Where did I go wrong, I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life
-How to Save a Life by the Fray-
Review Responses:
On Top of Cloud9- haha... I know you hate Rae... you aren't the only one... lol... but don't fret... you'll see what happens... lol... thanks for the R&R and I hope you had a good time in Oregon
emeraldi- Yeah rae is back.. Back again... Rae is back tell a friend.. sorry got into the sing song mood.. lol... yeah I am glad you liked the Chuck Norris jokes... thanks for the review
Nativewildmage- haha yeah soccer camp was pretty awesome.. 7 hours of pure soccer every day for 5 days! Sweet! haha texas ranger..lol.. don't worry I have an annoying little brother.. so I feel your pain... May the Chuck Norris force be with you too... thanks for the review.. and update Cheyenne! haha
Zen16- no.. I am not stopping.. I was just at soccer camp for awhile... a good week... oh well... thank you for the very lovely review gives high five.. your awesome! yay!
Paksennarion- ahh I love it how you love rae so much... I guess you shall love this chapter a lot then... thanks for the review
Xxlalla-azizaxX- haha those jokes were lmao jokes... I would right more but I am in a hurry.. thanks for the review
DreamlndxFantasy- yeah Rae is hott... I guess.. in his own way... lol.. you're going to love this chapter.. so get reading.. lol.. and thanks for the review...
stormrider7- haha chocolate syrup.. you make me laugh.. I would right more.. but in a hurry... thanks sooo much for the R&R
Elspeth25- yeah I love audrey couldnt leave her out.. and yes you have every right to be suspicious.. thanks for the R&R
Misled Nymph- thank you oh so much for editing.. you're awesome.. and you love the english language.. nice... thanks for the R&R
jamie lynn- thank you thank you thank you... sorry would write more but must hurry up! thanks!
authorgirl87- you're going to love this chapter.. thats all I am going to say.. and thanks for the review
wild black fire- haha you have a very suspicious mind.. and I like it. lol.. thanks for the review
Erytha- thanks... lol.. I shalll use your brilliant ideas.. thanks for the review... mucho gracias
Trancefan- thanks for the review and I am glad you enjoyed the jokes.. those jokes are the funniest ever.. i love chuck norris jokes.. haha... thanks for the review
A/N sorry the review responses are hurried I was in a big rush to get them done
A/N thank you Misled Nymph for betaing and sorry for all the other people I sent the chapter out too.. but I wanted to get it posted asap.. and you guys didnt respond sorry!
A/N Soccer camp was great! Despite the fact that these weird upstate people were making me say walk and talk and coffee.. long island accent... btw... lol... yeah but 5 days of pure soccer was awesome..
Disclaimer: I own nothing as usual...
Previously: Rae returns duh...
Weeks passed and Jzet seemed to be seeing Rae more and more every day. From walking in the halls, to the training sessions every afternoon, Rae seemed to be always there and always had a smile for her.
Jzet was, in spite of everything, still wary towards the Shang. The old scars were definitely still there and every time his grey-blue eyes, met her yellow-green ones, Jzet could still feel pain. She began to wonder if they could ever be friends at this rate. She knew Rae wanted things to go back to the normalness, which had existed back in the Yamani Islands. Jzet wanted to too, but the laceration in her heart was still there.
"Milady, the bell rang a minute ago," Lee walked into the room, catching Jzet lying on her bed, thinking of her dilemma with Rae. "You'll be late for lunch and ole' haMinich will have a fit."
"I know, Lee." Jzet replied, rising from her bed. She smirked at the thought of, the old training master yelling at her for tardiness.
She left the room swiftly, her head still swirling with thoughts of what to do about the Shang. She was so caught up in the moment; she did not even notice colliding with another person.
She landed; bottom first, onto the cold stone floor. The person, who she collided with, was on the floor too. He was wearing a squire's uniform, with the colors of the fief, Tarside, which meant his knight master was from that fief.
"Mithros, I am so sorry." Jzet apologized, getting up and offering the boy a hand. "I wasn't even looking where I was going."
The boy accepted her hand and she pulled him off the ground. He was tall, about a foot taller than her 5'4". He had brown curly hair and hazel eyes, which were framed by long eyelashes. He had to be at least eighteen and was probably in Corus, for his ordeal.
