Post by Meluivan Indil on Feb 16, 2006 14:20:21 GMT -5
Author’s Note: This little fic was inspired by a dream I had about ten years ago. Now to explain something. I never remember my dreams beyond say five minutes after waking. So the fact that I remembered this particular dream is amazing, but what is even more amazing is that I have had the same dream at least five times in the last ten years and remembered it each time. So that leads me to believe that this story needs to be told. So without further ado I present To Live A Lie. Rated Teen due to violence and minor adult content.
Okay this is an entry for the Original Fairy Tale contest on Novice Writers, and honestly I’m not sure how much it would be considered a Fairy Tale considering the fact that it is extremely dark at times and does include some violence. But I’m going to enter it anyway. I’ll let you guys be the judge. I’m not sure yet how many chapters it will be. I’m writing this on the fly so it could be 5 or 25. Who knows? Anyway I hope you all enjoy.
Remy followed the young man out the window and onto the balcony. He couldn’t believe something like this had actually happened. He was the most well protected man in all of Halcion, yet this young man who was little more than a boy had snuck through all of his defenses and dared such a thing. And the fact that it was this young man made it even more unbelievable. How could this happen?
Destin had failed in the revenge he had planned. And worst yet he had been caught. Why did that interfering Lord have to show up when he did? It mattered not now. Now he must escape. He ran across the balcony and started climbing down a trellis to the ground below. The Lord’s estate was huge and he knew once he made his way into the gardens it would take them days to find him and by then he and his mother would be long gone from Halcion. His mother. He had failed her. That was something he would have to live with his entire life, but she would understand. She always understood.
As he dropped to the stone cobbles below he was surprised to look up and see Lord Remy climbing down right behind him. He had not expected that from a Noble. Not even this Noble. He turned to make for the gardens when he heard a low growling just ahead of him. He silently cursed himself as two large black dogs came towards him. He hated those dogs. He pulled his sword knowing that there would be only one way to make it past the large beasts.
“Brave enough to face an unarmed sleeping woman, or two dogs, but not brave enough to face me,” a voice called from behind him.
Destin silently cursed his luck. He had not figured that the Lord would be so fast in climbing the trellis. But as he turned to face the man a smug look crossed his face. “Why would I pick a fight that I can not win? I remember the last time I tried to duel you,” Destin said reaching up and tracing his hand along the scar just below his ear. “It was a most costly lesson you taught me.”
“Well tonight will be much more than a lesson, boy,” Remy spat out in anger.
Destin nodded and the smile on his face faded into a bitter resolve. “I had wished this day would never come. I had rather grown to like it here,” he said regretfully.
“It is not I who attempted murder this night, so don’t look to me for pity,” Remy said raising his sword and lunging towards Destin determined to kill him. Destin raised his own sword just in time to deflect the blow. As they danced across the stone cobbles they fought in earnest for the first time since Destin and his mother had come to live on the Lord’s estate. With each blow Destin dished out Remy returned his own blow twice as strong. It was as if the man was possessed.
Remy’s final blow was too strong for Destin to hold as his own sword flew from his hand, and within seconds Destin was lying on the ground with Remy poised over him and the sword tip was pressed to his throat. Destin could feel the sharp steel bite into his throat as a trickle of blood ran down into the collar of his tunic.
“Now tell me, why you would want to kill my wife?” Remy said holding his anger in far enough to allow the question.
“Just get it over with, your Lordship,” Destin spit out sarcastically.
Remy stared in disbelief at Destin. After everything he had done for the boy and his mother how could he repay him in such a way? “I kept you from hanging. I brought you and your mother into my home. I clothed you. I fed you. I found the best doctor for your mother. And after all of that this is how you repay me!” Remy’s voice was becoming louder and louder. “Why did you try to kill my wife?”
A gasp was heard from towards the house. Remy glanced up to see Annalise staring at them her hand covering her veiled face. “Remy, please don’t,” she whispered in fright.
“Mother, don’t watch this. Go away,” Destin called out swallowing hard and feeling the blade pressing against his throat again.
Annalise ignored her son’s request and moved forward. “Please, Remy. Don’t kill my son. He’s all I have left.”
“He tried to kill Sebra and I want to know why,” Remy spit out bitterly.
“It’s my fault, Remy. Please he was doing it for me,” Annalise pleaded again.
“No Mother, shut up. He doesn’t deserve the truth. Let him live the rest of his life with that cold viper. They deserve each other,” Destin said feeling his ire raise even more. But he felt fear more than anything else. If his mother’s secret were revealed would she be killed right along beside him?
