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Chorrol.com _ Fan Fiction _ Athynae Sarethi: The Making of a Princess

Posted by: Athynae Feb 3 2012, 03:05 AM

Hey guys, well seeing as Athynae and sometimes Athlain's antics as children have been referenced in Blood on the Moon and each time I have found myself writing the "memory", mostly in an effort to better understand her, I thought I would share some of those blasts from the past with you. The entries will not necessarily be in order, just snapshots from here and there at different ages and occasionally some entries from the PoV of other friends and family just to add some spice. The first entry will be the story of Athynae getting her first journal and why.




I hope you enjoy Athynae's childhood antics, I have sure had fun writing the handful that I have so far. Even better are some of the "memories" from others who know her. Just be cautious while reading with any beverages close as she has a tendency to speak her mind (like you didn't know that) and we all know what that can mean when a child is involved.




"Mama are housecats baby Khajiitt??" While standing next to a family of Khajiit in market square kind of thing.




*Note: It has been pointed out that Athynae seems a bit mature for her age in some of the entries and if I were gauging her by my two eldest children that would be true(quite normal but no less wonderful), however two ideas mingled together in regard to her intelligence and maturity; One- She is her own person and there is no comparing her to anyone on that level; Two- I sort of combined my two youngest children, my daughter who is and always has been an adult (just ask her) and my son who, at the age of two, slipped out the sliding glass door, off of the deck that was 5 feet off the ground (we have no idea how he did it), climbed the fence and went to the neighbor's to help him work on a car, oh, and he only had on a pull-up, my motorcycle goggles and his sister's paten leather dress shoes.




Please do what you do, comment, correct, suggest but most of all I hope you enjoy.





Athynae Serethi- The Making of a Princess…





I dedicate this endeavor to the three people who are responsible for Athynae's existence:




minque for creating her and graciously sharing her with treydog




treydog for making her a part of Athlain's world and subsequently introducing me to her through his story then allowing me to become her writer




and of course




Black Hand who has allowed me to make Seth such an important person in Athynae's life.

THANK YOU SO MUCH

Posted by: mALX Feb 3 2012, 03:20 AM

WOO HOO !!! Welcome to the forum (again, again, and again !!!! Wait, and again !!! )



Loved this:


QUOTE

Mama are housecats baby Khajiitt??"


ROFL !!!

Posted by: Acadian Feb 3 2012, 03:23 AM

Athynae! Welcome to the Arena! I'm so excited to see you launching your own thread and look forward to reading it. smile.gif

Posted by: treydog Feb 3 2012, 03:49 AM

This is- in many ways- the most EXCITING part of being involved in this community. Seeing a new writer take their first bow. Obviously, in this case, there is even more to it but...

Welcome. Have fun. I know your readers will.

Posted by: Athynae Feb 3 2012, 04:02 AM

Thanks mALX and Acadian, man that was quick.


This is the first full entry in Athynae's journal, and every subsequent journal as well, she'll explain...


Inside the cover of the first journal…


To Her Highness the Princess of Trouble,
Congratulations on completing your fourth year. A very Happy Birthday to you. Fill these pages with memories so you can look back and remember you were once a child.

Uncle S



The ony reezen he sez he mayd me that is cuz I git into all most az much trouble az he duz an if thas troo then good I will be her highness princess of trouble forever.


Page 1
I got it I got it I got my bow from the ahemssa mama sed I culd have it when I gro up an I got it two day at my birthday cele sela pardy. I am going hunting az soon az I can git a way frum my nurs kowshy

I went hunting fond a beetle got a arow and put it on the string and pulled then uncle seth showed up and made me not shoot it and ast me if I was trying to kill myself I was not shoting the arrow backward he is so mean sometimes he brought me home and made me give him my bow until he culd lern me how to use it.



Page 2
I ges befour I put a lot of stuf in here the most portant thing is the story bout how I becam a princess cuz I never ever never wanna four get that story it wuz tha most portant day of my life.

I had read these words so many times over the years, and in some ways that day would always be the most important day of my life. I am caught now in a whirlwind that brings me back to these pages to remind myself who I am, where I came from and the lessons I have learned before I leave here. Everyone will be angry with me for a while I am sure, nothing new to me…but something is terribly wrong with Athlain and I have no choice. I have traveled with Mother and Father and I have stayed with the Ahemussa for a summer but I have never been on my own, alone. The first story in each of my journals is this one, and so once again upon fresh pages I retell the story. Each time the words change only slightly as my vocabulary has grown and I hope my spelling has improved, I do know that my handwriting is at least legible now.

I was two days from my fourth birthday, and I had decided that being four meant I was going to be a grown up. To prove my point prior to the big day, just to make sure everyone was in agreement with me I slipped the watchful eyes of my nurse, Kausha. That in itself was nothing new, I did it at least once a day but this day I planned a giant adventure. I can remember my knees shaking as I opened the door and stepped outside for the very first time without an adult. I was going to find Athlain and get him to go with me. I knew Aunt Baria and Uncle Trey were in Skar because the council was in session so I headed to the home they stayed in when they were here.

I slipped and slid and ducked and ran all the way there, three houses down. I weaseled my way around to the back door and peeped in to make sure no one was in the kitchen and made my way into the house. It wasn't fair really but Athlain didn't have a nurse, Aunt Baria took care of him. Mother told me it was because she had to be away so much with Redoran business, I understand that now, then I did not.

I tiptoed into his room and quietly closed the door. "Psst, Athlain, where are you?"

He came out of the room they called the nursery through the adjoining door. "Hey Fena, did your Mom bring you to play?"

"Nope, she did not. I am a grown up now or I will be in two days so I came by myself." I tried to puff myself up and look as big as I could. "Let's go outside."

"HUH UH! Mother would have a red face fit! I can only play in the nursery. She will be back to check on me soon, she checks on me all the time." It was always like this at first, but I knew I could bring him around so I continued

"Are you a scaredy rat? Huh? I walked ALL THE WAY over here all by myself and you won't even go outside with me? What kind of friend are you anyways?" As soon as he looked down at the floor I knew I had won. "Come on, we'll go out the balcony door in the nursery, it's easier." And so we did.

Out the door, onto the balcony and up, I know now that was where my plan fell apart, but it sure seemed like the best idea at the time because there wouldn't be anyone to catch us on the roof. And so there we were, watching all the people milling about and talking about them making up stories about them, where they lived, what they did for a living, etc. I don't know how the argument started, I think in the aftermath I forgot because it was irrelevant. But all of a sudden Athlain was on his feet with his fists tight, holding them in front of his chest with a face that looked like he had been forced to eat trama root.

"I am bigger than you, take that back or I will beat you up." He tried to look mean, he did, try that is, but it didn't work.

"Oh don't be silly Athlain, you are still just a baby and I am all grown up." And I mussed his hair. I think I need to add that there was a slight incline to the roof and Athlain was on the down side. Anyway, when I rubbed his head and smiled he drew his fist back and said

"TAKE THAT BACK!! I mean it, I am gonna rearrange your face!"

I bent down as I was saying "You are too mean Athlain Treyson" and when I stood up I had my wooden dagger that Uncle Seth had given me and I pointed it at him and yelled "BOO!" an eye blink later "A T H L A I N!!! NNNOOOOO!" As he went over the edge of the roof and down. There was a cloth cover over the balcony which caught him or rather slowed him down but he just rolled right off of it and down he went again. It just so happened that there were a couple of chairs outside, they kind of looked like a cross between one of the beds the Ahemussa slept in and giant pieces of the cloth Mother cut up to make bandages. He landed in one of those, but he broke his arm.

I climbed down, all the way down, I didn't bother going through the house because I had to get to him fast. But by the time I got there Aunt Baria was already there. She looked at his arm then at me then at him but all he said was "I fell".

"Athynae how did you get here young lady?" She had her head bent and she was looking at me with her eyes wide which was never a good look.

"I uh, um, I" I don't know if thought I could dig a hole with my toe to crawl into but my toe was certainly giving it a shot, "well, Kausha went into her room and I wasn't tired and.."

"Stop right there, you needn't go any further." She picked Athlain up who was being VERY brave and only whimpering a lot and carried him in the house back up to his bed. And I followed, no need to add more to it by doing something totally stupid. "Sit down Athynae, I have to take care of this first and THEN I will take care of you." Before she was done I heard someone coming up the stairs and I just had a feeling it wasn't one of the retainers because his boots were too heavy.

"Baria, what happened?" Uncle Seth looked like someone had cast a fireball in his face. "Thyna would you like to tell me what happened?"

"No sera I would not." I didn't want to tell surely he knew that.

"Athlain fell from the balcony. I suppose they were out there playing. Apparently Athynae decided to come for a visit without a chaperone."

"Um Aunt Baria?" she looked at me "He didn't fall from the balcony, he fell from the roof." The look on both of their faces told me I should not tell everything I know. I still do not do well with that one, my mouth shoots before my brain has nocked an arrow.

"Baria, I will take her home. Is there anything I can do before I go?" I was in trouble, and I hated being in trouble with Uncle Seth, he wasn't swayed by the 'I'm really sorry' look, not one bit. SHOOT!

"No Seth thank you, I don't think it is anything that a simple potion and some medicinal salve won't fix. Athynae you are not quite old enough to be out by yourself dear. I do love you so and I would hate for you to get hurt."

"I don't get hurt Aunt Baria it's always Athlain." Before I got the last words out Uncle Seth had picked me up out of the chair and started out the door.

"Uncle Seth why is your face so red? You look like you shot a fireball and it came back and hit you."

"SSHH! Not now Thyna, not yet. You really need to be quiet for a few moments while I decide how I am going to incapacitate you for the next ten years."

"What is inca incap inpacicitate?"

"It means you cannot move." He was holding his lips very tight and the muscles in his jaw were working back and forth like the baker's hand when he made dough.

"But I don't want to be inpalcacitatered."

"Why did you leave the manor without Kausha? Why do you insist on making trouble when your Mother is occupied with Redoran affairs?"

"Because I had to show Mother that I will be all grown up on my birthday, that I do not need Kausha anymore. I didn't get hurt, I went all the way to Athlain's and I didn't get hurt."

"What happened to Athlain?" He said raising one of his eyebrows, which made him look really scary.

"I didn't push him!"

"Then what did happen?"

"He fell, like he said, I promise." I knew I wasn't lying.

By this time we had reached the manor. Instead of taking me inside we walked around back to the garden. "Sit, right here." He said as he put me down pointing to a chair. "Now I want you to tell me exactly what happened."

"He fell, well, sort of, But I did not push him. I did not."

"Sort of, explain sort of." Seth had known me all my life and he was well aware of how literal and explicit questions needed to be phrased. I would not lie but ….

"We were just playing" and I sank in my chair, pouting, I really was sorry he had gotten hurt. I hated it when he got hurt. "and he said something and I said something and he didn't like what I said and he got up and put up his fistes and said he was bigger than me and that he could beat me up. And I told him he was being mean and he told me he would rearrange my face and I showed him my dagger and yelled boo and he jumped. That's the whole story, 'cept he fell all the way down."

Uncle Seth shook his head and looked like he was counting in his head then he said "Hence forth you shall be known as Her Highness the Princess of Trouble." with a knightly air, but the expression on his face was different.

"Uncle Seth are you fluberstrated with me? I am sorry, I didn't mean for my best friend to get hurt. I just didn't think about taking him up on the roof when he is still a baby and all."

He looked toward the sky like someone was going to snatch him out of there, like he wanted them to. He took a deep breath and looked at me. "Ok, your highness, I am getting you a book for your birthday."

"A book? Really? What's the name of it?" I did like to read, I was a very good reader or so Mother said.

"That, my child, is up to you. You are going to write this book."

My heart fell, that just didn't sound like much fun. "But Uncle Seth, it's supposed to be a good present."

He smiled, "It will be. It will also, I hope, help to keep you out of trouble. You get into almost as much trouble as I do."

"Really? I do?" It was looking a bit better now.

"I want you to use the gift to write down everything you do every day. I want to know what you did at academy, I want to know what games you played, AND missy, I want to know everything else." And he looked at me like he knew I did things that could not be proven.

I shook my head, "HUH UH! I can't do that. What if someone found it? That is not a good idea Uncle Seth. You surprise me, you are smarter than that."

"This is your story, and only you will know what you write on the pages. Keep it hidden if you must but write it all down for two reasons. One so that one day you will have help remembering and two it will help to keep you from being bored."

"Ok Uncle Seth I will do it but I do not like it. I think it is not smart to right those things down. Better to just answer the questions you are asked."

"I write everything down. I want to remember and one day maybe someone else will want to know about me after I have left Nirn, so the books will be here."

"OOHH well that's different then, you didn't say that before." And I ran into the house yelling "Her Highness Princess of Trouble coming through, make way for the princess…." And I could hear Uncle Seth laughing.



..




Posted by: mALX Feb 3 2012, 04:38 AM

*

QUOTE

"Hey Fena, did your Mom bring you to play?"


GAAAAAH !!!! It's little Treydog !!! (Athlain)



QUOTE

"Are you a scaredy rat? Huh?


ROFL !!!

SPOILER !!



QUOTE

What happened to Athlain?" He said raising one of his eyebrows, which made him look really scary.



GAAAAAH !!! And now I can picture Seth doing this since I've been reading his story too !!! This is Awesome !!

Uncle Seth is going to have something to read in his isolation me thinks, lol.


Awesome Write !!! I love it !!!


*

Posted by: McBadgere Feb 3 2012, 05:49 AM

Absolutely fantastic!!!...

Loved it...Surprisingly enough...It made me laugh a bit... laugh.gif biggrin.gif ...

Very excellently done...And I'm so looking forward to more...So much...

Oh, this is just proper funny right here...

QUOTE
"What is inca incap inpacicitate?"

"It means you cannot move." He was holding his lips very tight and the muscles in his jaw were working back and forth like the baker's hand when he made dough.

"But I don't want to be inpalcacitatered."


laugh.gif ...Nothing funnier sweeter than a kid trying on a big word...

Oh yeah, I also liked the way big bad chief Morag Tong Seth simply picked her up and put her on his hip...I really like that...Good man that one...

NICE ONE!!...About bloody time... tongue.gif ...

*Applauds heartily*... biggrin.gif ...

Posted by: Black Hand Feb 3 2012, 06:51 AM

Well done! I am glad that you've finally taken the plunge and we can see the evolution of a Princess, of trouble no less.

S:"Oh dear,...here we go...*chuckles*"

Posted by: minque Feb 3 2012, 10:27 AM

Yay!!! "My"girl comes to live..in her OWN thread! That is sheer joy.....wonderful to read about her antics and knack for getting herself into situations. biggrin.gif This is gonna be a "must read as soon as possible"

*claps hands*

"So Seth, what now?, You kinda care for her, right?"

Posted by: Grits Feb 3 2012, 11:06 AM

"What happened to Athlain?" He said raising one of his eyebrows, which made him look really scary.

"I didn't push him!"


rollinglaugh.gif I love it! Wonderful, Athynae! biggrin.gif

Posted by: treydog Feb 3 2012, 01:47 PM

QUOTE
"Are you a scaredy rat?”


Considering the things that tend to happen when ‘Thyna is around- yes. Of course, even worse things happen to him when she isn’t- so….

QUOTE
"Athynae how did you get here young lady?" She had her head bent and she was looking at me with her eyes wide which was never a good look.

"I uh, um, I" I don't know if thought I could dig a hole with my toe to crawl into but my toe was certainly giving it a shot, "well, Kausha went into her room and I wasn't tired and.."


Ah yes- the literal- and EVASIVE- answer.

QUOTE
Uncle Seth looked like someone had cast a fireball in his face. "Thyna would you like to tell me what happened?"

"No sera I would not."


That one just cracked me up.

QUOTE
"I don't get hurt Aunt Baria it's always Athlain."


Yes- funny how that happens....

QUOTE
"But I don't want to be inpalcacitatered."


Quoted before- but I will highlight it again, because of the joy of it.

QUOTE
"Sort of, explain sort of." Seth had known me all my life and he was well aware of how literal and explicit questions needed to be phrased. I would not lie but ….

He looked toward the sky like someone was going to snatch him out of there, like he wanted them to.


So much is said in these few words...

QUOTE
I shook my head, "HUH UH! I can't do that. What if someone found it? That is not a good idea Uncle Seth. You surprise me, you are smarter than that."


WRITE IT DOWN? ALL of it?! When it CAN and WILL be used against me?

QUOTE
"Ok Uncle Seth I will do it but I do not like it. I think it is not smart to right those things down. Better to just answer the questions you are asked."


She will make a fearsome council member one day.

This is a gem of a look into her early life- and goes far toward explain why Athlain walks funny and seems to have all those nervous tics...


Posted by: Athynae Feb 3 2012, 02:08 PM

NOTE: Yes, I know the giant spaces are distracting, my apologies, not quite sure what happened. When I tried to fix them after previewing the text it totally screwed up the manuscript and took me forever to fix it. I will try to figure it out before I post the next piece.

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU To EVERYONE!!! I will express my gratitude more personally later but since I was here I thought I'd throw that in.... biggrin.gif biggrin.gif biggrin.gif

Posted by: Colonel Mustard Feb 3 2012, 09:22 PM

An excellent start here already, one that I'm finding an entertaining read just from chapter 1. You've already given Athynae a very distinctive voice and personality, and I'm looking forwards to seeing how she'll end up in the story to come. Brilliant stuff!

As for the formatting, just post it with a single break between lines or automatic double spacing on Word (if you have it). The posting form automatically adds a line between everything when you post in on the normal reply one (don't bother with fast reply, that just gets rid of all your formatting).

Posted by: Athynae Feb 4 2012, 12:01 AM

McB Thank you so much!!

The space thing is fixed on the first story...thanks to McB. I don't know what happened but I will figure it out before the next one goes up, I hope, lol.

Posted by: Acadian Feb 4 2012, 02:02 AM

What a delightful look at Little ‘Thynae – I mean Her Highness the Princess of Trouble.

'I tried to puff myself up and look as big as I could.'
This is so easy to visualize!

'The look on both of their faces told me I should not tell everything I know. I still do not do well with that one, my mouth shoots before my brain has nocked an arrow.'
Wise advice if only she could heed it. tongue.gif

Oh, this is great fun!!!

Posted by: Athynae Feb 6 2012, 03:15 AM

@mALX- Thank for your support,

"It's little Treydog!!! Athlain"

ROFL!!!

@McB- The line you picked was a memory of my niece, she was about 3 and kept trying to say irritated and it came out iterated…as far as the comment about it being bloody time tongue.gif

Oh yea THANK YOU!!!!!!

@BH-Thank you, I do hope you enjoy it. You too Seth…

@Minque-Thanks so much for your support from the beginning. I am so glad you are here…

@Grits-Yep, that's one of those lines right out of one of my children's bedrooms…along with the look I use (which is not anymore effective for me than it was for Seth.

@ Trey-I'm sure she could change that if you want her to, just saying. Yes, the entire piece shows that she learned early to just answer the questions she was asked with no additional information necessary. I could respond to each comment but the gratitude would not be any greater than it is for all that you do, I don't think that is possible. Thank you repeated multiplied by 20 squared…

@Colonel Mustard- This is just a jumble of pieces snapshots of her childhood so everyone can see her hopefully as I do…Thanks for reading I do hope you continue to enjoy.

@Acadian-Yes, she absolutely is the Princess of Trouble, STILL. I am so glad you are having fun, I do hope that continues with future 'entries'.



BIG SHOUT OF THANKS TO THE BADGER FOR FIXING MY SPACE ISSUE!!!! I don't know what happened but I hope it doesn't happen again.





Posted by: Athynae Feb 6 2012, 03:27 AM

Thank you to Black Hand for the first part of this piece, a memory from Seth.

There was a defiant stare in the little Dunmer girl's eyes as she looked up at the taciturn man, his profile shaded by the early afternoon sun behind him.

A gust of wind sent a whirl of ash into the air, sending a long wisp of her hair away from the side of her face.

"Well now, bruising, crying, sitting all the way back here behind the Skar shell..what have YOU been up to little one?" The man knelt down and put down his satchel grabbing some cloth and a vial from its contents.

"U-unca Seth?" Athynae said as her expression changed to one of joy. "H-how'd you find me?"

"Well, I was coming back from up north, stopping by to visit your parents, then I thought I heard a child crying back here, seems like the kind of thing that warranted at least a look." He said applying the salve to the cloth and patting the side of her face.

"All the way back HERE?!" she exclaimed.

"Well, your hearing will get better with age. Your only -five-? summers now?"

"Six!" she said defiantly.

"Ah yes, six, has it been so long? Well, what happened to cause this mess?" he asked her, the salve already working its medicine and the bruising slowly disappeared.

"I-I fell." she lied.

"Mmmm. Fell onto some fists more like...the boys wouldn't let you play with them again, and you took it to the next level?"

"They're MEAN! They deserved it!" She snapped back. "You-You're not gonna tell Momma are you?" she suddenly wilted at the thought of a stern Cyrodiilic mother.

He smiled slightly. "Well, the bruising's all gone now, so I don't think she'd believe me would she?" He said putting the stuff away and sitting down next to her.

"I WILL however, give you a lecture." He said, as she rolled her eyes and rested her chin on her palms.

"Now, now, attitude. Respect for your Kinsmen, remember? You're a little Redoran lady, act like one!" He said with a slight mock to his tone.

"Now then, I only wanted to make a point. Which is stronger? Attack, or Defense?"

"ATTACK!" she cried out. "Like the way I made those boys cry when I kicked them!"

Sethyas smirked at the little girl's outburst. "No. Because when you go around attacking everything, you develop a reputation. And as strong as you are, you can't take on the world and they will come after you...no, if you defend yourself from those who attack you, you will be the stronger opponent, for every move sacrifices some guarding."

"Athlains Dad attacked Dagoth Ur! YOU carry those knives around all the time! You guys always attack and look at you! You're both great warriors!!" she pleaded.

"Athlains Dad spends 90% of the time behind a shield and attacks only when he sees the opportunity, I--uh, stay quiet, and...never mind, I only attack when its needed, that's all you need know about my technique...besides I'm not as great a warrior as you would think..." Sethyas said getting off point to the observant child's counterpoint.

"What I am trying to say is, you should never be the one to initiate a fight. NEVER attack, unless you or someone's life is on the line, fighting should always be your last option, even surrendering should be considered before fighting, when the enemy has to spend all his time watching you, it weakens him, while you have the opportunity to observe and find your way out."

"That sounds like cowards talk!" she grumbled.

"Oh? Then why did Tiber Septim rout an army twice his size AFTER surrendering to them? Why did the Akaviri fail to conquer Tamriel TWICE, and Tamriel failed to conquer Akavir in return?" Seth said to her.

She looked up at him with furrowed brows.

"True battle, true fighting is done beforehand, with your mind, not on the spot with your fists. It is said that the best fighters and generals have already won a fight before it is fought."

Athynae now just looked confused.

"Stand up." he commanded as he rose to his feet.

She complied as he pulled out an exquisite amulet from the satchel, and she looked over it greedily.

"This bauble is yours if you can land one fist on my torso or face." he said as her eyes lit up at the thought of being rewarded for hitting someone.

Being much shorter than her Uncle, Sethyas knelt down resting on one knee as she began her barrage.

After several minutes of him effortlessly slapping away her fists, and even taking some frustrated kicks to the thigh, she was panting and screamed at him.

"Give up?" He asked, bemused.

She just stared at him.

"Do you see? You've spent all your energy on needless aggression and I'm still--OOF!"

Her fist was a half-inch inside his gut as he instinctively grabbed her wrist simultaneously.

She gave him a mischievous little smile as she said quietly: "I didn't say I gave up." and took the necklace.

He stood up and smiled. "I think you learned this lesson a little TOO well."


* * * * * *


Uncle Seth didn't know the truth of it all, someday he would but not today…See, thing was, the boys had asked for it. I had stepped in over my head; not anything I would admit to anyone else, but every bruise, scratch and bleeding injury they had they deserved and if I had to suffer some for it then I just did. They had been the blight that took over after the real Blight was gone. When they moved here, being a kid Ald'ruhn had become a daily battle. Big dummies that picked on all the younger kids because well, we were all younger, including me. They had come from the mainland when I was about 3, I think, and they NEEDED to go back.

Yesterday I was on my way home from daily lessons, playing my usual sneak game when I heard Mae crying. I stepped around the corner to see those guar butts holding Cai with their hand over her mouth and pulling Mae's hair. I yelled at them and ran toward them; they let Cai go and took off. Mae grabbed her and hugged her as I got to them. I asked what happened and they told me through whimpers and that wind-sucking thing you do when you cry too hard for too long. Aunt Baria must have heard them because she came from the market about that time. I told her what had happened and she said she was going to talk to their mothers. And I thought to myself:

"Fine, you do that, but these stupid nothin's need a dose of their own potion."

I needed a plan to make sure they got some of what was coming.

There were four in their little band of ugly goblins, and two of them usually had their younger brother scribs in tow. I needed to think…

I sat in my room for what seemed like hours trying to come up with the perfect plan, something sneaky and painful- and I came up with a couple good ones. The only problem was they needed to KNOW it was me. I didn't sleep very good. It just made me mad as a five-legged mud crab that they had been so mean to Mae and Cai. Athlain couldn't do anything; he was sick, I think it was something Mae and Cai put in his juice, but all I knew for sure was it was not me, at least not this time.

The next day, there were no lessons, so out I went in search of the evil doers. I considered bringing my bow for some target practice, but it's probably a good thing I thought better of it. A good punch in the nose would do just fine. It took a little while to find them, but find them I did, standing just inside the gate in front of the Fighter's Guild. I stayed out of sight; this was not a good place, too many grownups to stop me before I got some talking done.

They were such idiots, trying to slip out the gate like they weren't up to something. Anyone watching knew exactly what they were doing. I don't know who they thought they were fooling with that act. It was hard not to laugh out loud. But out they went and I was far enough behind that I could stay hidden, but close enough that I wouldn't lose them. Out the west gate and south, and I knew where they were going. There was a great mound of boulders just south that was split in three or four segments and almost in the middle on the east side there was a cut out perfect for hiding.

I waited patiently, well, as long as I could. I wanted to make sure they were comfortable and ready for company before I welcomed myself, you know, catch them unaware. I had worked my way close enough to hear their mumbling, but I was only catching actual words here and there. I heard a flint strike, which was probably not a good thing. I was not permitted to mess with fire at all; I couldn't even add logs to the fire and, after getting scorched on Cook's pot, I didn't want to. That was the worst hurt I had ever had. Then I smelled hackle lo and shook my head. Uncle Seth and Father partook of the stuff occasionally and I did not like the smell particularly, but in Father's study and in Uncle Seth's rooms the combination of hackle lo, brandy and leather was just right.

