~DARK WATERS~
by IceAngel
For summary, disclaimer and other things see chapter 1
A/N: Thanks to the people who reviewed! I got a lot for chapter 3 which is very nice to know some people are reading. Sorry it took so long! enjoy!
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Chapter 4 - Duty
Barda strode purposely along the wide corridor, squinting in the early morning light that flooded through the window at the end of the hall. Despite being weary from his journey to Tora, he had found it impossible to sleep.
Sharn's face in his mind would not leave him in peace long enough to rest. Every time he closed his eyes he saw her, suffering from a curse that should never have touched her. If only he and Lief had . . . But such thoughts were in vain. He was resolved to do all in his power to find the cure, even if it meant traversing the Shadowlands once more.
He came to the door of her room, hesitated, then reached out with his left-hand to open it. He fumbled, not used to being unable to use his sword arm. He cursed the man who had injured him for the twentieth time, and succeeded in opening the door.
Sharn was not alone. Her pale hand was held in the palm of another, and Barda winced to see it. Doom rose slightly as he saw him in the doorway.
Barda pressed his lips together to refrain himself from being course or rude. Why should not Doom pay his attentions to Sharn? They had been friends even before Barda had met her. And surely after all the man had suffered to protect and shield Lief and his parents, he had perfect right to claim her affection.
Barda mumbled an apology and slid out of the room, closing the door carefully behind him. Once outside he leant his back against the wall and raised his eyes to the ceiling. There were so many emotions swirling within him that he could barely focus his thoughts.
"I came to see how Sharn fared," said a voice from beside him. Barda jumped slightly. He was always amazed at the way Doom moved silently as a cat.
"I too thought there may have been some improvement," Barda said readily, recovering his blank expression. He felt Doom's eyes fix upon him a look of intense concentration. Barda shifted his position, uncomfortable under the steady gaze.
"Your feelings for Sharn are strong," Doom stated. Barda had the unsettling feeling that the man could see all the way inside him.
"She is a friend," Barda replied, trying to ignore the strange smile that appeared on Doom's lips. "I see that you also care more for her than you choose to show."
The smile disappeared, and the dark eyes bore into his own. "She kept me alive," the strange response confused Barda, but before he had time to ask for an explanation someone appeared at the end of the hall.
Ranesh moved as silently as Doom, and Barda felt almost clumsy around the two of them. The young man was breathing heavily. "King Lief desires your presence."
Barda shot a look at Doom. The man's features had remained unchanged, but in his eyes he could see a spark of interest.
"Lead us to him."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"The reason for our journey," Ailsa said once Jasmine and Lief had settled themselves upon the grass, "is unfortunately not a pleasurable one."
"There is a danger threatening in the north that perhaps you have not yet had tidings of," Merin put in. "We know of your grief, as we have dreamt much of our brave explorers since you left us."
Lief forced a smile, but found himself growing increasingly frustrated. "Please, "he said at last, "please tell us your tidings from the north."
"Very well, though you will grieve to hear them." Ailsa lowered her eyes as she spoke, "It was not two days ago when we received the first inclinations of what we have come to tell you. A messenger from the coast, from Tora, came to us seeking advice and aid. It seemed the river Tor had been infected by an unknown source, and that overnight its waters had turned black. Poisoned."
Lief and Jasmine gasped together. "Poisoned?" Lief exclaimed, "but how? why?"
"This is not all," Berin said grimly. "The river is not the only water affected, all around the coast a darkness swirls in the waves. We have seen it in our dreams, and seen those who drink it fall into a dark sleep from which nothing can awaken them."
Lief raised a trembling hand to his face. What was there to be done? Without water, the whole of Deltora would die of thirst. Crops would die, and there would be none to take their place. Who could have done such a thing?
"The Shadowlord," Jasmine muttered beside him, voicing his own thoughts. "Oh Lief, you do not think? Surely his powers are not great enough to poison an entire ocean?"
