AN: Sorry for the lack of update. ;; Been kind of busy, but I finally have it up! This chapter is a little rougher than I'd like, but I hope you enjoy it anyway! Please remember to review!
Chapter 13: A Suspect at Last.
Lyude and Alyssa lay stretched out on the grassy meadow that was once the cloud passage. The recently completed rose quartz path from Nashira to Sheliak spread out before them. The sun was setting and the fading light danced across the quartz dazzlingly. Alyssa was drawn close, her head resting on Lyude's chest as they stared blissfully at the setting sun and the coming twilight. Neither spoke for a moment. Lost in the magic of shimmering quartz and the slow appearance of a scattering of stars. The Lesser Celestial river wound its way along the edge of the meadow, the sound of the rushing waters was a dull roar in the distance.
"I wish we could just travel like this forever." said Alyssa finally breaking the silence.
Lyude sighed deeply, his arm tightened around Alyssa's shoulders for a moment and he turned on his side toward her. She drew away and rested her chin on her hand as her new husband did the same. Lyude smiled at her lovingly. "Traveling doesn't end with the vacation. We'll still be making the greatest journey of all, long after we stop roaming." he said his crimson eyes meeting her green. "I promised to show you the world once, on this very spot. Now is the time for me to keep that promise. We have precious little time to ourselves like this, but let's make the most of it. Once we get back..."
"Let's not talk about that, Lyude. You're right. We have precious little time like this. We should just enjoy it."
Each day had been bliss for the young couple. Each night they stargazed for hours. Anuenue had been Alyssa's favorite. The evening had been warm and Lyude had shed his imperial coat for their casual walk. They were strolling along the forest edge near Opu, Alyssa clad in a sleeveless dress, a simple sash around her waist and a pair of sandals on her feet. Lyude lifted her easily onto the brick wall and hefted himself up next to her. Behind them, a large waterfall cascaded it's way down the tropical terrain.
The crescent moon shone bright overhead and the sky was a sea of stars above them. Alyssa leaned her head on Lyude's shoulder and placed her hand casually on his leg, He wrapped his arm around her waist affectionately and started telling her about the different constellations and pointing to each of them in turn.
Alyssa smiled, Lyude's voice a melody to her ears. She loved everything about her husband. Despite all that he had been through, his eyes were still full of such appreciation for their world and its wonders. His deep appreciation for nature and the heavens was surprising to Alyssa. Particularly coming from a man that had grown up mainly in Mintaka.
She smiled sadly. She surmised that this was due to his upbringing with Almarde. She wished she could have met the gentle woman that Lyude so fondly described.
"Alyssa."
"Hmm?" Alyssa jumped out of her reverie. She'd found herself drifting off to happier times here lately. She looked up at Vallye who had returned after another fruitless day of searching.
"Thinking about Lyude?" she asked.
"What else do I think about anymore?" said Alyssa smiling ruefully. "I was just thinking about our time together a few weeks ago. Oh, Vallye, it feels like an eternity ago." said Alyssa bowing her head tearfully. "I need to know if he's all right."
Vallye sighed and sat down beside her. She wasn't very skilled at comforting people. "Unfortunately, no one can tell us that for sure but we're doing everything we can to see that Lyude makes it safely home. I've bugged each and every council member here. If they go somewhere suspicious, I'll know about it." said Vallye darkly. "If he's hurt..."
Vallye's face was that of somewhat confused anger. She too was puzzled at her feelings toward Lyude. Not much more than a year ago, particularly since he had betrayed their country so completely, she couldn't have cared less if her brother had died. Since he had returned that sentiment had changed considerably. Alfard had not become weak under Lyude's leadership like some had suspected, but was now a strong trading nation and diplomatic power. she had found herself gaining more and more respect for her little brother over the past year. His policies were actually working, and they were making Alfard out for the better.
"So have you had any progress at all?" asked Alyssa.
"Yes, actually." said Vallye. "James Braddock. He's been leaving the fortress quite a bit for the past month. He's Drell's aide." said Vallye. "I suspect that it may have been in preparation for the abduction. I'm fairly certain he's the one who's responsible for Lyude's disappearance."
"But you have no idea where he is." said Alyssa finishing Vallye's thoughts.
"Why didn't you tell me this?" came a voice behind the two women and they turned to find Skeed standing wearily at the door.
"You've been in meetings all day, I wasn't going to disturb you with a suspicion that really gets us no further. Still, I'll be keeping an extra sharp eye on Drell."
"Still no luck finding Sharp Shooter I take it?" asked Andrews coming inside. "Can you believe Drell's nerve? If I have to listen to that man rattle on about past ranks one more time I'm going to learn Sforzando." said Andrews darkly.
Skeed laughed mirthlessly. "I think I'll leave those to my brother." he said. "You couldn't learn it if you wanted to. It takes a maestro specialist for that."
"I know. I'm just so sick of that man." said Andrews with a sigh collapsing on the couch.
