Discalimer: the bits of fairy tales that you recognize aren't mine, what you don't recognize as anything already written/published/copyrighted is. :o) on with the story!
~*~
Cedric strode over to me and enfolded me in his arms. "I thought I'd never see you again!" His mouth found mine and I enjoyed the sensations that were rushing through me.
"Ahem." I heard someone clear his throat. Rather sheepishly, Cedric and I ended our kiss.
"Prince Cedric, do you, um, know this lady?" I saw the King staring pointedly at us.
"Yes sir, I do." Cedric blushed and I felt my own face get warm. "She, she was in Lamar with me for a time." My face went even redder with the looks of disapproval that the King and Chamberlain were giving me.
"I'm not a whore," I muttered darkly to Cedric's shirt.
"What is your name, young lady?" Omar asked me.
I turned to Cedric and murmured, "I remember now," then, louder, I replied to the King, "My name is Liana. I am one of your chosen Runners."
"Why are you here exactly?" The king asked imperiously.
"I have important information that I am supposed to deliver to you in regards to the war we are at with Lamar." I clung tightly to Cedric's hand.
The King smiled down at me. "No need to fret, little one, at the behest of my General, I have signed a treaty with Lamar that will end this war." He gestured to a tall man standing in the shadows.
I stood there as if rooted to the ground. Sky's words from when I had killed myself echoed in my head. 'You should not let the King follow his General's advice.'
"No," I whispered. "You listened to your general?" I asked the King softly.
"Of course!" The King said, obviously chagrined at having a mere girl question him.
"Um, well" I wasn't sure how exactly to tell the King that the treaty couldn't happen. "Can I know what's in the treaty?" I asked, slipping an innocent expression onto my face.
The King looked like he was going to speak, but the dark man from the shadows interrupted him. "No, you are a commoner. There is no way that you would understand the nuances of this intricate treat between Syrlan and Lamar. You could not comprehend it." He sneered at me.
I could tell that he was trying to belittle me with his high language. I smiled at him sweetly in response. "Well, maybe I wouldn't understand the nuances, but could I know at least the general content and all the things that my little peasant's mind would understand?" The General glared at me.
"She does have a point, General Zarf." Cedric said cheerily.
"No," Zarf said sullenly, "She can't see it."
I could have screamed in exasperation. In fact I did.
The King stared at me in surprise. The Chamberlain looked smug, while the General was somewhere between smug and in pain. Cedric was grimacing in pain.
"Why not?" I let go of Cedric's hand and stomped over to General Zarf. "I should be able to know because I-I-" I stopped, unsure of how to tell all the people there that Sky had Chosen me to end the war.
"See," Zarf sneered, "You can't even come up with a good reason to see the treaty." He looked down his nose at me, with triumph in his eyes. There was something else too, behind the triumph, the self-righteousness, and it made me shiver.
Suddenly, I knew what would cause the end of the world I knew. This man, if he truly were a man, would end everything with his hate.
I shrank back slightly, away from Zarf and his hateful glare. "Who are you?" I muttered, so only he and I could hear.
"The end," he murmured back, his lips drawing up over his teeth in a spiteful smile. "The end of everything you mortals know, the beginning of my world. All your vaunted mortality will do you no good this time, little Runner. After all, mortals can die." He chuckled softly.
My world shrank, I wasn't aware of anything but him. General Zarf, the evil one. "I'm not quite mortal," I said dazedly, then collapsed to the floor.
"Welcome, Liana." I smiled at the sound of Sky's voice.
"Hello Sky." Sky picked me up from where I lay and sat me next to him. "Why do I always have to faint, and look like a weakling?"
Sky laughed gently, "My dear, I am sorry if it inconveniences you, but that is the only safe way to talk to you," Then he added, "Especially around him."
"Who?"
"Shadow. Hate. Darkness." Sky looked darkly at the ground. "You know him as General Zarf."
"Oh." My voice was small.
"Liana, my Chosen, you must get to the Kirin Gardens tonight, no later. Cedric will help you when he can." Sky paused and smiled when he saw me smiling at the mention of Cedric. "Pay attention, youngling. You need to know this to conquer Hate."
"What is in the Kirin Gardens?" I interrupted.
