I'm baaaaaaaaaaack. Thanks for the review.
Sophie Pendragon (or at least that was what your name was when you reviewed): Thanks for you review. I feel so special now. I hope you'll note that I've changed the review setting to anonymous reviews enabled. I was reading you recent story and about the replying to reviews thing, everyone does it. Anyway, keep smiling :D
This chapter was a lot of fun and toward the end I was typing like crazy trying to get the words to come out as fast as they were being created in my head. Now I know I said that there was only some LiefxJasmine in the summary, well this chapter has major fluff. But there is action to make up for it. Besides, I wasn't planning on fluff, but my chapter planner said I had to and if I ignored the chapter planner my story would never go anywhere! So enjoy…
Summary: An ambassador from a land across the seas pays a visit to Deltora and requests an audience with King Lief. However, when the ambassador is found dead the next morning things start to go wrong for Deltora. Post Sister of the South. Some LiefxJasmine, MarilenxRanesh
Poison Ivy Chapter 3 The DirtBy the next morning Abeke's body had been removed. It was placed in a black shrouded wagon and wheeled back to the harbour and onto a ship back to Illeke. It was his retinue's wont that Abeke should be buried in his home country. When Lief saw the cold eyes of the foreigners he knew that all hope of new relations with this country were lost. A cold rippling spread from his heart up.
Still, Lief didn't understand the meaning of Abeke's death. The palace physicians had given up now that the body had been removed but Lief was still certain something could help them figure it out. And it seemed that others did too, as Lief discovered when he walked into Abeke's quarters.
"Barda, Jasmine?"
Jasmine looked up.
"It's this dirt Lief" she appealed, poking at the scattered soil with a bit of wood, "It is not from Deltora"
"Well of course it isn't" snapped Barda, who was pacing near the window, "He isn't from Deltora. So why should the dirt on his shoes be? Do we really keep having to have this conversation Jasmine? I've already told you, it can't be the dirt"
Jasmine's eyes flashed in an emerald gleam of stubborn defiance.
"Well it is unlike any I have ever seen" she said musingly. She produced a small leather pouch and carefully scraped some of the dirt into it. Securing it tightly she replaced it into her pocket.
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At noon all the members of the palace dined for lunch. Jasmine ate little; death gave her no appetite. She rose early and went wandering through the hallways of the palace, her mind still ticking over the cause of Abeke's painful death.
She heard footsteps around the corner and squeezed behind a pillar, not wishing to be found. The footsteps slowed and stopped, directly in front of Jasmine. There was a slight creak of wood as they sat down on the bench in front of the pillar. Cringing silently Jasmine twisted around to get a peek at the person.
A thick brown head of hair stared back at her and Jasmine's eyes widened as she realised it was Lief! She turned back, biting her lip. Lief's head was bowed, resting in his hands. Jasmine felt her stomach drop slightly. Just when Lief thought Deltora was moving in the right direction a deadly new disease is discovered. She could sense he was upset and Jasmine can't resist helping a creature in need; especially Lief.
Clambering over the back of the bench Jasmine sat beside Lief.
"Jasmine!" he said, startled by her approach. The shock only washed away his grief for a second. Jasmine frowned and placed her hand on his arm.
"You need to get out of the palace Lief. Maybe get some fresh air" she suggested.
Lief's mouth lifted at the corners slightly. Jasmine's unbeatable remedy: outside.
"Alright then. Maybe we could go for a ride?" Lief asked, his spirits lifting.
"Great" replied Jasmine, pleased with herself.
"I'll get the horses" said Lief already walking off.
"I'll meet you at the stables" called Jasmine. In spite of Abeke's death, a huge smile was plastered across Jasmine's features. She just couldn't explain it.
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Jasmine walked quickly to the forge. She wanted to change her garments before riding. She changed quickly and left her clothes on the floor. Before she left she glanced in the looking glass. Her brow furrowed and she turned away. Why had she done that? She had never used the glass before.
As she neared the stables she spotted Lief patting his mare Honey. He looked incredibly handsome. Jasmine smiled, she hadn't spent quality time with Lief for ages. Flashing another huge smile, Jasmine made her way up to the stables and Lief.
