O
old.Tyraette
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- #61
it was last saturday, but a few minor technical difficulties with accents are giving me a little grief.
NERF LAIRD
NERF LAIRD
G
gengi
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- #62
fit like, if he's an Aberdonian, and lot's of kens 
later
later
C
Cavex ElSaviour
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- #63
it's saterday and where is the next part?
The pieces are getting better and better, from mediocre writing in the beginning till goood. Can't wait for the rest
The pieces are getting better and better, from mediocre writing in the beginning till goood. Can't wait for the rest
O
old.Tyraette
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- Thread starter
- #64
Leaving the alleyway, they moved back into the streets, away from the crowds. Shaking his head, Shaeffer laughed without humour. ‘Almost makes you wonder if it’s worthwhile, doesn’t it. If we’re not fighting Midgard we’re fighting ourselves. So that scum like them remain free to do as they please.’
‘Such is life my friend. Would be worse without people like us though. Come, take heart, at least they guessed who you were’
Smiling sadly, Shaeffer glanced at Jupitus’ scars. ‘The years haven’t been kind to you have they? Could hardly believe it was you myself. Reckon we’re both getting too old for this.’
‘Aye, you’re probably right. There’s probably only at least one decent fighter between us now.’ Jupitus smiled. You’ve lost the heart for it, and I’m losing the body. Such is life.’
Nodding, Shaeffer fell silent, and the two walked on, lost in their thoughts. Shaeffer’s concentration was broken after a few minutes, as a hoarse voice croaked out at him. Glancing around, Shaeffer saw that the voice belonged to a beggar on the street. Despite being blinded and with only a stump where his right arm should be, the man before them could barely be out of his thirties. He cut a pitiful figure, dressed in rags, with a dried bloodied bandage wrapped around what used to be his arm. Flies danced around him, hopping happily between him and the several other misfortunates who lined the streets, calling for attention and pity. Although his body was lean, there was no mistaking that he had once been a warrior of some sort, muscles and the occasional scar fitting loosely around his frame.
Shaeffer shuddered, and tossed him some loose change before trying to put the haunting image of what the young soldier had been reduced to. ‘That’s how Albion repays some of her servants. Takes away all you hold dear, before spitting out what’s left. I hope the Light saves me from such a day.’
‘Aye, I hope it saves you as well. I guess when I look at some others, I should count my stars heh. I could never lose an arm.’ Clenching his fist absentmindedly, Jupitus forced a smile.
‘If you don’t mind me asking Jup, how did it happen? You don’t get to your old age without a fair amount of luck and skill, especially in our trade.’
Reluctantly, he began to explain. ‘It was silly really, I got it in Yggdra. Laird was mobilising for an attack on Glenlock Faste, and I set out ahead of the force to scout the way ahead. I might not be as fast as I once was, but I can still do a better job than most of you young upstarts’ he smiled wryly. ‘Anyway, things seemed fairly quiet at the target until I heard a child’s scream.’ Jupitus paused, and Shaeffer glanced across at him, and saw him touching his cheek, the one remaining eye staring straight ahead, although seemingly not seeing. Three jagged scars ran across the right of his face, from temple to chin. The harsh angriness of the wounds were offset only by the cool icy blue of the glass eye. Deciding against commenting, Shaeffer returned his attention to the walk.
‘A wagon had been overrun and set ablaze, I guess by snowshoe bandits or something, and a dwarven young’un was still there, somehow missed by the marauders. Maybe I’m getting soft, but I wasn’t about to leave a defenceless child to die, so I went to try to get the poor thing out.’ Jupitus let out a low chuckle. ‘Seems the scent of the bodies around the wagon held promise for some of the local wildlife too, but once I had the babe in my arms I wasn’t in a strong position to defend us from the hound that had skulked upon the scene. I managed to protect the youngster, and delivered her in a warm pelt to the gates at Nottmoor, but at a price.’
==============================================
Sorry for the delay..reallife stepped in, plus I find myself rewriting this and the next few scenes quite alot. Still not perfectly happy, but want to push on. Appreciate that it seems a little stale at the moment. Hopefully the scene _after_ this one will give it a lot more focus, and the main plotline will be revealed.
