Ice Island 7
Title: Ice Island, pt 7
Rating: PG
Words: 961
The journey in the House barge was long and uneventful. His lady mother ignored her heir, so Arthur primarily stayed in the great tent on the barge in the small space given to him for the voyage. It was a small attachment to his lady mother's bed chamber and given its size, he suspected that it served as a closet previously, though he was small enough that he hardly noticed. There he stayed with his books spread out on his cot, huddled in blankets to keep himself warm, practicing runes and small spells. He took his meals in there as well, still so caught in his father's spell of authority from his decades of parenting that Arthur ate everything on his plate.
Whenever his boredom overtook him or his closet became too cramped, he ventured out to see the happenings on the ship. Arthur observed the navigator's continuous fight against the Endless Lake to keep them from getting lost, he watched the bored Knights play wicked games with the Lake's inhabitants, he listened to the squires brag to each other about their patron Knight's exploits, he attended his lady mother's war councils in the main fold of great tent. Arthur also watched Crow.
Crow never bothered to look at him, never mind talk to him now that his youngest brother had his voice. He was too busy being accepted by his new order, whereas everyone else treated the young heir with the same cold and careful respect as ever. Before his status scared them as did his raw power. Now his voice terrified them with its potential lethality and its power to command. After all, he was to inherit their True Names and likely use them. Knowing that the younger the Unseelie, the more cruel they were apt to be, Arthur did not fully blame them.
Yet the little faeling could not stop the bitter taste from filling his mouth when he saw them at the bow, taunting the mermaids with cuts of mud-people flesh and laughing at the way the merfolk cursed them. Could not help the stab of betrayal that cut into his heart when Crow ignored him as he passed by. Wanted to stop feeling the pangs of loneliness as he wrapped himself up in his blankets in his tiny room during the daylight hours. His green eyes were dry. He was too angry at Crow to weep for him. He refused to be reduced to such a pathetic state again, not so soon, not when his lady mother could hear him with but a fold of black silk to separate their quarters.
Maybe he'd feel bad if I died! he thought one day huddled at dawn for sleep. He stifled the stupid childish notion quickly. After all, that was far too easy a wish to grant. Crow probably wouldn't even care anyway.
"Arthur," he heard a voice call out through the silk fold. It could only be his lady mother. "Come here." Not an entreaty, but a simple command.
The faeling poked his head out from underneath his blanket, growing drowsy as he could feel the sunlight emanating through the black silk cloth. What was his lady mother doing up this late? It had to be already noon. How did she even know that he'd be awake as well?
Warily, he slid out of his cot and stepped onto the silk covered floor. He could feel the wood of the barge through the thin black material as he padded towards his lady mother's bed chamber and slid through. He straightened as he passed through, presenting the image of a perfect little lord, were it not for his youth and state of undress. His lady mother was lounging on top of her bed, dressed in a silver sleeping robe, her head propped up on her arm, raven black hair tumbling around her shoulders.
With a start, Arthur realized there was someone sleeping next to her on the bed. It was of the Knights that Crow now spent his time with. The faeling recognized him from the especially sharp ears. The faeling did not have time to contemplate the significance of his presence in his lady mother's bed, when she suddenly spoke: "I cannot fall asleep."
Arthur frowned, unsure how to respond.
His lady mother looked at him in expectancy. "Well?" she said, "do something about it."
That took the faeling aback. "Uh..."
"Do not say 'uh' like some commoner," his lady mother chastised, her voice sharp. "Speak decisively."
Arthur snapped his mouth shut with a click of his jaw and nodded slowly, though he had to fight from gaping at the absurdity of this situation. His lady mother had not deigned to speak two words to him since the beginning of this journey, yet now she expected him to cure her insomnia on a whim? Nonetheless, he told his father he would obey her in all things.
Breathing softly, Arthur raised his hands towards her and spoke in his unpracticed voice, "Alu ulu v'dri." The spell floated from the tips of his fingers like tiny fluttering moths, drifting towards her like a flame. They came within an arm of her, when they suddenly incinerated, vanishing into dust by the sudden sweep of his lady mother's aura.
"Is that the best you can do?" she demanded, her green eyes narrowing on her heir. "Leave me be." With that she turned and muttered under her breath as she shook her bed companion awake.
Arthur stood there a moment longer, until the Knight's awakening compelled him to return to his own small chamber. His chest was tight, his breathing quickened and he stood with the silk door at his back, trying to unhear what his mother spoke under her breath.
