Lief stared at the heavenly image of perfection before him. Jasmine's green eyes were closed, her face smooth and peaceful: flawless. Her dark hair was spread over her pillow, like obsidian in the snow. Her face was washed and the horrible dried blood was gone too. Her torn and once clean dress was exchanged for a simple white nightdress.
She must be dreaming of something happy.
Lief thought as her lips slowly curved up slowly. He suddenly had an irresistible urge to stroke her hair, or to touch her face. He reached out one hand, and slowly, hesitantly, brushed the back of his hand against her cheek.
Jasmine stirred, her eyelids fluttering, then opening. Her fist suddenly drew back and contacted violently with Lief's nose.
Lief gasped in pain, drawing his hand back and grabbed his nose. Jasmine had sat up.
"I swear, if you ever touch me again, I will make sure you – "
Her mind cleared, and she realized that it was Lief that had touched her cheek.
"Oh." She said quietly.
"Sorry. I won't do it again, I promise." Lief hastily apologized, his face burning from embarrassment.
Jasmine's eyes were downcast. That was not at all what she wanted.
Lief touched his nose gingerly, making sure it wasn't broken.
"I'm sorry," he apologized again. "It's just that…" his voice trailed off.
Jasmine closed her eyes. Regretting what she'd done.
"Is your nose alright?"
"Yeah." He said.
Jasmine sighed deeply, then her eyes shot open as she suddenly remembered Dain.
"Where's the oaf?" She said, jumping out of the small hospital bed.
Lief blinked.
"You mean Barda?"
"No, I mean Dain!" She snapped. Her head was spinning, her eyes unfocused.
Lief caught her as she fell. She pushed him away, grabbing the bedpost for support. Lief's heart sank. This was not going to be easy.
"Prison." He replied shortly.
"You can handle him, then? I need to go. Where are my – "
"Go?" Lief blurted. "Where?"
Gripped the bedpost harder as a sudden wave of nausea hit her.
"Lief…" her voice was softer.
"I can't stay here anymore. You know it. This place I hideous to me. I have to return to the forests. But you fit in here perfectly. You will continue as King of Deltora.
She tried to keep her voice from cracking. "You'll forget me soon. You'll be too busy to remember, and besides – " She tried to smile, but it looked more like a scowl.
"You'll soon be married to some lucky Toran bride. Why am I needed?"
Lief began to panic, searching his mind for a suitable, convincing reason.
Because I need you. Because I'll die without you. I have no strength without you. Because I love you.
Lief bit his tongue to keep from blurting those thoughts out. Jasmine had turned. Unknown to Lief, it was to hide her tears.
"Because you are a very dear friend to me! Barda, and Doom! Doom is your father, and he is needed! He cannot leave! And you cannot leave him here alone, can you?"
Jasmine spun around angrily, ignoring the pounding in her head.
"I have lived alone for most of my life. I can live without him for the rest of it too."
Lief closed his eyes and spoke, emphasizing each word like a sentence.
"You. Cannot. Leave." He said, gritting his teeth.
"You are being spoiled, Lief. You are simply used to me being around. You'll get over it."
His eyes shot open as he heard the door creak open.
"Wait!" he blurted, grabbing her shoulder.
Jasmine paused.
"Give me one shot. I have been planning. I know I can make this work. I need to…show you something."
Jasmine looked away, but nodded.
He took her to the place where the pathetic garden had once been. Jasmine's heart sank and she gently pulled her arm free.
"I've seen this place, Lief, and I know that you know that this will not – "
"Shh…" he said, lowering his voice to a whisper, as if there was something he did not wish to disturb.
"Wait." He whispered, then moved to open the double doors, but paused.
"Close your eyes."
"What - ?"
"Just close your eyes."
Jasmine sighed, but obeyed.
She heard the sound of the door creaking, and felt a sudden thrill as she felt Lief's gentle hands take her by the hand, guiding her inside.
"Now… open your eyes."
Slowly, her eyelids opened, and her heart leapt. A gasp escaped her lips as she gazed around her in wonder.
She was not in a garden, or at least, if it was, she couldn't tell. A nearly exact replica of the forests surrounded her. Sunlight shone down between trees. Not believing what she was seeing, she lightly touched the tree next to her. The tree stirred and whispered its welcome to her.
"Lief…"
He had been standing a few feet behind her as she was taking in her surroundings, a small smile on his lips, his eyes happy and…relieved?
"How - ? How in the world did you - ?"
Lief stepped closer to her and touched her shoulder gently.
"It seems that the Ralad men have a talent for planting also. And magic works on the plants quickly." He glanced at her.
"Will you stay now?"
"Lief, I still can't - "
"Tell me you will stay, Jasmine."
"Lief!"
"Shh…" he placed two fingers on her lips.
Jasmines green eyes widened and he whipped his hand back hastily.
"Sorry." He mumbled.
Jasmine tried to look anywhere but at him.
She touched the tree again, and the tree spoke into her mind.
You love him…you love him…
Jasmine whipped her hand back.
Lief finally got over his embarrassment and looked up, his eyes pleading.
"Stay." He whispered.
Jasmine tried to look indifferent, but her heart was bursting with happiness.
"I'll stay."
Lief gave a long sigh of relief. He smiled at her and Jasmine froze when he lifted a hand to brush a piece of stray hair from her face.
He leaned in closer, so close that she could feel his breath on her face.
He stood there like that for a while. Seconds or minutes or hours went by. Jasmine wasn't sure. She felt like her heart had stopped beating.
The wind rustled the leaves and Jasmine heard the tree whisper: He loves you…He loves you…
Lief came even closer, so that their noses were nearly touching.
"Please don't punch me again." He whispered, his breath on her lips.
And he kissed her.
Jasmine felt numbed by pure happiness. When she made no move to attack him, Lief's arms slid around her slim waist, pulling her even closer. After a few moments of hesitancy, her arms went around his neck. She tasted delight.
Lief was kissing her this time, not Dain…
Dain. The memory of the events in the cave came rushing back, breaking her perfect moment with Lief.
She was kissing the King of Deltora, She realized.
Slowly, agonizingly, she pulled herself away from him.
Lief looked down at her as she pushed away. He released her from his embrace and looked at her questioningly.
"I shouldn't be doing this." She whispered, though her instincts were to throw herself into his arms again.
"Why?"
"You're the King. I'm just…"
She trailed off. She was nothing. Not even fit to be standing this close to Royalty.
"It doesn't matter." He growled, leaning in to kiss her again. But she stepped back.
"You're the King." She repeated.
"Jasmine…"
Jasmine was turning, starting deeper into the forest he'd made for her.
"Go, Lief. Please."
She began to run, knowing that he would never catch up with her. She heard his footsteps try to follow her, but the forests the Ralad men created was vast.
As Jasmine ran, she heard a whisper from the trees:
How could you… How could you…
Hey Guys, sorry, A long, long LONG time no update. I don't know if anyone's noticed, But I've kinda changed the writing style a bit, I'm sorta playing around with the way i'm writing. Is it better? or Do you like the one before? Or you can't really tell the difference? Let me know! Please COMMENT!!