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

[minque]

For the sake of Azura! Another one I´ve apparently neglected to comment for quite some time! Please bear with me! I´m reading and I like what I read.....but that´s often it...

But please keep it coming !!!

[gamer10]

It was in the early hours of the morning the following day that I realized that Edward and I were not welcome among the ships crew. Indeed, as I strolled onto the deck, Edward still asleep in his hammock, they were gathered in a group, chattering vehemently among themselves.

I waved to one, but in return I got nothing more than a hurried glimpse as they dispersed. Immediately, I recognized something was the matter, but then again, when was everything just fine?

I leaned over the railing as we sailed, and I watched several men fishing, so I guess we wouldn’t be that bad off after all, but would fish really hold us until our next stop?

Not but a short time later, by my estimates less than half of an hour, Edward came upon me looking out over the waters, as he yawned and stretched. “Mornin’,” he muttered, his arms falling to his sides.

“Good morning,” I returned, wondering whether or not to cede my suspicions of the situation of apparent hostility concerning the crew to his rather “sensitive” ears. I certainly did not want to frighten him, for I knew his reaction would be first one of fear, and perhaps would not change from that.

“It’s nice outside today, clear skies, shining sun, fish for food,” I added the last bit disdainfully, letting my head droop so that my forehead touched the wooden railing.

He laughed cheerfully, “Hey, it’s better than nothin’.” He slapped his hand down hard on the railing beside my head, and I jerked it (in this case the it being my head, though something of his could of used a slight bit of a jerking as well) upward, slightly surprised at his lighthearted disposition.

“If there’s something to be so cheerful about, please share whatever it is with me,” I said cynically, my hands gripping the railing as I heaved a sigh.

“We’re both alive; I take it that should be good enough.”

I looked at him apprehensively, my fingers tapping a rhythm, “We may not be for long, not with what we’ve been through already, I’ll be damned if it doesn’t get any worse.”

“Well be damned then, I’ll be happy.” He said, sounding slightly hurt by my pessimistic abruptness.

“Edward, with you its awkward depression one day and exaggerated happiness the next,” I stated in that all too familiar matter of fact tone.

“Luna, with you its superfluous worry one day, and even more the next, you really need to view things in at least some light.”

I looked at him uneasily, but then grinned, “Big word Edward, I don’t suppose you actually know the meaning of superfluous.”

He cocked an eyebrow, “Well, aren’t we haughty?”

“Yes, I suppose I am, and what of it.”

To this, he had no retort, but he gave me a sly look before sauntering off. “That’s right, run away,” I yelled teasingly after him. He turned his head in mid step, and stumbled over himself, crashing into a barrel before rebounding backward onto the deck, sprawled out on his back. Gasping slightly, I hurried over, kneeling beside him. His eyes were closed and I took it he must’ve hit his head hard.

“Oh it can’t be that bad,” I mumbled, reaching out to shake him.

Suddenly his hand gripped my wrist and I was pulled atop him, in a flurry of arms and legs and changing positions for several moments, I ended up on top.

“Edward!” I shrieked disapprovingly, “How dare you?”

He just grinned, and I moved away from him, using the culprit barrel as my support, moments later he too was standing. “I seriously cannot believe you did that.” I said as I tried to catch my breath.

His grin disappeared, “I’m sorry Luna, but seriously, you need to smile more often.”

I shook my head in disbelief, “As if you’re any better, mister emotionally unstable.” I finished and stomped off, the thought of an aggressive crew now the last thing on my mind.

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Well, hopefully this story has been satisfying up to this point, I decided to sit down and write a little more, and hopefully I can update tomorrow as well. I can never know what life has to throw at me. May your Oblivion playing be wonderful, as mine sure as heck is going to be.

-Gamer10

[treydog]

Great to see an update. The writing is sure and concise- interesting characters that keep us guessing. I look forward to more.

[minque]

Very nice update!.....I agree with Master treydog about your writing style..and even if I don´t reply always.....I do read!! And enjoy it..

[gamer10]

This is perhaps the biggest update ever, since the first post, and it was written in a time span of forty minutes or so without any previous planning as I’d done up till then. I know where I’m going with this story, and it should only continue to develop and grow from here on out. Enjoy, and beware the many typos that probably still exist, as I haven’t taken the time to edit it.

-Gamer10

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It was getting worse, I could tell. It may not yet have been apparent to Edward, or, if Windswept was capable of realizing such things, him as well. The crew seemed to me to have taken on an intimidating air. It didn’t do to calm my nerves, nor the captain, who noticed something, thought not quite sure what, was out of place, and approached me about it as I was preparing to approach her.

The usually bright and relaxed face of Captain Ponius was filled with obvious worry as she advanced toward where I was laying in my hammock, staring impassively up at the damp wooden ceiling, and listening to the sound of Windswept breathing.

