Part 7 is up everyone! There is a WARNING though! Lots of mush and fluff up a head mixed with drama. If you don't like mush or fluff go back now. You've been warned. Now, for people who LOVE mush and fluff, like me. Please enjoy!
Lysse lead Roald down a hallway and into the empty library. Lysse sat down, first, onto one of the couches and Roald sat in the one across from hers. The couches were so close together that their knees were touching.
"Roald, why did you do that?" Lysse said quietly, not looking at Roald.
"They told you?" Roald asked nervously. Lysse, looking up at Roald, slowly nodded her head.
"I want to know why you did it. Look at me Roald." Roald looked up into the staring eyes of Lysse. He knew he would have to say something sooner or later, but he didn't want to right now. Thoughts raced through his head. Should he tell her? Should he say it? Should he tell her what he's been wanting to tell her ever since she came back?
"Because..." Roald couldn't say it. If he said it everything he felt would be out in the open, she could either accept it or knock down. He was afraid she would choose the latter.
"Because?" Lysse continued to press.
"Because, because," Roald sighed, he might as well say it. "Because, I love you." Roald quickly closed his eyes and moved his head downward. He couldn't dare to see the rejection on her face that he knew would be there. Nothing was said, silence filled the room. After a few moments, Roald got curious and slowly opened his eyes looking up at Lysse. Lysse was just staring, there was no expression; he saw a blank face.
"Lysse?" He asked tentatively. He got an answer.
"That's no excuse, tell me why you did it." Roald was shocked. What did she mean that was no excuse? It explained everything! She was supposed to say she loved him back, or at least show some reaction, not just sit there. Roald began to get a little angry and stood up over Lysse.
"What do you mean that's no excuse? I love you. Do you want me to say it again? I love you!" The last he said with a fervent passion. "I've loved you since the beginning! I don't want you to marry Joren, Lysse. I want you to marry me!" Roald was shocked at what he just said and looked a way.
"Roald, I cannot believe you were so selfish as to say that!" Lysse began to get angry also. "You know that that can never happen! Everyone forbids it. Everyone hates me!" As she continued, tears began to stream from her eyes. "I have to marry Joren! It's for my family, Roald. I don't want to marry him, but I have to. Besides, you seem to be forgetting that your betrothed also. For the good of Tortall. That's the curse of being noble or royalty. There is no marriage for love. That doesn't exist here in our lives. We marry for property, money, anything that will benefit our families!"
"I know!" Roald didn't want to be reminded of his marriage to the Yamani princess. "I just, I just had to say that, Lysse. I couldn't hold it back anymore, but now that I know you don't return the feeling I'll leave you alone, you can go live a happy life with Joren!" Roald turned for the door and began walking.
"Roald!" He stopped and waited as much as he didn't want to. "I never said anything about not returning the feeling. Roald, I, I love you too." Roald just stood there with his back to her not able to move. He couldn't believe what he just heard.
"I love you, I do, but Roald, we have a love that can't be fulfilled. We have duties, to our families; you to your country. We can't compete with those things." As Lysse talked she walked over to Roald and put her hand on his shoulder, turning him around to face her.
"We could elope!" Roald said desperately. "Lysse, will you run a way with me? To get married? We'll find someplace to live, in the country maybe, we'll be happy!" Lysse couldn't believe what she was hearing.
"Roald, that's crazy talk. You know that could never happen. Where would we go? Everywhere we would go people would recognize you. You can't go anywhere in Tortall, or even other countries for that matter. It's another one of your curses, Roald. You have to accept that our love can just never be." Lysse looked earnestly into Roald's eyes trying to get her point across. She found a pair of cold eyes staring back.
"Fine. That's fine. I know you just don't want to marry me. Why don't you just say so?"
"Stop twisting my words!" Lysse began to cry again. "I never said that Roald! I want to marry you. I love you with all my heart. I love you more than anything in the world, but you have to understand. We...can't...get...married. It's impossible." Roald began to soften. He couldn't stand it when girls cried and it was even worse when that girl was Lysse. Roald put his arms around Lysse and held her while she cried. Lysse in turn put her arms around him and buried her face in his shoulder. They stayed that way until Lysse's crying had turned into sniffles and they slowly parted.
"I'm sorry." Lysse said blushing. "I got you tunic all wet. Here." She pulled out a handkerchief and started rubbing at the wet spot. Roald began to smile.
"I don't think that'll work. Why don't we just let it air dry." He pulled Lysse's hand down and kept it in his and went back to the topic at hand.
"Lysse, I do know what you were saying and you're right. I know. I just had this idea in my head and I let love control my thoughts. I'm not giving up though." Lysse opened her mouth to say something, but was silenced by Roald's hand on her mouth. "I love you Lysse and I'm not going to let you marry Joren." Lysse sighed but didn't say anything. "All right?"
"Whatever you say, Roald."
"Give me a little hope here, will you?" Roald said jokingly, but became serious after a few moments. "I love you. I hope you know that."
"I do Roald and I love you too." Roald leaned down and touched his lips to Lysse's with a soft kiss. To Lysse it was a kiss of goodbye, but to Roald it was a kiss for the future, for Roald was not going to let Joren have his Lysse.
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Roald continued to sit in the library even after Lysse had left. He sat by the fire lost in his thoughts. Roald had to come up with another plan and fast, the marriage, because of the fear of it being intruded upon again, had been moved up. Lysse and Joren were to be married in a week instead of the before mentioned, two. Roald was stumped and desperate. He thought foe a while until another idea came to mind. A desperate that he hoped would work. He sat forward and staring into the fire, sent his Gift out to communicate with a person on the other end. The fire grew until a face came into view.
"Whoa, Roald, how have you been? Haven't seen you in a while!"
"Okay. Now listen." Roald got straight to business. "Lysse is getting married."
"Congratulations, I knew you two could get over the rocks!"
"No," Roald began to get impatient. "It's not to me, it's to Joren."
"Joren! Oh my gosh not Joren!" The person in the mirror said with terror that was instantly gone. "Who's Joren?"
"I'll explain later. Look, you need to help me my plan. I'm at desperate measures here."
"Sure, fine, Roald. I'll help anyway I can." The speaker became immediately solemn.
"Good, now let's think of one."
"You haven't thought of one yet? Well, Roald you came to the right person. I'm the master of trickery! Ok, we're going to do what everyone does. It's the only thing left to do."
"What?"
"I'll tell you when I get there."
How was it? Yes, another cliffhanger! How I love cliffhangers. I've noticed my cliffhangers always end up being about a new plan:) Oh, well, I think one is the worst so far! *evil laughter* *more evil laughter* Now, I just want to tell everyone that it may be a while before the other part comes up. I have midterms all this week, a drama competition i have to perform in and SATs on Sat. So much to do this week. I'll try to have it up by Sunday if my brain isn't still fried from the SATs! Bye bye. *more evil laughter*
I would like to thank Jaelawyn Noble for helping me with my story! I didn't know what I wanted my plan to be, but she came through in a snap! You have the best ideas!:) You kick ass Jae! You are the best!