Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

Jasmine stood quietly to the side, a small smile affixed on her face, as she watched Lief and Barda address the huge, exuberant crowd in front of them.

It was now well into the night. Darkness had blanketed the sky hours ago, but still, the joyful celebrations thundered on.

A great, public feast had been thrown to commemorate the liberation of the slaves from the Shadowlands, and it seemed the entirety of Deltora had come to partake in the festivities. In fact, never before had Jasmine witnessed the palace being so busy and rich with life.

Frolicking laughter rang in the air as hordes of partygoers shuffled to and fro around the palace dining hall. Tireless kitchen staff marched about like an excited colony of ants. Some bussed the long wooden tables and cleared emptied dishes, while others carried in platters of more food. The grand bells of the palace towers continued to peal merrily, filling the air with buoyant gongs since dawn. 

Pure happiness beamed all around her.

Gone were the glum and sullen melancholy that she had come to expect from the populace in Del. Instead, as Jasmine gazed out at the masses before her, she was met with bright and jubilant smiles. For the dreary fog of despair that had once wracked the city of Del in misery had at long last lifted, and reunited families were now reveling in their newfound freedom.

Indeed, at some point during the festivities, the famous trio that had brought about that freedom had been excitedly accosted by a large crowd. Swept up in the throng of grateful citizens, they had then settled next to the splendid entrance of the dining hall. 

And this was where the three heroes now stood, entertaining the cheers and hurrahs being hailed at them by citizens from all walks of life.

“Deltora is free!” the crowd would chorus continually. “Long live the king!”

Not one to shy away from cheers, Barda had joined in their rejoicing. A mug of ale was in one hand and a closed fist in the other. Raising his glass, the grinning captain of the guards led the people with boisterous—and potentially inebriated—toasts of his own, much to their delight.

Lief, meanwhile, was more gracious. Accepting the fervent thanks of the crowd with a modest smile, he answered questions where he could and instead preferred conversing on an individual basis.

Jasmine glanced at the young king fondly. 

It was always fascinating to watch him interact with his subjects. She knew—often from personal experience—that Lief could be quite charming when he really wished to be. But the fluid ease with which he connected with complete strangers continued to amaze her nonetheless.

Perhaps it is a natural talent? she mused quietly as her friend accepted another grateful handshake.

In any case, it was a talent that Jasmine herself very clearly lacked.

For whenever the girl and her animal companions were approached by an eager citizen, much to her chagrin, it usually resulted in an awkward endeavor for all involved. More than once had Lief needed to come to her rescue when confronted with prying, rather personal questions. And to that end, she had realized it was far easier to simply let Lief handle the thankfully few conversations she had with the people instead. These kinds of functions were his domain after all, not hers.

So, Jasmine stayed mostly silent as she watched the crowd. Held in place by—and finding solace in—the warm hand curled tightly around her own.

Lief had been towing her hand along everywhere he went throughout the night, adamantly refusing to let go since he had first grabbed hold. The contact had been welcome initially, and Jasmine had had no qualms haplessly following as he dragged her around at first.

But now, as she watched Lief nod and smile politely at another excitable family chattering away, suddenly she felt quite suffocated. A light sheen of sweat grew on her brow. Her palms became uncomfortably clammy. All at once, the girl felt an urgent, burning desire to escape from the stuffiness. Her harried mind screamed at her for relief, and there was only one thing to do.

Jasmine gave a light tug. A brief flash of surprise struck Lief’s features. Excusing himself from the assembly, he turned to her with a questioning mien. Weary, tired lines were etched into his youthful face, but his eyes were alert as he looked at Jasmine with slight concern.

“I am going for some fresh air,” she announced simply.

Instantly, his gaze softened. “Would you like me to come with you?”

She shook her head. “I will only be gone a few minutes…and you are not yet done here.” The girl motioned at the long line of people beside them, all still patiently waiting their turn for an audience with the king.

He hesitated, glancing behind at the crowd and then back at her. She felt a small pressure as he squeezed her hand in uncertainty. Jasmine gifted what she hoped was a reassuring smile, and that seemed to disarm him. 

