There are 3 messages in this issue.
Topics in this digest:
1. [DL-W] I Remember It Well
From: "Katrina Gischer" <kgischer@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
2. [DL-J] Promises
From: "Rachel Lange" <meghanlore@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
3. [DL-W] With A Song In Her Heart... (JP)
From: trissana@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
1
Date: Tue, 21 Sep 2004 16:28:24 -0700
From: "Katrina Gischer" <kgischer@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
Subject: [DL-W] I Remember It Well
Day 12
Mid-morning
Eleanora stretched and felt her bones settle back into their normal
positions. As she moved her fingers to restore circulation, she
wondered how it was that with Merissa more or less back and a junior
queen rider to take Lia's pl...well, to fill in where Lia was gone,
rather that SHE still had so much paperwork. She sighed, not truly
unhappy with the situation. She'd never admit it - largely because
people would think her strange - but she LIKED doing the paperwork.
She was good at it and it was work that needed to be done - work she
could do and feel useful.
Not having to see a lot of people was a plus, too.
<You've lived here more than long enough,> Cara chided gently. Her
rider's shyness was something that she'd never understand.
Even knowing the beast couldn't see her, El cocked her head in
agreement. Cara was right and it wasn't as though she hadn't made ANY
friends - far from it. It was just....well, not being in the Wing....
As she mused over these thoughts her stomach rumbled and El grinned.
She rose to her feet, intent on heading over to the dining hall. The
sight of dragons on the Green reminded her of Ari's healing and she
shook her head.
I bet that silly girl hasn't eaten a thing, she thought fondly. I'll
go get her a picnic and share it so she does eat.
Two steps further on, it occurred to El that the small blue dragon
looked awfully familiar. But it wasn't a Whiteriver dragon, she was
sure of that. Why should she know a dragon not of this Warr-
Her heart stopped. Telnor. She'd seen the blue at Telnor. With a
catch of her breath that was nearly a sob, the memory of her failure
swept through her. The failure that brought her here - fleeing her
old Warren. Hell, she thought reproachfully, I didn't even check back
to make sure Sandor survived.
Not, the little voice in the back of her head murmured, that I really
want to know if my carelessness cost a broken rider his life.
Hesitantly, she took a step forward, her eyes darting to the rider.
Maybe, just maybe, she was wrong and it wasn't a Telnor rider. It'd
be a total stranger, someone who'd never heard of her shame.
As her focus narrowed to the man's face, she felt herself go pale.
Ash'chenon.
A new set of memories filled her head. The trial - or had it been a
hearing to determine a trial? - with poor H'nry trying to defend Ash.
To bring some sense of rationality to a Warren half-mad with grief.
Tera, the visible symbol of that grief, mourning her lost mate.
Abby's drawn face, pulled between the grief of her brother's death and
what she thought was right.
And Ben'sar.
El closed her eyes and let herself remember. The light in Ben's eyes
as he'd described the brother she'd never meet and the tears when he'd
finally let himself grieve that death. The death at the hands of this
man...or rather, the Hellspawn that had possessed him.
Even the word made her shiver as she remembered the horror of the
hatching. As if the too-hard eggs hadn't been enough trouble, the
Hellspawn even in the Hatching Cavern. Absently rubbing the hand
she'd broken freeing Cara from her shell, El's eyes suddenly popped
open as she remembered seeing Ash'chenon at that Hatching.
He'd looked so very haunted, surrounded by gloom he couldn't escape.
And, she realized, staring at him now, he looked just the same today.
Her heart went out to him. He must be afraid that the folk of this
warren would react as badly as Telnor had - well, some of Telnor had.
And, honestly, thinking of some of the hateful hearts she knew in this
Warren (Jael sprang so EASILY to mind) she couldn't blame him. She
took a step forward, intent on letting him know that Merissa wouldn't
let that happen here, that it would be all right.
The thought came unbidden. He was there and he knows. Knows your
failure and your shame.
She blinked away sudden tears. Sandor's first poisoning and the
blindness that resulted weren't her fault, but if she'd kept a proper
watch on him, there wouldn't have BEEN a second time. If he'd never
come out of the coma..... She shook her head fiercely.
She couldn't do it. Couldn't let that shame drive her from here, too.
She'd just lie low and hope he never noticed her.
________________________________________
Submitted by:
Katrina aka Eleanora and Cara
NRPG:
Tag, if you want it, Allen. Ash likely never noticed any of the
Searchlings with so much on his mind, but hey, it is a Telnor face. :)
Summary:
Day 12, midmorning. El leaves her office in a good mood (yes, she
really DOES like paperwork) intent on a picnic for Ari when she spots
Ash on the Green and is overwhelmed by memories.