"I was coming to that, Chosen." Sky looked deep into the pond we were sitting near. "You will find a sword in the heart of the Kirin Gardens. The sword is one way to vanquish Hate."
"But I can't use a sword!" I moaned, feeling inadequate.
"I know, chosen, but there are more options. Lying next to the sword is a bow and a quiver of arrows. They are another way to vanquish hate. The next item is a lute."
"How will that help me?" I whined desperately.
"Patience, little one. The lute is a method of defeating Hate. Its music, when played with love, will defeat Hate, for Hate cannot abide love. You must choose when the time comes."
"But what about the treaty?" Surely I couldn't accomplish anything with the treaty still in place?
"Cedric has taken care of that," Sky said with a mischievous smile. Then his smile disappeared, "There will be one last battle. At that battle, you must defeat Hate. There will be no other chance." I looked up fearfully at Sky.
"Are you sure that I can do this?" I wasn't sure that I could.
"There is no room for doubt, Liana. Of course you can do this. Do you have anymore questions for me?" Sky hugged me close.
"What will be the price of the last battle?" I looked up into Sky's clear blue eyes, wondering.
"The price will be great." Sky sighed and continued. "Much that you love will be cut down in the midst of the battle. You may have to sacrifice something you care about the most to the battle, depending on which weapon you choose."
I could feel my eyes widen at this warning, and I shivered in voluntarily. A strange sensation came over me, as if I was being pulled in two different directions.
"He calls to you, Liana. I cannot hold you here any longer. Fight for what you believe in." I screamed, as the pulling sensation grew stronger, almost as if it wanted to rip me apart. Then, it stopped, and I opened my eyes.
General Zarf stood at my side, looking properly worried on the outside. I quivered in fear when I thought of what I had just learned about him. Then Cedric's face leaned over mine, his green eyes worried.
"Cedric!" I whispered hoarsely.
"Sparrow, are you alright?" His hands caressed my forehead and I smiled at him.
"Yes, I am, Cedric." I loved just saying his name over and over. A piece of black hair fell into his eyes and I reached up to brush it out of the way. "Where am I?" I asked, noticing for the first time the softness that I was lying on.
"You're in my bed." Cedric said softly.
"Oh." I giggled.
"Is she awake?" I heard the King ask.
"Yes," Zarf replied, sounding relieved. "They're, ahem, flirting, with one another at this time." His voice held cold disdain.
"Let them flirt," The King said jovially.
"Cedric," I whispered urgently, "Break the treaty."
He smiled deviously at me. "I did. I did not agree with the way that they treated you, so I broke it."
"Surely it cannot be as simple as that?" I was amazed.
"It was easier," Cedric said softly. "They want this war to go on, at least, He does. He doesn't want a treaty with Lamar." Cedric said, and he jerked his head toward Zarf.
"He is Hate," I replied. Cedric looked astonished. "I need to get to the Kirin Gardens tonight Cedric, tonight!" I told him, in a rush, most of what Sky had said to me.
"You can sleep in my room then, and I'll get you there." Cedric's brow furrowed in thought, "I would certainly fit the spectacle we gave them earlier," He said with a grin.
"Tonight then."
"Tonight." We smiled and Cedric kissed me softly once. I just blushed happily.
~*~
A/N: Heehee...Zarf...heehee...I had to give him a comical name. Does anyone else find "Zarf" funny? I do...Now, (i have another question) can anyone guess which weapon Liana will chose? I just wanna know...
Ok...sorry for not updating a lot, but I've been busy with homework of all things this week, and i was in New York picking apples from Friday to Sunday. We now have four effing bags sitting on the front porch. But I have off today (Monday) so, I got this chapter up. Fourteen Chapters!!! WOW!!!
Thanks to...
TallemeraRane- did Cedric speak enough in the chapter? There was much more fluffiness this time, yes? HehHeh
BlackJaguar12- I figured this out (how Cedric got to Mirkyn before Liana) He left while she was still "sick" and got a headstart that way. Then, Liana's going west, and Cedric's going east...so he gets there before her. Makes sense now? I hope so...
cherrychica-no mudpies in this chapter lol...
