Compulsorily Love
Chapter 1
Lief was pacing up and down the library. It was completely empty, even Josef the librarian had left the king to his thoughts. His hands ran across the belt resting on the amethyst. The soothing power of the gem took immediate effect, calmed, Lief sat down on one of the cushioned chairs. His mind was clouded with so many thoughts. Without even thinking about it hid hand reached for the topaz. Lief hesitated as his fingers hovered over the glowing gem. Had he become so dependant on the belt that he could no longer make decisions for himself?
He had sworn to the people of Deltora and himself that he would keep the belt safe. He would never make the same mistake that his ancestors had by taking off the belt, before today. It was not like he was locking it away for years, it would only be for a few minutes. Lief gulped, he knew what he had to do, but could he do it? With a deep breath Lief unbuckled the belt and laid it front of him. The seven gems twinkled, urging him to put the belt back on. With great effort Lief turned his back on the belt, which had protected and guided him throughout his quests and adventures.
All at once it felt like a great weight had been lifted from his heart. He made his way to the other end of the library with new strength. Lief realised though the belt was full of good magic, it needed to feed off the natural power of Adin's heir. It surprised him that he had really known this all along.
Now to more pressing matters. Questions that had been nagging at the back of his mind since he became king and was now being asked by the entire kingdom. When would Lief produce the heir to the throne? Who would his bride be?
Barda had bought up the topic, as he and Lief sat by the fire reminiscing on the adventures they had shared together. "Lief, you can't keep on having these adventures now that you are king," Barda said, staring intently at him. Lief stared back, clearly shocked. "What do you mean by that? I will not just stay in the palace and ignore my people Barda. I will not follow the same path as my ancestors," Lief shouted. "I am not asking you to stay in the palace. Without an heir to the throne you cannot put yourself in such dangerous situations," Barda replied. Lief opened his mouth to say something, then thought against it. "Maybe it is time you thought about getting married and producing an heir. If something should happen . . . ." "Believe me Barda, since I became king it has plagued my thoughts," Lief murmured. "I know who I want to be with but she would never say yes." "Have you asked her," asked Barda. Lief shook his head then stood up and began to walk to his bedroom. "I'm here if you need me," yelled Barda, as Lief disappeared around the corner.
Lief replayed the conversation in his head. Should he seek out Barda, one of his oldest friends? Deep inside he knew that he had to work this out himself.
Jasmine! Jasmine! The very word made him smile. He remembered when he first met her in The Forests of Silence. The wild little girl had seemed so distant but as they travelled together they became closer. Now Lief could hardly spend five minutes without thinking about her. He loved her so much and could not bare the thought of marrying anyone else.
But how could he ask Jasmine to give up her freedom. It was essential that the heir was born as soon as possible. If pregnant Jasmine could not climb the trees or even roam the countryside. She would have to be cooped up inside. But did she even feel the same way about him as he did with her.
His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of footsteps. He whirled around and pulled out his sword. A figure was leaning over the belt reaching for it. "Stop," yelled Lief running towards the figure. "Don't take another step!" The figure jumped back and faced Lief. "Jasmine?" Lief stopped, standing in front of him was Jasmine, sweeping her long black hair over her shoulder. "Lief, what happened? Why aren't you wearing the belt," inquired Jasmine. Lief grabbed the belt from the table and hastily did it up. He felt the surge of power as the belt recognized him as Adin's true heir. "Don't worry, I have something else to discuss with you," said Lief. At that moment Filli crept up onto her shoulder and began chattering excitedly. Kree squawked at the window resting on the sill. Lief paused. "Well I'm waiting," Jasmine said. "I was kind of hoping it could be private, without Kree and Filli," Leif mumbled. Filli stared at Lief, then hopped off Jasmine's shoulder and quickly scurried to the window. Kree swooped in and picked up Filli, then flew through the open door. Jasmine closed it behind her. "Jasmine, I have to tell you something that could change our lives forever!"
