Disclaimer: WARNING, the following fanfiction does not claim to make sense, fit within the book, or to be anything other than the creation of a quirky mind. All characters belong to Tamora Pierce's Protector of the Small series.
Author's note from Erkith: Lol Since I didn't make my month's objective in updates for the Spy I went ahead and rushed the completion of another fic I was writing. I swore I wouldn't publish it on until I had it completely finished... so obviously I had to finish it today :D It's 6 chapters long and I'm going to post one every week, regardless of how many or little other updates I do, because I can! NO MORE WAITING (for this fic anyway blushes at the memory of those chucked apples from DKOM and The Spy.)
Erkith
PS. The disclaimer is serious. This fic is... beyond my control, so crazy... lol you'll see what I mean in CHAP 2 ... just keep it in mind that not all is as it appears...
True Love Never Ran So Cold
Chapter one: The Note
From the moment his skin touched the cool waters, he was awash with relief. He surfaced from his dive and grinned. Water dripped down black hair, beading as it hit flesh. With a content sigh, he performed a few lazy strokes then allowed himself to merely float on the lake's cool surface. This was exactly what he had needed after a hard training – especially one with her.
My lady is working me hard these days; he winced at the wording of his thoughts. That hadn't been what he'd meant. Not at all what he'd meant! Although his cousin would have argued that it was probably equally true. Mithros, Masbolle. Grimly, he submerged himself in the cold water, hoping to disspell the unwanted thoughts.
His mind had been like that recently. Images kept popping up in his head uninvited. It was becoming ridiculous! He'd lost a bout today simply because his attention had wavered to her as she walked by in long, fitted riding pants. They revealed the length of her legs to advantage.
There was no excuse for this. He wasn't a clumsy, horomone-stricken teenager anymore, and hadn't been for some time. Meathead had been right to raise a brow over it. He wasn't one to be distracted by the ladies. In fact, recently he'd been finding the court beauties even less interesting than usual.
He craved honesty instead of their misdirections. He preferred loyalty to their politics. He sought strength where they offered only fragility. He wanted... It was ridiculous and demoralizing to realise where his mind kept travelling. Mithros! Masbolle, you idiot, he chastised, Stay away from her!
Stepping out of the lake he reached for his clothes and found they had disappeared. Thinking they might have fallen off their makeshift clothes peg; he proceeded to scan the surrounding ground. Nothing. Leaves russled as his hand brushed through them, looking for any trace of his belongings. Nothing.
He began cursing. Was this someone's idea of a joke? Who would do such a...? Raoul, the Own, Neal... among others. Intending to give the gods his opinion on the subject of immature pranks he glanced up – and froze.
Tacked to the branch above him were his underclothes. He snatched them down, roughly. A note fluttered to the ground.
TAKEN. ONE LADY. STOLEN IN THE DEAD OF KNIGHT.
SAFE. FOR NOW. THOUGH TORTURE DO BE HER PLIGHT.
YOU. SERGEANT. HAVE BUT UNTIL MIDNIGHT.
He frowned and read it again. Which lady? There are at least a hundred ladies at court... Shivering with cold as the water on his skin chilled him; he put on what was left of his clothes. The underclothes stuck to his wet body. He picked up the note again.
It was then that he noticed it. The note read "Stolen in the dead of knight." The deliberate misspelling of night – how had he missed it? "Lady" as in Lady Knight!
They had his Lady!
Hold on, he thought. Hold on, I'm coming for you.
He whistled for his horse. There was no reply...
From the opposite bank, seated upon the Sergeant's steed, a man laughed evilly. Everything was going exactly as planned.
A/N: I repeat. Strange fic. Complete, not fully posted yet, and very,very strange. Lol I can't believe I wrote this...
Please Review and mock me!