Memoirs of a Madwoman, a novel... by Rebecca Watters Options

[Acadian]

Such delicately painted but steady growth Syl continues to portray. In this episode she strikes me for the first time as a fully grown young woman. She is still young and I have no doubt she will continue to grow a great deal, but she knows her own mind and makes choices that have some thought behind them.

The scene where she was accosted and held at knife point was especially well done in terms of providing a foreboding atmosphere of darkness, right down to the fog that blanketed Crucible. What a rich backdrop you provide!

Nit? What I'm going to offer is very subjective, so please simply consider it and feel free to disregard it if you choose. You have a tendency to perhaps over embellish your speech tags or render them redundant. Trust your readers to grasp your intent with a lighter touch. Some examples:

“Don’t lie to me!” I spat, glaring at him with fury.
The words themselves, the '!', spat, glare, fury - one or perhaps two of those things is enough to make the point.

“But, Syl, I…love you!” he cried, pouring his heart out to me.
His words and the '!' and cried all make it clear he is pouring his heart out.

“Get up! Stop making a fool of yourself, Galvon!” I said sternly.
The words and the '!' leave no doubt that Syl's tone was stern.

“P-Please,” I begged, in a trembling voice, “let me go….”
The P-Please makes it clear her voice is trembling.

“My f-father is the Duke,” I stammered fearfully.
The f-father makes it clear she is stammering.

My recommendation is to, whenever possible, tend to favor letting the dialogue itself convey the emotion. Do not avoid simple speech tags like 'I said' that do the job of telling us who is speaking in a most unobtrusive and almost invisible manner.

[mALX]

Powerful scenes in this one, Syl continues to push everyone away from her. I hope she got her dagger back !!! Great Chapter !!!!

[Lady Syl]

SubRosa:Oh, terribly embarrassing! I would have hated being in Syl's shoes at that moment! Galvon is definitely not the guy for Syl--he's too much of a...well, a weakling. She wants a man who worships her--but within reason. She is definitely a strong woman. I like to call Syl my "towanda." (If you've seen the movie Fried Green Tomatoes, you'll know what I mean.)

And also, thank you again for pointing out my error with the corset/bodice thing. I've always loved both, but had yet to quite understand the differences between them. But now that you've clarified that for me, I shan't make the same mistake again!

(Also--I had a corset of a cheaper sort that I was also able to tighten and tie on my own, with practice, so I definitely understand what you said about that. I want a real one, but it's something I need to save up for... I love costumes of that sort! )

Acadian:She is definitely ahead of her time, in a way, as a strong woman who is determined to break free of traditional roles and constraints. I've always seen the Shivering Isles as an interesting mixture of my favorite historic eras--Medieval, Elizabethan, and Victorian. It has elements that can be taken from all of them, so I thought it would be fitting for the Demented to have more of a Victorian Era mindset, in which Syl feels stifled and constrained.

I'm glad you liked my creepy atmosphere for the scene of Syl's attack. What you said is exactly what I was aiming for.

mALX:oops! I guess I forgot to mention the dagger after Galvon rescued her! I should go figure out how to sort of fit that in somewhere! lol

I'm glad you picked up on that--she is like me in that way. She wants to be noticed, but at the same time, she wants to be invisible. It's quite the dilemma, lol! Sadly, she will eventually push pretty much everyone away, perhaps going overboard in her desire to be free and independent. It takes a lot of work to get a characteristic like this balanced!



Chapter 5.3—Obsession

When I returned home the night of my attack, Muurine was waiting for me, as always, and she just about did a flip when she saw the laces of my bodice hanging loose, and the tiny cut on my neck where the dagger had dug in. She could see that I had been crying, and she was alarmed at my disheveled appearance.

“Madgod, Syl, what happened? Who did this to you? Please don’t tell me you were--.”

“Nothing happened,” I cut in. “I’m fine. Galvon took care of it for me.”

“You were attacked then?”

“Like I said, Galvon stopped it before anything happened. I’m fine.”

She sat on the side of the bed and watched me as I bent down to view my reflection in the looking glass, using a wet cloth from my washbasin to clean my face and neck. Then I healed myself, having noticed the cut, and began readying myself for bed. I didn’t talk, and I didn’t even look at Muurine, but she continued to watch me closely, still concerned about what had happened.

