A Touch of Lavender

A Bridge to Terabithia Ficlet

A/N: This is my second installment of what I intend to be a collection of BtT ficlets. In a way, the first two ficlets so far can be considered within the same universe and continuity. I'm not sure if it will still be the case in the future, though. But you might note that I deviated a bit from book and film canon in this chapter. I might be able to expand these stories into a more cohesive multi-chapter novella or novel (much like ALR?), but for now, I'll let these be short stories that can stand on their own.

I may have borrowed a few concepts and ideas from other great BtT fanfic writers here. Also, I wasn't able to add in the previous chapter's notes that the wedding band concept was borrowed from Alexandre Dumas' The Counte of Monte Cristo. A few lines in this chapter were borrowed from Lois Lowry's The Giver. And still some lines were borrowed from Young & Marshall's comic strip Blondie. Also, in hindsight and re-reading BtT fics, I realize I may have directly borrowed a few ideas from G-Matt's own Jess and Leslie – Sugar Baby Love (particularly chapter 5), which is actually a translation of another fic by Freestyler75.

Thanks to those who took time to review my first chapter, which is incidentally my first fanfic ever.

More author's notes can be found at the end of the first chapter.

Lastly, as a matter of disclaimer, I do not own the rights to BtT, or its characters.

Enjoy!

Grace

CREEEAK--CREEEAK--THUD!

It was a terrifying sound that echoed through the woods that was the kingdom of Terabithia one warm Saturday morning. Leslie was munching on an Oreo cookie when she jumped up in alarm from her corner of the treehouse stronghold.

"What was that?" she asked her best friend, who had been sitting right next to her, enjoying his juicy, red apple when he also jumped up in surprise at the sound.

"S-Someone could be out there, Leslie," he uttered, a bit worried. "It could be my dad. Or worse, some crazy murderer with a chainsaw!"

"Don't be silly, Jess. It's probably the giant troll again!" Leslie told her worried friend, rolling her eyes a bit.

"A-all right. But I thought we were already friends with the giant troll, after PT found her weak spot," Jess replied, recalling that wonderful day he gave the black and white sheepdog to Leslie. She named him Prince Terrien, and he was their giant troll hunter. But what he cherished most in his memory--and more so in his heart--was how Leslie hugged him in her thanks. He didn't yet know why, but the act stirred some deep seated emotions in him that made him feel good and happy.

"Who knows? Maybe she's having a bad day. Everybody has bad days," was Leslie's response. "We need to leave the fortress, King Jess. The king and queen of Terabithia have a duty to defend and protect the land."

"Even from giant trolls who woke up on the wrong side of the bed?" Jess asked in jest.

"Especially from giant trolls who woke up on the wrong side of the bed!" Leslie answered, laughing.

The two headed toward the side of the woods they heard the loud commotion from, and were very much surprised to learn that it was actually a tree that had fallen. It was a dead tree that Jess previously did not take notice of, but now vaguely recalls as one that stood at the bank of the creek, bereft of branches and leaves.

"Would you look at that!" Leslie exclaimed, both in delight and puzzlement, stroking her chin as she examined the fallen tree. "Who would've known that our friendly giant troll would help us build a bridge across the creek!"

And how right the queen was. Perhaps by some magic or some force of nature, the tree trunk had, indeed, lodged itself across the creek, thus forming a makeshift bridge across the banks of the two countries--one that was Lark Creek, Virginia in good ol' America, and the other, the kingdom of Terabithia.

"Well, I think it's divine providence," Jess exclaimed. "Maybe something, or someone, is telling us that we really do need another way to Terabithia. Our rope looks frayed and ready to snap at anytime now!"

"But it's our enchanted rope, Jess. And it's the only way to our kingdom." Leslie fingered the small loop of string from the rope, which she wore on her ring finger like a wedding band when he and Jess got married as king and queen at the sacred grove of pines.

"Trust me, Leslie." Jess said worryingly, as he put his hand on his queen's shoulder. "I've always been worried something bad might happen to you while swinging on our rope. Besides, we always carry a piece of our rope with us, right?"

Jess raised his hand to show Leslie his ring finger, on which he also wore their sacred band.

"Aww," Leslie smiled, her turquoise eyes seemingly conveying much affection to her friend, who delighted at the thought of being a brave protector to his queen.

"Besides, you're putting on some weight with all the Oreos we've been bringing to the castle. I don't think the rope can hold much of you anyway!" Jess joked.

Leslie poked at the king's belly. "Really? Well it's you who's growing fast!"

"Ow! Okay, truce," exclaimed Jess, raising his hands in mock surrender.

"Okay," Leslie smiled. "Let's see if the new bridge can carry us safely across, then!"

Leslie put her foot on the fallen tree, extending her hands out for balance. Taking one small step at a time, she was at the midpoint of the bridge when she felt like slipping.

"Jess!" Leslie's voice croaked as she screamed in horror as she lost her foothold. Leslie felt her life flashing before her eyes. But a strong hand caught her forearm, and they both fell forward, but now regaining their balance. Leslie now felt safe.

