Novel, day 25

In order to make my goal of 50k by the 30th, I have to write a LOT of words daily. So, to try and catch up, I wrote more than three thousand today. My hands are tired, I'm calling it a night.
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Yes! A toast is in order!”
Adina smiled. “I know where some fine mead is being sold. I shall be right back.”
Meredith and Samuel took each other’s hands. “Yes! We will join you!”
Before Ivy or Elliot knew what was happening, they were gone, leaving them alone. They both were uncomfortable, unsure of what to say. Ivy tried. “Yes, congratulations.”
Elliot sighed. “I wasn’t expecting fake enthusiasm, any more than I was fake pity. I… I don’t know what to say.”
Ivy reached out, and took Elliot’s hand in her good one. “I understand. We have duties, responsibilities, which we cannot escape.” As she finished talking, her eyes were drawn to a nurse at the curtain.
“You have another visitor.”
Ivy nodded. “You should go. I’ve been expecting my father – he always comes right before his dinner. Go and celebrate your new life tonight.”
Elliot nodded, kissed the back of her hand, and took his leave. As he left, he caught a glimpse of an older, kind looking gentleman with long hair. However, he wasn’t certain. His eyes were tearing up, and focusing was difficult.
~~~
Ivy tried to straighten up on her bed as her father entered the room. She had been debating her father’s offer, and Elliot’s confession had helped to make her decision easier. After all, she has duties, responsibilities, which she cannot escape.
“Hello, my little sun blossom. How are you feeling today?”
“Good, father! Better every day.”
“Who was that young man leaving as I came by?”
“Oh? Just a friend, one of the guys from the cabin. He popped in to let me know how the competitions were going. Are you enjoying yourself?”
“Yes! Today was a good day. I’ve decided that continuing the festival was a good idea after all. Each area has found their own way to honor and respect the situation.”
Ivy took her father’s hands in hers. “I’m glad you came to peace with that. I know it was weighing heavily on you yesterday.”
He nodded. “I had thought that continuing would be disrespectful, but I talked with Gethin, and he helped convince me that these people were here for this festival. They would have wanted it to continue in their absence.”
Ivy wrinkled her nose. “Jareth’s father? Why do you continue to talk to that man?”
Her father laughed. “Jareth was a moron, but his father is still the Storm King, and still occasionally has good advice.”
Ivy shrugged. “I still have my reservations.”
“I highly doubt Gethin sent him to court you, knowing he would hurt you. He had thought that an alliance by marriage would be good for our two kingdoms, and I had agreed. But with Jareth being his only son, that is now not going to happen.” Ivy shuddered. Her father squeezed her hand. “If it makes you feel any better, his father’s fury when his son returned, dishonored, far exceeded even my own when I expelled him from the kingdom.”
Ivy raised an eyebrow. “That would be quite impressive.”
A devious smile entered the king’s eyes. “His pain and punishment shall enter the halls of legend, my dear.”
Ivy sighed, that confirmation lightening her somewhat. She wasn’t a vindictive or vengeful person, but she was a woman. No matter how kind and compassionate she was, hearing of the pain of those who had hurt her badly calmed the vengeful goddess that resides within every woman’s heart.
“Speaking of suitors, I wanted to talk with you, father.”
The king shifted, his full attention on her.
“The gentleman I had… well… my prior possibility was never really a possibility. I’ve been giving this a lot of thought. I know you and mother had an arranged marriage, and still found love with each other over time. I am hoping I will have the same luck you did.” She took a deep breath. “I am open to an arranged marriage.”
The king let out a long held breath. “I am so very pleased to hear that. The council will be, as well.” He squeezed her hand. “Will signing the contract at the Ball be too soon? I know it is only two days away, but it would be so much better if we could have your engagement announced on the same day as your crowning.”
Ivy sat for a moment, letting the shock roll through her. So soon. “You have someone lined up already?”
Her father at least had the decency to blush. “I had something in the wings. It was never written in blood, always with a caveat. I hoped that you would find your own way, but… I have someone lined up already, yes.”
Ivy sighed. “Have you met him? Do you know anything about him?”
Her father shrugged. “I haven’t met him, no. I met his father. Good man, a bit over focused, but decent enough. I don’t want to get into the boring details, but his father is very excited about an alliance between our kingdoms.”
Ivy nodded. “I suppose it’s best that I don’t know too much going into this. I don’t want any preconceived notions.” She knew what the boring details probably entailed. The price tag coming with her contract would be substantial. Not every kingdom could afford to marry one of their sons to a crowned princess. Those that could would be weighing the pros and cons to losing one of their sons to a seaport kingdom. Their capital was poised at the mouth of the largest river on the western side of the continent. Access to that river could potentially open trade with the eastern kingdoms, as the river was one of the three ways across the continent. Access to that waterway may come with other ties. The bargaining and haggling would be nauseating to her, and she was glad to not be a part of it. She was certain that knowing how much she cost her future groom’s kingdom would only put things off to a bad start.

Novel, Day 10

This is the first thousand for the day. Yes, there is a kissing scene that happens between my last thousand posted, and no, I am not going to post it. If you want to read it, send me a personal message or write in the comments. I am looking for volunteer editors to help get the piece finalized, once July comes around.
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“Spill.”

“What? I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Bull testicles.” Adina was nothing if not blunt. “Yesterday your auras were all cute and cuddling, but today they are linked. There are threads! Multiple threads! What happened?!”

Ivy sighed. “Elliot cornered me in the main room in the middle of the night. I was coming back from the privy, he thought I was an intruder. We… shared a moment.”

“From the look of your auras, it was a really, really long moment.”

