Disclaimer: Characters you recognize not mine; plot, new characters, places etc. mine!
A/N: well, thank you guys for all of the great stuff.. er.. I meant, great reviews! Here comes another chapter… which is dedicated to Marieke. Are you bored now:P
Oh, and I know this one is boring but.. come see chapter three! (scroll to the end to see the closing A/N to figure out why)
Jenny: :P Well, I had to use her last name somehow :D
zeopurple: you coolie:)
Slytherin-Angel44: I'm glad you love it. I'm hoping you'll still like it after this chap :P
Star Fata: here's more :P less interesting, though..
C.C.C: Now you can review all of my stories :P , it was automatically not receiving anonymous and I've changed that option immediately after I found out! Thanks )
AH/AY: you know I love you! ;happy tears;
Phantom Rogue: you know I love you too! ;squeals in happiness;
Amanda: thanks. Stay tuned :P
TRISH: here's the update, where are you:P
SweetSas: you know I love you ;gives you cookie;
In the Clearing of the Forest
by Darkhonda aka Tal
PRiS AU.
Chapter two
The wooden doors of the Hammond Hall were opened with a furious kick when a young woman dressed in her riding habit; brown breeches, boots, vest and a yellow tunic, entered the room. She was obviously furious, her face red with anger and she was pouting her dismay from the recent events. She has taken a few steps in the direction of her father's favorite quarters, yet she stopped as she figured he wouldn't be there, but probably working. As she turned to find her father at the grand hall, she suddenly faced him; he was accompanied with her older brother, Jeffrey.
"Dad!" she almost shouted, trying to keep her talk still respectful toward the man who created her. Her brother looked fearful, he knew all too well how angry can she get, her anger was like a hurricane, strong, uncontrollable and spreading destruction. He whispered a few words in their father's ear and disappeared, most likely to greet the young lord warrior who came to announce the forthcoming of Andros of Kadan.
Her father sighed his, now lost, hope that she would greet their guests in a somewhat gentler way than this, he had, of course, foreseen her reaction and rage. He walked over to her, slowly, hoping her fury would ease until he would have to deal with her.
"Ashley, you must go to your room and prepare yourself. Dress modestly yet admirably," he tried to order, but he knew her all too well and knew he could not order her to do something against her will. After all, she was his baby daughter. She pouted her disagreement, as her older brother returned to the hall, accompanied by the young blond warrior she met a few minutes ago.
"Welcome, young warrior!" her father greeted the blond blue eyed enemy with a wide smile. How could he do this to her? How? How could he have sold her to the enemy this way? She glared at her father's guest and walked away from the hall, to the wooden staircase that led to her room. It was only a few moments later that she heard her brother following her, but before she turned to her room she glared at him and announced:
"I'm not going down for dinner!" and shut the door to her room behind her, making the corridor shake with the closing of the door. All Jeffrey could do was to stare helplessly at her closed door, knowing she would not come down to dinner even if it's the last thing she'll ever do. She was, after all, that stubborn.
Later that day
It was sunset when she noticed the three noble horses which were galloping to Hammond Hall. She was seated against the wooden window's frame, watching the grounds from her house until the horizon, trying to think the whole marriage issue through. She noticed two of the forthcoming horsemen where obviously Kadans, one with brown hair streaked blond and the other with black hair streaked brown, and the third horseman was a bald guy, his scalp shining. She made a sound of protest and let herself fall on her bed, desperate.
Oh, how she wanted to wake up from this nightmare, how she wanted it all to be a bad dream. "But it's not," she told herself aloud, "You better believe it, Ashley, your life is this nightmare." She sighed and tried to ignore her demanding stomach by sinking her face into the soft comforting pillow. She hasn't eaten since breakfast.
A light stroke on her face woke her up; she looked at the old man sitting on a chair next to her bed. It was her father, she smiled a sleepy smile at him and he chuckled gently. He handed her a plate with chicken and rice, and a glass of water. She rose and gently took the plate, eating slowly in front of him, he looked at her fondly.
She was his little girl, all grown up now, in a few months she'd be married, in a year- maybe even a mother, but she was still his little girl. He never wanted to anger her that much, to make her hate him, but she and Andros of Kadan were meant to be. 'It wasn't even Tiaren's decision,' he sighed as he recalled, 'it was the last prophet's, Zordon.' He smiled bitterly, 'KO-35 needs peace and quiet,' he told himself, trying to convince himself with the right of this marriage, 'the humans who live here deserve it,' he knew.
He sighed as he saw his beloved daughter has finished eating and was looking at him pleadingly. He took a long breath; she needed to know it wasn't his decision.
"Ashley, sweetie, I think it's time we talk about your marriage," he said quietly, "I know you have many questions, you may ask now, my child, but I don't think I'll be able to answer them all." He looked sadly at her and she noticed how sad he was.
"Why…?" she couldn't even finish her sentence and tears were streaming on her cheeks.
"It wasn't my decision, love, it was the decision of the great prophet, Zordon, and even the mighty Tiaren didn't have a word in this. It's not up to me, it never was." He whispered and Ashley cried even harder, Glieron found his eyes tearing as well; he tried to hold the tears inside.
"But, Tiaren objects inter tribes' marriage! Why would he support this marriage?" she asked trying to argue, her voice trembling.
"Our young guest, Zhane of Sar, has explained that during the last 20 years Tiaren has gotten used to the idea that his son would be the one to break the Kadans' tradition. He has raised his son to be a competent warrior and he believes his son's character is a strong one that may overcome you." he answered slowly, choosing his words so he would not infuriate his daughter. "He is not a mean person and will not harm you while staying at Kadan Castle. He respects you, Ashley," her father told her.
She couldn't believe it, 'Tiaren of Kadan respects me? A simple karovan?' she wondered, 'why would he? What is there, that in the stars' name, I don't know of? And what dad meant by overcome me?' she was about to ask her father more but he got up, kissed her forehead, took her plate and glass and left her room without a word. She was awed.
'Tiaren and dad can't do anything about it,' she realized, 'but Andros and I can.' She thought as she began feeling drowsy again…
A/N: all I am allowed to say that a certain lady meets a certain Kadan in the clearing of the forest :D