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Uncontrollable

By: Karigan Marie

Chapter: Winter Nights

Jade woke with a start and sat at the head of her bed.  She'd had that dream again, with the white blanket snow she couldn't fight.  But she hadn't woken up like usual.  A loud crash had startled the blanket in her dreams to shatter like glass.  When she woke in surprise at the sudden change in her nightly dream, another loud crash had scared her into scooting up against the headboard.  She shoved the wild curls out of her pale face and shrunk back.  Another loud crash scared her witless and she screamed out to her mother.  Seconds later, Daine came barreling through the door to her side, the blue cloth robe catching the wind and showing an expanse of leg.   "Mama!"

Daine ran to the side of Jade's bed.  She bent down quickly and, placing her hands under Jade's arms, heaved Jade up into her arms.  Jade wrapped her legs around her mother's waist and crushed her arms around Daine's neck, burrowing her face in the brown curls of comfort.  "Mama…" she cried out.

Daine locked one arm around Jade's back, her other around her shoulders, using he hand to press her daughter's head down into her shoulder.  "We have to go, sweetling."  Daine turned and trotted back through the door as Atune reached for a thick wool blanket.  All three adults made their way through the common room to the main door in a rush.  "Numair! What do we do?"

"We have to get to the war room, that's where the others will meet up."  He pushed open the door, peering out in caution before reaching back to her.  "Let's go."  Daine padded barefoot down the corridors slightly behind Numair, Atune following closely, a hand clenching the thin robe around her shut.

When the reached the stairwells, the cold draft made them all shiver dramatically.  Jade whimpered slightly, and Daine rubbed her hands up and down her small shaking back.  "I'm cold, mama."

Atune quickly shook out the wool blanket and swung it around Jade's shoulders, tucking it around the small girl.  Daine gave a grateful smile and the two women squeezed hands in reassurance.

They passed a number of servants running to and fro through the halls.  Descending the stairs quickly, they stopped and jumped in surprise as another crash ripped through the halls.  Jade squeezed her mother for all she was worth in fright hanging on the small hushed words comfort.

They turned a dark corner to meet up with an extremely red with rage Alanna with sword in hand and nightgown on and a teeth gritting George, wearing his own pair of breeches a hand full of daggers and not much else.  "This is MAD!" yelled Alanna.

"Shh, Alanna! Keep it down!" Numair chastised.

Alanna growled in anger.  "They are already attacking the castle, NUMAIR.  What difference is it going to make?"

"We can at least try and keep them from knowing where we are!"

"Not now!" George growled.  "Let's get down to the war room quick."  He pushed Numair and Alanna into the lead then nudged along Daine with Jade and Atune before following closely behind.

They pushed through and finally reached the war rooms to meet King Jonathan, Queen Thayet, Prince Roald, his wife, clutching her son, Gary and his family, Roald, Buri, and 6 royal guards and 8 or 9 servants.  All, save the guards, were wearing their night clothing and looked rumpled and distressed.

"I was getting worried." Jonathan said with a relieved voice.  "Whatever this is, it will be easier to deal with if my Champion and War Mage are here."

Numair pulled on an offered shirt from Roald and snorted.  "There's not that many I don't think.  From my window, I could see twenty or thirty.  They should be easy to pick off by the guards."
            "But they're not." Roald spoke up.  "Father, I saw at least 30 storming the back gates."  Jon's blue eyes snapped with anger.  He looked up at the people in the room and nodded.  "This is unacceptable!" he slammed his fists down on the table.  "Why were they allowed in the damn city, Roaul?"

"They wouldn't be, Jon."  Roaul pushed.  "I can't explain it right now."

"Well, you need to explain it right now, Roaul!"  Alanna gritted.

