A/N: Alright, I finally am back with the next chapter AND I think I've got my "transition period" pretty well planned so hopefully the next ones will come in quicker. Also, I can't believe I didn't say anything about the distaff threads! Fortunately, upon rereading that chapter, I only said she sent a spear thread once, so if you could just mentally make the switch from spear to distaff, I would be grateful. Okay, well I think that basically sums everything up, oh and by the way, I don't own the black jewels trilogy.
A Long-expected Engagement
Months passed at SaDiablo Hall, bringing in the summer season. Things had settled into a comfortable routine, and Raine was beginning to view the Hall as her home and the people that lived in it as her family. And, slowly, she began to heal from the emotional scars that had been poisoning her soul before her role as Jaenelle's apprentice.
Witch was holding a feast to welcome summer and, as was custom, al her guests were lounging in an informal setting beforehand, relaxing. . . well, almost all of them.
"Where is she?" Jaenelle growled, "I told her not to go out tonight."
Ever since she had learned how to ride the Winds, Raine had visited the city often. Being born and bred there, she had developed an addiction to that lifestyle, particularly the night life.
"Relax," came Lucivar's reply, "Daemonar's over there, and she never goes alone, so she's here."
It was true. Of all the second generation, Raine had bonded the best with the arrogant Eryien. A lot of factors had contributed to this friendship, but no one could really pin it on any particular thing. Maybe it was their equal competitiveness to be the best in the sword, or their habit of flirting with anything breathing and of the opposite sex, or even their similar mocking smiles of the world around them. That, and he was the only one that could decently hold his liquor.
"True," Jaenelle admitted reluctantly, but the knowledge didn't seem to improve her mood any.
And, as if on cue, the young witch entered, clothed in green silk. Giving her guests apologetic smiles Raine said, "Sorry I'm-"
"Late," they echoed simultaneously, all at one point or another falling victim to her tardiness.
"Err. . . yeah," she faltered, sliding closer to Jaenelle.
Everyone laughed merrily and turned back to their conversations, and Raine took a seat next to her mentor.
"Do I even want to know why you're late?" Jaenelle quipped at her, drumming her fingers on her chair.
"Well, you see, it all started when-"
"No," Surreal interrupted, "we'll be old women by the time she finishes explaining herself. Let's just be nice and tell her never to do it again."
"Yeah. . .that'll happen," Lucivar grinned, pouring himself a drink.
The conversation shifted then, giving Raine time to relax and gather her wits. She reflected on the conversationalists, remembering how she had compared them to family. Jaenelle and Surreal were her older sisters, each instilling the young witch with knowledge and advice, though the topics varied. Of all the "adults" she felt closest to them, as if she was able to discuss everything with them. . . though she never did.
Lucivar was the older brother, nonchalant yet overprotective. He pushed her hard, always expecting her to be as good as she could possibly be. And Daemon, well he was an older brother type too, . . . the annoying older brother.
And in return for their relationship services, she was the youngest member, to be shaped and molded by the best and worst of her "siblings" personalities. The system was complicated, but it worked well.
Excusing herself, Raine went mingling, carefully avoiding Meghana's crowd, and conversed with her friends and acquaintances. She joked with Chlandra and Morton, teased and boasted with Daemonar and his friends, and finally went to visit Saetan who was in conversation with Falonar. She knew Falonar as being Surreal's on and off beau but other than that, he was a pretty cool guy. Seeing them shake hands, she assumed the conversation was over, and walked up to them.
"I hear you have your first debate tomorrow," Falonar said to Raine with a knowing smile.
"Yeah, I'm really excited," she answered nervously, "But I know I'm gonna say something stupid-"
"Going to," Saetan corrected, "Not `gonna'; going to. You're going to say something stupid."
"Ummm. . . yeah, going to. . . "
After that, everyone was seated. It was a fairly uneventful dinner, save the fact that Raine and Daemon almost broke out into a food fight after continually throwing peas at each other. Nonetheless, no one feasting was expecting Surreal to rise out of her chair and start tapping on her glass with a fork.
"If I could have everyone's attention," the assassin began, seemingly unaffected by at least 100 pairs of eyes studying her intently, "I'm sorry, it's just that I have an important announcement to make, and I wanted all of you to be here when I did."
