*Hola. Here's the newest chapter of this little fic. Sorry if it took a
while, but after this, the story's really gonna fly, b/c Pitye and I planned
the ending of the story before anything else, so we everything mapped out,
and we just have to put it down in words.
*By the way, CCS, FY and all their characters aren't ours. They are Clamp, Kodansha's, and whoever else's that had a hand in making them.
**********************************
CARMINA BURANA ~ CHAPTER 7:
AMORA VOLAT UNDIQUE
(THE GOD OF LOVE FLIES EVERYWHERE)
By Elcyion Pitye and *Aeris Tiniel Mirime*
**********************************
"Chelsea, can you really use magic?" Chiriko asked as the trio traveled underneath the trees.
"What would make you think that?" she asked back.
"Well, there was the wolf creature, and then that big flash, and Nikki was saying that you..." he trailed off.
"Don't tell me that you believed her. Besides, you know that magic is forbidden."
"Technically though, it's only forbidden in Summit. Their Emperor passed that law, but our Empress never did. We only went along with it for the sake of harmony between us."
"What's all this talk of "we" and "them"? They already think the three of us have got it in for Summit. There's no need to make it worse."
"All I'm saying is that it won't really be our law until the prince and princess get married."
"Chiriko, must you argue about everything?" Chelsea asked, exasperated.
"I wouldn't turn you in, you know," he said in a surprisingly thoughtful voice. "In fact, I think magic is kind of exciting."
"Well, you won't have to worry about that," she told him, lying again "It has nothing to do with me."
* * *
As one might imagine, all those involved in the Occult Lake incident would've liked to take a break from each other at about this time, but fate was not willing to leave them alone just yet, for Princess Sakura's seventeenth birthday fell just one week afterwards. At Subaru's bidding, every important person from the two kingdoms was invited to join the princess in her celebration, as well a few commoners who had special connections to the higher-ups. Chelsea was one such person.
Sakura insisted on her coming as a special friend. She convinced Julian that even if Chelsea did use magic, at least it had been used in order to help him. She also brought up the fact that Nikki had been shrieking like a madwoman the whole time, and was probably not stable, especially after she had been shunned at the memorial service a while back, and if someone actually did have it in for the kingdom, there was a better chance of it being a publicly humiliated Alpine girl than a princess's friend. Julian finally conceded, but warned that if anything happened, Sakura should not associate with Chelsea anymore.
When the day finally came, hundreds of people came with it. Festivities had been planned from morning until night. It was around noon, and Chelsea stood in one of the castle's side lawns with her back to the wall, silently watching all the people enjoying the carnival that been set up there. She became aware that someone had chosen to lean on the wallspace next to hers, and groaned inwardly when she saw that it was Tomite.
"So Chelsea, are you still looking for Zachary?" he asked, staring straight ahead.
She looked away. "Why should you care?"
"Well, I care about what happens to you, and I want to help you."
"You didn't seem too concerned back at Occult Lake."
"That was because my prince was standing right there, and he wasn't very happy with you all. I didn't want to seem disloyal."
"How nice for you. I was accused of being a witch and a traitor, but you got to preserve your dignity."
"Look, I'm really sorry about that. I wanted to help you, but you know how Hikitsu's temper is. How do you think would he react if he found out one of his closest friends was supporting someone who he believed had made an attempt on his son's life?"
Chelsea had to admit that Tomite did have a point. "All right, I guess can see where you're coming from," she said reluctantly.
"Great," he smiled at her, "so what are you planning to do next?"
"I had thought about trying to find the elvish settlement that Countess Nuriko was talking about."
"The one that's not marked on any map? How in the world are you going to find it?"
"Well, country people always know something about local legends, so I've been asking around Timbergrove in the north, which is where Countess Nuriko said the elves came from.
"From Timbergrove?"
"No, from the north."
"Oh. Well, what did you find out?"
"An old man told me that his father told him about a secret passage in the woods somewhere in the woods to the east of the town which would lead you to the elvish settlement."
"All right, let's go then."
"Right now?"
