Post by evilgriffeon on Jul 3, 2012 2:03:15 GMT 10
rating: PG (PG-13 or possibly R in later sections)
summary: crossover/AU
warnings: may include non-cannon pairings and family relations. as few OC's as possible
notes: (Le Morte d'Arthur highlight to read title of book, but attempt to guess first.) If you can guess who all the characters are I've substituted, give yourself a pat on the back. :þ
If this is too difficult to follow, please say something.
I can clarify points if necessary.
Book 1
The rumours spread quickly: the new king had appeared out of nowhere. The realm was stable. Without this new prince they would have been swept away by the foreign empire. There were thirteen other claimants to the Tortallan throne, none with a claim greater than the others, and they would have torn the realm apart to gain power.
But the Boy had appeared; the old king’s son, a secret marriage, bought up by his uncle, mother dead. A new hope for the kingdom. A magician had named him so, verified the story, and sworn his services to the new king. He was to be crowned by spring.
Jon could hardly believe when his Brother knelt in front of him. A brother he now found to be his cousin. A brother who had always been bigger, older, stronger than him. A brother who knelt in the mud to serve him.
The first tournament was held in the winter, for the king to show himself to the nobles of his lands. From the north Mindelan and Trebond, from the east Goldenlake, Tirragen, Naxen, and the south Port Legann and the Bazhir of the desert. They fought well, and though the young king declined to enter, his Cousin took all who came, and beat most.
There was war: eleven Lords refused to believe the wizard, the Baron of Mindelan and the young heir of Trebond among them. On the advice of the Numair, (for the wizard was so named), the King sent for the Lord of Trebond, and the duke of Queenscove, knights reputed to be the best in the land, who were to provide an ambush for the army of the eleven lords.
The battle fought was long, and arduous, with much reshuffling of horses, but eventually the Lords were beaten back, blood covering any designs of rank or side. They refused to give in. they stood amid the confusion with the remnants of their armies, ready to fight to the death if need be. It took Numair to stop the fighting. He argued with the King, who wished to wipe the traitors from the earth. “ Word is already coming: Scanrans have invaded their fiefs, and they will be begging for your help soon enough. Show them mercy now, for the Gods are already wrathful for the lives lost today.”
On seeing the daughter of the Sarain Emperor when she was bought back as his cousin’s bride, Gary understood how Jon had fallen in love with her. Thayet was truly beautiful. And she seemed happy. She rode into Corus with a smile on her face, as the people threw rose petals over their new queen. The looks she gave Jon at meals made it clear enough what went on between them in the bedchamber, and the whole of court expected a pregnancy at any moment.
Twelve nobles came from the empire of Carthak to the south. They demanded truage. They got none, only threats of war. They returned to Carthak, and were dismissed as a minor problem.
The orders came straight from the king: The thought remained unvoiced that something this big ought to need countersigning. Kings were above the law. The babes were put on a ship, which was sunk. Those ordered to do the deed tried to forget. Those who lost children remembered.
Book 2
Numair made a prophecy; it surprised no one. “Here shall fight the two greatest knights of the realm, the greatest fight there ever was or will be, and both shall live through it.”
War broke out again with twelve lords. Many of the same who had rebelled before, with Mindelan at their head, for Jonathan had slept with his wife. He fought well, but was killed by the Lord of Cavall. The twelve lords died.
Jon took the sword from Numair. The scabbard was richly decorated, inlaid with gold and jewels. He ignored it and drew the blade. It was wonderful. The finest steel, and evenly balanced.
“It is a good sword. I will look after it.”
“Ah, but you would do better to look after the scabbard.” Numair smiled.
“Why is that? It appears precious, but not irreplaceable.”
“When you wear the scabbard you shall never lose a drop of blood, no matter how badly injured you might be.”
Book 3
It was the first time Jonathan had broken tradition, and it would hardly be the last. His wedding was to be on the last day of midwinter, and all the new knights, rather than being knighted on the day of their ordeal, would gain their shield on the same day. The group included the oldest son of Mindelan, Anders, whose mother was sister to the king.