Ivy blushed. “Yes, yes it was.”

Her friends squealed in excitement.

“I’m not keeping my hopes up. I still know things are too new. But… I might inform my father of a possible suitor.”

Meredith skipped in a circle. “Oh, my love, if I could See your future I would look for you. I would look just to know for myself!”

“Spill”

Elliot looked at Devon, slightly confused. Samuel smacked Elliot on the back, beaming at his friend. “You and Ivy. You can’t keep your hands or your eyes off of each other. You were still dancing around each other yesterday, and today it’s a completely different story. You’re acting like a moron around her. What happened?”

Elliot sighed. “Last night, I thought someone had broken into our cabin. Turns out it was Ivy. We…” he ran his hands through his hair. “Dearest Goddess, just her touch…”

The boys grinned.

Devon elbowed him in the arm. “So, didn’t work in getting her out of your system, huh?”

Samuel biffed Devon on the back of the head. Elliot sighed. “We just kissed, ok? Nothing like that.”

Devon nodded like he understood. “Ah, just priming the pump, then? Getting a taste made you want her all the more.”

“Seriously, how did we become friends?” Samuel made to cuff Devon again, but Elliot raised his hand & stopped them.

“It’s ok Samuel. He’s somewhat correct, though horribly crass about it. Kissing her last night just made things more… real. It made my feelings for her stronger, that’s for certain.”

The two groups found each other again back at the food carts. They found a table in the shade, and ate together, laughing and joking. Elliot announced that he would have to be leaving to warm up soon, and everyone else wished him well in his competition, assuring him that they would be in the stands, watching. Before he left, Ivy pulled him aside.

“I have something for you”

“Oh?”

“Its customary for a lady to give her knight a token to take into battle. I know this isn’t exactly battle but… Here, I want you to have this.”

Ivy handed Elliot a handkerchief of delicate thin white linen. Embroidered in the corners were swirls of tiny green ivy. Elliot tentatively held the fabric, fascinated.

“It’s beautiful. Thank you.” He slipped the fabric into a pocket on his doublet. He looked into Ivy’s eyes, smiling at her. “As is customary, I will dedicate my victory in battle to the lady whose favor I carry.” He reached up and gently tucked a stray lock of her hair back behind her ear. “I will see you after the competition.”

“Yes,” She said, leaning her head against his touch. “After the competition.”

Elliot was in the corridors within the arena, walking to the preparation area for the ax throwing competition, when he heard a voice that made his blood run cold. He froze in his tracks, molded his face into a practiced mask of empty calm, and turned around.

A man slightly taller than Elliot with short cropped grey hair and piercing blue eyes walked toward him, with three retainers shadowing behind him. He walked with a purpose, and arrogance, as though he controlled everything he could see. The thin circlet of gold and jewels upon his brow was out of place in this environment, though Elliot had to admit, it was probably his most modest crown.

“Father? I’m surprised to see you here.”

King XYZ (as yet unnamed) smiled at his son. “Of course. Once your brothers convinced me of the strategic value of participating in this Festival, I decided I must see it for myself. Just think of the opportunities! Instead of recruiting the best gem cutter or metallurgist in our kingdom, I can find and recruit the best of several kingdoms!” The king had only paused for a moment, then continued walking, expecting his son to fall in step, which he did. “Our relations with the western kingdoms have been sorely lax. This has been a wonderful opportunity for us.”

“Your majesty, where are you staying? In one of the Cabins?”

He laughed. “Oh, no. There are suites available for visiting dignitaries. They circle the top of the main stadium, and come with private seating for viewing the games. Your friend Duke Samuel did well in the jousting this morning. It also has been a wonderful opportunity to socialize with other dignitaries from the Western kingdoms. Speaking of which,” The King stopped, and turned to his son. Elliot stood there, a mask of calm indifference on his face, his hands in his pockets, Ivy’s token in his hand. “I have been in conference with the other kings of the realm who are in attendance, and making plans for our kingdom’s future. Now that you have seen the world and have had the opportunity to get some of your… youthful urges out of your system, it is getting time for you to settle down. Oh, I have big plans for you, son!”

Elliot fidgeted with the embroidery in his pocket. “What are your plans, father?”

The King laughed in a jolly way. “Nothing is written with blood, so they will be revealed in good time, but I am sure that you, my son, will be most pleased. Now, this is your stop, yes? I look forward to seeing you in the ax competition. You represent our country, and I know you will make me proud.” The king beamed at his second son, the dutiful prince, patting him on the shoulder.

Elliot bowed as his king took his leave “Your will is my command, father”

He was crushing the handkerchief in his fist.

Novel, Day 9

Once Devon and Ivy were ready to go, the group went to find some lunch in the midway. Meredith and Adina giggled to each other about Elliot and Ivy. She was still twitchy nervous from her presentation, constantly second guessing if the tea had seeped properly or if she had said anything wrong. The group would be talking about something completely different, like how much of the salad was left, and she would blurt out “LEFT! I served them left to right, not right to left!” Elliot was obviously finding this hilarious, but doing a fairly good job of keeping the laughter out of his voice. He had taken it upon himself to become her caretaker. She would blurt out about the direction of her serving in the presentation, and he would put his hand on her shoulder and offer her a bite of his sandwich. Adina found their obvious rapport especially entertaining. As they left the midway to head toward her archery competition, Adina tugged the cuff of Meredith’s sleeve, and the two of them fell to the back, then behind the group, so they could speak in private.

“Meredith, are you seeing what I’m Seeing?”

“I’m not sure, what is your Sight telling you?”

“You know how Ivy is all crackling violet energy after a contest like that? Well, she still is, that’s not the thing. The thing is that whenever Elliot touches her, it steeps to more pinks and orange, and the crackles are dissipating much faster than usual. His presence is totally grounding her.”

