Chapter 1: Six Months On
The following fanfiction is in canon with the Deltora Quest Anime series, as in Lief has blonde hair, Jasmine has a green streak through her black hair, people who should be dead in the books are not because they weren't killed off in the anime etc. The fanfiction is also set in an alternate timeline where Jasmine does not discover "Faith" and therefor does not kickstart the second quest. This is my first ever fanfiction so just keep that in mind if you choose to review. I thank you all for reading and hope you enjoy.
The sun was shining in a bright blue sky over the city of Del. Birds flew and sang beautiful tunes throughout the palace garden. All seemed to be bright and happy in the land of Deltora, all except a young girl, with piercing emerald eyes and forest green streaks through her raven coloured hair.
Jasmine was sitting in the shade of a large tree, the same tree her father and, at the time, Prince Endon used to climb. She had felt like the walls and ceiling of the palace had been closing in on her, suffocating her, so she'd fled to the garden for some fresh air and to freshen her mind.
Nobody had realised her mood had been down for the last few weeks and even with the company of the trees and animals of the garden, her mood had not improved. Kree let out a squawk and Filli nuzzled into the crook of Jasmine's neck.
"I'm fine you two. Really." She lied to them. Jasmine was quite the opposite of fine. Come the following day it would've been a whole month since she had last seen Lief.
She understood that Lief was busy. Being King wasn't easy and he'd have an endless amount of chores and jobs to do. But the fact that he couldn't make any free time to see her, hurt her in a way she'd only experienced one other time, when her parents were taken from her. Although she didn't want to admit it, not seeing Lief really hurt Jasmine in the heart.
Kree and Filli could tell what was going on with Jasmine, it was the sort of bond they had developed, being together for so many years. Kree chirped into Jasmine's ear and she sighed.
"You guys just don't understand. Lief's going to be busy for the rest of his life and if he can't see me now then…" Jasmine's voice decreased to a whisper. "Then he'll never be able to see me."
Jasmine tucked her legs up to her stomach and placed her head into her arms. She didn't want Kree or Filli to see how upset she was.
Kree however knew that Jasmine was deeply upset and chose to do something about it. Kree squawked and pecked the top of Jasmine's head until she removed it from her arms.
She looked at Kree with watery eyes and with a hint of anger. Two thin tear streaks ran down her two cheeks.
"What do you want Kree?" Jasmine asked, clearly upset but with a sharp undertone. Kree squawked loudly and franticly at Jasmine. Kree had proposed an idea that might just give her some hope. Wiping her cheeks, Jasmine got up from the tree and let out the first smile she'd had in days.
"Your right Kree. If Lief won't make time for me, I'll just have to make time for myself." She said, determined. Kree approved and flew up to Jasmine's arm. She stroked his back and thanked him for cheering her up.
With her newfound hope, Jasmine left the old tree and entered the palace, in search of King Lief.
Jasmine wandered the palace halls in search of Lief. She figured he'd either be in his chambers or in the King's study. Jasmine decided to head to the study first with a spring in her step. She could imagine her sneaking in and giving Lief a big hug from behind. The look on his face would be priceless. The thought brought an even bigger smile to her face. Unfortunately that smile was not to last.
Jinks, the old palace jester, popped out from behind a corner and scared the life out of Jasmine. Her emotions went from happy, to frightened, to blinding white anger is the space of a second.
"Jinks! What the hell did you do that for?" Jasmine demanded to know, seeing red. Jinks let out a stupid giggle.
"Well you see your majesty, I couldn't help myself. The opportunity was just too good."
Blistering anger surged through Jasmine's veins.
"I told you Jinks to never-ever-call me 'your majesty'." Jasmine hissed through clenched teeth. Jasmine had never liked Jinks. He appeared to be as much of a manipulator and thief as Neridah was.
"Well my dear, as much as I don't want to admit it, you're quite right." Jinks said. Hearing Jinks say that cooled Jasmine's temper. "Especially since King Lief's gone out looking for a wife. She'll be the one who should be called 'your majesty' from now on." Jinks added. Jasmine's world came crashing down.
"Lief's looking for a wife...?" She asked quietly. Jinks smirked at Jasmine's face. He knew how she felt about Lief, almost everyone did except for Lief ironically.
"Yes he left this morning with Barda and your father also." Jinks told Jasmine, enjoying the emotional pain he was causing her.
Barda and Doom are with him... why wasn't I told about this... has Lief really forgotten about me?
"Where did they go looking?" Jasmine asked, her voice and confidence shrinking by the second.
