Disclaimer: I take no credit for any characters or settings in this story that belong to Tamora Pierce.
Authors Note: Not much to say. The reviews and support is excellent! A big thanks to all the regulars! And to those who have just read the story.
Review Replys:
klutzyspaz: I dearly hope that your health is okay. Please forgive me for the cliffy.
Dances With Waves: Wow...you just made my day! lol.
kaededainecalwyn: Good predictions. I won't say if they're correct or not, as the answer lies below but I will tell you something. It can't be Cleon because he isn't coming - if he comes - until the full moon, and the last chapter, and the majority of this chapter, takes place in the full moon. But good guesses.
Aly the Spy: Yeah...I hate Cleon with Kel but I don't mind him without Kel. I mean they aren't a great couple, but Cleon is a good guy altogether...at least that's what I've always thought.
Drop Your Oboe: Oops...sorry. I wasn't thinking but you're right, Dom wouldn't be a Sir. But whatever. And yes, I did invent Cleon's wife because I don't remember reading about her in the POTL series.
Fire of the Elements
Emotions
Previously in Living Between the Lines...
"I don't suppose anytime soon. Kel seems to despise him...and from other nobles I've heard he has a wife and children. I would probably ruin his reputation, like I've hurt Kel's."
"Sierra...don't."
But Sierra was no longer looking or listening to Sam. She stared at the image before her, face straight and tears swelling in the corner of her eyelids.
Quater Moon still
And I'm going to make it on my own! On my Own by Headly
Sierra's wet, shining eyes would not break away from the image - however horrible - before her. No sound escaped her thin lips, and no tears escaped down her face - the huddled in the corner of her eyes. Beside her Sam stood, not intirely surprised but still momentarily shocked. When he saw the hurt on Sierra's pale face, he wished that he could erase the image from her mind. And then kick Kevin's behind.
Before Sierra and Sam stood Kevin, tangled in the arms of a dark haired girl, whos facial appearance could not be seen for her face was buried in Kevin's. Sam could tell what was going to happen next, and pulled Sierra away, practically dragging her away from Kevin until they stood in the other side of the gardens. While Sam pulled Sierra away, the dark haired girl looked up and smirked, before burying herself back into Kevin. It was Aelia.
o0o0o0o0o0
"Sierra...Goddess Sierra, are you okay?" Sam whispered into Sierra's ear, holding her shoulders.
The expressionless girl turned to look into Sam's brown eyes and attempted a horrible petite smile, but the effort brought the welling tears to spill down her face. Hating Kevin and Sierra's tears, Sam held her friendly in his arms and lead her to her rooms, rushing past servants and nosy nobles. When they finally reached Sierra's rooms, Sam let her in. Smiling sadly, Sierra hugged Sam gratefully as piles of tears fell from her blue ocean eyes.
"I'm so stupid." Sobbed Sierra into Sam's chest.
"No you aren't Sierra. Kevin's stolen that role again."
Sierra hugged Sam gratefully, thankful that at least someone was still her friend.
o0o0o0o0o0
"Hello Sam." Said Kel as she opened the door to Sierra's servant friend. "Lacy already did my rooms."
Sam blushed but answered, "I know. I was wondering if I may have the pleasure of speaking to you, Lady."
"Sure." Replied Kel, sensing this talk was not to be pleasure.
Kel motioned for Sam to sit, but he stood as most servants, although this was not a servants' mission. "Lady, I mean to speak of Sierra."
"Yes." Motioned Kel, showing Sam that he could continue.
"Well, she feels that you are angry or something of the sort at her,and she's quite sad about it. And she just had an... unpleasureable situation in the gardens... she really needs someone."
Kel's eyes showed emotion as she asked, "What occured in the gardens."
"Well...Sierra and I were walking - this was when she spoke to me about how she felt - when we ran into Kevin and a girl...well...you know..." Sam blushed hoping that Lady Kel understood what he was saying.
"Oh no!" Kel's voice was soft. "I shall speak to her Sam."
"Thank you Lady. If I may be excused."
"You may be."
Sam bowed and left, leaving Kel alone with her thoughts - which consisted mostly of guilt. She had left her daughter alone - surely her excuses, whatever they were, were dim and stupid. She should have been there. If Sierra never warmed to her, it would be her fault.
Damn you Kennan. Damn you Kevin. Damn you men! Thought Kel angrily to herself as she rushed to Sierra's rooms.
0o0o0o0o0o
Three knocks on the door woke Sierra from her nap. Deciding that she didn't care if anyone saw her red face, eyes cornered with sleep, she opened the door to her visitor.
"Hello Sierra"
"Hello." Murmered Sierra, wondering what her mother was doing here. Her timing was terrible.
"Oh honey!" Cried Kel as she embraced Sierra in her arms, cursing the Goddess for making her such a terrible mother. "I'm so sorry about everything - I've been horrible."
And after a moment, everything felt unusually better.
0o0o0o0o0o
Three-Quaters of a Moon
Sierra smiled, something that had not come naturally for almost two weeks, as she opened the door to Sam. She had not spoken much to her friend in two weeks, associating more with Kel. She felt that she had finally gotton over the worst of her hurt and shock about Kevin, and now was proceding into the anger stage. Not anger at everybody, or the world. Angry at Kevin.
"Where do you want to go Sierra?" Questioned Sam as she began to lead him through the corridors that she was finally completely familiar with.
"You'll see."
Sam himself was not familiar with the area... Sierra was pulling him near the west end of the palace, and he usually served the northern end. The palace was much too large for the servants to run from the southern end to the northern end. The corridors themselves were similar to those of the northern end, except for the dimmer light. Finally, Sierra halted at a door.
"If I can't, please finish for me." Whispered Sierra and suddenly Sam understood where he was. Before he could attempt to cease Sierra, she was knocking, and a familiar face was peeking out the door.
"Sierra!" Cried Kevin, moving to embrace the lover that he had not seen in weeks.
As he drew closer, Sierra brought her leg in between his legs and shoved hard, causing Kevin to scream in pain. "You piece of dung, you cheater, you...you...PIG!" Screamed Sierra, fresh tears dripping down her face.
"Sierra...what?"
"You pig, you piece of stormwing dung, you..." As she continued throwing insults at him, Sam muttered, "She saw you with...Aelia."
As Sierra ceased her insults, Kevin's face grew white. "Sierra...it was a mistake...it was..."
"Kevin, do us all a favour and shut-up. I can't believe I ever liked you. And you know what, maybe I don't care anymore. You go about and... canoodle all the girls you can, but they'll know about you."
"Sierra please."
"Kevin," Sierra's voice was softer now, and the anger dimmer. "Don't make your excuses okay. It doesn't matter. I feel sorry for you."
"What?" Repeated Kevin and Sam in unison.
"Yes. You're never going to find true love this way. You're just going to hurt yourself." Sierra suddenly turned, Sam running after her, and leaving Kevin to wonder about her words.
As they walked aimlessly down the halls, Sam questioned, "Do you actually feel sorry for him?"
"Of course not. He's a piece of horse dung. But if it's all the same, I know he felt worse about me feeling sorry for him then me swearing like a sailor at him!"
Sam smiled, content that Sierra was finally over Kevin. Or at least, as much as one could be after being cheated on.
0o0o0o0o0o
R&R
Fire of the Elements