Thanks for all the feedback by the way, both in game and here. Always appreciated
==============================================
‘Such is life my friend. Would be worse without people like us though. Come, take heart, at least they guessed who you were’
Smiling sadly, Shaeffer glanced at Jupitus’ scars. ‘The years haven’t been kind to you have they? Could hardly believe it was you myself. Reckon we’re both getting too old for this.’
‘Aye, you’re probably right. There’s probably only at least one decent fighter between us now.’ Jupitus smiled. You’ve lost the heart for it, and I’m losing the body. Such is life.’
Nodding, Shaeffer fell silent, and the two walked on, lost in their thoughts. Shaeffer’s concentration was broken after a few minutes, as a hoarse voice croaked out at him. Glancing around, Shaeffer saw that the voice belonged to a beggar on the street. Despite being blinded and with only a stump where his right arm should be, the man before them could barely be out of his thirties. He cut a pitiful figure, dressed in rags, with a dried bloodied bandage wrapped around what used to be his arm. Flies danced around him, hopping happily between him and the several other misfortunates who lined the streets, calling for attention and pity. Although his body was lean, there was no mistaking that he had once been a warrior of some sort, muscles and the occasional scar fitting loosely around his frame.
Shaeffer shuddered, and tossed him some loose change before trying to put the haunting image of what the young soldier had been reduced to. ‘That’s how Albion repays some of her servants. Takes away all you hold dear, before spitting out what’s left. I hope the Light saves me from such a day.’
‘Aye, I hope it saves you as well. I guess when I look at some others, I should count my stars heh. I could never lose an arm.’ Clenching his fist absentmindedly, Jupitus forced a smile.
‘If you don’t mind me asking Jup, how did it happen? You don’t get to your old age without a fair amount of luck and skill, especially in our trade.’
Reluctantly, he began to explain. ‘It was silly really, I got it in Yggdra. Laird was mobilising for an attack on Glenlock Faste, and I set out ahead of the force to scout the way ahead. I might not be as fast as I once was, but I can still do a better job than most of you young upstarts’ he smiled wryly. ‘Anyway, things seemed fairly quiet at the target until I heard a child’s scream.’ Jupitus paused, and Shaeffer glanced across at him, and saw him touching his cheek, the one remaining eye staring straight ahead, although seemingly not seeing. Three jagged scars ran across the right of his face, from temple to chin. The harsh angriness of the wounds were offset only by the cool icy blue of the glass eye. Deciding against commenting, Shaeffer returned his attention to the walk.
‘A wagon had been overrun and set ablaze, I guess by snowshoe bandits or something, and a dwarven young’un was still there, somehow missed by the marauders. Maybe I’m getting soft, but I wasn’t about to leave a defenceless child to die, so I went to try to get the poor thing out.’ Jupitus let out a low chuckle. ‘Seems the scent of the bodies around the wagon held promise for some of the local wildlife too, but once I had the babe in my arms I wasn’t in a strong position to defend us from the hound that had skulked upon the scene. I managed to protect the youngster, and delivered her in a warm pelt to the gates at Nottmoor, but at a price.’
==============================================
Sorry for the delay..reallife stepped in, plus I find myself rewriting this and the next few scenes quite alot. Still not perfectly happy, but want to push on. Appreciate that it seems a little stale at the moment. Hopefully the scene _after_ this one will give it a lot more focus, and the main plotline will be revealed.
Thanks for all the feedback by the way, both in game and here. Always appreciated
==============================================
O
old.Tyraette
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- Thread starter
- #65
Turning to look at Shaeffer, Jupitus’ face hardened. ‘You know how we live Shaeff. You know the line we walk with our blades. Without my full sight, the risk of some unskilled oaf getting the better of me is higher every day. None of us can fight time.’
‘Aye, none of us can,’ said Shaeffer quietly. ‘All we can do is fight it as long as we’re able. You and I are still around. Both getting slower. One day it’ll catch us. But where will we be when it does? I hope to be at home, with Tree and Annah by my side. I don’t want to be alone in the middle of nowhere when my time comes. I want it to mean something.’
