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fantasies-fairytales-n-fics · 3 months

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Thranduil and Josie Pt. 168- Gypsy Origins Part 1 of 3

Summary: Haldir's patience is tested during a long, bitter journey. A hypnotic tale of past truths be told.

*Chapter Warnings* language, angst, blood, violence, death, child death

Chapter characters: Haldir, Delphine(Jocelyn), Rumil, Orophin, Harker, Jemma, Zeddicus, Jessie, Thomas, Ravenna, Finn,

Chapter word count: 7,000

Stories Stories Stories Masterlist:

As the dawn of the new winter day shone it's light through the sky reaching bare trees, Jocelyn reluctantly surfaced from under a sizeable pile of brush where she had sought shelter through the cold black night from the evil enchantments of the dark forest and the wicked ones that dwelled within it's borders. Still weakened from the burning cross branded onto her chest by the nutty nun's red hot iron bar, the witch doctor slowly and cautiously crept over the pathless snow covered forest floor, squinting her light strained eyes as she searched for the way out before the befoul breeze consumed her thoughts and lungs for it's morning breakfast. Being accustomed to the lifeless woodlands of the Dorwinion realm, Jocelyn soon found the hidden exit only seen by the trained eye and as she crossed over, trained eyes were watching her. Six of them, all blazing blue, belonging to Haldir, Rumil and Orophin whom were all armed with engaged arrows upon her.

Gasping, her hues, also of blue, frantically darted beyond the trio of platinum locks in search for Bash.

"Where...where's Bash???"

Haldir, being the leading Marchwarden of Lorien and the only Silvan elf of the three that spoke Westron due to all his travels, chose to toy with the witch that he was undeniably unfond of.

"One could only presume his flesh has been ripped from his warlock bones and his soul stripped of his rotting carcass. It is usually the outcome of being left at the mercy of the devil himself."

Her brow raised as she smirked at Haldir's rather serious expression.

"And I can only presume that you are lying through your pretty white elven teeth. Any fool can see that you deeply care for Josie and you would not allow harm to come to those who have risked their lives to help her, even if those I refer to are warlocks who happen to be relatives of the notorious Lord Narcisse, who's reputation highly precedes him in not being a very liked man, but compared to Rahl, Stephane is a fucking saint. I know that you did not leave Bash and that young boy to die and I also know that as wicked as Rahl is, he would not kill his brother and son. His father yes, because the wretched warlock deserved it. Rahl was merely toying with them as you toy with me. I did not willingly leave them. I..."

"You ran for your wicked little life." Haldir scoffed.

Jocelyn bravely marched right up to the poison tipped arrows that were still held upon her and defended herself.

"I am not wicked!! And...what would you have had me do??? YOU were the ones with weapons, not me! Now where are Bash and Charles??"

"Being escorted by the others back to the castle as you now will be. You will follow me. Jo needs you. She's waiting."

Haldir swiftly departed as Rumil and Orophin held their armed stances, while Jocelyn huffed and stomped off to follow the Marchwarden.

After a few minutes, Jocelyn became annoyed at the two brothers behind her and glanced back at them with a scowl.

"Can you please give me some elbow room??" she snapped. "You know, personal space, ever heard of it??"

Ignoring her complaints, the two elves silently carried on behind her with flat expressions which only riled her up even more as she offered them another scowl.

"You know, my mother used to tell me that always having a resting bitch face could end up with it becoming stuck like that. In your case, I can see that to be true. Do you speak? Have you ever? Do you even know how??"

Still, there was not a single word from any of the three elves.

"UNbelievable!"

Jocelyn shook her head and then ran up beside Haldir.

"Am I going to have these arrows in my back the entire way? Why am I being treated like a prisoner?? I have done nothing wrong!"

"Haven't you?" Haldir snarked as he kept his eyes straight ahead.

"Ok, I can clearly tell that you do not like me which is probably because, like all the other fools, you believe the UNTRUE stories you have heard about me."

"I do not like you because you reek of deceit and you insult myself and my brothers."

"Well hello pot, meet kettle...you certainly have been no prince charming."

"I am no Prince. Personal space." Haldir snarked and sped up his large strides in which Jocelyn now angrily trotted behind him.

"Yes. I can tell. Princess may be a better term. And what do you mean deceit? I have deceived no one. If anything, "I" have been deceived here. I would much rather resume my torture at the nunnery than to be forced to return to the lion's den per se OR to be anywhere near the likes of you and your bow happy brothers!"

Haldir spun around so fast that she bounced right off of his chest and tumbled with a hard thud onto her ass.

"Is that all your witch lips do is babble? My goal is to bring you to Jo who needs your help and who I thought you cared for and who in this moment, you remind me VERY much of."

Her gaping eyes then turned to a glare. "Call off your guard dogs or you will have to carry me for I will go no further!"

Haldir thought of you again in that moment, how you had refused to get out of his way and he had picked you straight up and moved you himself. The memory had the Marchwarden chuckling inside of his mind, but on the outside, his face matched the solemn spirits of his brothers who now stood behind him as they all leered down at her.

Haldir's tone was ominous as he spoke through slitted lips. "That could be arranged."

Their piercing eyes now had the feisty brunette quite anxious.

"I dare you to try sprite. Maybe you should heed all the rumors as they say I am poisonous and I do believe elves can be poisoned. Who will help you then? It's a long walk back to the imported Mirkwood healing water. Go ahead...touch me."

The silence and the stares between the four were intensely long and then Haldir finally lifted his hand and motioned for his brothers to lower their weapons.

A smug smirk grew on Jocelyn's lips as the two elves complied. "Good boys. As if you would have shot me anyways Haldy. You need me."

"Jo needs you. I can always shoot you in the leg."

"And then you WILL have to carry me." she quipped and hopped to her feet and walked off to a tree and pulled out a knife.

The arrows swiftly rose again, this time by all three elves.

"What are you doing?!" Haldir growled as she began to cut into the tree.

"It's Spruce bark, which I would have figured a wood elf would know of. It has medicinal purposes, although I don't think it can do anything for that stick up your ass." she replied in a mordacious manner as she cut the pulp out and ate it while gazing in the exasperated elf's eyes. "Would you like to try a piece for good meas...."

Before she could finish her sentence or even blink, Haldir swiftly swiped the knife clean from her hand with an elven move completely invisible to the eye.

"It would seem there was good cause for our weapons. Bo cín té witch (On your way witch)."

Jocelyn's mouth hung open at her empty hand and then her eyes fumed at him before she stormed off. "This is bullshit!"

Haldir mumbled under his breath as the elves now followed her. "Yes it is."

An hour had went by as all walked in silence and Jocelyn's steps were slowing, for the tree bark's energy boosting properties were wearing off and the area of the forest they trekked through became all too familiar to her.

"Could I please have my knife back? I need more of the pulp. My chest is on fire, yet I am freezing and I am tiring." she asked in a defeated tone.

"How is it that you are chilled with the fur of a dead animal constricting your neck?"

"It is not real. I am not some savage like you think me to be. I am just someone who was thrown into a world I did not ask for. Now please...are you not an elf of light? If you have a heart under that tough guy act, which I think you do, for you are doing all of this for Josie, then help me before I collapse or you you really will have to carry me. I need to be stronger to help her. God..I still cannot believe she is here in Dorwinion, but it was inevitable that she would cross paths with Stephane at some point since Jul....never mind. I don't want to talk anymore. I...I feel sick."

Jocelyn sat on a fallen tree, lightly panting and then began to weep.

Haldir stopped and cut a large chunk of the bark, then removed the pulp and chopped it into bite size pieces for the ailing witch.

"Tha...thank you." she sniffled as she took it and kept her eyes to the ground as she nibbled. "Why...do you think I am deceitful?"

"The scent of secrets spill from your pores. For many years, Jo has known and believed your daughter Sarah to be simply her human neighbor and best friend in the mundane world, which included you and I now believe that to be of no coincidence, for now here you are, a witch, in middle earth's magical realm and I have since learned that lady Lola is also your daughter. You also claim you are in fear of a recently deceased Caroline and that you should not speak of Jo. Why is that? Jo has been deeply hurt by that wretched witch turned vampire for she too was full of secrets and lies as you clearly are. I will not let you hurt her too. Speak the truth or as I mentioned, I can and will force you. What is your involvement with Caroline and why is Harker after you? Something happened here. I feel it."

"Here I thought you could actually be nice. So interesting. You speak of deceit as if you have not swam in it yourself. You can sense light and darkness and force truth from others and I... I can see all of that in their eyes, the windows to the soul and yours speak loudly. Jo...you...you love her....intimately you have been when she was not yours to be with. It would also seem...yessss, that you were also intimate with her mother. Now who reeks of deceit?"

Haldir's jaw clenched and his nose flared. "Wicked you are! I have had enough of your deflection."

Jocelyn's breath was lost as her eyes were taken against their will by the unseen power in Haldir's hypnotic glare. She could not pull them free from his wild, dilated blues. She could not even blink as tears dripped down her cheeks like a leaking faucet. She could not move from the log beneath her, only tremble and whimper as the magical elf's lips began to move.

"Im orth- i fána o nin eyes. Ennas na- baw dolen hen faer tur- deli-. Im orth- i fána o nin eyes. On- nin i dolen hen faer hides." (I raise the veil from my eyes. There is no secret her soul can hide. I raise the veil from my eyes. Give me the secrets her soul hides).

Haldir raised his chin and stared down the slope of his nose at the vulnerable woman.

"Tell me about Harker. All that you know and have experienced."

The memories began to play like a movie and Haldir could see them all as they were transferred from her eyes to his while she told the story in her trance like state. It was if she were reliving it right there in the present.

I...I'm in bed. I don't feel well. I can't sleep. My stomach is cramping and my sheets are bloodied. I have become a woman on my 13th Birthday. It's the night of the summer solstice celebration, the longest night of the year and I am the only child there. My older brother Jeremy is away.

I hear violin music and my father's obnoxious laughter from the traveling carnival outside. I see people drinking and dancing around a bonfire from the window of our trailer. My gypsy mother is giving tarot readings. They're all gypsies, even my grandfather but I knew they were much more than that. He's coming in to check on me. I can smell his old spice cologne.

