CHAPTER THIRTEEN: THE CEREMONY

Now safely away from the crumbling palace, Morio, Jasmine and Jarred began to notice some changes to the Valley. They watched as the fog slowing disappeared and the animals returned. They also watched as the transparent subjects were revealed to be all the foolish pirates and crooks who had come seeking fortune.

They had all agreed that they would not rest until they were safely out of the Valley and hidden in a nearby forest. It took them a few hours to get out of the Valley to shelter, seeing as Jarred was still carrying the ex-guardian, but when they did, an overjoyed Filli and Kree came rushing towards Morio who greeted them warmly.

That night, as they sat around a small camp fire, the hermit awoke and abruptly sat up, looking at the companions.

'Are you alright?' asked Jasmine.

'Thanks to you I am,' he replied with a sincere bow of his head.

'You're not really King Endon, are you?' asked Morio.

'No, I am not. My name is Fardeep. I was once a rich and respectable man, but I was no king. I was just the keeper of an inn in a place called Rithmere. Bandits invaded the town. My family was killed and my inn was taken from me. The Shadow Lord, it seems, had a use for it.'

'Could you be speaking of the Champion Inn?' asked Jarred.

'Yes.'

'Why did you make us believe that you were King Endon in the Guardian's game?'

'The Shadow Lord wished that anyone seeking the Diamond to think that the King had deserted them so they would despair and lose any hope to free Deltora from his rule.'

Jasmine gasped.

'Barda knew,' she said. 'Remember the warning he gave us? Even if you do find the Diamond, it will only bring you despair. He knew the answer.'

'If he knew the answer, then why didn't he tell us?' Morio exclaimed angrily. 'He would have saved us a lot of effort, not to mention minimising the risk of us being trapped there forever!'

'I'm sure he had his reasons,' Jarred said quietly, before turning to Fardeep. 'What will you do now? Do you have anywhere to go?'

'I'm afraid not, but I'm sure I'll think of something,' replied Fardeep, confidently.

'Why don't you come with us to Tora?' Morio suggested. 'I'm sure Zeean and the other Torans would welcome you.'

'I think I will.' Fardeep smiled at him.

The next morning Morio, Jarred, Jasmine and Fardeep made their way back to Tora. The journey was actually quite easy due to the extra member of the party. They didn't get a second glance.

A week later they arrived at Tora and were welcome with open arms. The Torans were all delighted to see that Jarred, Jasmine and Morio had all returned safely, but none of them were as thrilled as Zeean, who immediately embraced Morio and then Jasmine and Jarred.

'I'm so happy you have returned safely,' she said.

'So are we,' said Morio, before introducing Fardeep. 'Zeean, this is our friend Fardeep. We were wondering if you would be able to let Fardeep stay here. He has nowhere else to go.'

'Of course he can. You can even stay with me until we can find a house for you.' Zeean smiled, before ushering them all inside her house for something to eat.

That night, Zeean introduced the companions to Marilen, the only known Heir after Prince Lief. She was a gentle young woman with great dark eyes. She was also the girl Jasmine had spoken with when they had first arrived at Tora with Dain.

After the introductions were made, Jasmine removed the Belt and placed it around Marilen's waist. Nothing happened.

'That was spectacular,' Morio commented sarcastically.

'Shut it, Morio,' Jasmine snapped.

'Maybe we need to have the approval of all seven tribes,' Fardeep suggested. 'Just like when they gave Adin the gems.'

'Fardeep may have a point,' Zeean mused. 'If we can find someone from each tribe to swear loyalty to the Heirs of Adin, then maybe the Belt's full powers will be returned.'

'It's a plan,' Jarred sighed. 'What have we got to lose?'

'Time?' Morio suggested. 'We could just be chasing a fairy tale.'

'Oh aren't we Mr Optimistic?' Jasmine said sardonically.

'No, I'm being realistic.'

'We don't have time for this,' Jarred said, preventing an argument from erupting and coming back to the topic at hand. 'Well, we've already got the Del and Toran tribes,' he said, 'and we know the Dread Gnomes and Ralads. So that only leaves the Plains people, Mere folk and Jalis.'

'I am from the Mere tribe,' Fardeep informed the occupants of the room.