"You are right. He should be weakened after his defeat in the Shadowlands. How could he possibly have the strength to do such a thing?" Lief's mind was working fast, "perhaps it was not the Shadowlord at all, maybe we have another enemy."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Lief started awake. Where was he? In another moment he remembered that he had sat down to think over what should be done. He must have fallen asleep. And there was somebody bending over him, someone who had not realised he was awake.
Lief moved quickly, jumping up from the chair to confront whoever was before him. The figure flinched at the sudden movement and took a step back.
"Barda?" Lief breathed. "What is wrong? Why were you . . ?"
"I . . . I came to wake you Lief," the man said, obviously as surprised as Lief was. "We are meeting in the kitchen to discuss what must be done." The man's face was pale, and he was clutching his left arm as though it pained him to move. "I will leave you to dress now."
"Barda, wait a moment . . ." But the man had already left the room. Lief frowned. Why was his friend acting so strangely? And something else struck him as odd, though he could not quite place it. He shrugged off the feeling of unease and pulled a clean shirt over his head.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Lief entered the kitchen to find Jasmine, Barda and Doom already waiting for him. They were gathered around the far side of the table, talking in low voices. They looked up as he entered. Studying their faces Lief knew something was wrong.
"Lief," Doom began solemnly. "We have been discussing matters and have come to a decision."
Lief felt insulted that they were talking without him. What right did they have to decide anything? He was the king! It was his mother who was in danger! But then he saw the dark shadows under Doom's eyes, the lines on Barda's forehead and the hurt in Jasmine's eyes, and he could not remain angry at them.
"If a cure is to be found, Lief," Jasmine began. Lief knew they had decided she should tell him because he would take it better from her. "then, as you know, someone must seek for it."
"That someone cannot be you," Doom finished his daughter's sentence.
All eyes were upon him then, and Lief felt a red flush across his face. "Sharn is my mother! This is my problem!"
"This is no longer only about Sharn," Barda said sternly. "Do you not see? The whole of Deltora is poisoned with the same substance. If Sharn dies from this, Deltora will soon follow. Even if we do not drink the water, we will have no food. All your people will die."
"Your duty binds you to stay in the palace," Doom said. "You are the king, and you must look after your people."
"But by finding the cure I will be helping my people!" Lief argued. "You cannot ask me to do this. I am coming whether you like it or not!"
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
A/N: Darn it! this intro is taking much longer than expected. I thought they'd be off on the quest by now - but next chapter! really they will! A slight problem though, I won't be able to write for about 3 weeks! Ah! stupid exams! But I'll be planning, and expect something after the 11/11. thanks for your patience and please review and tell me what you thought.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~replies to reviews~
*Pen2* - glad you liked it ^.^ thanks for the long review - it makes it worthwhile! also thanks for telling Lexi to read, another cool reviewer for me ^.^ - yeah, Old Tom is a guy who sits next to me in class and enjoys writing insulting reviews to me! I will get round to reading Son of Dread after my exams I promise. I never usually read humour but for you I'll check it out. thanks so much! oh and update yours soon!
*Lexi* - I've always loved Emily Rodda's rhymes, esp from Rowan of Rin (have you read it?) so I'm very happy you liked my rhyming too ^.^ thanks for the big review - makes me happy! I can't reveal my secrets till I've worked out what they'll be (ha ha) no, I've got some ideas and I have to say a BIG thankyou to you know for providing me with a BIG idea for later chapters - can't say what, but thankyou!
*Mikkifavo* - glad you liked it :D I am 17 years old, turning 18 in five months! AHH "too old to be reading younger reader's fiction? never!" I would also love to be a writer after I leave school - but with one year of school to go I think I'll have to make do with ff.net. thanks so much ^.^
*Aduial Elenath* - very happy you liked it! I wish I had been as smart as you and remembered bits, now I'm having to borrow them all again! It's nice to know you're there to answer my questions! thanks so much :D
*Oblivion* - ohhh your fic is looking good, I can't wait! glad you liked mine too - thanks for mentioning facial expressions, i never noticed i did that and it's nice to know :D thanks :D
*Dalslittleprins* - wow long name! thanks for letting me know you're reading!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
by IceAngel
For summary, disclaimer and other things see chapter 1
A/N: Thanks to the people who reviewed! I got a lot for chapter 3 which is very nice to know some people are reading. Sorry it took so long! enjoy!