Jupitus smiled then, before nodding his agreement. ‘I envy you for that. I spend a lot of time at home with my Lady now, but it’s never long before I get the urge to wander alone. I love her, of course I do, more than life itself, but home life is not my way. It’s in the blood. You have it as well, I believe, but you seem to be able to fight it better than I. When my time comes, it will be serving Albion, as I always have. She just seems to want me one piece at a time’
Turning around a corner, Shaeffer paused, looking up at a tall stone building that seemed to dwarf the others nearby. ‘As ever, the place does little to cheer the mood,’ he said, swallowing. ‘It’s been at least 3 years since I was here. I haven’t missed it.’
Butt-joining onto the walls surrounding the city, the Defenders of Albion building loomed intimidatingly, casting shadows onto the streets surrounding it. Whilst the city walls gave a reassuring air of security from the outside world, the building was much more oppressive, intruding rather than being a backdrop to the life in the city. Smiling wryly to himself, Shaeffer muttered, the words lost and carried away by the throng of people living their lives around him. ‘Home away from home though.’
Jupitus clapped him on the back, and the Prince of the Shadowed Night grinned suddenly. ‘Just like old times really, eh?’
‘You take care of yourself out there. Don’t let Albion give you anything to remember her by. I’ll make sure Treeloe gets anything she needs, I promise.’
Clasping the older mans shoulder, Shaeffer nodded his thanks. ‘Keep safe, my friend. Before you go though….tell me one thing? What happened to the babe?’
Unable to meet his eyes, Jupitus looked away, back down the street. ‘I never did find out. I tried to stay near to make sure she was taken in, but my wounds needed more attention than I could manage alone. I hope she was taken in, I don’t want it to have been for nothing….’ Jupitus’ voice tailed off.
‘It was not for nothing, Jup, you gave her a fighting chance. But if you could go back and face it again, would you do the same? Or walk away? What would your choice be?’
Jupitus stared for a few moments, before letting out another low chuckle. ‘You know the answer to that as well as I do, Shaeff. There is no choice.’
Turning on his heel, the older infiltrator moved off away from Shaeffer, whose eyes followed his retreating back. A child ran across the street momentarily distracting him, and when he looked again, Lord DarkShadow was gone, becoming just another figure in the crowd once more. Smiling to himself at the older mans disappearance, Shaeffer shook his head wryly. ‘You’re a good man Jup, and it’s because of people like you that it’s worth fighting,’ he muttered, before strolling into the looming mouth of the Defenders of Albion building.
‘Aye, none of us can,’ said Shaeffer quietly. ‘All we can do is fight it as long as we’re able. You and I are still around. Both getting slower. One day it’ll catch us. But where will we be when it does? I hope to be at home, with Tree and Annah by my side. I don’t want to be alone in the middle of nowhere when my time comes. I want it to mean something.’
Jupitus smiled then, before nodding his agreement. ‘I envy you for that. I spend a lot of time at home with my Lady now, but it’s never long before I get the urge to wander alone. I love her, of course I do, more than life itself, but home life is not my way. It’s in the blood. You have it as well, I believe, but you seem to be able to fight it better than I. When my time comes, it will be serving Albion, as I always have. She just seems to want me one piece at a time’
Turning around a corner, Shaeffer paused, looking up at a tall stone building that seemed to dwarf the others nearby. ‘As ever, the place does little to cheer the mood,’ he said, swallowing. ‘It’s been at least 3 years since I was here. I haven’t missed it.’
Butt-joining onto the walls surrounding the city, the Defenders of Albion building loomed intimidatingly, casting shadows onto the streets surrounding it. Whilst the city walls gave a reassuring air of security from the outside world, the building was much more oppressive, intruding rather than being a backdrop to the life in the city. Smiling wryly to himself, Shaeffer muttered, the words lost and carried away by the throng of people living their lives around him. ‘Home away from home though.’
Jupitus clapped him on the back, and the Prince of the Shadowed Night grinned suddenly. ‘Just like old times really, eh?’
‘You take care of yourself out there. Don’t let Albion give you anything to remember her by. I’ll make sure Treeloe gets anything she needs, I promise.’
Clasping the older mans shoulder, Shaeffer nodded his thanks. ‘Keep safe, my friend. Before you go though….tell me one thing? What happened to the babe?’
