A/N Hi guys & welcome to unspoken words, my first story! This is my first story so plz forgive me if it's sketchy :) Also, I had to change the characters a little so that they would actually go with the story, so yeah they're a little OCC. Oh & this has spoilers for Deltora Quest, so if u haven't read it & don't want to know anything about the series, DON'T READ THIS!

Summary: Lief & Jasmine got married at the end of Deltora Quest 3:The Sister of the South. But has anyone thought about how they came to understand their feelings for each other? This is my version of how that happened.

Disclaimer: I don't own Deltora Quest or any of it's characters. They all belong to the great Emily Rodda (I'll get them eventually...)

Enjoy!

Unspoken Words

Chapter 1: Frustration

Lief strolled down the palace hall looking for a certain black haired girl. Lief had been so busy with meetings of late. After word had gotten out of the sister of the south being destroyed, everyone had come from everywhere to confront their king with their questions, complaints & sadly, accusations. Because of this, Lief had not really been able to spend any time with Jasmine or Barda.

Jasmine had also been avoiding him whenever he could manage to find some time to be with her. This upset him more than anything. He could understand that Jasmine must be frustrated with his schedule & on top of that, he knew how she felt about the palace. He knew he had only convinced her to stay at the palace for a short amount of time & this worried him most. He knew that unless he gave her an important reason to stick around, she wouldn't be around for much longer. Most days Lief woke up with a sense of dread in him which lead him to check on Jasmine every morning for, he felt that if he didn't, she wouldn't be there at all.

Lief shook such thoughts away. Jasmine couldn't do that to him right now, not when he was finally starting to think that Jasmine held just a fraction of what he felt for her. Lief had loved Jasmine for a very long time now & he wasn't going to let her go just when she was starting to return his feelings. He uncharacteristically sighed loudly.

"Lief? What's wrong?" Lief turned around & saw to his amazement the very girl that occupied his thoughts right then.

"Ahh Jasmine there you are. I was coming to look for you." Jasmine raised an eyebrow in suspicion. "Very well then Lief, what did you want me for?"

"I would like to know why you're avoiding me Jasmine." Jasmine froze as the words left his mouth. "Lief I don't know what your talking about. Perhaps all the meetings you have been attending have disrupted your sleep more than we all thought." she jumped back as soon as she realised what words had escaped her mouth.

"What was that?" Lief was suprised. Of all things he didn't expect that to come from Jasmine. "uh, n-nothing I didn't s-say a-anything!" Lief's eyes narrowed. "Really? You didn't answer my first question though."

"I don't have to!" Lief looked at her skeptically. "But-" "NO! DON'T THINK THAT JUST BECAUSE YOUR KING NOW, THAT I HAVE TO ANSWER TO ALL YOUR QUESTIONS & WHIMS!" Jasmine turned to leave. She felt bad for yelling at Lief, but he couldn't know the truth. If he ever found out that she loved him, there was no going back. Of course he'd reject her, & then she'd have to leave & return to the Forests of Silence. Jasmine didn't want that but if she confessed, then when he rejects her, their friendship would be ruined, all because of her. No it was far better for everyone that she hold her tounge, for once. She didn't realise the hand that wrapped around her wrist to prevent her from leaving until she looked down.

"Please Jasmine" Lief was close to tears now & his voice was hoarse. "Please tell me why, I beg of you." Lief looked at her with such a heart wrenching look, that she almost confessed right there. That was, until she remembered her place. Jasmine bowed her head in shame at hurting Lief like this. "I'm sorry Lief, I'm so, so, sorry." Lief stared at her in confusion. What was she talking about? And was that tears he could see on her cheek?

"What is there to be sorry for Jasmine?" Jasmine looked up at Lief & almost gasped at the emotions she could see swimming in his eyes. Fear, worry, guilt, confusion, frustration & love. There was such love & adoration in his eyes she felt her heart skip a few beats. She looked down again. If she stared into those eyes any longer she would break, & would have no option but to confess.

Lief looked down at her but couldn't see her eyes. He put his index finger under her chin & lifted it up so he see her eyes. 'Oh those beautiful jade-green eyes' he thought to himself. 'Eyes, filled with...tears?' Jasmine was feeling so many emotions right now that her eyes were overflowing with tears. But she still refused to look him directly in the eyes. "Jasmine, look at me." At the soft command of his gentle voice, she looked up. And when she stared straight into those endless blue eyes that held such warmth & depth, she broke.

Jasmine threw her self into Lief's arms & started sobbing. All Lief could do was hold the bundle of warmth in his arms tighter & comfort her with soothing words. 'Much like Mother used to do to me' He thought. After all the tears had been let out & Jasmine had calmed down, she finally let go of her death grip on Lief & looked at him. As Lief stared straight back at her, he noticed a emotion in her eyes he had never seen before. It looked a little like how his mother used to look at his father when they embraced. "Is that love I see in her eyes?" Lief spoke his thoughts outloud.

Jasmine's eyes widened at his words. "What-what do you m-mean?" "Ahh Jasmine, you have never been easy to read, but when you open your self up like this, every emotion you feel is shown through your eyes." Jasmine quickly caught on to what he was saying. "Does that mean that you know..." She trailed off. Lief only stared at her in confusion. "Know what?" Jasmine's eyes drifted downwards. "N-nothing. I just wish I had the- oh never mind." Lief was now thoroughly confused. "Jasmine, what are you not telling me?"

Jasmine bit her lip. "It's just that, I can't believe I have the guts to slay countless monsters that people only see in their wildest nightmares, & yet here I am unable to confess the my best & dearest friend." Jasmine said this so quickly, Lief only just understood it.

Lief's heart jumped in his chest. "Confess? Confess what exactly?"

Jasmine mumbled something under her breath. "Huh? Pardon?" Jasmine took a big breath & stared Lief squarely in the eyes. "I said, I love you."

"..."

"Lief? Are you alright?"

"..."

"I see. I knew it. I knew you would reject me. That's why I never told you. I said to myself again & again: don't get caught up in the moment Jasmine. Just because he smiles at you so warmly or just because he embraces you & cares for you, don't step out of line. He would never accept someone like you who is hardly worth anything & can't even write or read properly-" Lief put his hand on her mouth. "Jasmine, do you really mean that?" She nodded her head enthusiastically.

"I, I-I love you too Jasmine. More than I can say."

"..."

"Uhh Jasmine?"

"..."

"Are you going to respond?"

Suddenly, Jasmine threw herself at Lief, crushing her lips against his in passionate kiss. Jasmine came up for air first. "I have no idea if I'm doing this right."

Lief shrugged."Do I look like I have any objections?"

"..."

"What?"

"Don't get cocky!" Jasmine & Lief embraced & kissed again, taking their time to enjoy it this time.

Then, as if by chance, simutaneously, they thought the exact same thing: the frustration that led up to this kiss, was worth more than all their unspoken words.

Yay I finally finished the chapter. I'm not exactly sure if I wanna keep this a one shot, or turn it into an actual story. For anyone that likes the latter idea better, I warn you the story wouldn't be a really long one, I tend to lose where the the story was originally gonna go ;)

Soo, what did you all think? I would really love some ideas for what happens next. So anyone who has ideas is welcome to tell me!

Since this is my first fic I won't mind flames either. I think constructive criticism is really good, I like to know where i stuffed up so that i can improve next time :)

I guess that's about it. K thx 2 anyone who takes the time to review after & i hope you all enjoyed it. Bye :)