As I am editing all of my chapters, I must admit I have NO CLUE what this one is actually about. Well...I guess I'll find out!
Song for this Chapter: Carousel → Linkin Park. The song is almost too fitting. Linkin Park, you must have read the story before! :D
Chapter 12: The Arrival of Demons and Angels
"Who did it, Numair?" The king asked his mage, furious. "Last night was no joke. My Gift was drained. It's happened twice in one month! What if an enemy mage is attempting something? What if—."
"Majesty, I assure you that it is no enemy," Numair told Jonathan calmly. The two of them were both sitting in a small study. The king sat back in his wooden chair with disbelief.
"Who was it then? I've had enough secrets for a while, what with King Maggur and that stupid thing he's looking for."
"And what thing would that 'thing' be?" Numair as patiently.
"You didn't answer my first question," the king retorted.
Numair sighed. "It was Romeli. When massive amounts of emotion build up in someone around her—things happen. It's quite a long and detailed event."
"Well I'm not planning to leave until I hear it." His no longer looked angry, but he wasn't calm either. He sighed heavily, and rubbed him temple with two of his fingers. There was a strain hindering him, adding age to his face. The stress of war was already taking its toll. When he looked back up at Numair again, his expression was apologetic.
Numair nodded. "As much as I would love to tell you the details, I must confess that I don't know them all myself. All I know is that the intense emotion, whatever it may be, triggers it."
Jonathan nodded thoughtfully "I think I know what triggered it then. I suspect I may be the culprit, seeing as I am the Voice of the Tribes. I became One with the Bazhir tribes at about the same time the earthquakes began. All of the tribes forming as One is a very emotional ritual."
Numair hadn't thought of that. He examined a loose thread in his blue tunic and tugged it off with ease. "That's very reasonable. Knowing me, I would want to test your guess to see if it is accurate, but it brings so much pain towards Romeli, and I don't want to harm her. Gods Jonathan she was so close to death!"
His face shadowed over at last night's memories.
"Too many—animals. I'll—die—if I add—more power."
The voice was so hollow. He could almost smell the blood that spurted from her mouth. Romeli's stone white face covered in blood and sweat burned in his mind. It sent shivers up his spine.
He told himself that it was okay. Romeli was being nursed back to health this very moment. But what about the next time it happened?
"We have another problem," Jonathan said. "I become One every night. And if Romeli stays in the palace when I become One..." He didn't need to finish the sentence.
Numair had also been thinking of the same conflict. "One of you must leave the palace during your ritual."
"I will," Jonathan volunteered, replying quickly. "Being the Voice of the Tribes should not be her burden as well. Besides, a little fresh air is nice now and again." With the conflict settled, Jonathan was in a much calmer state.
"Now what is it that King Maggur is looking for?" Numair asked with curiosity.
Jonathan sighed. "He's looking for this...thing...that is apparently in our possession. Supposedly it holds the the meaning of life, magic, power, and jewel. If he's willing to start a war in order to find it, then it must be immensely strong. Maybe if we can find it, and use it against him, we could win the war. But I've scoured the library and haven't even come close to identifying this object."
Numair nodded thinking of the possibilities of what it could be. None came up in his head. He would love to see such a powerful object—whatever it was.
Once he was excused, Numair bowed out the door and headed towards the infirmary.
OOO
Romeli lay in the large infirmary surrounded by other beds. She herself was sitting up—well trying to at least. Her whole body shook weakly. Daine rushed over and helped her up, despite her daughter's protests.
Nealan, James' father rushed over to her once she saw that she had awoken. In his hands was a vile smelling mug and a roll of bandages. He seemed to be muttering about 'the end of the world' and 'abnormal powers'. Obviously he did not appreciate having his Gift stolen, or waking up to find the palace shaking.
Romeli drowned out the quiet complaints as she closed her eyes, exhausted. She had been sleeping all day and night, but the draining of her life, Gift, and other powers had taken a lot out of her. Her reopened wounds were already bandaged, but they had bled through the cloth when she was sleeping.
Romeli laughed inside at that. The only place I get peace is my sleep, she thought as she fingered a strand of hair. Funny, I rarely even get peace there. Her Guardians' periodic nightly visits to notify her of growing powers and problems reminded her of that.
She snapped back to reality when the faint menacing smell grew stronger. Neal was waving the mug in front of her face. She opened her eyes in silent disgust as she looked down at the evil substance in the cup.
