Compulsorily Love
Chapter 2
Jasmine stared intently at the shadowed face of Lief. Her mind whirled into action. They had always shared secrets with each other, what could he possibly want to tell her? Lief took a deep breath. "Well you've probably heard a great deal of rumours around the palace. And, well I was wondering, maybe." Lief stuttered. He cautiously looked into Jasmine's curious green eyes and all of a sudden he knew what he had to do.
"You know I really care about you," Lief whispered. He gently caressed Jasmine's face and all of a sudden their lips joined together. Jasmine felt the warmth of Lief 's body pressing against hers, her every being longed for him to hold her. Then she realized exactly whom she was kissing so passionately.
Hastily she pulled back and removed herself from Lief's loving arms. He began to speak but Jasmine interrupted. "I have heard the guards talking about the need for an heir to the throne. That is indeed what you planned to ask me," Jasmine inquired. Completely speechless, Lief nodded in agreement. "I could not be queen. I'm not like the noble ladies, I could not stay here, it is like a prison." Jasmine turned away and began to walk to the door. "But I love you Jasmine," Lief shouted after her. She stopped in her tracks and stared back at him then with a sob she fled down the hallway. Lief ran after her, his heart heavy. "Where are you going, he shouted watching as the figure disappeared out of sight. A small voice floated down the corridor, filing Lief's heart with dread. "To where I truly belong!"
Lief sat with his head buried in his hands. No one had heard from Jasmine in days, it was almost like she had disappeared of the face of the earth. Only Barda knew why Jasmine had fled and had not pestered Lief about it. But Barda knew that Lief would have to find a wife very soon. The big man approached Lief. Lief raised his head upon hearing Barda's footsteps. "No news," muttered Barda. Lief once again lowered his head into his hands. "I know you want Jasmine back but it is imperative that an heir to the throne is produced as soon as possible. It is your duty as king to make sure if something happens to you there is someone else to wear the belt." "I have duty to be loyal to myself, I will not marry someone who I don't love," Lief retaliated. "You have no choice," thundered Barda. "That belt you wear is a symbol of the responsibility you have to keep Deltora safe. Their needs come before yours and if you can't accept that you are just as bad as your ancestors!" Lief knew that Barda was right. "Who is my wife to be," Lief whispered. "A girl from Tora is journeying to the palace as we speak. Her name is Elvi," Barda sighed. "She is kind and beautiful." "Elvi," repeated Lief, "My bride to be!"
A week later Elvi had arrived safely but with difficulty. On the way roaming bandits had attacked the guards that had been accompanying her. Elvi and her maid Los had escaped and met up with a group of travellers that were going to the palace. Scared and tired they arrived at the palace but there was still no sign of Jasmine.
The wedding was taking place due to Barda insisting the sooner it was done the sooner it would be over. Lief checked himself out in the mirror. His suit was tailor-made and had seven sparkling gems around each cuff. His sword swung to side, its sheath read Deltora, in golden letters.
Lief emerged from the dressing room and walked up the aisle. Barda was waiting at the other end with the guard's uniform on, beaming at Lief. When he reached the end Barda nudged him. "Are you excited," Barda whispered. Lief nodded but his face was set in a permanent frown. The sound of a flute filled the air and Lief glanced at Manus as he played.
Elvi appeared at doorway. She was indeed beautiful, her dress trailed behind her held up by Los. She had long, blonde hair and dark, blue eyes. As she came closer Her foot became entangled in her dress and she tripped over. The crowd rushed to help her up. As she stood her dress was hurriedly pulled her dress back down. Just as the shining material was pulled down Lief noticed a small black mark on her knee. He was trying to remember why that was important. Meanwhile Elvi gave everyone a nervous smile as she continued up the aisle. Lief stared at Los then back at Elvi, something was coming back.
Elvi had reached him and looked into his eyes and smiled. Lief smiled back then gasped in horror. For no longer was Elvi standing in front of him but a long white shape with glowing red eyes grinned horribly at him. Lief rubbed his eyes and there was Elvi looking curiously at him. "Are you ok," she whispered. Lief nodded and suddenly realized what was in front of him.