He's bringing me a potion for pain. It's glowing. I ask him as I always did, are you a witch? Is this magic? He's laughing. He says...

A witch doctor. It's hocus pocus my child.

He watches me drink and then, there is no more sound. The music has stopped. The laughing has stopped. I hear gasping. My mother is shouting for my grandfather.

Papa!

I'm watching once again from the window as he goes to her. She's clinging to my father while others stand near, staring at a man I have never seen. He wears black leather, his hair is light and his eyes are blue, but they hold darkness. He is not wanted here. I'm listening to my grandfather and the man speak.

Be gone warlock! Your kind does not belong here.

Oh but I do. You see, I too enjoy a good carnival. In fact, like you, I have my own traveling funfair, but I must say, it is much more...fun...than this. Maybe you have heard of it? Harker's World of Wonders?

It is a circus of freaks, all like you. You steal children and their souls.

I do not steal them. They are given to me. Just as you are going to give me yours. I smell her.

He looks at me in the window. I am so scared. I..I have peed myself.

And I see something else you're going to give me as well. Mmmm, I wish that I had Jessie's girl.

My father's name is Jessie.

I see the man ogling my mother. He runs his tongue over his teeth. My mother shouts at him.

I will give you nothing!

Jemma, Jemma, Jemma...you will, or everyone here will die in a matter of seconds. Do you want all of their blood on your hands? It's simple really. Give yourself and your daughter to me and I will let them all live.

I'm watching my mother. She is stringing her slingshot behind my grandfather's back while the warlock speaks. She lunges forward and shoots a rock clean though his hand. She screams at him.

Get out of here! Leave this camp you murdering bastard!

He's angry. He clenches his fist and blood pours out.

I warned you witch. Now be still and watch.

I'm shaking, too scared to watch...but I do. His injured hand forms the shape of a gun and real bullets spray and shatter the trailer next to me. There's an explosion and so much fire. There's so much screaming. I hear my mother's screams. I cover my ears and scream too.

Many are dead in seconds like he said. I see my mother and grandfather. They're alive, but I do not see my father. Now I see him. He's running to me! I hear him shout for me. Joss!!!

I'm screaming and banging on the window. Daddy no!! Get down!!

I hear more bullets firing and I watch him fall. My mother and grandfather watch him fall. I..I can't breathe. I can't move. I hear my mother screaming again. I see her running to him, crying out his name. Jessie!!!

She falls onto him, pleading for him to wake up... but he doesn't.

I run from the trailer in my nightgown to go to my dad and the evil man grabs me. My mother panics and begs him to let me go.

Your father will be next. DO you give yourself and the child to me???!!

Just take me! Leave my child with her grandfather.

NO Momma!!! I cry and try to free myself, but he is too strong.

Two for the price of one is the deal...or DIE!

My grandfather curses him. The man laughs and twirls his finger. My grandfather begins to bleed from his eyes.

Your magic does not work on me old fool Zeddicus!!

My mother pleads for him to stop. She agrees to his deal.

You can have us!!! Please stop!!

We ride off with the warlock on his black horse and never see my grandfather again for many years."

Haldir's heart slightly palpitated when she finished, for it saddened him deeply what had happened to her and family, but he knew he had to make her continue, for there was much more he needed to know.

"Tell me all that transpired after."

Jocelyn's flooded eyes fluttered but remained locked in the Marchwarden's as she resumed her terrifying tale.

"I'm waking up. I don't know where I am. I don't see my mother, only other children, lots of them, boys and girls, all of different ages and skin color. They're scared. Some are crying. I'm looking around. I think I'm in a stable? I'm not sure. The walls are wooden. It smells. The floor is dirt. I see daylight creeping through the cracks in the walls.

An older woman speaks to me. She's dressed like a servant.

Come child. We must clean you up and then you will sit quietly with the others until it is time for your bread and water.

I tell her my name and ask her what hers is. She says names do not matter here. I am a number and to do as I'm told.

She bathes me in a stall. The water is dirty and cold. She makes me wear a large cloth for my undergarment, pinned like a diaper. She's brushing my tangled hair. It hurts. She's not gentle like my mother. I hear noise outside. When the woman tends to another child, I sneak to the wall and peek through a small hole. I see lots of me. I think they are guards and I see strange looking people, carnies I suppose, some with physical ailments, almost animal like, dressed for circus acts. I see Harker's trailer. His name is on it. He's coming out with my mother! She's crying, her hair is a mess, her clothes are torn and he is smiling and groping her. I yell to her.

Momma!!

A clammy hand covers my mouth and I'm pulled away from the wall. It's the servant.

Hush child!! Do not draw attention to yourself. You are to be seen and not heard or you will moved up the waiting line.

Wh...what is that?? I ask her.

To be taken to the witch in the woods and you will never return.

But..but I want to see my mother!

You cannot. Ever. She belongs to the master now as do we all. Now go sit down. It is time to eat. You must stay in reasonable shape for when your time comes. If you are rejected, you will suffer dearly.

I'm shaking and crying. I can't stop. Night falls and I hear the most frightening sounds outside. Screaming, moaning, laughing. I cry myself to sleep. Every day is the same. Every night is the same. Every 3 days, I watch children from different groups, nine of them, leave at dusk in a wooden cage on wheels with iron bars. They are replaced with new ones by Harker over the 3 days after and the cycle repeats. He does the work. His men make the delivery.

We travel to new places each week. Places I do not recognize. I don't think I am near home anymore. I scratch marks into the walls each night with a rock to keep track of the days. When we move, I count the marks and memorize the number and then start all over again.

352 days have went by and I am 14 now. It is the summer solstice again. I think I am the oldest of all the children. I am lucky I have not been chosen yet but I wish I would be so I could see the sky and breathe the air again, even if it was for the last time. I regret my thoughts. Dusk is settling in and the wagon is being prepared. Harker comes for me and two others from my group. We're all screaming and crying as we are dragged to our wooden chariot. I...I hear my mother!!! She's still alive!! She's shouting my name and running to me.

NO!!! Please!!! Not her!!

Harker strikes her. She falls to the ground. Her lip is bleeding. He orders the guards to take her away. They carry her off, barely conscious as she reaches for me. I am picked up and violently thrown into the wagon. The children are huddling in the back while I sit alone at the door being gawked at by the two guards who follow.

The journey is long and hot. We are traveling on winding narrow paths near a raging ocean. One of the children had lived in the area. Thomas is his name. His eyes are chocolate like his skin. He calls the inland sea a black sea of death. It eats the living and the dead. On the North-West side is the Dorwinion realm, a land of Warlocks and humans. He says the King is of both light and darkness. Some say he has an evil twin but the boy is not sure. He then tells me that one of the witch Queen's castles dwells on the cliffs of the South-Eastern side and that her King is a King of Goblins who dwells in the Misty mountains far away to the North-West and he also says Harker is his brother. They are both evil but not nearly as their mother, a winter witch.

He looks to the North and reveals that a very powerful Elvenking of light reigns there over the vast woodland realm of Mirkwood. He points to a very hard to see island in the North-East, Devil's Island he quietly calls it, and claims it is an isle of vicious vampires with it's own King, for the true ruler of them all and the most ruthless, reigns in the central Misty mountains. Aren't all vampires? I ask him. He says only if their heart is vicious. His finger sways to the South-East and says a younger more modern vampire, a notorious recluse, lives at the top of the mountain and leads a smaller clan. It is rumored that his mind and heart are at war over humans and that is why he hides in the shadows until he must feed. The boy ends his navigational story of the monsters that circle us by telling me that somewhere, deep in the dark forest, unseen to the eye, there's a hidden realm called the Wander Woods, ruled by a twisted Faerie Queen. I want to laugh because all these things are not supposed to be real, but I cant I cry instead because I know after meeting Harker that they are very real and that I'm about to die. I'm not in Kansas anymore and no wizard will save me. This is another fairy tale. The dark one of Hansel and Gretel.

I see the castle. It almost touches the full moon from high upon the cliff. The wagon stops at the gates. All nine of us are clutching each other and screaming. The guards are poking us with poles and tell us to remain silent. Our breaths must be preserved. We are chained in a single file and led inside. I am first.

Myself and the two behind me are unchained. Thomas is one of them. Servants scurry up to us and drag us off. They mock us as we are primped and polished. They tell us the Queen will not eat what is ugly. I'm staring out the window into the brightly moonlit ocean. There's a giant vessel. Oh my god!! They're throwing the lifeless bodies of children overboard! I pee myself again. Luckily it buys me time but it shortens Thomas's and the other child's. They take them first as I am roughly and speedily cleaned up.

They take me up to the top of the sky scraping tower. The room is prodigious and round, lit by a fire pit in the center. A woman of golden hair, pinned up under a brass crown, stands at a mirror. Her back is to me. She is weeping. There's a man of short ivory hair at her side, holding her up and comforting her.

Time is running out brother. Where is the third child!!??

A grandfather clock echoes two chimes. It is 11:30.

She is here now sister.

The woman turns and stares at us. Her blue eyes are young but evil and her skin is aging. She wears an abundance of jewelry. Upon the ring and pinky finger of her left hand are a metal claws.

I accidentally gasp and she glares at me with a wicked smile. Her voice is soft but it makes my skin crawl. She tells me I will be saved for last since I am the heaviest. I don't understand.

She approaches Thomas. He's small, maybe 10 years old and stands only to my shoulders. I squeeze his hand as she squeezes his face in to a pucker. She tells him he has beautiful skin and likes how it shimmers of youth in the light. Her smile and her gaze turns dark.

Thomas's hand slips from mine as he is lifted by his face up to her face. His feet are kicking as he helplessly dangles in the air. I...I can't breathe. I can't watch. I squish my eyes shut as I hear a sucking noise and then a thud. My eyes pop open and Thomas lies still at her feet. His skin is all shriveled. A servant drags him away and the other child is brought forward by her face. It happens again. I still do no do not watch. I feel her approach me and then she speaks to me.