Surreal paused for effect and Raine shot a surprised look to Jaenelle, who matched her own shocked expression. Obviously, she hadn't been expecting this either.
"I just wanted to inform you," and at this point her voice dropped to almost a whisper, "That I'm pregnant."
There was a collective gasp from the audience and then complete silence. Raine was so stunned she couldn't even think. Pregnant? Surreal? Who was the father? Did it matter? Again, she looked at Jaenelle, but Witch was equally stunned and could make no response.
Receiving no reaction, Surreal charged forth with maybe a shade less confidence than she previously had had, "Also, in light of recent circumstances, I have another announcement to make."
The crowd, still reeling from her previous news, braced itself for another blow. Raine didn't think she could take anymore excitement, but she wouldn't miss this moment for the world.
"I'm getting married," Surreal stated, and, had Raine not known better, she would have said Surreal actually seemed SHY about it. At that moment, Falonar came over to sit by his fiancée and, watching the two of them embrace, there was a power around them that could not be determined by castes or jewels, but simply by the two of them in love.
Upon release, Surreal turned back to her silent shocked audience and said, "Well. . .uhh. . .that was it. Sorry to slow you down."
As she sat, there was a pause of hesitation. But soon, Surreal was swarmed by friends and well-wishers. Raine stayed where she was, not wanting to be rushed in what she had to say to her friend, and instead turned to Jaenelle.
"Aren't you simply ecstatic?" Raine practically shrieked, "this is the greatest news in the world!"
"Yes," Jaenelle grinned, "I couldn't imagine better news to hear at a feast."
Raine thought she detected a note of sadness in Witch's voice, but shrugged it away. Nothing was going to ruin this wonderful night. Catching sight of Saetan hanging on the fringes of Surreal's crowd, Raine shot him a smile. He returned it, a note of satisfaction present in his up-turned lips.
"He knew," Raine realized with a start, "he knew the whole time! So that's what he and Falonar were talking about."
Shrugging it away, she finally gave in to her excitement. Unable to keep her emotions to herself, she rushed to give her congratulations to Surreal.
AN: So what do you think? Good? Bad idea? Oh, and suggestions on name and sex of Surreal's baby would be appreciated, as nothing is really planned yet.
Reflection says: A little bit mushy, yet poignant. Did you notice how Raine only got one sentence in the chp w/o getting interrupted or trailing off? Okay, you don't care. . .I understand. Review please.
A Long-expected Engagement
Months passed at SaDiablo Hall, bringing in the summer season. Things had settled into a comfortable routine, and Raine was beginning to view the Hall as her home and the people that lived in it as her family. And, slowly, she began to heal from the emotional scars that had been poisoning her soul before her role as Jaenelle's apprentice.
Witch was holding a feast to welcome summer and, as was custom, al her guests were lounging in an informal setting beforehand, relaxing. . . well, almost all of them.
"Where is she?" Jaenelle growled, "I told her not to go out tonight."
Ever since she had learned how to ride the Winds, Raine had visited the city often. Being born and bred there, she had developed an addiction to that lifestyle, particularly the night life.
"Relax," came Lucivar's reply, "Daemonar's over there, and she never goes alone, so she's here."
It was true. Of all the second generation, Raine had bonded the best with the arrogant Eryien. A lot of factors had contributed to this friendship, but no one could really pin it on any particular thing. Maybe it was their equal competitiveness to be the best in the sword, or their habit of flirting with anything breathing and of the opposite sex, or even their similar mocking smiles of the world around them. That, and he was the only one that could decently hold his liquor.
"True," Jaenelle admitted reluctantly, but the knowledge didn't seem to improve her mood any.
And, as if on cue, the young witch entered, clothed in green silk. Giving her guests apologetic smiles Raine said, "Sorry I'm-"
"Late," they echoed simultaneously, all at one point or another falling victim to her tardiness.
"Err. . . yeah," she faltered, sliding closer to Jaenelle.
Everyone laughed merrily and turned back to their conversations, and Raine took a seat next to her mentor.
"Do I even want to know why you're late?" Jaenelle quipped at her, drumming her fingers on her chair.
"Well, you see, it all started when-"
"No," Surreal interrupted, "we'll be old women by the time she finishes explaining herself. Let's just be nice and tell her never to do it again."
"Yeah. . .that'll happen," Lucivar grinned, pouring himself a drink.