“Where’s Edward?” She asked suddenly, a hint of concern flowing out with her words as she stood above me.

I didn’t answer, because I hadn’t heard her, but she repeated herself, this time in a firm, demanding manner, which immediately secured my attention. She’d spoken as never before, her voice a mixture of anxiety, ferocity, and a surprising uncertainty.

“Luna, damn it, pay attention. Where the hell is Edward?”

I raised my head, supporting myself with my elbow as I sat up. “I don’t know, on deck I suppose, fooling around,” I told her, then shrugged.

She yanked me up by my shoulders, and I winced and pushed her off. To my surprise she grabbed hold of me tighter.

“Luna you have to find Edward now, there’s trouble, I know it. Bring Edward and yourself to my cabin, and make haste.” She hurried off, her hand drifting regularly past the hilt of her sword, which was tucked in its sheath.

I stood up and hurried to the deck, where I saw Edward leaning against a mast and talking to one of the shipmen. I quickly made my way over to him, and he stopped talking and glanced hesitantly at me, and I met his gaze and realized for a moment there that he did realize there was something happening.

“Luna,” he told me once we were alone by the mast as the other man chuckled and sauntered off, “Something terrible is happening, I heard them.”

I shot him an apprehensive glare, “Whatever, hurry up we need to get to the Captain’s cabin, then you can tell me whatever you feel like.”

He flinched at my stare, but followed after me as I made my way to the Captain’s cabin.

We entered and I let Edward enter first, shutting the door behind me and turning the lock. Captain Ponius was seated at a table and she beckoned for us to come. I took the remaining seat, and Edward sat on the ground, which was probably more comfortable anyway.

“Now I’m gonna cut to the point real quick here, I fear that we might not have much time.” I nodded, and Edward just went about looking even more frightened.

“Some of you might have noticed it, but then again you might not have, but the crew has been acting rather rowdy lately, even to the point of disobeying direct commands from myself.” She paused and lifted a goblet to her lips, then continued. “I was listening at the door of my cabin last night, and I overheard the crew, judging by what I heard that night I take it their planning to mutiny.”

I shook my head, and mouthed “no.”

“I’m afraid so Luna, there’s no possible way they were discussing anything else, I mean what else-“ she stopped, and I stopped listening. Turning our heads, we looked directly at Edward, his head was buried in his hands and he was sobbing, near silently.

“Edward,” I asked calmly, suspecting it to be a fit of fear, “What’s the matter?”

He said nothing for a long while, and as I sat there I began to get nervous, then all of a sudden he spoke up, but it was quiet and he sounded sick through his sobbing.

“I’m –sorr-rry,” he muttered, looking up at me with teary eyes and then burying his face in his hands again.

“Edward?” I asked, “Sorry for what?”

“I’m sorry.” He repeated, and he stopped crying, but his head was still protected by his hands.

“Edward, what was it you were going to tell me on deck, what were you going to say?”

He didn’t answer and I quickly grew impatient, the situation did not require this complication. I knelt in front of him, leaving my chair, and pulled his hands away from his face. “Edward, look at me and tell what this is about.”

He used his hands to push himself away from me, as if he was fleeing from danger, “I knew, Luna, I knew.”

The first question that came to mind was, “For how long?”

“Ever since – before – before you kissed me, I knew,” and he broke down sobbing again.

I was up in a moment, and I approached him rapidly, my mind racing with spite. “You knew,” I spat angrily, “You knew and you couldn’t tell me. I’d of thought that you loved me, I thought I mattered to you Edward, the same way you mattered to me.”

“You do matter to me Luna, please don’t-“ he cowered as I kicked out at him.
“Shut up!” I yelled, “Just shut up. You know what’s going to happen to us now; we’re probably going to be killed. We’re going to die because of you, because you didn’t tell us, we couldn’t escape. I hate you!”

I was on him in a fury, my hand in a fist as I pounded his face and all the rest of him I could find. All I heard was the revolting sobs of a traitor who deserved no more than death. I barely realized that I wasn’t hitting anything moments later, that I’d been pulled away by someone much stronger than myself, that I’d been thrown to the ground away from Edward. I only came to my senses when the tip of a blade was at my throat, at first I though Edward had managed to throw me off him and draw his sword, but I knew that this wasn’t his sword. It belonged to the Captain.

“Enough you stupid girl! This is not the time for such irrational behavior as you have displayed. He has admitted to his guilt, and needs sympathy, not pain. There is more than what he’s told us, I’m sure.” She sheathed her sword and offered her hand, “Indeed, Edward is not a traitor, but more of an honest, yet fearful young man caught between dire circumstances, and unsure of which path to take.”

