Chapter 12- The fog begins to clear

Hey hey! Chapter 12 is up, and you may like to know this little fact. Remember what Myotisis say's to Ash about the Connection in this chapter, because I swear it will come back in chapters to come. Trust me on this.

Okay, Disclaimer: I do not own this. I do not make money out of this. I don't own Frodo, Legolas, Sam or Aragorn (WHY! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!) But I wish I did. This all begins to Tolkien, and Peter Jackson and their subsidiary areas.

Okay, less from me, more with the story all ready. Remember what Myotisis says to Ash about the connect though. I promise it has relevance to the story!

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'So, Myotisis, I see you are planning a trip to the shire...' said Aragorn.

'Yes my lord.' He said, eating another bite of the meal, 'I wish to find out about those known as hobbits..'

'BOY' shouted Legolas, and snapped his fingers at Ash. Ash felt angry, just for a moment, but then smiled sweetly and walked over to him.

'Boy, could you get me a cup of wine?' he asked.

'Yes sir.' He said, and returned shortly with a cup of blood red wine. Legolas took it, and sipped it.

'Is there anything else I can..' Ash stopped. He could feel himself get weak with a low throbbing pain in his head. He could feel his lungs tighten, as if he had been running, and a vague sense of drowning. His head, although throbbing, seemed to become as light as air, as he gasped out for breath.

He could feel everything around him become as if it was a fog. He put his head in one of his hands. He sighed, and then he could see it, in that moment between sleep and consciousness. He could see the room, a small girl's bedroom, richly decorated, and the sight of forget-me-nots growing by the windows. He knew what was happening now. AMETHYST!

Quickly, he got her out of her head. He felt himself send her his feeling. Of well being and health, but it was no use. He knew he had sent his own illness to her by mistake. He had wondered how he had recovered so quickly. * Fool * he though to himself, *How could you be so stupid! She's pretty delicate as it is, without you doing this to her! *

The worst thing was though, was that he could feel.. Something, or someone else there. They were watching her. They were watching her every weak move, thinking her every painful though, sharing, as he was, her every struggling breath.

He gasped loudly, and blinked. Something or someone had separated him from her. The connection had cut off abruptly, as if something didn't want him to be able to see her. He was back in the hall, swaying slightly. He blinked again, and then said, 'I'm sorry. Is their anything else you want?'

'Boy, what is wrong with you?' asked Legolas, 'Boy?'

Boy, Ash, Nymph of power, brother strength of the race, the yellow eyed one, swayed, just for a moment, and then stood tall. 'My Lord, I suffer from nothing but a broken heart.'

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Amethyst was swimming in a sea of tears, the salty water caressing her ivory white skin. She could see in the distance a boy; the yellow-eyed one, she had seen so often in her dream, the ones that were either visions of heavens or of hells. He swam towards her, and she tried to. She could feel herself drowning, as she tried to get closer to him. Her legs kicked helplessly, but she was getting closer and closer as she felt herself running out of breath slowly.

The yellow-eyed boy was close to her now, just a few feet away. His thin face, as pale as a cloud had a faint smile on it. The feminine pink lips looked so soft and touchable from where she was. He held his hand, and reached out for her.

She could see the sun, above the surface, shinning down on her in the dark blue, tearful water. She felt herself sinking into the dark waters, helpless. The yellow-eyed boy swam downwards, and she tried to kick when she realised that someone was pulling her down.

It was the black-eyed elf. She smiled at Amethyst, then she let go. Amethyst went up, in a flurry of bubbles. She could feel herself got closer and closer to the boy, and, soon, she was but millimetres away from him. He grabbed her by the ends of her fingers, but Amethyst felt herself being lifted. She was being pulled away from him, the warmth of his fingertip being dragged away from hers.

She suddenly realised that it was someone's arms under hers. She looked up. It was a man, with dark purple eyes, like the purple of thunderstorms or the purple of spilt regal blood. She was going up, and she could see Ash being dragged down by her, the elf with black eyes, grinning madly and taking some sort of sick pleasure in pulling him down slowly.

She could see his eyes wide open, the yellow orbs staring at her, almost crazy with pain. Air escaped his desperate lungs, as his tried to kick the elf off and swim back to the surface. She went through the surface of water, and was lifted up by the purple-eyed man.

