Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters except for the OCs.
Chapter 8
452AD
Begin dream.
Jasmine was walking through fields of grass that reached up to her waist, her hair flowing freely in the wind, running her hands alonng the tips of the blades of grass. In the distance she could hear the laughter of those that she loved, as they played together in the sun or training the new geldings. She reached the end of the long grass and was on top of a small hill. She sat down on top of it as she looked down at the happy scene below, feeling herself relax from all the tension that had built up inside of her. She was so relaxed that she never heard someone walk up behind her.
"They're happy you know. They understand that in order to live your life you must move on and find a new family. Living in the past will on destroy you Jasmine. They are always watching over you from Elisium and do not like to see you wasting away into nothing. You used to be strong and confident ready to show any enemy the end of your whip at a moments notice. Now you are just the shell of the girl you used to be. Remember the person you once were, return to the woman you once was and don't fade away into darkness. Help people like you helped six today."
Jasmine looked around to find that who ever had spoken was gone. Throughout the whole of that speech Jasmine had felt her tears of sorrow rolling down her face. The happy scene below her was just a distant memory and nothing more. With that thought in mind she began to sob into her hands as a small figure began to run towards her, calling for her as loud as they could. But all became distant as her dream began to end.
End dream.
Jasmine sat up in her bed breathing heavily. She had been ahving the same dream for the past six months and it was slowly making her more and more dpressed because she felt that she couldn't move on from her past. After the incident with six and the soldier, Jasmine had returned to her room, flopping onto her bed and closing her eyes so as to shut out the entire world and everything in it. Now that she looked out of the window she could see that she had been asleep for a couple of hours as it was beginning to grow dark outside. She decided to get up and go to the tavern for a much needed drink.
She got up from her bed and went to grab her coat when she realised that number six still had it. She went over to her chest and took out her long black leather coat and went out her door putting it on. As she was walking to the tavern she noticed that the training ground was empty and decided to get in a bit of practice before having a drink. She picked up a spare bow and a quiver of arrows, heading over to the archery field. She fired her first arrow and watched with small satisfaction as it hit the bulls eye of the target. When she fired her second one it split the first arrow in two. As she loaded up her third arrow she felt a presense behind her. She span around quick, pointing her loaded bow in the direction of the person behind her, only to come face to face with the blank face of Tristan.
She lowered her bow before asking in a low voice, "What are you doing here?" Tristan never spoke a word and just took a small step towards her before answering her question. "I was in the tavern and left to return to my room when I saw you walking towards the training fields. Why don't you join me and the knights at the tavern?"
She looked at him first before answering. "I was going to, but I saw the grounds were empty and decided to get in a little practise before going." She turned back around and took out what was left of the two arrows she had fired. She through the split arrow onto a small pile in the corner and put the other into the quiver and back where she had got it from. "I think I'm gonna stay here for a little while longer though. I need some time to think." Tristan just nodded his head before turning away, allowing Jasmine to have some privacy.
After he left, Jasmine wondered over to the stables to see her horse Spirit. She leant against the door to his pen and he came over to her. She stood there for a while just petting and stroking Spirit before she began to speak to him. "I had that dream again, the one with the woman's voice. Why have I had to endure such sadness in my life Spirit. You and Lupe are all I have left. You won't ever leave me, will you?" The horse shook his head, indicating that he never would. Jasmine smiled and stroked his face lovingly. She kissed him on the nose and pulled away, walking out of the stables towards the tavern.
As she drew nearer to the tavern she bagan to hear its music and drunken laughter from within. She stopped outside for a time deciding if she really wished to go inside or not. She wanted a drink but she didn't want to be noticed by anyone inside. 'keeping to the shadows' she thought ' will be my best option.' She headed to the entrance not noticing the figure with golden eyes watching her from the shadows of one of the houses.
She entered swiflty and quietly behind some Romans without them noticing, keepng to the wall and in the shadows. Swift so as not to seem suspicious and hidden so as not to be noticed. She reached the bar with no problems along the way. She was cleaning her nails with her dagger waiting to be served when she heard someone say her name.
"Jasmine?" She looked up and turned around to find Bors behind her. She turned back to the bar with a sigh. 'So much for not being noticed' she thought. "What can I do for you Bors?" She asked as she ordered a large ale from the tavern wench behind the bar.
"I just wanted to say...thank you. For what you didn't for my number six." Jasmine turned around and looked at Bors in the eye, seeing the sincerity in what he was saying. "It's ok Bors. I may keep my distance from children for my own personal reasons but i would never allow a child to be harmed in any way. It's just cruel." She said with an almost invisible smile as she picked up her ale.
Bors saw how large her mug was and got a small smile on his face. "So you can handle your drink then." Jasmine looked from him to her ale then nodded her head. "When I was fighting with the men of the Phoenix Legions or the Armies of the North, I would always engage in drinking games with the men. At first I couldn't handle it, but after years of practice I find it doesn't have the same effect on me as it used to."
"Sounds like you could be a good challenge then. If ever you want a game or just a drinking partner in general you know where to find me. He said it with such enthusiam and sincerity that Jasmine couldn't help but smile at his child like qualities. "I might just do that Bors." With that Bors walked away feeling satisfied that she some what trusted him.
Jasmine turned back around and leaned on the bar drinking her ale. She managed to go for a while without anyone else speaking to her until she felt the room go quiet. She moved her eys to the person next to her and found them looking behind her. She turned around to find that a group of Romans had jsut entered the tavern and were looking around. She roled hers eyes and turned back around again. The knights were sat at their usual table watching these new comers carefully.
The leader of the group stepped forward and addressed the villagers in the tavern. "We're looking for someone. A Captain named Rosita Jasmina Meridius of the Phoenix Legions. Is she hear?" Upon hearing the name given to her by Marcus Aurelius she turned around. "Yes, I am she. What do you want?"
"I am Commander Aurelius of Rome. I must speak with you immediatley." She just looked at him before he walked up to her and spoke to her quietly so as no one could hear him. "Please Captain, I bare an urgent message froma friend of yours. Quintus needs your help." Jasmine looked hard into the Commander's eyes seeing that he was telling the truth she spoke. "I'm never going to escape Rome am I? Look, we can't talk here." The commander nodded as she looked around for Arthur. She found him standing looking at her with the Knights. She motioned him to come over. "Arthur, myself and the Commander must talk privately. May we use the round table room?"
"Of course you can. Would you like me to go with you?" He said the last part quietly to her so as Commander Aurelius couldn't hear him. "You don't need to Arthur, but if it will make you feel better send Tristan, it's likely that they won't notice him." He nodded and gave a quick look at Tristan who nodded and walked off. Arthur looked back at Jasmine and Aurelius. "If you would like to follow me I shall take you there myself."
They all left the Tavern with everybodies eyes on them. After they were gone the villagers and soldiers went back to there drinks.
