Post by Tamari on May 13, 2012 8:42:45 GMT 10
Series: Bitter, Twisted Lies
Title: History's Shame
Rating: PG-13
Event: 4x100 Relay
Words: 400
Summary: Eiralys can't do anything right. WARNING for references to alcohol abuse, domestic abuse. May be triggering.
Author's Notes: Titles for series and fics taken from Maya Angelou's I Rise. I wasn't sure about the rating, so please tell me if it should be raised!
I.
"Eiralys!" Margarry says, grabbing her approaching sister. "This is Lord Marek of Rocky Gorge. Marek, this is my sister."
"Nice to meet you," the former commoner says. He must not notice or care about the badly hidden disgust in Eiralys' face, because he smiles widely.
"I'll just leave you two." Margarry hurries away before Eiralys can protest. She glowers at Marek, who just looks amused.
"How were you ennobled?" she says with a cruel emphasis.
"Did a service for King Jonathan."
"Must be nice to be respected," she says, half-sarcastically.
"I thought so too, once." He bows. "Care to dance?"
II.
There is a tiny cemetery on the palace grounds, far off the elaborate well-traveled paths. Eiralys has kept it to herself since she discovered it- it's hers.
King Jonathan personally buried the people who fought for him. But for Eiralys, it's not really about the graves- more about why a crazy sorcerer was followed to regicide and beyond.
Eiralys is not a follower.
She traces a headstone. It's strange, the kind of people who fought for the king; there must be a story, but she doesn't know it.
Standing, she touches the name again.
Marek Swiftknife, King of the Thieves.
III.
Drinking is not the answer. She knows it.
But pain isn't pain when she's numb, and she doesn't want to feel. She wants to stop crying when something reminds her of her father (gone, gone, gone) - wants to stop pulling at her skin like the ache can be scratched away. Nothing can take this away but death; alcohol is the next best thing.
Marek is the answer. She ignores it.
Marek is stoic, a fighter. Marek is her father, and she doesn't want him to be (but she does and he's not Wyldon, never will be).
She takes a swig.
IV.
Eiralys scrubs at the floor of the tavern, yells from months and years ago still ringing in her ears.
Useless - whore - liar - disowned.
If Marek hadn't found her, delirious with fever on the streets, she'd be dead. She's alive now, even if she's long lost her youth and beauty.
She deserved it. She should have been a better wife, should've been obedient and sweet. But she's Eiralys and she's anything but, and trying could only do so much.
She feels a hand on her shoulder.
"It's not your fault," Marek says, just like he does every day.
She scrubs harder.
I. Marek is ennobled.
II. Marek is Rogue and dies during the coronation.
III. Wyldon dies during the attack on the nursery.
IV. Eiralys is married off and then kicked out by her husband.
Title: History's Shame
Rating: PG-13
Event: 4x100 Relay
Words: 400
Summary: Eiralys can't do anything right. WARNING for references to alcohol abuse, domestic abuse. May be triggering.
Author's Notes: Titles for series and fics taken from Maya Angelou's I Rise. I wasn't sure about the rating, so please tell me if it should be raised!
History's Shame
I.
"Eiralys!" Margarry says, grabbing her approaching sister. "This is Lord Marek of Rocky Gorge. Marek, this is my sister."
"Nice to meet you," the former commoner says. He must not notice or care about the badly hidden disgust in Eiralys' face, because he smiles widely.
"I'll just leave you two." Margarry hurries away before Eiralys can protest. She glowers at Marek, who just looks amused.
"How were you ennobled?" she says with a cruel emphasis.
"Did a service for King Jonathan."
"Must be nice to be respected," she says, half-sarcastically.
"I thought so too, once." He bows. "Care to dance?"
II.
There is a tiny cemetery on the palace grounds, far off the elaborate well-traveled paths. Eiralys has kept it to herself since she discovered it- it's hers.
King Jonathan personally buried the people who fought for him. But for Eiralys, it's not really about the graves- more about why a crazy sorcerer was followed to regicide and beyond.
Eiralys is not a follower.
She traces a headstone. It's strange, the kind of people who fought for the king; there must be a story, but she doesn't know it.
Standing, she touches the name again.
Marek Swiftknife, King of the Thieves.
III.
Drinking is not the answer. She knows it.
But pain isn't pain when she's numb, and she doesn't want to feel. She wants to stop crying when something reminds her of her father (gone, gone, gone) - wants to stop pulling at her skin like the ache can be scratched away. Nothing can take this away but death; alcohol is the next best thing.
Marek is the answer. She ignores it.
Marek is stoic, a fighter. Marek is her father, and she doesn't want him to be (but she does and he's not Wyldon, never will be).
She takes a swig.
IV.
Eiralys scrubs at the floor of the tavern, yells from months and years ago still ringing in her ears.
Useless - whore - liar - disowned.
If Marek hadn't found her, delirious with fever on the streets, she'd be dead. She's alive now, even if she's long lost her youth and beauty.
She deserved it. She should have been a better wife, should've been obedient and sweet. But she's Eiralys and she's anything but, and trying could only do so much.
She feels a hand on her shoulder.
"It's not your fault," Marek says, just like he does every day.
She scrubs harder.
I. Marek is ennobled.
II. Marek is Rogue and dies during the coronation.
III. Wyldon dies during the attack on the nursery.
IV. Eiralys is married off and then kicked out by her husband.