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Message: 2
Date: Tue, 21 Sep 2004 23:28:36 -0500
From: "Rachel Lange" <meghanlore@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
Subject: [DL-J] Promises
Day 20, Evening
Hsina wasn't sure what was bothering her, but at the back of her mind
there
was a constant feeling of foreboding. Something was going happen,
sooner
than later, and she just had this feeling that despite all of her
preparations, there was nothing she could do to stop it.
The previous day she had sent a request through Tara for Vignette to
send
Shakira to Jasra, and the former assassin was do to arrive early
tomorrow
morning. That was not what was bothering Hsina though, as she knew
that
Shakira was no longer a threat.
It was the ocean, or perhaps something in the ocean. The Kataani? Oga?
Hsina
wasn't sure, but whatever it was, there was a storm brewing the likes
of
which she had not seen since her days in Assyria.
Eliase stood at the door to the med center. She had been there for
almost
two weeks now and, tho she had come to love the people who worked in
the med
center like her own family, she was very ready to be out and about
again.
Jonas had come often to visit her. He would take her out when weather
and
the head healer would permit it. Eliase enjoyed his company and their
growing friendship. They would spend many long hours talking to one
another
about everything, and often nothing.
The head healer gave her one last hug and wished her well, making her
promise to come back and visit them often. With a smile she nodded and
headed out, taking a deep breath of the evening air. Ryianne was there
waiting at the door, looking more than pleased to see her rider out
and
about on her own. Eliase smiled at Ryianne and reached to scratch her
on the
head before heading off towards the beach.
Hsina stood on the beach, wearing her white cotton sundress which
still
showed a darker areas that were once thickly stained with blood. The
rips
and cuts of assorted weapons were sewn, sewn so well that to the
casual
observer, she looked merely like a tall woman out for a stroll.
The only thing to spoil the image was the massive broadsword strapped
to her
waist, and the dense rippling muscle that would look more at home on a
male
athlete than on a woman wading in the ocean.
To be wading at all was quite out of character for Hsina, who despite
almost
12 years joined to a sea dragon queen, still did not like the ocean.
Still,
she was nervous about something, and whatever it was, it was out
there, in
the ocean.
She didn't notice Eliase walking up behind her.
Eliase smiled as she saw Hsina. She studied the woman for a long
moment
before making her presence known.
"You look beautiful out there," she offered to the warrior woman. "You
should wear dresses more often."
Hsina turned around, immediately replacing her look of concern with a
smile.
"You look well, are you out for good?" Hsina asked.
Eliase nodded. "With promises to take it easy for a few days yet, but
yes."
"I don't think you will have that luxury" Hsina said, once again
looking out
to sea. "I smell trouble coming."
Eliase followed her gaze. 'Truly?"
"Its just a feeling, but last night I dreamt of battle. Not some
little
skirmish like the festival last month, a true battle like those of my
homeland. You were at my side wearing your armor, and there were
bodies
everywhere."
Eliase blinked. "Umm..." She knew she needed to tell Hsina how she
felt, but
she worried how the woman would take it. "Ok."
"Its the Kataani, somehow I think they will attack, and soon. It will
be an
army numbering in the hundreds of thousands, and they won't be coming
to
talk."
"I am sure everyone will do what they can to help then. We are lucky
to have
you, and will be ready."
"We cannot be ready" Hsina said softly, still looking out over the
horizon.
"I've led armies of that size, and despite preparation, despite our
dragons,
all we can do is slow them down. Unless we think of something, Jasra
will be
lost."
"Well." she looks out to sea. "Then we will have to think of
something, won'
t we."
"Right now it eludes me" Hsina said, then looking over at Eliase said
"But
that is for another day. I am sorry for not visiting you in the med
center.
I really did want to, it is just, ....," Hsina paused as she thought
of a
way to convey her feelings.
"It is just that I wanted to maintain my image of you. Where I come
from, a
place like that is a place of shame, and I did not want to see you
there. I
hope I did not offend you, for I am truly grateful for what you did
for me,
and am in your debt."
Eliase smiled. "You didn't. A lot of things are different here then
where
you come from." She paused and continued a bit softer. "A lot of
people are
different too."
"Yes, I'm starting to see that" Hsina replied.
Eliase swallowed hard, dreading telling Hsina what she needed to. "You
know
while I was in the med center I spent a lot of time working on my
music."
"And" Hsina began, adding "Do not be afraid to tell me anything, we
are
bound you and I, there is no need for apprehension."
Eliase nodded, taking a deep breath. "Hsina I am not.." She squinted a
bit.
