~*~*~*~ Forget the Past ~*~*~*~
Disclaimer: Roses are red, violets are blue, I no own, so you no sue. (That's not even mine either, I just saw it somewhere and thought it was cute!! ^.^)
A/N: I am sooooooooo sorry for the long week!!! Just preoccupied with school…I LUV SCHOOL! That may be hard to believe, but I do…more lata. Oh yeah, just felt like changing my pen name-don't freak out or anything. It's still me!! ^.^ Okay, now that we are all filled up on what happened in chapter two, on to chapter six!!!! *heroic music* Make sure you read chapter five before you read this one. I hope Demon comes into play on this one!! Remember, when an animal is talking, these thingies will magically appear: blah, blah. Enjoy!!
Chapter Six: Explanations
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
(NORMAL POV)
Oh, Goddess, no, no, it can't be that! Belle's frenzied mind repeated as though that would make the whole scene go away. Anything but that!
Almost instantly, memories came flooding back to haunt her. Memories of her mother's funeral, of the body wrapped in black silk, of the dark-cloaked mourners. Of the beginnings of her father's abuse. Belle even forgot about the four people gathered in front of her as she tried frantically to push back the dark thoughts that had invaded her head. She was so absorbed in her thoughts, that Belle didn't even realize she was sobbing out loud, making her audience stare at her strangely.
It's okay, really, it is. Belle jumped a good foot in the air when she heard it. It was that familiar voice that seemed to be for her ears only. You don't need to worry. The two-legger female understands you.
Those last two words caught Belle's attention. Never in her entire life had she been told that someone understood her. And words of comfort? Both were alien to her. Before she knew what she was doing:
"What do you mean?"
This question did nothing to convince the four in front of her that she was actually sane. They had probably never seen a person who wasn't excited to find out that they had any type of magic. The Wildmage, however, walked in front of Numair and looked down at her, excitement in her blue-gray eyes. The mouse scurried away from the moving feet, into the shadows. Belle met Daine's eyes once, then refused to look at her.
"You heard the mouse?" she questioned softly.
"No!" Belle almost wailed. "I don't have Wild Magic!"
"But we think you do. " A moment's pause, then, "It's not such a bad thing, you know."
Belle couldn't help but glance up at her at those words. Was it possible that this woman might actually be able to relate to her?
Does she think that my being able to talk to that mouse qualifies as Wild Magic?? Belle wondered, I suppose-No! Don't give in! The frantic side of her mind protested stubbornly, Do you remember what happened to your mother? Wild Magic brings only pain and death! The curious side once again took over. But the Wildmage had Wild Magic and look at her! She can heal animals, and shapesh-
Belle's internal argument was interrupted by a gentle tugging on her hand. She solidly planted her feet and refused to move. Another tug came, and when it met only resistance, a voice she faintly recognized as Daine's spoke.
"Belle, come out into the light and talk to us," Daine cajoled her. Belle shook her head weakly. "It's all right-we just want to talk to you." When she peered around Daine, she saw the remaining three standing in a semi-circle that blocked the view of a few nosy people also on the balcony. It was most certainly not all right!
Belle had no intention of talking to anyone about anything. But if she did come into their line of vision, maybe they would relax a little bit, enough for her to slip out unnoticed. Again that light tug came, and this time, Belle let herself be pulled into the illuminated area.
When she had been dragged outside, she was too frightened to even realize which balcony she was being taken to. Now, as she surveyed the area, she saw the small, unadorned stairs that were creased in a little pocket of shadows. Daine had started talking to her, but her words were lost upon Belle as the girl saw a chance for escape.
Those lead down to the gardens! Bell thought triumphantly, And it doesn't look as if my captors have noticed them yet…maybe, if I listen to them for a bit, and then make a run for it, I can get away.
The thought ended in time for Bell to hear:"…have Wild Magic?" Realizing that Daine was asking her a question.
'I'm so sorry Daine, could you please repeat that?" Belle said confidently, glancing up at the older woman.
Daine looked a little skeptical at Belle's easy compliance, but repeated the question anyway.
"Why were you so upset when Numair said you might have Wild Magic?"