“Syl, won’t you tell me anything?” she asked finally, after waiting for a time for me to speak.

I let out a sigh as I stripped off my dress and threw it on the floor by the shoes I had just finished taking off. Then I answered, “There’s no need, Muurine. Nothing happened to me, so what’s the point in talking about it? Just so you can make it into the morning’s gossip?”

“No,” she replied, offended that I would even suggest that, although it was likely true. “I’m simply concerned for your well-being. You’re like a daughter to me, Syl, and…if somebody hurt you, I would want to know. I’d make them my next test subjects for the spells I’ve been working on, actually….”

“Well, I wasn’t hurt. Galvon happened upon the scene, and the men who tried to attack me are now lying dead in the street. Does that satisfy your need to know everything?”

She crossed her arms over her chest and rolled her eyes a little, as if hurt by my attitude. Then she stood up and began getting into her bed, saying, “Fine. I can see that I’m not wanted here.”

“Oh, Madgod,” I cursed under my breath, annoyed by how easily hurt she was, though I’m certain it was all a pretense.

I pulled on my nightgown and walked over to her bed, bending down to give her a kiss on the cheek. She opened her dark brown eyes a little and almost smiled up at me, then said, “You know, I really do think of you like a daughter to me, Syl. You’re the closest thing to a daughter I have ever had, and I’ve raised you since you were a year old….”

“I know, Muurine,” I said, smiling faintly and sitting on the side of her bed. “And I’m sorry you got stuck with me, and that I’ve been such a handful.”

“Oh, not at all, dear,” she said, getting comfortable in her bed and stretching a bit. “You’ve been a real treat. Difficult at times, yes—but always a wonder, and a blessing as well…. You’ll understand it one day, when you’re a mother.”

“Do you think I will be, one day?” I asked, thinking about it for the first time in my life.

“Of course, dear.”

I smiled a little, thinking about it. “You know, I think I’d like that. Being a mother, I mean. I’ve never really thought about it before.”

“Your time will come I’m sure, dear. Just be careful about what sort of men you are letting into your life, though. You wouldn’t want your child to be sired by a brute or by someone who’ll abandon you one day.” She paused to yawn, and then added, “But you don’t need to worry too much about it at this point, since you will likely not even be fertile for a couple more years.”

“Perhaps not,” I replied, thinking quietly. I yawned then, and got up off the bed, going to my own across the chamber. Muurine was practically already asleep, and she didn’t hear me say goodnight. So, I climbed into bed and let out a sigh, thinking about the terrifying events that had happened that night. Then I closed my eyes and whispered a prayer before blowing out the candle on my nightstand and drifting off to sleep.

******

Around the time of my seventeenth birthday, my father suddenly began taking an interest in my life again. The reason?--My studies were being neglected, because I was having too many distractions. The verdict—“No more sneaking out and going to parties and what have you….”

I was stunned, and my father almost smiled when he saw the look on my face. But he managed to keep a straight face, and said, “You didn’t actually think I was oblivious to your mischief, Syl, now did you? While I am not pleased with your behavior, I am willing to give pardon if you surrender yourself to staying home from parties from now until I say otherwise, so you can continue educating yourself with useful knowledge and skills. Shall we make it a deal?”

I let out a sigh and nodded my head, unable to look at him, saying only, “Yes, Ada.”

“Very good then,” he replied, clearing his throat a bit uncomfortably. “Well, you may carry on, then. You have much studying to do, if you’re ever to catch up with all that you’ve been neglecting in the past months, so I would suggest you not dawdle.” As I started to leave, he added, “Oh and wash that paint off your face. I won’t have my daughter running around here looking like a harlot.”

Of course, he was referring to the eye shadow, liner, and lip paint that Cutter got me wearing. I let out a sigh and nodded, then walked to my quarters, having no choice but to obey.

And so I was being confined to the palace again, a prisoner in my own House…. It’s kind of ironic, when I think back on it now. Back then, I couldn’t stand being confined to the palace like a caged bird. But now, I’ve become a sort of prisoner in the palace by my own doing, and it is where I am content to stay, as I feel safe nowhere else.

