A Song for Two Voices
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In your arms I shall not fear the night by Swimmer963
Fandoms: Valdemar Series - Mercedes Lackey
20 Apr 2018
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Summary
This is a rationalfic take on "The Last Herald-Mage", inspired by HPMOR and other works. Accessible regardless of whether you've read the original series. Though far from perfect, the characters are trying to do their best with the information, intelligence, and skills they have. Unfortunately, their enemies are also doing that, and sometimes even reasonable decisions can turn out badly.
[Meta note: this starts out a bit slow, and book 1 is kind of a different genre from the rest. In particular, the rationalist content is fairly subtle at the start, and the effective altruism themes come out a lot more towards the end of book 2 and early book 3. If you’re moderately enjoying book 1 but a little bored, try sticking it out until the end of book 2.]
Ashamed of him, Vanyel's father sends his disappointing son to live with his strict aunt, the Herald-Mage Savil. Although he knows things will change, Vanyel dramatically underestimates just how different his life is about to become. Sparks fly as he discovers both love and magic.
Series
- Part 1 of A Song for Two Voices
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Only deep in dreams do you appear by Swimmer963
Fandoms: Valdemar Series - Mercedes Lackey
29 Jun 2018
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Summary
[This is part 2 of my series "A Song for Two Voices", a rationalfic take on The Last Herald-Mage. I recommend starting at the beginning.]
Sometimes, it only takes one mistake to destroy everything…
After the death of his lifebonded lover, the last thing Vanyel wants is to be a Herald, much less the most powerful mage in Valdemaran history. But Companions never Choose wrong. A destiny he never asked for, and the tireless efforts of his friends to help, are all that he has left.
Series
- Part 2 of A Song for Two Voices
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Help me bear the burdens I have yet by Swimmer963
Fandoms: Valdemar Series - Mercedes Lackey
14 Sep 2018
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Summary
[This is part 3 of a series. You *can* start here, especially if you have read Magic's Pawn, but I would recommend starting at the beginning]
War is coming to Valdemar. Herald-Mage Vanyel sees a vision of his future, a destiny that apparently only he can fulfill. He expects to die for his Kingdom, in ten or twenty years, fighting a mysterious dark mage in the north. In the meantime, all he can do is try to put his life back together, learn to be a Herald, and prepare for what's coming, with the support of his aunt Savil and the community of Heralds.
However, it turns out that the future is a lot more complicated than he expected.
Series
- Part 3 of A Song for Two Voices
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Where you lead I cannot be afraid by Swimmer963
Fandoms: Valdemar Series - Mercedes Lackey
17 Dec 2018
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Summary
[This is part 4 of a series. Start at the beginning!]
Queen Elspeth is dead, and Valdemar has a new King, and a new war. Herald-Mage Vanyel finds himself sent to the Karsite border, fighting for the survival of his kingdom – a war that will push him to his absolute limits.
Sometimes, at night in his dreams, he speaks to a mage who wears black. An enemy, who might nonetheless understand his current reality and the choices he must make better than anyone else.
Series
- Part 4 of A Song for Two Voices
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Lead me into shadows once again by Swimmer963
Fandoms: Valdemar Series - Mercedes Lackey
15 Feb 2019
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Summary
[This is part 5 of a series. Start at the beginning!]
Valdemar is gaining ground in the war against the Karsites, and for the first time in years, Vanyel, Savil, and Lissa are on leave. Sort of. The Ashkevron family manor isn't exactly a restful place, even leaving aside the rumblings on their border. At least Herald-Spies Mardic and Donni are keeping an eye on the nearest danger spot, the capital of neighbouring kingdom Lineas.
Meanwhile, a Karsite princess in exile rides towards Haven, hoping to negotiate with King Randale for an alliance. And on the streets of a border town, an orphaned child sings for his supper, with no idea of how much his life is about to change.
Covers roughly the timeline of Magic's Promise, with some bonus sideplots.
Series
- Part 5 of A Song for Two Voices
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Summary
[This is part 6 of a series. Start at the beginning!]
In the aftermath of the Battle of Sunhame, Valdemar is finally at peace with Karse. Technically. There are still plenty of problems, new and old. No Monarch's Own Companion; a dying King with no heir; a raging civil war, with mysteriously well-equipped rebels; and the still-pending threat of an invasion from the north.