Meredith beamed. “What else?”

“Well, it’s too early to be sure, but their auras seem to be syncing. I’m not 100 on that, mind you. But his aura is getting the orange and reds when he is around her.”

Meredith squeezed her friend’s hand. “I can’t See with my gift, but I can see with my eyes. I’m so pleased. They seem perfect for each other.”

Adina smiled and nodded. “Their auras haven’t linked, not a thread, but their souls are reaching for each other. It’s just a matter of time.”

Meredith gave her friend an awkward, sideways glance. “Linked, huh? So what do Samuel’s and mine look like?”

Adina laughed loud enough to catch the attention of the group, who noticed how they had fallen behind and waited for them to catch up. “Oh, my dear, you’re not exactly one yet, but you’re so tangled together there’s no separating you.”

Adina’s archery contest was to be held in the main arena. There was a practice area behind the arenas where the contestants could warm up. As Adina stood in line to pick up a bow and quiver, she challenged Elliot to a target match. “After all, we’ve only seen you fling frogs and cards. I want to see how good you are on a range.” He agreed after a bit of coercing from the group, and admitted that it wouldn’t hurt to get some practice in before his competition the following day.

At the target range, Adina and Elliot were able to get neighboring targets, since the Archery and Ax ranges were next to each other. There were benches behind the ranges, where groups of people were catching their breath or relaxing in the relatively warm autumn day. Samuel and Devon sat with Meredith and Ivy, laughing and relaxing while their friends prepared themselves with their own personal rituals. In order to get targets next to each other, Elliot would have to throw on a target further away than his target would be in his competition, and Adina would have to shoot a target closer than hers would be in a few hours. Once in the preparation area, both competitors were all business. They both were aware of the deadliness of their weapons, and treated them with the proper respect. They both toed the line at the same time, Adina setting her nock, Elliot planting his grip. Without an external signal, they began at the same time. Adina drew and released her five arrows in rapid succession, all but the first crowded in the bulls eye. Elliot’s five axes were thrown with similar speed, each hitting and sticking in their own small, separate target, all touching the center ring.

Whoops and hollers erupted from the viewing gallery as the contestants waited for the line to be called all clear before retrieving their opponent’s projectiles. Adina had scored 24 points, and Elliot 23, as the blades of two of his axes had cut the line, placing their score in the ring just outside of center. They came back to the bench to get some water and let other people have their targets, as it was crowded and many people needed to rotate through.

“It’s not a speed competition.” Meredith laughed.

“It isn’t? I couldn’t tell.” Ivy was honestly just naive on the subject.

Elliot ran his hand through his hair. “Usually, in practice, you start as fast as possible. It shows where your weaknesses are so you can work on them during the rest of the practice.”

Adina smiled. “It’s also a macho thing. A way of sizing up your opponent’s raw abilities.”

Elliot laughed. “Yeah, it’s that, too.”

The all clear was called again, and Adina and Elliot left to get in the preparation area for another round. As they prepared themselves for the signal to toe the line, a group of young men approached the bench. Elliot watched as the men struck up a conversation with everyone, watched as Ivy smiled and talked with them. He suddenly wanted to be over there, to hear what they were talking about; to be able to put his arm protectively around Ivy’s shoulder, as Samuel was instinctively doing to Meredith at that exact moment. Adina’s movement forward caught his attention, for he had missed the call, and that the person in front of him had finished and was clearing the targets. He mentally chastised himself for not having his head in the game as he went to the line.

Novel, Day 6

I surpassed 10k words today! I'm wanting to scream from the towers - I'm doing it! I'm making it happen!  Below is another thousand words, including number 10k, which I have bolded for your information.  =)

Elliot placed a hand on hers, and she realized she had been babbling to her skirt, not looking at him. He was smiling softly, his eyes warm. “I believe you. Out of everyone here, you are the last person I would expect to lie about that.”

Ivy returned his smile. “I try to tout the joys of equality, while at the same time I’m unable to truly escape my station. I didn’t know you or Devon’s positions, but I know Samuel’s, because he is courting Meredith, and I know hers. I knew you both were of some breeding, from the fact that you had gone to a school together, and the cut & quality of your clothing.” Ivy looked down at their hands, still touching. She turned his hand over in hers, slowly tracing his calluses. “I had actually assumed on first impression that Devon was of a higher station, because of the detail in his doublet, and the calluses on your hands. His hands are soft, but yours, you could possibly work for a living.” She raised her gaze, to hold his eyes. “Now that I know you both, I know that isn’t true. He’s a show off. His sense of honor is borrowed, not ingrained. You hold yourself different, more confident. Your clothes are well made, but simple, like mine. Are you wearing your traveling clothes? Is that how your hands got this way? While traveling?”

He nodded, tucking some of his wavy hair behind his ear with his free hand. His eyes were a piercing blue, like the ocean in autumn. They held the gaze for a moment, then it was his turn to look at their hands, gently touching her back. “I was working as a kind of diplomat, traveling trade routes. I insisted, if I was going to spend 3 years traveling, that I travel with a trader’s caravan. Lived their life.” He laughed softly to himself. “I think most of them thought I was just another one of the mercenary guards. I liked doing my fair share, being just another person in the caravan, seeing the world with only what my horse could carry. It felt right.”

“No wonder you like it here.”