Unable to meet his eyes, Jupitus looked away, back down the street. ‘I never did find out. I tried to stay near to make sure she was taken in, but my wounds needed more attention than I could manage alone. I hope she was taken in, I don’t want it to have been for nothing….’ Jupitus’ voice tailed off.
‘It was not for nothing, Jup, you gave her a fighting chance. But if you could go back and face it again, would you do the same? Or walk away? What would your choice be?’
Jupitus stared for a few moments, before letting out another low chuckle. ‘You know the answer to that as well as I do, Shaeff. There is no choice.’
Turning on his heel, the older infiltrator moved off away from Shaeffer, whose eyes followed his retreating back. A child ran across the street momentarily distracting him, and when he looked again, Lord DarkShadow was gone, becoming just another figure in the crowd once more. Smiling to himself at the older mans disappearance, Shaeffer shook his head wryly. ‘You’re a good man Jup, and it’s because of people like you that it’s worth fighting,’ he muttered, before strolling into the looming mouth of the Defenders of Albion building.
O
old.SadonTheGrey
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- #66
Yay, more!
G
gengi
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- Thread starter
- #67
Keep it up, 
Later
Later
L
Laston
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- Thread starter
- #68
very nice story indeed!
woooh nice!
woooh nice!
S
Serbitar
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- #69
</cheer>
O
old.Tyraette
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- #70
Chapter 3
Laird MacGregor stared thoughtfully at the map sprawled out before him, and swore. Various coloured markers adorned it, spreading from the forests of Sauvage, to the plains where the remains of Hadrians Wall lay. Glaring with hatred, the tall bearded Scotsman thrust out a chainmailed arm and grasped a black marker, before removing both it and two smaller red markers from its location at Caer Renaris.
‘How many did we lose this time?’ he barked at Aethelstan. Still clad in his platemail, Lord Ironhand of the Order of the Knights Templar grimaced.
‘They were dug in well. Svea Ulvar again. No surrender from them, no running. For every one of theirs, we lost about three of ours. They’re losses we can ill afford to lose again and again Laird.’
‘Aye, I know,’ muttered the highlander, hand drifting automatically to his hipflask. Taking a long deep drain, he sighed and replaced it. ‘You lose many of yours?’
‘A few. Mostly new blood. We’ll be holding a service for them on Sunday. I’m growing tired of having to send out the youngsters before their time. It’s the third time in a month the line has been broken through and one of our inner keeps held. The line is weakening.’
Nodding, Laird shifted his attention to another map, this time showing the snowy whites of Midgard. ‘Fortunately, the line is also weakening in their own lands. I sense this war is close to a conclusion. One of us is going to be breached in a big way. We’re slowly making headway into their lands and holding ground. Their response is to send these warbands out; to die and take as many of us with them.’
Taking one of the discarded red markers, Aethelstan fingered it gently, trying to imagine the faces it once represented. ‘Which of us is it going to be though? We’re on a knife-edge at the moment. We could build up enough of a push to Midgard, but we don’t have enough to maintain the defence at the same time. If Durgi attacks at the same time we do, or we’re repulsed, then we don’t have enough to hold. I do not like the risk, Laird. Not with Albion and my men at stake.’
Smiling wryly, Laird leaned back. ‘Theres an old proverb in Scotland, kin. Allow this ol’ warlord of ours to tell it you. If you wish to remove a thistle, do not grasp it by the stem, for therein lies its strength, and there are many thorns to prick and sting. Instead, dig around underneath the thistle, and grasp it by the roots. Once there, you can do what you like with it.’
Frowning, Aethelstan stared at the grinning Scotsman. ‘I was never good at word games MacGregor. Give me a sword to fight with and men to lead, and I’m in my element. Riddles I leave for the minstrels. Are you talking about Durgi? We’ve tried sending our infiltrators before. Durgi is no fool We’ve not even come close.’
Chuckling in amusement at the Templar General, Laird’s eyes twinkled. ‘Actually, with a bit of luck, we’ll be sending you to ‘dispose’ of him.’