I stepped into the opening and the sun was at my back so I cast a long shadow. "You have got to be the stupidest boys in all of Nirn. Don't you know that stuff just makes you stink so anyone can follow you?"

"Hey look fellas it's the Arc of Madnesses brat come to join the party." The biggest of the boys sat with the hackle lo pipe in his hand trying to look like a grownup.

"Madness huh? I don't think she would like that very much, honestly though when she is unhappy well she can seem a bit on the mad side." Let them think about that one. But they were so stupid they didn't catch it.

"Whatcha gonna do dog meat, tell your mommy what we're doing?" The biggest one must be the leader, it figured, since he was the dumbest of them all.

"No." I paused for a short breath. "I was thinking I would tell yours." And I tried to imitate the look mother got when she was trying to scold me, but didn't want anyone to overhear. You know the look I'm sure, the one that says "If you don't straighten up this minute your backside is going to look like a striped guar hide when we get home."

"You better not, you little sneaky witch." One of the other boys decided to show me he could speak human language, I was impressed.

"And who do you think is going to stop me, crab meat?" He was the one that had been holding his hand over Cai's mouth. "I'll kick your butt so hard it'll look like you are talking through a crack."

"You need someone to teach you a lesson, little girl! You don't know who you are messing with. We'll hurt you so bad even your Mama won't know you." The beast was blathering again. I just shook my head. Uncle Seth always said,

If you are going to fight- fight. Don't talk, don't try to look 'heroic'- just hit someone as hard and fast as you can.

Still, there were six of them and only one of me, and a little conversation might make the odds better. It was worth a try anyway.

"So, are we gonna do this one on one or are you all gonna try at once?"

I had no idea what it was going to be like if they all jumped in at once, but I was mad enough at what they had been doing and they had just added to it by calling Mother names. I didn't care what they said about me; they couldn't hurt me with words, well, unless they were the words of a spell and these boys couldn't spell the word "spell" itself, so I wasn't worried about that.

"We won't waste any time; we'll just all get it over with so you can go home crying to your Outlander Mama, Hlaalu scum."

That did it. The one thing they could have called me and gotten a reaction, yep, that was it. I set my feet like Uncle Seth showed me as the biggest bully charged. The other five just stood there watching. He dove at me, and I didn't even move my feet, I just leaned to one side and he went face first into the dirt.

"Idiot," was my only comment on his poor technique. He did not appreciate my remark and pushed himself up, yelling at his little group of thugs-in-training:

"Come on! Do ya need an invite? Get her!" And the rest of the big boys charged. I caught something, a head or fist or something, in my belly that made me let go of all my air. I felt my elbow make contact with something and a squeal followed. A fist to the eye told me I was going to have a mark of my own. I kicked the boy in front of me right where his legs came together and he went down like a shot cliff racer and I escaped their hands through the hole he left and went for one of the little brothers. I picked the little scrib up by his collar and whispered in his ear:

"You better tell them to stop or you are gonna get more than a good beating, I'm gonna feed you to the mud crabs." When I saw his face and how scared he was I felt bad; this kid had no choice but be to there because his big brother was a blight. The big boys stopped though. I looked at them, and I don't know what I looked like. I know what I felt like and if their appearance was any gauge, I figure we were about even. The biggest one had a scrape down his nose from sliding in the dirt; one of the others had a bloody nose, the one that never said anything was holding himself like he had to pee real bad, and the last one was crying with his hand to his head.

"Let him go, you sneaky little rat. You'll pay for this; you may not make it back home alive." King of the idiots spoke.

"If you do anything to me," and I leaned my head toward the brat I was holding, "he'll get twice what you give me, I promise." And then next thing I knew the little piece of dung slid out of his shirt and was gone, squealing like a baby kagouti. That was not good. They were between me and. Oops. The troop started coming at me and I saw a rock about the size of my fist. I picked it up and palmed it. I don't quite know what went where or who did what after that; it was a blur of arms, heads, legs and grunts, but I did not let go of that rock. I left them all in their little hidey hole, the biggest one rolling on the ground holding his head. "You even talk to Mae or Cai again and you will ALL be sorry. They are just little girls." I limped my way back to Sarethi Manor and that's when Uncle Seth found me. If he thought I was trying to play with those useless sacks of moldy wickwheat, so be it; I wasn't going to tell him otherwise.

Posted by: Black Hand Feb 6 2012, 03:54 AM

LMAO! You certainly have a way with the expressions Athynae! This had me chuckling all the way through!

S:"How fortunate those boys were that you didn't tell me. But I think you already knew what I would have done. Now; I would never strike a child...but I might convince them that the boogeyman was real..."

Posted by: mALX Feb 6 2012, 05:06 AM

I am loving these little insights into Uncle Seth and the close relationship they shared! From BOTM, I knew Athynae would have the same fiery redheaded temper, lol. Awesome Write !!

Posted by: Fawkes Feb 6 2012, 05:20 AM

Ohhh I'm loving this, it had me chuckling since the start. biggrin.gif I'm loving the dialog between the two :3

Posted by: McBadgere Feb 6 2012, 07:15 AM

Dunno if it's just what's been happening in RL at the mo, but this story scared the hell out of me...I know it's a brilliantly well written story...And most normal people wouldn't write the bad that could have happened...But that was genuinely scary...

Funny as hell though... laugh.gif ...

Loved it... biggrin.gif ...

Nice one!!... biggrin.gif ...

*Applauds heartily*...

And nice one to BH for the start bit too...See, told you he was nice... tongue.gif ...

Posted by: Athynae Feb 6 2012, 01:55 PM

Since McB mentioned how scary this piece was, and my youngest son has had some major issues with bullies this year, the thought of what might have happened could be scary. But I will dedicate this one to all of those who dealt with bullies and would have either LOVED to have done this or the ones that actually DID it to tame the beasts....they are just a bunch of a-holes that need to get their teeth kicked in a couple times.

Posted by: Fawkes Feb 6 2012, 05:11 PM

QUOTE(Athynae @ Feb 6 2012, 06:55 AM) *

Since McB mentioned how scary this piece was, and my youngest son has had some major issues with bullies this year, the thought of what might have happened could be scary. But I will dedicate this one to all of those who dealt with bullies and would have either LOVED to have done this or the ones that actually DID it to tame the beasts....they are just a bunch of a-holes that need to get their teeth kicked in a couple times.


Awwww <3, Thank you biggrin.gif

I would have LOVED to punch their faces to a pulp, not that the bullied me though, they did bully other kids. And ever time that I saw it, it made my blood boil, I would have done so much more than kick their teeth ph34r.gif , I am a dragon ninja after all biggrin.gif

Posted by: Athynae Feb 6 2012, 05:31 PM

Yes, I know how it is. I was the new kid at school almost every year until 9th grade because my Dad was in construction...it wasn't always pleasant. I finally about the age of 9 learned how to hold my own but rather than do it the way Thyna did, I went covert...they didn't know it was me until I got them all...

Posted by: Acadian Feb 7 2012, 01:18 AM

What fun to read! Little Athynae is adorable – and clearly demonstrates how long she’s had her temper. Eeep! Vengeance, was hers however. I really enjoy having Seth and Athlain drifting in and out of this – as they should. I’m looking forward to perhaps a scene with little ‘Thyna and her dear mother, Selene.

’She gave him a mischievous little smile as she said quietly: "I didn't say I gave up." and took the necklace.
He stood up and smiled. "I think you learned this lesson a little TOO well."
laugh.gif


Posted by: treydog Feb 7 2012, 03:15 AM

Well- cannot let THIS one go by:

QUOTE
She gave him a mischievous little smile as she said quietly: "I didn't say I gave up." and took the necklace.


For the rest- well, I would pretty much have to quote all of it. The main thing is the sense of "place" that comes through in the metaphors and descriptions. It bring us right there, in the midst of that dusty cluster of boulders, taking on long odds- because it is the right thing to do.

And how interesting that Athynae is finally driven to action- not by something done to her- but because of the mistreatment of her friends. Interesting- but not surprising.

Each of these windows into her earlier life tells us that much more about how she became the person she is.

Wonderfully done!

Posted by: minque Feb 8 2012, 09:50 PM

"Oh Thyna! You didn't think I knew about that incident with those boys, right? You din't think I actually found out? Well I did, but....since you handled it so well, I chose not to say anything or even interfere!"

This is SOOO fun to read! I do have a record of the little Princess her first 4-4,5 years but after that....she's all yours! And this start of her own story is purely amazing! I love every word of it... goodjob.gif rollinglaugh.gif

Posted by: Athynae Feb 8 2012, 10:08 PM

Mother? Why wouldn't you say something? I, um, well, I was just protecting Mae and Cai and, and, well, it was about time they got what was comin'! Hateful, good-for-nothins!



Posted by: minque Feb 8 2012, 11:52 PM

QUOTE(Athynae @ Feb 8 2012, 10:08 PM) *

Mother? Why wouldn't you say something? I, um, well, I was just protecting Mae and Cai and, and, well, it was about time they got what was comin'! Hateful, good-for-nothins!




"Why of course Sweetie! And you did show them who's in charge, right? And you didn't get that much hurt either...so. But remember one thing my precious....YOU were the first...YOU were the first child born after the Blight, on Vvardenfell, that...give you some powers that you may not be aware of...yet!"

Posted by: Black Hand Feb 9 2012, 12:39 AM

S:"She just tricked you, I hope you realize. Most things she says she knows; she's acting off of intuition and simply confirming by saying she knew. Oh yes, you may have certain inherit abilities."

Posted by: Athynae Feb 9 2012, 02:51 AM

Are you sure Uncle Seth? Because there are some things she really shouldn't know....see I told you keeping the journals was a bad idea....

Posted by: minque Feb 9 2012, 09:42 PM

QUOTE(Black Hand @ Feb 9 2012, 12:39 AM) *

S:"She just tricked you, I hope you realize. Most things she says she knows; she's acting off of intuition and simply confirming by saying she knew. Oh yes, you may have certain inherit abilities."


SS: "Well Seth, that's what you think...hmmm you may not be completely wrong here!"

SS: Thyna! Don't believe everything Uncle Seth tells you, he might not be totally neutral when it comes to you dear!"

Posted by: Athynae Feb 10 2012, 12:57 PM

I have always been a bit of my own person, if I don't think something someone says is in line with what I want to do I just kind of log it in for later...may not always be the best thing but it is sure teaching me a lot of valuable lessons like maybe I should listen and heed more advice than I do.

I always had the feeling you knew far more than you let on, now I know the reason for some of that. It wasn't that you necessarily 'knew' what it was just that telepathy that said "something bad is getting ready to happen" kind of like me with Athlain. tongue.gif

Posted by: Athynae Feb 18 2012, 06:54 PM

@mALX- She is quite the temperamental little girl and woman, that will never change I am afraid. It's a good thing that Athlain loves her because he certainly has times when he doesn't particularly like her….Glad you are enjoying the peek into the younger Thyna.

@Fawkes- Laughter is the best medicine my friend, I do hope that the majority of these have a good dose of humor. Though I am sure there will be a handful that are a little less funny just because life isn't always funny, but Thyna can turn even the most mundane into something a bit bigger…

I totally understand about seeing the other kids get picked on too, it just makes my blood boil and my eldest son experienced it for several years until he finally defended himself and fixed it. Now my youngest son is having the same issues. He'll take it for a little while longer I am afraid but when he does strike back it will definitely make an impression…

I am so so glad you are here…thank you!

@McB- As I said earlier in the thread I do understand that there are elements here that have been experienced since the beginning of time; there is always someone who seeks to make themselves look bigger by making others look smaller, it stinks but it's so true. I know first hand what that is like having been on the receiving end more than once but the first time was the worst. Being the new kid in school almost every year from 2nd grade to 9th certainly didn't help….BUT I would far prefer, in this case, that you see the humor AND the satisfaction in bringing them down a notch or two….

@Acadian- There will be appearances of many of the people that you know and some that you haven't really met yet. Stay tuned… AND the quote you picked probably defines Thyna better than any ONE I can think of, THANK YOU BLACK HAND!!!!!!!! FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTION!!!!!!!!!!

@treydog-and there it is again, the defining quote….I am elated that you are enjoying the peek into Thyna's youth- even more elated that you are such an integral part of the creation of it. THANK YOU!!!

@minque- As ever I am thrilled beyond words that you are here, that I see Thyna the way you envisioned her. I will strive to mold her into the person that would come from Serene and Athyn Sarethi with a huge dose of Sethyas Velas stirred in….or some mix of that….I hope you enjoy the next one….

@Black Hand-So glad you enjoyed that one, or my part of it. Yes, she does seem to have her own take on 'expressions' I am sure that trend will continue to some extent.

THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!! For your contribution to this piece, without your part Thyna's part would not have been possible. EVER GRATEFUL for all that you have given to Thyna AND for allowing me such freedom with the one and only Seth….

@Mother and Uncle Seth- "Thank you for not saying anything even if you knew about some of these things because if you had it would have probably slowed me down or changed me and I kind of like the way I am.

Uncle Seth, I didn't tell you for that reason; I wanted to take care of it just like you took care of the people you love. I was just doing what you and Mother and Father taught me to do.
[/size]











Posted by: Athynae Feb 18 2012, 07:04 PM

Thyna at around the age of 7...enjoy

"And why is Her Highness sitting in her room in the middle of the day? Hhmm? She must not be feeling well. I guess I'll just have to leave her to rest. I'll see her in a few weeks when the council reconvenes." The familiar voice carried to the top of the stairs.

"No! Uncle Seth, wait! I'm not sick; I got in trouble. Please don't leave." I hated being restricted to my room. Of course, I usually asked for it, though I would never admit that to anyone, not even my Uncle Seth, and I told him almost everything.

Seth's frame darkened the doorway dressed in his official council robes. Guess they needed his vote or something. That thought was followed by the happiness that he was here; reasons didn't matter.

"What could you have possibly done this time little one? Surely you are close to running out of things that get you in trouble." He looked at me with the expression, a combination of censure and understanding that I had become far too familiar with. "From what your Mother shared am I to understand you REFUSED to do some arithmetic for the tutor?" His voice did not carry the same censure that his expression did and so I felt at ease enough to try to explain without being guilty before the trial.

"Well, yes, sort of, I mean, yes Uncle Seth, I did." I stammered.

"And why pray tell would you do such a thing?" He raised an eyebrow and cocked his head sideways, the look that said 'You didn't quite think that one through, did you?' Seth leaned against the mantel and crossed his arms waiting for my explanation.

I slouched and dropped my head, "Because it is stupid." I pouted. "I already know how to add numbers."

"Ah, well that lets me off the hook then." And he straightened and brushed his hands together as if he had finished a task. "And here I thought I was going to have to keep teaching you about weapons and fighting forever. But since you already know how to use a blade and shoot a bow I don't need to teach you anything else because it is stupid. That's one burden I need not be concerned about any…"

"No! You can keep learning new stuff about swords and bows and fighting. That's not stupid." I had drawn myself up and was once again taking a stand for my position that repeating simple mathematical calculations was stupid. Learning about weapons and fighting was NEVER stupid. "I know all about adding numbers, why do I need to practice?"

"So, you know all there is to know about numbers then?" He feigned a look of awe.

"No, I did not say that. I said I know all about adding numbers. I have more to learn about numbers, just not about adding them."

"So, if I asked you to show me, would that be stupid?"

"No, because you always make me prove to you that I know what I say I know," I said with a shrug; it was just the way it had always been. He said it kept me from telling anyone I knew how to do something I didn't know how to do. The frustration was that he should KNOW by now that I would not do that because if it got to Uncle Seth I would have to PROVE it, never a good thing if I didn't know. I learned that early on.

"Yes I do because it isn't enough to say you know something, you have to be able to show that you know." How many times had I heard him say that? He is not so old that he forgets telling me that over and over and over.

"What do you want me to show you Uncle Seth?" I knew what the answer was going to be but I figured it was worth a try just in case he wanted to see me do the new hand flip I had learned with my dagger.

"I would like to see those arithmetic problems you did not want to do." Yep, that's it; I knew it.

"Why? Are you going to do them for me?" I asked, acting a bit too excited; he knew I was teasing.

"I can't do math." His voice held no emotion and he looked so serious I almost believed him until I saw the telltale twinkle that said 'gotcha'. And he laughed. "I would like to see what you have."

"All of them?" Now that was just a bit much just to prove I knew how to add two numbers together. I could do them all in my head.

"Yes, why not?" He was acting like it was no big deal but it was, I was making a stand on this because it was stupid.

"I have to do the whole thing just to prove to you that I know what I say I know?" I didn't like that idea at all; it was the point. I had to show him I was determined like I had shown Mother; she just didn't appreciate it like Uncle Seth did. I knew I would still end up doing the work, well, that was a given from the start. But I would fight my battle nonetheless, otherwise they would think something was wrong with me.

"Do you recall over the summer when Baria asked Athlain to clear the scathcraw patch- so she could expand her garden? Remember how long it took him? He started at the ends of the branches so he would not get skewered by the thorns. Do you remember what you told me?"

"Uh huh, he was being silly. He wasn't thinking good. He could have done it different and it wouldn't have taken him so long. If he wore leather armor he could just go cut them at the roots. Or he could have used a flare spell and burned them up; it would have taken a few castings but he woulda been done in a day. Or- or- he could have let the guar loose and they woulda eat it up and stomped the rest of it down."

"So, by doing it the way he did he avoided a lot of pain, he didn't have to learn a new spell that takes lots of practice to get right or the time it would have taken the guar to finish the work. What he also did was complete the job in that time. If he had used the flare spell he would have still had to clean up the debris and if he had used the guar he would still have needed to get rid of the larger branches AND watched where he stepped in the process."

I really hated it when he did that, made my really good ideas into not so good ideas. "But it took him three days!" It was the best I could come up with.

"Ok, it took him three days, and how long have you been arguing with Serene about your numbers? And what have you gotten for your efforts?" Now he was getting to his point; I could tell by his eyes and the way the ends of his mouth turned up just a tiny bit.

"Two days. I got sent to my room until I do them." I stuck out my bottom lip; it just wasn't right. "But Uncle Seth, it's STUPID!" and that came out as a whine. "I know there are far more important things I need to learn!" I threw that in just to distract him, but it didn't work.

Now his eyes were smiling; here it comes. "So is doing more work than you have to- when it would be SMARTER to do what seems 'stupid'." He waited while his words wafted in the empty space between us. "There are times when you must fight and times when you must NOT, and little one you have to know the difference."

"But if I say something, don't I have to stick to it?" This was something Father and Mother had always told me.

"Well yes, but you should think before you speak because in this case you chose words that backed you into a corner. Refusing to do the work was a mistake because it was a fight you could not win, even if you never did your numbers."

"I don't want to lose; I want to win." And I did know that sometimes you needed to retreat and reassess before the next attack.

"So you win this war by maneuver. Do you always attack with a blade?" Now came the good stuff; he was talking about weapons now.

Smiling I said, "No, sometimes you block with it." I was good at this too, almost as good as I was with numbers.

"And how do you avoid being hit?" His expression was more serious now, there was more to this lesson…

I hesitated a moment "Sometimes I block with my katana, sometimes I pull my dagger and use it and sometimes…"

"SOMETIMES, Your Highness, you back up. This is one of those times." And there it was, using my favorite subject to make his point. There should be a rule against that; he did it all the time.

"BUT UNCLE SETH" I stomped my foot on the floor.

"Look, I am not going to take sides in this between you and Serene; your being right or wrong is not the most important lesson here. You have to think things through before you start a battle. Serene is your mother therefore she holds the 'Staff of Correctness,' which means she wins. One touch with the staff and poof- the Princess is in her room until she concedes or …."

"That is NOT fair." I did not like these lessons. It was even worse when he was right and I was the one that did something stupid. Which, unfortunately seemed to happen more often than not.

"I don't believe anyone has ever told you life was fair, little one. Now, I will ask a price from you for the teaching." He looked at me with his head bent like he was waiting for me to accept his price.

"My allowance is in my desk." I furrowed my brow and started toward my desk.

"No, Princess, not money, a bargain."

Uh oh, this can't be good. "A bargain? Like I give you something I have for what you taught me?"

"Sort of. I want you to do something for me. I want you to go an entire week without using the word 'stupid'."

"And why would I want to do that, Uncle Seth? How am I supposed to tell someone something is stupid if I can't say 'stupid'? That's just mean. You are being mean."

"And so are you." His mouth made a hard line.

"What am I supposed to say if something IS stupid?" I put my hands on my hips and leaned toward him. I really wanted to know. This was an important word; did he not understand that?

"Do you think the lesson I taught you was valuable? And will it save you time and trouble in the future?" He looked like the dealers in the market when they were trying to get more money for a bauble than it was worth.

"Yes, sera." It was the right answer but I did not like it.

"So we have a deal then?" He put his hand out for me to shake on it. I just stood there and looked at him, gritting my teeth trying to think of a way out of this. "Athynae? I do not teach you anything without exacting payment, whether it is the promise of practice time or making sure you do your chores, or teaching you why it is not a good idea to try to match stubborn with your mother."

"Fine!" and I shook his hand. "I may not talk at all." And I made my best angry face.

"As you wish." And he shrugged his shoulders.

"Sometimes Uncle Seth, you are so mean." I was definitely pouting but I still held one more card.

"Did I hear someone say something?" And he looked around acting like he didn't know it was me.

I stepped to my desk and picked up the parchment. "Here." And I passed it to him. He looked down at the completed pages of equations. He looked at me, shook his head and smiled, then crouched down and hugged me.

"You are and shall ever be Her Highness Princess of Trouble." And he laughed while I was trying to figure out how I was going to survive a week without saying "stupid". I was definitely going to need to avoid some people.



Posted by: McBadgere Feb 18 2012, 10:18 PM

QUOTE
BUT I would far prefer, in this case, that you see the humor AND the satisfaction in bringing them down a notch or two


Yes...And today, I would have...

........

But aamywho!!...

Most excellent chapter...I laughed muchly...Poutyness is hilarious... laugh.gif ...

I really enjoy the way she is being taught all this stuff by Seth...You really are painting him brilliantly...

So much to quote that I loved absolutely...So I shan't quote any... tongue.gif ...

Absolutely brilliant...

Nice one!!... biggrin.gif ...

*Applauds most heartily*...

Posted by: Acadian Feb 19 2012, 01:40 AM

What a treat as we see more of Little Athynae! I got a wonderful laugh from the image of Serene with her Staff of Correctness!

Then there was this:
"Fine!" and I shook his hand. "I may not talk at all." And I made my best angry face.’
Oh my goodness. It is wonderful to see the origin begins as early as seven years of age. Knowing the later path of Athynae, I long ago wrote the below piece.

~ Ode to the F word ~

When used by a woman, as the last word,
it can make any man feel quite absurd.
Coming from the love of his life,
such a word can cut like a knife.

More effective than a cry or a pout,
its results can surpass those of a shout.
Here is a hint, known well to old trey,
that comes from our very own dear Athynae:

Some women, when piqued might declare, "By the Nine!"
A proper young lady simply glares and says, "Fine!"

tongue.gif

Posted by: minque Feb 19 2012, 02:35 AM

Here we go again! Her Highness in full bloom! I can just see her...."arguing" with Seth, who by the way you are picturing like I do, or at least it seems so to me. You describe his more "human" side, the side he shows Serene sometimes when he's not annoyed with her for poking around in his mind tongue.gif

I enjoyed this so very much, how she made a little fun of poor sweet Athlain's way of doing things! Hilarious it was!

I will pm you a little something you can use in a future post...IF you want to that is!


SS: "Well Thyna, I guess I should be thankful that you at least listen to your Uncle Seth...otherwise ...well I don't know"

Posted by: mALX Feb 19 2012, 03:29 AM

I am absolutely loving these incites into the Seth behind the assassin we come to know in his memoirs !!! There is a depth to him that is touched on in his dealings with his own story, but in this we see a side of him he doesn't show many - Awesome Write !!

Posted by: minque Feb 19 2012, 03:45 AM

QUOTE(mALX @ Feb 19 2012, 03:29 AM) *

I am absolutely loving these incites into the Seth behind the assassin we come to know in his memoirs !!! There is a depth to him that is touched on in his dealings with his own story, but in this we see a side of him he doesn't show many - Awesome Write !!

Yes! And I'm sure not even Blackie realised that his hero would be so famous in other stories ..when he created him!
But that's the THING! You create a man according to your likes and fantasy...then others interpret him differently, finds or maybe invents other sides of him...

I love the way Athynae is interpreted here ..AND Seth! because it fits so well with my "universe"

S.G.M

Posted by: Black Hand Feb 19 2012, 07:11 AM

o_O


I suppose minque is right, I'm uncertain as too my true feelings concerning his apparent popularity. Firstly, I don't really like the original saga, it was the very apparent amateur writings, then again; practice makes for slightly less amateurish things.

Not too mention Seth has been with me through many upheavals in real life over the last four or so years. Not like a voice in my head or anything, but simply the idea of being better than what I am, which is what I think of as the spirit of Seth is, continuous self improvement.

But in many ways, Seth is no longer simply 'my' character, he's been borrowed and interpreted and brought too life in many different ways. I always shared him freely because; as weird as this may sound, it is what he would do. He is a walking contradiction, a remorseless killer who loves, a man who experiences deepest pain yet seeks to alleviate pain from the world. As selfless as he is closed off from the world.

Yet, the sense of wonder I gained from first playing Morrowind, the creation and deletion of multiple characters as I learned my playing style; the joy of discovery as I came across multiple bandit caves, the long hours in the night spent playing despite having work the next day, these moments I would not trade, and these moments are uniquely my own, and are what gave birth to the Mer in my mind.

So, good job Athynae, you do more than just do him justice. You breathe life into the softer side of the man, and even I am moved and have regained that sense of wonder. What's next?

Posted by: Athynae Feb 19 2012, 01:32 PM

Wow! Um, I had no idea when trey sent me the forum's address the magnitude of what it would come to mean to me. If by writing these stories, a process that brings me tremendous joy, also brings others some joy that is a wonderful feeling but if it has also served to bring back to you something so special as that I am humbled to my very center and elated to think I have succeeded in doing that for you. I will cherish this comment for the rest of my days.

