random snippet
Jan. 24th, 2008 09:13 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
maderrOkay, here's the thing. For every idea I mention, there's probably at least two I don't.
Sometimes, I'm just not up to dealing with them.
This one, however, would not be left entirely alone. It's been nagging at me for months. So, a compromise. I wrote a snippet, wholly out of order (you can tell where it should have started, and probably will eventually, but for now I crammed enough info into this scene so readers are not wholly lost -- and later I remember what I want to do).
And now I go to try and do what I should be working on, since I should really finish other stuff before starting new, and I really am trying this year to actually manage that.
Anyway, snippet. Not beta'ed, cause it's really not necessary at this point.
Probably a piece of crap, fair warning. B/t interuptions and tiredness and whatall else... I apologize if it does suck.
The Last Tale of the Cursed Knight
(Later Scene)
The day was ending and Clovis could not be happier. He knew they'd not walked as far as might have been possible if not for the various and sundry mishaps, but, it felt as though they walked a hundred miles.
High above the sky was giving over from blue to pink and orange and yellow, deepening slowly to red and violet and black Clouds were scattered thinly about, blots of black and gray against the warm rainbow of colors.
Nearby Raban was building a fire, while Terence secured their belongings for the night. Guilty Clovis realized he'd fallen off in his own chores and hastily bent back to settling the horses.
By the time he had seen to their food and water, ensured they were tethered against any would be thieves, night had well and truly fallen. The warm fire was a fine thing indeed as an evening chill settled, and he wrapped his cloak more firmly about him as he sat near it.
He glanced again at Terence, unable to help himself. Raban was a native of Gortage like himself, dark brown of hair and eyes, the same as every native. He was greater in breadth across the chest and soldiers, but so was almost everyone else.
Not Terence. The stranger foreigner of deep blue eyes and true raven-black was as thin and tall as the reeds Terence had spent so much time cutting down as a child. Despite appearances he had more than held is own during the fight in the village, more than keeping up with Raban's impressive swordsmanship.
He was neither handsome nor beautiful, far too harsh and severe for that…but he drew the eye all the same, or maybe it was just that Clovis had never seen a man from Meverin before. Or maybe it was the sadness, for the man's smiles never seemed fully to reach his eyes. Clovis knew that look, those shadows – a man in despair, much like his mother had been despite all his efforts to revive her spirit. For naught, and he pushed away bitter thoughts of wondering what might have been had she not finally drunk herself to death.
"Are you enjoying your quest yet, Clovis?" Raban asked, breaking into his thoughts.
Clovis grimaced, and accepted the bowl Raban held out to him "I would like it more if all these stray adventures did not keep inserting themselves. That is the third village we have been driven from, and if not for our new friend I suspect it would have been the last time."
Terence laughed. "Hopefully it will be the last time, but in not so permanent a fashion as you suggest." His accent made the words almost sing-song. It was strange but pretty to hear his language so pronounced.
Sipping at the crude stew of nothing but softened hardtack and travel meat, chewing at the bites of food, Clovis motioned irritably with one hand. "I wish I had some right to complain, but I freely admit my own mouth got me into it." He sighed and shook his head, eating a few more bites.
Truly he should learn his lesson. He didn't even like the damnable twit – but he would sooner be strung up than hear his family and his friends so maligned.
"You could just call it off," Raban said. "No one would think the less of you for it. Unless you really do want to marry the Harpy of the Royal Castle."
Clovis laughed. "No, definitely not. However, I will not be the one to go back on my word. Let her dishonor herself so; I will accomplish that which I have bid."
Terence nodded approvingly. "Honor to one's self above all."
"Mm," Raban agreed. "Myself, I prefer to keep away from situations which try to question my honor."
"I thought it was a question to your honor which got you into trouble to begin with," Terence said idly, looking amused – but even in the dark Clovis knew that, as ever, it did ot reach his eyes.
Raban laughed. "Yes, precisely. Nothing but trouble, that. So I have avoided such things ever since. Better to be a wandering nobody than a constantly harassed somebody."
Biting back pointless questions, Clovis finished eating and set his bowl aside to open his water skin. Both his unexpected companions on this fool's quest seemed to be made of mystery. One a lazy wanderer with nigh on breathtaking swordsmanship that Clovis could never hope to match…and the other an exotic beauty from a land he'd only vaguely heard of with an air of sadness.
