Hello all!
So I am currently in the process of dying on my couch (so fun lol) and Cannot for the life of me seem to find the energy or brain to write in my multichapter stories. Sooo I have taken up a new writing challenge!
The challenge has been done multiple ways but the basic challenge is this: To pick a fandom and choose either a specific character, or a specific pairing, then choose or make a playlist of songs that you put on shufffle. For every song you wrote so e sort of Drabble, some play it with the rule that you have to stop writing when the song stops playing, but I have played it where I pick a song and write a Oneshot inspired by the lyrics are overall feel of the chosen music.
I want to do this multiple times for multiple pairings in Aveyond, but this first pairing collection is of coure MelxGyendal because crackpairings are life XD
In this collection there is no particular theme that I will be following, I may have oneshots that are cannon compliant, I'll have ones that are in a complete AU setting, I'll have ones that are offshoots of one of my fanficverses. It'll be indicated in the authors note before each fanfic what world the story takes place in as well as the song this was written too. IT can be a pain to google search so if you are wanting to hear the song each Drabble was written to, you can go to my profile page where I have provided the link to my YouTube, which luckily does allow me to make clickable. If you go to my playlists page I will have a playlist entitled Aveyond MelxGyendal Shuffle Challenge, the songs are in order of the oneshots posted a new song will be added for every new story update.
Hopefully you all enjoy^_^
Info for first Oneshot: Alright so this first one is an AU storyline, everything you need to know will he explains inside the story:) This particular one was written to the song No Matter What They Say by SVERCINA.
No Matter What They Say
In the corner of a drafty basement of a grand manor stood a cot, broken down and threadbare. Upon the cot lay a girl of nineteen known only as Mel, caught in a restless sleep as the sun slowly came up over the city of Veldarah.
Above her a loud clanking bell suddenly started ringing, the girl giving a startled gasp as she sat up abruptly and looked out the window before hissing a series of fowl curses and leaping off her cot to reveal nothing but her underthings as she scrambled for the loose brown rags that laid over the back of the hard chair next to her cot. Clearly the other slaves that also slept in the basement had forgotten about her in the corner and now she was going to be late!
Mel threw on her clothes in record timing before shoving through the rickety door that separated her tiny makeshift room from the hall before hurrying past all the other open room doors and racing up the steep staircase to enter the large main house.
"Mistress Kora! I apologize, I was-"
"Silence you worthless slave!" A severe old woman spat, arms crossed as she surveyed the young woman in disgust. "You are late this morning, you will not eat today for your behaviour. You will collect all the dirty laundry and take it to the wash woman, then you will pick up all the items on this list before coming here to start cleaning."
A large list was shoved into Mel's hands and she nodded hurriedly before pocketing it and quickly slipping past, flinching as she was given a hard slap to the back of her head on her way. She rushed past the grand dining room where Mistress Kora's several children squabbled over the delicious food with a soft sigh as her stomach growled in hunger.
Quickly all the piles of dirty laundry from each of the bedrooms were gathered into one basket which Mel quickly retreated from the house with before anyone else could take notice of her. The other slaves of the household bustled around doing their jobs and Mel smiled at a few of them as she passed by.
The city was already up and going by the time Mel had made her way to the main city, the streets were filled with both citizen and slave mixed with some visitors from other cities.
As she moved Mel was forced to try and thread between people, nobles sneering at her as she passed and shifting to avoid contact with a slave. As they moved someone jostled into her hard, and with a hiss Mel felt the basket of clothes being knocked out of her grasp. She let out a muffled curse as she grabbed for it, dreading what would happen if any dirt got into the fine fabrics.
Before she could catch it however, a long arm grabbed ahold of the basket and pulled it out of her grasping hands, other hand catching the couple of pieces of clothing that had been about to fall.
Instantly Mel whirled on the individual to snarl at them for interfering, slaves that helped slaves from other households would get punishment for the both of them, only to relax when she came face to face with an oh so familiar slave who shot her a smirk as he handed the basket back to her.
