I read this awhile ago and I loved it. It's sad, and tinged with loss. There's a harsh and somewhat bitter part of me, though, that thinks that the Companions are reaping the cost of all their secrecy, and that they're especially reaping the cost of pridefully modifying people's memories. True, the Companions had honorable reasons for hiding their origins, and I feel bad that those noble intentions very probably drastically worsened the loss of trust the people of Valdemar felt toward the Companions. (About the mindwipings I am far less charitable; suffice to say that those who were doing that had no right to any position of authority in the mortal world, and deserved to be kicked out of power, the fact that they lost their home and their way of life completely notwithstanding.) Poor Companions, though. They didn't deserve to pay that price for their mistakes. Great story.

Oh my God. Good story. I can't think of anything else to say.

Find a way to get him another chosen!1

okay, so I don't know how I didn't see this before, but wow!! You gotta write the backstory to this! (as though you have nothing better to do...lol)

Lovely, absolutely lovely. Wonderfully put, I hope you do end up doing a backstory, that will make for such interesting reading. Keep up the good work!

*teary eyed* so sad! I feel sorry for Asha and the other Companions... It must be hard for them to repudate their newly Chosen...

Wants to read back story and... hopes you write a story related for the redemption of companions... This is too sad :(. I Love it however... such a good story.

NO...

*sniff* Sad... poor poor Asha...

*really really REALLY wants to read the backstory*

Wow... I am now horridly curious. Bad Sena! Or good Sena... I really don't know which *_*

Okay- Not really seeing the 'happy' part of the 'happy birthday' An... *caugh* interesting AU. I think. Poor things, I don't think that it could come to that, though I guess anything is possible. I hope not though

That was so sad! Beautiful, but sad. Beautifully sad. And yet, I loved it. Wonderful piece of writing here.

FalconWing.

But if there are no more Heralds, how can there be Companions? We find out in Storm Warning that Companions are Heralds reincarnated in horse-like form. Still, though, this was well-done, if sad. Very sad.

*Sputters* B-but you can't leave it there! You have to tell us about the Traitor and the Betrayel, and why that caused Valdemar to abbandon the Companions. And then you have to fix the distopia! At least explain why they are hanging around Valdemar and not, say, wandering with a dyheli herd (which is what *I* would have done in that situation).
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Here's a plot bunny if you want to adopt it: a historian studying the period of time the Betrayel decides to interview a Companion to get thier side of the story. Said Companion is 'paid' in stabling and grain, etc (and the job is a bit more dignified then pulling carts). Um, you'll have to get around the language barrier somehow. This would have to be a progessive historian, one not inclined to let prejudice get in the way of research.
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Um, did I mention that your story certainly caught my attention and imagination? I love everything you write, keep up the good work!

*sniffles* so sad... but what was the Betrayal? I've never heard anything like this fic, but I love it... I love it so much and I want to hear more. This is a fic that I will come back to read again and again. And I'm recommending this story, cause it's good. :-P