Post by aurorax on Mar 25, 2010 9:51:10 GMT 10
Title: Triangles II
Rating: PG-13
Length: 630 words
Competitor: Owen
Round/Fight: Final
Summary: The second in a series of love triangle fics, started last round.
When Kel had first arrived in Cavall three days earlier, tonight’s evening meal had been a black cloud obscuring the horizon of what promised to be a peaceful stay. In the later months of the war, she had become more comfortable around Wyldon the man rather than Wyldon the training master, for all that he had been her superior officer. They were just on the edge of beginning to understand one another, enough that Kel had felt little anxiety about accepting Owen’s invitation to formally meet Margarry and celebrate the announcement of his betrothal. She had been awestruck as they emerged from a small wood to see the orchards and rolling hills of Cavall spreading before them, dotted periodically by a fine warhorse or prize hound. Owen had laughed at the look on her face, she remembered, and said softly, “It’s really something, isn’t it?” in a voice that made her heart break.
Margarry had rode in just as dusk was falling a day prior, having ridden ahead on her fine-boned bay mare. Wyldon had scolded her for riding alone, but there was a pride in his eyes that told Kel he secretly admired the quiet rebellion of his youngest child. Owen had simply looked amazed, as if he had never seen a woman on horseback before. When he turned to her and whispered, “Isn’t she amazing?” Kel had been surprised to feel a sudden surge of anger which threatened to overwhelm her carefully-painted smile. She had fought bandits and Scanrans and a deranged mage without hesitation, and all he saw was Margarry’s courage in refusing to ride in a carriage. Maybe she showed equal boldness when risking needle wounds in her fine embroidery. For the millionth time, Kel could only wonder what it was that she was missing.
Then she had removed her hooded cloak, and everything became clear. From their brief introduction Kel could see Margarry had her father’s strong features and a pair of the finest dark eyes she had ever seen. What she didn’t seem to have inherited was Wyldon’s sternness; she had offered her small hand with a dancing smile, but whether it was her mother’s openness or something all the young woman’s own Kel had no idea. Her beauty was subtle but undeniable, the type that was more and more striking the longer one stared. Kel could only sigh; of course she would be unimaginably lovely.
Vivienne had arrived that afternoon, properly conveyed in a small carriage, so the formal introductions would take place tonight. As curious as she was to meet Wyldon’s wife, the painful promise of having to smile and make polite conversation with Margarry made her look towards the coming evening with dread. But after the scene she had witnessed in the stables, and her night with Wyldon (what had she been thinking? He was married and her former teacher and the Stump, curse the Goddess. Neither had been in their right minds, but it had done nothing to ease the pain, and the regret had come quick and overwhelming with the morning light.) she couldn’t imagine a place she’d prefer to be less. Even the Chamber seemed to pale in comparison, and she gladly would have entered a third time if it would have saved her from the next few hours.
Resigned, Kel dressed to meet the man whose eyes she was afraid to meet, the woman whose trust she had betrayed, the girl who had stolen her dreams, and the love of her life who could never know the truth. She sent a fleeting prayer to the Goddess for patience and tranquility as she descended the sweeping stairs, bracing herself for a long and agonizing night. Father would be proud if she made it through this one unscathed.
Rating: PG-13
Length: 630 words
Competitor: Owen
Round/Fight: Final
Summary: The second in a series of love triangle fics, started last round.
When Kel had first arrived in Cavall three days earlier, tonight’s evening meal had been a black cloud obscuring the horizon of what promised to be a peaceful stay. In the later months of the war, she had become more comfortable around Wyldon the man rather than Wyldon the training master, for all that he had been her superior officer. They were just on the edge of beginning to understand one another, enough that Kel had felt little anxiety about accepting Owen’s invitation to formally meet Margarry and celebrate the announcement of his betrothal. She had been awestruck as they emerged from a small wood to see the orchards and rolling hills of Cavall spreading before them, dotted periodically by a fine warhorse or prize hound. Owen had laughed at the look on her face, she remembered, and said softly, “It’s really something, isn’t it?” in a voice that made her heart break.
Margarry had rode in just as dusk was falling a day prior, having ridden ahead on her fine-boned bay mare. Wyldon had scolded her for riding alone, but there was a pride in his eyes that told Kel he secretly admired the quiet rebellion of his youngest child. Owen had simply looked amazed, as if he had never seen a woman on horseback before. When he turned to her and whispered, “Isn’t she amazing?” Kel had been surprised to feel a sudden surge of anger which threatened to overwhelm her carefully-painted smile. She had fought bandits and Scanrans and a deranged mage without hesitation, and all he saw was Margarry’s courage in refusing to ride in a carriage. Maybe she showed equal boldness when risking needle wounds in her fine embroidery. For the millionth time, Kel could only wonder what it was that she was missing.
Then she had removed her hooded cloak, and everything became clear. From their brief introduction Kel could see Margarry had her father’s strong features and a pair of the finest dark eyes she had ever seen. What she didn’t seem to have inherited was Wyldon’s sternness; she had offered her small hand with a dancing smile, but whether it was her mother’s openness or something all the young woman’s own Kel had no idea. Her beauty was subtle but undeniable, the type that was more and more striking the longer one stared. Kel could only sigh; of course she would be unimaginably lovely.
Vivienne had arrived that afternoon, properly conveyed in a small carriage, so the formal introductions would take place tonight. As curious as she was to meet Wyldon’s wife, the painful promise of having to smile and make polite conversation with Margarry made her look towards the coming evening with dread. But after the scene she had witnessed in the stables, and her night with Wyldon (what had she been thinking? He was married and her former teacher and the Stump, curse the Goddess. Neither had been in their right minds, but it had done nothing to ease the pain, and the regret had come quick and overwhelming with the morning light.) she couldn’t imagine a place she’d prefer to be less. Even the Chamber seemed to pale in comparison, and she gladly would have entered a third time if it would have saved her from the next few hours.
Resigned, Kel dressed to meet the man whose eyes she was afraid to meet, the woman whose trust she had betrayed, the girl who had stolen her dreams, and the love of her life who could never know the truth. She sent a fleeting prayer to the Goddess for patience and tranquility as she descended the sweeping stairs, bracing herself for a long and agonizing night. Father would be proud if she made it through this one unscathed.