Nixiesocean: And here we are, a glorious 19th chapter. Happy days! Anyways, I want a vote on whether to have 1 chapter and an epilogue or just an epilogue. There will be a semi-sequel, one taking place after Isle of the Amazons. It may just barely cross over, or cross over. I'm not sure yet.
Responses!
Scoutcraft Piratess: I know she does, the poor princess. : ) She is nice, well-bred et cetra. A true princess. Oh, and the whole wedding thing, that's cuz I'm lame and didn't want to make a whole wedding ceremony. Then again, it fits well with Lance's character.
Narnialover: Yeah, me too. I think she will. Poor Ilona.
Krupski: Well, my dear reader, the end is near, either a last chapter and an epilogue, or just an epilogue. It will come soon enough!
Read and review. No flames please!
Chapter 19: Katharine of the Jewel
We walked down the halls, our hands entwined. Lance kissed my neck. "Chaste kisses in public, dear husband." I whispered. He laughed merrily. "Is something funny?"
"No, sweet." He whispered, kissing my forehead. "Chaste kisses, such a term!"
I grinned. "But, husband of mine, what of your promise? To wait for me? Does that not still apply?" I was purposefully taunting him.
He hugged me as we walked. "But, sweet, we're married, are we not? What then? Can I not have a kiss in public?"
"You may, my lord," I replied, kissing his cheek. "But chaste kisses." We reached the door to his, and now also mine, rooms. I leaned up against the door, kissed his lips and opened the door. I kissed his lips again. "I'll be right back, sweet."
I stood, taking the infinite number of pins from my hair. The maids had requested to take it out themselves, but I refused. I took a quick bath to rinse the mousse from my hair and dried it. I heard a door open, then close. I peered around the door.
Sir Devyn stood there, talking with Lance. "What do you want, Sir Devyn? Who let you in?" He asked, obviously confused.
"Why, Lance, I'm hurt. Don't you know me?" He asked innocently. "Oh, that's right, your knife took that arrow! You'll not dodge this death!"
He drew a knife. As he did, I flew out of the bathroom. I saw everything in slow motion. My hands reached out, pushing Lance aside. His body responded, falling in turn. The dagger hit me. I felt the pain shooting through the side of my body. I hit the ground. Devyn fled. The pain in the side of my body was excruciating. I saw Lance's face above mine.
"Katharine!" He said. A pressure on my chest hurt like nothing else. His hands were covered in blood. My blood. I breathed shallowly. Eventually, a white, motherly figure, the one who had appeared to me not long ago, came, her arms outstretched.
"Katharine," She said. "Are you ready to come?"
It was the pain that beat me in the end. Fire burned along my side and my chest ached. "I am, Goddess."
"Come along, then, daughter. Accompany me to my kingdom." She whispered, gathering me into her arms. We flew along the blackness, her inner light beating out all darkness. I smiled, a peacefully laid my head in her arms, letting her fly me to safety.
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Katharine lay the on the floor. Her blood was barely seeping out of the wound. Lance was frantic. He pressed his hands onto the dagger, but that pressed it in harder. Someone knocked. He didn't open the door. They knocked harder. He couldn't remember if it was he, or Lance, but Brennin entered the room
"What's wrong?" He asked. He saw Katharine's dying form.
"She's not dead," Lance mumbled, trying to pull the knife out.
Brennin saw the blood starting to slow. "Lance, let her alone. She's dead."
Now, Lance grew angry. "She's not dead!" He yelled.
"Lance," Brennin said reasonably. "Please-"
"She – is – not – dead!" Lance said. "If you're not going to help, leave."
Brennin sighed, shrugged and yelled out the halls. "Get Lady Cyrun!" He screamed. "Make her come to the prince's quarters!" When no one moved, he added. "Now!"
She appeared without a servant even bringing her. All three of them were too surprised to even care. "Goddess!" She cursed. "You're always getting hurt, Katharine!" She looked at Brennin. She cocked her head, as if listening. She nodded. "Get Goldflame, her sword." Surprisingly, Bamien appeared with the requested sword.
