Chapter3-Leif's duty
As Leif was finding clues of her whereabouts, Jasmine awoke from deep slumber. Her head was in pain and she felt suffocated and trapped. She didn't know where she was but she noticed that wherever she was there was a gentle rocking like on the sea. Her hands and feet where tied together but her head was free. She then realised she was in a sack or bag of some sort. She started to push her head through the top of the bag, tearing the material as she went. Outside, it was a clear night. The sound of water and a soft whispering were the only sounds to be heard. Jasmine sat up with a start. She was in the back of a long, skinny boat, in the middle of a vast body of water. She glanced to the front of the boat. Four figures had their backs turned to her and were speaking softly to each other. "What are we going to do when the emerald-eyed one awakens?" the figure at the front of the boat laughed "she will not awaken for a while yet. She is so weak, she will be out for another day at least." This one is the leader of the group, Jasmine thought. They sound more focused and in charge. The one closest to Jasmine argued, "she may look weak, but looks can be deceiving." The voice belonged to a male. Holding his arm he said " My arm still troubles me where she stabbed it." The leader replied, " Any wound from a dagger that sharp would do sufficient damage. No matter who drives it." The wounded one replied, "Well I think we should be careful none the less." You'd better be careful, Jasmine thought to herself. But she did not move. She wanted to know what they were planning, plus she needed to get rid of the chains that bounded her arms and feet. Yes, it would be best to wait. She just hoped Leif would find the clues she left behind. She was sure she would need help if she was ever to be free.
* * * * *
Back in the palace gardens, it was dark, but Leif searched for more clues of jasmine's whereabouts. All he had found was her dagger, and although he was overjoyed when he found it, his joy was changing to fear for Jasmine's life. If she had no dagger, what would she do if she were in trouble? This was his entire fault; if he had remembered to meet her she wouldn't have been alone. He felt so guilty. He sat down on the green grass, his head in his hands. Suddenly something caught his eye. There was a bit of cloth hanging on a tree, about 20 metres away. He ran over to it and ripped it off the branch it was attached to. The material was grey, with a touch of green and brown. This clothing was from the edge of the ragged skirt Jasmine always wore. Leif smiled, " she has left me clues. Jasmine has not run away, she has been taken away." Leif was enraged "whoever took Jasmine will be sorry. I must find her before it's too late." He began to run forward but quickly halted. He would have to plan this first. If he ran off without a soul knowing, Del would be defenceless. He must tell some people, but only some. Leif ran to the palace, he went straight to Doom, he must tell him what had happened to his daughter. When Doom heard the news, he suspected what Leif was planning. He assured him "Leif, Jasmine is strong, the people of Del need you more than she does. It is your duty to stay here." Leif was outraged "I HAVE HAD ENOUGH OF MY DUTY!" he yelled "YOUR OWN FLESH AND BLOOD HAS BEEN TAKEN SOMEWHERE NOBODY KNOWS, AND ALL YOU CAN THINK ABOUT IS MY DUTY!" Doom was taken aback; he had never seen Leif like this. " What is more important to you Leif?" he said calmly "your whole kingdom and all the people who adore you, or one wild girl who doesn't care about Del or anyone in it." Leif stared at him in disbelief "how can you say such things? Jasmine has risked her life endless times to save the people of Del, she even left all she loved to go to the rotten Shadowlands." Doom sighed, "She only went to the Shadowlands to find her fake sister." Leif could not argue. What Doom said was true. Jasmine did only go to the Shadowlands to free her sister, not other slaves. But he did not care, time was slipping by and Jasmine had to be found. He looked Doom in the eye and said, "I must go." He unclasped the belt around his waist and handing it to Doom he said "send for Marilen at once. Give her the belt, and tell her why I have left and that I am sorry for making her do this." With that he turned, and went to gather his belongings.
As Leif was finding clues of her whereabouts, Jasmine awoke from deep slumber. Her head was in pain and she felt suffocated and trapped. She didn't know where she was but she noticed that wherever she was there was a gentle rocking like on the sea. Her hands and feet where tied together but her head was free. She then realised she was in a sack or bag of some sort. She started to push her head through the top of the bag, tearing the material as she went. Outside, it was a clear night. The sound of water and a soft whispering were the only sounds to be heard. Jasmine sat up with a start. She was in the back of a long, skinny boat, in the middle of a vast body of water. She glanced to the front of the boat. Four figures had their backs turned to her and were speaking softly to each other. "What are we going to do when the emerald-eyed one awakens?" the figure at the front of the boat laughed "she will not awaken for a while yet. She is so weak, she will be out for another day at least." This one is the leader of the group, Jasmine thought. They sound more focused and in charge. The one closest to Jasmine argued, "she may look weak, but looks can be deceiving." The voice belonged to a male. Holding his arm he said " My arm still troubles me where she stabbed it." The leader replied, " Any wound from a dagger that sharp would do sufficient damage. No matter who drives it." The wounded one replied, "Well I think we should be careful none the less." You'd better be careful, Jasmine thought to herself. But she did not move. She wanted to know what they were planning, plus she needed to get rid of the chains that bounded her arms and feet. Yes, it would be best to wait. She just hoped Leif would find the clues she left behind. She was sure she would need help if she was ever to be free.
* * * * *
Back in the palace gardens, it was dark, but Leif searched for more clues of jasmine's whereabouts. All he had found was her dagger, and although he was overjoyed when he found it, his joy was changing to fear for Jasmine's life. If she had no dagger, what would she do if she were in trouble? This was his entire fault; if he had remembered to meet her she wouldn't have been alone. He felt so guilty. He sat down on the green grass, his head in his hands. Suddenly something caught his eye. There was a bit of cloth hanging on a tree, about 20 metres away. He ran over to it and ripped it off the branch it was attached to. The material was grey, with a touch of green and brown. This clothing was from the edge of the ragged skirt Jasmine always wore. Leif smiled, " she has left me clues. Jasmine has not run away, she has been taken away." Leif was enraged "whoever took Jasmine will be sorry. I must find her before it's too late." He began to run forward but quickly halted. He would have to plan this first. If he ran off without a soul knowing, Del would be defenceless. He must tell some people, but only some. Leif ran to the palace, he went straight to Doom, he must tell him what had happened to his daughter. When Doom heard the news, he suspected what Leif was planning. He assured him "Leif, Jasmine is strong, the people of Del need you more than she does. It is your duty to stay here." Leif was outraged "I HAVE HAD ENOUGH OF MY DUTY!" he yelled "YOUR OWN FLESH AND BLOOD HAS BEEN TAKEN SOMEWHERE NOBODY KNOWS, AND ALL YOU CAN THINK ABOUT IS MY DUTY!" Doom was taken aback; he had never seen Leif like this. " What is more important to you Leif?" he said calmly "your whole kingdom and all the people who adore you, or one wild girl who doesn't care about Del or anyone in it." Leif stared at him in disbelief "how can you say such things? Jasmine has risked her life endless times to save the people of Del, she even left all she loved to go to the rotten Shadowlands." Doom sighed, "She only went to the Shadowlands to find her fake sister." Leif could not argue. What Doom said was true. Jasmine did only go to the Shadowlands to free her sister, not other slaves. But he did not care, time was slipping by and Jasmine had to be found. He looked Doom in the eye and said, "I must go." He unclasped the belt around his waist and handing it to Doom he said "send for Marilen at once. Give her the belt, and tell her why I have left and that I am sorry for making her do this." With that he turned, and went to gather his belongings.