Is this disclaimer absolutely necessary? I disclaim the Tortall series of books. Happy? No? Me neither
ANNOUNCEMENT! Today/Tomarrow
I start school so that might mean a slow down in the posting, expect
things to take twice as long to be updated: I will have to start
doing home work and I also won't be able to stay up till two am
finishing chapters any more. I'm going to try and still be quick
about it but I can't make any promises. If you people review a lot
(hint to non-reviewing readers! I LOVE reviews, sighed AND anonymous,
so don't be shy,) it might give me motivation to try and stay quick
about it. Yes, I'm pathetic.
Reviews! Heck Yes!
Daine's Twin the somewhat sad and pathetic but funny thing is, so was I when I was typing it. I mean it's one thing when you're reading it, but typing?
Ace Ryn Knight Tamsion, yay! Is that kind of like tension? Just kidding, I know what you meant. Yes, Lynn is pretty tough, but then again, her parents were too, so it runs in the family, as it were, and also she was fairly pissed off. It turned out to be a pretty suicidal effort but hey, you got to stick it to the man…or woman…or goddess. She's pretty lucky (or unlucky as the case may be,) that Uusoae really wants her, or else she'd probably be dusted.
Chaos won't have an easy time? Oh, you'll see—But not this chapter, Mwahaha! I'm so devilishly evil. Now that you so desperately want to know what happens to Lynn, I'm throwing you back to Gainel, ha. You got to wait! I hope you don't hate me too much. And remember to read and review. I LOVE reviews.
Nativewildmage here yah go! Update! But watch out, there might be a delay in chapters from now on. Because of school. And I won't give the ending away, so…R&R! Please!
Numair's Lover yeah, I hate her too. Kick ass bitch? Actually now that you mention it, she is a kick ass bitch! Cool, I hadn't realized it. And she can literally kick asses. She's got Shang training.
And thanks for saying I'm sane. I'll take you're word for it, but It doesn't change the fact that I have a run-away imagination. Actually it surprised me to about everyone and the word fuck, it was kind of amusing really, that everyone noticed it.
This one won't beat the chapter word record but the next probably will, it's going to be pretty long.
Thanks for reviewing! Please review again!
Feifiefofum, wow, yeah. I find it odd no one pointed out where I used hell. I realized I used it twice actually. I'm going to absolutely scour these chapters one day when I'm very bored, fix them and repost them nice and clean, and sparkly. At least I've got a nice checklist in your reviews for when I do.
It really is true about the typing to fast I skip letters, or type a similar word. And sometimes auto correct on Microsoft word corrects things into the wrong word, but It's mostly me. If only computers could think…
And it doesn't offend me that you like Provy the best, hell the whole story's named after him; just as long as you like the other characters, too; because I worked so hard on them. Read and review man. Please, that is. Almost forgot that…
Providence SmilesBy LGR
Part III: Love and Freedom
That apple…Gainel could do nothing but stare at its shining, gold surface. She'd left it there to taunt him; to make sure he wouldn't, couldn't forget.
Not that that was remotely likely, given the circumstances. He couldn't stop the onrushing memory of when Discord had had her nails at Lynn's throat. If he ever got out of here, rules or no rules, he'd do everything in his power to kill that goddess; consequences be damned. She wasn't going to come out of this unscathed. He'd make sure of that.
And The Balance forbid he find Lynn harmed, Mithros would have to pry him from Discord's mangled body and risk a few broken-bones, himself.
But there he went again. Acting as if he might be freed before the whole fiasco was over. Like somehow, everything might still turn out okay, despite the forces arrayed against him. He was only setting himself up for a bigger fall when the time would finally come, that his naivety was revealed to be exactly that, and the crushing reality set in.
Needless to say, he didn't want to think about it. He had never been the most stable minded God, even for a Great God, whose complex minds and powers often made then inherently eccentric, and he had the ominous feeling that he would finally crack if something were to…he didn't even want to think about, he felt his rationality slipping at the very thought.
But there was something else that was bothering him, and though it was along similar lines as the other, he forced himself to ignore the thought of losing Lynn, for a time.
