A/N: So this is pretty much the chapter that started it all... I do hope you'll like it. You may hate it... and that's okay too...
I love my reviewers, really, Somebody and Opera, you guys are the best. And all you people out there that read this as well... I know you're there... hehe... so thank you for reading. Oh, and everyone that has reviewed in the past, thanks so much for the encouragement!
Okay! Review Replies!
Opera ~ Thank you! I'm so relieved that you feel a connection with the characters, that has been my goal from day one. Because, really, if you don't love the people you're reading about then what's the point? Well, I hope you enjoy this chapter. Cannot wait for your next chapter! *nudge*
Somebody ~ Thank you so much for your generous and way too kind words! You are very welcome, I was honored to dedicate that chapter to you. Well, you wouldn't believe how old... really really old... I am... just kidding... I'm not really that old... I hope... *sigh* Happy Birthday Somebody's brother and sister! September is crazy for us... we have a gazillion birthdays and my brother's wedding is this weekend and I'm making the cake... ugh! I'm hyperventilating again... anyway... Okay, tips... umm... I dropped out of high school... but you probably shouldn't do that... your parents wouldn't like it very much if you did... so ummm... read... a lot. Pick some authors you really admire and read. And notice things, like the grammar and punctuation. Take note of the way they express emotion, what captures your attention, what parts you just want to skip over. Try not to get stuck in word ruts. I have a hard time with this, I want to use the same words over and over or the same phrases, use a thesaurus if you need to but try not to use crazy words that no one understands anymore... hehe... I hate it when I've got to look something up in the dictionary... it takes me out of the story... Test out the dialogue in your head, make sure it's really something your character would say. But yeah... mostly just read. C.S. Lewis, Terri Blackstock, Ted Dekker, Frank Peretti, Dee Henderson, Tolkien, Clare Dunkle (of course), Timothy Zahn (and every other Star Wars author), and Louisa May Alcott are some of my favorites but I could go on and on. I.. um... I love books. I am totally addicted to Stephenie Meyer... but she writes first person so I try not to emulate her... I think it takes an amazingly strong writer to write first person. So anyway... good luck with school! I really really don't envy you... hehe... I was home schooled and still... ugh... lol sorry... I digress... Have fun reading this chapter, it's for both you and Opera, because you guys are amazing!
I love my reviewers, really, Somebody and Opera, you guys are the best. And all you people out there that read this as well... I know you're there... hehe... so thank you for reading. Oh, and everyone that has reviewed in the past, thanks so much for the encouragement!
~Gwen
Chapter 12
Five years later…
Marak smiled gently at the woman snoring softly beside him. Five years today. He thought, wonderingly. He felt more and more in love with each passing day. The entire kingdom had fallen in love with Jadyn, they couldn't help themselves. She showed such interest in their lives, from sparring sessions with the guardsmen to construction projects with the dwarves, she genuinely enjoyed spending time with her subjects. She was compassionate, taking the captive human brides under her wing and making them feel at home. She empathized with them to the point of heartbreak, crying for them at night when she thought Marak was asleep. They had adapted, eventually, and she was able to find niches for them in society, helped them fit in.
His wife was brilliant. Her "exchange program" was in its final year, tonight being the graduation, and even though excited to be returning home for good and taking guard posts, the elf pages were sad to leave their goblin friends. Jadyn had done more for lasting peace in five years than the kings had been able to do in five hundred years. Marak the goblin king was incredibly proud of his wife.
His beautiful wife. She seemed to be growing more and more beautiful as the years passed. He stroked her cheek. My stars, she's radiant. He kissed her gently, smiling again as she stirred, blinking her eyes sleepily, her hair mussed. "Hey sleepy head."
"Hey." She whispered in her rough morning voice. She cleared her throat, pushing her hair out of her face. "Happy Anniversary." She pressed a kiss against his lips.
Marak grinned, grateful she'd gotten over her morning breath fear. His grin changed to one of concern as Jadyn gasped, rolling out of bed and staggering to the bathroom. "Jade?" He leaped out of bed after her, reaching the bathroom in time to see her emptying her stomach into the toilet. He grimaced as she groaned, resting her head against the bowl. Marak grabbed a washcloth from the cabinet and wet it, wiping her face gently. He handed her a glass of water.
