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rainbowfic2012-08-19 12:24 am
shadowsong26) wrote in rainbowfic2012-08-19 12:24 am
White Opal #2, Sapphire #4, Lawn Green #4
Name: shadowsong26
Story: Maintaining Balance
'Verse: Feredar
Colors: White Opal #2. Dream, Sapphire #4. diamond, Lawn Green #4. pool party
Supplies and Materials: stained glass, eraser (Desshiri!Verse), acrylic, oils, novelty beads, glitter (trap), glue ("You could be overly dramatic and make a performance out of your perspective. Although you are eager to speak your piece in a new and different way, it's tempting to repeat an old familiar message to the same audience. Think about what's coming up rather than what recently happened. Taking a calculated risk might be in your best interest now.")
Word Count: 598
Rating: R
Characters: The Grand Duke of Asendar, Kesshare, Andrell, the Sixth Eldest Witch of Heartwood
Warnings: Forced marriage, manipulation
Notes: Constructive criticism welcome, as always.
The Grand Duke steepled his fingers, listening to the Crown Princess from Glass stating her case. Of course, of course, it would be one of her daughters--Feredar's royal House clearly couldn't be trusted to govern itself and toe the line and prevent future atrocities, and while he had a younger daughter of appropriate age, his wasn't a mage-line.
But she was pushing her eldest, perhaps a little too strenuously. True, Princess Nolani was almost exactly the same age as the new King of Feredar, but...
"Four years is not so great a difference," the Witch said, quietly, and the table went still.
"Four years is not so great a difference," the Witch said, quietly. Kesshare tensed a little. Damn the woman.
"No, it is not," she agreed. "But I do not believe that my middle daughter will be willing to return to Feredar, after her experiences there." She would if I needed her to, Kesshare thought. She knew her daughters and knew exactly how to maneuver them into the positions she desired. But it was Nolani she needed bearing the young King's heirs, not Desshiri. Conquest was, after all, a very messy business, with far too many chances for failure. Nolani sharing King Andrell's crown had much fewer variables. "And for this to be valid, at least in my uncle's kingdom, she must freely consent."
"And for this to be valid, at least in my uncle's kingdom, she must freely consent."
Andrell felt a sick, nervous sort of laughter building up inside him. He'd expected something like this, despite his surrender, despite how cooperative he'd been. Hell, at least they weren't demanding reparations as heavy as he'd feared.
But for some reason, the more they argued about it over his head, the more trapped he felt by the whole thing. Not because he wasn't able to choose his wife the way his father and brothers had, not even because one of the options was a girl--woman--lady he'd never met.
He'd fought alongside Desshiri. As hard as it had been, he'd backed her stupid, reckless plan to lure Kellom out. They'd fought and fretted and mourned and rejoiced together and to be honest it felt like the beginning of one of those stupid romantic fictions Fera had escaped into. And somehow that screamed 'trap.'
"Would it hurt to ask her?" the Grand Duke was saying, a bite of impatience in his voice.
"Would it hurt to ask her?" the Grand Duke said, impatient. The Sixth Eldest Witch smiled a little to herself. He was impatient, the young King looked faintly ill, and the Glass Princess...
Oh, the bickering at this table was nothing new to her. It was almost familiar, refreshing, comforting, even. She was the Eldest of the Eldests, so the other Witches gave her a kind of deference when they all met in council. She usually only had to present an idea and let the leaves fall where they may--just, it seemed, as she did here at this larger table. The other Witches were good women, the decision made was usually the best for everyone. Which, of course, meant that the Sixth Eldest almost always got her way.
But Crown Princess Kesshare was one to watch, especially cornered as she was. She'd had plans for the marriage with her eldest daughter, no doubt about it. "No," she finally said, curtly. "I will ask."
And now the games truly begin. "Perhaps we can return to the question of land grants," she said, softly. And the others fell in line.
Just like they always did.
Story: Maintaining Balance
'Verse: Feredar
Colors: White Opal #2. Dream, Sapphire #4. diamond, Lawn Green #4. pool party
Supplies and Materials: stained glass, eraser (Desshiri!Verse), acrylic, oils, novelty beads, glitter (trap), glue ("You could be overly dramatic and make a performance out of your perspective. Although you are eager to speak your piece in a new and different way, it's tempting to repeat an old familiar message to the same audience. Think about what's coming up rather than what recently happened. Taking a calculated risk might be in your best interest now.")
Word Count: 598
Rating: R
Characters: The Grand Duke of Asendar, Kesshare, Andrell, the Sixth Eldest Witch of Heartwood
Warnings: Forced marriage, manipulation
Notes: Constructive criticism welcome, as always.
The Grand Duke steepled his fingers, listening to the Crown Princess from Glass stating her case. Of course, of course, it would be one of her daughters--Feredar's royal House clearly couldn't be trusted to govern itself and toe the line and prevent future atrocities, and while he had a younger daughter of appropriate age, his wasn't a mage-line.
But she was pushing her eldest, perhaps a little too strenuously. True, Princess Nolani was almost exactly the same age as the new King of Feredar, but...
"Four years is not so great a difference," the Witch said, quietly, and the table went still.
"Four years is not so great a difference," the Witch said, quietly. Kesshare tensed a little. Damn the woman.
"No, it is not," she agreed. "But I do not believe that my middle daughter will be willing to return to Feredar, after her experiences there." She would if I needed her to, Kesshare thought. She knew her daughters and knew exactly how to maneuver them into the positions she desired. But it was Nolani she needed bearing the young King's heirs, not Desshiri. Conquest was, after all, a very messy business, with far too many chances for failure. Nolani sharing King Andrell's crown had much fewer variables. "And for this to be valid, at least in my uncle's kingdom, she must freely consent."
"And for this to be valid, at least in my uncle's kingdom, she must freely consent."
Andrell felt a sick, nervous sort of laughter building up inside him. He'd expected something like this, despite his surrender, despite how cooperative he'd been. Hell, at least they weren't demanding reparations as heavy as he'd feared.
But for some reason, the more they argued about it over his head, the more trapped he felt by the whole thing. Not because he wasn't able to choose his wife the way his father and brothers had, not even because one of the options was a girl--woman--lady he'd never met.
He'd fought alongside Desshiri. As hard as it had been, he'd backed her stupid, reckless plan to lure Kellom out. They'd fought and fretted and mourned and rejoiced together and to be honest it felt like the beginning of one of those stupid romantic fictions Fera had escaped into. And somehow that screamed 'trap.'
"Would it hurt to ask her?" the Grand Duke was saying, a bite of impatience in his voice.
"Would it hurt to ask her?" the Grand Duke said, impatient. The Sixth Eldest Witch smiled a little to herself. He was impatient, the young King looked faintly ill, and the Glass Princess...
Oh, the bickering at this table was nothing new to her. It was almost familiar, refreshing, comforting, even. She was the Eldest of the Eldests, so the other Witches gave her a kind of deference when they all met in council. She usually only had to present an idea and let the leaves fall where they may--just, it seemed, as she did here at this larger table. The other Witches were good women, the decision made was usually the best for everyone. Which, of course, meant that the Sixth Eldest almost always got her way.
But Crown Princess Kesshare was one to watch, especially cornered as she was. She'd had plans for the marriage with her eldest daughter, no doubt about it. "No," she finally said, curtly. "I will ask."
And now the games truly begin. "Perhaps we can return to the question of land grants," she said, softly. And the others fell in line.
Just like they always did.