Disclaimer: Power Rangers belong to Saban and Disney. Characters you recognize are not mine, but characters you don't recognize, the plot and the idea are mine!
A/N: This chapter has made me ill, I swear! You better read it and enjoy all the funny parts. Well, there is one I know of :P ;sigh; I want that nightly encounter to come already! You'll have to wait another chap for that, ;whines; another chap of torture :D
AH/AY: Prefect? Perfect? Thanks, but it's far less from perfect:)
Phantom Rogue: You are the first to know what happens in the Kadan Castle anyways:P
C.C.C.: It wasn't that obvious:P Oh and about those questions you asked about The whisper.. email me, it's pretty interesting what happens there: today I have decided to update "In the Clearing" because of you:) second time!
Star Fata: I love you:)
SweetSas: I miss you:(
DizneeDol: I'm late but oh well, MAZAL TOV! ;hand you chapter; maso Ashley only for you :D You're legal! You're legal:P
Slytherin-Angel44: give it another chapter or two ;D Actually one chapter and then he …. And the chap after that one she is …… :D
zeopurple: I must disappoint you, the dinner made me too bored so I had to find a creative way to make it stop. I did, check out how exactly :D
Arwennicole: you know that's what I'm here for;)
the power of love: there ya go;) I hope it's good enough!
Irmiux: this is the fastest I can, and if you're a girl, gimmie your name and I'll match you up with a warrior:D
BlackHalliwell: thanks! Here's more:)
Dedicated to DizneeDol, Happy belated Birthday!
(From Tal and the Kadans..)
In the Clearing of the Forest
by DarkHonda aka Tal
PRiS AU.
Chapter nine
Present time, 00:05, In the clearing of the forest;
It was near midnight, how could she not notice she was sitting there and talking with him all night? He was calm and comfortable, leaning on her tree and she was resting against him; they actually talked all evening, he made her feel better, he made her feel safe and relaxed, with him the future in Kadan Castle didn't seem so bad.
She had to smile to herself, it was very inappropriate to run off that party like they did, her father was probably going insane at that very moment, but she couldn't care less, she let Coran become her whole world, 'Stars, what would I do for him to be Andros,' she thought, somewhere deep inside of her she knew that she'll have to deal with Andros-herself-Coran triangle, it couldn't last, their relationship was forbidden. She couldn't let herself become the one to break that something between them. She just couldn't. He meant something to her, true, she didn't figure out what exactly, but he was important to her.
Earlier that day, Sunset at the Reception Hall, Hammond Hall;
The giant Hall filled with family and friends took her breath away, 'do I mean that much to everyone else?' she wondered, surprised. She kept watching at her guests from aside, no one noticed her yet;
Baldy and Blondy were talking with Jeffery about something near by, she could almost smell they were talking about horses. Again. She rolled her eyes and looked for her father, she located him standing in the middle of the hall, talking with the weird looking Kaden, the one with the black hair and silver stripes, she noted how scary he looked, dark and mysterious, his skin was tanned. She couldn't help but wonder if he was Andros, he sure looked stern, almost the way she imagined Andros.
When she thought about Andros he mind immediately drifted to Coran, and soon enough she located him standing in the really far off corner; he looked bothered, frowning, it made him look cuter than he was. He wore his black breeches and his red working shirt, a black belt held the scabbard in its place and in it- a deadly sword. His black boots were surprisingly clean now, almost shiny, and his quiver was hanging on his left shoulder, full of arrows just like in the day she met him. She had to smile at that, at him, he was certainly not dressed for a party of such kind but something still made him look presentable, something almost royal.
'Probably a Kadan thing,' she guessed blushing furiously, now she dared entering the room fully, regaining her composure by looking at him. He made her stronger with just being there and she thanked him for that in the depths of her heart.
When she made her formal entrance all eyes were on her, she blushed slightly, trying not to stand up, but it was useless and she knew it, but couldn't help trying. 'Duh, genious, this party is for you! All eyes are supposed to be on you!' she beat herself mentally and stepped next to her father.
Present time, 00:15, In the clearing of the forest;
She sighed as she remembered how her father tried to hide his tears, not wanting to cry in front of the hall full of guests, and she heard Coran's chuckle. She couldn't help but smile at his response, she had never dreamed of meeting a Kadan but have one as your warrior and defender? That was a major thing!
"Tired?" he asked and she tilted her head and looked at him with half a smile.
