[Fists of Rage] The Lion's Rose Bares No Thorns (Nikki please)

[Gossamer]

TS: Last Day of Melora, Spring, Era II, XIV (pf)

The plans had been carefully executed. It wasn't hard, not really. The old palace was riddled with servants passages and old trapdoors that lead sometimes to no where, other times to larger sewers that ran under the city. Most were secure, but like any old place, it was impossible to seal it up entirely. They had the Aelyrians to thank for that. Their systems of engineering was amazingly effective, bringing in water, shuffling out waste.... and the whole of it linked to the river, and thus to the sea.

From the sea, they could go anywhere... and if they were successful, they would.

The plan was simple. They'd studied the youngest L'Evienne's habits within the palace, close to her... they'd even talked to her daily; her being subjected to their presence. Sometimes against her will, sometimes with her cooperation. She wasn't an easy client, but she was a clever one. And the things they were worried about, the things that angered them... she had no clue about. Her world was glitzy balls and dresses of finest silks. Her world was about subtle rebellion and raging against the status quo.

And so they plotted and waited... and decided they'd take her in one of her late night baths after a long ride in the palace gardens. She would be a lone then. Not even the guards would accompany here into the bath, and they knew her bath well. Her enormous basin would be steaming with water, ready for her return... all her favored things laid out for her use... oils, salts, lotions to soften her skin, creams to cleanse her hair. They knew which ones she used, and carefully laced them with things that would cause her to drift off in the water rather quickly.... things that when sprinkled over the hot water, would turn to steam that would lower her eyelids with drowsy sleep. And she would sleep....

And thats when they'd take her... through the wall, and down into the warren of passageways littering the palace. The spells wouldn't stop them because they were already welcome; scheduled visitors with a purpose and approval. And they'd take her far... far away, or leave her close.. depending upon how the kidnapping went.

[Nikki L'Evienne]

It had been a long and rather dull brightening, but that was probably no bad thing. She'd gone for a ride in the palace grounds and tried hard not to think about that Elf that she had met for the second time in Chelseanna. She had grown uncommonly fond of Eren in a short space of time and the meeting in Eunesia was... foremost in her mind a lot of the time.

So, she rode hard and then went back to her apartments where she had servants run her a bath. A long hot soak would allow her to think through what she was going to do and consider her rapier lessons also. So, sitting at the dressing table in her bedroom she piled her hair onto the top of her head, puting pins in it to keep it out of the way as she stripped her clothes off and pulled on a scarlet red silk wrap.

Then, when the guards had checked the room time and time again (like anyone could get into the Palace anyhow!) Nikki walked into the room and dropped the silk robe from her shoulders, then stepped into the water. Before stepping in though she poured her favourite oil into the water and sighed gently as the warm water lapped across her bare skin.

And as she sank down into the water, feeling the heat soak away her tensions and muscle pains, Nikki Sea L'Evienne was completely and utterly oblivious to the danger that she was in, to the trouble that was outside the Palace.

But she was just so tired, and she felt her eyelids closing as she lay back in the bath, warm water lapping against her skin and sleep overwhelming her. Somewhere in the back of her mind there was a warning bell ringing, but she could not focus on why. She lazily flopped one arm in an attempt to get some more oils but her hand hit the bottle into the water where its contents seeped into the water and she felt sleep overwhelm her completely......

...... Gods, she was just so.....

.....tired.

[Gossamer]

In the darkness of the night, the woman was spirited away, gently wrapped in the very rug that graced her bathing chamber floor. Chambers led to mazes in the walls like warrens that served to keep the palace alive and functioning. Some where cold dripping stone, others pristine and well cleaned. The woman was nude beneath the rug, hair still dripping in the dampness, leaving a fine trail of water that slowly dried up as time progressed.