A few moments passed, as Aethelstan searched the grinning highlanders face, unsure whether he had heard correctly. ‘I think you might have had enough to drink,’ he said slowly, glancing at the flask. ‘No, not yet. I was being serious. You know we found signs of a Midgardian presence in the Falls? If its confirmed that somehow theres a portal to Midgard like there is with us, it opens a whole new front. One that if we surprised them with, we can push through straight to their homelands. With a big enough force…’
‘…There wont be anyone to stop us.’ Aethelstan stared at Laird. ‘We’ve been at stalemate for much of the last year. There’s talk of the King arranging a truce. With this though, we won’t need a truce. We could end it once and for all.’
‘That’s the plan. All we need to know is where the gateway is, and how well its defended. As far as we’re aware, they don’t yet know of our existence down there.’
Nodding, Aethelstan smiled, removing battle weary features. ‘We’ve waited a long time for this. If we can burst through and get to Midgard’s heart in force, I might yet be able to spend some time on the estates.’ Standing, he saluted Laird and made to leave. ‘You know that you have everything the Templars can offer.’
Returning the salute, Laird smiled. ‘I know that kin. Hopefully it will be soon.’
~
<gives up translating to Lairdese....anyone want to copy/paste it and translate into his accent, email it to shaeffer@knightstemplar.cc and ill edit the original post, giving credit of course.>
Laird MacGregor stared thoughtfully at the map sprawled out before him, and swore. Various coloured markers adorned it, spreading from the forests of Sauvage, to the plains where the remains of Hadrians Wall lay. Glaring with hatred, the tall bearded Scotsman thrust out a chainmailed arm and grasped a black marker, before removing both it and two smaller red markers from its location at Caer Renaris.
‘How many did we lose this time?’ he barked at Aethelstan. Still clad in his platemail, Lord Ironhand of the Order of the Knights Templar grimaced.
‘They were dug in well. Svea Ulvar again. No surrender from them, no running. For every one of theirs, we lost about three of ours. They’re losses we can ill afford to lose again and again Laird.’
‘Aye, I know,’ muttered the highlander, hand drifting automatically to his hipflask. Taking a long deep drain, he sighed and replaced it. ‘You lose many of yours?’
‘A few. Mostly new blood. We’ll be holding a service for them on Sunday. I’m growing tired of having to send out the youngsters before their time. It’s the third time in a month the line has been broken through and one of our inner keeps held. The line is weakening.’
Nodding, Laird shifted his attention to another map, this time showing the snowy whites of Midgard. ‘Fortunately, the line is also weakening in their own lands. I sense this war is close to a conclusion. One of us is going to be breached in a big way. We’re slowly making headway into their lands and holding ground. Their response is to send these warbands out; to die and take as many of us with them.’
Taking one of the discarded red markers, Aethelstan fingered it gently, trying to imagine the faces it once represented. ‘Which of us is it going to be though? We’re on a knife-edge at the moment. We could build up enough of a push to Midgard, but we don’t have enough to maintain the defence at the same time. If Durgi attacks at the same time we do, or we’re repulsed, then we don’t have enough to hold. I do not like the risk, Laird. Not with Albion and my men at stake.’
Smiling wryly, Laird leaned back. ‘Theres an old proverb in Scotland, kin. Allow this ol’ warlord of ours to tell it you. If you wish to remove a thistle, do not grasp it by the stem, for therein lies its strength, and there are many thorns to prick and sting. Instead, dig around underneath the thistle, and grasp it by the roots. Once there, you can do what you like with it.’
Frowning, Aethelstan stared at the grinning Scotsman. ‘I was never good at word games MacGregor. Give me a sword to fight with and men to lead, and I’m in my element. Riddles I leave for the minstrels. Are you talking about Durgi? We’ve tried sending our infiltrators before. Durgi is no fool We’ve not even come close.’
Chuckling in amusement at the Templar General, Laird’s eyes twinkled. ‘Actually, with a bit of luck, we’ll be sending you to ‘dispose’ of him.’
A few moments passed, as Aethelstan searched the grinning highlanders face, unsure whether he had heard correctly. ‘I think you might have had enough to drink,’ he said slowly, glancing at the flask. ‘No, not yet. I was being serious. You know we found signs of a Midgardian presence in the Falls? If its confirmed that somehow theres a portal to Midgard like there is with us, it opens a whole new front. One that if we surprised them with, we can push through straight to their homelands. With a big enough force…’
‘…There wont be anyone to stop us.’ Aethelstan stared at Laird. ‘We’ve been at stalemate for much of the last year. There’s talk of the King arranging a truce. With this though, we won’t need a truce. We could end it once and for all.’
