A/N: A Giant appology to everyone reading this for taking so long to write the next chapter. I wasn't sure where I wanted the plot to go, and my Lord of the Rings fic kind of ran away with itself and I couldn't stop writing it! But I'm back now and I hope everyone hasn't forgotten me!
Summaray of previous chapters... (just in case you've forgotten)
A mysterious man gets into the palace and poison's Sharn. The Kin arrive with the news that the rivers of Delora have become infected with some unknown poison that makes everyone who drinks it fall into a deep sleep.
From the strange man's message (chapter2) Leif, Jasmine, Doom and Barda work out that they have a chance of finding the cure in a land that is said to be 'above' the shadowlands. The Kin agree to carry Leif, Jasmine and Barda on their quest.
Chapter 6 - Over the Hills
Jasmine could not help grinning as she felt the wind in her hair and the rush of movement beneath her. She had always wanted to know what it felt like to fly. And despite Kree's descriptions she had never expected such a feeling.
As she looked down she saw what the kin had told them of. The rivers of Deltora were black. Boats had been dragged up onto the banks, and the houses closest to the water had been abandoned for safer lodging.
Jasmine had no doubt that the river had been infected with the same poison Sharn had been tricked into drinking. What would happen when fresh supplies of water ran dry, and the crops died? Deltora would crumble into ruin and become just like the Shadowlands; a bare plain without life or hope.
Berin rocked beneath her suddenly, throwing her off balance. The Kin must have been very tired after all the hours they had flown. Ignoring their usual objections about flying at night, the Kin had agreed to do everything in their power to carry the three companions to the Shadowland border and hopefully even all the way to the other side of the Shadowlord's realm.
Jasmine had thought it would feel natural to be setting out on yet another quest with her friends, but this time she felt as though something were wrong. There was a creeping uneasiness in her stomach, making her feel ill when she thought of where they were going - and what they were leaving behind...
Leaving Deltora had been a strain, though she had non noticed it so much because of the concern for what she thought had been her sister. Now she felt the emptiness of leaving her home and father more keenly than ever.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The sun fell and rose once more, revealing a grey dawn. Jasmine could barely keep her eyes open. She wondered how the Kin could possibly fly this long without a rest. She peered down over the soft brown folds of the Berin's pouch and started with surprise. The mountains that had been below them less than an hour before had dissipated, and they were now flying over the broad expanse of the Shadowlands.
Jasmine looked up, feeling suddenly nauseous. Although from that height all that could be seen was the dry plains, Jasmine knew of the hidden dangers lurking just out of sight. And above all the things, the Shadowlord's fortress.
Jasmine looked around, hoping to signal to Lief and Barda and show them the land below. But the other Kin were behind, Jasmine being the lightest burden and therefore Birin being the swiftest flier. Jasmine growled in frustration but said nothing.
She could see mountains on the distant horizon. Towering snow-topped peaks that marked the end of the Shadowlands and the beginning of the land on the other side. She wondered what its name was, and remembered its description in the Deltora annuls...
~mysterious northern land - where the exotic rainforest that stretched all the way to the shore~
Jasmine looked forward to seeing a forest again - and eagerly anticipated the moment they would land.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
To Jasmine's surprise the Berin began to lose height before they even passed the mountains.
"What are we doing?" she shouted over the wind.
"Do not fear, child," Berin said back. "We are to place you at the base of the mountains, they are too high for us to fly over."
Jasmine felt her heart sink. They would have to make their own way over the freezing mountains. More time would be wasted.
She gasped as she air hit her face in a rush. And as they swooped down Jasmine closed her eyes tightly and hoped for a safe landing.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The sun was just beginning to rise above to giant mountains when the small company roused themselves to say farewell.
"We will return in sixteen days," Ailsa told them, rummaging around for something in her pouch. "If you have not returned by then..."
The sentence was left unfinished, though each of them knew what the Kin had meant.
"How can we repay you for your trouble?" Lief asked earnestly, and Jasmine could see the worry lines crossing his forehead.
"The restoration of our homes is all the reward any of us can hope for," Berin assumed him, winking slightly at Jasmine. "We wish you the very best of luck on your quest."
"And give you a gift that may be of some use." Ailsa held out her paw, in the centre of which was a water pouch. "It is filled with the water of the Dreaming Spring. Use it sparingly and only in great need."
"Thankyou," Lief said, reaching out and taking the pouch from the soft palm. "And thankyou for everything. Farewell! We will return!"