When Belle heard it, her stomach suddenly tied itself in knots. She looked back down at her hands, which she had unknowingly started to wring. What was she supposed to day to that?
"Umm, I…" she trailed off into silence, but Daine suddenly stepped towards her, and placing a gentle hand on top of her own to stop their frantic movement, said calmly:
"There's nothing to be afraid of, I promise. I know what you're going through. This is exactly what I went through when I first found out I had Wild Magic. It's all right, I can help you."
So this woman did think she could relate to Belle. Fat chance of that.
She doesn't know my past; she has no clue what's been happening to me for the past eleven years of my life! How can she, all they want to do is-
"We can be friends."
Friends. Friends? The effect those simple words had on Belle was frightening. Her mind started to whirl with frenzied thoughts, and all Belle knew was that she had to get out of there, before these people tried to pry into her life any more than they already had.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
(A/N: Should I stop there?? No, I love my beloved reviewers too much!!! Hehehe. Didn't mean to scare ya there! ^_^)
(DAINE'S POV)
The four watching her thought she was disoriented, or sick. When Belle swayed away from Daine, looking as thought she was about to faint, Alanna stepped forward, intent on catching her if the girl did indeed faint. But when Belle's sapphire eyes lit on Alanna's amethysts ones, Daine caught a glimpse of something she hadn't felt herself in over 8 years, but knew well: wild, unrestrained fear, distrust, and betrayal. And suddenly, the young woman bolted around Alanna, much to the Lioness' surprise, dashed to the opposite corner of the balcony, and disappeared into the darkness.
"What in Mithros' name was that all about?" a disgruntled Alanna mumbled. No doubt she was more than a little upset that a sixteen year-old lass had managed to get past her.
Daine went over to pat the irritated woman on the shoulder. "It's all right Alanna, I think she's just a little confused.
"I think it was a little more than just confusion," this was the first comment from Raoul since they had come outside. "She looked like she was about to jump off the balcony when you all told her that she had Wild Magic." (A/N: That was kinda stupid, but I was feeling bad about not giving Raoul anything to say.)
"But are we even sure that she has magic?" That was Alanna. "I mean, I see lots of people talking to animals, and they don't have Wild Magic. The animals just don't talk back."
"Yes, I'm sure," Daine answered in a quiet but confident tone. "Before I brought her out into the light, a mouse was talking to her, trying to console her. He said that I understood her, and then suddenly she stopped crying. Remember when she said, 'What do you mean?' That was in answer to the mouse's statement! I know because I heard the mouse too!"
"So that was what I felt…" Number said thoughtfully. "Belle's magic is much stronger than Daine's was when I first met her. Not because it is stronger, but because hers is much more out of control." After a minute of silence, "Daine, before we met, did you ever try communicating with Cloud mind-to-mind?"
Daine shook her head no.
"That might be why her magic feels different. But that means the need to train her in Wild Magic is even more urgent."
"And that is exactly what she does not want." Daine said unnecessarily.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
(NORMAL POV)
Belle raced through the gardens, hiking up her skirt with her hand. Even disabled by the darkness, she knew how to find the entrance to the gardens, and then to the stables. By the time she got to the tack room, the tears were flowing unchecked down cheeks flushed from running. She grabbed a regular riding saddle-she was too drained to deal with the side-saddle-and ran back to Demon's stall. Hoisting the saddle on one hip, she threw open the door and tossed the saddle onto her stallion's back. Barely even checking to make sure that the cinch was pulled tight, and that the stirrups were the right length, Belle tugged on the lead rope and led Demon out to the pasture in front of the stable.
She swiftly pulled herself into the saddle, and kicked Demon into a gallop, heading for the forest. Suddenly, feeling the powerful muscles work beneath her and the wind whipping through her hair, Belle felt better. Out here in the forest, there was no one to tell her lies or make her feel uncomfortable. She was her own self, and nobody could tell her what to do.
She reigned Demon into a gentle trot, sitting low in the saddle, just enjoying the fragrant night air, and listening to the various creatures call out greetings to her.
What was that hissy fit all about? Demon retorted somewhat breathlessly. (A/N: Demon's baaaack!!)
"It was not a hissy fit, I was just having some problems, and I needed some time away," Belle tossed back at him.