Open your eyes child. I must see all of you, closely. Every detail. You must be of perfection.

I can't stop myself from opening them. She looks different. Her skin is healing. She is stronger. Now I understand why I am last. Now I understand it all. She is eating our souls to feed and preserve her youth and power.

Ahhh yes. You will do just fine fair one.

She grabs me under my chin and lifts me from the ground. I feel paralyzed. I can't even kick my legs. Her grip is so tight, I am choking and it forces my mouth open. Her mouth opens, unrealistically wide and she begins to suck my soul into her body. I feel my skin tightening. I'm slowly imploding as the air in my lungs is sucked dry. Something else is happening. Something that is not supposed to. I see it in her widened eyes as he hand loosens it's grip. I feel my skin reforming and my breath returning. I see my soul's essence flow from her mouth, back into mine. It has a fiery color swirling in it that it didn't have before. It burns my chest and then becomes cool and tingly. She gasps for air and drops me.

She stumbles back into her brother's awaiting arms and her eyes are gaping mad as she watches me slowly sit up.

Ravenna, my sister, what is it??!! her befuddled brother asks as he too gapes at me.

Help me up Finn. Now!

She's assisted to her feet and she grabs a fistful of my hair as she screams at me.

How OLD are you!!!!!???

Again, I do not understand.

I...I...I am...f..ff...fourteen.

This cannot be! She merely looks 12!" the brother proclaims. "Harker would never send anyone over 13!

She glances at the clock. It is 5 minutes till midnight.

Give me one of the other children! Quickly!

A servant rushes off and comes back with a girl who looks no more than 8. Ravenna finishes her ritual with only seconds to spare. The clock then chimes twelve times as her youthful image is restored.

Ravenna is telling Harker's guards to have Harker return with her next shipment to answer for his mistake and send an extra child to replace me. They are not pleased. She is now ordering Finn to throw me in the sea with the other bodies, but he stops the guards and argues with her.

Sister. I cannot. You must send her back. She survived which means she still belongs to Harker. Not only will it now be considered taking from a warlock, but it is a rule of the spell Jadis has placed. You must never rid of a survivor. It is an omen. There will be consequences, for the girl has consumed some of your magic.

Damn that jealous woman!! It is the only reason she has done this to me!

Sister...I believe bedding the King Jasper was the cause. Look what she allowed Jareth to do to him and his men. You should consider yourself fortunate that Jareth wanted you alive.

Fortunate brother?!!! I had to pay this price to live!! Enough. Today is your lucky day little girl but do not think I will ever forget this, nor forgive it. With that said, you will remain here until Harker arrives to answer for this!!

Harker's men are angry as Finn is dragging me off. I am happy to have escaped death but I do not know what will happen to me now. I feel so desperate."

Jocelyn stopped and Haldir thought for a moment as her eyes remained a prisoner of his. Her story only darkened with the more she revealed and he knew she would remember all of this when he freed her of his mind manipulation and may be traumatized from it, but still...there was so much more he must extract from her memories, for even the simplest of information could be highly useful at some point and...she had all the answers to your questions of the past regarding Sarah and now even Lola and Narcisse were involved. They both were too close to you and Leeanduil, so it had to be done. He had come this far. There was no turning back now.

Haldir's dilated pupils pulsed as the thin ring of blue around them glowed like an eclipse.

He then spoke one word.

"Continue."

More tears rushed upon her flushed cheeks from her immobilized eyes as she obeyed his command.

"I am being locked in a dungeon, only it is not underground. It is in a tower. The door is grated iron. There is only one small window with no glass. It is so hot. There is no bed. I'm so tired. I fall instantly asleep on the filthy floor. My face is burning. I open my eyes and the sun is shining on me. It is morning. I am searching the room for something, anything to help me escape but there is nothing. I feel like I am suffocating. I need air.

I am climbing up to the window. If I could fit through, it would not matter. It has two iron bars in it and there is nowhere to go but hundreds of feet down to my death. It is all a rubble of rocks on the ocean's edge. I see something. What is...that?? It is a large loose iron nail. I...I think I can reach it. I am stretching my arm through the window. I...I've got it! But it's hard to pull and it's hot from the sun I assume. I'm pulling and pulling. It finally comes out. I am looking it over, thinking of what I can do with it. Maybe I can pick the l...oh god! Someone is coming!

I see Finn approaching with food. I'm hiding the nail behind my back as he comes in. Now I realize what I can do with it, but am I brave enough to try?? If I am caught, what will happen to me? I don't care. I have to get away. I don't like how he is looking at my breasts. It is now or never.

He is walking up to me. He touches my bare chest and licks his lips. I am shaking and becoming very angry. The nail is still hot. I cannot hold it anymore. I am clenching it tight and I...I swing the pointed edge at his face. It slices his cheek from his eye to his jaw. He is screaming and I am running out the door he left open. I don't know where I am going. I just keep running. I see an opening with light but when I get there, it is only a drop off to the ground.

I turn and run the other way. I hear Finn's voice and other guards nearby. Corner after corner. I keep going, looking for stairs. I find some and rush down them but now I...I am lost and even more desperate. I see a courtyard and more light coming from a small opening with water on the ground outside of it, but there are guards everywhere. They see me and begin shouting and chasing me and now I have no choice but to run to the hole. One of them almost catches me. I dive into the opening and I am now sliding right into a flooded drainage tunnel. I'm soaked and wading my way through it to the light. I crawl over the edge and I am now on the side of the cliff with nothing but the raging ocean below. They're coming through the water. I have no choice but to jump. I close my eyes tightly shut and force my feet forward. I'm falling. I plunge into the black sea of death. I think my heart has stopped beating.

I'm fighting the current, trying to swim up for air. It's pulling me in the opposite direction. I am going to drown. I can see the light above me. Is it the light we see when we die?

A strong surge pushes me up and I surface, gasping for breath. There are rocks. I cling to them while my lungs fill back up with air. I look up and see a pathway around the cliff.

I'm running again. There are horses tied to a post. I see guards in the distance relieving themselves. I sneak up and untie one of the horses. I have never ridden a horse. I am climbing on and horns begin blowing. The guards see me and begin racing towards me. The horse is startled and he gallops off. I don't know how to control him. He is heading towards the forest that I see in the far distance so I just hold on tight and pray.

I am nearing the forest and the horse stops so fast that I fall off. I see the guards coming. Lots of them. I try to climb back up but the horse moves to the side and shakes his head. He won't let me. Something is frightening him. I pull his reigns to get him to follow me into the forest but he lunges up on his back legs and neighs loudly, then runs off. I turn and run into the forest. I soon find out what the horse was scared of. I am in Ravenna's dark forest.

All the trees are dead. The air is murky and stinks. There's barely any light. I begin to run again when I hear the sound of something screeching. I fall and a mist of sparkles spray into my eyes. It's poison. I'm hallucinating. I keep going, stumbling, trying not to pass out. I fall into a stream and crawl through the mud to get out and now I'm laying on dead birds. There are figures in black cloaks, all watching me. Black beetles are crawling everywhere. Tar is seeping from the trees and dead plants. I am swarmed by bats. Is...is that a dragon or a...a gargoyle in the tree?? It flies down and strikes me with it's wings. Everything goes black.

I'm waking up. I don't know how long I have been here. I realize it has not been long because I hear the voices of guards. I run off to hide under a pile of brush. One of them walks by. I can see through the branches. It is one of Harker's men. I don't know which is worse, him or Ravenna's men.

I stay silent until I cannot see him anymore but he already knew I was there. He drags me out. I cannot free myself from his firm grip on my arm. Finn and three of his armed men come. The gash on his face is gone. I try to run but Harker's man pulls me close to him. Finn extends his hand to me and tells me to come.

I beg the warlock. No. NO! Please don't give me to him!

He holds his weapon out at Finn. Back away. The girl comes with me.

The Queen says otherwise. She has given you your orders warlock.

I do not answer to her. I have my orders. Any rejections go back to Harker. She still belongs to him. You said so yourself.

And she will. After the Queen speaks with him.

4 more of Harker's men show up. One speaks for all.

That is not how the arrangement goes. Your sister knows it. She has no authority to alter the rules. The girl survived. She will rightfully come with us. The Queen cannot be trusted not to harm her. Do you wish to jeopardize your sister's means of receiving what she needs? I know YOU are certainly not going to provide for her on a daily basis. You're merely a man, unlike Harker, and can only travel so far with limited time and resources, that being of the slim to no children in the area. Choose as you will, but we are taking her, with or without a fight.

Finn scowls at us and leaves with his men. I feel better with the outcome but I still fear for my life.

The warlock guards take me straight back to Harker. It is late in the day and they are on edge. I sense they fear his reaction for returning me. They are right to fear him. A wolf like growl escapes through his clenched teeth. His fingertips grow claws of bloody daggers.

I fearfully fall to my knees at his feet as the men push me towards him. They explain all that happened and he orders them to bring him my mother. They drag her down the hall of his trailer and force her to her knees beside me. We cling to each other, shaking and crying. He demands answers from my mother. He is pacing and snarling like a dog between his sentences.

You have been here one year. You know the routine, yet you fail to inform me of your spawn's age!

I...I...did not know it mattered my Master. I swear it!

If it did not matter, then I would give YOU to her!! You see ALL of the children here! Not a one, or so I believed, is over 13 years of age. It is forbidden! My brother is her King and he, along with the Queen will now believe I attempted to kill her! My camps could be raided by his armies of orcs, goblins and wendigos and if that happens, I will feed you and your offspring to them! You better say your little prayers that I can make Ravenna understand and that she was not harmed, for she is far more unforgiving than myself and my brother combined.

He is grabbing her by her hair and pulling her to her feet. Something is happening inside of me. A rage that I have never felt. My eyes uncontrollably dart to a shiny object on his desk as if I knew it was there and knew what it would do. It is a small silver dagger. I run to it. I take it and I spin around, slicing his hand that clenches her hair. He releases her and backs away. An indescribable scream, almost deafening, spews from his mouth with a visible steam like a piping hot tea kettle.

