SPELLBOUND

Chapter FOUR: The Voice Within

Amy

Alec's hand was holding mine tightly as he pulled me through the forest deftly and quietly. He seemed to know the forest like the back of his hand. I barely register this but I was grateful for his guidance. I swayed a little and he put his arm around me, keeping me steady.

I walked as if blind even when it was mind afternoon and the winter sun was shinning on a clear blue-white sky.

I couldn't think clearly…

Jadzia's voice kept going through my head. She had the same voice as the white lady I had seen the day I had lost my brother and gained the scar on my face… that voice urging me to hold on… to be strong.

When she, Jadzia, intruded my thoughts I didn't even think on opposing her. I felt as if she were an old friend, the white lady, Lady of the Forest who on my darkest hour held my hand and saw me through the longest night of my life, and the vanished at dawn.

Jadzia spoke to me softly, vaguely mocking at the folly of the human kin. But it wasn't mean, it wasn't cruel in anyway. She was gentle with her questioning.

"Amy, I see you're well," She said. "It's good. You've been brave and true. But your second trial will soon come. I ask you again to be strong. Have no fear, child, I'm with you."

She withdrawals from my mind as if she had never been there. A warm glow that had spread through me began to fade, but it still tingled around my heart. I would hold to that.

Unicorns knew things. Saw things. She told me, warned me. I ought to be alert.

Just when I was beginning to feel like home again, I just might have to leave… but I didn't want to.

Alec

Once ridded of our skates, I made my way through the forest holding Amy's hand to guide her –only to guide her… well, okay; it also felt good to hold her hand, so what? - I felt her sway and promptly put my arm around her to keep her steady.

Neither of us spoke.

She seemed lost in thought, and I didn't push. One of us, at least, needed to be in full alert and clearly that wasn't Amy. But in the back of my head I was intrigued. Jadzia usually didn't take interest in humans, unless they had magic or something really special about them. I knew Amy didn't have magic. Cherith had told me once that Amy totally freaked when she saw her – Cherith – do small magic (like fixing broken pottery or the like).

So I guess Jadzia thinks Amy is special somehow. And for me the question isn't really 'if' she's special, but 'how'. I know she's kind, I mean, Frog took to her right away, and he's very – very, very- selective about the people he likes. So Amy is a good person. And her eyes are very pretty, they are brown, with centers as black as coal, but the outer rim of her irises is of a deep green…

My father always says that the first thing he noticed about my mom were her eyes…

Why did I just think that?

Anyway… what was I thinking about?

I guess it doesn't matter.

"I had never been to this forest before." Amy said suddenly as we kept walking.

"Really?" I said just to make conversation as I gained back my train of thought.

"Yes. I grew up far up north. I know the Romney Forest well enough, though. I lived there for the past two years before you found me."

"Why were you in the forest anyway?" I couldn't help to ask.

"I had no other place to go. My parents' were gone… and I had no other family to turn to, so I just walked into the forest knowing I would be well there."

"Were you? Well. I mean. In the Forest."

We stopped. She looked up at me for what seemed the longest while, without blinking. "It was good enough. In the summer and spring it was almost okay. Except when it showered or it grew too hot. By fall it was a little harder because food began to scarce. Winter was right out miserable. I was hungry most of the time… but at least I was safe."

I held still as she spoke.

I didn't know I was clenching my jaw until I tried to speak. I did not like the idea of Amy hungry or scared of cold… or anything bad. And the way she had said 'I was safe' let me know she knew good and well what was like to be in real danger.

My blood was boiling hot. Which was odd since I was usually so slow to anger… but I couldn't help it.

I changed subjects before I began to do something stupid.

"There's this clearance in the Romney Forest my father takes us to every year, right before the King's Festival in town. It's our family tradition, if you will. I love that forest. Did you know that some 300 years ago .in the day of my ancestors Merle and Rafer Windam. It was said that Romney Forest was haunted?"

"No, I didn't know that!"

"Oh, yes…. It's quite a well know story among the elders of the city…" I said and I began to retell childhood tales I had heard but never shared with anyone, out of fear of being called fantasy-lover. But somehow I knew Amy would understand.

Amy

"Will you be okay?" Alec asked as we parted our ways at the stairs of the second floor He had excused me from my afternoon chores and told me to go to bed. "I've had Jadzia butting in my thoughts, I know it's tiresome."

"I'll be okay."

He nodded but he hadn't let go of my hand, yet.

"Take a nap now, you'll feel better after. And here," he dug into his pocket and handed me three or four small chocolates wrapped in bright paper. "They'll make you feel better."

"Thanks." I said. He squeezed my hand one last time and then let go. He waited in the hallway, as I made my way to my small room, before going up the stairs to the fifth floor and his own room.

Frog followed me to my door and licked my face before padding back towards Alec.

I was putting away my coat a few moments later when the door of my room opened and Dulcie burst in. "Oh my goodness! Was that Prince Alec?"

"Would you mind if I lay down?"

"Go right ahead." She said and I lay down on my bed. "So was it him?"

"Yes."

"Oh my god!" She said enthusiastically. "Did he talk to you? What did he say? Weren't you supposed to be somewhere with friends of yours?"

"Uh. Yes, he talked to me. Told me to go and have a nap since I was not feeling so well."

"Oh… are you sick? Should I send for the doctor? Mrs. Rose told me to send for the doctor if you feel ill, so you didn't have a relapse."

"No, it's not a relapse." I said with a sigh. "I'm just tired. I'll take a nap. I'm sure I'll feel much better later."

"Well, then, I'll leave you to sleep and I'll come back later to see if you want some dinner."

"Thank you, Dulcie. You're so good to me."

She shrugged. "You would do the same."

I smiled at her as she left.

Once she was gone I promptly fell asleep.

And my dreams were filled of… him.

End of Chapter Four

Notes:

Okay, one more down!

I hope there was more fluffiness in this one. J

Pardon the mistakes and the delay...

Love you all so much!

Connie: lol! I also use expressions like Sexy-papacito and I love skating too!

Katty::keeps on clinging; Aw! You're so sweet::hugs:

Ashgyrl: I'll try to make the future chapters longer! It's just that much isn't happening yet! But soon will!

li'l bling bling: Will Do! Thanks!

EreshkigalGirl: Oh, you'll see! And yes, Jadzia has an active role in this story! I love some of the stuff that's going to happen later with her… and you'll get a little glimpse of her past with Marco (Kaze's brother, the king of Lhite) and why they are always so awkward and uncomfortable around each other.

YcatsEel: Thanks so much! You're so so sweet! And yes, Alec is very Hot! Amy used to be… she would still be very cute –regardless of the scar –if it weren't for something Dionne did… but I'll tell you more about that later. And I love Frog the dog.

Pearlwalrus: Thanks so much!

Masked Dragonfly 0926: Jadzia is one of my favorite characters in this trilogy, and kind of like the bond between all the stories since she's the only one who shows up in all of them. There are a few thins coming on her!

Bratise-love: There's something important happening next chapter! Right before the evil b-witch shows up again! J