Geran's first sorcery

Ce'Nedra looked at her son disapprovingly. She knew that he didn't like spinach, but it was good for him! Okay, he was almost fourteen by now, but she felt obligued to worry about his health nonetheless. However, experience showed that a sharp reply to his protest wouldn't do any good. Fortunately, she recalled one of Polgara's tricks. She sighed deliberately. "Geran, this is already agreed on with the chief of our kitchen. If you really don't like it, inform him about your wishes yourself, please."

"Ce'Nedra"
by Gariongirl

Geran swallowed hard. He didn't like it to go into the kitchen. The cook sometimes behaved like a king there, but this wasn't really the problem. He simply didn't know how to face all those giggling and whispering pretty girls in the kitchen. Of course, he wasn't afraid of girls. But the dreams he saw almost every night in the last week...
Naturally, he wouldn't tell his mother about it. "I'll go there and explain it to the cook," he said in an offhand way, and then he left. Ce'Nedra knew him better. Her hand sought her amulet - she was curious how he would handle it.
When Geran went downstairs, he felt much less secure. These dreams... They weren't the nightmares of his childhood. They were embarassing, even disgusting - but strangely exciting. He knew that the pretty woman in his dreams was incredibly evil, and cold as ice. If he met her in real life, he wouldn't touch her - he'd rather flee. In his dreams, however, he wasn't able to do that.
In the kitchen, all went right at first. He didn't even speak to the cook, but asked some of his helpers to pass along that they wouldn't like to eat spinach today. And all those girls just smiled and curtsied, but didn't try to embarass him - not until he wanted to leave.
When he already turned to the door, a girl stepped into his way.
"Prince Geran, we are honored beyond measure by your visit."
Geran looked at her. She was very blonde, and it was very clearly visible that she was a girl. He liked her. And she noticed that.
"Do you want a kiss, Prince Geran?"
She looked at him with a smile, and Geran admitted that she was very pretty.
Then his memories returned again. The image of this Alorn girl in his mind changed into another one. The blonde hair turned black. The blue eyes changed color and form - they were beautiful, dark and evil. Her lips seemed to be hard and cold, and her arms opened for an embrace...
"No," he almost cried, and then he fled. When he shut the door behind him, he heard the girls laughing. Geran sighed. Would Zandramas never leave him alone?

King Belgarion and Queen Ce'Nedra sat on their throne in that famous Hall of the Rivan King. The audience was boring to tears. As they usually did in such situations, they spoke about more interesting matters. Nobody was close enough to listen to them, and Ce'Nedra could speak almost without moving her lips. She told Garion about Geran's advanture in the kitchen. He couldn't understand why this should be that important.
"He is only fourteen, and he is a little shy. Girls like to do things like that."
"No, Garion, he wouldn't flee from a harmless kiss normally. He's not a coward - and he's not a Sendar," she stressed the last part of the sentence. "There's something wrong."
The herald paced in and knocked with his staff at the floor. His face was proud. "I have the distinct honor to announce Lord Eriond, the Horse God of Angarak!"
Garion was startled. Was the herald drunk? But Eriond stepped in already. He gleamed, and the feeling of his presence was overwhelming. He seemed taller than he usually was. What was going on here? "Hail Belgarion, Overlord of the West, and hail Ce'Nedra, Queen of the World. I have important news to reveal unto you - in private."
"You have our permission to withdraw," Belgarion said to the nobles filling his throne room. They followed his command immediately.
When they were alone, the gleaming faded, and Eriond now seemed to be just a young man with a boyish smile.
"Ce'Nedra, you are looking very good", he complimented her.
"Why, thank you, Eriond," Ce'Nedra replied. She always liked Eriond.
"I apologize that I chased off your dear guests. I can always call them back if you miss them," Eriond said to Garion.
"Don't bother, Eriond," Garion answered with a grin. He found that Eriond was similar to Belar sometimes.
"I have to replace all my brothers here, including Belar," Eriond replied to his thought.
Ce'Nedra giggled. She imagined him in the Wood of the Dryads, together with Xbel. She knew that he could perceive that image, and she enjoyed it.
Eriond laughed. He liked Ce'Nedra, and he happened to have a wonderful answer. He looked at her waist.
"It doesn't show yet. Do you have a name already for your new daughter?" he asked.
"Ce'Nedra, you are pregnant?! Why didn't you tell me?"
"I didn't know myself! I can't be pregnant for very long yet."
"No, Ce'Nedra, as far as I can tell, it's only twenty hours," Eriond said without a smile. Then, however, he joined her laughter.
Garion blushed, then he laughed, too. Eriond's sense of humor took a little getting used to.
"Was that the important news you mentioned?" he asked.
"No, Garion, it's not. I came here because of Geran. You know he has a little problem. You spoke about it when I arrived."
Garion was startled. "Is it really that important? I thought it's something... private."
"Garion, you should have noticed by now that your family is not very private. His talent will show up soon, and I expect that his potential will be very great. I don't want him to be distracted by his dreams. It has to do with Zandramas, again."
Ce'Nedra was worried. "I thought you fixed that years ago?"
"Not all, he was too young for that, then. But it's not really serious, not nightmares like that time. All I have to do is to explain it to him. There's something else you have to know. As soon as his gift awakes, he has to go to the Vale of Aldur. He needs a very good education, and we don't know exactly how much time we have for that. It's necessary that he takes Riva's sword with him."
Garion was shocked. "How will I explain this to the Rivans?"
"Don't worry, Garion. The Rivans will be proud that their crown prince will get an education by Aldur himself. And it's Aldur's Orb at the pommel of your sword. You won't need the sword here. The West is peaceful for many years now, and this is not likely to change soon."
Ce'Nedra didn't like the idea. "You said it will be soon."
Eriond suppressed a smile. "Very soon, yes."
"But he isn't even fourteen! What will he do there without me?"
Of course, Eriond knew how much she loved Geran. But it was necessary. He looked at her with his blue eyes, and her worries seemed to fade.
"Don't worry, Ce'Nedra. You can stay in contact with him through your amulet. He isn't alone there. Belgarath and Poledra are there, and it's not far to the cottage of Durnik and Polgara."
This was something Ce'Nedra liked more. She didn't want her son to grow up in the company of strange old sorcerers only. And she hadn't even thought of her amulet in this moment.
"I'll go to Geran now, and I'll leave from there for Mallorea immediately. Good bye!"
Eriond smiled, waved and left for Geran's room. He didn't ask directions, of course.

