In this farewell
there's no blood
there's no alibi
coz I've drawn regret
from the truth
of thousand lies
So let mercy come
and wash away
What I've done
I face myself
to cross-out what I've become
erase myself
and let go of what I've done
Put to rest
what you've thought of me
Well I clean this slate
with the hands of uncertainty
So let mercy come
and wash away
What I've done
I face myself
to cross-out what I've become
erase myself
and let go of what I've done
For what I've done
I start again
and whatever pain may come
today this ends
Im forgiving what I've done
I face myself
to cross-out what I've become
erase myself
and let go of what I've done
What I've done
What I've done
Forgiving what I've done
Linkin Park- What I've Done
Disclaimer: I own nothing
Dedication: To my editoress Juliette, without her none of this would have been possible. And to Sirius Black (aka Gary Oldman who she thinks is sooo hott) without him Juliette would have never had any inspiration lol. Oh and btw.. See Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix at the movie theater. It's frickin awesome! I saw it twice in two days because I am a loser and so did Juliette because I'm staying at her house for the week. So go out and spend your money.
Big Thanks to my Reviewers for Chapter 38.. if it wasn't so late I might actually write a response to all of you, but I am so tired right now. So tough luck... lol
Awesome reviewers: nativewildmage (who may have the force with her), a, Frozenthoughts, On Top of Cloud9, lightningstorms, Lady Sapphirea, An angel on ice, Queen of Crimson, ella plain and simple, nautikitti, LadyKnightSusan, Elspeth25, & Erytha
And a response to Confused Knight because I have to answer her question: My events are 1500, triple jump, 3000, 2000 meter steeple chase, 800, 4x400, & 4x800... Track is soo awesome though... I absolutely love it... I actually went to States this year for the 1500...
Here it is... the last chapter
After Audrey left, Jzet decided not to stay awake for much longer. Tomorrow she would have to get up early for the execution and would need sleep.
Jzet bade Lee good night and then settled into her warm, comfortable bed. On the surface, all appeared to be at peace for Jzet. Jacqueline was going to be finally gone from her life. The traitor would no longer be a piercing thorn in her side. But, despite all of this, Jzet still had a guilty conscience.
Does she really deserve death? Jzet wondered, turning over onto her stomach. She might have been a traitor, but she was only sixteen for Mithros' sake! She was much too young to die.
Why are you sympathizing with that traitor? A part of Jzet's mind argued. All she has done was make your life miserable. She brainwashed Kearney!
Jzet groaned and buried her face into her pillow.
Why do I keep thinking about this? I just want to sleep!
Jzet's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of her door creaking open. She sat up in bed immediately, afraid that it was an intruder.
"Come in." Jzet heard Lee say softly. "She's asleep, so be quiet."
Footsteps against the floor sent Jzet diving back under the covers. Who was here to see Lee at this time of night? The footsteps stopped a few feet away from Jzet's bed and she dared to take a peek at Lee's visitor.
To Jzet's surprise, it was her half brother Chuck of Queenscove and Blythdin. Jzet knew he was Lee's teacher in healing magic, but what was he doing here at this time of night?
"I'm glad you could come." Lee whispered to Chuck. "But, I wish I could have come to your place. It's too risky to be here. What if Jzet found out about us?"
Jzet's ears immediately perked up and she smiled broadly. So, her suspicions were correct. Chuck and Lee were seeing each other.
"I just don't like the idea of you going into the city at night." Chuck replied softly. "It's too dangerous."
That's so sweet, Jzet thought on her half brother's protectiveness of Lee.
"So, you don't think I can take care of myself?" Lee asked sharply. Jzet internally sighed. She was so defensive sometimes.
"You know I don't mean that Lee." Chuck whispered. "I know you are perfectly capable of defending yourself."
"Good," Lee said and then changed the subject. "We better get out of Jzet's rooms though. If she catches us together, she'll never let me live it down."
Jzet smirked into her pillow. Her friend knew her well.
"Okay, we'll go to the gardens." Chuck told Lee. "My friend Gary says it's a perfect place at night and I want to discuss something with you."
"Sounds good to me," Lee said. Jzet heard footsteps on the ground, the door close, and then silence.
After Jzet was certain they were gone, she sprang out of her bed and threw on a pair of breeches. She knew it was terrible and very dishonest, but she wanted to know what they were going to discuss.
Lee's going to kill you if she finds you spying on them, the reasonable part of her mind warned, but Jzet's ignored it and slipped out into the hallway anyway.
Jzet made her way towards the gardens, moving carefully and quietly. She did not want to attract any attention to herself.