Free? Free forever? What was she talking about?
He had the impression that she meant 'free' as in free from the constraints set upon Gainel that kept him from the living realms. But his being able to move freely was a physical impossibility; nothing had the ability to bypass the Laws of The Balance.
And the funny thing is, Gainel, you came so close to having it. And not the way that my Mistress will soon have it; yours would gave been legit, she'd said.
If his own depression didn't kill him, he'd die from sheer frustration. What could he have missed? Everything had to obey the edict set by The Balance without exception; and as rules, deals, and promises given by Gods were binding and unable to be broken, even if the God had wanted to, the Laws of the Balance were equally as potent, more so if that were possible.
She couldn't break the laws to do so…so that must mean she is somehow working within the laws of The Balance… But even as he thought this, he realized, that there was a lot of things that Lynn could do that he knew were forbidden.
She could hear Gainel when he spoke, for one thing, though they hadn't spoken to each other outside of a dream since five years ago, when she'd fell into his garden, and he'd first met her.
He remembered how surprised he'd been. She always held surprises for him, even now.
Don't think about it! And you can forget ever being free, it's impossible, He told himself, even as he did so, his glaze-over vision, came into focus and he spied the Golden apple.
DAMN Discord! Damn her, DAMN HER! For a moment he wrestled to get his feelings and brain back under his conscious control, then he mentally sighed, his own body being unable to perform the action due to its frozen state.
He knew it was only Discord's nature to behave in such a way, but he still couldn't help hating her for it. Gods were possessive by their natures, and Gainel was no exception. Any insult or harm, or hurt done to HIS Lynn, was done to him.
Discord would get hers, and if The Balance cared a wit for him, The Dream King would be the one to dole out the punishment.
Oh, Lynn… he thought.
If only he could get out of here, he'd…another wave of depression hit; he'd already told himself it was impossible, there was nothing he could do to save himself…
Impossible? You of all people should know that there is very little in this universe that is Impossible.
What? Voices? He hadn't been joking when he'd thought he was more than half-crazy, but he really didn't think he was that far along. Was it true? Had his mind finally corroded to the point that he was hearing Voices?
You're mind doesn't look like it's corroded…much.
Gainel wanted to smack himself; how could he be so stupid, he was obviously being spoken to mind-to-mind. He wasn't a schizophrenic.
Besides, I think if my mind were to conjure a voice in my head, it'd probably be Lynn's. he thought.
The only excuse he could make for himself was that all of his senses were skewed and barely operable in this state; not to mention he wasn't thinking very optimistically after what had just happened, seeing his only love snatched before his eyes and then told of how Discord would rend her soul to the point where she would commit suicide; and using his name to do it.
Actually, considering all of that, he didn't see how he wouldn't be slightly deficient in deductive reasoning right now. And who could blame him. A moment ago he'd been all alone, with only a gold apple in his sight (it was still the only thing in his sight, by the way) and mentally commentating on how he was more than slightly insane; naturally he would leap to the conclusion he was not all-well, as it were.
To whom might I speaking to? He asked politely, hoping beyond hope it was someone who could release him. He was barely receiving the thoughts as if was, much less able to distinguish with any certainty the vibrations and essences of the person's powers to clue him in on the unseen conversationalist.
It was lucky for him that the person was speaking with him Mind-to-mind, other wise he wouldn't have been able to answer them. And even now, he couldn't so much answer as he just thought something to the forefront of his mind and hoped they picked it up.
Apfel, who else would come upon you but the lovable Goddess of True Love herself? I don't usually pay house calls, but you're a brother so I'm making an exception! Came the reply with a tone of playful amusement, especially when his only reply was a mental blink of dumbfounded-ness.
I-she-then—! his mind voice stuttered in shock at the revelation that the Goddess's presence revealed.
Despite Discord's assurances (hateful and misguided as they were) that Lynn was just as mad for him as he was for her, he hadn't really believed her. The whole idea just seemed foreign to him that anyone, especially someone as determined and full of life as Lynn, could see him as attractive in the least. Perhaps it was because Gainel was so used to being ignored or looked down upon, that he could no longer fathom how anyone might see him differently.