Slowly, he nodded. “All right.” 

Lief smiled and released his hold on her small palm. By the time he turned back to continue conversing with the faceless man in front of him, Jasmine had already slipped away.

⁂

It was not difficult to steal through the mass of people in the palace grounds. Wriggling her way out the wooden double doors of the dining hall, Jasmine briskly walked past reunited families crying tears of joy. Past long-lost lovers in a tender embrace. Past an army of cooks in the kitchens busily cleaning dirty dishes. And past the palace guards stationed outside the back doors, obediently on watch.

Emerging onto the palace yard, Jasmine was greeted by the summer night sky, shimmering with silver. The moon was full and proud as it commanded the darkness with its light.

Kree left his perch on her shoulder at once, eager for the opportunity to stretch his wings. Taking flight and tracing the moonlit horizon, the raven cawed gleefully at the stars.

Jasmine found a secluded spot along the iron fence of the green lawn and rested her elbows on top of the railings, closing her eyes in content. The loud, clattering noises of thousands celebrating behind her died to a muffled rumble, and her battered eardrums were thankful for the break. Her fidgetiness dissipated immediately as she took in the warm air and relaxed. Filli scurried up from her collar to nuzzle into her cheek.

She inhaled deeply.

“It seems we had the same idea.”

Her eyes shot back open in an instant. Jasmine spun towards the voice, snatching her dagger from her belt and ready to defend herself. In a land such as theirs, she knew that creeping dangers were everywhere, and she would not put it past their enemies to interrupt even a joyous occasion like tonight. However, her battle-hardened grip soon loosened when she saw who it was that had startled her. 

“You really need to stop doing that,” Jasmine frowned. Her sights focused on a dark figure, only a stone’s throw away and leaning against the cobblestone walls of the palace. Slowly, she sheathed her weapon.

“Is it my fault that you seem ready to kill me every time I try to speak to you?” Ranesh chuckled lowly with a smirk, earning an eye roll from the girl.

“Well, yes, because you keep sneaking up on me!”

He shrugged. “Fair enough.” Ranesh paused as he regarded her curiously. “Needed a break from the crowd, too, did you?”

Jasmine blinked in disbelief. How in the world could he have guessed that? But then, she remembered that Ranesh was a perceptive man. Jasmine supposed he had to be, given his past…profession. It seemed not much could escape his sharp, watchful eyes.

She nodded slowly. Turning back to the fence and raising her face up at the stars, Jasmine watched Kree soar around like a phantom of the night.

“It was a bit much towards the end,” she said honestly. “And I was beginning to feel intrusive.”

“I can understand. You did not look very comfortable in there.” An understatement, if ever there was one.

“That is because I was definitely not comfortable,” Jasmine muttered. “Polite conversation and crowds are not to my strengths.” The edges of her mouth curved down. “It was an…unpleasant feeling. We freed so many slaves, and they all gave their thanks. But I had nothing to say to any of them afterwards.”

Then, she shook her head defiantly and gave a dismissive shrug. “It does not matter. I am sure no one will miss me in there.”

A light snort sounded behind her. “I would not be so sure.”

Jasmine turned her head. “Lief and Barda can handle that crowd perfectly well without me,” she said, raising a brow. “Even you must have noticed that I am not needed, Ranesh.”

Ranesh lifted his own shoulders casually in reply. “On the contrary, Jasmine, you might just be the most important person here.”

Now, that gave her pause. Important? Her? She scoffed and held out an arm. Filli scampered down her extended limb onto the railing for his own fill of exercise. 

“Do not be ridiculous. The people had no interest in me.” Then, the girl pivoted to face Ranesh fully and wrinkled her nose at him. “If they wanted a cheer, they turned to Barda. And if they had questions, they asked Lief. But I had no answers to give them, nor do I understand the palace tradition of drinking for celebration.”

A patient smile. “You will understand with time.”

Snorting in kind, Jasmine gestured loosely at the worn stone walls. “I will never become accustomed to living in this—this prison.”