I am reprimanded by his men and the blade is taken. I'm ordered to be locked up in iron chains. I don't see Harker for 2 days. I am in a small cave chained by my ankle to a rock wall. My skin is burning under the shackle and I feel weak. I'm having horrifying dreams of Ravenna. I feel myself changing, internally and physically. I am remembering Finn's words, that I consumed some of her magic."

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Thranduil and Josie Pt. 171- Sisters

Summary: Josselyn finishes her story but this time it is of her own free will. She and Haldir seem to mend fences in the process as they begin to see each other in a new light.

Chapter Warnings: language, angst, mentions of rape, death, graphic depictions, murder, blood, violence, kidnapping, brainwashing

Chapter characters: Haldir, Josselyn, Julian, Zeddicus, Sara(with no H), Narcisse, Darken Rahl, Sebastian, Alice, Lola, Charles, Sarah, Harker, Jemma, Sisters of the dark, Thaddicus, Josie, Magnus

Chapter word count: 12,170

Stories Stories Stories Masterlist:

An hour had swept by since the first half of Josselyn's past was forcefully revealed by Haldir's power of truth and now, upon a fallen tree, the Marchwarden sat beside the witch doctor with patience and perfect posture while she placed her hand upon his to show him the memories and voluntarily resumed her twisted tale. Haldir knew it would now be the beginning of Lola and Sarah's entrance which is what he had been anticipating. As the story unfolded, Rumil and Orophin stood watch for any threats of Darken Rahl, Harker or any of the walking dead that the goblin king had reanimated.

"So, I guess I will start from when I told the pendant to take me here. I...I had immediately stopped and lifted it from my chest. I couldn't just leave Julian without saying goodbye and as scared as I was of Caroline, I was even more angry, so instead....I decided to try something and prayed it would work. I asked the pendant to take me to where Julian was.

I found myself inside the edge of a forest, in the middle of the night with no clue as to where I was and then....I heard music and people. I followed the sound and came up to a clearing to see a funfair. I panicked at first, thinking it was one of Harker's and I hid and watched for awhile. I did not see his trailer or any of his people but I did see Julian's trailer and then I saw my grandfather. I ran to him and we embraced. I told him I came to find him, which was true. I didn't want to leave without him. I asked him where Julian was and he pointed to a very large trailer with a sign on it that said "The Oracle." I went inside and through a crystal beaded curtain, I saw him sitting at a table with his back to me and there was a woman sitting across from him. She was reading his palm.

As I peeked through the beads, I think he sensed me or smelled me. He looked up into the mirror on the wall in front of him and locked his eyes on my reflection. The joy on his face caused a frenzy of butterflies to swarm through my stomach.

He quickly stood up and turned to me, but his smile faded. I could tell by the look of concern in his wandering eyes that he was looking for Caroline. I told him I came alone and his smile grew right back. He scooped me into his arms and we both laughed as he spun me around. He said he and my grandfather were on their way back to the cabin and apologized that they had not been able to locate Harker and my mother in the month that they had been gone. They had been delayed by a snowstorm in the East. He wanted to know about his daughter and if that is why I came alone. I did my best to keep most of what I told him true. I could not bear to look into his eyes and lie to him. I told him his daughter was born, appearing happy and healthy only hours ago. His eyes, they gleamed so brilliantly blue in that moment. I knew then, for certain, that I could never tell him what I knew and shatter his happiness. Oh how I wished it was me that was the mother of his child. I know he did too. He never once even asked how Caroline was.

Our conversation was cut short when I heard the woman at the table speak my name. I leered around Julian's tall frame and I saw her face. I...I knew her! Her name was Sara, with no H like she had always told people for some reason. She was a soothsayer that had traveled with me and my family for many years. She was my mother's good friend and I always adored her. She helped raise me, but I hadn't seen her in years. Haldir, I swear she was an immortal witch because she had not aged at all. I kind of always suspected it, I mean, she was into more than just fortune telling. Her room always smelled of burning sage, I guess to ward off evil spirits and there were so many books regarding the witchcraft and such. There were crystals, potions, candles, and strange objects. One caught my eye that day on the bookshelf because it really stood out. A figurine of a crowned elf that instantly reminded me of the Elvenprince, Legolas, that I had encountered, for it looked a lot like him. It was definitely an elf of royalty. Maybe his father?? Why she had it, I do not know. She collected so many things in her travels."

Haldir raised a brow, for he knew exactly which statue Josselyn referred to. The one of King Thranduil, carved by his mother that had went missing many years ago, but he did not relay that information to Josselyn.

"I know Prince Legolas very well. You will meet him again soon enough, for I was informed that he is at the castle with Jo."

"Great. I don't think he liked me."

"Most elves are like that with strangers, especially one of his stature. He will soften."

"Like you did?" Josselyn jested with a smile.

Haldir smiled back and then she continued.

"So, I sat and talked with her while Julian went to inform my grandfather he needed to leave. She offered me a tarot reading. I reeeeallly wanted to know the future without waiting till the spring equinox to use that pendant and she had always been spot on. Everything that she said would happen always happened. The things she saw, were real.

She drew 6 cards and began explaining them all, and that reading changed everything, or I should say, verified without a shadow of a doubt what I needed to do, for it was all dark and I could see it, the fear and shock she was trying to conceal under her smile. She clearly did not expect it, but no matter what she drew, she always told the truth so warnings could be heeded.

Her vision went as follows. The Ten of Swords, meaning I would suffer an unwelcome surprise or already have by someone I cared for. The Death card. For me, she saw it to be both literal and the end of something but she assured me it did not mean I would die...but it still meant someone would. The Five of Pentacles, she saw an illness, adversity and solitude. I would suffer many losses. Three of Swords. She told me every word that it represented and it was a warning that some or all were in my future. Rejection, despair, sadness, loneliness, heartbreak, betrayal, separation and grief. The Devil. To put it simply, negativity, control, fear, lies, deceit, destruction and temptation. The Tower, the worst card to receive. Overall destruction of happiness.

When she finished, she was quiet and her eyes kept scanning over the cards. She said she kept seeing the color red and she smelled pepper. A dark and powerful masculine force. Controlling and dominating. Preying on the weak. I had no clue at the time who it was. She also saw another dark force. Wolf like. She saw children in despair. It had to be Harker. She mentioned a fiendish feminine of fiery hair....obviously Caroline. She said all three were attached to me. She saw more children, babies to be exact. Four of them, all to be of great power and then she whispered "earth, air, fire and water. North, west, South and East." She then stared at me and said the man that was just here is also connected. "Earth". After that, she could see no further and ended with saying that love, hatred and lies will fuel my future.

I...I ran out. I couldn't breathe. Julian found me and took me inside his trailer. I told him I should not have come, that my future held nothing good and he would be hurt because of me. I was honest to an extent and warned him that Caroline knew of my feelings for him and his for me, that she witnessed our encounter through the pendant and she made me leave. He held me and told me he meant every word he said to me. He said he did not fear her and he did not want to speak of her. He only wished to tell me one thing. He....he told me he loved me and that no matter what the future held, he would love me for all eternity. I cried and told him I loved him too and then we kissed. He made me so weak that, in that moment, I didn't care about the consequences and gave into him and...all through the night, we made love.

I awoke at dawn and watched him sleeping so peacefully. My mind was clear again and I knew what I had to do. It was the hardest thing I had ever done. I broke my own heart to keep Julian's safe. He was my first love, in "every" way and would be my last as far as the love of my life, my soulmate.

I snuck out and woke my grandfather. He and I headed into the forest and from there, we left, using the pendant to take us to Dorwinion for refuge.

It was only a few miles from here that the pendant had brought me to 25 years ago at this exact time of December. As my grandfather and I walked through the snow filled forest, I told him the truth about everything. I trusted him with my life and I had to tell someone or I was going to go crazy. He understood and believed I was doing the right thing. Shortly after, I began to smell the smoke from the chimneys of Narcisse's castle.

It wasn't long until we were reprimanded by warlock guards and later escorted to the castle after I explained to them that I knew Lord Narcisse and needed his help. Needless to say, he was extremely surprised to see me. I wanted to tell him everything too, but as soon as I saw him, I completely chickened out. I couldn't risk Julian's life or Narcisse's because I knew Caroline already hated him. So, I just simply told him that Julian and Caroline had a child and I felt it was time to move on so they could be a family....and that I wanted to find my mother, which was true. I didn't tell him about what Harker had done in fear of starting a war. I just wanted to live a normal life like I used to and while I still could. He offered us room and board in exchange for me to become one of his servants and my grandfather could entertain the children with his puppeteering acts and aid the healers with his magical herbal remedies. He would also be a stableman since he had the power to speak with animals. So we agreed since that seemed pretty normal to me. We had no other choice....and I felt safe with Narcisse....at least I believed that at the time.

Narcisse was very good to me and we became close very quickly over the first few months. He never treated me like a servant and I began to deeply care for him. He even gifted me a gold bracelet on my birthday that had the letter J on it to represent my name, but I secretly wore it in remembrance of my one true love, for I knew I would always love Julian and no one else. I had stopped looking into the pendant to see if Julian still spoke to me at midnight. It was just all too painful to know I could and would never be with him.

There came a time when I developed a slight crush on Narcisse but I did not act on it because Catherine was still an issue as well. Not long after my return, I witnessed an argument between them. She told him she was going to work things out with her King and took her son Francis and left. I tried to comfort him that night and he kissed me.

He had been drinking and was vulnerable. So was I and...we...we made love. He became distant after that and was always traveling about. I truly felt he feared love because he had never experienced it and did not want to. I also think he felt guilty, as if he had taken advantage of me, but I feel I took advantage of him....possibly even used him to forget Julian....but that was impossible, and not for obvious reasons either. 3 days after being intimate with Stephane, I became aware that I was with child and obviously, there was no way it was his. I told him right away so he would not believe otherwise. He was respectful and did not ask me who the child's father was. Whether he suspected Julian or not, I do not know, but I still swore him to secrecy about the baby. He agreed and again, did not ask my reasons. He was so kind and understanding. He told me I was still welcome to stay and raise the baby since he loved having children there.