'That means we only have to get messages to Gla-Thon and Manus,' said Jasmine, getting excited. 'They will surely help us, but how are we to find the Jalis and Plain.'

The occupants fell silent, thinking, though five minutes later their thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door.

Curious as to whom it was, Zeean got to her feet and went to the door. The friends sat there listening intently.

'Barda! Dain! What a pleasant surprise! Do come in!' they heard Zeean exclaimed ecstatically. 'What are you doing here?'

'Sorry for the intrusion, Zeean, but we were in the area and were wondering if you have heard any news from Morio, Jarred and Jasmine,' replied the voice of Barda.

'Why don't you see them yourself?' They could all tell that Zeean was smiling from her tone of voice.

Moments later, she reappeared followed by Barda, Dain and Steven.

'Jasmine! Morio!' Dain hurried over to them with a huge grin on his face.

'Hi, Dain.' Jasmine got to her feet and hugged him, while Morio merely nodded to him.

Barda glanced around at the occupants in the room. When his eyes fell upon Fardeep, his face darkened.

'You!' he snarled, reaching for his sword.

'No!' Jasmine's hand grabbed his, preventing him from using his sword. 'Barda, this is Fardeep. He is no longer the Guardian. He is not our enemy or yours.'

'You have much to explain,' Barda muttered, putting his sword away.

'As do you,' Morio said harshly. 'Why didn't you tell us that the answer to the Guardian's game was Endon?'

'Because I believed that he was the King,' Barda admitted. 'And I thought it better to never let anyone learn what had truly happened to their King. They had suffered enough. Far better, I thought, to let them believe he was dead.'

'Then you played into the Shadow Lord's hands,' Morio said quietly.

Barda flinched before turning to Jarred.

'Did you succeed in the quest?'

'Yes and no,' replied Jarred. 'We have acquired all the gems; we just have to unite all seven tribes. So far with had the Del, Toran and Mere tribes present and we have two candidates we need to get messages to for the Ralads and Dread Gnomes. The other tribes we are clueless.'

'There I can help you,' said Barda. 'Steven is from the Plains and Glock is from the Jalis tribe.'

'We can't have Glock!' Morio said at once.

'Then you cannot have the Jalis' for he is the last of his tribe… at least as far as he and I know.'

'But –'

'No buts, Morio,' Zeean interrupted calmly, placing her hand gently on his shoulder. 'Whatever this Glock is like, we must ask him to join us. Where is he now?' she added to Barda.

'He's at Withick Mire, a Resistance stronghold near Del,' Barda replied with a sigh. 'I had to send him there because he was causing trouble. Withick Mere is less – confined. I believe that would be the perfect place for us to meet as no one in their right mind goes there willingly.'

'Sure, but how will we get the messages to Gla-Thon and Manus?' asked Jarred.

Kree squawked in Morio's ear.

'Kree says that he will take the arrowhead the Dread Gnomes gave us to Dread Mountain and inform them of our plan,' Morio informed his companions.

'How will he inform them?' asked Dain. 'No one except you and animals can understand him.'

Morio shook his head.

'The Kin can understand him too.'

'Well that's Gla-Thon taken care of,' muttered Jarred, 'but what of Manus?'

Barda looked at Steven, who nodded his head.

'The bees can take a message to him,' he said. 'There are many benefits of being the son of Queen Bee.'

'Indeed there are,' Barda agreed.

-THE PRINCE OF DELTORA-

After much discussion and tactful planning, the messages were sent and the friends broke up into small groups and made their way to Withick Mere. Morio, Jarred and Jasmine ended up travelling in the back of Steven's caravan. While it was the safest place for the three companions, it was also not the most enjoyable ride. Due to all of Steven's stock, they were practically sitting upon each other to fit in the back. Filli was to only one sitting comfortably due to her size.

Even though Steven's caravan was theoretically the safest place for them, they ended up being injured. When they were nearly at Withick Mere they found their path blocked by Grey Guards. So, while Steven distracted them, the companions snuck out the back of the caravan and made for some nearby hills. However, to get to the hills they had to make their way across some Gripper fields. Unfortunately, they didn't know what Gripper Fields were which resulted in Jarred being attacked and seriously wounded.