Yes! It's true! I think you're just stupid to think no one could care for you, She proclaimed, But either way, she cares for you, and what's more: this is a soul bonding, truelove, destiny-bond sort of deal; this is the real thing.
I resent being called stupid, and take it as a personal insult. Gainel told her.
Suddenly a hand swiped the golden apple from his view and stepped into his range.
It was indeed his sibling, the Great Goddess Apfel, Goddess of Karma, and Lucky Coincidences, as well as Destiny and True Love.
With long, wet-looking red-gold curls, alabaster skin and shining Turquoise-eyes, wearing a floor-length gown covered in vermilion crushed-velvet Roses and a trimmed in white lace and pearls, she was very beautiful, even by Godly standards, but Gainel, didn't feel a thing for her, despite the absolutely dazzlingly-warm smile she was giving him.
He much rather see Lynn's soft smile any day.
She was turning the gold apple around in her hands, not seemingly in a rush.
I can't believe neither of you had realized it earlier, it would actually have saved a lot of trouble; for one thing you wouldn't be here right now, I can tell you that!
And why is that? He asked curiously, but she ignored him.
I Must say, she said, You are probably the last person I'd expect to be involved in a Truelove-Bond, did you know? Though, now that I think about it, it's about time; most all of us other gods have been hooked up for ages, you old bachelor!
Gainel mentally snuffed at being called an old bachelor, although he couldn't deny it; he was the third oldest of the Great Gods (Mithros and The Great Mother Goddess had been born just before him,) and the only one without a consort. Apfel was, in fact, the consort of The Black God himself.
Just so you know, I also resent being called old. Once again she ignored him.
Unusual that it turned out to be a human…but hey, love is blind, as they say; and you two really are perfect for each other; you really are way more interesting to talk to since she's civilized you.
If Gainel could, he would have slitted his eyes and given her an indignant look, but he had to settle for saying And just what is that supposed to mean…
Exactly what you think it means, I'm sure. She stated primly.
Quite obviously, it was a redundant question, as you well knew. He said blandly. Now he knew why he never particularly liked Apfel; she was blunt, obnoxious and infuriating to try and talk too.
Her face took on a pouting expression. You'd think the God of Dream wouldn't be such a stiff…Haha! 'Stiff'! You can't move! Haha! Oh, I'm hilarious…
Gainel, was not only extremely annoyed, but he was also slightly disturbed at the way Apfel was reacting to the situation, which was to say, as if everything were completely normal. He had half a mind to dress her down, (because theoretically he had more power and authority than the Love Goddess, although those sorts of things don't really have much of an affect on someone like Apfel), but decided against it; he needed to stay on her good side if he wanted her to help him get out of this mess.
Choosing to ignore the Goddess's sad excuse for a joke, he went straight to business, You need to get me out.
Yes, I know the whole sad story, but unfortunately I can't do that right now. I can only interfere when the situation has something to do with a True-Love/Destiny-Bond. You know that. She said tauntingly, and Gainel snapped, he was already stressed beyond belief and she was just playing with him when his bonded (the Apfel had called her such herself, despite what she was saying now, and when one of a Bonded pair was killed, the other often was as well, it was an extremely deep love that went beyond mere feelings; it became etched into ones very essence. He could still hardly believe that he supposedly had some who was devoted to him that way,) was trapped in Chaos, and under the mercy of Uusoae and Discord!
YOU JUST SAID IT DID! He mind-screamed harshly.
His outburst took back the Goddess, but only slightly, Calm down, she told him, with one eye brow raised Yes I did say it was, but you see, there's just one technicality…
Oh, how he hated playing such games. Time was running out, not just for Lynn (who seemed the most important thing to his mind at the moment though he knew in the grand scheme of things she most likely wasn't,) but all the realms as they knew it, and Apfel was just standing there, like they had all the time in the world!
