A/N:Again, this is kinda mushy. It doesn't do anything decent to advance the plot, but I felt that it would be good anyway, since it expresses how Ridley really felt when Zane was saying his last few words. It's also really, REALLY short.
Chapter Twenty Nine
- Be Strong -
Lord Zane was gone. Jack didn't know exactly what to feel, so he kept to himself. Ridley was another story. As soon as Lord Zane's last breath had been spent, Ridley ran away to the Ressan tree. She was unable to contain her feelings, her emotions.
She sat under the Ressan tree, face buried in her arms. She cried. Cried and cried. Her tears ran down her cheeks like an overflowing river. Another one dead. Another innocent creature. An innocent light elf. The sound of footsteps came running towards her, growing louder as time passed. Soon, Jack sat beside her, concerned.
"Ridley, are you alright?"
She shook her head. Obviously, she wasn't alright.
"Ridley... Ridley, be strong. Don't cry, please." he pleaded. But she couldn't help it. She just had to let go of the strong emotions she felt. "Ridley, please." Even as Jack pleaded on and on, she couldn't. She wiped her face, her eyes red from the tears. She was becoming very fragile, losing her strong personality. The personality Jack knew and liked about Ridley. Jack felt helpless. He didn't know what to do to comfort Ridley. "Ridley, come on, don't cry..."
He held her close, wiped her face gently with his hand. He wanted to comfort her, he really did. He cupped her face with his hands and pulled her into a short, soft, kiss. Pulling away, his eyes were full of concern.
"Please, Ridley, be strong. Don't cry, please. This isn't like you. Just... c'mon, be brave." He kissed Ridley again, just to make sure she would really be comforted. Ridley nodded. For Jack, she'll try to be strong. She will. "For you, Jack. I'll try, at least, to be strong."