"Sure, there's plenty of people here. Nobody will miss us"
"But I've got to go home sometime, and this is going to take longer than the party will last. My family will wonder where I am."
"I'll send a messenger telling them that you've been asked for another extended stay at the castle."
"I don't know Tomite.."
"Come on, I'll take care of everything."
Chelsea took another moment to decide. Tomite had always taken care of her before, and she was getting impatient to find Zachary and have done with it, so she finally consented to go.
Tomite called a servant over to give him the message to take to Chelsea's family, and when the servant left, the two of them slipped out of the room and out of the castle.
* * *
After the last feast was ended, and the revelers were going home, the princess for whom all of it had been done headed up the stairwell that led to her chambers. Reaching the top, she hadn't gotten halfway down the corridor when the person she least expected to see lurking outside her room stepped out from the shadows.
"Li," she gasped, and ran towards him, but backed away before she got there, feeling guilty. Instead, she mumbled "I didn't know you were here,"
"I can't stop thinking about you, Sakura." he said bluntly. "Every time I see you, it hurts, because I can't be with you."
"Look, Li. I like you too..."
"Really?" he smiled hopefully.
"But I'm already engaged."
The smile faded.
"Julian and I are going to unite our kingdoms, and everything will be more peaceful and prosperous than it ever was before. I can't walk away from all that."
"So you're getting married for the sake of the empire?"
"Yes."
"And what about Julian? You don't care about him, do you?" It was more of a statement, to try and convince her that it was true.
Sakura was offended. She and Julian had been fighting recently, but that didn't mean they stopped loving each other. "That's none of your business. But if you must know, then yes, I do love him, and I'm going to marry him!" She turned to leave, but Li reached for her wrist and whirled her back around to face him.
"Let go of me," she said, shaking her arm in an attempt to free it, but Li didn't respond.
Sakura stepped backwards, but it was no use, since Li was still gripping her wrist. Every time she stepped back, he stepped forward, keeping the distance between them the same.
They went on like this until Sakura was backed up against a wall, where Li seized the opportunity to grab her other wrist, pinning her. He leaned in, but Sakura turned her head sideways, and ended up being kissed on the cheek. Li tried again, but she again turned her head the other way.
Getting angry, he said, "You didn't mind kissing me before."
"Yes, but that was diff..."
Li cut her off in mid-sentence, pressing his lips to hers. He was going to prove to her that she loved him.
A still-angry Sakura kept her mouth tightly shut, but at Li's gentle, insistent petitions for a response, she could feel herself slowly giving in. Her resistance melted away, and soon, he didn't need to restrain her.
Emotions long stored away broke loose and flowed into that kiss. Every passing glance, every sigh of longing, every fond remembrance, was shared and given back again. Sakura felt as if she were on fire. Li felt like he would die if he ever stopped kissing her, and he would die if he continued. Sakura's hands moved from the back of Li's neck up into his hair, wrapping her fingers in his loose, brown curls. Li pulled her nearer to him, his muscular blacksmith arms holding her tight against himself. Savoring this pleasure spiked with pain, Sakura gasped for air, but found that she could get none. She was squeezed so hard on both sides that her lungs couldn't expand. She broke contact, and Li sensing something was amiss, let her go.
The cool, refreshing oxygen revived her from her reckless passion and guilty tears rose in her eyes as she thought of how shamefully she had behaved towards her fiancee. Li put his hands on her shoulders, asking what was wrong, but she pushed him away, sprang to her feet, and took off running towards her chambers. Arriving thereupon, she sank onto her bed and cried herself to sleep.
The next morning she rose while it was still dark. She wanted some time to herself before having to entertain the many guests still here from the day before. She lit a candle, even though she didn't need it to find where she was going. She headed directly to Sanctuary's chapel, where she, her mother, and those nobles which lived in the castle attended weekly services.
"Fortuna, please help me," she whispered. "I love Julian and I don't want to betray him, but when I'm with Li, I can't help loving him as well. Help me make the right decision."
"Sakura?" a gentle voice that could only be Julian's came from the entryway. Sakura stood up and turned to face him.