"Sir Nealan, are you trying to kill me?" She asked in shock. She sensed that the tea—if one could call it that—was full of herbal magic that she couldn't identify.
His eyes narrowed. "Didn't your mother train you not to fight a healer?" Neal asked in a bold drawl that faintly reminded her of James.
Romeli glared at him mockingly. "I am a healer," Romeli informed. Daine tried to bite back a snort with no outcome. "There is no way I'm drinking that. I'll heal myself."
Just when the knight was about to protest, Numair walked in flustered. He looked pale under his light tan and it was clear that he had been chewing his lip in thought on the way to the room.
Neal walked over to the other mage with annoyed arms folded on his chest. "Numair Salmalin," he started, like he was telling a child off. "Do you have any idea as to why your daughter will not allow me to heal her?"
Numair looked at Romeli. She looked at him sheepishly with tired eyes. He had not a clue as to why Romeli would refuse a healing.
To Numair's pleasure, he didn't have to ask. "He's forcing me to drink this—thing." She pointed to the mug of 'tea' that was beginning to give off an even more appalling odor. She stuck out her tongue in distaste. Daine held her nose, and her cloudy blue eyes were watery.
Numair went over to the perhaps destructive mug and nearly doubled over as he gagged from the still evolving smell. Holding his nose, he inspected the mug with teary eyes. "Yes this tea is quite helpful to the weak body. But what I don't understand is how Neal could make such a sweet tasting tea look and smell so horrific." He looked at Neal with raised brows.
"I guess my tea making skills were never the best," he admitted with a slightly stubborn glare. Neal mumbled something about seeing a different patient as he walked away with slightly redder cheeks than before.
Romeli sighed at the wasted time and began to heal herself with a tired and overused Gift.
Throughout the morning, Romeli had multiple visits from her worried friends. Romeli herself was confused by the act. Why would they even worry about me? I've only known them for a few days. Yet as she thought this, she couldn't shake off the feeling that people outside of family actually cared about her. And I don't even deserve it, she thought bitterly. I'm too much trouble.
Nothing eventful happened over the morning and through Romeli's lunch of light soup. Her wounds were healed and back to the scars they were, but her body ached. It felt like she could feel every muscle creak and work, even with the slightest of movements.
Looking around her, she noticed for the first time in a day now, she was completely alone. Even Neal had run off, probably tending to something else in the palace. A weight seemed to lift off her shoulders, and she closed her eyes, exhaling heavily.
You do deserve your friends, a part of her told her as she sat on her bed still as a rock. Just because you're different doesn't mean that you can't have friends. Daine has friends, Numair has friends... She no longer knew her surroundings. Her mind was the real world now.
They have friends because they look normal. I'm the one with the freaky hair. Besides, no one has powers like I do. How could they possibly relate to me? Heck, they don't even know me!
Your looks are beautiful. You're beautiful. You may not realize it because you're so damn stubborn, but if you would pay more attention, you would notice.
I am not beautiful! And what does that have to do with anything anyway? Hell...I don't even care anymore.
Oh for the god's sake cheer up! You're not yourself and you know it. People will start to suspect things if you suddenly start to act this way. And think of how your parents will react.
No matter how much it pained her to admit it, that voice was right. Besides, the last thing she needed right now was sympathy.
She flowed back to her true surroundings quickly—too quickly. Her mind and eyes couldn't decide which world they favored and were caught between the two. Her eyes flushed and all she could see was black and white. In her mind was a rope dangling in the wind with the end looped so it was just big enough to admit a head. The vision lasted for no longer than a second, but it left a piercing headache afterwards.
Shivers ran up her back as her head pounded. What was that?
Her gifts were abilities from the gods. They were a curse to her. She hid that curse in her mind, never letting it out. The knocks it made on the door to freedom grew nothing but louder. Outside in the world, she used her Gift to her advantage, but every time she brought it out from her spirit, she felt that curse. It was gnawing at her mind, and she knew it was going to break through someday
The Demons in her mind were trying to break loose. To open that locked door, but first they needed a key.
OOO
"Quickness in dueling needs a lot of concentration and—well—fast thinking. Most of all however, you need creativity," Numair said to Romeli during her magic lesson. After another night of staying in the infirmary, she had finally been released. Numair decided it would be best to continue with training later that afternoon.
Romeli pretended to be fascinated, but her mind kept on drifting to the black and white image stained in her mind.