"So why are you venturing up the mountain, my new friend?" Raban asked. "We had only reached that part of the discussion when the villager attempted to kill us."
Yes, Clovis was burning to know. He to win a princess everyone hated, Raban because he refused to return home because of a matter of honor…
"A wish," Terence said softly. "All the world have I explored the last ten years or so, exploring every hope and chance of having a wish granted."
"It's only a legend," Raban said gently, speaking of legend of the Shining Mountain, that any who reached the summit and the throne of the Forgotten King would be granted his heart's desire.
A child's tale, utter nonsense, but every year men and women were lost attempting to obtain their heart's desire.
Thankfully all he had to do was climb to the top and bring back some proof he'd made it. The Harpy of the Royal Palace was an idiot, but thankfully not so dimwitted she wanted proof of the Forgotten King himself. He wouldn't have put it past her.
Terence shrugged. "I know, but I must explore every chance…" His face twisted.
"What wish?" Raban asked. "Though of course it's none of my business."
"You will see the truth of it soon enough," Terence said with another shrug. "Years and years ago I fell in love, and was graced enough by the gods to have that love returned. Yet never are we truly together, but always apart even when we touch. Our only desire is to remove that which separates us, one way or the other. I fear we shall only obtain that desire when we die, and if so than I shall accept it…but while we breathe, we refuse to give up."
Clovis blinked. "So you are questing too, then."
Terence's mouth curved in a faint smile. "Something like that."
Silence fell shortly thereafter, comfortable and easy, and Clovis could not think of a time when he'd ever been this comfortable with people. Certainly not anyone he knew, yet these two strangers suited him fine.
Eventually they settled down to sleep, and despite all that had transpired over the past days, Clovis drifted off with a smile upon his face.
He woke yawning, stretching to work out the kinks brought on by sleeping upon the ground. Even his lumpy mattress was preferable to this – but then again, traveling was better than another day spent mucking out stables for her Royal Harpiness.
A glance around showed that the others were awake and gone off somewhere, though there packs remained nearby. Clovis looked about for them, finally standing to turn completely around – and let out a yelp.
From the corner of his eye he was Raban come out of the forest, mouth as gaping as Clovis knew his own to be.
Descending from the sky was a dragon.
It was nothing like the dragons nearly impossible to find nowadays. No, dragons of Gortage were brown and black and green. This creature…Clovis had never heard of such.
It's snout was a rich indigo, the scales fading to near-black toward the end of it's long, sinuous tail. The scales had the faintest shimmer, brilliant in the light of the rising sun. His wings were iridescent, more beautiful than even the stained glass adorning the royal chapel.
Two large black horns grew forward from the top of his head, slightly curved and the points wicked-sharp looking.
"Oh, my," Raban said, coming up alongside him as they both walked toward the dragon.
And he realized belatedly that Terence stood in the field already – waiting.
The dragon landed neatly, and Terence moved toward it. Clovis realized his own feet had stopped moving, and Raban was still beside him.
In silence they watched as the dragon lowered its head to nudge Terence in the chest, then it curved it's long neck around, the sleek body as well, until it was wholly coiled about Terence. In his turn, Terence looked as though being in the grips of a great indigo dragon were perfectly normal.
To judge by the way he stroked the dragon's muzzle, rest easily against him in the firm embrace of the coils…clearly it was normal.
"By the gods…" Clovis finally managed. "A dragon, and it's like I have never seen. He is yours?"
"Yes," Terence said softly, not taking his eyes off the dragon he still stroked and pet. "This is Rokh, and I am his as much as he is mine."
"You're the cursed knight!" Raban suddenly exclaimed. "Oh my gods, you really exist."
Terence's head shot up, annoyance and bitterness and a sadness so deep it hurt flickering across his face. The dragon – Rokh, he supposed, how strange for a dragon to have a name – growled.
"Yes," Terence said. "I am the cursed knight, if they are still using that ridiculous epithet."
"Cursed knight?" Clovis asked, feeling stupid and lost.