"Enough!" Jon growled, a slamming from far away introluding.  "It's not what needs to be discussed right now.  Roaul, take Souci and my grandson to the back chambers where they will be safe."  Jon looked around quickly.  "Daine, I need you to fight."  Daine swallowed and clutched at Jade in her arms.  "Have Atune take Jade with them."  He seemed to soften his gaze at her in understanding before quickly looking at the others and giving out orders.  "The servants that can't fight can go with them.  And I want my daughter, Onam and Miliani in the passages.  Find them!"

Less than a minute later they were scrambling for swords and bows from the cabinets.  Daine reluctantly pried Jade from around her neck and passed her over to Atune looked pale but calm.  Jade reached out to Daine in complaint.  "Mama, no."

Daine reached forward and cupped Jade's face, kissing her cheek softly.  "Don't worry, sweetling."  Daine squeezed Atune's hand with force and tried to speak through her dry throat.  "Please, take care of her.

"Of course," The 24 year old lady from Scanra promised.  Roaul came and pacing an arm around Atune's shoulder to lead her towards the now open stone wall behind a tapestries.  Numair hopped over to her quickly and crushed Jade's upper body in a massive hug as Atune continued to hold her.  He pulled away to see Jade shaking furiously.

"You'll be all right, sweet.  Don't be afraid."  He turned to Daine then and noticed her taking a reassuring breath.  He looked around to the preparing fighters.  "Let's get this over with."

*****

            They sat in small room, only 9'x 9'.  Atune sat on a chair, Jade straddling her lap, head resting against her chest, half awake.  There were a handful of servant women and children sitting on the floor, the Princess, future Queen of Tortall, Souci sat with her young son sleeping on her lap, legs dangling over the arm chair.  Two guards were placed at the door to the room as well as Roaul.

            Jade snuggled into Atune and let out a shaky breath, Atune rubbed her back and ran a hand through her hair over and over.  Half an hour since they had crammed into the room with noises being heard from somewhere in the castle.

When a banging on the door rung out, both guards positioned themselves for attack.  The Princess and son were rushed to the corner of the room and Atune sat up in attention pulling Jade closer.  The guard pulled open the door when a seal was passed under the door.  Three Carthak guards surrounded a rumpled Empress.  In her right arm, the Princess Miliani hung desperately.  The prince Onam grasped his mother's other hand, his face angry and dark.

Atune gently shook.  "Look, Jade."  Jade lifted her head and peaked at the door, smiling at the new arrivals.

Princess Souci bolted forward and grasped Kalasin in a hug, her own son still in arms.  "We were worried."

Kalasin smiled tightly.  "Some of the fighting was taking place in the Ambassadors halls.  I'm not sure what's going on.  We ran into Gary on our way to the war room and he directed us here.  How are you holding up?"

"Quiet mostly." Souci replied.  "This is the safest room in the palace."

"I know." Kalasin looked around with red eyes, trying to keep the tears from coming.

Souci quickly placed her son down and instructed Kalasin to do the same with her daughter.  "Here now, Kali."  Souci held Kalasin in her arms in comfort for a moment.  "Everything will be fine.  When we find out who's doing this, your father will have a few choice actions in punishment."  Souci was very calm with her statement.

Kalasin let out a small cry.  "It's the rebels.  I saw them in the hall.  They wore the silver crest.  They've come for us here.  I can't believe they made it into the palace."

Souci stroked the Empress' head in comfort.  "You're safe here."  Kalasin shook her head in denial.  The three young royal cousins sat together and chatted away while their mothers spoke.

Jade looked up at her tutor.  "Atune, what about Amena? She lives on the outer wall huts.  Is she going to get hurt?"

Atune held her breath and tried to think.  "I'm not sure, Jade.  I hope not."

Jade laid her head down against Atune's chest again and thought.  Images of mean men hurting Amena and her family plagued her mind.  What about all the people she knew at the palace? Eleni would be fighting.  Gregory, she didn't know where her friend would be.  Even Molina…she didn't want anything bad happening to her either.