His inquisitive look turned to one of concern when he saw her sad, tear-streaked face. "What's the matter? Are you sick?" he asked, striding towards her.
"I don't exactly know what's wrong with me," she muttered.
"Whatever it is, please let me do something to help you,"
Sakura smiled a bit. Even though they'd been arguing a lot recently, Julian's inherent kindness still rose to the surface.
"Look," he said, "I'm really sorry that I've been getting on to you about dumb things like who you can and can't be friends with. I just don't want you to get hurt."
"Oh Julian, I know," she sighed and hugged him. How could she even think about breaking her promise to this wonderful person?! She was grateful that he didn't know what she had done, and she hoped he never would. He lifted her chin and kissed her lightly. Trying to forget the previous night's events, she kissed him back, clinging to him. Unbidden, a comparison to Li sprang to her mind. Although she had shared that burning kiss with Li, kissing Julian was like tasting soft white moonlight. Julian was gentle and comforting. Li was aggressive and passionate. Julian treated her with delicacy and respect, where Li was all about having her close to him, more concerned about what he wanted from her than what she needed from him. Did she really want someone that selfish? No. Julian was the one for her, and she would never let her silly fancies for some churlish peasant get the best of her again.
* * *
"Randir, you never told me whether or not you would leave me if you regained your memory,"
Randir turned around and studied Caranithil, the speaker. She stood without seeming to put any weight on the ground, her ruby eyes shone with a light all their own, and he sun bounced off of her ruby hair, surrounding her with a halo of light. She seemed almost ethereal, as is the way with all elves. And not only was she beautiful, she had a kind and loving heart.
"You took me in without knowing anything about me, and you treated me like I was one of your own people. Of course I wouldn't leave you."
"But wouldn't you miss everyone from your old life?"
"Well, it would only be considerate to contact them, whoever they are, and at let them know that I'm all right. But that's my past. My future is here, with the elves." He grinned at her, knowing now how he felt about her. "With you."
"Oh Randir!" she exclaimed, throwing her arms around him. He smiled and hugged her back, feeling like he had finally found his way home.
* * *
Chelsea was struggling with a thick, low-hanging branch, when she found it suddenly lifted for her. "There you are, milady," Tomite said, holding the branch safely out of her way. She smiled and passed in front of him, but froze when she saw what waited for her in the clearing ahead. Tomite wondered at this until he followed Chelsea's gaze and saw what had disturbed her so.
A tall, dark haired young man was locked in an embrace with a red headed girl. Her long, shining hair was lifted by the breeze, encircling the two of them with ribbons of colorful light. Tomite watched as the young man lifted the girl's chin and gave her a kiss. The knight figured from Chelsea's reaction that the young man was Zachary. He flicked his gaze over to her, and saw that she was silently crying.
She had seldom thought about the possibility of Zachary finding someone else. She'd always pushed it to the back of her mind, assuming that if she was going to such great lengths to find him, then he would have to fall in love with her for being so loyal. But seeing him for the first time in forever, kissing this beautiful, mystical girl, hurt her much more than she had expected it to. She was still standing frozen, when she felt Tomite place his hands on her shoulders, leading her away.
They had only walked a few paces when one ragged sob escaped Chelsea's lips. Tomite didn't say anything, only stopped and pulled her to him, wrapping his arms gently around her.
"Of course he'd want an elf over me," she cried, her voice muffled by his shirt.
Tomite couldn't help wondering why Chelsea wouldn't choose him over Zachary.
"It doesn't seem to me that Zachary cares about Chelsea as much as I do, or else he wouldn't be over there kissing that girl right now." he thought, but he said nothing, and just held her tightly. Chelsea was grateful to have such a friend, one who always took care of her. She didn't feel so alone with Tomite's strong arms around her.
"Um, excuse me?" came a voice from beside them. They looked, and saw that it was the same red haired girl from before, accompanied by Zachary. "We heard someone crying, and thought that maybe you needed some help."
"Oh no, we're fine," Tomite explained. "My friend here is just tired, that's all."
