Forever and Always Chapter 1, a clare b. dunkle fanfic

*Disclaimer* So I don't own any of Madam Dunkle's books... and I certainly don't own her characters... and heaven knows I'm not making any money... Is that sufficient disclamation?

A/N - Please pick this junk apart and let me know what I need to modify. If you hate it all that's fine too... just don't tell me? Anyway. Definitely let me know about grammatical and spelling errors, I've combed through it but a fresh pair of eyes would most certainly help. Thanks bunches!
~Spoo'

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Prologue

Jadyn Summer's husband lay in a rapidly spreading pool of his own blood. His life draining from wounds that she lacked the power, and he the strength, to heal; wounds that would surely be fatal if help did not arrive, quickly. So she sat holding the head of her now unconscious husband, and Jadyn cried, and she waited, and Jadyn remembered.

Chapter 1

Marak Bearfoot was every inch a Goblin King; and like every other Goblin King before him, Marak soon found himself in search of a bride.

"It's unfortunate the 'rustic resort lodge' didn't catch on. It was one of your father's pet projects." Faran mused.

"Yes well, I suppose we have those pesky goblin rumors to thank for that," Marak remarked dryly. "Still, it

was nice while it lasted, no shortage of human women..." The king winked at his advisor.

"There is always an Elven bride to consider." Faran suggested mildly, more to provoke debate than out of any real support for the thought.

"Have you not heard a word I've spoken these last few months? We need an infusion of strong blood. Elves are beautiful, to be sure, but they have always lacked the physical and emotional strength so valued in our society. All this pretty elf blood is contributing to the emotional instability of our people, especially among the females. We need-"

"I know very well what you believe we need Marak, there is no need to lecture me further. I know your arguments as well as you do, and I believe them no more than you do. It is quite obvious that you personally, are attracted to strength. While there is nothing wrong with this, we must call it what it is; a preference, not a necessity and while it might be quite permissible under other circumstances for you to wait and seek out your strong woman, you are the king. Time is running out, your people expect you to marry and produce an heir – do not give me that look sire. Aganir Aeron, because of his respect and I dare add, friendship for you and his desire to maintain peace between the kingdoms, has offered an elf bride. Now is the time to grow up my friend and do what is best for your people."

Marak quirked an eyebrow. "Finished?" Faran nodded somewhat sheepishly. "Good. Now if you do not mind, I would like to call Sage and Rivent in to hear what they have to report on Hallow Hill's newest unmarried female tenant. He snapped his fingers and the large bronze doors on the south end of the room swung open to reveal two birdlike goblins.

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"Hey Matt, could you get on the other end of this?" Jadyn yelled from behind the refrigerator box.

"I told you not to use those boxes, Jada. The banana boxes I got for you would have been much easier to handle." Matt complained.

"These are more efficient, less trips."

"Your 'efficiency' is going to give me a hernia." Matt staggered, for effect.

"Knock it off Matt! You two are driving me crazy." Kira said smiling as she held the front door open. "Is that the last one? I'm starving."

"You're always starving, honey." Matt winked at Jadyn.

"We have a couple more, but go ahead and get the pizzas in the oven. My pizza stones are hopefully in the box we stuck in the kitchen and the grocery sacks should be on the counter next to the coffee maker. Actually, why don't you go ahead and plug that in. I could use some caffeine." Jadyn suggested as they set the box down.

"Java Java Java!" Matt exclaimed, grabbing his wife and swinging her around the kitchen. Kira laughed hysterically at her husband's antics.

"On second thought, make that decaf... I don't think 'Java boy' needs anymore caffeine." Jadyn said rolling her eyes.

"You're no fun. What's the point of coffee if it doesn't have any caffeine?"

"I'm hoping the taste tricks my brain into thinking its getting caffeine." Jadyn answered heading back outside. "Do you think we can get the roof tear off done tomorrow?"

"We can try. I think it'll go pretty fast, especially with Kira cleaning up as we go." Matt hefted another box and glanced at the woods and lake. "This is an amazing area, I wish we could stay."

"And give up the city and that gorgeous flat of yours? I doubt it."

"I said I wish we could stay... just not indefinitely." He grinned. "You're probably right, come Monday morning we'll be ready to leave."

"Especially after all the work I have planned for this weekend..."

