#descriptive narrative

[sentimentalnebula]

Night Tide

You’re back! You see my heart-melting smile, at least that’s what you’ve called it some of the times. You feel the secure warmth of my fingers between yours, and let out a peaceful sigh. I’ve waited. I run to embrace you, this place feels so empty and dark each time you’re gone. I look into your enchanting eyes, eager to learn what they’ve seen since your last visit.

We feel so familiar with each other So many times you’ve come, each time bringing a brilliant twilight with you, The horizons glowing with new life Both the dark and the light, The sharp neons and the gentle pastels… I know so much about you, Yet there always seems to be more to learn. I’ve never been disappointed. I understand it all perfectly, of course… It’s you. But I don’t understand you. So many times you’ve come, each time with a look of confusion, Your memory’s ignorance: An untethered kite, It brushes the sand, it flops in the breeze… But it will never join the wind. You know so little about me, Though you always enjoy whatever you learn, Like pearlescent footprints of sand in your mind. Then my heart sinks when I know it’s time to go, These footprints will wash away yet again. But I’m still walking. I’m still walking. I know those moments when you’re in that other place, You hear something, see something, feel something. Something that stirs. Then you pause for only a second… I know why. You remember how you feel, When you hear my beckoning voice, See my heart-melting smile, Feel the secure warmth of my hand holding yours… That wistfulness settles on your face, I know you remember—you have to remember! My longest five seconds of your day. Then, as if in a shrug, you resume your life. Your life without me. You don’t know it’s me you’re missing as your day goes by, Until you lay down and close your eyes… You return. You see my heart-melting smile… I kinda hope you mention it this time as we lay together in the shimmering grass. You feel the secure warmth of my hand holding yours… I hear your peaceful sigh as the footprints come back, each step so familiar as they come. I’ve waited. I run to embrace you… You look cute when you’re surprised, which buries my pain of forever being your surprise. I look into your enchanting eyes… You see my own eyes quivering earnestly, that perhaps you won’t forget them. But… I don’t think you really forget me over there— I think you forget that I’m real. But in my longest seconds of your day, You know those feelings are real. Don’t you remember? They’re ours. The footprints never fully wash away. You’ll find your way back to me. I imagine that eventually there will be a time When you return and never leave me. That I’d successfully snatched your string, Keeping you aloft, joining the wind… My eyes flutter and falter: Will you ever know I’m real? I etch myself in your sand, Then comes the tide again But don’t you see?? I was there—we were there! Yet I know you. I know there will never be a time When you leave and I lose you forever; The footprints never fully wash away As long as I keep walking. I’m still walking.

[shanleefan-blog]

Forsaken Honour - Journals from House Tenau

Shanlee`s PoV

How long had it been since I have seen the light of day now, or looked up at the stars?  Even Kortan`s face was becoming hard to recall when I closed my eyes.  The details were more shadowy and I had to call on my imagination for what I could no longer picture in my mind`s eye.  My nostrils had even become somewhat accustomed to the stench of human waste from my own and other cells around me.  I counted the days by deep scratch marks on the far wall of my cell with a sharp loose stone.

I was not let out of my small cell except when the guard secretly working for my mother`s House was alone on watch in what I assumed must be the dead of night, for there was no way of telling time in the depth of Calpheon`s dungeons.  Only then was I allowed to slowly walk around and stretch.  He also brought me a clean bowl of water and clothe so I could wash some of the grime and sweat from my face and hands.  There was never soap, if he were caught with it, it would be difficult to explain why.  

He was a giant of a man who kept the other guards away from me.  He had pretended to claim me for his own and we kept up the charade whenever he came into my cell to give me what information he could on the situation with Yansco Rossi so as not to raise the suspicion of the other guards.  The truth was that he had a wife he loved very and for my part, I would let no man touch me willingly other than Kortan.  I could only now hope that he and my friends had not forgotten me as my life hung in the balance and I prayed my time in this dark damp cell would soon come to an end.  