And with that they turned their backs on the Kin, and their faces to the mountains they were to cross.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The wind was so cold it stung Jasmine's cheeks and hands. She found herself walking directly behind Barda so the man could shelter her from some of the chill air. She had lost any idea of time, and had only become colder the further they travelled.
Her clothes were not suited for this kind of weather. They barely kept her skin sheltered from the harsh breeze. Although she tried to show no signs of being bothered by the weather, she knew it would not be long before she would have to stop and find shelter.
Lief walked behind her, and from his harsh breathing she suspected he was fairing as badly as herself. None of them had expected this after the desert plains of the Shadowlands. If they had had more time to prepare, they might have brought an extra blanket or some warmer cloaks. As it was, they carried only the bare necessities.
The wind howled above, and with it came a thin shower of snow. Jasmine shivered as the flakes settled on her bare arms.
"Barda!" Lief shouted suddenly.
Barda turned and looked back, shielding his eyes from the snow with his hand.
"We must find shelter! The snow will grow heavier and we will not be able to travel!" Lief's voice strained to rise above the wind and whirling snow.
Barda nodded, turning back to the narrow path ahead.
The three gathered closer together, attempting to draw some warmth from each other. They moved increasingly slowly, searching left and right for a place to shelter. But there was nothing but solid rock and the shrub grasses that covered the land.
Jasmine had her head tucked down to her chest, and her arms around her body. So she did not see when Barda suddenly came to an abrupt stop and walked straight into him.
"What..?" she began angrily, but seeing the white figures that stood on the path before them she fell silent.
The tallest of the figures moved forwards, holding a crossbow levelled at Barda's chest. "You will all come with us."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
A/N : I feel terrible that I've taken SO long to finish this - but without all your wondersul reviews it would have taken me much longer! Thanks so much to everyone who has reviewed this story and helped me to continue!
And to all the authors I am reading their fics, I promise I will get back to that as soon as I can - if I've been neglecting you don't hesitate to remind me in a review and tell me off for being lazy!
Replies to Reviews (look at all of them!)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*Aduial Elenath* - thankyou! sorry this has taken so long - I hope you're still reading!
*PastaPrincess* - thanks! I'm happy you are enjoying my story and hope that you'll still read and review!
*Lexi* - yes I feel terrible that I have left everyone in suspence just as the action starts to come. I love showing everyone's different points of view so the reader can see what all the characters are thinking of eachother - glad you think I do that well! Doom will be in the future of my story - kind of like Pen2's inclusion of him. But I think he's a great character too! I like personally anwering reviews so I can say thank you to everyone who bothers to say anything about my fic - or even just lets me know they're reading. It makes writing stories much more fun when you get feedback ^.^
*lozza-pilgrim* - hehe - 3 reviews for one chapter! you're great for my review count! I hope you're still around to read this - I've taken way to long to get the next chapter up! I am 18 in 5 months :( but VERY imature for my age and proud of it! I've got my learners to drive but let me just say you wouldn't want to be around when I get behind the wheel; I can't see over it! hehe thanks 4 your support over Old Tom - if I ever run into any rude reviewers I'll let u handle it! but old tom is actually just a guy in my IT class who enjoys reviwing my stories in a rather mmm evil way. thankyou ^.^
*Jasmine101* - I'm terribly sorry about not replying to this sooner! I should have e-mailed you to answer your question - of course you can e-mail me ice_angel1398@yahoo.com is my adress - and I always love to hear from people. My pen name may sound familiar because there are about 9 iceangels on ff.net. Or maybe you've read my lord of the rings stuff - I'm not sure. But thankyou and I'd love to hear from you!
*Shasta and Co* - *squee!* so many reviews! I'm very happy! and I hope you'll find this and keep reading after so long! thanks for all your nice comments - there hasn't been much action yet ut that will change - I am also interested in character interation like the 'cat fight' between Barda and Doom - I think that makes a story interesting. oh, and I'm glad u like my rhyme! thanks so much ^.^
*Pen 2* - Emily Rodda has been my fave author since I was 10, which is almost 8 years now! so it makes me so happy when you say my fic is like hers! I'm so sorry this has taken this long and that I've been very slow at reading yours. Don't hesitate to email and remind me if I havn't noticed you've updated! Good writing and thanks as always!
