Here's the next chapter folks. And it still ain't mine. What a pity.
Don't Lose Your Head.
So there I stood for what seemed like aeons while in reality it was no more than a few seconds. Time slowed and the world around me seemed to be running at half speed. My mind went back to the Shakespeare I had quoted and another phrase which was far too apt for my tastes sprang to mind. I murmured them without thinking as I looked down on Veborion.
"'O, pardon me, thou bleeding piece of earth,
That I am meek and gentle with these butchers!
Thou art the ruins of the noblest man
That ever lived in the tide of times.'" I paused briefly before turning my gaze towards Thingaladion and continued in a louder voice.
"'Woe to the hand that shed this costly blood!'"
Thingaladion and I stared into each other's eyes laying bare the emotions that were in our souls. The challenge was made and accepted. The silence of the room was deafening. Well it was until...
"GUARDS!" Thingaladion cried.
***
I was still standing, but now I was standing in front of the entire court. Thranduil sat on his throne, his face impassive only his eyes betrayed the emotions that were coursing through him.
Thingaladion stood off to the side and the whole room from the lowliest serf to the King was watching me. My mind was still not completely comprehending what had happened. Right about now it was musing over whether there was such a thing as lowly elven serfs. Not really what you want to think about when you're being condemned to death.
Oh. Didn't I mention that bit? Sorry, must have slipped my mind. I'm condemned because of my attempt on the Prince of Mirkwood's life. Apparently I stabbed him with his own dagger. Somewhere I appreciated the cunning of Thingaladion in using a knife that was owned by Veborion. The rest of me wished he'd never been born.
I stood there, not even knowing whether Veborion lived or not. I did wonder, but nobody thought it was something I would be bothering my head about. My soon to be removed from the rest of my body head. Yep, that's right they weren't going to waste any time on the spiders or torture equipment, I was going to be beheaded. In full view of the entire court.
The twisted part of my mind wondered whether they'd sold tickets for the event. "And if so." I said aloud. "Do I get a cut?"
That was possibly not the best turn of phrase, I noted bitterly as I watched an elf advance toward me, sword in hand.
***
The elf swung his arm back intending to do this as quickly and cleanly as possible. He was actually having trouble keeping his arm steady, so great was his rage towards me, a mere female from the race of men had tried to assassinate the elf Prince of Mirkwood. He ended up using both of his arms as he swung the sword towards my neck.
"HOLD!" Cried a voice from the back of the room as the doors swung open.
The elf brought his swing up short millimetres from my neck. Everybody in the room including me swung around to see who had shouted. Veborion? I wondered.
"Sindy?!" I choked out.
"What is the meaning of this Sindaringevardaanwen?" Demanded Thranduil.
"She would not try to kill Veborion."
"Why do you say this! Thingaladion has proved that she did so!"
No he bloody well didn't! My mind interjected.
"She is his wife!" Sindaringevardaanwen declared.
The room became deadly silent as every eye turned back to me. The elf who was about to behead me dropped his sword onto the floor in shock. Thranduil gazed at me in unflattering disbelief. I sent a tentative grin his way and was rewarded with one of the most frightening scowls I have ever received. I cowered under his stare.
The silence was broken by Thingaladion who was trying to sneak away unnoticed. He tripped over the chair he had been sitting on.
"There's the one who tried to kill Veborion!" I shouted and pointed at Thingaladion's retreating figure. "He's trying to get away!"
Thingaladion had wasted no time in getting away once he heard my accusation. He didn't even bother trying to get to the door and flung himself out of the window in an attempt to escape.
And of course, I being the really clever creature that I am, dived out of the window right behind him.
Idiot.
********************
Yet another bit from Shakespeare. Same play. Said by Marc Antony to Caesar's dead body. Not something I do very often - talk to dead bodies, must admit. Ooooh I'm soooo cultured aren't I? Nah - that just happens to be one of my favourite lines. And Sindy's back! And is Vebby dead? And will I catch Thingy while he runs off. And hey - I'm not really married to Vebby am I? Who knows? R&R please!
