The Saga of Laprima Donnaugh Options

[Renee]

~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-

Clavicus Vile

When the dream began, she found herself lying in a cart, lying in hay, lying still, half-hiding from the others. Part of her wanted to be out there with them, while another part felt quietly content to stay right there. Right in that haypile. Staying still, and keeping quiet. It's this latter, secondary part which attained.

The scene was heavily pastoral. Lots of trees, green with foliage. Sunlight and blue skies. A few puffy clouds, a perfect sort of day. The sounds of others around her. The cart she was in had been drawn off to the side, placed in shadow. The horse which had brought it here must have been tethered somewhere else. As she lay in the cart, she began to feel rather lonely. Sad, and lonely, despite the others cavorting nearby.

They were there for her. All of them, gaily awaiting her presence. Dressed in finery. The women wearing whites, pinks, and light blues. Maids and maidens. The men, dressed more somberly, but the sounds from their revelries were no less delighted and cheerful.

Where is she? Where is Laprima?

Someone was calling. A man, sounding a bit tipsy with wine, perhaps. Yet his voice contained an edge of concern. And then, the voice of one of the ladies...

We should go find her! She's probably near! She's going to miss out!

She sank lower, hiding within hay. She could hear them coming, getting nearer, occasionally calling out to her. She cowered. Not with fear, but with some sort of distress. Lonely she was, and part of her did want to join the others.

She scrunched within the hay as footsteps approached and circled the cart. She held her breath. Eventually, the footsteps moved on. Small relief; she exhaled. They hadn't discovered her. So she took a chance. Got situated upon her arms, and raised her head about a foot, attempting to peer over the cart's side. As she did so, she noticed there was a knot in its wooden planking. For no reason at all (other than, this is a dream, and in dreams we sometimes do strange things) she pushed upon this knot, and the knot fell out, leaving a hole. She squinted her left eye, viewing outside of the cart, only to see vague shapes of the departing couple, heading off into a cabin. Still calling out, still calling her name.

...And that's when she noticed the man with the dog.
...He stood off to the side of the meadow, nearer to the woods.
...He stood in shadow. He wore a jerkin of white and black. He beckoned to her.

You there! I can see you, he said quietly. Despite using a soft tone, she could hear his voice clearly, in the surreal way which dreams can magnify. I can see you, and I mean no harm. Why do not you approach me?

She felt a stab of fear. How can he view me, hiding within this cart? But then, she relaxed. For the man was merely a boy. A boy she recognized from her youth. And this boy was her brother.

Laprima! he called. Come hither, posthaste!

And so she did.

She rose from the cart, took a moment to brush stray strands of hay from her clothings, and then ran swiftly toward her brother, skirts ruffling below. She noticed that the dog which had been there a moment ago had vacated, or vanished. She looked to her brother as she drew nearer. And her brother smiled up at her in his typically mischievous way. A smile she hadn't seen since they were, in fact, both children. Her previous feelings of loneliness were gone.

You should depart! her brother said to her, dancing around her with gaited elan. Head on! Depart hence toward Solitude! And do as they say! ... These folks you see in their fabled costumes, all of them here, are of nothing to you! ... To us! .. They mean nothing! ... A wretched lot! ... So onwards must you go! ... Your man, he awaits your presence! And you shall be in high company! Just dandy! Just peachy!

She felt elation at his words. Her brother, right there before her. 'Whatever is to come, would be fine,' he was telling her, seemingly tapping within her thoughts, her hopes, her fears.

Elija, she said to him.

Yes, sister!

She was weeping by now.

Her hands raised to embrace him. But just then, a flash of emotion overcame her. A mixture of revolting sickness, and sweet delight. She recoiled, stumbled backwards in disgust...

Laprima Donnaugh awoke, bolt upright, her eyes teary. Her bed quarters around her, her 8 year-old feline dozing by her side. She'd just had a dream. Her thoughts were racing, so she consciously made an effort to remember all she could. ... Her brother .... A cart ... Some people walking by in gay costume ... A dog by the side of the forest ... Slowly, she pieced it all together. After a minute or so, she sat up in bed, inked her quill and began to scribble words quickly in her journal.

After she had recalled all she could, she realized she was in agreement with her brother. She would head to Solitude.

This post has been edited by Renee: Jan 24 2022, 02:42 PM

[Renee]

.
___________________________

The Forces which Beckon

___________________________

Middas, 27 Frostfall, 4E 201


On her fourth morn in Skyrim came the next dream. Droplets and snowflakes. Discs in the sky, obscured by cirrus and cumulus. A path which wandered and wound. Far away, distance high upon rockface. An opening, cluttered crates nearby. Inhabitation. Arrangements, portending, portending, becoming. Deep into caverns, inhabited by beings who dwell within darkness. Structural cruxes, cedars and pines. Fastened and sound. Yet copious darkness.

Dwelt within darkness, darkness yet brilliance. Darkness, portending. Darkness, arranging.

Flickers of light, laughter, crying. The shadows of friends. Past peoples, elated. Her folks all around, yet also not present, not here, not now. Calling, bellowing, deep into night. Malevolence and dignity. The beast, he's nearby. His figure, familiar. Somehow, familiar.

Asleep she was, and having a dream, yet how could this one be so real?

And there she heard him. "Laprima!" There he was. Avian cries, the sound of a dog. Was that really her brother? Really, was it Elijah?

Someone was coming. Airy contusions. The smell of damp, the chill of burrows. Threatened, he lingered. Someone, here, somebody coming.

And all along in the background was the incessant barking of dogs, the howling of hounds, the baying of wolves, the cries of canines, the --

~~~~~~~~~~

Laprima Anne Donnaugh awoke from her nightmare, bolted upright in bed. Addressed the sudden uneasiness of combined worlds for a moment; that one slipping away into this. Her heart was racing. Her skin tingled. Her hair half-covered her face in a dark, sweaty mass. Shafts of sunlight illuminated the room, her room. And where in oblivion was she?

"Laprima, you are with us?" Her aunt before her, aunt Elisif the queen, peering, smiling, and radiant. "You are alright?"

Her fourth day in Skyrim, today it began. Her usual routine after having such a dream was to scribble all she could remember into a special journal designated for such things, which was an effort to document and arrange those night experiences into written thoughts, missives she could then study, and try to make sense of. But this was impossible now.

"We've got lots of lovely things planned for you today," aunt Elisif began, as she fussed about the room. "I have personally arranged a visit with one of the magistrates of Castle Dour once you have gathered yourself ready. My court shall soon be in session, which you are completely welcome to attend, if you'd like. Oh, and there is also a chaplain who'd like to meet you. Personal friend, he's in charge of our Temple of Eight. And once court attendance is over, we can perhaps place a visit to that facial specialist I was gabbing about the other day," Elisif winked. "See? Lots of lovelies planned for you today, my dear niece. When you feel ready, of course."

As she had no choice but to rise and begin her day, the forces which beckoned could only dwindle aside, powerless and impotent in the light.
.