A/N: I must apologize for the delay in writing this chapter. I feel awful for it! But to make up I made it longer than the other chapters :) hope that helps. This chapter is dedicated to my friend Felicia for stopping me 'mid-mope' ;) Also, my usual editor has not had a chance to look this chapter over yet (mostly because I was too excited to get it posted to wait until tomorrow lol) so please excuse any grammatical or spelling errors that I might have missed. Thanks!
Title: Coincidental Destinies
Rating: G
Disclaimer: I own only Aidlyn, Gendl, Aryssfeane, and the Essences (sounds like a band doesn't it? lol) and also the krealin (though I'm sure not eating it! Yeck. :P ) All in all I'm not doing too badly for myself. Don'tcha think?
Chapter 4
Sarah froze, hand held midway to the door, what had Lyn just said? She whirled to face her friend, but the fairy advisor had already left, leaving only the faint scent of violets in her wake. Sarah had been feeling so wonderful when she woke today, but her heart had suddenly plummeted into her stomach and she was feeling nauseous again.
With a heavy sigh and a twist of the heavy metal handle, Sarah moved slowly into the bathroom and dropped the little metal bar into place in its prop, locking the door behind her. She turned and looked in awe at the large elegant bathroom, trying to push thoughts of the Goblin King to the back of her mind. The floors were a polished wood of some kind with a charming reddish tint to it, but the walls remained the same gray stone as the rest of her room. The black marble bathtub sat up on huge lion paws and a carving of an ancient tree with curving vines was embedded into wall behind it. There was a low three-legged table sitting at the base of the tub and on it sat about ten different brightly colored bottles of scented shampoos and bath oils. But Sarah noticed with a slight frown, that there was no plumbing connected to the tub.
Sarah moved closer to the tub, brow furrowed in confusion and curiosity. She ran a gentle hand over the smooth surface of the bathtub, gasping lightly as it suddenly started filling with steaming water. She pulled her hand back from the tub and watched the water level rise with fascination...that would explain the lack of faucets. Smiling lightly to herself, she directed her attention to the rest of the room. There were large, fluffy, dark green towels hanging against the adjacent wall to the bathtub and a small sink opposite of that. Sarah noticed another door across from her and moved to open it. The door led into a large closet that was filled with dresses of many different colors and materials, each one beautiful and elegant. She felt overwhelmed by the beauty surrounding her and took it all in like a sponge.
It took her only moments to shed the light nightgown, leaving it crumpled on the wooden floor under the towels. She studied herself in a full-length mirror, with a small frown. She was thinner than she remembered, her hipbones more defined and angular, and her cheek bones slightly hollowed out. She was deathly pale with dark circles under her dull eyes and her gaze lifeless as she watched herself, turning in a slow circle so she could study herself fully. She noticed that her upper back was slightly reddened, as if she had broken out in a rash, and she reached a trembling hand around to touch the tender skin, wincing at a sudden jolt of pain the moved up into her neck at the contact.
Sarah turned from the mirror after once last glance and a low sigh, seeing that the tub had filled itself. She tried to think cheerfully as she dipped a hand into the steaming water to test it before slowly stepping into the tub and sinking into the relaxing water. Her back pains nearly vanished on contact with the warmth and she instantly relaxed, closing her eyes and leaning her head back against the curved edge of the marble bath contentedly.
* * * * *
Sarah stepped from the bathroom feeling refreshed and cheerful, wearing an airy dress of light green. She was greeted by the rich smell of breakfast, which had been laid out for her on rounded table on the balcony. She moved over to the table, shivering slightly as the sun warmed stone of the balcony floor met with her bare feet. There was a cool breeze that lightened the morning air and tumbled gracefully through her hair and dress as she sat on the comfortable, dark green upholstered, high back chair. The fresh morning smelled of wild flowers, new rain, and maple syrup; the latter causing her mouth to water and her stomach to growl impatiently.
She had not even realized how incredibly hungry she was until she lifted the silver lids from every tray one by one, revealing a plate of assorted fruits, most she recognized, but some she did not, a basket of fresh sweet rolls still warm from the oven and a warm plate of French toast, dripping in syrup and powered sugar. She inhaled the meal, only slowing to savor the last few bites, every one of them melting in her mouth and leaving her feeling warm and contented afterwards, pleasantly full.