“Indeed, and neither will I,” Ranesh replied with another shrug. “But that was not what I meant.”

Her brows furrowed and she crossed her arms. “Then, what did you mean?”

For a moment, he said nothing and merely pestered her with a knowing look. Then, when Ranesh spoke again, she was taken aback. “You still wish to leave the city. I can see the conflict in your eyes.”

Green irises swelled, and Jasmine stared in bewilderment. Leave? But she had just returned! What would make him think she wanted to disappear again so soon? Jasmine had no desire to leave now, right?

All her fears. All her insecurities. Everything had been given a neat and tidy resolution after Lief finally revealed his many secrets. 

Right? 

The slaves had been freed and were now safe and happy. Her friends were happy, too. And so was she. Jasmine listened to Kree screeching with relish overhead as he drew a wide circuit around the dark palace skyline.

I am happy, Jasmine thought waveringly. Right? She saw Ranesh raise a challenging eyebrow and swore softly to herself for voicing her thoughts aloud. Lifting a stubborn chin, she met his scrutinizing gaze.

Did she still want to leave? Return to the wild and free forests of her old home?

Memories of a time which now seemed like forever ago flashed before her. Recollections of how utterly useless and alone she had felt in the palace. If Jasmine had been asked about her desire to leave then, the answer would have been a resounding and unequivocal ‘yes.’

But what was different now?

Perhaps, to a degree, Jasmine still felt somewhat useless. Her mind flew back to only a few hours prior, to the feeling of being pulled along like a lost puppy while Lief mingled with his subjects. The familiar pang of feeling so out of place and not belonging at his side.

But then, her self-consciousness was interrupted by more pleasant memories of the tender moments she had shared with Lief that morning when they first returned, and Jasmine knew she no longer felt alone. Her heart warmed immediately.

Perhaps Ranesh was right. Maybe she was conflicted.

“You might think that your presence is not needed here,” the man continued, breaking her thoughts and wearing an inscrutable expression. “But we all have a role to play for the time being. I only meant that you will understand what yours is soon enough.”

Jasmine made a small, noncommittal noise as she considered his words. 

“It will be difficult, I fear.” She looked away again, a hint of past sorrow flitting across her features. “I wish I could offer more to Lief, but I do not have any talents that could be considered useful in a palace. And I hate the feeling of having no purpose here. That was…part of the reason I left before.”

Ranesh nodded in understanding. “Purpose eludes those who search for it,” he said in a distant tone. “But, with patience, it will find each of us eventually. And when it does, we will wonder how we ever missed it.”

He grinned cheekily. “Josef told me that once, and I have never forgotten it since.”

She blinked and fought the urge to groan at the sage words. That was all well and good, she supposed, but Jasmine was not exactly known for her patience.

“That is easy for you to say,” she grumbled back. “You and Josef already know what your roles are.”

Ranesh did not reply, instead offering a final shrug as though he no longer cared about the topic at hand.

Curse that man and his cryptic ways.

They were silent for a minute, and Jasmine soon shoved her thoughts away. She saw Ranesh push himself off the wall and move towards the back door. Thinking he was going to retire for the night, Jasmine returned to watching Kree flutter about aimlessly. Filli bounded up and down the iron slats of the fence beside her, balancing expertly on top the narrow bars.

“Would you care to join Marilen and me for some after-supper tea?”

Startled, Jasmine snapped her head around. 

Ranesh was holding the door open for her, waiting calmly. “She has been wanting to meet you,” the man prompted when he noticed her hesitation. “Properly, that is.” 

The girl moistened her lips, not quite ready to face that shame just yet. “I do not know if that is such a good idea.” 

Ranesh sighed. “Please, Jasmine. Marilen will have my head if she finds out I let you refuse.” Then, he added, “Besides, you owe me.” 

“I do? How so?” 

“The maps,” he said, tapping the side of his skull. “Or do you not remember who helped you with The Annals?” 

Jasmine pulled a face and hmphed. “I had not realized we were keeping tally.”