"I am different, than you. I am not a brave and strong woman like you
are. I
don't want to lead armies into battle." She sighed, feeling like she
was
letting down an important mentor. "I am sorry."
"No, your calling is perhaps more difficult than mine. You must
fulfill many
roles, and you must also satisfy your own desires. My life was an easy
one,
I only had to satisfy others, never myself."
Eliase blinked, pondering Hsina's words. "So you are
not...disappointed?"
"Do not get me wrong. While I understand that you are not a warrior in
the
sense that I am, have no illusion that the skills I taught you, and
hope to
continue teaching you will be necessary in your life, whether you want
them
or not."
Hsina looked seaward again then returned her gaze to the younger
woman. "We
will be attacked by an army the likes of which nobody here except for
I can
comprehend. We have at most a week to finish our preparations, and
whether
you or anyone else likes it, we will all be knee-deep in blood. If you
stay
at my side, and do what I tell you, then you will survive. Ryianne
needs you
to survive, and Keeza will make sure that she does, but you are more
difficult than she. You must promise to do as I tell you when the
moment
comes, and work diligently to regain your strength until that time."
Eliase nodded slowly, swallowing hard. "Ok.."
Hsina grabbed her by the shoulder and spun her so they were facing.
Eliase
could see the seriousness in Hsina's eyes and the single tear running
down
the older woman's cheek. "Promise me!" she commanded. "My entire life
has
been sacrifice and loss. Well I am tired of pain and loss, and I will
have
no more of it."
"I will...I promise." She wrapped Hsina in a hug. "I promise.."
Hsina pulled Eliase in tight and squeezed, perhaps a tad too hard, but
as
she got no complaint she did not release her.
"I'll kill every last one of those Kataani if that's what it takes to
protect the ones I love" Hsina said softly, meaning it.
Eliase smiled a bit. "Then they stand no chance."
Hsina looked defiantly out at sea and replied in her own language "No,
they
do not", then repeated it in her accented dragonrider.
* * * * * *
Summary: Eliase and Hsina talk about a dream Hsina had. Eliase tells
Hsina
about her feelings about being a warrior.
Submitted by:
Rachel as Eliase
and
Andrew as Hsina
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Message: 3
Date: Wed, 22 Sep 2004 00:58:19 EDT
From: trissana@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
[DL-W] With A Song In Her Heart... (JP)
Day 11
Late Afternoon
The lunch crowd had dissapated and the staff, with Analise overseeing
their efforts, had rearranged the tables in a test run of "the big
event" as the warren bard kept referring to the Prince's impending
arrival.
Analise had been also very dilligent in overseeing the resurfacing of
the dance floor and the riser that would be the stage area for her
performance, among others. That is where she was, after the
rearrangement of the tables, testing the acoustics of the dining hall.
There would be need to be certain barriers placed to prevent the
echos,
but it was adequate for practice. Her lovely voice rose the octave
and
then decended, ringing true to each note. The last "C" reverberated
and
died away and Analise smiled for one fleeting moment, as she
envisioned
the glorious events she had planned.
Nerika, standing nearby, decided to see for herself what the acoustics
were like. She began to sing the notes of a tune she herself had
written. It required a voice with considerable range, from very high
to
very low notes. She let the volume rise as she went along, deciding
to
give the hall a good test. As she did so, she glanced out the corner
of
her eye at Analise, to see if she could see any hint on the bard's
face
of what she thought of Nerika's song.
Analise had been startled out of her reverie when another voice had
begun to sing, but she cringed when she realized to whom that voice
belonged. The mid-range notes were adequately delivered, but as the
girl tried to reach for the high notes, she pushed out much too hard
and
squeaked them out with ear-piercing sharpness. Taking a deep,
exasperated breath, Analise turned to Nerika and called out, "My Dear!
You don't want to strain your voice, now do you?" She tried for a
smile, but it appeared more like a grimace.
Nerika stopped and nodded briskly. "Yes, thank you," she told Analise.
"This means, then, that I will be a part of the performance when the
prince arrives?"
Now how had she jumped to such a conclusion? Analise kept her pasted
smile on her face, "Well, my, I imagine the dragon wing will be
keeping
you quite busy, with all those... exercises and maneuvers and what-not
that your wingleader is having you perform?" Analise asked hopefully.
"Well, it does, but I'm also allowed to take time to perform my
singing
duties," she said. She hadn't actually gotten around to asking J'red
about this, but knew that he would be of like mind. "I know he would
feel it an honor that a member of the wing participate. So, what role
do you see me performing when we play for the prince?"
Analise rolled her eyes, "Well, let me consider your... unique gifts,"
for she honestly could not see a way to keep this girl from
participating. "Perhaps you might be part of the chorus? You have a
few days yet before he arrives, and you could possibly learn...."
