Title: Ambition
Character(s): Roger of Conte
Word Count: 237
Summary: "He reached to hold what cannot be held, what already ran among the mountains at once terrible and of great beauty, like flowers that feed on flesh." - Cormac McCarthy's 'The Crossing'
His obsession with power grew as his mastery over his Gift grew. There were days when he could feel it within him, so strong he thought he might burst from it and so fiercely and dangerously beautiful that he was entranced and rendered helpless by the allure of his own potential. A wise man, an older man perhaps would have noticed his own descent into madness, into the vanity and self-worship that comes with power. But Roger was young, and he had convinced himself that his right was to rule, to conquer and to subjugate until all felt as he felt and were enthralled as he was enthralled by the majesty of his gift, which was not just his Gift but also his charisma, his cunning, his brilliance in the games of court. And so he reached. He mastered the power he was given and strained for that which was just beyond his reach – the kingship, and the god-like status he dreamed of achieving. And then, like all those before him who allowed greed and power-mongering cloud their humanity, he was consumed by the fires that drove him and he was defeated even as he succeeded, for now he would indeed be spoken of in the hushed tones reserved for those given high honor - but it was honor given to those who inspire awe with fear and loathing, not love. Such is the price of ambition.
A/N: Love it? Hate it? Have a better idea? Drop me a line!