The men knew time was of the essence. Two carried her, one at her head, one at her feet... and it was tempting to them, every time one of her dark locks slipped free of her tight prison. The drug she had would keep her sedated for hours, but for themselves, they knew they had a half candlemark to get her out of the palace, and perhaps another one more to get her out of the city, if thats what they decided to do. She wasn't taken far though. These men were just step one. Step two involved a safe house that was prepared for her. They took her out the Goldcrown Parish seagate and onto the river for the trip to the Student Quarter. It was all completed quickly, men exchanged, the rolled rug turned over...

And the finally, the house was reached, and the girl spirited down into the basement. There, the rug was carefully unrolled, and the men examined her. Some leered, others averted their eyes. One, a dark haired man with piercing green eyes, nodded and ordered them all out of the room. The gathering nodded, obeyed his orders, and turned to leave. He grabbed the corner of the only women in the crowds sleeve, and said... "You stay. I need your help."

Her name was Meg, and she nodded. She'd brought her things, and so was ready for this request. The man, Dunstan Jacobs, propped the girl up on a high-backed chair, still unconscious, and lightly binded her arms to the arm rest. Once it was thought she would sit there listfully, he wrapped a thick wool scarf around her neck, securing it gently to the back of the chair to hold her head upright. "Cut it. And bleach it." He told the woman, who immediately opened her kit and took forth a pair of sheers. She went to work quickly, and in no time at all the girl's long dark tresses were gone in favor of a carefully styled shorter haircut. The new length was then carefully bleached, along with her eyebrows and eyelashes.

Dunstan laughed slightly as Meg worked, enchanted at the changes she wrought on the girl. "I think she looks better as a blonde, don't you" He said, cupping the woman's face and laughing slightly. Once they were finished, they dressed her in a nice homespun commoners dress, and he set to work on her. She was released from the chair, the evidence of her cut hair removed, and she was tucked into a bed, with a new mixture being poured down her throat.

"She should wake soon.... hopefully this will go well. I have no idea how we are going to show a L'Evienne the other side of life if we don't get one out of the palace and out of their silks and into a hard working job. I have her all lined up for work, and some friends to drop by... your sure your okay to play mother Jacobs, Meg?" Dunstan asked again.

Meg soon departed, then Dunstan sat down to wait at Nikki's side. He took her hand and assumed a worried expression. Slowly, he began calling her name... "Jenny? Jenny... wake up....honey, its time you got out of bed. You've been sleeping all day." He said softly, his eyes filled with false concern that truly lead the unsuspecting to believe he was indeed worreid about something.

[Nikki L'Evienne]

Gods she was so.. tired. She slept and slept and she knew nothing of what had happened to her. Nikki L'Evienne had no idea of what was going on and instead she dreamt. Strange fitful dreams of movement. She thought she was in a boat, maybe a bath, and then she dreamt of voices talking around her. One of them was Milo's, she was sure of that, sure indeed. But then that faded away and it was their father, Rioughe, and he was telling her that this time.. this time he was here to stay and he was so proud of her. But she kept trying to talk to him and he faded away......

To a voice. A lucid voice.. and a man holding her hand. "Eren?" she asked, sleepily. Maybe it was the middle of the darkening again, but why was Eren here and...

... and as consciousness finally flitted into her drugged system, Nikki opened her moss-green eyes and looked up in sleepy surprise at the man sitting next to her. "I... who are you? What's... what's happening?"

She looked around in shock and realised that she was, in fact, not in the Palace at all. That wasn't right, so she moved, as quickly as she could, to get herself out of the bed. Her legs felt like leaden weights but she moved them as she sat up and pedalled backwards, away from this man.

She looked around the place and tried to take it in. How many exits? How many people in there? Anything that she could use as a weapon? Nikki felt panic begin to rise in her throat, but she didn't allow it to overwhelm her. No, she had to find out first what it was that was going on, where she was.

"Who are you and what do you want?" she asked, backing away and trying to see where she could escape.

[Gossamer]

Dunstan sighed, ran his hand through his dark hair, and tears filled his eyes. "Jenny... I'm Dunstan... your brother. You need to stop this fantasy. We're at home, its time for you to get up. I wondered if I could draw you some water by the fire upstairs for a bath, and what exactly you wanted for breakfast? You've had another bad few days, luv... and your thinking your HER again..." he explained patiently, not threatening her at all. He remained in his seat next to the bed, letting her scramble backwards all she wanted too.