"Thanks." She whispered, trying to push herself to her feet. The movement brought on another wave of nausea and she bent over the toilet again.
"Come here." Marak beckoned when she'd finished, gently pulling her into his lap. "Flu?" He mused to himself as he worked the locating spell. He gasped when the truth hit him. "Oh Jadyn!" He breathed, hardly able to believe it. He reached out again, just to be sure, and felt it, that little presence that was neither his nor hers but a little bit of both. "Jade, you're-- you're…"
"Throwing up?" She groaned, irritated.
Marak chuckled, shaking his head. "Pregnant, beautiful, you're pregnant." He laughed at the astonished look on her face.
"Really?" Jadyn shrieked, her face splitting into a wide grin. She rubbed her still flat stomach. "How do you know?" She muttered, calculating the days in her head. "You're right. My period is two weeks overdue." She twisted to throw her arms around her husband. "We're having a baby!"
"I take it you're feeling better?" Marak was too delighted to sound amused.
Jadyn snuggled into his arms, sighing contentedly. "Oh yeah."
XXX
"What's he thinking?" Jadyn asked, reclining on the couch with her husband, studying her stomach.
Marak closed his eyes, keeping his hands on her stomach and concentrated. "His thoughts are harder to discern than those of the average sentient. He's warm, content. I don't really understand the rest." He murmured, pressing a kiss on her belly. "We can't wait to meet you, little one."
"Nine months, right? So it should be-- March." Jadyn's smile was tinged with sadness. "My dad's birthday was in March, he would have loved meeting him. His first grandson."
Marak gathered her into his arms, even more gently than usual. "I'm sorry, Jade."
Jadyn shook her head. "It's okay, Marak, I'm over the worst of the grief, though I don't know how I would have done without you." She sighed. "Now it's just -- I don't know how to say it -- regret, maybe? Regret that he's not here to share this with us, that our son will never know his grandparents. Does that sadden you, also? You never talk much about your parents. Do you sometimes feel those twinges of sadness?"
"My parents have been gone a long time. Even though I was close to them, my father especially, I've had more time to get over their deaths. I never really think about the moments they aren't able to share with us because no goblin king gets to meet his grandson. We're gone before the next king even marries." He smiled. "You forget how much older I am than you." His smile faded as Jadyn's eyes welled up with tears. Marak reached over to brush away the tears trailing silently down her cheek. "You're crying." He stated, surprised.
"I'm sorry. I'm hormonal." She shrugged, trying out a shaky smile.
Marak eyed her suspiciously. "No, there's something else that's bothering you."
Jadyn leaned back against him, trying to sort through her feelings. "I don't like thinking about you dying." She admitted.
"It's inevitable, beautiful, we all have to die sometime." He squeezed her comfortingly. "Hey, I'm not planning on going anywhere for a long while, okay? I can't very well leave the training of our son to you, can I? You'll have him climbing rocks and eating nothing but brussel sprouts." He teased, relieved to hear her giggle.
A knock at their door cut off the scathing retort on Jadyn's tongue. Marak chuckled at the irritated expression on her face and waved his hand to open the door. "We'll keep our news to ourselves for now." He whispered as Faran entered, followed closely by four pages, two elves and two goblins. "Sire, Ma'am." He greeted them formally, bowing, the teenagers bowed as well, following his leading. Jadyn forced a smile on her face. This was probably her least favorite part of her new life. Apparently the King and his wife were not capable of dressing themselves for formal functions. It could be worse, they used to insist on helping her bathe as well. She grimaced inwardly at the memory.
Marak shot her an amused look. "At least he let us sleep in." He murmured, kissing her cheek and carefully helping her stand, her equilibrium seemed even more off than usual. Faran cleared his throat impatiently, bringing Marak back to the present. "Of course, Faran, today's schedule."
Faran rolled his eyes. Marak seemed even more distracted than usual today. He didn't really mind, of course, when Jadyn was the object of Marak's distraction. He was too thankful for his dearest friend's happiness to feel any irritation toward him. "Now I know it is your anniversary today," He held up a hand, forestalling any protestations, Marak was absolutely determined to follow all the important human traditions, including the celebration of the day of their wedding. "So I've arranged for you two to disappear after the banquet. There's not much need for you to be there when we trade back our students. I'm sure Aganir Aeron will not take offense at your absence. Happy Anniversary."