He smiled. “You can tell?” He looked up, and found her face so close to his that he nearly startled. Her eyes were an impossible green- a deep jewel tone that was close to the color of the plant that shared her name. Her long dark lashes framed her eyes, making them stand out in sharp contrast to her skin, as smooth and pale as an egg shell. He raised his free hand to her cheek, stroking the softness under his thumb, and took a moment to marvel in the contrast between the roughened, tanned skin of his hand, and her face. She didn’t take her eyes off of his, not even to blink.

“Ahem”

The two of them nearly leapt out of their chairs, quickly pulling away from each other. Ivy instantly started blushing, which Elliot had decided was endearing. Samuel was leaning against the door jamb, arms crossed, looking for the entire world very casual, and like he had been standing there a long time. Ivy stood, curtsied in silence to both of them, and retreated to her room, resisting the urge to run. Elliot went to go to his room as well, but Samuel blocked his way, grinning like the trickster of old.

“What is so funny?”

“You”

“What about me?”

“You’ve fallen for her hard, haven’t you?” Samuel stood back, letting Elliot into the bedroom. Elliot could not meet his eyes as he passed.

“How can you tell?”

Samuel kept his eyes on the door to the girls’ room as he closed their own. “Because I never thought, in my life, I would see you even hold a woman’s hand without your father’s written permission.”

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The lights were out in the girls’ room, though Ivy knew her friends would still be awake. She untied the laces on her dress, draped it across a rung on the bunk, untied the drawstring on her overskirt, and draped it as well, all in silence. She stood there in just her chemise, staring at the windows. The ivy growing over the glass was backlit from the nearly full moon, and the lights of the festival grounds to the south. They seemed to glow from within, green and silver. She sat on the edge of her bunk, waiting.

“Did you tell him?” Meredith’s voice was barely a whisper from above, easily missed if Ivy wanted to ignore it.

“About me, yes. Somewhat, anyway.” She tried to keep her response just as quiet, in an attempt to keep emotion out of it, but doubted she succeeded.

“You’ve fallen hard for him, haven’t you?” Adina shifted above her. Ivy knew she would be leaning over the edge, looking down, but could not see them in the dark.

“Possibly. Yes. Maybe. I’m not sure.”

“Well, this makes things easier, yes?”

“How?”

Meredith shifted on her bunk. Ivy could hear the creaking of the ropes and wood, louder than their conversation. “Your father will let you make a love match. You’re not the oldest, you have more options. He told you he would give you time to make your own choice.”

“I’ve known the man less than two days, and you are already talking marriage. I knew…”

Adina finished for her. “You knew Jareth for months, and he hurt you. We know, dearest. He is scum, but he is a long, long time ago.”

Meredith’s voice was soft, but stronger than before. “I know your father is giving you time, but he cannot wait forever. Someday you will have to choose.”

Ivy wiped the tears from her face with her sleeve. She pulled her knees to her chest and pulled the blanket around her like a shawl, as she did as a child when she wanted to hide. “I know, Meredith. I know.”

Novel, Day 4

And now, for some fun at the midway...

“Now, this can not actually be a game.”

Ivy was looking dubiously at a game called Spang-Hewing. Granted, her friends were giving it similar doubtful looks. It wasn’t the rings slowly rotating over a tub of water that had them confused. It was the frogs.

Elliot was giving the man running the game a hard look. “So, you mean to tell me, if I can throw a frog through one of the rings, into the water tub, I get FIVE tokens?”

The man nodded. “Yes, sir. Underhand only, and you cannot kill or maim the frogs, either before or during the throw.”

Ivy looked horrified. “I should hope not!”

Elliot ignored her comment. “And I get three frogs per try?”

The man nodded in agreement.

“So if I make all three frogs, I would get fifteen tokens?”

The man raised one eyebrow. “Yes sir.”

“I’ll take you up on that then.”

The man turned around, to round three frogs out of the tub. Ivy looked horrified, though the rest of the group was all laughing. “Elliot, you cannot be serious. The poor frogs!”

He smiled at her. “I promise to be gentle with them. You know I’m a good throw. This should be a lot easier than a card in a peach.”

The man gave Elliot a bucket with a lid, containing the three frogs. He took one out and studied it. It was a general, every day frog, about the size of a peach. It would be oddly balanced, that was certain, and it was slimy, but the rings were bigger around than a crown, and rotating slowly enough they wouldn’t present a huge challenge. He held the frog up to Ivy’s face. “Kiss it for luck?”

She turned a bit green around the edges, not even dignifying his request with a reply. He smiled at her, gave the frog a few light practice tosses, getting the feel of the frog, then gave it a gentle underhand toss at the lowest ring.

The frog sailed beautifully, straight toward its goal. However, Elliot quickly learned that when you throw a frog for any real distance, its limbs spread out as far as possible. One of the frog’s hind feet caught the ring, and the frog swung around using that grip, missing the tub entirely and flying toward the exit. The man’s assistant instantly scooped up the frog, dropping it in another bucket. This was, apparently, a common occurrence.

“No fair!” Shouted Devon. “Interference!”

“Is it ok?!” Ivy instinctually reached out for the frog that just a moment ago she wouldn’t have dreamt of touching, which brought another bout of laughter from the group.

“I assure you ma’am, the frog is fine. They do this all day long.”

Ivy noticed Elliot’s smile didn’t leave his face, but his eyes hardened slightly. He was still having fun, but now he was taking this much more seriously. He took out the second frog, studied it more intently, including staring the creature in the eyes.

“Can I hold it for a moment?”

Elliot was shocked at Ivy’s request, but he handed the small creature to her. She cupped her hands around it, being sure that it wouldn’t hop away. She closed her eyes, as if in concentration, then handed the frog back.

The man seemed concerned. “No spell casting on the frogs, ma’am.”

It was Ivy’s turn to raise an eyebrow. “Are you serious, sir? Spellcasting?? I am a healer, and well known as such at this festival. I wanted to assure myself that the frog is actually healthy. I don’t know much about amphibian biology, but it feels fine enough. That was all I was doing.”