"In that case, I should really be able to help you!" she clapped her hands together happily. "The houses of my people are houses of rest and healing." Noticing that Chelsea and Tomite were looking at her oddly, she gasped, and began apologizing. "Oh, I'm sorry, my name is Caranithil and this is Randir," she said.
"But that's not his..." Chelsea spoke up for the first time, looking at Zachary, or Randir. He was standing stock still, staring at her. This gave her some hope until she realized that his eyes were expressed no happiness at seeing her, or any other kind of acknowledgment. The only look he gave her was one of puzzlement, as if trying to find the answer to a riddle.
"Zachary?" she asked, almost fearfully.
"Zachary.." he repeated, still wearing a distracted face.
"Do you know him? Caranithil asked. "Perhaps you can help him get his memory back." "Yes I - " Chelsea stopped. Now that she thought about it, she had never really known him at all. Sure, he had saved her from bandits that one time, but that was basically it. She suddenly felt very foolish, realizing that she had been searching the entire blasted kingdom for she someone she hardly knew. "I've heard of him. He's a knight." she finished quietly.
"Wait, a minute, did you say he had lost his memory?" Tomite spoke up,
"Yes." Caranithil answered. " I found him wandering in the wilderness without a single idea as to who or where he was, poor thing,"she slipped her hand into Randir's as she explained his history.
"Well, my lady Elf," Tomite said, noticing the gesture, and trying to change the subject for Chelsea's sake. "I think we shall take you up on your offer of lodging."
Chelsea, however, didn't feel like she could handle staying with Zachary, who didn't even remember her, and his new girlfriend. "Tomite, I can't.." she whispered.
"Don't worry, everything will be fine," he whispered back, and putting his arm around her shoulders.
"Well then, shall we be off?"
"Certainly."
So lead them on she did, laughing and talking as the company headed towards the secret passage that led to Artaurion. Tomite conversed with her cheerfully enough, but Randir and Chelsea both were silent. One was reflecting on disappointed dreams, and the other was trying to chase his dreams away, no longer wanting to remember them.
************************************************************************************
Would you like to know my feelings on this chap.? Maybe not. But personally, I thought it was kind of embarrasing, w/that big make-out session and everything. I dunno, my co-author E.P. liked it.....What do you think?
*By the way, CCS, FY and all their characters aren't ours. They are Clamp, Kodansha's, and whoever else's that had a hand in making them.
**********************************
CARMINA BURANA ~ CHAPTER 7:
AMORA VOLAT UNDIQUE
(THE GOD OF LOVE FLIES EVERYWHERE)
By Elcyion Pitye and *Aeris Tiniel Mirime*
**********************************
"Chelsea, can you really use magic?" Chiriko asked as the trio traveled underneath the trees.
"What would make you think that?" she asked back.
"Well, there was the wolf creature, and then that big flash, and Nikki was saying that you..." he trailed off.
"Don't tell me that you believed her. Besides, you know that magic is forbidden."
"Technically though, it's only forbidden in Summit. Their Emperor passed that law, but our Empress never did. We only went along with it for the sake of harmony between us."
"What's all this talk of "we" and "them"? They already think the three of us have got it in for Summit. There's no need to make it worse."
"All I'm saying is that it won't really be our law until the prince and princess get married."
"Chiriko, must you argue about everything?" Chelsea asked, exasperated.
"I wouldn't turn you in, you know," he said in a surprisingly thoughtful voice. "In fact, I think magic is kind of exciting."
"Well, you won't have to worry about that," she told him, lying again "It has nothing to do with me."
* * *
As one might imagine, all those involved in the Occult Lake incident would've liked to take a break from each other at about this time, but fate was not willing to leave them alone just yet, for Princess Sakura's seventeenth birthday fell just one week afterwards. At Subaru's bidding, every important person from the two kingdoms was invited to join the princess in her celebration, as well a few commoners who had special connections to the higher-ups. Chelsea was one such person.
