Victoria Vega is a fairy and she is next line for her Kingdom's throne, as soon as she gets married, but before her wedding someone tries to kill her and she's sent away with a body guard, Jadelyn West, until the hit is called off. When Tori finally returns will she be able to go through with the wedding or will someone else steal her heart?
It took two days for the storm to pass, and during those days Tori snuggled with Jade in her bed with the cat asleep at their feet. They read the many books on the shelf and Jade practiced hand on hand combat with her, often times this led to the pair crashing a mess of tangled limbs and locked lips onto the bed, the lessons forgotten. Tori was living in a state of pure bliss, the world outside their cabin did not exist.
But on the third day when Jade opened the door the skies were bright and clear, the snow on the ground partially melted, and Tori remembered the world outside of the cabin with a sad ball in the pit of her stomach. They packed up their saddle bags and Tori scooped up the cat, now called Trick, before making her way outside. On the way one would carry a baby she made a sack and the cat happily lay against her stomach.
"So we'll ride until we pass Trace, and stop in the next place we find after that. Rest for a few days and then ride straight to Vallestia, alright?" Jade said, Tori nodded her head as she led Calypso from her stall, hooking the gear up glumly. Once she was done she mounted the horse, adjusted the sack so that Trick could be comfortable and their journey started.
Tori didn't say much, her mind was lost in the dreams of being back inside the cabin with Jade and Trick, with not a care in the world. Jade didn't force her to speak, turning and looking back at her every so often and shaking her head sadly. It was night fall when they reached Stromhall. Tori recalled the name now as Princess Catherine's Kingdom.
By force of habit she stroked her hair and the strange blonde color came back, her eyes turning green. They rode to the Inn where the stall boy rushed out once more, he was quiet now and thanked Jade politely for their tip, but didn't speak further than that. Jade got them a room and settled herself on the bed. Tori let the cat free and looked toward the double doors, "I'll be out there…" she motioned to the door as she walked, pulling the doors open she stepped out and pulled them shut behind her.
The sun had set and torches lit the shops, the moon cast it's yellow glow across the town, and people hustled through the market to their houses. Tori leaned against the railing and exhaled. Her warm breath curled in tendrils through the air and she smiled and inhaled deeply, holding the air in her lungs for a few minutes before she slowly exhaled, the hot breath hitting the cold air and curling in front of her face.
The stars shined in the sky above her head, bright lights in the sea of midnight. She looked up at them with a fond smile and distant eyes, her mind traveled to a time not to long ago, on her bedroom balcony, looking out among the stars. She'd gone out to calm her nerves, it was warm outside, almost sticky from the days rain and the heat of the sun, but the sky was clear, and Jade came out to check on her.
She'd looked different, Tori thought it was the full moon, the way its yellow light made her eyes appear green, and her pale skin glowed in a ghostly way. But now that she thought about it maybe it was because it was the first time she'd seen the girl outside of her tough skin. Jade came out in her nightwear her hair falling in soft curls around her face and her expression less annoyed and more concerned.
"Are you alright?" Jade asked in a soft voice, stopping a foot away from Tori, searching her face for any signs of tears.
"Yes, just having trouble sleeping with my mother far away." Tori replied, looking out toward the forest. Her mother had gone on a short trip to see a priestess and she would be gone for nearly a month.
Jade nodded her head, "being away from parents is hard, but she'll be back soon."
Jade ushered her into the house after that, but it was only now that Tori had realized the meaning of that sentence, the fact that Jade had shared something so personal with her, no matter how small, and Tori could remember the sounds of crying somewhere after her mother tucked her in when she was younger. And that night she'd heard Jade singing, Tori could still remember the words. She smiled to herself and sang under her breath.
"When the cold wind is calling and the sky is clear and bright misty mountains sing and beckon, "Lead me out into the light". I will ride, I will fly, chase the wind and touch the sky I will fly chase the wind and touch the sky." She heard the door open and stopped singing as Jade came out, "I never heard the rest of the song." She whispered to Jade.
"Where dark woods hide secrets and mountains are fierce and bold deep waters hold reflections of times lost long ago. I will hear their every story take hold of my own dream be as strong as the seas are stormy and proud as an eagle's scream." Jade sang leaning against the railing, "I will ride, I will fly chase the wind and touch the sky I will fly chase the wind and touch the sky and touch the sky chase the wind, chase the wind touch the sky."
