A/N: First and foremost!
This shard is a tribute/inspired by the now infamous song "Scarlet Vow" by Aviators. Its a real bop, and fit the vibe of what I was writing.
*yawns* That extra hour of sleep reeeaaally threw me off...
As ever, the Embers rule remains: If people don't like this story? If they don't enjoy it? Well...I' won't be able to continue it. That's no joke, folks. I'm so busy these days with two jobs; holidays are HERE and basically, I don't have time off. Not anymore. My free time is limited and as such, I can't afford to focus on something folks don't like. Reviews keep me writing in these times, and keep the daily updates flowing. Silence...silence only hurts. I hate having to beg for feedback, but without it...well, it feels like I'm not making an impact.
Runt of the Litter is being worked on. Tentatively.
It's...intense. I'm afraid to post it for fear of the reaction it might receives.
Alright, then. As ever, I own no references, quotes, memes or themes. Not a wit or a one.
I'm just a humble author trying to make his way in this wild world, one word at a time.
This is a rough draft. Time and feedback will determine if this becomes a story.
In other words...its up to YOU, the reader.
Do let me know~!
"The child is cursed! Enough of your weeping; I shall hear no more of this nonsense. Cast her out. We have no need of such a wretched creature."
...I beg your pardon? Surely you don't mean that. Beloved, it was an accident. She meant no harm-she is your daughter!"
"I HAVE NO DAUGHTER. The Greater Will has spoken. Exile her, or I shall slay her. That is the choice I give you."
~?
Scarlet Vow
They'd cast her out.
Such was her fate. Stripped of her godhood by Mother, dragged out the capital, and cast her into the Lands Between with naught but the tears in her eyes and the clothes on her back. No provisions. No food. No water. She would live or die on her own merit, they said. She, a girl of six summers, a child who had wanted for nothing, now forced to walk just to survive.
How she had begged. "Mother, please! I'm sorry! I'll never do it again!"
"Never return," came her stoic reply. "If ye do, thine life is forfeit."
Father hadn't said a word to her; wouldn't even look her way.
And for what? A single mistake. Nothing more.
It was all her fault.
Tears pricked at Malenia's eyes as she trudged on, worn slippers scuffing against the road. Listless and adrift, she walked on, shivering in the waning light. There was no destination in mind. She had been told to walk, to never look back; for if she did, she would be slain. It was an accident. She hadn't meant to do what she did. Truly, she hadn't...
Miquella.
Dearest Miquella. Her twin. Dead now.
Slain by the Rot within her. She hadn't meant to...!
But the deed was done, the price paid, her power sealed. Now she limped on in the dark, seeking shelter for the night and praying the beasts of the night would not prey upon her. She kept walking, favoring her right leg, limping on as time blurred and the light of Leyndell fell behind her.
There.
A light ahead, glimmering in the dark. Fire. Warmth. Safety.
Malenia crept closer, ducking low to the ground. Trembling fingers peeled back a bush.
She saw him then; a man sat on a stump beside a roaring fire, broad shoulders wrapped in a black cloak. Flickering firelight danced across his face, casting his whiskered visage into deepest shadow. One hand scribbled notes down into a worn leather tome, the other turned a juicy roast on a spit over the flame. Venison, by the look of it. Malenia longed to reach out and grab it. Mother and Father had turned her out without so much as a meal this morning.
Hunger kicked at her stomach. She edged closer. A branch snapped underfoot.
"...?"
The man lifted his head with a questioning noise. and she glimpsed bright blue eyes framed by tawny hair. He squinted her way for a moment, only for his gaze to pass right over her, blinded by the light of the fire. Thank heaven for small mercies. She took the chance to duck down again, hiding her small body in the brush. She was safe. She was fine. He'd not seen her. She could wait until he was asleep, perhaps pluck a portion of his food then be gone before anyone saw her.
Her stomach clenched, warbling pitifully.
Malenia grit her teeth and shook her head, running both hands though her long red hair. No. Resist. She mustn't make contact. It was too risky. She'd tried once. Once. Those bandits had nearly run her down. She'd barely escaped with her life.
"Never played hide and seek before, have you?"
Oh gods. She'd seen her. She jolted a little and hunched further down, ready to bolt. Time to go!
"Skittish little thing, ain'tcha?"
Malenia was still processing that when a long golden arm burst through the brush to pluck her up by the scruff of her neck. Then it yanked. Her world went sideways, a startled shriek fled from her lips as she found herself hauled into the clearing.
She went berserk.
"No!" she reared back, slapping at the golden tether. "Let me go!"
"Calm down, ya know!" He sounded more annoyed by her efforts than anything else. "I ain't gonna hurt ya."
Malenia caught a glimpse of him while she flailed. He'd not moved from the stump, though his body now shone like the sun. As she looked on that golden limb retracted, reeling her in as one might a fish. What manner of magic was that? She didn't have time to process it. stranger plonked her down on the stump beside him and squinted her. She squinted back, trying to put up a brave front.
Even so, she wasn't prepared for the sudden softening of her eyes. "What happened to you...?"
Malenia knew what he saw. What all the others had seen. A girl in ruined finery, covered in mud and bruises. Even her hair was dirty and mussed with mud. She was weak, vulnerable, utterly unable to fight back with her strength sealed. Even if it wasn't she was small and he was so very big. She didn't much fancy her chances of running.