She had never seen a man like him. He had fair hair, bone white, like his face. His long eyelashes, black and powerfully framed the purple eyes. They were a redder colour than hers, as hers were quiet bluish compared to his. He had pale, faintly pink lips, which were thin and harsh looking. His fair hair was shoulder length, and rubbed on her neck.

He lifted her far above the sea, and further and further and further. Amethyst would have been terrified if she hadn't felt so.. Exhilarated. She felt herself want more power like this, like she had felt at the party but a night ago. She wanted to rule the world, set all the wrongs right, and make people not want to harm her, or her father.

*All this can be your, * she felt in her mind, * All this IS yours. You are special. You can do this. *

She suddenly appeared in a room. It was white all over, so you couldn't tell where the floor ended and the wall started. This gave the disconcerting feeling that there WAS no wall, just room.

Then, she saw the man take a knife out of his belt. It was a long, thin hunting knife, like one she had seen earlier.

THWACK!

The sound of a knife cutting easily through flesh was heard, echoing through the place. She turned around. Behind her, her father's body lay. It was covered in his own blood, all over, criss crossing his body like a deranged spiders web. His bright blue eyes were red, and a faint trickle of bloody ran down from his now blue lips, slowly down his jawbone, where a faint splash echoed around the hall.

The purpled-eyed man passed the knife over to the woman, who thrust it into his body one more time. She looked up and smiled at the man, like a child looking for approval. Then she smiled at Amethyst, passing her the knife.

Amethyst watched this needless act and started to cry. She dropped to her knees and started to cry.

'NO!' she screamed, it echoing around the room, 'NOOOOOOOOOO!'

She wiped a tear from her eye in vain, and then lifted some of the black curled from Frodo's face. On it, like an ugly clown's face, the man had carved on some symbols on his perfect face. Amethyst cried, and then she felt herself drowning, drowning, and drowning.sinking far below the surface of a sea of tears.

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'Let me see to the boy!' said Myotisis, 'I am a healer, and should be able to solve any ailment he has.'

'He is but a servant boy!' started Legolas, and then the look Arwen gave him, shut him up.

Ash had been lain out in one of the spare bedroom, and the three elves had escorted him up the stairs before he had flopped onto the bed.

Myotisis leaned over him, and though, *What are you playing at ASH! *

*I'm not, * Ash thought back curtly, *I feel so ill.. Amethyst, it's her! Her illness affects me as well! She is near death! *

*Ash, break off the connection! * Myotisis though, *It is the only way *

Ash looked at him for too long. *NO! Amethyst, she is all I've got! *

Myotisis sighed. 'What are you doing Myotisis?' asked Legolas.

'Examining the patient.' He replied. Myotisis concentrated his though, *Ash, you have to remove yourself from her! * He though, * She's going to drag you down with her! One of you has to survive. *

*NO! If she dies, I'm dying too! * He shouted back over the thought space.

*Ash, this is MADNESS. *

*No it isn't. It's. *

'Myotisis!' said Legolas, 'What on earth do you think you're doing?'

Myotisis looked at Legolas. 'I am trying to find out what it wrong my Lord..'

'Oh, Myotisis, I'll do it!' he pushed the elf out of the way, and lent over the boy himself. He looked at him but for a few seconds, and said, 'He had some sort of illness that affects the heart and lungs.It might have been cause by overwork, or by staying out in the cold and wet for long periods of time.'

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'.. But I suggest that you keep her warm and hope for the best.' Said the healer as he packed up.

'Is that it?' said Frodo, 'Are you telling me my daughter is going to die?'

'Not exactly..' Said the healer, 'But the chances are slim, especially for a lass as.weak and delicate as your own. The only thing I can suggest is that if, and I mean if, she survives, I would not allow her out of my sight for much time. '

Frodo looked at the hobbit, with fear mixed with disappointment.

'But, ' said the healer realising that Frodo, even though he looked thin and weak, would rip his heart out at this moment if it could mean saving the lasses life, 'I have some medicine that might help her recover if she walk up. It's sort of help her body heat up and fight off whatever has affected her.' He gave Frodo a bottle of orange medicine and walked out, shutting the door behind him in a flurry.

Rose patted the hobbit on the shoulder. Frodo stood, looking at the door, with the bottle of medicine in his hand. He looked away, unable to show her his face.