Tori smiled, repeating the words in her head over and over until she knew she'd memorized them, at least for long enough that she could write them down later to remember for a long time, "where did you learn that song?"
"My mom." Jade replied, "she'd sing it to me when I was having a hard time doing something, or when I just needed to be cheered up. How are you feeling?" Jade asked glancing at Tori briefly before staring out toward the sky line. Tori leaned her back against the railing and exhaled.
"I'm not sure, I'm excited to get home and see my parents and be back at the castle, I've missed them like crazy, but I'm nervous. What are we going to do when we get back? Tell them about Beck and hope they believe us? What if Beck is there still-what if something bad happened to them? What if he's killed them or something horrible like that?" Tori asked, the words bubbled out of her in a rush, all of her nerves spilling into the sentence.
"They're fine." Jade stated flatly, "Beck is still there, but his parents have returned to their home. We're going to march your butt back into that castle and go on with the marriage plans and when I catch the next assassin he will tell me who hired him."
"How do you know?"
Jade simply grinned at Tori with a mischievous glint in her eyes, "doesn't matter." She straightened and stood in front of Tori and took hold of both of her hands, lacing their fingers together for no reason, Tori smiled and squeezed Jade's hands, "there's the smile I wanted to see." Jade laughed, "let's get inside and get some rest. Tomorrow we travel until we reach Brooke and we'll stop to get you cleaned up and changed before we head back into Vallestia."
"Changed?"
"I've got a surprise waiting for you. I have a very trust worthy bird on my side." She grinned and tugged Tori away from the railing, dragging her back into their room. The cat had claimed his own bed so Jade simply pulled Tori down onto the other and lay next to her, Jade hummed beside Tori until she felt the girl drift off in her arms and she untangled herself from the girl. With a quick backwards glance she swept out of the room onto the balcony and hopped gently over it onto the one beside hers, she tapped three times quickly on the door.
There was a small commotion inside and a bleary eyed guard came and opened the door, blinking at Jade for a moment before letting her inside. She slipped through the door and dusted bits of snow from her shoulders. Princess Caterina was sitting on the bed happily, braiding her hair, she smiled at Jade when she saw her.
"Leave us." Cat commanded in an authoritative voice. The guard gave Jade one more look over and slipped out the door. Cat watched the door for a moment and then turned to Jade and beamed, launching herself from the bed and throwing her arms around Jade in a hug that nearly choked the guard, "Princess! I'm so happy to see you're alright!"
Jade laughed and gave Cat a hug in return before stepping away, "so did you find her?" Cat nodded a grin stretching from ear-to-ear. Jade smiled triumphantly, "and?"
"She'll meet you guys at the Inn. Ask for Gallen. She has and outfit for Tori and some supplies for you, as well. She said she's still thinking about it but she'll tell you then. Even so I'm sure she'll be happy." Cat said, Jade nodded and glanced toward the balcony once more, "I'll see you again, Jade, at the wedding." Cat winked and Jade laughed heartily, twisting and walking from the room quickly. Cat watched her go and went to the door, letting her guard back in.
Jade hopped back onto her balcony and slipped into their room. Tori was still asleep on the bed, Trick curled up happily at her feet, his eyes burning into Jade's for a moment, making sure she was safe, and then he closed his eyes and let himself sleep too. Jade closed the doors to the balcony and returned to Tori's side, slipping onto the bed beside her.
The next morning the pair set out once more, eating a breakfast of bread and water as they traveled at a steady pace down the road, "so how long until we reach Brooke?" Tori shifted in her seat on the horse uncomfortably and groaned. She shifted the sword Jade had given her across her back and rolled her shoulders.
"Another half a day's journey, Tori." Jade laughed, turning to look back at Tori, "what's wrong?"
"My legs are stiff." She tugged gently on Calypso's reins until the horse stopped and she dismounted, choosing instead to walk beside the large horse. Jade laughed and fixed the sac with Trick in it and slowed Midnight down to a steady walk. It wasn't long after Tori dismounted that someone rode past them, Tori glanced at the pair of burly men nervously, glancing at Jade, and then turning back to them. They started to slow down and her stomach dropped.