Elliot stopped and stared at Ivy, a slight smile on his face. She turned toward him, saw the look on his face, and smiled back, blushing slightly. The moment was broken by the frog squirming, attempting escape. Elliot shook his head, as though to clear his mind, or perhaps get the hair out of his eyes, and took his time aiming his second shot. This one was slightly harder than the prior one, but this time the frog had a bit of a spin to its flight. The legs barely cleared the ring, and the group was met with a satisfying “Blurp” as the frog landed in the tub. The group burst into cheers, for which Elliot took a bow. He looked up from the bow to hold eyes with Ivy, causing her to blush even deeper.

“Now, let’s see if I can do that again.”

novel, Day 3

Meredith answered. “That is easy. I met Samuel at the last festival, two years ago. I was volunteering in the stables. I actually met Samuel’s horse before I met him. But I fell in love with the beast, so of course I fell in love with the rider.” The two of them shared a long look, to which Adina made gaging noises.

Devon seemed confused. “But you all were in the last competitions, but you didn’t know Samuel.”

Adina piped in. “I was busy winning the blue in two different archery contests, and Ivy… well.. Ivy wasn’t there.”

Ivy sighed. “My mother was, is… ill. I had to be with her, so I sent my competition pieces with Meredith, but I didn’t get to be here.”

Elliot took her hand. “I’m sorry. Is she doing better?”

Ivy smiled at his hand on hers. “She’s… stable. Comfortable. She’s not gravely ill or anything like that, or I wouldn’t be here again this year, but she will never be… I would rather not talk about it. Look, we’re bringing the group down. Different subject!”

Devon helped out. “This is both my and Elliot’s first festival.”

“First? Why haven’t you come before?”

Elliot sighed. “Well, I’ve been abroad on business for the last three years. It is nothing really exciting or anything, just a lot of traveling. Though I do have to say, I’ve been to many countries. Seen a lot of beautiful scenery. Don’t know why for Devon, though.”

“I’ve been busy, honestly. This thing happens in the late fall – and I’m really, really busy this time of year. As I am sure you can guess from this lovely alcohol, I have access to a cherry orchard, and this is harvest time. When Samuel asked me, I found some people to take over the harvest for me.” He stopped and took a long drink before playing another card. “Last Jack! Did I break the rules?”

Ivy thought about it fairly hard. “I’ll give you a pass. There is no way you could make this great sour without access to the ingredients, and you didn’t reveal a last name or if you are landed or titled or anything like that, so I say we’re ok. Everyone agree?”

Everyone raised their glasses in agreement, and enjoyed a long drink of Devon’s cherries.”

“So, you have eyes for Elliot, huh?” Meredith was sitting on her bunk, brushing out her hair. The ladies had said their good evenings to the gentlemen, but finding it hard to turn in, even with the alcohol in their systems. Adina was helping Ivy hang up her dress high above them.

Ivy’s green eyes flashed in surprise, but her cheeks turned bright red. “What? Whatever are you talking about? That is ridiculous.”

Adina gave her an incredulous look. “You offered to help him in the kitchen. You hate kitchen work.”

Meredith joined in. “You made sure you sat next to each other at dinner.”

“And at cards”

Meredith grinned. “And there was no question in the room when I asked, who I was talking to.”

Ivy sighed. “Is it that obvious?”

Adina smiled. “Only to people who know you really well. Your secret is safe with us.”

“For now.”

Ivy face planted in her pillow. “Yes, he is incredibly attractive. Yes, I find myself drawn to him, but you know this won’t work out.” She rolled over, imploring her friends. “These kinds of things never work out. Not with me.”

Adina sighed and sat on Ivy’s bunk. “I know you have had a hard time in the past. I know you, well, don’t want to get hurt again. But he’s a nice guy.”

Meredith called down from her bunk. “Just let things happen. Don’t try or anything, just be yourself this week. If he likes you, too... It’s only one week. It can’t hurt you.”

“So, Elliot, what do you think of Ivy?” Samuel was stretched out on his bottom bunk, looking up at his friend across the room. Devon was already snoring loudly above him.

He glared at his friend, raising an eyebrow. “Why do you ask?”

“Well, she is very pretty. She seems to be a wonderful person. And she made you smile. At least twice. And laugh. It has been a long time since I’ve heard you laugh like that, my friend.”

Elliot laid down his dagger, sighing. “It’s been a long time since I’ve felt I could, honestly. Traveling the last three years helped, I suppose.”

“So you haven’t seen your father since you got back?”

“Once. I had been sending my formal reports back during my travels, so the debriefing was quick. Since you had convinced him that allowing me to the festival was a good political move, I didn’t really need to ask, he just informed me during the debriefing that I had been entered in the ax throwing competition. Said you had made all of the arrangements. Thank you again, for that, by the way.”

“Not a problem. Having the ears of your younger brothers helped. Once I had you convinced, I knew I could convince them, and they in turn your father.”

Elliot grinned. “You sure Devon is the intrigue one of the group? You can be quite the schemer when you want to.”

Samuel laughed. “Everyone looks at me and forgets I have a brain, as well. That doesn’t make me a schemer, I just take advantage of the situation. Devon, he is more of a rogue. That boy gets in more trouble.”

“Didn’t he win his cherry orchard gambling?”

“Well, yeah, but that’s how he has won and lost everything in his life. He mouth gets him in more trouble than he is worth. But this isn’t about him. It’s about you. And Ivy.”

Elliot sighed and raked his hand through his hair. “You know I can’t… get involved.”

Samuel smiled. “You don’t have to get involved. Just be. Let go. It’s only one week, it can’t hurt you.”

Novel, day 2

Another day, another disclaimer. This is the first thousand words I wrote on the second. However, since I wrote over 2600 words on the first, this is about 1600 words AFTER the last post. Yes, you are missing stuff. The point here isn't to share the entire novel, but to get samples of my first draft out there, as well as possibly make the whole novel writing experience more transparent. Anyway, here is the begining of chapter 2. enjoy!

Chapter 2

