I love looking through my old crap
Jan. 22nd, 2006 02:41 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
maderrIt's a pity I don't remember where I was going with this, any longer. I still kinda like it. =/ I recall the Captai of the guard was going to get twins, but that's about it.
Prologue
Death smelled of ashes. Acrid and sharp but also vaguely of home; the smell of the fireplace in the morning before the servants revived the fire and began to warm the house. Of sitting around the fireplace at night and reading while his parents talked, his father sharpening his blade.
There was no sign of a fire however, which gave the king pause. The light breeze drifting through the night-darkened field carried the smell of ash but revealed nothing of the source of the sent. Still…it was far too quiet. It was late spring; the night should be full of sounds. Not deathly still and scented with the remains of fire. He tightened his grip on the sword in his hand, and with a grim smile looked over his shoulder.
Three women stood together behind him, decked out in full battle gear. Unlike the full, heavy armor he preferred, the women wore much lighter fare, playing to their speed and lighter weight. One held a broadsword, similar to the king's own. The second held a long sword as though it were light as a feather though it was nearly as long as she was tall. The last held a glaive, the curved edge gleaming in the moonlight. Each wore a star pendant pinned to the front of their armor - gold, silver, and the last red.
"Are you ready, my Stars? Something awaits us in this valley and it smells of death."
The woman with the gold star smiled, the expression both stubborn and sad. "Sire, we none of us believed we'd last beyond this final battle. We are the Stars of Cassen Lothe and we will defend her against every threat. The Beast may take us, but it will also stop with us."
"Sire, it is you who should not be here. A kingdom is nothing without its King." The woman of the silver star spoke, voice quiet and matter-of-fact. "You should not be here with us, but where you can be protected."
"No," the king said firmly. "I have fought this far and I will not send my men to face a danger I do not understand. I would not ask it of you, my Stars…"
The third woman snorted. "We would have come anyway. We serve our King and our Kingdom, no matter what. Now enough of this nattering. If death is waiting for us, I say we go to meet it and make sure things go our way."
"Well said," the King said, and managed a laugh. He lifted his sword in a farewell salute, "To Cassen Lothe."
"To Cassen Lothe!" The women cried with him, lifting their weapons to return the gesture before following their king as he raced down into the valley, the moonlight above guiding their way as they rushed ever closer to the source of the mysterious scent of ashes.
Only moments later the smell of ashes was mixed with the scents of fear and blood. The smells however were ignored as the air filled with screams and heart-wrenching cries of pain. The minutes extended into hours as the battle continued on, hidden from any possible watcher lurking in the dark.
The wretched sounds at last died away. Four had descended into the valley, but only two emerged when the battle concluded. Drenched in blood, sweat and gods only knew what else, the two women forever after were never quite the same.
Half a silver star remained hanging from the first woman's breast, but her face was cool and removed. When she returned to the waiting troops she refused to speak of what had occurred. All questions were politely refused or coldly ignored. Her sword and armor were buried in the attic upon her return home, and reluctantly the Queen gave her an honorable discharge. Returning to her family the woman became a mere shadow of what she had been before.
Those that knew her said she had lost her spirit, in that battle in the dark.
The second emerged from the valley a mess, her lance shattered, clothes slashed and bloodied. Strange wounds turned into scars as her body slowly healed. Where the first woman was quiet, this one laughed loudly and bitterly, frightening the men and later the people. Also honorably discharged, she remained in the castle, wandering its halls only at night while the rest of the kingdom slept. Otherwise she remained in her room, confusing and occasionally terrifying all those daring enough to question her on the events of that infamous night.
Any who met her said she had lost her mind, in that battle in the dark.
In The Dark
A Story of Cassen Lothe
A Story of Cassen Lothe
Prologue
Death smelled of ashes. Acrid and sharp but also vaguely of home; the smell of the fireplace in the morning before the servants revived the fire and began to warm the house. Of sitting around the fireplace at night and reading while his parents talked, his father sharpening his blade.
There was no sign of a fire however, which gave the king pause. The light breeze drifting through the night-darkened field carried the smell of ash but revealed nothing of the source of the sent. Still…it was far too quiet. It was late spring; the night should be full of sounds. Not deathly still and scented with the remains of fire. He tightened his grip on the sword in his hand, and with a grim smile looked over his shoulder.
Three women stood together behind him, decked out in full battle gear. Unlike the full, heavy armor he preferred, the women wore much lighter fare, playing to their speed and lighter weight. One held a broadsword, similar to the king's own. The second held a long sword as though it were light as a feather though it was nearly as long as she was tall. The last held a glaive, the curved edge gleaming in the moonlight. Each wore a star pendant pinned to the front of their armor - gold, silver, and the last red.
"Are you ready, my Stars? Something awaits us in this valley and it smells of death."
The woman with the gold star smiled, the expression both stubborn and sad. "Sire, we none of us believed we'd last beyond this final battle. We are the Stars of Cassen Lothe and we will defend her against every threat. The Beast may take us, but it will also stop with us."
"Sire, it is you who should not be here. A kingdom is nothing without its King." The woman of the silver star spoke, voice quiet and matter-of-fact. "You should not be here with us, but where you can be protected."
"No," the king said firmly. "I have fought this far and I will not send my men to face a danger I do not understand. I would not ask it of you, my Stars…"
The third woman snorted. "We would have come anyway. We serve our King and our Kingdom, no matter what. Now enough of this nattering. If death is waiting for us, I say we go to meet it and make sure things go our way."
"Well said," the King said, and managed a laugh. He lifted his sword in a farewell salute, "To Cassen Lothe."
"To Cassen Lothe!" The women cried with him, lifting their weapons to return the gesture before following their king as he raced down into the valley, the moonlight above guiding their way as they rushed ever closer to the source of the mysterious scent of ashes.
Only moments later the smell of ashes was mixed with the scents of fear and blood. The smells however were ignored as the air filled with screams and heart-wrenching cries of pain. The minutes extended into hours as the battle continued on, hidden from any possible watcher lurking in the dark.
The wretched sounds at last died away. Four had descended into the valley, but only two emerged when the battle concluded. Drenched in blood, sweat and gods only knew what else, the two women forever after were never quite the same.
Half a silver star remained hanging from the first woman's breast, but her face was cool and removed. When she returned to the waiting troops she refused to speak of what had occurred. All questions were politely refused or coldly ignored. Her sword and armor were buried in the attic upon her return home, and reluctantly the Queen gave her an honorable discharge. Returning to her family the woman became a mere shadow of what she had been before.
Those that knew her said she had lost her spirit, in that battle in the dark.
The second emerged from the valley a mess, her lance shattered, clothes slashed and bloodied. Strange wounds turned into scars as her body slowly healed. Where the first woman was quiet, this one laughed loudly and bitterly, frightening the men and later the people. Also honorably discharged, she remained in the castle, wandering its halls only at night while the rest of the kingdom slept. Otherwise she remained in her room, confusing and occasionally terrifying all those daring enough to question her on the events of that infamous night.
Any who met her said she had lost her mind, in that battle in the dark.