"Slave driver." Matt tripped on a red-gold mass of fur and nearly kissed the pavement. "Bailey! Could you please not plop down in front of me? I'm trying to walk here!" Matt scolded Jadyn's Golden Retriever. Bailey wagged her tail looking not the least bit repentant.

"Sorry?" Jadyn stifled a giggle.

"You are not. Get inside and make sure Kira isn't burning those pizzas. I love that woman, but she cannot cook. I'll grab this last box and lock up the van."

Smoke alarms went off as if to punctuate Matt's statement. Jadyn groaned and headed toward the house, tripping over Bailey as she ran up with steps

If Jadyn and her moving companions had been birdwatchers, they might have noticed the two unusually large birds in the Ash tree adjacent to the house. Had someone seen this pair they would doubtlessly have expressed astonishment, as one of the two was a Tawny owl; for as most know -birdwatchers and otherwise- owls are not a common sight in the daytime, and certainly not in the company of an Osprey. Fortunately, for the two people-watching birds, Jadyn was blissfully unaware of their appraisal.

The old hands deftly worked the weaving spell as the elf finished up her granddaughter's new threadbare gown. "Not that she'll have cause to wear it." Mara thought bitterly. "Poor child, her marriage moon should be a cause for celebration, not mourning. Mistyn and Roe would have been happy together, now she'd be better off dead than underground married to that beast."

She reached over to stroke Mistyn's hair; the young girl stirred uneasily in her sleep and rolled over revealing her tear stained yet lovely face. The elderly elf gently covered her granddaughter, then turned back to her work, anguish etched in her face. "I raised that girl to hate goblins not marry them! They may not approve of my methods, but I do not see any of those condemnatory elves lining up to offer their daughters to that goblin lover so that he can then turn around and hand them over to our enemies!

"We are nothing more than pawns, really, tools for negotiations and treaties. Traded, sold, and auctioned off like animals." Mara sighed resignedly, draped the finished gown over the stool, and lay back stiffly on her mat. She drifted off into a sleep plagued with heartache and bitterness.

The elven king paced uneasily about the room, his eyes flashing with annoyance. "You are certain it was Sage and Rivent at the lodge?" Aganir Aeron addressed the black haired elf.

"An owl and an osprey?" Ebon raised a dark eyebrow. "There is no doubt m'lord."

Aeron sighed, his black gaze telegraphing his consternation to the ceiling. "Marak, what are you thinking?" He dropped his head to his hands and mumbled, "Keep an eye on them, if they do anything overt, tell me immediately." He raised his eyes to his friend. "Thank you, Ebon.

The tall spy bowed his head and left the King alone with his troubled thoughts.

"You want a goat? Why?!" Matt exclaimed, choking on his blackened crust.

"Milk, of course." Jadyn stopped just short of saying 'duh'.

"That is what stores are for, honey." Kira teased.

Jadyn shot her sister a poisonous look. "I have room and time and you know I've wanted to do this farm thing since we left Grandpa's farm for Chicago. It's too early to plant my garden, but at least I can have fresh milk, and eggs."

"Goats make eggs too?" Matt asked not so innocently.

"Chickens, Matt, chickens make eggs." Jadyn wrinkled her nose at him. "Stop teasing, I'm serious guys.

"Okay, Jada, whatever toots your horn."

"Hon, I think it's whatever floats your boat..." Matt corrected.

"Whatever." Kira pouted.

"Thank you!" Jadyn collected the plates and headed for the kitchen. She scraped the charred remains of dinner into the compost bucket and placed the plates in the sink. "Kira, could you grab the tea bags? I'm going to make more tea." Jadyn put a pan of water on the stove to boil.

"Hey guys?" Matt joined them in the kitchen. "Can we play Scrabble?" He held the box like a prize.

"Sure," Jadyn grinned, "as long as Kira doesn't cheat."

"Using the dictionary is not cheating!"

Jadyn lay awake in bed, exhausted but unable to fall asleep. Groaning she rolled out of bed and pulling on her robe, she padded downstairs for a cup of chamomile tea. Five minutes later, she headed into the den with a steaming cup of tea.

The bookshelves were empty save a small section of dusty leather-bound tomes. Jadyn forgot about unpacking as she browsed through the titles. " A History of Hallow Hill", "Goblins, Faeries, and other Mythical Creatures", "A Guide to London's Finest". A small, untitled book caught her eye and she pulled it out. Meticulously bound with a beautiful display of scrollwork on the cover, it appeared older than the rest of the books on the shelf. She gently opened the book and scanned it's contents. The handwriting reminding her of her great-grandmother's, elegantly old fashioned.