~~~~~

They had to postpone the post dinner card game long enough to light the lamps. Even Devon had to agree that the cards would be hard to read in the dim light, though he tried to first blame it on the amount of sours everyone had been drinking. After much debate, it was decided by a roll of the dice that they would play “Chase the Jack”, which at least 4 of them knew the rules to.

“Ok, newbies between seasoned players. Elliot, you’re to the right of Ivy, and Samuel, you can be after Meredith.”

“So play goes to the right?” Samuel sounded confused.

“Unless another play changes that, yes.” Meredith smiled at his facial expression. “Don’t worry; we can walk you through it.”

The group fell silent as everyone organized their cards, each new player getting tips from their partner.

“Thank you for dinner, by the way.” Ivy was helping Elliot organize his hand. “That was a well roasted bird. What is your technique for keeping the meat so juicy?”

He winked at her, as he looked at her cards. “chef’s secret. Sorry.”

“Well, it went very well with the beverage, if I do say so myself.” She flipped over the first card on the deck. “Play starts to the right of the dealer, so Devon first. So, Samuel, and Elliot, what are you two doing in the festival? Will you also have crafts on display?”

Samuel chuckled. “No, lass. I’m a bit ham fisted for most of that delicate work. I mainly work with horses. I’ll be competing in the jousting, and perhaps riding the gauntlet, if I can get past the qualifiers this year.”

Meredith laughed. “Last time the course wasn’t designed for a steed and rider of Samuel’s stature. His mare could just step over the hurdle, but the weaving posts were closer together than one of his horse’s gaits. They had to make modifications to the course this year, to make sure it would be fair.”

Elliot played his card, after much debate. “If Samuel would have just stopped growing, he wouldn’t have needed such a monster of a steed anyway.”

“You’re just upset because we were the same height when you left school. It isn’t my fault I kept on growing. Just good living, I suppose.” That got a laugh from the group, as play paused for Meredith to help Samuel choose his card.

“So, Elliot, what do you plan to do this week?” Ivy was nothing if not persistent.

“Well, I was planning on competing in the throwing competitions. Ax, most likely.”

“You throw axes?” Adina seemed amused by this.

“I throw most anything, actually. I’ve been practicing with knives and other bladed throwing weapons since I was a boy, but I’ve expanded to use most anything, now.”

“Oh? Prove it!” Adina’s cheeks were reddened from the drink, and she was being brash. Ivy tried to calm the situation. “You don’t need to.”

“No, it’s fine. Adina, hold up one of the fruits from the bowl.”

Adina picked up a peach. She rested her elbow on the table, and let her hand drape back, holding the fruit at an odd angle beside her. Without a word Elliot flicked a playing card from his hand across the table. Everyone jumped. The corner of the card was buried deep in the flesh of the peach, far enough that the card’s number was buried completely within the fruit. Once the moment of shock was over, the table burst into applause. Adina, admitting defeat, took a bite of the fruit and offered the card back to Elliot.

“Oh, I think you should keep it in your hand. You obviously asked him for it.” Meredith laughed.

Adina laughed in agreement, and cleaned the juice off of the card as best she could before putting it back in her hand.

“It’s not your fault, Adina. More than one gambler has fallen into challenging Elliot like that during a game of cards.” Devon played his card and leaned back in his chair. “We met because I stuck my foot in my mouth and he helped me shove it in all the way to my knee. Figuratively, not literally, of course.”