She looked at the Cartheki guards that had come in with the Empress.  She recognized two of them.  One was the older darkest guard she had seen at dinner a week ago.  The other was the lighter man that had sneered at the conversations at the table.  Both were attentive and ready for a fight.  The third she hadn't seen.  The darkest man with the wiry beard looked over at her, and, noticing her attention, winked and smiled just the tiniest bit.  Jade had to smile at him.  When the other guard she recognized finally noticed her, he made a double take.  He starred hard at her for almost ten seconds.  Jade starred wide eyed at him; this really wasn't all that unusual, lots of people starred at her when they noticed her eyes.  The guard, however, looked as if he almost recognized her.

The door exploded in flames, startling every one in the room.  Some women and children shrieked in fright.  The guards positioned themselves at the door.  Atune stood in apprehension with Jade clutched in her arms.  She whispered some soft words with a harshness Jade never heard from her and the wood turned to water, the flames dying out quickly.

Before they could find out what happened, men swarmed into the room with swords.  Atune slammed back into the wall in fright, Jade screaming as one of the men ran through one of the Tortallan guards in surprise.  He ripped his sword out of the man's gut and turned away, the Tortallan guard falling dead to the ground.  In a matter of seconds, all out fighting took place.  Jade gripped at Atune's body for dear life as servants desperately tried to escape.  Otadon fell back against a chair when he leaped back to avoid a falling body.  He was yanked up by the back of his shirt by the darkest Cartheki guard.  He was placed behind the large man's body as a new attack came down.  The dark man swung his curved Cartheki sward around so quickly Jade didn't notice the rebel's head being sliced off until it rolled across the floor in front of Kalasin who covered her mouth in disgust.  Atune forced Jade's head down to the crook of her neck with a swift order to not look.

Roaul grabbed Souci and her son and shoved them out the door down the corridor, disappearing quickly.  "Why are they leaving?" shrieked a servant who watched in horror as another guard went down.

Atune answered.  "They're separating the Empress and the Princess.  They have a better chance at surviving if they aren't in the same place.  The man that stood in front of Otadon gripped the heir's hand and pushed the Empress to the door in a momentary gap.  "Empress, we have to go!"  Kalasin swung Miliani into her arms and ran to the doorway, her hand firmly on the trigger of a crossbow she had been given earlier.  She looked around at the fighting and focused her eyes on Atune.

"You! Come on, bring Jade!"  Atune, with no argument, ran down the walls edge to the door and followed them out.

*****

They stopped at the entrance to the courtyards for a breath.  The black guard looking ahead and assessing the danger.  Otadon's anger was growing, his face was near bright red and his eyes snapped with anger.  Miliani shrieked in fright in her mother's grip.  Both Kalasin and Atune were breathing heavily from carrying the girls.  Atune shivered as the satin pink robe she wore did nothing against the cold winter air.  Her feet were red and stinging in pain from the freezing stone floors.  Kalasin was little better, she had bed slippers on, but she still shivered in cold.  Jade gripped onto Atune's neck in silent fear.

The guard turned to them and spoke as he wrapped a ripped piece of cloth around his hand which was spurting brick red blood, a stark contrast to his black skin.  "We have to get across the courts.  There's some fighting, but I don't think they'll notice us.  If we can get into the city, we can hide until this ends.  Jade noticed the distinct Cartheki accent the man had.  "As fast as we can, understand?  I don't want to risk you getting hit by an arrow, Empress?"  He sheethed his sword and turned to the prince.  He bent down and heaved the young boy up to the side of his body.

"I can run by myself!" cried Otadon.

Kalasin was quick to answer.  "Not as fast as he can, love.  Just let him carry you."  Otadon complied grudgingly, gripping his arms around the man's neck.

The man looked at Atune pointedly.  "If you fall behind, we can't stop for you."

Atune felt the heat of anger grow within her.  She understood the logic.  He couldn't afford to worry about an exiled lady from Scanra and a Mage's daughter, his main concern was the Empress, the heir and the second in line to the throne.  But she burned a glare into him.  "I won't fall behind."  He nodded in understanding.