Well, next time you decide to have 'some problems', could you let me know ahead of time so I won't eat as many oats? I can almost feel my dinner coming up. (A/N: Ok, I know what you're thinking, can horses really throw up?? But they can-my sister and I were at the stable, grooming our horses after dinner and suddenly, her horse threw up. It was not pretty.)
"I'm so sorry, your worship, I apologize profusely for my lack of judgement, and for upsetting your delicate stomach," she declared sarcastically.
Now that I have a formal apology, I would like to ask why you were crying when you came in the stable. the stallion said.
"I wasn't cr-" began Belle.
Yes, you were. Just like you always are these days, insisted Demon.
"Fine," Belle snapped, more than a little agitated with her horse, "Maybe I was crying, but even if I was, it is none of your business.'
The horse seemed to ponder for a moment, and then replied, "Maybe not, but you always deny that you are upset, yet you always tell me. And I always make you feel better."
When Demon put it that way, it made Belle feel churlish for not telling him, so she decided to do so now.
"It was just some people at the dinner…they were being-nosy."
You acted like it was a lot more than that, Demon prodded.
"They were just overstaying their wel-"
Are you going to stop lying anytime soon tonight?
"I am not lying," Belle shot back.
Yes, you are.
"No I'm not."
You are.
"No, I'm not."
Well, you seem to be feeling a lot better than when you came into the stable. So why don't you just tell me already, because this could go on for hours, at best. Demon commented sensibly.
Tired of this entire argument, Belle finally relented. "Do you know who the Wildmage is?" she asked by way of starting.
Of course! the horse retorted. Do you think I've been living in a cave my whole existence?
Having to grin at the contradictory answer that was so characteristically Demon, Belle went on, "Well, did you know that The Great Progress stopped here today?"
Once again, you doubt me. What do you think?
Smiling again, she said, "Well, along with it came the Wildmage, and I happened to run into her and some of her friends after dinner, in the ballroom. One, Numair Salmalin, dragged me outside and then told me that he wanted to speak with me."
Hmm. I've heard of this Salmalin man. He was the Wildmage's teacher, I think. I've also heard of his little oddities… the horse commented thoughtfully.
"Well, once I got calmed down enough-"
Calmed down from what? Demon demanded suddenly. And don't try and say it was nothing, because it didn't work earlier, and it won't work now.
"I had another mishap with father," the girl replied shortly.
I know that's not all, but go on.
"Well, once we started talking, the subject got around to my conversation with a mouse during dinner," Bell began again pensively, "Can you believe it, those people went so far as to say that I had Wild Magic! It was obviously lunacy, so I just left as soon as possible-"
Because? her stallion asked as if it were the stupidest possible thing in the world for her to do.
"Because, well, you know why…"
Not because of your mother? Demon said the last word wit agitation, as if it was some trivial thing not to be worried over in the least.
"Of course it was because of her!" Belle almost shrieked, sending nesting birds in the trees above into flight. "And because of-what happened-what I did."
Now it was the horse's turn to be indignant, and he stopped still to reprimand her. You silly two-legger! The animals of this forest have long since forgiven you of that! Why are you harping on the past, when those events can do nothing at all to help you now!
Belle was almost offended, for she had never received so serious an admonishment from Demon.
"But you know how I feel about that! I've never forgiven myself for that incident, and I am only lucky that the creatures that live here haven't completely cut themselves off from me."
Stop lying to yourself! This time, the scolding was so loud in her head that Belle flinched in pain and rubbed her ears, her blood pounding in her temples. Get over yourself! Forget about the past, and use this gift that the gods gave to you!
"What gift?" Belle asked stubbornly, nudging Demon once again into movement, this time a trot. But this gait felt choppy, not smooth and graceful, like usual. She bounced like a sack of potatoes in the saddle, and she knew that it was because she couldn't get a good seating. Belle was a very accomplished horsewoman, and she instantly realized it was because she was uncomfortable, and unless she wanted to tire Demon more by switching to a gallop again, she had better get seated right. She started to do so as Demon began to answer her question, standing up slightly in the stirrups. As soon as she did so, she lost her balance from the overlong stirrups she had so carelessly forgotten to shorten.
