shadowsong26: (nida)
shadowsong26 ([personal profile] shadowsong26) wrote in [community profile] rainbowfic2013-02-01 12:47 am

Wasabi #6, Ivory #24, Snow White #12

Name: shadowsong26
Story: The Most Dangerous Woman in the World
'Verse: Feredar
Colors: Wasabi #6. Yes, love indeed is light from heaven; A spark of that immortal fire with angels shared, by Allah given to lift from earth our low desire. (Nida never expected to fall in love.), Ivory #24. She still believes in miracles while others cry in vain., Snow White #12. bridge of birds
Supplies and Materials: stained glass, miniature collection, eraser (Queen Sela AU), stain, fabric, modeling clay, charcoal, novelty beads ("It is a man's own mind, not his enemy or foe, that lures him to evil ways." - Buddha), beading wire, glitter (coach), glue ("Your world is about to be rocked as charming Venus slips into your futuristic sign today. Your social life improves, love comes your way and your creativity skyrockets. Although this pleasurable transit feels wonderful, you could end up digging yourself out of a pile of trouble unless you keep your desires under control.")
Word Count: 500
Rating: PG
Characters: Lova, Lena, Rema, Nida, Sela
Warnings: Rema and Lova and their fanaticism
Notes: Constructive criticism welcome, as always. This takes place in an alternate 943 FY.

Lova inspected her daughters carefully. Securing their positions in the Queen's household had been difficult. She would not have them spoiling it by poor presentation. "You must never forget why you're being sent to court. Observe, and befriend the Queen. We are searching for a suitable consort candidate, of course, but in the meantime...the girl is more likely concerned with vengeance than the actual politics of the situation. You three, if you gain her ear, might be enough to sway her. Any questions?"

The three of them muttered variations on 'No, Mother,' and were dismissed to finish packing.

~ * ~ * ~

"Both of you, behave like the ladies you're supposed to be. Rema, stop taunting Nida. Nida, don't let her bait you," Lena snapped at her younger sisters.

Somehow, that made things worse.

She sighed, and turned away, trying to ignore them. She hated that Mamma had sent them here. She was positive her talents were much more useful on other projects, rather than spending months--years--entertaining a bigoted child only a year older than her baby sister.

But Lena was a good soldier--so to speak--and she went where she was told. She sighed, and went to separate her sisters.

~ * ~ * ~

Rema was thoroughly unimpressed with the Queen. This was the woman they were all so afraid of? This petite, mousy, tired-looking girl whose thoughts were clearly elsewhere?

Lena didn't want to be here, either, and Rema could finally respect that opinion. It seemed the girl wouldn't even be a good information source before they killed her (for all Mother's talk of swaying, that was what the Movement was moving towards, after all).

Only Nida--sweet, simple Nida, really too young for espionage--still seemed to feel the luster of court or of their mission.

Rema almost--almost--managed to bring herself to pity her.

~ * ~ * ~

It was strange. Mamma had said that the Queen was the most dangerous woman in the world, and that was still true. But...

But Queen Sela was still a woman--or girl, even; she wasn't much older than Nida was--who was in over her head and lost and confused and...

Nida found herself drawn into conversation with the Queen often, sometimes serious, sometimes not, and she found herself having more in common with the other girl than she would have thought possible. And when the Queen smiled at her, however brief, she wished that they could have been friends in truth.

~ * ~ * ~

Sela's ministers decided she needed companions, on top of meeting potential consorts and attending to the rest of her duties as Queen, as she'd lost touch with her old friends after her ascension. Most of the new ladies were lovely, though some of them were obvious plants to sway her towards relatives who were consort candidates.

And then there was Lady Nida.

She was easy to talk to, and friendly, if quiet, and smart. When she had time to relax, Sela found herself seeking Nida out more than anyone else.

Maybe this wasn't such a waste of time after all.
kay_brooke: Snowy landscape with a fence, an evergreen forest, and a pink sky (winter)

[personal profile] kay_brooke 2013-02-04 05:35 pm (UTC)(link)
Nida's section kind of broke my heart, because she seems like a lonely girl who sees the chance at a friend in Sela, but her mother's machinations are keeping that from being a true friendship. And I feel bad for Sela, who knows these other girls aren't her real friends.
bookblather: A picture of Yomiko Readman looking at books with the text "bookgasm." (Default)

[personal profile] bookblather 2013-02-08 07:57 am (UTC)(link)
Oh, this will not end well at all. That last second broke my heart-- poor Sela.