He knew the drugs they were giving her would indeed muddle her head thoroughly that if they told her often enough who she was , there was a good possibility she'd start believing them. He sighed, smoothed the bedsheet where her feet had ruffled it, and glanced up. His voice assumed a patient roll, as if he'd told the story a hundred times already. "Jenny Jacobs, you had a nasty shock.. there was an accident, and you were hurt in your head. Its got you thinking your...." He looked amused now.... "some sort of person who you've made up... that your sister to the Regent... Jenny.. the Regent. I know you've adored him every since you saw him in that parade... but hon... please.. we want you back. The fish monger even brought by some netting he'd really like you to work on for The Arabella today... do you think you could? We do need the coin and no one mends nets like you do." He said softly, worried, letting her have her space. He knew that she wouldn't go far, wouldn't feel like it...

"Jasoal wants to visit you too today, if your up for it. He wants to bring little Amelia... she misses you horribly. She wants to see if your okay..she's been anxious. But we haven't wanted her to see you like this.. .it confuses her a great deal. Five is a hard age. Jasoal is your betrothed. Amelia is his daughter from his first wife... we had to put off the wedding after the accident." He patently explained, as if he'd done so a dozen times. "We keep hoping your memory straightens itself out..."

[Nikki L'Evienne]

"Dunstan?"she looked at him and shook her head "I.. I don't remember... you. What? Thinking I'm who?" gods, she was so confused, her head felt... sluggish. Like there were memories there but she couldn't... quite... reach them. "No.. my name is Nikki.. Nikki L'Evienne. Jenny Jacobs?" who was this Jenny Jacobs. It almost sounded familiar, but it couldn't be. Nikki looked at Dunstan and felt her certainty slipping away, was this who she was....

"I.. the Regent? Milo. My brother.. he's my brother.. The Arabella? Isn't that the Empress? I.. I'm confused. Mending nets? I don't know how to mend nets, do I?" she asked, looking at him and then he told her of ...

"Jasoal? I... my betrothed? I.. I remember kissing someone. I remember... wasn't there a kiss? I.. is that Jasoal? No... am I getting married? When am I doing that?" she asked, and she felt the mugginess that was her head intensifying. "I... have you told me this before? I feel like you've told me this before... have you?"

Oh gods, it was just too confusing. "So.. the Regent isn't my brother? But my name is Nikki. I know how I look, I know what I wear. I know... I know too much. What are you saying?" and then she looked down at what she was wearing and she shook her head "But I don't wear this.. these aren't my.... what? I... " she raised a hand to her long hair, horrified to find that it was, in fact, shorter than she was used to by far. What was this? What was happening here? She looked around the room to find some answer, something that would prod her memory somehow.

But she was no longer looking for escape. She was confused. Dazed and confused, but starting to believe.

[Gossamer]

Dunstan sighed softly, let a little pain cross his expression and reached out and patted her hand. "Let's get you out of bed sweetheart. I need to go out and chop wood for the fire. The Soapmaker brought by my share for the work I did on his shop. So while I'm chopping wood, I'd like you to bathe. It will make you feel better." At that he rose, and picked up her dressing gown from the end of the bed. He handed it to her even though she had a very modest bedgown on. It was clean, but of rough thread. Then he handed her thick wool socks. "Put these on. The floor is cold." And at that, he gathered a few things. "If you'd rather not bathe, I understand. The kitchen is cold before the stove heats it up, but I'll bring your tooth powder and fine face soap so you can eat least wash." He said, waiting for her to get dressed. It seemed he wasn't going to give up until she did so and followed him into the kitchen.