Elliot laughed. “Devon thought the one card was a fluke, so he kept trying other things. Grapes. A head of lettuce. Even a watermelon.”

“Though, in all fairness, it did take you more than one card before one stuck in the watermelon.”

“Well, yeah, those things are tough. At first I thought when you chose the watermelon, that you were joking. Then I realized you didn’t mean the huge easy red center for my target – you meant the rind!”

“I should have grabbed the cantaloupe.”

“Wouldn’t have helped. I could do that, too.”

Ivy grabbed onto the one bit of that conversation she could question. “So, how many cards did it take for you to get the watermelon?”

Samuel answered for him. “Three! And then he got two more, in the same spot!”

“He said he could keep that up all day, but it would be too much fun. For the watermelon.”

The table burst into a riot of laughter, as Elliot blushed. “I don’t usually talk like that. But you had gotten under my skin.”

“It’s just a funny story, now. But anyway, that’s how we met, and how I learned when I’ve taken something too far.”

Samuel looked shocked. “You mean, you finally learned that lesson?”

The group busted a seam all over again. Ivy had to dab tears from her eyes. Elliot offered her his handkerchief, which she accepted gratefully. “Seriously, though, I don’t want you to think I am that crass. Don’t believe all of Devon’s stories.”

“Oh, it’s ok, and it’s all in good fun. We ladies can take a joke, you haven’t offended.”

Novel, Day 1

Ok, so quick disclaimer. This is a portion of the ROUGH DRAFT. There is no editing, there is nothing like that. This is just a snapshot, a sneak peek for everyone, to the ongoing literary process. Feel free to leave comments, but constructive comments only, please. Now, onto the first of my posts of a novel in progress.

“It’s beautiful!” squealed M as she clenched the hands of her two best friends. The three of them hopped in a circle of excitement, as they have done since they were children. They paused for only a moment to admire the cabin. The grass of the commons was thick and lush, right up to the front door. The woodlands were so close to the back that tree branches shaded the roof. Ivy wound around the split log structure, and flowers spilled from inside the woodlands out into the grass. The dappled sunlight shown off the three women, their pile of luggage, and the stablemen who were leading the wagon away.

Ivy broke the circle first, taking the key from around her neck and opening the large oak door. It was cool and shaded inside, with the scattered sunlight through the back window making streaks across the open room. “Looks like the boys aren’t here yet! We get first pick of the rooms!”

“Thank the Gods, I did not want to have to carry all this stuff inside.” Adina waved her hand at the pile of boxes and bags the stablemen had left for them. A rose colored glow surrounded them, and they slowly floated in front of her. The pile bottle necked in the door, and Meredith helped her reorganize the pile so it could float through.

“Please, like the boys wouldn’t feel the need to be all chivalrous and carry them in for us.”

Adina huffed a scoff towards Meredith as she followed the baggage into the cabin’s main room. “I’m sure they would. But then they would put everything in the wrong place, or have expectations of us being all girly and thankful. No thank you.”

Ivy smiled at her friend. “Like you won’t get all girly anyway?”

Adina laughed. “Shut your mouth, your highn-ASS.”

The three burst into bouts of giggling as they split into different tasks. Meredith explored the main room, Adina separated the boxes of foodstuffs from their personal effects. “In all seriousness, remember, that’s the last time you get to call me that this week.” Ivy opened one of the two doors off of the main room to study one of the bedrooms. “Rules are rules, after all. This room looks the cleanest. Two bunk beds. Who wants top bunk?”

“I do!” chorused the other two, which set off another fit of giggles.

“By the stars, if the boys meet us like this they will think us insane!” The girls followed their luggage into the surprisingly spacious bedroom. Ivy pulled back the curtains on the windows to let in more light, though it was tinged green from the leaves growing over the glass. Meredith climbed to the top of the bunk on the right wall, Adina leapt to the top of the bunk on the left. Ivy glared at them both as the luggage drifted into 3 piles. “Well, there are drawers under the bunks, and against the wall. We should have enough space to store Meredith’s things, at least.” The girls all glanced at the vastly larger of the three piles. “You know something you need to share with us?”

Meredith scoffed. “I like being prepared. Anyway, I wouldn’t trust my competition pieces to those goons at check in. I’m taking them over personally in the morning.”

“You just don’t want anyone to see what you did till the last possible moment.” Adina was lifting some of her bags onto her bunk, and hanging dresses on hangers that floated to her out of another box.

Ivy watched in amazement. “I sometimes forget just how good you are at that, Adina. The multi-tasking, the amount of minute dexterity… you are truly gifted.”

Adina smiled warmly at her friend. “I’m glad you think so. The Sisters still get on my case about the colors. Say it’s a sign of wasted potential.”

Meredith sighed. “The Sisters are a bunch of cloistered busybodies. I still say it’s just another aspect of your gift.” Her eyes unfocused, going dark and distant. Just as quickly she was back. “As far as I can See, your gift still comes with the colored light. Anyway, I think it’s beautiful, if not very subtle.”

Ivy finally chooses her bunk, under Adina, and starts unpacking herself. “That’s cheating Meredith. And calling the Sisters so harshly! They’re just trying to help.” She tried, unsuccessfully, to smooth wrinkles out of a dress on her mattress. “And Adina, why are you putting everything on hangers, there isn’t a wardrobe in here.”