"You wish, Kaden," she answered cheekily and he laughed, hugging her closer to himself, his warm skin barely touching hers, he kissed her neck and she blushed. He laughed about that too. "Would you please stop laughing at me!" she demanded outraged, he shrugged, an innocent smile on his lips.
"Only if you kiss me, Lady Ashley," he challenged and she turned around to face him, sticking her tongue at him.
"Not a chance," she giggled and got up fast as lightning before running away, he chased her, catching up with her after a minute and knocking her over after another three seconds. They were rolling on the gentle ground of the forest, laughing.
"You can't escape from me, Milady," he said with a smile and she stuck her tongue at him again, he only kissed her, his hands keeping her still beneath him. It was different now, teasing, daring, so fully intact; the feelings that ran through her body were so strong and new that she immediately blushed and Coran only laughed, looking deep into her eyes that were shining in the moonlight. "Are you blushing?" he asked and she smiled sweetly, refusing to answer, knowing he can't see her red cheeks;
His hazel eyes looked silverish in the pale moonlight, wonderful as they always are, and she could almost feel as if the moon was enchanting them both. But the fragile moment of staring into each other's being has quickly dissolved as someone was calling for her, quickly Coran rose helping her back on her feet so they would be able to brush away the soil and leaves from their clothes. They slowly walked back to Hammond Hall, meeting Jeffery half way there.
"There you are!" he called almost scowling her but knowing better than infuriate her in her last day at home, "Ashley, everyone has been looking for you!" She looked at him silently, not saying a word, Jeffery could almost see the fire burning in her eyes, so he did the smartest thing he knew- he ran away. Yet when she turned to Coran, her fury was gone, replaced with something else… He smiled at her and kissed her.
"You really should get back," he reprimanded her kindly, she glared at him and he laughed again, "You are the reason for this gathering, you know," he said and she bit her lip. "And you know I can't stay here forever, I really have to go," he smiled and she pouted.
"I thought we were to ride to Kadan Castle at sunrise?" she asked and he nodded.
"You will, I am the one to announce your forthcoming, I should be leaving," he said quietly to her revolting frown.
"Do you really have to?" she asked, pouting and frowning, she couldn't stand the thought of being far from him and he nodded with a tiny smile.
"TJ, Zhane and Phant are to escort you; I will be welcoming you after I completed my obligations to Tiaren," he said sternly, she looked away from him, insulted, she intended to walk away when he gently grabbed her wrist. She glared at him almost coldly, her eyes a living fire.
'I am not a game,' she thought, furious, 'I will not be treated like a little girl,' she knew and turned away from him, releasing her wrist from his gentle hold. She could make only three steps before he was standing in front of her, towering above her yet not looking at all intimidating to her. She knew she would never fear him and a glint of arrogance was recognized in the fire burning in her.
"Let me go," she said quietly and he only grabbed her chin gently and crushed his lips on hers, she almost melted against him although of her effort to seem cold.
"My obligations are to Tiaren before they are to you," he said harshly, "I am not afraid to tame you and I shall if you make me," he paused and she felt she was dissolving into a puddle, not from fear, no, from appreciation and adoration!
No man has ever dared to face her like that, he was a challenge and she definitely loved challenges, she smiled before kissing him hard on the lips, muttered "Have an easy journey" and left a really confused Coran alone.
The next day, a few hours after sunrise, Somewhere on the way to Kadan Castle;
They have ridden since sunrise and surprisingly, she wasn't tired, the events of last night, kept running in front of her eyes, her heart missing a few beats every time she remembered everyone of Coran's kisses. Another thing which kept her on guard was her fear and a curt of excitement of reaching a new place, bigger and hectic more than she had ever known, Kadan Castle.
She felt very secured on her way, she was riding on her beloved Sienna, the messenger who arrived at Hammond Hall only yesterday who was also known as Phant of Omrange was in rearguard and a black striked silver haired Kadan was the first who led the journey, he was a watcher. She, herself, was riding in the middle as Baldy was riding on her right and Blondy to her left.
She enjoyed her ride that allowed her, apart from replaying the events of last night in her mind, Baldy and Blondy's company who were very friendly although of her first negative impression of them. They were both funny and entertaining as they seemed to have a lot in common; for example their love for Karone, sister of Andros. As Ashley have already guessed, Blondy also known as Zhane of Sar, was Karone's fiancé and Baldy also known as Theodore Jay Jarvis Johnson, was the one who rescued her as a child from the filthy hands of an especially evil Darkondian. He was rewarded by Tiaren with a bravery talisman that was Kadan the Great's belonging. Of course it's a great honor, he was not a Kadan yet he was considered one of them now.