I was breathing heavily, and I took her hand as I struggled to regain my breath. As I stood I realized my hands were wet, and I glanced down at them. At this point I nearly bent over sick, they were smeared with blood, and I glanced over at Edward, who was staring up at me in such a manner of shock that I immediately pitied him.

I started to speak “Edward-“, knowing that what I’d done was far beyond my power to repair. He’d have to forgive me of his own free will, and I mustn’t beg for forgiveness. So I said no more but felt uncomfortable as he sat there wiping his various cuts with the back of his hand and looking at the blood that’d smeared there.

“Luna,” the Captain said firmly, and my attention shifted to her. “We have a lot to do, or we will certainly face death, come now sit and let us speak. Edward will be okay, he’s not as bad as he looks, and seeing as how the ships doctor is probably involved in the mutiny, we must not call for him.”

I retook my seat, and the plotting began.

This post has been edited by gamer10: Mar 29 2006, 10:08 PM

[Kiln]

Very nice addition here Gamer, lots of content here and hearing of the plans for the crew to mutiny was surprising to say the least, I hope they can find some way around it. I'm dying to find out what happens next, hope you find the time to update again soon.

[minque]

Excellent update gamer! it´s thrilling and I enjoy reading it very much!

[gamer10]

WARNING: This section of the story contains several relatively gruesome scenes, and probably would be considered unsuitable for the most sensitive of minds. Take heed in reading this next portion.

-Gamer10

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A knock on the cabin door quite a while later broke the seamless discussion by which the captain and I were hastily making decisions in order to save our lives, and perhaps Edward’s as well.

Edward, though in bad shape after the substantially brutal beating, was up in a moment, but I pushed him away from the door, ignoring the fervent anger that lit up in his eyes.

Captain Ponius was up beside me, and out of the corner of my eye I saw her give Edward a sympathetic glance, “Luna, really, must you be so heartless?” she whispered as I peered through a small hole in the door to see who was knocking.

“After what he did, yes.”

She sighed, and I heard Edward amble off, muttering fervidly to himself, catching the words “teach her a lesson,” but nothing else.

“It looks to be the first mate,” I whispered in an anxious manner to the Captain, “He doesn’t look – very friendly to say the least.”

She took me securely by the shoulder and pulled me several feet away from the door. “Stand back Luna,” she whispered breathlessly, “And draw your sword, we must face them now, be it for the better, or the worse.”

She swung the door open, and there stood the first mate, his eyes wide when he spotted our drawn swords. His hand unsheathed his in a moment, “So, I guess its time to part, my loyalty no longer belongs to you, Ponius.”

He threw himself at her, wildly bringing his sword down upon her head, and I noted his unfair height advantage. Just as fiercely, and what seemed unbelievably swift, Captain Ponius brought her sword to parry his, as her feet danced her away from him.

“I guess you’ll die here,” she spat, “It’s a pity really, the wood will be stained red.”

He lunged at her again, thrusting at her midsection with his iron blade. She dodged around him as he threw his weight forward in what he thought a deadly strike, but she was already taking advantage of his awkward position.

“Damn you woman, hold still.”

Captain Ponius grinned malevolently, her body moving provokingly around the first mate as she sprung forward using her feet as a base for her leap, and drove her sword through the mans abdomen as he turned to face her.

“Good god!” I gasped as she twisted her blade, her face bright red with excitement. “Captain, stop!”

She turned and glanced at me, “Shut up Luna, I’m giving him what he deserves.”
I closed my mouth but watched as the man grunted in pain as Ponius continued to manipulate her blade. Finally I could bear it no longer, and I pulled on her arm. “Stop it, now!”

She complied with my demand, removing her blade from the first mate, entrails lingering on it, and then smugly wiping it on his back after he crumpled face forward onto the floor. “He thought he would come in here, in my cabin, aboard my ship, and take me prisoner.” She scoffed, “Well, he certainly didn’t get what he came for.”

I ignored her, bending over as I fought to control the contents of my breakfast. It didn’t suit me well that all I’d eaten was fish.

She gave me an enthusiastic pat on the back, “Get used to it Luna, or you won’t survive. There’s plenty more of that scum waiting for us, ready your sword.” She glanced at Edward, who was staring wide eyed at the lifeless body of the first mate.

“You too, boy, stand up.”

And he stood up.

[treydog]

Your story is moving forward nicely- again we have the complex relationship between Luna and Edward framed by the more immediate issue of the mutiny. Very nicely done.

[gamer10]

And he stood up.

His eyes were alight with enthused zeal, in spite of his minor injuries sustained during the “scuffle” I’d just had with him. Timidly, he glanced at me, and I suddenly shivered in anticipation of the coming battle, both out of fear and exhilaration.

A moment later he’d drawn his sword, and was gazing towards the open cabin door, from which the lower portion of the ships deck could be seen. There were people below; I could see the backs of their heads.