Jasmine, of course, was hysterical, especially when she couldn't wake her unconscious father currently covered in his own blood. Thankfully, the two teenagers managed to get him safely away from danger and minutes later, Steven came and rescued them. He then rushed them to Withick Mere and when they arrived, Jarred was rushed inside and was surprisingly tended to by Glock.

During Jarred's several days healing process, preparation was underway for the ceremony. Resistance members could be seen clearing out the room the ceremony would be held in while Manus, Nanion and Gla-Thon arrived. And then the day of the ceremony arrived.

-THE PRINCE OF DELTORA-

The Belt ceremony was about to begin. The Resistance members sat anxiously in the shadows of the back of the room. Doom stood in the darkest corner while Dain sat amongst the other Resistance members, his young face eager with another unknown emotion playing in his eyes. Nanion was also sitting among the Resistance members.

At the very front of the room, directly in the centre was a table covered with purple cloth. On the table laid the mighty Belt of Deltora with all seven gems reflecting the candle light that lit the first half of the room. Also in the first half of the room, seated in a semi-circle around the Belt, with their backs to the Resistance, sat Jasmine, Glock, Steven, Gla-Thon, Zeean, Fardeep, and Manus. Each of them sat there representing the seven tribes; the Del tribe, the Jalis tribe, the Plains Folk, the Dread Gnomes, Torans, and the Ralads. All of them were honoured to be given such a momentous task. They were also very nervous and excited about what they were about to do.

Jarred, who had recovered from the Gripper Fields, thanks to Glock's medicine, stood at the front and to the side of the representatives. Morio stood half hidden in the shadows, looking thoughtful and looked as though he was debating about something. Dain stood next to him, his face expressionless. Marilen, however, stood next to Jarred, trembling with excitement and nerves. If everything went as planned, she was likely to be the next Queen of Deltora. It was both an honour and a burden. Barda stood at the back of the room leaning against the wall with Min sitting in a chair next to him.

'Alright then, I think we're ready to proceed with the ceremony,' Jarred began. 'Representatives of the seven tribes, we are gathered here today to pledge an oath of allegiance to Adin's Heir and the future of Deltora. It is written in The Belt of Deltora, that each gem has a power of its own, but together they create a spell far more powerful than the sum of its parts could ever be. In other words, only when the seven tribes combine, like their gems, can the next Queen take her place and rid us of the Shadow Lord.

'Now, when your name is called, please approach the Belt and place your hand on your tribe's gem,' Jarred continued. 'Representing the Plains People… Steven.'

Steven got to his feet, shaking ever so slightly, and walked over to the Belt of Deltora where he placed his large hand gently upon the Opal.

'Representing the Ralads… Manus.'

Just like Steven, Manus got to his feet nervously and walked over to the Belt, only he placed his small blue hand on the Ruby.

'I cannot believe this is happening,' he said. 'The people of Ralad believe. We believe in the power of the Ruby.'

'Zeean, tribal leader of the Torans and grandmother to Prince Lief,' Jarred said calmly.

Zeean stood up gracefully and made her way to join Steven and Manus. She gently placed her hand on the Amethyst.

'Great Amethyst,' she said, 'please leaned us your powers tonight.'

'Glock, the last of the Jalis,' said Jarred.

Glock did not move. Instead, he was looking down sadly.

'Glock?' Jasmine said quietly.

'I was the only one who survived as my tribe tried to defend this land when the Shadow Lord invaded,' he said quietly, his gruff voice full of emotion. 'Why me, I will never know. I was just a simple warrior, not a leader of men. I only wish the others were here.'

He then broke down quietly.

No one knew what to say, except Morio, surprisingly.

'But they are here, Glock,' he said quietly. 'They are here within you, and I'm sure that they are watching over you as we speak. I may not know much about your tribe, but I figure that they would want you to remain strong, like the mighty Jalis warrior you are… to be strong like your gem.'

Glock looked at him, before nodding his head and confidently standing up and marching over to the Belt of Deltora.

'I shall never forgive the Shadow Lord,' he declared as he placed his hand on the Diamond.

'Gla-Thon, granddaughter of the Dread Gnomes tribal leader, Fa-Glin, and future tribal leader,' said Jarred when he was sure Glock wasn't going to say anything else.

With her head held high, Gla-Thon proudly joined the other representatives around the Belt and placed her hand on the Emerald.

'Representing the Mere tribe… Fardeep.'

