Crossover 'The Chosen One Trilogy: Book One'

by Chester, Mireille

  “What were you doing this far from home?” asked Zane.

  “About two days after Shanus and Phlann left to go hunting, we decided to start a search to see why they hadn’t come back. For some reason, we ended up traveling in this direction.”

  Shanus laughed. “All of us here know the feeling.” He winked at me.

  It was my turn to blush.

  The next three days were much of the same. A lot of waiting and practicing. Fillian worked with me and the colors. Even though healers couldn’t use the colors that would cause harm, they were able to use the ones that protected. We worked on using the elements to drive the enemy back.

  “I want you to push this cup over with wind,” said Fillian as she placed a cup on one of the benches.

  “Does it matter which wind?”

  She shook her head. “Whichever you like.”

  I took a deep breath and focused on the grey waves, letting them move in front of me. I picked a light grey one that would act as a strong breeze.

  “Now, remember. Calmly. We just want to push the cup.”

  I took a deep breath and thought of Dodge, letting all but the wave I had picked disappear.

  “Just the cup,” I muttered to myself. I pushed the wave ahead of me and watched as the grass started to move in the wind. I pushed it a little harder and was rewarded when the cup moved a fraction of an inch away from me.

  “See, Hayden, you can do this,” Fillian encouraged me. “Now try to push it along the length of the bench.”

  I nodded and pushed even harder. The cup started to move backwards along the bench and I smiled. “Yes!”

  The cup flew backwards with amazing speed, sailed through the air and connected with Zane’s head.

  “Zane! Oh, my god! I am so sorry!” I ran to him and helped him up. “Are you ok?”

  He grinned and gingerly rubbed at the goose egg that was already forming on his right temple. “I’m fine. It’s my fault, really.”

  I stared at him with my mouth open. “How in the world is it your fault that I can’t control this?”

  His grin widened. “Well, after seeing the destruction you unleashed with your mini tornado yesterday, I should have known not to stand in the line of fire!”

  Jasper and Phlann burst out laughing. I turned red and glared at them. I heard a snort coming from my left and was surprised to see Fillian covering her mouth to hide a smile.

  “You are doing just fine, dear. The main key is to stay calm. Always calm.” She grabbed the cup from off of the ground and placed back on the bench. “Now. Let’s try that again.”

  I took a deep breath.

  “You’re doing great, Shlova .” Jasper gave me a soft kiss and wrapped me in his arms.

  I breathed in deeply and sighed. “Ok. Let’s do this again.”

  He kissed my forehead and went to stand behind me. Phlann and Zane joined him.

  “Calm, cool, and collected,” I mumbled to myself. I cautiously pushed the grey wave away from me toward the cup. It slowly made its way along the bench and I fought to keep my excitement down. “Calm, Hayden, calm.” I took a deep breath and quickly stopped the wind as the cup lightly fell off the edge onto the grass.

  “Good job, Hayden.” Fillian smiled at me.

  I turned toward Jasper and ginned at him. “I did it!” I ran and threw myself at him, knocking him onto his back. “Yes!”

  He laughed. “I knew you could.”

  We decided to end on a good note and moved on to sparring.

  Dodge insisted I practice fighting from his back. Both Jasper and him agreed that this was the safest place for me to be. I wondered if they weren’t conspiring to whisk me away if things got too hectic.

  Every now and then our practicing would be interrupted as small groups of Wedelves made their way into the town. By day five the Namaels began to arrive.

  The first three were in human form as they walked into the courtyard. We were all sitting on the ground, taking a break from sparring.

  Jasper looked up as they came to stand directly in front of him.

  “Captain,” they acknowledged him. My mouth dropped open.

  He glanced at me, looking embarrassed.

  “It’s just Jasper here.” He addressed them. “No one is being ordered to do anything. We are all here because we want to be. I thought I had told the birds to make that clear.”

  The blond one spoke up. “They did, sir.”

