An- From Jane! I just want to say that if anyone who reads this fortunate to live in Paris is insanely lucky and I LOVE your city!!!

Chapter 34

"Oh my God…" Jane breathed. She sat up in bed, letting the thousands of emotions that she was feeling rush over her. Sadness, anger, shame, embarrassment… she shivered, and not because she was cold.

She slipped out of the bed, taking the blanket with her and wrapping it around her naked body. She grabbed her underwear and bra and put them on as quickly as she could. Elijah watched her from the bed, taking in her hurriedness and obvious distress.

"Jane…" He got out of bed and walked over to her. "Come on, it's not that bad"-

"Not that bad?" Jane turned on him, in the middle of pulling on her pants. "Yes! Yes, Elijah, this is…more than just bad…this is terrible." She actually looked at him; He was naked, which yesterday would have definitely turned her on. Now, it hardly fazed her. She grabbed his underwear off the dresser and tossed them to him. "Here, put some clothes on."

He silently obliged and put on his underwear while she pulled on her pants. "I have to go." She said hurriedly.

"Where are you going?" His eyebrows furrowed in concern.

"I'm going back to my house." She turned to go out the door, but stopped when she felt his hand grab her wrist. Not hard, but firm enough to make her turn around and look at him.

She let him pull her body around to face him. "Jane." He spoke calmly, "Please, just stay here. We can figure this out together…"

Jane stared into his eyes. They looked calm on the outside, but she knew him well enough to know that he was really hurting because of this. The only reason he wasn't showing it was because he didn't want to make her even more upset than she already was.

"No, Elijah, I can't stay." Jane whispered. She kissed his cheek. "I have to go home."

Jane turned to leave, but she stopped and gripped the doorframe. She didn't turn around, but turned her head to the side to speak to him.

"And please, don't follow me."

L.l.l.l.l

When Niori came across Jane, who was sitting cross legged on her small bed with tears welling out of her eyes, she paused in the doorway and was considering turning around and heading the other way. She didn't have the time, because before she could turn, Jane had looked up and realized she was standing there, and there was no getting away.

She knew why Jane was upset, and she wanted to comfort her and try and make it right, but she didn't know if she could; Niori was so messed up that she wasn't sure that she could help other people with their problems.

"I'm such an idiot Niori…"

Niori didn't want to say it, but she had to agree; it wasn't Jane's fault that she loved Elijah, because you just cannot choose who you fall in love with, but keeping it a secret was beyond stupid.

Erin would have had a hard time dealing with it if they had been forthright, but they had to go sneaking around, and that made it not only hard, but betrayal.

"You did make one hell of a mistake," Niori admitted finally as she moved into the room and took a seat beside Jane.

"I should have never let myself…" Jane murmured, her voice guilt racked, "I knew that I shouldn't have cared about him…"

"That's not the mistake I was talking about," Niori spoke softly, which caused Jane to look up at her in confusion, "having feelings and being with Elijah wasn't wrong; it's how you did it that was a mistake. You snuck around like it was some torrid, naughty affair."

"I'm such a slut…" Jane moaned, and despite herself, Niori burst out laughing.

"Jane please! You lost your virginity to this guy and what, slept with him a couple times?" Jane nodded her head shamefully, "Unless you've been sleeping around with other guys I don't know about, you're still one of least slutty people that I know. Besides, I know what I'm talking about; I fit the definition of slut perfectly."

"But I feel like I am!" Jane cried in despair, "My good God, I slept with Erin's son! I enjoyed having sex with Erin's son!"

"Last time I checked, enjoying sex isn't a crime," Niori replied calmly, "and sex is fun…as long as the two people having it want to have it, then you're supposed to take pleasure in it. Why do you think I hav-had it so much?"

"But you never had sex with one of your best friend's son!"

"No," Niori spoke, her voice serious, "but I did sleep with a couple of Erin's exs, one of which she was still hung up on…which I hadn't known that beforehand by the way," Jane's eyes widened in surprise; she hadn't known about those guys, "and she was furious at me, and I guess she had the right to, but she finally saw that I wasn't with them to hurt her, so she got over most of it. Obviously you're in hotter water than I was, but you were with Elijah for you, not to get back at her, and she'll come to realize that."

