Post by kiz on May 2, 2012 1:36:51 GMT 10
Series: Draig
Title: Three Fables
Rating: PG
Event: Tasty Triple Jump
Words: 496
Summary: "Thayet and Buri were fine. Why wouldn't they be? You witched them. Just like you witched me." -Liam Ironarm, Lioness Rampant
+_+_+
When Liam could no longer pace the breadth of the inn, no longer pick fights with Coram, and could no longer stand the tortuously bleak conversation in the common room, he found himself fidgeting in Thayet’s room while Buri went in search of something stiff to drink that Coram had not demolished.
Liam didn’t know if he ever expected to see Alanna again. He didn’t know what he expected, or what anybody else expected, for that matter. A strangled thought was that the rest of the world, who made no efforts to stifle their tales about lone men lost in killer snowstorms, expected him to forge his way after her. And in the back of his heart, Liam asked himself the same thing. Hadn’t he loved Alanna, the pieces that he could? Wasn’t he the famous hero, the oldest Dragon in generations?
The Doi woman has told him, long ago, that he would know when it was the Dark God’s time for him. Could this be it? A mythic quest, a killer storm, a damsel in distress -- suddenly Liam was utterly convinced that this was his time, that he was meant to perish saving the Lioness. He tried to harden his resolve, but even looking outside it was all he could do to repress a shudder.
He tried to harden his resolve, and failed. It was too much, too much to ask of anybody, even a hero. It was too much.
“It’s too much to ask.” Liam mumbled. He had not meant to speak out loud.
“What is?” Thayet asked.
“Nothing. Everything. This. I don’t know.” Liam wanted to clutch at his hair, though he knew it made him look vulnerable and small.
“Oh, Liam.” Thayet said softly. “The Dragon. You know, my mother used to tell me stories about you. I never thought the Shang Dragon who fought the mad knight of Berat would like feeling helpless.”
Liam looked at Thayet sharply. Was she comforting or condemning him? Did she too, Thayet jian Wilima, expect Liam to throw himself up against the forces of nature and go out in a blaze of heroics? Thayet’s cheeks burned a low rose, and Liam felt himself relax. Fear and tension made them both awkward.
“They told stories about you as well,” Liam said, and a husky note caught at his voice. “The most beautiful woman in the world...”
“My mother,” Thayet said dismissively. She wasn’t looking at him and her blush had deepened, but delicate fingertips brushed Liam’s knee. Something new occurred to him, something he already knew he would pursue. He needn’t die tonight.
Liam edged forward and met Thayet’s eyes with his own. He saw a cacophony of longing, of desperation, of worry and fear and serenity and anguish. It was all he needed. He dipped closer and caught her lips, and then Liam was drowning in Thayet, hungrily seeking a perfect moment to lose himself with.
This would not be his destiny. This would be a separate legend.
Title: Three Fables
Rating: PG
Event: Tasty Triple Jump
Words: 496
Summary: "Thayet and Buri were fine. Why wouldn't they be? You witched them. Just like you witched me." -Liam Ironarm, Lioness Rampant
+_+_+
When Liam could no longer pace the breadth of the inn, no longer pick fights with Coram, and could no longer stand the tortuously bleak conversation in the common room, he found himself fidgeting in Thayet’s room while Buri went in search of something stiff to drink that Coram had not demolished.
Liam didn’t know if he ever expected to see Alanna again. He didn’t know what he expected, or what anybody else expected, for that matter. A strangled thought was that the rest of the world, who made no efforts to stifle their tales about lone men lost in killer snowstorms, expected him to forge his way after her. And in the back of his heart, Liam asked himself the same thing. Hadn’t he loved Alanna, the pieces that he could? Wasn’t he the famous hero, the oldest Dragon in generations?
The Doi woman has told him, long ago, that he would know when it was the Dark God’s time for him. Could this be it? A mythic quest, a killer storm, a damsel in distress -- suddenly Liam was utterly convinced that this was his time, that he was meant to perish saving the Lioness. He tried to harden his resolve, but even looking outside it was all he could do to repress a shudder.
He tried to harden his resolve, and failed. It was too much, too much to ask of anybody, even a hero. It was too much.
“It’s too much to ask.” Liam mumbled. He had not meant to speak out loud.
“What is?” Thayet asked.
“Nothing. Everything. This. I don’t know.” Liam wanted to clutch at his hair, though he knew it made him look vulnerable and small.
“Oh, Liam.” Thayet said softly. “The Dragon. You know, my mother used to tell me stories about you. I never thought the Shang Dragon who fought the mad knight of Berat would like feeling helpless.”
Liam looked at Thayet sharply. Was she comforting or condemning him? Did she too, Thayet jian Wilima, expect Liam to throw himself up against the forces of nature and go out in a blaze of heroics? Thayet’s cheeks burned a low rose, and Liam felt himself relax. Fear and tension made them both awkward.
“They told stories about you as well,” Liam said, and a husky note caught at his voice. “The most beautiful woman in the world...”
“My mother,” Thayet said dismissively. She wasn’t looking at him and her blush had deepened, but delicate fingertips brushed Liam’s knee. Something new occurred to him, something he already knew he would pursue. He needn’t die tonight.
Liam edged forward and met Thayet’s eyes with his own. He saw a cacophony of longing, of desperation, of worry and fear and serenity and anguish. It was all he needed. He dipped closer and caught her lips, and then Liam was drowning in Thayet, hungrily seeking a perfect moment to lose himself with.
This would not be his destiny. This would be a separate legend.