And what, pray tell, might that be? Gainel asked scornfully, trying to keep his temper under control. He found its existence odd, as he had never had much of a temper before.
You see, technically, the bond doesn't 'kick-in' as it were, the effects on those involved are definitely present, it's just that I can't do anything about it untilboth parties have admitted their feelings to a third party.
That's…stupid.
Yes, it is but it's the rules.
So, I'm stuck here until Lynn tells someone she loves me? How likely is that to happen! She's in chaos! Why would she say anything about it to them! He nearly tripped up on the word Love. This whole situation seemed horribly surreal, and he was still very skeptical; he wouldn't believe it until he personally heard it from Lynn's mouth, no matter how much he wanted to.
Go get someone else to unstuck me, Gainel told her, I can't wait around for that.
Unfortunately for you, there is no one who can help you. No one, that is, except for me.
…The whole universe is screwed. Gainel stated dryly.
Apfel looked slightly affronted, You know what? If that's your attitude then maybe I should just leave?
Gainel snuffed unsympathetically.
He Goddess seemed to finally show an emotion other than strident ditzy-ness, as her face showed she was stressed, and saddened.
Sorry, if it's any consolation, I've felt vibes coming from both of you for some time and it's absolutely killed me that I couldn't do anything about until this point: you may not realize it but all of us could see that you haven't been very happy in millennia, and we've felt very bad about the whole situation.
Oddly enough, the fact that she'd told him that and apologized was a small consolation, even if it brought back all those feelings of hopelessness he'd been trying to push away until now.
He still hadn't told Lynn he loved her. And every minute Discord was likely trying to poison her mind with her lies and falsehoods. That mind that was so determined in the face of danger, that loved learning and was always thinking, and hoping…
But you do know, Apfel said slightly hesitantly, That it isn't her who hasn't confessed, it's you—.
Gainel decided to ignore the fact that she should have told him that sooner. I haven't? But…No, I must have—
Nope, you haven't told anyone. Lynn told her brother yesterday.
Gainel didn't bother to ask Apfel how she knew that; Gods had their ways, as he himself knew from experience.
Apfel, tell me and tell me truly, why is that I'm always the last one to know anything and everything?
She struck a standard, thinking pose. Hmm, I don't know. You're just unlucky I suppose.
That aside, I love her; with everything I am.
Apfel, smiled amusedly, her turquoise eyes delighted. Now, that wasn't so hard now, was it?
I would glare, but I can't.
The goddess of love made another pouting face, but grabbed Gainel's arm and forcefully began to phase him.
He could feel the resistance as she pulled at him. It seemed as if the entire Cosmos was trying to keep him there, but something 'gave', almost like a tear. It felt to him as if everything were quaking and then–
It righted itself.
"Get off of me; you're heavy." Apfel said not bothering to left him head the command himself, she shoved him off of her after Gainel had popped out of his frozen state, to topple both of them to the ground.
Checking his dexterity, Gainel, bent and stretched all his joints and tested his senses; they were all clear. In fact, they were enhanced. He'd never been able to sense anything past the very barrier that Discord had entrapped him within, but now—
"Is that…" Gainel blinked and spun on his heals, not knowing whether to be terrified or ecstatic. "Did you have anything to do with this?" he asked her.
"To do with what?"
She seemed honest enough. Gainel's mind was racing; how was this possible!
"With this." He answered, and then phased his hand into the barrier, then pulled it out again.
She seemed as stunned as he.
"I-No-I—." she stuttered. He was shocked but there was time enough to ponder the repercussions later.
"Go to our brother Mithros, and inform him of the events that have taken place here." He told her, once again taking up the Mantel of the Dream King. She nodded dumbly at him as he turned toward the divine realms and Chaos, where Lynn awaited him.
He wouldn't fail her again; everything could wait until she was safe; the strange happenings, and what they would do; where they would go from there, it was all put aside. For the first time in years, Gainel was at peace.
And he crossed the realms, into Chaos.
And Providence smiled, as The Balance tipped back in Gainel and Lynn's favor; they might have a chance, afterall.
