Disclaimer: If I were Emily Rodda, I would be the happiest person alive. As it is, I am not; therefore none of the characters you recognise belong to me.

WARNING: Massive, MASSIVE ‘Sister of the South’ Spoiler. DO NOT read if you do not want this great book spoiled for you. This story gives away the end of entire series. Exit NOW and do not even read the summary.

Summary: Not one of us really knows what happened between landing from the Final Battle – I wonder if any of my readers recognise that, but I mean it here as in the gluggy blob – until Lief and Jasmine’s wedding. This is what I think could have happened, but definitely did NOT.

If you do not like stories where the romance is not subtle, do not waste your time reading this. I will have to change the characters just a little so that they can work with the story line. After all, only Emily Rodda could get the characters perfectly right, anyway.

PLEASE SAY YES

Chapter 1: Love – the chapter titles don’t actually have anything to do with what happens in the chapter. I’m planning on four chapters: Love, Angel, Music, Baby. And if I need six, it may appear: Love, Angel, Music, Baby, Hurry Up and Come And Save Me. Guess whose album I just bought?

As the topaz dragon Fidelis landed none to subtly on the ground, a great crowd rushed forth to meet them. Zeann looked around dazedly, she did not deny that she did not like flying upon a dragon. On the other hand, Gers immediately swooped and kissed the ground, at least that was the reckoning of almost everyone who saw it.

“Gers, do my eyes deceive me, or did you just kiss the ground?” Barda questioned with mirth.

“I – I merely…stumbled.”

Lief and Jasmine exchanged smiles. Lief sighed and sat down. He felt exhausted and sore, and wanted nothing more than to go home to the forge and sleep. However, with the crowd there, there was no chance of it.

Jasmine, tired beyond belief herself, saw this and announced to the crowd that King Lief was in need of rest, and that a celebration would be held tomorrow. He would be in attendance should anyone wish to ask him questions, but now was not the time.

Lief threw her a gratified look, and immediately set off home. His mind and heart were full. So much had happened…he still could not completely believe that Deltora was safe from any threat of evil – for the time being, at least.

Lief just needed to reflect on the last few days, just so that his mind may have some peace from the swirling thoughts that not even the topaz could help. The supposed Toran Plague, Joseph, Paff, the guardian…how that guardian had twice come close to killing Jasmine…the alter, the Sister of the South, the dark mass…

Thoughts drifted into nothingness as Lief drifted off to a well-deserved sleep.

---

The next day was one that would always be well remembered. Such a day of feasts had only occurred few times before in the great land.

At the palace there was no exception. Food donated from all over Deltora – for it was only a day after the Sister had been destroyed, and food had still to grow - was presented on a big table in the entrance hall for all those who chose to celebrate in the castle with the King.

After an hour of this, Jasmine felt desperately crowded and smothered, so excused herself to get some fresh air. A walk in the palace gardens was much to be desired now, as all the seeds and bulbs, trapped for so long, burst forth from the soil and were already in bloom.

One of the walls surrounding the palace was covered in vines and bush littered with the most beautiful smelling flowers, so Jasmine chose to sit against them to take her rest.

Back in the palace, Lief had excused himself, also to get some air. But it was not air that he wanted, and Barda knew that. The head of guards smiled knowingly after him, unbeknownst to the young king.

It did not take Lief long to find Jasmine, sitting against one of the walls. He smiled and took a seat next to her.

“Funny you should pick this bush to sit by,” Lief said, breaking the silence Jasmine had so been enjoying. Lucky for Lief, she liked the sound of his voice better than the silence.

“How so?” Jasmine enquired lazily.

“It is my favourite flower,” Lief said, emphasising purposefully, “I love it. It looks beautiful, and sweet; it is a Jasmine flower.”

Jasmine turned to look at him; she had not missed the hidden meaning in this. Lief was looking wistfully up towards the sky.

“Did you not know that?” Lief asked, meeting her gaze.

Jasmine was not sure as to which question Lief was asking her. She chose to answer in reference to the flower – now was not the time to be sentimental.

“I may be able to talk to trees, Lief, but flowers are arrogant, vain and proud – they do not share their secrets with me.”

It was such a closing statement that Lief was at first lost for words.

He soon recovered; Jasmine was now getting to her feet.

“Jasmine, wait,” Lief began, standing up and holding her arm.

“Lief, please don’t,” was all Jasmine whispered before fleeing.

Lief felt a little stunned – and a little annoyed. Why would Jasmine be so desperate to leave him? But the annoyance was only a flicker. Lief loved Jasmine too much to hold a grudge. He was tired, and he knew she was too. Now was just not the time for such a thing. Indeed it was true that the land had much to celebrate with the destruction of the Four Sisters, but so many, too many, people had died from starvation, and then hundreds more from poisoning.

Gathering himself up, Lief headed back to the entrance hall of the castle; many people would still want to talk to him.

---

Jasmine walked miserably around the grounds of the palace. Lief’s flicker of anger had not escaped her notice. She felt dreadful; she never would have thought herself able to upset Lief in any way, but here she was, walking away from the scene with it fresh on her conscience. She felt terrible, even the trees were cruelly snubbing her.

Jasmine loved Lief – loved him so much she hurt desperately. She had a little suspicion that Lief returned the feelings, but believed him able to do so much better than herself.

Times of late she had nipped any blossom of sentimentalities in the bud, and had not made any hypocritical approach towards Lief. But never before had even the slightest glimmer of anger appeared. She just prayed Lief would understand she was doing this for his own good. She had to remain his friend, or her life would become wretched. How desperately did her heart ache for something more? But that was all she could ever be, and nevermore.

Sorry, but I couldn’t help running those last two words together, it adds a poetic quality to a story, I believe.

I realise that both my stories have been with a bit of a disagreement or trouble between Lief and Jasmine, but I don’t think I could quite write a dramatic story otherwise. I promise that my story with MerewenIce, when it comes out, will not have this, or any further romance stories I write about Lief and Jasmine.

Any review would be very much appreciated, and I hope you would all be so kind as to leave me wiser by giving some constructive criticism as well.

xxx Mwah my gorgeous people,

Susie