Katsiebee- thanks for reviewing!! thanks for the compliment too...:o)
~Even*Song~
(ooh doesn't that look fancy?:oP)
~*~
Cedric strode over to me and enfolded me in his arms. "I thought I'd never see you again!" His mouth found mine and I enjoyed the sensations that were rushing through me.
"Ahem." I heard someone clear his throat. Rather sheepishly, Cedric and I ended our kiss.
"Prince Cedric, do you, um, know this lady?" I saw the King staring pointedly at us.
"Yes sir, I do." Cedric blushed and I felt my own face get warm. "She, she was in Lamar with me for a time." My face went even redder with the looks of disapproval that the King and Chamberlain were giving me.
"I'm not a whore," I muttered darkly to Cedric's shirt.
"What is your name, young lady?" Omar asked me.
I turned to Cedric and murmured, "I remember now," then, louder, I replied to the King, "My name is Liana. I am one of your chosen Runners."
"Why are you here exactly?" The king asked imperiously.
"I have important information that I am supposed to deliver to you in regards to the war we are at with Lamar." I clung tightly to Cedric's hand.
The King smiled down at me. "No need to fret, little one, at the behest of my General, I have signed a treaty with Lamar that will end this war." He gestured to a tall man standing in the shadows.
I stood there as if rooted to the ground. Sky's words from when I had killed myself echoed in my head. 'You should not let the King follow his General's advice.'
"No," I whispered. "You listened to your general?" I asked the King softly.
"Of course!" The King said, obviously chagrined at having a mere girl question him.
"Um, well" I wasn't sure how exactly to tell the King that the treaty couldn't happen. "Can I know what's in the treaty?" I asked, slipping an innocent expression onto my face.
The King looked like he was going to speak, but the dark man from the shadows interrupted him. "No, you are a commoner. There is no way that you would understand the nuances of this intricate treat between Syrlan and Lamar. You could not comprehend it." He sneered at me.
I could tell that he was trying to belittle me with his high language. I smiled at him sweetly in response. "Well, maybe I wouldn't understand the nuances, but could I know at least the general content and all the things that my little peasant's mind would understand?" The General glared at me.
"She does have a point, General Zarf." Cedric said cheerily.
"No," Zarf said sullenly, "She can't see it."
I could have screamed in exasperation. In fact I did.
The King stared at me in surprise. The Chamberlain looked smug, while the General was somewhere between smug and in pain. Cedric was grimacing in pain.
"Why not?" I let go of Cedric's hand and stomped over to General Zarf. "I should be able to know because I-I-" I stopped, unsure of how to tell all the people there that Sky had Chosen me to end the war.
"See," Zarf sneered, "You can't even come up with a good reason to see the treaty." He looked down his nose at me, with triumph in his eyes. There was something else too, behind the triumph, the self-righteousness, and it made me shiver.
Suddenly, I knew what would cause the end of the world I knew. This man, if he truly were a man, would end everything with his hate.
I shrank back slightly, away from Zarf and his hateful glare. "Who are you?" I muttered, so only he and I could hear.
"The end," he murmured back, his lips drawing up over his teeth in a spiteful smile. "The end of everything you mortals know, the beginning of my world. All your vaunted mortality will do you no good this time, little Runner. After all, mortals can die." He chuckled softly.
My world shrank, I wasn't aware of anything but him. General Zarf, the evil one. "I'm not quite mortal," I said dazedly, then collapsed to the floor.
"Welcome, Liana." I smiled at the sound of Sky's voice.
"Hello Sky." Sky picked me up from where I lay and sat me next to him. "Why do I always have to faint, and look like a weakling?"
Sky laughed gently, "My dear, I am sorry if it inconveniences you, but that is the only safe way to talk to you," Then he added, "Especially around him."
"Who?"
"Shadow. Hate. Darkness." Sky looked darkly at the ground. "You know him as General Zarf."
"Oh." My voice was small.
"Liana, my Chosen, you must get to the Kirin Gardens tonight, no later. Cedric will help you when he can." Sky paused and smiled when he saw me smiling at the mention of Cedric. "Pay attention, youngling. You need to know this to conquer Hate."
"What is in the Kirin Gardens?" I interrupted.
