Prologue
The Kindling of Love
Lief watched as Lindal and Barda smiled at the people to the sides of them that were giving a loud standing ovation as they headed away from the alter they had just been married at.
The wedding for Lindal and Barda had been planned six months ago, and Lief was enjoying the results. Lindal, who refused to be married in the inside of a "stuffy building," had convinced them that it was not going to be a chapel wedding. So it was agreed they would have an outdoor wedding, in the large garden in the palace of Del. The garden was behind the castle, big enough to build a second castle, expanded by request of Jasmine, which Lief blatantly agreed with.
The flower scented breeze ran through Lief's combed blond hair, and slightly ruffled the nice white tux the castle serv – no helpers had tailored for him, with a nicely complemented black rose (obviously dyed) over his pocket, and a red tie under the jacket. Surrounding the oak chairs arranged around the red carpet on which Lindal and Barda were walking, were different assortments of trees and flowers, which made the scenery all the more lively. The sky was nearly cloudless and baby blue, with the sun brightening the area.
Jasmine sat to the left of Lief, while Sharn, his mother, sat to the right. Sharn's first wrinkles were beginning to show on her face, and her brown hair was becoming pale. She wore a bright yellow dress to complement the area, with a pin tying her hair into a bun beneath her crown, her nails painted a yellow also, brown eyes exuding extreme warmth, and a smile topping it all off.
Jasmine… Lief couldn't help but think she was… beautiful. Her black hair was tied into ponytail, which he was surprised to see, but it seemed, in her way of dressing for the occasion, she went for casual. The skirt she was wearing was long enough to reach her feet, but didn't all the way, and for a top, she wore a white blouse, decorated with a flower pattern – a shirt she asked to be made, as a favor from Lief and her face had not seemed to differ since the last five years they'd known one another, and she did not appear to be wearing makeup, but he could not help finding Jasmine more attractive every time he saw her.
Her green eyes glinted and turned to Lief. Only then did he realize he had been staring at her. "What is it Lief?"
Lief sat straight up, and felt his face burn. "It – it is nothing. I was just wondering why you've chosen to wear those clothes to the wedding."
Her soft gaze sharpened. "What, you do not like my choice of clothing?"
"No, no!" Lief said. His mind was in overload. What was the right thing to say? "No, it looks fine. Great even," he added quickly. "I was just wondering why you chose them."
"I didn't actually," she said. "Doom did."
"Wait, but you just accused me of disliking your choice clothing, when it's not even yours?" Lief said, now curious.
"Well, I agreed that they looked nice, so technically, it was my choice."
"I bet, you agreed just to get it off your hands, didn't you."
Jasmines face flushed, when Lief could not suppress his smile. "Move it! I want to go to the feast." She lightly shoved him.
"You didn't answer my question," Lief said, and Jasmine looked like she was suppressing laughter on her part.
"Ah, thank you, good people of Del!" Lindal and Barda said at the same time, making sure their voices echoed down the banquet hall, from the head of the table, which was where they sat. "I'd like to thank all of you, for supporting me, and my wife here!" Barda said, smiling when he said wife. "Without your help, I'd surely be dead right now. I must also give my thanks to King Lief, and Jasmine, my companions for a long time now. I don't know where I'd be without them."
Applause broke out, and Lief gave a warm smile, as did Jasmine, who now sat across from him.
Lindal now spoke. "I also must thank the people of Del, for your great hospitality, and kindness. I have made a decision, to stay here with Barda, and live out my days in Del, with happiness, for better or for worse." Some laughs at that. "I will leave for a short period of time after this banquet has done, and spend a few days in Broome with Barda, and say goodbye to friends and family. I'm glad to say, after that, I'm here to stay."
More applause. Lief looked up at the bearded Barda, who was dressed in black tuxedo, which did not actually seem to suit him that much.
Lindal, whose bald head was painted in the swirling red patterns of Broome, was in a red gown of her own, not the customary white ones, with lines of flashing gold here and there, which must have been hard to make considering her size. Her face was well adorned with makeup, but not enough to make it completely noticeable.
"Now, it is my great honor, I let the banquet, begin!"
Talking and sounds of eating and drinking erupted and enveloped all other sounds in the room. Lief picked several articles of food to eat. Vast amount of fruits, adorned to all kinds of meats, and drinks, the meat including a roast pig, several chickens, a turkey, he was guessing, veggies such as tomatoes, salads, corn, etc.
