A/N Basically, I put my ipod on shuffle and have used the songs as prompts for one-shots. All are Tortall fics, but don't necessarily follow canon pairings, some may be AU and I won't always put the lyrics in the fic, it just felt right to write them for this one. Enjoy!
NewSArashiKATTUNfangirl
One-Shot 1: Defying Gravity- performed by Idina Menzel and Kristen Chenoweth from the musical "Wicked"
-
I hope you're happy!
I hope
you're happy now
I hope you're happy how you
Hurt your cause
forever
I hope you think you're clever!
"I cannot believe you Kel! I don't understand what goes on in your head sometimes!" hissed Merric of Hollyrose to his friend and commander, Keladry of Mindelan as they walked briskly away from the meeting hall of Castle Alia. He let out another cry of exasperation when Kel made no indication that she was paying attention to him. Her Yamani mask was in place, and, by the looks of things, wasn't going to budge any time soon.
"Oh sure, you keep your mouth shut now. Now that there aren't any important, wealthy, powerful foreign Lords to offend!" he continued in a low growl. "You're supposed to be the calm, collected one! How could you be so foolish?"
Kel snapped out of her silent fuming to scowl back at Merric.
I
hope you're happy
I hope you're happy, too
I
hope you're proud how you
Would grovel in submission
To feed
your own ambition
"Someone had to say something, to do something" she replied calmly, fighting to get her emotions once again under control. "And you weren't exactly arguing with them. In fact I'd go as far to say you agreed with them." She winced slightly as Merric gasped and spluttered next to her.
"Well, we are in their country Kel, their customs are different from ours, though I might add we have something to learn from the way they handle things" he finished, finally looking Kel in the eye for the first time in the conversation. Kel met his glare squarely with one of her own.
So though I can't imagine how
I
hope you're happy right now
It was Merric who gave up on the staring competition first. He combed his fingers through his hair and sighed.
"Look, Kel, just... say you're sorry" He started, raising his hand when Kel began to interrupt. "You can still make this work!" he insisted. "Just go back in there and smooth things other... you're good and that... and... and the King won't need to hear anything out this... mishap.."
Kel watched Merric silently as he paced, rambling about tactics to get the Lord of Alia back on side. But Kel had had enough.
Something has changed within me
Something is not the same
I'm through with playing by the rules of someone else's game
Too late for second guessing
Too late to go back to sleep
It's time to trust my instincts, close my eyes and leap
".... I mean, sure he seemed pretty angry, but, but one of the reasons his majesty accepted King Arch's request was because he knew you could keep your cool, and calm people down! We can just go back in there-"
"You're right Merric." Kel said simply. Merric blinked at her.
"... I... am?" he questioned, slightly suspicious. His suspicion only grew when he saw the expression on Kel's face. It looked frighteningly like the one she always got when she was about to do something insane.
"Yes, you are." Kel replied shortly. "We are going back in there," she stated before turning on her heel and started marching back towards the heavy stone doors of the hall. Merric spluttered and half sprinted to catch up with her.
"Kel," he started, his voice low. "What are you thinking? What are you going to do?" he hounded her with questions, growing more and more anxious, when not only did Kel fail to answer him, but also she began to square her shoulders, preparing herself for her next confrontation. "Kel!" he hissed desperately one last time as the door swung open. He moaned quietly in defeat as he followed his friend into the centre of the hall.
Three long tables formed a horseshoe shape round the edges of the vast room. On either side sat the minor lords who held estates surrounding the Alia lands. Boyan, the old, ill-tempered Lord of Fief Alia, sat pouring over documents at the centre table, alone except for his delicate young wife who stood at his right shoulder. She tapped him on the shoulder gently as Kel and Merric approached, rousing him from his concentration. He glanced up and scowled as the pair of knights came to a halt before him.
"So you're back are you?" he asked in heavily-accented Common. " What, young Lady, I thought you made your feelings clear to us before you left in such a hurry some time ago, have you thought of more ways to insult our people?" he said extending his hand to indicate the surrounding lords, who were muttering in disapproval. Kel met the Lord's gaze with determination.
It's time to try defying gravity
I think I'll try defying gravity
And you can't hold me down
"I apologise if my earlier words offended you my lord, that was never my intention," Kel stated clearly. "However, I came here at the request of King Arch as a representative of the Crown of Tortall. I am here to convey my country's interests and I will not be ignored. My King does not agree with the way your government treats minority groups-"
"If you mean those tree-hugging Tribes-" Lord Boyan exploded.
"- and we shall not engage in any treaties or trade agreements until we can guarantee this treatment will stop" Kel continued as if she hadn't heard Boyan's interruption. She came to a halt now and tried to assess the lord's reaction. She expected another round of expletives and roars of outrage, but instead was met with silence. Lord Boyan cleared his throat.
"No-one has talked to me in that tone since my mother passed away young lady." Kel resisted kicking Merric as he snickered at the "Mother" reference. The Lord gazed at Kel with a gaze with was half amused, half respectful. "All right young Lady, we may negotiate then? I cannot make any promises, final decisions cannot be made in my halls, and my King is very stubborn..." he trailed off.
Kel smiled with all her heart. "And that is all we may ask of you." she said, bowing gracefully, Merric half a beat behind her. "Shall we begin?"
8
Several hours later, Kel and Merric emerged from the hall, not quite satisfied, but happy progress had been made. They came to the small courtyard near the foreign quarters of the castle and sat in the shade of the high surrounding walls.
"Well, I think Milord Naxen will be pleased with our progress when he arrives back from the academy. We stand in good stead for the main negotiations at the capital."
Kel nodded in reply. "Bring on King Arch," she said with a small, determined smile.
And no body in all the world,
No King or Queen that there is or was
is ever going to bring me me down.
8
A/N the end of my first one-shot! Kind of maimed the lyrics on the last bit, but Oz and Wizards didn't really fit in the context you know? lol I may come back to this story-arch in another chapter, I quite like it! But what do you guys think? Any requests for a certain pairing or a prompt- (doesn't necessarily have to be a song) will be welcome! As will reviews! Lol Thanks for reading, xxx
NewSArashiKATTUNfangirl