From there, he answered more of her questions. "The Arabella is a ship, a fine troller... and you've mended her nets a hundred times." Dunstan watched her closely. "Now don't trip on the rug in the hall, it got you a couple of days ago and you fell again." Dunstan hovered by her as she traversed the hall and navigated the rug with shaky feet. "How are you feeling this morning? The healer said it was encouraging your balance was getting better. And yes, your getting married... " He hesitated... "when you feel better. If Jasoal says patient. Amelia loves you terribly, so I think hes good with waiting... as long as you feel better. When you see her, she will set things straight."

He said, stepping outside for a minute to use the hand pump in the porch... drawing his sister some water to heat over the stove, which had already been filled with wood, lit and was burning nicely.

No sooner had he put a big kettle on the stove then the back door to the porch slammed open and a tiny blonde whirlwind child rushed in screaming "Jenny! Jenny!" Nikki was literally assaulted with a grinning urchin with dancing eyes. "Your awake!" Tiny arms encircled her in a fierce hug, that repeatedly squeezed in child-like affection. Nikki found herself staring down into the largest most beautiful set of eyes she'd ever seen... they crowned a grin that stretched ear to ear. The girl was absolutely gorgeous and practically oozed charm and worry in equal measures.

It wasn't until the shadow in the doorway cleared his throat shyly that 'Jenny' noticed the man standing there. He was young, built like a dockworker, and ruggedly handsome. The pose he struck was a casual one, leaning against the frame of the door shyly, watching her with wide green eyes. There was true warmth and affection in his gaze. He had the girls same blonde hair, and impish smile. "Jenny, how are you, luv? Don't let Amelia push you over... Amelia, Jenny's been sick! Don't hurt her. I'm sorry, Dunstan. I know you said afternoon, but Amelia couldn't wait. So we brought breakfast to buy our forgiveness. Scones, in all sorts of flavors. Amelia and I couldn't decide which flavor you'd want this morning Jenny." With that, Jasoal raised a container that smelled delicious and brandished it in front of them like other men might flowers. Amelia started talking then, rattling off how exiting the trip to the bakers had been.. how wonderful it was to see her, and then everything that had happened since she'd been allowed to visit.

There was something about a neighbor boy and a frog, another story about a kitten named 'Loverly', and a few half started tales about her father. Finally she finished with..."Hows your head? Did that carriage hurt it too badly?"

[Nikki L'Evienne]

She looked down at his hand patting hers. "I... alright. I feel confused. I know that I...allright.. put them on" she obediently pulled on the socks, putting her feet down and feeling the cold through the floor. She shivered slightly as she stepped up "I... it's cold. Yes. I'll wait to bathe until its warmer. Is that alright?"

She walked with him, wondering at how her legs were shaking and trying desperately to sort out the mugginess that was her head. She was so confused, and she was fitting memories in that simply didn't fit. "Tell me more.. I.. I remember being in the Palace.. I do. I was going to have a bath. I feel very muggy, though.... more like it was a dream. I suppose it must be a dream... not likely to be the sister of the Regent.. but Milo.. I remember Milo and Nell. And the babies. Why do I remember the babies?"

That seemed like a logical question, and she looked at her brother for an answer. Then a small blonde child ran in and hugged her. Jenny looked down at the child and knelt down on the floor, so that she didn't fall over. "Amelia?" she asked, looking up to Dunstan, and when he confirmed it Jenny smiled and ruffled the child's hair. She had always adored children and in the confused mess that was the mind of Nikki L'Evienne, Hannah and Amelia merged together, until the two of them were no longer two people, but seemed more like one person, and it was that moment that would later be the one that cinched it for Nikki. That would be the moment where she ceased being sure that she was Nikki L'Evienne and where her drugged mind started filling in the blanks for the woman that was Jenny Jacobs.

"Hey sprout" she said, using the word that she always used when she spoke to Amelia.. or Hannah... but with this child "How're you doing? I'm awake.... but you know, I'm still feeling a bit muggy in my head. Like it's all made from cotton candy, like they have in the big festivals...."

She looked up then, and there was Jasoal, his eyes looking at her with the mischief that she associated with him.... or was that a certain Elf that she had grown fond of just lately? But the kalaedascope of thoughts, the broken- up nature of her head led her to not knowing, and to, therefore, simply accepting what it was that was in front of her.