"Him and the rest of that blasted council." said Skeed. "Grundleberg is easily as tiresome with his insistence that the Imperial fortress needs renovation to suit its new function. Idiot. Such a trivial matter, it serves fine as is."
Andrews chuckled and shook his head. "More or less he's trying to find a way to get revenue away from Azha. He still thinks this is an Empire instead of a democracy. The upper class has lost some of the comforts it's accustomed to now that the Azhans are receiving proper compensation for their labor and reservations to make proper working conditions have been put in place.
You should have seen his face when Lyude signed the order to turn over the remaining store of iron beetles to be used for mining in Azha. Man nearly shot through the roof." said Andrews. "Good times those were. I daresay Lyude even got a bit of satisfaction out of that one. Fellow swallowed his words, turned tail, and strung curses the entire way retreating down the hall. I think that's when he realized Lyude was really serious about the end of Imperial reign."
"All the same, I wouldn't be surprised if this was a combined effort." said Skeed. "We still have to consider that there are several that may mean my bother harm and there's no guarantee that there's only one council member behind this."
"I think that we can safely discount Muldoon and a few others. They actually support Lyude. He has several supporters, really." said Andrews.
"But just as many that would like to see him dead." said Vallye. Alyssa paled at this comment and excused herself. "Nice one, Val." said Andrews. Vallye flushed and went silent.
"I'll never tell! I won't be manipulated!" Jereth Lyricello screamed as he lunged blindly at his son. Unprepared for the attack Lyude could only dive backward away from the blade that came quite close to piercing him.
"Father! Calm down! It's me!" said Lyude scrambling back.
"I know what you are! I know what you want and you'll never get it from me!" The two men wrestled on the floor, Lyude stayed his father's wrist, the knife inches from his chest.
"Father! It's me, it's Lyude! Look at me, not through me!" pleaded Lyude. "Please, stop this madness!"
Jareth went still as their eyes met and Jareth paused to see the pity and sadness in his prospective victim's eyes. "Lyude..." he whispered. "Lyude."
"That's right, Father, it's me. Come back now. It's all right."
Jareth seemed to realize then what he was doing and he jumped up off of Lyude dropping the knife on the floor in a dry sob. "Forgive me, forgive me!" he cried and retreated back to the corner of the cell. Lyude sat up sadness and anger flooding through him. He picked up the knife and tossed it out the bars of the door. If he was going to bring his father back to his senses, he needed to be able to do so safely, without worrying about being stabbed in his sleep.
Again, Lyude went to his father, his hand on his shoulder. "Father..."
"Don't. Don't call me that. I'm no longer that man. I'm no longer your father. No father would harm his child. No father would try to kill his own flesh and blood." said Jareth.
"No father." said Lyude. "You are that man still. You can win against this illness. You can fight it. I'll help you. I'll stay by your side to the end. We'll beat this together. Please father, don't give up. Don't leave me again. Stay with me."
Jareth didn't move. His back remained turned. Lyude leaned back on his heels pensively. "Do you remember the last time you saw me as a child?" he asked.
"Of course I do. It was just before my mission." said Jareth.
"Of the memories I have of you. That last visit has always been strongest within my mind. The warmth I found in your smile. You always made me feel safe and proud of who I was. I always wanted to be just like you." said Lyude. "I strived for that goal..." Lyude laughed almost bitterly. "Perhaps I succeeded. Each of us chose to act against the Empire and it cost us both dearly...yet.."
Jareth turned to Lyude, curious as to where his son would take this conversation. "In the end...do you regret what you did back then?" Lyude asked, his crimson eyes meeting his father's questioningly. "If you could do it again, would you tell Emperor Geldoblame the prophesy?"
"Never." said Jareth decisively. To Jareth's slight bewilderment Lyude smiled.
"I suppose I truly have become like you then." he said softly. "We have both made decisions that were considered criminal and yes, even treacherous by our nation. Even so, we still have the dedication to take the consequences with our heads held high, sure of our decisions. You're not lost, father. You're right here. The man I looked up to and respected still lives within you and he's fighting to get out. Don't make him a prisoner any longer."
Jareth looked into Lyude's gentle eyes. He saw the child that he had so adored, and the man that he had become. "Twice I've tried to do you harm, Lyude. Twice. I..."
"There's nothing to explain or apologize for, father. I know that it wasn't you that wished me harm. I believe in you. I believe you have the strength to fight.
"I'll try. If you still believe in me after all these years, and after what I've done to you, I suppose I owe it to you to try." said Jareth. "There's still some fight in your old man yet." he said with a slight sparkle in his eye. Lyude grinned. It was the old spark returning, working to get him through this madness would not be an easy task, but Jareth Lyricello was a fighter, and Lyude had every belief that he would triumph over the shadow that shrouded his mind.
TFRiD Queen: Thanks for the Review. We're all going to have to be a bit patient with Jareth.
Crazygirl: Thank you for reviewing again. Bumpy road ahead for these two, I'm afraid.
Ephraim: I hope this didn't confuse you further. ;; Thanks for the review.