She covered the empty plate with its lid and picked a perfectly ripened pear from the pile of fruit. She studied it lazily, twirling it slowly in her hands, and letting her mind wander back to the Goblin King. How had she been so foolish to forget that she was back in the Underground?...in his territory. She looked up from the untouched pear and at the balcony edge, suddenly curious as to what was not revealed to her from her sitting point more than ten feet away. All she was able to see was the tops of a nearby group of trees and the pale blue sky that was scattered with fluffy white clouds. She sat up taller, trying to see more of the landscape below without getting up from her chair, but all that accomplished her was a better look at the treetops. Was there even anything below her?
"I see you have enjoyed your breakfast."
Sarah whirled around at the voice that had broken through the calm morning silence, nearly dropping her still untouched pear. She saw a stout woman helping two other servants to clean the breakfast mess from the table. Her dark gray hair was pulled into a tight bun at the top of her head and she wore a simple blue dress that fell to her ankles, long sleeves rolled up to her elbows. Her eyes sparkled with kindness and humor, small wrinkles just starting to show on her tanned skin, laugh lines that gave her a pleasantly aged, but still beautiful appearance. Sarah could not help but smile when she noticed the small butterfly wings fluttering gently against the woman's back.
"Um...yes, it was wonderful, thank you." A shy murmur fell from Sarah's lips and she started to stand, but another piercing back pain stopped her from it.
The woman tsked lightly, removing the tablecloth with strong, work-worn hands and folding it neatly. "C'mon then, I have something that will help that back of yours." She nodded her head towards the bed inside the room and walked over to hand the folded tablecloth to a waiting servant.
Sarah tried again to stand, but this time without bending her back hardly at all in an attempt to keep the pain to a minimum. She moved carefully over to the bed to lie on her stomach, wincing as she lifted her arms to fold under her head. She listened to the brief conversation that passed between the woman and the other servant, aware of the little noises around her now that her eyes were closed. The older woman gave a few minor orders to the servant and then Sarah heard her approach the bed, the sound of a jar lid being twisted off following. The tiny clasps on the back of Sarah's dress were undone and the clothing pushed lightly aside to reveal her bare back.
Just before the warm ointment came in contact with her skin, the biting scent of some kind of medicinal mint hit her senses, clearing her sinuses with the potency of it. The ointment sent a wave of warmth throughout her back, relaxing her muscles and calming the pains with the same kind of effect the hot bath water had. The servant woman expertly massaged a generous amount of the salve on, hands firm but gentle, and a small calm smile passed over Sarah's face. She was disappointed when the massage ended, but felt a kind of relief that her back pains where nowhere near what they had been before. Her back was still a bit sticky from the strong smelling ointment but it continued to emanate waves of warmth into her muscles. Sarah turned to the woman after her dress had once again been buttoned up and she was free to rise slowly from the comfortable bed.
"That felt wonderful...thank you so much."
There was a tiny twinkle in the servant's kindly eyes, "Not at all majesty, I expected you would need it."
Sarah couldn't stop herself from chuckling at the word 'majesty', "I'm still not used to being called that..." She confessed, moving a hand through her still damp and slightly tangled hair.
"I suppose it'll become easier to accept with time. Let me brush out your hair for you." She had switched topics without even a breath in between, bustling Sarah to the vanity and sitting her in the simple chair.
"No really, you don't have to...I can do it." Sarah protested, reaching for the wooden brush lying in front of her. The servant slapped her hand away causing Sarah to cry out lightly and clutch her hand against her chest, "Hey!"
"My apologies, my Queen, but you need to get used to being fussed over." She was serious, but her eyes flashed with good humor as she picked up the brush and began moving it through Sarah's hair gently. Sarah grumbled to herself but grudgingly let the servant have her way. She watched her image in the mirror, noticing that she wasn't quite as pale as before...most likely because she'd actually had something to eat. Her gaze flicked to the servant and she studied the woman closely again. She had her gaze fixed upon the brush and Sarah's hair, humming a pretty melody as she worked.
"What's your name?" Sarah didn't quite recognize her voice; it was soft and relaxed.
"My name is Aryssfeane, Majesty." She didn't even look up as she spoke.
"Please call me Sarah, Aryssfeane...Like I said, I don't think I'll ever get used to the other."
"I wouldn't feel right calling you by name, Majesty will have to do." She was informative and somewhat stern, much like a scolding mother. "But you may wish to call me Ary...it's easier on the tongue." Ary smiled as she said that and then went back to humming the gentle tune when Sarah made no move to reply again.