Sakura insisted on her coming as a special friend. She convinced Julian that even if Chelsea did use magic, at least it had been used in order to help him. She also brought up the fact that Nikki had been shrieking like a madwoman the whole time, and was probably not stable, especially after she had been shunned at the memorial service a while back, and if someone actually did have it in for the kingdom, there was a better chance of it being a publicly humiliated Alpine girl than a princess's friend. Julian finally conceded, but warned that if anything happened, Sakura should not associate with Chelsea anymore.
When the day finally came, hundreds of people came with it. Festivities had been planned from morning until night. It was around noon, and Chelsea stood in one of the castle's side lawns with her back to the wall, silently watching all the people enjoying the carnival that been set up there. She became aware that someone had chosen to lean on the wallspace next to hers, and groaned inwardly when she saw that it was Tomite.
"So Chelsea, are you still looking for Zachary?" he asked, staring straight ahead.
She looked away. "Why should you care?"
"Well, I care about what happens to you, and I want to help you."
"You didn't seem too concerned back at Occult Lake."
"That was because my prince was standing right there, and he wasn't very happy with you all. I didn't want to seem disloyal."
"How nice for you. I was accused of being a witch and a traitor, but you got to preserve your dignity."
"Look, I'm really sorry about that. I wanted to help you, but you know how Hikitsu's temper is. How do you think would he react if he found out one of his closest friends was supporting someone who he believed had made an attempt on his son's life?"
Chelsea had to admit that Tomite did have a point. "All right, I guess can see where you're coming from," she said reluctantly.
"Great," he smiled at her, "so what are you planning to do next?"
"I had thought about trying to find the elvish settlement that Countess Nuriko was talking about."
"The one that's not marked on any map? How in the world are you going to find it?"
"Well, country people always know something about local legends, so I've been asking around Timbergrove in the north, which is where Countess Nuriko said the elves came from.
"From Timbergrove?"
"No, from the north."
"Oh. Well, what did you find out?"
"An old man told me that his father told him about a secret passage in the woods somewhere in the woods to the east of the town which would lead you to the elvish settlement."
"All right, let's go then."
"Right now?"
"Sure, there's plenty of people here. Nobody will miss us"
"But I've got to go home sometime, and this is going to take longer than the party will last. My family will wonder where I am."
"I'll send a messenger telling them that you've been asked for another extended stay at the castle."
"I don't know Tomite.."
"Come on, I'll take care of everything."
Chelsea took another moment to decide. Tomite had always taken care of her before, and she was getting impatient to find Zachary and have done with it, so she finally consented to go.
Tomite called a servant over to give him the message to take to Chelsea's family, and when the servant left, the two of them slipped out of the room and out of the castle.
* * *
After the last feast was ended, and the revelers were going home, the princess for whom all of it had been done headed up the stairwell that led to her chambers. Reaching the top, she hadn't gotten halfway down the corridor when the person she least expected to see lurking outside her room stepped out from the shadows.
"Li," she gasped, and ran towards him, but backed away before she got there, feeling guilty. Instead, she mumbled "I didn't know you were here,"
"I can't stop thinking about you, Sakura." he said bluntly. "Every time I see you, it hurts, because I can't be with you."
"Look, Li. I like you too..."
"Really?" he smiled hopefully.
"But I'm already engaged."
The smile faded.
"Julian and I are going to unite our kingdoms, and everything will be more peaceful and prosperous than it ever was before. I can't walk away from all that."
"So you're getting married for the sake of the empire?"
"Yes."
"And what about Julian? You don't care about him, do you?" It was more of a statement, to try and convince her that it was true.
Sakura was offended. She and Julian had been fighting recently, but that didn't mean they stopped loving each other. "That's none of your business. But if you must know, then yes, I do love him, and I'm going to marry him!" She turned to leave, but Li reached for her wrist and whirled her back around to face him.
"Let go of me," she said, shaking her arm in an attempt to free it, but Li didn't respond.
Sakura stepped backwards, but it was no use, since Li was still gripping her wrist. Every time she stepped back, he stepped forward, keeping the distance between them the same.
They went on like this until Sakura was backed up against a wall, where Li seized the opportunity to grab her other wrist, pinning her. He leaned in, but Sakura turned her head sideways, and ended up being kissed on the cheek. Li tried again, but she again turned her head the other way.