Remy looked from Destin to Annalise and back again. His gaze finally rested on the boy as his words came out cold and bitter. “Give me one good reason why I should let him live.” He did not look towards Annalise. His pale blue eyes remained fixed to Destin.
Annalise stared from man to boy knowing what she must do to save her son. She must stop living the lie her life had become. “You should let him live…You should let him live because he is your son, Remy.”
Destin looked to his mother in sheer horror. Not even he had known this secret. How many secrets did she hold within that shattered heart of hers?
The words did not register in Remy’s mind for a split second but then as they took shape inside his head he slowly looked towards Annalise. The look on her face was a look of pure honesty mixed with anguish over the pain her secret would cost. Then Remy’s eyes strayed back to the young man at the end of his blade. Destin his son.
Six months earlier.
It had been seventeen years since Annalise had seen the city of Halcion. She had not been much more than a child the day she had left its walls for the final time. At that time she had not known she would be absent for so many years
And now as she looked up at the huge gates they were passing through she felt a coldness pass over her heart. She did not want to be there. She was afraid, but not for herself. Long ago she had stopped feeling fear for herself. Her fear was solely for the young man sitting beside her in the wagon. She looked to him and could not help the feeling of pride she always felt when she saw her only son.
Destin glanced at his mother and could see the anxiety that she was feeling, written plainly across her face. He knew Halcion was the city of her birth and where she had grown into a young woman. But for some reason she had fought him for three years every time he had suggested that they move to the largest city in the province.
He was sixteen years of age and it was past time that he should have apprenticed with a master tradesman. As it was he would find it difficult to get a master with any skill at all to take him. He had argued with his mother on countless occasions concerning the fact. He knew that if he was to become a decent metal crafter that there was only one place in the province that he must go. Halcion
The city was teaming with activity. Along the streets he could see vendors with carts loaded with goods of all shapes and sizes. There were stalls filled with vegetables, breads, linen goods, pottery and almost any item that could be imagined. It was truly the largest trade city within hundreds of miles.
The small city of Kelsey that they had lived in his entire life could in no way compare with the sheer size and beauty that was Halcion. Nor could it offer the opportunity that he was looking for. He had apprenticed with the local blacksmith in Kelsey for the past four years and knew a great deal about metalworking. But old Grim had only used his trade for practical purposes. They had made horseshoes, farming tools and very few weapons, but that had been the extent of his training. He wanted to create things of beauty. Swords of the finest metals with the most beautifully intricate designs. Armor fit for royalty that would also be usable by the bravest of warriors. He had so many ideas for designs running through his mind that his mother often wondered if he would ever be able to create it all in one lifetime. But he vowed he would.
She had finally given in to his pleas to move to Halcion when he had threatened to leave her behind. He was of age that he could be out on his own, but in his heart he knew he would never leave her on her by herself. In his eyes she was a frail woman. He knew she would never make it on her own.
He looked closely at the gauzy veil she had placed over the lower half of her face. He knew the scars that the veil hid. And every time he let himself dwell on the only thing to mar his mother’s beauty he felt a tightness in his chest.
She had told him very little of the fire she had survived before his birth. All he truly knew was it was the reason she had never returned to Halcion, and that it had left her with a vicious scar starting just below her left ear running along her jaw line to just below her chin. He knew she had other scars that he had never seen, but worst of all the fire had done something to her on the inside, and every so often she would have spells that caused her to be unable to breath. Those times had scared him. No, actually they had left him petrified with fright. There was a medicine made out of certain plants and herbs that helped these spells, but it was hard to come by and very expensive when it could be found.
He wondered to himself if maybe she was frightened that they would not be able to obtain her medicine in Halcion. But she would not reveal her fears to him. She sat beside him staring forward almost as if the sights surrounding her were something she saw everyday and was completely unaffected by them.
“Mother are you sure this is all right with you?” he asked nervously praying that she would not take the opportunity to back out.
She looked to him and he could see the look of determination in her emerald green eyes. “Yes, Son. This is where you must be. I will not stand in your way,” her voice rang clear even though her mouth was covered.
He nodded proud of her ability to overcome her fears. She would withstand anything for him, he knew. She had worked hard his entire life to give him everything he needed, and he knew there were times she had given more than she should have to make him happy. For this he respected and loved her over any person he knew. They traveled in silence as she pointed out the streets they must take to find the small house they had arranged to occupy.
The house was much smaller than what they had lived in before. But they had taken what they could afford, and Destin swore to his mother that someday they would not have to live in such squalor. She just nodded and went about arranging the small amount of belongings they had brought with them.