"Go." Jade hissed, more men were coming from behind them. Tori quickly clambered back onto Calypso's back, dragging her body into the saddle haphazardly. Jade took off forward and Calypso followed without order as Tori held on, trying to right herself without falling off. The horses forced their way through the others and they moved on quickly.
"We need to split up, Jade!" Tori yelled, Jade turned and shook her head no, but the men were gaining on them, "Meet me at the Inn!" Tori called.
"Trick!" Jade yelled back, Tori searched for the cat, but he was still securely against Jade's stomach. Baffled Tori pulled on the reins and Calypso plunged into the wood, hooves pounding on the dirt. Most of the men followed her and Tori's heart jumped into her throat.
Calypso's long legs carried them faster through the woods, almost as if she knew where she was going from running the path a million times before. Soon the men were far enough behind them that Tori could no longer see them, and soon she couldn't hear them either. She breathed a sigh of relief and clung to Calypso. She knew there was no way back without facing them, but she had to be prepared for them. She dismounted and took the bridal off of Calypso, the horse started to graze on what there was of grass while Tori climbed into the tree top.
She could see the men advancing. If she could get past the men she would be free, and if she could distract them she might be able to get past most of them. She whistled to gain Calypso's attention and tossed an apple as far as she could to the right of the approaching men.
The horse trotted off after it, and created enough noise that a few of the men broke off in that direction, but not enough of them. She tried to slowly climb down the tree and get back on the ground, her foot was on a weak branch and her hands were tearing on the bark when the branch beneath her foot snapped out from under her, brittle from the cold and the air rushed past her head, but she never met the ground. There was a slight pressure on her back, and she was hovering about a foot and a half off the ground.
"I am such an idiot." She muttered under her breath, "Calypso." The horse was gone, and Tori didn't have time to be worried about it, she shot up into the trees just as the first few men broke through the line of the trees. She flew over the tops of the trees, but it wasn't enough. Someone had spotted her. A woman with dark hair and sharp eyes broke through the tops of the trees and flew with such a speed Tori had no time to react, the woman hooked her arms around her and drove her back down into the trees.
The pair hit the ground and all of the air was knocked from Tori's lungs, the world above her spun like crazy, and the woman now seemed t have two faces. Tori weakly swung at one of them, but her fist met air before the woman snatched up her wrists and pinned them above her head, "Victoria." She whispered harshly. Tori blinked a few times rapidly and suddenly the tan face was in focus. Her face was rounder than Tori remembered, and tanner, but she knew that face anywhere.
"Katrina!" her older sister released her wrists and Tori threw her arms around her neck in a crushing hug, "what are you doing here?"
"Saving your butt, apparently, and it's just Trina now." She stood and helped her sister to her feet, brushing the dirt from her legs, "where is Jade?" Tori didn't get a chance to answer, men materialized from the trees, swords drawn, and advanced on the girls. Trina sprung into action without hesitation, disarming a man and claiming his sword, Tori drew her own sword, a determined look set on her face even though her hands were shaking.
The jarring sound of metal on metal and the impact from each block vibrated up Tori's arm and made her head hurt, and as soon as she could she disarmed him, tossed her sword aside and punched her attacker in the jaw, he swung back and landed a blow on her cheek, grabbing her left arm and pulling her close. She shoved her elbow into his ribs and kicked his feet out from beneath him, he fell to the ground and another rushed to make a grab for her, picking her up from behind and tossing his sword to the ground, hauling her away from the scene. Tori kicked and struggled weakly, managing to force him to grip, she dug her nails into his flesh and hit him in the side of the head with her elbow, he dropped her to the ground and she sprung back up, elbowing his gut and grabbing the back of his head when he keeled over, she drove her knee into face and took off running.
Trina caught up with her a few minutes later, grabbed her by the wrist and took to the sky, dragging Tori behind her so fast the younger girl started to feel dizzy and was forced to close her eyes until her feet were planted firmly on the ground. When she opened them again she was back on the road beside Calypso and Midnight. Jade was checking over the horse and spun when she heard them, her sword tip against Tori's throat.
"You idiot!" Jade screamed, throwing her sword aside and grabbing Tori by the shoulders, "you could have died!" Jade's frantic eyes searched her face, her fingers ghosting over Tori's sore, bruised cheek. Tori's eyelids closed slowly, the touch seemed to melt the pain away, but only for an instant. Jade pulled her hands away from Tori's face and she turned back to the horses, "we need to get going, get back on Calypso, Trina you can ride Midnight."