"It's okay milady," He replied pleasantly, with a slight bow. He then looked down at her attire, a page's uniform with a sword hanging from its' sheath. "Ah, you must be a page."
"Yes, and you must be a squire," She shot back, stating the obvious.
"You hit that one dead on the nose." He answered, grinning. He held out his hand for her to shake. "My name is James." He told her, while she shook her hand.
The bell suddenly rang, causing Jzet to curse.
"Sorry, but I need to run." Jzet apologized and then began to proceed, in a sprint, towards the mess hall, where she was expecting her punishment work to be handed out by Lord haMinich.
"Aren't you even going to tell me your name?" She heard him cry. But, she had no time to respond. She was late enough.
That night, Jzet was aroused from her short sleep, by a sharp knock. She heard Lee awaken too, because of the numerous curses from the dressing room.
It was still night, and darkness overwhelmed the room. Jzet could not even see her hand in front of her own face.
"Who in Mithros' name is pounding on our door at this time of night?" Lee hollered from the back room, obviously angry. The loudness of Lee's voice startled Jzet for a moment, and then she realized she should light a candle.
She stumbled out of her bed, her hands groping for the candlestick and a match. She finally found one and lit it quickly, as another knock sounded.
Lee was already at the door and pulled it open.
Jzet felt her eyes widen considerably. It was Gosha in a thick wool jacket and a long red colored skirt.
She had only seen Gosha once, during the two months that she had been at the palace. She felt guilty for not being able to attend lessons more often, but her page duties came first.
Lee, who was extremely wary, because she had not met Gosha, snapped, "What in Mithros' name are you doing here, interrupting my mistress and I at this time of night?" Jzet saw Lee's hands hover around the belt, which held her many daggers.
"Lee, it's okay, I know this woman." Jzet stepped in between her suspicious maid and her hard eyed mentor. She was trying to reassure Lee, before she did anything too drastic.
Lee backed off, but did not keep her eyes off Gosha, out of distrust.
Jzet sighed and faced Gosha.
"This is what I get, as a welcoming?" Gosha snapped. "I get some stupid girl trying to pull a dagger on me."
"Hey, I am not…" Lee began to protest, but Jzet threw her a look, which immediately silenced the maid.
"Sorry Gosha," Jzet apologized in a whisper, not wanting to wake any other pages. She ushered Gosha into the room and closed the door behind her. "We're just a little wary these days, with the Carthaki agents and everything else."
"I know." Gosha replied shortly, staring at Lee, who stared right back.
They're too much alike. Jzet thought wearily, while pulling up a chair for Gosha and herself.
"Do you want anything to drink, eat?" Jzet offered.
Gosha turned her gaze away from Lee and faced Jzet.
"No thanks," She answered mildly.
A few moments passed, as Lee threw wood into the fireplace, trying to warm up the room.
"So, what brings you here at this time of night?" Jzet asked, still surprised at her mentor's sudden appearance.
Jzet looked at Gosha, whom's face was half illuminated by the firelight. Her blue eyes were troubled and she looked, as if she saw a ghost. Jzet waited patiently for her answer.
"I had a dream." Gosha told her solemnly.
Gosha turned her head back at the fire.
Jzet, impatient, tried to nudge the older woman on by saying, "About what?"
"My death," Gosha replied shortly.
Jzet visibly paled. She wasn't expecting that reply.
"Did you die peacefully in your bed?" Jzet asked, knowing that wasn't the case.
"If I were to die peacefully in my bed, would I be rushing here at this time of night?" Gosha retorted.
Jzet heard Lee snicker, causing her to frown.
"No, Gosha," Jzet replied mechanically, using her Yamani mask to keep back her blush.
"Though, I did die near my bed, but not peacefully, by the Hag, no." Gosha stated.
"Then, what happened in your dream?" Jzet began to ask, trying not to sound eager, she added, "Begging your pardon of course."
Gosha sighed, before saying, "It's okay, my student," She took a deep breath, before continuing. "In my dream, I was asleep."
"How can you sleep in a dream?" Lee piped in.