  “Jasper.”

  “Yes, sir. Jasper.” He looked extremely uncomfortable. “Sir.”

  “Alright, then. By the looks of things we are just heading to lunch. Feel free to do as you please. We leave for the ridge the day after tomorrow.”

  The three of them stood looking at him.

  Jasper sighed. “Dismissed.” I couldn’t help myself. As soon as they were far enough away, I started to laugh.

  “I don’t know who looked more uncomfortable! You or them!” I gave him a playful shove. “Why didn’t you tell me you were a captain!”

  He shrugged. “No reason, really.” His blush gave him away.

  “Come on, now. I won’t laugh. I promise.”

  “Honestly, I wasn’t sure if we were fated or not. I thought we were, but the fact that we are different always made me wonder.” He blushed a little deeper. “In case we weren’t, I wanted you to want me for me. Not because of who I was.” He glared at me. “You said you wouldn’t laugh!”

  “I’m so sorry. I just...the thought of wanting someone for their rank...” I took a few deep breaths to get under control. “Ok. I’m ok. Sorry. It doesn’t matter to me if you’re the king himself or a beggar on the street. I love you for you. How could I not want to be with you.” Then a thought occurred to me. “Why doesn’t Zane call you captain?”

  “The panthers aren’t part of the guard. We don’t know for sure why or how, but uncountable years ago, they split from the guard. They still come and go from the keep and help if asked. But somehow, their bond to the queen isn’t there.”

  “I think you are more like the panthers.”

  He shook his head. “No. The panthers aren’t obligated to obey. I am.”

  “No. You’re not. Your orders were to find me and take me to the queen, and yet, here we are.”

  He shook his head again. “That may be because of our being fated.” He still looked shocked by the thought.

  I dropped the topic with a shrug.

  Two tigers, a jaguar and a lion walked into the courtyard and came to stand in front of Jasper.

  He explained everything to them as he had to the other three. Again, he had to dismiss them.

  “You know,” I said, grinning at him. “I must admit that this captain thing is pretty alluring!”

  He laughed. “Well, had I known that, I would have mentioned something earlier.”

  I took a quick look around to make sure no one was watching. I pushed him onto the grass and sat on him, kissing him tenderly.

  With a small scream I jumped up, swatting at something that had landed on my shoulder.

  “Hayden, stop!” Jasper was laughing so hard he had tears in his eyes. I glared at him. “It’s just one of the blue birds!”

  The bird came back and landed on Jasper’s knee. It cocked its head at me and back to Jasper.

  “Alright, fine then. You told me so.”

  I laughed. It was the bird from my first day here. The one who had told Jasper we must have been fated. I smiled at the memory until I noticed that Jasper was frowning. He was listening intently to the bird, nodding slowly.

  “I will let them know,” he stated.

  The bird chirped.

  “After tomorrow. We are all meeting here before we leave.”

  She bobbed her head then chirped again.

  “She wants to know if she can stay with you tomorrow.”

  “Sure. Why not.” I smiled then wondered what Tiny was going to think of the idea. The little tairat was out hunting for her lunch.

  She flew up, landed
on my shoulder, gave me a peck on the cheek and flew away.

  Jasper shook his head. “Even the birds can’t help themselves.”

  “What was she telling you?”

  “I’m afraid we are about to lose a significant part of our army. But let’s worry about that later.”

  “What should we do now?”

  “Well, I was quite enjoying myself before the bird interrupted us,” he grinned at me. He took my hand and started leading me towards Tara’s house.

  Just then, the dark clouds that had been threatening all day let loose a sheet of rain.

  Jasper started running, dragging me along with him, laughing. By the time we got to Tara’s house we were soaked right through.

  Tara was in the kitchen with Ben. I gave a quick wave as we laughed our way to our room. Jasper helped me pull my swords off and put them on the desk.