"In about a hundred years…" Jane moaned sadly as determination came into her voice, "and there's only one way to make her see that; she has to know that Elijah and I are finished. I don't want to choose between them, but I have to, and Erin's love and friendship means more to me than Elijah's; I have to let him go."

"Do you love him Jane?" Niori asked, "truly, madly, deeply and with all of your heart?"

Jane nodded her head as a soft 'yes' tumbled from her lips.

"Then you can't let him go," she replied. Causing Jane's face to explode into shock, "giving up someone you love is like having a hole torn into your heart."

"But…"

"You love them both," Niori finished, "and no matter what, you have to find a way to keep them both if you don't want to live your whole life feeling as though a part of your heart is missing."

If it's so simple, Jane couldn't help but thing after Niori finished, then why isn't she following her own advice?

She knew it was a cruel thought, and Jane instantly regretted that it had crossed her mind; it wasn't fair to Niori.

Despite the fact that Jane hadn't shown it, Niori knew that the thought would cross the other girl's mind. Even Niori admitted that she sounded like a hypocrite.

"I've made my choice Jane," she told her softly, "and it's part of what's made me become what I am. You don't want to be like me…to end up like me, so don't choose like I did. You need both of their love equally if you want to be whole."

"But-"

"No Jane," Niori replied finally, "you have to find a way to balance them both in your life, even if it takes a long time –a freaking long time-, eventually you'll be able to keep both Erin and Elijah in your life…and more importantly, be happy."

l.l.l.l.l

Carla gave it a few hours, but eventually she went in search of Erin. She had seen Niori with Jane earlier, and since it seemed as though Jane was getting some comfort, Carla figured that it was her duty to do the same for Erin.

She found her sitting beside the burnt out, vacant campfire; Carla didn't know what she had been expecting, because she had no idea how Erin would react after her initial burst of rage.

She was just sitting there and staring out; at first Carla thought she was just looking out blankly, but as she drew closer, Carla realized that there was murderous fire burning in her teal eyes.

Carla's steps faltered as she realized just how furious Erin was. For the first time, Carla realized that Erin could be fully capable of murder.

Coming here is a mistake, Carla realized, a very huge, quite possibly dangerous mistake.

"That dirty little whore really thought she could pull this over on me."

The tone of Erin's voice actually sent a trickle of fear through Carla; it was so cold…maybe even colder than Niori's cold fury.

And that scared the hell out of Carla, because Erin was the most non-violent one of the group. Hell, Erin didn't even pick up a sword if she didn't have to; Jane, Niori & Carla were the ones who ran head first into battle…Erin was the one who stayed behind and helped clean up the aftermath.

"Erin, it isn't-" Carla started, only to be cut off violently by Erin's no longer cold but now furious voice.

"Don't you dare defend that tramp! She was in bed with my son!"

It wasn't as though she could argue with that…but she had to at least try.

"Erin, you have to try and understand-" Carla tried again, only to have Erin's raging eyes turn on her.

"I don't have to understand anything!" Erin screamed, "Jesus Christ Carla! A fucking year ago she was bundling him up in her arms and singing lullabies to him! She's his godmother! How can you even begin to justify that!"

In all honesty, Carla couldn't; she understood that Jane and Elijah loved each other and she accepted that, but she found it rather perplexing that Jane could go from cooing over baby Elijah to sleeping with grown up Elijah in a matter of two years.

But who was she to pass any sort of judgement? She was screwing around with a married man.

"That God damn slut!" Erin growled to herself, and Carla went in for her third try, praying that the third time really was a charm.

"They're in lov-"

"You knew didn't you!" Erin cut her off again as she let the brunt of her anger focus on Carla.

Carla felt panic hit her as Erin's fury bore down on her. The tables had been turned; no longer was Carla trying to calm her down, but Erin was preparing to attack her.

"You did! Fuck, was I the only person who didn't see it? I bet you we're all having a good laugh about it too! 'Oh Erin, she's so blind'. But what else would I expect from a lying bitch!"