Thank you so very much Black Hand, you are an incredible writer that has a way of putting ideas and feelings in such as way that the reader feels them tangibly. I was sucked into his story after reading the first paragraph not long after I arrived here and now I sit on the edge of my seat waiting for the next post to surface....and Athynae would not be her stubborn, opinionated, argumentative, perfectionist warrior self were it not for Seth, Serene, Athyn and Athlain but I also feel like Seth was the one that gave her permission to be who she was.

Posted by: treydog Feb 19 2012, 05:13 PM

Time to crank up the Quot-o-Matic (patent pending; use under adult supervision; keep hands and feet away from moving parts; read the safety guidelines before operating; consult a physician if you experience dizziness, nausea, sudden weight lose, or blurred vision).

What these vignettes from Athynae's past give us are insights into the whole world that she inhabits. We get to see precisely what the thread says on the tin- "The Making of a Princess." And that is because we see the people who shaped and trained her- even as we also see how SHE shaped them.

QUOTE
Surely you are close to running out of things that get you in trouble?


That is obviously one of those "rhetorical questions."

QUOTE
"So, if I asked you to show me, would that be stupid?"

"No, because you always make me prove to you that I know what I say I know,"


So much is conveyed in those two lines.

QUOTE
I knew what the answer was going to be but I figured it was worth a try just in case he wanted to see me do the new hand flip I had learned with my dagger.


To quote Athynae herself- "I never said I give up."

QUOTE
Serene is your mother therefore she holds the 'Staff of Correctness,' which means she wins. One touch with the staff and poof- the Princess is in her room until she concedes or …."


I can think of some mom's who have WISHED for such a handy item as a Staff of Correctness.

QUOTE
"Fine!" and I shook his hand. "I may not talk at all." And I made my best angry face.

"As you wish." And he shrugged his shoulders.


And Seth demonstrates the only good response to the deployment of "Fine!"

QUOTE
And he laughed while I was trying to figure out how I was going to survive a week without saying "stupid". I was definitely going to need to avoid some people.


Simply a delight from start to finish. Wonderful.

Posted by: Athynae Feb 26 2012, 03:48 PM

@McB- Thank you so much, I am so glad you are enjoying. I hope there are many more posts that have "…so much to quote…" That is a quality that I strive for every time I put pen to paper.

@Acadian- I am so very happy you are reading and enjoying! And the poem was , well, that was just a work of art, every time I read it I smile. It now graces the front of my notebook, reprinted in a lovely calligraphic font and decorated with a border of her two favorite words…

Stupid and FINE go together so well don't you think?

@mALX- Seth is quite the mer without a doubt. He took on the mantle of Uncle and tried to fill the spaces when Serene and Athyn were busy with Redoran House affairs and the council. He didn't want their absences to be a blank space, probably a good thing with Athynae.

@minque- Thank you for the PM, I loved what you sent, ALL of it. Seth, in my mind, is as multi-dimensional as the universes on the forum but the common thread that runs through all of his aspects is his drive and determination to do whatever it is with practiced perfection regardless. That goes along with my response to the second comment. I don't think one story was or is big enough to hold the many dimensions of Sethyas Velas successfully. smile.gif

AS: "Yes, Mother, it was a good thing, a very good thing but to be honest, I don't think listening to him was optional." biggrin.gif

@Black Hand- I've shared my appreciation for Seth, both with readers and your generosity with him and I will continue to do so but your gift of his presence in Athynae's childhood I can never repay so if these stories do this:

QUOTE
So, good job Athynae, you do more than just do him justice. You breathe life into the softer side of the man, and even I am moved and have regained that sense of wonder. What's next?


Then I will bow humbly and say thank you and I hope that these glimpses into Thyna's childhood continue to inspire that sense of wonder. Thank you again, so much, your generosity is beyond measure.

@treydog- smile.gif Thanks. So much I wish to convey in just one word….




Posted by: Athynae Feb 26 2012, 04:14 PM

First and foremost thank you all! RL has been a bit of a whirlwind this week with the arrival of my first grandchild. She is happy, healthy and perfect not to mention quite the beauty, and no I am not biased... biggrin.gif

Now, this one is a bit long so grab a cup of hackle lo tea and join me on a ride...I was going to split it into two parts but, well, I didn't want to think that hard today I just wanted to get to the sharing it part. So, let's race shall we?

I had another history lesson with Father today and walking outside I found it hard to imagine the scenes he described before Nerevar Reborn had defeated Dagoth Ur at Red Mountain. The time before the Blight ended seemed almost like a fable, especially looking at Ald' ruhn now, since Mother had become Arch Mistress of House Redoran. One of the lessons that Father focused on was Dunmer traditions and how maintaining House Redoran's warrior heritage during peacetime was difficult. But Mother and the Council had continued to hone our martial skills with tournaments and competitions.

Children began their training in the ways of Great House Redoran as early as age 3 or 4, with lessons on the importance of honesty and integrity; how to handle weapons- mostly swords; and in the last decade, the use of guar as mounts, the same way horses were used on the mainland. Truthfulness was something we were expected to exhibit at all times, in all of our dealings- within the House and with others. There were competitions for warrior skills, with divisions by age, starting at age 5. There were small sector meets bi-weekly and regional tournaments yearly, but to compete in the regional tournament one had to earn a place either by number of wins or election of a recognized master of a particular skill. The regional tournament was open to competitors from outside of House Redoran, if they could qualify- AND pay an entry fee. As Mama liked to say, "Though we are not a 'merchant House' like Hlaalu, we still need money." Of course, in some ways, we still had to pay a price for letting outsiders in.

The weapons part of the tournament had been held the previous week and now it was the riding competition, which in truth was a series of races. Because the riders had to be lightweight and agile, the guar races were limited to those under 17. The 5 to 7 group raced around Ald'ruhn, the 8 to 10 group raced to Bal Isra and back, and the group I was in- 11 and up- raced to the old Ghost Gate and back. Adults also rode, but they did not participate in the races.

This year there weren't many competitors in my age group- Athlain and I, a boy from Vivec that was our age, and an older boy from the mainland that I had raced before. I guess he came here for two reasons: one, his parents could afford it and two, no one knew him so the chance of any public humiliation was lessened greatly. And there was one other, a Hlaalu kid whose family lived in one of the huts by the walls. And, if I had to guess, they had bribed a Guar Master for a nomination to compete, because Athlain and I were the uncontested champions. He was the winner of the track races and even sometimes a race like this, but usually the cross-country ones were mine because I did not slow down for obstacles. I trusted Lumhara and she trusted me.

The day before the race, Athlain and I had just finished taking Lumhara and Cos Mear for a workout when Berwain, the Hlaalu kid, came into the stables on a guar that I had never seen before. He had stripes on his neck and hindquarters and a wild set to his eyes. Honestly, it made me nervous because most guar, especially the ones around here, had very gentle expressions and were quite sweet.

"You've won your last race, Thin-A Longhair." I didn't care for the nickname but I didn't go freaky either when the kids called me that; they were just stupid. Calling me names either made them feel better or they were just copying the kids they spent time with; it didn't matter to me one way or the other. The only name that I could not stand was known by one other person and there is no way on Nirn Athlain would tell- because he knew what would happen if he did.

"Yeah, we'll see, Bug Stain; the day you beat me will be the day I fall to my death from a pebble." The look on his face told me he was confused,

"In other words- imbecile," I had learned that using words containing more than four letters greatly decreased the chance Berwain and his pals would understand and so lessened the need for me to "educate" them with my fists, "It won't happen. You couldn't beat me if Lumhara was blindfolded."

"You'll see; you're getting ready to eat dust, elf-witch."

I raised an eyebrow and looked at him for just a moment, then I closed my eyes and started moving my mouth and rubbing my fingers together. I heard his retreat, along with that of his less than impressive guar; their feet moving rather quickly. Athlain elbowed me and we both burst out laughing.

"I wonder what would happen if you did actually turn one of them into a bug or something?"

And we roared again.

We were still giggling as we took care of Lumhara and Cos Mear, making sure they had fresh, clean water and straw bedding. We gave them each a nice helping of their favorite fruit grain mix too. Just as we started out of the stable Mae and Cai arrived in their typical fashion- talking simultaneously in low voices. As they got within earshot they ceased their rumbling and looked up.

"Hello Athlain, Athynae. How are you today?" Cai's vocalization came out dripping with honey. Something was up.

"What do you two want now?" Athlain asked, rolling his eyes. I did not like it when they played pranks on Athlain or me, and they did not, thankfully, pull them on my brother Ra, probably a good thing. BUT that did not ever stop me from being impressed by their abilities. They could not handle weapons of any fashion with any degree of expertise; they barely rode and never raced; but, when it came to pranks, they were the undefeated masters.

"Thyna dear, we are in need of your assurance, certainty, that you will win the race tomorrow," Mae intoned with the same sticky, dripping quality her sister had used. "We have a friendly bet with Berwain's little sister that you will win and we cannot lose because, well- we don't want to, but also because we bet those lovely hair ribbons Aunt Serene brought us from Sadrith Mora." Cai was matter-of-fact.

I was just listening, trying to keep from laughing at them, which was never a good thing.

Mae threw in just to be sure "You know- the ones that change color to match what we are wearing?" As if I didn't know what they were talking about.

"If Father finds out that you've been betting, especially something like that, you will be kneading dough and washing dishes until next Frost Fall." Athlain could be such a ninny sometimes. Of course the only thing he did to get in trouble was follow me. I think the only reason Aunt Baria and Uncle Trey let him keep playing with me was because they, like Mother, believed he actually kept me from doing some things. I enjoyed Athlain's company; at least he had more than one brain cell, so I wasn't going to tell them any different.

"Well, I fully intend to win, can't think of any reason this year will be any different than the past… how many times have I won this one Athlain; I can't remember."

I could feel the daggers coming from Athlain's eyes, "I hate you."

I smiled, "I know. That's why you never spend any time with me." And I cocked my head to the side and fluttered my eyelashes.

A foot stomping the ground drew our attention back to the girls. "This is not the least bit funny you two," Cai pouted.

"Can you not take anything seriously, Athynae? I mean really, you of all people should understand how unfulfilling it is to lose," Mae finished.

"How would I know that?" I had my favorite look on my face, the one that made me appear to be the idiot of Under-Skar.

"OOHH!!!!!!! You know what I mean! You are so hateful! Why can't you just work with us here?" Mae fumed.

"You two got out of sequence there; maybe you need to work on that." I gave them my best
"helpful advice" look.


At that they both spun around and headed out of the stables, leaning in to resume their verbal rumble. It really did look quite frightening sometimes.



The next day started early for everyone involved in the races, as well as the multitude of spectators. The older competitors were requested to observe and be supportive of the younger racers. I didn't have an issue with the support part and I would definitely be there to watch Rahvin's race, but I wasn't a good spectator.

I slipped to the stables just to sit with Lumhara for a few minutes before I needed to go watch Rah race. Then it would be time to get her saddled and warmed up for her moment in the sun. I walked to her stall and as I passed I pulled the rag from the hook. She stuck her head over the door and before I got close I wiped her chin off; she had a tendency to slobber some and "some" with a mouth that big was actually a lot. I didn't mind though; I kept a goo rag for just this reason because she was the most wonderful guar I had ever seen. I would have tolerated far more from her than just cascades of slobber, but thankfully it wasn't necessary. I nudged her under the chin with my head and wrapped my arms around her neck and she made a little sound in her throat like she had swallowed a flute that was out of tune.

"I love you too girl. Are you ready to race today?" She pushed at me and started shaking her head back and forth and her eyes lit up. "That's what I thought; you are always ready to race. How did I get so lucky?" I patted her neck and then put a hand on each side of her face "Race fair, and fly fast and we will win, right?" and she bobbed her head almost like she was nodding. "I gotta go watch Rahbrat, I'll be back and then we'll go show all of them how grand you are." And she made a loud warble sound. I really think she understood some of what I said.

I started toward the finish line and just as I got to the spot under the observation deck that Mother shared with the rest of the council the cheers went up. They were in the last stretch from Bal Isra. Rahvin and two other kids were almost side by side. The others were a girl from the coast and a boy from Vivec. Rah glanced toward me and at just the right time I dropped my head in a nod. He gave a shrill whistle and Star shot forward like an arrow from a bow. Rah beat the other two by at least a guar length; Star was almost as fast as Lumhara and Cos Mear. In fact, the only reason she wasn't as fast was because she was smaller than them.

Mother and Father were off of the deck in the winner's circle by the time Rah reached it. I stayed where I was because well, just because; it's the way Rah and I did things. We couldn't actually let anyone know we liked each other. We even went as far as to stage fights on occasion just for show. Of course Athlain knew the truth, but he wouldn't tell. Rah looked at me as Father took him from Star's saddle. I winked at him, smiled and gave him our secret hand signal; he beamed, and so did I. As far as little brothers go, I was a lot luckier than most.

Rah might not be good with a sword but he was something else all together in the laboratory and an exceptional archer just to let you know. He was 4 years younger than me and had already invented a number of new potions. I was the adventurer; he was the alchemist. Mother and Father had resorted to building him an outdoor lab because of the intermittent noises and aromas that emanated from his room. Sometimes his experiments had more enthusiasm than science behind them. His latest creation was a potion that made the creature that took it change colors, like a rainbow sort of and it lasted for several days. Mother had tested to make sure it wasn't dangerous before he actually tried it on anything living. It was great.

I returned to the stables to get Lumhara ready for the race and I bumped into Mae and Cai.

"Sorry about yesterday Thyna." Mae spoke first.

And of course Cai followed "Yeah, sorry Thyna."

"It's ok, I do understand, I was giving you a hard time yesterday. You know that, don't you? I do not compete in anything without every intention of winning."

"Will you let us make it up to you?" Mae was at the top of the flop today. I wondered if they had a system- or if it was just random.

"What? There's nothing to make up, I just said…"

"Yeah, but we would feel better if you'd let one of us lead Lumhara to the starting line and hold her 'til the banner drops." Cai of course.

I didn't feel comfortable with this at all, but I had two choices and I didn't like either of them. If I said no I would definitely pay a price later. If I said yes, I'd go ahead and pay the price now and get it over with. All I knew for certain was that something was up.

"If you insist, but think about what you are getting ready to do." There might be some that were fooled by those two, but I was not one of them.

I saddled and warmed Lumhara to prep her and met Athlain heading toward the starting line. "They caught me." I rolled my eyes.

"Yeah I figured; they caught me too, but I already told Rahvin I needed him to do it so I was off the hook." He gave a huge fake smile.

"I hate you."

"Yeah I know, that's why you never spend any time with me. But I guess I could find a new best friend." And he pulled my raised eyebrow look. I still did it better.

"Well you could, but they wouldn't be nearly as much fun as I am."

"Right, that's the biggest reason there is for me to run as fast as I can and find a new one."

This was a weekly conversation, almost like our own private club or something. "Yeah but you can't because," and I wiggled my fingers in front of his face, "I, my dear Athlain, cast a spell on you that makes you find me irresistible."

"I can't resist wanting to put a spell on your mouth to keep it shut."

We both laughed.

We reached the edges of the throng and there waiting for us were Mae and Cai and Rahvin. Cai was making goo goo eyes at Rah, like she always did. I still didn't get it; they were too young to even know if they were friends.

Rahvin knew the drill; he had done this for both Athlain and me several times before. I crooked my finger at Mae; Cai was lost somewhere between here and Masser. "Just hold the short lead Mae; you are really only walking with us; she knows what to do but the rules state that we have to be led to the starting line so…."

"I know; do you think I'm stupid?" she tossed over her head as she moved toward the starting line.

She seriously did not just ask me that.
I could have answered, but I was concerned that it would make an already bad situation worse. I did not trust this girl as far as I could throw Lumhara but she didn't seem to be hiding anything and there weren't any bulges in her clothing. She didn't even have pins in her hair today; it was hanging in braids. The tension eased just a little, but not much.

Berwain reached the starting line just before we did and the other two racers were almost to the line as well. Berwain looked at Mae and said, "You are gonna lose that bet with my sister, Red- and when you do I hope your face matches your hair."

Mae didn't say anything, she just reached up to rub Lumhara's nose like she hadn't heard him. The horn sounded us to the ready, then sounded again to signal the handlers to step out, and Mae gave Lumhara's nose another pat. Lumhara licked her hand as she stepped away and just as the banner dropped the world spun like the little wooden top that Ra played with.

Instinctively I tightened my legs around her front quarter and grabbed the saddle horn with my left hand. We were flying, then we were falling, then we were spinning. I couldn't even focus enough to direct her with the bridle. I reached down as deep as I could so my voice was like the guar master's and I bellowed, "LUMHARA- ENOUGH!"

She hesitated just long enough for me to assess and direct. The pillars of the old Ghostfence flew past and then it was all speed and holding on until the turn. I tucked in as close to her neck as I could, she dropped her head and the world became a blur as we screamed toward the old Ghostgate. I did not know what Mae the Mad had done, but you could rest assured I would find out and there would be a counter attack. I was concerned for Lumhara more than anything. She was running faster than a cliff racer could fly; the only thing that I could think of that would do that was a fortify speed potion- a strong one.

Next thing I knew I heard guar feet thundering behind me and I tucked my head to look under my arm. Berwain was not far behind, but beyond him Athlain and Cos Mear were nowhere close and Cos Mear and Lumhara were very closely matched speed wise. So the Bug Stain had cheated. Well, I would never be able to prove that I wasn't responsible for this unless I just dropped myself from the race. And that was exactly what I intended to do as soon as I could get Lumhara to stop, which could be a few minutes or sometime next week…. Mae and Cai would rue the day on this one.

Berwain was laughing behind me because he thought he was catching up. Well what's done is done, so he needs a lesson in messing with the rules AND with me. I leaned into Lumhara's neck and I hummed. I'm not sure why it worked- it just did. For Star Ra whistled and she would take off, for Lumhara it was humming, that or my lack of musical ability, I couldn't carry a tune in a bucket with a lid. She left all of them, Berwain included.

We made the turn at Ghostgate and started for home. I tried to feel for any problems the potion might be causing but found none. Her heart and her breathing were a bit accelerated but that was to be expected under the circumstances. I really needed something worthy of this for Mae and Cai. I looked up toward the finish line and heard from far behind me Berwain's voice shouting "She cheated! She had to! There is no way that broken down old guar could beat me, NO WAY!"

Rahvin, Mother and Father were standing at the finish line when I crossed. It was not easy getting Lumhara to stop but she finally decided she was done and dropped her head so I could dismount. The look in her eyes was absolutely heart breaking. She did not know what had happened. "It's ok girl, I promise, it's ok. We'll get you to the stables and cooled down and I'll get Mother to take a look. You'll be fine." I don't know if she understood but I hoped she did.

Berwain crossed the finish line about that time still spouting about me cheating. I walked toward the judges' tower as Rahvin came toward me. "Rahvin will you please walk her for me? I have something to take care of."

"Sure Sis, what happened? You scared me." His eyes were red rimmed.

I mussed his hair "It's ok, promise. I am fine and Lumhara is fine. I can't say the same for your girlfriend and her sister though." And I gave him a disgusted look. "I'll tell you later, ok?" He turned toward the stables with Lumhara.

"Hey Sis?" I turned "She is NOT my girlfriend!" and he continued on his walk away from me.

Berwain was coming at me full on and I was ready for the crash but he stopped just short and jabbed his finger in my chest. "You cheated! I will have you banned from racing forever!"

"I cheated? Me?"

"Yes you, elf-witch" and he narrowed his eyes still with his finger pressed at the top of my chest just beneath my throat.

"If you do not get your stubby, dirty finger off of me, I am going to remove it for you and if I do the only way you will get it back is when I feed it to you," I whispered so just he could hear. He moved his finger, good choice. "Now cheating is not something that I practice, I have no need to cheat because I just don't. Now that is not to say that there was not some other person that put something into the mix and so I am going to take care of this. Are you ready to be the winner of the race, Berwain?"

The smile on his face was monumental and I let it stay there for all of about three steps. "Too bad! You remember that threat you made about me not racing for the rest of my life? Yea, well, it just bit you on your cheating behind!" and I turned back toward the judges' stand.

I knew he was going to try to jump me from behind, Goody I do get to punch him in the nose. I turned just as he reached me and put my right arm out stiff, with the heel of my hand right on the tip of his bulbous nose. Crunch. Crap, I didn't mean to break it. And he screamed like a girl.

Leaving him there, holding his face, I spoke to the judge, "Sera, I apologize for what happened here today and my part in it. I did not know it but my racer was given a fortify speed potion and to be fair I am removing myself from the race. I would also like to request a full check of Berwain's mount as I believe he was dosed as well." I felt Mother's hands on my shoulders as I finished my little speech.

"Are you ok?" Mother's eyes bored into mine like she was trying to see to the other side of Nirn through my boots.

"I am fine Mama, but will you please go check on Lumhara and make sure she wasn't harmed permanently?"

"I will check my sweet but there are not ordinarily lasting effects from just one dose of fortify speed. I am proud of you and what you did, that was the right thing to do."

"Yes ma'am, I know. I could not accept a win under those conditions. If I cannot win fair and square, I need to lose."

We turned to head toward the stables and Berwain yelped, "You broke my nose! You'll pay for this!"

Mother started to turn, and Father was already out of sight, trying to catch up with Ra I'm sure, so I cleared my throat to get her attention. She looked up just as Uncle Seth and Uncle Trey stepped out of the crowd. Berwain took a step toward me as I moved in front of Mother. There was no way I was going to let her pull the Arch Mistress card for this. But instead Uncle Seth was there; he bent over and whispered to Bug Stain, just loud enough for those closest to hear:

"You take one more step and she will consider it a challenge. Do you want to meet her in the arena tomorrow morning?" I loved that look, I just loved it, the one he gave Berwain, a look that said 'I could wipe up the floor with you.' But this time the look was a conveyance for me. It was really hard not to jump up and down and yell, "Take another step, please, oh please, oh please!"





Posted by: minque Feb 26 2012, 05:38 PM

OHHHH! *jumping up and down, dancing around* I'm speechless! Talking about elf-witches.....Are you SURE you haven't a tiny bit of dunmer blood in you, Athynae? How else can you explain how you actually did THIS!??

I hereby pronounce you The Ultimate Author Of The Tales Of The Children Of Trey of High Rock And Serene of Cyrodiil....

Athlain, Athynae, Mae, Cai and Rahvin...YOU make their childhood ....well AWESOME is the understatement of the day!

Sitting here with my cup of coffee, smiling, re-reading the whole part and just ENJOYING it.

That Athlain and Athynae will develop their relationship is very nicely implied here and we know how it will turn out...ehhh almost anyway, there will be some events during the journey, that I'm sure of....then it's Rahvin, my sweet little boy....So much looking forward to read more about his early ages....YAYYYY.

I wonder, will Uncle S take part in his life as well? I bet he will....oh aye I bet he will. Our grumpy assassin has a knack for kids that we were not aware of before ..or were we? wink.gif

S.G.M

Posted by: McBadgere Feb 26 2012, 07:47 PM

If I wasn't sure that the headphones would just break, and I know that the kids really aren't ready for Duran Duran at this volume, I would so be dancing right now... biggrin.gif ...

That was just incredible...Unbelievable...Wonderful...Amazing...All of the above...

Soooo good...

Anyone notice it was long? huh.gif ...Not me...Absolutely perfect...

Oh hells I loved this...

Best of anything I've read of yours so far...And that's saying something...

Amazing stuff...Truly...

*Bows down*...Soooo good...

Nice one X Infinity...

*Applauds till his hands hurt*...

Posted by: Black Hand Feb 26 2012, 10:07 PM

While the other updates were unquestionably good, you really opened up with this one and let it all out. You just went from merely carrying a tune to belting out like a Diva!

Seems like your finally over your stagefright and not afraid to let your whole superstar shine out.

Posted by: mALX Feb 27 2012, 04:36 PM

I can def understand why you could not break this one apart. It was daunting to see that many words on a chapter, but reading them was not - riveting chapter! I couldn't stop reading from the first words, totally awesome write and immersion into the Morrowind culture of the different Houses - Loved this addition !!! Loved Seth's intervention at the end too, no threat of his own there, ROFL !!! Awesome Write !!

Posted by: treydog Mar 3 2012, 09:52 PM

Such a rotten old doggie to have not commented until now- but here is hoping it will lure the Redoran princess back from staring at pictures of her grand-elf...

The first thing to note is the world-building aspect contained in the “why” of the races and other competitions. The way it fits with Redoran traditions adds depth and dimension.

QUOTE
The only name that I could not stand was known by one other person and there is no way on Nirn Athlain would tell- because he knew what would happen if he did.


A mystery to ponder… hmmm.

QUOTE
Of course the only thing he did to get in trouble was follow me. I think the only reason Aunt Baria and Uncle Trey let him keep playing with me was because they, like Mother, believed he actually kept me from doing some things. I enjoyed Athlain's company; at least he had more than one brain cell, so I wasn't going to tell them any different.


Dontcha always love how the different parents think the OTHER kid is the "good influence?"

QUOTE
I could feel the daggers coming from Athlain's eyes, "I hate you."

I smiled, "I know. That's why you never spend any time with me." And I cocked my head to the side and fluttered my eyelashes.


There are more examples of this banter- and I quoted several of them. The thing is- it just fits.

QUOTE
She stuck her head over the door and before I got close I wiped her chin off; she had a tendency to slobber some and "some" with a mouth that big was actually a lot.


Seemingly tiny details (although a guar mouth and "tiny" don't really go together) are what bring a story to life. And that is an example.

Getting to know more about Rahvin is also a treat- we again learn a lot about Athynae by how she interacts with her brother.

QUOTE
He gave a huge fake smile.

"I hate you."

"Yeah I know, that's why you never spend any time with me. But I guess I could find a new best friend." And he pulled my raised eyebrow look. I still did it better.

"Well you could, but they wouldn't be nearly as much fun as I am."

"Right, that's the biggest reason there is for me to run as fast as I can and find a new one."

This was a weekly conversation, almost like our own private club or something. "Yeah but you can't because," and I wiggled my fingers in front of his face, "I, my dear Athlain, cast a spell on you that makes you find me irresistible."

"I can't resist wanting to put a spell on your mouth to keep it shut."


Mentioned the banter- and there it is again- AND in such a way as to give continuity.

QUOTE
He turned toward the stables with Lumhara.

"Hey Sis?" I turned "She is NOT my girlfriend!" and he continued on his walk away from me.


Younger brothers- yep.

QUOTE
I knew he was going to try to jump me from behind, Goody I do get to punch him in the nose.


Yes that one made me laugh out loud.