Then came a common man to the court. A shepheard, by the look of him. His clothes were ragged and he brought with him a young man, tall and well made. He bowed to the King, and presented his son. “ My Lord. I ask that you make my son a Knight, for he spends the days hunting, and watching for knights errant, and is no good to me or my wife.”
Jonathan looked at the boy. He was already tall at the age of ten, and would doubtless make a good knight of the realm. “What is your name, young man?”
“Cleon, my lord. Cleon of Kennan.” and he knelt before the king.
The king saw that the boy looked nothing like the man who claimed to be his father, and was puzzled.
“I wish to talk to my advisors. Wait for me.”
The king was joined by Numair in a small office. “So” he asked the man “What do you think of him? It would do good to give our training master a bit of a challenge.”
“I doubt he’ll be a challenge.” the mage smiled. “This young man is no commoner’s son, but the son of one of the realm’s greatest noble families.”
The boy was enrolled as a page, and his father returned to his home.
The marriage feast was lavish, and after the ceremony, and the knighting of those who had asked, they sat down to eat. Anders of Mindelan, the King's nephew, was displeased to be replaced in his seat near the king by the Lord of Cavall. “I am determined to have that man dead” he murmured to his Brother, Innes, who served his as a squire, “He killed our father and he shall pay.”
“Wait, brother, till I am knighted. then you will have at least one ally at court”.
Book 4
Numair came to the king, his face grave. “My Lord, I will not be here much longer, and I wish to tell you all I know of what to come.” So he imparted all the prophecies he had foreseen, ending with the warning “In the years to come you will want my help, but you must find another way around your problems. I will be gone.”
Jon scowled. “If you know when and how you will die, how come you do not just avoid it?”
The wizard smiled. “Some things are impossible to change, and destiny is one of them.”
Numair disappeared, but word came from Trebond and the northern fiefs that he had been seen there, in the company of a young mage by the name of Daine, and that he had prophesied that the daughter of that fief should do great deeds, though her brother was a mediocre knight at best, and one of questionable loyalty. Jonathan wished he had the northerners sworn to him, for then Alanna of Trebond would be his knight, and do her great deeds in his name.
Rumour said many things about Numair’s fate, and the prevailing opinion was that the girl, exasperated with his constant desire, had tricked him into a trap, and that he was buried alive somewhere in the mountains.
It was said that the assassination attempt was made by Duke Roger, the king’s cousin, but there was no proof. The king was kidnapped, and forced into fighting Delia of Eldorne, known to be a lover of the Duke, who Jonathan beat only through luck. She claimed not to be trying to kill him, and flatly refused any suggestion as to her involvement in the kidnapping, so no arrests could be made. She died of her wounds.
Book 5
Raoul,
I hope you’re having fun with your little K’miri. Jon’s already started showing off. This last week he killed a giant with Gary and Francis. I say he killed a giant...
Our pet Mindelan got into a scrap, which turned into all out battle soon enough. I say he’s got a talent for that kind of thing. I’m sending this from our territories, delivering prisoners, but letters should reach us pretty easily. We’re leaving a bit of carnage behind us. How is work with the immortals going?
Alanna
My Darling Thayet,
I assure you I am fine. Yes, I battled Ozorne one on one. He was a bad fighter, barely scratched me. Yes, He is dead. Serves him fight for trying to subdue tortall. Terribly glad you survived that meeting with the hurrocks. Tell Raoul I thank him and hope his arm heals up soon. You should be pleased with your new title, Empress.
Your ever loving husband,
Jonathan
Dear Mother,
Are you all well? I feel a little guilty about taking so many men-at-arms with me to Carthak, with the Immortals and everything. the King is pleased with my service, and you shall be proud of what I’ve achieved Mama. Send my greetings to everyone, especially Liam, as otherwise he’ll forget me, being so little. I bet he already has.