Carla gasped each word hitting her as though it was a poisoned dart.

"Why would I assume that you'd come clean anyway? I mean, you left your own cousin out there to be raped and tortured," Erin sneered as Carla winced, "and this does seem a tad bit smaller compared to that. Fuck…you're just as bad as that slut!"

Carla stood there, stunned as Erin stormed away without another word. Tears swarmed and stung her eyes as Erin's hateful words hit her all over again.

She deserved it because it was true; she really was a lying bitch.

Carla couldn't pinpoint the moment when it had first began, but now their friendship had unravelled. They all hated each other…so much so that she didn't think that they could pick up the pieces and love each other again.

l.l.l.l.l

Niori walked briskly through the camp, trying desperately to ignore the way every single person blatantly stared at her as she passed.

She didn't want this; she was beyond joy at finally being free, but she couldn't take the way they treated her…the way they looked at her. She wished that they would just forget; that they would stop treating her like some sort of leper or ghost.

She knew that she was different, that she had changed, but that didn't mean she should be forced to endure their stares and whispers.

Only Arien and Silmarwen understood; they had endured the same thing, and now endured the same treatment. But it was worse for her…

She had been the personal play toy for the enemy king, so that alienated her even more from them.

Niori shivered, the chilling breeze causing goosebumps to ripple across her arms even under her sweater. She could feel that winter was coming, because she was very sensitive to temperature, and wondered vaguely if anyone else had realized it yet.

"That's the last thing we need," Niori mumbled to herself, shivering again.

"Niori!"

She turned at Jullianne's voice, stopping as she watched the young woman move towards her. Although there was concern etched in her face, it held no pity. Jullianne was one of the few who were trying their hardest not to treat her like an outcast; she was one of the few who realized that pity was the last thing Niori needed.

"Should you really be up?" Jullianne asked her when she reached her, concern in her voice, "It's only been three days since you've awaken; Silmarwen has said that you should be off your feet for at least a weeks time, until your strength returns to you."

"I'll be fine," Niori replied simply, "it's just a wal-"

Her voice stopped dead as Lillianna, whom she had not seen since that painful night in the woods before she had been captured, walked into her line of sight. It was like she saw red; all she could hear was Aras's words…could only think of how Lillianna had done this to her as much as he had.

'You were traded to me.'

Before she even really realized she was doing it, Niori had grabbed hold of the hilt of Jullianne's short sword and twisted it out from her sheath. With rage taking control of every single inch of Niori's being, she closed the short distance between Lillianna and herself, murder shining in her eyes.

When she reached her, Niori grabbed Lillianna by the neck, shoving her into the side of a building painfully. Lillianna gave a shocked cry as Niori's iron grip was replaced by the blade of a sword, held there tightly but not cutting.

Yet.

"Give me one reason why I shouldn't run you through!" she hissed, putting more pressure to her neck.

Lillianna looked at her with large, terrified eyes. It was obvious that Niori had found out about her treachery, because the hate shining in her eyes went even further than Lillianna's actions with Legolas.

Lillianna's obviously apparent fear made Niori feel good. Very good.

"What are you doing!" Jullianne's shocked scream came from behind her, and she knew that by now she had at least half, if not all, the village as an audience.

"Answer me you bitch!" Niori growled, her voice rising with anger.

"I…I…" Lillianna stammered, unable to come up with any lie or explanation that could save her.

"Niori! Stop!"

She recognized Jane's terrified voice behind her, but she just didn't give a damn.

Lillianna had done this to her, and she needed to pay.

"You better damn well have a better answer than that!" Niori seethed through clenched teeth.

Lillianna didn't even try to answer this time; her eyes darted around the growing crowd, searching for someone who could help her.

"Niori! Let her go!" Jane's voice cried behind her again, and she still ignored her.

"I…I never-" Lillianna stammered again, this time trying to lie her way out of it.

"You damn traitorous bitch!" she screamed, "Don't you fucking give me that!"

Lillianna whimpered, and Niori sneered in disgust. Killing her, as justified as it may be and despite how good it would make her feel, wasn't worth it; she refused to go down to Lillianna's level.

