#reena zevach

[shellyscribbles]

First Seven Lines Tag

I got tagged twice for this, so thank you to both @avrablake and @j-1173

Rules: post the first 7 lines of something - it can be a WIP, a chapter, a scene, anything.

For one I will share the first 7 lines of Reena's first POV in the Hallendrest story:

              Reena pushed back a strand of her dark brown hair as she read back the last few lines she had written. Satisfied, she continued writing out the ideas she had for the remodel of her rooms. For the first time in months her mind was occupied by something that didn’t fill her with a sense of dread and helplessness. She gave herself to the task completely. So much so that she failed to hear the repeated knocks at her door.

              “Reena?”

              The princess paused her writing and looked to her brother who stood in the door way.

And for a change of pace, the first 7 lines of Callan's POV in Claws of God.

              I tried not to roll my eyes when Phoebe read the caption above 2 Timothy 3. It was the actual last days, and that somehow made me want to avoid any scripture that had anything to do with it. I knew that was stupid. They had literally never been more relevant, but I still felt like it was uninspired. Were we digging through it because we though it mattered, or did it just seem like what we should be doing?

              Who were we to say it really mattered? We can’t stop it.

[shellyscribbles]

15 Questions tag

Thank you for the tag @avrablake :)

Rules: Answer the 15 questions as your OC or yourself. I think you're supposed to tag 15 people....

But I'll just tag @ghostbymistake, @talesofsorrowandofruin, @author-a-holmes, @ashen-crest and an open tag if anyone else would like to.

I will answer as Reena Zevach from Hallendrest. (Pre Marriage to Kallias).

1 - Are you named after anyone?

No. I think it means calm melody, so perhaps as the fourth child I was named in hopes my personality would match.

2 - When was the last time you cried?

I am over do for it. I probably should let myself cry it out more.

3 - Do you have any kids?

Not yet.

4 - Do you use sarcasm?

Rarely and probably improperly. Not a very royal way to speak.

5 - What's the first thing you notice about people?

Their eyes. I've always found you can tell more about a person from watching their eyes than anything. Well, aside from the things they do of course, but I can hardly notice that first.

6 - What is your eye color?

Brown. I didn't inherit my father's lovely blue eyes like my brother did.

7 - Scary movies or happy endings?

I probably should prefer a happy ending, but I don't mind a good startling I guess.

8 - Any special talents?

I am rather good with plants. Probably the druid ancestors.

9 - Where were you born?

The Adullam Palace in Haebrook.

10 - What are your hobbies?

My main hobby was gardening, but that's not a very practical hobby when the ground dies. Cooking is rather fun though I don't know much about it. Royals don't tend to cook their own food.

11 - Do you have any pets?

No I never have. I think I would like one.

12 - What sports do you or have you played?

I don't get to play much as a princess but my brother Mircea would indulge me with some sword fights. With sticks, of course.

13 - How tall are you?

Not quite as tall as my oldest sister, but not short. I think 5"5'.

14 - Favorite subject in school?

Dancing was always fun. For actual learning I always found the natural sciences the most interesting.

15 - Dream job?

If I could indulge my most whimsical inclinations I suppose I would want to be a poet.

[shellyscribbles]

I wrote today. Here's some scribbles.

On the last day of the journey, Reena sat up as she realized the number of plants wasn’t tapering off as it had in the other lands. In fact, they were growing denser. Trees began to line the streets. Strips of grass and flowers decorated the spaces before the buildings. As the buildings grew closer together, they seemed to find more imaginative ways to include lush green plants. Many of the buildings were decorated with plants growing over the sides of the walls. Even the trees often had flowering vines curling around the trunks and lower branches.

“Welcome to Kalt.” Kedar said with a slight smile noting the princess’ reaction.

“Its alive.” She half-whispered, smiling despite herself. Hearing of the wealth and bounty of Kalt had done nothing to prepare her for the sight of it. The buildings were beautiful, the streets were clean, and there was green everywhere.

“This is the goal, what we wish for all of Vonterre to be. It’s a hard road.”

Reena only half listened as she pressed against the window, trying to see more of the tall buildings that now loomed over them resplendently. The carriage paused in some thick traffic as they neared the palace. The streets were packed with people as well as other carriages.

The carriage inched forward until she could see down a street into a sort of court yard which seemed to be the center of the bustle. The place all the people were pushing to get to. There were stands and banners that kept her from seeing what was happening on the stage, though she could see a young girl sitting in a cage just on the edge of the platform. She looked around the stands and spotted the royal flag of Vonterre hanging on a high tower. She could just make out the stern expression of the man seated in it. Kallias.

She shivered as the carriage came free of the crowd and moved down the road allowing the buildings to block her view again. She had been so intoxicated with the beauty of the city she nearly forgot why she had come to Kalt. She was to marry King Kallias, the brutal, unhappy man perched over the spectacle.

“What was that?” Reena asked, finally turning from the window.

“Order being maintained. Hallendrest being protected.” Kedar’s expression grew cold for a moment.

Reena frowned.

“An execution. Its important the people understand the severity of what magic is doing to our world.”

Reena turned back to the window, though the beauty was somewhat deadened as she thought of the girl on the platform.

[shellyscribbles]

Hallendrest Scribbles

I am enjoying writing Mircea. I don't write a lot of brothers.

              “My Lord,” the servant said with a bow and backed out of the room as King Adlay turned his attention to her.

              “Your majesty,” she said with a bow.

              “Princess Reena,” he took her hand as she straightened, placing a brief kiss across her knuckles. “I apologize for not welcoming you personally.” He gave a tight smile, “I had expected you a few hours later.”