"Ols," he whispered to himself. He went over the clues in his head. They were travelling in a pair, the black mark on Elvi's knee. Even their names were sick jokes of the Shadow Lord. Elvi when rearranged was Evil and Los was Ols. With out hesitating, Lief took out his sword and plunged it into Elvi chest. With a bloodcurdling scream Elvi turned into the hideous creature Lief had seen before. She slowly began to melt her face changing into the familiar Elvi then a rough looking bandit then finally was just a white puddle. But Lief had forgotten Los. She raced forward and quickly thrust her clammy hands on Lief's throat. Lief felt the sword drop from his hands. Los began talking in a high squeaky voice. "Did you think that the master has given up so easily?" All of a sudden her voice became deep and booming. Her eyes burned red and her grip tightened on Lief's throat. "I have many plans! You cannot survive forever, you are a weak human!" Lief weakly struggled but knew it was no use. The Shadow Lord has won he thought glumly. Spots of black and blue blocked his vision. Just before his body collapsed the hands on his neck loosened then came away. The last thing Lief saw was Barda Standing triumphantly over the dying Ol. Then all went black.
Lief woke and tried to groan but he was unable to speak. This is all a big nightmare he thought to himself and pressed his eyes tightly together. He heard footsteps and then the hushed voices of two people. "How's he doing," muttered one of the voices, which Lief recognized to be Sharn, his mother. "He will survive," whispered Barda. "Has he awoken yet," said Sharn stroking Lief's face. "No but this gives me more time to work out what to say to him." "You mean about Jasmine?" Lief's ears pricked up and furiously resisted opening his eyes. "He loves her, doesn't he?" Barda sighed in agreement. "I fear that his love could kill him and the people of Deltora. He will insist on getting her back, even if it is impossible," Barda said. "Love does funny things to people,' Sharn replied. "I am working on getting an army to go to the Shadow lands to rescue her. But no one has volunteered. Do they not know of the danger Jasmine has been through to free Deltora from the Shadow Lord?" "What of her bird, Kree does he still wait at the gate?" "Yes, he will not leave until he sees Lief, I fear. So even if I don't tell him, Kree will." Lief let out a small groan. How could Barda even think about not telling him? "He is stirring we will discuss this later," Barda whispered. Lief heard both people leave the room and slowly close the door behind them. Lief's eyes shot open. He carefully replayed the conversation in his head and decided what he would do. He would rest for one more day then he would go retrieve Jasmine with or without Barda's help. He'd do it even if it killed him!
To be continued . . . .
Chapter 2
Jasmine stared intently at the shadowed face of Lief. Her mind whirled into action. They had always shared secrets with each other, what could he possibly want to tell her? Lief took a deep breath. "Well you've probably heard a great deal of rumours around the palace. And, well I was wondering, maybe." Lief stuttered. He cautiously looked into Jasmine's curious green eyes and all of a sudden he knew what he had to do.
"You know I really care about you," Lief whispered. He gently caressed Jasmine's face and all of a sudden their lips joined together. Jasmine felt the warmth of Lief 's body pressing against hers, her every being longed for him to hold her. Then she realized exactly whom she was kissing so passionately.
Hastily she pulled back and removed herself from Lief's loving arms. He began to speak but Jasmine interrupted. "I have heard the guards talking about the need for an heir to the throne. That is indeed what you planned to ask me," Jasmine inquired. Completely speechless, Lief nodded in agreement. "I could not be queen. I'm not like the noble ladies, I could not stay here, it is like a prison." Jasmine turned away and began to walk to the door. "But I love you Jasmine," Lief shouted after her. She stopped in her tracks and stared back at him then with a sob she fled down the hallway. Lief ran after her, his heart heavy. "Where are you going, he shouted watching as the figure disappeared out of sight. A small voice floated down the corridor, filing Lief's heart with dread. "To where I truly belong!"
Lief sat with his head buried in his hands. No one had heard from Jasmine in days, it was almost like she had disappeared of the face of the earth. Only Barda knew why Jasmine had fled and had not pestered Lief about it. But Barda knew that Lief would have to find a wife very soon. The big man approached Lief. Lief raised his head upon hearing Barda's footsteps. "No news," muttered Barda. Lief once again lowered his head into his hands. "I know you want Jasmine back but it is imperative that an heir to the throne is produced as soon as possible. It is your duty as king to make sure if something happens to you there is someone else to wear the belt." "I have duty to be loyal to myself, I will not marry someone who I don't love," Lief retaliated. "You have no choice," thundered Barda. "That belt you wear is a symbol of the responsibility you have to keep Deltora safe. Their needs come before yours and if you can't accept that you are just as bad as your ancestors!" Lief knew that Barda was right. "Who is my wife to be," Lief whispered. "A girl from Tora is journeying to the palace as we speak. Her name is Elvi," Barda sighed. "She is kind and beautiful." "Elvi," repeated Lief, "My bride to be!"