‘That’s the plan. All we need to know is where the gateway is, and how well its defended. As far as we’re aware, they don’t yet know of our existence down there.’
Nodding, Aethelstan smiled, removing battle weary features. ‘We’ve waited a long time for this. If we can burst through and get to Midgard’s heart in force, I might yet be able to spend some time on the estates.’ Standing, he saluted Laird and made to leave. ‘You know that you have everything the Templars can offer.’
Returning the salute, Laird smiled. ‘I know that kin. Hopefully it will be soon.’
~
<gives up translating to Lairdese....anyone want to copy/paste it and translate into his accent, email it to shaeffer@knightstemplar.cc and ill edit the original post, giving credit of course.>
S
Serbitar
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- #71
more more more
gimme somethin to do in work
<command>Write faster</command>
gimme somethin to do in work
<command>Write faster</command>
B
bazzaye
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- #72
just gets better and better, keep it coming m8
O
old.Tyraette
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- #73
It’s a beautiful night, thought Shaeffer as his eyes roamed over the scene surrounding him. Leaning against the wall of his quarters with his arms folded, the peace of the night sky enveloped him on the balcony, and he was content. All around, as far as the eye could see, houses and people, homes and lives stretched out before him. Plumes of smoke rose gently from countless chimneys, before drifting away, caressing the city with its touch. The air around the Academy off to the left seemed as clear and crisp as it would be out in the country. Idly, Shaeffer wondered if they were able to extend that effect to the city as a whole, and whether they would even if they could.
Lights from torches illuminated the streets, mirroring the twinkling beauty of the stars above them. Despite the late hour, Shaeffer could still see people going about their business. Closing his eyes, he stilled, allowing his ears to view the city in their own way. The general murmur of the city, whilst to many wouldn’t even register, intruded on Shaeffers thoughts, and berated him lightly, constantly, all trying to be heard at once.
Some called it the greatest city in the realm. Some called it the jewel of Albion, and some called it the brightest star in the night sky. A thorn by any other name though, is still a thorn, and to Shaeffer the city was just that. A city. A place where people lived their lives. It had always seemed oppressive to him, governing his road, making choices for him. Back home, if he wanted to move to a place, he could do it any way he wanted. Here, the choices were made. If you want to go here, you take my route. Neither he nor Treeloe had ever really liked the city. For too long their choices had been made for them. He’d almost lost her to Albion, and so Shaeffer had made his first real choice in a long time, and they’d left it all behind.
Glancing up at the night, he sighed softly to himself, before moving to lean against the balcony rail. A few blankets of cloud hung in the sky, snugly protecting some stars from the ground, but the majority of them shone brightly, sending their light to anyone who cared to watch them. His mind drifted then, back to thoughts of home. Was she watching the same stars he was watching now? He’d always loved sharing the skies with her, both day and night. Many dreams and wishes were forged on nights like tonight. Promises are often whispered or fulfilled, given magic by the etherealness of the world bathed in moonlight.
His last night with her had been on a similar night to this. Letting his memories guide him, his eyes closed. A cool breeze that passed across his face became her hand, tenderly tracing his features, and his mind relaxed into the past. Smiling, he’d gently clasped it in his own, before embracing her in the moonlight.
‘Come back to me,’ she’d whispered, a lock of hair slipping down to dangle around her eyes. ‘I’ll never leave,’ he’d said, tenderly stroking the hair back into place.
Leaning her head into his shoulder, they both watched the stars for a time, before Shaeffer pointed out one star in particular. ‘Every night,’ he murmured softly. ‘Turn yourself to face this star. Where you find it is where you’ll find me. Watch how it burns brightly in the sky, and think of us. It’ll guide me back to you.’