Geran sat in his room. Something went definitely wrong. He couldn't discuss it with Wolf - he was hunting.
His dreams weren't really frightening. He simply couldn't understand them. And he always remembered them at the wrong moment, of course. It wasn't nearly as terrible as his nightmares some years ago. Eriond helped him, then. But when he remembered those girls in the kitchen, he found it just terrible enough now. He liked that girl who had proposed him a kiss. And he felt hurt by the thought that she laughed at him.
He wished Eriond was here.
"I am here."
Geran didn't believe his eyes. He hadn't even heard how the door opened.
"Eriond! I'm so glad you are here. I need your help."
"Yes, I know, Geran; that's why I came."
Geran sighed with relief. "There are those dreams. Probably, I'll have to tell you, even though you know them."
"Yes, Geran, that's better. It will help you to sort out where's the problem."
"I see Zandramas in my dreams. I wonder how I can remember her. I was two years old then."
"It was a strange idea of the Dark Destiny. When Zandramas chose you as her successor - and candidate for the new God of Angarak - he projected all her fears and hopes into your mind. Nobody will ever understand why. You couldn't understand her thoughts then. Now they awake in your dreams."
"She was rather pretty," Geran continued, "but she was so evil. And in my dreams, I do strange things to her. But I wouldn't even touch her! Does it mean that I'm evil - somewhere inside?"
"You? Is that really you in those dreams?" Eriond asked.
"You're right, it's not really me. It's an adult man, and his face is beautiful, but... cold, I'd say."
Eriond suddenly held a steel-mask in his hand. "It's this face."
Geran had heard of the steel-masks of the Grolims, but he hadn't seen one, as far as he recalled.
"This is Torak's face," Eriond said. "Zandramas didn't have too much imagination. She couldn't imagine the new God of Angarak different from Torak."
Geran understood that Zandramas wanted to make him the new God of Angarak. But what had it to do with those dreams?
"Zandramas was the promised bride of the new Dark God," Eriond explained. "What you see in your dreams has nothing to do with her evilness. You remember what Wolf told you."
"He said wolfes do something similar with their mates. They have whelps then."
Eriond nodded. "However, you did not become the Dark God, and Zandramas departed to the other end of the universe. You will find another bride - a much better one."
Geran looked thoughtfully. "So what I see in my dreams is how humans do that? It's a little different from what Wolf told me."
Eriond smiled. "I said already that Zandramas didn't have much imagination. You shouldn't be too curious about it, though. It's much more fun to explore it with the one you will meet some day - the girl who loves you."
"How will I know if she's the right girl?" Geran asked.
"You will feel it. It's not a feeling you could possibly miss. Don't worry, you will find that wonderful girl."
Eriond actually liked her. But he wouldn't spoil it, telling Geran more. He wouldn't meet her very soon.
"Wolf says that the mating of wolves is forever. And I am a wolf, partially - grandmother was a wolf."
He knew that she wasn't really his grandmother, but he liked the word. All seemed to be in place again. All except that stupid scene in the kitchen.
"A kiss isn't really a great thing, Geran. It's only a promise - a promise of love. You have kissed your mother or your sisters now and then."
"That was different, Eriond."
"Of course, it was different. There are different kinds of love."
"She probably thinks I'm a fool," Geran said. He didn't like the notion at all.
"She thinks you are a little on the timid side. But you can easily correct that. It seems to be important for you."
"It is important. I don't like it when people have a wrong notion about me."
Eriond didn't find this to be a bad trait.
"There's another thing, Geran. I told your parents already - as soon as your talent of sorcery shows, you have to go to the Vale. Aldur will teach you. He's the best teacher you can find."
Geran recalled Eriond's words years ago. He would be a powerful sorcerer.
"It will be soon?"
Eriond couldn't help smiling this time. "Very soon."
Geran knew that he would miss mother, father, Beldaran and Xadara.
"Your mother can speak to you through her amulet, and your father even without. There will be some vacations now and then; you can visit your family. And you won't be alone there. The tower of Belgarath and Poledra is very near to Aldur's. And you will be not far from Aunt Pol - and her twins," Eriond reminded him.
"Poldene and Poldana are the same age as Beldaran - eleven," Geran noted. It would be fun to meet them again. Then he thought of Wolf.
"Can Wolf come with me? I can't ask him now, but maybe he would want to go to the Vale. He's a little unpredictable."
Eriond's eyes went distant for a moment. "I think he wants to go to the Vale with you. Poledra found him when he was a puppy. She will be happy to see him again."
Now, Eriond could leave. He had done all he had to do here.
"Good bye, Geran. I have something to attend to in Mallorea. We won't meet for some years, but I'm sure you will do just fine."
And then he was gone.

