Kari Kaiba ~ Thanks. U have 2 update also! Life isn't all HS tests, u know.
babyjayy ~ Is it just me, or do u say 'good chapter, update soon' every time u review?
whimsicality ~ Thanks! BTW, I LUV ur stories! Really! Aria's Melody is such a good story, and Catching Cael really caught my attention! Update soon! Check out my favorite authors and stories sections. LoL. Ur in both. I'm glad u like the story ~ it took me forever to think of a plot and the stuff.
Olenochka ~ Here's the next chapter! I had this really big writer's block, until finally, I thought of this. Please review!
*****
A/N: I hope u like this chapter - it took me forever to think of something. Hmmm . . . maybe with this chapter, I might get some reviews . . . LoL, I'm only kidding. But please R&R! It's greatly appreciated! Oh, and another thing. If any of you read the Avalon series - could u check out my story? I only have one chapter up, but I want to know if people will like it or not. I need some more reviews with that story; otherwise I might take it down. Well, anyway, on with THIS story!
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"Whew!" James commented. "It's a short distance to Bast in riding terms, but I've never thought that I'd be walking there."
I agreed. We had been walking for hours on the small, narrow path that went through the woods and led to the village of Bast. The reason we were taking that path instead of the commonly used one was because we were trying to avoid the men that Erik, a.k.a. Black Leather Guy, had posted to watch out for us. It was taking much longer this way.
"I'm thirsty." I complained. "And hot, and tired, and I really don't like this."
"Because you're not used to it." Ted responded curtly.
"There's a river nearby." James said suddenly.
"How do you know? You've been here?" I asked, surprised.
"I hear it, that's why." He answered, amused. Now that he had pointed it out, I heard it as well, the trickle of water flowing off to our left.
"Let's go. We can stop there for a while." I stepped off the path and ran through the bushes and trees. I heard laughing and twigs snapping as both the boys followed me.
I stopped suddenly, and felt someone crash into me from behind. "Lela what -" Ted began.
"Look! It's so nice here." I said, awed. It was true. The water flowed, clear and swift, around the smooth rocks in the river. All types of spring flowers dotted the banks, and mosses grew in soft, springy cushions beneath our feet. Birds called and sang sweet melodies, and the wind whispered through the trees.
"Pretty." James commented, coming up to us.
"I've never been this far outside the pal -" I stopped. "- far away from the palace and villages," I ended lamely. I had almost slipped and revealed where I lived!
Ted didn't even seem to notice. He knelt and scooped up some water. "The water's safe to drink."
I perched on a rock, all my thirst forgotten in the beauty of the wood that surrounded us. The trees were graceful arches, with small, vibrant flowers clustered beneath them. Small rosebuds on dark green vines wound around the trees, making the place seem like a painting. All around us was color - vivid reds, deep blues, golden yellows, bright oranges, pale pinks, sprinkled with whites and lavenders. Young green grass and ferns were growing everywhere, and it was like a paradise.
"I'm going to name this place - the Secret Valley." I said dreamily, looking around. I missed the amused look that Ted and James were giving me; I was too lost in fantasy.
"Lela, are you going to drink or not?" Ted demanded. "I like this place too, but we DO have to get going, you know."
"Let's go further downstream." James suggested. "The water's easier to reach."
"The current will be faster." Ted said skeptically.
"It's all right." I said, hopping down from my rock and looking around one last time. "Let's go. This place is too peaceful to disturb."
Ted gave in and we hiked a mile or so downstream. There, the water seemed to be a little more turbulent, but none of us noticed.
"Lela - come on." Ted said impatiently. "Do you want to warn the king and queen, or will you wait until they're murdered?"
I felt a chill run through me. "Oh. Right." I reached down to the water - my fingers brushed the smooth, glassy surface - and then, suddenly, I lost my balance. I plunged right into the raging river.
*~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~*
Panic flooded me. I didn't know how to swim! I kicked my way to the surface. Gasping for air, I looked around. How had I gotten into the middle of the river? And then I realized - the current was pulling me along. It had looked so calm, but once I was actually in the water, the currents were swift and relentless.
"Help!" I managed to shout. The water pulled me back under. I was moving downstream!
The water, all of a sudden, seemed freezing cold. It pulled at my skirts, dragged me down.
With all my energy, I kicked and fought my way to the surface. Breaking the surface, I looked around. Nothing was familiar. Where was I? Where were James and Ted?
I think at that moment, I passed out. The world seemed to spin around me, like the icy, swirling water. I felt someone grab me around the waist, and vaguely felt him drag me through the racing currents. Then, the world faded to black, and I remembered nothing else.
