<kills Predian brutally...in the face>

IN THE FACE

<sighs>


Soon folks.. soon

bumpity

Time for your daily dose of Bump.

(I decided to try writing in first person, because I've had horrible writer's block)


(where we last left off, from Thrennoadae)


Slowly, his eyes opened, his beautiful brown eyes. He gazed up at his love as she huddled next to him on the bed. His hand rose and he touched her cheek gently, yet she felt it not as she stared into his eyes.


-----------------------------------


“Thrennoadae.” I spoke her name softly and a warm smile crept across my face. She was a vision, an angel guiding me back to life. I felt my strength returning to me, with one hand I brushed against the cheek of my love. With my other hand I clenched my fingers tightly, feeling the muscles in my arms pulse without pain or resistance. This was the strongest I’d felt in some time.


There was more, however. I had gained something beyond my own strength, something I could feel within me. Something strange and yet eerily familiar. I closed my eyes and felt my body shudder as memories flashed before me. Memories not my own. A monastery, the pain of loss, rape... With that thought my entire body tensed and my eyes violently opened. I was shaking and short of breath, but my eyes were clearly focused. I was not focused on the eyes of my smiling love, but beyond her, at the figure looming over us both.


He just stood there like a shadow. Watching me, watching us. He did not speak, he did not move, I could not tell if he was even breathing. He stood, projecting his hate upon us. I could feel the weight of the deeds he had done, he had not saved my life by choice, but by force. And the price, the price was higher than I could stomach. The smile on my face turned to stone and I too could feel rage within me.


“Leave.” I struggled to force the word, but it was said with cold conviction. “Now,” I continued.


My brother turned and walked away. I could hear his footsteps trail down the stairs, but more than that, I could see the door through his eyes. I could feel the cold metal of the handle as he touched it.


My eyes returned to Thrennoadae’s, but I had no words for her. Her dreams had been violated, and her body traded for my life. She had endured more through this than I had, I walked close to death, but she lived the hell I was not destined for, and now the man who caused it was part of me. For the first time in my life, I felt fear.

about time!

Time had flown by, or had it? She couldn’t tell one day from another it felt, not since that night. A chill sped up and down her spine as she forced herself to take a deep breath, then another. Yet today, today was their wedding day. Her gaze drifted to the corner where her gown hung suspended from the wooden beams. Her eyes traveled over its layers of gleaming pale gold silk decorated along the bodice with its iridescent gems that caught even the smallest bit of light. The wedding was but hours away, and she felt… a bit queasy thinking of it. She wanted to fight the feeling back as mere nervousness, her entire guild and many of their friends were gathering outside to watch their union. Yet, she knew it was more than that. Something had changed that night.


Predian was himself, sweet, kind, generous, yet there were the occasional glimpses of his eyes as she caught him gazing at her that sent a shiver through her, raising the gooseflesh on her arms. It would be gone a moment later, but she knew she’d seen it. As for Kaidric, he was an enigma, and one she avoided at all costs. If she saw him coming down the path towards Rylestone, she would turn the other way. Of course, it was obvious, but she could not help herself. She was afraid of the words she’d hear come from his lips. She was terrified of the gaze he’d level on her. She feared she’d look into his eyes, and see Predian trapped inside.


Her nervous fingers dropped the brush she’d been using and she peered into the mirror. Her features were pale, her eyes looked too bright for her cheeks. The wealth of her golden hair tumbled about her shoulders as she debated on how to wear it still. Downstairs, she could hear the sounds of people moving about, making the preparations. They’d hired cooks and gardeners for this day, and the whole village was decked out like a festival. Glancing down at the vanity in front of her, her eyes rested on a small box. Gently she pried it open and admired the glint of platinum. It was Predian’s wedding band. Across the face was inscribed a Gaelic prayer for marriage, and inside was written a few simple words for her husband to be.


“Hope everlasting, promises eternal. Love flows, grows and blossoms between us,” she whispered the translation to herself and sighed softly. She carefully closed the box and stood, stretching out her frame. “Yer getting old Threnn…,” she told herself as she pressed her knuckles against the polished wood. She leaned close in, turning her face side to side slowly. Here and there in the strands of her thick golden hair, she could see a silver hair. The lines beside her eyes had thickened over the last few years. And inside, she was beginning to feel older. “Bah, thirty years is nae that old..” and she pushed herself away and padded over to where her gown waited. She loosened it from its clips, and the soft silk flowed freely across her flesh as she slid it over her head. The hem brushed the floor, encasing her legs in its silken length, as her shoulders were bared, just a thin sliver of fabric traced from her breast to her back. She turned side to side, admiring the way it clung to her torso, then flared out in a riot of fabric, and the gems glittered softly against her breasts. A simple v-shape showed not too much, but yet accented her figure perfectly. A smile touched her lips as she nodded. “Nae bad fer a Celt…, nae bad.”


She heard a heavy footstep against the stairs, and a soft knock at the door. “Aye? Come in, I be dressed,” and she smiled bright as Milric walked through the door. The knight was her truest friend, ever there for her when she most needed him, and today was no different.


“Milric!” she beamed at him, and darted over, heedless of her gown to give him a tender hug. He returned it chastely, though with enough warmth that she knew it genuine. Giggling like a young girl, she twirled in front of him, showing off her gown and her long hair swung freely about her.


“What do ye think?”


"I think the dress is the second most lovely thing in the room," he said after a moment's appraisal. Her cheeks flushed bright red and she smiled a dazzling smile at him.


“Bah, yer speaking with a tongue as sil’er as yer armor taday.”


She gazed back at him, noting the gleam of his armor. He was decked out in his full regalia, polished till any touch of light set it shining. His black cloak was freshly cleaned and not a single stain or tear marred its length as it swirled about his ankles. His dark hair was brushed back and she could see just the touch of gray at his temples. Oddly, she’d never thought of him as old before, yet she knew him nearly twenty years her elder.


A bit of awkward silence filled the air, and she attempted to make small talk. She asked him if he’d seen Predian yet, and if everything was nearly ready downstairs. Finally, the silence filled the air again, and softly she whispered, “Milric, do ye think… do ye think he’s changed?”


Milric looked out the window, his eyes fixed as if staring at something impossibly far away. He turned back. With a faint, sad smile he offered, "Inside each of us is all the people we have ever been."


She nods and almost said something in return yet the words seem to fail her.


Further conversation was stifled as Landric bustled up to the door and knocked loudly. “Threnn! Its time!”


“I’m coming Landric, I’m coming,” she yelled back and then gazed at Milric. “Will ye walk me down m’dearest friend?”


"The honor is mine," he said offering her his arm.

-OOC-


Alright.. for those that have been so faithfully following this and all our dear in game friends..


We will not be holding the wedding IN game.. it will be simply told here in story form. Predian and I agreed this is what we wanted.


For those of you that wish to attend.. feel free to use the next day or two to add a short blurb of the story of your own. Feel free be at the wedding preparations, taking your seats.. whatever.


We'll be taking it back over from Threnn's appearance and her walking up the aisle, so no jumping around in our time line! <grins>


And yeah.. if i'm being a bit strict, I'm sorry.. but i know some of you really wanted to jump in but just didn't know where. This is the spot.


The scene is set, Rylestone is decked out in the finest, the three Ascension minstrels are playing (Vektar, Seymoura & Graver) and Predian and Landric are speaking somewhere and soon to come to the front of the benches. Theres refreshments and many friends at hand. If you can see yourself as a guest at the wedding, and want to bump into a few friends, have at it and enjoy.

Not fair, Daer can't go. >