Hand of Destiny
Prologue
Fandom: Black Jewels Trilogy Genre: Action/Adventure, Romance, Angst, Fantasy Pairing(s): DxS, NJ Rating: R
Author: Lily Archive: -anrui-
So here begins my next adventure into my more-than-slightly modified version of the Black Jewels' Realms. Jade is off on her own to pursue what she has deemed her own destiny: whether it is merely atonement or pride is yet to be seen. Meanwhile, Silvara still struggles to mend the rifts she has formed between her family and friends. Will either of them succeed?
Early morning found the Hall slumbering peacefully, with the exception of a few souls. It was merely a week or so after Jade had announced she intended to find and restore the Mutare isle. Silvara was pacing back and forth in her rooms, pale her whipping about behind her, trailing like jagged lightning across the dark sky as she violently turned.
"I can't believe she's insistent on doing this...this fool's errand!" she cried. A figure on the bed shifted idly until Damien was supporting himself on his elbows. He raised one finely shaped eyebrow in question, his honey- glazed eyes containing a spark of amusement within their depths despite the seriousness of the situation. "Silvara, you told me once that Jade was stubborn and would do as she pleased even if you tied her down and sat on her. So why are you so upset?"
With a curt wave of her hand, Silvara replied immediately, "She's not been at her best these days. Oh, she hides it well, but I can tell. Though I can't quite say what the matter is. Her genetics must be different from normal Blood. After all, she is, first and foremost, Mutare. As Jade has made abundantly clear." The witch let out a rude snort of air from her nose.
"Have you tried speaking to Nathaniel?" Damien asked mildly. He turned on his side, supporting himself with one arm while the other idly traced patterns on the coverlet. The move displayed a wealth of golden skin and trim muscle, and Silvara could not help but let her eyes linger, reminded with a faint blush on her cheeks of their earlier playing. Damien noticed, as he always did, and a satisfactory smile curved his lips.
Shaking her head to dispel the intimate, though not displeasing, thoughts, Silvara responded, "And what, pray tell, would Nathaniel do?" Damien merely shrugged. "He is a Warlord Prince in addition to being Mutare. He has chosen whom he will serve." A thoughtful frown crossed Silvara's countenance as she thought on that. "No, he would have already tried it, no doubt. You are right. Once Jade has chosen her course she will not be dissuaded. To allow herself would be construed as a weakness in her eyes."
Shaking his head, Damien rolled so that he was on his back once more. "Then it is hopeless, and you must stop worrying. Jade is an adult woman. She makes her own choices."
"Jade has always made her own choices," Silvara replied in a quiet voice.
"The sun hasn't even rose yet," Nathaniel observed as he peered out of the balcony doors. Behind him, Jade made a noncommittal noise and finished tying her boots. Tapping her heel briefly on the floor to make sure they fit properly, Jade rose from the bed and crossed to Nathaniel, resting a hand on his shoulder and squeezing briefly. She withdrew a moment later, saying in a voice that almost sounded apologetic—but it couldn't be, for Nathaniel had never heard Jade sound apologetic—"I know you disagree with this. I offer you the chance to stay behind, Nathaniel. No one will think ill of you."
"Except for me," the redhead responded, his voice terse. Jade just sighed, seeing that for Nathaniel it was a matter of pride. Or at least pride entered into the equation. "Fine. Just remember, you chose your own path, Nathaniel." There was the sound of footsteps, and then a pause. "I'm going downstairs to get some breakfast. I would suggest you do the same." Then a quiet click as Jade left the room.
Nathaniel sighed, leaning his forehead against the glass of the doors. "I do choose my own path, Jade, but I choose it because I can do no other." The room was empty though, and there was no one to hear his confession—not that Jade would have anyway.
It was not so long later that Silvara, Damien, Sarai, Jade, and Nathaniel were assembled outside of the Hall. It was still barely light out, merely a sliver making it's way over the horizon's edge. Jade and Nathaniel stood next to two saddled Kindred horses, both borrowed from the Hall. Neither was laden with saddlebags of any kind as both Mutare had vanished the goods they needed to travel with—including clothes, emergency supplies, maps, and provisions.