"Thanks, Faran." Jadyn grinned, teasing. "We were prepared for you to throw a fit about us leaving after the banquet. You're getting soft in your old age."
"Married life must be getting to him." Marak winked at her.
"Watch it, Marak, you're dangerously close to making me change my mind about letting you off the hook tonight." He warned, teasingly.
Marak's eyes widened in mock-terror. "Oh no, please, Faran. We'll be good, we promise."
The pages exchanged knowing glances. They had grown accustomed to the antics of the Goblin Kingdom's leaders. "Sire," One of the goblin pages interjected quietly. "We should be getting you ready."
"Of course." Marak grinned at Jadyn mischievously as he followed the two young men. "Have fun, my dear."
"Oh yes, you too, darling." She growled out playfully, sounding anything but affectionate, as she was lead away by her adoring pages. The beautiful elf page, Gracelyn, set to work on Jadyn's fingernails. She exchanged amused looks with the goblin page, Sarina, over the condition of the King's wife's fingernails. Jadyn pretended not to notice.
Aida came to her rescue a few hours later, Annie and Maggie tagging along for support. Jadyn had to hold back her laughter as they gently shooed the well-meaning pages out. "Thank you!" She exclaimed emphatically. When the young women had gone. "What took you so long?"
Maggie smiled apologetically. "We had to get ready first, of course. We came as soon as we could, Jada, when Faran informed Annie of your plight." She laughed softly. Everything about Maggie was soft and gentle. Her chestnut tresses fell in soft waves about her shoulders, her eyes a soft, unremarkable shade of grey-blue set in a gentle face. Even her body was soft. She was thin, but not athletic looking like Jadyn, just sort of straight and, there was no other word for it, soft. Maggie was the type of person everyone instantly liked and felt compelled to protect. She sat next to Jadyn, smoothed her pale blue dress, and began gently brushing Jadyn's wild hair.
"I doubt very much Faran's intentions were for us to rescue you." Annie's voice was laced with humor. "But we just couldn't leave you here to suffer." She winked at Jadyn. Maggie's best friend, Annie, could not have been more different. Annie was passionate, outspoken and brash. Much like Jadyn had been in her younger years. She was exotic, half Guatemalan, with her mother's stunning russet skin and thick glossy black hair. She kept her hair in short textured layers, the longest barely brushing her jaw line. She was a cosmetologist and favored streaking her hair with wild colors; today she wore a deep purple gown to match the chunks of purple in her hair. Jadyn tried not to envy Annie's perfectly curved body and would have laughed if she'd known Annie envied her lean athletic build. She perched on the counter, absently straightening a bobby pin as she considered how she would put up Jadyn's dark masses. "I don't see how you can handle having all that hair. The weight would give me a headache." She ran her fingers through the hip-length curls.
Jadyn shrugged. "Marak likes it long."
"I like it too." Aida jumped in, quick to defend her friend. She knew comments like that didn't bother Jadyn, but she was more sensitive and she couldn't help but get a little defensive for her. Aida was older than the others, in her early forties but still very beautiful, the simple pink dress she wore masked the extra weight around her thighs and hips and her straight, light brown hair hid the hints of gray well. Her stunning aqua colored eyes, large and framed with dark full lashes, were her defining feature. She was like a mother to Jadyn, equal parts friend and nurturer and Jadyn was eternally grateful for her support. "I'm going to figure out what you're going to wear, Jada, do you have a color preference tonight?" She asked, knowing the answer.
Jadyn snorted. "Do I ever have a preference?" She grinned. "As long as I can breathe in it, I don't care what you come up with, I trust you."
"I'm honored." Aida teased, then turned to Annie. "Can I trust you not to bring out the scissors while I'm gone?"
Annie laughed, her dark brown eyes twinkling. "Cross my heart…" She intoned, smirking. "I won't even trim it."
Maggie stood gracefully. "I'll come with you. I don't think I'll ever get tired of admiring that closet." She winked at Jadyn.
"You can have it." Jadyn muttered, amused as the two women swept out. She glanced in the mirror to see what Annie was up to. "No, no up-dos." She protested. "Can't we do something different? All those pins give me a headache."