7 months later, Sarah was born on the autumn equinox, September 22, but that was not her given name at that time. I later changed it for protection purposes that I will explain soon enough. I named her Isabella Julianna, but I called her Bella like my father always called me as a child because he said it meant beautiful....and to me, Isabella was the most beautiful sight I had ever seen besides her father.

4 months had went by and I later learned that on Narcisse's travels, he had been visiting with Julian. He told me he seemed well, but exhaustingly unhappy with Caroline. He said Julian truly loved Josephine though. I guess Caroline returned while he was there and not only heard their conversation, that to Narcisse, unexpectedly included Julian's feelings for me, but also caught him holding Josie. Narcisse said she was enraged by it and still very angry that he knew Julian had slept with Cassie. She was sick of their secrets and spewed threats at Stephane and...I think she did something to him because shortly after he had returned home, he....changed. His personality at first, then later, his image....both dark...like what we all witnessed last night...Lord Darken Rahl.

Bash and I had become friends as well and later...best friends. We told each other everything, which included my love for Julian. When Narcisse changed, Bash told me of his brother's troubled past with their dead father, Lord Panis Rahl Narcisse, and how because of that, Stephane's mind became broken. He split into a version of his evil father, but much more wicked. Enough so that Bash believed Rahl was behind their father's death and later learned of his suspicions to be true when Narcisse was able to remember. And when that happened, Narcisse found the strength to fight Rahl and lock him away in his mind. It was soon after that conversation with Bash that he was forcefully banned from the grounds and I was left at the mercy of Lord Rahl.

Unlike Stephane, Rahl did not like Julian because he was of light and he knew how Julian pined for me. Rahl wanted a queen and he chose me, feeling it was the perfect way to rub salt in Julian's wounds. When I refused him and his sexual advances, he threatened Julian if I did not comply. He grabbed my hand and showed me what he did to his own father. He said if he could kill his own flesh and blood without a care, he could easily kill Julian.

I felt a burning rage in me, as if my blood was boiling. It was then that the powers I took from Ravenna came to life. Maybe some of it was from my grandfather as well because I once saw him throw fire from his hand and it...happened to me in that moment. A beam of fire sprayed from my hand, heading straight for Rahl, but he was quick to my amateur magic and blocked it with a flash of blue fire. It knocked the wind out of me and the next thing I knew, Rahl was racing towards me and locked one of those collars around my neck and then he activated it with just a sway of his hand. I felt his eyes upon me but I wouldn't even look at him. I asked him what he wanted from me and all he could say was "my understanding."

The only thing I could feel after that was my anger, but no power. He told me he knew where my power came from, for a witch could always sense another witch. He said the power was from evil and was destined to be used in that way, but until I embraced the darkness at his side, I would remain powerless by the Rada'han and submit to him. He told me I would be his wife...in every way. Through all of my anger, all I could do was submit. Like with Harker, I was a prisoner all over again."

Haldir's eyes lowered as his mouth gaped in shock.

"Josselyn...you do not have to tell me what he did to you. I think that I understand what took place after that."

"Well you thought right. He took me many times and it wasn't long before....I was with child again. Month after month, my stomach grew bigger while I remained trapped within the collar and his tower chamber like fucking Rapunzel. The only time I was allowed to leave the room was to be at his side for any gatherings and for those, I was dressed in his image. With a red dress and my dark hair, I had become a carbon copy of him as he said I would represent him in the public eye, but really, I believed he was just infatuated with himself and the twin thing.

Otherwise, the only company I was permitted to be around besides him was Alice, the midwife, to care for me. She was rather sweet and I befriended her. She had served Narcisse and became trapped there like me when Rahl appeared. I was not allowed to see my grandfather who was caring for Bella. Rahl wanted nothing to do with her.

I did get to attend my grandfather's puppet shows with Rahl but I wasn't allowed to speak to him. For being the evil, sadistic man Rahl was, he certainly loved the childish entertainment and would just look at me and laugh. It was if for a moment, his light had returned. I believed it was Stephane's persona shining through.

All Hallows' Eve came and I went into labor. The pain was unbearable and I was passing out after every contraction. Rahl was not even with me, just Alice and some servants. At some point, I blacked out and when I regained clarity, Rahl was standing at my bedside holding our child. A girl. He called her, young Mistress Rahl. The sight of him touching her made my stomach turn. I quickly reached for her in panic that he was not going to let me hold her, but surprisingly, he did and I immediately bonded with her. She was perfect and innocent. As I held her, Rahl raved about how she was a spitting image of us both with her dark fine strands.

He then proceeded to tell me that during my delirious birthing state, I was panicking and let it slip about Harker taking my baby. Rahl said that would never happen, not to the child I was holding anyways. He reminded me that one does not take from a warlock and for a warlock to take from a fellow warlock was the sin of all sins....but since the arrangement was only for one child, Rahl said he was going to give Bella to Harker and my debt would be paid in full. He then pried my newborn daughter from my arms.

I pleaded and cried so hard for him to let me at least see and hold my other daughter. He cruelly told me no, that this is the only child I will be raising. He said she will be molded into his image as she grows and become the dark princess of Dorwinion. I then fell onto my knees before him, begging and bawling. I told him he can shape them BOTH to be of his image, that I could live with that, for at least I would have both of my children. He wouldn't budge and said the other must be given to Harker and then he just left me there all alone to later watch and reel from the balcony as he entertained his people with a Samhain festival in celebration of his daughter's birth."

Haldir's free hand was now placed softly on Josselyn's shoulder.

"Would you like to relax for a moment? You may have more of my water. I can bring you some more of the spruce bark if you would like?"

"Why are you being so nice to me now?"

"I am hoping to prove that I am not a wicked little elf man as you characterized me as...and I really do not desire to be strung up in the tree by my...manhood as you threatened. Also...I do not believe you as wicked...well...not anymore."

Haldir's slight smirk brought a smile to Josselyn's face which was the elf's intentions.

"You know what Haldy? You're not so bad...for an elf. I..I am sorry I slapped you. I mean, I am the one who...kissed you...thinking you were Julian of course...you know...the hair and all?"

Haldir grinned and handed her the canteen of water.

"I understand. Apology accepted. Josselyn, I am so sorry for what you have endured. It is all shocking to hear so I cannot imagine what it must have been like for you, especially with two young daughters at Rahl's mercy and one of those being his. Lola I would presume."

"Yes. My sweet Lulu, Lola Louise. I named her after my late grandmother. At least Rahl allowed me that much. Right after I learned of his plans for Bella, I was able to convince Alice to help me. I instructed her to have my grandfather take her far away to the mundane world and I would come for her when I could. I had given him the pendant when Rahl first surfaced so he wouldn't know about it and take it from me. I had Alice explain to my grandfather why I had to stay. For Lola. I had to protect her too. I could not let Rahl turn her evil. I had to stop him somehow and help Stephane defeat him once again, but I didn't have a clue as to how. It turned out I didn't need to because while Bash was away after being banned by Rahl, he had sought out Julian to do it. It took him some time to find him though, for he and Caroline had moved once again.

But before Bash and Julian arrived, something really bad happened. When Rahl learned that my grandfather had taken Bella and disappeared, he soon figured out that Alice had assisted me in making that happen. He had her beaten and then....he killed her. Right in front of me.....and her son whom he had dragged from his bed. Rahl slit her throat.

Everything was happening, just as Sara had said it would and I knew it was far from over, that things would only get worse."

Josselyn began to sob. "Haldir, Alice died because of me. I'll never get that image out of my head or stop hearing her screams. And I do not know what ever happened to her son. I never saw him again. I have to wonder if he killed him too."

Haldir squeezed her hand that held his. "It was not your fault. If anyone is to be held accountable for such malevolence, it is Rahl himself and Caroline for conjuring him. You had to protect your child."

"But I still knew what could happen if she were caught. I think I knew deep down that he would figure it out. It was only her and two other servants that I was able to speak to. And Rahl, yes, he is responsible, but not Stephane. I never held him accountable for anything Rahl did and I never will."

"Once again, you had to protect your child and that meant doing whatever was necessary to acquire that and...I did not accuse Narcisse."

Josselyn's eyes widened and then they lit up with happiness.

"So you...like Narcisse then? You won't hurt him?"

"Just because I do not place blame upon him does not mean I enjoy his putrid existence. I too will take all means necessary to protect Jo, Leean and my own and if that means I have to kill him, so be it."

Josselyn's eyes fell. "I...I understand....it's just that..."

"You love him...too?"

"I..I do, but not in the way that I love Julian, if that makes any sense."

"It does, yes. I understand that all too well. Now...please tell me what happened when Julian and Sebastian returned?"

Josselyn could see that she had accidentally struck a tender nerve concerning you and him and that he wanted to avoid the conversation of it, so she respectfully but sorrowfully continued on.

"It was late at night. I was in my tower chamber as usual, and alone. Rahl always slept separately after my betrayal and kept Lola with him to further punish me. There was this tapping on my balcony doors. It was Julian and Bash! Julian instantly freed me of the collar with his own powers and then he unlocked the door and subdued the guards with his magic as well. We followed Julian down to the cellar and he led us down a long dark and never ending passageway, almost like a tunnel and he stopped at an bolted iron door. Once again he used his power to open it by speaking a single word, a password I assume and inside was a small room with old wooden shelves full of books. It was like some hidden library. He said they were all books of great importance, but it held one that was the most important of all books in existence. Ashmole it was called but it was referred to by many names. The book of life, the book of the dead, and the book of shadows were the ones he named. It was his mother's and it contained every spell ever created, even to bring the dead back to life. It's power could be detrimental as he once learned the hard way by resurrecting Jareth. It could not be destroyed, for Julian had tried. He said it's power could also be used for good. It depended on the heart of the one who held it, for as Julian would always say, true magic is in the heart of the beholder. It was greatly desired by many, but only a witch would it reveal it's true identity to and only a witch could open it. That's when Julian held his hand out and all of a sudden, this large hardback book slid out of the shelf and came floating across the room to him and then from under his waistcoat, he took out three pages. He opened the book and placed them inside and this light formed as they molded into it."