Jadyn carried the book back to the kitchen and sat at the table to read, the teapot keeping her company. The entries were mundane, ordinary ramblings of a young woman. Jadyn was about to close the book and return to bed when one entry caught her eye.

May Sixteenth, 1753

The nightmares persist and grow worse each evening. I am becoming more and more terrified of leaving the safety of the lodge, at night in particular. I wish we had never come here to Hallow Hill. I know it is not safe for me here. Mum and Father refuse to listen to my pleas. Perhaps they are right; perhaps I am mad. I just know that if I venture into those woods again, I will never return. The people in the village speak of the Goblins that live under the lake. They say it is a myth, a story told to frighten young girls; I am not so sure it is just a myth, I am not so sure it is not a story I am living.

The entries continued a couple days, the woman's anxieties increasing, then abruptly ended. The handwriting on the next few were different, still feminine, but with less precision.

I found this lovely old book under my bed, I wonder how long it has been here?! It's terribly romantic to be writing in a forgotten book, don't you think? And Goblins! To think she was chased by Goblins! How exciting!

It was suffocating today so Kate and I went out to the ridge. We got lost in the woods on the way back, but found these wonderful gypsies and they brought us home on their horses. Well, they brought me home on a horse; Kate was terribly rude and refused a ride. She got a look at one of the gypsies as he left and she was convinced he was not human. Aunt Celia says he is just an odd old man, but I hope he's a ghost! I don't think I should show Kate this book, it will just scare her. Well, I am tired, so goodnight old book!

~Em

"Em's" entries continued the goblin theme until hers too ended abruptly. Jadyn closed the book, and shivered, the fine hairs on her arms and the back of her neck rising in trepidation. Her hands went cold, and she wrapped them around her mug to warm them, scanning the room her gaze fell on the window behind her, she could have sworn she saw movement. She stood and crossed the three steps to the window and looked out, searching the darkness for the presence she felt was there.

"Must have been the trees rustling... There's no wind, Jada. Or an animal... or Goblins..." She shook her head to clear the childish thoughts and her gaze fell on the book lying on the table. She smiled ruefully and feeling suddenly overwhelmingly tired she laid her mug down in the sink and stumbled back to bed. She slipped too quickly into dreams filled with unknown presences and the sense of being hunted.

Kira and Matt were awakened all too early Saturday morning by the aroma of coffee... or maybe it was the insistent pounding on their bedroom door.

"Jada," Kira mumbled, "Go back to bed."

"Can't, I'm already up. Besides, I made breakfast. C'mon Matt, you know you're going to want to eat before you get on that roof. I want to get a good start on it before it gets too hot!" Jadyn resumed her pounding until Matt groggily opened the door.

"I hate you." He glared at her, bleary eyed.

"Sorry?" Jada grinned.

"No you're not." Matt sighed resignedly. "What's for breakfast?"

"My special eggs."

"No! Please no! Last time I ate your 'special eggs', my 'bm's' were fire for a week." Matt looked horrified.

Jada smirked. "I also made bland eggs and sausage and hash browns."

"We'll be down in five minutes." Kira called from underneath the covers.

Eight minutes later, they gathered in the kitchen, Matt hovering over the coffee pot.

"What's this?" Kiralyn asked, indicating the diary on the table.

"It's a diary. At least I think it's a diary. I found it in the den last night, I couldn't sleep." Jadyn explained. "Pretty weird stuff. It seems to have been written by various women that have lived here throughout the years but they don't write in it long, a few entries at most, then they suddenly stop."

"Freaky." Matt spoke around a mouthful of potatoes.

"You haven't seen freaky until you've read some of them. They were all scared of something, most of them afraid of the dark and going into the woods. Quite a few mentioned goblins. There was this one girl though, Em, she wasn't freaked out; but her sister, Kate, was and it seems they both ended up disappearing shortly after she started writing. I don't know. It's all confusing. I got the impression Em was pretty young or maybe just immature."