My lady, The sword said through the minds of everyone. The jewel set in the base of the hilt had a sparkle of light. The sparkle moved around, without any help from the light. It focused in on Katharine. Set me on her, hilt on her forehead, Cyrun. Cyrun obliged without a question. Bamien, set your hands on her shoulders. Brennin, yours on his. When a servant tried to add his hands, she rebuked him. Did I ask for you, Ceve? No! Get out! He was so stunned, he didn't move, but he did release his hands.
Brennin, channel your father's power through to Bamien. Bamien, channel yours and Brennin's power to Cyrun. Brennin glowed a soft green. The fire grew very bright, then flowed out of Brennin, leaving him dark. Bamien glowed that soft green, but added was a bright blue. The glows mixed, leaving Bamien a bright blue-green. Eventually, that pulsed and flowed out of him and onto Cyrun's shoulders.
The glow enveloped the small healer. A vivid red was added to the mix. The flames of color swirled about, never staying in one place. Cyrun closed her eyes. They were clenched in pain. "Goldflame!" She yelled. "Anytime!"
Channel this power into me. I'll take it from here. Brennin, stop Perhin! Cyrun clutched the sword hard, the sharp blade pierced Cyrun's hands. Her blood flowed gently out, as if slowed by the magic coursing through the dragon's veins.
Her eyelids opened, showing the lights through her eyes. The color flowed out of her into the sword on Katharine's chest. Too much of the princess' blood covered the floor. Even the servants present knew the princess was dead. Goldflame, ever true to her name, spread a golden flame over Katharine's body, starting with her heart, which had been narrowly missed. The dagger wretched itself from Katharine's heart, It flew into the air, and then imploded, ceasing to exist. Brennin! Catch Perhin! Brennin released and concentrated thoroughly. The madman, who was running down the halls, stopped, his mind frozen.
The flames the animate sword had spread begun to work its way into the princess' flesh. The three mixed flames glowed inside Goldflame fully. It pulsated through the sword. It too spread to cover the lady-knight's body. Goldflame's glow died and the jewel on her hilt sparkled less. Eventually, the glow died on the princess as well. Goldflame didn't say anything.
Katharine's eyes twitched. They opened. A cheer went up around the room, Lance more than anyone. He cried. Cyrun took the sword from Katharine's chest. The hilt, which had rested on Katharine's forehead, came away cleanly, but a golden jewel was still on Katharine's forehead. Cyrun said nothing.
The two royals kissed. Brennin spoke. "You'd better hurry, my strength is waning." He whispered. Guards, who had been called also, ran down the halls to catch the madman. Lance helped Katharine sit up.
Katharine looked down at her sword. "Goldflame?" She asked, stroking the sword's blade. "Where have you gone?"
No one answered. Lance wept bitterly on his wife's shoulder. "I thought you were dead, Kathaine."
Her response surprised everyone, even Cyrun. "I was dead, Lance." She said inanimately. Lance's head perked up.
"No one can come back from death, Katharine, not even a lady-knight." She said tenderly. "It was probably the border of life and death."
At this, Katharine grew angry. "What would you know of it, Cyrun? I was dead. My spirit did float away, and Goldflame did anchor firmly and pull me back into life. I have been at the border of life and death. I was far beyond."
Lance held her close. "It's all right, Katharine. We believe you." He kissed the top of her head. He saw a small streak of white, one that glittered and gleamed with a golden light. The prince of Furde said nothing. It would only upset his princess.
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"… Thus the princess did sleep, Death taking her in his arms, flying her away, but Lo! Cyrun with aura bright, Prince Brennin with mind strong and Bamien with faith unfailing took up the sword Goldflame into their arms, laying the princess' sword on her chest. They gathered 'round the dying or dead princess, praying to the Goddess to save her. That Goddess answered them with an aura bright. Goldflame, stalwart sword and faithful companion, didst channel their powers unto the dead princess. Thus, Katharine, relived of her burden of Death, awoke as if from a peaceful sleep. The prince didst hug her, holding her close. Hence, Katharine of the Jewel was born of the death of Katharine of the Sword." The bard finished his ballad. He bowed amongst the clapping.
It had taken the bard little over a month to compose the ballad. Now, everyone in the kingdom knew of their princess, Katharine of the Jewel. Lance hugged her tightly. She was weakened. Even in a month, the princess had yet to recover fully. Mystics predicted something very weird. They said her strength wouldn't return until a daughter was born to her.