  I turned and had to suck in a breath. His white tunic was clinging to his body, his blue eyes bright. He sprayed water over everything as he shook his head. His dark curls stuck out everywhere, a couple of them down over his eyes. I walked over and brushed them away from his face.

  Jasper took my hand in his and placed it over his heart. He held it there as he pulled me closer to him. His lips touched mine softly.

  I caught my breath at the look in his eyes when he stopped to look at me. His need for me, his love for me was so strong, so pure.

  “I love you,” I whispered and hoped he knew how much. “No matter what happens on that ridge, I wouldn’t trade the last three weeks for anything.”

  I stood on my tip toes and kissed him just as softly. He moved his lips along my jaw line, down my neck. I felt him smile as he muttered, “I love you more.”

  We took our time, making sure every moment, every touch, lasted. We missed lunch. And supper.

  *****

  I woke up screaming. Jasper had his arms around me in a flash

  “Shush, Hayden. It’s ok. I’m right here.” He brushed my hair back from my face. “What was it?”

  I couldn’t talk. All I could see over and over was a tiger falling to the ground in front of me, impaled by two arrows, as a bailau dragged me away.

  I buried my face into his chest, sobbing.

  “Shush...” Jasper lay down, holding me tightly to him. He ran his fingers through my hair. “It will be ok.”

  I cried myself back to sleep.

  *****

  When he asked her about the dream the next morning, all she could manage was a new wave of tears. She leaned against him and he rubbed her back. It was taking everything he had to push down her fear, to keep calm.

  “You have to leave,” she whispered.

  He looked down at her in shock. “You saw me leaving you? You’re wrong! There is no way that I would leave you!”

  Hayden shook her head. “I mean that I want you to leave. You can’t stay here.” Another sob shook her.

  “I will not!” He was yelling. Her eyes flew open. This was the first time he had lost his temper around her. “I don’t care what you saw! I am not leaving! The only way I am leaving is if you are coming with me!”

  Hayden completely broke down.

  It was strange to be feeling two different things. He was annoyed and angry that she should even suggest such a thing. And yet, right along with that, he was feeling her fear, her desperation.

  He took a deep breath and composed himself. “Hayden,” he whispered into her hair. “Whatever it was you saw, you know it’s not set in stone. We’ll find a way to change it.”

  She nodded into his chest. “You have to promise me something.”

  He looked down at her, unsure.

  “You have to promise me that when the bailau grabs me you won’t try to save me.”

  He shook his head. “No.”

  “Jasper, please. I don’t know what happens after that, but if you die trying to save me...”

  “What if I can save you? There has to be a way.”

  “You can’t. You don’t. Jasper, I promise that I will find a way to get away from it. But you won’t do any good coming after me. I can’t lose you any more than you can lose me.” She looked into his eyes, pleading. “Please. I need you to stay alive.”

  He looked back at her and was lost in a sea of green. Finally, he nodded.

  *****

  Out in the courtyard everyone waited for us. As we walked over to where our original little group was standing, I looked around in amazement. There were now about twenty Scannoves, fifty Wedelves, and at least that many Namaels.

  Everyone looked at us expectantly. The little blue bird landed on my shoulder. Tiny peeked around my head to have a look at her then settle back down.

  Jasper looked amazing as he stood on a bench so everybody could see him. He was so confident.

  “First and foremost,” he addressed the group. “We would like to thank everyone for volunteering to help.” He stopped and frowned slightly. “Now before we go on any further I have been informed that I must order my men to return to the castle.”

  A murmur spread through the crowd and everyone looked over to their neighbor.

  He continued. “Queen Melana is ordering us to leave and go back to help reinforce the keep.”

  My head snapped up at the word “us”.

  Jasper waited patiently until the noise had died down. “And so that is what I am doing now. Men, though we appreciate your offer to help, you are to head back to the keep.”

  The blond boy, he looked about nineteen, from the first group to arrive spoke up. “What will you be doing, captain?”

  “I’ll be staying.”