"Romeli? Are you listening?" Numair asked after a pause. He had been staring at Romeli's blank face for only a moment, but it almost seemed like the girl was trapped somehow. Romeli's eyes were glazed over like she could see, but was blind to everything around her.
"Huh?" she asked as she came back. "Oh. Concentration, fast thinking, and creativity. Got it."
"Right," Numair said. In a flash, his hands were brought up and black fire was thrown out of his hands towards Romeli.
Romeli had not expected such actions, and as a reward for such ignorance, she was thrown to the floor by the ball's mass before she could even produce a small shield.
Romeli lurched to her feet and glared at her father, all haunting thoughts forgotten. "I just came out of the infirmary and I suddenly get ambushed by my father with magical balls? I can't even describe the likes of you."
"Romeli I'm sorry," Numair started. "I guess I just got carried away with-."
"Nuh uh. Apologies later. Revenge starts now," Romeli said. She threw a particularly stiff pillow at Numair's head.
After a brutal beating by Romeli, Numair sat down with his daughter and gave her tips on being quicker when dueling. He even gave her some of his own tricks.
A question that she had been wondering about for some time now surged through Romeli's mind as they worked. After only a few minutes, she couldn't stand to hold in the question in any more.
"Hey Da?"
"Yes?" he asked with his nose bent over a piece of parchment.
"What would happen if you transformed into an immortal?"
Numair froze and looked up at her sharply. "Don't you ever think of doing something as foolish as that. Do you understand?"
No need to get so emotional over it, she thought surprised. Aloud she said," Okay I won't, but what will happen? I just want to know."
Numair sighed as he put down his paper. "You'll be stuck as that immortal forever."
Romeli nodded. Though secretly, she thought it would be pretty cool to live the rest of her life as a griffin, or even a dragon.
Numair ended the lesson shortly after saying that he had places to go to. When he closed the door behind him, Romeli sighed.
So many things had happened in such a short time, and she wasn't sure if she could take it anymore.
OOO
James was quietly reading in his small room when he heard a knock on the door. Pouncing to his feet, he put down a very enjoyable book to let the guest in. He sighed when he opened the door to Tim's face.
"What do you want?" James asked as he closed the book and placed it on his bookshelf. It was obvious that he couldn't be alone these days. Tim walked into the room and shut the door behind him as if it was his room as well.
"It's more of what you want, brother," Tim said slyly as he sat in a chair. "I know how you've been looking at Romeli."
"Looking at her in what way?" James asked, completely confused. "I haven't been...."
"Don't deny the fact that you have feelings for her, James," Tim warned. For once, he was quite serious.
"You have no right to meddle in my affairs," James said with a hint of anger. Then more quietly he said, " don't have feelings for Romeli, anyways" It was true. Romeli was more of a friend than potential lover, even though he had to admit that she was strikingly beautiful. It just didn't have an effect on him.
"Well then how do you see her in your life?" Tim asked with a shrug.
"I see her as family and you should too. Even though we can't trust her, I won't give up on her. Or am I the only one here who has a heart?"
Tim shook his head as he looked down. "Too nice for your own good," his twin murmured. "But you're definitely not the only one who has a heart. We were all there in the infirmary too."
James met Tim's eyes evenly, a silent understanding passing between them.
"Dinner then?" offered Tim, making his way for the door. The two exited.
"Should we invite Romeli? It could get boring just eating with her parents," James said as they headed down the hall.
"Hopeless romantic...hey! That hurt!" Tim complained, rubbing his arm.
James laughed. "Oh Tim, you're such a strong squire!"
Tim glared. "Romeli's room it is then."
OOO
Romeli heard a knock on the door, and left her parents to open it.
"Hey Romeli," Tim greeted happily when she opened the door. "Would you like to go to dinner with us?"
Romeli turned to her parents with a pleading look. Though she was tempted to spend the night alone, she also couldn't turn down the offer.
With her parent's permission, Romeli, Tim, and James left the room to go to the mess hall.
The large room was crowded with many young men and teenagers. The clusters of tables were roomy and the benches were long. The head table seated a few important people including what looked like Whave's father, Faleron, and a few other men.
"James over here!" cried the joyous voice of Sereem. Over the oceans of staring people, they saw a group of beckoning hands. The three of them grabbed their food (Romeli who made sure that she stayed as far away as possible from the radishes) and sat down with their friends. Romeli sat next to Whave and James as she tried to ignore the many staring men.