Looking pale and nervous in the dawning light, Sarai stepped forward first. "Alex is going to kill me. You know that, right?" she said with a vague laugh, referring to Jade's 'brother'. The dark haired Black Widow Queen merely nodded. "I know, but you will all survive. I am not much use in this place of comfort and luxury." Nathaniel just stood silent and somber—unusual for him.
Abruptly, Sarai flung herself at Jade. The latter caught her in her arms, pulling her into a quick, fierce hug, and gently stepping away, holding Sarai back by her shoulders. "Goodbye, Sarai. Take care of my brother and my niece whilst I'm gone."
"Always," the Circuit leader replied, giving a small salute and stepping away. Next was Silvara who tenderly embraced Jade, whom she'd come to think of as one of her Sisters, in addition to Sarai. "Be safe, Jady. Use your head, not just your instinct." With that she stepped away, and went to hug Nathaniel goodbye, who was already receiving enthusiastic farewells from Sarai, whom he'd made promise to take care of his Circuit.
"Well, Damien," Jade began, "I have not known you for very long, so I will leave you with these parting words: take care of Silvara, and tell your parents I thank them for their hospitality. It was a pleasure meeting you." She gave a polite cursory bow, and Damien smiled at her. "Alright. Thank you for the parting words. It was nice meeting you as well, Jade." He tossed his hair foppishly and grinned, and Silvara just shook her head, looking at him. Jade repeated the motion, and led her horse away with Nathaniel following.
Going to the Altar, Sarai opened the Gate and let Nathaniel and Jade through. They were gone in the blink of an eye. There was no time for long goodbyes and heartbreaking tears. Merely a void where there once wasn't. In the end, Sarai and Silvara met gazes and merely shrugged. Both were skeptical on Jade's chosen mission, but neither had any doubts about the unmovable spirit of Jade's will.
TBC
Fandom: Black Jewels Trilogy Genre: Action/Adventure, Romance, Angst, Fantasy Pairing(s): DxS, NJ Rating: R
Author: Lily Archive: -anrui-
So here begins my next adventure into my more-than-slightly modified version of the Black Jewels' Realms. Jade is off on her own to pursue what she has deemed her own destiny: whether it is merely atonement or pride is yet to be seen. Meanwhile, Silvara still struggles to mend the rifts she has formed between her family and friends. Will either of them succeed?
Early morning found the Hall slumbering peacefully, with the exception of a few souls. It was merely a week or so after Jade had announced she intended to find and restore the Mutare isle. Silvara was pacing back and forth in her rooms, pale her whipping about behind her, trailing like jagged lightning across the dark sky as she violently turned.
"I can't believe she's insistent on doing this...this fool's errand!" she cried. A figure on the bed shifted idly until Damien was supporting himself on his elbows. He raised one finely shaped eyebrow in question, his honey- glazed eyes containing a spark of amusement within their depths despite the seriousness of the situation. "Silvara, you told me once that Jade was stubborn and would do as she pleased even if you tied her down and sat on her. So why are you so upset?"
With a curt wave of her hand, Silvara replied immediately, "She's not been at her best these days. Oh, she hides it well, but I can tell. Though I can't quite say what the matter is. Her genetics must be different from normal Blood. After all, she is, first and foremost, Mutare. As Jade has made abundantly clear." The witch let out a rude snort of air from her nose.
"Have you tried speaking to Nathaniel?" Damien asked mildly. He turned on his side, supporting himself with one arm while the other idly traced patterns on the coverlet. The move displayed a wealth of golden skin and trim muscle, and Silvara could not help but let her eyes linger, reminded with a faint blush on her cheeks of their earlier playing. Damien noticed, as he always did, and a satisfactory smile curved his lips.
