Responses to Reviews:

The-Finale-Hope: Thank you! So glad you're enjoying it! You'll find out about Jessamine in this chapter :)

ASilverShadowhunter: Thanks again for verifying the translation, and I'm so glad you find it intriguing! Hopefully I can live up to the story's potential.

Jillessa Heronstairs: I'm so glad I've got their personalities right. I'm also happy the paragraphs are looking better now. That is a good way to start a day! And that's alright, being my 3rd reviewer for the chapter is just as good. :)
I'm planning on drawing out the love triangle, and then I'll see where the story leads. Although I have a lot of things planned, that's one thing that isn't. They are both amazing guys, so I'll just have to see what suits the story.
I finally reveal Will's gift in this chapter!

Midnightstone1118: Thanks for your reviews, so glad you love it! I'm so glad to find another Jessa lover! There are not many of them around. But yeah, for this story, I will see what suits it, it's a hard decision…

Will seethed in anger as he stared Jessamine down.

"So this is where you ended up? Charlotte and Henry were like parents to you and you just left them without a word," he said angrily, practically yelling at her. Everyone in the inn stopped what they were doing in shock, so Jem pulled them both into an empty room before they could get in trouble or be overheard.

Jessamine didn't even have the grace to look guilty. Instead she said, "You wouldn't understand Will. I needed a new life, one where I could be normal."

"So how's being normal working out for you? Are you enjoying being a barmaid in an inn no one has ever heard of? I think it's about high time you worked and got your nails dirty. I'm surprised you were hired, you've never worked a day in your life!" Will said, his words poised to hurt, as though dripping with poison.

To his surprise, Jessamine started sobbing, putting her head in her hands. Tessa glared at him accusingly, and went over to comfort Jessamine. Jem looked around awkwardly, obviously not quite sure what to do. When their gazes met, Jem shook his head, and Will knew he wanted him to give Jessamine a break. However, that was more then she deserved after leaving them all like that.

Will continued, his words piercing, "When you disappeared, we searched for you for months. We wasted months of our time, thinking you had probably been kidnapped by Mortmain, and despairing over your fate. Charlotte and Henry cried over you, just like you cry now."

Not surprisingly, Jessamine sobbed louder, sinking to the floor, her dress fanning out around her.

She managed to get out between sobs, "I didn't think anyone would miss me… couldn't live like that anymore, hiding and living in poverty….. just wanted to feel normal."

"You disgust me," Will said before leaving the room and sitting down at the bar.

He ordered some strong ale to help dull his thoughts of the betrayal. He and Jessamine had never gotten on at the best of times, but for her to leave everyone like that without a word, it was unforgivable.

Jem and Tessa emerged, and ordered the supper special for the three of them, which was pottage – a hearty, thick vegetable and chicken stew, as well as bread and cheese. They then ate in a stony silence. Will noted that Jessamine had not emerged from the room herself. As he ate, Tessa kept throwing him angry and hurt gazes, as if he had attacked her personally.

"We have a big day of travelling ahead of us tomorrow, so we should probably get some sleep," Jem said when they had finished eating, ever the logical one.

"You two go ahead, I'll stay here," Will said, waving the innkeeper over, intending to order another ale.

However, Jem said, "I think you've had quite enough for tonight," and he called off the innkeeper.

"Jem…" Will said dangerously, he was not in the mood.

However, Jem calmly grabbed his arm and dragged him towards the stairs leading to the rooms. Will was suddenly too tired to resist, and let Jem lead him.

Jem whispered in his ear, soft enough so that Tessa wouldn't hear, "In case you've forgotten, you need to protect Tessa tonight, since you'll be in her room. We're all counting on you. Anyway, I think you've had plenty to drink already."

Will felt slightly guilty, and conceded Jem's point about needing to protect Tessa. However, he also had other worries on his mind. "Are you sure we can count on Jessamine to keep quiet about us staying here? What if she alerts the guards?"

Jem frowned worriedly, but replied in a more confident tone, "We'll just have to trust her. Surely she wouldn't give us up after all we've done for her. And there won't be anywhere else for us to stay now anyway."

Will didn't like the idea, and he knew Jem could be too trustful, tending to think the best of people. However, they didn't have a choice. He'd just have to be extra vigilant throughout the night.

The innkeeper's wife, who requested they called her Betty, guided them to their rooms and passed Jem and Will their keys. She insisted they let her know if there was anything they needed during their stay.

Betty turned to Will and Tessa and said apologetically, "I'm very sorry but the only room we had left has one large bed, so you'll have to share. But it shouldn't matter since you're brother and sister."

Will forced his face into a neutral expression and thanked her. He could see Tessa blushing profusely in the corner of his eye. Her cheeks turned a light pink, like the flowers that used to grow near his home. Betty left after bidding them goodnight.

Jem turned to him and Tessa and said, "I hope you both have a good night's sleep. I'll see you at breakfast." He then went into his room, leaving them alone.

Will entered the room, and Tessa followed behind him, closing the door. They stood awkwardly at the edge of the wooden-framed bed, with Tessa struggling to look anywhere but at him. This should be interesting, he thought, grinning inwardly.

Tessa finally broke the silence. "Since I got the bed last night I'm happy for you to have it tonight."

Will shook his head and replied, "I don't need the bed as much as you. I'm going to stay on guard all night, so I don't plan on going to sleep. You can use it."

Tessa looked guiltily at the bed, seeming to struggle to decide. She spoke faintly at first so he couldn't quite hear her. When he asked her to repeat what she had said, she whispered, "I guess we could share it. If we stay on our own sides of course."