Worthless.
Rating: PG
Words: 961
The journey in the House barge was long and uneventful. His lady mother ignored her heir, so Arthur primarily stayed in the great tent on the barge in the small space given to him for the voyage. It was a small attachment to his lady mother's bed chamber and given its size, he suspected that it served as a closet previously, though he was small enough that he hardly noticed. There he stayed with his books spread out on his cot, huddled in blankets to keep himself warm, practicing runes and small spells. He took his meals in there as well, still so caught in his father's spell of authority from his decades of parenting that Arthur ate everything on his plate.
Whenever his boredom overtook him or his closet became too cramped, he ventured out to see the happenings on the ship. Arthur observed the navigator's continuous fight against the Endless Lake to keep them from getting lost, he watched the bored Knights play wicked games with the Lake's inhabitants, he listened to the squires brag to each other about their patron Knight's exploits, he attended his lady mother's war councils in the main fold of great tent. Arthur also watched Crow.
Crow never bothered to look at him, never mind talk to him now that his youngest brother had his voice. He was too busy being accepted by his new order, whereas everyone else treated the young heir with the same cold and careful respect as ever. Before his status scared them as did his raw power. Now his voice terrified them with its potential lethality and its power to command. After all, he was to inherit their True Names and likely use them. Knowing that the younger the Unseelie, the more cruel they were apt to be, Arthur did not fully blame them.
Yet the little faeling could not stop the bitter taste from filling his mouth when he saw them at the bow, taunting the mermaids with cuts of mud-people flesh and laughing at the way the merfolk cursed them. Could not help the stab of betrayal that cut into his heart when Crow ignored him as he passed by. Wanted to stop feeling the pangs of loneliness as he wrapped himself up in his blankets in his tiny room during the daylight hours. His green eyes were dry. He was too angry at Crow to weep for him. He refused to be reduced to such a pathetic state again, not so soon, not when his lady mother could hear him with but a fold of black silk to separate their quarters.
Maybe he'd feel bad if I died! he thought one day huddled at dawn for sleep. He stifled the stupid childish notion quickly. After all, that was far too easy a wish to grant. Crow probably wouldn't even care anyway.
"Arthur," he heard a voice call out through the silk fold. It could only be his lady mother. "Come here." Not an entreaty, but a simple command.
The faeling poked his head out from underneath his blanket, growing drowsy as he could feel the sunlight emanating through the black silk cloth. What was his lady mother doing up this late? It had to be already noon. How did she even know that he'd be awake as well?
Warily, he slid out of his cot and stepped onto the silk covered floor. He could feel the wood of the barge through the thin black material as he padded towards his lady mother's bed chamber and slid through. He straightened as he passed through, presenting the image of a perfect little lord, were it not for his youth and state of undress. His lady mother was lounging on top of her bed, dressed in a silver sleeping robe, her head propped up on her arm, raven black hair tumbling around her shoulders.
With a start, Arthur realized there was someone sleeping next to her on the bed. It was of the Knights that Crow now spent his time with. The faeling recognized him from the especially sharp ears. The faeling did not have time to contemplate the significance of his presence in his lady mother's bed, when she suddenly spoke: "I cannot fall asleep."
Arthur frowned, unsure how to respond.
His lady mother looked at him in expectancy. "Well?" she said, "do something about it."
That took the faeling aback. "Uh..."
"Do not say 'uh' like some commoner," his lady mother chastised, her voice sharp. "Speak decisively."
Arthur snapped his mouth shut with a click of his jaw and nodded slowly, though he had to fight from gaping at the absurdity of this situation. His lady mother had not deigned to speak two words to him since the beginning of this journey, yet now she expected him to cure her insomnia on a whim? Nonetheless, he told his father he would obey her in all things.
Breathing softly, Arthur raised his hands towards her and spoke in his unpracticed voice, "Alu ulu v'dri." The spell floated from the tips of his fingers like tiny fluttering moths, drifting towards her like a flame. They came within an arm of her, when they suddenly incinerated, vanishing into dust by the sudden sweep of his lady mother's aura.
"Is that the best you can do?" she demanded, her green eyes narrowing on her heir. "Leave me be." With that she turned and muttered under her breath as she shook her bed companion awake.
Arthur stood there a moment longer, until the Knight's awakening compelled him to return to his own small chamber. His chest was tight, his breathing quickened and he stood with the silk door at his back, trying to unhear what his mother spoke under her breath.
Worthless.