So, leaning slightly on the wall she stood up and gingerly walked up to him, slowly and carefully and then she stepped into his arms and kissed him on the cheek, as she remembered doing before. She did remember it, she was sure, she remembered it clearly. They had been in a room.. and unfamiliar room but there was an old blanket on the bed. That made more sense, Jenny thought, for surely, the sister of the Regent didn't have old and tattered blankets. That was what she had, Jenny Jacobs.

So, with Nikki slowly sinking into the cotton-candy of her drugged mind, Jenny kissed the man she was to marry and smiled "I... thank you. Scones sound lovely. I'm sorry, I must have worried you, I guess. I... I think my brother's been worried, you know. He tries so hard to protect me and he says that you've been very patient. I'm sorry if I've caused any problems. I'll .... why don't you decide what flavour Amelia?" she said looking down at the girl.

"Carriage?" Jenny asked Jasoal "Is.. is that what happened? A carriage?" she tried to remember and she did have a memory of a carriage, with large black wheels and the inside being completely hidden from the outside world. "Was it large... with big black wheels and curtains on the windows? I.. I remember that I think" she said, and looked at Jasoal and considered that he wasn't bad looking. "Umm.. when are we getting married?" she asked, flushing gently as she did.

[Gossamer]

Dunstan fussed over her a bit more, glad she opted for socks, and nodding his agreement with a bath later when it was warmer. "The fire should get the house warmed up sooner or later, we just need to give it time. I'm sorry Jenny dear... the days will be warmer soon. Summer is always a good time in Prime, and we will be able to sleep with the shutters opened wide." He grinned, and listened to her ramble about her dreams.

"Dreams girl, you've been dreaming again. Ever since the accident..... but about babies, of course you'd dream of them. You're a midwife's helper too, girl. When you aren't mending netting for the ships down at the harbor. Why, you helped Jasoal's wife birth Amelia before the cough took her. I think thats why Amelia is so agreeable with this wedding..." He said, his eyes dancing.

Just then, they burst in, and Dunstan wandered over to shake Josoal's hand, and take the breakfast from him. He set out plates, and poured tea for everyone, all the while gently warning Amelia to be careful with 'Jenny'. Then, her brother moved back, going back to his fussing, as Jenny gently hugged the new man and kissed him on the cheek. Jasoal smiled slightly, returned her hug, brushed a tendril of hair out of her eyes, and said softly...."I'm so glad to see you feeling better Jenny... It almost killed me that you got hurt so badly." He said, bending lower to kiss her forehead, then each of her eyelids gently. His hands around her body ran up her spine, and gently rubbed her shoulders. Though he held her, he held her like one would a fine piece of china one was afraid would snap at any moment. His cheek rubbed against hers softly, and his lips found themselves by her ear. He whispered softly, just for her.... "I love you, Jenny.... so much so it hurts sometimes. Gods, your beautiful. Even like this, your so beautiful. Never leave me again... please, lady... never ever leave...." He said, then lifted his head to smile at his daughter who was busy hugging Jenny's leg again. "Come have a scone, Jenny. I picked out a fresh strawberry one just for you. Only the most perfect one in the bakery... its just perfect.. and when I told the baker who it was for, she put even more filling in it! Can you believe it?" Jasoal laughed, and gently spun Nikki in his arms, to lead his beloved over to the table. He helped her sit down, and pushed a bowl of sugar cubes over to her. "Put some of that in your tea... your too thin, Jenny." He said firmly, eyes filled with worry.

When she asked her question, he glanced away, looking down. She shouldn't have worried though. Amelia supplied the answer readily. "You would have been already by now. It was supposed to be yesterday! I was so looking forward to you being my mother for real. But Dad says I need to be patient. Why, Jenny? Why do I have to be patient?" The little girl asked, still standing at the side of Jenny's seat, figiting. It was obvious she was high strung, and worried. Probably the loss of her mother, then Jenny almost following the same fate, had its impact.