It’s strange how we change through the years, becoming that which we most feared and despised while growing up. Perhaps it isn’t that way for everyone, but for me it has been a huge transformation. I went from a carefree youth, fearing nothing and no one, to a woman who now fears everything around her. But I’ve always been good at masking my fears and my vulnerability under the guise of confidence and courage. The truth is, I’ve always been afraid, ever since I was a child. It’s just gotten worse over the years, to the point that I feel terrified even to leave the security of my own quarters.

Our lives never cease changing, even when they remain the same. Thadon told me that once, not so long ago, but I laughed at him when he said it. Now I see that he was right, and it’s true. We never fully see the truth that lies before our eyes, until it has already left us. Then we wonder how we can ever get it back…. Can I forgive him for what he did? Can he forgive me? Perhaps somehow we can find a way to change things with each other, to make them right. But would we be allowed to, if we tried? I want to make things right between us, but Sheogorath would likely never allow it. How it went on for as long as it did, I cannot understand, but we cannot go on testing His patience forever.

But my heart cannot resist from telling him the truth about it all. He needs to know the truth, even if it kills the both of us. Madgod, why is it so hard to turn away from him forever? Why can’t I shut him out and tear him from my heart, as I know I ought? I am too weak. Again, I have faltered where I should have been strong. I will be punished for my weakness. Madgod forgive me, but I love him so….

This post has been edited by Lady Syl: May 5 2011, 08:51 PM

[SubRosa]

Syl's homecoming to Muurine shows just how much the two have drifted apart. Where once Muurine was the central figure in her life, now she is merely one more moon in orbit of our, older, wilder wood elf.

I was not surprised to learn that her father knew what was going on (well probably not the being attacked part, and the wild sex) But no more goth makeup!

I loved Syl's musing near the end, about how life changes you between your youth and maturity. It is amazing how your feelings, views, and priorities change. In the case of Syl it is her paranoia. But to a less graphic extent, it happens to all of us. This is a good touch, as it helps us feel empathy for the older Syl.

[Acadian]

Syl's interactions with Muurine spoke to truth and were very natural.

Her musings near the end made perfect sense and were quite poignant, shedding more light on her transformation. It seems she still burns a torch for Thadon.

This is wonderful to read!

[mALX]

I don't think I could say it better than SubRosa did. She pulled out everything in this chapter that I planned to comment on - and said it better than I could have, lol.

In the poigniency of that last scene is the confession that may be her reason for shoving everyone away - her feelings for Thadon. I wondered when that would begin again, and hope the story won't skip to it already in full swing. I would love to hear the details on their re-connection.

AWESOME WRITE !!! WOO HOO !!!

[Lady Syl]

SubRosa: What a disappointment, right? No more parties, no more sex, no more goth makeup! Ada is laying down the law once again, but will Syl submit? She can only take so much confinement before she needs to break free--a bird cannot do well trapped inside a tiny gilded cage. You hit it right when you pointed out the changes in Syl's relationship with Muurine, also. Eloquently spoken!

Acadian: Though I don't want to do it too often, I do like having her swing back to the present sometimes as she writes. Hinting at what is to come while offering a little more depth into her current thoughts and feelings about her past is essential to her character, I think.

And that torch she burns for Thadon is surely what gets them both into trouble at the end. Sheogorath will not tolerate it forever, though he does so enjoy toying with them and watching them squirm. In many ways, I intend to paint Sheogorath as something of a villain in this story, as he rightly is. However, even he is cursed with madness, so he is a likeable villain--we feel torn right along with Syl, as far as the Madgod is concerned...

mALX: Yes, SubRosa has an excellent and beautiful way of speaking--she pulls it all out so nicely in the way she writes, I agree.

And I'm so glad you noticed the struggle in Syl-the pushing and pulling of everyone in her life, as she grows and develops will be a key feature in her story. In a way, she is tormented by the struggle of good and evil, more so than most people perhaps, because of the Realm of madness... Her spirit is good and light, but the insanity which inflicts her fights to consume her in its darkness. We see the result of it in the game, somewhat, of course.

And not to worry--there is a great deal to cover before I get to the end. I'll cover most of Syl's life between the first and second books, so there is much more to come!



