Me: (Sitting quietly with a laptop. Types quickly, pausing every few seconds to glance around uneasily. Looks up and sees readers) Hullo there. I'm just sitting here for now. Hopefully no crazy stuff for now. I'm really tired and I just want to sit here. Any more running around will cause me to collapse.
SD: (Groans)
Me: (Turns around to watch him) Ahh. Sleeping Beauty has awoken
SD: Shut up. (Holds head)
Me: Well, you deserve it. You are the one who guzzled down all my vodka. Man, it took me forever to sneak that out of the Bush's stash! You know, for a political joke he sure does have some good taste in alcohol.
SD: (Stares) What? Ow. (Moans and clutches head again) My head.
Me: (Moans in high-pitched voice and grabs head) My head. My poor wittwe head pounds so much.
SD: Go to hell.
Me: Go to heww.
SD: (Shouts) SHUT UP!
Me: (Smacks him in the head) Shut up you idiot! The monkeys are around. I heard them come a while ago. Cookie went to scout, but if you keep screaming she'll get caught.
SD: (Mutters)
Me: (Hisses) What did you say?
SD: Nothing.
Me: (Narrows eyes) Fine. (Turns back to computer) Shush.
SD: (Sulks)
Me: (Starts muttering to self) Stupid Bush. I'll show you how to trigger an a-bomb. (Presses button) He he.
SD: (Scoots away) Err, while Eveiveneg occupies herself with who knows what-
Me: (Cackles maliciously)
SD: None of the Tamora Pierce books belong to her. Just Tamora Pierce. Obviously. I mean, it's in the nam-
Me: (Stands up and whistles. Llama gallops over and she jumps up onto it) See ya later. (Blows sharp note and llama takes off)
SD: (Runs after her) WAIT!
Possums: (Chase)
Prophecy by Eveiveneg
She was in a place of darkness, the place she'd never thought she'd see again after Percy had found her. She listened for something, anything, but there was nothing. Not even, she realized with shock, her own breathing. Frantically she tried to touch her throat, but was unable to.
Voices started speaking to her, but she understood nothing. Then warmth hit her. It spread through her body, melting the icy coldness away from her limbs. Her back arched in pleasure. She slowly moved her fingers, then shook her legs and smiled. She could move again.
She felt something tug on her hand and turned to see a figure there, waiting for her patiently. "Come on." They whispered. "We have to go." She nodded and let them pull her after them. She watched them. They seemed to be made of light, too bright for her to properly see what they looked like. Was it even a person? She wondered.
Suddenly, she could see a prick of light in the distance. As they came closer to it and everything grew brighter, her companion started to fade. "Wait," She called out faintly. "Don't leave me…"
They glanced over at her, and smiled. "I won't ever." They promised. "I swear it." And with that, they shoved her into the golden glow.
It was hot, so unbearably hot that she wanted to scream. It her skin was on fire, her heart ready to burst from the sheer pain. Then she was through.
Opening her eyes, she could make out the shape of some large figure above her. It was bent over, shaking. At first she thought it was a seizure, then realized that they were crying silently, clutching her hand as they did so.
Her vision became clearer and she could see what it was. A man, beaten and exhausted, was sitting there, eyes closed and tears streaming down his face. But why? She wondered. What was he crying for?
"Please don't leave me, Gayle." He begged softly. "I don't know what I'll do without you." Smiling blearily, she squeezed his hand slightly. " Can this be true?" She asked hoarsely. "You, crying? I never thought I'd see the day." He started and looked down at her. She tried to identify him, but she couldn't make out his face.
"Y-You're alive." He said huskily. "You're actually alive." She looked at him with a bemused expression.
"Of course. How could I ever be otherwise?" Then, playfully, she let a small, sly grin curve her mouth. "What, you thought I had gone up to the Black God?" He nodded his head, dumbstruck. "Nah," She shrugged. "Too early for me." She let out a small, painful laugh. "What, you thought I'd leave my beloved behind?"
"And who's that?" He asked, his hand holding hers so tightly it was almost painful. For some reason, she felt her heart speed up. Leaning her head up close to his, she spoke one word to him, "You." Then she pressed her lips against his.