Look after yourself, and send me Innes as soon as he completes his ordeal,
Anders of Mindelan
Book 6
It was unsurprising that Alanna of Trebond went adventuring after the return from the Carthaki invasion, and the court were desperate to get tales of her deeds, from returning knights and visiting ladies.
There was the tale of how she, allegedly, killed a giant. (Though, as someone murmured to their neighbour, standing next to Alanna, most people looked like giants.) Sir Gareth told of how she had saved his life, then swapped her shield for his and fought many people who would never have dared to pit themselves against The Lioness. Anders of Mindelan and Alex of Tirragen, along with other knights who rode with them, told tales of a mysterious knight who unseated all of them. Thus the tales of the Lioness spread. Her saving of beautiful ladies, and her devotion to the goddess, were famed throughout the land.
Book 7
A letter came to Jon from a girl wishing to be a page. He considered it, then took the matter to his training master.
“Think about it Gary,” He urged. “She’s even suggested a probationary year. She must be good.”
“But we’ve never accepted girls.”
“My queen’s champion is a woman.”
“But she’s Trebond. They’ve always done things differently, and, well, she’s Alanna.” Gary frowned. “If you let her you’ll just have more trouble from those who don’t like your reign.”
Jon paused in his pacing. “ They’ll find things wrong with anything I do. It’s up to you in the end. It’s you who’ll be teaching her.”
“I’ll take her, then.” Gary smiled. “But you can take the consequences.”
And so Keladry of Mindelan rode to corus.
When she became a Knight, eight years later, Alanna of Trebond knighted her. The conservatives, still going after eight years, grumbled more, but never in the presence of the Lioness, Sir Anders, or the lady knight herself, as all three were good enough with a lance that it was dangerous to be on their wrong side. Kel’s first action as a knight had been to unseat her former teacher, Gareth of Naxen, in a training bout.
She was sent, with many other knights, to the Scanran border, to fight in the war that had broken out the summer before. Words of her deeds came to the king and court soon afterwards, her bravery in dealing with the killing machines, and her hunting down of their creator. Soon enough her fame was as great as that of the Lioness’.
Keladry of Mindelan, Protector of the Small.
summary: crossover/AU
warnings: may include non-cannon pairings and family relations. as few OC's as possible
notes: (Le Morte d'Arthur highlight to read title of book, but attempt to guess first.) If you can guess who all the characters are I've substituted, give yourself a pat on the back. :þ
If this is too difficult to follow, please say something.
I can clarify points if necessary. Book 1
The rumours spread quickly: the new king had appeared out of nowhere. The realm was stable. Without this new prince they would have been swept away by the foreign empire. There were thirteen other claimants to the Tortallan throne, none with a claim greater than the others, and they would have torn the realm apart to gain power.
But the Boy had appeared; the old king’s son, a secret marriage, bought up by his uncle, mother dead. A new hope for the kingdom. A magician had named him so, verified the story, and sworn his services to the new king. He was to be crowned by spring.
Jon could hardly believe when his Brother knelt in front of him. A brother he now found to be his cousin. A brother who had always been bigger, older, stronger than him. A brother who knelt in the mud to serve him.
The first tournament was held in the winter, for the king to show himself to the nobles of his lands. From the north Mindelan and Trebond, from the east Goldenlake, Tirragen, Naxen, and the south Port Legann and the Bazhir of the desert. They fought well, and though the young king declined to enter, his Cousin took all who came, and beat most.
There was war: eleven Lords refused to believe the wizard, the Baron of Mindelan and the young heir of Trebond among them. On the advice of the Numair, (for the wizard was so named), the King sent for the Lord of Trebond, and the duke of Queenscove, knights reputed to be the best in the land, who were to provide an ambush for the army of the eleven lords.
The battle fought was long, and arduous, with much reshuffling of horses, but eventually the Lords were beaten back, blood covering any designs of rank or side. They refused to give in. they stood amid the confusion with the remnants of their armies, ready to fight to the death if need be. It took Numair to stop the fighting. He argued with the King, who wished to wipe the traitors from the earth. “ Word is already coming: Scanrans have invaded their fiefs, and they will be begging for your help soon enough. Show them mercy now, for the Gods are already wrathful for the lives lost today.”