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'Amethyst, please wake up!' shouted Frodo as Amethyst's pulse started to weaken. She sounded now as if someone was torturing her as she gurgled and coughed.

'Amethyst, please, this is serious. Please wake up!'

She let out a soft scream, as if something horrible was happening in her head. She gurgled again, and then her breathing was near to normal. Frodo stroked her head, pulling a few of her ringlets of her face, maybe as if it might be the last time he saw them.

'Amethyst, please gemstone, I love you. Wake up!' he felt something fall down his face, from his stinging eye. He touched his face to feel what it was. He felt a hot, salty tear droplet fall from his eye. His throat felt like he had swallowed a stone and his beautiful eyes stung with pain he had hoped never ever to come close to felling again in his life.

Now, Frodo had heard everything about how a good, strong hobbit shouldn't cry like a child, or it made you "feeble". He sat their, with a tiny child, dying slowly in his arms and wept, unashamedly, not caring who knew that he, Frodo Baggins, had more emotion than the brittle smiled he usually wore in public.

He let his face brush hers and kissed the child. His tear fell on her skin, making the ash white skin slightly less grubby, the little tracks falling down her own face.

'Come on Gemstone!' he whispered, 'I need you to live! You're the only thing that keeps me going on like this! I would have left long ago if you hadn't come into my life, like a little ray of light. Gemstone, if you die, you'll take a part of me with you. Please, I love you, I need you!' He let out a choked sob again.

'Please.' He whispered in a hoarse whisper, 'Please. I can't take this any more!' He placed the small child to his breast, and rocked her, as her pulse beat away, like the rhythm of life, dulled, but would never stop.

He wrapped a blanket around her and cried with her and rocked both of them. He kept on whispering to her, and weeping.

Then, after what seemed like the longest five minutes and twenty-six seconds in eternity, the pulse slowed down more, almost stopping. Her lips were starting to go paler and her long eyelashes that framed her beautiful eyes stayed shut.

'No, ' he whispered, 'NO!'

For a moment, that lasted forever and never, stretching over his entire time, the pulse stopped.

Then, slowly, he felt it start again, getting stronger and stronger. Amethyst's laboured breathing became softer, less like she was drowning. Although he knew nothing about medicine other than a few essentials, and nothing about those diseases of the heart and lung, he knew she was going to survive.

He lay her down softly on the bed, and lay with her, counting her every breath as they lay there together, almost breathing in sync.

He stroked her long hair again, and said nothing. He watched her face intently, waiting for something he could not possibly express in words or actions.

Finally, after a few seconds, her heavy eyelids lifted a little, enough to show him the purple eyes that shone like a flame in the darkness. The pupils were large and heavy, the lightening purple iris just visible. It looked to Frodo like a sun being eclipsed.

He didn't say anything, but looked at her, and how she had nearly died. He lent over and kissed her, hugging her gently. Amethyst lifted her head for a second, and smiled. Frodo smiled back and she put her head back on the bed. Amethyst was safe. She instantly fell asleep again.

Merry chose this moment to walk in. 'Frodo.'

Frodo sat up. 'Where have you been all day?' he asked.

'Err, just out and about. ' Said Merry, 'Looking around the Shire with Estella and showing her all our old haunts. '

Frodo smiled brittlely. 'I see. Good day? '

'Yeah. Estella seemed quiet interested. I think we might go home tomorrow. ' He looked up at the ceiling and said, 'this place hasn't changed much since the last time I was here. There are still lots of bedrooms, even with Sam's brood in here.'

'Hmm.' Said Frodo. His maimed hand stroked Amethysts ringlets and smiled.

'I heard the heeler leave just now.' Said Merry conversationally, 'Everything all right?'

'No.' said Frodo, 'Amethyst got worse, but I thinks she's on her way to recovery. ' Then put his head in his hands. 'I am such an idiot!' he whispered, 'I mean, she spent all night in the cold and wet, and I expect her to be all right! No one could survive, especially if they are like her.'

Merry seemed to understand. 'Oh.' he said.

'And why did she run off? Because she was frightened by herself. I mean, being frightened of her own self? ' He ran his hand through his curls, 'That's worse than me.'