As did this:

QUOTE
It was really hard not to jump up and down and yell, "Take another step, please, oh please, oh please!"


"Long" did you say? I did not notice; I was too busy reading and cheering and laughing.

Posted by: Athynae Mar 10 2012, 06:35 PM




@McB- Um, don't quite know what to say…

QUOTE
QUOTE
"Best of anything I've read of yours so far...And that's saying something..."

Wow! Thank you thank you, I am thrilled that you are enjoying it. I just hope I can keep it up there.
And there goes that dancing, DISCO dancing badger again, what an image!!! LOL!

*note* I wouldn't introduce them to Duran Duran quite yet either, if yours are anything like mine they would be rolling in the floor with their hands over their ears yelling "Make it stop, make it stop!"

@mALX- J I was concerned about the length but there really wasn't a good place to split it so I am happy that no one seems to have been offset by the length. Thank you for the comments, I am happy you are reading.

The purpose of this for me is just building this character's world, and these are all 'visions' I had of her when I first put pen to paper on her behalf. I'm just strange that way I guess, any character that appears it seems as soon as I give them a name they have a complete life that sort of explains why they are the way they are. Anyway, glad you are here….THANK YOU AGAIN SO MUCH!

@minque and Black Hand- BOTH OF YOU! Left me twisting my toe in the dirt and speechless with your comments!

-minque-
QUOTE
"I hereby pronounce you The Ultimate Author Of The Tales Of The Children Of Trey of High Rock And Serene of Cyrodiil...."

What am I supposed to say to that one minque? Other than bowing my head and accepting the compliment and saying
I do so hope that I can live up to what has been set before me by these characters parents and their parents writers'
Through Athynae Seth will be in both lives as he touches one he will also touch the other, in this universe anyway.biggrin.gif

-Black Hand-
I hope I didn't use all of my oxygen on just one note…..smile.gif

THANK YOU BOTH from the bottom of my heart….I sure do love this girl….

@treydog- Oh haha, NO! you cannot lure me back from staring at pictures of the grand elf! I have a picture of her in front of me NOW as a matter of fact, just to the side of my computer screen, so mmeehh….she sure is something else…J

Just keep ponderin' the name cuz she ain't tellin and neither is he…

In this case both sets know that Thyna is the adventuresome one and both sets think Athlain slows her down a bit…little do they know…

And the rest I will bunch into a lump. Thyna is two separate people, the one everyone sees on the outside, and the one she knows lives on the inside. She just refuses to let anyone see how 'soft' she is, how much she truly 'cares' because that would change things from the way she wants them to be. Rahvin is a sweet boy that adores his big sister but gives as well as he gets, it's a little easier to 'see' when his feelings are hurt and as hard as Thyna can be on him at times she would take a dagger to the gut in a heartbeat for him, or pound the face of a bully that did as little as touch a hair on his head. Um, has anyone noticed she seems to go overboard just a bit???

To all of you, I appreciate your continued reading and I hope that this continues to entertain you as I take you further into the life of a Redoran princess….




Posted by: Athynae Mar 10 2012, 06:46 PM

I didn't really intend for this to happen this way but it seems the Princess of Trouble is insisting that I follow up on the previous story with the next few entries.

Recap: Athynae competed in a guar race, a big yearly competition supposedly for the 'best of the best' kind of thing. Mae and Cai decided to dose her guar with a 'fortify speed' potion before the race but then turns out that a nemesis that is racing has also dosed his guar. She concedes the race out of fairness but also accuses Berwain "Bug Stain" Arenim of cheating.

Now, let's see what she has in mind for PAYBACK.

Father was at the stables with Rah; Uncle Trey and Uncle Seth walked with Mother and I to join them; Aunt Baria was forcing Athlain to sit still for a few moments while she did a basic sketch that she would later turn into a wonderful painting. Mae and Cai had not been seen since the banner dropped to start the race. Athlain would take the win and he deserved it, but this would not be one that he teased me with. I really wished it were. Cheating just made no sense to me; what joy was there in a win that one had to cheat to have? That was just stupid.

Father hugged me. "We men are going to go do men things." Which meant brandy and hackle-lo pipes at the club. "I am thankful you are safe. I am proud of you." And he kissed me on the forehead before he shook Rah's hand, something Rah had just recently started insisting on rather than physical affection from Father. I thought it was stupid personally, but it wasn't me. "I'll be home later my love." And he hugged Mother and kissed her soundly. I had seen other kids' parents that barely spoke to one another and never touched, much less kissed. If I couldn't find someone that treated me the way Father treated Mother, I'd just grow old without. I didn't like boys anyway so it couldn't be any great sacrifice. Well, I kinda liked Athlain, as a friend. We knew each other better than any two people I knew, so good we could finish each other's sentences. I think maybe that's why our arguments went so far so fast- as soon as one of us said something, we already knew what the other was going to say. So, we'd probably be better off just going straight to infuriated "I hate yous" and "I never want to talk to you again." But it never stuck; usually before the day was over so was the mad.

"Your Highness." Uncle Seth whispered right into my ear and scared the scrib jelly out of me. I turned toward him and smacked his chest.

"Don't do that! Stop sneaking up on me!"

"Someday I hope you pay attention well enough that no matter what you are doing nothing can sneak up on you. Keep practicing."

"I was thinking. I have lots to think about you know. I am not the idle kid that everyone seems to think I am." I had my hands on my hips and was wearing my mad look.

He giggled. "Yes I know, idle and Princess of Trouble are quite opposite, yes. What were you thinking so hard about?" Raised eyebrow meant he had some ideas, fiddlesticks!

"Nothing. Well, nothing important anyway." I dropped my hands and shrugged my shoulders and tried to look the other direction so he wouldn't do that bore a hole through my head thing he seemed to be able to do.

"Right, nothing. Well I am going to say one thing that may or may not have anything to do with what you were thinking at that moment, but I have no doubt that you either have already thought about it or will be shortly. Take care with whatever you are scheming, do you hear me? The punishment needs to match the crime, and no one was injured AT ALL, right?" He was whispering so no one else would hear.

"I know Uncle Seth but how did you know what happened? You weren't even there."

"You should not make assumptions based on what you 'see;' that's something else you need to learn."

And he touched his forefinger to my forehead. It was the same thing as kissing me there or at least it always felt that way, a combination of endearment and a reminder- "use your greatest weapon."

"They could have hurt Lumhara; they could have been responsible for one of the other racers or their mounts being injured; or she could have charged into the crowd."

"Or you?" and he slowly shook his head at me with a 'tsk 'tsk look.

"Yeah, whatever. I can't just let that go now can I? I was the one riding; if someone had been injured it would have ultimately been my responsibility for losing control."

"Athynae, no one else would have thought that." He said it but I think he knew better.

"Right. One: who would believe I didn't dose her? And two: I would have felt that way." To me that was the most important because it was true.

"You are the only one that believes everyone thinks the worst of you; you know that, right?" I wanted to ask him who he was trying to convince, him or me, but that would not have ended well for me. We had had that argument before.

"I know you say it, but you don't see the looks I get. Thing is, I don't care what anyone thinks except Mother, Father, Aunt Baria and Uncle Trey, and you. But even what all of you think is not as important as what I know. I am honest, I try my best to be fair, I do not ever cheat at anything and I try to be good to both of the brats. I just don't change her nappies. My adventures are not an attempt to hurt anyone, unless of course they ask for it." And I gave a quick nod with a "hmph" for emphasis.

Uncle Seth just listened to my speech, not reacting. He simply stated at the end "Yes, I know."

Rah came out of the stable and headed toward me as Uncle Seth added, "I know better than to advise you to tell Baria or Trey, but I trust you to choose something equal.
Rahvin, do you think you can keep an eye on your sister for me?"

"If I say 'yes,' Uncle Seth it would be a lie. She disappears faster than a shalk beetle into the dirt." Rah rolled his eyes toward me and I tried not to smile.

"Right. You two just keep your noses clean." And Uncle Seth touched his forefinger to Rah's forehead just as he had mine.

"I always use my brain Uncle Seth," it was just a matter of fact "One of us has to." I punched his arm. "OW! What'd ya do that for? I was just speaking the truth, dear sister."

"I'm the one with the brain remember? I even have yours, Rahbrat. I used your alembic to suck it out through your nose." And I looked at him like I would be more than happy to do it again.

Uncle Seth was walking away but his shoulders were shaking slightly, obviously trying to keep us from knowing he was amused by our back and forth.

"Mother is checking Lumhara but she'll be here shortly so we don't have much time."

Rah was not as adventurous as I but he was a great conspirator. I just wasn't sure I wanted him to be a part of this yet if at all.

"Time for what?" acting like I was clueless.

"Don't even start that with me; it isn't fair. I know you're gonna do something and you are not gonna shut me out. I'll tell Mama if you try."

"Uh huh, you go ahead and tell brat. See what Mama finds out about her little angel…" I pulled the both eyebrows raised look and added a slight smile.

"Dang it Naynay, I want to help. They tried to hurt you." He was a good whiner, I give him that, and he could pull that 'pretty please' look even better than I did.

"First of all Rah, I do not for one second think they were trying to hurt me so let that one go, ok?" I made sure he nodded before I continued, "I don't think they were trying to hurt anyone; they just didn't want to lose that silly bet with Bug Stain's little sister, and they didn't see what they did as cheating because I was the one riding and I didn't do the dosing. They are not like that; they just don't like to lose and they see things in their own special way."

"Are you two ready to go home?" Mother exited the stables and joined us.

"Mama, can I please stay until Athlain brings Cos Mear in? I just want to talk to him for a few minutes. I'll come straight home after."

"Sure, I understand. And before you ask, young man, the answer is no, you cannot stay with her. This is something she needs to talk to him about without an audience." Rahvin bowed up and started to argue, but he looked at me and I tried to express with my eyes that was what I wanted and he got it, so he just sighed and crossed his arms.
They started toward Under-Skar and Rah said something to Mother and she stopped while he ran back to me. "Naynay, please come and talk to me when you get home. Please?" UGH! That look again.

"OK, but Rah I honestly haven't even thought about what happened to any great extent. I just want to make sure Athlain knows what happened. And congratulate him for the win."

"Right, you think about everything all at once; I know that." And he turned and raced back to Mother and they were on their way.

I climbed up on the paddock fence and waited and thought. I heard a sound from the back of the stables and Mae and Cai came around the corner of the building. I wasn't angry really so I didn't pretend I was.

They both started talking at once and it was a jumbled up mess of 'we're sorry didn't mean for that to happen' before Mae took over the apology. "Athynae we really didn't mean anything bad to happen but when we came to the stable to find you before the race Berwain was talking to his sister and we overheard him say he was going to win if he had to give his guar a 'fortify speed' potion. We couldn't let him cheat and beat you so we evened the chances."

That was a possibility I hadn't considered. So it wasn't just because they wanted to win the bet, well, not really, and it wasn't just coincidence that Berwain had dosed his guar. He had started this. It was all his fault.

"I don't think I will thank you; I hope you understand. Why didn't you tell someone what you heard?"

Yes, I get it, everyone thinks I don't tell anything but that isn't true, if it's more than I can deal with I do tell, REALLY, I do.

Mae and Cai looked at each other like they had missed something and Cai was on deck, "Really? Tell someone? Would you have told anyone?"

Suddenly I felt like my mother and I wanted to say, "Don't do what I do, do what I say." Instead I replied, "I do tell sometimes, if I…wait, it doesn't matter what I would have done. You two did this, not me. You both know I would NEVER cheat in a competition but you did it anyway. And you could have hurt my guar or one of the other riders or their mounts OR somebody in the crowd." Yep, I sounded just like my mother.

"We knew you would make sure that didn't happen. You're a good rider." She was trying to use compliments to butter me up. Obviously Mae had forgotten about my dislike for butter.

"I am a good rider, but I wasn't ready for the way Lumhara acted; I almost fell off!" I stopped talking when the Treyson Terrors started laughing. I wanted to choke them both or clobber them. I cocked my head to one side and held back, letting my expression show my anger, posing a question without actually speaking.

Their muted giggles became full blown guffaws and Cai gained enough air to say, "You should have seen it Thyna," and she was reduced again as Mae took short bursts of air to gain enough oxygen to speak.

"You went around and we thought you were gonna take off the wrong way, then she jumped straight up and turned around again" hahahahaha "And …"hahahahaha

I was just standing there staring at them, barely holding on to my composure, "Then Lumhara started hopping up and down like she was in a sack race. Thyna it was hilarious."

"So glad we could entertain you." Breathe, count, breathe, count, do not look mad. "I can imagine what it looked like. I sure wish I could show you from my view point when I thought I had lost my seat." They missed the intensity of my meaning.

"We didn't mean to scare you, Thyna. And no one got hurt. And Berwain didn't win. So, it all turned out just right." The two of them traded off, trying to explain what they thought was important- both missing the real point.

"Right, yes, it all turned out all right. Berwain didn't win even though he cheated. I had to drop out of the race so the judges would believe me when I said I DID NOT dose my guar so not only did Berwain lose, I had to concede the race, a race I haven't lost since I started riding." There was no angry edge to my voice, but I don't know how.

"Thyna!" Athlain's voice carried to me and I turned and waved.

"I would suggest you two make yourselves invisible for a while. Your brother won't be quite as, what's the word?" I looked up at the sky and tapped my chin. By the time I looked down again they were nowhere in sight.

"What happened? I mean I know you told the judges your guar and Berwain's were dosed but how? Who? Why?"

I leapt down from the paddock fence where I had remained perched through the encounter with the red rogues. "It's a long story. Come on and I'll tell ya while we get Cos Mear taken care of."

While we cleaned Cos Mear up and got him in his stall I gave Athlain the um, abbreviated version of the story, putting as much of the blame on Berwain the Stain as I could without it being obvious that's what I was doing. I was going to let Athlain in on whatever I decided to do to the little Hlaalu blot, but the lesson for his sisters, well, that was going to be all mine for two reasons: one, I didn't want him to get in trouble for picking on his little sisters and two, I wanted them to know they couldn't pull pranks on me without retribution from ME, only me. It wasn't a revenge thing; I thought of it more as a lesson, kind of like if you mess with the racer you get stabbed by the tail.

"So, what's the plan then, oh wise one?" Athlain could be such a smarty pants sometimes; he had been around me far too long.

"I don't know yet. This one is kind of tricky cuz he's Hlaalu and if I screw it up it could be bad not just for me but it could cause problems between the Houses. It's times like these that it stinks that Mother is the Arch Mistress." I had that disgusted look- you know where you kind of shake your head and roll your eyes.

"Why don't you talk to your mother?" I wasn't sure why he always said that but it was almost carved into the stone wall to be read every time something happened.

"Right, 'hey Mama I wanna kick Berwain's cheating butt to Sadrith Mora, can I'?" I was talking like I was five.

"I hate you."

"Yeah I know. It's ok cuz I hate you too. We hate each other so good that we spend all of our time showing everyone how great it is to hate your best friend." I was walking away from him so he had to run a couple steps to catch up. I glanced toward Under Skar and just inside the gate I saw Berwain talking to the council representative for House Hlaalu, Sera Ules. Wonder what that's all about, hhmm.

"Sometimes you make me so mad; you treat me like I'm stupid."

"No I don't. If I were treating you like you were stupid I wouldn't talk to you, I would draw pictures." I really didn't treat him like he was stupid, because he wasn't. I called him stupid sometimes but that was just when he made me mad.

"Well, I gotta go home. Thyna, I'm sorry Berwain cheated; you should have won just like you do every year."

"You are my best competition, and you could have won this year. You won the last training race, so it's only a matter of time before you leave me in the dust." Thing was, if he would just believe me for a second he would beat me but I didn't see it happening. And meanwhile, I wasn't going to let up; he had to meet me up here, because I wasn't going to push him up the hill. I would just keep pulling till he got it.

"Yea, whatever. Just keep me posted on the Berwain front. I'm all in but you knew that already."

"See ya. I've got alchemy lessons with Mother tomorrow morning; wanna spar tomorrow afternoon?"

"Bring potions."

"Always."



Posted by: McBadgere Mar 10 2012, 06:58 PM

Oooh...Niiiice...

Revenge!!!...Cold and precise... biggrin.gif ...Niiiice...

Loved the whole way Thyna was seething without losing it, and I loved the way the sisters just Did. Not. Get. It...So nicely done...

This made me laugh...

QUOTE
"I'm the one with the brain remember? I even have yours, Rahbrat. I used your alembic to suck it out through your nose."


Love these little lines that you put in there...Always a joy to read... laugh.gif ...

Looking forward to the next part where the little slice of revenge pie gets served up in a big old dish made of ice...Oh yes... biggrin.gif ...

Posted by: minque Mar 11 2012, 07:02 PM

"The making of a Princess" Title says it all....thing is YOU make it happen! I draw similarities with the Swedish Royal family...Our crown Princess Victoria! She also has that burden on her shoulders to be the next Queen of Sweden...and Athynae will probably be the next Arch Mistress of The House Redoran....if everything goes as it shall... blink.gif

Thyna's interactions with Athlain are priceless....I can actually see them both and above all I can HEAR them...just exactly as I figured and their relation as treydog describes in "present time" is just so naturally coming judging from how they are when they are kiddos.

The little chemist is very promising, Rahvin is probably more intelligent than all of you thinks! I can see huge potential in him especially when his life for now is in YOUR competent hands..or dashboard.....yay I'm soo looking forward to hear more.

I was planning to write, I actually started but then I was ill and have been for the last week.. (yeah weak excuse but still an excuse).

So Ms Royal Redoran Honored Author.....More please!???/

Posted by: mALX Mar 11 2012, 11:58 PM

"I'll be back" (said in an Arnold voice) - this is too long to catch right now, but I'll be back to read when I have enough time.

Posted by: mALX Mar 13 2012, 12:02 AM

Absolutely loved "Uncle Seth's" role in this chapter. In his story he has this unreachable side, but there is a tangible piece of him that matches this story's portrayal !! Awesome Write !!

Posted by: minque Mar 14 2012, 11:08 PM

QUOTE(mALX @ Mar 13 2012, 12:02 AM) *

Absolutely loved "Uncle Seth's" role in this chapter. In his story he has this unreachable side, but there is a tangible piece of him that matches this story's portrayal !! Awesome Write !!

And THAT is the charm of Sethyas Velas! He is one kind of a man...in all stories where he's appearing he is DIFFERENT! That makes him extremly interesting to involve....I've had him in more than half of my story...so far and more to come! ohmy.gif

Now Uncle Seth can be very nice and sweet to young children.... tongue.gif

Posted by: Athynae Mar 16 2012, 02:25 AM

@McB- Yea , she does seem to simmer just below the boiling point, and she does it so well, lol. Thanks for pointing out the 'little' things too, much appreciated. Thanks so much for reading and being so supportive, I am so glad you are here an getting a kick out of Thyna and her antics…

@mALX- Thank you, I am glad you are here. Yes, there are many facets to Sethyas Velas, he doesn't often show the 'soft' side but he will step in for these kids in a second, secretively if necessary. Flip side of that is that he will read the kids the riot act just as fast….

@minque- Ms Royal Redoran Honored Author my goodness, that's um, well, my goodness…I am so happy you are pleased with the way things are going with the kiddos. Yes, the relationship they have now is slowly merging into the relationship they will have, the amalgamation of adolescent familiarity and adult relationship is in process certainly. Thing is it might take a bit still for them to truly 'see' what's happening. (Just a little teaser for BOTM there. J)

Rahvin is all that you said and then some. He is extremely intelligent as are all of Serene's children, Trey's kids aren't slackers by any stretch either but look who both of their parents are….He is as much a joy to work with as Thyna I must say, he has a color all his own.

Now, as far as your writing goes I am looking forward to your return to the story of Serene, I will gladly concede the title of Ms Royal Redoran Honored Author back to its original owner….



Thanks to all who read and enjoy The Making of a Princess, if you are enjoying reading half as much as I am enjoying writing then you are happy indeed…



Posted by: Athynae Mar 16 2012, 02:35 AM

And now part 2 of Payback

Thyna has learned that the Treyson Terrors, Mae and Cai, overheard Berwain discussing dosing his guar with a fortify speed potion before the race. She was quite angry with the girls for their part, causing Thyna to have to conceded the win because her guar was dosed by them, but upon hearing why they did it she is still quite peeved with them but not nearly as much as she is at Berwain...

Let's see what happens next....

"Athynae?" Mother's voice broke through my concentration as I sat reading one of the books on ancient magic. "I apologize for being late but I had visitors. Berwain's parents came to see me." I almost landed in the floor when I spun around on the stool where I was sitting.

"What? Why would they come and see you? To apologize for that cheat they call a son?" The sting of what had happened was still quite fresh, half a day and an entire night had passed and I was still so steamed I hadn't even thought about what I was going to do. It was never a good idea to lay the ground work for a plan when you were still this angry, something was bound to go wrong.

"Young lady I will not have you speaking like that about someone. He is still a person. Do you understand me?" She already had her 'loons in a twist and I had just given them another turn.

"Yes ma'am but Mother I am only speaking the truth. And if he hadn't cheated Mae and Cai would not have felt obligated to even the odds and I would not have had to concede the race." I was just a tad indignant about the whole thing.

"Oh, my dear, no they weren't here to apologize at least that wasn't the main reason. Sera Ules the representative for the Hlaalu council is insisting that something be done to restore Berwain's honor since you tainted it."

"Since I did what? Oh no, you have got to be kidding me? HE IS THE ONE THAT CHEATED!" Why did the gods allow so many stupid people to roam Nirn?

"I know Athynae and I am sorry but this could cause conflict between the two houses and disrupt the peace here. I know that is a heavy burden to carry for a child but that is the way it is. Berwain's parents are good people and they do not wish to cause problems, that's why they came to me, to keep Sera Ules from getting anyone stirred up before something could be done." She had sat down next to me and had that 'this is very important please listen' look.

"I like Sera Arenim and his wife, they have always been nice to me. How they could end up with that" Mother put her finger over my mouth to shush me.

"Just listen please. I do not want there to be any question or doubt about your honor or the honor of MY HOUSE, when this is over so I have sent the Arenim's back to Ules with the proposition of a challenge, not unlike a proper challenge except the rules will be set like a tournament match. I am sure he will be agreeable, he thinks Berwain has not only been thwarted but is also a great fighter." And Mother actually smiled and winked at me.

"So you are proposing that I meet him with weapons? Mother I have not seen him fight in several years, I don't know how good he is." It wasn't that I was afraid of him, far from it, but something wasn't sitting right in my head.

Mother raised an eyebrow "Does it matter? Here is what I know, you are a great fighter, one of the best for your age in Vvardenfell. Not only that but Berwain has acted dishonorably and if nothing else Azura will see to it that he beats himself if you don't. I am NOT doubting your skill in the least please understand, but you will not be the only one on your side." And she patted my leg in a gesture of reassurance. "I must go and get this planned so we can be done with it as soon as possible. I just wanted you to know what was going on before I went any further, you are good with this?" she placed her palm to my cheek.

"Do I have a choice? Seems like the only way it can be resolved." I almost snarled but it wasn't her fault so I wasn't upset with her. She kissed my forehead and departed the laboratory. And the barrage started. I wanted to throw things and scream. I wanted to go hunt that good for nothing cheat down and kick his sorry butt NOW! As much as I thought of myself as 'grown up' I knew that in the eyes of the adults I was still a kid and so was Berwain yet because of his abhorrent behavior here we were. I was going to be placed in an arena to fight him and it wasn't for bragging rights or ribbons it was for the honor of Redoran House, if I was allowed to say bad words there would have been a string of them that went all the way to the mainland and back. I hate you Berwain Arenim, you will regret this!

I don't know if I was early or Athlain was late, but either way I was ready to do something physically exerting to occupy my mind and he hadn't arrived yet. Mother had been late to our lessons because she'd had visitors and I was still a bit disturbed by what had happened, so I was distracted. I had been thinking clearly enough though that I brought my bow. It wasn't a good idea to spar with Athlain given my mood, so target practice it was.

"Hey. Wow, what world are you visiting?" I barely looked up when he greeted me.

"Just trying to figure out what in the name of the Nine happened this morning. I really hate it when things get muddled." I was still focused on something in the distance.

"OOOkkkayy. So, what is it this time? Did someone move your katana again?" He gave a laugh, which my look ended. "Seriously, I was just kidding. This isn't good is it?"

"I don't know whether it's good or bad, it just wasn't my plan." I had my brow furrowed, still thinking. I really did not like Berwain and that didn't look like it was going to change very soon.

"Are you going to tell me or do I have to let you beat it out of me?" He sat down beside me.

"Sera Arenim and his wife came to visit Mother this morning. Berwain has been shouting all over Under Skar and the outer wall that I am a liar and a cheat and it's all my fault what happened. Plus the Hlaalu representative is quite peeved that I broke Baby Stain's nose. He shouldn't have run into my hand like that. I mean I didn't swing at all- I just put up my hand so he wouldn't run into me. Is it my fault that his nose didn't stop in time? Anyway, he's just a big whiny cheater that got caught and now instead of me being able to teach him a lesson on my terms I am being called out." I shrugged.

"What? What do you mean called out?"
"You know, c a l l e d o u t…you know? Like bring your weapons and meet on the edge
of town? Not like being called out to play like a twelve year old."

"You aren't making any sense yet. Nothing new, but a point would be good any time now." He gave me a fake smile.

I rolled my eyes, "If you'd shut up, I would finish."

"Right. This is me shutting up so you can finish." He crossed his arms.

"Apparently Berwain went to the Hlaalu representative and claimed that I had been dishonorable in the race and on top of that had broken his nose so Sera Useless- I mean Ules- went to Berwain's parents and told them it was their responsibility to return honor to their name as well as House Hlaalu. They came to Mother to tell her what happened and from what Mother said they aren't very happy with Berwain either, but he is still their little piece of scrib scum. So Mother suggested a warrior's challenge to return honor to both houses. However it turns out, whoever wins, honor will be restored to both houses because we faced the public challenge." I paused and Athlain jumped in

"Um, Thyna, challenges like this are, they're, what were they thinking? I mean, Athynae, he could" and Athlain's eyes welled full "kill you." He was turning an awful shade of gray and looked like he needed one of Mother's stomach potions. If I'd been in a different mood I would have just let him keep thinking that for a while, just for the fun of it, but I wasn't really up for playing the game right now.

"You can't get rid of me that easy. It's going to be like the tournaments, I can't believe you thought, never mind. Anyway, they are working out the specifics now." I was rolling my eyes.