*~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~*
"Lela. Lela - please wake up." I felt someone shaking me. I mumbled something inarticulate, and tried to fall back into the warm darkness that had surrounded me a few moments ago.
"Lela! You're alright!" the person exclaimed. I heard relief and gladness in his voice. I opened my eyes. Why was everything so hazy?
"Ted?" I mumbled.
"It's me. You're alright now, Lela. James -" he stopped.
I tried sitting up. I was propped up on the soft pillows that the fairy trinket box had supplied us with, and I was covered with layers of warm blankets. I didn't really want to move.
"How - where -" I started. I was still rather vague on what had happened.
"We can talk later. I just wanted to see if you were alright." He told me.
But since I was awake, I wanted answers. "What happened?"
"You fell into the lake." Ted replied flatly.
I froze. Everything came rushing back. Swirling water, the currents, swift and icy, that had pulled me along, someone pulling me out of the water - then the warm darkness.
"How long have I been unconscious?" I asked.
"A long time. I'd say - an entire day."
"What?! And entire day?!" I said, alarmed. At least that explained why I was ravenous. "Where's James?"
Ted stiffened. "Wait. I'll get something for you to eat, and then I'll tell you everything."
"Okay."
When Ted came back with some food, I was curled up under the blankest, reading my fairy book. Mandy had written me again, telling me to drink my Tonic and be careful, wherever I was. I closed the book, rueful. If only she knew what was happening, where I was. But I had remembered to drink my Tonic every day.
I looked up as Ted approached. He looked tired and - nervous. I couldn't see why in the world he would be nervous, though.
I accepted the food gratefully. Ted sank down onto the springy grass nearby, thoughtful, silent.
"So what happened? Where did James go? Did he go on while you stayed with me? I don't remember anything that happened, really, beyond falling into the river." I said.
Ted sighed. "Okay. Let's start from the beginning. I saw you reach for the water, and then suddenly, you fell in. You didn't trip or anything, you just fell in."
"Fairy feet." I muttered. "Family thing. I'm dead clumsy. Except at dancing, I can do that all right."
"So you fell in," Ted continued, "I saw you fall into the water. James heard the splash, and he didn't see you anywhere, so he assumed you fell in. By then, you had surfaced far away, in the middle of the river. The currents were pulling you along fast, so both of us ran alongside, on the bank, trying to reach you. You went under again, and we couldn't find you." He paused.
"Go on." I prompted.
"James saw you surface again, further down. We ran further down the bank - James kept on saying that you couldn't swim. When you went under the third time, and we didn't see you come back up, James dove in after you."
"So he was the one who pulled me out?"
"Yeah. He was a pretty good swimmer - he dove down, and I didn't see either of you. But when he came back up, he was holding you. I think you were already unconscious. When he floated past, he grabbed a long branch. I got there, and he yelled at me to grab you and pull you out. He said something like you were dragging him down, so I grabbed you and pulled you up to the bank. I was reaching out to help up James when -" He stopped and paled.
"What?" I asked, anxious.
"The branch broke. It snapped, and he fell."
"And . . .?"
Ted looked shaken and upset. "And the current pulled him along."
"You said he could swim. He might have gotten out."
"He didn't."
"How do you know?"
"I checked everywhere."
"What?!" I asked, unable to grasp the meaning of what he was trying to say. "So . . . he just . . ."
"He disappeared. I checked the banks, I searched the woods, and I even swan across the river to look for him. He's gone." Ted said.
"But - he's - where does the river lead to?" I asked.
Ted sighed heavily. "A waterfall."
I was blank. Ted must have seen the confusion on my face, for he said, "A waterfall, Lela. Water drops down onto the big rocks at the bottom?"
"So . . .?" I still didn't get it.
"So, anyone who goes down that waterfall is gone. There's no hope. None, Lela."
"But - are you saying - then -"
"James is dead." Ted told me.
"What?! NO!" I cried. "It can't be - it's not true . . ."
"I'm sorry Lela. I know that he was your best friend - I'm sorry."
Cold seeped into me, numbness spread through me. I shivered and my teeth were chattering. This couldn't be true. It wasn't true.
James was dead?
He couldn't be dead. I burst into tears. Ted awkwardly put his arm around me and held me as I cried.
"I'm sorry, Lela. I looked all over for him - but it didn't help - it's all my fault."
"It's not your fault, Ted." I said, my voice muffled and sounding choky. I sniffed. "It's my fault. He died because of me." I started crying all over again.
"You can't mean it, can you? Are you just kidding? Please say you are - please." I said desperately. My voice was only the faintest whisper. Maybe this wasn't happening - maybe it was all a dream. Maybe I was dreaming.
"I wish I was only joking." Ted said softly.
I shuddered. I knew the answer. I could see it in Ted's eyes.