Annie sighed, putting on her best martyr face. "But you have such amazing curls, Jada." She whined. "I would die to have hair like yours, it's perfect for this."
"Hah! You'd just cut it all off and you know it. I am not suffering through a headache tonight." She insisted stubbornly.
Annie sighed, her full lips pushing out into a pout, but acquiesced, leaving it down and began weaving jeweled combs into it instead, grumbling about stubborn King's wives as she worked.
XXX
Marak, Faran, Koal, and Brand found their wives enjoying the sunset on the terrace outside the royal apartments. "Are you ladies ready to go down?" Marak inquired, helping his wife to her feet.
"Sure." Jadyn leaned against him for balance as she slipped her heels back on, she pressed her face against his neck, inhaling deeply. "Mmm. You smell wonderful." She sighed, brushing kisses against his neck and shoulder.
Annie cleared her throat. "Do you think you could not do that? You're making me nauseated." She teased, taking Faran's arm and leading the party downstairs to the banquet hall.
The tables had been reconfigured in order for the ceremony to take place here in addition to the meal. Rows of long rectangular tables had been set up on the east and west sides of the room at a slight diagonal so that the rows formed a V pointing toward the head table, which was set up against the north end of the room facing the void area in the center. Marak guided Jadyn to her place at his right, next to Beorn. Faran sat at Marak's left, Annie next to him. Brand and Maggie sat with the other guardsmen and their wives and Koal and Aida sat with the other parents of graduating pages, an empty seat next to them for Landon after the ceremony.
The coming of age ceremony or 'graduation' as Jadyn called it, was simple, only the diversity in species made this ceremony stand out from the rest. The younger students, those not yet graduating came in ahead of the rest. All dressed in their page uniforms, several played music on both goblin and elvish instruments. The graduates followed behind. They stopped in the center of the room and stood silently as the final notes of the song died out.
Marak stood, grace and power rolling off him in waves. It never ceased to amaze Jadyn how powerful her husband's presence was. Marak winked down at her then turned to address the assemblage. "Pages, you may take your seats." He gestured the younger students toward the empty tables to the left, waiting until they had seated themselves to begin. "The young people standing here before you have trained and studied for five years. We've watched as they've grown from children to young adults." He turned his black gaze on the group standing before him. "We cannot be more pleased, nor more proud, of your achievements thus far. It is my wish that the friendships you've made these past five years, will last the next five generations, and beyond. United you are strong.
"Remember always that you are first, and foremost, servants. Servants to each other and servants to your people. As the next generation you have a responsibility. A responsibility to act for the good of your people, for the light, life, and love of your fellows. A responsibility to love truth. Lies do a grave disservice to your fellow man. Lies are a denial of the love and service you owe to all.
"Be reverent, young ones. Love your brothers and sisters, do not act with derision toward them. Revere the gift of life, appreciate that gift. Be generous. Generosity in spirit is just as vital as the generosity of possessions. Grant politeness, consideration, and respect to all. Strength of character is seen in the open-handed nature of the giver. Give more than is expected in all things.
"It is your duty, and your privilege to protect the weak among you. To give them as strong a voice as the rest of us. Lending strength and aid does not weaken the strong but rather strengthens the whole. A weak man feels the need to control, a strong man sets his fellows free. This is the greatest love.
"You have a responsibility to obey your king. To provide good service, one must obey. To subordinate one's own desires to those of your lord is to be serviceable and reverent towards one's oath. To sacrifice one's own interests for those of your lady, your lord or your people is love.
"You should be foremost in battle, protecting your brothers, regarding their lives above your own. You should be courteous at all times, champion of the right and good. You must love your kingdom and your people. Your word must be dependable and beyond suspicion, you should be above reproach.
"Above all, clothe yourselves in love. For love is from where all other strengths come." Marak smiled. "Kneel, Landon. Are you willing to take on the responsibilities and duties of a guardsmen and nobleman of the kingdom?"
"I am." Landon responded, his voice filled with confidence and anticipation.