When she finally arrived, Jzet searched for Lee and Chuck, moving as silently as she could. She did not dare make any noise for fear of being discovered.
The familiar voice of Chuck reached Jzet's ears and she immediately ducked behind a bush.
"Did you tell her yet?" Chuck asked Lee.
Jzet risked poking her head out from around the corner to see the couple.
She saw Lee and Chuck sitting on a wooden bench, surrounded by neatly trimmed hedges. Chuck had wrapped one of his arms around Lee and pulled her closely to him to keep her warm from the blistering cold that had plagued the winter night.
"Tell her what?" Lee said.
"You know…Tell her that you are coming with me to Fort Stauton near Pearlmouth in June." Chuck reminded her.
Before Jzet could stop herself, she shouted, "What?" and fell over onto her face. To her horror, she was completely visible to Chuck and Lee. Both of them stared at her openly, Lee's mouth hung open. For once in her life Lee was speechless.
Jzet gulped. She was going to get it now.
"Hey guys! Nice night for a stroll, isn't it?" Jzet chuckled nervously. She realized she was still lying flat on the ground in the dirt. She got up quickly and dusted herself off.
"What are you doing here, Jzet?" Chuck asked. He did not look very happy to see her.
"I live here." Jzet said pertly and turned on her heel. She started to make her escape, walking briskly away.
Lee had leaped up from the bench and grabbed Jzet by the shoulder. She spun her around abruptly.
"Were you spying on me?" She asked, a look of hurt was visible on her face.
Jzet had to make an excuse and fast. Lee looked ready to punch her flat out in the face.
"No… I was looking for you." She lied. "I got up for a glass of water and you were gone. So, I decided to search for you and apparently," Jzet jerked her head at Chuck, "I found more than just you." She raised her eye brow, waiting for an explanation.
Lee exchanged glances with Chuck and then turned back to Jzet. "Yeah… about that…"
"Well?" Jzet asked, impatient. "Why didn't you tell me you were seeing Chuck?"
"I was afraid you were going to get mad." Lee admitted. "And you are! Aren't you?"
"No, I'm not mad." Jzet told her friend with a sigh. "I am just really surprised." She turned to Chuck. "And why are you taking her with you to Fort Stauton?"
Chuck looked peeved. "I am not dumb Jzet." He snapped, his face red. "You were snooping around, invading our privacy, and now you think you can ask all the questions?"
Jzet rounded on her half brother. "Well, maybe I wouldn't have to snoop if you two were honest with me from the beginning." Jzet came back to Lee. "And how many 'healing lessons' are actually real lessons? Did you lie about that too?"
Lee ran her hands through her blonde hair. She looked frustrated and angry. "For your information," She poked her finger into Jzet's shoulder, "I want to learn to heal more than anything in the world," Her voice was in a shout now, "and we never, ever did any of that stuff during our lessons. I am sorry that your half brother could teach me to heal and that we accidentally fell for each other. Maybe if you actually knew how to use your Gift, instead of hiding it away all the time, then maybe I would have learned from you and none of this would have ever happened. Would you've been happy then?"
Jzet felt as if she had been kicked in the stomach.
"I am happy for you Lee." Jzet said softly. "I am just upset you never told me. I thought we were friends."
Lee sat down on the bench and put her head in her hands. She moaned loudly and dug the toe of her boot into the ground. Jzet could tell she was aggravated.
Jzet sighed and sat down next to the girl.
"I'm sorry Lee. I didn't mean to hurt you." Jzet told her. "Honesty is all I ask for."
"I should be the one apologizing to you and not just for the Chuck thing." Lee said. "What I said…. What I said was out of line. I should have never been so mean about your Gift. I don't mind if you use it or not." Lee sighed. "You know me… my temper gets hold of me sometimes and I lose control. I-"
"It's fine Lee."
"But-"
"It's fine Lee." Jzet repeated and got up from her seat on the bench. "You two are perfect together and you have my blessing." Lee opened her mouth to apologize again. "Stop Lee," She said firmly. "You know I don't like to have apologies and crap carried on for too long. Friends?"
Lee grinned and stood up. "Of course,"
The two girls hugged.
"Well…" Jzet began after they broke the embrace. "I must be going. I need to get some sleep."
"You don't mind though, about my going with Chuck to Fort Stauton?" Lee asked anxiously.
"No," She smiled warmly at her half brother and friend. "I think it's wonderful Lee." The younger girl beamed. "It will be a great experience for you and you will be helping your country in a great way."
"Thank you," Lee said. "That means a lot to me."
"Goodnight then," Jzet said.