"Maybe that's it," Kira offered, "they were all just young girls with overactive imaginations. The first one made up a story and wrote it in that book, and when the others read it, it sparked their fancies. Or maybe they were really afraid. Most kids are scared of the dark, right? And we know there are lots of goblin stories surrounding this place, that's one of the reasons we loved it when we were little. It's probably just a combination of inherent fears, overactive imaginations, and the myths they were told." Kira nodded, pleased with her explanation.

"Maybe." Jadyn said doubtfully, thinking of those strong feelings last night. Today, however, sitting in that same kitchen with the cheery sunshine streaming over her, those dark feelings last night seemed silly and definitely not the kind of thoughts a sensible 25-year-old woman would indulge in. "You're probably right, Kira, it's just a funny collection of stories written by a few silly teenagers." Jadyn forcibly pushed all those thoughts from her mind as she finished her breakfast and started clearing the table.

"Jada, I'll clean up, you two get started on that roof." Kira shooed her husband and sister out of the kitchen

Marak's spies finished their lengthy report. He glanced over at Faran, whose knitted brow betrayed his thoughts. "Your thoughts, Faran?"

Faran addressed the younger, taller Rivent. "You said she was interested in acquiring a goat?"

Rivent's eyes reflected confusion, but Sage's large round owl-eyes lit in understanding.

"Yes sir." It was Sage who responded first.
Marak nodded his approval. "Yes, that's how I want to do it. Rein has a stand in the market; she can add livestock to her wares..."

Rivent's eyes finally dawned their understanding. "You intend to approach her, then?" Marak grinned and nodded. "What about Aganir Aeron? We spotted Ebon at the lodge; I would know that black rabbit anywhere. He is certain to want the lady for himself."

"We will just have to be sure of getting her first. Keep me apprised of Ebon's movements, Rivent, thank you." Rivent bowed and vacated the room. "Sage, I'd like you to keep a close watch on Miss Summer, it seems Rivent spooked her the other night and though she doesn't seem to be easily run off, I do not want to take any chances."

"If that is all m'lord?" Sage stood and strode for the door at Marak's nod.

Marak leaned back in his chair and pondered the situation. "We really should pay her a visit; being such close neighbors and all, perhaps take her a casserole?" Faran quirked an eyebrow at this, causing Marak to laugh delightedly.

"Aye, my King, and an imminent visit it should be. I agree with Rivent, Aeron is bound to be quite taken with this little human."

"We'll go Monday evening; I have more urgent matters to attend to tonight."

"More urgent matters? I swear, my lord, you delight in graying my head." Faran shook his head ruefully.

"You have hit the nail on the nose, my friend." Marak laughed.

"Head, Sire, the expression..." Faran trailed off spying Marak's amused grin and threw his hands in the air, exclaiming, "I give up! Your majesty may jest about this but I still contend that this is a most serious matter, one that needs your immediate attention."

"Faran, you nag, I'll see to it tomorrow. Now if you will excuse me, I must be going.

With that he was gone leaving his advisor and closest friend exasperated. An emotion Faran was experiencing with alarming frequency.

Monday morning dawned clear, sunny, and all too soon for Jada and Kira.

"Leave a message on my voicemail when you arrive back in the states. I check it when I go into town." Jada instructed, walking them to the van.

Okay, but I want you to get a landline set up by the end of the week. It's dangerous out here with no cell phone reception; you have no way to get help if you're injured."

"Stop nagging, I'll be fine. Besides, I'm enjoying this break from technology, it's refreshing, and you should try it sometime." Jadyn hugged her worried little sister. "You guys have a safe trip. Thanks again, Matt, for helping me with the tear off, I would have had a hard time of it by myself."

"You owe me." He replied hugging her.

"I'm sorry?" Jadyn grinned.

"No you're not." Matt teased, punching her shoulder playfully. "Seriously, though, I wish we could stay and help you finish."

"No, you guys have been awesome, but this is my project." She took a deep breath, releasing the unexpected emotion. "I needed this." Jadyn noticed Kira's tears "Hey, It's not like I won't visit you. I'm definitely going to be there in a couple months or so..." She smiled pointedly at her sister's obviously protruding tummy. "Love you."

They embraced a final time and Kira slipped into the passenger seat. As Matt backed down the drive to the turn around he stuck his head out the window and shouted, "Don't fall off the ladder, Grace!"

Jada laughed. "Love you too, Matt, bye!" She stood in the driveway waving until their taillights could no longer be seen. "Looks like it's just you and me now, Bailey."

No statement could have been further from the truth.