Shaking her head to dispel the intimate, though not displeasing, thoughts, Silvara responded, "And what, pray tell, would Nathaniel do?" Damien merely shrugged. "He is a Warlord Prince in addition to being Mutare. He has chosen whom he will serve." A thoughtful frown crossed Silvara's countenance as she thought on that. "No, he would have already tried it, no doubt. You are right. Once Jade has chosen her course she will not be dissuaded. To allow herself would be construed as a weakness in her eyes."
Shaking his head, Damien rolled so that he was on his back once more. "Then it is hopeless, and you must stop worrying. Jade is an adult woman. She makes her own choices."
"Jade has always made her own choices," Silvara replied in a quiet voice.
"The sun hasn't even rose yet," Nathaniel observed as he peered out of the balcony doors. Behind him, Jade made a noncommittal noise and finished tying her boots. Tapping her heel briefly on the floor to make sure they fit properly, Jade rose from the bed and crossed to Nathaniel, resting a hand on his shoulder and squeezing briefly. She withdrew a moment later, saying in a voice that almost sounded apologetic—but it couldn't be, for Nathaniel had never heard Jade sound apologetic—"I know you disagree with this. I offer you the chance to stay behind, Nathaniel. No one will think ill of you."
"Except for me," the redhead responded, his voice terse. Jade just sighed, seeing that for Nathaniel it was a matter of pride. Or at least pride entered into the equation. "Fine. Just remember, you chose your own path, Nathaniel." There was the sound of footsteps, and then a pause. "I'm going downstairs to get some breakfast. I would suggest you do the same." Then a quiet click as Jade left the room.
Nathaniel sighed, leaning his forehead against the glass of the doors. "I do choose my own path, Jade, but I choose it because I can do no other." The room was empty though, and there was no one to hear his confession—not that Jade would have anyway.
It was not so long later that Silvara, Damien, Sarai, Jade, and Nathaniel were assembled outside of the Hall. It was still barely light out, merely a sliver making it's way over the horizon's edge. Jade and Nathaniel stood next to two saddled Kindred horses, both borrowed from the Hall. Neither was laden with saddlebags of any kind as both Mutare had vanished the goods they needed to travel with—including clothes, emergency supplies, maps, and provisions.
Looking pale and nervous in the dawning light, Sarai stepped forward first. "Alex is going to kill me. You know that, right?" she said with a vague laugh, referring to Jade's 'brother'. The dark haired Black Widow Queen merely nodded. "I know, but you will all survive. I am not much use in this place of comfort and luxury." Nathaniel just stood silent and somber—unusual for him.
Abruptly, Sarai flung herself at Jade. The latter caught her in her arms, pulling her into a quick, fierce hug, and gently stepping away, holding Sarai back by her shoulders. "Goodbye, Sarai. Take care of my brother and my niece whilst I'm gone."
"Always," the Circuit leader replied, giving a small salute and stepping away. Next was Silvara who tenderly embraced Jade, whom she'd come to think of as one of her Sisters, in addition to Sarai. "Be safe, Jady. Use your head, not just your instinct." With that she stepped away, and went to hug Nathaniel goodbye, who was already receiving enthusiastic farewells from Sarai, whom he'd made promise to take care of his Circuit.
"Well, Damien," Jade began, "I have not known you for very long, so I will leave you with these parting words: take care of Silvara, and tell your parents I thank them for their hospitality. It was a pleasure meeting you." She gave a polite cursory bow, and Damien smiled at her. "Alright. Thank you for the parting words. It was nice meeting you as well, Jade." He tossed his hair foppishly and grinned, and Silvara just shook her head, looking at him. Jade repeated the motion, and led her horse away with Nathaniel following.
Going to the Altar, Sarai opened the Gate and let Nathaniel and Jade through. They were gone in the blink of an eye. There was no time for long goodbyes and heartbreaking tears. Merely a void where there once wasn't. In the end, Sarai and Silvara met gazes and merely shrugged. Both were skeptical on Jade's chosen mission, but neither had any doubts about the unmovable spirit of Jade's will.
TBC