Merry understood what he meant. Frodo, ever since Amethyst had become five, became almost paranoid about having these attacks. They made him feel out of control, like he had no control over his own body or thoughts. Merry conceded that this might be quiet frightening to him.

Frodo continued, letting everything come out of him. 'I mean, maybe you were right last night. Maybe she would be better off with her own parents. They would know what she is for one thing, and what to do with her. Maybe I should have looked better for them at the time.' Frodo sighed. ' I didn't think about yesterday earlier, maybe because I can't accept what she is. '

Merry sat down next to him. 'Now, look Frodo, ' said Merry with a mock tone of scolding him, ' you are not to blame for whatever happened last night, and neither is she. Her parents gave her away for a reason, and that was for her find better parents, and you have been a good parent. If they wanted her, they might have shown a little more concern for where she was, or let a note, or.. Anything.'

'But they did leave her something.' Said Frodo, 'The pendant. I have no idea what it means, or what it is, but I know its important. ' Frodo put his hand in his pocket and brought out the pendant he had removed from her last night.

It was, as Frodo had said, made of Amethyst, and looked like a droplet of water, but on it, it looked as if someone had scratched symbols onto the stone, and they told a story, or had a message.

'That's elfish!' blurted out Merry. Frodo looked at him. Merry seemed to realise something. 'You never read it?'

'It isn't ordinary elfish,' Frodo said, 'It's ancient, before the elves I reckon. ' He played with it in his hands. 'Well, I wouldn't want to know anyway.'

'Frodo, did you think any more on that lads night out?' asked Merry.

'Yes.' Said Frodo grinning again, 'And Maybe, if Sam goes. You know ale and me; it works rather fast on me. I'd rather not be the only one not drinking.'

Merry laughed, and patted him on the back. 'Frodo, that's half the fun being drunk!'

'And the other half watching me!' said Frodo gloomily, 'The last time I went out, after about a pint I was flat on the floor.'

'I have to admit Frodo, it was funny watching you get their.' Said Merry, almost laughing from the memory, 'I think you punched someone, and we all woke up in farmer Maggots field.'

'Yes Merry, ' said Frodo, as he watched Merry laugh, 'And do you remember what happened next?'

'Yeah, I got bitten by one of his dogs.' Said Merry matter of factually. Frodo gave him a look. 'So, maybe that wasn't a good example, but, well, Pippin and I miss you. '

Frodo smiled. 'I'm sorry Merry, but I still don't think it's a good idea. '

'Fro-do!' he said in a childish voice, 'It's not fair!'

Frodo sighed. 'Merry, the healer said that this is a very unstable time for Amethyst, so I won't be able to leave her for at least a week. When was this evening you were planning.'

'Err, next month?' asked Merry hopefully.

Frodo smiled at him, and stroked one of Amethyst's ringlets. ' Maybe, but I won't go until Amy's got better. I wouldn't want to leave her. '

Merry understood somewhat. 'So next month okay for you?' he asked.

Frodo laughed, and then said, 'Yes.'

'Right then!' said Merry, rubbing his hands, 'I'll see you then, and get Sam. We've got plans for him.' Then he got up, and walked out.

Frodo smiled again, and sighed. He lay down next to her again, breathing in synchronisation. The sun sank below the horizon and the sky went dark. Clouds covered the rising moon and by eight o'clock, both father and daughter were asleep, sleeping together on the small bed, breathing softly at the same time.

Later Amethyst woke up, and saw her father. His face was so sweet in the moonlight that came through her windows, and somehow, even his maimed right hand looked perfect. His body was warm and soft, and Amethyst was cold. She threw a blanket over him, and then snuggled in next to him, filling the space that his stomach would usually have filled, if he were like other hobbit.

Now, in the cold dark night, she was so glad he wasn't like other hobbits. For one thing, she wouldn't have had so much room. She slept, wrapping his arm over her.

He would protect her, nothing could hurt her when he was a round. Frodo, even later, rolled over in his sleep, and noticed her soft, sweet breath. He would have got up, and gone to bed, but he couldn't leave her, not like this. Not ill, and just scrapping death. He stroked a soft curl and promptly fell asleep. For this time, life was perfect. Just for a few seconds, and it was enough to last them a life time.

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'Is the boy up yet?' asked Legolas.