A week later Elvi had arrived safely but with difficulty. On the way roaming bandits had attacked the guards that had been accompanying her. Elvi and her maid Los had escaped and met up with a group of travellers that were going to the palace. Scared and tired they arrived at the palace but there was still no sign of Jasmine.
The wedding was taking place due to Barda insisting the sooner it was done the sooner it would be over. Lief checked himself out in the mirror. His suit was tailor-made and had seven sparkling gems around each cuff. His sword swung to side, its sheath read Deltora, in golden letters.
Lief emerged from the dressing room and walked up the aisle. Barda was waiting at the other end with the guard's uniform on, beaming at Lief. When he reached the end Barda nudged him. "Are you excited," Barda whispered. Lief nodded but his face was set in a permanent frown. The sound of a flute filled the air and Lief glanced at Manus as he played.
Elvi appeared at doorway. She was indeed beautiful, her dress trailed behind her held up by Los. She had long, blonde hair and dark, blue eyes. As she came closer Her foot became entangled in her dress and she tripped over. The crowd rushed to help her up. As she stood her dress was hurriedly pulled her dress back down. Just as the shining material was pulled down Lief noticed a small black mark on her knee. He was trying to remember why that was important. Meanwhile Elvi gave everyone a nervous smile as she continued up the aisle. Lief stared at Los then back at Elvi, something was coming back.
Elvi had reached him and looked into his eyes and smiled. Lief smiled back then gasped in horror. For no longer was Elvi standing in front of him but a long white shape with glowing red eyes grinned horribly at him. Lief rubbed his eyes and there was Elvi looking curiously at him. "Are you ok," she whispered. Lief nodded and suddenly realized what was in front of him.
"Ols," he whispered to himself. He went over the clues in his head. They were travelling in a pair, the black mark on Elvi's knee. Even their names were sick jokes of the Shadow Lord. Elvi when rearranged was Evil and Los was Ols. With out hesitating, Lief took out his sword and plunged it into Elvi chest. With a bloodcurdling scream Elvi turned into the hideous creature Lief had seen before. She slowly began to melt her face changing into the familiar Elvi then a rough looking bandit then finally was just a white puddle. But Lief had forgotten Los. She raced forward and quickly thrust her clammy hands on Lief's throat. Lief felt the sword drop from his hands. Los began talking in a high squeaky voice. "Did you think that the master has given up so easily?" All of a sudden her voice became deep and booming. Her eyes burned red and her grip tightened on Lief's throat. "I have many plans! You cannot survive forever, you are a weak human!" Lief weakly struggled but knew it was no use. The Shadow Lord has won he thought glumly. Spots of black and blue blocked his vision. Just before his body collapsed the hands on his neck loosened then came away. The last thing Lief saw was Barda Standing triumphantly over the dying Ol. Then all went black.
Lief woke and tried to groan but he was unable to speak. This is all a big nightmare he thought to himself and pressed his eyes tightly together. He heard footsteps and then the hushed voices of two people. "How's he doing," muttered one of the voices, which Lief recognized to be Sharn, his mother. "He will survive," whispered Barda. "Has he awoken yet," said Sharn stroking Lief's face. "No but this gives me more time to work out what to say to him." "You mean about Jasmine?" Lief's ears pricked up and furiously resisted opening his eyes. "He loves her, doesn't he?" Barda sighed in agreement. "I fear that his love could kill him and the people of Deltora. He will insist on getting her back, even if it is impossible," Barda said. "Love does funny things to people,' Sharn replied. "I am working on getting an army to go to the Shadow lands to rescue her. But no one has volunteered. Do they not know of the danger Jasmine has been through to free Deltora from the Shadow Lord?" "What of her bird, Kree does he still wait at the gate?" "Yes, he will not leave until he sees Lief, I fear. So even if I don't tell him, Kree will." Lief let out a small groan. How could Barda even think about not telling him? "He is stirring we will discuss this later," Barda whispered. Lief heard both people leave the room and slowly close the door behind them. Lief's eyes shot open. He carefully replayed the conversation in his head and decided what he would do. He would rest for one more day then he would go retrieve Jasmine with or without Barda's help. He'd do it even if it killed him!
To be continued . . . .