*Oblivion* - hello again - sorry I've taken so terribly long - I'm sure I've neglecting to review one of your fics too - just review and tell me off if I have - I'll have to get back to reviewing soon! I'm so happy you're enjoying the story! Keep writing! thankyou ^.^
*Izzie* - new reviewer! yay! glad you're liking the story - though I'm not sure if you're up to here yet! thanks for the answer to my question! thankyou :D
*Dark Angel* - hehe cool name - thanks for reviewing! ^.^
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Summaray of previous chapters... (just in case you've forgotten)
A mysterious man gets into the palace and poison's Sharn. The Kin arrive with the news that the rivers of Delora have become infected with some unknown poison that makes everyone who drinks it fall into a deep sleep.
From the strange man's message (chapter2) Leif, Jasmine, Doom and Barda work out that they have a chance of finding the cure in a land that is said to be 'above' the shadowlands. The Kin agree to carry Leif, Jasmine and Barda on their quest.
Chapter 6 - Over the Hills
Jasmine could not help grinning as she felt the wind in her hair and the rush of movement beneath her. She had always wanted to know what it felt like to fly. And despite Kree's descriptions she had never expected such a feeling.
As she looked down she saw what the kin had told them of. The rivers of Deltora were black. Boats had been dragged up onto the banks, and the houses closest to the water had been abandoned for safer lodging.
Jasmine had no doubt that the river had been infected with the same poison Sharn had been tricked into drinking. What would happen when fresh supplies of water ran dry, and the crops died? Deltora would crumble into ruin and become just like the Shadowlands; a bare plain without life or hope.
Berin rocked beneath her suddenly, throwing her off balance. The Kin must have been very tired after all the hours they had flown. Ignoring their usual objections about flying at night, the Kin had agreed to do everything in their power to carry the three companions to the Shadowland border and hopefully even all the way to the other side of the Shadowlord's realm.
Jasmine had thought it would feel natural to be setting out on yet another quest with her friends, but this time she felt as though something were wrong. There was a creeping uneasiness in her stomach, making her feel ill when she thought of where they were going - and what they were leaving behind...
Leaving Deltora had been a strain, though she had non noticed it so much because of the concern for what she thought had been her sister. Now she felt the emptiness of leaving her home and father more keenly than ever.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The sun fell and rose once more, revealing a grey dawn. Jasmine could barely keep her eyes open. She wondered how the Kin could possibly fly this long without a rest. She peered down over the soft brown folds of the Berin's pouch and started with surprise. The mountains that had been below them less than an hour before had dissipated, and they were now flying over the broad expanse of the Shadowlands.
Jasmine looked up, feeling suddenly nauseous. Although from that height all that could be seen was the dry plains, Jasmine knew of the hidden dangers lurking just out of sight. And above all the things, the Shadowlord's fortress.
Jasmine looked around, hoping to signal to Lief and Barda and show them the land below. But the other Kin were behind, Jasmine being the lightest burden and therefore Birin being the swiftest flier. Jasmine growled in frustration but said nothing.
She could see mountains on the distant horizon. Towering snow-topped peaks that marked the end of the Shadowlands and the beginning of the land on the other side. She wondered what its name was, and remembered its description in the Deltora annuls...
~mysterious northern land - where the exotic rainforest that stretched all the way to the shore~
Jasmine looked forward to seeing a forest again - and eagerly anticipated the moment they would land.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
To Jasmine's surprise the Berin began to lose height before they even passed the mountains.
"What are we doing?" she shouted over the wind.
"Do not fear, child," Berin said back. "We are to place you at the base of the mountains, they are too high for us to fly over."
Jasmine felt her heart sink. They would have to make their own way over the freezing mountains. More time would be wasted.
She gasped as she air hit her face in a rush. And as they swooped down Jasmine closed her eyes tightly and hoped for a safe landing.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The sun was just beginning to rise above to giant mountains when the small company roused themselves to say farewell.
"We will return in sixteen days," Ailsa told them, rummaging around for something in her pouch. "If you have not returned by then..."
The sentence was left unfinished, though each of them knew what the Kin had meant.
"How can we repay you for your trouble?" Lief asked earnestly, and Jasmine could see the worry lines crossing his forehead.
"The restoration of our homes is all the reward any of us can hope for," Berin assumed him, winking slightly at Jasmine. "We wish you the very best of luck on your quest."
"And give you a gift that may be of some use." Ailsa held out her paw, in the centre of which was a water pouch. "It is filled with the water of the Dreaming Spring. Use it sparingly and only in great need."
"Thankyou," Lief said, reaching out and taking the pouch from the soft palm. "And thankyou for everything. Farewell! We will return!"
And with that they turned their backs on the Kin, and their faces to the mountains they were to cross.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The wind was so cold it stung Jasmine's cheeks and hands. She found herself walking directly behind Barda so the man could shelter her from some of the chill air. She had lost any idea of time, and had only become colder the further they travelled.