Chapter 6.1--Matchmaker

Sneaking out of the palace after my father had told me no more parties was entirely impossible, as he had a Dark Seducer posted right outside my door like a sentinel, day and night. Muurine was chastised for allowing me to go, even though I swore to my father that she knew nothing about it. He knew better than to believe us, and he sent Muurine away, saying that I had no need for a governess anymore. She went back to living at her uncle’s house again, so she was still nearby, and Father always allowed her to visit. At least this way she had more freedom to do as she pleased, and she didn’t have to be so tied down to raising me, especially now that I was grown.

My father promised that if he saw enough improvement in my studies, I may be allowed to go out on occasion, with an escort and a chaperone, to make sure no one might try to harm me. But what he would consider satisfactory improvement was nearly impossible to accomplish, and my life became dull and tedious. I needed an escape—a way out of this pointless existence. But with the Dark Seducer standing guard over me everywhere I went, that seemed to be out of the question, and the only thing I could do to enjoy myself was to go into the practice chamber to work on my combat skills, which had been greatly reduced because of my neglect.

Most of the time I stuck with blades and bows, both of which I had developed a passion for. I enjoyed hunting with my father from time to time, but he had lost interest of late, and he would not allow me to go out alone, so I was on the verge of giving up archery altogether. But then an old friend showed up, right in the nick of time.

Sindorin had not been to Crucible in nearly seven years. He was little changed since that time—but I was a completely different story. Now that I was a grown woman of seventeen, Sindorin didn’t even recognize me when Muurine brought him to the palace the day he arrived for a visit. I had been out walking the palace grounds—the closest thing to freedom I got anymore—when they came in the door from Crucible. He took one look at me, and he was swept away. He stopped in his tracks and looked at me with his mouth agape and his eyes wide with attraction. Muurine stood silently when I approached them, waiting for him to figure out who I was on his own.

“Good day, madwoman,” he said, bowing politely and pressing my hand to his lips. He could barely take his eyes off me, and I can’t begin to express how good it made me feel—finally, after all those years, he saw me not as a child, but as a woman.

“Good day,” I replied with a lady-like dip, looking at him intently, and waiting for him to realize who I was. Unlike Muurine, though, I wasn’t patient enough to wait, so I dropped a subtle hint. “It is so good to see you again, Sindorin of Ashwood. It has been so long.”

He looked at me for a moment, completely dumbfounded. “Sorry, do I…do I know you?”

Muurine choked back a laugh while I smiled with amusement at his confusion. Then I said, “Have you forgotten me already? It has only been seven years. I’ve not changed so much, except, perhaps, that I have grown…”

Realizing suddenly who I was, he gasped and looked me over, surprised and perhaps even a bit uncomfortable. “Syl?! By the Madgod, look at you! You’re all grown up!”

“Does this surprise you?”

“Well, no; I mean, ah…I just wasn’t expecting you to be so…so grown up…”

Muurine shook her head and chuckled, placing her hands on his shoulders, but speaking to me. “He means appealing.”

“No, I don’t!” he protested, blushing a bit. Then he turned back to me, and said, “I mean…it’s not that you’re…not appealing; it’s just that…well, I’m sure it would not be appropriate for me to…. Aunt Muurine, you’re not helping!”

“Why don’t we go inside,” I suggested, trying to ease his discomfort. “I’m sure my father would be glad to see you.”

“That’s a wonderful idea,” he agreed. Then we all started toward the palace.

As we walked up the stairs together, Muurine turned to me, and whispered, “He means appealing.”

I giggled and glanced over at Sindorin, who seemed all too embarrassed and uncomfortable. Then we went inside the House of Dementia to see my father. He was glad to see Sindorin, as he had always been fond of him. He was like the son that my father had never had, and the two of them got along perfectly in those days.

After catching up with my father for awhile, Sindorin excused himself and went out to the palace grounds alone. He seemed to be in a more solemn mood than what was normal for him, and Muurine prompted me to follow after him when my father became distracted again with you know who….

Sindorin was standing on the lower battlements, leaning on the railing and gazing pensively out at the waterfalls that cascaded from the mountains nearby. He didn’t hear me approaching, so I startled him when I said, “I thought you had left.”

