Starry Night

Author's Note: Thanks for all the reviews! I did my best with this chapter, if anyone see's anything wrong, don't hesitate to tell me about it. My last chapter I had forgoten to spell check before uploading. ^.^

To EmruasCat: Thanks for the beta offer, but I unfortunatly have no idea how to send emails properly without getting error messages. Though I'm glad you like the story. :P

To My_perversities: I updated as soon as posible, though it was tempting to keep everyone waiting. ^,..,^

To Dekorx_Ao: The next time Jack gets back to Earth will explain what the police are doing in regards to 'Shane's Parents'. It should come up in the next few chapters.

To Everyone else: Thanks for the support!

Please read and review! Reviews are greatly appreciated!

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“He’s been like this since yesterday.” Fern began to explain as I approached the table and looked down at Blake, barely even noticing that Chase was sitting in a chair on the opposite wall watching me. “For the past week he’s been extremely depressed and hasn’t been eating well though we were able to get him to eat a few things. Then he simply collapsed last night in the tower. Had Chase not gone up there with him, he probably would have been there for hours before anyone noticed.”

So this was my fault…

“I can’t do anything for him unfortunately.” The doctor then announced.

“Why not?” I snapped my attention back to him.

Both the doctor and Chase appeared happy that I had spoken. “Because, I can only heal physical wounds. I cannot return energy to a body which has already turned against itself, and at this point I think you might be his best medicine.”

I wanted to ask what I could do, but as I came closer to Blake’s unconscious form he began to remind me more and more of sleeping beauty, though there was no way I was going to kiss him, especially not with everyone around.

“Please do something Singer.” Chase spoke up. “I know that what ever Prince Shermar had said made you distrust us, but understand that his intention was exactly this! He was aiming to harm Blake through you!”

“How?” I wondered. “Err…Why?”

The prince and the doctor glanced at each other before Chase answered. “You’re not aware of it, but to Blake, you’re the most precious thing in his country. He’d do anything for you…”

“How could I possibly that important? All I do is sing!”

Fern answered me this time. “You’re voice is more powerful than you think.” He smiled tiredly at me. “The first time you appeared in the tower he was amazed that there was still someone who had the talent to play a Lyriar after the practice had died so long ago. Then the second night when you first sang he climbed up to the tower to see who it was. His first impression of you was that of a dream. He couldn’t believe what he was looking at when he first saw you and even spent a few nights just watching you sing before attempting to approach. When you ran he attempted to return to watching, but he’s been obsessed ever since.”

I had no idea that he’d been watching me for the first few nights. I had openly played the way I did with the impression that I was alone.

“But, then why would Spyke want to hurt him?” I couldn’t help but ask.

“Spyke?” Fern seemed confused. “You mean Prince Shermar?”

I nodded.

“That man doesn’t even deserve the throne he sits on!” Chase remarked darkly. “He wants Blake’s throne as Prince Beldarum as well as Shermar’s, which would make him the prince of three countries! Imagine that! And all because Southern Beldarum has been rebelling lately and trying to elect their own prince to give them equal say. Prince Shermar believes that he would be able to control all three countries more efficiently than Blake can handle two and has been doing his best to prove how incompetent Blake was by causing him trouble.” The blonde then looked down at me. “That’s why he’s been trying to chase you away. He knew how much you meant to him and that if you suddenly shunned him, it would…Well, do this to him.”

Thinking back on the conversation I had with Spyke, he didn’t seem to have intentionally scared me. As a matter of fact he hadn’t said anything to try and frighten me away. He actually explained so much to me that I felt grateful. It was the whole inhuman thing that frightened me, and he didn’t appear to have planned that.

I began to have a familiar sensation cross my lips at that point. It was the same thing I had felt on my way to Mooncrest while I was still enveloped by the Unseelie Sidhe. For a moment I thought it was because of the strange sleeping beauty idea I had, but as I came closer to the man the stronger the sensation began to build.