A roll of dark eyes answered her. “We were not. Until now, that is.”

She glared at Ranesh for a long second. Then, finally, Jasmine scoffed and shook her head in resignation. Whistling to her animal companions to return, she made her way over to him. 

“All right, fine,” she said curtly. “But now, you are in my debt.”

“Thank you—wait, what? Debts do not work that way.”

“They do for me.”

⁂

Jasmine was not quite sure what to expect when they reached the gilded doors of the palace library. But a strange sense of heartache resonated in her chest. She had only ever been in the library that one time, and the memories of what she had been doing in there—and who she had been doing it for—were not particularly pleasant. 

Her stomach flipped in queasiness as Ranesh gently pushed open the heavy doors. He called out into the candle-lit room. 

“Ranesh?” a soft, feminine voice answered back. “Did you bring the tea—oh!” The voice was followed by the approaching slender figure of an elegant woman, draped in flowing purple robes that bloomed like lilacs. Long, straight hair fell in a curtain behind her back. 

Their eyes met, majestic black against emerald green. Marilen blinked first. “Oh, Lady Jasmine,” she squeaked, hastily dropping into a short curtsy. “What a pleasant surprise to see you again.” 

Jasmine shifted awkwardly. “Please,” she coughed. “Just Jasmine is enough. And likewise…Marilen, was it?” 

The Toran nodded and waved her hand. “Do come in.” 

Gingerly, Jasmine stepped into the familiar room. Ranesh brushed past her, setting the teapot he had carried from the kitchens down on a nearby table with a couple chairs. He pulled one out for Marilen, and after she had been seated, then disappeared into a corner of the library. He returned a few seconds later, towing behind him a third chair. 

“Come,” Marilen beckoned to her politely. “Please sit.” 

Jasmine took the seat across from Marilen while Ranesh claimed a spot beside the latter. She watched wordlessly as Marilen began pouring the steaming, brown liquid into three individual teacups and handed one to her. 

The air was thick and tense. For a long minute, none of them spoke. Jasmine busied herself with watching Kree and Filli play on another table in the corner, while Marilen found her reflection in the tea to be immensely interesting. Ranesh sipped at his cup casually, without a care in the world. 

“This is strange, is it not?” Marilen finally tried with a grimace. Ranesh snorted quietly into his drink and was rewarded with a sharp glare. 

“I do not do very well with small talk,” Jasmine admitted lamely. 

“Oh.” 

An awkward pause. 

“But that is also strange. Lief had said you could talk one’s ear off, if given the chance.” 

Jasmine drew backwards and creased her brows. “He said that?” 

“Oh, yes,” replied Marilen with a light smile. “I have heard so much about you from him. It is an honor to finally meet you…under better circumstances, that is.” 

Giving a half-smile in return, Jasmine picked up her cup to hide her reddening face. “You must have thought me rude earlier.” 

The Toran giggled. A light and harmonious sound, like the ringing bells of the palace she had heard all throughout the day. “A regrettable misunderstanding, but I can empathize,” Marilen placated. “Were I in your shoes, I would have reacted the same.” 

“Indeed,” Ranesh hummed with pursed lips. “I was in your shoes, Jasmine. So, believe me when I say that I felt the same distress.”

The heroine heaved a sigh and nodded. Her throat felt suddenly dry and she took a long, warming drink from her teacup. When Jasmine looked up again, she coyly narrowed her eyes at Marilen.

“So, what else has Lief said about me?”

⁂

Jasmine relaxed more as they continued conversing idly into the night. In fact, she might have started to enjoy herself.  

It was clear to her that Ranesh was smitten with the Toran, despite his stoic expressions. His eyes were continually locked onto Marilen’s whenever she spoke—a look of pure adoration carved into his irises. And the two were almost always touching, whether it be a brush of their shoulders, a hand on an arm, or a bumping of elbows. Still, their attentions were not discourteous, and they asked Jasmine various questions. Some about herself, others about her constant animal companions or her many adventures. 