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
Chapter 4 - Duty
Barda strode purposely along the wide corridor, squinting in the early morning light that flooded through the window at the end of the hall. Despite being weary from his journey to Tora, he had found it impossible to sleep.
Sharn's face in his mind would not leave him in peace long enough to rest. Every time he closed his eyes he saw her, suffering from a curse that should never have touched her. If only he and Lief had . . . But such thoughts were in vain. He was resolved to do all in his power to find the cure, even if it meant traversing the Shadowlands once more.
He came to the door of her room, hesitated, then reached out with his left-hand to open it. He fumbled, not used to being unable to use his sword arm. He cursed the man who had injured him for the twentieth time, and succeeded in opening the door.
Sharn was not alone. Her pale hand was held in the palm of another, and Barda winced to see it. Doom rose slightly as he saw him in the doorway.
Barda pressed his lips together to refrain himself from being course or rude. Why should not Doom pay his attentions to Sharn? They had been friends even before Barda had met her. And surely after all the man had suffered to protect and shield Lief and his parents, he had perfect right to claim her affection.
Barda mumbled an apology and slid out of the room, closing the door carefully behind him. Once outside he leant his back against the wall and raised his eyes to the ceiling. There were so many emotions swirling within him that he could barely focus his thoughts.
"I came to see how Sharn fared," said a voice from beside him. Barda jumped slightly. He was always amazed at the way Doom moved silently as a cat.
"I too thought there may have been some improvement," Barda said readily, recovering his blank expression. He felt Doom's eyes fix upon him a look of intense concentration. Barda shifted his position, uncomfortable under the steady gaze.
"Your feelings for Sharn are strong," Doom stated. Barda had the unsettling feeling that the man could see all the way inside him.
"She is a friend," Barda replied, trying to ignore the strange smile that appeared on Doom's lips. "I see that you also care more for her than you choose to show."
The smile disappeared, and the dark eyes bore into his own. "She kept me alive," the strange response confused Barda, but before he had time to ask for an explanation someone appeared at the end of the hall.
Ranesh moved as silently as Doom, and Barda felt almost clumsy around the two of them. The young man was breathing heavily. "King Lief desires your presence."
Barda shot a look at Doom. The man's features had remained unchanged, but in his eyes he could see a spark of interest.
"Lead us to him."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"The reason for our journey," Ailsa said once Jasmine and Lief had settled themselves upon the grass, "is unfortunately not a pleasurable one."
"There is a danger threatening in the north that perhaps you have not yet had tidings of," Merin put in. "We know of your grief, as we have dreamt much of our brave explorers since you left us."
Lief forced a smile, but found himself growing increasingly frustrated. "Please, "he said at last, "please tell us your tidings from the north."
"Very well, though you will grieve to hear them." Ailsa lowered her eyes as she spoke, "It was not two days ago when we received the first inclinations of what we have come to tell you. A messenger from the coast, from Tora, came to us seeking advice and aid. It seemed the river Tor had been infected by an unknown source, and that overnight its waters had turned black. Poisoned."
Lief and Jasmine gasped together. "Poisoned?" Lief exclaimed, "but how? why?"
"This is not all," Berin said grimly. "The river is not the only water affected, all around the coast a darkness swirls in the waves. We have seen it in our dreams, and seen those who drink it fall into a dark sleep from which nothing can awaken them."
Lief raised a trembling hand to his face. What was there to be done? Without water, the whole of Deltora would die of thirst. Crops would die, and there would be none to take their place. Who could have done such a thing?
"The Shadowlord," Jasmine muttered beside him, voicing his own thoughts. "Oh Lief, you do not think? Surely his powers are not great enough to poison an entire ocean?"