Geran went downstairs again. He didn't hurry, but he was very determined. This had to be rectified, and it wouldn't be any easier if he waited with it.
Of course, the maidservants suppressed their mirth when he entered the kitchen. He was the crown prince, after all. They wouldn't laugh in his presence. Geran drew in a deep breath. "I'm looking for a girl I met here in the morning," he said.
"That's Marlen. I'll call her," one of them replied. She almost ran - she was curious what would happen now.
Marlen came to him with a dripping plate and a dish-towel in her hands. She was surprised. She hadn't thought that Geran would return.
"You offered me a kiss, Marlen. I think I want it now," Geran said. He had serious doubts if Zandramas could love anybody, but she knew what a kiss is. Geran didn't think much about it, though. His arms locked around Marlen's neck, and his lips touched hers gently. Geran discovered that her lips were very warm and soft. Eriond called this only a promise? He wouldn't mind if this kiss lasted forever.
It didn't, however. A shattering sound let them start. Marlen had dropped the plate onto the stone floor. She went very pale, and Geran could see why. This wasn't an earthen plate. It was made of that rare white stuff with the strange name - porcelain. These plates were very costly. It was a gift from Zakath for Xadara's birth.
Geran definitely didn't want Marlen to have trouble. He looked at the splinters, and he really wished the plate was whole again. Suddenly, Geran felt a force building up inside. He reached out for the splinters, and concentrated on the thought that they joined together in his hand. The mark on his right palm began to itch, but nothing happened. Something was missing. Geran realized that he looked strange staring at the floor with an outstretched hand and waiting. Probably, the maids would start giggling soon. He grew irritated. "Come on," he barked at the innocent splinters. And the plate was whole in his hand.

Nobody in the kitchen could hear it, of course, but Garion started in his laboratory when Geran released his Will. It was very loud.

The Will and the Word - Geran wondered how often he had read or heard it. And then he couldn't remember it at the right moment.
Wisely, he suppressed a sigh of relief. He smiled when he handed over the plate to the perplexed girl.
"I think you dropped this, Marlen. And thanks for the kiss!"
This time, nobody laughed when he shut the door behind him. There was a dead silence in the kitchen.

Eriond had warned him that it would be very soon, but Geran hadn't expected it that soon. With the Gods, you never really knew. Geran remembered grandfathers book. Once after the War of the Gods, Aldur said that the Choice would be made very soon. It meant five thousand years in this case. Of course, it wasn't very likely that Eriond meant it that way. But Geran wasn't prepared for just a couple of minutes.
It wouldn't be easy to say good bye to mother and his sisters, but Geran was looking forward for his journey to the Vale. He would meet Poldana. And he was curious what he would learn. He always liked it to learn something new. Marlen was a nice girl, but he certainly didn't want to keep Aldur waiting.
Geran was satisfied with himself while he went to the room of his father. All in all, he had handled this fairly well, he guessed.
A half world apart, Eriond agreed with him. This boy was promising.

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