Myotisis shock his head. 'He'll recover, but he needs a little sleep. He's a lot stronger than he looks. All he needs is a little food.'

Legolas looked at him for a little too long. 'Is that all? He seemed quiet ill.' he asked.

'Yes. I can feel it.' Said Myotisis, * And Amethyst's recovering * He thought to himself, *so Ash will recover as a result. *

Legolas left it. Myotisis had taken a shift to look after the boy all night, as they had agreed. Myotisis got up and walked into the bedroom. Ash stood there, wearing the fine clothes he had worn last night, the fruit bowl empty. When he saw Myotisis, (closely followed by Legolas) he cried out, 'MYOTISIS'.

He ran and threw his arms around the elf, and hugged him hard. To Legolas's surprise, Myotisis held his arms around the boy and hugged him back, tears in his eyes.

'Myotisis, old friend, It has been a long while since I last saw you.' he whispered in the embrace.

'I as well old friend,' said Myotisis, 'And how I've missed you. How I've dreamed of embracing you.'

'Wait a moment, you know this boy?' asked Legolas.

'Of course he does!' said Ash, 'He's..'

'My Lord.'

'You know this boy?' asked Legolas again.

Ash looked guilty, but Myotisis said,' My Lord, I must explain, and it make take a little while to comprehend. The boy and I are not all we seem. We are those before the elves, before the Audiun, in fact, those at the same times as Valar himself. We are the nymph race.'

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Legolas sat down, waiting for all of this to make some sense. He recapped, 'SO, you and the boy are looking for someone in the shire that is a hobbit, yet not a hobbit, but a nymph like yourselves. '

'Her mother was killed by Saruman in the evil times, and her father left her mother for reasons that I don't know,' said Ash, 'She appeared to me in a dream when I was seven, and ever since I have been waiting to meet her. '

'I, I mean Ash and Myself, believe that she is the one of two.' Said Myotisis, putting his hand on Ash's shoulder.

'The one of two what?' asked Legolas.

'The Kathaerdous. ' Said Ash.' Myotisis believes that we two are the Kathaerd. '

'Kathaerdous?' asked Legolas.

'It is an ancient language, known only to those of the nymph race, and those associated with it. ' Myotisis put his head in his hand, 'Roughly translated, it means 'The beautiful and good peoples, ' or, as we see it, 'Saviours.' '

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This took much time for Legolas to understand, but he did as Myotisis and Ash asked. He asked Aragorn for the servant boy, even though he was ill and did not tell anyone about their real race.

So, as they travelled back to Mirkwood, Ash, travelling on a horse slept. To Legolas the boy never seemed to rest. His sleep was always interrupted with bitter dreams, making the boy unnerved. Myotisis didn't seem to take any notice of this. Legolas was coming fast under the impression that Myotisis was not as cheerful as he first thought.

He had somehow grown attached to Ash. They may have been unlike, but during his time of wakefulness, Ash seemed to be the sort who Legolas would love, and had loved. He couldn't begin even to try to compare Ash to anyone he knew. His sense of duty was much like Sam's, but his intellect was like that of Frodo, who he still dearly loved. His agility was like that of a young elf, and he had the same air of mystery of Gandalf.

Legolas had rarely seen Myotisis perform magic, and the sort Legolas had seen was elf magic, so Legolas was full of interest when Ash performed a few of the tricks he had performed at the circus, but of his own free will. He had done some in the evenings to entertain those they travelled with, but occasionally, just occasionally Legolas swore he saw tears in those big yellow eyes. As if Ash was in pain.

So, Legolas turned over in his wait for sleep. He looked into the dying embers of the fire, and saw the Ash was still awake, his thin bonish legs pulled painfully close to his thin chest. He looked into the embers, and a tear left his eye, dropping into the small fire. Legolas watched. He didn't know why, perhaps because he was too tired to get up, maybe because he wished to see they boy, but as he watched, he found out what it meant to have a broken heart.

Ash let himself cry, as he played with the Ash left over from the fire. It ran through his fingers like sand, and kissed it. Ash lay down, and then, Looking into the flames, said, 'Amethyst, I'm coming. Please, I'm coming.'

There was no sound. Ash said, 'I'm sorry I left you, I'm sorry. I couldn't..' No sound. 'Amethyst, I'll be able to see you for real soon, and we shall live happily together. Oh Amethyst, if only you knew how much I loved you!'