  Everyone was silent so Jasper could explain himself. “I am needed here. Whether Hayden is here or not, the dogs are coming. We can’t leave the Wedelves to fight by themselves.

  I will not ask any of you to disobey an order from the queen. You are free to do as you wish.”

  A group of five bowed to him and left.

  The blond looked at his friends and back at Jasper. “I’m staying sir.”

  Jasper nodded to him as he made his way to the bench. “Thank you, Brice.”

  Brice turned towards the crowd. “I can only speak for myself on this, but I will stay with the captain.” He looked sideways, a bit embarrassed. “Jasper has always put us, his men, first. He has changed orders and plans to make sure that most of us would get home to our families. It is a rare occasion where we have been defeated. If he feels that this is the right thing to do, then I trust his judgment.” He stepped down and joined his group.

  I looked up at Jasper, the love and pride I had for him overwhelming me. Standing in front of us were men that had been born to obey. Yet somehow, they were able to ignore an order because of the kind of man Jasper was.

  He looked down at the group in amazement as only four more of his men bowed and left.

  He addressed the whole group once more. “We will head out in an hour to set up on the ridge. Roben will explain our strategy to the rest of the Wedelves, Shanus will lead the Scannoves. Any opinions or ideas are appreciated.” He paused. “Again. Thank you.”

  He stepped off the bench and I threw my arms around him, not caring that a lot of people were watching.

  “You, my dear, are the one who is amazing!” I kissed him.

  He blushed.

  “Do you realize how many of those men just broke their bonds with the queen so that they could stay with you?”

  He shook his head in wonder. “I don’t understand it.” He looked down and kissed me. “Though I am fairly sure a lot of this has to do with you.”

  When everyone had made it back into the courtyard, we set off on our trek deeper into the Wedelven Woods towards the ridge. There was a bit of chatter, but for the most part everyone was thinking about what was coming up.

  I gave Dodge a pat on the neck from in the saddle.

  “Did I tell you that to control the colors, I think of you?”

  He shook his head.

  “I want you to promis
e me you won’t do anything stupid tomorrow. I’ll need you around after this, you know.” I tried to keep my voice from shaking.

  He blew out of his nose and nodded his head.

  “He said he’ll promise if you promise the same,” Prense translated from a few horse lengths behind us.

  “I promise.”

  I looked back towards her. “Do you know anything about a stone that Dodge is supposed to find? Fillian and Jasper mentioned something about it, but with everything happening, I never got a chance to ask again.”

  She nodded and trotted up beside us. “Dodge comes from a herd of horses called the Winged Ones. They are sort of like the Queen’s personal herd. They are born regular horses and stay that way until the age of three. At that point, they set off on their stone quest. For some of them it can take years and because they must go to the Northern Regions, where the dragons live, there is a large number of them that never make it back.”

  “So they have to find a stone?”

  She nodded. “It depends on the horse. It can be a ruby, a opal, a garnet, an emerald. Each horse is different. Once they find their stone they grow their wings and are able to talk mentally with anyone they choose. At that point, they join the Queen’s guard.”

  I looked down at Dodge, amazed. “You were supposed to go find your stone seven years ago! Why in the world didn’t you go?”

  “He says keeping you safe is more important.”

  Dodge snorted. “That his stone can wait.”

  “How about this, buddy. How about we both stay alive tomorrow and when everything is settled down, I’ll get my magic up to par and we’ll go stone hunting together.”

  He nodded.

  A little way ahead of us the ridge towered. Fear tried to take over as thoughts of tomorrow filled my head. I looked around for Jasper and relaxed at the sight of him in his tiger form trotting beside Zane the panther.

  He seemed to sense I was looking at him and glanced back. He slowed to a walk so we could catch up to him. Jasper shifted mid stride and hopped on behind me on Dodge.

  “Show off,” I teased as I leaned back into him. “When we first met, you always hid to shift. How come?”

  He laughed. “I thought I was protecting your fragile mental state.”