"Here we go."  He stepped out of the door and Jade had never seen anyone run so quickly.  Kalasin was quick behind him and Jade hung on as Atune ran barefoot across the frozen ground and snow.  Jade gripped Atune's waist and neck tightly so that Atune wouldn't have to worry about holding on to her as much.  Even through this, Atune gripped Jade's body so hard, Jade had trouble breathing.  She was being jostled from Atune's running, but she could still see the different buildings around the courtyard through the dark night sky.  Some were in flames, making everything glow menacingly.  Men in silver tunics threw more and more torches into the buildings.  They reached the gates only to see silver guards guarding them with crossbows.  The black guard cursed vividly and turned quickly to the side gardens.  When they reached a small side garden, Kalasin was near hysterical.  "We have to go out one of the side doors!"  She took off quickly, the Guard and Atune following closely.

They reached a far wooden door and Kalasin dropped the crossbow and tried to open it.  "It's locked!"  The guard placed Otadon down and reached for his sword.  He began swinging away at the lock, sparks flying.  He lifted his arm again for another blow when an arrow appeared at the side of his neck and he fell to the ground.  Atune screeched and Kalasin grabbed Otadon.  She pulled her two children against the wall and looked around wildly.  Jade was shaking quietly in Atune's arms.  From the shadows of the night, a Cartheki guard appeared.  Jade recognized him.  The man with the sneer.  He held up a crossbow and pointed the arrow at Otadon's head.

"NO!" Kalasin screeched with fear.  She dropped Miliani to the ground pulling her along as she sprung in front of Otadon, pulling both behind her.  Atune quietly placed Jade down, gripping her hand.

  "I have no problem killing you first, Empress."  His eyes turned to Jade, half hidden behind Atune's robe.  He pointed at her and Jade felt her heart stop.  "I've told Onam about you, green eyes. Atune's body stiffened.  He lifted his hand up to Kalasin's face and Atune nearly jumped forward to attack him before a large cat like body slammed into him. Atune looked towards Kalasin to see her let out a cry of relief.  Looking around, Atune was ecstatic to see the leopard like cat shape shift into Daine.  She trotted towards them, bare of any clothing minus a claw around her neck.

"Mama!"  Jade sprung into her mother's arms.  Daine hugged her back and looked around.  Atune, who still had hold of the wool blanket, placed it over Daine's bare form.

"The door won't open, Daine!"  Kalasin pulled at the door again.  Before Daine could get over to the door she clutched over in pain, her stomach cramping painfully.

"MAMA!"  Jade reached for her mother just as Daine vomited on the ground.

"Daine.  What's wrong?"  Atune reached her and helped her lean against the wall.

"I'm not sure.  Every time I shape shift I get sick.  But it passes."  She reached  for the door and tried to yank it open.

"It's a beautiful thing, isn't it? Fox glove."  They jumped at the voice and turned to see another of the Cartheki guards.  Daine shoved Jade behind her, Atune picking up Miliani and Kalasin gripping Otadon's hand protectively.

The guard had lines of scars down his nose and he held a sword in his bloody hand.  "Kein!"  Kalasin swore and couldn't help but cry helplessly.  Was every one of her guards going to betray her?

"Foxglove." He repeated.  "It didn't work so well the first time, I don't expect it to work very well this time.  But at least it slows you down."  He was looking pointedly at Daine who had frozen, eyes wide.

"You…" Daine's grip on Jade's arm turned downright painful.  Atune grabbed the crossbow from the ground where Kalasin had dropped it and lifted it to the man.  She pulled the trigger and aimed as best she could.  The arrow slammed into his right shoulder, throwing him back to the ground.

"Run!" Atune yelled at Kalasin.  "I have her."  Atune took off after Kalasin, Miliani in her arms, pulling jade by the hand.

"No!"  Jade pulled away and ran to her mother, who was starring at the man on the ground.  "Mama!"