Just like those before him, Fardeep went and placed his hand on his tribe's gem, the Lapis Lazuli.

'Lapis Lazuli, we ask you for your divine protection,' he said.

'And representing the Del tribe… Jasmine.' Jarred's face was alive with pride as he watched Jasmine walk forward. He had never been prouder of her. She had grown much since she ran away from home to join him on the quest for the Belt of Deltora.

'Zeean will now say the oath,' said Jarred.

'As the representatives of the seven tribes, renew our ancient vow to unite under the power of the Belt of Deltora,' Zeean said quietly. 'We pledge our allegiance to Adin's rightful Heir.'

'We swear,' the other representative said as one.

The moment the words left their lips, the Belt began to glow brightly, emitting a bright pure blue light. Everyone in the room gasped. They could not believe their eyes.

It then began to grown warmer and eventually, the representatives had to pull their hands away as the steel was too hot for them to touch.

'The Heir is definitely in this room,' Jasmine said happily. She smiled over at Zeean before grinning over at her father.

'Marilen, would you step forward please,' Jarred asked the young lady next to him.

She nodded, and taking a deep breath, she went and stood at the front of the room. Zeean picked up the Belt of Deltora and began to walk towards the young Toran. Her eyes were filled with tears of joy… and sorrow. Once before Marilen, she carefully placed the Belt around the Heir's waist and waited. Nothing happened. The Belt did not recognise Marilen as the rightful Heir.

'How can this be,' Zeean muttered. 'Marilen is the only Heir after Lief. The only reason it would not glow would be if Lief was still alive, which he is not.'

'Maybe he is,' Jasmine said quietly.

Everyone turned to look at her, but she ignored them. Her eyes were on one person and one person only; Morio.

'I think there is a reason why you look like Lief, Morio,' Jasmine told him quietly. 'I think you are Prince Lief.'

Morio just stared at her before he burst out laughing.

'Yeah, nice one, Jasmine,' he laughed.

'I'm being serious.'

Morio abruptly stopped laughing.

'I'm not him,' he said firmly. 'Do I look and sound like a Prince to you? My education is next to nothing. I am more at home is a forest than a building, and you know, I might have lost my early memories, but I think I would remember the little detail of being a Prince!'

'But how do you know that?' Jasmine argued.

In the background, Marilen placed the Belt of Deltora back on the table. Filli, jumped off Morio's shoulder to have a look at it.

Morio did not reply.

'Think about it, please! Prince Lief was thrown out a window and the last thing you remember is falling from the sky. What if, by some miracle, you were somehow taken to the Forests of Silence –'

'Jasmine, stop it,' Morio interrupted. 'Do you even hear what you are saying?'

'She has a point, Morio,' Jarred said pointedly.

'Look, I'm not Lief!' Morio snapped, finally losing his temper. 'And you know what else? I don't want to be a Prince or King! In saying that, I am returning back to the Forests of Silence.'

'What? Why?' Jasmine could not believe what she was hearing.

'You knew that this day was going to come,' said Morio, his voice softening ever so slightly. 'I have helped you find the seven gems as the Elder Tree said I should, but now it is time for me to return home where I belong. Before I go, I will give you this one piece of advice; you should give up now while you still can. Deltora does not need another pathetic King or Queen. Come on, Filli.' He held out his arm for the small creature who immediately ran to him. He then picked up his bag and left the building.

Everyone just stared at the door he had just exited through.

'I can't believe that he is gone,' Jasmine said sadly, absently grabbing the Belt and putting it back around her waist.

'Jasmine, we knew that there was always a chance that Morio would return to the Forests of Silence,' Jarred replied desolately.

'What do we do now?' Manus asked quietly. 'Who will wear the Belt?'

'In a few nights time is the annual Deltora Festival in Del,' Min answered thoughtfully. 'Maybe the Heir is located there.'

'So what do you suggest we do?' Glock inquired. 'Go around randomly putting the Belt around people's waists?'

'What other choice do we have?'

'Maybe Morio was right,' Nanion muttered. 'Maybe we have put too much faith in the Belt of Deltora.'

'I don't believe that for a second!' Jasmine replied fiercely. 'The Belt is the key. We just have to find the right lock.'

Azaelia Silmarwen facebook page: link on profile
Written: 3 December 2012
Updated:
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