"I was coming to that, Chosen." Sky looked deep into the pond we were sitting near. "You will find a sword in the heart of the Kirin Gardens. The sword is one way to vanquish Hate."
"But I can't use a sword!" I moaned, feeling inadequate.
"I know, chosen, but there are more options. Lying next to the sword is a bow and a quiver of arrows. They are another way to vanquish hate. The next item is a lute."
"How will that help me?" I whined desperately.
"Patience, little one. The lute is a method of defeating Hate. Its music, when played with love, will defeat Hate, for Hate cannot abide love. You must choose when the time comes."
"But what about the treaty?" Surely I couldn't accomplish anything with the treaty still in place?
"Cedric has taken care of that," Sky said with a mischievous smile. Then his smile disappeared, "There will be one last battle. At that battle, you must defeat Hate. There will be no other chance." I looked up fearfully at Sky.
"Are you sure that I can do this?" I wasn't sure that I could.
"There is no room for doubt, Liana. Of course you can do this. Do you have anymore questions for me?" Sky hugged me close.
"What will be the price of the last battle?" I looked up into Sky's clear blue eyes, wondering.
"The price will be great." Sky sighed and continued. "Much that you love will be cut down in the midst of the battle. You may have to sacrifice something you care about the most to the battle, depending on which weapon you choose."
I could feel my eyes widen at this warning, and I shivered in voluntarily. A strange sensation came over me, as if I was being pulled in two different directions.
"He calls to you, Liana. I cannot hold you here any longer. Fight for what you believe in." I screamed, as the pulling sensation grew stronger, almost as if it wanted to rip me apart. Then, it stopped, and I opened my eyes.
General Zarf stood at my side, looking properly worried on the outside. I quivered in fear when I thought of what I had just learned about him. Then Cedric's face leaned over mine, his green eyes worried.
"Cedric!" I whispered hoarsely.
"Sparrow, are you alright?" His hands caressed my forehead and I smiled at him.
"Yes, I am, Cedric." I loved just saying his name over and over. A piece of black hair fell into his eyes and I reached up to brush it out of the way. "Where am I?" I asked, noticing for the first time the softness that I was lying on.
"You're in my bed." Cedric said softly.
"Oh." I giggled.
"Is she awake?" I heard the King ask.
"Yes," Zarf replied, sounding relieved. "They're, ahem, flirting, with one another at this time." His voice held cold disdain.
"Let them flirt," The King said jovially.
"Cedric," I whispered urgently, "Break the treaty."
He smiled deviously at me. "I did. I did not agree with the way that they treated you, so I broke it."
"Surely it cannot be as simple as that?" I was amazed.
"It was easier," Cedric said softly. "They want this war to go on, at least, He does. He doesn't want a treaty with Lamar." Cedric said, and he jerked his head toward Zarf.
"He is Hate," I replied. Cedric looked astonished. "I need to get to the Kirin Gardens tonight Cedric, tonight!" I told him, in a rush, most of what Sky had said to me.
"You can sleep in my room then, and I'll get you there." Cedric's brow furrowed in thought, "I would certainly fit the spectacle we gave them earlier," He said with a grin.
"Tonight then."
"Tonight." We smiled and Cedric kissed me softly once. I just blushed happily.
~*~
A/N: Heehee...Zarf...heehee...I had to give him a comical name. Does anyone else find "Zarf" funny? I do...Now, (i have another question) can anyone guess which weapon Liana will chose? I just wanna know...
Ok...sorry for not updating a lot, but I've been busy with homework of all things this week, and i was in New York picking apples from Friday to Sunday. We now have four effing bags sitting on the front porch. But I have off today (Monday) so, I got this chapter up. Fourteen Chapters!!! WOW!!!
Thanks to...
TallemeraRane- did Cedric speak enough in the chapter? There was much more fluffiness this time, yes? HehHeh
BlackJaguar12- I figured this out (how Cedric got to Mirkyn before Liana) He left while she was still "sick" and got a headstart that way. Then, Liana's going west, and Cedric's going east...so he gets there before her. Makes sense now? I hope so...
cherrychica-no mudpies in this chapter lol...
Katsiebee- thanks for reviewing!! thanks for the compliment too...:o)
~Even*Song~
(ooh doesn't that look fancy?:oP)