"Quiet, you stupid girl," Gosha snapped.
"I am not a stupid…" Lee began again.
"Lee…" Jzet warned.
Lee just glared at her, before sitting down, cross-legged, by the fireplace.
"Well, anyway, before I was rudely interrupted…" Gosha continued glancing at Lee, who was very annoyed about Gosha's bad attitude towards her. "I was sleeping, when a man dressed in a brown tunic and a black hose, slips into my room. I wake up to him entering the room and I jump out of my bed to defend myself, but he already has his daggers out and cuts my throat. I slowly bleed to death on the ground and when the dream ends, someone bursts into the room."
"That's terrible, that you had to dream through that!" Jzet exclaimed.
"I know," Gosha replied jadedly. Jzet never saw her so downtrodden before and for the first time in her life, seemed to take pity upon the older woman.
"Would you like to stay here for the night?" Jzet offered politely. "My maid, Aileen, would be happy to set up sleeping condemnations for you." Lee didn't move. "Right, Aileen?" Jzet said to her maid, her voice straining.
"Yeah," Lee answered, getting up and then added in a mumble, "Anything for the witch,"
Jzet ignored her and looked back at Gosha for her reply.
"Sure! I will gladly spend the night here with you and your polite maid," she told her sarcastically.
Jzet glanced at Lee, who had already scurried out of the room to retrieve bedding materials and a cot for the older woman. Jzet just shook her head. She hoped Gosha would not keep them awake any longer. She was tired of Lee and Gosha being down each other's throats.
Lee soon returned with the cot and bedding materials. Without looking at Gosha or her, she laid out the cot right in front of the roaring fire. After finishing her task, she curtly bowed towards Jzet and Gosha and then went to her cot in the dressing room to sleep.
Jzet sighed, knowing Lee was furious. She would have to talk to her maid in the morning. But, for now she had to make Gosha go to bed.
An awkward silence filled the room for at least two minutes, as Gosha prepared for bed. When she was done, she sat on her bed and looked at Jzet with her hard blue eyes.
"So, Gosha, are you going to sleep?" Jzet asked, covering up her yawn.
"Yes," Gosha replied, "But don't rush me child!" She added in a snap.
Jzet ignored her last comment and shuffled back to her bed, clearly exhausted. She had only fallen asleep at eleven, after performing punishment work for Lord haMinich because of her tardiness at breakfast. She blew out her candle and called out, "Good night Gosha."
There was no response, except loud snores, which were coming from Gosha. Jzet groaned and stared up at the white ceiling, which was lightly illuminated by the firelight. This was going to be a long night.
Jzet woke up, bleary eyed. She had fallen asleep an hour later after Gosha and was extremely fatigued. I am going to pay for that on the practice courts. Jzet thought, as she rose stiffly from her bed.
Gosha was still sleeping, her snores still as loud, as they had been when Jzet was trying to sleep a few hours before. Jzet tip toed around the older woman and reached the warm bath, which Lee had prepared, before she had risen. Her maid was nowhere to be seen. She must be in the dressing room getting my Page's uniform out. Jzet figured, as she stepped into the hot water.
Fifteen minutes later, Jzet was out of the tub and changing into her uniform, her hair still wet from the bath. She dressed quickly and then went into the main room to grab her knapsack.
Lee was standing there, her hands on her hips, looking very disgruntled.
"Do I have to stay in the room with this witch, noble girl?" Lee hissed, pointing at Gosha.
Jzet heaved a sigh.
"You could at least be a little nicer Lee." Jzet whispered, not wanting to wake the older woman. "She's going to have a brutal death."
"Good," Lee told her firmly. "She deserves it."
"Lee…" Jzet warned, her voice low.
"She makes fun of me constantly." Lee murmured angrily. "If you weren't here, I would have hung her by her toes on the clothesline by now."
Jzet smirked, trying to picture Gosha hanging by her toes on a clothesline. She giggled slightly.
"Mithros, don't go all court girl on me," Lee whispered, taking a few steps back.
"Don't be silly." Jzet told her. "I am a weapon wielding, sweaty warrior. Far from a court girl, I must say."
"Very true," Lee responded softly. A short silence fell between them. "But seriously, can I please leave? I'll probably murder her by accident. I swear."