Author’s Note: Well what do you all think. The first part is the dream that inspired this story and the rest will be the story that I worked up to explain how they got to the dream. So do you think Remy will kill Destin? And what other secrets does Annalise hold?
Okay this is an entry for the Original Fairy Tale contest on Novice Writers, and honestly I’m not sure how much it would be considered a Fairy Tale considering the fact that it is extremely dark at times and does include some violence. But I’m going to enter it anyway. I’ll let you guys be the judge. I’m not sure yet how many chapters it will be. I’m writing this on the fly so it could be 5 or 25. Who knows? Anyway I hope you all enjoy.
To Live A Lie
Remy followed the young man out the window and onto the balcony. He couldn’t believe something like this had actually happened. He was the most well protected man in all of Halcion, yet this young man who was little more than a boy had snuck through all of his defenses and dared such a thing. And the fact that it was this young man made it even more unbelievable. How could this happen?
Destin had failed in the revenge he had planned. And worst yet he had been caught. Why did that interfering Lord have to show up when he did? It mattered not now. Now he must escape. He ran across the balcony and started climbing down a trellis to the ground below. The Lord’s estate was huge and he knew once he made his way into the gardens it would take them days to find him and by then he and his mother would be long gone from Halcion. His mother. He had failed her. That was something he would have to live with his entire life, but she would understand. She always understood.
As he dropped to the stone cobbles below he was surprised to look up and see Lord Remy climbing down right behind him. He had not expected that from a Noble. Not even this Noble. He turned to make for the gardens when he heard a low growling just ahead of him. He silently cursed himself as two large black dogs came towards him. He hated those dogs. He pulled his sword knowing that there would be only one way to make it past the large beasts.
“Brave enough to face an unarmed sleeping woman, or two dogs, but not brave enough to face me,” a voice called from behind him.
Destin silently cursed his luck. He had not figured that the Lord would be so fast in climbing the trellis. But as he turned to face the man a smug look crossed his face. “Why would I pick a fight that I can not win? I remember the last time I tried to duel you,” Destin said reaching up and tracing his hand along the scar just below his ear. “It was a most costly lesson you taught me.”
“Well tonight will be much more than a lesson, boy,” Remy spat out in anger.
Destin nodded and the smile on his face faded into a bitter resolve. “I had wished this day would never come. I had rather grown to like it here,” he said regretfully.
“It is not I who attempted murder this night, so don’t look to me for pity,” Remy said raising his sword and lunging towards Destin determined to kill him. Destin raised his own sword just in time to deflect the blow. As they danced across the stone cobbles they fought in earnest for the first time since Destin and his mother had come to live on the Lord’s estate. With each blow Destin dished out Remy returned his own blow twice as strong. It was as if the man was possessed.
Remy’s final blow was too strong for Destin to hold as his own sword flew from his hand, and within seconds Destin was lying on the ground with Remy poised over him and the sword tip was pressed to his throat. Destin could feel the sharp steel bite into his throat as a trickle of blood ran down into the collar of his tunic.
“Now tell me, why you would want to kill my wife?” Remy said holding his anger in far enough to allow the question.
“Just get it over with, your Lordship,” Destin spit out sarcastically.
Remy stared in disbelief at Destin. After everything he had done for the boy and his mother how could he repay him in such a way? “I kept you from hanging. I brought you and your mother into my home. I clothed you. I fed you. I found the best doctor for your mother. And after all of that this is how you repay me!” Remy’s voice was becoming louder and louder. “Why did you try to kill my wife?”
A gasp was heard from towards the house. Remy glanced up to see Annalise staring at them her hand covering her veiled face. “Remy, please don’t,” she whispered in fright.
“Mother, don’t watch this. Go away,” Destin called out swallowing hard and feeling the blade pressing against his throat again.
Annalise ignored her son’s request and moved forward. “Please, Remy. Don’t kill my son. He’s all I have left.”
“He tried to kill Sebra and I want to know why,” Remy spit out bitterly.
“It’s my fault, Remy. Please he was doing it for me,” Annalise pleaded again.
“No Mother, shut up. He doesn’t deserve the truth. Let him live the rest of his life with that cold viper. They deserve each other,” Destin said feeling his ire raise even more. But he felt fear more than anything else. If his mother’s secret were revealed would she be killed right along beside him?
Remy looked from Destin to Annalise and back again. His gaze finally rested on the boy as his words came out cold and bitter. “Give me one good reason why I should let him live.” He did not look towards Annalise. His pale blue eyes remained fixed to Destin.