He turned his head to look at me as he startled, then he let out a sigh and stood up, smiling faintly as he tried to avoid looking at me. “No, I was…just getting some fresh air.”

“Do you want to talk about it?”

“About what?”

“About what’s bothering you,” I replied. “Or, am I mistaken?”

“No,” he said with a sigh. “You’re not mistaken….” He paused for a moment and looked up at me finally, and I could see the longing in his eyes. “I just wasn’t expecting you to have changed so much.”

“Does this displease you?”

“No, not at all. On the contrary, it…it overwhelms me….”

“In what way?”

He looked at me again for a moment, and then asked, “Do you really not know, Syl? Are you truly that naïve; or are you simply playing with me as women often like to do with men?”

I didn’t reply. I honestly didn’t know what to say. It was a bit of both—I was delighted by his attraction to me, and I longed to hear him come right out and say it. But I also had a hard time believing it was true, if only because I had dreamed of this for so long. Finally, he sighed and let out a despairing groan.

“You were only a child when I saw you last! And now…you’re a woman. And you’re…you’re…. By the Madgod! You’re beautiful. I never thought I could have these kinds of feelings for you, Syl. I’m thirty-seven years old, and you’re just a child to me. And yet…you’re not. You…you’re the most beautiful woman that I’ve ever seen, and I feel… like it’s wrong for me to feel this way for you. And yet…nothing feels more right.”

He became quiet suddenly, and he dared himself to look up at me again, curious to see how I was going to react to his outburst of despair. I stood there, quiet and serene, watching him thoughtfully as he examined my face for any hint of what I was thinking. Then he let out a sigh of frustration. “Madgod, you’re impossible to read!” he cried, throwing up his hands and turning away in shame, saying, “I’m sorry I ever said anything. I should have known better….”

Before he could leave or say anything more, I reached up and took him by the face, bringing his lips down to mine and kissing him passionately. He was stunned, but then he settled into the kiss and wrapped him arms around me, kissing back. When we stopped, he looked at me with question, unsure of what to say, or even to think. I smiled.

“Don’t you see?” I asked quietly, with tears in my eyes. “I have longed for the moment you would say these things to me, ever since I was that little girl on your shoulder. I just never thought this day would ever really come.”

He looked at me a moment longer, in disbelief. Then a soft smile spread across his lips, and he bent down to kiss me again. Everything about that moment seemed perfect, and I never wanted it to end. Nothing could have brought me down from that place of sheer bliss—until we heard Muurine’s voice coming from behind us, and we both came back to reality.

“Well, what have we here?” she was asking, a knowing smile on her lips. “Is that my nephew locking lips with my Syl? How exquisite! The two of you would make a charming couple, I daresay.”

We were both embarrassed that we’d been caught, but at least it was only Muurine. If it had been anyone else, it might not have gone over so well.

Sindorin let out a sigh, and said, “Hello, Aunt Muurine. What is it that brings you our way?”

“Oh, I was just wondering where you’d both gone off to…. But now I know.”

“How convenient,” he said, rolling his eyes a little, knowing full well that she’d had every intention of finding us together, in one way or another. Muurine was very sly like that, and I’d confided in her my feelings for Sindorin, so it didn’t surprise me in the least.

“Well,” she said with a smile, “forgive me for having interrupted. I suppose I’ll have to be more careful where I take my walks from now on.”

“That won’t be necessary,” said Sindorin, still terribly embarrassed and somewhat annoyed.

Muurine turned to me now, and said, “Syl, my dear, your father is wondering where you’ve run off to. It’s time for you to resume your lessons.”

I sighed with annoyance, and then turned to Sindorin. “Perhaps we shall talk some more later?”

He smiled at me, and I felt the fluttering in my stomach that I’d read about in Alanwen’s romance novels. I was certainly in love with him.

“I should like that very much,” he said in reply to my question. Then he took my hand and pressed it to his lips, saying, “Sheogorath bless you, for all of your days.”

I smiled timidly then hurried off to the palace to resume my lessons for the rest of the day.

******

“Well, well,” said Muurine, after Syl had left her and Sindorin on the palace grounds. She was giving her nephew a knowing look, and it made him a little uncomfortable.