Jzet exhaled deeply, before responding, "Fine, but that means you have to go and do some spy work for me today."
Lee, without hesitation, held out her hand and they shook.
"Deal," Lee whispered and followed her out of the room, tip toeing.
By the time Jzet came back from lunch to change into her practice clothes, Gosha had left. She left a note on Jzet's bed thanking her for the shelter and reminded her to keep recording her dreams.
Lee was visibly happier, when she found out about Gosha's departure. She didn't even make one sarcastic remark while Jzet was changing into her practice uniform.
Jzet walked down to the practice courts with Audrey in tow. She still had not spoken to Kearney, for what seemed like a good month. There were even rumors amongst the pages that Kearney and Jacqueline had kissed, which disgusted most pages. Jzet was the most disgusted of them all. The rumors only added even more hatred towards the Carthaki agent.
During the last few weeks, Jacqueline had jeered and shunned Audrey for becoming friends with Jzet again. Audrey had ignored her for the most part. She wasn't getting into any fights.
It was a cool brisk November day. The wind was blowing hard and the cold air nipped at their noses.
"How are my resident senior lady pages?" A familiar voice drawled.
Brandon of Tarside, followed by Kate of Malorie's Peak was walking down the path behind them. The two, despite their one-year age difference, were best friends. Dylan of Tirrsmont and Aidan of Hollyrose, Jzet, Audrey, and Brandon's year-mates, followed them. Aidan nearly tripped over a tree root and regained his balance just in time, so he would not have a face full of dirt. He was very clumsy, even clumsier than Kearney!
"Very cold, but kept warm with a desire to thump that new female page, Jacqueline of Blue Harbor on the head." Audrey responded for the two of them.
Brandon's smirked. "Oh, don't we all," he said in a longing voice. "Girls like her belong in a convent."
"Or tortured," Jzet added. "Whatever is worse."
The group of third and second year page's laughed, as they rounded the corner towards the building, which held staff training.
"I'd take torture any day." Kate told them. "It'd probably beat sitting in the stuffy convent,"
Brandon clapped her on the back.
"That's my girl," he said, grinning. "Anything girly to her is worse then torture."
Kate rolled her eyes.
"Don't be ridiculous Brandon." She retorted. "Screw torture. I'd rather die than wear a dress."
Laughter sounded again, as they entered the building.
"Some people are little too happy today. Don't you think Kearney?" A familiar voice taunted.
A visible frown was on Jzet's lips.
One word- Jacqueline.
"Why don't you go put on lip paints, Blue Harbor, and stop wasting your time training here?" Kate snapped bitterly. "You'd be more useful to Kearney, if you were a court lady. He would probably love to kiss you even more then he does right now."
"Brandon wouldn't even kiss you if you had face paints on, Malorie's Peak." Jacqueline retorted. "Not even face paints could hide your ugly face."
Kate turned redder than a tomato and marched over to Jacqueline, fists raised. "I ought to punch you in the face so hard…" Kate began, furious.
Brandon stepped in between the two girls and pulled Kate away.
"Don't you listen to her garbage, Kate," he said to her kindly. "But, I will be happy to punch her for you, though. Get ready for pain, Blue Harbor."
Kearney stepped in between Brandon and Jacqueline.
"Don't you touch her." He told Brandon coldly.
"Move aside Mandash, she's poisoned your mind enough." Brandon snapped at Kearney.
"You lie." he hissed in a very un-Kearney like matter, before throwing a punch at Brandon, which connected with his jaw.
Brandon immediately jumped on Kearney. Both boys were punching wildly at each other, wanting to see blood. Kate wasted no time charging at Jacqueline, who just luckily missed Kate's foot colliding with her head.
"Do you want to help Kate beat up Jacqueline?" Audrey asked, looking at the fighters.
"I wouldn't miss it for the world." Jzet responded solemnly.
They jumped into the fight, out numbering Jacqueline three to one. Jzet set no limits to the strengths of her punches and kicks. She took out Jacqueline's feet from under her, letting her land bottom first, onto the dirt floor. Audrey and Kate wasted no time, giving her breathing room, and began to punch the girl with all their might. Jzet looked on, quite pleased with herself. She was glad Jacqueline was getting what she deserved.