"Careful there Mel, wouldn't want to get the mistresses clothes dirty now would you?"
Mel rolled her eyes irritably at the black haired male in front of her, a slave several years older then her that belonged to Mistress Kora's household as well.
"What are you doing here Gyendal? I thought that Lord Tenobar had made Lady Kora give you the day off to visit Te'ijal and Galahad." Mel asked, glancing over at the other slave as they moved through the crowd towards the launderers.
He shrugged, nudging her sideways out of the way of a noble who refused to move out of the staircase entrance as he shot them a black look and had the pudgy noble blanching and shuffling out of the way.
"Yeah well it seems that Lord Tenobar gave Te'ijal and Galahad both the day off, so they slept in. One of the other slaves let me know when I arrived that they usually aren't up on days off until closer to noon, so I'm passing time in the city." Gyendal informed her as they moved up the stairs into the upper levels of the city.
He spoke of his sister and her husband, one of the few slaves that did marry albeit in a rather unconventional way. The empress had decided on a pilot program several years ago where they planned to slowly have the most physically healthy and intelligent slaves brought together in marriage to eventually have children. The goal was to have only the strongest slaves carry on a legacy, and slowly but surely more slaves were being married off.
Before she could reply they reached the launderers and conversation halted as Mel turned in her basket of clothes, the woman overseeing things smiling with surprising kindness towards the two slaves before gently shooing them out so she could work.
Once they got outside Mel picked up their previous conversation.
"Well I'm afraid you won't have much fun passing it with me. I have a list bigger then the mistresses ego to deal with." She said, muttering the last part as to not be overheard by someone that knew Mistress Kora.
Gyendal laughed, green eyes flashing in the light.
"And what else am I going to do with my time? You know slaves aren't allowed to eat at restaurants or go to any of the social places." He reached around Mel to grab the list out of her pocket, almost without her notice.
"Hey! Stop that! Give it over!" She demanded, lunging for it only for him to hold it high over his head nonchalantly. "Gyendal! Stop being such a jerk and give me back the list!"
He mock tutted at her as he opened it to glance it over.
"My my, such impatience. Stop making demands of your elders, fool child."
"Child?! I'm eighteen you egotistical twit, you're only twenty three and half the time you act like a moody teen so you're hardly one to talk." Mel shot back at him, Gyendal only smirking as he held her at arms length to study the writing.
"You weren't kidding when you said this was monstrous."
"No I wasn't, now give it back before I make you!"
"Violence is frowned upon amongst slaves." The young man taunted, ignoring the demands of the black haired woman in front of him.
"Oh right, like that has ever stopped you." Mel snorted, deciding that desperate times called for desperate measures as she leapt and grabbed onto his arm.
"The hell?! Get off me!"
She nearly hung off the ground as she tried to grab the list out of his hands, fingers just snagging the paper and beginning to tug. Aggravation flashed across his features and apparently seeing that trying to shake her loose was futile he leaned over and licked her arm, the girl hanging off of it giving a yelp of horror and leaping backwards.
"Aw seriously? You're disgusting!" She hissed, wiping her arm off and glaring furiously at the man who smirked. "Goddess you're infuriating."
Gyendal shrugged before mockingly presenting the list and hanging his hands loosely in his pocket as he began to stroll down the street, Mel catching up quickly with a few extra steps.
"Well I aught to put that skill to use somehow. With Te'ijal gone and married what else do I have to do? I have long since graduated being a irritating little brother but it would be such a waste to simply mature and move on from those talents." He said with a smirk, clearly toying with her.
"Well do Aia a favour and get over yourself so I can get some peace for once. Goddess, it's like the world is conspiring against me today."
As if to punctuate her words her stomach gave a growl, both of them stilling for a moment before Gyendal sighed and shot her a sympathetic look.
"No breakfast allowed?"
"No food at all today." Mel grumbled.