Gayle sat up, breathing hard. Her pulse was thumping at an unsteady rate. What had that been? It had that taste to it that those visions had had. Like sharp and clear. Did that mean it would come true? Or that it was happening at this moment? Or had already come to pass?
She shook her head. She would get no answers simply wondering about them. Perhaps it was time to talk to Numair again. She hadn't spoken to him since the argument. That was, gods, two months ago at least. These dreams, they came often now, at least once a night. Sometimes they happened, sometimes they didn't.
And other things had happened as well. Strange occurrences, happening only around her. Once, a week or two ago, she'd been sitting against a tree, rather bored and wishing her friend Mya would come around. Five minutes later her dark-skinned friend had come running up to her, saying she'd suddenly gotten in the mood to chat. It was as though someone had persuaded her to come.
White flames had appeared in the corner of her eyes as well, always just when she was thinking really hard about something in particular that she wanted to happen, and then it would happen. And of course there was yesterday, when she'd run out in the rain and instantly dried off when she had desired to be so. Maybe this was the, what did they call it? The flame? Fire? No, wait, the Gift. Yes, that was it. But didn't people usually show signs of it early on in life? She hadn't ever caused these kinds of things to happen before, not that she remembered, anyway.
She shook her head. She'd question Numair about it later. Right now, she wanted to outside and practice archery. She stood up and changed, then quickly strode out of the barracks. About an hour or two later she was swinging a long stick around, bringing it up in a crescent then down in another one. Then she stopped. Wasn't it right about now that Sarge usually woke the trainees up? She looked over at the barracks. She didn't see anyone stirring. She frowned and thought for a reason why this would be. After a second it hit her. "Crap!"
She started running back towards the building, tossing the branch behind her. They were leaving today for the summer training camp. She'd forgotten about it entirely. She had been supposed to have packed yesterday, but what with being chased by Dom and the unexpected arrival of Alanna the Lioness, it had been shoved from her mind.
"Oh there once was a crap for brains girl who forgot to pack. Her crappy memory had been the cause of many crappy misfortunes before. Coincidentally, the thing she forgot to get ready for was the probably single most important event of her crappy life. Isn't that just great?" She muttered.
"I was once told the story of the psychopathic chipmunk chaser who tried to fit in with a bunch of strange knightly dudes." She went on as she entered the barracks. "It worked for a while, but a terrible thing happened to the psychopathic chipmunk chaser."
She jogged up the stairs to the room she shared with the other female trainees. "One day, she was eating cheese while she was SUPPOSED to be getting ready for an extremely important trip." She dashed into the large dorm, looking around frantically
"She went for a walk and was attacked by greedy, evil dwarves who resembled provolone. They viscously mauled her with their sharp, pointy knives that burned with a thousand evils that they had stolen from scary, ghost-like Ring Wraiths, screaming that she was the Dark Lord of Mordor come to kill them all with her shiny little ring. While doing so, she was knocked off a tall, scary cliff and died. The end."
She halted and looked under her bed. There was her bag, full and ready to go. She smacked her head. "Idiot." She hissed. "You forgot something all right, but it was the fact you'd already packed!" Sighing, she trotted back outside, slugging her pack over her shoulder.
Then she was reminded of something else as well. She needed to talk to Numair, but she was leaving that day for about three months. She had two choices: One, she could run around to find out where he stayed in the palace, if he was even there, see if he was awake, and if he was, coax him into talking about it. Two, she could wait until after she got back from the excursion. By that time, though, he might have totally forgotten about her, and it would be even more difficult to speak with him. But if she went to look for him now, the trainees might leave without her.
Ugh.
She stopped for a second, turning to the palace. It really was an exquisite building. The towers and turrets rose high above the ground, making it impossibly large. Watching it, something triggered in her memory. Furrowing her brow, she tried to figure out what it was. Her vision started to waver, and the palace's shape began to bend. It was impossible to tell what it was becoming, at the moment. One of the smaller towers twisted around entirely. She gazed at it, fascinated and repulsed. Something inside her began to grow. It was like a flame, burning larger and larger until she thought she was going to set on fire. Her hands balled into fists and her eyes went blank.