It was her brother who answered the question she asked earlier. "Yes, Jenny. It was large and black with curtains. There was an accident, and the team spooked. The driver had problems, and the horses bolted. You never heard them coming. They hit you almost head on, and you went under the hooves... we think your head got struck by a horse. You had a bruise and your eyes looked very funny for days. It's taken a long time to get you back up and walking... even longer for you to get this far. Now, though, the healer thinks you will be fine. She said the swelling was causing your memories to be muddled and your thoughts to be confused. As it goes down, things will get better inside your head." He offered. Jasoal looked pained, then furious.... "That driver was incompetent! Its a luck no one got killed." Amelia just hugged Jenny, whimpering slightly suddenly, burying her head against the woman's side.

Jasoal said something softly, then he repeated himself. "I've had to bring her over almost every day to reassure her that your still here, luv." He said softly. "You've been so good to her. Thank you.. it was hard for her, for both of us, to loose her mother. She was your best friend, you know...." He added. Then he shook his head, and smiled.

"What would you like to do today? How about a trip out? The fresh air might do you some good." Dunstan frowned, glared at Jasoal, and looked intently at Jenny. "I'm not sure thats a good idea. Don't rush her. You don't have to go, Jenny, unless you feel absolutely ready too. I think Jasoal has a mind to take you around the neighborhood and show you the sites, see if your memory is returning." He said gently, his eyes filled with worry. "But, only if your ready too."

[Nikki L'Evienne]

A midwife's helper? Oh that made sense. Lots of babies and that would mix up in her mind. Jenny nodded and kissed her brother on the cheek "I'm sorry" she said, quietly "You must have been so worried about me. And this.. this can't help. I'm sorry".

When the pair of them burst in Jenny smiled gently and when Jasoal moved the tendril of hair from her face she smiled and his hands on her, his voice whispering into her ear triggered something for her. "Jasoal.... I remember being with you.. laying on grass and looking at you.. you told me a story? I.. it's funny, I thought you were an elf. I suppose I got muddled up." she shook her head, such foolishness. Such silly foolishness. The Regents sister? How would that be? She smiled at Jasoal and whispered to him "I'm sorry... I know this is hard on you." She would have said more, but Amelia spoke and so Jenny looked down at the little girl as she answered her question.

"Yesterday?" she asked, looking at Jasoal and sighed as Amelia hugged her, whimpering. She did not speak as they discussed what should be done today, and then when her brother said to her that she should only go if she was ready, she saw the concern on his face and she felt a swell of being... loved. There was a man, and a child and a brother. She had a family. She had a feeling... had a memory maybe, that this was what she had always wanted, and now this damage to her head, this carriage and these false memories were hurting a little girl whose mother had died. Jenny thought that she understood how it was to loose someone, and she was damned if she'd put this child through it again. She bit into the strawberry scone and smiled, she loved strawberries. He must know. He must know her, he knew her favourite fruit and everything. How else could it be? There were these people here, this child, and they were counting on her. She had to do something.

"I have an idea" she said, looking at Jasoal as she spoke, her moss-green eyes watching him carefully "I had somewhere to be yesterday, and I think that this young woman has been patient for long enough. Why don't we get married? I guess there's priests available, and we can do that here. Is that... how would that be?" she asked, looking at the three strangers in front of her, thinking that she knew them and hoping that she was doing what would please her brother.

"I... I can't bear the thought of Amelia being hurt any more than she has been. She's waited ages, haven't you Sprout?" she said, grinning at the girl "And you know, I.. I don't remember it so well, not the details, but I know that I'm loved. And that I love back. So how about I stop hurting people and start helping them, eh?"

She looked at her brother, at her soon-to-be-husband and at the girl who would become her daughter and a look that showed Nikki L'Evienne completely was on her face. She was a woman who wanted to do what was right, to hurt the least number of people. There was no hiding here, no pretending to be anything, there was just the woman that she was. So she would do what she had to do to make the people around her happy.

Unfortunately, she didn't know who she was and so Jenny was about to get Nikki into very serious trouble indeed.