Haldir was taken aback. "You know where Ashmole is??"

"I...I do."

"You will show Jo when we return. It is needed for the dead that will come on the winter solstice. So is your amethyst. It is one of 6 runestones that are also needed. Where is it now?"

"I...I gave it to Bel...Sarah long ago. When I realized Harker had taken her, I looked for it so I could try to look for her, but I could not find it. I fear Harker may have taken it from her... unless she had hidden it, but I searched her belongings, her room and the entire house from top to bottom. All I found was her silver ribbon ring among the porcelain shards of her shattered body.

With my own magic, I was able to turn the ring back to it's original form and I put it in her box of special treasures. She never took that ring off. My grandfather gave it to her. It was pure silver, crafted by his own magical hands and it was supposed to ward off spells of any kind. The ribbon symbolized binding the spells in a knot. A lot of good it did her huh? I'm sorry, can I just please get on with this story? I relive that night every single day as it is, so I really don't enjoy speaking of it."

"Certainly. Please, go on."

"Julian opened the book to a spell that would break the hold of Caroline's black magic and send Rahl back to solitary confinement inside the locked box of Stephane's mind. The writing was nothing that I could read and there was a drawing of a witch, engulfed in flames that coincidentally resembled Rahl.

I panicked and asked Julian if that was what was going to happen to him. He assured me he would never risk harming Stephane, that he would not burn. The image was a metaphor so to speak, but he said there would definitely be a light show of Rahl's persona being sucked out of Stephane's body. That's when I had to tell Julian and Bash about Lola before they went and exorcised the demon when she was right in the room with him. I knew there was a great possibility that Stephane would not recall the things he had done as Bash had once explained, so I swore them both to secrecy that he would never be told he was her father in fear of what it would do to his mind once more in learning how she was conceived. They both agreed it was best and Bash...my dear sweet Bash offered to step up as her father because he knew his brother would want to know where she came from, plus, since Bash was a warlock, he felt she would still be highly protected from Harker. If Stephane did remember, then I would just deal with it when the time came.

Julian decided to lure Rahl outside by baiting him. We all snuck out to the main lawn and Bash and I stood in the distance behind Julian as he made his presence known. He shouted over and over for Rahl and it wasn't long before he arrived with guards in tow. The two warlocks shared unkind words and Julian challenged him to be a man and come to him alone, just as he was alone. Rahl was hesitant until Julian flaunted the book that all desired and laid it before him at his feet. What Rahl didn't know was that Julian set a witch trap. He had drawn a circle on the forest green lawn with black salt which made it barely visible in the dark of the new moon night. Rahl took the bait of the book and came forward alone. He stopped just before the circle and ogled the book like a kid in a candy store. Julian told him if he could take the book from him, it was his to keep. Rahl took the step forward and laughed, telling him that would be too easy. Julian laughed too and told him that it wasn't as easy as trapping him. Rahl's confident expression vanished as he quickly realized he could not move. Julian opened the book that was merely inches away from Rahl's feet and scanned it with his eyes, so fast that it was like he took the words right into his mind. He then grinned at Rahl and said..."Goodnight Darken Rahl. Rest in Hell."

Rahl's eyes and mouth both gaped as Julian opened his arms out wide and began reciting the spell. I couldn't understand a word of it. Suddenly, blinding light burst out of the book and jolted right through Rahl. The light was coming out of his mouth and eyes as he screamed.

Just like that, in mere seconds, Rahl and his dark image were gone and there, on the ground was an unconscious Stephane. Bash quickly took control of the guards and they submitted when they saw Lord Narcisse was back. We took Stephane inside and when he awoke, he did not remember anything as we suspected. Of course, he demanded to know everything that happened and what Rahl had done, so to start, I went and got Lola. I feared he would remember when he saw her, but he didn't. He took right to her as she did him. It was a bittersweet moment watching him hold her hand. If he were to ever notice any resemblance of himself in her, it could easily be explained based on the lie that his brother Bash was her father.

It broke my heart to have to lie to him like I had to lie to Julian too about our Bella, but Caroline could never know about her, nor Harker and Ravenna. Narcisse and Bash kept their promises and did not mention her and I later explained to them where she was and why.

All was then revealed to Narcisse about all the events that took place while he had been a prisoner in his own body, except what Rahl did to me of course. Needless to say, he did not take it very well. He humbly apologized to me and Bash, then went off to be alone.

It was then the moment I dreaded. I had to say goodbye to Julian all over again. He knew that I could not go with him and that he could not stay. Josie was going on 2 years old and his responsibility was to her and mine was to Lola. I had to remain at the castle to protect her. Julian understood why I had left him without a word, for he admitted he would have never let me out of his arms. He also understood why I had moved on with what he believed to be Bash. He had never expected me to remain alone. We both hugged, kissed and cried, said our I still love you's and always will...and then...he was gone.

10 years. 10 whole fucking years had passed. I was still at the castle with Lola. I missed my grandfather and Bella dearly but it was too risky to go to them or for them to come back here. No one knew where Harker was and both of my daughters were safe where they were and I intended to keep it that way as long as I could. I knew my grandfather would make sure Bella knew who I was for the day I did return to her....and I knew he was watching me through the pendant and possibly letting her watch sometimes too. I spoke to them at random times hoping they would hear me. One good thing happened though. 7 years prior, I found out from Narcisse that Caroline had died. In all the things that could have killed her, it was a car fire? Regardless, that was one less threat to worry about, but it did cross my mind, which I'll soon explain, if she possibly placed a hex on Narcisse before she kicked the bucket, in retaliation for Julian saving him. I also wondered why Julian hadn't come around after that. I guess I had this stupid delusion that Julian and I could live happily ever after and that he would just magically forgive me for all my lies. I also wondered why Narcisse had stopped going to see him. I didn't find out until much later that Narcisse had lied to him and told him we had married and were deeply in love and of course Julian would believe what his best friend told him but Stephane and I, we had never been a couple or even intimate after Rahl's rampage....Bash and I fooled around though." Josselyn bashfully giggled.

"All was going well otherwise. I still did my job as a servant. Lola was a happy normal child and a lot like Stephane, mostly with her love of animals. She had found an injured crow once and brought him to me, wanting me to "fix" him. She did not know of my magic but she believed I could make his boo boo all better like all children think their mothers can do. His wing was broken, but of course, I healed him for her and then she took him outside and he flew away.

Stephane though...he wasn't normal and happy. He slowly became withdrawn and very different after the trauma of Rahl's reign of terror. He still didn't remember everything, but knowing what he did know, it ate at him. He had become somewhat bitter and rather bossy over the years. Everyone walked on eggshells around him. His arrogance was at an all time high and he drank a lot. I think he was suffering from depression and possibly loneliness. But that wasn't the worst of it.

Word spread fast through the servants that Harker's World of Wonders was arriving for a funfair. I went straight to Narcisse and confronted him. When he said it was true and to let him explain, I saw red. There was nothing to explain. He knew Harker was a threat to Lola. I hadn't aged much at all over the years due to Ravenna's power, but her magic sure did. It had finally come to full fruition shortly after Lola had been born and I also discovered I had the power of healing. I think that was passed to me from my grandfather. One day Stephane and Bash were fencing for sport and Stephane was accidentally cut and I was able to heal him. Ironic that I had mended the man I then wanted to hurt.

In my fit of rage, I tried to use my power on him which was a big no no. No one was allowed to use magic there with intent to harm, let alone use it on him. He deemed it a crime. I was punished by being reprimanded and locked in an iron barred dungeon cell while the party commenced that day and into the night. Lola was left with a servant to care for her while Bash was ordered to do his deputy duties. I knew Rahl had not returned, but Narcisse was certainly not himself. To simply put it, he had become a cold hearted asshole. It was like he was punishing everyone to release the weight of the guilt and anger he suffered with. I had sympathy for him in the past, but after allowing Harker on his grounds and what happened next because of it, that sympathy was long gone. I didn't give a damn if he had possibly been cursed.

Bash released me the next morning and the look of fright on his face told me something was terribly wrong. He tried to tell me but I ran straight for Lola's room as he followed, shouting at me to wait. When I got there, the servant that had been with her was being carried out of the room with a bloodied sheet covering her. She was dead. Narcisse stood staring at Lola's empty bed with despair all over his hungover face. The sound of the ajar balcony door banging in the wind hammered like drums through my head. All I could do was scream and I raced off to find Harker, but when I got outside, their trailers were nowhere to be seen....and then...I heard Lola scream's for me from the forest.

I had run so far and so fast, but all was quiet and there was no sign of them. When I turned around, there Harker was, holding her close against him. She was still in her nightgown. The monster had taken her right from her own bed.

I shouted at him. You cannot take her! I was the one given to you, NOT her. She has to be given to you!

He said... And you WILL give her to me in place of you....for now that is..... or I will rip your heart from your chest where you stand right in front of her and then I will be free to take her. Wouldn't you rather be alive for your....OTHER daughter's sake? Bella is it? One of them has to come to pay your debt to Ravenna.

He knew about Bella!! I don't know how, but he knew and I was now trapped, for he was right...I didn't want to die and let him take her too. I needed to live and fight for my children. I had to do the unthinkable. I told him he could have her...but then I panicked and recanted my words and told him he would never have her... but I knew it was too late. He held her right in front of him with his hand tightly gripping her mouth. He could have easily snapped her tiny fragile neck, so I could not use my power against him....so I tried to grab her from him, but all I got was the doll from her arms that Stephane had given her as Harker shoved me to the ground and rode off with her on his horse....and when I looked down at the doll...it's eye began to bleed.

I ran hard and I ran fast in the direction he rode off. I was going after my children and I wasn't looking back. I never saw Narcisse or the Dorwinion castle again.

Needless to say, Lola had been lost to me. Harker was on horseback and I certainly could not fly, still cannot. But I kept trekking on through miles of forest, clutching Lola's doll to my chest and constantly calling out to my grandfather. I knew at some point he would see and hear me and come get me....and he did.

