Luna Lioria, A Shroud of Light in a City of Darkness Options

[gamer10]

Luna Lioria is a story written from the perspective of a rebellious, and somewhat foolish, young Imperial girl named Luna who decides that she can no longer live with her "controlling" parents, and decides to run off on her own. To where, she doesn't know, and reality ultimately takes her by surprise. This first chapter encompasses her time spent in and around the Imperial City.

Morndas, 6th of Evening Star, Late Evening


I looked about me, the soft glow of the candle on the bedside table comforting as my gaze drifted towards the window, the panes of glass seemed barely able to hold out against the chilling winds that struck it so cruelly.

Glad I'm not a window.

I shook my head, what a silly thought, my exhaustion was getting the better of me and I felt as if I was only vaguely aware of my surroundings.

Not good, not good.

I had to stay awake, but I knew that I couldn't resist the tempting lure of a good nights sleep, and I would eventually have to give up the struggle, the enemy so relentless.

Why not leave in the morning?

My mother and father would never let me leave, let me go. I had to strike out when they were deep in their dreams. To them I was yet a child, but I knew myself to be different. I was fifteen, no longer a child, but not yet an adult. I was in between, the best stage of life for learning and experience.

I picked up my small bag containing some food, and a quill and paper, which I had taken from my mother’s desk. She would not mind I knew, because she would be nearly dead with worry over where I had gone. I felt guilty for this, but I couldn't help but wonder what awaited me as I stepped out the door into the slushy streets of Cyrodiil. Sleep could wait out the night.

The lantern I held in one hand lit the darkness that descended upon me, and it let me see my way around the familiar city.

The great houses, built solid and high, surrounded me, but provided little comfort. I could hardly see them anyway, night had set hours ago.

I had left my parents softly snoring in their bed, as I strode into a new era for myself, an era in my life of adventure. This era, I hoped, would be filled with mystifying times and tribulations for me to explore. Yet I felt wary as well, of what exactly I did not know, but I suppose it was the whole idea of leaving the Imperial Province, and journeying to a foreign land.

The night air was crisp and dry, I stood for a moment just a block or so by my judgment from my home. Gazing excitedly about me, I pondered deeply.

What if I am never to come back?

Brushing the ominous thought aside, I took a step further into the dark.

My hand took the brunt of a brick building and the lantern fell to the ground breaking open upon the icy street as the light I had been so grateful to have faded. I was thrust into the dark city of Cyrodiil, alone and without guidance. This was it, I knew, this was adventure, or at least the start of one. My stomach lurched, I was fearful, for all I had learned, all the knowledge I had gathered to this point, could not prepare me for survival on my own without others. I had no one now, I was really truly alone. The familiarity of the city drifted, and I found that I no longer knew what I thought I had.

Am I alone?

I froze, realizing that there may yet be someone who would see to it that I was not alone, and for the first time as well, I hoped to the gods that I was. The spell of fear I felt quickly left me, in a mere matter of seconds, and I regained most of the confident mental stability I had been overtaken by just a minute ago. The deepening fear had only subsided temporarily, I recognized, and it lingered with me in the back of my mind. It was the kind of fear someone got when they were about to get caught doing something they shouldn't be doing.

Without thinking, and hardly a second passed, my hand flew to my belt and my sword slashed through the air. Someone grabbed my hand, placing their own hand over my mouth. My sword however, contacted someone. I heard a shout of pain, and the collapse of a body. My hand was wet, but from what I could not see in the dark, though I guessed it to be blood.

My heart pounded as I dashed through the streets, desperate to find refuge and hide myself from the terrors that wandered here in the Imperial city.

I was barely aware of myself as I ran, panic had taken over. My sword still swung loosely from my hand as I slowed myself. I contemplated turning around and finding my way home, but I couldn't, I couldn't make myself now.

Eventually I managed to come to a complete halt, but now I was in a foreign part of the city. I had never wandered here before, and I wish I hadn't now.

There was nobody out, but I still felt my skin crawl as a shiver ran from my head to my toes. I stood there trembling, my eyes darting wildly back and forth.

A hand landed on my shoulder.

I spun around and kicked, ferociously attacking my stalker.

"Hold, hold!"

I stopped suddenly as the man kneeled, holding a hand to his stomach, his face a grimace.

"Quite a kick you've got there, is that how you greet everyone?"

I frowned, nearly sick "Do you often sneak up on young girls at night?" I asked accusingly, my hand resting on the hilt of my sword.

"Calm down miss, I didn't mean you any harm." The man looked up and grinned maliciously, I noticed, though his face was hardly visible, "You can stop shaking."

I took a few steps back.

The man's smile disappeared, "Now hold on a second, you wait right there!"

I turned in a hurry, and dashed off, only to get several feet before backing up again, as a man passed out of the shadows.

"You heard him," the strange man said, he held a sword in hand, "Stay right there."

I unsheathed my sword and lunged, luckily taking the stranger by surprise. The man didn't have time to dodge as the blade passed through him. I drew it out, and the body collapsed to the ground. Once again I found myself scurrying through the city.