You know what I am talking about! Your ability to speak with animals! This attitude… The horse went on and on, but his mistress didn't hear him in the least.
The girl was preoccupied with regaining her poise after her near fall. She didn't hear the chirruped warning of a gray squirrel in a nearby tree to watch out for the low-hanging branch either. Instead, Belle only saw the limb the second before it hit her, knocking her off her horse, onto the ground. When she hit the dirt, a sharp pain lanced through her right side and rendered her unconscious.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
(DAINE'S POV)
The Wildmage sat with three of her friends: Alanna the Lioness, Numair Salmalin, and Raoul of Goldenlake and Malorie's Peak. She wasn't speaking, along with the tall lanky man. Only the fiery red-head and the ebony-haired giant were talking, and even then not very enthusiastically. For a moment, the dark-haired woman looked at her two friends conversing, and then she gazed out over the balcony and the lush gardens. Her mind was far away from the extravagant ball at which she attended. Instead, her thoughts were on a certain golden-haired, cerulean-eyed 16 year-old.
I wonder why she looked so frightened when Numair mentioned Wild Magic. No, frightened isn't the right word…more like terrified. From the moment we dragged her outside, she was more timid than a mouse. And then when she bolted toward the gardens, - Daine hid a smile remembering what had happened. - I've never seen Alanna so surprised.
Her thoughts were broken by a legato warble that Daine recognized as the call of the birds of a wooded forest. She glanced towards the direction of the calls, and saw over thirty of these winged creatures settling themselves on the banister of the balcony. Immediately, she was deluged by many chirping voices, enough to make her head spin. Quickly, she strode outside to answer the birds' cries.
What is amiss, wing-friends? she shouted with her mind, trying to make herself heard over the din. She was very much aware of hundreds of curious eyes on her back, and decided to take the birds into the gardens. As she did so, the birds answered her inquiry as to what was wrong.
A wing-sister is hurt!
She will not wake!
You must come help her!
These were just a few of the exclamations Daine heard, and she shook her head trying to decipher them all. She didn't know that her three companions had followed her outdoors.
Where is this bird? How badly is she hurt? And why did all of you come? She asked silently before the animals could start repeating their outcries.
Oh, she is not one of us!
But we heard her talking to her horse, and the horse was replying-
She had talked to us as well-
Just as you have!
Wait a moment-is this wing-sister you talk of a two-legger?
Yes, yes! But you must hurry!
She was bleeding, and she was as pale as death! (A/N: I don't know if birds would use that, but oh well…)
Her horse asked us to come get you.
He said you would know what to do!
All right. Follow me, please. Daine hurried to the stables, her friends hurrying after her. She asked as she swiftly saddled Cloud, and her comrades did the same with their mounts. Daine finally realized that they had been trailing after her, spoke to them.
"Thank you for following me," she said briskly, still working, as were they. " I'll probably need your help. The birds say there is a two-legger hurt in the forest."
The three said nothing, only nodded and returned to work.
What did this two-legger look like? Daine shouted to the birds outside.
She had hair as bright as the sunrise- came the jumbled answers.
And eyes like a summer sky!
Those brown spots you call freckles dotted her face-
And she was wearing a dress the color of the trees!
"That's Belle all right," Daine said out loud, leading Cloud outside, trusting the others to follow.
"What?" Alanna questioned.
"I guess Belle decided to go out riding, in the dark, alone. The silly girl." Daine murmured, although the others heard. "But listen to this-the birds said she was talking to her horse, and to them!"
"I knew it!" Numair exclaimed.
Suddenly, a robin sped into the clearing in front of the stables.
Quickly, wing-sister! The two-legger's stallion says that her breath is stalling, and that she has lost far too much blood! He said her body has become cold and white!
"Oh goddess, she's gone into shock." Daine didn't need to say any more. In a split second, they were all galloping towards the forest, following the frantically chirping birds.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A/N: Again, I cannot apologize enough to my beloved reviewers for the ridiculously long wait!!!! I just got really pre-occupied with school and dance class. My first week of school was wonderful!!! I am now speaking almost fluently in French! Yea for me! ^_^ My teachers are awesome…how bout yours?? I wanna know-so REVIEW!! *cough hint cough* I luv getting to know my reviewers! Anywayz, sry bout all of the horse obsessions in this chappie-I am a devoted horse lover. And I just came back from the stables, so I was pumped up. Hehehe. And then end was a little over-melo-dramatic, I know, but I went a lot further with this chapter than I meant to! I just have some quick questions…
Any guys reading this? Just wondering, cuz it seems like most of my reviewers are girls.