But when he added what he wanted to his plate he simply took a bite out of his chicken, and didn't touch anything else. It all tasted dry.
The marriage had really gotten Lief thinking. Love, an intricate, and almost unable to be understood thing, man has found, but never interpreted. Lief had found someone whom he believed he had fallen in love with, but she had not been in love with him. she had only acted, to work her way to the top. But it had cost her life.
She had attempted to steal the Diamond, and the result? She had ended up in a stream, dead.
He had tried to understand what it was that made love work, but only confused himself more the more he dived into it. He only knew one thing about love, his love life actually; he was deeply in love with Jasmine.
It was something Lief had broken down. He had figured he had always had these feelings for Jasmine, since their quest for the belt, which presently warmed his waist, but the feelings had never surfaced this strongly. It was not simply because of Jasmine's increasing beauty. That had been the only reason he had "fallen in love with" Neridah. Jasmine… had a wild side, something Lief yearned for, which made him laugh, and comforted him, despite what, "Wild side" meant. He knew he was in love with Jasmine, and wanted to become part of her life. It was one of the only things being king could not give him. He wanted Jasmine to be with him, and, him to be with her. Maybe it was because they were opposites, and he wanted someone to keep him in check. Maybe it was because their fathers had been best friends, so they had a pre-existing close relationship. Or maybe, it was coincidence.
His stomach churned at the thought of being rejected by her, but then his thought veered to Barda and Lindal. It was very obvious, Barda had had feelings for Lindal, and so had she for him, and Barda had worked up the courage to propose, and here they were, sitting at the head of the banquet, in the castle, per Lief's doing, eating, drinking, laughing. It seemed so easy for him, and the hardest thing to do for Lief.
Barda…
Lief stuck a hand out, and waved to Barda, who was talking to Lindal who laughed a hearty laugh. Barda turned toward him, seeing the hand. Lief turned around, and spotted a hallway not far off. He pointed over there, and motioned for him to follow.
Barda turned to Lindal, spoke, and smiled. Lindal pecked his cheek, and Barda stood to follow Lief, who was halfway out of his chair. "Where are you off to?" Jasmine asked.
"I was about to say the same thing," Sharn said. "You've hardly touched your food."
"I have to speak to Barda," Lief said.
"About what?"
Lief scrambled for an answer. "Ummmm…" His eyes veered to Jasmine. "King stuff."
"King stuff?" Jasmine asked, clearly disbelieving. "Lief, if you think-"
"Sorry, got to go!" Lief took his opening, and left the table. It was really important that this be done. He needed to talk to Barda. Advice was needed in this kind of situation, and he could not tell the truth, not in front of Jasmine.
The hallway seemed to lead to the kitchen, since Lief could smell more food being made. Even after being king for so long, he still could not get around the Palace's vastness, and intricate rooms and hallways.
"What is it that you wanted to talk about Leif?" Barda asked, in the hallway.
"Um…" Lief was stuttering again. It felt embarrassing to ask this question, and he was wondering whether to ask him or not. But his tongue worked its way out of his closed mouth and said what he wanted to say. "I'm having girl trouble."
"Oh," Barda said, ruffling his beard slightly.
"I was wondering if you could give me a little advice," Lief said. He gave the collar of his suit a tug, in nervousness.
"Hm, this is going to be tricky," Barda said, still stroking his beard. Lief tensed as one of the servers came out with a platter of food and smiled past him. Lief waved.
"Tricky? Why is it tricky? Barda!"
"Well, it's tricky because this is Jasmine we're speaking of, and who is trickier?"
"Jasmine!?" Lief said. "W-why would does it have to be Jasmine I'm talking about?"
"Lief," Barda said, placing a large hand on his shoulder. "Lief, Lief, Lief, Lief." Barda was chuckling. "I almost feel like a father of you, since I have almost known you since the day you were born. I know you, have followed you since before our quest, protecting you. And being a guard, I have to be able to read emotions."
Lief pulled at his collar again. "I see your face when you look at her. Stare at her even. It's very, very, very obvious. In fact, I'm pretty sure the only one who does not know, is Jasmine herself, and Doom."
"Why Doom?" Lief asked tentatively.
"Because he would have already beaten the stuffing out of you had he known." Barda gave another hearty laugh. "So, have I guessed right?"