              “Of course. I wouldn’t presume to be more important than your duties running your kingdom.” She gave a slight nod as she spoke, wondering if she was addressing him with sufficient honor.

              “Your majesty.”

              An expression of keen annoyance flashed across the king’s face as he turned to the servant who stood in the doorway behind him.

              “Prince Mircea Zevach, your majesty. I apologize for bringing him later than expected.” The servant cowered more than bowed as the king stared at him.

              Mircea approached the king and gave him a rather shallow bow. “Your majesty.”

              Oh, for the love of Vontis Mircea, get your face under control. Reena thought, her stomach dropping as her brother nearly glared at the most powerful man in Vonterre. A man who could only make her life worse should he be annoyed by her or her family.

              “Older brother I presume.” King Adlay muttered with a nod before he turned his attention back to Reena. Mircea slowly made his way to his sister’s side. His face looked far calmer to Reena’s relief.

              “I hope your journey to Kalt wasn’t too arduous.” His brow furrowed a moment, “No mountains between Adullam and here?”

              “No, Lord.” Reena replied and forced a small smile.

              “It-” The king began but was cut off by another servant at the door.

              “Your majesty, you are needed in the council chambers.”

              King Adlay ground his teeth slightly as he turned. “I’ll be there shortly.”

              Unperturbed by the growling reply of his king, the servant gave a slight bow and turned on his heel to deliver the king’s reply.

              Kallias took a deep breath and returned to the prince and princess. “Forgive me, you’ve arrived on a rather difficult day.” He focused his attention on Reena, “If you are able, it would be my pleasure to dine with you this evening.”

              “Of course. It would be my honor.” She replied with a slight bow and wondered what exactly he thought she had planned given she was entirely at his mercy.

              “Good. Tonight then.” He reached for her hand which she gave him and he kissed her knuckles once more before nodding to her brother then sweeping out of the room followed by the guards who rushed to surround him once more.

              When the room grew still, Reena turned and slapped her brother’s arm. “What is the matter with you?”

              Mircea looked at the closed doors though which the king had left with a scowl very much like the one he had given the king at his entrance. “Sorry Reena. I’ve just spent the afternoon learning about the justice of Kalt.” He turned and looked sympathetically at his sister though there was still fire in his eyes. “I hope you never have to see one.” He shook his head.

              “Don’t do that. This is hard enough.” She glances past her brother to the servant who was slipping quietly out the servant entrance leaving the royal siblings to argue in private.

              “Reena,” Mircea started once more. “Come back with me. What I have learned,” he shook his head.               “Mircea, please.”

              “That execution this morning, the one we drove by? There is a main or primary execution and then other fugitives executed with them. The main one this morning was a girl, a little girl, only ten. Her name was Helia. The King had her entire village destroyed today and its people banished to starve in the grey lands because they didn’t immediately turn her over. They did give her over in the end and he still upheld the punishment. Your Fiancé is a monster, Reena.”

              Reena squeezed her eyes closed and shook her head. “I am well aware of my fiancé’s cruelty. But, we don’t have a choice.” She opened her eyes again and met her brother’s steady gaze.

[shellyscribbles]

I am struggling through the part of the Hallendrest story I am writing because I have a later scene stuck in my head that I want to get to.

That and writing about Reena leaving Adullam is a weird kind of feels for me right now. I have her brother more heavily involved than last time. I like him. One of those background characters that stepped out on the rewrite.

[shellyscribbles]

Hallendrest scribbles

I am in the weird phase of my writing process where I am both planning, outlining, and writing. A good deal of the planning becomes clear when I have written more and become more acquainted with the characters and the world.

As she entered she found her father sitting with slumped shoulders at his desk while her mother stood near the window with her arms wrapped tight around herself. She glanced at them each as they turned at the sound of her entry. “Father, you asked to see me?” King Ektor nodded and did his best to sit up straight, though Reena could clearly see the exhaustion and turmoil in his face. “Yes, come. Sit." Reena looked again at her mother who turned away to the window, giving the distinct impression of hiding as she did so. “What is this about?” She asked, her eyes lingering on her mother’s back. “We’ve reached an agreement.” Her father’s voice was steady with a note of finality. “With Kalt? Vonterre?” Reena started. “Yes.” Reena looked wide eyed at her father, “I…How…but what of, of, your promises…” She stammered as a hundred ideas formed in her mind and tried to pour out at once. Surely he couldn’t mean he’d made an agreement to join, to give up their sovereignty and submit to the whims of Kalt and it’s king. “The King offered a condition that I believe will ensure that Adullam is protected from some of the worst of Vonterre’s ideas.” He looked away from Reena. “What condition?” Reena frowned, noting something shame begin to color his face. After a long pause he met her eye again. “That a princess of Adullam would reign as queen of Vonterre.” Reena sat in stunned silence. How could he submit to doing that to his own daughter who was raised and trained to take his place on the throne? To change from a refusal to take part in the cancerous kingdom of Vonterre to marrying his own flesh and blood into it? “You are sending Cassandra to be married to that, that monster of a man? How long do you think that will last? How long before he…before…” Her voice trailed off as her father’s gaze drifted from her’s once more, the look of shame now obvious. “Oh, sweet Vontis, you aren’t sending Cassandra are you?” her voice came out just above a whisper. Her father turned back to her eagerly, “King Kallias didn’t wish to interrupt the succession for the Adullam throne. Our family will still rule in Adullam as a providence of Vonterre. And you,” he paused looking at her with sorrow as tears spilled from her eyes, “you must be our voice in Kalt. As his wife, he may listen to you. At a minimum, the homeland of the queen has to mean something.” Reena stood, pushing the chair back and stumbled away from her father. The room suddenly felt extremely close and airless. Without another word she turned and fled.