It was unnerving to have something happen to my body which I couldn’t understand and I backed up to find that the further from Blake I was, the less I felt it.

Scanning the room I almost half expected to find the shadow, believing it was responsible for what was happening to me, but as usual it was no where to be found and the sensation on my lips continued.

Am I really supposed to kiss him? I thought to myself. I’ve never kissed anyone in my life! How could I possibly do that now?

I looked back into the faces of the doctor and the prince, hoping they would have some suggestions.

“Help him.” Chase pleaded. “He’s my best friend.”

Fern merely wore a worn appearance, obviously having done all he could for Blake all day without rest.

I tried to rationalize how a kiss was going to cure a man of starvation. First, there was the fact that I was in another world which resided on the North Star. Second, I got here by teleportation via shadow being. Third, this world had floating orbs of light, giant wolves, and was populated by an inhuman race of fey people known as Sidhe. Third, they were capable of using magic to heal others…

With all these things put together it would be a wonder how a simple kiss wouldn’t cure him. Heck, I wouldn’t be surprised if I had suddenly met Harry Potter and Gandalf the Grey sitting in the tower and having a conversation one night the way things were going so far.

I took a deep breath before I considered my attempt, than advanced upon him. Blake didn’t as much as twitch while I loomed over him. I stared at his lips and felt mine begin to tingle severely. I put a finger to them thinking the pressure would lessen the feeling and felt the sensation suddenly seep out into it. I quickly pulled my finger away and the tingling began to build again in my lips.

‘I can’t do it…’ I thought to myself. This man, I couldn’t possibly kiss him. I’m not…Good enough.

I leaned down slowly over his face. Chase and Fern seemed to be holding they’re breaths as they watched intensely. The closer I came to Blake’s face, the closer they seemed to observe me. I almost laughed, and then kissed the man’s forehead.

Like I said, I couldn’t kiss this man, at least not on the lips. He was too handsome and I was just a bedraggled orphan boy. I didn’t have the right to.

The tingling in my lips began to seep out and I couldn’t figure anyplace else for it to be going other than to Blake. I held my eyes closed as a sudden light glared up at me and was gone.

I pulled away and hesitated. Why did I do that? I wondered. I would never do that. So why did I do it just now? It was almost as if something had made me…

“…Singer…”

I jumped as Blake’s arm’s suddenly enveloped me and pulled me down onto him. “Singer, you came back.” He sounded more amazed then weak or groggy, so I could only conclude that he was fine now.

“Blake?” I tried to say.

His grip tightened around me and I began to feel a little uncomfortable at the proximity I suddenly found us in. “I can’t believe you came back.” His voice cracked.

“You did it…” I heard Chase from somewhere near the bed. I could hardly look up in Blake’s embrace to see where exactly he was.

What I could see was Fern with his mouth wide open, stupefied. “I, I’ve never known anyone powerful enough to do that.” He finally stuttered.

The arms around me began to loosen and I quickly shot out of his reach. Blake was surprised at first, then sat up and smiled at me. “I’m sorry, I forgot you don’t quite like being touched.”

“How do you know that?” I asked. “I never told you.”

“I figured it out.” The man’s smile was as perfect as ever. He tried to stand, but was stopped by Fern.

“Hold on, I still need to see if you’re completely well, otherwise you’re going to have to stay here so I can make sure.”

Blake looked the doctor in the eye for a moment, not wanting to do what he had said. Then he looked at me and nodded back at Fern. “Alright.”

“Good, now stay seated while I look at you.” Fern went back to the counter and began opening drawers and pulling out equipment.

I felt a tap on my shoulder and found Chase leaning near my ear. “Come with me.”

I suppose I should have been cautious like I normally was, but for some reason I was beginning to feel more comfortable, regardless of what these people were.

Just before we made it out into the hall I heard Blake call out to us. “Where’re you two going?”

“I figured I’d take Singer out for some fresh air. After all, he must have used a lot of energy after saving you’re life and may need it.” Chase answered.