Sarah closed her eyes and listened to the tune, the pretty melody combined with the rhythmic massage the brush was giving her doing wonders to relax her again. Though her back pains were starting to return…she didn't want to think about it. "What song is that?" She didn't bother opening her eyes.
"I'm not sure Majesty, I've never heard this one before…" Ary's reply was matter-of-factly…but confused Sarah.
"What do you mean?" She furrowed her brows and opened her eyes, meeting the gaze of a slightly amused Ary through the mirror.
"It changes every time there is a new Queen…something is added to the tune."
"I don't think I understand…"
Ary calmly pulled the brush away from Sarah's hair and set it back down on the vanity. "It is a song that comes from your soul."
"My soul?" Sarah gestured to herself, incredulous.
"Yes, My Queen." She nodded in agreement and proceeded to wrap Sarah's hair up in a loose bun, something casual but elegant. "The song is specially woven from your soul so it will have the most affect on you…it would not have the same affect on another that might hear it." She finished with Sarah's hair and stepped back to admire her work, "there…fit for a Queen ready to have lessons." Her eyes sparkled playfully and Sarah laughed lightly.
"Thank you very much Ary…" She turned in her seat to look at the servant.
"You are quite welcome, Majesty…" she glanced at the thirteen-hour clock mounted on the wall, "and now I believe I have neglected the rest of my duties long enough. I will be on my way." She bowed and moved to leave, careful not to turn her back on the Queen.
"Oh…one last thing Ary…when will Aidlyn be back?"
Ary offered another smile, "She will return for the evening meal." She waited for Sarah's nod of acknowledgement before disappearing out the door.
Sarah sighed and looked around the suddenly silent room, she would need to find something to do to occupy her time until Lyn returned…
* * * * *
The sun was just starting to set behind the trees when a gentle knock was heard against Sarah's door. She rose from her chair, wincing slightly at the throbbing pain in her back, and bidding the person to enter. A wide smile pulled at her lips when Lyn entered the door, carrying a tray of food in front of her.
"Good evening, Sarah." She moved across the room to set down the tray and then returned to the door to close it with a gentle thud.
"Oh I'm so glad you're back."
Lyn lifted a slender brow, "Is something wrong?" She moved back across the room again to sit at the small round table set up just inside the opened balcony door.
Sarah sank into her chair across from her advisor, "Oh no, not at all…I just really want to start my lessons." She smiled sheepishly and then moved to change the subject, becoming distracted with the wonderful smell of the food in front of her.
Lyn laughed lightly and reached over to remove the covers from the trays, "I guarantee you will not feel the same after a few days." She proceeded to scoop out several different items onto a plate and handed them to Sarah. There was a few different kinds of vegetables, broccoli was one of them but the other two she didn't recognize, and she was also scooped out a slice of some kind of meat and offered four goblets with different drinks in them. She immediately moved to start eating, but Lyn stopped her, "not yet…I must explain it to you first."
Confused and slightly curious Sarah set down her fork again, brows furrowed. "All right…"
Aidlyn smiled, "All right…what you see in front of you is a small assortment of foods found in the Underground, and one or two from Aboveground." Sarah nodded in confirmation, now looking curiously down at the food on her plate. Lyn continued, "This will help you become more in touch with the Essences inside of you."
Sarah nodded, "I think I understand. What do I have to do?"
"First take a bite of the broccoli." She watched Sarah spear a piece with her fork and raise it to her mouth, "This is an Aboveground food, correct?"
Sarah nodded, and pushed the piece into her mouth.
"How is it?"
She waited until after she had swallowed the piece of vegetable before answering, "It's very good."
"Ok…now eat another piece and this time really concentrate on the taste and what you think about it."
Sarah nodded and did what she was told, closing her eyes briefly and taking her time, "It still tastes good…but there's a different feeling…"
"Describe it to me."
"Well, I mean…I like it…but then I don't." She opened her eyes looking apologetic, "That probably doesn't make much sense."
Aidlyn was pleased, "Oh no...That's exactly what I wanted to hear you say. How strong is the distaste?"
"Not very strong...I guess." Sarah looked uncertain again, "I'm not sure how this is helping. I just don't—"
"Shh..." Lyn halted Sarah's protests by lifting a hand, "try the krealin."
"The what?" She looked down at her plate.
"Those dark brown cubes..."