Getting angry, he said, "You didn't mind kissing me before."
"Yes, but that was diff..."
Li cut her off in mid-sentence, pressing his lips to hers. He was going to prove to her that she loved him.
A still-angry Sakura kept her mouth tightly shut, but at Li's gentle, insistent petitions for a response, she could feel herself slowly giving in. Her resistance melted away, and soon, he didn't need to restrain her.
Emotions long stored away broke loose and flowed into that kiss. Every passing glance, every sigh of longing, every fond remembrance, was shared and given back again. Sakura felt as if she were on fire. Li felt like he would die if he ever stopped kissing her, and he would die if he continued. Sakura's hands moved from the back of Li's neck up into his hair, wrapping her fingers in his loose, brown curls. Li pulled her nearer to him, his muscular blacksmith arms holding her tight against himself. Savoring this pleasure spiked with pain, Sakura gasped for air, but found that she could get none. She was squeezed so hard on both sides that her lungs couldn't expand. She broke contact, and Li sensing something was amiss, let her go.
The cool, refreshing oxygen revived her from her reckless passion and guilty tears rose in her eyes as she thought of how shamefully she had behaved towards her fiancee. Li put his hands on her shoulders, asking what was wrong, but she pushed him away, sprang to her feet, and took off running towards her chambers. Arriving thereupon, she sank onto her bed and cried herself to sleep.
The next morning she rose while it was still dark. She wanted some time to herself before having to entertain the many guests still here from the day before. She lit a candle, even though she didn't need it to find where she was going. She headed directly to Sanctuary's chapel, where she, her mother, and those nobles which lived in the castle attended weekly services.
"Fortuna, please help me," she whispered. "I love Julian and I don't want to betray him, but when I'm with Li, I can't help loving him as well. Help me make the right decision."
"Sakura?" a gentle voice that could only be Julian's came from the entryway. Sakura stood up and turned to face him.
His inquisitive look turned to one of concern when he saw her sad, tear-streaked face. "What's the matter? Are you sick?" he asked, striding towards her.
"I don't exactly know what's wrong with me," she muttered.
"Whatever it is, please let me do something to help you,"
Sakura smiled a bit. Even though they'd been arguing a lot recently, Julian's inherent kindness still rose to the surface.
"Look," he said, "I'm really sorry that I've been getting on to you about dumb things like who you can and can't be friends with. I just don't want you to get hurt."
"Oh Julian, I know," she sighed and hugged him. How could she even think about breaking her promise to this wonderful person?! She was grateful that he didn't know what she had done, and she hoped he never would. He lifted her chin and kissed her lightly. Trying to forget the previous night's events, she kissed him back, clinging to him. Unbidden, a comparison to Li sprang to her mind. Although she had shared that burning kiss with Li, kissing Julian was like tasting soft white moonlight. Julian was gentle and comforting. Li was aggressive and passionate. Julian treated her with delicacy and respect, where Li was all about having her close to him, more concerned about what he wanted from her than what she needed from him. Did she really want someone that selfish? No. Julian was the one for her, and she would never let her silly fancies for some churlish peasant get the best of her again.
* * *
"Randir, you never told me whether or not you would leave me if you regained your memory,"
Randir turned around and studied Caranithil, the speaker. She stood without seeming to put any weight on the ground, her ruby eyes shone with a light all their own, and he sun bounced off of her ruby hair, surrounding her with a halo of light. She seemed almost ethereal, as is the way with all elves. And not only was she beautiful, she had a kind and loving heart.
"You took me in without knowing anything about me, and you treated me like I was one of your own people. Of course I wouldn't leave you."
"But wouldn't you miss everyone from your old life?"
"Well, it would only be considerate to contact them, whoever they are, and at let them know that I'm all right. But that's my past. My future is here, with the elves." He grinned at her, knowing now how he felt about her. "With you."
"Oh Randir!" she exclaimed, throwing her arms around him. He smiled and hugged her back, feeling like he had finally found his way home.