Whatever came to mind, really. But she was grateful for the reprieve.

Some time later, all of a sudden, another voice sounded from the back of the grand library—the tone old, gravelly, and yelling for his charge. Ranesh muttered an excuse and rose to go help Josef, leaving the two women alone. Jasmine watched with muted amusement as Marilen looked after his disappearing figure, dark eyes glazed over with unfettered fondness.

Plainly, the infatuation was mutual.

“The two of you make a good match,” Jasmine noted honestly.

Marilen jolted out of her daze and turned in a startle. Then, she flushed brightly. “Yes, well I like to think so. Thank you.”

Jasmine was about to apologize for flustering her, but stopped short when she saw the Toran woman titter abruptly.

“You know, you and Ranesh are very much alike,” said Marilen.

Keen eyebrows flew into Jasmine’s hairline as she tilted her head curiously. What in heaven’s name would make her say that? 

But Marilen simply continued with a knowing smile. “At first, I was incredibly lonely when I came to Del. Especially after Lief left to find you.” She offered a sympathetic look when she saw Jasmine wince. “But I was very happy to meet Ranesh. He took away all of the loneliness I had and made the burden of being the heir more bearable.” 

A pregnant pause hung in the air, and Marilen observed her counterpart closely. 

“I see,” Jasmine said finally with a thoughtful frown. 

“Do you?” Marilen laughed again warmly and took another dainty sip of her drink. “I am glad.” 

Another awkward lull. 

“Jasmine?” 

“Yes?” 

“I know perhaps you did not think so highly of me when we first met…but I do hope that we can be friends. I have no other female companions in this city.” 

“Oh.” Jasmine blinked and made a mental note to ease Marilen’s doubts of her first impression later. “Yes, I would like that as well.”  

A relieved smile graced the Toran woman’s features, one which Jasmine returned willingly. 

“Now then,” Marilen loudly announced as she stood up. Without warning, she collected Jasmine’s now empty cup and pulled the other girl to her feet. “It is getting late, and I do believe a gentleman caller awaits you.” 

Marilen giggled, a twinkle in her eyes, as she then ushered a surprised Jasmine towards the door. 

⁂

Lief was exhausted. His arms felt like lead weights, and all his muscles ached for the soft, pillowy covers of his mattress. Between fighting in the Shadowlands and traveling through the Pirran caves, being magically transported back to Del, and then finally playing the gracious host to a crowd of thousands, it had been an incredibly long—and, one might say, difficult to believe—day. 

But in this moment, Lief was pointedly ignoring the tired yearning from his body altogether.  

Instead, he was pacing back and forth rather incessantly outside Jasmine’s chambers. Jasmine was not inside, that much he knew, and Lief could not help but feel a trickle of dread with each passing minute. 

He had politely excused himself from the crowd to look for her as soon as he realized that she had been gone for an inexplicably long ‘few minutes.’ But when he did not find Jasmine anywhere outside, a worrying sense of déjà vu had gripped at his chest.  

Suppressing a great yawn and rubbing the tiredness from his eyes, Lief sighed softly to himself. His solo endeavor to search through the palace had been to no avail. Barda in particular was of absolutely no help, having already drunk himself under the table, and everyone else had been either too wrapped up in the festivities to listen or simply rolled their eyes at him. 

So now, here he was, stuck pacing like a madman outside his friend’s empty room. Waiting. Hoping. 

Fearing. 

Oh, why had he let her go out on her own? And why did it seem as though he was alone in his concern? Had she gotten lost again? Jasmine had always said the palace was like a maze to her, something he could hardly disagree with.

His pulse quickened. Was she all right? Perhaps she had gotten hurt and could not make her way back? What if—

“Lief?”

He whirled around immediately at the voice. Her voice. 

His cloak billowed behind him with the motion.

And there Jasmine stood. His very heart, just a ways off and with a confused look. Absently, he noticed Kree sleeping peacefully on top her head.

