-1Me: Thank you to those who voted. The poll stands as thus so far:
1 "Hidden Destiny" - 2
2 "Duelist Mage" - 3
3 "The Hidden Power of the Healer" - 2
Votes will be taken up until this series is finished, which is possibly next chapter. I have already written 3 chapters of "Hidden Destiny", two of "Duelist Mage" and a working first of "The Hidden Power of the Healer". Note that titles might change. I'll be adding an additional story option, because I believe that all of you aren't very interested in the choices I have picked. I am, but that's cause they live in my head…
The warmth of your embrace
Melts my frostbitten spirit
You speak the truth and I hear it
The words are I love you
And I have to believe in you
But who are you
You are the truth
Out screaming these lies
You are the truth
Saving my life
(Red Sam- Flyleaf)
Disclaimer: Story is mine. Everything else belongs to Rachael Roberts.
Saying of the Day: I'd rather be hated for who I am than be loved for who I am not.
The inn keeper stared at the strange boys that were standing in front of him. One was tall, broad shouldered, golden haired strapping lad. The other was a head shorter, had scruffy black hair, a bruised and cut cheek; rather pathetic young man. The taller gave a grin that could have made a girl swoon.
"I'd like a room for the night for me and my brother here."
The inn keeper grunted and switched his weight solely to his right foot. "It'll be five shillings for the both of you."
The smaller boy scowled and pushed up to the bar/desk. "You listen to me, you great pig-man! A single room in this place is worth half the price you named! We'll give you four shillings and that is all! Take it or leave it, boyo!"
The man raised an eyebrow and gave a crooked grin. "I'll leave it lad. Ten or no room. That's what everyone is charged so deal with it kid."
The dark haired boy opened his mouth to protest but the older lad clapped a hand over his mouth and dropped ten coins on the desk. "Thank you for your services, sir."
"Your room will be the third room on the left."
Smiling, pleasantly, the tall lad grabbed his brother's arm and dragged him up the stairs and out of sight. The inn keeper grinned and picked up his coins. He really did love the gullible ones.
Zach whirled on Adriane when he shut the door. "What do you think you're doing? What if he recognized you?"
"He wouldn't. I've been locked up in a stuffy castle my whole life, remember? Plus, they think I'm dead. No one will be looking for us."
Zach sighed and pulled her into a hug. She rested her head on his chest, listening to his steady heartbeat. "I'm sorry I yelled at you. Just be careful, ok? I don't know what I'd do if they took you away from me."
Adriane smiled and looked up into his blue eyes. She traced his jaw with her finger and kissed his lips softly. "Relax will ya? I'm a guy now and just think of what they would say if you were caught sweet talking me, brother dearest."
Zach scowled and rolled his eyes, pushing her away slightly. Grinning, she stuck her tongue out at him. He raised an eyebrow. "Now you're just asking for it, Adriane."
"It's Aiden now, oh wonderful brother of mine."
"Yeah yeah, whatever."
Adriane rolled her eyes and flopped down on the lumpy twin bed. She wrinkled her nose and punched the mattress. "You want the pincushion or the floor?"
Zach stuck his bottom lip out in a pout. "I thought we could share…"
"No."
"Please?"
Adriane tried desperately to not roll her eyes, but failed. "Zach, as much as I love you, no! I'll take the floor darling brother."
"Whatever you say Aiden."
The dark haired girl scowled before grabbing the tattered blanket off the bed and stalked over in front of the dying embers in the fire place. Sighing, she sat and wrapped the blanket around her shoulders, staring deep into the orange coals. She was almost scared to think about everything that had happened recently. She had broken just about every law she knew by falling in love with a commoner, faking her death, running away with said man and now she was sleeping in the same room as him without being wedded to him.
Zach came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. "Adriane…?"
"I'm scared." She whispered, turning so her cheek rested against his chest. His grip on her tightened.
"So am I."