"Not gonna talk? Alright." he frowned down at her. "What's your name? Surely you can tell me that."
Her stomach growled. A spark of dirty dignity stirred in her.
Cast out or not, she was of the Golden Order.
"I am Mal...!" Her hands flew to her mouth, choking down the word before it could be born. If she spoke her true name, Father would hear it. He might even come for her. To finish what he'd started. She scrambled for a pseudonym in its place. "Milicent." she lied at last, speaking quickly. "My name is Milicent."
Bemused blue eyes met hers. If he saw the lie, he didn't question it.
"Alright then, miss "Milicent". I'm Naruto. Here. Catch."
His hands moved. A shadow fell over her.
She flinched...yet no attack came.
...what?"
She found herself clutching a bit of meat, torn from the haunch of the deer flung over the fire. A large hand had come to rest on her hair, idly patting her head.
"No need to be shy." her unlikely ally beamed down at her. "I've got food aplenty. You can rest here tonight, if you like." He pulled one hand away to scratch at the back of his head. "I've only been in this world for a few days, but I've plenty of supplies. You can rest easy."
Something stirred deep inside of Malenia.
His hand was so...very warm. Like an older brother comforting their sibling.
Would Miquella have been like this? She'd never know now. Her eyes began to sting. Water welled up, bringing fresh pain despite her best efforts.
She was cursed. She'd been cast out. Yet this man, this stoic stranger, offered her kindness. It was too much. The damn broke in her. But she did not bawl. Even as tears ran down her cheeks, she refused to cry out. She took a savage bite of the venison to muffle her sob. Another bite. Another now. She masked her pain with angry, frustrated growls. And for a time, it worked...
...but only for a time.
Eventually she finished the portion he'd gave her, and the tears continued to flow. That kind, gentle smile undid her.
It was just the sort of smile her parents had never worn. They'd never looked her in such a way. Not even once.
Malenia scrubbed at her face furiously, to hide her tears.
Naruto tilted his head. "You alright?"
She hiccuped. "M'fine...
There is a saying:
"The child who is not embraced by the village will burn it down to feel its warmth."
Here and now, Malenia wanted to burn it all. To tear down those who made her feel this wretched way.
Naruto didn't damn her for such weakness, nor did he try to hug her, though perhaps he should've. She was grateful for that. If someone embraced her now, she would have well an truly broken like the child she still was. Naruto let her cling to her tiny scraps of dignity. He simply took his hand from her head and laid it on his chin, considering her in sad silence.
And then he spoke the words that undid her. "Wanna talk about it?"
Malenia turned red, teary eyes on him She wanted to; to tell him her tale of woe. "They...they cast me out...
His brow furrowed, shadows from the campfire flickering across his face. "Who's they...?"
The last thread of Malenia's self control broke. She began speak.
"My parents...
"Oh?" A look of pure and absolute murder burned in the blond's eyes, yet she sensed it was directed elsewhere. "Is that so? Why don't you tell me about them?"
That such a stranger would feel such rage on her behalf humbled her.
Malenia told him her tale.
Rot writhed in her eyes as she did, coiling and twisting within her. Comforting her. Promising her sweet vengeance if she but listened to it.
In that moment, Malenia silently swore she would reclaim all she had ever lost. Made an oath, before the old gods and the new.
Yes, in that instant she swore a scarlet vow. From that promise, the Scarlet Reign would be born.
A/N: And there have it. A young Malenia, cast out as a child.
Her body isn't quite rotten at this point; she's still little tyke at that.
Could easily see the "Perfect" Greater Will pulling this shite. Can't have any threats to its precious Golden Order now...
Might tweak this later if this ever becomes a story or somesuch. And there we have it. Request fulfilled.
Do you want this to be a story? Yes? No? Maybe so? Make yourselves heard!
Once more, we're sticking with the "Embers" rule for this particular story, and others. If folks don't like this, it won't be continued. Meaning that if the story itself ain't popular? POOF! Gone. Completely. I'm working two jobs -might need a third soon!- so I barely have time to write; as such, I cannot afford to write something folks don't enjoy. So by all means, speak up! Your voice matters! Make yourself heard! As ever, reviews are the fuel that sustain me. Without them I cannot write a single word. Simple as that. Working nearly all hours of the day keep me absurdly busy, and I can't bring myself to write something folks don't like.
Aaaand there we go. As ever, reviews keep me alive. Without them, I cannot write. So...in the Immortal Words of Atlas...
...Review...Would You Kindly? And have some previews -potential blot bin things- that I'm working on.
(Previews)
"Were are we going?"
Naruto hummed and shouldered his pack. "To meet an old friend. He helped me when I was down on my luck. Maybe he'll help you."
"Is that why we're all the way out here? In the badlands...?"
"Your father speaks well of you."
The very word caused her pain. Father? She had no father.
"He is not my father. He is my mentor. That is all."
"Methink thou doth protest too much, child."
Malenia kicked Godfrey's leg.
The former lord laughed.
"Ha! I would expect no less of Marika's daughter...
Naruto stood. Cracked his neck. His wounds closed as they looked on.
He spread his arms once with that same, kindly smile.
"Care to try again?"
A scarlet vow. Taken by the girl they cast out.
She swore herself to crimson.
R&R~!