"Tora I believe." Jinks replied. "But if you don't mind me, my dear, I'll have to be going now."
Jasmine nodded and Jinks walked on past her, smiling cruelly. Jasmine remained still. Kree and Filli tried to comfort her but she didn't take any of it in.
A woman from Toran decent... of course she'd be from Toran decent, they always are... she's probably a well educated and well mannered nobel.
Finally Jasmine started to walk, although she didn't exactly know where, she just walked. Could he really be looking for a wife? I guess the timing is right... Lief started the quest on his sixteenth birthday and it took us almost a whole year... it's been six months since and in another six he'll be eighteen, the right age to marry... he must be getting prepared early.
Tears once again began to form in Jasmine's eyes. She didn't want anyone to see her crying so she decided to find a secluded spot from the world. She thought about her room in the palace, but she realised she couldn't stand being in or anywhere near the palace at that moment and motioned for the palace exits.
Why are you crying silly girl? Did you really fool yourself into thinking that Lief felt something for you? You're just a wild girl from the forest remember... Lief has already forgotten all about you.
By the time Jasmine had exited the palace walls she had tears upon tears rolling down her face, but she knew where she wanted to go. A place where she knew that Lief could comfort her, even when he wasn't around. With that knowledge, Jasmine began to walk towards that place, feeling like her whole world had fallen on top of her shoulders.
Lief hadn't lived in his fathers forge for quite sometime. A few weeks after being crowned King, he and his mother Sharn had moved into the palace, where he'd been living ever since. The forge had remained empty and unused, the perfect place for Jasmine to both hide and cry out her emotions.
Once entering inside, Jasmine found herself, almost uncontrollably, being attracted to Lief's old room. It was a peaceful room. It had Lief's bed, a desk and a shelf with a number of books, most prominently The Belt of Deltora, and Lief's toy Kin, Monty.
Jasmine entered the room and collapsed into Lief's bed. She wrapped herself in Lief's bed covers and just laid there. The bed was so soft, although since Jasmine had never slept in a bed for the first sixteen years of her life, she was finding any sort of cushioning soft. The covers also smelt of Lief's scent. The scent brought back memories of their quest, back when on some nights she was forced to sleep by him in case of a surprise attack or for warmth.
Back when Lief actually cared about me. The memories triggered a new flow of tears and Jasmine gave into them, weeping into Lief's soft bed.
Jasmine wasn't sure how much time had passed. She wasn't sure if she had fallen asleep or had just cried and cried until she couldn't anymore. However much time had passed, she knew it was time she got back to the palace. Kree and Filli had been smart enough to know to leave Jasmine alone during her emotional outburst and had instead fallen asleep on Lief's desk. Jasmine woke both of them up before leaving Leif's room. Outside the sun was a deep orange and was starting to set, Jasmine assumed she must've fallen asleep.
As Jasmine walked by the forge she noticed something shining. Deciding to investigate she walked into the forge to check it out. She immediately regretted her decision.
The object that shined in the dying light was one of many objects. Gems. Lief must've been here making jewellery for his proposal to one of the Toran women... the same way he made my necklace for me. Jasmine looked down at the necklace Lief had made her the day he was crowned King. She'd never taken it off, except for when she bathed.
Jasmine felt a new wave of tears coming, but not wanting to be at the forge or the palace she had no idea where to go.
Jasmine began to walk away from the forge when she saw something that stopped her in her tracks. Gone was the feeling to cry. It had been replaced by the feeling of needing to be aware. Her senses pricked up as she looked at the person who was walking by on the road.
It was someone Jasmine had not seen in a very long time. Someone who she had once thought cared for her but really this person had manipulated her to gain her trust. Someone who had betrayed her, Lief and the rest of her friends. Someone who was supposed to be dead.
That can't be him... Lief said he had killed him. The man had stopped walking to look at Jasmine, who was staring back at him. Jasmine unsheathed her dagger and held it out to the man.
"How the hell are you alive?" She shouted out to the man. "How the hell are you alive Dain?"
So that is the end of my first chapter, of my first ever fanfiction. I realise some things don't add up, such as the appearance of Dain and Jasmine's over emotional personality. However like I said at the beginning, this is an alternate timeline and some things will be different but I'll explain those differences and other bits of information in these short author's notes. For this one I'd just like to thank you for reading my chapter and to let you know that there is no set schedule for when I upload chapters, it'll just be when they happen as they happen. However I promise they'll be of the best quality I can produce. Review the chapter if you wish, I'm not fussy if you do or don't and once again thank you so much for reading. I'll see you all for Chapter 2!