Different Worlds

Floating

SIENNA'S POV

We were awake to see the sunrise.  I looked over to see Devon's blue eyes staring at me lovingly.  I was curled up next to him on the ground, both of us naked,  but that didn't bother us in the least.  We still had a couple of hours before everyone would be getting up, and I intended to enjoy this time with the man I loved for as long as I possibly could.

"When the battle is over," Devon murmured to me, "I think you're going to have to marry me."

The smile I already had on my lips widened instantly.  "Is that so?"  I teased, feeling more lighthearted than I had in days.

"That's a fact."  He rolled us over so that I was pinned between him and the soft, mossy ground.  "I don't intend to let you get away.  I'm going to tie you to me in every possible way, so don't even think about escape."

I didn't think that my smile could get any wider, but I was wrong.  I slid my arms around his waist as I grinned up at him.  "I wouldn't dream of it."

"Good."  Lowering his head, he caught my lips in a breathtaking kiss.  Despite the fact that we had been awake all night, I felt well-rested and full of energy.  I still couldn't believe how many times we had managed to be together during the night, but we just couldn't seem to get enough of each other.  I closed my eyes as I remembered.  I knew that whatever happened, I would treasure last night for the rest of my life.

"You are the most important person in my life," he suddenly said as he lifted his lips from mine.  "Always remember how much I love you.  Never doubt it."

"Why would you think I would doubt it?"  I asked a little cautiously.

"I just don't want you to think that I take you for granted.  I never would."

My arms tightened around his waist.  "I know you don't," I whispered back to him.  "And always remember that you are the most important person in my life, too.  Always remember how much I love you."  I echoed his sentiment, feeling it with my entire heart.

His smile grew as he bent to kiss me again.  Staying locked together, we let our love consume us once more.

***

"You seem incredibly ... prepared today."  Jarvis' voice cut clearly through the air to me.  "You are doing extraordinarily well.  I have to admit that your focus has improved tenfold compared to yesterday."  A small smile flickered at the edge of his mouth.  "Is there anything in particular that could be responsible for this change?"

"Uh..."  I didn't know what to say as I felt the heat rush up to my face.  I knew, without a doubt, that my face would be blushing bright red.  "No, no, can't say that there is."

The knowing smile that Jarvis gave me made me cringe with embarrassment.

"Shall we try again?"  he said, thoroughly enjoying my discomfort.  I scowled.  I was tempted to throw a spell at him just for the hell of it - surely that would wipe that annoying little smirk off his face.

"Yes."

"Very good.  Take your time."

Closing my eyes, I summoned up all of my concentration and focus on what I was trying to do.  I felt my normal magic respond without hesitation, and I reached deeper into myself in an attempt to connect with something more powerful.  I could feel the ... shield was the only thing I could describe it ... that was blocking me from the deep magic, and I put all of my energy into breaking it.  I could feel the crack I had put there before, and I aimed all of my focus onto that one point - the weakest poing in the shield.

Though my concentration was focused on what I was trying to accomplish, I suddenly became aware that I couldn't feel the ground.  Without opening my eyes and trying not to break focus, I reached out my foot and tried to feel for the ground, and it was at this point that I realized that I wasn't touching the ground.  Beginning to panic, I opened my eyes to see that I was several feet from the ground, with the eyes of all the rebels looking up at me.  With a scream, my concentration and focus flew out the window as I felt myself falling back towards the ground.  Closing my eyes, I braced myself for impact, but it never came.  Opening my eyes, I found myself in Devon's arms.  I breathed out a shaky sigh of relief as I threw my arms around him.

"Thank you!"

He grinned at me as he lowered me to my feet.  "Always happy to be of service."

I looked up to see all of the rebels cheering me.  I turned to Jarvis.

"What happened?"

"That was incredible," Jarvis gushed.  Wait, Jarvis gushed?  Wow!

"I was floating!"  I burst out as the cheering died down.  "How can I float?  That's physically impossible!"

Jarvis was shaking his head at me in wonder.  "Do you not realize just how ... fantastic that was?" he questioned.  "Netiri cannot even do that."

"And why would she want to?"  I shot back.  "Have I ever mentioned to you that I have a little problem with heights?"

"Sienna!"  Jarvis grabbed my by the shoulder and made me face him.  "You are so close!  You were floating!  No sorcerer has been able to do that since the First Traveller.  You have no idea just how close you were to reaching the deep magic."

"But I didn't," I said bluntly.  "The shield preventing me from reaching it ... it's just so hard to break."

"I am confident that you will do it," Jarvis said with pride.  "You're getting there.  It won't be long before you reach it."

"But floating?"  I just couldn't bring myself to want to do that again.  "Come on!  Tell me how being able to float is going to give me an advantage over Netiri!  I'm failing to see one."

"I'm sure you will be able to find a use for it when the time comes."  He smiled at my frustration.  "Do you want to give it another try?"

"No way!"  The words were out of my mouth before Jarvis had even finished asking the question.  When his eyebrow lifted I hastened to explain myself.  "It's not that I don't want to break the shield - I do!  But I don't want a repeat of what just happened ever again."

"Sienna," Jarvis replied a little dryly.  "I hate to inform you, but now that you have ... floated ... your going to have to do it again in order break the shield."

"What?"  The word burst through my lips without hesitation.  "Why?"

"I didn't realize it before, but the floating must be what must happen before you can connect with the deep magic.  Sort of a ... preparation ... I suppose, so that you can be ready to wield the most powerful magic."

I could feel my face fall as he explained.  "This sucks!"

Jarvis lifted on eyebrow again and I heard Devon try to smother a laugh.

"Well, it does!"  I planted myself on the ground, feeling like a sulky child.  I had a big problem with floating.  Just looking down from how high up I had been had made me feel sick instantly.  And I thought it had been bad enough when I had been made to ride Jacek when we were fleeing from Netiri's soldiers.  This was a thousand times worse!

"What would you rather?"  Jarvis asked quietly, and I looked up at him quickly.  I had learned that whenever Jarvis was quiet, he was at his most serious and not to be joked with.  "Would you rather conquer your fear of heights, break the shield, wield the magic and save everyone?  Or would you rather admit defeat now and have everyone fight in a war that cannot be won without you?"

I gritted my teeth as I listened to his two alternatives.  He was right.  Was I going to sit there and continue to feel sorry for myself?  Or was I going to get up and try again, no matter how much it scared me?  Wishing I could take the path of the coward, I held my hand out and Devon pulled me to my feet.  Holding my head high, I looked Jarvis straight in his eyes.

"Let's try again."

Jarvis inclined his head towards me, a small smile forming on his face.  "That's more like it."