More pages gathered around the fighters, glad to see Jacqueline getting what she ought to have, a good beating. They began to cheer for Brandon, Katie, Jzet and Audrey, as the
free-for-all continued.
Nowadays, all the pages showed dislike for Kearney and Jacqueline, even the ones who did not like Jzet's group of friends. They believed Jacqueline and Kearney's relationship shouldn't exist, and that it was disgraceful. Jacqueline's presence had only caused discord amongst the pages.
She turned to the fight between Brandon and Kearney. Brandon wasn't doing too well. A gash was visible on his left cheek. Blood rolled down it rapidly. Kearney, who knew the fight was won, delivered the knockout blow. He kicked Brandon in the jaw and Jzet winced, as Brandon's whole neck snapped up. Brandon was visibly unconscious, falling to the floor and not moving.
Kearney took a threatening step towards her and aimed a punch at her jaw, which she evaded with ease.
"I don't want to fight you Kearney." Jzet told him calmly, taking a step back from his foot, which was trying to clip her side. "You're my friend, no matter what Jacqueline does to you." She added firmly.
"I don't like you any more Jzet." Kearney growled, throwing another punch at her. She ducked just in time. She could tell he was starting to tire. "Jacqueline told me what you did. You broke into her rooms."
Jzet gulped. The group of pages now had their eyes glued to her.
"She's not who you think, Kearney." Jzet told him, trying to stay calm.
"You're a liar, Jzet." He spat. "I can't believe I ever called you my friend."
Jzet felt herself falter. Her heart ached for a second, but it was soon replaced by pure fury directed towards Jacqueline. This is all her fault. Jzet thought bitterly. I lost a good friend because of that bitch.
"Kearney, just listen to what you're saying," Jzet cried. "Look at what she made you." She pointed at Brandon's unconscious form on the ground. "She's turned you against the people you cared for."
Kearney gave no response, except for a cry and charged at her. Jzet had no other options, but to make him feel pain.
He swung his foot at her head, but she seized it firmly with her hands and twisted it. The rest of his body twisted with his foot, and prevented a broken ankle. He landed on the ground, stomach first. He got up as quickly, as he had fallen down and charged at her, now slightly limping.
He threw a punch at her, which she intercepted in the palm of her hand. She smirked slightly in expectation. She was about to perform her favorite move. She pushed his hand up and closed her eyes and the smirk disappeared, as she heard the bones of his wrist cracking and Kearney's screams of pain. She couldn't stand to listen to his cries.
He fell to the ground in total agony, but got up again a few seconds later, to everyone's surprise. His eyes glinted dangerously and his face was now sweat soaked. He was determined to defeat her.
"Kearney, you're being stupid." Jzet told her friend desperately. "You're not going to win at this rate. Your wrist is clearly broken. All you're going to get is more pain if you continue."
"I don't care." He said through his teeth. His facial expression showed anguish and ache. Jzet wished he would give up.
The group of pages was now backing up, obviously frightened by the show of Jzet's power that they never knew existed. Kate and Audrey were now next to Brandon, after bloodying up Jacqueline and leaving her moaning on the dirt floor. Audrey was using her gift to try and heal Brandon, but Jzet knew they needed someone more skilled, like her father.
Kearney tried to lash out at her again and again, only to be thrown to the ground and then getting up again. He showed great determination, which was impressive, but Jzet was afraid that he was hurting himself.
"Kearney, I don't want you to hurt yourself anymore." Jzet cried. "Either stop now, or I'll have to try something different to subdue you."
Kearney said nothing and only got off the ground with a grunt to try and hit her again. She knew he was livid because of the fact that Jacqueline was hurt.
Jzet sighed and reluctantly called for her Gift. As soon as Kearney was close enough, she brought him into a headlock and pressed her green glowing fingers to his forehead. He immediately, collapsed to the ground, unconscious.
"I'm sorry." She whispered her eyes closed.
Right on cue, Sergeant Torin entered the room, red-faced.
"What, in Mithros' name is going on in here?" Sergeant Torin hollered.