She walked back to her rooms and went to bed. She never even heard Lee come in because Jzet fell asleep the second her head hit the pillow.
The next morning, Jzet rose from her bed, quite refreshed from her slumber. She got dressed in warm clothing and went to tell Lee she was leaving, but found her still abed.
Jzet then went to Audrey's room and knocked on her door. Audrey opened a few moments later and nodded. "Let's go,"
The two girls met up with Brandon, Jonathan, Kate, and Madison at the mess hall. The friends ate breakfast together, before making their way down to the execution site.
Jzet and Jonathan remained quiet, while the rest of the group chatted excitedly. Even though, they had come to a mutual agreement, Jzet found herself nervous to be in his presence. She could feel his eyes on the back of her head.
Brandon pulled out two tomatoes from his pockets.
"I nicked these two from the kitchens last night." He said with a mischievous grin. "I can't wait to nail her with these."
Kate, Madison, and Audrey laughed.
Jzet opened her mouth to reprimand her friend, but thought better of it.
Let them have their fun. She thought with a sigh.
When they finally reached the execution site, they found that a large crowd had gathered. Brandon wanted a spot up close, but they couldn't get within twenty feet of the platform.
"How am I supposed to hit her from here?" Brandon whined crossly.
Jzet stood on her toes. She could hardly see the noose that was to kill Jacqueline over the sea of heads in front of her.
Suddenly, the crowd, which was talking in a dull roar, quieted. The only noise Jzet could hear was the thump of a drum; its beat was slow and steady.
Jacqueline appeared before the crowd; dressed in a sleeveless, cotton dress that was white in color. Jzet took quick notice to the bright red tattoo of an 'X' on her upper left arm, the mark of a traitor.
The crowd booed loudly. Their jeers were relentless. To Brandon's obvious delight, vegetable were pelted at Jacqueline, staining her white dress. But, despite this terrible treatment she was receiving from the crowd, Jacqueline remained calm. Her face was as unemotional and smooth as a slab of stone and she showed no fear of her quick approaching death.
Jzet turned to her left and saw Brandon attempt to hurl a tomato at Jacqueline. Unfortunately, his throw was several feet short and the tomato landed on top of a bald man's head.
"Oy! Who the heck hit me in the head?" The man shouted, angrily.
Brandon ducked down low, afraid of the bald man's wrath.
"Nice one, Brandon," Kate said, laughing.
"Shut up," Brandon mumbled, hiding behind Jzet.
The booing stopped abruptly and a herald stood before them. Meanwhile, Jacqueline was being prepared to hang by a black hooded executioner. He was securing the noose onto her neck with a malicious grin.
"People of Tortall," the herald boomed, "I present to you a traitor of our great nation, Former Page Jacqueline of Queenscove."
The boos and jeers started again, this time they were more vicious.
After a few moments, the herald cleared his throat and asked, "Is there any last words you would like to say, traitor?"
All eyes turned to Jacqueline. Jzet could see her stony blue eyes stare back at them defiantly.
"Mattou za yogen Shang Ookami, maro beki fukaku za akuhei ikko." Jacqueline shouted in Yamani, so all could hear.
At these words, Jzet began to stare openly at Jacqueline. She didn't know Jacqueline knew Yamani. But, the translation of Jacqueline's words was the most shocking. It meant: "Fulfill the prophesy Shang Wolf, you must defeat the evil one."
Before she had time to think, Jonathan grabbed her arm and whispered. "Jzet, she was talking about you. Wasn't she?"
"Yes, how did you know?" Jzet asked in a whisper, not wanting to draw attention to herself.
"Ma' made me learn Yamani when I was younger." Jonathan explained. "It's like a second language to me." He looked troubled. "But, I don't understand. Why is she supporting you? She is a traitor."
Jzet shook her head and wondered the same thing. "I don't know Jonathan. I really don't know."
There was silence and then the trap door fell through. Jacqueline's body dangled above the ground, her face turning blue as she suffocated to death.
And as quickly as it began, it ended. Jacqueline of Blue Harbor was dead. Her lifeless body swayed limply in the breeze.
In the back of the crowd, a girl stood silently. She wore a small, secretive smile on her face as she observed the hanging before her. With a small shrug, she swung her pack onto her shoulders and moved on.
The End
Please look for my sequel: The Squire and the Derelict
It should be coming out in the next few weeks.
Once again... thank you
But I believe a big thanks is in order for the following people, who have been with me from the beginning:
Juliette, Nativewildmage, On Top of Cloud9, ConfusedKnight, and DreamlndxFantasy
Your author,
Caiti