Ice Island 4
Title: Ice Island 4
Words: 1440-ish
Rating: PG
The banquet hall was more full than Arthur had seen for months. All the House Knights were gathered, seated around the long table normally reserved for the sacrificial Yule feast, dressed in the black half-capes clasped with a silver shield that denoted their badge of office. The House servants lined the walls, standing stiffly as their betters sat. Even their kin had gathered, seated upon the back benches with their own less impressive settings. Arthur's stomach quivered with the sick sensation of moths as he walked into the hall behind his lady mother who dressed in a long flowing silver gown. His father had trussed him back into the same cold silk though at least this time he had the similar half-cape that the Knights wore with a simple silver leaf as a clasp. The half-cape seemed a full cape on him and he could almost hear the twins snickering behind Crow and Idwallon.
They would not dare, he told himself, his chin raising high as he mounted the huge steps up to the dais. The First Knight, Idwallon's father sat to his lady mother's right and Arthur was seated to her left, Crow beside him. Arthur was all the more glad for the seating arrangements, since that put his father all the way on the other side of his lady mother and it meant he could sit next to his favorite brother. On less formal occasions, he would have to sit next to his father and watch his sires fawn all over each other.
The First Knight remained standing as the rest of them sat at their places. Idwallon's father, Sirrah Tyrwen, was an imposing warrior, broader than most Fae with large shoulders that could match a mud-person's, standing tall as an elk, antlers and all. He had hard eyes as black as pitch, set in a deep brow. He kept his muddy brown hair in a thick braid down his back. Some said that he only cut his hair when he was defeated in battle and it was very long indeed. Long scars marred his once handsome face in the likeness of lion's claws, running from above his hairline to the right side of his chin. At his belt he kept an enchanted silver long sword and his shield hung on the back of his chair, always showing his steadfast readiness to defend his liege at any given moment.
Arthur's father did not like him to say the least. Arthur himself did not have much of an opinion on the matter though his father always told him to be wary of the First Knight. The very same Fae that was supposed to protect him and his lady mother both.
"Your attention," the First Knight called out, silencing any murmurs as the party settled down. "Before we commence, I have news from the war. We have managed to push back the Bright Court infringement on the Forest of Yonder and overtook them at the Far Meadows in no small part due to Our Lady's skills and stratagems." The hall cheered appropriately in response, some of the more magically adept sending glowing streams up light into the air. Arthur knew these places and he smiled as well. The Bright Court was nearly pushed back to their own domain, as far as that could be said for the nomadic people. If this kept up the tides would soon turn in favor of the moon once again.
Once the din subsided, the First Knight called for their attention once again. "Lady Annowre has some additional words." The party dutifully stood as one when the Earless rose. She looked out upon the House she commanded, eyes level, unyielding and proud. Power seeped from her very pores, magic so uncontainable that it was palpable in the very air around her like mist.
"Our battle at the Far Meadows was a great victory for the Night Court. Yet we fight for a cause far greater than land. We fight for our very way of life! Theirs is a people who resist change, who would spend their days in endless summer and laze about in complacency! We are the harbingers of change through our blades, bringing death yes, but new life as well! THEY would have us worship the mud-people! Our war is not yet won until we push those insipid creatures back to the barren desert from wence they came." Her words were like fire, her eyes shining like green coals, and the House so steeped in the cold drew to them like life flame. They pounded on the tables, more sparks lighting up in the air through their raucous cheers. The fire of pride likewise burned in Arthur, who raised his chin just a bit higher as he looked out upon the crowd.
"So it is with those words that I welcome Baird Hyyer to our ranks as Knight, to join us in our Great War against the Seelie."
Arthur felt the very earth drop out from under him. He turned to look at Crow with wide disbelieving eyes, as the House roared in cheers once again. Crow raised a hand waving out at them with a small smirk upon his lips.
No, no, this was all wrong. Crow was not supposed to leave. He was supposed to stay here with him! Arthur shook his head, his eyes growing hot as he tried to catch Crow's eyes. Crow did not turn down to look at him, did not give him a reassuring smile and tell him that it was all lies, even if Fae could never tell falsehoods.
"Look up," he heard a whisper beside him. He turned, but his lady mother was smiling serenely out at the crowd. His lady mother had not spoken directly to him for years, but it had to be her. "Shed a single tear," she said under her breath, "and I will pluck your very eyes from your sockets and feed them to the Niseag."
There it was. This was real and Crow was leaving. Arthur trembled, but he nodded faintly as he looked out upon his subjects with hardened eyes.