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Barda walked back to the forge after luncheon craving some piece and quiet. Lindal and some others of Broome were arriving tomorrow, and Lindal was planning to stay. Barda wished to be fully rested before their arrival. As he walked in he spotted Jasmine's clothes, scattered on the floor of her open chamber. He spotted the pouch of dirt spilling out of one of her pockets. Sighing he bent to pick it up and ambled out to the front of the forge where he tipped the soil into a garden bed. Then rubbing the back of his head he flopped into an armchair where he slept soundly.
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Jasmine and Lief arrived back from their ride flushed and laughing. They slowed their horses to a trot as they reached the palace grounds.
"Thanks for getting me out of the palace Jasmine. I really needed that" Lief said.
Jasmine smiled and nodded. She had had an excellent time. Lief leant forward absently patting Honey on the cheek. He thought Jasmine looked gorgeous when she was like this. Pink cheeks, full red lips, fly away hair and windswept garments. Jasmine caught him looking at her, their eyes met for a moment then he turned away, embarrassed.
"It's getting late" she said, making up for the awkward moment, "The sun is low in the sky. Dinner will commence soon"
"Yeah" muttered Lief. Does she feel the same way? What if she doesn't? What if the disease claims her? What if she never knows?
Lief's eyes widened.
"Well, I'll brush down the horses" he said, demounting and taking Jasmine's reins.
"Thankyou" she said, smiling at him.
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At the palace dinner the dark mood had lifted slightly and the diners were engaging in quiet talk. Lief fiddled with his fork, pushing the food around of his plate. Sharn shot his a disapproving look. He grimaced and forced a mouthful in. There was a growing sense of foreboding within Lief and he was keeping well away from the opal glimmering on his waist. The opal! That was it!
Each night before he went to bed Lief would shift the belt on his hips, trying to avoid accidentally brushing any of the gems. The past week, with the lead up to the ambassador's visit, he had become careless and could have easily rubbed the opal causing him to have visions of the future in his dreams. Relief flooded through him, he was assured he was not mad. Then a deep sense of darkness took control of his body. The dream would surely come to pass! Lief rose violently and glanced around the room. It was getting late and several people had left already, including Jasmine. Lief felt the blood drain from his face and his stomach hit the floor. And come to think of it, he hadn't seen Barda at dinner at all. This was quite unlike his good friend.
"What's wrong Lief?" asked Sharn, her brow furrowed.
"Nothing, er, I have to go. Now." Lief said, pushing his way toward the exit.
"Wait!" said Sharn, throwing out an arm to stop him then she put a hand on his cheek "I have a bad feeling about tonight. Be careful"
Lief smiled then took his leave.
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Lief burst out into the streets of Del. It was dark and the orange moon was rising on the horizon. People smiled at him and called out greetings. But Lief ignored them, he needed to get to the forge, and fast. As Lief neared his home a screaming woman came running out to the street holding her struggling child in her arms.
"Help!" she screamed, "Star, she's dying!"
With a sick sense of horror Lief realised the child was not struggling in protest, but in madness, in pain. She was moaning audibly and desperately scratching herself all over. Lief froze. He broke out in a sweat and his stomach twisted violently.
Now in full sprint Lief finally reached the forge. He stared at it in shock. Instead of the orderly trimmed garden behind the fence there now stood a jungle of pulsating, seething acid green vines. The bile rose in Lief's throat, all he could hear was the blood thumping in his ears. He placed his hand on the gate and began to push. Around him the vines shrunk back. A small part of his brain told him that it was the belt, but that wasn't important right now. What was important was…
The gate stuck solid. Finding it hard to breathe Lief shuffled behind to fence to look what was stopping the gate. Lief went still. The world ceased to move. He was on an island of horror and grief. Separated completely. And the sight in front of him was not only horrific but also heart wrenching.
Jasmine.
Shuddering violently and to the point of a seizure. The whites of her eyes shone in the rising moon. The ivy was strangling her, squeezing her all over. She couldn't scream, the plant had gagged her. It was killing her slowly.
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Keep Smiling,
Elven Tresses