James was really gone.
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babyjayy ~ Is it just me, or do u say 'good chapter, update soon' every time u review?
whimsicality ~ Thanks! BTW, I LUV ur stories! Really! Aria's Melody is such a good story, and Catching Cael really caught my attention! Update soon! Check out my favorite authors and stories sections. LoL. Ur in both. I'm glad u like the story ~ it took me forever to think of a plot and the stuff.
Olenochka ~ Here's the next chapter! I had this really big writer's block, until finally, I thought of this. Please review!
*****
A/N: I hope u like this chapter - it took me forever to think of something. Hmmm . . . maybe with this chapter, I might get some reviews . . . LoL, I'm only kidding. But please R&R! It's greatly appreciated! Oh, and another thing. If any of you read the Avalon series - could u check out my story? I only have one chapter up, but I want to know if people will like it or not. I need some more reviews with that story; otherwise I might take it down. Well, anyway, on with THIS story!
*~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~*
"Whew!" James commented. "It's a short distance to Bast in riding terms, but I've never thought that I'd be walking there."
I agreed. We had been walking for hours on the small, narrow path that went through the woods and led to the village of Bast. The reason we were taking that path instead of the commonly used one was because we were trying to avoid the men that Erik, a.k.a. Black Leather Guy, had posted to watch out for us. It was taking much longer this way.
"I'm thirsty." I complained. "And hot, and tired, and I really don't like this."
"Because you're not used to it." Ted responded curtly.
"There's a river nearby." James said suddenly.
"How do you know? You've been here?" I asked, surprised.
"I hear it, that's why." He answered, amused. Now that he had pointed it out, I heard it as well, the trickle of water flowing off to our left.
"Let's go. We can stop there for a while." I stepped off the path and ran through the bushes and trees. I heard laughing and twigs snapping as both the boys followed me.
I stopped suddenly, and felt someone crash into me from behind. "Lela what -" Ted began.
"Look! It's so nice here." I said, awed. It was true. The water flowed, clear and swift, around the smooth rocks in the river. All types of spring flowers dotted the banks, and mosses grew in soft, springy cushions beneath our feet. Birds called and sang sweet melodies, and the wind whispered through the trees.
"Pretty." James commented, coming up to us.
"I've never been this far outside the pal -" I stopped. "- far away from the palace and villages," I ended lamely. I had almost slipped and revealed where I lived!
Ted didn't even seem to notice. He knelt and scooped up some water. "The water's safe to drink."
I perched on a rock, all my thirst forgotten in the beauty of the wood that surrounded us. The trees were graceful arches, with small, vibrant flowers clustered beneath them. Small rosebuds on dark green vines wound around the trees, making the place seem like a painting. All around us was color - vivid reds, deep blues, golden yellows, bright oranges, pale pinks, sprinkled with whites and lavenders. Young green grass and ferns were growing everywhere, and it was like a paradise.
"I'm going to name this place - the Secret Valley." I said dreamily, looking around. I missed the amused look that Ted and James were giving me; I was too lost in fantasy.
"Lela, are you going to drink or not?" Ted demanded. "I like this place too, but we DO have to get going, you know."
"Let's go further downstream." James suggested. "The water's easier to reach."
"The current will be faster." Ted said skeptically.
"It's all right." I said, hopping down from my rock and looking around one last time. "Let's go. This place is too peaceful to disturb."
Ted gave in and we hiked a mile or so downstream. There, the water seemed to be a little more turbulent, but none of us noticed.
"Lela - come on." Ted said impatiently. "Do you want to warn the king and queen, or will you wait until they're murdered?"
I felt a chill run through me. "Oh. Right." I reached down to the water - my fingers brushed the smooth, glassy surface - and then, suddenly, I lost my balance. I plunged right into the raging river.
*~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~*
Panic flooded me. I didn't know how to swim! I kicked my way to the surface. Gasping for air, I looked around. How had I gotten into the middle of the river? And then I realized - the current was pulling me along. It had looked so calm, but once I was actually in the water, the currents were swift and relentless.
"Help!" I managed to shout. The water pulled me back under. I was moving downstream!
The water, all of a sudden, seemed freezing cold. It pulled at my skirts, dragged me down.
With all my energy, I kicked and fought my way to the surface. Breaking the surface, I looked around. Nothing was familiar. Where was I? Where were James and Ted?
I think at that moment, I passed out. The world seemed to spin around me, like the icy, swirling water. I felt someone grab me around the waist, and vaguely felt him drag me through the racing currents. Then, the world faded to black, and I remembered nothing else.
*~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~*
"Lela. Lela - please wake up." I felt someone shaking me. I mumbled something inarticulate, and tried to fall back into the warm darkness that had surrounded me a few moments ago.