Raban shook his head, looking dazed. "Yes. I was in Meverin two years ago, and heard the tale over and over. A troop of knights sent out on a suicide mission, and of course none returned…save one, a year after the troop was lost…and they say he returned with a Royal Dragon, whom he claimed to love. All were repelled by the idea that a man would love a dragon in such fashion, and he was driven from his home…"
Terrence laughed, not a single trace of amusement in the sound, and Rokh's growls increased. "Beaten half to death and thrown in the river while they tried to kill the only one to ever love me, and all that after my King, who held my pledge and had given his, sent me off to die in penance for his crime."
"They say the cursed knight ran away with his beast lover, that they seek eternally a place to accept their sinful ways…"
"We commit no sin," Terence said harshly. "No man has control over his heart. All we want is to be together, and we will pay any price."
Clovis was silent, utterly dumbfounded by all that had just been said.
Raban broke the silence. "Why would you trust us? We could attempt to kill you now, for what you say is considered blasphemy…"
Terence finally looked at them, though he still caressed Rokh. "Because I have traveled long and hard, raising my hopes only to feel one crushing disappointment after another. I know kindred spirits when I see them, people who might understand honor…if you are willing to be kindred spirits. If not, then I ask that you let us leave in peace, for we have done you no harm."
"Can you talk to him?" Clovis asked, taking a hesitant step closer. "I never knew dragons to talk."
The dragon rumbled, and for a moment Clovis thought it was angry – then Terence started laughing and he realized suddenly Rokh was doing the same.
"We can talk," Terence said. "Over time I could teach you…I learned quickly because my mind was quite muddled when we first met." He looked at them with a cautious expression, the barest hint of hope almost as painful as the sadness had been before.
Raban finally laughed and moved closer. "Well, I have always believed in leading my own life. Nor can I talk about adventurous romantic escapades. Rokh, is it?" He moved close still, and folded his arms across his chest, head tilted thoughtfully. "I hope, then, that the old legend of the Forgotten King is true."
Clovis nodded, finally making his own feet move again. "Where has he been all this time?"
"Eating, exploring ahead while I gathered information and supplies." Terence smiled, and it wasn't quite steady. "Thank you, my friends – if I may truly call you thus. We are used to being reviled."
"Well, you're in good company. I'm used to being worthless, and he's obviously used to being in trouble."
Clovis laughed. "Truer words were never spoken. Is it time for breakfast?"
"Yes," Raban said, clapping a hand on his shoulder, motioning to Terence, who was slowly released from Rokh's coils. "Let us eat, then go on a quest for the Forgotten King."
Sometimes, I'm just not up to dealing with them.
This one, however, would not be left entirely alone. It's been nagging at me for months. So, a compromise. I wrote a snippet, wholly out of order (you can tell where it should have started, and probably will eventually, but for now I crammed enough info into this scene so readers are not wholly lost -- and later I remember what I want to do).
And now I go to try and do what I should be working on, since I should really finish other stuff before starting new, and I really am trying this year to actually manage that.
Anyway, snippet. Not beta'ed, cause it's really not necessary at this point.
Probably a piece of crap, fair warning. B/t interuptions and tiredness and whatall else... I apologize if it does suck.
The Last Tale of the Cursed Knight
(Later Scene)
The day was ending and Clovis could not be happier. He knew they'd not walked as far as might have been possible if not for the various and sundry mishaps, but, it felt as though they walked a hundred miles.
High above the sky was giving over from blue to pink and orange and yellow, deepening slowly to red and violet and black Clouds were scattered thinly about, blots of black and gray against the warm rainbow of colors.
Nearby Raban was building a fire, while Terence secured their belongings for the night. Guilty Clovis realized he'd fallen off in his own chores and hastily bent back to settling the horses.
By the time he had seen to their food and water, ensured they were tethered against any would be thieves, night had well and truly fallen. The warm fire was a fine thing indeed as an evening chill settled, and he wrapped his cloak more firmly about him as he sat near it.
He glanced again at Terence, unable to help himself. Raban was a native of Gortage like himself, dark brown of hair and eyes, the same as every native. He was greater in breadth across the chest and soldiers, but so was almost everyone else.
Not Terence. The stranger foreigner of deep blue eyes and true raven-black was as thin and tall as the reeds Terence had spent so much time cutting down as a child. Despite appearances he had more than held is own during the fight in the village, more than keeping up with Raban's impressive swordsmanship.
