up, will you? It hasn't been that long! –smacks- ((Note the lack of pizza.))

Airotciv: Yay! Me! You get the whole universe full of pizza, me.

Tessabe: Mwahaha. We have plans. Okay, not really. I have no clue where this is going. Pizza?

AlariaoftheDragons: Maybe. Maybe not. Shhhhhh….

wizard116: Thanka.

SpirtsFlame: Maybe. Maybe. Not saying for sure, 'cuz I'm mean like that.

ssjbookgirl: Well, way I kinda see it, Stef got the idea ever since 'Lendel defended Van. He's a tiny bit jealous. Go figure.

Air: Thanks for reviewing, everyone. Continue to review, please. We'll love you for forever if you do. And ever. Anyway, everyone gets pizza. Especially me. 'Cuz I'm greedy. On to Queen's Own.

Queen's Own: Hi guyz! It's been a while but I missed all you guyz! This chap backtracks a little bit and takes place starting at the end of Chapter Three (Van's last chap). We're gonna leave Stef for a little while.

Tylendel: Oops?

He walked slowly through the Field, his arm swung over Gala's withers. His white-hot rage had dissolved into frustrated tears only seconds after Stef had stalked away. That had been over a candlemark ago. He had remained with Gala to avoid Stef, and the knowing looks of many Trainees who had no doubt connected the dots of an angry Stef and a 'Lendel with reddened eyes to mean a lover's spat. The nosy Blues wouldn't be half as bad as the Bardic Trainees either. And there was one particularly nosy Empath in Healer's that he wouldn't want knowing his troubles either.

So here he was, much later, wandering around aimlessly with his beloved, the one who would never leave him, Gala. :I'll always be here,: she had said, soothing his tears. :I love you.:

:Love you,: he said, wrapping his arms around her neck in a quick squeeze.

:I love you too,: she said, letting her love for him wash down their link. :I have from the moment I saw you and I always will.:

:Always?: he asked, suddenly needing to know. :Always, no matter what I do, no matter how big a mistake I make? No matter what, you will always love me?:

:Of course,: she soothed. :For ever 'Lendel. I love you, and I will never leave you.:

He buried his face in her neck, inhaling the scent of horse that clung to her. :I needed to know that. I don't know why. I just did.:

:Never doubt it again,: she said. :Now, splash some water on your face and go talk to Stef. You two shouldn't be arguing. I like that Bard.:

'Lendel sighed. :I guess…: But at his Companion's insistent prodding, he turned his walking towards the Collegia. Stepping near the edge of a grove, he turned to talk to Gala- and ran straight into Vanyel.

The object of his lovers' spat turned bright red and hastily stepped back. 'Lendel took a moment to get his own thoughts back- they had been strangely shaken by the abrupt encounter.

The sight of the other's pained eyes was enough to make his heart ache. At the same time, Vanyel looked like a startled deer. After a moment, he said gently, "Vanyel…"

Vanyel swallowed hard. "Tylendel, I-"

At that moment, a Heraldic Trainee walked by. Seeing Vanyel, he smiled mischievously and hummed a few bars of Stef's now infamous song. Hurt flashed across Vanyel's face as he turned and fled.

'Lendel cursed the foolish Trainee –a girl he knew only vaguely named Tryna- before breaking into a jog after Vanyel. He caught up quickly and put a hand on his shoulder.

"Vanyel," he said quickly. "I'm sorry about Stef's song. He didn't-" He laughed bitterly and changed what he was about to say. "He didn't think through what he was doing. And he's probably not going to apologize. But I at least, am sorry." He extended his tiny bit of Empathy in an attempt to soothe the other boy.

Vanyel flushed, staring at his feet. "It's all right," he mumbled. "I'm used to it. No one at home liked me much either."

"Maybe if you stopped trying to be such an arrogant peacock people would like you better," Tylendel said. As Vanyel's head shot up, he added, "Those airheads at court can't be very interesting. If you promise to give people a chance, I'll put in a good word for you with the Trainees."

"You- would do that?" Vanyel asked, disbelievingly. In his eyes was something of a small puppy that's only ever been beaten, patted on the head and given table scraps.

Tylendel shrugged. "It's the least I can do to make up for what Stef did. Don't judge him too harshly. He- sometimes doesn't think." He laughed quietly. "That's part of what I love about him."

"You-" Something flashed across Vanyel's face that was gone too quickly for 'Lendel to place. "I mean- people talk, but I-" He blushed as Tylendel chuckled quietly.

"What, parents didn't tell you what being shay'a'chern meant?" At Vanyel's confused look, he explained. "You didn't know until you came to Haven that it was possible for two people of the same sex to be in love?" Vanyel shook his head, his face now a vibrant shade of red.

"My- father," he said, haltingly. "He- didn't want me to- to know that-" He broke off with a startled cry as something shoved him.

Tylendel reached out to catch him, acting reflexively. But he miscalculated and was pulled down by Vanyel's slight weight to fall to the ground underneath him. Vanyel flushed even redder (if it was even possible) and quickly moved to scramble to his feet.

'Lendel did not know what possessed him right then to grab the younger boy's arm. Startled, Vanyel looked at him and tortured silver locked with confused amber. The moment seemed to last for eternities. And then slowly, Vanyel lowered his head slightly and brushed his lips against 'Lendel's.

There was a palpable shock as their lips touched. It was a brief, chaste kiss but it unleashed a floodgate of emotions and questions in Tylendel's mind. Vanyel too, looked shocked. Tylendel released his grip on the boy's arm and he fled.

Tylendel closed his eyes and just lay there for a moment. What the hell just happened? he wondered. What in the seven hells just possessed me and why did I do that? I love Stef- right? Was it just his anger at Stef that had made him react that way? His mind refuted that suggestion as quickly it sprang to life. Which meant it was something else- Head spinning, he opened his eyes to meet a concerned set of sapphire eyes.

:Oops?:

Queen's Own: Teehee. I love confusing my characters. It's o so fun. Well, LIS has the next chap. So for now, Sami and I are saying bye-bye. Please review. We'll give you chocolate! Or cookies.