“Jasmine!” Lief called out happily. When she neared, he darted forward to envelop her in a crushing embrace, ignoring the annoyed squawk from the now displaced and flapping raven. “Where have you been? I was looking everywhere for you!”

A small weight plopped on top of his own head as Kree settled for another bed of soft, dark hair.

Lief felt Jasmine pull away then, far too soon for his liking, and he took the opportunity to study her. A freshly washed face greeted him, smooth tan skin smelling of scented soap. Her long, black tresses were slightly wet and curled in a heap in front of one shoulder, covering her chest. Stray curls framed the edges of her cheekbones. The corners of her mouth curved upward, and vivid green peered back at him.

She gestured at her damp hair. “I was cleaning up before bed.” She clicked her tongue and wrinkled her nose before adding snidely, “But you have only just made me dirty again.”

Lief, meanwhile, was more confused than ever. He was sure he had looked by the washrooms. 

“You were bathing the whole time?” he asked.

Nonchalance was her reply. “No. I have also been in the library with Marilen.” 

“But I had checked the library earlier,” he said, dumbfounded. “And Marilen said you were not there.” 

She lifted her shoulders casually. “Perhaps you went too early.” 

The young king groaned, feeling a vein burst somewhere. He dragged a dramatic hand down his face. “You will be the end of me, Jasmine,” Lief griped. “When I die, it will not be because of the Shadow Lord’s tricks or anyone else’s. I will die by your hand—I swear it. One of these days, my heart will simply stop from all of the stress.” 

Jasmine smiled, the very picture of innocence, and wrapped her arms around his waist. “But not today?” 

Lief glared back down at her playfully. “I thought you had run off again.” 

He saw her lips purse in contemplation, as though she were considering her words. But then, evidently, Jasmine thought better of it and shook her head. She gripped tighter at his shirt, laying her head against his chest and listening to his heartbeat.

“You would have found me,” she said. “You always do.” 

“I am tired though,” Lief whined. “I did not want to have to chase after you again tonight.” 

“So, you would not have found me?”

He drew her closer, resting his cheek on the crown of her hair. “No, I would have eventually. But I was not going to be happy about having to do so a second time.” 

Lief grimaced as the words left his lips. It had been meant as a poor joke, a gentle tease. But the flinch he felt from Jasmine told him otherwise. He had an annoying habit of saying the wrong things at the wrong time around her, it seemed. 

She pulled away again, mouth drawn into a frown and brows furrowed. Lief watched in morbid amazement as a veritable palette of emotions skimmed across her petite face in quick succession. First, there was simmering anger. Then, hesitant shame. Followed by recompense and remorse.  

And finally, unending guilt.  

She stared intently at his collar, refusing to look up. Refusing to look at him.   

“Lief…” Her voice lowered, as though she were speaking to herself. He bent his ear closer to hear. “I had thought long on this earlier. On how to best…apologize for my actions. But I could not find the words.” 

She bit at her bottom lip and shook her head, eyes downcast. “No, wait. That is not true.”

Lief frowned. While he agreed that some soul-searching was indeed in order for them both, he really did not feel like souring their mood. Not tonight. “Jasmine, maybe we should discuss that another time instead…perhaps in the morning—” 

“No,” she commanded, and he clamped his jaw shut. “It needs to be now, while I can still muster the courage.”

A deep breath.  

And then, words laced with regret flooded out from her lips at a hundred miles per minute. 

“I—I should not have run away. I was wrong to lead you into danger, Lief. You and the Belt. Well, I suppose not the Belt, actually, since the real one was here the whole time.”

He tried to interrupt, but it was in vain. “I told you already that I was to blame for—”

“You were right about me. I was stupid and acted recklessly, and I should have trusted you—trusted Doom. But I listened to a ghost instead. I did not even think to simply ask Doom whether I really had a sister or not!”

“Jasmine, wait. You are not—”

“And I listened to that snake, Jinks, and his lies. By the by, that idiot was a complete weasel, so I do not mourn him.”

“Jasmine!”

“But I have not been much of a good friend to you lately, and for that, I am truly sorr—” 

His mouth covered hers, swallowing her words. Green eyes doubled in size, and all time seemed to stop.