"The CHORUS?" Nerika asked, her eyes widening. "Surely, Analise,
someone with my qualifications would be better suited to some more...
prominent... role? Not the lead, perhaps, but at least... well,
singing
the principal harmony?"
"A duet?" Analise gaped. "Oh, most certainly ...!" But her NOT was
drowned out by Nerika's joyful cheer.
"Thank you!" Nerika laughed happily, throwing her arms around Analise.
"You will not be sorry! Oh, I just know we will sound SO wonderful
together! The prince will be very impressed, I am sure!"
"No, no... Nerika... That is not what I meant! I can't do a duet with
you..." Analise again tried to correct the mistake.
"Oh," said Nerika, looking a bit crestfallen. "I naturally assumed
that
it would be you and I that would do it." She thought a moment. "But
I
guess it does make sense, the senior bard should be overseeing things
while others perform. So, will I sing a duet with Dellia, then?"
"Dellia?" Analise thought of the young woman with the beautiful
soprano
voice who sounded like an angel. How could she possibly pair poor
Dellia up with Nerika, who sounded like a fish-wife? "Dellia already
has a piece she has been working on - a solo."
"Oh," said Nerika again. "Well, that should be no problem then. She
and I can each do our own solos."
"Heavens, no!" Analise cried, her face going pale. "Let me think
about
whom I can stick... I mean pair you with. A day... give me one day."
"A whole day?" Nerika asked, perplexed. "Look, if it's a matter of
choosing which solo I'm to sing, I can give you a list of songs that
I've practiced on and would be ready to perform..."
Analise nodded vigorously, "Yes, why don't you do that. Write me a
list, a LONG list. You can give it to me tomorrow."
"No need," said Nerika, suddenly producing a long parchment as if out
of
nowhere. "As you can see, I've got about thirty songs listed which
you
could choose from..."
Analise groaned and snatched the parchment from the girl's hand,
"Good.
I'll look it over." Her voice rising to an unpleasant pitch, she
stated
firmly, "Tomorrow, Nerika. I have work to do here before the dinner
crowd comes."
---
Day 12
Early Evening
Nerika couldn't wait to get done with practice. When it ended, she
barely took time to unsaddle the dragon before hurrying over to where
she knew Analise would be practicing. She'd picked out a song from
the
list that was her favorite, and wanted to demonstrate it for the bard.
When she entered, she saw Analise looking at a piece of music, and
softly humming it. Without warning, Nerika launched into her solo.
Exasperated, Analise gave up on her promise to Merissa to try and be
nicer, and whirled on the young woman. Her voice screeched out,
"Nerika! Do you mind? We were practicing here!"
"But that's why I'm here," Nerika replied. "Did you want me to do one
of the other songs, then? I liked this one the best, but I'm open to
ideas..."
"Not now." Analise muttered under her breath, "not ever," but Nerika
wasn't listening and had continued on.
"...and I've taken the liberty of narrowing that list of songs I gave
you yesterday down to about 25 for you to choose from," Nerika
continued. "Of course, I learn songs quickly so if you do have any
requests I'm sure I could learn them in time..."
"Nerika, Nerika!" Analise wanted to shake the girl to make her
listen.
She picked up the musical score that Analise had just put down. "I
could do this one, for instance." She did a graceful dance step,
swinging her arm wide and inadvertently passing the sheet of paper
over
the lit candle on the table. It burst into flame and Nerika dropped
it
with a startled cry.
Analise shrieked and pounced on the paper, stomping it in an attempt
to
put out the flame. She picked up the ruined sheet of music, her face
livid as she wailed, "OUT! Get OUT! You... YOU..." Spittle was
flying
from her mouth as it worked out what it was she wanted to call the
tone-deaf, meddling, nuisance, bard-wannabe. She spun on her, "Not in
a
million years will you EVER be a Bard!"
Then her face went from livid to pallid as she looked up and saw the
company that was walking toward her. "Merissa...," Analise hissed,
and
then groaned, "Your Highness."
(Tag Arlene!)
Submitted by
John (Aka Nerika)
and
Arlene (AKA Analise)
Whiteriver Warren
Summary: Day 11, Late Afternoon: Nerika tries to persuade Analise into
letting her sing a solo for the prince's arrival.
Day 12, early evening: Nerika returns to Analise with her request, and
gets
Analise angry just as Merissa and the prince arrive.
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
To Join World Weavers, visit: http://www.worldweavers.net/
Only members of WorldWeavers Worlds should post to this list. To post
messages to this group, send email to WeaversFiction@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
|