"Then take this cloak. Know that in wearing it you will be looked up to as a symbol of strength and love." Marak draped the heavy black cloth over the young man's shoulders. He bade the young man to stand, pressing a sheathed sword into his clawed right hand. "Bear your sword with strength, never use it unjustly, but always to defend the just and right. Thank you, Landon for your commitment to the kingdom." He clasped his shoulder, his smile full of hope for this generation and the generations to come. Landon bowed, thanking his liege-lord and joined his parents at their table. Marak repeated the oaths for each of the students, varying it slightly for the elves and the ladies. When the last student had taken his seat Marak grinned widely, clapping his hands together, the rest of those assembled joined him in applauding the students. "And now, let us eat!"
XXX
"That went rather well, don't you think?" Marak asked his wife as they crept down the hall away from the noise and celebration of the banquet hall.
Jadyn took his hand, threading her fingers through his and winked at him. "Of course it did, it was my idea."
Marak laughed delightedly and bent to kiss her. "That it was, you brilliant human, that it was." Jadyn reacted to the kiss as she usually did, with quite a bit more enthusiasm than was acceptable in polite society. She growled softly, pulling his hair from the hair band and clutching fistfuls of it, cementing his head in place. Marak chuckled softly, glancing around quickly around the hallway to ensure they were alone and then returned her enthusiasm, with interest. He pushed her gently against the wall, picking her up easily to even out the height difference. Jadyn wrapped her legs around his waist, tearing her dress a little, so that it was slit up to her thigh. Marak groaned, running his hands hungrily up her legs.
A throat clearing interrupted them Jadyn blushed brightly, disentangling herself and smoothing her dress. Marak merely looked amused. He nodded at the passing courtiers then turned back to his wife. "How about we continue this, er, conversation in our quarters?"
Jadyn's voice was breathless as she responded affirmatively.
XXX
"Race you to the stables." Jadyn challenged.
Marak smirked. "Just don't get caught, we're supposed to be attending the elves' ceremony in the King's Camp, remember?"
"I remember. Ready set go!" She took off, Marak hot on her heels. He stayed just behind her, carefully measuring his much longer stride to hers until they came in view of the stables where he began running all out, quickly overtaking her. Jadyn skidded to a stop just inside the stable, laughing and gasping for breath. "You could let me win once in awhile, you know." She gasped out, clutching her sides.
Marak shook his head. "You wouldn't like that and you know it." He grinned at her. "But I'll saddle your horse for you to make up for it."
"Nah. Just take care of your own horse, no need to coddle me." She lead her large quarter horse mare into the aisle, and began brushing her glossy sorrel coat quickly. "That's a good girl." She crooned, carefully placing the saddle pad on her back, then reached for the heavy saddle only to find Marak had beat her to it. "What are you doing? I said I had it." She protested.
"You're pregnant, you shouldn't be lifting heavy things like this." He kissed the top of her head affectionately.
Jadyn opened her mouth to argue, than reconsidered. "You're probably right about that, but the saddle wasn't that heavy." She slipped the bit into Nutmeg's mouth, and fastened the bridle as Marak checked the girth.
Marak sighed. "Are you really going to be difficult over this?"
"Nope." Jadyn grinned. "Lets ride."
The moon was a small crescent as they rode together through the forest. Their pace was leisurely as they talked. Marak was focused on listening to the feedback in her mind. Enjoying the feelings of joy, love, peace, and contentment. He wasn't listening for danger, having been lulled into a sense of security by tonight's events and so was taken completely by surprise when danger presented itself. Without warning Jadyn's mare bolted to the side causing her to lose a stirrup. The horse seemed possessed as it bucked and reared, finally throwing Jadyn who had been caught off guard, not expecting trouble from the normally docile animal.
Marak's heart seized as he saw his wife fall in front of the crazed horse, it's hooves narrowly missing her as it took off into the forest. "Jadyn!" Marak leapt from his horse and rushed to her side. Jadyn was pushing herself to her feet when he reached her. "Where are you hurt?" He inquired anxiously.
"I'm fine." She insisted, brushing leaves from her jeans. "Crazy horse." She muttered, embarrassed.
Marak was about to insist on heading back when several figures emerged from the underbrush. Time slowed and he saw and understood everything in exquisite and terrifying detail. The graceful figures were elves, young Liam and his nurse Mara, accompanied by several members of the guard. A horrifying thought struck his mind and he suddenly knew that the old elf woman, Mara, had worked a spell on Jadyn's horse with the intent of injuring or killing his wife.