That was about when it hit her. Quite literally. She stumbled back and looked around bewilderedly. A bird was fluttering around her head frantically, often coming close to her and beating its wings in her face. "Oy!" She cried, covering her face. "Quit it!" It came to a halt and just hovered there in front of her, apparently considering her. She glared at the sparrow. It simply cheeped at her and flew off.
"Stupid bird." She muttered. "Why did it do that? It could have just passed by, perhaps glancing at me, then continuing on its way. But no-ooo. It had to come and run into my head and nearly give me a friggin' concussion. Then it went and wave its feathers in front of me in hopes of making me go blind." She put her hand on her head. No blood, just ached a bit when it was touched.
"BUT IT DIDN'T WORK, DID IT!" She shouted at the long gone bird. "HA! I AM SO LAUGHING ON YOUR ACCOUNT RIGHT NOW, BUDDY! I LAUGH AND LAUGH AND LAUGH! YOU KNOW WHY? BECAUSE IT'S JUST SO FUNNY! YOU KNOW WHY IT'S FUNNY? CUZ NOW, ALTHOUGH I DON'T HATE THEM, BIRDS ARE NOW OUT OF MY FAVOR! MAYBE I'LL COME ALONG SOME POOR DEFENSELESS BIRD, LYING ON THE GROUND AND DYING, BUT I WON'T HELP IT, CUZ YOU RAN INTO MY HEAD! BUT THAT'S NOT MY PROBLEM, IS IT? NO! IT'S YOURS, AND IT'LL BE YOUR FAULT IF THE LITTLE IMAGINARY BIRD DIES! SO TAKE THAT, YOU DUMB SPARROW!"
She stomped off towards the stables. She related the entire story to Anya and Jester, who had stalls next to each other. "And it really hurt, you know? Not just physically, but emotionally too. The only reason it'd even fly into me would be because it dislikes me, and that just isn't cool, man." She paused. "But you have to wonder how it got such good aim. Seriously. Where does a bird learn to be so good at hitting things?" The gelding was snorting, a horse's way of laughing. "Yeah, yeah, guffaw away on my account." She told him. "It's not me who'll have a stomach ache later on from giggling too much."
"I supposed you'd know best, then?"
She turned around and frowned. No one was there. Then she looked up. A plump, red face looked down at her. "You bet I would." She replied. Tilting her head, she asked, "You're Stefan, right?" He nodded.
"Aye. That be me name." She smiled. "Did you notice that rhymed? Fascinating, huh?" He watched her for a moment before answering.
"No, I hadn't."
She grinned and leaned against the wall of the stall. "You learn something new everyday." He nodded slightly, still observing her. She returned his gaze levelly. Finally he spoke again.
"Jester told me about you." She blinked. She'd forgotten that the head hostler had wild magic.
"Did he? What'd he say?" She was really curious.
"That you're a good mistress. Never leavin' 'em uncared for, takin' 'em out for exercise when it's needed. Feedin' 'em the right stuff." She began to unconsciously chew the inside of her cheek.
"What about Anya?" She questioned. "What does she say?"
His face went grim. "She doesn't talk. It's not cuz she can't, that much I know. Jester says that she don't talk to humans. Just a few horses. Don't like people much, but 'e doesn't know why."
Gayle glanced over at the black mare. She contentedly stood there, looking at Jester every once in a while. Didn't talk to others besides Jester? What about her? Did the mare only come over to her because of Jester? Or was it something else?
No, she thought. Anya wouldn't come over to anyone she didn't trust. She wouldn't just let Gayle ride her if she didn't like.
She opened her mouth to say something when she heard Sarge's shout. "TRAINEES, UP AND AT 'EM!" Wincing, she picked up the two horses' reins and led them over to the stable door.
"It was nice talking to you, Stefan." She called back as she left.
About two hours later all of the trainees were lined up and ready to go. She sat on the back of Jester, looking around at all of the others. Mya came up next to her as she watched one of the young men get whacked in the head by one of his friends.
