Post by creamwolfgurl on May 8, 2007 0:15:43 GMT -5
I peered out of the doorway into the stairwell. The grey dawn light had started creeping in through the window and I could see better, although everything was still shadows. I shivered at the thought of walking down those stairs, where the dark was thicker, the cold sharper and the sounds echoing and unknown.
Then I tried to think of an animal that could see in the dark and settled on the obvious: a cat. I concentrated and changed. I was now a sleek black cat with eyes as wide and blue as my own.
Now I could see far better, even though the colours were weird and fuzzy. I jumped from the doorway onto the steps and started my way down, leaping from step to step.
A doorway gaped on my right suddenly, making me shrink back and listen for any sounds. The Queen, his bloody mother, had said, ‘ “The one above yours.” ‘, when she’d told where my room was, so I hazarded a guess that this was his room.
From within the room came a moan and the sound of restless movement. I recognised the voice, even when I didn’t make out the words. It was Jak all right. I slunk into the room, a small shadow against the grey-brown wood. Hoping he didn’t know I was here, I sat and studied the bed with wide-eyed curiosity. He was lying hunched under his blankets, moving every few seconds in a way that suggested a lack of sleep. I wondered why and, as I did so, he rolled over, sighed and caught sight of me.
*****
Jak looked astonished and tried to figure out who it was. As he watched, the cat looked around, seemingly panicked and miaowed loudly. The miaow sounded like the cat was saying I’m a cat. Really, I am. in the kind of way that you know they’re lying.
Something about the intelligence and attitude in the cats’ eyes made Jak gasp. “Swift?”
The cat hissed and swiped at the air with outstretched claws.
“Swift, what’s wrong?”
Suddenly Swift was standing in front of him, eyes blazing. She strode to the window and started out at the morning, her hands clenched on the windowsill. Behind her, Jak ventured to speak, having had a horrible idea what was wrong.
“ I swear I didn’t mean to make you that sleepy.”
*****
I swung around in absolute fury, fists raised. Jak, I saw, realised his mistake- that wasn’t what was wrong. But now it was part of it. He closed his eyes, obviously expecting me to hit him.
I stood frozen with rage, my fist pulled back in readiness. After a moment Jak cracked open one eye and squinted at me.
“Another reason to hit you, your Highness.” I sneered angrily, seeing him wince. The asshole had put me to fricking sleep ‘cause he felt like it. Remembering how I’d suddenly felt so tired only fuelled my anger. No wonder I’d basically fallen asleep standing up.
Bloody royalty, thinking they could do whatever they wanted. Now both his eyes were open, guilt running over his face. I was silently challenging him with my eyes and I could see that he knew.
I saw him forcing the shame back until he too had the look of cold and silent anger. His anger was defence, while mine was attack.
“So, Prince fuzzling Jak, listen—“ I started, about to have a yelling spree to hell and back. But he leapt in before I got into my stride.
“No, Swift. You listen. Stop being pigheaded and listen.”
Temper beyond breaking point, I snarled back. “Oh yes, we are fancy, aren’t we.”
It was statement, not question and it was the tone of my voice that made him snap, not the words. That I knew before everything was driven forcibly from my mind.
Jak stepped closer, forcing my head my head up with his eyes. I couldn’t think, couldn’t break the eye contact, his were so powerful and angry.
Then he was right in front of me, voice quiet and hurt. “This is exactly why I didn’t tell you Swift. I don’t like being a Prince. Most don’t like me for who I am, just what.”
A day before, him being so close and speaking with such pain would have had my heart breaking. Now I stood silent. The flames of my rage hadn’t really reached my heart and this got no closer.
Jak seemed to read in my eyes what I was thinking.
Which was: Pah, I don’t believe this.
“No!” his voice got louder. “Swift, I mean it. I really do.” He wrapped his arms around me, pulling me against him. I stood straight and uncaring. Oh I yearned to just believe and lean against him, to trust him but my stubborn streak really was stubborn.
“Swift,’ Jak said, drawing back and tipping my head up with a finger. “You’re not like anyone else. And you’re what I want.”
The ice around my heart melted at the sheer sincerity in his voice. And my obstinate trait relented, letting me look him in the eyes with affection.