"Oh." Athlain's color returned along with a look of relief. "When is this 'challenge' supposed to happen?"

"In a few days as soon as they can post the notice. He is such an idiot; why did he think this was a good idea?"

"I have no idea cuz he's gonna get his hide skinned and tanned. This should be a good one for sure. Why are you so upset? You get to humiliate him in public." He pushed my shoulder.

"Yeah, I guess. I still don't know what kind of challenge it will be. Mother is planning on making it like a tournament match of sorts, so House Hlaalu can't refute the outcome. It's just more than it needs to be is all."

"I get that, but you'll still clean up the arena with him. No worries Thyna; you got this. The only one that even comes close to beating you with weapons is that kid from the Ahemussa tribe- what's his name?"

"You know, sometimes you are too much of a distraction. You are still missing the point.
This should just be between me and the Stain, not causing conflict between two Houses; this is ridiculously STUPID."

Athlain got a far away look and his eyes glazed over before he said, "But you get to fight for the honor of House Redoran. You get to show everyone you are worthy to be a Redoran Warrior." The glaze had pooled in the bottom of his eyes.

"You know Athlain, sometimes that 'honor' of yours looks a lot like your heart and you are wearing it on the wrong side of your skin." It hurt to look at him because I felt the same way about House Redoran, but that was no reason there should be a possibility of a House war. Holy guar butts and kagouti dung, how did a kid, A KID, stir up all this mess? I had stirred a lot of poop in my time, but even I hadn't gone this far.

He looked down and scuffed the ground with his foot. "You just don't get it do you? Even if I wanted to fight for the honor of House Redoran, I couldn't. I'd get my butt handed to me. And you just act like it is above you to do this or something." He had a sad look on his face that I had never seen before. It made me mad, but not at him. I was mad at the gods for not letting him be good with weapons, and at Uncle Trey for not being supportive of his efforts to learn to be a warrior, but most of all I was mad at myself, because no matter what I did to try to teach him, nothing worked. He couldn't hold a sword without hurting himself; it was just sad.

"I'm sorry Athlain; I didn't mean to hurt your feelings. Of course I am proud that I CAN fight for honor and I know you know that I would be your champion, but this isn't a situation that calls for such drastic measures, that's all I'm saying."

"Oh great, I can see it now, 'And standing as champion for Athlain Treyson, son of the great Trey of High Rock, is Athynae Sarethi. Yes, she is a girl but she won't hurt herself with the swords at least."

"You are so dumb! Why do you do that to yourself? Besides that isn't going to happen anyway; everyone likes you. And you'll figure out the weapons thing- you will!" I pushed him off of our perch. "Now come on; I don't want to fight today. Let's go for some target practice. I made some new fletching, and I want to see how well it works."

"I hate you." He was getting up and dusting himself off.

"Yeah, I know, that's why you never spend any time with me." I was walking toward the archery targets.

"I could change that you know?" And he came up and pushed me from behind, just a little shove.

"Careful- I'll call you out."

As much as I wanted to teach Mae and Cai a lesson, Berwain was at the top of the list. Unfortunately, the planning had been taken out of my hands.



Posted by: McBadgere Mar 16 2012, 09:38 PM

Fantastic!...

I absolutely love the dialogue in this story...Never fails to make me laugh... laugh.gif ...

The way it's totally Elder Scrolls world, yet the "our world"-isms in the dialogue are in no way out of place is total genius...

I love the characters and the short journal entries rather than one long story like BOTM suits the characters a lot...Though I have no doubt that a longform story would be just as brilliant... biggrin.gif ...

You've used this a couple of times and as a motif, it's beautiful... biggrin.gif ...

QUOTE
"I hate you."

"Yeah, I know, that's why you never spend any time with me."


Love it, love it, love it...

Revenge, in all it's glory, looked forward to...Oh yes...It is...

Nice one...

*Applauds muchly*...

Posted by: mALX Mar 17 2012, 04:40 PM

I loved this chapter, mostly the interchange between Athynae and Athlain. Their differences were def on display here, but also their closeness and friendship. Awesome Write !!

Posted by: minque Mar 17 2012, 06:48 PM

Life is hard! Thyna has to learn that lesson, no doubt. Life is even harder when you're the daughter of an Archmistress..Honor is the lead word for a Redoran.

Good you have Athlain dear Thyna! Someone to confide in....but remember your Father, Athyn Sarethi loves you beyond comprehension, he backs you up always.

Making fun of poor Athlain...that IS amusing, makes me smile because I like that boy VERY much and i know he is the sweetest most caring friend you can have Thyna dear.

So now, prepare for the tournament....be very prepared my girl! You know you have a lot of support from those who care for you.


Posted by: treydog Mar 17 2012, 11:11 PM

Payback- Part 1

First- it is the seemingly “small” touches that make it sing. For example, Rahvin insisting on handshakes instead of hugs.

QUOTE
We knew each other better than any two people I knew, so good we could finish each other's sentences. I think maybe that's why our arguments went so far so fast- as soon as one of us said something, we already knew what the other was going to say. So, we'd probably be better off just going straight to infuriated "I hate yous" and "I never want to talk to you again."


Yes- funny how that works…

QUOTE
"Your Highness." Uncle Seth whispered right into my ear and scared the scrib jelly out of me. I turned toward him and smacked his chest.

"Don't do that! Stop sneaking up on me!"

"Someday I hope you pay attention well enough that no matter what you are doing nothing can sneak up on you. Keep practicing."

"I was thinking. I have lots to think about you know. I am not the idle kid that everyone seems to think I am." I had my hands on my hips and was wearing my mad look.


That bit made me laugh- it is again simply perfect.

QUOTE
"I always use my brain Uncle Seth," it was just a matter of fact "One of us has to." I punched his arm. "OW! What'd ya do that for? I was just speaking the truth, dear sister."

"I'm the one with the brain remember? I even have yours, Rahbrat. I used your alembic to suck it out through your nose." And I looked at him like I would be more than happy to do it again.

Uncle Seth was walking away but his shoulders were shaking slightly, obviously trying to keep us from knowing he was amused by our back and forth.


And ANOTHER simply wonderful moment. You do these interactions as well as anyone I have ever seen.

QUOTE
Yep, I sounded just like my mother.


Don’t you HATE it when that happens?

QUOTE
"I would suggest you two make yourselves invisible for a while. Your brother won't be quite as, what's the word?" I looked up at the sky and tapped my chin. By the time I looked down again they were nowhere in sight.


Lovely bit of description, so vivid I could see it.

And these two parts will stand in for wanting to quote EVERYTHING between the “A and A Team”:

QUOTE
"Sometimes you make me so mad; you treat me like I'm stupid."

"No I don't. If I were treating you like you were stupid I wouldn't talk to you, I would draw pictures."


QUOTE
“See ya. I've got alchemy lessons with Mother tomorrow morning; wanna spar tomorrow afternoon?"

"Bring potions."

"Always."


Payback- Part 2

QUOTE
"Young lady I will not have you speaking like that about someone. He is still a person. Do you understand me?" She already had her 'loons in a twist and I had just given them another turn.


Only Athynae could get away with saying that about the head of House Redoran.

And- again I will refrain from trying to quote the “good parts” of the conversation between Serene and Athynae- because it is ALL the “good part.”

QUOTE
It wasn't a good idea to spar with Athlain given my mood, so target practice it was.


And Athlain’s poor, bruised body THANKS you.

And I am going to do one long quote at the end- because this so clearly shows all of the things you do so well with this story-

QUOTE
I pushed him off of our perch. "Now come on; I don't want to fight today. Let's go for some target practice. I made some new fletching, and I want to see how well it works."

"I hate you." He was getting up and dusting himself off.

"Yeah, I know, that's why you never spend any time with me." I was walking toward the archery targets.

"I could change that you know?" And he came up and pushed me from behind, just a little shove.

"Careful- I'll call you out."


This is one of those stories where the more we read, the more we love it. And the more we DEMAND the next part! Please?


Posted by: Athynae Mar 18 2012, 01:33 PM

@McB- As ever thank you for reading and I am thrilled that you are here with Thyna and Athlain and the rest of the crew. The "I hate you" line just seems to permeate their relationship mostly because they can't say "I love you"…

@mALX- Thanks my dear. Yep they are the epitome of best friends that have been best friends as far back as memory goes so it would take a LOT to cause a real problem…maybe….biggrin.gif

@minque- I am so glad you are here with me in this, your support is beyond words. THANK YOU!!!!
There will be some future stories about the relationship between Athyn and Athynae, they are actually quite close and she depends on him far more than has been shown to this point. Seth is her mentor and the one that is able to keep her grounded but Athyn is the one that feeds her intellect and heals the hurts that come when she wants to be petted rather than taught.

AS- Mother, looking back reading bits and pieces of these journals I realize what an incredible childhood I had. I tested you and Father to the Nth degree as well as Uncle Seth and Athlain and yet you are all still with me, it's a good thing to know that everything that might happen later in life my start is built on a solid foundation.

@treydog- My dearest muttly friend there aren't words…thank you for your encouragement most of all but also for your wisdom and input, editorial skills, etc….I am glad you are here and enjoying Her Highness, she is quite the handful so without you I doubt that I could handle her at all, lol.


Posted by: Athynae Mar 18 2012, 02:23 PM

And now we come to the final installment of Payback...hope you all like it.

The day of the challenge came early; it didn't matter- I hadn't slept anyway. How had two kids with a disagreement come all the way around to fighting for the honor of their respective Houses? And all because one of them wanted to win so bad he cheated and then turned it around to make it look like the other one cheated, the other one being me? I had pulled some stunts, gotten in some tight spots and been a lot of trouble to my parents, but none of it was because I was dishonest or under-handed. I had never, that I could remember, told anyone a lie or cheated at anything. The only time I had been tempted to cheat even was playing chess with Athlain. I hate chess and I stink at it, too.

I donned my leather armor and then meticulously inspected and cleaned my weapons. I knew I would be given a special sword for that part of the competition, one made especially for competitions, dulled to prevent fatal injuries. That didn't mean it didn't hurt to get hit with one, especially if the strike was well placed. I would be able to use my own bow for the archery part of the competition, I replaced the string so it would be perfect and chose a dozen of my best arrows and put them in my quiver. I removed the throwing stars from my sash but I left my dagger in my boot. I had never had to remove it before and I saw no reason to think I would this time. Besides, I didn't feel right without it there.

"Hey Naynay, are you ready?" Rahvin came into my room. "Mother and Father have already left so they could handle the formalities. Mother said to tell you to be there just before the trumpets sound to call order."

"I'll be there. I'm going for a walk in the gardens first." I was braiding my hair to keep it out of my eyes.

"See you there. He'll regret messing with you." And he was gone.

"Yeah." It was more of a thought than a response.

I had only met Berwain in competition once before, well except for the guar races, and it had been a couple of years. His parents, or more likely the Hlaalu representative for our district, had been sending him to competitions outside our territory. It didn't matter really, just meant I wasn't familiar with his style. I walked in the gardens, getting myself to that place, focusing. This wasn't just fun and games for me; competition never was, and this time it was bigger. I had teased Athlain about his 'honor,' but I felt the same way; I just didn't get bleary eyed about it. It still bothered me that House Hlaalu was forcing this. We were just kids, for crying out loud. We had no business fighting for the honor of our Houses. That didn't change the facts. I was going to teach that low life, good-for-nothing, lying cheat what it meant to bring my Redoran honor into question. He had really gone too far with this one.

"Say whatever you came to say, Uncle Seth." I was sitting on one of the benches and I just 'felt' his presence.

"Very good little one. You are learning." He sat down beside me. "I know you aren't concerned about the competition, so what is it that has you so worked up? You are as tight as that new bow string." And he twanged the string on my bow.

"I just can't get over being mad about this whole chain of events. How did it come to this? He cheated, him, and my honor is brought into question?" I was clenching and unclenching my fists.

"Let it go. You can't allow that to interfere with the competition. The emotions will cloud your thinking, keep you from fighting your best. Let it go." His voice was sharp and stern but I understood why.

"I know; that's what I am trying to do!" I didn't mean to yell but I did. "Sorry, I just…"

"You can carry all of this baggage in that arena with you and you will probably still win, but it won't be a pretty win. Let this go so you can walk into that arena with your head on straight and make this a clean, clear win. Leave no question as to who the victor is. This is no different than any other fight; you have met opponents that gave you a run for your money and still succeeded. Do me a favor. Don't let him even get that far. Stop him, just- stop him." And he rose from the bench and walked away.

The arena, a temporary grandstand just outside the wall, was crowded with spectators. Why was fighting so interesting to watch? There was an almost even mix of Hlaalu and Redoran people. Mother and Father, the representative from House Hlaalu and Berwain's parents sat midway in a covered box seat and the referees stood just under them on the arena floor.

Athlain was to my right, a step behind acting as my second, a nod to formalities. Berwain's second was one of the boys I had confronted six years ago for picking on Mae and Cai, Heldar. He was just as stupid as Berwain but the incident had served a purpose for him. He'd never retaliated nor had he picked on any of the kids again, at least not that I knew of.

We walked to the front of the box and Mother, along with the Hlaalu councilman, stood and gave us the rules. We would start with archery, then we would match swords and then a foot race from one end of the arena to the other and back, no small feat when you weren't tired, but after the rest it would definitely be a test.

"This is an official challenge to reinstate the honor of these two young people. Let it be known that as long as neither of them refuses the challenge, the outcome of this competition will bring any question of their honor to an end." Mother's voice rose above the din of the crowd, smooth and deep. "Athynae Sarethi, Berwain Arenim, do you accept these terms?"

We both indicated with a nod and went to one knee. "You are going down elf witch." Berwain whispered while our heads were bowed. I didn't offer a response, mostly because I felt it was disrespectful during the ceremony.

The archery judge stepped out from beneath the box. "You will each fire three arrows at the targets. Whoever strikes closest to the center will be declared the winner of the contest. If a clear winner cannot be determined, you will step back six paces and fire a single arrow each. This will continue until a winner can be determined."

We stepped to the line facing the archery targets and each nocked an arrow. Each arrow flew toward its respective target and in rapid succession the next two followed. The judge's voice rang through the arena, "Even. Six paces." The next station was actually marked by a line in the dirt. We nocked and fired again after we had stepped back.

The judges inspected the targets and stepped to the box and spoke briefly with Mother and Sera Ules. The archery judge returned to the targets as Mother's voice rose again

"The opponents are so closely matched we have decided to remove one target. Both will fire one arrow at a time, in turn, to determine a clear winner for this part of the contest. Berwain Arenim, you are granted the line first. Step up please."

He shot a nasty grin in my direction before he fired and, by all appearances from that distance, his arrow was anchored almost dead center. I just have to say- smug was not a good look for him.

I stepped to the line, taking my time pulling the arrow from my quiver as I focused on the target. The anger at this entire situation was still bubbling just under the surface and I was replaying the conversation I'd had with Uncle Seth when I heard a voice from the side line, clear and low, "Let it go, Thyna."

With the bow pointed downward I nocked the arrow as I let everything go. It was just me and that distant target, and I focused every sense I had on the fletching of the arrow protruding from the center of the target, raised the bow, pulled the string as I took a deep breath in, lined up, released half of the breath and 'twang'…. Time stopped it seemed while the arrow creased the air until 'shlup.' I heard the judges gasp. I looked to make sure I hadn't accidentally hit one of them as Berwain growled and threw his bow onto the ground. My arrow had split his into three pieces down the center. I heard Uncle Seth snicker, which made it even harder not to laugh.

We were given a break for a drink of water while the archery targets were removed and the temporary arena prepared for the next challenge. We had to stay inside a boundary to keep us from running each other into the wooden barricades that formed makeshift walls. We had each been given our choice of tournament swords, made specifically for this purpose, dulled so we couldn't stab or cut our opponent.

I decided well before we started that I was going to let Berwain wear himself out before I pressed my attack. His whole attitude about this entire fiasco was ludicrous; what did he think was going to happen? Even if I weren't skilled with weapons, this wasn't going to turn out well for him. The gods would see to that. He had been pushing his luck far too long; he had asked for this just the same as if he had put up posters that said "I need someone to kick my worthless butt."

"Fighters to the center please."

We stepped to the center of the ring and faced each other. The judge for this part of the competition reminded us, "No head strikes; do not lunge with the point of your sword. A win is determined by one being pinned, whether standing or on the ground. No magic and no other weapons except the swords you are fighting with. Understood?"

We both nodded our understanding. The sword I had chosen was in the sheath on my back, just like my real katana would be. Berwain already had his in his hand, looking to get the first strike in.

"Begin." And the judge stepped back.

"Draw your weapon, elf witch. Unless of course you are conceding before we even get started." And he swung the blade. I stepped back and pulled my upper body to the side and it missed my mid section just barely-by plan.

"Nah, I'll wait. No need in wearing myself out while you throw that thing around at nothing but air." I smiled at him.

"I wish this was a real sword so I could gut you like a boar." He narrowed his eyes and tried a spinning strike at my legs. I jumped over it like I was playing jump rope.

"Yeah, I know the feeling Bug Stain. Come on, this is what you wanted remember? To make a spectacle of kicking my butt. What are you waiting for? Here I am, come and get me." And I waved my hand in a gesture that said 'join me'.

He growled and pressed in. I felt the sting as his sword caught my upper arm. I'll give him this, he put some umph behind it, a nice bruise for sure. I'd had a few of those so this one was nothing new. I still hadn't drawn my sword. "You are just showing off your dodging skills. How are you in a real sword fight, Redoran scum?"

I shook my head, "Hurling words does nothing to me, Hlaalu has been. You should know that by now."

"I wish it was that little piece of scrap you call a brother out here. He's so worthless he wouldn't even stick to my boot if I stepped on him."

That one got me; I couldn't help it. I pulled the sword "You know, you really are as stupid as you look, maybe stupider. Look down at the dirt Berwain, cuz you are headed for a mouth full." And I struck the pose that I knew would draw him close.

He stepped in and I whirled around him and smacked his backside with the flat of the sword as I came to a stop behind him. The crowd roared. I'd never done anything like this before but if he wanted humiliation I was going to let him have it. Of course it was me that was supposed to be humiliated; lessons were in need of being learned…



He landed a couple more good whacks, but he got more than he gave, along with another to the other side of his lower brain. Sit on that for a while idiot. He was breathing hard; I was getting there but I absolutely was not going to let him know that, I still appeared to be just as relaxed as I was when we started.

He was getting angrier and angrier and in the process losing focus, making wild swings that struck nothing, growling at me and panting for breath. "What's wrong Berwain? Do you need a 'sight' potion? Didn't eat your oats this morning? Come on, this is what you wanted, what are you waiting for? Here I am, geez, I'm not so small you can't see me." I didn't usually tease my opponents either, but for the most part the competitors I had met were honorable and just wanted to test their skill same as me.

Berwain tried a rush with an overhand swing, and I stuck out my foot as he went by. He slid across the arena floor, both hands over his head and his face buried in the dirt. When he rolled over, I put my sword in the center of his chest. The judge called, "Done," and I couldn't help it; I laughed out loud. His lower lip was full of grit like he had stuffed his mouth with hackle lo like I had seen some of the farmers do. "I didn't know you could dip dirt. If it's all the same to you, I don't think I'll try it."

He started moving his mouth and I could barely hear his voice so I leaned down as if to help him up. "You use magic, and mark my words, it will be the last spell you ever utter. It is hard to talk with a broken jaw. You wanted an 'honorable' match, or at least that's what you wanted them to believe. Do not test me Bug Stain, I am tired of your crap."

I didn't help him up in the end. We were given another break for water and to put anything down that we felt would slow us for the foot race. The only thing I gave up was the stupid tournament sword. If it had been my own katana I probably wouldn't have but just because it was mine and I liked it being in the scabbard at my back.

For all intents and purposes I had won the challenge, but for the sake of completeness I suppose we were required to finish the foot race as well. Mother had told me that Sera Ules had insisted that this be one of the challenges so that was why there were three. She had picked swords for me, he had picked the foot race for Berwain and the third was chosen randomly in a blind draw. So, we stepped to the line.

Berwain was still slightly out of breath, and although my heart rate had increased a bit, I had yet to be overly exerted. That brought home to me more than ever the importance of the training I did. I mean I did it because I wanted to, because I loved it, and I knew the importance of it, but now I understood why it was important. "Just remember when you are lying in your bed tonight that you are the one that asked for this." I didn't look at him when I said it, but he heard me- I heard the growl. He made that sound a lot- I guess because he didn't have a large enough vocabulary to express how he really felt.

"Runners to your mark." We stepped to the line. "Get set." I tucked and dug my left foot into the ground, and Berwain just looked at me like I was crazy. BOOM! The flash spell exploded from the judge's hand and we were off. He wasn't in front of me, so I didn't press. I was running, fast, just not top speed; why waste energy that I didn't have to, especially on him. I slid in a crouch at the end line and turned and shot back again as I had from the start. He was just reaching the end line. I just ran, without caring where he was because like I said, he wasn't in front of me. When I got close to the start/finish line I considered turning around and taunting him, but that would have been a bit dishonorable even though it would feel so good to add insult to injury.

The trumpets sounded and Sera Ules' voice rang loud "Athynae Sarethi is the clear winner of the challenge. Let it be known that her honor has been restored."



"MY WHAT?" I was fuming as I marched up to the Hlaalu Councilor. My honor had only been in question because the lying cheat had brought it into question and all of the notices as well as the announcements Mother had made at the beginning had been vague, a general reference to both of us. "I played this fool game for the good graces of both Houses. I know what he accused me of, but Sera Ules, it was he that cheated and lied, not I. I just did not want to reduce myself to his level by counter accusation. I assumed that this would just let it be what it was in the end. But for you to announce it thus, I take offense. My honor, sera, should have never been in question to start with. He dosed his guar to win the race and mine was dosed without my knowledge, by someone who overheard what he was planning in order to even the odds. His nose got broken because he was hurling insults at me when I was on my way to the judges' stand to concede the race. I heard him running toward me and I turned and put out my hand to stop him from tackling me and HE ran into my hand. Now you can do with that information what you will, but Sera Ules, please do not question my honor again- or there will be a reckoning."

And I started for the gate at the end of the arena where Berwain was standing slack jawed. I stepped to him and in a voice only he could hear said, "I had planned to offer an olive branch and let the past be gone but that," and I pointed toward the box, "changed my mind. I may be a lot of things, and there may be hordes of people who do not like me, but I have never lied to you or anyone else, I have never cheated, I have never to my knowledge been under-handed in any way, but none the less you spread lies about me. Not only that you took those lies to the leaders. I have triumphed today not solely because of skill but because the gods saw need to punish you. Azura be praised. You will never be trusted again if it is the last thing I do." And as I shouldered past him, he never said a word.

Athlain stepped in my path and I skirted him as I said, "Not now Athlain, just leave me alone, please. I need to get this vile taste out of my mouth." Actually I just didn't want anyone to see me cry. I was so mad that I knew that's what was coming. I went to the practice field; Athlain would give me space and keep Rahvin away even though he knew where I was. Mother would be occupied with the stink I stirred up and Father would stay with her so that left Uncle Seth. Great, just what I need now a lecture about how I handled it. UGH!





Posted by: McBadgere Mar 18 2012, 07:43 PM

Fantastico!!...

(Sorry, the boy's playing the Italian Assassin)...

That's just a brilliant chapter that is... laugh.gif ...

Loved the challenges...Loved the style with which she won them all...And was as outraged as she was with the Hlaalu idjot...And then was also proud of her when Thyna said her piece...Nicely done!...

Brillianto!!...(not official Italian...Probably... biggrin.gif )...

Nah, absolutely fantastic...Well done that woman!!...

Nice one!!...

*Applauds heartily*...

Posted by: Grits Mar 20 2012, 03:51 PM

I have really enjoyed these stories from Athynae’s youth! You do such a beautiful job of giving her indomitable spirit a younger voice. It is of course wonderful to see familiar characters here, but I think the stories also stand up by themselves. Which is to say I would enjoy them just as much if they were about Jane and John instead of Athynae and crew. Well done!!

Posted by: mALX Mar 20 2012, 03:57 PM

ROFL !! Athynae and her famous redhead temper had me rolling in this !! Awesome Write!

Posted by: Athynae Mar 22 2012, 09:59 PM

Thanks guys, I'm glad you are still enjoying this. I sure have a great time writing it. I have a couple more 'entries' in the stash and after that I'll probably back off for a while so I can focus on BOTM and the possibility of the next saga of the A and A story.

@mALX- She should have been born a red-head that's for sure. She's got the fire for it, but she's a red head now thanks to dye and spells so I guess all's well that ends well.

@Grits- What a nice thing to say, makes me wonder what I could do with them if I altered them a touch...

@McB- You always make me smile, thank you for your time and attention to Thyna's stories, I am so happy you are here, always...

Posted by: Athynae Mar 22 2012, 10:50 PM

Intro for this one, 16th birthday sends her back to her 12th, the first time she and Athlain were actually alone as guests of honor...you'll see.

There are two things that reside at the top of Athynae's list of "This is ABSOLUTELY unacceptable", one is a color the other is the word previously mentioned as the word only Athlain knew but would never tell. This particular story just tells a bit of how she reacts to one of those...enjoy.


Sixteen. What did that mean to me? For starters, it meant an enormous celebration. I don't think I will ever accustom myself to the celebrity associated with being the first born in Vvardenfell after the Blight. I wasn't the one that had ended the Blight, but I was the living, breathing proof that it was over and no one in Vvardenfell would let me forget it.

Don't get me wrong, parties are ok, but my birthday wasn't just a party, it was an island-wide holiday that lasted for days…formal ceremonies, reenactments, carnivals, fireworks and the list goes on. So, there I was, presiding over another exhibition or play I don't know…when I was younger it was ok; it was like it wasn't really me- it was Mother and I just happened to be there holding her hand. And Athlain was there because he was the second born and Mother and Aunt Baria thought it was just the cutest thing.

The age of twelve brought changes. Mother and Aunt Baria no longer sat or walked or rode the litter or…, you get the picture. Now I was supposed to be the diplomatic one, acting as if I enjoyed this and smiling and waving when all I wanted was to be on the practice field, dressed in my leathers, sparring or shooting my bow or training Rah, or watching Athlain play with his giant twig, (staff to those who are unsure of the reference). Athlain was still with me, not because he really wanted to be but because I gave him little choice. Sometimes I could be an awful person. But this was a test of fortitude and patience that I did not want to endure alone.

