They had walked for several hours with very little stops. From time to time, he would stop to let him catch up with him, or when she needed to catch her breath. She was sweating profusely and was definitely grateful she had opted for a tunic and trousers instead of a gown.
"Are you tired?" He asked without looking at her. She looked up at him as she tried to keep up with his strides, stay by his side, which took much effort. His legs were long.
She actually was tired, but she was not going to admit it. not now. Not yet.
"Naw." Was all she could say, she was literally trying to save her breath, And was glad beyond words when he stopped, though she wasn't about to say it.
It was a small clearing with wildflowers and rocks that were big enough to sit on.
"Let's rest here a while." Jasper said, looking at her. Her cheeks were red and he was scared she was going to faint on him. She hadn’t complained since they started moving at dawn, he found it
Panic gripped at her and made her knees weak, but she managed to stay on her feet, although she no longer felt steady.She darted her gaze from left to right and looked, and turned around on the spot where she stood, before finally lookingback to where he had laid several minutes ago, and that was when shenoticed that both his sword and it's scabbard were gone too.But Where could he have gotten to? She wondered."Japser!" Her voice caught on the pronounciation of his name as she turned once more on her heels looking for signs of him or what could have happened. She walked to the rock where she had left him and was overcome by another wave of panic."Jasper!" she called out, this time louder than the first. She heard the sound of water and took slow unsteady steps toward the stream and she could have sworn her heart sighed in relief.But her relief was soon washed away with anger.
They made it to the tavern with no trouble and Jasper sighed a deep sigh of relief when they had their plates of food in their hand along with their jars of juiced fresh berries.They ate in silence. But then, Silence had been their company since the kiss they had shared earlier. Neither of them had wanted to bring it up, didn't know how to.They broke camp that morning and spoke at intervals, and even then, their conversation centered around what paths they would be taking, and since Jasper was the man with the map, he did most of the talking while she nodded. she mostly nodded."Good food." He said trying to break the ice. But He didn’t succeed.She nodded again and went back to her plate of fish and chips.He wanted to groan in frustration, but decided against it. it didn’t think it would yield any good.In any case, it was for the better no one heard her voice, regardless of the sweet femininity
She struggled with the desire to go out and be with him."How could I be angry with him and still want to be with him at the same time?" She whispered to herself in frustration.But however frustrated she was with how she felt, it was how she felt. She wanted to go out and be with him. and while one part of her wanted to beat him to bits for turning away from her again and again, another part of her, the part that yearned for him so much, wanted to kiss him till she lost all sense of what was meant and what wasn’t. And she would have willingly lost all sense if it meant she was tucked by his side, his arms wrapped around her.She groaned at herself, at her wants and turned on her side. It was Just her luck.
He believed her fine and good. But did he trust the whole situation?He could answer that easily. No, he did not.But he had not told Hannah that, he was not going to. The woman had diamonds in her eyes at the possibilities were before them, he wasn’t going to try to take them out of her eyes, and she genuinely looked excited at meeting this woman. He was curious, if he was being honest, and he wanted to share this adventure with her, but more than anything else, he wanted to keep her safe.He didn't take for granted that she wasn't completely stubborn, she understood his need to keep her safe, but she had a will of her own and not even him could keep her from seeking this woman, he wasn’t even going to try, didn't want to."Jasper? You're
"Thank you... For having us?" It wasn't a question, but it came out as one. she wasn't quite sure what to say to the woman, she found she had been more at ease in her dream, maybe because then she had not had the time to overthink the situation. In any case, they were there in the woman’s house and they were going to see it through. Hopefully get the answers they were needing."Come right in." Said the woman, as she opened her front door and made a sweeping gesture with her hand ushering them into her home. A warm smile playing on her lips.Jasper squeezed her hand again, when she hesitated, and she took that as an, it's okay, let's go.She took measured steps toward the woman and nodded briefly before walking past her and i
Her heart yearned for him. But in truth, if she was being honest with herself, to herself, her heart had been doing that lately- yearning for Jasper- what else was new?But, it yearned more deeply as she stood at the door frame, while he sat on the steps. She closed the door behind her and went to him. Allowing her heart , this time, to do the leading.Heaven help me, she prayed inwardly.She sat quietly beside him and put down the plate of cookies beside her, wrapping her arms around his middle. His arms came around her firmly yet gently and they stayed that way for a long while, saying nothing, giving room for the night song of crickets and owls to envelop them.He'd been out here for hours. Martha, the
"Good morning Martha." He said, his gaze resting briefly on her before returning it back to Hannah."Good morning to you, Jasper. Sleep well, dear?" He took a seat on one of the chairs arranged around the round dining table.“ Yes I did, and you, darling?” She flushed at the flirtation and shook her head,“ Yes I suppose I did.”She placed plates filled with eggs and bacon in front of Jasper and Hannah."Eat, the both of you, we have much to discuss today, you will both need your bellies filled."Hannah Rose a brow at Jasper, and he shrugged with a hint of a smile.&ldqu
He managed to get all three of the glasses to the table, and laid them out before them without much casualty. At least if one didn't add the water he spilled from time to time, you could say he did a grand job. He could have just carried them in a tray, he realised, albeit all too late."You must return to the castle with me." He heard Hannah say firmly, when he tuned in his focus to their conversation."I will, soon enough. But not with the both of you. Not just yet." she smiled, urging the girl to understand."But soon. I’m taking my stand on that." Hannah said, leaving no room for argument. He smiled, she could befierce when it came to what she wanted. He knew that first hand."Soon." The elderly woman said, and he heard the smile in her voice. She went back to
