Chapter 15 - Silver and Gold
"Sister in the Mirror"
The Morambar was more of a problem than Amarthel had anticipated. It broke free of its chains once before they'd crossed the Grey Mountains, and he was set back a day's time. Not to mention it killed about a dozen of his soldiers. The day they had gotten it under control, and were about four days from Mirkwood, it broke free again. It took them two days to find it, and another day to recapture it. Two dozen odd were lost.
Amarthel finally had enough, and took the time and energy to place a spell upon the beast. It had been calm from then on, but the army demanded they stop for the night. The spell had taken quite a bit out of him, so he obliged. Though his blood lust and thirst for power was becoming nearly unbearable, he figured the closer he got and the more he waited, the sweeter his ultimate and imminent victory would taste.
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Jocelyn was awake surprisingly early. She snuck from Legolas's warm embrace and dressed quickly, skipping down the passageways to find her sister's room. She had realized she hadn't talked with her sister for a while.
She rapped quietly on the door. A moment passed, and there was no answer. She knocked again. She was completely unaware of the chaos within.
Leyna woke to an unknown cause. She heard a knock, and noticed Tyron stir beside her. He stretched and cricked his neck. Sleeping on the floor wasn't all that comfortable. Sudden panic swept over her.
"Tyron, hide!" Leyna whispered urgently, gathering blankets around herself as she stumbled across the room to find a robe. He grabbed a sheet from the bed to wrap around himself.
"What are you talking about?" He asked, still shaking the drowsiness from his voice. His dark blue eyes, still clouded with a bit of sleep and his tousled hair made Leyna smile. But now was no time for those thoughts.
"There's someone at the door!" She hissed, and shooed him off to the washroom. Leyna smoothed out her hair as best she could, took a calming breath, and opened the door to find Jocelyn on the other side.
"Morning sis." She chirped, and walked right in. Leyna bounded after her.
"What's going on?" She asked, as normally as she could.
"What do you mean what's going on? I just wanted to hang out. Maybe we can go to breakfast together." Jocelyn said and flopped on her sister's bed. She looked at the bare mattress beneath her, and the blanket her sister covered herself with.
"Where's your sheet? Didn't the maids make your bed with one?" Jocelyn asked innocently, and thankfully did not notice the blush on her sister's face.
"Ehh...no, they didn't." She mumbled, and sat at her vanity to brush her hair. Jocelyn lay on her stomach, holding her chin in her hands, watching her sister.
"Hey, you want me to see if Tyron wants to come to breakfast, too?" Jocelyn asked harmlessly. Leyna nearly dropped her brush. Jocelyn got off the bed and made for the door, without waiting for an answer.
"No! I mean, I don't think he would be awake yet. We best not wake him. He may be cranky." Leyna tried to cover, but Jocelyn was in tune with her twin. She narrowed her eyes at her in skepticism.
"Rrright." Jocelyn drawled, in a very Dr. Evil sort of way. Leyna flashed her a quick smile and turned away to sit back at her vanity. Jocelyn walked a couple of steps slowly back toward the bed, but got a shitty grin on her face and bolted to the door. In her mirror, Leyna saw and followed quickly, knocking over her chair. Jocelyn giggled as she threw open the door and bounded the few steps down the hall to Tyron's room, with Leyna hot on her tail.
She rapped on the door hard a few times, but when she saw Leyna running toward her, like a football player chasing the little brown pigskin, she threw open the door and slipped in. She stopped in the middle of the room, and heard Leyna push the door open hard and run into the back of her.
The bed was made, clearly not slept in. Jocelyn dashed to the washroom, which was empty. She walked back to Leyna, who was breathing hard, more due to the unease of Jocelyn's reaction than the run.
"He's not here." Jocelyn said. It seemed she was talking to herself, trying to figure it out. Then, Leyna saw the understanding pass behind Jocelyn's green eyes. Before Leyna could stop her, a grin had spread across her sister's face as she bolted past her back toward her room.