His face darkened slightly, he never got that punishment due to being one of the slaves most commonly taking the biggest physical labour jobs, but the lesser slaves like Mel got it all the time.
"Don't look so moody, I'll just steal food from you." Mel said with a roll of her eyes, Gyendal shooting her a look said that he didn't believe she'd be willing to take food he needed and she stuck out her tongue at him.
Gyendal only laughed as they started for the first store, reaching over to drape one arm casually around her shoulders. At the sudden and unexpected contact Mel tensed, a blush starting to rise unbidden. She quickly turned away to look in the opposite direction, acutely aware of the way he casually leaned into her with every step before muttering a few choice words under her breath as he laughed at her discomfort.
Oh well, as long as he only thought it was discomfort.
"Alright, so what's the first shop on the list?..."
Close to noon she was abandoned to finish the errands while Gyendal went off to visit his sister and Mel did her best to finish her list quickly. Upon arriving back at the house she went about her usual chores, thankfully slipping under the radar as one of the slaves received the brunt of Mistress Kora's anger.
She worked steadily through the day, before slipping off outside behind the property to where the slaves were working and the garbage bins were stored while the other slaves ate their dinner to ignore the smell of food. According to the Empress law to prevent slaves from being worked to death they were only allowed to be worked until dinner time which was set by the Empress herself for slaves so Mel had the rest of the evening to herself.
She sat down on the lower level of the brick wall separating Mistress Kora's property from the one on the other side and kicked her legs slightly as she leaned her head black to gaze up at the stars above.
"Avoiding the others?"
Mel never bothered to lift her head to greet the newcomer as they picked their way over and sat down next to her.
"Of course I am. What else do I usually do when this happens." Mel pointed out idly.
Gyendal said nothing, but a moment later a warm bundle was pressed into her palm and she sat up abruptly and opened the small cloth bundle in her lap to reveal several pieces of bread and some meat. She looked up startled.
"Did you snag it from...?"
He shook his head.
"No, Te'ijal gave it to me after dinner. Master Lars isn't as stingy and doesn't have food rations the way we do here. There was enough from the dinner in her and Galahad's small shack that I was able to get some for you."
Mel nodded and quickly scarfed the food down before glancing over at the black haired male beside her and stilling.
"Gyendal, what's wrong?" She asked lowly, studying the tension in his expression.
"...nothing." He said after a moment, glancing around warily. "Wanna go for a walk?"
Mel hesitated before nodding. The slaves rarely took walks, most of them were too tired from the days work to go anywhere. If he was wanting to go for a walk, it was clearly something that he couldn't risk someone else hearing and she quickly stood, the two of them starting across the property into the grove of trees on the back of the grounds.
Once they were inside the trees their gait slowed before they came to a stop, Gyendal fidgeting nervously.
"Gyendal what-"
"I'm leaving Veldarah tomorrow."
It was like all the air left her lungs at once and she gaped up at her friend.
"W-what?!"
It was like his statement released a dam of words as he told her in a rush what was going on.
"They're calling it an exodus, several slaves that managed to buy their freedom have been doing this for years, rounding up a couple of a slaves at a timeand smuggling them out of the city under the cover of darkness. They usually get them to the pirate docks where they are paid to take the escaped slaves to Sedona, before sending for loved ones and getting them out every so often as to not be noticed. But this time is different. There is a new king in a city called Thais in the western empire, a young man named Edward that is sympathetic to the cause and wants to bring more solaces over for a new life. All of us are young and strong enough to handle the journey so we can make a new life, but this will only be able to happen once for who knows how long in one huge shipment because once all the slaves are gone the remaining ones will be cracked down on."
Mel stared at him as Gyendal paused and rubbed his face, betrayal and confusion coursing through her.
"So you're just...leaving me here?"
He flinched and shook his head.
"No! That's why I'm telling you, there's only a few spots left on the boat, and I secured two. Te'ijal and Galahad have been planning this for months and I was saving money from thefts and such, I want you to come too." He reached out a grabbed her shoulders urgently. "We can get out of this place Mel, go to somewhere we can be people instead of things. We can start our own lives be whatever we want to be!"