She was silent for a moment at that, etching the star onto her memory. Content as he was to hold her, Shaeffer barely heard her whisper the question, and leaned in closer to hear. ‘Do you love me?’ she whispered again, not taking her eyes off their symbol. Gently, he turned her around to face him, wiping away the stain tears had left behind in passing. ‘More than life,’ he reassured her. ‘But love is too familiar a word. For in this place ten thousand times a phrase already heard, but aye, I love you.’ Holding her close, he tried to teach himself how she felt next to him, remembering her touch, her sight. ‘But y’know, I fail myself, and you, every time I say the words,’ his voice dropping to a soft murmur. ‘For not matching how I feel with words of higher wealth. One day I’ll find them, and bring them to you.’
Smiling, she’d stared up at him briefly, before kissing him tenderly, their lips and hearts speaking in a language few could understand. As she did so, she faded from his memory, the touch lingering, before becoming breeze once more, as Shaeffer opened his eyes to the here and now. Sighing softly to himself, he looked over the city anew, his heart heavy with desires to return to the past, to her. In the houses, streets and neighbourhoods around, Shaeffer was surrounded by more people than he had been for several years. And yet, away from the two people who mattered, he might have been the only person in the world.
Glancing upwards, he searched for solace in their star, trying to find something to lighten his mood. There was no such respite tonight though, and he stared at the cloud preventing him from being with his hope. Stretching out with his hand, trying to chase it away, he whispered. ‘Love's too familiar a word. I miss you.’ The breeze returned with his words, and carried them away with it, dancing its way through the streets of the city, and beyond. Turning, Shaeffer moved back into his room, closing the balcony door behind him.
Lights from torches illuminated the streets, mirroring the twinkling beauty of the stars above them. Despite the late hour, Shaeffer could still see people going about their business. Closing his eyes, he stilled, allowing his ears to view the city in their own way. The general murmur of the city, whilst to many wouldn’t even register, intruded on Shaeffers thoughts, and berated him lightly, constantly, all trying to be heard at once.
Some called it the greatest city in the realm. Some called it the jewel of Albion, and some called it the brightest star in the night sky. A thorn by any other name though, is still a thorn, and to Shaeffer the city was just that. A city. A place where people lived their lives. It had always seemed oppressive to him, governing his road, making choices for him. Back home, if he wanted to move to a place, he could do it any way he wanted. Here, the choices were made. If you want to go here, you take my route. Neither he nor Treeloe had ever really liked the city. For too long their choices had been made for them. He’d almost lost her to Albion, and so Shaeffer had made his first real choice in a long time, and they’d left it all behind.
Glancing up at the night, he sighed softly to himself, before moving to lean against the balcony rail. A few blankets of cloud hung in the sky, snugly protecting some stars from the ground, but the majority of them shone brightly, sending their light to anyone who cared to watch them. His mind drifted then, back to thoughts of home. Was she watching the same stars he was watching now? He’d always loved sharing the skies with her, both day and night. Many dreams and wishes were forged on nights like tonight. Promises are often whispered or fulfilled, given magic by the etherealness of the world bathed in moonlight.
His last night with her had been on a similar night to this. Letting his memories guide him, his eyes closed. A cool breeze that passed across his face became her hand, tenderly tracing his features, and his mind relaxed into the past. Smiling, he’d gently clasped it in his own, before embracing her in the moonlight.
‘Come back to me,’ she’d whispered, a lock of hair slipping down to dangle around her eyes. ‘I’ll never leave,’ he’d said, tenderly stroking the hair back into place.
Leaning her head into his shoulder, they both watched the stars for a time, before Shaeffer pointed out one star in particular. ‘Every night,’ he murmured softly. ‘Turn yourself to face this star. Where you find it is where you’ll find me. Watch how it burns brightly in the sky, and think of us. It’ll guide me back to you.’
She was silent for a moment at that, etching the star onto her memory. Content as he was to hold her, Shaeffer barely heard her whisper the question, and leaned in closer to hear. ‘Do you love me?’ she whispered again, not taking her eyes off their symbol. Gently, he turned her around to face him, wiping away the stain tears had left behind in passing. ‘More than life,’ he reassured her. ‘But love is too familiar a word. For in this place ten thousand times a phrase already heard, but aye, I love you.’ Holding her close, he tried to teach himself how she felt next to him, remembering her touch, her sight. ‘But y’know, I fail myself, and you, every time I say the words,’ his voice dropping to a soft murmur. ‘For not matching how I feel with words of higher wealth. One day I’ll find them, and bring them to you.’