Tori and Trina mounted the horses without protest, Jade flew a few yards ahead of them and nobody spoke. The pain grew into throbbing and Tori's head started to ache she was ready to sleep by the time they reached the small in and Tori swung off of the horse, passing the reins to one of the stable hands, "I'll take her to my room; you look like you could use some time to clean up, Jade." Jade nodded, but Tori thought Jade looked just fine, her face looked perfect, not even red flush from the cold, but Trina forced her up the stairs while Jade bought herself a room.
Trina opened the door to hers and held it for Tori to walk through, "You're covered in dirt, you know." Trina comments, looking at the dirt from Tori's boots on the floor, "there's a bath over there with some soap." Tori nodded her head, chewing on the inside of her cheek as she crossed over to it.
She pulled the changing screen over the tub and started to change, "you okay here alone? I want to check on Jade, she looked pretty worn down." Trina called out. She watched Tori's silhouette shrug and stepped into the hall, pushing the door closed and locking it as Jade sluggishly walked past. Trina rushed to follow the dark haired girl and caught her just before she fell to the ground, hooking her arm securely around the guards waist and stealing the key from her.
Trina unlocked the door and stepped through, dragging Jade toward the tub.. She set the girl on the edge of the tub and Jade grabbed the sides to keep from falling in, the glamour twitched and slowly faded away, revealing a bloodied and bruised face. Trina had found Jade first when the girls didn't arrive at the Inn on time. She was on the ground by a tree, having out run her attackers in a blind scramble to save her life.
Six had gotten the best of her and disarmed her, one grabbed her from behind and another beat her, to try and get whatever information about Tori out of her as they could, not expecting Jade to keep her mouth shut, as all royal guards were trained to do, "someone put a massive hit out against my sister."
"Yep." Jade groaned. Trina leaned over and filled the tub, Jade swatted the girl away, "go check on her, Trina, I can stay here and lick my own wounds. And where is Trick?" Trina stared at the guard for a moment, and Jade stared right back.
"Well if you want to die then that's fine." Trina declared, righting herself and marching out the door. A few minutes later it opened and Trick trotted in, followed by a freshly cleaned Tori. Jade still hadn't moved from her perch on the tub, her eyes were closed and her chin was rested against her chest.
"I said to leave me be, Trina."
Tori shut the door and locked it, walking over to the tub. She knelt in front of Jade and started unlacing her boots silently. Jade cracked open an eye and sighed heavily, too tired to fight Tori. Tori jerked off both of Jade's boots and helped her to her feet, pulling off her pants and then helping her yank off her shirt, Jade protesting with a loud growl when her sore shoulder twisted in the wrong direction. Tori then helped her into the tub and found a soft cloth to clean the dried blood off Jade's bruised face. Jade sighed, happy for the hot water soaking into her aching muscles.
Once the blood was cleaned from her face Tori could really see the bruises to Jade's cheek and the split lip and cut eyebrow, and the way the black bruising circled Jade's eyes, "you really should have been riding the horse, not me." Jade shrugged her good shoulder but offered no comment. Tori scowled at her but found a new cloth and some soap and handed it to Jade, before taking another cloth, soaking it, and laying it on Jade's bruised shoulder.
While Jade scrubbed her skin Tori knelt behind her and unbraided her hair, massaging soap into her hair and scalp. When she was rinsed Tori grabbed a towel and helped Jade out of the tub and over to the bed, Jade wrapped the towel around her and then collapsed onto the mattress on her stomach, completely exhausted. Trick jumped onto the foot of the bed and curled around her feet, "Go talk with your sister, I'll be alright." Jade said, "just gonna sleep."
Tori glanced at Jade and bit her lip, glancing at the door and then back to Jade, "alright." She kissed Jade's forehead and walked to the door, unlocking it and pulling it open. She paused when Jade called her name.
"Thanks." Jade whispered, "I'm glad you're okay." Tori nodded and watched Jade's chest rise and fall, slowly sinking into a steady pattern. Once she was sure Jade was asleep she slipped out the door, pulling it closed behind her and locking it with the key she'd stolen from Jade's dresser.
The song Tori & Jade sing is Touch the Sky by Julie Fowlis from the Brave Soundtrack.