Title: Rainbow
Chapter: Purple
Author: smilingsoprano
Rating: T for the whole series. K+ here.
Pairings: None here, a touch of Jon/Zahir in the last chapter/ficlet.
A/N: A series of ficlets inspired by the colors of the rainbow (because I'm unoriginal). Some are more directly connected to the color than others. Each chapter is a standalone ficlet; the only thing tying them together is the theme I took inspiration from, but I'm posting them as one story because I don't want to clutter up my profile and other people's notifications. Written for Goldenlake's incredible fic competition, SMACKDOWN.
The first time he met the Lady Alanna, all Zahir could think about was the color of her eyes. They washed over him, regal and cool and quite unlike every rumor he'd heard from his friends. He shifted uncomfortably under their gaze, quite unsettled by the strange shade, the feeling of other-worldliness and power bubbling beneath the surface of her stare.
"I'm not happy with this, Jon," she stated bluntly.
He couldn't summon the courage to look away and see his knight-master, but the king's voice was rich and warm, the tone he used for testy courtiers and skittish diplomats. "He no longer takes part in the hazing. His work is sound, his mind quick, and his physical abilities impressive. Politically speaking, he's perfect: a conservative and a Bazhir. I don't see what you would object to."
The corner of her mouth twitched in a fleeting expression of scorn. "Character." With no further explanation, she turned on her heel and walked quickly away.
"I didn't ask for your opinion!" Jon yelled after her. Then he too strode off, his polite, kingly mask dropped in favor of a scowl.
Zahir was left alone. "I wish he wouldn't talk about me like I'm not here," he muttered to no one in particular.