Ceremonial duties were one area that he did not tease me about; well, not after the first time. All the apologies in the world would never make up for what I did. I was at one of the exhibitions, not unlike this one, feeling like a mud crab that had somehow wound up in the desert, all primped and polished. I was also in a state, as I had had a bit of conflict with Kausha while I was getting dressed.

"You really expect me to wear that t h I n g? It's, it's puh, puh, pe, pu hin k! Why can't I just wear my leather armor; that's who I am, not this abomination of fluff." I was mortified. Not only did I disagree with the chiffon, the flowers, the lace- the fact that it was that color that shall not be mentioned was pushing it over the edge. I don't know what it was about that color, just the pale shade mind, that made me want to throw up, but it did. Mauve was ok, deeper shades of ….red/white mix were ok, but that, that was absolutely NOT ok.

"I am not going to disobey your Mother. This is the dress she sent for you, and missy, you will put it on or I will pull a paralyze spell and put it on you." Kausha was tiny but she was a force unto herself. Now though, since I was older, the only time she did anything for me was in situations like this when Mother needed to make sure I did as she instructed, like wear a puh, puh, p…nevermind… dress. What was she thinking?

"I won't disobey her either, but Kausha, you have to see the torture in this. Not only do I not get to wear what suits me, what represents who I am, but I have to go to the other end of the universe." I had not whined in years, not really but I pulled it up from the depths of me. "IT'S PPPPPIIIINNNNKKKKK!!!!!"

"I don't care if it is imitation guar skin stripes with the head still attached- you will put it on and you will do it now."

Which meant now, not "five minutes from now." If I waited, I would be on the floor paralyzed for the duration of the dressing process. "Well fine, give me the thing." And I donned the dress, trying to keep from regurgitating the entire time. And I had then sat blank faced at she put my hair in curls and pins and braids. It was just stupid, STUPID.

Then to top that whole thing off Athlain was late arriving, so I had to step up to the seat in the box on the raised dais to the roaring cheers of the crowd BY MYSELF. I was not a happy Redoran, no I was not happy at all. He stepped up onto the platform just after the introduction and took one look at me and started:

"Wow, pink" eyes wide; "that's really pink," as he attempted to keep from laughing out loud. "I think the dressmaker made a mistake; surely Aunt Serene didn't pick, didn't pick," he lost his hold.

BBASAHAHAHAHAHAHA! "Careful, your face will stick like that, with that pink reflection on it, looking kind of purple…"

And then he was sailing backward, over the edge of the platform because there was no rail to stop him. I had hit him mid chest with a 'repel' spell, which I had done before with no harm, but I hadn't considered that we were fifteen feet off the ground. It reminded me of his leap off the roof when I yelled "Boo," only this time there wasn't an awning to break his fall. All Oblivion broke loose. Guards and spectators running in every direction, then some stupid jerk yelled:

"He tried to kill the First Born! I saw it, I saw it all- he tried to kill her!" And he was running hither and yon like someone had put a hot coal in his pocket. But his cries had alerted the battlemages that were standing guard a short distance away and they charged. I didn't think; I just jumped, surrounded by pink chiffon frill and lace, and landed beside Athlain.

"I'm sorry, are you ok? Can you walk?" Urgency was all over my face and in my voice.

"I think so, what in the name of Talos did you do that for?"

"No time. We gotta go, NOW! Someone is screaming you tried to kill me and the battlemages are coming and Mother is on the opposite side of the arena." As I helped him up I realized the dress was in tatters. There was no way I was going to run in it. Thank you sweet Azura! I had my breeches on underneath, so I ripped the trailing tails and we were off…almost.

Battlemages were behind us and a contingent of Mother's personal guard were in front, being led by three that I had not met. Wonderful. As hard as I searched, there was no easy way out, and no. It did not occur to me to say, "NO! HE DIDN'T!" I was about to get frantic when Uncle Trey appeared out of the throng of spectators.

"Are we having fun kids?" And he put his hands up to stop the impending crash of mages and guards. It was amazing, once I had a chance to think about it. There they were, intent on magic and mayhem, and he just… stopped them. "Not a word, not one, not yet. Let me get these fellas taken care of and on their way, then we will talk."

I wish sometimes I was more 'girl' and less 'warrior,' I would have fainted dead away, or done a good act of it, just to keep from facing another round of "What were you thinking?" But instead I had to stand there while Uncle Trey explained to both sides it was just a misunderstanding and sent then back the way they had come. Then there were Mother, and Father, and Rah, and Aunt Baria and of course, Uncle Seth, all looking like they were afraid someone had died, except for Uncle Seth, who was looking at me with an expression I could not define. With a mix of laughter and mortification, if there is such a thing, he took in my apparel.

I put my hand up in the air, "As if there were any question- it is my fault." I stopped there; no need to give information that wasn't requested; I had enough making up to do with Athlain as it was without everything else. How did everything I touched end up being like this?

"We can wait for explanations later, young lady, and I will have them when this is over, but right now you need to get your Redoran behind back up on that dais so the ceremony and exhibition can proceed. Am I understood? We will also discuss your choice of underclothes." And she gave me that 'you would be better off facing Dagoth Ur at Red Mountain' look. Geez.

I was really shocked when I took my seat on the dais and Athlain settled into the one beside me. He was either a glutton for punishment or I had adled his brain for good this time. "I am sorry Athlain."

"I know; you always are." He was staring straight ahead. "Just do me a favor- tell me who I took the hit for this time." And he just glanced my way then back to the arena.

"Everyone, no one, pink." I was still truly disturbed by the color of the dress. "I argued with Kausha about it, I still think I should be able to wear my armor, but she threatened to paralyze me if I didn't put it on. Then she swirled, twirled, knotted and pinned my hair and then you show up trying to be funny when I was already as mad as a cliff racer that can't fly. And for Azura's sake Athlain, IT'S PINK! PINK! What was my Mother thinking?"

I don't know if Athlain was feeling my pain or stifling laughter when he dropped his head, but either way it was better than what I deserved. "So, I am sorry. I just blew a brain cell. I so hate pink."

"I know. I'm sorry too, I know how you feel about that color. I don't know what I was thinking either. I should have just kept my mouth shut. But Thyna, the look on the people's faces when you jumped down off of that dais and ripped the ends of your dress off will live in infamy forever!" Then he bent double in his seat, tears rolling down his cheeks, he was laughing so hard, but then again, so was I. I looked down and I have to say it was an interesting combination, a pink frilly lacy chiffon bodice with tendrils dangling and dark brown leather chausses and boots.



Posted by: mALX Mar 22 2012, 11:50 PM

Athynae will fit right into fashions today in that outfit, ROFL !! Really funny episode, and "shocking" - I thought Athynae never apologized to Athlain before the last BOTM episode, lol !!! Awesome Write !!

Posted by: McBadgere Mar 23 2012, 05:18 AM

Oh, that was good... laugh.gif ...

Absolute brilliance...That made me laugh so much... biggrin.gif ...And, as payback for the Tcheet line, I get...

QUOTE
or watching Athlain play with his giant twig


*Wipes tea off screen...Again...*... biggrin.gif ...

Nicely done...Loved the image of her running around with the leather trousers under the pink dress...And the hell breaking loose with all them mages...

But Trey?...Ooooh...Whataguy!!... biggrin.gif ...

Most excellently done...

Love it!!...

Nice one!!...

*Applauds...Stops...Wipes tea off hands...Applauds heartily...*...

Posted by: Grits Mar 24 2012, 12:08 AM

or watching Athlain play with his giant twig

rollinglaugh.gif Thank you, I was among those who needed the explanation!! laugh.gif

Oh dear, the color on top of a celebration that turns her into an event, just too much! No wonder she dyed her hair red, to never have pink suggested again!

Wow. Thank goodness for Uncle Trey. And still friends in the end. smile.gif



Posted by: minque Mar 24 2012, 10:58 PM

OMG! Sorry, I missed commenting on your second last post! that was not intentional, hope you understand!

You really capture the difficulties of being the daughter of an Archmistress..I mean come on...Athynae is one of a kind and she has a stubborn yet very honest demeanor...but things are not always going her way... And then she has a temper....I wonder who did she inherit that from? Athyn? hmmmm

Anyway I giggle with excitement when there's a new post in this great story...because I know it will make me smile...make me think and make me nod my head thinking.."yeah! so right on spot"

Oh and I liked the appearance of Trey in the last post....honestly I miss the guy, and I hope you'll let him in again....I mean Trey is Trey...he's so unique and the very first fanfic charachter I felt aquainted to. Trey of High Rock means a lot to me.

Also I like the way you depict Athlain....the more I read about his youth the more I like the boy!

Conclusion: I love this story!

Posted by: Doommeister Apr 30 2012, 04:15 PM

Awww so our poor princess of trouble doesn't like wearing pink eh? Awww poor girl wink.gif

*whispers to Treydog "we are gonna have to find a reason to have the princess wearing a pink dress."*

An ominous silence descends upon the house, then all you hear is a panicked scream, then cries for mercy are heard throughout the town.

Great stories Athynae, I'm loving it. Please forgive my penchant for stirring trouble *whistles innocently*

Posted by: Athynae May 6 2012, 11:53 PM

@mALX- She certainly didn't make a habit of it, but things like this are different to her, this apology is for a physical pain that she caused. Apologizing for being a spoiled (not really) brat and treating him poorly because ...you get the point..."I'm sorry" for breaking a limb is different that "I'm sorry for treating you like an idiot" biggrin.gif
She is a hoot though and I am glad you are enjoying it.

@Grits-Exactly, see, you understand...even about his, um, staff. wink.gif Glad you are here, I hope she continues to bring much laughter...

@Doomeister- Thank you so much! I appreciate you taking the time to comment after reading but conspiring with the wiener dog is probably not the best plan...just sayin' Let's see what she gets into next...

@McB- My faithful furry friend, just don't bite the hand that pets you on the head...YAY!!! I caused tea spewage! That is something to mark on the calendar for sure...Paybacks are a -B- ya know...haha. Stick around and see what she does next.

@minque- Always, and ever, the original creator of this wonderful character. Thank you for reading, I am thrilled that you are enjoying and thank you for your assistance, much appreciated.

THANKS TO ALL OF YOU WHO READ, so much. I really am elated that you are here.

Posted by: Athynae May 7 2012, 12:26 AM

Serene and Athynae are taking a trip together. Serene wants to expand Athynae's understanding of diplomacy...right. At the age of 14 and away from home trouble finds her, did you have a doubt?



Kausha woke me, which was unusual; I was normally up and out by the time the rest of the house exited their bedrooms. Today I was taking a trip with Mother. She had decided that it was time for me to gain a better understanding of diplomacy- in other words, how to hold my tongue and not say the first thing that my brain thought. I could do that if I wanted to; I just didn't want to most of the time. I was looking forward to the trip. Any time I could get with Mother was always a treat and traveling with her, well, that was something else all together after we got past the departure. And this time it was just me; the brats were staying here with Kausha. This was the first time that Mother had chosen to leave Bree for more than a day since she was born; it sort of made me feel a bit special that I was the reason.


We were starting out in Seyda Neen for several reasons, not the least being that Thavere Vedrano lived in the lighthouse there and was one of Mother's oldest and dearest friends. I had seen her a couple of times, but hadn't been around her enough to know her other than through the stories Mother told. I was looking forward to the chance to get to know her better- because if Mother spoke of her the way she did, then she was well worth getting to know.

I brushed and braided my hair, dressed and went downstairs to the dining room. The table was set with simple foods this morning, kwama eggs, fruit and bread with the usual dressings, scrib jelly and syrup of some sort that Cook had been making since before the Emperor was born I think. I had just sat down when Mother and Father came in.

"Good morning. All dressed up and ready to go I see," Father said with a smile behind his words but not on his face. Mother looked like she always did when she wanted me to dress, in her words, more appropriately. I still didn't understand why she was so adamant that I wear something other than my leathers, and until I understood, I would continue to have this discussion with her every time I chose the wrong thing in her eyes.

"Yes, 'dressed up'. I suppose by 'dressed up' your father means you are wearing the new leathers that he just brought you? I don't insist that you wear a dress, but I would like to see you in something other than leather armor occasionally."

I added a mental tally mark to the record I had been keeping for a couple of years; what I had affectionately begun to call "The Multitude of Ways: A guide to how many different ways Mother can tell me she does not like my choice of clothing."

"But we are travelling and you are wearing what you are comfortable in, are you not? So, why can't I be comfortable too?" I could have thrown in the 'that's not fair,' but it wasn't necessary, plus the response to that was always 'life isn't fair.'
.
Mother's eyes rolled upward as she took a moment. There she goes again, counting, silently, as if I didn't know what she was doing.

I finished my last bite of eggs and downed my juice, "Excuse me please? I need to get a couple more things." And as I left the dining room I heard a repeat of the familiar discussion between Mother and Father,
"Why do you insist on supporting her desire to wear armor instead of proper apparel when it is expected?" Her voice was firm but not mean.

"Is that what I am doing my dear? I thought I was supporting my daughter in her desire to be herself and not what the world at large expects her to be."

His tone was the same as always, that soft tone that always took the fire out of Mother. Now they were staring at each other…even without being there I had the timing down to a science as I walked up the stairs. As I stepped into my room, enough seconds had passed that they had smiled at each other and called it a draw with no more words.

Half an hour later Mother exited Father's study at the base of the stairs as I reached the bottom and before she came around the corner she spoke, "Please leave your weapons at least."

"Oops, too late." I whispered to myself as she turned the corner of the stairs and saw that I had my full regimen- my katana strapped to my back, my bow and quiver hanging over my left shoulder and my braids pinned up with two darts.

"Athynae Sarethi- do you really have to make such an affair out of this? We aren't going to battle, we are going on a D-I-P-L-O-M-A-T-I-C journey."

"I know that but that doesn't mean we shouldn't be prepared for the chance that some rogue band could attack." I gave her my wide-eyed 'there you go' look.

Mother clenched her teeth and pursed her lips before she responded, "We will be traveling by strider, and I seriously doubt the possibility of an attack." Her eyes locked with mine, "I appreciate your dedication to the endeavor of being Tamriel's greatest warrior, but you can take a break every now and again."

"I could, but where would the fun be in that? Besides, if we don't leave now we will miss our ride."

Here's the thing you need to understand. Yes, almost every time we went 'out' we argued about how I dressed, but it wasn't because she didn't want me to be myself, it was because somewhere inside of her there was a conflict-on one hand she remembered being my age and how important it was to feel comfortable with who one is, but on the other she was now the Head of Great House Redoran and with that came certain…expectations? She had to at least make it look like she was trying to conform. That's what I think anyway.

Father kissed me on the forehead "Don't be too hard on your mother, my little warrior; enjoy the trip but let her enjoy it some too, please?" And he winked at me.

I exaggerated a huge sigh "OK, fine. I'll do my best to be the best behaved child in Vvardenfell, as long as I can double up on the misbehaving when we get home so I can catch back up. You know how I hate getting behind." And I lowered my head and shuffled myself out the door as Father hugged and kissed Mother through his laughter.

"If it were possible for a man to reproduce without the aid of a female I would absolutely believe I had nothing to do with her, she is yours through and through." Mother whispered as she leaned in to kiss Father, "I had nothing to do with that one." And she pointed toward me with loving accusation if there is such a thing.
"You think that is a reflection of my gene pool? Me? Mr. Calm cool and collected? You are the one that can't sit still, I believe dear, she got more than a fair share of your genes, but I am more than proud to claim her. That fire is something that will take her places." He pulled her close and kissed her again. "Don't be gone too long I might have to hunt you down."

If someone who didn't know heard some of the things that were said about me by my parents- or anyone else for that matter- it would not shine a very kind light on me but I knew there was nothing mean-spirited there, it was all loving jibes, them letting me know they noticed I was different and it was really all right. I hoped that's what it was, anyway.

We arrived in Balmora and the first leg of our journey had begun. We weren't going straight to Seyda Neen as I had thought, but rather we were going to visit Fort Moonmoth. I was quite sure that visiting old friends was not the only reason Mother had for wanting to go there, but I also knew that if she wanted me to know she would tell me, and if she didn't want me to know the work involved in finding out just wasn't worth it at that point. Plus I really wanted to enjoy the time I had with her and not try to make her mad at me. We would bang heads before long whether I tried or not.

I wasn't particularly impressed with Balmora. It was pretty enough I guess but it was Hlaalu country and even though I knew a few Hlaalu that were OK, for the most part I had learned they could not be trusted. A man exiting the Council Club made eye contact with me and I know I probably should have lowered my head, but I wasn't about to let him think he had any power over me. Besides, I did not like the look in his eyes. I scowled and rolled my eyes. He responded by narrowing his eyes at me and patting his short sword. I raised an eyebrow and did a little 'slap the weapon' dance for him- right shoulder, left shoulder, waistband, boot and then I threw in a 'top that' look. At which point Mother caught the man eying me and paid him a glare that ended it all. I watched until Mother turned away and stuck out my tongue at the man and then smiled. Rather childish I know, but it still felt good.

I don't know what it was about Mother, but even if when she was playing her "simple traveler" role, she wasn't often challenged. At least I had never seen it happen, even when we traveled incognito like now. There was something about her that made most think twice about even approaching her, which seemed quite odd to me because she was the most giving, kind person I knew. She and Aunt Baria together were like a "Nice Fest" gone haywire; sometimes it was almost too much kindness.

As we exited Balmora on the road to the fort Mother cleared her throat to get my attention, "You do realize that man you had the stare down with was exiting the local gathering place for the Camonna Tong, right?" She looked at me with both eyebrows raised.

Although my heart took a stutter step, my mouth did not, "So. Is that supposed to scare me? He looked at me with a nasty expression when he came out of that place. I don't think I should act like a scared scrib just cuz I'm not a hundred years old; that's stupid." I meant the stupid part, the other though, well, if I had known that was Camonna Tong territory I might not have been quite so bold. Then again, he was looking down his ugly hooked nose at me so…it would have been the same.

"Sometimes, Athynae, it is better to let things go. Often the expression on someone's face has more to do with what they are thinking about rather than who or what is in their line of sight."
And she softened when she looked at me, that affectionate, exasperated wisdom expression.

"I don't wear what is on my mind on my face. If I did no one would like me because I would always look like I had a mouth full of bitters. I work hard to keep my face from showing how hard I am concentrating, sometimes on a bunch of stuff all at once." And I showed her the 'sucking bitters' look by sucking in my cheeks and crossing my eyes.

"You are rambling," Mother snickered. "It is no secret you never stop thinking about your battle strategies, even while you plan and prepare one of your 'lessons'. " Her face said it before her mouth did, "Didn't think I knew that, did you?" She looked like she had just taken the trophy in some major competition so I couldn't rain on her presumed victory by telling her it didn't matter- that I didn't care whether she knew.

"No! I did not. Have you been eavesdropping on private conversations, Mother? I get in big trouble for that. I think maybe you should be grounded when we return home so you can think about what you have done." And I tried to look all parental.

Neither of us could hold it long; we both started giggling. Mother was on my right side and just barely at the edge of my vision to the left of us I caught the smallest of movements. I didn't think about what I did, but I let Mother get a half step ahead of me and then all at once everything got crammed together except what I did. That was in slow motion.

The stupid bandit stepped into the road behind us and said something like, "What, couldn't afford a full size body guard so you paid half price for half size?" His laugh stopped pretty quick though, cuz as I turned around I pulled a dart from my hair and flipped it. It sank into his shoulder just above his collar bone. I hoped I had hit the right spot, and I did I discovered later.

Then Mother's voice snapped me out of slow motion and back to real time, " Why would I pay more for one with less skill? Seems to me she is doing a fine job." She cut her eyes at me and gave the slightest wink.

The dummy laughed and said "With a dart?" Mother cut off his laughter.

"Don't you mean a poisoned dart?" as she cocked her head to the side. "Now the decision is yours; time is short, so be quick about it. Call off the rest, if there are more, and you might live to see another sunrise. Otherwise you will die here today and your friends will go to Oblivion with you." She was almost whispering.

"I'm dead anyway if this is poisoned." They were glaring at each other.
"I can give you an antidote for the poison, but you must act very quickly or it will be too late. Call them off!" The last came out as a growl and her eyes, I don't know how to describe those. I had never seen that look before or heard that voice. I had done "mean," but I really needed to learn that mean, that could make some with less fortitude pee their britches.

The bandit raised his good arm as if to signal others and then muttered, "Fix this; they will leave." Mother was nonchalant as she moved toward him. I however was not. I pulled my bow, stretched the string and had an arrow nocked and was holding it half pulled by the time she had taken two steps. She reached into her satchel as she was walking toward him and pulled something out, I wasn't sure what because she didn't need an antidote for a dart that wasn't poisoned. I was actually pretty impressed that she thought that fast and I wondered if I had taught her that or if I had inherited it.

When she got to him she reached with one hand and not gently yanked the dart from his shoulder. His arm instantly fell to his side. I did it! I hit the nerve! "Now, don't flinch, take heed, she is better with that than she is at flinging darts." And she tossed her head toward me even as she pulled his hands behind him and tied them securely with the twine in her hand that I hadn't seen until just then. Where did that come from?

"What's wrong? My arm! What are you doing? You aren't stopping the poison. I can't move my arm!" He was screaming like a girl; it was pitiful.

"Poison? Oh, right, well I do hope you will pardon me for stretching the truth a bit, but you were getting ready to rob us or worse. There was no poison; however, the dart clipped a nerve that may or may not heal. It is hit or miss if you will ever use that arm again." She stepped behind him and pushed. "Captain, would you be so kind as to take up the rear to keep our prisoner from escaping?" The air she put on was truly majestic and I didn't skip a beat.

"Certainly, Your Highness, anything you require will be my pleasure Arch Mistress." And I bowed toward her, just because I saw the bandit cutting his eyes at us. His jaw hit the ground at the exchange. I have no idea how Mother and I maintained our ruse the rest of the way to the fort but we did. It was quite funny listening to Mother spin such a yarn for Sera Stupid, about how I had come to be a Captain of the Guard at the tender age of 10 by stopping a siege on Under Skar even before anyone else had been aware and what a well rounded warrior I was, as skilled with one weapon as another.

[size=3][/size]

Posted by: McBadgere May 7 2012, 06:26 AM

That was just brilliant that was... biggrin.gif ...

From the discussion about appropriate attire for going travelling in...To the way her parents complained with great affection about her... biggrin.gif ...Just brilliance...

The bit where she found out that she's stared down the Tong was excellent...As was the Bandit "fight" at the end...Short elven archers?...Trouble they are... biggrin.gif ...

Love the way you do these stories...They don't half make me laugh... wink.gif tongue.gif biggrin.gif ...

Excellent stuff, as ever, looking forward to the next part of this...

Nice one!!...

*Applauds heartily*...

Posted by: Fawkes May 7 2012, 07:10 AM

QUOTE(Athynae @ May 6 2012, 06:26 PM) *


"What's wrong? My arm! What are you doing? You aren't stopping the poison. I can't move my arm!" He was screaming like a girl; it was pitiful.

"Poison? Oh, right, well I do hope you will pardon me for stretching the truth a bit, but you were getting ready to rob us or worse. There was no poison; however, the dart clipped a nerve that may or may not heal. It is hit or miss if you will ever use that arm again." She stepped behind him and pushed. "Captain, would you be so kind as to take up the rear to keep our prisoner from escaping?" The air she put on was truly majestic and I didn't skip a beat.

"Certainly, Your Highness, anything you require will be my pleasure Arch Mistress." And I bowed toward her, just because I saw the bandit cutting his eyes at us. His jaw hit the ground at the exchange. I have no idea how Mother and I maintained our ruse the rest of the way to the fort but we did. It was quite funny listening to Mother spin such a yarn for Sera Stupid, about how I had come to be a Captain of the Guard at the tender age of 10 by stopping a siege on Under Skar even before anyone else had been aware and what a well rounded warrior I was, as skilled with one weapon as another.[/size]
[size=3][/size]


Really nicely put, I just love how she puts it "Oh just a small detail you may or may not not lose the ability to use your arm, no biggy really."
Like always, enjoyed it very much, can't wait for more biggrin.gif

Posted by: mALX May 9 2012, 03:30 PM

How funny to think of Serene being a part of the ruse! Really funny chapter, Great Write!

Posted by: Grits May 11 2012, 11:57 AM

The mother/daughter dynamic made more complicated by Serene’s position with its accompanying expectations for Athynae is fun to read. I love her father’s instant endorsement of the leather getup that he knew would not be acceptable to her mother. They made a great team against that bandit!

Posted by: minque May 13 2012, 06:53 PM

Ahahahaha....that was very very amusing! You got milady right on spot! Serene and Athynae really have some good chemistry between each other, they do understand unspoken words and act according to it! Yay ...you're incredible Athynae (the author) in making good intrigues and describing interaction between Athynae ( the daughter) and her Mother!.

So if you please will continue this I would be very happy!

Posted by: Athynae May 24 2012, 03:58 PM

First of all many apologies to everyone for the delay on part 2 of this one, RL has been both fantastic and horrid the past couple weeks. The great part was a trip to New York City courtesy of a special friend. Just to share a touch of it here's 3 pix I took

https://picasaweb.google.com/107636690334033758835/NYC3Shots?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCJz40PeirbHncQ&feat=directlink

The other RL stuff does not deserve mention other than I am still trying to figure out how the worst and the best can happen simultaneously...lalalalala

On to the best stuff...

Thanks to ALL who are reading, as I have said before I thoroughly enjoy writing this and even as the writer sometimes I am surprised by where it goes. This started out as a simple sort of humorous journal entry that turned into so much more....

@Fawkes- Glad you enjoyed it and it did kind of bother her conscience a little when she found out later that it was permanent. But his band was disbanded and all were sent to labor camps to work off their misdeeds.

@Grits- It is a very complex relationship, the two are so much alike in some ways and worlds apart in others, they never doubt or question their love for each other but they still have to be who they are. And the perfect example of one of the ways they are alike, the bandit didn't have a chance. hehe. As far as the leathers go, well, diplomacy is not Thyna's strong suit, example of worlds apart.

@mALX- The real funny thing is it isn't a ruse....it was the real thing, a bandit attack. I do hope you enjoy where it goes from here.

@McB- She rarely shows any negative internal feelings, it's sort of her twist on the "if you can't say anything nice" quote, thankfully since this is her journal we get to see not only her outward reaction but her mental one as well. Thanks for your loyalty my friend. Hope you like the rest...

@minque- So many things I could say that I have said so many times before, thank you is the best I can do since all I have are words to work with. Laugh with me, knowing that you are enjoying this from a half a world away reminds me how small the world really is.