“What?” he asked, when she continued to smile at him.

“You tell me,” she replied. “This was rather unexpected.”

“Oh, come on, Muurine,” he said with a sigh. “Don’t tell me you didn’t at least have an inkling that this was going to happen. I know my dearest auntie better than that. I’ve seen how your mind works for all of my life. You were hoping to set me up with Syl, weren’t you?”

“Well, I wouldn’t say that,” she replied; “not exactly… I mean, sure, I had hoped that you would both take a liking toward one another, now that you are both adults; but I wasn’t expecting anything so soon.”

“You didn’t know that she’s been harboring an infatuation with me ever since she was a child?” She wasn’t going to lie to him, but she wasn’t ready to admit to it. Sindorin knew, and he shook his head, a little amused. “That’s what I thought.”

“She has spoken to me about the subject,” she finally admitted, “but how did you know?”

“She told me, shortly before you ‘stumbled’ upon us,” he replied. “After I told her how much of a shock it was to me that I should suddenly feel this way for her…I mean, I barely know her.”

“She’s the same girl you knew before, Sindorin.”

“No, but she’s not. She is a woman now—a lady. And that’s what intrigues me all the more. She’s the same in all the ways that she ought to be; but in so many ways, she’s an entirely different person. It’s like I’m meeting her again for the very first time, yet the connection is still intact from before.”

“That’s exactly what it is,” said Muurine, with a smile. “You’re in love with her.”

“Am I?”

“I can see it. There is love blossoming between you and Syl, and it’s beautiful.”

“But is that possible?”

“Of course it is, Sindorin. Do you doubt your own heart?”

“No, but it seems too good--.”

“To be true?” she finished for him. “You’ll find, my boy, that sometimes the hardest things to believe are the ones which are closest to truth. That’s what makes them so special, I think. You just need to trust what is in your own heart, and never stray from it.”

“Since when did you become such a wise-woman?” he asked in a tease.

“Oh, hush,” she replied, rolling her eyes a little. “Come on; let’s get back to the house. We’ll return later, when Syl has finished with her lessons. She’ll most likely want to see you when she gets done with her studies, I’m sure. She’s been waiting for you for a long time.”

This post has been edited by Lady Syl: May 10 2011, 01:22 AM

[mALX]

So she finally gets Sindorin to look at her the same way he does ... Earana. I wonder if it will be all she dreamed of, or if she will find herself pushing him away as well? Great Write !!

[Acadian]

How wonderful to see Sindorin. Even better to see that he and Syl seem to feel the same way about each other now.

Delightfully presented!

Nit: 'He took one look at me, and he was swept away.'
How did Syl know he was swept away? This passage screams for you to show us what Sindorin did, and let us draw the possible conclusion about his state of mind. Remember, you are in Syl's perspective here, so have her share with us what she saw.

[Lady Syl]

Ah, yes! Thank you for that! I have now changed it in my post and in my archives!

[Thomas Kaira]

Syl's finally getting the passion she so desired for the past several chapters, what a turnaround!

Syl really did get into that adolescent pandering for a while there. Parties, drink, drugs, sex, deception, and robbery? I think you covered the lot there (well, except for Grand Theft Equine). It was good to see some sense return to her in the end, though, even if it came by the edge of a knife. Throw away your dignity, and you paint a very clear target on your back for those who have done the same.

I hope Syl's life starts getting better, but knowing how, in the present, she is a paranoid wreck, I really can't be sure. At least she could have a good life for a small amount of time before the Champion of Madness comes along and ruins her life.

I'm caught up again, as well.

[SubRosa]

Sindorin returns. I hope the servants can clean up the drool he left on the palace grounds before someone slips on it. Hmm, I wonder if he is the son of Uncle Leo?

and the two of them got along perfectly in those days.
In those days? I think I see some foreshadowing here of future problems. Perhaps when Daddy learns that Sindorin and Syl have been locking lips on the battlements? Such a very sweet scene that way btw. This being the Shivering Isles, it can only end very badly of course. Muurine's "accidentally" stumbling upon the pair is another foreshadowing of that.