Baldy's love to the maid was a sibling's love whereas Blondy's much more intimate, and the bond they shared because of her was almost invincible as they were fellow warriors and faithful friends to Andros and Tiaren both.
It took her a little while to adjust their jokingly, nosy attitude, but at least they weren't as silent as the watcher. Many questions popped into her mind about that warrior, black striked with silver warrior who was a great mystery to her it took her a while to regain the rude which was needed in order to express her interest in him, yet her first fear was that he is Andros of Kadan, mostly, because he didn't look too friendly..
"Is that Andros?" she dared asking after a few hours of riding, frowning at her riding companions, Blondy laughed before answering and Baldy only gave her a weird look.
"Luckily, no," answered Blondy, grinning almost victoriously at her, "Andros is way funnier than him," he continued and Ashley blushed, relieved in a way, yet he didn't intend to stop and continued to rave about his pal, Andros;
"Andros is a little denser but a really good guy, if there's anything you can say about him is that his wisdom expressed with silence and his fury with a dagger's glare," he said and Baldy nodded before joining to the description.
"Andros is loyal and caring, he takes care of things and never leaves a job undone, a warrior can count on him anywhere and no matter what," Baldy explained.
Ashley nodded, 'Andros of Kadan sure sounds like a geek to me,' she mused, 'not at all like Coran described him,' she thought and remembered Coran's description of Andros from last night…
Flashback
Coran was toying with her hair, caressing her cheeks in silence; the night birds were chirping a sleepy melody as she was enjoying Coran's warmth and protection. She felt whole with him, and there was nothing that could compare to that, to that sense of security and...love. She sighed and Coran placed a gentle kiss on her neck, a question rising in his eyes.
"What's wrong, my forest nymph?" he asked her, murmuring his question to her neck, she turned her head and leaned her cheek to his.
"I am scared of the unknown…" she said, "From him, I don't know anything about this Andros," she whispered to him and closed her eyes in fear. Coran only stroked her cheek with his finger before kissing her lips reassuringly;
"He's a good warrior, at least, that is what they all say," he began describing Andros to her, trying to melt her fear away and she was thankful to him, "He always tries to do the right thing, no matter what is costs himself, justice, he knows, is something every being should be given," he paused for a moment, examining her reaction. She nodded her approval of what she'd been told, he smiled a rather faint smile before he continued, his eyes avoiding hers.
"Andros is faithful to the Kadan way, the only way he knows, he loves his father and sister and swore to never fail them; he acknowledge his obligation towards the people the Kadans protect and therefore has never said anything to reject you, for all he knew, he should have come and see you himself," he said and she felt the immediate blush on her cheeks, 'was I that judgmental and prejudiced about Andros?' he asked herself and deep inside knew she was. 'I was being mean just because I was scared,' she knew yet couldn't help but feeling remorse. Deep into the night, she knew she must seek Andros' forgiveness…
End Flashback
"So, who is he?" she remembered to ask, gesturing the warrior in front of her, whom she secretly called 'The Watcher'; Baldy smiled and nodded before riding close to her.
"His name is Carlos of Edenoi, he's Andros' cousin and the only reason he's here is to take care of any problem that might've come up with your father," he silently explaned, "Tiaren trusts him and he very well deserves that trust -"
"But I thought Tiaren of Kadan trusts only Kadans?" she quietly asked, cutting baldy who kindly nodded in approval before talking again, "Carlos is half a Kadan, a fruit of forbidden marriage of Tiaren's sister and Eran of Edenoi," he explained and Ashley examined the half Kadan's handsome face; he was dark and tall, his back was straight and he rode proudly, heck, if she wasn't so into Coran she could've liked him!
Another exhausting two hours have passed, making Ashley wish she were in her forest, protected from the sun by her tree's large leaves that prevented from any sun to burn her skin. She was really tired now, although of her determination to keep going, she really needed the break but her pride didn't let her stop. The world seemed as a blur of colors, she could almost see someone galloping toward her, 'is it Coran?' she managed to ask herself before falling into a total blackness…
A/N: this is NOT cliffy! Guess who's gonna get their butts kicked for that:D