Will's grin widened and he said, "It's certainly large enough for two."

Tessa looked mortified, seemingly regretting her decision and said, "You have to promise not to tell anyone! This could ruin my reputation."

Will refrained from mentioning that her reputation was the least of her worries at the moment. Instead, he looked her in the eye, trying to portray his seriousness. "I promise, I would never do that to you."

Tessa bit her lip nervously and nodded. She then lay down on the bed. Will went to the other side, keeping a respectable distance between them, and sat up with his head resting on the headboard. He knew he could keep watch in this position and stay awake.

"Good night Will," Tessa said, while facing the other direction.

"Good night Tessa," Will replied softly. However, he didn't know if she had heard him, since it seemed she was already asleep, judging from her slow, even breaths.

A noise startled Will in the middle of the night. He realised it was coming from Tessa. She was whimpering softly in her sleep. She then started to become more agitated, rolling from side to side, and seemed to be fighting off an unseen force.

Will shook her shoulder, and said "Tessa, it's me, Will. You're alright, it's just a nightmare." She tried to fight him off, while still asleep, so he gathered her into his arms and rocked her, saying soothing words into her ear. He remembered doing this for his younger sister, Cecily, when she had a nightmare.

Tessa awoke, her eyes flying open suddenly. She took in gasping breaths, and Will could feel her heart facing. When she had calmed down, she sat up as Will released her.

Looking embarrassed, she said, "I'm so sorry, Will! I completely forgot about my nightmares when I agreed to these sleeping arrangements."

"It's good you're helping to keep me awake," Will joked, trying to lighten the situation. He then waited, to see if she would explain what the nightmare had been about.

She obliged, and said, "Ever since I've been on the run, I have nightmares every so often. Mostly about what has happened to my family since I last saw them, or of what Mortmain would do to me if he captured me. Needless to say, it's not pleasant."

"I understand, I have nightmares about my family often as well. But you don't need to worry about your safety anymore. Jem and I are here to watch over you."

Tessa's eyes widened, and she said, "Thank you, Will, that means a lot to me."

He could tell she wanted to ask him about his family, but was holding herself back, which he was grateful for. She seemed a very inquisitive person who couldn't help but ask questions.

Instead she asked, "Do you mind if we talk? I don't mind what about exactly, just something to take my mind off it, and to help me get back to sleep."

Will nodded in confirmation and said, "I'm not sleeping anyway. We've got all night."

So Tessa asked, "Why exactly are you so angry at Jessamine? I heard snippets, but not the whole story."

Will sighed, but replied with, "Charlotte and Henry are actually the leaders of the Clave."
Tessa gasped in shock, and he knew he must trust her to reveal their names. It was a highly kept secret to protect them, and the Clave, from the king.

He continued, "Jessamine's parents died while serving the king, and Charlotte and Henry basically took her in as their daughter, as they took me in, and then Jem. But obviously that wasn't enough for her. She disappeared a year ago, and after considerable searching, we finally decided she must have been kidnapped by the king. Since she may have revealed our location, we had to relocate. Our base was our home and fortress, and we had to move, it now seems, for nothing but a silly girl's wishes."

Tessa's face was a mask of sympathy, but he wasn't finished yet.

"Jessamine was used to a life of luxury and being spoilt, since her parents were highly ranked nobles. She wasn't used to working towards a just cause, or giving up luxuries for the greater good. She also never had a 'gift', so she felt isolated from many in the Clave who were 'gifted.'"

Will shook his head before saying, "She probably wants to get married to some wealthy nobleman so she can indulge herself. I just can't believe she would do this to us. We were like her family."

Tessa put her hand on his back, "I'm so sorry Will. Now I can really understand your reaction. I can't believe someone would do that either."

Will shrugged pessimistically, "Well that's what you get when you trust someone."

Tessa looked saddened by this, but she didn't reply.

Curious, Tessa then tentatively asked the question he had been dreading. "What is your 'gift' Will?"

Will hesitated before he replied. His mind told him to stop talking, but the influence of the ale made him tell her, and caused the words to spill out involuntarily. Well, that's what he told himself anyway.

He said in a tone of pure self-loathing, "I have the 'gift' of persuasion. I'm sure you've heard of it. I can convince women through charm and persuasion to do something, as my words seem to hold power. It works on some people but not others. You'll find while I can charm with words, I can also destroy."

He could see Tessa's eyes widen in fright. She would be recounting all of their conversations, wondering when he had influenced her. Soon she would turn away in disgust – that's what they all did, besides Jem.

However, her response utterly surprised him and left him speechless. "Both of our gifts are based on deception or manipulation. Yours using words to persuade someone, and mine convincing people that I'm someone else."

No one else had ever understood his plight as much as Tessa did in that moment. His feelings of hatred and self-loathing towards himself over his 'gift' were finally experienced by another. He fought to hold back his emotion – he couldn't let it overwhelm him – even though his eyes stung.

"What matters Will, is that we use our 'gifts' for good. You use yours to help the Clave, for a greater cause, so you shouldn't be ashamed," Tessa said softly, as if speaking right to his heart.

He found he couldn't do anything but nod, for he feared what his voice would sound like.

After some time, he managed to croak out a "thank you," and Tessa smiled sleepily. She then managed to go back to sleep, and Will spent the rest of the night watching the shadows, and listening to the creaking of the stairs, feeling content for the first time in many years.

Thank you to all my reviewers! You're all amazing! Thanks for coming along for the ride.

I'm really looking forward to the next chapter, I've been planning it for a while :)

~ SilverJem5