On seeing the daughter of the Sarain Emperor when she was bought back as his cousin’s bride, Gary understood how Jon had fallen in love with her. Thayet was truly beautiful. And she seemed happy. She rode into Corus with a smile on her face, as the people threw rose petals over their new queen. The looks she gave Jon at meals made it clear enough what went on between them in the bedchamber, and the whole of court expected a pregnancy at any moment.
Twelve nobles came from the empire of Carthak to the south. They demanded truage. They got none, only threats of war. They returned to Carthak, and were dismissed as a minor problem.
The orders came straight from the king: The thought remained unvoiced that something this big ought to need countersigning. Kings were above the law. The babes were put on a ship, which was sunk. Those ordered to do the deed tried to forget. Those who lost children remembered.
Book 2
Numair made a prophecy; it surprised no one. “Here shall fight the two greatest knights of the realm, the greatest fight there ever was or will be, and both shall live through it.”
War broke out again with twelve lords. Many of the same who had rebelled before, with Mindelan at their head, for Jonathan had slept with his wife. He fought well, but was killed by the Lord of Cavall. The twelve lords died.
Jon took the sword from Numair. The scabbard was richly decorated, inlaid with gold and jewels. He ignored it and drew the blade. It was wonderful. The finest steel, and evenly balanced.
“It is a good sword. I will look after it.”
“Ah, but you would do better to look after the scabbard.” Numair smiled.
“Why is that? It appears precious, but not irreplaceable.”
“When you wear the scabbard you shall never lose a drop of blood, no matter how badly injured you might be.”
Book 3
It was the first time Jonathan had broken tradition, and it would hardly be the last. His wedding was to be on the last day of midwinter, and all the new knights, rather than being knighted on the day of their ordeal, would gain their shield on the same day. The group included the oldest son of Mindelan, Anders, whose mother was sister to the king.
Then came a common man to the court. A shepheard, by the look of him. His clothes were ragged and he brought with him a young man, tall and well made. He bowed to the King, and presented his son. “ My Lord. I ask that you make my son a Knight, for he spends the days hunting, and watching for knights errant, and is no good to me or my wife.”
Jonathan looked at the boy. He was already tall at the age of ten, and would doubtless make a good knight of the realm. “What is your name, young man?”
“Cleon, my lord. Cleon of Kennan.” and he knelt before the king.
The king saw that the boy looked nothing like the man who claimed to be his father, and was puzzled.
“I wish to talk to my advisors. Wait for me.”
The king was joined by Numair in a small office. “So” he asked the man “What do you think of him? It would do good to give our training master a bit of a challenge.”
“I doubt he’ll be a challenge.” the mage smiled. “This young man is no commoner’s son, but the son of one of the realm’s greatest noble families.”
The boy was enrolled as a page, and his father returned to his home.
The marriage feast was lavish, and after the ceremony, and the knighting of those who had asked, they sat down to eat. Anders of Mindelan, the King's nephew, was displeased to be replaced in his seat near the king by the Lord of Cavall. “I am determined to have that man dead” he murmured to his Brother, Innes, who served his as a squire, “He killed our father and he shall pay.”
“Wait, brother, till I am knighted. then you will have at least one ally at court”.
Book 4
Numair came to the king, his face grave. “My Lord, I will not be here much longer, and I wish to tell you all I know of what to come.” So he imparted all the prophecies he had foreseen, ending with the warning “In the years to come you will want my help, but you must find another way around your problems. I will be gone.”
Jon scowled. “If you know when and how you will die, how come you do not just avoid it?”
The wizard smiled. “Some things are impossible to change, and destiny is one of them.”
Numair disappeared, but word came from Trebond and the northern fiefs that he had been seen there, in the company of a young mage by the name of Daine, and that he had prophesied that the daughter of that fief should do great deeds, though her brother was a mediocre knight at best, and one of questionable loyalty. Jonathan wished he had the northerners sworn to him, for then Alanna of Trebond would be his knight, and do her great deeds in his name.