Annalise stared from man to boy knowing what she must do to save her son. She must stop living the lie her life had become. “You should let him live…You should let him live because he is your son, Remy.”
Destin looked to his mother in sheer horror. Not even he had known this secret. How many secrets did she hold within that shattered heart of hers?
The words did not register in Remy’s mind for a split second but then as they took shape inside his head he slowly looked towards Annalise. The look on her face was a look of pure honesty mixed with anguish over the pain her secret would cost. Then Remy’s eyes strayed back to the young man at the end of his blade. Destin his son.
Six months earlier.
It had been seventeen years since Annalise had seen the city of Halcion. She had not been much more than a child the day she had left its walls for the final time. At that time she had not known she would be absent for so many years
And now as she looked up at the huge gates they were passing through she felt a coldness pass over her heart. She did not want to be there. She was afraid, but not for herself. Long ago she had stopped feeling fear for herself. Her fear was solely for the young man sitting beside her in the wagon. She looked to him and could not help the feeling of pride she always felt when she saw her only son.
Destin glanced at his mother and could see the anxiety that she was feeling, written plainly across her face. He knew Halcion was the city of her birth and where she had grown into a young woman. But for some reason she had fought him for three years every time he had suggested that they move to the largest city in the province.
He was sixteen years of age and it was past time that he should have apprenticed with a master tradesman. As it was he would find it difficult to get a master with any skill at all to take him. He had argued with his mother on countless occasions concerning the fact. He knew that if he was to become a decent metal crafter that there was only one place in the province that he must go. Halcion
The city was teaming with activity. Along the streets he could see vendors with carts loaded with goods of all shapes and sizes. There were stalls filled with vegetables, breads, linen goods, pottery and almost any item that could be imagined. It was truly the largest trade city within hundreds of miles.
The small city of Kelsey that they had lived in his entire life could in no way compare with the sheer size and beauty that was Halcion. Nor could it offer the opportunity that he was looking for. He had apprenticed with the local blacksmith in Kelsey for the past four years and knew a great deal about metalworking. But old Grim had only used his trade for practical purposes. They had made horseshoes, farming tools and very few weapons, but that had been the extent of his training. He wanted to create things of beauty. Swords of the finest metals with the most beautifully intricate designs. Armor fit for royalty that would also be usable by the bravest of warriors. He had so many ideas for designs running through his mind that his mother often wondered if he would ever be able to create it all in one lifetime. But he vowed he would.
She had finally given in to his pleas to move to Halcion when he had threatened to leave her behind. He was of age that he could be out on his own, but in his heart he knew he would never leave her on her by herself. In his eyes she was a frail woman. He knew she would never make it on her own.
He looked closely at the gauzy veil she had placed over the lower half of her face. He knew the scars that the veil hid. And every time he let himself dwell on the only thing to mar his mother’s beauty he felt a tightness in his chest.
She had told him very little of the fire she had survived before his birth. All he truly knew was it was the reason she had never returned to Halcion, and that it had left her with a vicious scar starting just below her left ear running along her jaw line to just below her chin. He knew she had other scars that he had never seen, but worst of all the fire had done something to her on the inside, and every so often she would have spells that caused her to be unable to breath. Those times had scared him. No, actually they had left him petrified with fright. There was a medicine made out of certain plants and herbs that helped these spells, but it was hard to come by and very expensive when it could be found.
He wondered to himself if maybe she was frightened that they would not be able to obtain her medicine in Halcion. But she would not reveal her fears to him. She sat beside him staring forward almost as if the sights surrounding her were something she saw everyday and was completely unaffected by them.
“Mother are you sure this is all right with you?” he asked nervously praying that she would not take the opportunity to back out.
She looked to him and he could see the look of determination in her emerald green eyes. “Yes, Son. This is where you must be. I will not stand in your way,” her voice rang clear even though her mouth was covered.
He nodded proud of her ability to overcome her fears. She would withstand anything for him, he knew. She had worked hard his entire life to give him everything he needed, and he knew there were times she had given more than she should have to make him happy. For this he respected and loved her over any person he knew. They traveled in silence as she pointed out the streets they must take to find the small house they had arranged to occupy.
The house was much smaller than what they had lived in before. But they had taken what they could afford, and Destin swore to his mother that someday they would not have to live in such squalor. She just nodded and went about arranging the small amount of belongings they had brought with them.
Author’s Note: Well what do you all think. The first part is the dream that inspired this story and the rest will be the story that I worked up to explain how they got to the dream. So do you think Remy will kill Destin? And what other secrets does Annalise hold?