MerewenIce: Sighs sorry I couldn't update for so long. I was... having trouble with my life, to put it shortly. Old memories, schoolwork... etc. Yeah. I'll just think that so that I can get away from it all... sorry again, I'll let you read on for the real story.
Don't let my life disturb you.
BabylonianPrincess: Thanks. At least someone likes my writing.

And here I am, listening to Simple Plan's Untitled. It describes me so well. The whole bloody CD does, for Pete's sake!

Sorry, I'll let you read on to the more important piece of writing. Forgive me if it's not up to standard; I tried. Truly.

Chapter 9: The Trouble Begins

"Any idea what?" Jasmine retorted, looking puzzled.

"Um... I'll tell you later," he gabbled, eyes suddenly losing their sparkle; mouth dry.

Would the prophecy come true, or was it merely a fluke?

When the dragon Fidelis landed on the outskirts of Del and the two companions leapt off, one jarring his bones and the other landing without a scratch on herself, a swarm of people ran up to them, all offering something for their comfort.

Jasmine accepted their water-flasks gratefully, gulping down their contents with a vigour Lief was sure he had never seen before. The king, on the other hand... he looked worn down, accepting a chunk of food from a helping hand.

Doom, Barda and Roscoe arrived soon after, encased in a ball of the sorcerer's white power. Barda rushed forward as soon as the flame dissolved to grab the girl in a bear hug.

"I had... doubts," he admitted into her ear, holding her tightly. "I was... worried you and your sweetheart wouldn't face up to it."

Jasmine felt her eyes tear up and started sobbing quietly into his shirt. "Same," she admitted, partly to herself and partly to him. "I... thought I wouldn't make it."

Lief popped up behind Jasmine and mouthed something urgent to the man who acted as their alleged brother. It looked something like 'Kree?', but Barda wasn't sure.

'Talk to you later,' he mouthed back, and released the now composed Jasmine.

"Thanks," she whispered, and turned to Lief. "What are we doing, lazing about here? I need to see Kree!"

And with that, she started off at a sprint, but Lief grabbed her wrist before she could make a run for it.

"No, Jasmine!" Then, seeing the strange looks the people around them were giving him, he lowered his voice. "You may all go. Thank you for your welcome, but you have done enough here," he told the onlookers. They obeyed, leaving the food and water at their feet.

Lief started again. "No – I mean, Jasmine, look at me. I command you to." His voice was calm and composed, but inside he was yelling at himself for letting it happen. He faltered for a second, unsure of how to tell her.

"Um..." was all he managed.

"Come on, the sun's about to go down," she tugged impatiently at his hand, pulling him along. "Kree –"

"Stop, Jasmine!" He finally yelled. "Don't you see I'm trying to help you? Please, listen to me!"

Jasmine froze, turning slowly. "Is there something... you need to tell me of?"

Lief felt himself become numb. He lowered his head, feeling worry course through his system.

"Yes?" prompted Jasmine, holding him awkwardly by his shoulders, noticing the rigidity of his body and the way his hand slipped off her wrist.

"Kree..." he couldn't bring himself to say the dreaded word.

Jasmine's grip stiffened.

They stood in silence like that for a while; like two stone statues, barely even breathing.

Barda, Roscoe and Doom watched from behind them, not saying a word.

They preferred Lief break the news to his sweetheart.

"Tell me," she finally whispered, "How many days has it been... since the attack? Including today?"

Lief felt a subtle change in Jasmine's tone.

Was it fear – anxiety?

"Eight," he finally whispered into her ear. "You thought it was seven, but you... you had slipped into the other realm for a day or so. I'm sorry."

The woman's eyes opened into the size of saucers. "No…" she whimpered, eyes empty and devoid of life. She clutched at his shoulders, face and hands white. "Please tell me that was a joke," she pleaded, staring at him with overflowing eyes. "Please, Lief!" She yelled into his face, shaking him. "Please tell me this is a dream... please… I can't survive without Kree… I can't count the many times he saved us… and now…" she stifled a sob as she buried her quivering form in his shirt. "And now… we repay him… with failing a simple task. All we had to do… was to find to sticks of a common herb…" she trailed away, simply crying into his now soaked shirt.

"Jasmine, I'm sorry, I'll never be able to feel how you feel at this moment; all I can say is sorry. Sorry… to you, to Kree… for not looking after both of you. I should have taken care of him while I had the chance. And you… I'm just thankful it wasn't you that the hurrok slashed. I'm truly thankful to the gods."

Jasmine froze. "This wasn't a dream," she mumbled into his shirt. "This isn't a dream. Kree's really gone, and… for all that I did, I couldn't save him… I've failed myself; I've failed him."