Don't Lose Your Head.
So there I stood for what seemed like aeons while in reality it was no more than a few seconds. Time slowed and the world around me seemed to be running at half speed. My mind went back to the Shakespeare I had quoted and another phrase which was far too apt for my tastes sprang to mind. I murmured them without thinking as I looked down on Veborion.
"'O, pardon me, thou bleeding piece of earth,
That I am meek and gentle with these butchers!
Thou art the ruins of the noblest man
That ever lived in the tide of times.'" I paused briefly before turning my gaze towards Thingaladion and continued in a louder voice.
"'Woe to the hand that shed this costly blood!'"
Thingaladion and I stared into each other's eyes laying bare the emotions that were in our souls. The challenge was made and accepted. The silence of the room was deafening. Well it was until...
"GUARDS!" Thingaladion cried.
***
I was still standing, but now I was standing in front of the entire court. Thranduil sat on his throne, his face impassive only his eyes betrayed the emotions that were coursing through him.
Thingaladion stood off to the side and the whole room from the lowliest serf to the King was watching me. My mind was still not completely comprehending what had happened. Right about now it was musing over whether there was such a thing as lowly elven serfs. Not really what you want to think about when you're being condemned to death.
Oh. Didn't I mention that bit? Sorry, must have slipped my mind. I'm condemned because of my attempt on the Prince of Mirkwood's life. Apparently I stabbed him with his own dagger. Somewhere I appreciated the cunning of Thingaladion in using a knife that was owned by Veborion. The rest of me wished he'd never been born.
I stood there, not even knowing whether Veborion lived or not. I did wonder, but nobody thought it was something I would be bothering my head about. My soon to be removed from the rest of my body head. Yep, that's right they weren't going to waste any time on the spiders or torture equipment, I was going to be beheaded. In full view of the entire court.
The twisted part of my mind wondered whether they'd sold tickets for the event. "And if so." I said aloud. "Do I get a cut?"
That was possibly not the best turn of phrase, I noted bitterly as I watched an elf advance toward me, sword in hand.
***
The elf swung his arm back intending to do this as quickly and cleanly as possible. He was actually having trouble keeping his arm steady, so great was his rage towards me, a mere female from the race of men had tried to assassinate the elf Prince of Mirkwood. He ended up using both of his arms as he swung the sword towards my neck.
"HOLD!" Cried a voice from the back of the room as the doors swung open.
The elf brought his swing up short millimetres from my neck. Everybody in the room including me swung around to see who had shouted. Veborion? I wondered.
"Sindy?!" I choked out.
"What is the meaning of this Sindaringevardaanwen?" Demanded Thranduil.
"She would not try to kill Veborion."
"Why do you say this! Thingaladion has proved that she did so!"
No he bloody well didn't! My mind interjected.
"She is his wife!" Sindaringevardaanwen declared.
The room became deadly silent as every eye turned back to me. The elf who was about to behead me dropped his sword onto the floor in shock. Thranduil gazed at me in unflattering disbelief. I sent a tentative grin his way and was rewarded with one of the most frightening scowls I have ever received. I cowered under his stare.
The silence was broken by Thingaladion who was trying to sneak away unnoticed. He tripped over the chair he had been sitting on.
"There's the one who tried to kill Veborion!" I shouted and pointed at Thingaladion's retreating figure. "He's trying to get away!"
Thingaladion had wasted no time in getting away once he heard my accusation. He didn't even bother trying to get to the door and flung himself out of the window in an attempt to escape.
And of course, I being the really clever creature that I am, dived out of the window right behind him.
Idiot.
********************
Yet another bit from Shakespeare. Same play. Said by Marc Antony to Caesar's dead body. Not something I do very often - talk to dead bodies, must admit. Ooooh I'm soooo cultured aren't I? Nah - that just happens to be one of my favourite lines. And Sindy's back! And is Vebby dead? And will I catch Thingy while he runs off. And hey - I'm not really married to Vebby am I? Who knows? R&R please!