Any of my lovely, adored reviewers have stories that they want me to read? I'd be glad to read and review as you have loyally reviewed mine!
P.S. Wish me luck for the first cuts for the volleyball team!!
Thanx to:
Black Rose: Ooo I read your story, and it was good! I've never read a fanfic before with a Jon shipper with anyone else besides Alanna or Thayet! I promise, in like 2 chappies, we'll find out who she'll fall in love with…tell me if you have a particular person in mind!! Actually I'm not in high school yet, much to my displeasure, just 8th grade. But I'm taking about 4 high school classes-yuck! I really hate geometry! But advanced World History is really fun, I discovered. Lol. I'll try as hard as possible to get up chappies in-between school and dance and sports. ^.^
Kalika: Lol. That's ok, I never know what to say in reviews, either. I hope you liked this chapter! I made it nice and looooooooong-they'll probably all be this was since I don't really have a lot of time to write. But that's a good thing!! Hehehe. =^)
Larzdinn: I'm sooooo sorry about the long wait! I was so caught up in school-and I have a race coming up soon, and it will be Melody's (my mount for this competition) first time in a race, so I've been at the stable like 5 days a week for three months! And then on top of volleyball, track, and school…yikes! But I promise to try and update as often as possible-all of my chapters will probably be really long, but not as frequent, but that's okay!! Lol. =) I was really looking forward to this weekend, even though I was enjoying school. I will never turn down two days off school! I totally understand about your not being able to write reviews and such as often, cuz I pretty much have the same problem. I think I did a good job with Demon this chapter-I felt so bad for neglecting him these last few chapters! =( Thanx so much for reviewing!!!
The Dark Lady: Wow!! What a compliment!! Thank you!!! ^_^ I hope you liked this chapter… I had so much fun writing it!! =^)
KeladryLadyKnight: Thanx!! I hope you enjoyed the chapter! I hope this story doesn't drag out too long-like to 20 or more chapters, because I have another idea for a new fic in mind.! By the way, I read your story, "The Dragon", and it has such potential!!! If you would only update!!! *cough hint cough* Lol. I hope you liked this chapter!!
Chibi-Chingo: I know! I've been reading over these chapters before I upload them, and it's like, omg!! Poor Belle! I kind get overwhelmed and carried away when I'm actually writing the story, and I don't notice till afterwards that I made it so tragic! Hehehe. Thanx for reading!!! ^.^
Keziah: Hehehe. It's like, "Calling all Lord Jared Haters!!!" ^_^ That would be certainly be fun. ;) I think I read one of your stories, isn't it an Alanna-goes-to-the-convent, and then she befriends Roger? It was really good!! I look forward to reading the next chapter-it has such a good plot!! I STILL haven't gotten my hands on Lady Knight yet, and I am sooooooooo anxious too!! Thanx for the suggestion of Owen. That would be cool-I think you're the first one to make a proposal about that. I don't blame you in the least for crying while reading Chapter 5- I was reading it over, and I swear, my eyes were all tearing up!! I didn't know I could make somebody cry!! *sniffles happily* I really hope Belle realizes that having Wild Magic isn't such a bad thing sometime in the near future!! (She kinda has a mind of her own-the chapter always turns out different then I planned it!) Almost every time Lord Jared is mean to Belle, I feel like making Bell turn around and slap him, but of course, that wouldn't work. ;)
Bblond01: I feel bad for Belle too!! *tear* Caution: Never read my fic without a box of tissues handy!! Lol. ;) I'm glad somebody likes my detail fanatics. ^.^ Hope you liked the chappie!!
Much love,
~Starlet~
P.S. Pleeeeze, pleeze, PLEEEZE review!!!! I will love you forever if you do!!! Its so easy, you don't even have to be a member to do it!!! It's right here!! Just click the little blue button!!!!