Legend: Light after Darkness -Book II

Part VI - Love and War

Previously...

After Jack and Lili survive a surprise assault from Oona, Jack collapses after an additional psychic attack reigniting his memories.

Lili, Gump and King Roland nurse Jack back to health, only for the trauma of his memories to resurface and contort his body in pain.

Gump pacifies Jack with a sleeping spell, and suggests to King Roland that Lili know the full truth of the prophecy.

Furious, upon the discovery that her and Jack are sacrificial pawns to a master plan to defeat Darkness, and the new threat of "the Nothing," Lili insists that she and Jack leave and return to the forest together.

Her mistrust refuses her father and Gump's apology and any remedy to undo the spell.

Jack wakes and teleports himself and Lili back to his home in the forest, leaving both Gump and King Roland in atonement.

Will Jack and Lili find safety in each others arms or will old foes tear them apart for good..?

Part VI

"Open your eyes..." Jack whispers to Lili.

Lili loosens her grip from him and raises her head to find herself standing before the hearth of Jack's subterranean home, set beneath the hollow tower of the giant tree.

Lili looks around the room, a delighted smile rises upon her face.

She wraps her arms around Jack and sweetly kisses him, then gently pulls away gazing up him, adoringly,

"We're home..." she sighs, relief washing over her.

Jack frames her face with his hands, gently cupping her face to raise her lips to meet his.

"My home is anywhere with you." He replies as he kisses her.

Lili meets his kiss and holds tighter to him, then playfully pushes him away and runs up the stairwell to the secret door leading out into the forest,

"Come on! Daylight sheilds us from Darkness, let's go out and say hello to the sun!" Lili calls to Jack, beckoning for him to follow.

Jack stands back, puzzled, "We teleported here... How do you know your way out of here, when I've never shown you how to get in?"

Lili's face goes blank, doing her best to remain neutral,

"Oh no... I forgot he has no memory of us staying here together...! I'm so stupid! please, be alright, Jack... have I triggered another memory..? Lili thinks to herself, cursing her foolishness.

"What has you so nervous, Lili?" Jack asks as he ascends the stairwell toward her.

"I'm not..." Lili replies, "I just realised, you may still need rest. I was selfish to play around after all that has occurred. Maybe we should lay down for awhile..? I'm just so happy to be here, alone with you."

Lili steps toward Jack, looping her arms around Jack's neck and kisses him.

Jack kisses her back, as he shoots her a wry smile, " You didn't answer my question, Lili. Are you nervous because you are afraid the answer will upset me?"

"No, I just don't want to push you. And, to answer your question, the floor is earth and the ceiling, and mezzanines above us, have roots twisted around them. I can only assume we are underground and the forest is up there..." Lili summarizes, pointing a finger up toward the top of the stairs.

Jack sweeps her up into his arms, "Your powers of deduction are impressive."

"Nothing common sense wouldn't conclude?" Lili replies, teasing.