Smiling, she’d stared up at him briefly, before kissing him tenderly, their lips and hearts speaking in a language few could understand. As she did so, she faded from his memory, the touch lingering, before becoming breeze once more, as Shaeffer opened his eyes to the here and now. Sighing softly to himself, he looked over the city anew, his heart heavy with desires to return to the past, to her. In the houses, streets and neighbourhoods around, Shaeffer was surrounded by more people than he had been for several years. And yet, away from the two people who mattered, he might have been the only person in the world.
Glancing upwards, he searched for solace in their star, trying to find something to lighten his mood. There was no such respite tonight though, and he stared at the cloud preventing him from being with his hope. Stretching out with his hand, trying to chase it away, he whispered. ‘Love's too familiar a word. I miss you.’ The breeze returned with his words, and carried them away with it, dancing its way through the streets of the city, and beyond. Turning, Shaeffer moved back into his room, closing the balcony door behind him.
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Shanaia
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- Thread starter
- #74
beautifull ...
"Love's too familiar a word. I miss you."
Now stop bringing tears into my eyes please
<hugs Shaeffer>
"Love's too familiar a word. I miss you."
Now stop bringing tears into my eyes please
<hugs Shaeffer>
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Shanaia
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- #75
bah doublepost...
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Cavex ElSaviour
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- #76
go go go shaef, your hungry audience wants more
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old.Tyraette
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- #77
<blush> do people like it still? hoping to pick up the pace a little shortly. That last one is my favourite so far though probably the single favourite bit of writing ive done in a loooonog time
probably the single favourite bit of writing ive done in a loooonog time
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old.SadonTheGrey
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- #78
Keep posting or I'll unleash the bovines of ...um....
B
bazzaye
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- #79
post post post!
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stafford
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- #80
<checks watch>
its going well m8
hurry up givf next chapt0r and all that
its going well m8
hurry up givf next chapt0r and all that
F
Firfin
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- Thread starter
- #81
Shaeffer matey ur history is great indeed /clap matey.
Is good to relax our souls a great reading like this.
Anyway a bit more of action will be a great mix in your personal love history.
Firfin lvl 50 Gimpskald
Linu lvl 50 Proud Shadowblade
Melania lvl 38 Healer - allways needed
And some more lowbies
Proud member of Savage Conclave
Is good to relax our souls a great reading like this.
Anyway a bit more of action will be a great mix in your personal love history
.Firfin lvl 50 Gimpskald
Linu lvl 50 Proud Shadowblade
Melania lvl 38 Healer - allways needed
And some more lowbies
Proud member of Savage Conclave
O
old.Tyraette
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- #82
working on it, working on it.
I'm well aware more action needed, I was soooo close to cutting the last scene,but i loved it too much Picking up the pace now
I'm well aware more action needed, I was soooo close to cutting the last scene,but i loved it too much
Picking up the pace now
G
gengi
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- #83
Schaeffer,
Apologies for the spelling for the story and more that last chapter was excellent, now write more write harder write faster
Later
Apologies for the spelling
for the story and more that last chapter was excellent, now write more write harder write faster Later
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Sharma
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- #84
Shaeffer says:
give loyalty a bump
Consider this thread bumped
give loyalty a bump
Consider this thread bumped
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Serbitar
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- #85
Wouldnt it be better to let himself bump it when he posts the new bit? Might encourage the lazy bugger to type faster as well...
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old.Tyraette
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- #86
bah, he was wittering on about increasing his post count <sad git imo > and so i made the suggestion
I'm working on a new bit, but rl /ponders atm
> and so i made the suggestion I'm working on a new bit, but rl /ponders atm
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Serbitar
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- #87
still using the 1 million monkeys approach to getting it written then mate? ;~)
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Sharma
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- #88
Originally posted by old.Tyraette
bah, he was wittering on about increasing his post count <sad git imo
Lies!
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old.SadonTheGrey
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- #89
Shaeffer hits like a girl ;>
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Serbitar
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- #90
When he actually hits that is gel </block>