[Lady Syl]

mALX--Thanks! We'll just have to wait and see, won't we?

Acadian--Thanks! Sindorin was Syl's first love, so of course I had to bring him back into the story for a little while.

TK--Will her life get better, you ask? Probably not. I am glad you are enjoying her tale of sex, blood, and madness, TK. There is so much more to come--hopefully you continue to hang around!

SubRosa--lmao! Yes, I suppose there could be a few broken necks... But then again, the Demented seem rather fond of breaking necks, so maybe they left it with the hope that someone would slip on it?



Chapter 6.2—The Caged Bird

I studied for a couple of hours straight, but all I could think about was Sindorin. The way it had felt to kiss him, and the look in his eyes as he gazed at me with yearning—it was just like everything I had read about, and I had never felt this way before now. It was exciting and new, and I felt like I was living in a dream. I could hardly concentrate on my studies, but I knew that my father expected progress, so I tried to focus on what I was supposed to be doing. And yet, I couldn’t stop my mind from straying to my girlish fantasies again. I wondered, what would it be like when he made love to me for the very first time? He had plenty of experience, I was sure of it, as he’d spent a lot of time with other ladies of my father’s court who were eligible, and I had seen him flirting often when I was a child. I had been filled with envy then, but now I was the one he wanted, and I was thrilled by this new stage of my life.

Sitting at my desk, a book laying there open before me, I was in the middle of my fantasizing when a Seducer approached me. I sat up and cleared my throat uncomfortably, feeling my face grow hot as I hoped that the Seducer could not somehow read my mind and see the things of which I had been thinking.

She bowed respectfully, paying no attention to what I was supposed to have been doing, and saying, “His Lordship wishes to see you, my lady. He is waiting in the garden for you presently.”

“Thank you,” I said, putting on my regal exterior, while inside I was still incredibly embarrassed.

As the Seducer walked out, I got up and closed the book, then made my way to the private garden, using the entrance that was just a short distance from my quarters. My father was waiting, just as the Seducer had said; I got down on my knees, kissing his hands in a respectful greeting, as usual. He smiled down at me and waited, then helped me to rise. He had me take his arm and we began walking together around the garden.

“It is good to see Sindorin again after so many years, isn’t it?” he began. Oh, Madgod, did he know? But he continued, saying, “I have always thought of him like a son, you know.”

“Yes, Ada,” I replied in a quiet voice. “You’ve known him since he was a boy, have you not?”

He nodded once, and then cleared his throat. “He is a fine marksman, Syl. If you would like, I will allow the two of you to go out riding together, so you can practice your archery some more with him. I know you haven’t been out in a long time, and it would be good for you to get some practice again.”

“I would like that very much, Ada.”

“Good. Then it is all settled. You will spend your afternoons riding with Sindorin, for as long as he is willing to remain in Crucible. I have already spoken to him on this matter, and he was open to it. Of course, you will be chaperoned.”

“Of course,” I replied, hiding my disappointment. “I would expect as much.”

My father smiled and patted my hand, but he remained thoughtful for awhile. Finally, I asked if there was something else he wished to talk to me about. He sighed a bit uncomfortably, and then stopped to look me in the eye. “Syl, I want you to be happy,” he began. “You know that, yes?”

“Yes,” I replied, still a bit confused. “Ada, is something the matter?”

He sighed, then straightened himself and cleared his throat, seeming to put it behind him. “Never mind…. You should return to your studies. Perhaps we will talk another time? For now, I have much work to do.”

He bent down to kiss me on the forehead, then smiled at me. “You look so like your mother….”

I was pleased with this, and I smiled delightedly. Then my smile faded, and I said, “I miss her.”

His eyes were teary, and I was surprised at how vulnerable he seemed; it was so unlike him…. He nodded slowly, and softly said, “I miss her, too; more than you know…. Well, to your studies then. I will see you at supper tonight. Try not to be late, as you know it displeases me.”

“Yes, Ada, I will try.”

“Good. I shall see you then.”