He was neither handsome nor beautiful, far too harsh and severe for that…but he drew the eye all the same, or maybe it was just that Clovis had never seen a man from Meverin before. Or maybe it was the sadness, for the man's smiles never seemed fully to reach his eyes. Clovis knew that look, those shadows – a man in despair, much like his mother had been despite all his efforts to revive her spirit. For naught, and he pushed away bitter thoughts of wondering what might have been had she not finally drunk herself to death.
"Are you enjoying your quest yet, Clovis?" Raban asked, breaking into his thoughts.
Clovis grimaced, and accepted the bowl Raban held out to him "I would like it more if all these stray adventures did not keep inserting themselves. That is the third village we have been driven from, and if not for our new friend I suspect it would have been the last time."
Terence laughed. "Hopefully it will be the last time, but in not so permanent a fashion as you suggest." His accent made the words almost sing-song. It was strange but pretty to hear his language so pronounced.
Sipping at the crude stew of nothing but softened hardtack and travel meat, chewing at the bites of food, Clovis motioned irritably with one hand. "I wish I had some right to complain, but I freely admit my own mouth got me into it." He sighed and shook his head, eating a few more bites.
Truly he should learn his lesson. He didn't even like the damnable twit – but he would sooner be strung up than hear his family and his friends so maligned.
"You could just call it off," Raban said. "No one would think the less of you for it. Unless you really do want to marry the Harpy of the Royal Castle."
Clovis laughed. "No, definitely not. However, I will not be the one to go back on my word. Let her dishonor herself so; I will accomplish that which I have bid."
Terence nodded approvingly. "Honor to one's self above all."
"Mm," Raban agreed. "Myself, I prefer to keep away from situations which try to question my honor."
"I thought it was a question to your honor which got you into trouble to begin with," Terence said idly, looking amused – but even in the dark Clovis knew that, as ever, it did ot reach his eyes.
Raban laughed. "Yes, precisely. Nothing but trouble, that. So I have avoided such things ever since. Better to be a wandering nobody than a constantly harassed somebody."
Biting back pointless questions, Clovis finished eating and set his bowl aside to open his water skin. Both his unexpected companions on this fool's quest seemed to be made of mystery. One a lazy wanderer with nigh on breathtaking swordsmanship that Clovis could never hope to match…and the other an exotic beauty from a land he'd only vaguely heard of with an air of sadness.
"So why are you venturing up the mountain, my new friend?" Raban asked. "We had only reached that part of the discussion when the villager attempted to kill us."
Yes, Clovis was burning to know. He to win a princess everyone hated, Raban because he refused to return home because of a matter of honor…
"A wish," Terence said softly. "All the world have I explored the last ten years or so, exploring every hope and chance of having a wish granted."
"It's only a legend," Raban said gently, speaking of legend of the Shining Mountain, that any who reached the summit and the throne of the Forgotten King would be granted his heart's desire.
A child's tale, utter nonsense, but every year men and women were lost attempting to obtain their heart's desire.
Thankfully all he had to do was climb to the top and bring back some proof he'd made it. The Harpy of the Royal Palace was an idiot, but thankfully not so dimwitted she wanted proof of the Forgotten King himself. He wouldn't have put it past her.
Terence shrugged. "I know, but I must explore every chance…" His face twisted.
"What wish?" Raban asked. "Though of course it's none of my business."
"You will see the truth of it soon enough," Terence said with another shrug. "Years and years ago I fell in love, and was graced enough by the gods to have that love returned. Yet never are we truly together, but always apart even when we touch. Our only desire is to remove that which separates us, one way or the other. I fear we shall only obtain that desire when we die, and if so than I shall accept it…but while we breathe, we refuse to give up."
Clovis blinked. "So you are questing too, then."
Terence's mouth curved in a faint smile. "Something like that."
Silence fell shortly thereafter, comfortable and easy, and Clovis could not think of a time when he'd ever been this comfortable with people. Certainly not anyone he knew, yet these two strangers suited him fine.
Eventually they settled down to sleep, and despite all that had transpired over the past days, Clovis drifted off with a smile upon his face.