The next couple of installments will get us from here to there so to speak. This piece starts at the gates of the fort with the bandit they thwarted in tow...

Posted by: Athynae May 24 2012, 05:24 PM

Mother was walking with the bandit prisoner in front of me and I could hear her talking, but I wasn't paying much attention to the words; I was trying to let my instincts do their job, I was trying to feel my surroundings like Uncle Seth said. Still, there was some thought that this was orchestrated for my benefit because I could sure see Uncle Seth pulling something like this just to see if I really was 'getting it.' But what fool would agree to be assaulted by whatever weapon I had chosen? If this was a test then I really hoped it was worth for the stupid guy that had been talked into it, because Mother wasn't kidding when she told him it was hit or miss whether he would use that arm again. Idiot.

We reached the gate to the fort and were greeted by one of Mother's Guard Captains. Well, he used to be. I don't know why he left Under Skar to come here, but obviously it wasn't anything bad because he smiled when he saw us.

"Arch Mistress, how wonderful to see you. And I see you have your personal body guard with you." He looked toward me and said, "Greetings Captain. Pushed any miscreants off of any platforms lately?" He was one of the new guards that led the charge the day I pushed Athlain off the platform at my 12th birthday celebration. He had teased me relentlessly over that. He thought it was extremely funny. Sometime afterward I had caught a couple of younger kids trying to pilfer baubles from a vendor in the market and he had been the one I had taken them to, and that's when he started calling me "captain."


"No sera. Just flipping darts into bandits' shoulders." I said it like it was something that happened every day.

"Aris, how goes it with the Legion?" Mother asked. But the question was much deeper than 'how are you doing;' there was something going on here for sure.

"Well before we discuss that it looks like we have something else to take care of. Who is this and why do you have his hands tied behind his back?" Aris stepped forward and took the 'prisoner' by the arm and Mother let go.

"He surprised us on the road between Balmora and here. I don't know if his intention was to rob us or just make rude comments about my under-sized bodyguard. Either way he needs to be held responsible, and we need to make sure there isn't a band of them between here and there."

"I will see to it as soon as I get him somewhere secure. I will find you when I am done." And with that he was gone.

"Ok Mother, what was that all about? Why is he going to find you when he is done? There is something going on isn't there?" I was interrogating my Mother like she was suspected of spying, but if I was going to be in the middle of some mysterious espionage game I deserved to know, didn't I?

"Athynae I have no idea what you are talking about. We were close so I decided to come here for a short visit to see how Aris and some of my other friends are doing. And to let you see how the fort operates now that you are old enough to understand." We were walking toward the dining hall and I was getting hungry. Still, her attempt to divert me was less than successful.

"Mother I don't know why you think that will work with me now; it didn't work when I was five." I cut my eyes at her and waited for the response.

"Very well, but it will have to wait until we are in a more private setting." I was a bit shocked by the look on her face; she meant what she said.

"I do have a question about the bandit though. How did Uncle Seth get someone to agree to that? The likelihood that I would throw something sharp means that either he didn't know what he was getting into or he was just stupid." I looked at Mother and stopped talking because she was staring at me in the strangest way. "What's wrong Mother? Did my skin change color or something? Rah was testing stuff before we left." He was always testing something.

"Do you honestly believe anyone would arrange that? As some sort of game or test or something? That would have been too risky even for Sethyas. The slightest possibility that you would be hurt would have been enough; he would never put you in danger." By the time she was done talking she had her hands on my shoulders, probably because the blood had drained out of my face.

Even though I had done everything I was supposed to, I felt like it was some sort of 'training,' something that could have been stopped if something went wrong. The idea that it had been real was stuck somewhere between my brain and my knees, causing my stomach to feel like a den of kwama had moved in, queen and all. "But Mama, he…, and then you…, and I…." I couldn't put the sentences together; all the words were coming out jumbled. I put my head down and took a deep breath. "Ok, but Mama, you were so calm and," I looked around like I would find the right words floating in the air. "You didn't even think when you turned around. As soon as you started talking you were in control of the entire thing. How did you think to say the dart was poisoned? And why did you tell him I was your bodyguard and that I was a Captain? That just made it seem more like a game; I mean he looked like he believed everything you said."

"And why shouldn't he? He has no reason to believe or not to believe; where he is going it makes little difference. It is all part of that instinctual reaction Seth is always talking about. Allowing your mind to have an expanded focus of everything all the time so that you can capitalize on the slightest detail and it has to happen instantly. Sometimes it is almost as if time has stopped while your mind formulates a plan. Some things you practice to improve, some things you are born with or are gifts from the gods, and some things, well, some things you cannot learn any other way except by experience." We had passed the dining hall and were almost to the visitors' quarters.

"I thought we were going to eat?" I was still trying to get all of the pieces of the puzzle to realign in my head. The picture from my original perspective was quite different than what Mother had said. And to top it off we had thwarted his plan as if it really were a game. But what would have happened if something had gone wrong? That thought caused me pause for a moment, as I pushed back the idea that he really did have buddies hiding that he had waved off so Mother would give him the antidote to a poison that didn't exist. I shuddered.

"I'll have something brought to you. I need to speak to your prisoner. I need to speak to Aris as well. You will be ok here until I get back?" She wasn't stating a fact; she was asking me a question.

"Of course. I'm a captain." And I gave her a flamboyant fake smile. "But why can't I go with you?" I wanted to know why we were really here and I didn't want to be alone really, but I would not let her see that. I was not a scaredy rat.

"Please Athynae, I will tell you what is going on when I return. As far as anyone can tell, we are just visiting friends, do you understand? What's more, the fewer people around here that know you are actually my daughter, the better." Was she really going to tell me the whole thing? Probably not, but I did feel like she was going to tell me more than I knew right now.

"Does it matter whether I understand or not?" She had opened a door with a key that I hadn't seen before and ushered me in to a well-furnished suite. The outside looked like the regular barracks but the inside was obviously secret quarters for officers or dignitaries or something like that. The rooms were pleasant, with big fluffy chairs and rugs on the floor.

"It does matter that you understand the need for secrecy and I will explain all of that soon. Right now you need to remain here until I return. There are things that you do not need to know, not because I think you cannot keep it secret but because it could possibly put you in danger until the reasons for our visit here are resolved. Until then, since the story has already been started, you are my bodyguard and you are a captain. No one will question if they see you with your weapons, especially as the story about the bandit spreads." She was using the voice that she used when she did not want me to argue, she just wanted me to accept what she was saying with the promise that she would explain later.

"Are we really in danger Mother? We are at a Legion Fort; won't they protect you?"

"I don't want to make light of this nor do I want to make it more than it is, so we need to be aware of everything around us and not take any chances. This was supposed to be a sort of learning vacation for us, but I did not want it to be like this." Her eyes were getting darker, which meant she was calculating and strategizing to fix something. "I will be back as soon as I can. I will send a tray for you; it should be here in a short time. Do not open the door; anyone that needs to have access to this room will have a key."

"You are locking me in here!?" Now that just wasn't going to work for me; she didn't even lock me in my room when I was little and practicing my escape arts.

"No, of course not. The lock on the inside does not need a key." She kissed my forehead and with her hands holding my face she said "My sweet daughter, this will all be fine but please none of your antics? Ok? Not right now. I love you."

"Ok, no antics I guess…I love you too." I wasn't quite sure what type of antics she expected me to get into at a Legion fort with no friends around. I had a pretty good map of the place in my head, but the first person that saw me would end my exploration; either because I was a stranger to them or they would know me as the Arch Mistress's daughter. She was out the door and I heard the lock click into place.

I looked through the books on the shelf; not many there but the few titles offered better than expected reading material. I pulled a book off the shelf about the history of the Legion and curled up in one of the big cushy chairs to wait for my dinner. Dinner came via one of the kitchen workers that had been here when I had first visited. It was good food, but nothing truly special. I was paying more attention to the reading than the food when Mother returned.

"We cannot stay for the night. I have urgent business I must attend to and time is of the essence. I have sent Thavere a missive that we are enroute. I will only be gone for a day or so, but I must go as soon as possible so I will leave you at the lighthouse." I was very unfamiliar with this particular combination of vocal/facial expressions. Her eyes were dark as if she was mad, but they were also still calculating. I got the feeling someone was going to get a dressing down for being stupid and not a moment was going to be lost to get it done. I sure was happy I wasn't the one on the receiving end of that look; the one I got when I screwed up was bad enough. "Does this have something to do with the idiot on the road?" I asked as she poured herself a glass of juice and ate a piece of the bread that I had left.

"I'm not sure yet. That is one thing I will find out. It does have to do with the conflict between the Houses. Some of the Hlaalu council members are stirring up trouble about trade again. They accuse me of being the reason that deals that have been problem free for ages are now under review. Those accusations and rumors have been attempted before." Mother rolled her eyes and tried to look funny.

"Um, haven't there always been problems between Hlaalu and ALL of the other factions involved in trade? And isn't that because so many of them try to take advantage any way they can?" I didn't mean to sound dense, but it didn't make sense to me.

"Here is where the learning begins I suppose. Diplomacy starts with one's ability to allow negative information to fade into nothing while keeping a close eye on how much real trouble it could be stirring. Anything that needs to be nipped quickly can be. Sometimes it is simple, sometimes it is not, but always it must be handled intelligently. Diplomacy is not just using the correct words, it is the ability to control rumors that could be harmful without anyone knowing where they started or where they stopped."

I got the feeling she was talking in circles so that I would think she was telling me something new, instead of using different words to tell me things she had told me before. She was leaving out the details. "When are we leaving then?"

"I am waiting for a message and then we can leave. Get your things together so we can depart as soon as the message arrives." I had removed my katana, bow and quiver and put them on one of the chairs and I had loosened my boots but that was all, so getting it all together did not take any time. As soon as I tied the straps that held the scabbard in place someone knocked on the door. Mother took the five steps to her staff and picked it up before she said, "Enter". The messenger opened the door, stepped across the threshold and handed Mother a parchment sealed with yellow wax that carried no mark. She broke the seal and read the note before she addressed the young man whose face looked like he had lived far more than he should have at his age. "I will be there as soon as I can. No one is to do anything until everyone has responded and I arrive." She said it as if she was directing one of the manor retainers to dust the drapes.

"Yes Sera, it will be as you say." And just as quickly as he had arrived he was out the door and gone.

"Are you ready to go?" I nodded. "Athynae, I know I do not need to say this, but please continue to practice all that you have learned. I do not want you to be frightened, but I also do not want you to become complacent either. Now you are my captain and must behave as such."

She was uncomfortable, which made me uncomfortable. She didn't want me to see it, so I pretended not to. But I took to heart what she'd said and became a Captain of the Guard. The only way I truly knew to accomplish this was to continue the game I had been playing since I had gotten my first wooden dagger. It was odd to think it was real, so I didn't. I hoped for the same instinctual reaction as I'd had on the road here should anything else go wrong. Thinking of myself as a guard for the Arch Mistress was much easier than trying to fathom that I was protecting my mother from some dark evil that I didn't understand.


Posted by: McBadgere May 25 2012, 03:42 AM

QUOTE
This started out as a simple sort of humorous journal entry that turned into so much more....


Oh, I know about all them sorts of things... kvright.gif ...

AAaamywho...AMAZING stuff!!...

This is absolutely brilliant...Keep telling ya, you should give her her own story!...

I loved the way you had Athynae think it was probably a set up, and then the terror when she realised that it actually wasn't...Nicely done there...I wonder if she pushed up the "Cool Mom" setting up a few notches at that point?... biggrin.gif ...

Oooh, intrigue in the Houses...I've no idea what that means, but damn it sounds cool!...

Loving it!! Looking forward to much more...

Nice one!!...

*Applauds most heartily*...

Oh, and as for this...

QUOTE
Thanks for your loyalty my friend. Hope you like the rest...


Always, to both... biggrin.gif ...



Posted by: mALX May 25 2012, 06:08 PM

GAAAAH! A cliff hanger! What's going on ????? ARGH !!!! Awesome Write !!

Posted by: Athynae Jun 10 2012, 05:38 PM

Thanks to everyone who is still reading about Athynae's antics as a child. She gets into almost as much trouble as Denise the Menace. I apologize for the delays between postings, RL is beating me up lately....





Athynae and her mother, Serene, started out on a diplomatic journey and Serene got called away suddenly so she delivered Athynae to her friend Thavere who lives at the lighthouse in Seyda Neen. Thyna was a little less than happy about that and since Thavere didn't know better than to just openly suggest Thyna go exploring, well, no surprise, the little imp wandered a bit too far....



Relas and his cohort were still arguing about taking orders and transporting something and having missed the Arch Mistress. I had heard their voices through the trees; I had yet to work my way to a point where I could see their faces but I was getting there. I wanted to make sure that I was in a spot that would be outside both lines of vision so as I was working my way around I was also listening to the directions their loud voices were coming from.

I KNOW I did not make a sound, but Relas put his hand up right as I peeked through a small opening in the underbrush and looked toward where I was. He didn't see me, well, not until the dog growled behind me. I caught the mutt on the shoulder with my dagger just before I was hit with a spell I was all too familiar with. I really hate the paralyze spell.

The worst part of a paralyze spell is you are totally aware; you can see and hear everything; you just can't move. Prior to this that simply meant that I had to tolerate some sort of ministration from Kausha or Mother… like them putting something on me that I did not want to wear or putting my hair in some wild configuration of curls with ribbons and bows. This time it was a process of being tied with twine before I regained my ability to move.

Being mad was not always a good thing, but in this case I think being mad saved me from doing something stupid or, well, stupider because if I hadn't been so mad I would have been scared and that just would not have worked.

"Well what about this, Evos? I do believe our luck has changed; our trump card came to us. Who are you, girly? And why were you with the Arch Miss take of Redoran?" I raised an eyebrow but otherwise did not react; if he wanted to fuel my anger by saying stupid things like that he was more than welcome. It was well known in close circles that making me mad was NOT a good idea. It really didn't happen often. I mean frustrated sure, agitated of course but all out mad, even I didn't know why I went to the extent that I did when I was mad. What I did think of this time was that I needed to use the anger to my advantage and really be smart about how to handle this.

Mother is going to kill me and after she brings me back Father and Uncle Seth are going to take a turn. Fiddle digits. I hate being stupid.

"Well, answer me girly, who are you?" Evos looked like the lamp was burning but the fuel was low, glancing back and forth between me and Relas.

I still didn't say anything, just rolled my eyes. He called me girly, twice, if I opened my mouth right now it would be to spit on him, so I thought it best to keep my mouth shut.

"You can't be more'n eleven or twelve. What are you doing out here by yerself and why did Her Mighty Highness deliver you to tha lighthouse? What's Thavere got to do with you? And even more important than all that, you orta be scared enough to wet your pants right now silly girl."

Ok, a girl can only keep her mouth shut for so long before it is so full of words they spill out of their own accord, "Let me go and I'll show you how scared I am." The words came out with a venom unequaled by some of the spiders Rah had been milking.

"Oh oh oh , she does talk. This is good Relas, isn't it? It's good, right?" Evos was dancing around like someone had put hot coals in his shoes.

"Shut up!" Relas shoved Evos and he almost fell. "I ain't gonna ask you again who you are and what your relation is to that Serene woman." He had pulled a dagger from a sheath at his waist and put it to my throat.

"Kill me and you have no hold over the Arch Mistress." And I smiled an evil sort of gotcha smile.

"I have no intention of killing you. But that don't mean you won't go home missing something that you might want to keep like an arm or a leg or something."

I could tell by his eyes that he was bluffing, so I was going to just let it be what it was until I could figure out what to do. The most important thing was to keep my mind busy thinking about what to do and not think about what had happened.

"And Mistress Sarethi would see to it that you were missing something you not only want to keep but need to live- like your heart. She'd carve it out herself and probably use it in a potion or something." I was looking him straight in the eye, "Have you ever heard that evil laugh of hers? It would chill the skin off a draugr." And I shivered to emphasize my comment.

Relas picked me up and stood me on my feet. "Come on Evos, we gotta get her somewhere we can keep her hid. Let's take her to that old slavers cave; that should work just fine." He poked my back and I rolled back to the ground.
"Get up. What's wrong with you?" He was a bit peeved, but he'd get over it; he didn't have it in him to hurt me, it was easy to see that. He would do almost anything to scare me, but the only way he would hurt me would be by accident. I had every intention of using that against him. He had no idea what he had gotten himself into.

"I don't want to go to some slaver's cave, if you want me to go, you and your buddy are going to have to carry me."

Slight miscalculation on my part; I didn't think he was strong enough to pick me all the way up, but he was and threw me over his shoulder too.

"So be it missy. I am not losing my ticket to living in the lap of luxury."

He thinks I am his ticket. That's rich. As he walked and I bounced on his shoulder I asked how I was his ticket.

"Well not you exactly but that Arch Miss woman. I got some folks that are willing to pay big money if I bring her to them and since I missed her when she got here I'll just get her when she comes back."

"What makes you think she's coming back?" I was now on an information gathering mission as well as a "get myself free" mission all while I was watching closely so I would know which way to go when I did get free. Now it was getting interesting…. I must not be like everyone else, because this was kinda fun.

"She left you here, and she'll be back for you. You're just a kid."

"Are you sure about that? I mean that she's coming back, or that I am a kid?" He stopped and put me down at the entrance to a cave that had a makeshift door that hadn't been moved in an age.

"You look like a kid, you sound like a kid; therefore, you are a kid. She will be back because Thavere ain't got time to take care of a kid for any length of time."

"Well that makes a lot of sense coming from someone who doesn't know much but it's ok, you'll learn soon enough." I looked as sympathetic as I could, a piteous look if I had ever made one.

"What is that supposed to mean- 'someone who doesn't know much'?" He was offended, poor dummy.

"Obviously you have never heard of Lilliputian elves. I mean there aren't many of us so it is understandable that you would not have learned about us those two years you went to school but you really shouldn't make assumptions until you do know everything."

"What in Oblivion is lilly pukin? I ain't never heard that word before," Evos spoke for the first time since we left the woods outside Seyda Neen.

"It means tiny elves. I am full grown, I have been a grown up since I was the size of what you would consider a four year old. I am as a matter of fact a Captain of the Guard for the Arch Mistress. And our plan to keep her safe worked beautifully, I protected her to the lighthouse then hid her trail as she slipped past you. Now you have me. Or perhaps I have YOU! Funny how that worked out don't you think?" I was holding tight to a blank expression, no smile and no frown and really hoping my eyes were obeying my mental commands. I was hoping it was so far fetched an idea that he would be too stunned to doubt.

It's a hard read to try to turn someone's ignorance into an advantage, little one and the larger the game the harder the landing is going to be at the bottom. You have the ability to hide your feelings very well and that can sometimes be a good thing, but Princess Trouble, it does not guarantee a win. I will not school you in the art of deception. What you attempted today was far from using stealth or skill; it was underhanded and very unlike you.

The words Uncle Seth had spoken were what mattered just now; I did not want to think about what had prompted them. And I didn't like being dishonest, but it seemed to me that right now Uncle Seth would be ok with it. Besides, hadn't Mother and I sort of already started this ruse? I was just taking it to a different level.

Relas was quiet for a long time while Evos fought to remove the cover that was once a door over the cave entrance. "You know if you'd help me I could get this done a lot faster, stead a sittin' there lookin' like yer brain took a hike without you."

"Shut up. I'm trying to think." I almost giggled. All I could think was "Yep. 'Try' is about as far as you'll get."

Evos went back to trying to dismantle a structure that had obviously been made to stay closed. I really hoped there wasn't anything in there we were going to have to run from, but even with my hands tied I had no doubt I'd be ok, cuz I could outrun these two easily and that would be good enough, hopefully.

Finally the wood splintered and Evos squealed and Relas just about jumped out of his skin while I stood propped against a boulder trying to figure out how to make this work to the best advantage to keep them from doing anything stupid to me but even more important to me keeping them from getting to Mother. I already had the twine loose enough I could just slip my hands out and the two less than intelligent kidnappers had not taken my weapons they had just tied me. Actually standing here knowing I could get away very easily and had all of my weapons made the entire scene even more humorous.

"Let's go you." Relas barked at me," I don't have time to mess with you, I got stuff to do."

"You want me to go in there?" I asked, and he knew well I did not think it a grand idea at all.

"Move. I have to get you out of sight, now git!" He had reached and grabbed my arm and was pulling me forward. I almost let him pull my hand free because I wasn't expecting him to be quite so forceful.

"I would appreciate it if you would make sure there isn't anything in there that is going to eat me first, I mean I am at a tremendous disadvantage with my hands tied." I was trying to slow him down without just downright balking.

"Ain't nothing been in there in years. The back of it caved in last time the slavers was run off." Evos threw in his less than 2 pence worth.

"If you don't mind, a bit of light would be good please," I am not afraid of the dark, but I don't like getting the wits scared out of me by things that hide in the dark. I knew a few spells none of which was detect life so I had to count on two less than intelligent beings to assure me it was safe enough. Actually I wasn't concerned since I knew my weapons were at hand and my hands were as well; it made me smile just a little behind their flat heads.







Posted by: treydog Jun 11 2012, 02:18 AM

Time to spray the Quot-o-Matic (TM Pat. Pending) with WD40. To begin with the beginning of this latest adventure of Vvardenfell's Smallest Guard Captain-

QUOTE
She had decided that it was time for me to gain a better understanding of diplomacy- in other words, how to hold my tongue and not say the first thing that my brain thought.


Whatever ELSE can be said about life with Athynae- it is not dull!

I want to quote the entirety of the breakfast banter between all 3 of the Sarethi clan- but will restrain myself.

OK- this bit from after, I HAVE to quote:

QUOTE
“I appreciate your dedication to the endeavor of being Tamriel’s greatest warrior, but you can take a break every now and again.”

“I could, but where would the fun be in that? Besides, if we don’t leave now we will miss our ride.”


QUOTE
As we exited Balmora on the road to the fort Mother cleared her throat to get my attention, “You do realize that man you had the stare down with was exiting the local gathering place for the Camonna Tong, right?” She looked at me with both eyebrows raised.


Of course- take her to Balmora and the first thing she does is get into a... staring contest with the Camonna Tong.

QUOTE
“No! I did not. Have you been eavesdropping on private conversations, Mother? I get in big trouble for that. I think maybe you should be grounded when we return home so you can think about what you have done.” And I tried to look all parental.


And that caused me to be happy I had set my tea aside beforehand.

And then to follow with what had to be the dumbest wannabe highwayman in all of Tamriel… just perfect.

Athynae’s quick reflexes are second only to Serene’s quick wits- what a team they make!

QUOTE
“Ok Mother, what was that all about? Why is he going to find you when he is done? There is something going on isn’t there?” I was interrogating my Mother like she was suspected of spying, but if I was going to be in the middle of some mysterious espionage game I deserved to know, didn’t I?


Here and throughout, you expertly capture the tension between Athynae's belief in her abilities and in how things "ought to be" versus her mother's wish that things were... different.

QUOTE
The idea that it had been real was stuck somewhere between my brain and my knees, causing my stomach to feel like a den of kwama had moved in, queen and all.


Just love that world-specific bit of imagery.

QUOTE
So I was going to get my chance to show her, show her that I could take care of myself and of her, too. This was going to be something special, I thought. Watch this….


Oh dear.

QUOTE
Ok, a girl can only keep her mouth shut for so long before it is so full of words they spill out of their own accord, “Let me go and I’ll show you how scared I am.” The words came out with venom unequaled by some of the spiders Rah had been milking.


Brilliant again.

QUOTE
“Obviously you have never heard of Lilliputian elves."

“What in Oblivion is lilly pukin? I ain’t never heard that word before,”


And another beverage spewing moment barely averted.

QUOTE
I knew a few spells none of which was detect life so I had to count on two less than intelligent beings to assure me it was safe enough. Actually I wasn’t concerned since I knew my weapons were at hand and my hands were as well; it made me smile just a little behind their flat heads.


And it just gets better and better.


Posted by: McBadgere Jun 11 2012, 06:04 AM

Well yeah, of course she's gonna go running into trouble the first chance she gets...

I mean, one minute it's "Yes mother, I will stay safe inside this Legion Fort." and the next, she's being tied up in the woods... laugh.gif ...Insane girl/woman!... biggrin.gif ...

Brilliant chapter...Much fun...

Looking forward to the next parts...

Nice one!!...

*Applauds heartily*...

Posted by: haute ecole rider Jun 11 2012, 02:15 PM

That whole interaction between Thyna, Relas and Evos nearly ruined my keyboard! Like treydoggie, I had to put my tea to the side!

Loved the whole bit - more insight into what is already a fascinating character from trey's story.

Posted by: Black Hand Jun 11 2012, 07:57 PM

LMAO these updates have been quite amusing, and as always a good read!

Posted by: Grits Jun 12 2012, 10:32 PM

Oh how fun. They have her tied up and are at her mercy. tongue.gif Quite sensible to be concerned about the cave. After all, it's not the dark that gets you. blink.gif

Posted by: minque Jun 13 2012, 05:00 PM

Just sitting here....shaking my head in wonder...You make Serene just SO magnificent! Just the way I wanted her to become as Arch Mistress! i don't think i can continue writing about her anymore because YOU do it SO much better! And the interactions with Athynae! Brilliant!.

Funny thing i also got caught up with almost the same quotes as treydog! Seems him and I still think in almost the same way!

For now I'm speechless...

Oh and i must apologize for not being around for quite some time..RL you know, not an excuse but maybe an explanation....(and a lousy one as someone would say)

Posted by: mALX Jun 27 2012, 05:58 AM

I have to agree with what McB said, "Of course she's going to go running into trouble the first chance she gets!"

Great Write !!!

Posted by: Athynae Aug 14 2012, 04:25 AM

Please forgive my extended absence, RL has been a bit of a challenge lately and so I have not been as attentive to Athynae or any of her dear friends here on the forum. Please know that although I have not publicly commented I have been reading and enjoying all of the stories I just needed to be...quiet...for a little while.

McB I could blow a bunch of overly kind verbage up your fur but truth is truth and you have through all of this been an incredibly supportive friend and for that I am beyond grateful...Thank you so much....

minque, BH, mALX, Haute, Grits, AND FOXY!!!!!!!!! Wherever you are!!!!! Thank you for reading, I do hope you haven't lost interest in Thyna's antics in my absence.....

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!

