A Deck of Cards
4 suits.
Hearts…
Clubs…
Spades…
Diamonds…
He had no idea why, but the rhythmic motion of his shuffling calmed him. The simple colors, black and red, and the occasional grinning face of the joker all combined to form the perfect weight in his hand.
13 cards per suit.
Ace…
King…
He was once known in another land as a king. He shook the dark hair out of his eyes and carefully watched the others sitting at the table. Filthy, idiotic, mere boys they were, older though they may be, who had nothing better to do than play cards with what they assumed to be a young naïve boy. Hesitatingly, cautiously, slowly, barely, they nudged coins towards the center.
Queen…
Shuffling the cards expertly once more, the seemingly young boy dealt out the cards with quick flicks of the wrist. It was almost mesmerizing, the smooth motion of his wrist sending out a flurry of cards. And it should be, for those were the once strengthened wrists of a double blade wielding warrior who swore to protect the two most beautiful women on earth. Well, perhaps not on earth.
Jack…
Cards were looked at, moans and groans were made, and he pulled the shining pile of metal towards him, revealing no emotion. There were accusations of cheating but he ignored them knowing they were somewhat true-it was an easy matter to know who had what cards when he was the dealer, or even when he was not. Such games, mind games, were his forte after all. Instead he used his silver tongue to entice them to place more money in the center. Back in another time, he had done something similar. Using his opponents' underestimation of himself in brain and brawn to his advantage.
10…9…8…7…6…5…4…3…2…
Tired of losing, they left the table. He sat patiently. More would arrive and more would lose. The money would find its way into some deserving man or woman's pocket. Somehow. He had no use for the money. He only wished to play.
Joker…
Once upon a time, he was called King Edmund the Just. Once upon a time, he would have never deliberately swindled his inferiors. Once upon a time, he would have never gambled. Once upon a time, he would have never used such ethically compromising games to feel some resemblance of what he used to be. Once upon a time, he wouldn't have felt like a fool for missing his country so much.
Once upon a time, he was in Narnia.
Now, he wasn't.