* * *
Chelsea was struggling with a thick, low-hanging branch, when she found it suddenly lifted for her. "There you are, milady," Tomite said, holding the branch safely out of her way. She smiled and passed in front of him, but froze when she saw what waited for her in the clearing ahead. Tomite wondered at this until he followed Chelsea's gaze and saw what had disturbed her so.
A tall, dark haired young man was locked in an embrace with a red headed girl. Her long, shining hair was lifted by the breeze, encircling the two of them with ribbons of colorful light. Tomite watched as the young man lifted the girl's chin and gave her a kiss. The knight figured from Chelsea's reaction that the young man was Zachary. He flicked his gaze over to her, and saw that she was silently crying.
She had seldom thought about the possibility of Zachary finding someone else. She'd always pushed it to the back of her mind, assuming that if she was going to such great lengths to find him, then he would have to fall in love with her for being so loyal. But seeing him for the first time in forever, kissing this beautiful, mystical girl, hurt her much more than she had expected it to. She was still standing frozen, when she felt Tomite place his hands on her shoulders, leading her away.
They had only walked a few paces when one ragged sob escaped Chelsea's lips. Tomite didn't say anything, only stopped and pulled her to him, wrapping his arms gently around her.
"Of course he'd want an elf over me," she cried, her voice muffled by his shirt.
Tomite couldn't help wondering why Chelsea wouldn't choose him over Zachary.
"It doesn't seem to me that Zachary cares about Chelsea as much as I do, or else he wouldn't be over there kissing that girl right now." he thought, but he said nothing, and just held her tightly. Chelsea was grateful to have such a friend, one who always took care of her. She didn't feel so alone with Tomite's strong arms around her.
"Um, excuse me?" came a voice from beside them. They looked, and saw that it was the same red haired girl from before, accompanied by Zachary. "We heard someone crying, and thought that maybe you needed some help."
"Oh no, we're fine," Tomite explained. "My friend here is just tired, that's all."
"In that case, I should really be able to help you!" she clapped her hands together happily. "The houses of my people are houses of rest and healing." Noticing that Chelsea and Tomite were looking at her oddly, she gasped, and began apologizing. "Oh, I'm sorry, my name is Caranithil and this is Randir," she said.
"But that's not his..." Chelsea spoke up for the first time, looking at Zachary, or Randir. He was standing stock still, staring at her. This gave her some hope until she realized that his eyes were expressed no happiness at seeing her, or any other kind of acknowledgment. The only look he gave her was one of puzzlement, as if trying to find the answer to a riddle.
"Zachary?" she asked, almost fearfully.
"Zachary.." he repeated, still wearing a distracted face.
"Do you know him? Caranithil asked. "Perhaps you can help him get his memory back." "Yes I - " Chelsea stopped. Now that she thought about it, she had never really known him at all. Sure, he had saved her from bandits that one time, but that was basically it. She suddenly felt very foolish, realizing that she had been searching the entire blasted kingdom for she someone she hardly knew. "I've heard of him. He's a knight." she finished quietly.
"Wait, a minute, did you say he had lost his memory?" Tomite spoke up,
"Yes." Caranithil answered. " I found him wandering in the wilderness without a single idea as to who or where he was, poor thing,"she slipped her hand into Randir's as she explained his history.
"Well, my lady Elf," Tomite said, noticing the gesture, and trying to change the subject for Chelsea's sake. "I think we shall take you up on your offer of lodging."
Chelsea, however, didn't feel like she could handle staying with Zachary, who didn't even remember her, and his new girlfriend. "Tomite, I can't.." she whispered.
"Don't worry, everything will be fine," he whispered back, and putting his arm around her shoulders.
"Well then, shall we be off?"
"Certainly."
So lead them on she did, laughing and talking as the company headed towards the secret passage that led to Artaurion. Tomite conversed with her cheerfully enough, but Randir and Chelsea both were silent. One was reflecting on disappointed dreams, and the other was trying to chase his dreams away, no longer wanting to remember them.
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Would you like to know my feelings on this chap.? Maybe not. But personally, I thought it was kind of embarrasing, w/that big make-out session and everything. I dunno, my co-author E.P. liked it.....What do you think?