When the Gem Knows

AN: My first Deltora Quest story! I've read the series multiple times, and having just finished the series, I can't help but want to write a couple of stories for it. I hope you all like this! :)

Disclaimer: I do not own Deltora Quest. Emily Rodda does.

Amazingly, it wasn't until a while after Lief had become king that he came to realize that the diamond was always warm when he was with Jasmine.

Of course, as he had figured, it had only been natural for him to have taken a while to realize that the familiar warmth and calming glow were perhaps not quite a normal as he had first led himself to believe. Between the many duties that had been forced upon him once he had taken the throne, from having to settle squabbles between palace advisors over insignificant slights to wandering across the kingdom to destroy the last traces of evil that kept Deltora from its well deserved peace, something that had been so common had just never crossed his mind as odd. In fact, it wasn't until well into his third year as king, after everything had finally calmed down from his encounter with the dragons and he could find some time for himself each day, that he even had an inkling that something was strange.

At first, he had thought that it was just the diamond reacting to Jasmine's strength and courage, recognizing her as one of the handful that had been by his side since the very beginning, facing all manners of untold danger to help him bring peace and prosperity to Deltora once more. The Belt had done stranger things in the past before, so he wouldn't have been surprised at all to have found out that that was exactly what was going on. However, this theory was soon proven wrong a few weeks later when, while in the presence of Barda, Doom, and countless others who had risked everything to help him succeed, the diamond had barely reacted, growing only a degree or two warmer and shimmering with a faint light that would have been hard to see in a darkened room. Mentally comparing this event with the almost overwhelming reaction the gem gave the very next day when he met Jasmine for lunch, Lief was forced to rethink his position in the situation.

The next one he came up with wasn't much better, for it left him with his heart in his throat and a sick, sinking feeling in his stomach.

What if Jasmine wasn't Jasmine? What if someone, or something, had managed to take her place by his side, pretending to be her until it had gained his complete trust and belief that it was his treasured companion? Even with the Shadow Lord banished back to the Shadow Lands, it would almost be stupid to believe that some of his subjects didn't still remain within Deltora's borders, just biding their time until they could finally make another bid for the throne. And what better person to replace then one of his most trusted friends, one of the few he told almost everything to? The diamond was death to all creatures evil in nature, and to ignore the warning it might be trying to give him would just be beyond foolish.

Even if he feared the results more then he had feared the idea of facing the Shadow Lord alone.

Thankfully, just a few hours after the thought had first invaded his mind, he was able to put his fears to rest.

After half a day of searching for her, Lief was relieved to eventually find Jasmine asleep in one of the trees that had grown within the palace gardens, Kree and Filli tucked against her stomach as they too participated in an afternoon nap. Checking the ruby and emerald, both of which were still vibrant in color despite the diamonds' warning glow, his mind grew light as his stomach calmed, amazingly overjoyed at the fact that, unlike his first thought, this one was proving to be wrong. However, in spite of the sense of wellbeing that had fallen over him, he needed to be sure. After glancing around to ensure that they were alone, Lief had slid the Belt from his waist and, gentle in his movements so as to not awaken her, had pressed the jewel against the back of her hand.