He saw Mara's lips moving, her hands outstretched to the Nameshda constellation, her eyes focused on Jadyn. Marak moved with astonishing speed, throwing Jadyn behind him and working a spell of his own. The King's Wife Charm reanimated and struck Mara, paralyzing her before she had a chance to complete the spell. Marak's spell reached Mara's still form, killing her instantly. He held Jadyn behind him, shielding her with his body. The guards reacted as Marak expected them to, but he dealt with them easily. They were a distraction, however, and he didn't notice the look on Liam's face when he killed the old elf.
With a cry of rage, Liam launched into a spell, drawing on his own great power and Mara's teaching. Mara had been a descendant of the warrior clan and she had taught him the Nameshda killing spell. A spell not often used and certainly not taught to children. Marak was unprepared for the attack to come from that direction and had no time to defend against it. The spell hit him, knocking him back against Jadyn who collapsed under his weight. The young elf prince, Liam, looked startled at the carnage around him, the dead guards and the goblin king bleeding out onto the soft grass, his wife frantically trying to staunch the bleeding. He gasped, stumbling back into the forest, and ran.
For Jadyn it all had happened so fast. One moment they were riding peacefully together, enjoying the cool evening, the next Marak was lying on the ground bleeding from dozens of wounds. She remembered falling from her horse, seeing several elves step out of the forest. She remembered Marak pushing her behind him, killing the old woman and the guards with words. She shuddered as the images assaulted her, Liam's lips moving silently, his head flung back, staring at the sky with eyes too hard to belong to someone so young. She saw again what seemed to be a mist with dozens of sharp points, each point driving deep into Marak's body, leaving gaping holes. Marak had collapsed then, bringing her down with him, landing on the lush forest floor.
There was so much blood, it was everywhere, pooling on the ground, smeared on her shirt, her hands, her face, as she vainly tried to stop the bleeding. Marak groaned, pain filling his eyes. "Jadyn." His voice sounded like sandpaper. "Jadyn, are you hurt?" He asked frantically, working the locating spell, his face tightening with the effort.
"Stop it! Stop worrying about me, I'm fine." Her voice was shaking. "What can I do, do you need anything to work the healing spells?" She racked her brain, trying to remember what he'd done when she'd been injured. She'd been unconscious for most of it, but she remembered creams. "The creams! Are they in your saddlebag?" She didn't wait for him to answer, lurching to her feet she glanced around frantically for his horse.
Her heart stopped. The horse was gone. "No." She whimpered, kneeling by his side. "The horse is gone." Marak didn't respond, he knew he didn't have the strength to heal himself, not without the salves, but perhaps he could work the protection spell on her. She would need it when he was gone, the King's Wife Charm would leave her when he died. He gathered his strength, ignoring her frantic pleas. When the spell was finished, he barely had the strength to open his eyes. Jadyn's frantic voice, hoarse with emotion and tears pulled him out of his daze. "Marak, what do I do?"
Marak opened his eyes with an effort and reached a trembling hand up to cradle her face. "There's nothing more you can do, beautiful. I'm just glad you're safe." His hand dropped, his eyes closing involuntarily. "She didn't know, she thought she'd won, that this was the end."
Jadyn panicked at the drowsy, confused tones. "What didn't she know?" She asked, frantically trying to keep his mind occupied, trying to keep him awake.
"That you were pregnant. She thought she ended us." Marak smiled weakly, his face a sickly grey color. "She was wrong. Our son…" He forced his eyes open, forced his hand to grasp hers. "Our son will be a strong king." He squeezed her hand weakly. "I love you, my Jade, my precious jewel. Forever and always, I love you."
Jadyn bent her head to kiss him gently, her tears falling, splashing off his skin, mixing with the blood and dirt. "I love you. Marak, I love you more than my life." She choked down a sob, forced her lips to curve upward. "You can't leave, who will keep me from making our son eat brussel sprouts, remember?" Her façade crumbled, her sobs wracking her body, making it impossible to breathe. She cradled his head in her lap, stroking his hair. "Stay." She begged as his eyes closed again, as she felt him grow slack. "Stay." She pleaded as her husband's life drained from him, joining the growing pool of blood and tears on the ground beneath them. "Stay." She whimpered as she prayed for help.
