Queen's Own: The second and final chapter of Following a Journeyman. I apologize for the fact that this chapter took so long to come out. Life's been crazy!! And I was a little short on something we authors like to call inspiration. Cami took a vacation, I think. Thank you all for your wonderful reviews. and see you in Bermuda.
Cami: I'm too tired for disclaiming; if you want that, see the first chap!!!
Queen's Own: And now, for my lovely reviewers-
Dana Stevens- uh- no.
PrettyKittyOreo- Your wish is my command!!
Lurks in Shadows- This chap is evidence that this is not a one-shot!!
Darienetta Stoke- here's your chap!!
BadExample- Thanks muchly for the review!!
milky way bar- shuttup!! (FYI, I would never say that to most of you. I've known her however, since we were in kindergarten.)
Fireblade k'Chona- I share your guilt!! I have some fics that I need to update!!
oceanmate- mostly I take conventional names and play with spelling or the order of letters.
wizard116- Cami thanks you for that extremely complimentary review!!
mysticmoods- Cami thanks you too!!
Epilogue
The four unopened letters on the table were an unspoken testimony to the fact that she hadn't written her family in ages. Reyna sighed, and picked up a small knife to slit open the first one. It was from –thankfully- not her family, but Jayms. He and Stef had left Haven a few weeks ago. Stef hadn't told anyone where he was going, not even Jayms. Reyna suspected he had gone to Sorrows, but couldn't really be sure. Stef could be awfully mysterious sometimes.
Reyna- You were right to warn me that Stef might be mysterious on this trip. Throughout the last two weeks, we been everywhere from your home of Forst Reach, to Sorrows itself. This trip seems to have a theme, though I don't know why he brought me along. He's always friendly –when isn't he?- but sometimes I get the impression he wishes I wasn't here. I miss you, Reyna. And of course, Liem. Tell Avireay hello for me, and tell her I wish her luck with Shaym. –Jayms
She smiled, warmed by just the tone of the letter. Sighing, she put the letter aside -replying would be useless as he was probably almost back by now- and picked up the next one. This one did bear the Forst Reach seal, which she slit to read the letter from her mother.
To Herald-Trainee Reyna Ashkevron: I regret that I haven't heard from you in so long, though no doubt it's because you're having such a good time in Haven. We miss you here, and hope that you will come home for the holidays. Feel free to invite any of your friends along. Ariel's coming home as well, so we'll hopefully all be together this year. Good luck with your studies- is your Gift under control yet? How's Liem- still watching the sunsets? Please write back- it would be wonderful to hear from you. From Lady Roshya Ashkevron.
Reyna smiled and pulled out a piece of paper to write back.
Dear Mother- I'm so sorry not to have written. Yes I have been having quite a wonderful time here, and between classes, Liem, and my friends, I've been very busy. Of course I'll come home for the holidays- would you mind if I brought two or three friends and their Companions? That's wonderful that Ariel's coming home; I can't wait to see her. My Gift is quite under control by now- thank you for asking. Liem and I are still watching the sunsets every night. Love, Reyna Ashkevron.
There, she thought, sealing the letter. That should keep her happy until the holidays. She set the letters aside, and picked up the next. This was from her sister, Ariel, now on the Karsite Border.
Little sister- Life up here is as close to hell as I'd like to get. I honestly don't know how Uncle Vanyel survived up here, though he was probably too busy to notice the awful conditions. It's cold, miserable, and almost no civilians. And the fear- it's almost palpable. You can feel it everywhere you go, especially among the Karsite escapees. They've almost stopped coming now, poor souls. Life there is even worse. Anyway, I'm counting down the days until I leave here, though it's not until Midwinter, when I retire to the embrace of my family. I'll probably be sleeping most of the time, so don't count on much quality time with me. Love you so much. I think about you all the time, and hope that you never have to end up out here. All my love- Ariel.
Reyna bit her lip, partly out of sympathy, partly out of fear. She wasn't normally still afraid for her sister, but every once in a while- well, everyone knew what the Karsites did to the Heralds they captured, and Ariel was so obvious in her Whites. She was being stupid, she knew, but that didn't stop a shiver from running down her spine all the same. She scribbled a quick reply, which was all she could write.
Big sister- I love you so much and I think about you every night, hoping that you're safe and well. I too am counting down the days until you get away from the Karsites and I see you safe again. All my love- Reyna.