We went back to the mundane world and continued to do what we had always done when I was growing up and what he had been doing with Bella....traveling with our people. Although Bella was 11 years old, we bonded as if we had never been apart. She understood about the "bad man." Grandfather had told her that's why I had to stay away for awhile. She called Harker the big bad wolf. She said she had dreamed of him and described him to a T. I tried using the pendant to see Harker so I knew where he was, but it would not show me anything. I think Harker used some kind of black magic to hide behind, unless he were dead and I feared the same for Lola too since I could not see her either.

All of my hope had been lost, until...2 years later. I decided to check on Narcisse. My anger had subsided towards him and I truly did miss him. Maybe it was the time heals all wounds thing, but I couldn't say all. I still blamed him. But what I saw changed everything. He had Lola at the Dorwinion castle! She...she looked so beautiful with her longer licorice locks and...she was happy. I had to wonder how Narcisse got her back. I...I didn't care at the time, I was just so relieved she was alive and safe. And..."

Josselyn burst out in laughter, actually startling Haldir, for he had been so engrossed in her story.

"She was doing a magic trick for a crowd outside of the castle and they all loved it. Go figure huh? Like grandfather, like granddaughter...AND she was telling them a story about gypsy legends! I was pretty sure that it was Stephane's doing to make sure she knew about us. Her apprentice was a younger boy with dark hair. He looked about 10.

She called him Charles so I assume he is the young man, Stephane's son, that I met last night. Just wow, Lola has a brother. Sorry, it's just mind blowing."

"It is even more astonishing that Charles is Catherine's son. Of course, he did not know Charles was his until the boy was much older." Haldir added.

"What??? Hmmm, well then I guess that explains why I soon saw Catherine with Narcisse in the crowd. I guess the old hag flew back to him on her broomstick."

Haldir chuckled. "Fine analogy indeed. What did you do then?"

"I watched Narcisse for a few days and he didn't appear tainted anymore. I...I didn't know what to do. Of course I wanted to use the pendant and go get Lola but my grandfather warned that we did not know where Harker was and that we were already hiding one child from him. He said Lola was better protected with Narcisse than us. I was torn on that because of how she was taken from the castle once before and Narcisse was the cause of it. Lola seemed so happy though and...she was with her father even if neither of them knew it, which clearly they didn't and still don't considering Charles' reaction last night to learning Lola was his sister.... and Stephane seemed himself again and I could tell he was trying to make things right by Lola because I could only imagine what he believed happened to me when I ran into the forest and never returned. Most likely that I had suffered the same fate as my mother and I'm sure he blamed himself for all of it. I have never forgotten the look upon his face as he stood at her empty bed the day she was taken. He was devastated. I think that is what snapped him out of his mental breakdown of sorts. I wish I would have let him explain why he did what he did. I wish I would have just told everyone the entire truth about Harker. If Narcisse had known what he did to children, that funfair would never have taken place. Harker would have been hunted and could have been handled long before that night and my grandfather could have returned with Bella, so...I was just as much to blame. If only I had known then what I later learned. Narcisse was cursed alright, but not by Caroline. It was by me...I was cursed when I healed him. Harker did something to me and everyone I heal pays a price, which is why I fear putting my hands on Josie. Besides, once she learns who I really am, I may be the one in need of healing.

I saw Bash there too and he adored her....and Stephane had cared enough for her that he rescued her somehow and it was then that I had forgiven him and I had decided that as long as Harker and Ravenna were a threat, I had to leave her there and pray Narcisse would eventually kill Harker if he hadn't already. I had thought about taking all of us there, but...Catherine was back for one thing and second, I could still hear Harker's words when he said he would take Lola in place of me...for now....meaning he still wanted me back....and since he did not have Lola anymore...he would eventually come for me and Bella. I couldn't bring all that baggage back to Narcisse again like I did all those years ago. It wasn't fair to him. I know I sound like I was making all kinds of excuses...and I was because I was just so fucking scared. Like little ol me and one wizard could ever take on Harker, his men and his sisters of the dark, or Ravenna too. I had my grandfather telling me to let things be. I had power, yet I was entirely weak. AND let us not forget what Sara had told me in her reading! Because of that, I felt I should not tempt fate, let sleeping dogs lie, don't fix what isn't broken, ya know? I wanted to find Julian, but how was I going to explain my lies, especially that of Bella?? Merely like I am to you now? That I was just scared?? How lame was that? I had never been so confused in my life. It was all just so complicated. And then it became even more complicated because that's all it ever did. The Tower card was upon me.

We traveled for two more years. Just kept going North. I constantly watched Lola like a hawk, multiple times every single day. If one thing had seemed off, I would have went for her.

Bella was now 13. One more year and she would be of no use to Ravenna but that wouldn't stop Harker from coming after me. He had found us in the mundane world once before, so I knew he could do it again....and he did.

We had set up camp for rest and during the twilight hours, like a thief in the night, the wolf's howl came. Literally. Everyone heard it. A pack of them. Their howls echoed from every angle. I hid with Bella in the trailer, watching from the window. Grandfather had told me that if anything ever happened, I was not to worry for him and take Bella and leave with the pendant....and go to his estranged brother, Thaddicus Zorander. He too was a necromancer and lived like a hermit in the Scottish highlands.

All of our men armed themselves with rifles or knives, but I knew it wouldn't be enough. These wolves were not normal wolves. Their faces morphed into something demonic. Grandfather called them wargs. They tore many of our men apart.

Sisters of the dark soon appeared. They were everywhere, hurling fire and silver dacras, a star shaped weapon of three blades that also killed many of our people. One of them was my mother! She was leading them. She saw my grandfather and I heard her say "kill the old man." They went after him, but he fended them off with his power and then he even turned on his own daughter and whipped her through the air.

And then....Harker appeared and with his command, they all backed off, but stood surrounding my grandfather. Harker told my him he had had enough and he was taking Bella. He spoke about how Narcisse found out about his operations and he and his men raided his camp, killing most of his men and freeing all the children, Lola included, so now I owed him my other child, for Ravenna was growing impatient as time was short on Bella's age restriction. He said he would either take me or kill me, he couldn't decide and that it wouldn't really matter since everyone believed I was either dead or lost into the sisterhood. He said he would kill my grandfather too, for the only good wizard was a dead one. I...I panicked and stupidly screamed. Harker's fiendish claws came out and he bee-lined straight for my trailer.

He taunted us with his strength, rocking the trailer with his hand and chanting "little pig, little pig, let me in."

Bella was angry and stood up. She screamed at him "not by the hair of my chinny chin chin." I heard him chuckle and he began to rock us harder as he said "then I'll huff and I'll puff and I'll blow your house in!" I had to think fast because he was going to tip us. I had no choice but to grab our pre-packed bags and leave my grandfather there as he told me to do. We crawled out the escape door on the floor and snuck off from the back of the trailer into the woods where I quickly opened the portal. In the blink of an eye, we were in a large open field, looking at a small farmhouse in the middle of it.

Since it had only been seconds, I had to see if my grandfather was alright. I was so scared at what I would see, but I had to know. What I saw though, was confounding, and apparently it was for Harker too, for he was on his knees with tears running down his cheeks. I didn't know such a menacing man even had tear ducts to be able to cry. Standing before him...I...I didn't see my grandfather anymore...I saw....Ravenna!!

It was him! My grandfather was working his hocus pocus by taking on the form of another person. Harker called her his love, if he were even capable of such an emotion, since it was forbidden in his world. My grandfather must have recently discovered it and waited to use it, hitting Harker right where he was vulnerable. It all began to make sense, why Harker was helping her and why he had killed Jareth once upon a time. No wonder he was so angry at Julian...because he resurrected him. I think Harker even feared her which is why he lost his shit over my age, fearing she would blame him and retaliate....but she never did, which made me wonder if she felt something for him too?

Bella had run up to the cottage, so I ran after her and didn't see what happened. I was taken aback when I saw a man through the window. He could have been my grandfather's twin with his uncanny resemblance. I was too caught up at his vision that I didn't notice Bella walk right in, startling him. He clearly didn't know us as he stared us down, fearfully asking us what we wanted.

I apologized for barging in and explained that we were his nieces and we had nowhere else to go. At first he thought I was my mother and he oddly looked at Bella, saying she was too young to be Josselyn. Bella laughed at told him he was silly for not knowing his own family. I apologized to him again but he smiled and said it was not necessary, that she was merely being a child with no filter. He relit the candles and brought food and drinks to the table, saying we looked like we needed it....and then, we sat and ate as I told him our long tale as I'm telling you Haldir.

Thaddicus told me not to worry for Zeddicus, that he was a wise old coot and most likely hoodwinked Harker with his hocus pocus. I laughed since that's exactly what happened and I had great confidence in my grandfather that he had escaped, but I would look later, for I didn't know what Thaddicus thought of the pendant. Did he desire it like many others? Family or not, he was still a stranger and for some reason, he and his brother were at odds....but yet he had trusted him enough to have us go there.

It was morning. I laid awake all night, too wired to sleep. I checked on my grandfather but I couldn't see him or even Harker anymore. And then I did something I hadn't done. I looked in on Julian...just to make sure he was happy, even if he had moved on with another. I didn't know if Narcisse had been in touch with him after Lola and I disappeared, so I didn't know if Julian believed me dead or still believed me to have moved on with his best friend like Narcisse had told him. That's when everything changed.

Julian was sick. I didn't know how sick, but he was bedridden and Josie, who was only less than a year older than Bella, was caring for him and they appeared to live in the mundane world when I saw Josie going into what I assumed was their house. She looked so grown up for 13. I suppose she had to be with what she was dealing with.

I could only presume Julian took her there to protect her from the dangers of middle earth. She was constantly at his side, bringing him tea and feeding him. Sometimes, he seemed to not know her. I didn't know how she was doing it all by herself. She was still a child...and god did she look like Caroline, or I should say Cassie. I found out later that Caroline had eventually killed her. I felt so guilty. I wish I could have helped Cassie, but I was no match for Jareth and his dark realm of goblins or Caroline's wrath.