"Wait, you payed for my way too?!"
"Yes." He said curtly before skipping over that to his next statement. "The ship leaves tomorrow, I only just managed to get us a place. I didn't tell you because if I couldnNt do it, that would have crushed us both."
"Well why didn't you get my help on this you idiot?!" She hissed, keeping her voice as quiet as possible.
He stopped and shot her a look.
"And if you get caught? If I got found out I would have been whipped yes, then everything would return to normal because Mistress Kora's needs the physical labour and I'm one of her best slaves. You on the other hand..."
He didn't need to finish his statement. Mistress Kora had a policy when it came to misbehaving female slaves that did general work like she did, she would resell them to a friend. The only slave masters looking for slaves right now we're ones who wanted bed warmers...and more. Mel couldn't afford to be caught.
"Yeah." She muttered, grimacing at the thought. "When do we go?"
"Tomorrow night. The slaves are meeting outside the city at the west wall. There will be two groups of slaves heading to the pirate boat. The first group leaves at one and the second group departs at two in the morning so we can make it to the pirates cove by five thirty and load before the slaves are up at six."
Mel nodded, her hands trembling slightly at the prospect of what they were about to do.
"Gyendal. If we get caught...we'll get more then just a whipping." She whispered.
"Then we just can't get caught."
The next day passed as a blur, Mel pouring herself into her work in hopes of distracting herself from what was coming. During the small mandatory lunch break Mel took her food downstairs to pack her few belongings in a small sack that she stashed under her bed for that night.
Eventually dinner passed by and the slaves were sent to bed, Mel setting in her room and curling up fully clothed in her bed as she fell into a light and restless sleep. She was quickly jarred from it by the sound of tapping on the dirty and small window above her bed.
Instantly Mel leapt to her feet, wrenching open the window and gripping onto the bars that blocked her from the outside world.
"Is the door clear?"
Gyendal knelt in front of the window, visibly freaked out.
"That fool Kora walked out not even five minutes after I did, I very nearly was caught by her and she's loitering around smoking with her worthless husband. You can't get out that way." He hissed.
Mel froze.
"The back door is locked up tighter then a vault after the slaves are sent to sleep, I can't get out that way either!"
Gyendal studied the window with a glint of hidden fear in his eyes before grabbing onto one of the two bars blocking her window and ripping backwards with all his might. She heard a crack as the cinderblock it was imbedded in gave a little and he exchanged looks of elation with Mel as she shoved against it as hard as she could. With a muffled cluck the bar was ripped free and he quickly shoved it into the dirt against the wall to hide it before reaching down to accept her bag that she was shoving through the window.
Hands grabbed her wrists to anchor her as Mel walked herself up the wall before pulling her through the small hole. Mel immediately scrambled to her feet and pulled the straps of her bag over her shoulders as she and Gyendal raced down the back of the property to the property wall on the east side to climb over. Quickly before racing through the city towards the back wall. They reached the seemingly solid wall slower then Mel wished as her heart galloped out of control at the thought of being caught. They reached the dark corner and Gyendal shoved aside several bushes to reveal a hole, the two of them quickly squeezing through to the other side and into the group of trees several feet away where soft whispers could be heard.
"Gyendal, Mel. You made it."
Out of the crush of slaves dressed in ratty clothing stepped a red haired woman, her usually lighter and amused expressions solemn for once.
"Sister." Gyendal said lowly, nodding to the muscular blond man that came up to Te'ijal's side.
"I'm glad to see that you made it. Te'ijal and I leave with the first group in five minutes." Galahad said before pointing towards a group standing at the far end of the group of trees. "That's our group. We were hoping to see you before we leave. Good luck and we will be praying to the goddess that we see you safe and unharmed in the next group."
Mel and Gyendal both nodded, Te'ijal briefly embracing her brother who returned it before Galahad and his red haired wife turned and joined the others before departing into the woods minutes later.