The conversation shifted then, giving Raine time to relax and gather her wits. She reflected on the conversationalists, remembering how she had compared them to family. Jaenelle and Surreal were her older sisters, each instilling the young witch with knowledge and advice, though the topics varied. Of all the "adults" she felt closest to them, as if she was able to discuss everything with them. . . though she never did.
Lucivar was the older brother, nonchalant yet overprotective. He pushed her hard, always expecting her to be as good as she could possibly be. And Daemon, well he was an older brother type too, . . . the annoying older brother.
And in return for their relationship services, she was the youngest member, to be shaped and molded by the best and worst of her "siblings" personalities. The system was complicated, but it worked well.
Excusing herself, Raine went mingling, carefully avoiding Meghana's crowd, and conversed with her friends and acquaintances. She joked with Chlandra and Morton, teased and boasted with Daemonar and his friends, and finally went to visit Saetan who was in conversation with Falonar. She knew Falonar as being Surreal's on and off beau but other than that, he was a pretty cool guy. Seeing them shake hands, she assumed the conversation was over, and walked up to them.
"I hear you have your first debate tomorrow," Falonar said to Raine with a knowing smile.
"Yeah, I'm really excited," she answered nervously, "But I know I'm gonna say something stupid-"
"Going to," Saetan corrected, "Not `gonna'; going to. You're going to say something stupid."
"Ummm. . . yeah, going to. . . "
After that, everyone was seated. It was a fairly uneventful dinner, save the fact that Raine and Daemon almost broke out into a food fight after continually throwing peas at each other. Nonetheless, no one feasting was expecting Surreal to rise out of her chair and start tapping on her glass with a fork.
"If I could have everyone's attention," the assassin began, seemingly unaffected by at least 100 pairs of eyes studying her intently, "I'm sorry, it's just that I have an important announcement to make, and I wanted all of you to be here when I did."
Surreal paused for effect and Raine shot a surprised look to Jaenelle, who matched her own shocked expression. Obviously, she hadn't been expecting this either.
"I just wanted to inform you," and at this point her voice dropped to almost a whisper, "That I'm pregnant."
There was a collective gasp from the audience and then complete silence. Raine was so stunned she couldn't even think. Pregnant? Surreal? Who was the father? Did it matter? Again, she looked at Jaenelle, but Witch was equally stunned and could make no response.
Receiving no reaction, Surreal charged forth with maybe a shade less confidence than she previously had had, "Also, in light of recent circumstances, I have another announcement to make."
The crowd, still reeling from her previous news, braced itself for another blow. Raine didn't think she could take anymore excitement, but she wouldn't miss this moment for the world.
"I'm getting married," Surreal stated, and, had Raine not known better, she would have said Surreal actually seemed SHY about it. At that moment, Falonar came over to sit by his fiancée and, watching the two of them embrace, there was a power around them that could not be determined by castes or jewels, but simply by the two of them in love.
Upon release, Surreal turned back to her silent shocked audience and said, "Well. . .uhh. . .that was it. Sorry to slow you down."
As she sat, there was a pause of hesitation. But soon, Surreal was swarmed by friends and well-wishers. Raine stayed where she was, not wanting to be rushed in what she had to say to her friend, and instead turned to Jaenelle.
"Aren't you simply ecstatic?" Raine practically shrieked, "this is the greatest news in the world!"
"Yes," Jaenelle grinned, "I couldn't imagine better news to hear at a feast."
Raine thought she detected a note of sadness in Witch's voice, but shrugged it away. Nothing was going to ruin this wonderful night. Catching sight of Saetan hanging on the fringes of Surreal's crowd, Raine shot him a smile. He returned it, a note of satisfaction present in his up-turned lips.
"He knew," Raine realized with a start, "he knew the whole time! So that's what he and Falonar were talking about."
Shrugging it away, she finally gave in to her excitement. Unable to keep her emotions to herself, she rushed to give her congratulations to Surreal.
AN: So what do you think? Good? Bad idea? Oh, and suggestions on name and sex of Surreal's baby would be appreciated, as nothing is really planned yet.
Reflection says: A little bit mushy, yet poignant. Did you notice how Raine only got one sentence in the chp w/o getting interrupted or trailing off? Okay, you don't care. . .I understand. Review please.