Adriane awoke to banging on the door. She opened a groggy eye and just about jumped out of her skin. Zach was practically wrapped around her and neither of them had a stitch of clothing on. The pounding continued. Growling, she heaved herself out of bed and fell to the floor with a thump. Wrapping the blanket around her body, she sat in front of the fire and prodded the coals with a poker.
"Come in."
The inn keeper pushed open the door and stood scowling at her. "You and your brother need to leave now!"
Adriane felt her heart stop and she looked at him over her shoulder. "Why?"
"A prince is staying here and I don't want all you filthy peasants stinking up the place."
Adriane was about to retort but calmed herself and nodded, a fierce scowl on her face. The inn keeper huffed and closed the door.
Adriane was on her feet in an instant and pulled on her clothes in a hurry. "Zach! Get up now! We need to leave."
"Why?" was the groggy response.
"Because there is some prince coming and if he recognizes me, we're both in deep trouble."
Zach groaned and rolled over. He rubbed his eyes and sighed at the look in Adriane's eyes. He rolled back over and gave a long sigh. "Wake me in ten minutes."
The fully dressed Adriane growled and grabbed Zach's clothes, throwing them at his head. "No, you are getting up now!"
"Yes mother."
Adriane threw her hands in the air and practically snarled. She threw herself in front of the firepleace and proceeded to poke at the coals with angry jabs.
Zach clothed and grinning slightly, snuck up behind the sulking girl and picked her up by her waist, throwing her over his shoulder. Adriane cried out in protest and smacked his back.
"Put me down!"
"As you wish." She dropped to the bed with a loud thump. Staring up at Zach, she scowled at him and grabbed her small bag before stalking from the room. He sigh wistfully.
"Isn't she just great?" He proclaimed to no one before leaving the room.
Adriane was having a panic attack. Remember the prince staying in the inn? Guess who?
Joseph sat at one of the tables in the pub area. His handsome features were dark and grief was written across his face. Letting out a long sigh, he brought his tankard to his lips and drank a swig of his ale.
Zach put a comforting hand on Adriane's shoulder. She whirled around to face him, heart pounding.
"Easy. I see our royal friend is the one you were running away from?"
Adriane nodded and leaned back into Zach's chest. His arm automatically went around her waist before her caught himself and stepped back. When she looked at him quizzically he shrugged and said "you're a boy, remember?" She sighed and gave a tight nod.
"So how do we get out of here?" he whispered.
She smirked suddenly and raced up to their old room. He frowned, confused. She came back with a handful of soot. Smirking, she rubbed it across her cheeks and chin so from afar, it would appear to be stubble. She raised an eyebrow and picked up a dirty glass, examining her reflection.
"If he doesn't look hard enough, he'll think I have a beard growing."
Zach grinned and ruffled her hair. "Shall we, brother?"
Laughing she gestured him to lead the way.
Me: Blahness that wasn't a very good chapter, was it? (sighs) so yeah…I've been think of making this story into a kind of series, all set in the middle ages with Zach and Adriane as the main characters. But yeah, I promised you a new choice, didn't I? So here it is…
4- One night, Adriane disappears without a trace. There is no sign from her until five years later, when she appears mysteriously. She has changed greatly and no longer has her wolf stone nor any connection to the mistwolves. She begs Emily's help for something she won't tell about. The others force her to come with them and she reluctantly excepts. When they reach their destination, they find that Adriane has bonded with a dragon and has become one of the dragon riders of old. Secrets begin to unravel and an evil wielding the warrior's magic may just succeed where the Dark Sorceress and the Spider Witch failed.
And what would be the nest installment of the series I'm thinking of doing:
5- "Steal My Heart…I Dare You"
Adriane is a fine, upstanding knight to be…Of course everyone thinks she is a boy called Adrien. Everyone except the thief, Zach. He is the leader of the thieves in the kingdom and he is at the top of the "most wanted list". Can he teach the stubborn, boyish Adriane how to love and be a woman?
Review me please!
