I do not own Deltora Quest. All rights belong to the owner and writer Emily Rodda.

Love from Afar

Jasmine sat, perched on a tall branch on a lush, friendly tree in the middle of the palace garden as she stared down at the sparkling blue necklace in her hand, admiring the great detail and intricacy. Lief had made it for her at the day of the ceremony. Jasmine could only imagine the care and thought that was put into the necklace. Even Gollock, the aggressive Jalis brute who cared little for delicacy and is a total fighting adept, was impressed by the fine blacksmithing. Jasmine sighed at the beauty of the necklace and tucked it under her tunic.

It has been some time now, Jasmine had discovered something that she has been desperately trying to hide; she was in love with Lief. I wonder where Lief is right now. Thought Jasmine. Jasmine sighed again, though this time, not in the awe of beauty, but in despair. She knew exactly where Lief was. He was in his study room, reading the letters of the nobles, with most of the letters including content saying things like

Dear King of Deltora,

… and my daughter is also kind and talented a side from her beauty. She has been proposed to countless times, but she turned down everyone, in hope that…

or…

Dear King of Deltora,

… not only that, but I also admire your bravery and wisdom. I have not given any men a second though when they ask for my hand, but, you are not any men.

and sometimes, even things as mad as…

Dear King of Deltora,

… and so, we have decided that there is only one man good enough for our precious daughters. The King of Deltora. If you do not feel that our daughters are too young for marriage, please consider all seven of them and…

These letters of proposal has been coming in for nearly a month now, since Lief's eighteenth birthday was nearing. And whenever Jasmine silently walked up behind Lief in his studies unnoticed, it broke her heart to see Lief reading the letters of proposal with undying attention. Jasmine felt a hard lump in the back of her throat, and she quickly took a deep breath to fight back the tears. It's no use being sad Jasmine. She thought to herself bitterly. You love him, but the truth cannot be helped. Lief is meeting more and more fine and young girls that come from nobilities, and soon, he will marry one of them. You are but a wild girl. It's hopeless.

Lief's heart pounded with happiness and excitement as he stood in the middle of the palace garden. He looked at Jasmine, who was walking over to him, with a beautiful smile on her face, and her emerald eyes twinkling.

"Lief," said Jasmine softly. Lief didn't reply. He just stood there, mesmerized by her beauty as a smile curved on his lips.

"Lief," said Jasmine again. "I love you…" Lief couldn't believe his ears! He had wanted to hear those words from Jasmine for so long! His eyes widened as Jasmine stopped in front of him. She leaned in close, and her lips were getting closer and closer to Lief's. He closed his eyes, and leaned in himself, eager for the warmth of her lips.

"Lief!" Lief's eyes snapped open, and he quickly sat up, looking around for the source of the voice. He turned to see Barda, standing next to him with a grin on his bearded face.

"Wha...?" said mumbled Lief as he stared at Barda. He looked around again, looking for Jasmine, but she was nowhere to be found. "Where's Ja-" Lief stopped, and realized that he was dreaming. He wasn't standing in the palace garden, and he wasn't with Jasmine. He was in his study room, sitting at his desk, with countless crumpled and un-crumpled letters around him.

"Barda, what are you-" Lief began as he suddenly stopped. His confusion and curiosity suddenly turned into rage and disappointment. "WHY DID YOU WAKE ME?" shouted Lief as he jumped out of his desk in fury. Barda seemed quite surprised by Lief's sudden explosion, but his grin did not falter.

"Having a good dream?" said Barda slyly.

"Yes!" exploded Lief. "And YOU ruined it!" Lief huffed and slumped down into his desk. He had never been so angry with Barda in his life!

"I figured," said Barda. "You had a big silly grin on your face, and then, your lips puckered."

"Y- you saw the whole thing?" asked Lief in disbelief. Barda burst out laughing, his deep voice echoing down the halls. When he finally stopped, he wiped the tears from his eyes and looked at Lief.

"So tell me, Lief. Who's the lucky girl?"

"What? Nobody! That's not even what I was dreaming about!" Lief cheeks turned red, and he knew that it was a bad lie.

"C'mon, you're not fooling anybody! Just tell me who she is!"

"I said that it was nobody, okay? I still have a lot of letter and papers I have to read and sign, so please go." Barda smirked and bowed low.

"As you wish, my king." said Barda teasingly. When Barda was well away from the study room, Lief leaned back in his chair and let out a deep breath.

"Jasmine…" whispered Lief. If only she knew how he felt. He wanted to tell Jasmine that from the moment he met her in the forests of silence, he fell in love with her. After everything they went through on the quest to retrieve the seven gems of the Belt of Deltora, his affections for Jasmine only grew. All this time, nobles from all over the country sent him letters, either recommending themselves if they were young ladies, or recommending their daughters if they were parents. Each day, after going through what seemed like millions of scrolls and letters, he burnt all the letters of proposal in the forge back his old home. He feared that if Jasmine saw them, it would seriously jeopardize his chances with her. But like Jasmine would care if there were hundreds of nobles out there, trying to win Lief's affections. She was a forest girl that enjoyed the outdoors and freedom. Being with Lief would only bring her the burdens of imprisonment. Jasmine has said it herself that she can't stand living in the palace. Lief let out a depressing sigh, and carried on his kingly duties of paperwork. That night, Lief lied in his bed, unable to sleep. He had Jasmine's face floating in front of him, and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't get Jasmine out of his mind.

That's it. I can't take this anymore. I have to go tell Jasmine. Whether she rejects me or accepts me, I have to let her know. He jumped out of his bed and slipped on a pair of pants and a silk tunic, and headed out of his room. He knew that it was late, but the tension was murdering him. He silently and quickly made his way through the large hallways and rooms of the palace, trying not to get lost. He has been living in the Palace of Del for almost three months, but the massive palace was still a challenge for him to find its ins and outs. When he finally reached Jasmine's room, he took the deepest breath he had ever taken in his life, and slowly pushed open the door. The intricate architect of the large door was so advanced that it opened without a single creak of cringe. When the door was fully opened, Lief, ever so silently and carefully, made his way to Jasmine's bed. And there she was, under her covers, sleeping peacefully.

As the pale light of the full moon crept into the room, it lit up Jasmine's entire bed, showing Kree and Fili snuggled together next to her. He stared at Jasmine, and smiled as he saw her beautiful face, lighted up by the luminance of the moonlight. Lief was taking in every detail of his beloved Jasmine, watching her chest gently rise and fall, her eyes occasionally twitching lightly, her dark hair spread out on the pillow, and her smooth, creamy skin glowing with the moonlight. So beautiful, so enchanting. Lief lost himself in the beauty of Jasmine, as her reached down a hand as he lightly stroked her hair and face, feeling the smoothness of both. He then, almost without his consent, leaned down, and lay his lips down on Jasmine's cheek, kissing it softly. Lief closed his eyes, and at that moment, he felt like he could happily stay in that position for the next millennium.

Suddenly, Jasmine's eyelids began to flutter, as they slowly opened, and she sleepily turned her eyes to Lief, to see him kissing her face tenderly, his eyes closed, like a baby. If someone kissed Jasmine on the face in her sleep, her normal reaction would be to bolt up and punch whoever it is in the eye. But Lief's expression was so pure and so cute, she just smiled and enjoyed the feeling of Lief's lips on her cheek. Before Lief's kiss, Jasmine always thought that Lief wouldn't like her, and that friends are as far as they'll ever get. With all the fine and pretty girls out there that Lief could have, why in the world would he choose her? But once Jasmine opened her eyes, she knew that Lief, her Lief, had loved her all along.