Lief, barely hiding tears himself, gestured to the three men standing nearby.

"We'll be going back soon," he mouthed to them, barely keeping the tears from showing.

They lowered their heads, gesturing to the gods for a blessing upon the couple. They soon disappeared in a pearly blue ball of magic, courtesy of the sorcerer.

"Here, you can come home with this," Roscoe's voice whispered in his ear, followed by a heavy thunk in his trouser pocket.

Lief almost smiled through his tears, clutching at Jasmine harder. Good old Roscoe.

"Jasmine –" he started, but was stopped by a tight fist clutching at his shoulder.

"Please, don't," she sobbed, tears falling freely from her bloodshot eyes. "Please Lief, don't."

He drew away from her, studying her closely. There was something wrong about her, the way she held him…

'Of course,' he thought, remembering her broken arm. 'How could I have been so stupid?'

But there was something else niggling at him…

Had he fallen asleep when Jasmine was recovering?

He couldn't remember.

But what he did remember was falling asleep with her, encased in Fidelis' claws…

Was she?

He suddenly noticed a black patch on her clothes; was it because she was an Ol, or was it simply a coincidence?

He slowly backed away from her, unsheathing his sword. 'Handy sword,' he realized, drawing it out inch by inch.

"Show yourself, Ol," her growled at her, backing away.

Jasmine - or was it an Ol? – Looked up, looking confused and hurt. "What do you mean, Lief? I am Jasmine, and none else."

He felt the tension rise in the air, stiffening his muscles for the change that would happen right… about… now.

But nothing happened. Jasmine stood there, weeping silently, with the pack at her feet. Both packs.

Lief froze. "Jasmine?" he asked, advancing towards her. He wasn't sure what she was… an Ol… or simply the woman he loved?

Jasmine wiped away a stray tear, looking up at him. "Why are you acting so… strange, Lief? Are you tense about something?"

"I'm tense about you," he muttered under his breath, still not sure of whether or not it was Jasmine or not.

"Pardon?"

"Don't worry."

There was a pause. "Is there anything I can comfort you with?"

"I'd like to know the truth about… how you met Kree."

There was a shocked intake of breath. "Lief –"

"Will you?"

There was another silence. "I'm afraid I can't. I'm sorry, Lief. I'm just too… too angered at myself to think about other things at the moment. I'm sorry again."

Lief smiled. It was she. An Ol would definitely dip into Jasmine's memories and bring back painful recollections, but Jasmine herself… she just loved Kree too much not to blame herself for his… passing.

"I'm sorry Jasmine, I thought you were an Ol," he apologized, sheathing his sword again and striding towards the woman.

She froze. "Oh."

"I know you're not now, after that most recent question."

"That's good." She gave a trace of a smile, then stopped. "Wait…"

"Today's the Fourth Dragon Night!" they both exclaimed at the same time.

"Will you be going?" Jasmine asked, hugging Lief tightly.

"I'll go if you do," he bantered, and hugged her back, stroking her tangled onyx hair.

"I will," she whispered into his shoulder, crying again.

"You just can't get rid of him," he sighed, drawing her closer.

"I've known him ever since he hatched out of his egg…" she trailed off as a fresh wave of tears poured out of her eyes.

"I'm sorry to bring you all these memories back," he murmured into her ear, 'and it's time to go home."

"Let's," she agreed, and Lief took the amulet that Roscoe had given him out.

In a flash they were gone with their packs.

But little did they know; there was an unearthly being watching them from the sky…

Palace In Del

Jasmine watched silently as the Fourth Dragon Night was held in honour of the three heroes who saved Deltora.

All the tribes represented by the seven gems were there, each of them wearing the colour of their gems.

So were the dragons, though Forta of the diamond clan was quite exhausted from a long flight.

Forta of the Diamond.

Honora of the Emerald.

Fortuna of the Lapis Lazuli.

Fidelis of the Topaz.

Hopian of the Opal.

Joyeu of the Ruby.

Veritas of the Amethyst.

All of the seven were there, though some of them had complained a couple of times upon arrival.

Jasmine smiled, nodded and patted the heads of those who acted out the parts of the ceremony, looking happy and comforted by the people surrounding her.

Which was what those who did not know her thought.

Those who did know her became worried about her. It was not usual of her to laugh and smile so easily, and they knew she was going through ha hard time.

What was to become of her?

Really random chapter I know, so don't blame me for it. I'm supposed to be studying, and if my mum comes home when I'm uploading this… simply put: don't come to my funeral.