He still had one arm around my waist so I moved closer to him, loosely putting my arms around his neck and hugging him, my face pressed to his shoulder.
“If that’s true…” I whispered quietly, “I’m sorry.”
Jak tightened his grip around my waist and murmured. “No, I should’ve told you. I should’ve trusted you more.”
I took my face from his shoulder and looked up at him. He leaned toward me, angling his head. I felt an excited shiver pass through me and…
Um…sorry, I’m intruding. Sairon stood in the doorway.
I tried to jerk back but Jak held me close still and I swore. He just held tighter when I pulled away so I tried and failed to look to Sairon nonchalantly. Jak too, looked inquisitively at Sairon, and I could see his flush. “What’s up Sair?”
You’re wanted at the breakfast table.
Cripes! I thought, turning my head to look out at the lightened sky. Surely that didn’t take that long.
Jak and Sairon both glanced at the window too. With an ulp noise, I followed Sairon’s gaze around the room. Bed messed, both of us with the ‘guilty’ look, us standing about to kiss…
No questions about what he thought we’d been doing. Sairon’s questioning look to Jak was answered, I noted, with a grin and a shake of Jak’s head. Sairon didn’t look convinced.
Er…yes. So if you would follow me?
I nodded and wondered if I could get some new clothes. I’d been wearing these for a while now. But food would be welcome, as my tummy rumbled, on cue.
Sairon looked at me sideways. Come on.
I followed and Jak joined us after he’d opened the window. That was weird but I figured it could be a kind of airing thing. So stuff doesn’t go mouldy or something.
We walked down the winding stairs, which were starting to do my head in; I was so dizzy. Before we got to the very bottom, we turned off into another, well, I s’pose it was a branch-tunnel.
Sairon led us into a huge room, lit by a huge opening in the trunk where the room was. You could see across a forest and as we walked past it, I looked out and down. The room opened into empty space over a cliff. The side of the tree was all there was, the ground just fell away.
I shuddered and kept moving. In the centre of the area was a table that stretched from one end of the space to the other. The queen and a raven-haired man were already there, seated at opposite ends. A fire had been lit on the man’s side, away from the empty doorway.
Seeing that- the man and the fire- threw me back into a dream, a dream I’d had so long ago. The dream just before all this happened.
I stopped dead causing Jak to walk into me. Staring at the man, I nearly fell over. Why had I dreamed of this man? Why?
The man glanced up and-perceiving me- looked me up and down in a way that made me bristle.
“Oh, hullo. You must be Swift.” he said, smiling at me. “I’m King Drake, Jak’s father.”
If I hadn’t already known about Jak’s princely-ness this would’ve made me flip. Somehow, I felt the king knew that. Thankfully, we’d already fought about that and I only smiled tightly at him, forcing myself not to mime throwing-up.
The queen, from the other end of the table, told us to take a seat and help ourselves to food. Jak and I sat by each other in the middle of the table and I snagged some grapes and a pancake with lemon and sugar.
After everyone had eaten, I saw the king watching me again, making me wish I had a weapon to keep my hand on. Sairon led us back out, through the entrance hall place and actually outside.
There was a crowd of people walking around doing stuff I-don’t-know-what. One thing I did see was the girl my age evil eyeing me. Then she disappeared in the mass of people and I never thought anything of it. We kept walking, making headway through the throng. I asked where we were going and Sairon said shortly Training grounds. and would say no more. A few individuals pushed rudely between Jak and me, separating me from Jak and Sairon.
When I managed to push my way back to them, I was in time to see the same girl that had evil-eyed me throw her arms around Jak’s neck and cry. “Oh Darling, I’m so glad you’re back.”
I didn’t see the irritated flash in Jak’s eyes as he tried to push her away and look to find me. All I saw was the girl clinging to Jak and all I could hear were her words. He turned his head and his annoyed eyes caught my devastated ones sharply.
He tried to keep my gaze but I was already moving through the horde. He gave an urgent yell as I disappeared from his view but I didn’t hear the words.
I could see him pushing at her now, pushing her away from him. While she cried and started to sob that he was a lying traitor, he ignored her and tried to see me to get hold of me.