Daine's head swung around and she looked at her frightened daughter.  She ran to her, swung her up in her arms as she continued to run down the block wall.  She didn't get too far.  Kein picked up his own crossbow from his side and pulled the trigger.

Jade screeched as she felt her mother heave forward to the ground.  They tumbled forward, Jade landing on her back, her mother falling halfway on top of her.  "MAMA!" she screeched for all she was worth.  She looked to her mother's back and saw an arrow piercing the center of her back, blood oozing out.  "MAMAAA!"

Atune turned at Jade's screech, her knees almost gave out as she saw Daine's fallen form.  When she turned back to Kalasin to tell her to stop, she didn't see her, frantic, she looked around and didn't see either the Empress or Otadon.  Giving up, she ran back to Daine and Jade, Miliani crying hard in her arms.  She placed the princess down and reached for Daine.  "DAINE!"  She turned the woman over and noticed Daine barely conscious.  "DAINE!"

Jade felt her stomach clench and unclench painfully.  And to her horror, felt what she hadn't felt in almost two months of winter…her magic.  It started boiling over in her stomach, growing painfully.  "Mama!" she cried out.

Daine opened her eyes with effort and coughed up blood.  Atune let out a cry of despair; the arrow had hit her lung.  "Just…just hold still, Daine.  She grabbed at the blanket and pressed it hard into the wound on her back.

Daine's eyes focused momentarily on Jade.  She reached up with a shaky hand and buried it in Jade's curls.  Atune caught the distant sound of howling wolves.  "Mama?"

Daine smiled softy.  She reached with her other hand to the claw around her neck and pressed it into Jade's hand.  Through a blood clogged throat, she coughed up six words.  "I… love you..  …Don't be afraid."

Jade shook her head consistently at her mother.  "Mama, get up.  Get up now."

Atune stared as the light seemed to fade from Daine's eyes.  Miliani stood silently beside her.  And then she was gone, and Atune felt Miliani shift uncomfortably.

Jade held on to Daine's hand, shaking it softly.  "Mama…" she whispered.  "Mama…you have to get up now.  We have to find Papa.  Mama, stop….please…stop.  You're scaring me."  Her voice cracked and her throat strung so bad.  "Mama…GET UP!" she shrieked.  "GET UP, MAMA!"

Atune scooted over and wrapped her arms around Jade.  "We have to go, Jade."  She didn't think she could deal with this right now.

"NO!" Jade shrieked.  Her stomach was burning so hot, she thought she would explode.  She pushed Atune away violently.  "NO!  Mama, GET UP!!!"

"Jade…" Atune reached again and grabbed her more forcefully.  "We have to go."  Jade shrieked louder.  "Mama, this isn't funny anymore! GET UUUUP!"

Amena almost swallowed her tongue as she noticed the man Kein standing again, gritting his teeth at the arrow in his shoulder.  "JADE!  We have to go!"  She pulled the girl up forcefully and grabbed Miliani's hand, pulling back clumsily.  Jade kept her grip on the necklace in her hand and it ripped from around Daine's neck.

The man Kein looked down at the screaming girl and smiled.  Atune felt her stomach drop.  "I've waited a while to see her dead."  Jade's red eyes snapped up and starred hard at him.  He flinched and stared in wonder.  "You…are so familiar to me."  Jade's eyes nearly glowed they were so bright and hard.  "I never thought…I never dreamed it would be so easy."  Atune pulled the two girls behind her and cursed at him.  Jade couldn't take her eyes off him.  And it seemed, he couldn't take his eyes off her.

"Jade."  Atune's voice was hard and dangerous, catching her attention quickly.  "Take Miliani and go."  Jade's eyes snapped to Miliani and then back to her mother's form laying a few feet away.  "NOW!" Atune's voice cried out in order.

Jade reached out to take Miliani's hand and keeping her eyes on the Man who made her stomach wrench painfully, she began pulled the five year old girl into a neighboring garden.