"I pity him." The dark-eyed girl looked over to where she was pointing.
"Ouch." She winced as he almost fell out of the saddle. "So do I. Gina's got a pretty strong hit." They both grimaced as she laid another loud, resounding smack on him.
"So," Her friend began again. "You lookin' forward to the trip?" She grinned.
"I should be asking that of you. Adish keeps glancing over at you with admiration in his eyes." She winked at the blushing girl.
"It's not like that." The young woman protested. "He told me yesterday. He was just impressed by my Shang fighting techniques."
"And your lovely complexion and body." She added. Mya flushed a dark red. She smiled wickedly. She heard talk lessen and turned around in time to see Queen Thayet lifting up her sword in a salute. "Trainees, move out!" She yelled, her low, clear voice traveling in ripples among the young men and women.
She nudged her gelding into a trot and set off along with the others. She felt hairs rising on the back of her neck and twisted around to get a better view of the palace. A figure stood there on the walls, watching them ride. Their gaze seemed to be fixed directly on her. After staring a moment, she smiled and raised her hand in a salute. Little Sarra Salmalin frantically waved at her in return.
A grin on her face, she went back into her proper position. Maybe she wouldn't be entirely forgotten after all.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Gayle had finally figured it out.
Not the meaning of life, or if there's life on other planets. Nor how life was created, or how to bring the dead back to life. And, unfortunately, not the all-important question: Where is Waldo?
No, she'd finally figured out what it was that everyone was excited about. And it was probably the dumbest thing she'd seen in the world. A carnival was visiting Fief Dunlath, where the summer camp was being held that year. She couldn't believe it. Why was everyone going mad about a few little entertainers? What was so special about them?
These were the thoughts running through her head as she laid eyes on it for the first time. It was just getting started, apparently. She hadn't been able to understand what was going on ever since the morning before. Nobody would tell her, thinking it was the funniest thing in the world that she didn't know what they were talking about. But she'd learned from years of watching others that if you simply ignored people, they would just burst forth with a flood of information. So that was what she'd done. And that was exactly what had happened. Mya hadn't been able to keep it a secret for long when Gayle had simply nodded uninterestedly when she spoke of the "great surprise outside". When she'd been told, she'd looked at the dark girl with a strange expression. After a long time of staring, she left to go see the place from above.
She was currently standing on the wall of the Dunlath's castle in the village, gazing down at the folk who'd set it up as they struggled with a particularly heavy stake to hold up a tent. The trainees sure did seem ecstatic about it. Even the officers seemed a little enthusiastic. They'd given them all the night off to enjoy themselves.
She'd figured out what was happening; She didn't understand why in the name of the gods it was so exciting. It was just tents and flashy clothes and fake jewels. She just didn't get it. Was it a Tortallan thing? Or had people on Earth also looked on it as a night of fun? Thinking back, she remembered the faces of children about to go out for an evening of fun at a fair, or carnival, or anything of the sort. Expressions of anticipation; Looks of excitement: barely contained, absolute joy in every twinkling pair of eyes.
Why?
She didn't move from her spot for a long time. Everything was put together and the sky began to get darker. She just tilted her head in thought. People flooded out of the houses of the town, eager to watch and laugh at the different things that happened. She didn't even twitch. The guards began to glance at her nervously from their posts. She didn't notice. Her eyes were focused on the crowd below. It wasn't until the moon was almost overhead that something happened.
"What are you doing?"
Gayle snapped out of her reverie and turned to see who had spoken. A woman of average height stood there, looking at her with curious brown eyes.
"Lady Maura." She bowed respectfully to her. "It's nice to see you."
The lady of Dunlath smiled. The twenty-five year old woman hadn't been there to greet the group when they'd arrived almost a month ago. It hadn't been until about five days later that she'd even caught sight of her. She was pretty, though not in a conventional way. Her long chestnut hair shone brightly in any light and her chocolate colored eyes held great wisdom.
