Vaughan's Trip North
Hello all,
If you're following me, then you know that I said my next story would be a cross over in both of SJM's worlds thus far. While writing the crossover, I had to answer questions as to where some of the known characters would be, Vaughan was one of those. What I imagined his story to be has been so intriguing to me, so I thought I'd share it while the other story is stewing in my mind. This is the tale of what I imagine him to be doing, and how he lives out his days.
Feel free to review or comment or question, nothing motivates me more. I love hearing thoughts whether they are positive or criticism. Before you ask though, our favorites do make an appearance, but not until chapter 14. This story purposefully starts slow, but the problems the characters face get bigger, as their world expands. POV will be mainly from Vaughan and Holly, but be prepared for any character!
This story and characters were inspired by the world of Throne of Glass, by Sarah J. Maas.
Happy Reading,
Court
I wrote this for myself, but I thought I would put it here if ya'll are interested.
Cast of NEW Characters:
Vaughan: Cadre member, and blood sworn to Maeve
Hermod Eldostram: Father to the three Eldostram's below
Holly Eldostram: Eldest daughter, 19
Vili Eldostram: Middle child, 12
Uller Eldostram: Youngest child and only son, 3
Pip: village boy
Miss Lawbent: owner of the sweet shop in the village
Mr. Lester Wiltald: General store owner
Racer: A black stallion
Wrecker: Racers horse brother
Clipper: A white and black spotted mare
Shiny: a black colt
Chapter 1: Heading North
Vaughan:
Gavriel and Fenrys had split from me over two months ago, and in that time I had done a large circle around the north. Not looking into the deep for Lorcan, but for a great crater or blackened land that his power had the tendency to create. The problem was, the Valg hordes manifested similar powers.
Perhaps there was a reason beyond his disloyalty for Maeve wanting him dead. Lorcan was an arrogant self-serving bastard, but he was a damn good commander. With the new threat to the land I had wondered if his ruthlessness came from being part Valg, but it was not likely since I had seen him bleed red more times than I could count over the centuries.
I flapped onward. This was a pointless endeavor. Even if I found him, it was unlikely I could kill him on my own, and in the time it took to return to Gavriel and Fenrys, Lorcan would be gone. This plan we had was shit.
We only had to wander around until Maeve called us back to do battle.
Because a great battle would come, where we would be, and who would we would be fighting was still unknown to us. Rutting Whitethorn and Lorcan destroying our trust with our queen. Now we will never know shit about plans until we were shipped off to do it.
Killing Lorcan wasn't something I wanted to do. He had taught me too much to want to kill him. Maybe I should stop wandering around the country and pick a spot for him to happen upon. I'd have to find somewhere with plenty of pretty females, or girls I suppose, I hadn't seen a Fae female since leaving Doranelle.
Orynth sat at the bottom of a great mountain range, over the past weeks I have looked as far east as I dare, and along the water line. Today, though I would begin the journey even further North. The best place to hide in Terrasen.
…
Three days later, I decided it was a marvelous place to hide if you didn't mind the freezing cold. Lorcan, would hide, just to make us suffer when we came looking for him.
The bastard.
With every mile I was more convinced about the lands beyond the mountains being a good spot to hide. There were manors and houses far grander than I expected. Nobility and rich who had run from Adarlan. Smart.
Noble girls where usually prettier, but knew nothing of the bedroom. Even hidden away, I doubted they would give up their virtue, not when it could be used to secure rich husbands who coveted that inexperience.
I swooped lower, maybe Lorcan was hiding in one that was abandoned, as many looked that way. Either they never made it to the house, or they had returned to rally behind their queen.
I would love to sleep in a real bed. A real bed for free sounded better than sitting in the trees for another frozen night.
The next house, the next manor, that was where I would stay. Otherwise it would be too dark to see said building.
An hour passed and with the mountains so close, the sun was all but gone. The temperature dropped significantly. Even my bird form was chilled. I flew on, looking for another house, no matter size or occupancy. It was too cold to be picky now.
It took until morning to find a place. Despite my disposal of my requirements, it seemed to be everything I wished. It was large, kept up, comfortable, a few people inhabited it, as there were horses and other livestock.
The question of who lived here was answered soon after I had done a full circle around the place. The back door banged open and a girl tottered out, a small child in one hand, a bucket in the other.
She disappeared into the barn. There was a stable in the front of the house, and a barn to the back. This barn held goats and cows if the sounds and smells were any indication. There was not even an inch of snow and the small child deviated from entering the stable to play in it. Watching him just made me colder.
The girl emerged a few minutes later with a full bucket of milk. She let the child continue playing in the snow, leaving him outside. The reasoning was answered another moment later when she again emerged from the kitchen door, this time trekking to the side of the house where firewood was stacked. She took as much as she could carry, and handed one log to the boy, who brought it inside with her.
A well-practiced routine. This family had serving girls and their families here, they must be very rich. If they allowed children to live in the house with them, they must have space and a kind enough heart.
I glanced at the stack of fire wood again. It was fairly low, perhaps I could offer my wood chopping services in exchange for room and board. That was close enough to free.
The front door opened on my next round of circling of the house, I was trying to glean someone through the windows. The same girl again, she had on another layer of clothing though.
She walked swiftly to the horses, and saddled one. All her movements were efficient, quick. She was obviously cold.
Another person came out the door. A man, quite older. I tipped myself around, and took up a perch on a tree.
"Thank you, Holly." He said then kissed the side of her head.
She seemed reluctant at whatever was about to happen, opening her mount hseveral time before she said, "tell them I miss them."
"If they are still alive." He joked. She bristled.
"They will be, and so will you. You are to advise. You're too old to fight." She lectured.
The old man chuckled and swung up on the to the horse. A beautiful horse, larger than even some of the Asterion mounts that they breed to the east of Doranelle.
"Wrecker, do steer clear of battle." Holly said when she patted the horse's nose. She handed the man a large pack and untied the reins to hand to him too.
"Do not be angry with me, Holly." He said when they were out from under the cover.
She shifted on her feet. "I'm not. We won't be safe, even here, if the war is lost. Besides, we have sat back for too long. Aelin could be mad at us for hiding."
"Then I will tell her about my three lovely children who are all alive, and I will tell Lady Elide about what's in the basement, and Queen Aelin will not be too mad." He announced.
His daughter looked around quickly. Searching for ease droppers even in the middle of nowhere. Luckily osprey were not counted as ease droppers. She did see me though. The odd smudge of white and brown among the green, green trees. Her eyes landed right on me, assessed my size or odd appearance and then continued roving. "If Lady Elide is still alive, yes." She murmured to her father, quieter now.
"Well, we will see. I'm sure Prince Aedion will remember our offer to house the Bane who made it this far north." He patted his mount. "Everything will be alright."
Holly nodded but added nothing else as her father spurred his horse off to battle.