Lief sighed. What use was denying it? "Yes, you have guessed right. But can you give me advice?"
"Well, Lief, if there is one thing I know about women, it is that there are never two of the same, but, they have a single similar trait. Lindal is a strong, and amazing woman. If she wasn't we wouldn't be here today. But for the proposal, I wanted to give her something. Not some dainty ring, that's for sure." Barda was making hand motions as he spoke, trying to give Lief a general idea of what he was trying to get across, which Lief was trying to understand.
"I gave her a new hunting knife, one I made myself."
"You made it?" Lief asked in disbelief. What Barda had said before was true. Barda had known Lief for almost his entire life. And so had Lief known Barda. And he also knew, Barda was a terrible blacksmith.
"It, took a couple of tries, but I got it right, I think," Barda said proudly. "And she loved it. She kept the old one, of course, but only carries the one I made in her sheath. Women like honesty, and sincerity, from someone. Jasmine trusts you, and I believe, if you try to give her a gift, than ask, it may work."
Lief smiled.
"Then again, this is Jasmine we're talking about. Maybe… try getting to know her better. Who is closest to Jasmine as of now?"
"Doom?" Lief tried.
"If that's your answer, your trying to commit suicide, Lief," and with that, Barda headed back to the table head and rejoined Lindal.
"Who is closest to Jasmine?" Lief wondered aloud. And then his answer came to mind.
"Kree? Filli?" Lief was walking amongst the flurry of black feathers, bird droppings, and angry caws that was the messenger room. At the end of the "4 sisters" fiasco, Jasmine had taken the liberty of training ravens to be messenger birds, and kept them in this rounded turret of the castle, where there were holes in the walls, and roof, for sunlight, air, etc.
Lief found Kree by finding Filli. The little furry beast was now the size of his whole hand, not just his palm. He sat like an obedient dog, making little squeaking sounds to a bird next to him, who's brittle and old wings no longer flew.
"Filli, Kree, I, uh, want to ask you something." Filli hopped from the perch he was upon, and onto Lief's shoulder. He'd become a lot heavier since the last time he'd been on that spot. Kree, also jumped onto him, his left shoulder this time.
Kree croaked, instead of cawed, and pointed a talon to one hole. "Okay, I'll take you outside. I was planning to take a walk in the forest anyway."
Sunlight dappled through the tree branches, and created bright patched on Lief's white suit, and dry leaves crunched underfoot. "It's about Jasmine…" Lief said. He glanced at Kree, than Filli, and continued his work. "I'm – I'm in love with Jasmine," he said, forcing the words out of his mouth. "And I wanted to ask for some advice, since you've known Jasmine longest."
Filli appeared to be laughing. "What?" Lief said innocently. "I am, and it's not funny!"
Filli was now making high pitched squeaking noises, and Lief was sure he was guffawing. "Why do you find it funny?"
Filly shook a tear from his eye. Kree cawed, and pointed again with his talon. "What? There are only trees." Then he realized trees were significant in Jasmine's world. Maybe…
"Wait, isn't that…" Lief went toward the tree, and his suspicion was right – up in the canopy of the tree was the home Jasmine had lived in, for the 9 years after Anna's capture and forthcoming death.
Like the last time he had been here, he grabbed a rough purchase in the tree, and pulled himself up, to a low tree limb. He attempted to put his weight on it, but it cracked immediately, and he nearly fell. He found another purchase, and found a sturdier limb. From there, he jumped and caught hold of the bottom of the box, and pulled himself up, and inside
The leaves on the tree had grown in and around the wooden box and hung on the walls. The things that Jasmine had left behind were still on the floors collecting dust. Filli immediately jumped off of Lief's shoulder, and began scampering onto a faded blanket strewn on the floor.
Kree also hopped off of Lief's shoulder and climbed on some old glass bottles, a single uneaten berry, a small story book, and a single flower in the corner of the treehouse.
Lief walked forward and bent down to examine the flower. It had white petals, decorated with a faded yellow pattern. The stamen on the inside dripped with long dried gold nectar, which reminded Lief of the lilies of life, the flowers that lay in this very forest.
He suddenly knew what kind of flower it was. "This is a jasmine…" he breathed. Kree turned toward him, and nodded his head. Filli squeaked in approval.
"Not this one," Lief said. "I have to find one. Myself."
