a.n. -- im a fruit maniac …*sits in chair with a bowl of cherries placed on her desk, glares at the California sun (evil yellow thing)*
There is something I must say in this author's note. I will be…taking a five day trip to San Diego where I'll be mountain climbing, trail hiking, and beach partying; don't worry, I'll miss you guys :D *hugs*. So, the next chapter might be later than usual, unless I rush it, which is probably not a good idea…
there, now, to the next chapter! *munches on a cherry*
a.n.2. - I found out….i haven't strayed from the original plan at all, the added twist did nothing! It only helped the boring part! Wee. Sorry, excited.
Chapter 13
Joren looked at the necklace, eyebrows slightly raised in question. Kel's eyes widened with excitement. She nodded furiously. He stared.
"Is the head bobbing suppose to mean something?"
She glared and made a motion of opening something with her fingers, then pointed at the necklace. His eyes followed her every move and then it clicked. He looked around, pretending to search for something and then quickly turned back to Kel as soon as he made sure the coast was clear.
"You want me to take it off?" He whispered. She started nodding again.
"Sit still, girl." She rolled her eyes at the tone of his voice. "Face the fire."
He carefully placed his hand behind her neck, so that observers couldn't tell what they were doing, and managed to get a hold of the slippery necklace. Joren found the latch easily, but when he positioned a finger over the notch to tug it loose, a burning sensation flared up against his skin.
"OW!" Kel quickly reached behind her and clasped her right hand over his mouth. The men around the fire continued conversing as if nothing had happened. She lifted her palm and turned, frowning. He scowled.
"It's been magicked."
***
That night, after everyone was asleep, Joren's head popped up from the midst of the slumbering mass, his blonde hair poking out in various places. He shook Kel awake. She opened her eyes wearily and giggled silently at his ruffled appearance. The blonde scowled, grabbed her wrist gently, and tiptoed over the slumbering mass of people. Suddenly, he stepped on something squishy and almost tripped over a huge block of flesh. Joren looked down to see that he'd stepped into a bowl of mysterious green glob and the huge block of flesh was, indeed, Kyshe. Specifically, Kyshe's face. Pity the bowl wasn't his face
Finally, after several long minutes of sidestepping bodies, they reached Nathan, who was slumped against the wall. After they'd figured out that the necklace was magically sealed so that only the owner could open it, this was the best plan they had of opening it up. Joren bent and grabbed an empty wine bottle. Keladry sat down, her back facing Joren, he set the bottle down beside him. Just in case if the evil prick woke up. He almost wished they hadn't drunk so much wine.
"Hello, mister evil bad guy, let's see who holds the strings now." After making a look of disgust, he gently took Nathan's hands, which had a disgusting tint of green, and held them the way a puppeteer would grasp the strings of his dolls before a puppet show. Kel turned around to see what was the hold up and smiled at the look of the blonde holding hands. He snarled. She let out a huff of breath and turned back. Won't take a joke. Joren fiddled with the man's fingers, coincidentally making rude signs every now and then, and finally grasped the necklace's notch successfully. He squinted and leaned in closely. Pressing the other's fingers around the opening of the latch and the other on the loose end, Joren managed to pull the necklace off. Quickly, the blonde threw Nathan's hand back to him and stepped aside.
"Finally, took you long enough."
"Hey, be nice. I released you from the unmentionable evil."
"Yeah, I'm sorry, after all, you had to hold his hands." She smiled.
"Don't remind me."
Both of them quickly tiptoed out of the cave. Kel stumbled and winced.
"I'm not carrying you."
"I wasn't asking was I?"
Joren felt slightly mad at himself for being so harsh. What's wrong with you, Stone Mountain? Shaking his head, he walked forward choosing the path which the dark men had wanted to continue on the next day. Closing his ears to the soft scuffling of bleeding soles behind him. Keladry followed him, grabbing the wall for support, and shot glares at his back. Cold-hearted prick. What she didn't know was that each step she took, a drop of blood accompanied it, bled from Joren's heart.
"Stop." Her voice was scratchy. The blonde turned around and smashed his head against the wall. JOREN, YOU ARE SUCH AN IDIOT. Bloody footsteps trailed from behind her, leaving a track as clear as footprints in mud. The bandage wound around her feet was soaked through.
"Why didn't you tell me you were bleeding so badly?"
"Well, it wouldn't really matter, would it?" Her reply stung him, the tone being extremely harsh. Joren paused, remembering his words. "I'm not carrying you." Smart, Joren, smart. Scolding himself under his breath, Joren stalked over to her and lifted Kel up; continuing on the path. She was too weak to protest, the blood loss had been more severe than she'd thought it would've been.
***
The sudden stop jolted her from a nap. Kel blinked slowly and found herself in the blonde's lap, Joren was slumped against the wall. His head was tilted forward, the tendrils of hair covering his face from her view. She looked about and found that they were in an enormous tavern. An inky lake sprouted from the middle of the spacious area. It was then she realized they were on the rim. Turning, she faced Joren again. Slowly, she slid off his provided seat and onto the space next to him.