The air in the jungle was cold and she and Gyendal quickly hurried to the other slaves, sitting close together to try and conserve heat for the hour long wait. Then finally, finally it was their turn.
"Group two, please stand and gather your things! Stay close friends and loved ones and keep with our group. If we get split up, just keep following the breeze which is blowing out over the pirates cove." Someone at the front of the group announced in a hushed tone, everyone in the group murmuring in agreement as they prepared to leave.
As everyone jostled about preparing for what came next Mel felt someone grab onto her hand and looked behind her startled, only to find herself face to face with Gyendal who spared her a strained smile as he pulled her out of the way of a man searching for his two children who were further up front.
"Are you ready?" He murmured, Mel swallowing hard and tightening her own grip on Gyendal's hand.
"As I'll ever be."
Then the soft comment was given and their group set off, fear shared by everyone as they began to make the nerve wracking journey through the jungle. They were a little over halfway through the jungle when something changed.
The insects that chirped constantly suddenly fell silent, and in the stillness the faint sound of yells and hoofbeats could be heard.
"They're coming!" Someone whispered, soft cries of fear echoing through the group.
"Everyone follow this way, and run!"
It was like a heard of people as everyone surged forward at once, holding tightly to their loved ones as they raced through the forest. The soldiers were getting closer and Mel leapt over a log, only to let out a cry as she landed and her foot caught on a root. There was a pop, and the young woman went down.
"Mel!"
Gyendal pulled Mel to her feet right away, the group pausing slightly as Mel took a step forward only to collapse as her ankle gave out.
"I can't walk, I hurt it bad!" Mel hissed out, terror clawing up through her throat as she found herself unable to get to her feet.
The group was frantic to get away but Gyendal dropped down next to her, panic written all over his face.
"You! We have to go, you need to leave her and come on!" The leader snarled, already urging the group away. "We don't have time!"
Tears streamed down Mel's face as she watched her dream of freedom back away but she said nothing in argument, instead shoving Gyendal at the group.
"Go! You can't miss this!"
He jerked roughly away from her push and turned on the group, waving them away with a shark movement.
"Then leave, before the guards come!"
They never waited a moment, the entire group turning and fleeing into the trees as Gyendal pulled Mel's arm over his shoulder and wrapped one around her torso as he pulled her to her feet.
"What the hell are you doing Gyendal?! That's your chance, your sister is leaving and you need to go with her! They told you, they can't wait!" She gave a awkward shake with the arm he had wrapped around her shoulders, anger and bewilderment filling her as he managed to get her slightly off into the trees off the path the group had already cleared.
"I'm not leaving here without you now, no matter what they say." He hissed, grip on Mel tightening.
"Wh-"
"Shut up and walk!"
They stumbled through the woods, one of the sets of hoofbeats getting closer and Gyendal suddenly pulled away from Mel, shoving her down to sit against a tree as he grabbed something out of his bag and flattered himself against a tree several feet away. Mel's eyes went wide and she opened her mouth to call, to stop him from getting himself killed but he waved for silence and she pressed a hand over her mouth, whole body shaking in fear as the hoofbeats got closer and closer.
Then, just as the guard began to go buy quickly as a viper Gyendal pulled an arm back and threw something, a soft whistle through the air being the only warning the guard had before the moonlight illuminated the dagger that plunged into the guard and knocked him off his horse.
Gyendal leapt out, grabbing the horses reins and pulling it to an abrupt halt before haphazardly tying it to a tree as he went around the animal and with a squelch retrieved his dagger. By the time he reached Mel she was already struggling to her feet but she never got the chance to get there as he swept her up into his arms and ran to the horse, throwing her on before swinging on behind her and pulling her flat against him as he gave a sharp kick.
"Wah!"
Mel couldn't help the soft exclamation as she held onto Gyendal for dear life, trees flying past as the wildeyed horse plunged into the thicket after where the group had gone.
