Jasmine awoke, startled. Tears freely flowed down her face as she felt hollow and defeated, like a hand grabbing and twisting her gut. She began to sob, choking down her tears. Lief was not there. I failed to dream of him, she thought. Jasmine had drunk from the dreaming spring that fateful night after being separated from her companions. She pictured Lief, whom she held dearly, who she could not lose. Not now. But she dreamt of nothing but darkness. Nothing at all. I love him.
Her tan face grew pale and her green eyes became red and bloodshot. Jasmine's cries quietly echoed through the Toran bedchambers. She did not know Sharn had heard. In her flowing white nightgown, the Elegant queen glided hastily to the small white room that held Jasmine. On entrance, Sharn gasped and frowned, then quickly ran beside the young girl to comfort her. 'Do not weep, Jasmine,'
Jasmine's voiced cracked as she tried to speak, the tears now residing and blurring her sparkling eyes. 'I tried- I tried to dream of him-' Her fingers trembled as she held up her flask.
Sharn had never seen this stubborn, feisty girl in such a state. Not knowing what words would help, she pulled the trembling girl closer. 'Jasmine,' Sharn rested her head in the girl's wild, tangled hair, as she began to think of her son. A tear dripped from her eye and nested into jasmine's hair. Her son Lief, it seemed, was not coming back this time.
'No,' Jasmine pulled her head up and clenched her fist, a teardrop falling out of her eye as she blinked. 'I tried to dream of doom, and he lived. I feel it. I know Lief is still alive. I do not believe this lying water' She hissed as she firmly placed her flask on the white bedsheets.
'I shall not weep. Tomorrow we must search. I will bring your son back. I promise you that much'
'Jasmine,' Sharn's dark eyes blinked with sympathy, as she nodded. 'You have such faith jasmine,' her eyes began to brim with tears again. 'I fear I do not share such strength as you do.'
Sharn thought of the wild forest girl, who lived by for nearly 10 years alone in the forest until Barda and Lief happened to cross her path. How brave she must have been to have survived for this long? Sharn frowned. Why has fate brought us here, for my son to be swept away by a storm?
As if reading her mind, Jasmine spoke. 'This is not fair. We weren't supposed to be separated again.' She shook her head, stopping tears from filling her eyes once more. 'He promised-' Her voice cracked, defeated.
'He loves you, Jasmine,' Sharn clasped her delicate hands around jasmine's as she spoke. Jasmine looked down into her lap, and a small droplet of water followed.
'We will find him Sharn, no matter how long it takes. I promise.'
Sharn wished she believed her. She wished she believed her son, and the beloved palace guard she grew to love were alive, but he could not bring herself to think that.
'Thank you, Jasmine.'