Keladry gently placed her hand on the middle area of his body. Out of nowhere, something grasped her wrist.
"Don't. It hurts." His eyes were still closed, but his mouth moved, mumbling.
"I guess it still does, you haven't taken very good care of yourself, Joren." She said softly.
"There wasn't enough time for naps recently."
Kel smoothed back his hair, startling ice blue eyes opened, surprised. She smiled. Leaning in, Keladry gently placed a kiss upon his lips and laid down next to him, resting her head on his shoulder.
"Thank you for everything. You aren't as bad as I thought."
"I am bad."
She grinned at the indignant tone in his voice and rolled her head away from his shoulder, so that there was a space between them. A foot. Joren closed his eyes again. And then opened on eye to peek at her, pulling the corners of his mouth down, he frowned.
"I'm cold."
"Bad people go to hell. You should heat up soon."
"Then, for now…" He slipped an arm around Kel and pulled her back into his lap. She let out a "eep" and scowled.
"What are you doing?!"
"Admit it, you're as cold as I am." She opened her mouth to protest and he sealed it with his own. Joren's arms encircled her and when the kiss ended, she was speechless. He smiled smugly.
"If you won't agree to the temperature level, then do it for me? The savior?" She rolled her eyes and, after a moment of consideration, snuggled in the comforting embrace, the corners of her lips turned upward slightly.
***
((a.n. - Wee. I'm being nice and adding extra! J.K., its just for making up for my…err…future absence))
Keladry woke up to the sound of muffled humming and the smell of fish. She turned toward the sound and sat up. Her eyes found Joren sitting next to a miniature fire and, trailing down from his figure, found that two fishes, with a stick protruding from their head and tail, were lying on top of the flames. Kel blinked twice and rubbed her hands of her lids before opening again. This time, Joren was looking at her with a grin on his face.
"I love your new hair style." She scowled and crept near the fire.
"What's with the fish?"
"Breakfast."
He realized that she was still confused and leaned back to rest himself against an immense slab of rock.
"I went for a swim in the lake and realized there were fish. You know, I'm quite good with stick-jabbing."
"Yes, I'm sure that'll be needed if you're ever marooned on an island." She yawned and stretched. And stared at him.
"May I ask…how did you swim with broken ribs?"
Joren quickly shuffled to the lake and scooped up a handful of water, putting out the fire. He leapt nimbly over to Kel's side, landing silently with a wince and placed a hand over her mouth before she could ask what he was up to. He whispered, placing his face close to her ear, eyes staring directly ahead.
"They're here."
A loud guffaw broke the silence of the large cavern. Thumping footsteps preceded it, carrying the bodies of ten dark, robed men into their field of view. Quickly, Joren pulled Kel behind the slab of rock he'd been lying on, just before a torch was lighted.
"See anything?" A voice hissed.
"No, master. They are probably far ahead."
"They can't be! It's hidden here!"
"Ah, but they are here. The tortallans are just hiding." A new voice said. The man had a rough accent and a flaky, dry voice, making him hard to understand.
"A mage." Joren said softly. Kel could see sweat breaking out on his pale forehead.
"Fool! Can't you sense them!"
"Be patient."
Suddenly, a force hurtled toward them. The impact it made with the stone slab made the rock slip apart into pieces, revealing them.
"Uh…Joren," she growled at him, pulling his sleeve to get his attention. But the blonde's eye had caught a plain brown package under the rumble of stones. Shifting the pieces of dirt apart, he lifted the package.
"Kel, look at this."
Her head turned toward him and slowly slid down, Kel's eyes widened.
"You've…"
She was cut short as two hands grabbed her shoulders, lifting and pulling her away. Joren stood up instantly. Nathan faced them, his sword drawn and placed against Kel's neck. He nodded toward the package. Joren looked down at it, his dirty hands making fingerprints over the cover. Blue eyes, slowly turning black with anger, stared back at the man.
"Kel…" he whispered under his breath.
"Give it to me, Stone Mountain."
The blonde looked up. He had the package now. He could leave, and leave Kel behind. His eyes darted between her and the item in his hand. Her hazel eyes stared back emotionlessly at him. Kel's lips were turning slightly purple at the coldness of the underground cave. He desperately wanted to have her in his arms again. To keep safe, and to…what did he want? The sword bit lightly into her neck, drawing a thin line of blood. Joren's hand immediately slid down to the sword belted at his side.
Mithros, I hate choices.
Thank you so much to the reviewers who took their time to tell me their thoughts in the previous chapters, they were greatly appreciated =).
I was in a rush and couldn't reply -. BUT…I read every single one, thoroughly.
3 much love to the one's who pressed the purple button and sent me a thought :D.