Chapter 4
Awakening
Keladry gulped, now what? She liked him yes, but she didn't love him. But he was obviously expecting some kind of answer.
"Um....... it's a very nice poem" Kel saw Arthur's smile falter.
"I told you I loved you, aren't you supposed to say something back?"
Kel stepped away from him, her eyes darted across the room and saw Joren watching them like a hawk, Arthur's arms were still up as if they were still holding her, he saw her look past him and looked over his shoulder and saw Joren looking at him and Kel.
Art looked in the direction she was looking and saw Joren, his face hard.
He'd never seen his brother that way. He realized then that there was something not right between his dear brother and Kel. How? Why? It didn't make any sense but he knew that Joren, his beloved brother, had always wanted what was best for him.
Arthur lowered his hands to his side, and didn't move. There a reason his brother acted the way he did, he wanted to know why first.
Kel watched Arthur's hands as slowly they clenched tightly into a fist. He brought them to his side and but didn't look up. Kel wanted to say something, but she couldn't, she stepped forward and placed a tentative hand on his shoulder, he didn't move, he didn't do anything.
Kel stepped away again and brought her fists to her chest before walking away.
Arthur never moved.
Joren was livid. Kel had publicly humiliated Art. Joren wanted to strangle her stupid, little neck. Joren watched as Art made his way slowly through the crowd and up the grand staircase.
Joren thought for a minute about going after him but then again Art could take care of himself right?
For the time being of course.
His hate was running a little deep and knew he might lecture Art and make him feel worse.
He went after Kel instead.
He may get a chance to strangle her before her posse came after her.
Kel sat in the garden, hoping against hope she wouldn't freeze to death. Teeth chattering she sat on the icy bench. She took off her gloves and looked at the Phoenix symbol. She knew it was responsible for her sudden change of body temperature. She traced it and felt her shivering stop.
Perhaps she was the heir it was reasonable enough.
But how could she prove it?
She knew a phoenix was a fabulous mythical bird, said to be as large as an eagle, with brilliant scarlet and gold plumage and a melodious cry. It was said that only one phoenix existed at any one time, and it was very long-lived - no ancient sources gave it a life-span less than 500 years. As its end approached, the phoenix made a nest of aromatic branches and spices, set it on fire, and was consumed in the flames. From the ashes (according to some sources, from the midst of the flames) miraculously sprang a new phoenix.
Well, Kel was cold, but not the point of wanting to set herself on fire.
Some said the phoenix could lift three to five times their own weight and that their tears healed wounds.
Kel closed her eyes and looked inside her. She certainly felt something that wasn't there before. She could feel a presence stirring inside of her. Deep within her chest. It felt like something was there waiting dormant. Kel knew it was the phoenix.
She looked down at her palm was surprised to see it glowing. And she once again felt the phoenix in her stir, it slowly pulsed and then a spark!
Not in her though, in her hand.
Kel gasped, she concentrated again, this time though it the pulsing was stronger, more… there. Kel fuelled all her concentration into the palm of her hand, slowly a flicker of fire was unmistakable being drawn from the phoenix in her.
She felt the phoenix stir, but the ancient bird stayed sleeping.
Her hand tingled with warmth, she tried a few more times and eventually a small flame was flickering in the palm of her hand. "I guess I won't need flint and steel anymore."
Unbeknownst to her that Joren was watching from the shadows. He couldn't see her hands, thankfully, but he was watching her.
He had watched as she sat down, her shawl slipping down and pooled at her waist.
Her hair was swept up so he could see her pale neck, one he truly wished he could strangle.
He watched as she slipped off her gloves revealing strong but delicate hands, when she turned her head to the side he saw how long her eyelashes were and how her small lips looked like rose petals.
He, for the first time, noticed her dream filled eyes and defined cheekbones.
"One with the earth below, Father
One with the sky above.
One with the seed I sow, Father
One with the hearts I love.
Make earth of my dust, Father
Make air of my breath,
Make love of my lust, Father.
And life out of my death."
Joren listened as she sang. He didn't know she could sing so wonderfully. Her voice was low and solemn; it would have broken his heart if ice hadn't hardened it to stone.
He didn't know why she sang such morbid songs. She was such a happy person. How would she know about heartache and sadness? Her world was all sunshine and rainbows. It wasn't his fault he hated her either, you try growing up with a sexist father and a weak mother.
Joren looked at Kel again, she had her head bowed and she could see the graceful arch of her neck and her small-defined shoulders.
Her red blond hair reminded him of a sunrise, or a sunset, it depends on how you want to look at it.
Her dress was nice though he had to admit it. She looked nice in it.
Joren realized that she was looking more and more like a lady lately.
Her weight loss and how she had let her hair grow farther than her earlobes.
Her arms from what he could see wasn't any less muscled but it wasn't as disgusting.
If only Art had seen what she had looked like earlier. Before all this. He wouldn't be up in his room right now. Which reminded him. It was probably better to go now; he'd been away for too long. Art might the idea that he didn't care. Plus Joren figured he'd get Art mad at him if he beat up Kel, even more if he killed her.
Joren went back into the castle and up to Art's room.
Kel heard a movement of feet but is sounded like it was heading back to the castle so she didn't pay any mind to it. Kel shrugged on her shawl and went into the castle. She wanted to go to bed. She was too tired and worn out. Hoping she could just curl up into a warm bed and not talk to anyone she walked very quietly. So much so she thought briefly if she was flying instead.
She looked down and saw she was actually an inch off the ground; Kel shuddered "Scary."
She walked back to her room suspended in the air and quietly shut the door behind her. In her room she let herself land on the ground, donning her winter nightgown she curled into her bed. Her hearth was blazing at the moment so it wasn't so bad.
Joren watched her from the tree outside her window she was sleeping. He could tell by the soft rise and fall of her chest. His hate for her burned him inside out. Art had found out he hated Kel, he didn't know how but he did.
Kel had hurt his brother.
For that she had to pay.
He wanted to kill her, tear her apart with his bare hands.
Quietly he went into her room, careful not to disturb her ugly dog, he pulled out a blade hidden in his tunic. His eyes were blind in fury and could not see the burn on her hand begin to glow.
But Kel noticed in her sleep that the phoenix was awakening. Though her eyes were closed she could see, not images, but heat. Heat from the fire pit and from her dog. But the most heat was from the figure standing over her. The phoenix within her screamed danger and Kel awoke just in time to catch the arm that came down to strike her.
What she saw startled her, Joren, his almost white hair was down and his skin pale like the moon, but despite his beauty there was rage in his eyes.
A silver blade inches from her chest over her heart. Joren though, his rage replaced by shock at her sudden wakening, was more startled. Her eyes, when she opened them were blazing gold, no pupil, no iris, just gold. Then a glint and they were normal. Her strength was ten fold that of normal and her skin glowed like an inner fire was about to be released.
Then he noticed the emblem on her hand. "It can't be....."
Once again the song or poem isn't mine. Please read and review and I'll get back with the story as soon as I can
Beeeeeeeeeep