In the meantime, Stef and Medren are busy taking the Bardic Collegium by storm, and seven-year-old Jisa is dealing with some unruly early-awakened Gifts.
Herald-Mage Vanyel has a few problems of his own: an unresolved conflict with his aunt Savil, growing tension with his Companion, and a question that no one else even knows he needs to answer. Can Leareth be trusted?
Updates Fridays.
Series
- Part 6 of A Song for Two Voices
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Wisdom tells me I should turn away by Swimmer963
Fandoms: Valdemar Series - Mercedes Lackey
11 Oct 2019
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Summary
When, after over a decade of cautious negotiation, Leareth finally chose to reveal his full plan, Vanyel thought he would have the answers he needed to make a decision. Instead, his life is falling apart around him. Yfandes is missing, and fifteen years’ worth of secrets are about to come out in the messiest possible way.
For the rest of the Heraldic Circle, this is a revelation that will shake the foundations of everything they believe. Was Vanyel ever the person they thought? Savil isn’t sure. All she knows is that she made a promise to her nephew that she wouldn’t let him face his future alone.
Jisa doesn't know anything – just that her parents are upset, and something is terribly wrong. Fortunately, Stef is happy to take an opportunity to comfort the King's daughter, and maybe even find a scheme that will solve her problems.
Series
- Part 7 of A Song for Two Voices
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Nothing can I hold of you but thought by Swimmer963
Fandoms: Valdemar Series - Mercedes Lackey
28 Feb 2020
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Summary
After the revelations of the past winter, the Heraldic Circle is wobbling its way to a new normal. The immediate chaos may be past, but an immortal mage lurks beyond their border, and however confusing and terrifying that reality is, they need a plan. To understand Leareth’s motives, they need something more objective than words from the man’s own lips; ideally, an outside perspective on his history.
Herald-Mage Vanyel is trying to find his own way forward. With Yfandes fully on his side for the first time in years, maybe he can reason his way through to a world that makes sense again.
Meanwhile, Dara, the young soon-to-be King’s Own, Gifted with Foresight, dreams of a distant plain where, just maybe, they could find the answers they need.
Series
- Part 8 of A Song for Two Voices
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For with you I shall come home again by Swimmer963
Fandoms: Valdemar Series - Mercedes Lackey
23 Jul 2020
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Summary
Returning from a year trapped in the ruin of Urtho’s Tower, Herald-Mage Vanyel and King’s Own Dara have some of the answers they sought – secrets of Leareth’s past as Ma’ar, from an outside source. What they don’t have is a final decision, or anywhere near the resources Valdemar would need to mount a war. Vanyel’s next steps involve a number of conversations – with the King and Senior Circle, with his aunt, and of course with Leareth.
Meanwhile, Jisa is growing up fast, and Bard Stefen is on his Journeyman circuit, headed north.
Series
- Part 9 of A Song for Two Voices
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Never would I shrink from your embrace by Swimmer963
Fandoms: Valdemar Series - Mercedes Lackey
22 Jan 2021
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Summary
Valdemar prepares for a war with Leareth that they have to assume is coming, gathering allies and resources, even as Herald-Mage Vanyel still hopes he can avert the future that his Foresight dream shows, and find a way to avoid repeating Urtho's history.
Series
- Part 10 of A Song for Two Voices
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Bring the peace that suffering redeems by Swimmer963
Fandoms: Valdemar Series - Mercedes Lackey
19 Apr 2021
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Summary
Herald-Mage Vanyel has yet to make a decision on what to do about Leareth, his destined enemy and yet almost a friend, and now he - and Valdemar - are running out of time.
Series
- Part 11 of A Song for Two Voices
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Mourn for all who left me here alone by Swimmer963
Fandoms: Valdemar Series - Mercedes Lackey
25 Jan 2023
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Summary
This is the epilogue to the dramatic book 11 finale of A Song for Two Voices!
Events happened, mistakes were made, and a lot of people died. Now, it's just the cleanup that's left – and the awkward diplomatic fallout, and the even more awkward relationship conversations. And, of course, the fact that Leareth is still in Haven, and Vanyel has been through some major changes and is still figuring things out.
(There will be an undecided number of chapters but at least 7.)
Series
- Part 12 of A Song for Two Voices