"We're gonna get killed on this thing!" Mel whispered, her voice pitchy even in her attempt for silence.
"It's better then what will happen if we get caught."
The further they rode the louder the sound of the ocean became and Mel felt her heart leap into her throat as the other solders got closer still. Then suddenly Gyendal yanked the horse to a halt, helping Mel as she scrambled off the horse and somehow managed to catch herself on just one leg before leaping off and forcing the horse to face the way they had come. With a hard slap to it's rump the horse bolted back into the woods.
Mel's arm around his shoulder and her teeth gritted she lurched her way into the woods where the sound of the ocean came from, the two of them somehow escaping the clearing just as the guards rode through and right past with angry shouts.
"We're close." Gyendal breathed as they raced as fast as they could with Mel's injury down and path and finally onto a beach.
They stumbled down the sand towards where the boat was rapidly filling up and in a hoarse tone Mel called out.
"Wait for us!"
There was a gasp and the pirates turned in time with the slave-turned-nobles that had smuggled them here to gape at the pair of them stumbling across.
"The two of you that we had to leave behind!" Their guide gasped, racing over to come up on Mel's other side and help them faster towards the boat. "You made it!"
"And ridded Aia of one less slave hating guard in the process." Gyendal spat, His words bringing a grim smile to their guides face.
They were taken up the gangplank, finally reaching the deck of the slowly rocking boat as the pirates barked out orders and quickly prepared the boat for sailing.
"You made it!" The sudden cry came, Mel and Gyendal turning in time to see Te'ijal barrelling towards them with Galahad at her side.
The red haired woman threw her arms around the both of them before quickly pulling back to lean down and check Mel's ankle.
"How did you do it?!"
"I killed a guard and took their horse, otherwise we never would have made it."
Te'ijal nodded, stepping back as the pirates at lost last boarded the boat and called for sails to be raised. Mel clung onto the railing as with a lurch, the boat began to pull away from shore.
Every second of agonizingly slow movement away from the beach was heart stopping as at any moment the slaves aboard the boat prepared for the guards to come bursting through and stop them somehow.
But they didn't, and finally the moment each and every one of the, had been dreaming for their whole life happened as they nosed out of the cove and the wind caught the sails to push the boat into open sea.
Utter silence as people gaped over the side, watching the beach beginning to shrink. Then finally one of the pirate crew members stepped up to the upper deck with a grin.
"I'd be liken to formally announce that you all have finally crossed over into free water territory within the eastern isles. You'll no longer be actin' as slaves and we would like to welcome aboard a free people!"
Cheers went up and Mel let out a delighted cheer, turning impulsively and throwing her arms around Gyendal next to her. He stiffened instantly, bringing her down enough off cloud nine to begin to pull back. But he never gave her the chance as his arms came around her waist and he swept her up, spinning her around with a whoop.
"We're free Mel! Just like we've always dreamed!" He exclaimed in excitement, Mel holding onto his shoulders as she closed her eyes to keep from getting dizzy.
Joy welled up in her, laughter escaping her lips as she held on tightly to her friend and he set her down gently on the deck, Mel burying her face in his shoulder to blink back the tears.
"We escaped, I can't believe we escaped." She mumbled before pulling back to meet his eyes. "You stayed behind and probably saved my life, even at the chance of meeting the same punishment as me when we were caught. Why would you do that?!"
Gyendal's massive grin faded and his eyes became more serious and determined then she could remember as he tightened his grip and answered her question in a low tone.
"You know why."
He waited for her answer and all she was able to give him was a smile as she leaned into his embrace and pressed her face into his neck as she struggled to gather herself from the emotions of everything that had taken place that night. She felt him turn his head and lips ghosted across her temple as all around them the slaves cheered and laughed with friends and family over the escape.
It was real, they were no longer slaves. It was like they had always dreamed...
Freedom.
So what did you think? Reviews are welcome! Flames shall be laughed at, posted for others to laugh at, and ignored as I continue the story.