Apparently she'd been out helping the commoners with the planting. She was an odd woman, at least according to the court gossipers. She loved to walk amongst the people of her fief, doing chores with them and so on. She was closer to them than she was to most nobles. She knew all of them by first name and had never in her entire time of managing the estates mistreated them in anyway. There were many things that they refused to allow her to do, of course, but more often than not she was out with them in the fields.
When she finally did talk to the lady, it was just a quick chat. A few days later they spoke again, this time for an hour. Gayle had decided she liked the woman on first glance, and they became fast friends. Though it wasn't often they had conversations, they were always enjoyable when they did happen.
She came up next to the redhead and leaned against the wall companionably. "So," She started. "What are you doing up here on a night like this?"
Gayle looked back down at the giant swarm below. "Watching."
"Watching what?"
She pointed downwards. "The carnival."
The young woman stared at her. "Because…?"
She shrugged. "I want to know why everyone's so excited."
Maura looked surprised. "You want to know why? It's because it's a break from the ordinary. Something different than our everyday lives. There's always something fun at a fair for everyone." She looked at her with uncertain eyes. "Haven't you ever been to one?"
She shook her head. "No. My family never really had time for those kinds of things."
The woman looked sad. "I'm sorry. They're really quite fun."
She shrugged. "I wouldn't know. I don't understand what I'm missing out on, so it's not that big a deal to me."
She returned to gazing at the people. Suddenly Lady Maura spoke up again.
"Well then, we're going to have to change that."
She looked over at her sharply. "What?"
"You're coming with me to the fair." She grabbed the trainee's hand and proceeded pulling her towards the door.
She was confused. "I am?"
Maura didn't even bother turning around as she confirmed this. Gayle didn't stop her from doing this, just blinked bemusedly as she was dragged through the halls and out the doors.
The bright lights and loud noises didn't serve to bring her out of her stupor. If anything, she was thrown even more off balance. The lady held pretty much carried her through the 'streets' of the carnival. She, still unsure of herself, held onto the older woman's hand for dear life. About two and a half hours later they were standing a little off the path, eating candied apples. Well, Maura was. The young Rider-in-training simply stood there, watching the treat uncertainly. She'd never had one before, and she wasn't sure she wanted it. After a minute or two, the twenty-five year old flung her stick to the side and latched onto her hand again.
"Come on, let's go see the fortune teller." She nodded. She'd regained her sense of direction after the first half hour or so. It didn't help that her friend was racing about the carnival in completely random zigzags, but she managed.
The two arrived at the tent breathless; Maura from excitement, Gayle from having to run to keep up with the older woman. They entered just as a couple came out. Glancing at them, she could see they looked ecstatic. She wondered why.
Once inside, she looked around. It was dark and mysterious, with a few candles surrounding the seated figure. They were shrouded in robes, which, she thought personally, wasn't too smart, considering there were little balls of fire sitting just inches away from them. But to each their own.
"Welcome." They said in a low and rough voice. Glancing up, they added, "Only one at a time." The two looked at each other. Gayle shrugged.
"I'll go outside. You have your fun."
She went out and sat down. She stared directly ahead, bored out of her mind. For a few long minutes she had nothing to do except wait. What exactly was so great about this? She wondered. Just look at the person and make up a prediction, right? Then why was it taking so gods damn long? It was at that moment that Maura came out, cheeks flushed with happiness.
"Oh… That was lovely." She said with a dreamy smile on her face.
"Oh, yes it was." Gayle agreed. "Full of excitement, that wait was. Why, that snail over there moved three full millimeters to the left. So filled with drama."
The older woman didn't seem to notice her sarcasm. "Go on," She encouraged. "Your turn." Rolling her eyes, the young woman got up and went back in.
"Sit." The voice said. She did so. "Now," They began. "What would you like me to do? Water bowl or palm read?" She tilted her head thoughtfully.
"Now, which one am I less likely to understand? Oh, no, wait, am I even going to understand it at all, no matter which I choose? Cuz I really hate mysteries and riddles and stuff. No fun at all. You actually have to think about it, and, to be perfectly honest, that's just not something I'm good at."
The hooded figure gazed at her a moment before speaking. "Water bowl it is."