With that, he took the two animals down the tree, and headed to the front of the castle, and ran straight into Doom. He fell back, as did Lief, and a fresh loaf tumbled from his hand. Luckily, Kree and Filly, dug their claws and talons painfully into Lief's shoulders.
"Dammit, Lief, keep your eyes up," he said, rubbing his face where his scar was. "This is fresh bread. Was."
"Where we're you going with it?" Lief asked. Doom glared at him, and then he sighed. "I was out for a walk. But now, I'm walking back to the kitchen for more bread."
"Oh." Lief said. "Can you take Filli and Kree back to the Messenger Room?"
Filli hissed, but hopped down, along with Kree, towards Doom, and Filly climbed up him, without Doom giving an answer. "Why can you not do it?" Doom asked.
"I have to find something, important," Lief said. "Thanks, Kree, Filli. I'll be back soon." And Lief ran back into the forest.
"What's he looking for?" Doom asked Filli, who immediately began to laugh once more.
Lief had found no sign of any jasmine flowers after an hour of searching. He didn't know where to look, not even a general location. He pushed back bushes, looked up trees, and even went through thorns.
There was a big circle of trees, with vines hanging from the tops of them like loose pieces of string. Apparently it was a circle, otherwise, Lief would have been able to go around it. There seemed to be something behind, it, but was hidden from Lief's view.
The belt glowed at his waist, and he looked down upon it. He remembered something… as if he'd… He leaned against a tree, but his hand caught wind of a vine instead, which slipped around the tree, and pulled Lief into the circle. He tumbled down a slope for no more than three seconds, surely, and hit dusty ground. He coughed, trying to get the wind that had been knocked out of him.
When he did, he realized where he was because of what he saw. Pieces of golden armor glinted in the sunlight coming through the top of the encirclement, for there were no trees in its center. He did not remember this space of sunlight, since the last time he was here.
Gorl's pieces of armor were still there, after 5 years, untouched, seemingly preserved. His sword was strewn between the pieces on the ground, and behind them. Lief could see the Lilies of Life.
His hand went toward the Topaz, at the center of the belt. This was the place where he had found the first gem. He looked around. His senses were muddled from his fall, but at the edge of the circle of sunlight…
"Hm…" Lief walked toward the patch of jasmine flowers. He had not remembered them being here the last time. Then again, it had been 5 years ago. Then again, again, he had nearly lost his life, so how could he have forgotten? Maybe it was because he had almost died, more than ten times, he was certain.
It mattered not, for what he was searching for, he'd found. He took his sword from his sheath – this had to be done, with precision. He nearly cut the stem of the jasmine out, and take only the petals. Then he realized he wanted this to last. He sheathed his sword, and pulled the flower out – roots and all. When he returned to the palace, he would have it replanted.
Now, the only thing left was the hardest part. Telling Jasmine…
Thoughts coursed through Lief's head, of how things might happen. But no matter how hard he tried, he could not think of a way things might turn out right; First and forefront, Jasmine flat out denying him, or Jasmine accepting, and something bad happening afterwards.
He shook his head. His mind was getting a little depressing right about now. Then he realized how easily a white suit could get dirty. He looked down at himself. His clothes were stained with dirt, and his jacket had a tear, not big enough to notice, but it was there. He would have to go back to the palace and change.
He climbed up the slope, flower in hand, and ready to take a clean bath. He pushed through the crevice he had come from and was about to go somewhere when Lief heard something.
"Lief?" As his name was said, he turned, and who else would it be, but Jasmine. She was gazing curiously at Lief, now changed out of the clothes she had worn to the wedding, and into something she would normally wear: The things she had stolen from the grey guards. "What were you doing down there?"
Lief felt his face burn. He decided to go with the truth. "I was looking for something," he answered.
"Well you 'look' like you've fallen out of a tree. In that nice suit too," she clucked.
"You think this is nice?" Lief asked.
"Not anymore," Jasmine said with a laugh. "Hey what is that you have in your hand?"
On instinct, he hid the flower behind his back. "Nothing!" he said. But Jasmine was fast. She sprung to her feet, and had grabbed Lief's arm in a solid grip.
"Oh, a flower?" She released his hand, and her own slackened to her sides. She appeared somewhat… disheartened. "Who is that for?"