"Oh." Sarah stabbed a piece with her fork and studied it briefly, the outside reminded her of a baked potato that had been charred to the dark brown color and they were all shaped into little bite sized cubes, soaked in a tan, gravy-like substance. She put the piece of vegetable into her mouth and bit down. She gagged and her eyes watered up immediately, the insides reminded her of the consistency of soggy squash and had a sour pasty taste to it that coated her mouth and made her nauseous. "Oh my God...what was that?" It had taken her quite a bit of will power to swallow the chunk of vegetable.
"Its a fruit called krealin...a delicacy to the northern troll clans." Lyn gestured to one of the goblets and Sarah greedily drank, it was water, she noticed, anything to get the taste out of her mouth. But she also noticed as she drank that she had the sudden craving for more krealin.
"It's a fruit?"
"Yes, how do you feel about it?"
"It's disgusting...but I think I want some more."
Lyn laughed, "I knew you would. I want you to search yourself for the source of that craving. Close your eyes for me."
Sarah did so, letting her fork drop to the plate lightly, she could still vaguely taste the krealin in the back of her throat.
"Is the feeling stronger or weaker then the broccoli?" Lyn asked.
"Definitely stronger." She answered without hesitation.
"Good...now concentrate on that feeling."
Sarah's brain was starting to hurt with all the concentrating she was doing, but she couldn't quite pinpoint what was making her desire the horrid fruit. The closest she would get to the answer was just the lightest brush against the edge of it, slight relief would wash over her at having found the answer...and then she would loose it. She sighed and opened her eyes, "Maybe if you told me what I was looking for..."
Lyn thought about it for a moment and then nodded, "All right. You are looking for the second essence inside of you. Krealin was her favorite fruit."
Sarah wrinkled her nose slightly, "Why?" She just couldn't understand who would like to eat it.
"Her father was a troll...I suppose the taste just grew on her."
"Oh." She felt slightly sheepish, she shouldn't judge people so quickly, and she scolded herself for it silently.
"Now try again, Sarah..." Lyn voice almost sounded pleading, but she remained very patient. Sarah nodded and closed her eyes again, searching into the darkness of her mind. She remembered all too clearly how the krealin tasted and held onto that memory. She once again felt the slight craving for another bite of the fruit and immediately held onto that craving, as if climbing from rock to rock in order to find the answer at the top of a huge mountain.
She was about to give up again when she noticed a sudden voice, it sounded far away and weak...but it was there. "You are doing wonderfully Sarah...keep trying."
Sarah opened her eyes, thinking it was Lyn, "I am trying!" She sounded frustrated and felt suddenly exhausted.
Lyn lifted a slender brow, "I know you are trying Sarah...do not allow yourself to become frustrated."
Sarah heard gentle laughter then, but Lyn's lips were not moving. "...is it her?"
"Who?"
"The Essence...the second Essence."
Lyn shrugged but her smile deepened, "Why don't you ask her?"
Of course, why hadn't she thought of that? "I...I don't know how." Sarah's features were bordering perplexed.
"Sure you do. Every bit of that knowledge is inside of you...and they will help you out as well. That is what they are there for after all." She smiled again and then continued, "Let's try another. Take a sip out of the goblet to your left."
Sarah nodded and brought the goblet to her lips, her insides were fluttering with excitement.
A/N 2: Many many thanks go to my reviewers, I love you all!
Cyber Keiko- thank you, I hope it turns out to be very exciting…I can't wait to write it! lol
Sway- Oooh, I hope I didn't bruise you too badly. :) and I also hope this chapter was a bit more eventful…
Gwen- Thank you for the cookie! It's just what I needed. (cookies are always good ;) )
Anyastazya- lol 'human Q-tip' huh? I might have to use that…and give you credit of course. He should be showing himself soon enough.
Phoebemoon- I'm sorry! I couldn't help but be evil…it just felt too good to pass up. As for falling in love you'll just have to read and find out…*chuckles evilly* I mean…uh *ahem* sorry again. ;)
Katherine- I hope it is! That would really be a bummer if I wrote myself into a dead-end again…knock on wood...
Rhiannon Faylinn- quite right…it should prove to be very interesting.
Ethereal-Athan- It took me even longer for this chapter! Argh…I'm such a slacker! But you already knew that…lol *huggles*
Xelena- Thanks for reading I'm glad you like it.
Sparkle Weaver- How could you not love Jareth? Hehe and yes he does appear in this story.
