Fade Out - Window into the Future
Note: First of all, I want to express my thanks to those who have decided to read this story and possibly even return to check for updates. It's been a great experience to receive review for each chapter - by courtesy of AreiaCannaid - and it pleasantly surprised me when another user has decided to send me some feedback as well - so thank you for finding time to review, Iguana1-2, I've just read it in the middle of typing this.
However, I'm afraid that I will disapoint you all with this update... for I have come to the decision of not continuing writing this story due to personal reasons. I know it's silly to stop right at the point where everything is getting fired up - especially since I myself have enjoyed writing the previous chapter... but somewhere deep inside I know that this is the right decision to take for my own sake.
I realise this must sound quite selfish, but let me just try to explain myself a bit. Fantasy has been a way for me to escape reality even since my teens, and coming up with various stories (or maybe forging existing ones into my own versions) in my mind was a part of my everyday life. Living in my own world, while putting aside the reality... that's what I did... Nevertheless, after growing up into the adult I slowly started to realise that it's my own life that should play the prime. I had already once abandoned a story here on this site as a means of getting myself onto my own feet, and I suppose it helped.
During this summer, when I found out about Ranger's Apprentice, I was quickly stolen by the plot and had to read and read and read... It's an amazing series, as you all know, and before I knew it, I happened to come up with my own character for it as well. I was debating whether to start writing this story, and after convincing myself that I could balance fanfiction and real life I wrote the proloque. However, after some time it seems that I'm not able to do that after all as it brings too much temptation to return to the old life-style. Therefore, today I came to this decision.
Nevertheless, as I don't particulary like my stories completely dying out with me deciding to dicontinue them, I'm going to share the ideas I had for it in my mind. Thank you for everything, and I apologise for this sudden end.
On the day when Halt and Horace come to visit Ferris the second time, Loxy would wait to meet them. I was playing with the idea of letting her be in the throne room this time around in spite of the king not really wishing her to be there. The reason is that in my POV, Araulen having females able to access the throne is out of ordinary, so it made sense for other countries not wishing the royal females to be included in politics (this would play a major part in the story). Other than meeting Will, I wanted Loxy to come up with a "slightly better" solution to the beard shaving situation, and later on she would "watch in awe" how king-like Halt acts at the market.
Later on the same day Loxy would learn something more about Halt's life in Araulen. Then the three visitors would leave until the two matches, just like in the original story, and in the meanwhile Loxy and Sean could share a moment where they would talk about their hopes for the future. Hmm... maybe a scene between Loxy and Ferris would happen as well. Then the scene leading up to the king's murder would have been the same. What would be added to the story, is a scene between Loxy and Halt concerning Ferris's death, where she would finally learn the full extend of the twins' issues over the throne. Loxy would be shocked to learn about the attempts to kill, but she will admit that she is glad to hear about it only now because she needn't hold grudges against Ferris for it.
During one of the days that Halt is still in Dul Kilty, Loxy would ask him about his plans and find out that he plans to leave rather than stay. She accepts this decision and keeps it a secret until the meeting of the nobles of the kingdom. She waits in front of the throne room with Horace and is later there to see Halt off. Loxy promises him to "look after" Sean and support him in the new uneasy position. In return Halt agrees to write to her after his party returns home after dealing with the Outsider. Then he is surprised when his niece embraces him, telling him to take care. After both sides wish each other luck, Halt and Horace depart. Loxy would then wait for her brother and discuss the new situation briefly.
About two months later, when Sean returned to the castle from one of his trips around the country, he and Loxy would have a conversation about their uncle, stating they have only hear of him when captain Keelty arrived at the capital with Halt's letter. Around that time, Clonmel has managed to full get out of the influence of the Outsiders and has reached relative peace, sans the problematic nobles, who Loxy is left to deal with in Seans absence as princess regent. While she isn't too happy with the burden that comes with such position, especially since the nobles were against her taking it, like her brother she puts the country first. As they discuss the possibility of turning the help towards other Hibernian kingdoms, a knight Alden arrives with a message to Loxy. Both siblings are pleased to hear it's from Halt, who confirms the return to Redmont Fief and the promised help of Araulen soldiers. The scene would end with Loxy realising that the mysterious letter which arrived to her mother all those years must have been from Halt as well.
Well, that's as far as this story was planned to be like. To make things better (or worse, based on different POV), I was also playing with the idea of sequel where Loxy would be coming to Araulen somewhere between half-a-year and year after receiving the letter from Halt - possibly around the time that the borrowed soldiers would return back to their homeland. She would travel with Alden, one diplomat and a few soldiers, however, after their ship reaches the docks, Loxy would leave them and travel to Redmont Fief incognito with the goal of meeting her uncle, while the remaining of her company travel to Castle Araluen. During her travel, she would run into Gilan, somehow manage to attend the Ranger Gathering and reunite with Halt and Will. Later on she would be finally introduced to her aunt Pauline, who she would get along with. At some point Loxy would pay a visit to the capital and reveal herself as Princess of Clonmel. Before she would return back home, she would hint that Clonmel might have its queen within a year or so, thus inviting Halt, Pauline, Horace and Will to attend Sean's wedding when the right time arrives...
I'm once again sorry for ending this story suddenly, and I hope that this brief summary has helped to cover at least a little bit of the disappointment that comes with it. I might not have the right to do so, but I kindly ask for your understanding.
Yours Pyo-Kiyo
PS: If anyone feels like adopting the story as their own, you are welcome to do so, but it would make me happy if you tried to stick to the summary I provided.