Romeli attempted to conceal herself between the two tall teens, but green hair was too obvious among the natural colors around her. She blushed a deep red when one bold man hooted at her from a few tables away. All of her friends glared at the man.
"Doesn't anyone show respect for a lady when they see one?" Ethan asked as he tried to cheer her up.
Romeli smiled weakly as she looked at her untouched food. She only just noticed how much she hated the basic actions of humans. They were gifted with magnificent minds, but their potential was mostly wasted with ignorance taking its stead.
She unconsciously took a bite of grass. It tasted so good in her mouth, like it was natural to her. She stamped her hoof and followed her herd to the next patch. A shove from a horse next to her made her fall on the ground. Darkness swept over her.
She opened her eyes wide, black and white filling her vision. Then there was the noose, swinging back and forth in her mind. There was innocence in its pours. It was just a rope after all, but it had accomplished so many evils. She screamed, but no sound came.
"Romeli?" cried a distant voice.
No! Go away! She cried in a world not their own. No sound came from her cold body. She couldn't see a thing, but her eyes were wide open.
"Get Numair quick!" yelled an ordering voice. "And get everyone out of here!"
I have to go, I need to leave! My friends are waiting for me!
No. I'm your only friend! It's just you and me now. You don't need anyone. Death. Take death!
GET OUT OF MY MIND!
As a last effort to hold the demon back, a shock swept through her body and she jolted. Black and white once again courted her eyes. That rope blew with the wind.
The demons still had not found the key, but they were close.
O.O
...oh my. I guess I remember now.
Replies:
QueenThayet12990: I love James so much! He's my fav. Yep, the emotion was the voice of the tribes. Don't worry, I will read that story as soon as I have the time.
Nothing else worked: aw one of my favorite reviewers! Is James not as perfect now? Don't worry the give and take is coming probably next chapter. I would love to do your idea, but it wont be for a while if I do do it. I agree with you about the Numair thing, and I was planning to have him not say as much, and he didn't really. He just says what happens. The rest about Romeli being connected to everything he doesn't even know about. And the King doesn't have a clue about anything. Yea. She is practicing every morning like Kel does, but I just don't right it. Shit, that isn't a good thing is it. Don't worry my friend! I shall add it in! lol.
Ephona: Dammit you need to stop reading my mind! Am I really that predictable? Yes. Oh okay then…It's not gonna be a squire tho. You'll see…
Wild-wizard-women: Yay I long one! Lol. I love u. Not like that you nasty! I have unfortunately run out of moose! I'm sorry! More will be shipped tomorrow. Now for the answers to your questions…
One: I don't know how I come up with the names, they just pop up.
Two: What happened is the same at Pirate's Swoop. And 'as she counted the seconds until she was caught in mindless pain' means that she is counting the seconds until she would have the chaos thought.
Three: Yea it's just a typo. It happens to me a lot.
Four: It would be duke Gareth I just made a mistake. Yes Duke Gareth the elder is dead (black god rest his passing) to the funeral everyone!
Five: She rid all of Corus of the virus. The willow tree was healthy, but since it was a baby she made it grow adult.
Six: They would, but it gives them something to do. And if there is a really important document they probably want to do it themselves.
Seven: I'm not sure if Alanna commands or not. And yes she is getting quite old. I think her fifties or early sixties. But she's going strong! For a little while…
Eight: It's pitless. I just kept on messing up I guess. I do that a lot.
Nine: I hope the key above helps. And I'll try and use last names yes.
Ten: 'der' is a little word my friend and me made up. It means the same as duh. Whatever duh means.
Eleven: To me yelp and scream mean just about the same thing so I'm not quite sure. And everyone with a gift in the world felt it taking over them and then getting drained by Romeli.
I love questions and thank you ten times for everything. You're welcome to ask more of course! Lol. silly. Thank you and I am working on getting the site up at this moment. It may be a couple weeks. In the meantime I can always draw more pics.
HyperLittleCat: Sorry about the errors. I've never been a good speller. Thank you I love her too! And James is very sexy! Lol. You're silly. I'm scared of the FBI too. :growl: I hate them. Mmmm coffee. What's ur fav eminem song?
Okay everyone the results for Romeli's last name have Romeli of Tartok Tonrar as the winner. So that's her last name from now on. And the language will be Old Thak cause it'll work out the best. Hooray! Wonderful vote.