Even though Lillianna deserved it, Niori couldn't kill her. Murder just wasn't in her…or at least not against this bitch.

She lowered the sword, letting it fall from her hand. The blade clattered to the ground, breaking Lillianna's terrified gaze as she looked from Niori's face, to the sword that now lay at her feet.

Niori turned away from her, looking out at all the horrified and shocked faces calmly. She barely hesitated from when she turned around to when she began to walk away.

"You…you're mad!" Lillianna cried out from behind her, knowing that she had to make up a lie fast in order to keep her treachery secret.

Niori turned back to her, letting cold eyes lie on Lillianna's panicky face with disgust.

"You have no idea what you speak of!" Lillianna continued, "You only wish to repay me for having Legolas that night in the woods! How dare you call me a traitor for your own vengeance! You have truly gone insane…and surely no one would believe the lies of a madwoman."

"It doesn't matter if they believe me or not," Niori replied simply, causing Lillianna's eyes to widen in surprise, "because it's the truth, and no matter who believes it or not, the truth doesn't change."

With that, Niori turned and began to walk away. She paused once more and turned around to face her again, the complete sadness lighting in her eyes.

"I hate you more than I could possibly say, but I'd have never let this happen to you."

Then she began walking again, not stopping until she reached the forest and the trees swallowed her up.

l.l.l.l

That evening, after spending a very long amount of hours alone in his room, lying in bed, contemplating what to do about his mother and Jane, Elijah finally figured that he had given Jane enough time to think it over, and went over to her house. When he knocked on the door, she was the one who greeted him. When she let him in, he couldn't help but notice that she seemed different, somehow. There was something about her eyes…they seemed lifeless and dead.

"Sit down." She said bluntly, pointing to an empty bed. Confused, he sat, but she didn't sit across from him on the opposite bed. Instead she walked behind him and stood near the window, so that he couldn't see her without twisting his torso around. Neither spoke; Elijah was waiting for her to say something.

He cleared his throat, and turned his head around to see her. "Jane, how are you doing?" He asked concernedly.

She didn't respond, but just bowed her head for a moment, and then raised it, still looking out of the window. He turned back to facing the empty wall. Apparently, she wasn't in the mood for talking about it…

"Elijah…" Jane finally spoke, with no emotion in her words, "we can't be together anymore."

Elijah froze, and turned around slowly to look at her. "What? Where did this come from?" He said slowly, his eyes wide and almost afraid.

Jane couldn't bear to look at him, so she didn't; she looked down at the floor. "Erin is my friend, my true friend. And she absolutely hates me now because she knows I'm…I'm with you." She finally looked at him, her eyes pleading, begging for some form of understanding that she'd never find.

He took a deep, steadying breath, but it didn't help him to compose himself. There was something hard and painful in his chest, something that seemed to be growing with each passing minute.

"You're leaving me?" He hoped that he didn't show it, but he was doing everything in his power to not cry…he couldn't cry. Jane stepped towards him.

"Elijah- please understand!" She cried, running to him and sitting beside him. He had to understand…

But he refused to look at her at all. He struggled with himself, but he was losing the battle; his beautiful sapphire eyes that she loved so much were filling with tears anyway.

"Elijah…" She began to cry as well, "We can't be together…but I love you so much…" She put her hand on his cheek; her heart told her to, but her mind refused.

"No"- He shook his head disbelievingly, throwing his head away from her, and resisting her touch for the first time. It killed him. "If you really loved me, you wouldn't have led me on. You're the older woman…"

She was severely stung. "'Led you on'?? What the hell are you talking about? You liked me just as much as I loved you! I just made the first move!" She cried, a feeling of anger welling up inside her.

He shook his head, his bottom lip trembling with anger and bitterness. "So that's it, is it? We carry on for a while, get into some trouble, have some fun, and then it's over?" He looked disgusted. "Is that what you did with your boyfriends in your own world?"

She shook her head angrily. "No! This is so much different. I've never felt this way about any of the boyfriends from home. In fact, I never really had a boyfriend at home! For God's sake, Elijah! I lost my virginity to you! Doesn't that count for something?"