Rumour said many things about Numair’s fate, and the prevailing opinion was that the girl, exasperated with his constant desire, had tricked him into a trap, and that he was buried alive somewhere in the mountains.
It was said that the assassination attempt was made by Duke Roger, the king’s cousin, but there was no proof. The king was kidnapped, and forced into fighting Delia of Eldorne, known to be a lover of the Duke, who Jonathan beat only through luck. She claimed not to be trying to kill him, and flatly refused any suggestion as to her involvement in the kidnapping, so no arrests could be made. She died of her wounds.
Book 5
Raoul,
I hope you’re having fun with your little K’miri. Jon’s already started showing off. This last week he killed a giant with Gary and Francis. I say he killed a giant...
Our pet Mindelan got into a scrap, which turned into all out battle soon enough. I say he’s got a talent for that kind of thing. I’m sending this from our territories, delivering prisoners, but letters should reach us pretty easily. We’re leaving a bit of carnage behind us. How is work with the immortals going?
Alanna
My Darling Thayet,
I assure you I am fine. Yes, I battled Ozorne one on one. He was a bad fighter, barely scratched me. Yes, He is dead. Serves him fight for trying to subdue tortall. Terribly glad you survived that meeting with the hurrocks. Tell Raoul I thank him and hope his arm heals up soon. You should be pleased with your new title, Empress.
Your ever loving husband,
Jonathan
Dear Mother,
Are you all well? I feel a little guilty about taking so many men-at-arms with me to Carthak, with the Immortals and everything. the King is pleased with my service, and you shall be proud of what I’ve achieved Mama. Send my greetings to everyone, especially Liam, as otherwise he’ll forget me, being so little. I bet he already has.
Look after yourself, and send me Innes as soon as he completes his ordeal,
Anders of Mindelan
Book 6
It was unsurprising that Alanna of Trebond went adventuring after the return from the Carthaki invasion, and the court were desperate to get tales of her deeds, from returning knights and visiting ladies.
There was the tale of how she, allegedly, killed a giant. (Though, as someone murmured to their neighbour, standing next to Alanna, most people looked like giants.) Sir Gareth told of how she had saved his life, then swapped her shield for his and fought many people who would never have dared to pit themselves against The Lioness. Anders of Mindelan and Alex of Tirragen, along with other knights who rode with them, told tales of a mysterious knight who unseated all of them. Thus the tales of the Lioness spread. Her saving of beautiful ladies, and her devotion to the goddess, were famed throughout the land.
Book 7
A letter came to Jon from a girl wishing to be a page. He considered it, then took the matter to his training master.
“Think about it Gary,” He urged. “She’s even suggested a probationary year. She must be good.”
“But we’ve never accepted girls.”
“My queen’s champion is a woman.”
“But she’s Trebond. They’ve always done things differently, and, well, she’s Alanna.” Gary frowned. “If you let her you’ll just have more trouble from those who don’t like your reign.”
Jon paused in his pacing. “ They’ll find things wrong with anything I do. It’s up to you in the end. It’s you who’ll be teaching her.”
“I’ll take her, then.” Gary smiled. “But you can take the consequences.”
And so Keladry of Mindelan rode to corus.
When she became a Knight, eight years later, Alanna of Trebond knighted her. The conservatives, still going after eight years, grumbled more, but never in the presence of the Lioness, Sir Anders, or the lady knight herself, as all three were good enough with a lance that it was dangerous to be on their wrong side. Kel’s first action as a knight had been to unseat her former teacher, Gareth of Naxen, in a training bout.
She was sent, with many other knights, to the Scanran border, to fight in the war that had broken out the summer before. Words of her deeds came to the king and court soon afterwards, her bravery in dealing with the killing machines, and her hunting down of their creator. Soon enough her fame was as great as that of the Lioness’.
Keladry of Mindelan, Protector of the Small.
Brilliant idea. I do love Numair in this. The thought of him making prophecies amuses me for some reason, haha.