"Jocelyn!" Leyna exclaimed and ran after her. When she made it to her room, Jocelyn was calling Tyron's name, looking in her sister's wardrobe, under her bed, until she laid eyes on the washroom door. Leyna saw the smile on Jocelyn's face and she giggled as she pushed the door open, to reveal Tyron in nothing but a sheet, looking at her very surprised.
"Good morning Tyron." She said calmly, as if it was the most normal thing in the world. The only indication it was not was the grin on her face and the amusement in her eyes. She turned to Leyna.
"You little rascal, you." And she laughed. Leyna looked somewhat relieved. "Hey Tyron wanna come to breakfast with us?" Jocelyn asked innocently. From inside the washroom, Leyna could hear his laughter. Jocelyn's own musical chuckle was heard, and the amusing situation, which should've been awkward, caught up with Leyna. She smiled, then she giggled, then she laughed.
"Jocelyn I cannot believe you!" Leyna managed through racks of laugher.
"What are sisters for?" Jocelyn shrugged and winked.
Of course, when Jocelyn had her fun with Tyron and Leyna, she went back to her room and tried hard to keep the story to herself. It'd be embarrassing for her sister, she thought. But, then again, they wouldn't know she told. Legolas wouldn't say anything. So, she woke Legolas to tell him the whole story. It wasn't as funny if you didn't see it, but he laughed anyway, mostly at Jocelyn's inability to tell it fully through her laughter.
After breakfast, Tyron and Leyna went for a walk around the palace.
"I love being a guest at the palace." Leyna breathed, as she reached out to touch one of the beautiful flowers the gardeners kept growing so nicely.
"Yes, it is nice, isn't it?" Tyron replied absently. That morning, after Jocelyn left, Leyna had been laughing and mumbling affectionately to herself about how terrible her sister was. He decided that wasn't the right time to ask. The question was burning on the tip of his tongue. He wanted to ask so badly, just so he could say they were engaged that much earlier. Every second that ticked by seemed to ache his soul and the anticipation grew heavy in his stomach.
"I still have to leave." Leyna said suddenly. Since the night before, Leyna had been pondering discussing the prospect of marriage. After all, they loved each other and had already practically sealed their binding.
"Don't leave." Tyron spurted unexpectedly, with such urgency in his voice that Leyna stopped in her tracks. He faced her, holding her hands in his. "Don't leave. Stay here with me. Marry me and be happy with me forever." He begged, his dark blue eyes lit with hope. She stared, hesitating, turning the words over in her mind, reveling on how beautiful they sounded. But Tyron misread her hesitation, and drew his eyebrows together, a look of pure pain and fear in his features.
Seeing his hopes dashed, Leyna's mind jolted out of its numbness. "I can't think of anything else I'd rather do!" She exclaimed quickly, and rejoiced in seeing the thrill light in his eyes. He swept her up and spun her around, kissing her lips.
"Wonderful! Just wonderful!" He set her back on her feet, but did not let her go. He kissed her once more and whispered, "I am going to make you so happy."
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Jocelyn was meandering along the city streets, and found herself singing softly, the words to an Earth song that made its way up from her subconscious to her lips.
More Than Love
We were in love before
But now it's so much more
Cause when I kiss your lips
I can't explain
What I feel in my heart for you
I don't know what I'd do
Baby if I lost you
Cause I've been without you and I know how it feels
And I can't be alone anymore I know its
More than love
Baby I can feel it
When I'm close to you
I know its more than love baby do you?
Maybe my words can't explain
Why I'm feeling this way
She stopped and smiled as the song spurred old memories. Her favorite being the times she and her friend KT would belt out songs to the radio with the windows rolled down. It shamed her to admit, but she hadn't thought much of her life before much lately. Because the wonders of her new life had completely drawn her in. This was her home now, and her life before had become all but ancient history.