"Oh, so am I just supposed to sit here while you read off whatever's supposed to happen to me, or do I have to do something? Can I stand? Oh, how 'bout I do the funky chicken dance?" The person's voice was a bit strained when they answered.
"No, no, just sit there."
"Ok." She said agreeably. The fortuneteller gazed down into the bowl. After a moment she started to sing softly.
"Oh, this is a story 'bout a guy named Al who lived in the sewers with his hamster pal. But the sanitation workers didn't really approve. So he packed up his accordion and had to move to a city in Ohio where he lived in a tree and he worked in nasal decongestant factory. He-"
"Would you please stop it?" They snapped.
"Depends," She told them. "Do I have to leave if I keep doing it?"
"Yes."
"Ok." She sat in silence for a few moments as the person continued watching the water.
Their hood slipped and she could see them. It was a young man, very handsome, with light blue eyes and a finely chiseled face. Sandy brown hair flopped down into his face, causing him to look a bit silly. When Kaelin's hair did that he still managed to look impressive and intriguing. She blinked. Why had she thought of that?
Oh, I think you know why.
Why do you keep interrupting my usually normal thought pattern?
Because, I have to get you to answer questions you'd usually ignore. Anyway, you call that normal? You're thinking about Waldo!
What's wrong with Waldo?
For one thing, he's a fictitious character.
Stop using big words!
You know what they mean.
Fine, I do.
See, this is what I'm talking about. You pretend to be stupid. I guess it's just the tiniest bit comprehensible when you do it to others, but now you're doing it to you own conscience.
I hate you.
Whatever.
Anyway, why did you say that?
Say what?
That thing you said.
Oh, that really helps. I know exactly what you're talking about.
You know what I mean!
Do I?
Yes!
Then what is it that you mean?
Why did you say that I knew what it was coming from?
Oh, that. Why didn't you just say that in the first place?
JUST ANSWER ME!
Take it easy there. Don't want a stroke, do you?
ANSWER ME YOU-
Oh, so you don't get angry with your friends, but you lose your temper at something that only exists in your mind?
WHAT WERE YOU TALKING ABOUT?
Sorry, no.
Huh?
If you can't figure it out for yourself, you don't deserve to know.
You little-
You'll figure it out. You're a smart kid, when you want to be.
Just-
No.
She groaned inwardly. She was having an argument. With herself.
Just deal with it.
Why do I need a conscience?
You have to have a voice of reason. It discerns what is the best thing to do and what isn't.
"Milady?"
She started and looked up at the fortuneteller. He was watching her with a curious expression. "Are you all right?"
She sighed. "Yeah, just having a conversation with myself."
He furrowed his brow and nodded uncertainly. "All right, then." He returned to watching the water. After a few minutes she got bored and started to hum, but inside her head this time.
Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens,
Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens,
Brown paper packages tied up with string,
These are a few of my favorite things
Doo doo doo, doo doo doo
Cream colored-
Shut up.
Oh, why?
Because it's annoying.
So are you.
Well, I'm annoying because I have to be. You're annoying because you want to be.
So I can't even sing inside my own head?
There you go. I knew you had some brains in there somewhere.
That's not fair…
Deal with it, foxtail.
Foxtail?
Yes, foxtail. You have red hair, do you not?
Yes…
So there you go.
Hmm… I like it!
That's good for you, sweety.
Suddenly the young man stiffened. Gayle looked over at him, startled by the sudden movement.
"Dark magic gathers, threatening the existence of all humans,
All will be lost, forever forgotten from the history of mankind.
But there is one, who will protect us all,
Time's child, daughter of the goddess
The heart of a warrior and the mind of a wise man
She has, and afraid she is not to use them
With her White Fire
She shall save us all."
She watched him with a frightened expression. She threw a coin at him and ran out of the tent, his words on her heels.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Oh yeah. Longest chapter yet. Twenty pages on microsoft word. Oh yeah. Uh huh. Do the celebratory dance of victory. Oh, and those songs she sung weren't mine. They belond to Weird Al Yankovich and, err, whoever did the Sound of Music. Ta!
Eveiveneg