Her clothes were not suited for this kind of weather. They barely kept her skin sheltered from the harsh breeze. Although she tried to show no signs of being bothered by the weather, she knew it would not be long before she would have to stop and find shelter.
Lief walked behind her, and from his harsh breathing she suspected he was fairing as badly as herself. None of them had expected this after the desert plains of the Shadowlands. If they had had more time to prepare, they might have brought an extra blanket or some warmer cloaks. As it was, they carried only the bare necessities.
The wind howled above, and with it came a thin shower of snow. Jasmine shivered as the flakes settled on her bare arms.
"Barda!" Lief shouted suddenly.
Barda turned and looked back, shielding his eyes from the snow with his hand.
"We must find shelter! The snow will grow heavier and we will not be able to travel!" Lief's voice strained to rise above the wind and whirling snow.
Barda nodded, turning back to the narrow path ahead.
The three gathered closer together, attempting to draw some warmth from each other. They moved increasingly slowly, searching left and right for a place to shelter. But there was nothing but solid rock and the shrub grasses that covered the land.
Jasmine had her head tucked down to her chest, and her arms around her body. So she did not see when Barda suddenly came to an abrupt stop and walked straight into him.
"What..?" she began angrily, but seeing the white figures that stood on the path before them she fell silent.
The tallest of the figures moved forwards, holding a crossbow levelled at Barda's chest. "You will all come with us."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
A/N : I feel terrible that I've taken SO long to finish this - but without all your wondersul reviews it would have taken me much longer! Thanks so much to everyone who has reviewed this story and helped me to continue!
And to all the authors I am reading their fics, I promise I will get back to that as soon as I can - if I've been neglecting you don't hesitate to remind me in a review and tell me off for being lazy!
Replies to Reviews (look at all of them!)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*Aduial Elenath* - thankyou! sorry this has taken so long - I hope you're still reading!
*PastaPrincess* - thanks! I'm happy you are enjoying my story and hope that you'll still read and review!
*Lexi* - yes I feel terrible that I have left everyone in suspence just as the action starts to come. I love showing everyone's different points of view so the reader can see what all the characters are thinking of eachother - glad you think I do that well! Doom will be in the future of my story - kind of like Pen2's inclusion of him. But I think he's a great character too! I like personally anwering reviews so I can say thank you to everyone who bothers to say anything about my fic - or even just lets me know they're reading. It makes writing stories much more fun when you get feedback ^.^
*lozza-pilgrim* - hehe - 3 reviews for one chapter! you're great for my review count! I hope you're still around to read this - I've taken way to long to get the next chapter up! I am 18 in 5 months :( but VERY imature for my age and proud of it! I've got my learners to drive but let me just say you wouldn't want to be around when I get behind the wheel; I can't see over it! hehe thanks 4 your support over Old Tom - if I ever run into any rude reviewers I'll let u handle it! but old tom is actually just a guy in my IT class who enjoys reviwing my stories in a rather mmm evil way. thankyou ^.^
*Jasmine101* - I'm terribly sorry about not replying to this sooner! I should have e-mailed you to answer your question - of course you can e-mail me ice_angel1398@yahoo.com is my adress - and I always love to hear from people. My pen name may sound familiar because there are about 9 iceangels on ff.net. Or maybe you've read my lord of the rings stuff - I'm not sure. But thankyou and I'd love to hear from you!
*Shasta and Co* - *squee!* so many reviews! I'm very happy! and I hope you'll find this and keep reading after so long! thanks for all your nice comments - there hasn't been much action yet ut that will change - I am also interested in character interation like the 'cat fight' between Barda and Doom - I think that makes a story interesting. oh, and I'm glad u like my rhyme! thanks so much ^.^
*Pen 2* - Emily Rodda has been my fave author since I was 10, which is almost 8 years now! so it makes me so happy when you say my fic is like hers! I'm so sorry this has taken this long and that I've been very slow at reading yours. Don't hesitate to email and remind me if I havn't noticed you've updated! Good writing and thanks as always!
*Oblivion* - hello again - sorry I've taken so terribly long - I'm sure I've neglecting to review one of your fics too - just review and tell me off if I have - I'll have to get back to reviewing soon! I'm so happy you're enjoying the story! Keep writing! thankyou ^.^
*Izzie* - new reviewer! yay! glad you're liking the story - though I'm not sure if you're up to here yet! thanks for the answer to my question! thankyou :D
*Dark Angel* - hehe cool name - thanks for reviewing! ^.^
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