"Whoa there! Steady!" Jess exclaimed, as she held on to Leslie's arm. They were both crouched down, almost hugging the tree trunk, and facing each other. "Good thing I thought of following you while you crossed."

"So much for safety, eh?" Leslie smirked at her friend. "Still, you saved my life, and I am ever grateful to you, my king!"

The Terabithian rulers inched across the trunk, still crouched low, and taking care not to lose their balance. Once on the other side, both had streaks of sweat on their foreheads, but were ecstatic to have made the journey across.

"I have an idea," Leslie suddenly exclaimed, quite elated. "Remember the lumber that dad has out in the front yard?"

"Well, yes." Jess answered, with quite a hint of an idea of what his friend was planning.

"He did include a few extra planks in his order, in case he wanted to do more renovation projects on the house," Leslie explained. "Maybe we can ask for a few, and use those to improve our new bridge!"

"That's a good idea," Jess beamed. "Let's get started then!"

"Race you to my house!" Leslie wasn't quite finished saying "house" yet, when she sped off toward the direction of the dirt road that connected the Aarons and Burke residences.

"No fair!"

Building a wooden bridge was both the most enjoyable and tiring task for a fifth grade kid, Jess Aarons, Jr. thought, as he lay atop the couch in the Burkes' golden room. He recalled how, yesterday afternoon, he and Leslie carried twelve wooden planks from the front yard, through the dirt road, through the grasslands, and finally the creek side, across which were the shores of Terabithia. It helped that Leslie was there to help him heave the planks that far. Leslie was indeed strong for a girl, Jess thought. The two-by-four pieces of lumber were much easier to carry, though, and by the time they finished moving the wood and the tools, they'd already have a plan on how to reinforce their bridge and create a sturdy and passable platform. But the sun was setting, and the bridge had to wait until the next day.

Leslie attended mass with Jess and the rest of the Aaronses earlier that Sunday morning. Dressing down into work clothes after a light lunch, the pair ran straight to the creek and got their project started. With much measuring, sawing, heaving, nailing, and sanding--not to mention a sore left thumb, when Jess's hammer accidentally missed hitting its target nail and hit a thumbnail--the bridge was finished. It was almost dark when Leslie hammered the final touch onto an archway that served as the bridge's entrance.

It was a blue coat of arms shaped like a shield, with a golden sword crossed with a golden pencil. Both Jess and Leslie worked on the piece, with Jess drawing and Leslie painting. It had an inscription, which the two thought very appropriate.

Nothing Crushes Us

Leslie stepped down from the stepladder she was perched on, and gave a final "Whew!" She wiped her brow, glistening with perspiration. The sun was golden and already kissing the horizon. The breeze was gentle, helping cool down the king and queen, who were beaming with delight at their creation.

Sitting beside Jess on the oversized sofa that evening, Leslie likewise felt exhausted, but still exhilarated at the thought of finishing a construction project with her friend in record time. "I don't know how we even got back home," she told Jess, while absentmindedly twirling some strands of his brown hair with her forefinger.

"I don't even know how I got to finish supper," was Jess's tired reply. "Which reminds me, thanks for inviting me over, and for Judy calling Momma to say you invited me to stay for supper."

"Don't mention it. Hey, you were dog tired from all that work, and I suddenly felt inspired to entertain!"

"It's been a hard day, all right. I should be sleeping like a log!"

"Sounds like a song my parents like to listen to. Hard Day's Night by the Beatles," Leslie silently told her friend, who was now gazing up at her from his lying position. "Hey, I know what would help you. Come with me!"

Jess roused himself, and followed Leslie up to the direction of her room. Entering what seemed to be her private alcove, Jess felt both familiar and a bit awkward at the same time. It wasn't the first time he saw his best friend's room, of course, but each of the few times he went there, he always noticed something new. It wasn't like his room back at his own place--or rather, the room that he shared with his two younger sisters, May Belle and Joyce Anne. Leslie's room was definitely more spacious. A double sized bed stood at the middle, flanked by two side tables. A large bookshelf stood brimming full with hardbounds and paperbacks, right beside the wide window that Jess recognized to be the one that faced his own house. Right by the window was a wide study desk, with a few books neatly stacked, pens and pencils inside a small steel drum and a shiny, sleek iMac with a matching silver keyboard and shiny mouse near the corner.

Jess noticed a framed drawing on one of the bedside tables. It was one of Leslie, PT and himself that he drew as a Christmas gift for Leslie.

"Like it?" Leslie asked, as her friend fingered the frame, in awe at how a good frame would make even such a simple sketch look like a Picasso.

"It looks great!"

"Judy had it framed a few weeks ago when we went to Millsburg mall. She said it was a special gift, and that it deserved to be displayed here prominently. Personally, I don't care, just as long as I get to see a portrait of the Terabithian royal court before I float away into deep slumber."

Jess chuckled to himself at the thought of Leslie floating away while asleep.

"Anyway, the reason we're here is I'd like to do something for you. I know it would help." Leslie motioned toward the bed. "Lie face down. Remove your shirt first."

"What?!?" Jess exclaimed, mouth agape and eyes wide open in what Leslie thought to be his most horrified and confused expression.