Lief got redder and redder in the face. "Let me guess. Its king stuff? Leave it to the King of Deltora to be at a loss for words." Her gaze hardened to a glare. "Why am I not surprised?" And she began to storm off, when Lief grabbed her hand. "Let go of me!" she yelled at once, whipping Lief's, hand back with her own.
"Wait! Jasmine!" Lief cursed at himself as Jasmines flash of black hair disappeared behind the trees. He gave chase. Dammit, why do I have to be in love with someone who is so rash?
Jasmines near weightlessness made her soundless, while Lief crashed through, and tripped over every single thing there was to trip over, and then some. "Jasmine! Jasmine, come back!"
Lief was desperate now. Why had she run off like that, and what reason did she have for snapping at him? Love was very confusing, especially to Lief, it seemed. The suit he wore slowed his limb movement, but he pushed forward. He was running in circles, and no trace of Jasmine could be found.
He resorted to calling her name, which produced similar results. The wind tousled the trees, and Lief's hair. Oh, this hadn't gone as planned, and worse.
The leaves at his feet crunched with all the sound in the world, and Lief suddenly realized he was in danger, of the Wenn, and of course, the Wennbar, it was a surprise he hadn't been found yet.
He then realized that Jasmine was not dim enough to stay on the forest floor, for the Wenn to capture her, and the Wenbarr to eat her. She either went back to Del, or…
He had no time to run all the way to Del. He ran out into the wood, keeping his head up till he found what he was looking for; Jasmines tree house. He scrambled up the tree, and pulled himself through the hole.
Just as he thought, Jasmine was there. But she had her knees up, and her face curled into them, her arms folded at the forefront. And to Lief's immense surprise, he heard her crying.
"Jasmine," Lief said aloud. And then he realized what Jasmine must have been thinking, when he had the flower in his hand. That it had been for someone else, another girl, and when Lief hadn't spoken earlier, she must have confirmed it, when truly they had been for her.
Lief didn't know what to do, in this type of sensitive situation. What he did do, was crawl over, and sit next to Jasmine as she sobbed. She stopped, and turned her head up, and when she saw who had sat next to her, she turned her head back down.
"What do you want?" She asked. Lief honestly was too nervous to answer. "Don't you have a date with someone?"
"Yes, I do," Lief said. He didn't know why he had spoken, but again, his tongue had worked its way out of his closed mouth and made words come out.
"With who?" Jasmine asked, sounding like she was back on the verge of tears.
"With you," he responded. Then, his body overruled his mind, and he bent his hand forward, lifted her chin, and pressed his lip to hers.
Lief's mind was doing somersaults, as Lief realized what he was doing, and he fell into it. Her lips were warm, and Lief tasted a sweet taste in the mouth as her tears fell onto his face. Lief had honestly done nothing this great, ever in his life. They were the only ones there, and the only ones that mattered.
Jasmine slowly pulled away, and her tears broke even further, and she hugged him tighter than anyone had before, burying her face in the clothes Lief was wearing.
Lief hugged her back, and ran his fingers through Jasmines long black hair. And then, Lief confessed; "I've been in love with you for as long as I can remember, and haven't loved anyone since. Your beautiful, clever, quick witted, funny, and everything I want. It's hard to see you yell at me, or be angry with me, and to be honest, I find myself stuttering in front of you. I can't stop thinking, of the happiness I could bring you, or that you could bring me. This flower is a jasmine flower. It was for you."
Jasmine continued to cry in his arms, and Lief waited for her response. When she finally lifted her head, her eyes were red, and her face was wet. "I loved you too. I can't put it into words but…" She tugged at his jacket. "I wanted to be with you. But how could I, the wild girl, who wants to be free, and wild the way she is, be with the king of Deltora, in a stuffy palace where I don't belong?"
Lief remained silent for a moment. "We don't have to live in the castle," he said. "We could live in the forge where I grew up, in the city, or we could even live here, in the forest, or we could even travel, where you see fit. As long as I'm with you it doesn't matter to me."
"That is sweet Lief, but it's fine. I will live in the palace with you. On one condition."
"Anything," Lief said.
"If we are to ever have children, the first twelve years of their life will be spent in the forge."
"Deal," Lief said. He hugged her tighter. "I'm glad I can tell you. This has been weighing in my chest for so long."
"As was mine," Jasmine agreed. She then pulled up and Lief and Jasmine's lips once again met.
They stayed there, the entire night, and Jasmine and Lief fell asleep, in the trees, in each other's arms.