“Will she be okay?" Hannah asks, bending over her grandmother, tears running down her face. She had faced a hard hit when the Athanatoi had thrown her aside, and Hannah was sure they had been cruel to her even before they reached the castle. It made her angry just thinking about it. Made her sad looking at Grandmother, the way she looked frail and vulnerable. Her parents had said Martha was Welcome, shwe just wished Martha had been there sooner, then those ancient devils would never have gotten a chance to touch her. But nevertheless, she was with them now, and by God Almighty, as long as she lived, they’d never lay a hand on her grandmother ever again. Neither they nor anyone else."Just a few bruises, but they'll heal." Queen Anastasia said, but she too worried about her mother"What aren't you saying mama?" Hannah asked, looked at her mother, beg
Myeen, you seek my own. And even now, you hold my own captive."The Athànatoi gave a blood curdling laugh as he held on to Martha, whose face was unearthly serene."Your own? But you cast this poor old lady out of your castle, Your own mother-in-law." He spat out the last phrase. "You just might be worse than me. And where is that little wife of yours? How about a little mother-daughter reunion?" He rose on his toes and craned his neck, as if searching for Anastasia. And it hit Jasper, that maybe, just maybe, he was looking for Hannah."She is not here, Myeen." The Athànatoi
She ran down the stairs –no, scratch that– She flew. And Jasper came right after. "They're coming, Jasper! And they have Martha!" She shrieked as she made for the door of the library. The passage that led to the rooftop was in the library. She wondered vaguely just how many more passages in this place were hidden doors that looked like walls. Jasper grabbed her and hugged her hard against him. He held her and she could hear his racing heart and joined him as he began to recite 'our father.' And their voices became one cry. "–Hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven, give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us," She heard bells ring and believed someone had spotted the
" Hannah?" Jasper asked as he walked into his bed chambers, completely startled to find her in there, straightening his bed, as though she'd laid in it. Which she had, she'd watched Jasper enter the throne room and turned away somewhat hurt that he hadn't shared the fact that he had been summoned by her father, with her. She had walked back to her bed Chambers and sat on her bed, standing again several minutes later, telling herself she would not mope. Instead she had a bath, had a maiden do up her and walked to Jasper's newly assigned room. it wasn't that hard to find, the guards could be very helpful when they had a mind to. And so she waited for him to come back and wondered what it was that was being said between both the king and Jasper that took so long. She wasn’t nosy, she didn’t see herself as nosy anyway. She chose to call her behaviour curious. Exactly, she was simply being curious.
"two more have joined her. I think one of them is a man fairy, he's wearing pants.""Or maybe she's a princess on an adventure who is wearing pants as a disguise." Jasper chuckled and she smiled, she enjoyed making him laugh. They were lying down now, watching the stars aligned high up in God's majestic heavens."It's crazy. Being able to see tiny flying human-like creatures." He said,"With wings.""With wings." He concurred, She scooted closer to him and put an arm across his midsection. He ran an his hand down her hair and watched the three sprites flying above them. He could see them, and he watched them, but he wondered if they could see both him and Hannah, or if they could choose to stay oblivious to them, oblivious to the part -fairy in their midst who coul
It was night time when Hannah looked out the window of her bed Chambers. It had been a long day. She had turned to leave the throne room, when her father had bid Jasper to wait. She didn't want to leave then, but had done so with great reluctance after Jasper had nodded at her, which she took for an 'it's okay." But it wasn't okay, not to her. She had no idea why king Asher would want to talk to Jasper, or what he had in mind to speak to him about. It caused her great anxiety . She had inquired of his whereabouts from one of her ladies but they gave her no answers and curious looks to which she rolled her eyes internally.She could just go to the king himself, but that required courage. Because Jasper was right, she thought of him more of a king than her father, and a king in all he was, demanded respect just for being a king. Just once, she wished, closing eyes, just once again, he would be 'papa.'
He woke to the feel of the palm of her hand against his cheek and he smiled sleepily."No, don't wake up on my account." she teased as he opened his eyes and was greeted by a smile of her own."But you're such good company, I can't sleep while you're here, awake, Caressing my cheek.""You flatter me, Jasper.""I speak the truth." He said groggily."Mmm." She hummed, drawing closer so she could kiss his lips."Mama came in while you slept. She did not want to wake you... we will meet with the king soon." He wondered at the term with which she addressed her father. He wondered if maybe she saw him less as her father and more as the king, and he felt sorrow rise at the possibility.&n
"You were so strong." He had a way of seeing in her more than she felt there truly was to her. This time, she concluded, was one of those times. And she buried her head in his chest as he wrapped his arms around her. She didn't feel strong at all, she felt drained, as though she was slipping, but his arms around her were her stronghold. He was her strength."What next, Jasper?" She asked, her words muffled against his chest."Ah Hannah, how about we let that worry for itself. We just got here." He pulled away gently to hold her face in his hands."Have a bath, baby, wash your hair, eat, you haven't eaten well in days. Then we can plan war.""You haven't eaten well either.""And so I will."
"The tunnel leads to the library? If I lived in this castle, I might have never found that passage." Hannah laughed at the wild look of surprise on his face as she walked to a shelf."Why?" she asked, The laughter still in her voice"A Library is not exactly a place I'd go to often." He made a face that made Hannah laugh again. He walked towards where she stood and looked down at the book she held in her hand,"The art of romance volume III, have you read it?""No, but I'm glad I saw it, I just might read it." He took the book from her and wrapped his arms around her, breathing in the scent of her, letting himself be comforted by the warmth of her,"Welcome home." She let out a breath and let her head fall against his chest i