Legolas rolled over, not wanting to hear more. Later, the boy's sobs lessened, and he fell asleep. At this point, Legolas though he was never going to be able to sleep, when he saw something in the bushes. He sat up, and felt for his knife. He crept up on the bush, and then plunged the knife in.

He heard a whimper, and a beautiful black cat came out of it. The cat was as black as night and its eyes shone purple. Legolas felt relieved, then he felt compelled to stroke the small animal. He gingerly put his hand to the cat's back, and touched it. The cat purred at him and seemed pleased.

As Legolas stroked the cat, Ash seemed to wake up, focusing on the only waken figure. Then, he saw the cat. He felt unnerved, but then he saw the purple eyes.

All tiredness left Ash's limbs, and he got up, running. The cat hissed, as Ash got up, putting out its claws. Ash, his eyes suddenly burning bright, turned into the largest, blackest dog Legolas had ever seen. He roars loudly at the cat, making even Legolas quake. The cat yowled, and ran off.

Ash's eyes stopped shinning, as he turned back into a boy. He wiped his mouth, and Legolas looked at him with shock.

'What was that all about?' asked Legolas.

'I saw it.' Said Ash panting, 'I saw one of THEM!' he spat the word like a disease, 'One of the one's who wish to hurt Amethyst. '

'It was a cat!' said Legolas.

'No it wasn't,' said Ash,' it looked like a cat, but if it were a cat, I am the prince of Mirkwood!'

'But.'

'Think again Prince. Do many cats have purple eyes? I doubt it.'

Legolas looked down. He heard the noise of a man running, then changing into bird fluttering away, which was unusual for any time, especially at night. Legolas though. 'We must leave this place and head towards the Shire!' he said, getting up. 'Wake Myotisis. He will travel with us.'

'But Legolas, ' said Ash, 'It is night, and there is no moon. We have very few supplies, and on the route they're few people but timid hobbits. They would not help us.'

Legolas packed a bag. 'We must leave before anyone can find us. Ash, I have no need of food for a few weeks, you may have mine.'

'No, I need not eat. Amethyst will sustain me.' Said Ash.

Legolas put the bag on his back. 'We will take leave of this place and go before anyone knows what happened.'

'What about your people?' asked Ash.

'I have instructed them to return, with or without me. I shall leave a message for them that I left the trip abruptly because I received notice that an old friend became sick. ON!'

As Ash put his and Myotisis's bag on a horse, and woke the elf and left no sign being on the ground.

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*Ash, that was the trouble! * Thought Rex, * That boy got to her first! She will not trust us.*

Rex sat next to the fire in the castle. They had invaded it and taken it as their own, from the humans. It had been a cold place, but the nymphs could make nearly any place homely after a bit of effort.

Ebony came in, her long, red, tight dress dragging across the floor. 'My lord,' she asked, 'What is wrong.'

'Ebony!' he said, sitting up, 'You are done playing?'

'Yes my lord. Cerise doesn't play very well. She didn't last too long. Anyway, the lords' over us came to me. They told me.. Everything.. About her.'

'What sweetie pie?' asked Rex.

'She is the one you look for my lord.' She said,' She will lead us to glory, but only if we get their first. '

Rex jumped up. 'I heard them talking, they have already set off!'

'Yes my darling, but the Ash boy made our Kathaerdous ill. We must wait until she is stronger, or we may never know for sure.'

'How long must we wait?' asked Rex, 'I must know Ebony, darling, I must know how long I must wait before I can make us king and Queen.'

Ebony looked at him, 'My Lord, I would say two weeks, but I cannot be sure. Patient's is a virtue.'

Rex stood up, and walked to Ebony slowly, holding out his palm. Ebony did the same. As their palms met, they kissed. 'I would wait another aeon for my princess.' He said, and kissed her again. Soon the kiss turned sexual, and as Rex stroked her long black hair, he knew that they would be forever parted, until the Kathaerdous was able to join them, and separate him from the past.

He felt himself and Ebony become one. Finally, he could connect with her.

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Well, chapter 12 is over for another however long it takes me to write the next chapter. I hope you like it, and don't forget that no one wins when they take part in a butter eating competition.

Mmmmmmmmmm butter.