[shanleefan-blog]

Forsaken Honour - Journals from House Tenau

Shanlee`s PoV

As I made my way home, I was relieved to see Kortan waiting for me in front of our house  in Heidel.  I knew he was angry, but I hoped his anger was directed at the situation and not at myself.  As we spoke I tried to make him understand that I had felt there was no other way to save Wyrosh from the hangman`s noose and unlike herself, I still believed and had hope to clear my name.  As Kortan held me, we entered our home and spoke quietly of different strategies in finding Yansco Rossi to get me away from High Inquisitor Zauron.  Though in my heart I knew I would have to keep my word and go peacefully with the High Inquisitor or risk having my friends and Kortan possibly get hurt or even killed.  I remained silent on that fact before my departure.  Thinking I  would find some  way to get the High Inquisitor swear a vow to ensure the safety of my friends in our company. _______________________ The day finally arrived.  I spent most of it working at the orphanage in Heidel.  Taking care of the the little ones helped keep my mind occupied and my thoughts away from my trip to the dungeons in Calpheon.  When Kortan arrived home we shared one final meal together and perhaps our last time in intimacy.

Finally the time came for me to say my good-byes.  We walked in near silence side-by-side to our guild hall as we met up with most of the others.  The High Inquisitor and one of his lackey`s joined us all too soon.  I said my final good-bye to Kortan hugging him close to me.  I finally told him not to come after me, but to find Yansco Rossi so that he could be made to testify.  I said good-bye to Khaedan, Talis, Mairie, Mal, Wyrosh and the others who were present.  I was able to extract a vow from Zauron that by giving myself up, he would leave all magic-users from the Iron Hawk Company alone so long as they worked for Khaedan and were under his leadership.  I waved a final farewell and tried to stay brave for their and Kortan`s sake as I was taken by boat to await my fate in the dungeons of Calpheon.

[shanleefan-blog]

Forsaken Honour - Journals from House Tenau

Shanlee`s PoV

The witch hunter`s boldness was getting worse making life for the magic-users within the Iron Hawks nearly unbearable.  It infuriated me!  The men and women I served with were good people.  Regardless of alignment, nationality or creed, we served together and spent our off hours fraternizing.  They were more than just my company, they had become like a second family, much closer in many ways, than my own had ever been.  

Everything came to a head when the High Inquisitor Zauron demanded a meeting with Wyrosh to have answers.  There was no way any of us would let her face him alone.  We knew it was bound to be a trap and that he would bring her back to Calpheon to be interrogated.  Most of us doubted she would survive to face an unbiased trial.  

It was arranged that Khaedan would accompany Wyrosh, while the High Inquisitor would also bring a second.  The rest of us would hide all over in the Heidel Quarry and observe close by in case trouble arose, including a new friend of Drahmin`s, a Valkyrie, Kaliynna Dnailo from the Holy College I did not recognize.

It quickly became evident that neither Wyrosh nor Khaedan were able to reason with the man.  He was as relentless as a dog seeking his bone.  They were debating around in circles.  Wyrosh argued her case to no avail.  By this time we decided to make our presence known.  The High Inquisitor and the dark cloaked woman with him now knew things would not be so easy for them, though it would be no easier for us.  

I nervously stood next to Kortan as it was decided that a duel to first blood would decide Wyrosh fate.  Her chosen champion, Drahmin, would face off against Zauron himself.

We all stood in a wide circle awaiting the outcome as the two armoured warriors faced off.  Though Drahmin was stronger and faster, it was experience that won out as he was slammed to the ground and left dazed for what seemed an eternity, but was surely mere seconds.  It seemed Wyrosh fate was sealed.

I raged at the injustice of it all.  She was my friend and had been a part of helping me regain my memories of Yansco Rossi along with Mairie.  Both of them had fought next to me as comrades in arms. How many times had Talis healed my wounds?  I, myself, was most probably branded a wanted criminal for I bore a certain responsibility in Lord Luca Martelli`s death.  All of it caused by Calpheon nobility`s and the Clapheon`s church twisted sense of justice.  I would stand no more and my voice rang out without pause or thought.

``STOP! `` I called out.  ``You wish a guilty woman, High Inquisitor, then one stands before you.  I am a former Valkyrie, most likely charged with the murder of the young Lord Martelli who was my charge.  Though I am innocent, I am ready to face trial and see justice rendered. ``

I heard the cries of dismay and shock from my friends, but it was Kortan`s ``Shan NO!`` which broke my heart.  I knew he couldn`t understand why I was doing this.  As I heard our commander ask for a twenty-four hour reprisal until a decision to either hand Wyrosh or myself over, I knew my fate was sealed.  Zauron seemed more than happy to return to the capital with a fallen Valkyrie as his prize.  

For my part I stood in frozen in misery as I watched the pained look cross the features of the man I loved, but worse still was his look of disgust as Kortan turned around and left all of us behind.

[shanleefan-blog]

Yansco Rossi`s Poison

Your sweet words were poison that stole my will and resolve.  The potions you added to my cups day after day were but bitter means to finish me.  When I refused to die, you tried taking my faith, my honour and my pride, but I survived, a first and second death…there would be no third!

