Hey! This is my second fanfic, and I hope you like it... just to let you
know that if you decide to read this, my first and second chapters take a
while to lift off... so stick with me, please!
Disclaimer: I do not own any of this, unfortunately... clamp is really wonderful! Plus Brian Jacques' writing, from who I took the beginning of the plot... he's sooo amazing!
onto the story!
_*_~_*_~_*_~_*_~_
Achieving Divinity
Chapter One :: Midsummer
The feast began.
Shouts of laughter echoed through the Great Hall, spiraling up to the rafters and there resting before tumbling back. Nothing was so good as the annual Midsummer's Feast at the red palace. Families and friends came from all over the countryside to partake in the King and Queen's legendary feasts.
Spirits were high as people jumped up again and again to greet long unseen friends, relatives, and strangers alike, sitting down for a moment to snack before springing up again to welcome yet another newcomer.
The children, meanwhile, were enraptured by the daring acrobats, the breathtaking knifethrowers, and awed by the young enchanter's magic.
They watched in amazement as he made a delicate blown glass figurine disappear and then took it from a wailing babe's mouth. He, too, quieted instantly to watch the wonders of this older boy, his sudden silence leaving the mother of the child nonplussed. What magic! She thought with relief as she continued to chatter with her distant cousin.
If only she knew.
Suddenly, silence fell throughout the Great Hall as all turned and sat, their eyes fixed on the archway beyond the table rows. The air crickled with anticipation as a long trolley slowly made its way among the rows, its wheels squeaking loudly in the silence.
The old man behind it smiled and nodded to all as he passed, making his way to the foremost table. His shoulders shook with suppressed laughter as he watched the eager, expectant faces, both young and old, all waiting.
One young person thought the old man was coughing and ran to fetch him some water. The old man halted his trek to the center of the high-ceilinged room and patted the young man's hand.
The crowd around them let out a collective groan at this pause. Perplexed at this outburst, the young man glanced at the old one and saw he was laughing, silent tears running down his withered face. He could barely breathe for laughter.
Suddenly the young man got it. His lips twitched, but he leaned forward to the old one and whispered, "Perhaps I should take care of this for you, old one."
He burst into a fresh fit of chuckles and managed a nod of assent, his merry old eyes twinkling. The young man waved and two others came over to help the old one to his seat. He straightened up and bowed to the impatient crowd, grinning broadly. Turning back to the trolley, he made a great show of rubbing his hands together before placing them on the handles. Then,
"1 - 2 - 3!"
He catapulted himself and the old trolley up the aisle, wheels squeaking furiously, followed by the two other trolley men and their loads. The crowd roared its approval at this, cheering his speedy approach to the High Table. Skidding to a halt, mere inches from the King and his wife, the young man bowed heartily to them, breathing heavily, then turning to bow once again to his audience's applause.
"And now," he shouted, "th- this is the moment you've all be waiting for! The Feast of All Seasons!"
With a nod to the other trolley men, they unveiled the loads before them. The people waited with baited breath as the young man piled a single plate with a morsel of everything and presented it to the King. He closed his eyes and chose his delight.
Would he choose from the dessert trolley first? Or the main course? What about the appetizers?
He took a bite and chewed slowly, transferring the food from one side of his mouth to the other, savoring it. His eyes popped open.
"Everyone..." he began gravely, "To the Dessert Trolley!" He shouted, laughter ringing through his voice as the crowd leapt to its feet, all jostling cheerfully to begin its long awaited feast.
How wonderful -
was the collective thought of bliss.
_*_~_*_~_*_~_*_~_*_~_*_~_*_~_*_~_
Okay, this is my first chapter, kind of short, I know, and seemingly no real action from any CCS characters, plus not much dialogue. But, this is only my default chapter, so please bear with me. ^_^
R&R!
Disclaimer: I do not own any of this, unfortunately... clamp is really wonderful! Plus Brian Jacques' writing, from who I took the beginning of the plot... he's sooo amazing!
onto the story!
_*_~_*_~_*_~_*_~_
Achieving Divinity
Chapter One :: Midsummer
The feast began.
Shouts of laughter echoed through the Great Hall, spiraling up to the rafters and there resting before tumbling back. Nothing was so good as the annual Midsummer's Feast at the red palace. Families and friends came from all over the countryside to partake in the King and Queen's legendary feasts.
Spirits were high as people jumped up again and again to greet long unseen friends, relatives, and strangers alike, sitting down for a moment to snack before springing up again to welcome yet another newcomer.
The children, meanwhile, were enraptured by the daring acrobats, the breathtaking knifethrowers, and awed by the young enchanter's magic.
They watched in amazement as he made a delicate blown glass figurine disappear and then took it from a wailing babe's mouth. He, too, quieted instantly to watch the wonders of this older boy, his sudden silence leaving the mother of the child nonplussed. What magic! She thought with relief as she continued to chatter with her distant cousin.
If only she knew.
Suddenly, silence fell throughout the Great Hall as all turned and sat, their eyes fixed on the archway beyond the table rows. The air crickled with anticipation as a long trolley slowly made its way among the rows, its wheels squeaking loudly in the silence.
The old man behind it smiled and nodded to all as he passed, making his way to the foremost table. His shoulders shook with suppressed laughter as he watched the eager, expectant faces, both young and old, all waiting.
One young person thought the old man was coughing and ran to fetch him some water. The old man halted his trek to the center of the high-ceilinged room and patted the young man's hand.
The crowd around them let out a collective groan at this pause. Perplexed at this outburst, the young man glanced at the old one and saw he was laughing, silent tears running down his withered face. He could barely breathe for laughter.
Suddenly the young man got it. His lips twitched, but he leaned forward to the old one and whispered, "Perhaps I should take care of this for you, old one."
He burst into a fresh fit of chuckles and managed a nod of assent, his merry old eyes twinkling. The young man waved and two others came over to help the old one to his seat. He straightened up and bowed to the impatient crowd, grinning broadly. Turning back to the trolley, he made a great show of rubbing his hands together before placing them on the handles. Then,
"1 - 2 - 3!"
He catapulted himself and the old trolley up the aisle, wheels squeaking furiously, followed by the two other trolley men and their loads. The crowd roared its approval at this, cheering his speedy approach to the High Table. Skidding to a halt, mere inches from the King and his wife, the young man bowed heartily to them, breathing heavily, then turning to bow once again to his audience's applause.
"And now," he shouted, "th- this is the moment you've all be waiting for! The Feast of All Seasons!"
With a nod to the other trolley men, they unveiled the loads before them. The people waited with baited breath as the young man piled a single plate with a morsel of everything and presented it to the King. He closed his eyes and chose his delight.
Would he choose from the dessert trolley first? Or the main course? What about the appetizers?
He took a bite and chewed slowly, transferring the food from one side of his mouth to the other, savoring it. His eyes popped open.
"Everyone..." he began gravely, "To the Dessert Trolley!" He shouted, laughter ringing through his voice as the crowd leapt to its feet, all jostling cheerfully to begin its long awaited feast.
How wonderful -
was the collective thought of bliss.
_*_~_*_~_*_~_*_~_*_~_*_~_*_~_*_~_
Okay, this is my first chapter, kind of short, I know, and seemingly no real action from any CCS characters, plus not much dialogue. But, this is only my default chapter, so please bear with me. ^_^
R&R!