*****
Relas and Evos have brought Thyna to an abandoned mine to hold her while they wait for Serene to return even as Thyna continues to attempt to convince them she is a Lilliputian Elf (explains her smaller than normal size) as well as Captain of the Guard for the Arch Mistress of Redoran. Please keep in mind Serene and Athyn Sarethi are her parents and Sethyas Velas has made it his mission to ensure that Athynae- Her Highness the Princess of Trouble is the absolute best at being....whoever or whatever she should decide to be....

Although Relas was frustrated with my behavior, he had Evos make a couple of torches before he forced me in, nice idiot that he was…

I really have to stop thinking like this else I am going to accidentally say something out loud and that will not go well. Great. Now I'm thinking like someone else; when did I care what I said or who I made mad?

Then the thought again crossed my mind that this could all be part of the master plan to make me more, um, diplomatically acceptable. I couldn't imagine Mother just blatantly lying to me about the whole deal but she had been getting more and more disjointed over my less than diplomatic appraisals. Would Father and Uncle Seth do something like this?

I looked up, then. I was so caught up in trying to convince myself that this was all a set up that I hadn't noticed my entrance into the cave nor where I had decided to settle. I was fairly close to the door and both Relas and Evos were toward the back of the cave. Did they want me to make a run for it? Were they trying to see what I would do? Or, the most likely- they really were that dumb and had no idea what in Nirn they were doing. I didn't want to do anything until my strategy was set in my head and I had a solid plan. This was always the most difficult part of any lesson for me, ALWAYS! Patience was not one of my strong suits, and attempting to evaluate every possible scenario before I decided on a course of action always proved distracting. The only reason I was a decent hunter was because I was moving, thinking, strategizing the entire time. Here I was just stuck, pretending my hands were still tied behind my back, knowing that all of my weapons were exactly where they were supposed to be, strapped to my body and I was being guarded by what it was easy to assume were a couple of Bug Stain's cousins.

But what was their deal? Why did they want Mother? Who were they hired to kidnap Mother for? Did it have something to do with the other idiot we had encountered on this trip? Then it hit me. I had read somewhere about natural selection and sometimes genes needed to be eliminated from the gene pool because bad genes were messing up good ones; maybe someone had decided to help out the gods by making sure some of the less fit were exposed to…and that is why I have such a hard time with the whole 'thinking' thing; there are far too many tangents to get diverted by.

"Hey girly, you hungry?" Relas spoke louder than was necessary, and he called me girly…again!

"Relas is it? You have not bothered to ask my name which I wouldn't give you anyway, but calling a female, ESPECIALLY a Lilliputian Elf, 'girly' is a sure way to get yourself into a rather serious situation." I tried to look like my last tutor when he wanted me to think he was upset with my classwork.

"How am I gonna get in a serious situation by anything I say to you since you're all tied up and everything? And I ain't skeered a no girl anyhow, tied up or not. Sides, seems to me if you won't tell me your name then girly is as good as anything." He didn't seem to realize the seriousness of calling me bad names. He could not have been endangering himself much more if he were trying to make me wear something pink. And now that I knew what to expect I could use the block spell that Rah had discovered in an old handwritten mage's volume that he was studying. And once again, I found myself distracted by my thoughts- this time thoughts of my brother.

He was the child that could do EVERYTHING well. No matter what he decided to do, he was better than average at it and, since he was my brother it was definitely a good thing, because the truth of it was if we had been on opposite sides I really don't know which one of us would have been victorious. His academic and scientific endeavors had provided me with many helpful items, spells, formulas, potions, well, lots of things that I would not have had otherwise, like the block for the paralyze spell. I had yet to test it on any other spell but we had spent an exorbitant amount of time testing its effectiveness in every situation, location or verbal extreme we could think of and it had worked every time, which made me very happy.

"You can call me Captain; that should suffice until you can't call me anything anymore." I heard the air as any inference beyond his understanding whooshed over his head.

"Haha, well then, Captain," and he bowed low, "are you hungry?" and he tried to sound royal.

"I am a captain, not a princess; a salute while standing at attention is more appropriate if you must." I never had felt like a princess anyway so…I didn't like it when I was called Her Highness by anyone except Uncle Seth because I was the Princess of Trouble to him and that was perfectly fine to me, far better than being some namby pamby, frilly pink wearing weakling girl whining about her fingernails.

"I don't much care what kind of pretend games you want to play while you're here, Captain but I do expect that when I ask you a question it is only polite to answer."

"Hungry? Was that the question?" He nodded. "What's on the menu?" I asked as flippantly as I could.

"This ain't no restaurant or high falutin' Arch Mistresses dining hall. We got some jerky and a little bit of smoked guar meat that we can make into stew. I think I saw a patch of mushrooms and we might find some tubers or something. So what'll it be?"

"I appreciate the offer but if it's all the same to you I'll just eat what I have in my pack." I tried to retrace our steps and remember where the mushrooms were and what kind they were. If they were the right kind then maybe I would ask for some, but would they know all of the qualities of a particular fungus and what happens if they were mixed with other ingredients? Well, if they were just button tops then I could eat them and no one would be the wiser, but if they were what I thought they were because of the location, then if nothing else I could certainly have some fun with my captors. I might even be able to figure out what they were up to and who put them up to it. "I would like to have some of those mushrooms if you don't mind; they will go nicely with my bread and cheese."

"Evos, fetch the grand Captain here some of them mushrooms. The happier we keep her the less trouble she'll cause." And he shot a look at me that said, "At least that's the hope."

"I have no reason to cause you any trouble. When the time comes for me to do something it won't be any trouble at all." And I smiled the best imitation of a Bree 'smile of innocence' I could manage.

"Good, keep it that way and you might not have to die." He tried to look tough but he didn't have what it took to kill someone; he didn't have that shadow behind his eyes that I had seen my entire life. Father, Mother, Uncle Seth, Uncle Trey, they all had it and I knew why, but I also knew that what they had done was done out of necessity, for survival, the survival of a way of life, of a race- and as far as I was concerned that was all the justification I needed.

"Could you please untie my hands so I can get to my pack, and reach my rations?" I didn't think he would but it was worth asking regardless of the answer. "I already told you I wasn't going to cause you any trouble."

"You promise?" And he squinted at me like he was trying to figure my intentions.

"On the honor of my station as Captain." And I pulled myself up as straight as I could and still maintain the ruse that I was tied tight.

"All right, fine. Me and Evos can handle you tied or not so I don't see the harm in it."

"Good," I said as I shook the ropes free before he could get to me. "That was beginning to wear on me just a little." I moved to a place that the wall was a bit smoother and sat, drawing my pack to me and pulling out the food I had brought. Evos returned and tossed a pouch at me. Relas never even reacted to my shucking of the ropes. I reached in and was happy to discover I was correct; the variety of mushrooms was innocuous the vast majority of the time, but mixed with a bit of 'Bane they produced mild hallucinations accompanied by bouts of extreme happiness- giggle fits if you will. Once again- Thank you Rah.

Now the mental ball was rolling; while I prepared the mushrooms, using their cooking utensils, I planned. First I had to get my own serving that wasn't tainted by the 'Bane without them noticing, but I also had to make them think the 'treat' was so good that they couldn't pass it up. A touch of Cook's special secret seasoning that made everything smell like it had been sent from the gods and taste almost that good was exactly what I needed. Thankfully I had my tiny wooden spice box.

It could not have worked better if they were actors in a play. I munched on bread and cheese as I waited for the inevitable.

"….and she said. Bahahaha. She said 'the midwife slapped ME when you was born!'" and they both guffawed. I had not been paying attention to what had prompted this statement; I didn't know if Relas was talking about his mama and him or someone else, but it wasn't a stretch to think…

"Least you knowed yer mama. Heck, mine dropped me at the gates of Balmora with a note that said, 'I ain't no mama.'

" I felt tears well unbidden even as they laughed harder. Suddenly I didn't want to hear anymore; it was time to get on with it.

"Hey boys, whatcha talking about?" Hahahahaha

"Our mamas, worthless biddies that they was. How bout yers, Capt?" HAHA "Capt? You ain't really a captain are ya? Youze just pullin our legs weren't ya?"

"Nope, honest to goodness, I am a Captain of the Guard for the Arch Mistress of Redoran House." I shrugged my shoulders and giggled.

"She sure did make them Cammona Tong people mad. I'd a thought she was smarter than that, but I guess not."

"How'd she make 'em mad you reckon?" I had decided talking like them might help, I don't know why, but making fun of them made it easier to laugh at the seriousness of what was going on.

"I ain't quite sure; has something to do with the Hlaalu and trade and writs or somethin. And she's protected somehow by some edict or somethin' so they can't just kill her."

I felt like Uncle Seth had drop kicked me into a marble slab. Trying to breath, I asked, "So what are you two sposed to do with her? If you can't kill her I mean, what's left?" I felt queasy just saying it but… onward…

"We's just sposed to kidnap her and hold her til they come tell us what to do. I figure they just want to hold her til they can get her to change the trade laws so the Hlaalu can go back to bein the underhanded scum they are."

"So, she made a good law that sorta keeps em from scamming everybody, even their own, but you are working with them so they can go back to bein underhanded scum?" At this I laughed; the irony was just way too funny.

Evos finally decided to add his thoughts, "Well Capt, a job's a job and we ain't had much luck getting work here lately, so when the councilman came to see us at the pub we was down to our last coin. Seemed like the thing to do, make some money, have some fun with the hoity toity harlot." He laughed at his funny, and Relas laughed too, but I felt like I was going to take off like one of Rah's experimental explosive devices.

You came up with this plan, this was your bright idea, it's too late to turn back now. Either keep gathering the information that they are giving up FREELY or tuck your head between your knees and let whatever happens happen. Are you a warrior or are you something else? Get a grip, Thyna, set up or no, you have to win, you always have to win.




Posted by: McBadgere Aug 14 2012, 05:11 AM

*Does dance of joy!!*...

Oh yeah, oh yeah... biggrin.gif ...

Right, second paragraph of the story and I'm laughing already?...Seriously, I detest real life when it gets in the way of everything...Grrr... dry.gif ...

This was absolutely amazing stuff...

I absolutely loved the way Thyna worked out the plan to get them to spill the beans...

I loved the way she credited all that she did to Rah as well...That's sweet that is...

It's just incredible writing...Amazing stuff!!...

QUOTE
McB I could blow a bunch of overly kind verbage up your fur but truth is truth and you have through all of this been an incredibly supportive friend and for that I am beyond grateful...Thank you so much....


Pshaw... wink.gif ...

*Slaps wrist*...That's for making us wait... tongue.gif ...

Loved it!...

Nice one!!...

*Applauds most heartily*...

Posted by: Black Hand Aug 15 2012, 02:42 AM

I'm never far. I usually lurk in the shadows as its my nature, and I my trusty computer decided to take a massive crash on me, so were standing by for a new one.

As for this 'little' update...the plot thickens!?

Posted by: haute ecole rider Aug 15 2012, 08:53 PM

Oooh, I can't wait to see what happens when Thyna sics that mushroom/'Bane combination on them! Giggle fits, indeed! Wonder if it works like truth serum? Hmmm, the possibilities are making my mind go off on another - um - tangent!

Posted by: Grits Aug 16 2012, 05:14 AM

He tried to look tough but he didn't have what it took to kill someone; he didn't have that shadow behind his eyes that I had seen my entire life.

I like this a lot. Also the paranoid thoughts that this whole thing might be some kind of test. Thyna was not raised to blubber in the corner, she was raised to do exactly what she’s doing to these two idiots. biggrin.gif

Great to read some more Thyna!! smile.gif

Posted by: minque Aug 19 2012, 09:17 PM

Oiiiaaa! Alchemic potions huh? Or simply enhanced cooking..hehehe....most excellent Thyna my dear..MOST excellent. I also see my sweet Rahvin as maybe becoming a great magician..OR chef? Thyna ..now keep your head calm and be focused...YOU CAN DO THIS! You're the daughter of Serene...oh my...ME LIKE!

I WANT MORE!

Oh and FYI MY son has arranged so I WILL BE ABLE TO PLAY MORROWIND again! haven't played for...ehum 7 years..YOU guys just IMAGINE!

Posted by: mALX Aug 28 2012, 05:31 AM

QUOTE

I really have to stop thinking like this else I am going to accidentally say something out loud and that will not go well.


ROFL !! Boy, have I been here before!

QUOTE

Get a grip, Thyna, set up or no, you have to win, you always have to win.


Now we will see that red-headed temper fly! Great Write!

Posted by: Athynae Dec 25 2012, 06:19 PM

Hey there, hope this finds everyone well and having a wonderful holiday with family and friends. Sorry it has been such a long time since I added anything to Her Highness' journal but the usual RL excuse comes into play...health issues as much as anything but hopefully I am back on track....

Onward with the Princess then, last we saw her she had fed her captors hallucinogenic mushrooms to obtain information....and just a side note, remember in her mind she has been a grown up since she was 4...hope you enjoy this next part, where she goes from here only she knows.



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



The sound of tempered steel meeting tempered steel reverberated off the walls of the councilman's study, over and over as I spun out of the other's reach and parried with my own strikes, each met by the other sword. It was taking everything I had to keep the other blade from meeting my flesh, so all else was blocked, no sound in my head but the breathing of my opponent and I and that unfocused focus that expands past your peripheral to the point where you not only see movement but you feel it.

I ducked as the blade went over my head but something was wrong, the sound of the blade was off. Instead of the high whine it was low, more like a swoosh. I rolled onto the floor toward the small table by the door and as I put my foot out to stand I was grabbed from behind, my arms pinned, making the katana useless. Fear scrambled thoughts, running through training sessions that were unconventional, trying to control my breathing… just before I allowed my body to go limp in hopes of gaining my freedom, a voice close to my ear whispered, "Princess be still. Please, you are safe."

Tricks, someone is playing tricks. I went forward with the limp plan as I pretended to faint, a trick I had seen Athlain's sisters use on more than one occasion but had never tried because I was no 'girl'. The feinted faint served no purpose; I wasn't even an inch closer to the floor.

Then I heard Evos crying, talking to Relas, "Please don't die. You're the only one I got. You can't leave me. What will I do?" I tried to turn but my captor wouldn't let me.

I raised my foot and stomped just as the foot I was aiming for slid out of the way, causing me to hurt my heel. "And do not even think about bashing me with your head, Athynae."

"Uncle Seth?" But ? Could it be?

"Yes Princess. Can I let you go now? Are you ok?" I nodded and his arms released me. I scanned the room. The counselor was pinned to the wall with a night black dagger through his chest. My own dagger was sticking in the underside of the bookcase just above his head. Relas was lying on the floor in a pool of blood the size of a small cliff racer and Evos was holding him like a mother would hold an injured child. And then my head started spinning the events into place that had brought us to where we now were.

Uncle Seth stepped toward Evos and I screamed. Screamed? Yes, it was as much a scream as anything else brought on by what could only be described as panic, but I had to stop him. "Uncle Seth NO! He, I mean they, I … please don't hurt him; he didn't hurt me. He's my friend."

"He isn't one of the kidnappers?" Uncle Seth looked dark, deadly.

"Yes, he is, I mean he was, but now he's my friend. They didn't hurt me; they took care of me, well sort of, I mean I kind of took care of them but then we talked and I told them the truth about Mother and they felt bad and decided to help me and so they brought me here to the man that hired them to kidnap her so I could, so I could, I don't know, find out what was going on. How was I to know it was the same stupid councilman that oversaw that farce of a challenge I had with Bugstain? As soon as they moved so he could see me we recognized each other and he must have already had the star in his hand and now I've lost a friend and I am no closer to finding out anything about Mother and if she's safe." The scene was replaying over and over in my head and my heart was beating faster and faster until I looked at Uncle Seth and he had his head cocked to the side, looking at me like I was someone he didn't know, his brow furrowed, assessing.

"What?" then it dawned. "Uncle SETH!!! Mother? Where is she? Is she ok? What happened? Why are you here? How did you know where to find me? WHERE IS MY MOTHER?"

"I don't know Princess. I was sent to find the councilman; I had business to take care of. On my way here I received word that you had run away so of course I felt the need to find you first and in the process of locating you I took care of Trouble and business all at the same time. You have always made it easy for me to appreciate you even when you are doing the wrong thing." He raised an eyebrow and smirked at me.

"How was I doing the wrong thing? Now you wait just a minute! I was abducted! I was just doing what I could to make the best of a bad situation. When Relas and Evos told me they were supposed to be kidnapping Mother instead of me I had to do whatever it took to keep her safe so posing as a Lilliputian Elf who also happened to be Captain of the Guard seemed like a good idea. If that stupid councilman hadn't known me it would have all worked out." I pouted, but I was tired, ok?

Uncle Seth was looking at me with his arms crossed, somewhere between ready to skin my hide and bust a gut laughing. I was not in the same emotional universe; I was still flying from the adrenaline, some unknown fire running through me making my head hurt and my knees weak.

I heard the floor creak and reached for my katana but it wasn't there; a second of panic ended when Seth pointed to where he had slid it just as a man dressed head to toe in black entered the room. "Grandmaster," he said and bowed.

Seth hushed the man with a warning finger. "I must remove the young Mistress from the room; please take care of this mess. The man there," and he pointed at Evos," is not to be harmed. Take him to safe haven until I get the rest of the story."

"Yes Sera." And he bowed again as Seth and I exited the room. When the door clicked shut I felt like I couldn't breathe and my knees gave out under me and I went to the floor.

"Athynae!" Uncle Seth scooped me up like I was 3, before I was a grown up, and cradled me to his chest as he all but ran down the stairs and out the door into the black night. I woke to the crackling of a fire and the smell of something wonderful cooking. My eyes adjusted and it was just Seth and me in what looked like part of an old fort or something. The smell was a piece of meat roasting and it smelled wonderful, I was starving.

I still felt so shaky. It was the strangest feeling, kind of like I was really cold but I wasn't cold. I sat up and looked toward Uncle Seth. He was staring at me; no, he was glaring at me. Why was he so mad at me? I did what I thought was best, I kept myself alive as well as worked my way toward the information I needed to make sure Mother was safe. "Uncle Seth what on Nirn did I do?"

"Do you wish for me to start at the top of the list or the bottom, Princess?" Oh, he was seething. Great, I felt like I had been dropped from a flying cliff racer onto Mother's stone patio and he was mad at me. "For starters why did you neglect to tell me you were injured?"

"Injured? I'm not injured. Why would I tell you something that isn't true?" I think someone had hit him in the head. "I think you are confused." And I reached up to touch my head to emphasize the statement and instead of hair I felt cloth. Oh…but I didn't remember getting hurt. "I don't know Uncle Seth; I don't remember getting hurt. Maybe the man I was fighting when you came in?"

"What? What man?"

"The one I was fighting when you grabbed me and made me drop my katana. Maybe something happened when I was fighting with him." As I spoke I watched the color all but drain from his face. "I was in pure dance mode, I was just following the leader, I don't recall getting struck on the head but I've been touched before in a fight and not remembered how or when because I was so focused on my own moves."

Uncle Seth put his head in his hand briefly and as he raised his head he whispered, "Princess, I did not strike you."

"What? I know you didn't hit me! What are you talking about?"

"Thyna, there was no other man in the room, that was me. I frightened you, came from the shadows and you did as you have been trained to do perfectly, but the injury is not from your sword play with me I assure you."

"Not when I ducked and you swept your blade broad side over my head?" The sound suddenly made sense; he was trying to knock me off balance without hurting me.

"No." And he clenched his jaw until the sides of his neck looked like they were about to explode. "I do not make mistakes with a blade Princess, I did not strike you broad side or otherwise. If I had touched one hair on your head I would have felt it."

A fleeting thought went through my head, a question that I would never know the answer to. Did he mean he would have felt it in his hand or in his heart? "It doesn't matter anyway, Uncle Seth. It is nothing I'm sure. I will remember or not, doesn't matter. What matters now is finding Mother and making sure she is safe."

"She is safe." Man was my head pounding….

"Are you sure?"

"Would I tell you that if she wasn't? I did not say 'I think' she is safe, did I?" He was grinding his teeth; instead of easing his anger somehow I had only made it worse.

"Uncle Seth I'm sorry, whatever I did. Please don't be mad at me."

"I am not mad at you. I am angry that you are injured, I do not know how or why you came to be where you were, but most of all Princess, I was SCARED!" His bellow would have turned the windmill. He had never yelled at me like that, and what's more he said he was scared.

I fought for what was the briefest moment but seemed like eternity before I crawled the short distance to where he sat and climbed into his lap, buried my head in the side of his neck and sobbed "So was I Uncle Seth. Please don't tell, please?" He held me for a moment as tight as I had ever been held.

Uncle Seth laughed then, "Only if you don't Princess, only if you don't." And he rocked me back and forth once or twice before he sat me beside him and said, "Ok, out with it, tell me the rest of the story."

And I proceeded to tell how Relas and Evos had kidnapped me, where they had taken me and how I had convinced them I was a 'little person' by telling them I was a Lilliputian Elf.

"Once again Princess, your ability to think outside the box shows that you will seldom if ever be caught by a conventional trap. Keep going."

"After the effects of the mushrooms wore off I had all the information I needed and could have easily just left them there, but Uncle Seth, they weren't bad people, they had just gotten mixed up with the wrong influences and it was all they had learned to take care of themselves so I made them a deal, if they would help me then I would make sure that they would learn how to do something to earn money to live on that was legal so they could be the one thing they both wanted to be more than anything,- respectable."

Relas, I couldn't believe he was gone. Once all the cards were on the table I was surprised to find out he was very good at math and also a better than fair artist. "Ain't it funny Captain, how life does a body? I mean I figured I'd just be a low life con for all of my days cuz I didn't know how to be different and then you come along pretendin to be some lily pond elf so we won't think you're just a little kid and even though you are just a little kid," a comment that got him whacked with a stick I had picked up. "Ouch," he said and just kept going like it was nothing, "But you are doin very grown up things and I sure wish that I had what you had. Yer Mother must be somethin special for you to be willin to do all this for her."

I still couldn't imagine what it was like for him and Evos growing up. I heard a few of the stories and I could tell by the pain in their eyes when they told them that the stories were true. but they were so extreme that I didn't want to believe them. Evos had little lines on his lips and I asked him why he had gotten a tattoo like that. The answer was beyond horrible. When he was a little kid the magistrate made him stay with this old crone because he kept getting in trouble at the orphanage. He was singing and she told him to hush but he didn't so she sewed his lips together. "And that's why he don't talk much," Relas felt the need to add.

"For a warrior Princess your heart is far too big. If you aren't careful it could get you in trouble." Although his words were right there his eyes were so very far away and somewhere deep inside me I felt like I understood what he meant but I'm not sure.

"But Uncle Seth, I have grown up with everything, and I don't want to take it for granted. I want to be able to give what I can when I can. I still have to be happy with me and being a warrior is what makes me happy. I hate this part of it though, the reality. I've always known that everything isn't always shiny katanas and tight bow strings, but seeing for myself sure changes things inside."

He just nodded and I curled up with that thought.

I woke with every muscle tensed, fists clenched, head pounding and I knew how I had gotten injured. Relas had taken the star that was meant for me. The cut on my head was from his bracer as he reached to push my head down while he was stepping in front of me. I spun behind him and came up throwing my dagger, but before it was half way, there the councilman was slammed into the wall by the force of Uncle Seth's blade and pinned with his toes barely touching the floor as my throw went high. Had it not been for Seth, my blade would have found its way into the councilman somewhere between his chin and his chest. In my dream I saw it all, playing out in slow motion.

I saw the other blade and drew my katana. I had never fought like that; I had never felt like that, and I was totally blind. All that mattered was to continue breathing, countering every strike because as long as his blade met mine and I heard metal on metal, it wasn't touching me. It was like fighting a shadow; all that registered was the glint of the steel as it moved and the vague outline of the body swinging it. How did I not see the person; how did I not know it was Uncle Seth? What if that had been someone else? Someone whose skills did not equal mine? A child who was merely defending a loved one, Rah or Bree or The Sisters?

The tears that I hate so much ran in rivulets. What good was being able to fight like that if I couldn't see who I was fighting? What if I hurt the wrong person? What if I killed the wrong person? Could I fix this? Was it training or did it mean I was not meant to be a warrior?

I glanced to where Uncle Seth had been sleeping and instead of his sleeping form buried in his blankets, he was sitting with arms crossed, staring at me. We sat there for a moment just absorbed in something not communicated with words, and then he spoke, "This is where you begin the final stages of your training, Princess. This is where you learn to hold your emotions. There is no place for feelings in a warrior's heart. You must be two people if this is the path you choose to follow. But the truth is Princess, feeling is the hardest part of life; it hurts more than death."

Stop feeling? Is that what Uncle Seth had done? But I knew, had always known, that he would take care of me. But did that mean he 'cared,' or that it was just an obligation that he had somehow assigned himself? The look in his eyes right now said something very different than what his words had conveyed. He just didn't understand what I was thinking; he had never attempted to kill someone he loved like I had just done without even knowing who it was. Or had he?


Posted by: Black Hand Dec 26 2012, 03:57 AM

Whoa.

Still waters run deep, and your break has produced some mighty deep writing here.

SGM!

Posted by: minque Dec 26 2012, 01:38 PM

OMG! YOU did it again...I'm thrilled..mighty thrilled....That lil' girl surely shows some deep understanding of things....

Purely amazing!

Posted by: treydog Dec 27 2012, 02:14 AM

What I like about this post- besides... A- Everything and B- that it is HERE.....

You manage to wonderfully convey Athynae's confusion during the fight with the stranger, while at the same time allowing the reader to keep up.

At last, she has seen the difference between a formal tournament contest- with rules and limits and referees- and a true fight- where the only rule is to survive.

Her doubts about her chosen path are humanizing and perhaps essential to her sanity.

Then there are all of the undercurrents that come with Sethyas. His own dark choices, his unspoken reasons for "visiting" the Hlaalu councilor, his uncompromising honesty with his Princess.

This is one to savor. My deepest gratitude to you for sharing.

Posted by: McBadgere Dec 27 2012, 05:59 AM

I'll be honest, if I tried to speak right now, I'd have a hard time...

Bloody hell this is amazing stuff...

Stunning...

There's the couple of laughs that we come to expect...

But then...Oh, oh my...

A truly incredlible return...

Please, more...

Nice one...

*Applauds and bows reverently*...

Posted by: Grits Dec 27 2012, 02:07 PM

What a beautiful update, Athynae. Powerful and delicate at the same time. I loved every word!

Posted by: mALX Jan 16 2013, 01:40 AM

Uncle Seth sitting in the chair with his arms folded - that scene had me rolling! Awesome Write!

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