“Oh, I beg to differ.” With a grin, a length of clothesline snaked out of the bag the hangers had been in, bathed in orange light. It tied itself to one of the rafters above, and began weaving itself around the beams, stretching several long pieces above the open space between the bunks. Once the line was secured on the other end, Adina’s dresses danced around the room, eventually hanging themselves on the line high above them. Adina beamed in the chorus of “Bravos!” and light applause that came from her friends.

~~~~

“Well, isn’t this a toilet?” sighed Devon.

He stared unbelieving at the run down old cabin. Weeds covered the majority of it, like the woods behind were trying to reclaim it. The peeling oak door was slightly ajar, revealing nothing inside but darkness.

“It’s not THAT bad. It’s rustic.” Samuel pulled the last of his luggage off of the wagon, and nodded thanks to the stableman.

“I’m terrified to see what the bathroom looks like.”

Elliot beamed. “It won’t have one. There is a privy house between this cabin and the next one, over that way.”

Devon looked horrified. “No indoor plumbing? You have got to be kidding me!”

Samuel laughed. “This is CAMPING, my friend. Roughing it!”

“I don’t think so, Samuel. This isn’t camping. Camping is a tent and a bed roll, not a cabin with a kitchen.”

Devon looked like he was going to cry. “but.. but the privy…”

 “You’re a male, the whole world is your privy. It will be much worse for the girls.”

Elliot and Samuel started hauling in their equipment. Devon trailed behind, carrying the sacks of food. “I can’t believe I let you two talk me into this.”

Samuel sighed. “If I remember correctly, it was Elliot who needed the convincing, not you.”

They stopped in the main room. Two crates of food were already on the table in the middle of the room. The door to the right was closed, but light filtered under it. Light sounds of conversing welcomed them.

“Looks like they’re already here. I’ll set up the kitchen, you guys bring in everything else, K?” Elliot took the bags from Devon and went to the kitchen, which was really just the back of the main room.

Welcome June!

208 words into my new novel! I'm excited about writing my first stand alone novel. I realized the reasons I've had difficulty with my prior novel was that it was designed to be a part of a series - I was working with a group, and we were all writing within the same universe. So my book was designed to be the second or third in a series, but I'm the only one who got to my "the end" page. I'm going to have to really rework that piece to make it a stand alone work.
So... I've decided that I'm going to post parts of my writing daily in my blog. Not the whole thing, perhaps a thousand words a day or so. Just enough to get opinions and such, make sure others find it interesting. I find that the entire writing process works so much better for me if I have constant feedback. It should be a shared experience. So... by end of day today, expect to see the first thousand words of my new fantasy novel here on Blogger!

So, after a lot of introspection, I have decided that part of my issue is burnout. I’ve been working 10 hour days, volunteering, and going to school full time. Though those are all things I want to do, I need to switch it up and spend some time on my creativity. I felt wonderful when I won NaNoWriMo in 2010, so I looked into it, and there is a Summer Camp version of the competition! So, starting June 1, I will be participating in another NaNo. I am honestly very excited about this. I remember last time this really helped my creativity flourish, and was quite a wonderful experience. I look forward to it helping me out of my slump, while giving some of the non school and work related things that have been bumping around in my head an opportunity to get out.

My mate and I are discussing doing this together, again. I’m working on my characterization at this point, trying to nail down ideas about how this will go before the story gets started. I am also collecting sponsors, to help fund this little adventure in novelization. The website for my sponsorship page is: http://www.stayclassy.org/fundraise?fcid=198395

I'm BAAACK

Hello again! NaNoWriMo is finally over, and I have taken my required siesta from all things writing. I’ve had friends and family request to read my novel. In a word, no. In two, not yet. As our NaNo leader stated in our pre-writing meeting: “One month to write the first draft, 11 months for editing.” Much of my novel was written while held conscious only by caffeine, or while distracted by other, less important things, like work.

I want to have a go through on my first draft before I let anyone else read it, to clean up glaring continuity or grammar errors. For example, I think I may have changed a character’s name ½ way through. Though I know what I meant, another reader wouldn’t, and I don’t want the little things like that taking a reader, even a proof-reader, out of the story.

So please, be patient and understanding; this is, after all, my first time. =)

Seize the day

I just made my first sale through Etsy! I am so excited! Now the nervousness has passed, I believe now that this is doable. My goals for the weekend are to finish and post at least 2 more pieces to the store, and to reach 14 thousand words by the end of Sunday with NaNoWriMo.

What is NaNoWriMo you ask? It is National Novel Writing Month – in the month of November (30 days) we pledge to write a 50,000 novel. It isn’t about quality, lord knows mine is not quality, it’s about completing that ever important first draft. So many people talk about wanting to do something, be something, but from fear or a belief that it is too big, they never even start. This is to get past the starting block. This novel may never see a final draft, may never go to print. But I will have written one, instead of talking about how I would like to do that someday, it will be done. Thankfully, I’m not doing it alone. This is a National event, after all. There are over 200 participants in my city alone.

So to all the other future writers out there, or future jewelry designers, or future musicians, don’t just talk about it, DO IT.

“But if you want to see the Northern Lights

You gotta lift up your head and

If you wanna have some kind of life

Decide you're not better off dead and

If you want to read the mystic story written in your future

You better start to write it now...”

~Gaia Consort, Secret of the Crossroads Devil