I didn’t actually feel very tired. As a matter of fact, I felt fine.

“You mean, it wasn’t doctor Fern?” Blake asked in wonder.

“I’m afraid that kind of power is out of my league you’re highness.” Fern answered him, “But obviously not out of his.”

Not for the first time did Blake look at me with utter amazement shining in his eyes. I felt Chase tug on me then and turned to follow him out. As usual, we were greeted by a large crowd of good looks that all seemed to want to touch me and cheered as I passed. Chase helped me through and when we finally got out into the hallway I was able to ask my questions.

“Why were they all cheering?” I asked.

“Because Blake is better now. Blake is the prince of Beldarum. It didn’t take long for his country to hear of his illness. Those people back there are all Ferns apprentices in waiting. They did all they could to heal him but each one had utterly failed.” The blond acquired a distant look in his eyes. “I myself am not very good with healing spells, though I tried anyway. Yet the fact of the matter was that his body didn’t want to heal. And like anyone should know, healing only works if the patient wants to be healed.”

“So how did he get healed?”

Chase paused. “You did it.”

I faced him skeptically. “Me? All I did was kiss him on the forehead.”

“You did much more than that. I saw. You’re extremely gifted. Why, I wouldn’t blame Fern if he became a little jealous of you’re power.”

Me with power? I wondered. No, it was just coincidence. I’d have to speak with the Unseelie to find out what really happened. I knew it had to of had something to do with what I did. There was no other explanation.

“But isn’t Fern supposed to be the best? I mean, Blake had said so himself once.”

Chase nodded. “Of course he’s the best, that’s why he’s Blake’s personal doctor. What other doctor would be found fit to work in the capitol building and have so many apprentices at once?”

That part never crossed my mind. I had just assumed Fern was a good friend of Blake’s who happened to work as a public doctor. I even had figured the apprentice’s were patients waiting for a turn.

We finally made it outside. The usual redheaded servants bowed and opened the doors for us. Once again there was another chariot drawn by giant white wolves. But instead of heading towards it Chase led me around to the side of the Capitol.

The walk helped me realize just how huge the building was and by the time we had made it to the end I was panting. Judging the distance and doing what little math I could in my head, I had only walked one eighth the way around.

“Where are we?” I then asked, noticing we were near something close to stalls. I heard some grunting going on from behind the wooden barriers. As I peered into the darkness, I came to find that there were even more giant wolves sleeping in there.

“These are Blake’s personal stables. It’s where the beasts which draw his chariot are switched out between night and day, though lately the day animals have been getting quite a vacation.” Chase explained.

The creatures were curled up into huge balls of fur on the ground. I laughed when I came across one that was snoring. They came in a variety of colors. Some had black fur, others had brown, some were grey, and then there were the white ones.

If I had to say, I’d declare that my favorite animals at that moment were wolves. Turning back to see what Chase was doing, I noticed that he had been staring off into the sky.

“Beautiful isn’t it?” He suddenly asked me.

I joined him and gazed upwards. The one star, brightest among them all, winked down at us. It seemed a bit bluish to me and I couldn’t help but raise my hand up at it.

“The Blue Star…” Chase smiled as he noticed what I was looking at. “The most beautiful of them all, one would wonder what was up there. We merely use it for guidance, while on other sides of the world people praise it, believing it were some sort of mythical star thus the basis for why it’s the only one out of the billions up there that shines so brightly.”

I froze where I was. Is it possible that these people’s blue star was earth? But then why wasn’t the sun visible? Was it that far away? What about the other planets?

“What do you think it is?” I asked him, honestly curious as to what his answer would be.

“I don’t know.” He answered, disappointing me.

I continued to gaze up at the star, trying to figure if it really was earth.

Arms enveloped me for the second time that night and once again I nearly jumped out of my skin before realizing it was Chase who had come to stand behind me. At first, I feared he might be doing something strange, but was soon corrected by his cracking voice.

“Thank you.” He wept with his head buried in my shoulder. “Thank you for saving him!”