Lief was unsure what drove him to be so bold, but her babbling had finally ceased, and suddenly, nothing else mattered. “You talk too much sometimes,” he pulled away for a split second to mutter. Then, before she could say anything more, he captured her lips again.

He heard her mew in surprise. The endless affection, protective care, and fulfilled longing. All of the many pent up emotions he harbored around her flowed through his touch. Lief did not often feel so vulnerable when he was with Jasmine, but he was determined to make the most of it.  

Purposeful, Lief flicked at the edges of her mouth, silently asking for permission. She closed her eyes and parted, their tongues dancing shyly for the first time. It was an exhilarating, yet awkward, dance all at once. With clicking teeth and gently grinding lips, they explored with a tentative, chaste bashfulness. A tingling ring echoed in his eardrums as his cheeks exploded with heat. He felt Jasmine’s hands encircle the small of his back. Daringly, Lief trailed his fingers across the exposed skin of her arm, and his chest puffed in boyish satisfaction when she shuddered at his experimental touch. 

Exhaustion was now long forgotten for them both, and his heart was full to bursting.

Lack of air forced them apart. Jasmine blinked up at him expectantly then, a stunned flush plainly visible as they each caught their breath. He reached up to brush away the loose curls that had fallen astray in front of her face. His hand rested on her warm cheek, a thumb caressing the skin beneath.

“I need to apologize too, Jasmine,” Lief murmured. “I had promised before that I would never again deceive you, but I had lied just then. I would happily chase after you a second time, wherever you may go.” 

“You are not angry, then?” she asked hesitantly. 

His reflection shone in her irises, and he gave a small smile. “I was,” Lief admitted. “A part of me still is—as no doubt a part of you is still angry with me for keeping so many secrets.” 

Jasmine flinched again and looked away, shamefaced. 

A gentle tug on her chin brought her back to him. “But I do not wish to dwell on our anger. It would only rebuild the wall between us that I hated even more.” 

Warmth reached her eyes. “It has been a while since we were so open with one another.” 

His smile grew. “You have a special kind of strength, Jasmine. A bravery that requires me to be upset because I know I will not be able to stop you from throwing yourself into harm’s way.” 

The girl looked about to retort, but he was determined to cut her off.

Lief lowered his forehead onto hers and stared into her eyes, deep hazel meeting shimmering green. “It will happen again, I am sure,” he went on tenderly. “And I will be upset with you again. But I will never fault you for doing what you think is right.” 

She could not help the soft snort that escaped. “You sounded like an old man just now. When did you become so wise?” 

“Oh, sometime after my best friend yelled at me to grow up.” Lief smirked and gave her a playful nudge. “What a hypocrite she ended up being, though, am I right?” 

She smacked his arm. Then, her laughter rang out, clear and carefree. And to him, it was the most glorious sound he had ever heard. 

No more words needed exchanging as they held one another. Only comfortable silence. A return to the easy companionship they had both missed so dearly. 

“Well, well, well,” a deep, feminine voice boomed abruptly behind him. “What do we have here, old bear?  

A slurred baritone joined in. “Ha! S‘bout time for that pair of hotheads!”

Lief groaned, dropping his forehead to Jasmine’s shoulder. “Go away.”

A plainly disoriented Barda hailed and wobbled up to the pair, one arm hooked tightly around Lindal’s. He clapped a large hand against Lief’s back. “Now lis—listen here, my boy,” the bearded man hiccuped liltingly. “I know what we just had was a big ol’ cel’bration and all, but no funny business t’night, you hear? You treat her right, Lief.”  

“She deserves that much at least,” Lindal piped in teasingly from beside. 

“Have Barda drink some more water, please, Lindal.” 

A snigger from the Broome woman, but the indisposed guards captain ignored them both. “And Ja’mine, I am so proud of you!” Barda went on, slurring and grinning at the wide-eyed girl. He then dropped to her ear with an exaggerated whisper and stuck a thumb out at Lief. “You let ol’ Barda know if the boy tries anything.”