It was then that I noticed something, Windswept was beside Edward.

How did you get there?

The sound of the crowd of crewmen gathered outside began to resonate around the whole ship. They were laughing and jostling each other in a vigorous yet friendly manner, but they knew good and well what they were about to do.

Edward stepped forward, anxiously, rapidly taking in breath.

“Wait,” she told him, “Wait just a moment.”

“We’ll fight our way through the crowd, because on the opposite end of the ship there is a small rowboat, I know it sounds silly, but I’ve done things like this before and survived.”

“Wait a minute,” I said in disbelief, “We’re fleeing?”

“What else do you want us to do; they’ll kill us if they catch us.”

There was silence for a moment.

“Luna,” a voice spoke softly to me, “The gods are with us.”

“Let’s hope so, Edward.”

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Relatively short, yes, but – well you know – Oblivion – and all – and school – and all that other stuff.

Stuff.

P.S. This ends the second chapter.

-Gamer10

[Kiln]

Great end to the second chapter mate, really want to see how the next part turns out so do us all a favor and keep up the good work.

[treydog]

And the tension and excitement build... Excellent ending, even if it is a bit of a cliff-hanger.

[Fethenwen]

Wow, wow, wow, five trouple wow! (not sure if that's a word). This is some good stuff you write here!
Hope you update soon!

[gamer10]

By the time it was all over, I was in complete misery, to put it lightly. Bodies lay strewn from our blades, not that we were all left in tiptop shape. Edward held a hand on his wound, his left arm sliced open. Luckily the blade did not cause the damage it could have, and his arm was still intact.

We were in the rowboat, and what a silly predicament it was. Captain Ponius literally rowed us away from the ship as I tended Edward’s wound, which was an extremely nasty task.

“Ah,” Edward flinched, biting his lip, “Careful.”

I pulled his right hand from his wound, “Move your hand so I can see it.”

“Since when have you been a healer?”

I scowled, raising my blade menacingly, “Move it now, or the other arm gets it as well.”

He complied, and I looked at the wound. The bleeding was not serious, but it would need to be bandaged for the time being, since Edward, Captain Ponius and I were poor healers.

I looked around for some cloth, but found none.

Of course not.

“Take off your shirt,” I told him.

He looked at me, blankly for a moment, “What?”

“Give me your shirt, hurry up.”

“I can’t, my arm-“

“Oh, for goodness sake.” I tore his shirt from him in such a forceful manner that he slumped over forward, scrambling to sit up. I then tore it into sizeable shreds and pulled his arm towards me.

After the bandage was fixed on his arm, I leaned back and took a look around.

Lots of water.

Sighing, I glanced at Captain Ponius, who was no longer rowing as the current forced us to drift along. Her gaze was forlorn, and I knew at once that this particular dilemma had no viable solution. At least for the moment.

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Short, again.

Well . . .oh well.

-gamer10

[Kiln]

Short but just as well Gamer, I do wish I knew what would happen next mate so please continue soon.

[minque]

Well written gamer! I like it...continue please!

[Fethenwen]

No matter if it's short, it's still something, and very good something it is

[treydog]

Another good addition- and another problem for our adventurers. What a joy to read this story.

[mplantinga]

Why does it seem that with every new installment, their predicament becomes more dire? They really deserve to have at least one thing go their way; maybe they find some better luck soon?

Keep up the great work. I continue to look forward to watching the ever-more complex interactions between Luna and Edward.

[gamer10]

The boat floated on for hours . . which, very unfortunately, stretched into days.

No food, no clean water – yes, the situation was bad.

Edward’s wound hadn’t healed properly, and had gotten infected. I felt terrible, sick I mean. My stomach lurched at every wave that tossed us. Edward had already been sick over the side of the boat and it was only a matter of time now- something dreadful was going to happen, I could feel it.

I hoped to the gods I was wrong.

It rained the fourth night in, and by morning I was drenched and I felt cruddy, and hungry, and even more terrible than I had before.

By the sixth night we’d given up hope, death was but a step away when the miracle happened.

It was strange really, but during this whole time Windswept hadn’t shown any signs of discontent or hunger, and I found myself watching the animal for quite some time.

The seventh day brought good luck, we sighted coast.

We carried Edward off the boat, he groaned, muttering something incomprehensible as I laid him down on the shore as gently as I could manage (he wasn’t exactly light). He was burning up, a fever he had, but I had no medicine and my attempts to heal him were useless.

There is some good news.

We found shelter for the evening. It turns out we landed ourselves at Valenwood, the home of the Wood Elves. Nice folk really, a bit annoying at times though.

There was a deserted cottage on the shore (yes, very convenient wasn’t it.)

Hopefully that night would be a peaceful one.