I heard another yell from him. “Sairon, Swift! Find Swift! She went that way.” He must have pointed, I didn’t see. I didn’t see his frantic search for me begin.
But I’d already slipped away, alone in the crowd.
Then I tried to think of an animal that could see in the dark and settled on the obvious: a cat. I concentrated and changed. I was now a sleek black cat with eyes as wide and blue as my own.
Now I could see far better, even though the colours were weird and fuzzy. I jumped from the doorway onto the steps and started my way down, leaping from step to step.
A doorway gaped on my right suddenly, making me shrink back and listen for any sounds. The Queen, his bloody mother, had said, ‘ “The one above yours.” ‘, when she’d told where my room was, so I hazarded a guess that this was his room.
From within the room came a moan and the sound of restless movement. I recognised the voice, even when I didn’t make out the words. It was Jak all right. I slunk into the room, a small shadow against the grey-brown wood. Hoping he didn’t know I was here, I sat and studied the bed with wide-eyed curiosity. He was lying hunched under his blankets, moving every few seconds in a way that suggested a lack of sleep. I wondered why and, as I did so, he rolled over, sighed and caught sight of me.
*****
Jak looked astonished and tried to figure out who it was. As he watched, the cat looked around, seemingly panicked and miaowed loudly. The miaow sounded like the cat was saying I’m a cat. Really, I am. in the kind of way that you know they’re lying.
Something about the intelligence and attitude in the cats’ eyes made Jak gasp. “Swift?”
The cat hissed and swiped at the air with outstretched claws.
“Swift, what’s wrong?”
Suddenly Swift was standing in front of him, eyes blazing. She strode to the window and started out at the morning, her hands clenched on the windowsill. Behind her, Jak ventured to speak, having had a horrible idea what was wrong.
“ I swear I didn’t mean to make you that sleepy.”
*****
I swung around in absolute fury, fists raised. Jak, I saw, realised his mistake- that wasn’t what was wrong. But now it was part of it. He closed his eyes, obviously expecting me to hit him.
I stood frozen with rage, my fist pulled back in readiness. After a moment Jak cracked open one eye and squinted at me.
“Another reason to hit you, your Highness.” I sneered angrily, seeing him wince. The asshole had put me to fricking sleep ‘cause he felt like it. Remembering how I’d suddenly felt so tired only fuelled my anger. No wonder I’d basically fallen asleep standing up.
Bloody royalty, thinking they could do whatever they wanted. Now both his eyes were open, guilt running over his face. I was silently challenging him with my eyes and I could see that he knew.
I saw him forcing the shame back until he too had the look of cold and silent anger. His anger was defence, while mine was attack.
“So, Prince fuzzling Jak, listen—“ I started, about to have a yelling spree to hell and back. But he leapt in before I got into my stride.
“No, Swift. You listen. Stop being pigheaded and listen.”
Temper beyond breaking point, I snarled back. “Oh yes, we are fancy, aren’t we.”
It was statement, not question and it was the tone of my voice that made him snap, not the words. That I knew before everything was driven forcibly from my mind.
Jak stepped closer, forcing my head my head up with his eyes. I couldn’t think, couldn’t break the eye contact, his were so powerful and angry.
Then he was right in front of me, voice quiet and hurt. “This is exactly why I didn’t tell you Swift. I don’t like being a Prince. Most don’t like me for who I am, just what.”
A day before, him being so close and speaking with such pain would have had my heart breaking. Now I stood silent. The flames of my rage hadn’t really reached my heart and this got no closer.
Jak seemed to read in my eyes what I was thinking.
Which was: Pah, I don’t believe this.
“No!” his voice got louder. “Swift, I mean it. I really do.” He wrapped his arms around me, pulling me against him. I stood straight and uncaring. Oh I yearned to just believe and lean against him, to trust him but my stubborn streak really was stubborn.
“Swift,’ Jak said, drawing back and tipping my head up with a finger. “You’re not like anyone else. And you’re what I want.”
The ice around my heart melted at the sheer sincerity in his voice. And my obstinate trait relented, letting me look him in the eyes with affection.
He still had one arm around my waist so I moved closer to him, loosely putting my arms around his neck and hugging him, my face pressed to his shoulder.