He woke yawning, stretching to work out the kinks brought on by sleeping upon the ground. Even his lumpy mattress was preferable to this – but then again, traveling was better than another day spent mucking out stables for her Royal Harpiness.
A glance around showed that the others were awake and gone off somewhere, though there packs remained nearby. Clovis looked about for them, finally standing to turn completely around – and let out a yelp.
From the corner of his eye he was Raban come out of the forest, mouth as gaping as Clovis knew his own to be.
Descending from the sky was a dragon.
It was nothing like the dragons nearly impossible to find nowadays. No, dragons of Gortage were brown and black and green. This creature…Clovis had never heard of such.
It's snout was a rich indigo, the scales fading to near-black toward the end of it's long, sinuous tail. The scales had the faintest shimmer, brilliant in the light of the rising sun. His wings were iridescent, more beautiful than even the stained glass adorning the royal chapel.
Two large black horns grew forward from the top of his head, slightly curved and the points wicked-sharp looking.
"Oh, my," Raban said, coming up alongside him as they both walked toward the dragon.
And he realized belatedly that Terence stood in the field already – waiting.
The dragon landed neatly, and Terence moved toward it. Clovis realized his own feet had stopped moving, and Raban was still beside him.
In silence they watched as the dragon lowered its head to nudge Terence in the chest, then it curved it's long neck around, the sleek body as well, until it was wholly coiled about Terence. In his turn, Terence looked as though being in the grips of a great indigo dragon were perfectly normal.
To judge by the way he stroked the dragon's muzzle, rest easily against him in the firm embrace of the coils…clearly it was normal.
"By the gods…" Clovis finally managed. "A dragon, and it's like I have never seen. He is yours?"
"Yes," Terence said softly, not taking his eyes off the dragon he still stroked and pet. "This is Rokh, and I am his as much as he is mine."
"You're the cursed knight!" Raban suddenly exclaimed. "Oh my gods, you really exist."
Terence's head shot up, annoyance and bitterness and a sadness so deep it hurt flickering across his face. The dragon – Rokh, he supposed, how strange for a dragon to have a name – growled.
"Yes," Terence said. "I am the cursed knight, if they are still using that ridiculous epithet."
"Cursed knight?" Clovis asked, feeling stupid and lost.
Raban shook his head, looking dazed. "Yes. I was in Meverin two years ago, and heard the tale over and over. A troop of knights sent out on a suicide mission, and of course none returned…save one, a year after the troop was lost…and they say he returned with a Royal Dragon, whom he claimed to love. All were repelled by the idea that a man would love a dragon in such fashion, and he was driven from his home…"
Terrence laughed, not a single trace of amusement in the sound, and Rokh's growls increased. "Beaten half to death and thrown in the river while they tried to kill the only one to ever love me, and all that after my King, who held my pledge and had given his, sent me off to die in penance for his crime."
"They say the cursed knight ran away with his beast lover, that they seek eternally a place to accept their sinful ways…"
"We commit no sin," Terence said harshly. "No man has control over his heart. All we want is to be together, and we will pay any price."
Clovis was silent, utterly dumbfounded by all that had just been said.
Raban broke the silence. "Why would you trust us? We could attempt to kill you now, for what you say is considered blasphemy…"
Terence finally looked at them, though he still caressed Rokh. "Because I have traveled long and hard, raising my hopes only to feel one crushing disappointment after another. I know kindred spirits when I see them, people who might understand honor…if you are willing to be kindred spirits. If not, then I ask that you let us leave in peace, for we have done you no harm."
"Can you talk to him?" Clovis asked, taking a hesitant step closer. "I never knew dragons to talk."
The dragon rumbled, and for a moment Clovis thought it was angry – then Terence started laughing and he realized suddenly Rokh was doing the same.
"We can talk," Terence said. "Over time I could teach you…I learned quickly because my mind was quite muddled when we first met." He looked at them with a cautious expression, the barest hint of hope almost as painful as the sadness had been before.
Raban finally laughed and moved closer. "Well, I have always believed in leading my own life. Nor can I talk about adventurous romantic escapades. Rokh, is it?" He moved close still, and folded his arms across his chest, head tilted thoughtfully. "I hope, then, that the old legend of the Forgotten King is true."
Clovis nodded, finally making his own feet move again. "Where has he been all this time?"
