Snakebite
By: ChocolateEclar
Disclaimer: I do not own nor am I making any profit from Fire & Hemlock by Diana Wynne Jones.
A/N: Yes, another one of these Fire & Hemlock one-shots of mine. (laughs)
Summary:
Fire & Hemlock one-shot. Tom was getting married, which was normally worrying at worst, but, in his case, was most upsetting. Pre-F&H. Tom weds and gets bitten by the snake.
There was a sick feeling curling around in his stomach. It was like a snake slithering inside him, and he did not like the analogy his stressed mind had created. Tom was getting married, which was normally worrying at worst, but, in his case, was most upsetting.
Tom waited at the altar feeling that snake tighten its hold within him, knowing the bite was coming. There she was. Unnaturally beautiful without a doubt, she was waiting down the aisle with a bouquet of carnations, a symbol of betrothal, and rosemary. The latter flower he knew had been an intentional sign just for him. Rosemary was often included in funeral wreaths.
The snake was rearing up to strike as she ascended the aisle. Seb, still very small, was carrying the ring on a velveteen pillow before the bride. Tom tried to stay calm. He knew Laurel and how to escape when needed. He just had to survive this ordeal first.
Laurel was beside him. She was the snake now, grinning at him with fangs visible. Tom was the mouse with heartbeat racing and a deadly cold taking over him.
"…till death do you part…"
The snake was squeezing the life from him. Taking away his precious life and oxygen. Wrapping her coils tighter and tighter until he thought the wedding would kill him. In a way, it did.
"I do."
He found himself wearing a ring on his finger like a noose for his neck, and he had to kiss her now. Kiss the snake knowing she would bite. He did it, feeling her ice-cold lips on his in a way that reminded him of scales.
The snake, satisfied that she had killed and eaten her prey, whispered, "Oh, Tom, where could your Janet be?"
A/N: Poor Tom. I didn't mean for the end to have such a creepy edge, but it seems to have developed one. I thought it would be more likely for Laurel to have a more supernatural wedding that a traditional one, but the image of her in a white wedding dress wouldn't leave my head. Review please!