"Lela! You're alright!" the person exclaimed. I heard relief and gladness in his voice. I opened my eyes. Why was everything so hazy?
"Ted?" I mumbled.
"It's me. You're alright now, Lela. James -" he stopped.
I tried sitting up. I was propped up on the soft pillows that the fairy trinket box had supplied us with, and I was covered with layers of warm blankets. I didn't really want to move.
"How - where -" I started. I was still rather vague on what had happened.
"We can talk later. I just wanted to see if you were alright." He told me.
But since I was awake, I wanted answers. "What happened?"
"You fell into the lake." Ted replied flatly.
I froze. Everything came rushing back. Swirling water, the currents, swift and icy, that had pulled me along, someone pulling me out of the water - then the warm darkness.
"How long have I been unconscious?" I asked.
"A long time. I'd say - an entire day."
"What?! And entire day?!" I said, alarmed. At least that explained why I was ravenous. "Where's James?"
Ted stiffened. "Wait. I'll get something for you to eat, and then I'll tell you everything."
"Okay."
When Ted came back with some food, I was curled up under the blankest, reading my fairy book. Mandy had written me again, telling me to drink my Tonic and be careful, wherever I was. I closed the book, rueful. If only she knew what was happening, where I was. But I had remembered to drink my Tonic every day.
I looked up as Ted approached. He looked tired and - nervous. I couldn't see why in the world he would be nervous, though.
I accepted the food gratefully. Ted sank down onto the springy grass nearby, thoughtful, silent.
"So what happened? Where did James go? Did he go on while you stayed with me? I don't remember anything that happened, really, beyond falling into the river." I said.
Ted sighed. "Okay. Let's start from the beginning. I saw you reach for the water, and then suddenly, you fell in. You didn't trip or anything, you just fell in."
"Fairy feet." I muttered. "Family thing. I'm dead clumsy. Except at dancing, I can do that all right."
"So you fell in," Ted continued, "I saw you fall into the water. James heard the splash, and he didn't see you anywhere, so he assumed you fell in. By then, you had surfaced far away, in the middle of the river. The currents were pulling you along fast, so both of us ran alongside, on the bank, trying to reach you. You went under again, and we couldn't find you." He paused.
"Go on." I prompted.
"James saw you surface again, further down. We ran further down the bank - James kept on saying that you couldn't swim. When you went under the third time, and we didn't see you come back up, James dove in after you."
"So he was the one who pulled me out?"
"Yeah. He was a pretty good swimmer - he dove down, and I didn't see either of you. But when he came back up, he was holding you. I think you were already unconscious. When he floated past, he grabbed a long branch. I got there, and he yelled at me to grab you and pull you out. He said something like you were dragging him down, so I grabbed you and pulled you up to the bank. I was reaching out to help up James when -" He stopped and paled.
"What?" I asked, anxious.
"The branch broke. It snapped, and he fell."
"And . . .?"
Ted looked shaken and upset. "And the current pulled him along."
"You said he could swim. He might have gotten out."
"He didn't."
"How do you know?"
"I checked everywhere."
"What?!" I asked, unable to grasp the meaning of what he was trying to say. "So . . . he just . . ."
"He disappeared. I checked the banks, I searched the woods, and I even swan across the river to look for him. He's gone." Ted said.
"But - he's - where does the river lead to?" I asked.
Ted sighed heavily. "A waterfall."
I was blank. Ted must have seen the confusion on my face, for he said, "A waterfall, Lela. Water drops down onto the big rocks at the bottom?"
"So . . .?" I still didn't get it.
"So, anyone who goes down that waterfall is gone. There's no hope. None, Lela."
"But - are you saying - then -"
"James is dead." Ted told me.
"What?! NO!" I cried. "It can't be - it's not true . . ."
"I'm sorry Lela. I know that he was your best friend - I'm sorry."
Cold seeped into me, numbness spread through me. I shivered and my teeth were chattering. This couldn't be true. It wasn't true.
James was dead?
He couldn't be dead. I burst into tears. Ted awkwardly put his arm around me and held me as I cried.
"I'm sorry, Lela. I looked all over for him - but it didn't help - it's all my fault."
"It's not your fault, Ted." I said, my voice muffled and sounding choky. I sniffed. "It's my fault. He died because of me." I started crying all over again.
"You can't mean it, can you? Are you just kidding? Please say you are - please." I said desperately. My voice was only the faintest whisper. Maybe this wasn't happening - maybe it was all a dream. Maybe I was dreaming.
"I wish I was only joking." Ted said softly.
I shuddered. I knew the answer. I could see it in Ted's eyes.
James was really gone.
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