I...I had to go to Julian. I believed Caroline was no longer a threat with being told she had died, but I didn't know how I was supposed to just show up there. Josie didn't know me and I had Bella to explain. Neither girls knew of the other and Julian didn't know of his other daughter. I couldn't just tear up their life. With Julian sick, what would it do to him to learn of my lies? I wanted to try and heal him, but I was reluctant to try after what happened to Narcisse. It could of harmed Julian even more or even worse, ricocheted onto Josie, or Bella. My healing is basically a game of Russian roulette because it is not known when or who it will strike. It was just before I found out Lola was alive and with Narcisse when I first discovered my healing powers were tainted. One of our gypsy travelers was suffering from an infected tooth. Normally, my grandfather would have healed him since he too has such power, but he was away, so I healed the man. All was well for a few days and then his wife's teeth, that were perfectly fine, began to rot and fall out, one by one, all in a 24 hour period. When my grandfather returned, he verified that it was indeed Harker's doing and even my grandfather himself could not undo it. Harker had to be killed or I personally had to take something of his for the curse to be lifted. The night Bella disappeared 8 years ago, I was able to take his silver knife during a struggle before I got away, but I didn't believe it had worked. I still don't.

I had made my way back to middle earth after that and changed my name. I felt it was the better of both worlds to be in when I encountered Harker again and I still dreamed of getting my grandfather, mother and Lola back one day. Through my travels, I never stayed in one place too long. In the summers, I slept in barns, bathed in ponds, stole food from the rich and in the winters, I would work in gin mills to get by. And one thing I always, always did was keep my powers to myself out of fear of what could happen. It was only a few years ago that a terrible pestilence plagued a vast portion of the Southeast and I came across a very sick boy. His mother was pleading with people to help him. I...I couldn't imagine if it were my child suffering like that so...I told her I could help....and sure enough, my healing caused the boy to go blind and nearby, all of a farmer's live stock perished. I didn't trust anything anymore, so I never used my healing again, and like the Black Plague, news of what I did spread like wildfire and I was hunted. They said I was a demon witch doctor and they wanted to burn me alive.

I eventually crossed paths with Bash. He had been looking for me all along and he had a very strong feeling I was the rumored witch doctor. I told him what my healing was doing, but he didn't believe it was my fault. He believed it was due to the Black Plague. He secretly aided me for awhile and gave me shelter in one of Narcisse's unoccupied remote villa's. He was someone I knew I could trust and I told him everything that happened after my disappearance and he swore he would keep my secrets to protect me...because he...loved me. He told me all about Lola, who had become a beautiful young woman and he understood my reasons for keeping my distance from her. He begged me to come back to the castle with him, that Narcisse would protect me too and help me search for my family, but I refused. I didn't want him or Lola involved in my messes anymore.

We stayed together, undetected for about a month and then one night...the people found me. They raided us and detained Bash, making him watch as they tied me to the stake that they had quietly assembled and then they lit it. I...I began screaming out of fear and not of pain...for there was none. I...I couldn't feel it!! It was not burning me! The roped burned trough and I was freed. The look on their faces was priceless as I purposely lunged and hissed at them...and then I ran off into the forest.

I never saw Bash again until last night. It was my choice. I didn't want him to be accused of evil as well and from the things I heard after that, Bash was deemed my victim. That I had witchnapped him and was going to sacrifice him. I was ok with that, for it kept him safe and since I was already accused of the devil's work, what was one more charge?"

Josselyn exhaled heavily, then lowered her head and began to softly weep.

"I...I am so sorry Haldir. I understand now why you believed me to be wicked. I can only imagine what you must think now."

For a moment, the elf was silent and then he raised his hand to gently tuck one of her long dangling tresses behind her ear.

"What I think now is that you are a very selfless...and rather powerful woman. You have suffered greatly and have sacrificed so much for the people you love. Do not apologize for that. I should apologize for being a credulous fool as they were."

Josselyn was frazzled by Haldir's compassion and understanding and even a bit cynical of it, in which she scooted a few inches away from him.

"You...you really shouldn't touch me. You might lose a finger. Well gosh, I have gotten so far ahead of myself and I haven't even told you about Julian yet. I would like to finish this please. I'm so tired."

"As you wish my lady."

Josselyn softly gasped and momentarily stared at him in shock of being addressed with such respect, and even more so... by him, the elf that blatantly harassed her merely an hour ago....then she continued.

"As I was saying before I went of course, I wanted to go to Julian. After watching Josie some more, I realized they were in the United Kingdom...coincidentally and ironically Scotland to be specific, right where Thaddicus lived...but strangely, they were in the city world instead of somewhere remote like I would have guessed him to take her. So once again, I presumed he wanted her to have a normal life with friends and school and all.

The other thing I noticed was that beside their house was a beautiful old stone house for rent. After expressing my thoughts to Thaddicus, I then knew why my grandfather sent me to him. Thaddicus told me he could get me everything I would need to fit right into the civilian world and he did. My uncle had some serious hookups because he came back with a box full of cash and all the fake, but very legit looking documents that were necessary for us to get by. He watched over Bella while I used the pendant to go and handle everything and in roughly a week, we were set. I had a home for my daughter, right beside her father and sister...but they couldn't know who she was. That's when she became Sarah according to her birth certificate, but to Julian, she was the daughter of one of our travelers who died because of my cursed magic and I told him I felt guilty, so I took her in as my own. What was another lie to keep him from hating me and possibly worsening his condition from the shocking truth?? Our last name changed as well...which Bella believed it was solely to hide from the bad man, so she gladly went along with it. I even cut my hair and made it a lighter shade of brown, all by magic of course.

Sarah and Josie became best friends right away. They did everything together, even school. I don't think Josie had any because of Julian's illness. I helped her out with her father every now and then to give her some relief and free time. Seeing him again was just so overwhelming. His appearance was the same on the outside, but inside, he wasn't Julian anymore. His memory had become compromised and most days, he didn't know me, or even Josie. I think he even forgot who he was, powers and all. He spent most of his time either in a chair by the window with his tea and watched the girls ride bikes and stuff, or he was in bed. Just a trip to the restroom exhausted him and he complained of a burning sensation inside of him. I knew it certainly was not cancer like Julian had told Josie before he became so ill.

I wanted to heal him with every ounce of my being, so I attempted other ways that didn't involve my powers. My uncle Thaddicus had given me the name of a well known and trusted powerful warlock he knew from all of his world travels. His name was Magnus and he resided in the states. Manhattan to be exact. He specialized in magic potions and had a lab full of everything imaginable to cast his spells. Using my pendant, I tracked him down and brought him back with me to try and cure Julian. Everything failed. He was then able to validate that Julian had definitely been placed under some very potent black magic and that it was coursing through his blood like acid rain. Nothing more could be done. He told me Julian's hair had to be placed upon the witch who cursed him to break it. That's when I told him about Caroline and that she was dead. Magnus then told me that within a few more years, Julian would die. Little did I know, until I heard the scream, that Josie was listening and watching.

She ran to Julian's side and shouted at us to get away from him, that she was going to call the cops. Magnus waved his hand and the phone went flying out of her hand and then...I had no choice. I grabbed her and tied her to a chair while I figured out what to do. She was so confused and scared and I felt so terrible, but she could not keep those memories, so I told Magnus to block them. It broke my heart when she looked at him and asked him if it was going to hurt. He assured her she would feel nothing and then with a little hocus pocus from his hand, all that she had seen and heard had been erased.

4 years had went by. The girls were going on 17 as it was almost Halloween, Sarah's true birthday and it would be Josie's in December. Julian was still alive, but much worse. I had stayed by his side and made him as comfortable as I could, but he didn't even know I was there. He could barely even speak anymore. Josie was stressed, so I let her come over more often to take a break.

Halloween came and I was making dinner and a cake. The girls were in the living room all dressed up and handing candy out. Just as I walked into the room, the doorbell rang and Josie ran to answer it. I was carrying a bowl of popcorn that ended up on the floor when I heard Harker's voice. He had this huge smile on his face and introduced himself to her as Phillip Covington.

He proceeded to say that he was my boyfriend and he was invited for dinner and cake. He looked at Sarah and said "Isn't that right...Sarah?"

He knew her name. He knew everything. I knew that day would come.

Sarah remembered him, but she politely went along with the charade for all of our safety. He came in, helped me clean up the popcorn and then sat down at the table, still grinning. He was fucking pleased with himself for finding us.

After a dinner of Harker leading the conversations, Josie had to go. Harker told her he was sorry to hear of her father's illness, but he wasn't the least bit sorry. He was thrilled. I told her I would walk her out and when we got to the porch, I took out a powder potion that Magnus had left with me and blew it in her face. It would do the same thing to Josie once more that he had done to her. I didn't want her going back to Julian and telling him about Harker, or Phillip I should say. As sick as he was, I couldn't risk that he still understood things that were going on.

Sarah and I were clearing the dishes and she began apologizing to me. I asked her why and she said she knew something was wrong before he showed up. She said she saw a strange dressed man outside talking to Josie on her way over and she sensed he was not a trick or treater, but someone evil. After she described him to me, I knew then that Jareth had been there too and I had to wonder if Caroline had finally told the lie to Julian that Jareth was Josie's father. It was a good thing that I gave her that potion because she wouldn't remember Jareth either.

Sarah told me she was going upstairs to get the amethyst so she and I could leave. She snuck up there as I did the dishes and Harker sat at the table with his wine...at least I thought he was. When I finished, I went in and he was not there. I panicked and ran upstairs and that's when I found Sarah gone and there was no sign of Harker or the pendant.

I left everything that night in search of my daughter, including Julian without even saying goodbye and now he's dead. I eventually found my grandfather and we made our way back to middle earth.....and now...here I am 8 years later."

Josselyn's hands covered her face and she began sobbing again.

"Oh Julian. I am so sorry my love."

Haldir gently took her hands, pulled them down and tenderly looked her in the eyes as he told her the shocking truth.

"Josselyn. Your Julian...he is very much alive."

@redeemer46