"You are right. He should be weakened after his defeat in the Shadowlands. How could he possibly have the strength to do such a thing?" Lief's mind was working fast, "perhaps it was not the Shadowlord at all, maybe we have another enemy."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Lief started awake. Where was he? In another moment he remembered that he had sat down to think over what should be done. He must have fallen asleep. And there was somebody bending over him, someone who had not realised he was awake.
Lief moved quickly, jumping up from the chair to confront whoever was before him. The figure flinched at the sudden movement and took a step back.
"Barda?" Lief breathed. "What is wrong? Why were you . . ?"
"I . . . I came to wake you Lief," the man said, obviously as surprised as Lief was. "We are meeting in the kitchen to discuss what must be done." The man's face was pale, and he was clutching his left arm as though it pained him to move. "I will leave you to dress now."
"Barda, wait a moment . . ." But the man had already left the room. Lief frowned. Why was his friend acting so strangely? And something else struck him as odd, though he could not quite place it. He shrugged off the feeling of unease and pulled a clean shirt over his head.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Lief entered the kitchen to find Jasmine, Barda and Doom already waiting for him. They were gathered around the far side of the table, talking in low voices. They looked up as he entered. Studying their faces Lief knew something was wrong.
"Lief," Doom began solemnly. "We have been discussing matters and have come to a decision."
Lief felt insulted that they were talking without him. What right did they have to decide anything? He was the king! It was his mother who was in danger! But then he saw the dark shadows under Doom's eyes, the lines on Barda's forehead and the hurt in Jasmine's eyes, and he could not remain angry at them.
"If a cure is to be found, Lief," Jasmine began. Lief knew they had decided she should tell him because he would take it better from her. "then, as you know, someone must seek for it."
"That someone cannot be you," Doom finished his daughter's sentence.
All eyes were upon him then, and Lief felt a red flush across his face. "Sharn is my mother! This is my problem!"
"This is no longer only about Sharn," Barda said sternly. "Do you not see? The whole of Deltora is poisoned with the same substance. If Sharn dies from this, Deltora will soon follow. Even if we do not drink the water, we will have no food. All your people will die."
"Your duty binds you to stay in the palace," Doom said. "You are the king, and you must look after your people."
"But by finding the cure I will be helping my people!" Lief argued. "You cannot ask me to do this. I am coming whether you like it or not!"
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
A/N: Darn it! this intro is taking much longer than expected. I thought they'd be off on the quest by now - but next chapter! really they will! A slight problem though, I won't be able to write for about 3 weeks! Ah! stupid exams! But I'll be planning, and expect something after the 11/11. thanks for your patience and please review and tell me what you thought.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~replies to reviews~
*Pen2* - glad you liked it ^.^ thanks for the long review - it makes it worthwhile! also thanks for telling Lexi to read, another cool reviewer for me ^.^ - yeah, Old Tom is a guy who sits next to me in class and enjoys writing insulting reviews to me! I will get round to reading Son of Dread after my exams I promise. I never usually read humour but for you I'll check it out. thanks so much! oh and update yours soon!
*Lexi* - I've always loved Emily Rodda's rhymes, esp from Rowan of Rin (have you read it?) so I'm very happy you liked my rhyming too ^.^ thanks for the big review - makes me happy! I can't reveal my secrets till I've worked out what they'll be (ha ha) no, I've got some ideas and I have to say a BIG thankyou to you know for providing me with a BIG idea for later chapters - can't say what, but thankyou!
*Mikkifavo* - glad you liked it :D I am 17 years old, turning 18 in five months! AHH "too old to be reading younger reader's fiction? never!" I would also love to be a writer after I leave school - but with one year of school to go I think I'll have to make do with ff.net. thanks so much ^.^
*Aduial Elenath* - very happy you liked it! I wish I had been as smart as you and remembered bits, now I'm having to borrow them all again! It's nice to know you're there to answer my questions! thanks so much :D
*Oblivion* - ohhh your fic is looking good, I can't wait! glad you liked mine too - thanks for mentioning facial expressions, i never noticed i did that and it's nice to know :D thanks :D
*Dalslittleprins* - wow long name! thanks for letting me know you're reading!
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