The king groaned again.

And with that, Barda then crushed his dear friends in a bear hug and offered another cheshire grin. “Now g’night, you two. And ‘member, no funny business!” 

Jasmine watched Lindal jovially lead him away, with Barda stumbling along, as the two disappeared down the hall.

Then, she glanced at the hunched head still buried in her neckline. “What did I miss?” 

“Drinking contest with Lindal and Gers,” Lief mumbled, his voice lost in the fabric of her shirt. “Barda lost.” 

Lief heard her hum in amusement as she held him. Her hands tenderly rubbed between the blades of his back and he relaxed into her arms. Filli woke from under her collar and crawled over to him, pawing affectionately at his cheek. 

“Lief?” 

“Hmm?” He absently petted Filli, having no desire to move. Kree rustled away onto her unoccupied shoulder. All was right with the world in this moment. 

“You are my best friend too, you know.” The words slipped so easily from her tongue. 

Rumbling laughter, followed by indignant squeaking. “Oh, poor Filli! All it took was one kiss, and now I am—” 

“Filli is family.” A haughty squeak.  

“Oh.” 

“So is Kree.” A proud caw. 

“But, of course.” 

“And Doom.”  

Wary pausing. “Right…” 

“And also Barda.” 

Lief huffed. “Why am I being left out?” 

She shrugged in return. “You should not have made fun of Filli.”

Lief raised his head, pulling inches away so he could give her a quizzical look. “You are being especially chatty tonight.” 

“Must be my trait of wanting to ‘talk one’s head off,’” said Jasmine dryly.  

The young man tilted his head thoughtfully, wanting to ask since her words sounded rather familiar. Deciding that it was not worth finding out, he instead tugged her back into his chest. He watched her blush at his forwardness. “I am glad for that, then,” Lief smiled. “It would be awfully boring and quiet here without you.”

“I had hoped I was of more use to you than simple conversation, Lief,” said the girl, earning a light chuckle from him.

“Indeed,” his heart answered honestly. “You do more for me than you will ever know, Jasmine.”

An enormous weight lifted as he gazed down adoringly at her. For the first time in a long time, Lief felt truly safe. It was a reassuring feeling of contentment only Jasmine could provide. This girl who had been by his side through thick and thin. Who made him smile and laugh like no one else. Who held his entire heart in the palm of her small hand.  

In this moment, Jasmine positively glowed from the moonlight filtering through the window panes. An infectious happiness radiated off her form, and Lief found her absolutely breathtaking. 

His chest ached with an overwhelming urge to tell her then. To finally reveal, in this perfect moment, the sacrosanct words he so longed to say. The Belt around his waist began to burn intensely, and he had no doubt it was the Diamond encouraging him—stirring him to action. Nerves crept up his body as he fought to build up the courage to confess, and quite suddenly, Lief felt his own face grow hot, a rosy shade that mirrored her own.  

But when he saw her magnetic smile—a sweet and fulfilled smile that he engraved into memory—he knew there was no need. 

Instead, he dipped his head back down and brushed his lips to hers. A feathery touch.  

This was how it should have started, he mused as a small gasp flitted out from her. Slow and careful, but not painfully so. Comfortable desire, but not desperation. They did not need to rush anything together. 

Despite being drunk out of his mind, Barda had been right. He and Lindal both, Lief realized. For all of her sacrifices, all of the tragedies she endured, and all that she had given up in life. Jasmine deserved the world from him. 

And Lief silently swore to himself that he would do right by her. 

Tentatively, he withdrew from the chaste kiss. A lopsided grin appeared on her face, which likely reflected his own. Reaching down and holding her gaze steady, he grabbed the back of her hand and brought it up to his lips. 

“I am afraid I know little about how…this works between best friends,” he gestured at the minimal space between them. “But might we be able to do that some more?” 

He placed a faint peck on tanned knuckles, and teasing twinkles of green were her reply. “I would be disappointed if we did not.” 

Lief beamed. About time, indeed.