Words: 1440-ish
Rating: PG
The banquet hall was more full than Arthur had seen for months. All the House Knights were gathered, seated around the long table normally reserved for the sacrificial Yule feast, dressed in the black half-capes clasped with a silver shield that denoted their badge of office. The House servants lined the walls, standing stiffly as their betters sat. Even their kin had gathered, seated upon the back benches with their own less impressive settings. Arthur's stomach quivered with the sick sensation of moths as he walked into the hall behind his lady mother who dressed in a long flowing silver gown. His father had trussed him back into the same cold silk though at least this time he had the similar half-cape that the Knights wore with a simple silver leaf as a clasp. The half-cape seemed a full cape on him and he could almost hear the twins snickering behind Crow and Idwallon.
They would not dare, he told himself, his chin raising high as he mounted the huge steps up to the dais. The First Knight, Idwallon's father sat to his lady mother's right and Arthur was seated to her left, Crow beside him. Arthur was all the more glad for the seating arrangements, since that put his father all the way on the other side of his lady mother and it meant he could sit next to his favorite brother. On less formal occasions, he would have to sit next to his father and watch his sires fawn all over each other.
The First Knight remained standing as the rest of them sat at their places. Idwallon's father, Sirrah Tyrwen, was an imposing warrior, broader than most Fae with large shoulders that could match a mud-person's, standing tall as an elk, antlers and all. He had hard eyes as black as pitch, set in a deep brow. He kept his muddy brown hair in a thick braid down his back. Some said that he only cut his hair when he was defeated in battle and it was very long indeed. Long scars marred his once handsome face in the likeness of lion's claws, running from above his hairline to the right side of his chin. At his belt he kept an enchanted silver long sword and his shield hung on the back of his chair, always showing his steadfast readiness to defend his liege at any given moment.
Arthur's father did not like him to say the least. Arthur himself did not have much of an opinion on the matter though his father always told him to be wary of the First Knight. The very same Fae that was supposed to protect him and his lady mother both.
"Your attention," the First Knight called out, silencing any murmurs as the party settled down. "Before we commence, I have news from the war. We have managed to push back the Bright Court infringement on the Forest of Yonder and overtook them at the Far Meadows in no small part due to Our Lady's skills and stratagems." The hall cheered appropriately in response, some of the more magically adept sending glowing streams up light into the air. Arthur knew these places and he smiled as well. The Bright Court was nearly pushed back to their own domain, as far as that could be said for the nomadic people. If this kept up the tides would soon turn in favor of the moon once again.
Once the din subsided, the First Knight called for their attention once again. "Lady Annowre has some additional words." The party dutifully stood as one when the Earless rose. She looked out upon the House she commanded, eyes level, unyielding and proud. Power seeped from her very pores, magic so uncontainable that it was palpable in the very air around her like mist.
"Our battle at the Far Meadows was a great victory for the Night Court. Yet we fight for a cause far greater than land. We fight for our very way of life! Theirs is a people who resist change, who would spend their days in endless summer and laze about in complacency! We are the harbingers of change through our blades, bringing death yes, but new life as well! THEY would have us worship the mud-people! Our war is not yet won until we push those insipid creatures back to the barren desert from wence they came." Her words were like fire, her eyes shining like green coals, and the House so steeped in the cold drew to them like life flame. They pounded on the tables, more sparks lighting up in the air through their raucous cheers. The fire of pride likewise burned in Arthur, who raised his chin just a bit higher as he looked out upon the crowd.
"So it is with those words that I welcome Baird Hyyer to our ranks as Knight, to join us in our Great War against the Seelie."
Arthur felt the very earth drop out from under him. He turned to look at Crow with wide disbelieving eyes, as the House roared in cheers once again. Crow raised a hand waving out at them with a small smirk upon his lips.
No, no, this was all wrong. Crow was not supposed to leave. He was supposed to stay here with him! Arthur shook his head, his eyes growing hot as he tried to catch Crow's eyes. Crow did not turn down to look at him, did not give him a reassuring smile and tell him that it was all lies, even if Fae could never tell falsehoods.
"Look up," he heard a whisper beside him. He turned, but his lady mother was smiling serenely out at the crowd. His lady mother had not spoken directly to him for years, but it had to be her. "Shed a single tear," she said under her breath, "and I will pluck your very eyes from your sockets and feed them to the Niseag."
There it was. This was real and Crow was leaving. Arthur trembled, but he nodded faintly as he looked out upon his subjects with hardened eyes.