A/N as you all should know I do not own the last unicorn or any of its characters. I am merely a pale imitator of the greatness that "The Last Unicorn" but the plot and a few of the characters in this I can claim as my own tee-he-he-he-!
Liryn shifted his weight again; the pressure of the cold, stone floor on his knees was causing him no small amount of discomfort. It was only an hour after sunset and he had to keep his vigil through the night until sunrise. The thirty-pound ermine-trimmed cloak about his shoulders did not help in the least.
Tomorrow he would be named Heir to his father's kingdom. His mother would remain regent until the end of his 21rst year. In the meantime he would study the "art" of ruling a country. But that was something he would worry about later. Right now his knees hurt and his leg was beginning to cramp.
" I need a distraction," he thought. As he shifted once more.
" Before I die of boredom and a leg cramp…. What was that song that father used to sing? The absurdly long one … about … a unicorn and… a forest! How did it go?"
He grimaced and shifted again. He glanced at the priest, who was wearing his usual glaring scowl of disapproval. The cleric never had liked Liryn or his father. He strongly disapproved of Lear's tales of magic, unicorns and dragons. He thought that it was shameful to speak of such things in a Christian kingdom.
The cleric looked away and Liryn began to recite the verses in his thoughts.
" Deep in the heart of a forest
A unicorn sleeps in the shade
Protector of the woods, and the creatures therein
Such has her task been since the day she was made
One day she began her journey
To learn the fate of her kin
Wondering when or if
She would ever see another unicorn again
Lady unicorn please come
The last of your kind do I call
Before they all fade away
Lost like leaves in the fall
Solitary she began her quest
But alone she did not stay
A witch, some thieves and a magician
She came upon while on her way
She traveled long and far away
She came to a castle by the sea
She feared something here
Not yet sure what it might be
Lady unicorn please come
The last of your kind do I call
Before they all fade away
Lost like leaves in the fall
Then in the distance
Burned a fiery red light
Shining from a fierce red bull
Searching for unicorns in the night
The bull quickly fixer his searching eye
Upon her as she fled
The unicorn bolted in fright
As the sky deepened red
Lady unicorn please come
The last of your kind do I call …"
Smack! Liryn's head hit the floor. Blood trickled into his eyes; he held his hand to the cut on his forehead and sat up slowly, adjusting the heavy circlet on his head, he glanced around hoping that no one had seen him doze off.
The two guards at the entrance were sleeping and the chapel attendants had gone to bed. He met the priest's eye hopefully, but saw that his blunder had no gone unseen. The priest glared threateningly, but Liryn knew that he couldn't break the silence to reprimand him until the morning.
Liryn's head throbbed, thankfully the bleeding had stopped and he hoped that the circlet would hide most of the cut because he did not care to explain the circumstances to anyone.
"Guess I never realized that song was so terribly long and boring." Liryn thought to himself as looked expectantly out the window.
" Writing never was something father was good at, he only ever wrote a few sonnets and that one song and then he never wrote again … that was right before he met mother…."
Liryn's thoughts were interrupted by the mournful cry of a bird. He opened his eyes to see that the morning sun was just beginning to creep into the chapel, though the stained glass windows. As it hit the brightly faceted panes they exploded with color shattering the beams of light into thousands of colored rays. They illuminated the white cloth on the golden altar, shining off the golden candlesticks. It was time for the ceremony to begin
Later in the night as the wine flowed freely and the music grew louder and louder, Liryn stifled a yawn, He had to sit in a smaller throne upon the dais next to his father's throne which his mother now occupied. The pleasure of the party had long since died away. The dancers were tripping over each other and the minstrels were just barely keeping their instruments upright. As future King he knew he dared not get drunk, or join the dancers on the floor even though this was supposedly his party. He glanced at the other nobles till seated, of course all of the elder counselors and his advisors. Except for one... now that was strange… Schmendrik never participated in festivities and none of the advisor may leave until Liryn did. After looking around the room several times Liryn finally spotted him, Entertaining the few children left with his old card tricks, Liryn had caught constant grief from the Priest for keeping the magician in his court as an advisor. But Schmendrik was a trusted friend of his fathers and useful man; he was one of the last real magicians.
Suddenly his mother rose from her seat and hall fell silent. The candles in the room threw dancing shadows over everything in the hall making the jewels and brocades seem to shimmer. But all of the shimmers in the room were outshined by his mother, in her cloth of gold dress with diamond sewn about the seams especially around the neckline and the sleeves, she truly sparkled. Looking around the room to be certain of the attention of the guests she spoke.
"Lords and Ladies I do apologize but this has been a long day and I do believe that I would like to retire. You may carry on if you like"
With that she motioned to one of her maids who jumped up to grab her train and they walked ceremoniously to the door.
As soon as the queen was gone the courtiers took up the thread of celebrations as though nothing had happened but now that his mother was gone Liryn may leave whenever he liked. Taking a look around at the festivity that seemed a more and more charming idea especially the part about going to bed. He had not slept in two days careful not to attract to much attention he attempted to slip out the door, unfortunately he was the highest ranked person on the hall. So of course his progress was hindered by courtiers congratulations, and well wishes… when he finally he made it to the cool air of the hall he was sure that he was going to fall flat on his face in exhaustion. He made his way up the servant's staircase hoping to avoid any more well meaning nobles. Just as he was about to open the door behind the bookcase in his room, the harsh sound of someone clearing their throat caught his attention.
" Tired already your highness? That's too bad … I had wished to speak with you."
The figure stepped into the flickering light of the torch. A droopy pointed hat adorned his head and he still wore his tattered wizard's robes even though he could more than afford to buy newer and far more splendid ones.
"Hello Schmendrik, I'm sorry I didn't see you. You know I always have time for you old friend please step into my chambers."
With that he opened the door set into the back of an old bookcase in his bedchamber, this staircase had many purposes, one to let the servants come and go as they pleased without having to interrupt the guards and also it was an escape route for the prince should he ever have to leave in haste, it also made a convenient way to avoid his courtiers well … at least some of them.
"Sir Schmendrik please have a seat."
He said, motioning to one of the velvet chairs in the room taking a similar seat himself. The magician sat down and conjured two glasses of wine from a bottle on the table in the room. He sent one to Liryn and drank heartily from the other.
"Thank you, now you said you had something you wished to discuss with me?"
The magician chuckled and drank from his glass.
"Straight to the point of course, just like your father but that was not always a wise thing. But that is neither here nor there, I'm here to talk about you father's murder"