"Eating, exploring ahead while I gathered information and supplies." Terence smiled, and it wasn't quite steady. "Thank you, my friends – if I may truly call you thus. We are used to being reviled."
"Well, you're in good company. I'm used to being worthless, and he's obviously used to being in trouble."
Clovis laughed. "Truer words were never spoken. Is it time for breakfast?"
"Yes," Raban said, clapping a hand on his shoulder, motioning to Terence, who was slowly released from Rokh's coils. "Let us eat, then go on a quest for the Forgotten King."
no subject
Date: 2008-01-25 02:26 am (UTC)Squeeeee!
Date: 2008-01-25 02:30 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-01-25 02:32 am (UTC)and you always have a line or two that no matter where i am, i must grin like an idiot. this one, it's the retort to the 'reviled' line at the end.
genius. thank you for sharing, and will you be angry if we request more?
thankee!
no subject
Date: 2008-01-25 02:41 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-01-25 02:43 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-01-25 03:19 am (UTC)Also, you wrote out of order! Good for you, stretching out of your comfort zone. Good luck with your goals for this year.^_^
no subject
Date: 2008-01-25 04:13 am (UTC)(\(\;;/)/)
no subject
Date: 2008-01-25 06:04 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-01-25 06:36 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-01-25 06:41 am (UTC)-anin
no subject
Date: 2008-01-25 08:09 am (UTC)*wibbling merrily*
A happy ending will be arranged - I have no doubts!
*gives you hopeful chibi eyes*
So what else is on the list before you come back to this one?
no subject
Date: 2008-01-25 08:17 am (UTC)And they are all so gorgeous I am all sparkly-eyed at the computer now. *_______*
Re: Squeeeee!
Date: 2008-01-25 08:18 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-01-25 10:12 am (UTC)No, like I said -- this is just a snippet of something random I don't want to work on. Plus, I said the foursome had twins ^^
no subject
Date: 2008-01-25 10:14 am (UTC)Nope. I don't really like Lackey. It's hardly a new idea, anyway, most of the reason I just don't feel like dealing with it.
no subject
Date: 2008-01-25 12:24 pm (UTC)I shall look forward to the day this gets completed! ♥♥♥
no subject
Date: 2008-01-25 01:03 pm (UTC)Man, this one also has all the earmarks of being a foursome, actually. :x Or a harem, lol.
no subject
Date: 2008-01-25 01:30 pm (UTC);_____________________________;
Stories like this do it to me.
Still, I like the dumb Harpy's name.
no subject
Date: 2008-01-25 06:53 pm (UTC)Dragon's love, one of the best ^_^
no subject
Date: 2008-01-26 02:13 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-01-27 02:54 am (UTC)I LOVE the cursed knight twist to it, and I love that they're a questing group of misfits!!! *flying tackle glomps* (Seriously, how awesome are you?! *hearts madly*) And I love that, once they get past their initial shock, they're totally willing to adopt Rokh into their group and that they're willing and able to help Terence with his (their? Terence seems to be the only one who truly needs to find this place. ;3 The others have their reasons, yes, but Terence has the best argument for going.) quest.
<33333 I swear, your mind is an awesome, awesome place and I will always be in awe of it. ^_^
no subject
Date: 2008-01-27 11:34 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-01-27 12:24 pm (UTC)I think there was some problem with dynamics with the one you're asking about... I think that's the one with Jasmine, the half-incubus and the twin dragons, yes?
no subject
Date: 2008-01-27 12:27 pm (UTC)Hey! You remembered Jasmine's name! Ahahahaha <3
But yes, you are correct in all you say, beloved imp.
no subject
Date: 2008-01-27 02:14 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-01-27 06:17 pm (UTC)And yes it was the one with Jasmine I was talking about, such a memory for name is amazing. What dynamic probleme exactly?
no subject
Date: 2008-01-27 06:18 pm (UTC)The Jasmine foursome did not want to be a foursome, and I was being stubborn about admitting that. Still do'nt know what to do with the bastards, exactly x.x
no subject
Date: 2008-01-27 07:26 pm (UTC)I remember Jasmine because he was cool and I liked him. ♥
no subject
Date: 2008-01-27 11:54 pm (UTC)