~Memories~
By Ola
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A/N~ another chapter. Sorry for being so long in uploading. Again. (but I have 2 weeks of vacations coming up this Friday!!!)
Thanks so much to all you reviewers! (some comments at the bottom =)
And do continue pointing out the mistakes. I will go back and change them, or add some details to make some parts less confusing.
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Part 26~ Confrontation
Lan slowly made her way downstairs, her hand against the rough wooden wall of the staircase. A step creaked, rather loudly in the morning silence. Bah, everybody's either stoned, or hung over. Just as I am. She made an unsteady, slightly weaving way toward the door. A tired "hey" sounded from her left.
"Hey Jack. What are you doing up? And here?"
"I could ask you the same thing." Tired smile. He had to prop his head up.
"Well, I kind of live here right now. And I'm going outside. Need some fresh air."
"It's a deluge out there!" at least he was a bit more awake now.
"Oh, really? Haven't noticed."
"You're gonna get soaked. That's actually why I stayed here for the night, to answer your first question. That, and the fact that as soon as I would have walked that door, I would have walked into either a wall, or a ditch."
A grin. "it's good you stayed then. Wouldn't want to have to pick up what's left of you with a spoon. But I'm still going." He narrowed his eyes and made a face.
"Why do you think I brought this?" she pointed to the heavy oiled cape that hung form her shoulders. "Because I liked the additional weight?" Jack stood up and walked toward her. "You're not going to stop me," she growled."
"I don't intend to." A grin.
"Then what are you doing?"
"I'm going out. Home."
"… … well well, look at the little hypocrite!" she heaved a dramatic sigh and pressed the back of her hand to her forehead. Jack grinned.
"You're a really bad actor."
"I know, that's why I'm in the guard and not on the stage." They walked to the door and stood on the threshold, looking out into the grayness. Nothing new here.
"Don't tell anyone."
"That you're a bad actor?"
"No! that I'm going outside. I want some time for myself. I need peace before they all swarm on me and drag me inside. I swear, they are worse than a bunch of old grandmas."
"You're lucky to have friends like them."
"I guess. But so are you, now." She grinned.
"Where are you going anyway?"
The girl made a face, but told him anyway. "To the river. Upstream." She saw Jack look at the heavy rain and frown, but was relieved when he didn't say anything except "bye, see you later." With a wave of the hand, he was gone. A few seconds later, so was she, swallowed by the curtain of wetness.
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There wasn't anyone else out. Well, that figures. I'm the only one crazy enough to go out when it pours. And the farmers? I wonder if they are in their fields, working, or if they're done for the winter. Mmm…it feels so good to be out. After that stuffy room; made my eyes itch. And yesterday,…yesterday? Arrg, don't like not remembering. It's all so fuzzy…I wonder what happened…is that what the old lady said, about remembering? Should I remember something that I said?...or did?...jeez…I…I didn't…tell anyone right? RIGHT?!
She stopped and looked back, but the inn –and the rest of the village- was hidden from view, so she began walking again. It was cold out, well duh, it's almost winter! But simply walking kept her warm enough. A few minutes later, she heard the rushing water, above the hiss of the rain striking leaves. Cresting a little rise in the terrain, she finally saw, raging, roaring, and muddy brown, spraying dark gray rocks that stood in its path, as if angry that they were there. For a moment, Lan forgot all her worries and simply watched this brute force. It was mesmerizing. She took a few steps closer, and sat on a wet rock-but then what wasn't wet here?- right at the edge of the river, and lost herself in its power.
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He waited for a while, got up and searched the inn. He waited some more, then went to check in the stables. A horse looked at him with large brown, placid eyes, hay sticking out of its mouth. He dashed back into the inn through the rain, looking around with a frown.
"Hey, have you seen Lan?"
"Naa…I just woke up boy."
"Mat, have you?"
"Uh no, he's probably passed out somewhere in a room. Maybe couldn't find his own. After all he drank yesterday, I wouldn't be surprised. He'll wake up on his own. Sit down and have a drink." Sindarin didn't comment. Ha asked the barman, the serving maids, and the two guys who had brought them the tub a few days ago, and was always met by a negative answer. He began to worry, and then to berated himself.