[shanleefan-blog]

Forsaken Honour - Journals from House Tenau

Shanlee`s PoV

A woman`s voice seemd to be calling us back from darkness of memories. Some we knew were ours, but others…it was as though we watched strange images that had no connections to our life form before us.  A farm, but not our home as a child in Balenos.  A boy, but not our little brother Janot and the little girl bore no resemblance to Soryah, our adopted sister.  Then heat and flames, hot so impossible hot…the smoke choking us, our body felt on fire.  

Again we heard the woman`s voice.  She was our anchor in this shadow world. She told us to move past, that these were not out memories and not what we sought.  

More darkness and images shifted.  We felt as if the floor had disappeared from beneath us and our body was tumbling.  Waves of dizziness and sickness set in until we righted ourselves with some difficulty.

We were back at the inn in Velia.  Our room and Lord Luca`s room, our young charge, was separated by a door.  We had assured ourselves that the boy was sleeping.  Now, we hastily began to pack our bag.  We would need to leave at first light with the boy.  We needed to get away from him as soon as possible. He had lied to us, using our weaknesses against us, telling us what we wanted to hear and poisoning us little by little with his potions.  

Suddenly we heard the banging on the door.  We tried to ignore it, but he would not go away.  Too late! We realized we had not locked the door. He entered and we know the game was up.  He knew, there would be no more pretense between us, but he tried to stall us.  He gave us lame excuses, made us feel that we had misunderstood. That we were to blame.  We would have none of it and we told him we were leaving on the morrow.  He did not accept this and the shouting alerted our young lord who spoke softly only half awake.  We tried to tell Lord Luca to go back to sleep and lock the door.  Our actions seemed to make Rossi angry now. Though we were tall and strong, we felt dwarfed next to him.  He turned away for a moment and we thought he would finally leave, but he brought forth a cup, and this time we knew it for what it was. We would not believe his lies about a final farewell drink.

I…we knew what you were…are Yansco Rossi! We…I know you!  The flood gates were now open and our eyes saw, but too late!  He seized us by the throat and tried to force the poison past out lips.  We…I had to resist him at all cost!

As I fought him off, my eyes widened in horror as the door to the adjacent room flew open.  The dishevel blond head of my young lord barely visible over Rossi`s shoulders as the boy threw himself on top of Rossi to spare my own miserable life, though I needed to save his.  The poisonous cup flew and clattered onto the wooden floor as I was pushed backwards.

 Why did no one come to aid us?  Surely a ruckus had been started!  Dazed and feeling sick from horror and grief more than the actual poison I pushed myself to my feet to aid my young lord as the strong hands of our common enemy wrapped around his young throat.  I hit Rossi from behind.  Pounded on and on, trying to break his hold and it seemed to succeed for a moment, but then I was backhanded across the face and lost my balance.  I heard a last pitiful gasping sound as tears filled my eyes, blurring my vision.  My lord was dead.  The monster`s horrible shadow loomed over me, drowning out the woman`s voice which was calling me back.  I felt the blade enter my side and I could hear her no longer! I was lost, falling and dying for a second time…

[shanleefan-blog]

Forsaken Honour - Journals from House Tenau

Shanlee`s PoV

I could not put it off any longer.  The ritual to retrieve the memories which so eluded me needed to take place.

I asked Kortan to oversee it, for I trusted him with my life.  He was there as well as my commander and friend Khaedan.  

Mairie had prepared me as best as she could.  I considered the sorceress my friend and I trusted her.  She had warned me the process would be painful at the very least, deadly at the worst.  I did not enter lightly into this incantation she would cast over me.

It took place in the building which served as the infirmary for the Iron Hawks.  I was instructed to sit on one of the beds with Kortan and Khaedan to hold me down on either side if the need arose.  I placed a small supple piece of wood between my teeth given to me by Kortan.  Mairie advised me to bite into it so I would not swallow my tongue if I went into convulsions.  

I sat, feeling the hard mattress under me as I placed both my slender hands into my lap.  I listened to Mairie`s words and I took a deep and slow breath as I entered a trance.  I soon felt a darkness envelop me as my friends and Kortan started to fade away…

[shanleefan-blog]

Tempting Him

Shan asked, ``Did I hear someone say strawberries?`` She gave a wicked little grin as she opened her mouth to delicately bite into the full sanguine fruit.  Her sea green eyes met golden ones.