She carefully sealed this letter as well, setting them on top of the ones from Jayms and her mother. Picking up the last letter –the most recently sent, and only from the Palace- she smiled.
Herald-Trainee Reyna- Taver just informed me that Herald Ashir and her Companion encountered Bard Stefen and Journeyman-Bard Jayms about a day's ride from Haven. They should return before tomorrow morning. Best Wishes, King's Own Jisa.
Reyna rolled this piece of paper into a ball and threw it into the fire. Fall's crispness had set in early this year, and having a fire burning on the hearth cut down on the chill considerably, especially now that the sun had set. Standing, she stretched, picked up the letters and walked out of the room.
Several minutes later, she returned. Quietly, she shut the door, before turning to walk into her own room. Again, she turned to shut the door, this time moving to latch it. She was exhausted –intense training with Meri- and wanted sleep badly. But apparently, that was not going to happen.
"Hey Reyna." She jumped, and then laughed at the familiar voice.
"Jayms!" She turned to see the Journeyman sprawled over her bed before he stood and walked over to her. "I've missed you! When did you get back?"
He shrugged. "Oh, a candlemark or so ago." Suddenly, he hugged her, hard. She hugged him back. "I missed you, Reyna," he whispered into her hair. Suddenly, it really hit her how much she'd missed him. They stayed like that for a while, content to just be near each other again.
A door slammed somewhere in the suite, and they sprang apart. Jayms looked somewhat embarrassed, and Reyna could feel a bit of a blush staining her cheeks. He's just my best friend who I haven't seen in almost a month. That's all. Yet even as her mind insisted it, her subconscious denied it. That was not a friendly embrace.
"Hello?" The voice calling from the common room was unsure, yet with a hint of former arrogance. In other words, Shad.
"In here," she replied, unlatching the door. Sure enough, the former assassin, turned Trainee, stood, looking slightly embarrassed in the common room.
"Sorry if I interrupted anything," he said quietly. She really was blushing now; from the look of it, so was Jayms.
"No," she insisted quickly. "You weren't." Shad smirked slightly but didn't continue.
"I was just wondering where everyone else was," he said, changing the subject.
"Meri's out with a bunch of her old friends," Reyna answered. "And Avireay is, I think, occupied with something else." A hint of a smile twitched her lips.
Shad murmured something about thanks, and then ghosted into his room, shutting the door behind him. They were alone once more.
"So- how was the trip?" she asked finally, wanting only to break the silence.
"I missed you," he repeated softly. "Stef was so- focused. I've never seen him like this before. And I really missed having you to talk to. Having someone to talk with. But especially you." He looked at her, meeting her eyes. "Reyna- you are my best friend in the world. If I had to trust someone with my life, it would be you, completely and totally." She couldn't breathe, couldn't move, couldn't think. "But- I realized on this trip- being away from you for the longest time in months, it goes above and beyond friendship. It's more than friendship, what I feel for you, Reyna. It's a feeling I cannot put into words, Bard or no. Whether we stay friends or no, I will feel this way." She couldn't breathe, couldn't move, couldn't think.
"I- I-" she stammered. She couldn't make her brain or lips form an answer. Disappointment clouded his eyes slightly, and he lowered them. Released from his gaze, she felt her brain begin turning again, felt freed from her paralysis. Oh gods- he thinks-
"If that's-" he began. But she cut in, placing her hands on his chest.
"Jayms," she said quietly. "I- I think I've loved you since the moment I met you. None of the ballad and lifebond nonsense- plain simple love. The kind of feeling that makes me think that- that I can't live without you, that I need to have you with me, to know that you're okay." She plowed on, a fountain of words welling up inside her. "The kind of feeling that makes me think, that no matter what happens, so long as you're with me, everything will be okay."
:Okay, now you sound like Third-Rate Minstrels in a bad rendition of Sun and Shadow,: Liem said irritably. :All syrupy and cloying and- I just cannot take it!!!: Reyna laughed and repeated what he'd said to Jayms. He too, doubled over laughing, until they were holding onto each other to keep from falling. When the laughing had ceased, their faces were so close, that Reyna couldn't stand it. She kissed him. And he kissed her back.
:But we're happy minstrels,: she retorted happily. Liem smiled and gently pulled out of her mind.
Queen's Own: Short and Sweet! Wow this has been a long time in coming. Reviews make me hyper! And that button (purple, white, gray, whatever color it is!) is not just a decoration, peoples!!!