“If that’s true…” I whispered quietly, “I’m sorry.”
Jak tightened his grip around my waist and murmured. “No, I should’ve told you. I should’ve trusted you more.”
I took my face from his shoulder and looked up at him. He leaned toward me, angling his head. I felt an excited shiver pass through me and…
Um…sorry, I’m intruding. Sairon stood in the doorway.
I tried to jerk back but Jak held me close still and I swore. He just held tighter when I pulled away so I tried and failed to look to Sairon nonchalantly. Jak too, looked inquisitively at Sairon, and I could see his flush. “What’s up Sair?”
You’re wanted at the breakfast table.
Cripes! I thought, turning my head to look out at the lightened sky. Surely that didn’t take that long.
Jak and Sairon both glanced at the window too. With an ulp noise, I followed Sairon’s gaze around the room. Bed messed, both of us with the ‘guilty’ look, us standing about to kiss…
No questions about what he thought we’d been doing. Sairon’s questioning look to Jak was answered, I noted, with a grin and a shake of Jak’s head. Sairon didn’t look convinced.
Er…yes. So if you would follow me?
I nodded and wondered if I could get some new clothes. I’d been wearing these for a while now. But food would be welcome, as my tummy rumbled, on cue.
Sairon looked at me sideways. Come on.
I followed and Jak joined us after he’d opened the window. That was weird but I figured it could be a kind of airing thing. So stuff doesn’t go mouldy or something.
We walked down the winding stairs, which were starting to do my head in; I was so dizzy. Before we got to the very bottom, we turned off into another, well, I s’pose it was a branch-tunnel.
Sairon led us into a huge room, lit by a huge opening in the trunk where the room was. You could see across a forest and as we walked past it, I looked out and down. The room opened into empty space over a cliff. The side of the tree was all there was, the ground just fell away.
I shuddered and kept moving. In the centre of the area was a table that stretched from one end of the space to the other. The queen and a raven-haired man were already there, seated at opposite ends. A fire had been lit on the man’s side, away from the empty doorway.
Seeing that- the man and the fire- threw me back into a dream, a dream I’d had so long ago. The dream just before all this happened.
I stopped dead causing Jak to walk into me. Staring at the man, I nearly fell over. Why had I dreamed of this man? Why?
The man glanced up and-perceiving me- looked me up and down in a way that made me bristle.
“Oh, hullo. You must be Swift.” he said, smiling at me. “I’m King Drake, Jak’s father.”
If I hadn’t already known about Jak’s princely-ness this would’ve made me flip. Somehow, I felt the king knew that. Thankfully, we’d already fought about that and I only smiled tightly at him, forcing myself not to mime throwing-up.
The queen, from the other end of the table, told us to take a seat and help ourselves to food. Jak and I sat by each other in the middle of the table and I snagged some grapes and a pancake with lemon and sugar.
After everyone had eaten, I saw the king watching me again, making me wish I had a weapon to keep my hand on. Sairon led us back out, through the entrance hall place and actually outside.
There was a crowd of people walking around doing stuff I-don’t-know-what. One thing I did see was the girl my age evil eyeing me. Then she disappeared in the mass of people and I never thought anything of it. We kept walking, making headway through the throng. I asked where we were going and Sairon said shortly Training grounds. and would say no more. A few individuals pushed rudely between Jak and me, separating me from Jak and Sairon.
When I managed to push my way back to them, I was in time to see the same girl that had evil-eyed me throw her arms around Jak’s neck and cry. “Oh Darling, I’m so glad you’re back.”
I didn’t see the irritated flash in Jak’s eyes as he tried to push her away and look to find me. All I saw was the girl clinging to Jak and all I could hear were her words. He turned his head and his annoyed eyes caught my devastated ones sharply.
He tried to keep my gaze but I was already moving through the horde. He gave an urgent yell as I disappeared from his view but I didn’t hear the words.
I could see him pushing at her now, pushing her away from him. While she cried and started to sob that he was a lying traitor, he ignored her and tried to see me to get hold of me.
I heard another yell from him. “Sairon, Swift! Find Swift! She went that way.” He must have pointed, I didn’t see. I didn’t see his frantic search for me begin.
But I’d already slipped away, alone in the crowd.