He was glaring at her, but there were tears running down his cheeks. "You were my first too, Jane…and I actually thought it did mean something."

His words cut into her heart like a knife. She steadied herself and continued. "Elijah, Erin is my friend. We promised each other that friends would always come before boyfriends."

He didn't respond, but just sat there, seething, but looking rather lost at the same time.

"So I'm your "boyfriend"- is that all? Something that can be discarded of when you lose interest?" He spoke bitterly, shaking his head. Jane tried to answer, but he cut through her words. "And 'friends before boyfriends'?" He scoffed, "That's a ridiculous excuse to end this."

His voice became harsher. "You never loved me, did you? You just wanted to bed me, and then wait for the opportune moment to get out of this relationship." He turned his back on her.

She couldn't speak. Jane sat there with her mouth hanging open, shocked and hurting at his words. How could he say something like that?

"You don't believe that." She whispered, her words halting and choked.

He didn't answer. His back, which was facing her, was shaking slightly, and he had his hand over his face.

"I love you." Jane whispered, tears streaming down her cheeks. "I always have and I always will."

"Then why…?" She heard him whisper.

"Because I have to." Jane stood up. "I'm so sorry, Elijah. I want you to understand that I never led you on, because I never thought that my little crush would turn into…this." She wiped away some tears.

"I loved you, Jane." He whispered, pain etched into every syllable he spoke. She cringed at his sorrow.

"I know," She said, her voice cracking, "and this can't go on."

Suddenly, he got up and walked past her, opening the door. "I think it's time I left." He said, a iciness in his voice that she'd never heard before.

His abruptness surprised her. "Bye." She whispered, as he slammed the door behind him.

And then she let the hysterical tears take over her. "What have I done?" She moaned, throwing herself on the bed and sobbing. She hated herself for doing this, and she hated Erin for making her make this decision about her and Elijah's relationship. Why did she always have to ruin all of the goodness in her life? Why did she have to let him go…? It wasn't fair…

Her head snapped up. Outside, she heard a loud banging sound, and a person hollering angrily. She ran to the window; Sure enough, her worst fears were confirmed; it was Elijah. He had found an empty wheelbarrow in the next yard, and in his anger smashed it into a hundred pieces.

l.l.l.l

She sat with her feet pulled under her on a thick, large branch of a massive tree. She listened to the silence, enjoying the lack of sound. She had come into the forest right after her confrontation with Lillianna, but had doubled back only minutes later.

No one had seen her do it, but Niori had snuck back into the village and let herself into the storeroom where all the booze was kept. Niori had stayed there for only a little while, but in that twenty or so minutes, she had managed to drown an entire barrel.

And only after she was good and drunk, had she returned to the forest and found her haven in her tree. The only problem she was noticing was that the alcohol didn't make her feel good…it only made her feel less bad.

At least it was something.

"Niori?"

She opened her eyes and looked down. Eldarion stood at the base of the tree, looking up at her, the concern shining on his young face.

"May I come up?" he inquired, and when Niori shrugged indifferently, he grabbed on to the branches, and was sitting beside her within seconds.

"How may I help you?" Niori asked a little defensively, suspecting that Eldarion was here to either scold or yell at her for attacking Lillianna. If he said anything, she'd push him out of the tree.

"The charges you levelled against Lady Lillianna," he started, looking at him intently, "are they true?"

"Yes."

"Swear to me now that you are not mistaken," Eldarion continued, his voice both grave and serious, "that it was not said for the purpose of vengeance."

"I would never lie about this," Niori told him honesty, not sure if she should be offended because he even had to ask.

Eldarion nodded gravely, looking away from Niori and back towards the village. He gave a short whistle, causing her to jump a little, which in her drunken state, made her almost fall out of the tree. Another man appeared from the trees, and stood there waiting.

"Yes my king?"

"Return to the village," Eldarion told the guard with a sigh, "and put Lady Lillianna under arrest."

l.l.l.l.l

An- Hopefully next chapter comes out as quickly as this one did! Don't forget to review!