Leslie tried to suppress a giggle, quite unsuccessfully. "Don't worry. We're not doing anything bad, and the door is wide open, anyway. Go on!"

Still befuddled at why his friend would want him to be in such a precarious position, Jess took off his shirt and shoes, and lay down on his belly as ordered. "Okay, but if anyone sees us, I'll tell them you had me drugged or hypnotized or something."

"Even better than that!" Leslie exclaimed, adding to her friend's worry.

She then proceeded to pull out a small bottle from her bedside table. "This is Lavender oil," she whispered to her friend, as she opened the flip-top cap and poured some oil onto one hand. "Judy often rubs my back whenever I feel anxious or tired. She says Lavender has calming and relaxing effects. We had supper two hours ago, so it should be fine to do this now. Close your eyes. Relax. This will not be painful."

She then proceeded to rub the oil through Jess's back, first in a light effleurage from the small of his back, then upwards toward his shoulder, then back again. Then back and forth.

"Mmm," groaned a sleepy Jess, who very much appreciated the soothing touch of his friend's slender and gentle fingers. While this was an altogether new sensation to him, he didn't protest a bit. The rich bouquet tickled at his nostrils, filled his lungs with sweetness, and Jess felt like floating in the air himself.

"It gets better!" Leslie happily explained, as she glided her palms over her king's back, this time with heavier, circular motions. She made it a point to stroke Jess's nape every so often, which she knew would soothe the boy's anxious mind and tired body. Passing through his Trapezius muscles, she thought she felt knots and tried to knead these away . Poor boy, Leslie thought. The chores must be really getting to him.

Leslie wondered how she suddenly had so much energy left after the day's work, but remembered reading somewhere that girls were usually more enduring in so many ways than boys were. And then it came.

SKNX-X-X-X. SKNX-X-X-X.

SKNX-X-X-X.

Leslie couldn't help but giggle as Jess snored, dozing off under her touch. She sighed, feeling her work was done after just ten minutes, but stayed on stroking gently for a few more. But then there were other things that needed taking care of. Leslie slowed down, finished off with a gliding motion over the sleeping boy's spine, and draped a blanket over her friend, carefully tucking him in.

Jess opened his eyes, recalling vividly a dream about floating over a valley full of Lavender shrubs. He wasn't sure if he was still dreaming, or if his eyes were still clouded, or if these were really a girl's legs he was staring into—a girl wearing a lavender-colored tank top and shorts. Lavender, he thought.

"Oh, hello," greeted a cheerful Leslie. "You've been out a couple of hours." It's already eleven."

"Whaaa--" Jess exclaimed worriedly, trying to stand up in haste. "My dad would kill me!"

"Don't worry," Leslie explained, still seated with legs crossed and reading a book beside her friend. "I asked Judy to call your mom. She explained that you were exhausted and fell asleep. Judy told me you could sleep over, and your Momma agreed. Iguess she thought it was too late for you running back home, anyway. I can help you with your early morning chores before school tomorrow, if you like."

"Uhh, does Judy know why I snoozed off?"

"Pretty much, yes. She says it always happens to me, too, when she rubs my back. I'm pretty sure I also heard her say something about her being glad we weren't doing it the other way around. Or at least not yet. I couldn't quite get what she meant, though."

"Oh. I'm not quite sure either," was a puzzled reply from Jess. "So shall I stay at the couch downstairs, then?"

Leslie shook her head, grinning widely. "Judy says you can stay with me tonight. I guess as long as the door's wide open as it is, it's all right. They trust you, Jess. And maybe they think we're too young to do anything we shouldn't be doing, right?"

Leslie handed her king a new pack of underwear, a pair of pajamas and a toothbrush, explaining Bill and Judy always kept these in stock, in case relatives or friends spend the night over without remembering to bring their essentials. "Your royal sleeping garb, my king!"

"I look like a dork. This thing's too big for me!" Jess exclaimed as he exited the bathroom, holding the baggy pajama pants up like a skirt. "And somehow I feel like as giddy as a girl on her first sleepover!"

"You look quite regal," Leslie remarked. "And to me, you still look like the manliest king, I know. Ever!"

"If this shirt were a few inches longer, I'd be a Jedi!"

The two best friends shared sweet, hearty laughter that can be heard throughout the Burke house.

"Lights out, you kids!" they heard Bill's stern, but affectionate voice call out from the other room down the hall. "Tomorrow's a school day."

"Okay, Bill!" Jess and Leslie cried out in unison. "Goodnight!"

The king and queen of Terabithia then quietly lay down, fingertips touching, and looking towards the heavens that was the ceiling of Leslie Burke's bedroom.

Good times, Jess thought.

Jess turned his head towards his blonde friend lying by his side. Beautiful, he could hear himself thinking. This was the same thought he had in his young mind the first time he saw Leslie Burke run.

Leslie turned her head, too, and their eyes met.

"Goodnight, Leslie."

"Goodnight, Jess."

The king and queen of Terabithia, fingers now intertwined, embarked on a journey through slumber land. A warm feeling of contentment filled them both as they dreamed of Lavenders growing throughout their kingdom.