Kein walked up to Atune and looked her up and down.  He walked to follow the girls and seemed almost surprised when Atune lifted her arms and shoved at him.  He grabbed her arms and swung her around.  Atune, still shoeless, lost her footing and she felt the ground meet up to her back.  She flailed wildly and scratched at his face.  He punched her across the face and the world rocked on its axis.  She screamed in pain when he placed a knee on each of her thighs and bent her arms up.  He looked up to see where the two girls had run and screamed in rage when he could no longer see them.

He looked back down at her and his eyes changed.  The shade in his black eyes changed and hardened.  He sneered down at her.  She struggled her legs, but the pain from his weight was too much.  Her eyes widened in realization when he gripped both hands in one of his and reached down to the knot in her robe.

*****

She didn't know where to go.  She pulled Miliani behind her as she made her way back into the palace.  If she could find Alanna or George or anyone.  She refused to think about what had just happened.  Her stomach was hurting to much to consider anything.  "Why are we going back to the palace?"  Miliani's tiny voice called out.
            Jade looked back.  "I don't know.  I don't know what to do."

"Well, that's stupid."
            "I'm TRYING, Miliani!"  Jade trudged forward looking around each corner before running through it.  She was about to push into a room when she heard the girl whisper behind her.

"Ani."

"Huh?"

"Ani.  You can call me Ani."

"Oh."  Jade opened the door and entered into a vacant room.  She walked over to the closet an opened it, pushing Ani inside.

"What are you doing?"
            "You need to hide in here Ani.  I'm going to look for help."

"NO."  She reached up and grabbed at her as Jade began to pull back.

Jade pried the girl off her.  "I'll be right back, I promise."  That seemed to calm the girl someone and she settled into the closet.  Jade closed the closet door and exited the room.  She jogged down the quiet hall and jumped when she heard some noises.  Turning, she ran  when she hear a familiar voice.

*****

Numair lifted his hand and let out a stream of black magic.  "This should be the last group," he called out.

Alanna and Gary looked around the corner and decided Numair was right.  "Who wants to go first?" Gary asked.

Alanna lifted her sword.  "That would be me."  Alanna lunged forward with the help of a shield put forward by Numair.  Gary followed and Numair took up the rear.  Five men stood with swords and Alanna and Gary began chopping away.  Numair kept the shield up nicely.  He felt a punch in his magic and he lost concentration.  Another man had snuck behind him and clubbed him over the head with a piece of board.  The world spun and he looked up to see the board coming down over his head again.  Gary pushed forward and stabbed the man through the heart.  He pulled back and turned to take down another man when he felt metal slide through him.

"GARY!"  Alanna roared.

Numair picked up a knife from the ground and placing a spell on it lunged it into the man's back.  Gary and the man both fell to the ground.  Alanna fell to her knees and picked up his head.  "No."  Gary's eyes were wide and empty.

She stood up quickly and screeched as she ran through another man.  Numair felt his heart ache.  He lifted his arm to attack again and his world shrunk before him.  Screaming and crying bombarded his hearing.  Fighting desperately against this unknown force, he looked to his side and saw the Lioness fighting with him.  Her sword was out and was in the mist of a deadly dual.  He was blasting at an oncoming enemy when he heard the world "Papa!" screeched behind him.  He turned his head around to see Jade standing against one of the hallway doors with dried tears streaked down her innocent face.  His mind went frantic momentarily.  He lifted his hand and pointed down the hall in the opposite direction of the fighting. "Run!" he hollered.

Jade's green eyes grew unimaginably large as she shook her head in refusal.  "I SAID RUN!"  She jumped slightly in surprise; after a moment of further hesitation, she turned quickly and ran down the hall, the darkness enveloping her form as she ran further into the dark halls until he could no longer see her.

The world righted itself again and he blinked in surprise.  He didn't have time to think about the vision; he had to fend off another dark fighter.

*****

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