How many times will she have to tell me she can take care of herself before I believe that? I have to let her some slack, or she'll really leave! But she didn't right now. I'm sure she didn't. if something was wrong, she would have talked things over with me first…. Who am I kidding? She doesn't need me. But…she loves me, right? She wouldn't leave…so where IS she? Did something happen to her? Stop! Stop this right now! You can't think about anything except her. The girl has a life you know? Eat some breakfast. I can't. sigh, I'm too worried. It's not my fault I'm in love with her. I love her more than my life…
The entrance door opened, and Ked's breath hitched, then he sighed again when he saw the height of the person and the blond hair. Still not her. What's his name? Ah.
"Hey Jack? Have you seen Lan?" the other young man glanced at him, then out the door into the rain, then back at him, his face unreadable. "Hey man, did you hear me?" Sindarin stood up and walked toward him, trying to talk over the already quite loud common room. With no where else to go, the villagers had once again made the inn their meeting place. The blond youth stood a few steps away from the entrance, a puddle of water growing at his feet.
Why isn't he answering? I know he heard me! He's looking right at me as if deciding whether to tell me or t…
"Yea, I did." Sindarin could hear the frantic beat of his heart.
"And? Where is he? Where did he go?!"
"He asked me not to tell. He wants to be left alone."
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The rain seemed to lessen a little, although Lanea didn't realize it. But she did take notice of the world around her when the wind picked up and ran right through her wet cloak. Oiled or not, it still had been soaked, and the girl shivered. She did not really want to leave yet, but her stomach growled, clamoring for the breakfast it did not have. She quickly stood up. Too quickly. The wet stone was slippery and her left foot lost its traction.
She fell.
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Sindarin took the step that separated him from the other guy, roughly grabbed his shoulders, and tried to shake some sense into him.
"What do you mean you can't tell me!" the young guard slapped Sindarin's hands off, and his eyes narrowed.
"What's difficult to understand here? I. Cannot. Tell. You. And I definitely won't until you behave yourself." Sindarin's face became as red as his hair when he heard the calm voice of the blond.
"What if something happened to him!?" he flung his hands into the air, unaware that the whole common room had fallen silent and that everyone was watching the exchange. "What if it's an emergency!" he yelled.
"Is it?" Jack didn't need to raise his voice. He rose his eyebrows instead.
"Arrgg!!!!" Sindarin punched him in the nose. Hard.
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A/N~ how was that for a length eh? =) I know I know, a bit of a cliffhanger. But you'll live, right? *grins* =)
-eri- thanks. But DON'T ignore stuff that bugs you!! Tell me what's wrong so I can go back and change it!! =)
-falcon-rider- glad you liked that scene. Err, what's "rofl"? =)
-magdellin- no *grins* that was not from personal experience. (it was personal only if you would include watching other people getting drunk into that category =) I stop myself at a few sips. Mandarins? Don't know either! *grins*
-m'cha araem- mmm, you'll have to wait until the sequel until you find out why sindarin joined the army *sheepish grin* . I hope that wasn't too confusing (the relationship and the sign on his wrist. I made it up.) Maybe I should add some more about it? Pregnant eh? Lol. *grins evilly* I'll let you find that out in a few chapters. (as in probably 2). But, are you sure she's pregnant? =)
-ardent- yea, sigh. That was a major slip (completely forgot about it, even while reading a valdemar book and having that part explicitly described in it!!!! ) but I think changing it now would completely mess up the plot =( hee hee, the glitter caves? No. not that I was aware of. There's another one =) and yea, I guess that last idea would work great =) thanks! Oh, but what about buggle? (lan's friend at the beginning of the story, remember him? =)) he should have known that!!! Or maybe he didn't. oh well =)
keep on pointing out errors! (I guess I have many of those eh?) =) and reviewing!!!
Thanks! =)
~ola~