Jzet sighed deeply. They had a lot of explaining to do.
Jzet stumbled into her room at eleven o'clock that night, clearly exhausted. Audrey, Jacqueline, Kearney, Brandon, Katie, and herself were given punishment work for two weeks straight, because of their horrific fight. Lord haMinich had not been pleased at all when he heard of the two unconscious pages lying in the training courts. Jacqueline was not totally reared unconscious, but had come very close, which only added to the training master's fury.
Kearney walked away with a broken few broken bones from their clash: his left wrist, nose, collarbone, and some ribs on his right side were broken. He had ended up spraining his ankle from Jzet twisting him, on top of all the broken bones.
Jzet wished the fight never happened and she felt displeased with herself, but she knew she had no choice. Kearney had gotten out of hand and she wasn't about to let him hurt her.
He unfortunately now, considered her an enemy, but Jzet hoped he would see the error of his ways and leave Jacqueline. She was evil. There was no doubt about that. Every page, except Kearney, who was blinded by love, could see that Jacqueline of Blue Harbor was foul.
After Audrey left Jacqueline to rejoin Jzet and their posse, Jacqueline turned into a menace. She insulted all the pages, young and old, every chance she . She even resorted to using her fists if she had to. But, the real question was: 'Would Kearney see that Jacqueline was bad news, before it was too late?'
That question dwelled on Jzet's mind as she lay down on her bed. She could not sleep, and stayed awake for another hour, before rising from her bed.
She threw a cloak over herself and climbed out the window, which was very low. She jumped out of her room, and began to walk
Clouds, giving out only a little light, shadowed the half crescent moon as she made her way towards the courtyard.
She soon found a bench and settled herself down, pulling the cloak tighter to protect her from the cold and bitter winds.
"Hey," A voice greeted.
Jzet jumped up, startled, but only to only see it was Rae.
"Are you always out here at night?" She asked, sitting back down on the wooden bench, now calmer.
"I love to walk at night." He replied calmly. "It's becoming a tradition now." He paused and sat down on the bench besides her. "The question is, what are you doing out here? Shouldn't you be in bed, like a good little page that I know you are not?"
"Ha, ha, ha, Rae, very funny," Jzet told him sarcastically. "But, you are right about the last part. I am not a good little page, that's for sure."
"So, I've heard." He said. "You, Tarside, Malorie's Peak, and King's Reach gave Mandash and Blue Harbor a real beating today."
Jzet sighed at the thought of the brawl. "Yeah, that's for sure,"
"I thought you and Mandash were friends." Rae leaned back on the bench. "When I was here, you two always stuck together. And now you're breaking his bones." Jzet's eyebrows rose at the last sentence. "Yes, I see you haven't lost any of your abilities." He added with a grin.
"Yeah, I keep in practice." Jzet replied casually. "But, yes, we were friends until Jacqueline of Blue Harbor showed up." She added bitterly.
"What happened when she arrived?" Rae questioned.
"He had a crush on her at first sight." Jzet explained. "They became friends and now I've heard they are friends with benefits."
Rae's eyebrows rose, before responding, "Oh, I see."
Silence fell between them.
"Would you like to become my friend with benefits?" He asked offhandedly, grinning wickedly.
"Me?" Jzet asked, shocked at the sudden request.
"No, the other you," He replied, a grin still plastered on his face. "Of course you, Jzet,"
"Well, I don't know." She began hurriedly. "I have to keep up with my training and my academics and…"
He pressed a finger to her lips.
"Sorry, Jzet, you talk to much." he told her, still grinning.
Before she could react, he pressed his lips to hers. She kissed him back and when they finally broke for air, silence fell between them.
"So, I guess that is a yes then?" Rae asked.
"Yes, that was definitely a yes," Jzet replied and then they kissed again.
I know! I know! You J/J fans must want to kill me right now.. lol... but keep on reading.. lol...
I am glad a lot of you guys liked the Chuck Norris Jokes...
A/N I have a land across the sea website.. if any one wants a refresh on the characters.. and such not... it is Check out my song fic.. running away... please
Well I'm going to keep this short... Ciao!
Your Demented Authoress,
Caiti
A/N And thank you again for editing Misled Nymph