It was sick; I knew what they would do to a young lady such as me, the pervasive nature of the drunks out this time of night.

I was freezing; the snow was coming down fast, wetting my clothes.

I must find somewhere to wait out the night.

Where?

I collapsed on the street, the ice and slush viciously biting at me as I pulled my knees to me and placed my head on them, noticeably shaking and shivering as my breath came in short gasps.

What am I, a child? Giving up so easily.

Yes, a child .

The world seemed so cold, both literally and metaphorically, and I had to struggle to hold my tears back.

The grim cruelty of reality took me, and I can't recall when or even how I managed to drift off into sleep as the freezing cold continued to assault me.

[gamer10]

I dreaded having to wake up several hours later and stand watch on deck with Edward. He, as usual, would act vague and confused as I stood beside him, and this is what troubled me, his lack of confidence.

Sure, I knew that there was something in his past that makes him act this way, but I couldn’t quite understand why that would cause him to dislike my concern, I’d have thought he would be desperate for friendship.



So, it was as I predicted, and several hours later Edward and I were standing on the deck of the ship looking out over the ocean for any approaching ships.

“Luna, come here.” Captain Ponius ordered, and I approached her.

“Edward is quite an eccentric isn’t he?” she asked.

I nodded, “I don’t think that’s all it is though, he seems rather lost.”

She raised an eyebrow questioningly, “How so?”

“He doesn’t no how to react – to almost anything. I think the only emotion he recognizes is fear.”

“Why is he so afraid, Luna?”

I shook my head, “I don’t know, but I wish he’d tell me. It’s strange enough sleeping a few feet away from a boy who stays awake all night.”




Edward and I stood watch for the next two hours, but neither of us could work up the courage to speak to the other.

When the watch was over, Edward began to saunter away gloomily, but something made me grab him by the shirt.

“Edward- look!” I cried out, turning him around.

He pulled away and turned to where I signaled, in the distance was none other than – the setting sun. Why didn’t he appreciate such a marvel?

“Luna – its just the sun.”

“No,” I told him firmly, “No Edward, its not. It signifies the end of the day, and the coming of the night, it’s a time to look back on the day’s achievements and ponder your own existence. Don’t you see?’

“No, I don’t.”
Frustrated, I pushed him from my path and tore across the deck, heading below.

I didn’t see him reach out in desperation at me as I passed, and whisper, “I only wish you’d teach me how.” Then, his last bit of hope gone, his arm dropped once again to his side, and he collapsed on the deck, leaning against the ships railing and sobbing into his hands as I sat on my hammock below.




Edward came down several hours later, but I pretended to be asleep. Windswept was cuddled up with me, and I knew that Edward needed a companion at a time like this, but the dog had chosen me.

“Luna, you’re awake aren’t you?” he asked accusingly.

Startled I raised my head and glowered at him, “How could you tell?”

“I’ve watched you sleep many a time, you look so much more peaceful when you sleep.”

“Oh,” was all I could manage, Windswept had decided that he wanted to speak with his “master” and had left me to lie alone.

I did feel the slightest bit guilty; ignoring Edward certainly wouldn’t help his emotional condition at the moment.

“Luna, do you ever care about where this ship might take you?”

“No,” I lied, “Edward, does it matter?”

“I just wondered, that’s all.”

“Well don’t, okay.”

“I’m sorry.”

That was it.

I jumped to my feet to face him.

“Edward, damn it all, you do understand. You know kindness, but you won’t let it show. Something’s made you afraid, and if you don’t tell me what it is how am I supposed to help you?” I threw my hands out at him, as if to wring his neck.

“I don’t know what makes me afraid, don’t believe me if you don’t want to, but Luna-“ he broke off, but didn’t cry. He was holding it back, I knew.

“Edward, if you want to cry, go ahead.”

“Please, Luna, don’t act so indifferent. You’re right, I do know kindness, I just wish I knew how to express myself the way you do.”

My frustration with him faded, and I smiled, even though I was puzzled. Taking a step closer to him, I raised my hand to his cheek.

“Let me show you how,” I said, and with a passion so furious as to only be rivaled by the goddess of love herself, I pressed my lips against his.

I only realized several moments later that Edward had no plan to break the kiss, so I was the one who pulled away.

“That was ridiculous Edward, you didn’t even try,” I laughed, rolling my eyes.

“Luna, don’t do that again – at least not while I’m stuck living several feet away from you.” He sighed and sat down on his hammock, but jumped up again.

“Captain Ponius!”

I quickly turned my gaze towards the stairs, and there stood Captain Ponius, a grin on her face.

“Well then, that’s settled.” She said, and without another word she strolled back up onto the deck, leaving Edward and I at a loss for words as we stared at each other then back at the stairs.

I guess it was settled. At least, I hoped.

-----------------

The story should start to pick up from the next update, but I try to put a lot of emphasis on the development of the characters and their emotions, which in general slows down the story.

-Gamer10



This post has been edited by gamer10: Feb 27 2006, 07:43 PM