To be continued . . . .
Chapter 1
Lief was pacing up and down the library. It was completely empty, even Josef the librarian had left the king to his thoughts. His hands ran across the belt resting on the amethyst. The soothing power of the gem took immediate effect, calmed, Lief sat down on one of the cushioned chairs. His mind was clouded with so many thoughts. Without even thinking about it hid hand reached for the topaz. Lief hesitated as his fingers hovered over the glowing gem. Had he become so dependant on the belt that he could no longer make decisions for himself?
He had sworn to the people of Deltora and himself that he would keep the belt safe. He would never make the same mistake that his ancestors had by taking off the belt, before today. It was not like he was locking it away for years, it would only be for a few minutes. Lief gulped, he knew what he had to do, but could he do it? With a deep breath Lief unbuckled the belt and laid it front of him. The seven gems twinkled, urging him to put the belt back on. With great effort Lief turned his back on the belt, which had protected and guided him throughout his quests and adventures.
All at once it felt like a great weight had been lifted from his heart. He made his way to the other end of the library with new strength. Lief realised though the belt was full of good magic, it needed to feed off the natural power of Adin's heir. It surprised him that he had really known this all along.
Now to more pressing matters. Questions that had been nagging at the back of his mind since he became king and was now being asked by the entire kingdom. When would Lief produce the heir to the throne? Who would his bride be?
Barda had bought up the topic, as he and Lief sat by the fire reminiscing on the adventures they had shared together. "Lief, you can't keep on having these adventures now that you are king," Barda said, staring intently at him. Lief stared back, clearly shocked. "What do you mean by that? I will not just stay in the palace and ignore my people Barda. I will not follow the same path as my ancestors," Lief shouted. "I am not asking you to stay in the palace. Without an heir to the throne you cannot put yourself in such dangerous situations," Barda replied. Lief opened his mouth to say something, then thought against it. "Maybe it is time you thought about getting married and producing an heir. If something should happen . . . ." "Believe me Barda, since I became king it has plagued my thoughts," Lief murmured. "I know who I want to be with but she would never say yes." "Have you asked her," asked Barda. Lief shook his head then stood up and began to walk to his bedroom. "I'm here if you need me," yelled Barda, as Lief disappeared around the corner.
Lief replayed the conversation in his head. Should he seek out Barda, one of his oldest friends? Deep inside he knew that he had to work this out himself.
Jasmine! Jasmine! The very word made him smile. He remembered when he first met her in The Forests of Silence. The wild little girl had seemed so distant but as they travelled together they became closer. Now Lief could hardly spend five minutes without thinking about her. He loved her so much and could not bare the thought of marrying anyone else.
But how could he ask Jasmine to give up her freedom. It was essential that the heir was born as soon as possible. If pregnant Jasmine could not climb the trees or even roam the countryside. She would have to be cooped up inside. But did she even feel the same way about him as he did with her.
His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of footsteps. He whirled around and pulled out his sword. A figure was leaning over the belt reaching for it. "Stop," yelled Lief running towards the figure. "Don't take another step!" The figure jumped back and faced Lief. "Jasmine?" Lief stopped, standing in front of him was Jasmine, sweeping her long black hair over her shoulder. "Lief, what happened? Why aren't you wearing the belt," inquired Jasmine. Lief grabbed the belt from the table and hastily did it up. He felt the surge of power as the belt recognized him as Adin's true heir. "Don't worry, I have something else to discuss with you," said Lief. At that moment Filli crept up onto her shoulder and began chattering excitedly. Kree squawked at the window resting on the sill. Lief paused. "Well I'm waiting," Jasmine said. "I was kind of hoping it could be private, without Kree and Filli," Leif mumbled. Filli stared at Lief, then hopped off Jasmine's shoulder and quickly scurried to the window. Kree swooped in and picked up Filli, then flew through the open door. Jasmine closed it behind her. "Jasmine, I have to tell you something that could change our lives forever!"
To be continued . . . .