A pang of guilt assaulted her when she thought of how hurt her friends would be if they knew she'd forgotten about them. She made a silent vow to never forget the people who'd sculpted her character and influenced her life. It was like an old Brownie Girl Scouts saying: 'Make new friends but keep the old. One is silver and the other gold.' (A/N...which was silver and which was gold is still a mystery to me.)
She smiled as she let the old memories flood her mind, and walked through her new world, completely unknown to all whom she was thinking about.
Starting her walk, she'd planned on just walking the courtyard of the palace, but she ended up going much further. Her feet just wouldn't stop. It was okay with her, though. The sun shone beautifully, with only a few wispy clouds marring the blue sky.
Jocelyn's ears pricked as she thought she heard someone call her name. It was her mother's voice, calling so urgently that Jocelyn spun quickly around to meet her.
"Oh Jocelyn, come quickly!" Anna grabbed her daughter's wrist and drug her back inside the palace. The entire way, Jocelyn attempted to pry some information from her mother, but she wasn't saying a word. Jocelyn would've been concerned, had it not been for the grin on her mother's face.
They ended up in Leyna's room, where Legolas, Calenmir, Leyna and Tyron were already. Leyna and Tyron were talking excitedly, but Legolas just watched them, a strange expression on his face. Was it bitterness? Jealousy?
Upon seeing Jocelyn enter, Leyna's smile grew.
"Okay, now that you're all here, I can say it." Pause for effect. "Tyron and I are getting married!" She exclaimed. Jocelyn blinked a few times, then furrowed her brow. Anna had shrieked and started to cry already. Leyna hugged her mother, and Anna hugged Tyron as well. Jocelyn just looked to Legolas. His expression mirrored her own.
"Is this really happening?" She whispered to him.
"Jocelyn, you should be happy for your sister." He whispered back, surprisingly sharply. Jocelyn looked at him in disbelief.
"I am happy for my sister. It's just a bit of a shock. You should be happy for her, too." Jocelyn said accusingly.
"I am happy for her. It is good to see her happy in love." He stated sternly. Jocelyn sighed.
"I know. It is, isn't it? Leyna will be safe and happy with him. I remember when we used to look like that." She said, watching her sister and Tyron gaze lovingly at each other.
"We still do." He said, smiling down at his wife.
Legolas drew an arm around Jocelyn's shoulders, and she squeezed his waist lightly. They watched Tyron and Leyna in the same affectionate position.
'He will be part of the family soon.' He thought. And surprisingly, the idea wasn't as alarming as he figured it would be.
A/N...I updated relatively quickly this time. Not the best chapter, I know, I'm the first to admit. But I wanted to get something out to you guys. And this is the period of safe and sound for the family. Everyone is paired up and in love. Isn't it wonderful?
You guys are slacking on reviews. : (
Ilenya the Fair - Thanks! You're too sweet!
LittleCrazy1, TPfan333, Norie Ape1 ----Thanks, love hearing from you!!
Artria - ahhah Yay! I love it. Great idea, I think everyone should have a 'boys are dumb' cake. My name is a city in Texas. The capital, in fact. Right? Or is Dallas the capital? I never was too good with states and capitals. Oh look...Gandalf!
Gandalf: Yo, what's crackin homeslice?
Austin B.: Nothing much, just writing to my reviewers and updating my story. Hey, while you're here, would you mind doing something for me?
Gandalf: Anything. Why, after that time you rescued my staff from the slowly shutting stone door in that tomb, I owe you a favor.
Austin B.: Aw shucks, that was nothing. I watch Indiana Jones too much. Well anyway, there's this friend of mind, Artria, and she hurt her leg. Do your thing and help her out for me? After all, her name does mean 'golden dancer' and she can't dance very well with her leg in a cast.
Gandalf: Of course, Austin. -mumbles in Elvish and staff glows white- Done.
Austin B.: Thanks. I should get back to updating. Readers can get pretty vicious when you make them wait too long. (JK)
-Austin B.