He squeezed my hand, and then walked toward the main hall, leaving me there in the garden alone. His Seducers continued their patrolling, paying no more attention to me than was necessary, and I leaned back against a boulder there and sighed. I had never seen my father that way before, and it worried me. What was he thinking just then? Why had he looked at me that way, almost as if he were looking at a ghost from his past? He claimed that he missed my mother, yet only days before I had heard him telling Alanwen how glad he was to be rid of her. It had injured me to hear that, but I had tried to ignore it. And now he was telling me that he missed her? Was he lying to me, or to Alanwen? And whatever the case was, why?

******

The next afternoon, I went out with Sindorin, and we rode side by side, smiling at each other frequently, as lovers often do when they are unable to express their feelings any other way. The two Seducers followed behind us just a short distance away, and I knew they had been instructed to be sure nothing happened between Sindorin and I. They watched us closely, ready to report anything to my father which might be considered indecent. We laughed about it with each other, but it really made us considerably nervous.

When he helped me to hold my bow, he knew I had been studying archery for several years, but he used this as an opportunity to get close to me. He stood behind me, with his body so close to mine, and I’m sure the Seducers knew what we were doing. They knew I wasn’t a novice archer, so I hardly needed him to instruct me on the proper stance, but we did it anyway, as there was nothing they could do about it.

He placed his hands upon my waist, to straighten me properly, and I struggled to concentrate on my bow, instead of his hands on my body. When I was ready, I shot at the target he had posted on a tree, and I purposely missed. He knew what I was up to, and he smiled a bit then came over to ‘show me’ the proper stance again, this time helping me to shoot. It was just a little game we were playing, as it was all that we could get away with in such circumstances, but we were hardly interested in archery at that moment.

After I had shot a few arrows, he took me over to retrieve them all, pretending to be explaining to me what I needed to improve on, while the Seducers continued to keep an eye on me. When we were far enough away that they couldn’t overhear us, though, he stopped talking archery, and said, “I missed you terribly. I had hoped I would get to see you again last night, but you were still at your studies.”

I smiled and raised my brow a little. “Last night?”

“Well, I mean…yesterday before supper. I went to the palace to see you, but your father told me you were unable to accept any visitors.”

I rolled my eyes and sighed. “He won’t let me have any fun. He says I don’t study hard enough, but I’m studying all the time. If he’d just let up a little, and allow me to go out from time to time, I might actually study harder, because it would not get so boring, as it does when I’m at it all day long.”

He reached out to touch my cheek, and I closed my eyes to his touch. “Have patience, little Syl. He’s your father. He can’t help being hard on you, because he wants you to have a successful life.”

“Success at what? If he had his way, I’d be locked in the palace until he could marry me off to one of his courtiers. He doesn’t want me to be free. I’m like a little songbird in a gilded cage, and he’s my captor.”

Sindorin glanced over at the Seducers, who were still watching us like hawks. “Madgod, don’t they ever blink?”

I smiled. “My father has them watching us, to make sure you don’t do anything indecent to me.”

He blushed and cleared his throat uncomfortably, saying, “I would never take your innocence from you.”

“I’m not that innocent,” I replied, meeting his eyes before retrieving my arrows from the target and heading back to continue the practice.

I glanced back over my shoulder at him, and I could see he was still stunned, as he leaned on the tree. When he recovered from his surprise, he stood up and followed, clearing his throat again and saying, “Well, shall we continue with our lesson?”

“You’re the teacher,” I replied, casting him a smile that seemed to make him struggle to concentrate.

“All right, then,” he said, trying to clear his head. “We shall do a few more rounds, and then we’ll return to the palace. What do you say?”

“That sounds marvelous,” I answered, and he cast me an almost chastising look when I continued giving him an enticing stare. If only we hadn’t been chaperoned just then…. But with my father controlling the reigns, when would we not be?

This post has been edited by Lady Syl: May 17 2011, 10:56 PM

[SubRosa]

Syl's fantasies over her books were very sweet and refreshing to see. Goodness, she is quite taken with Sindorin!

So Daddy is putting the two of them together! I bet he will regret that. Syl probably too. Sindorin - otoh - will probably not live long enough to do so...


nits:
I was in the middle of my fantasizing when a Seducer approached me with a message from my father.
The bolded part is made redundant by the the Seducer's dialogue. You might consider deleting it.


“You’re the teacher,” I replied, casting him a smile that made it hard for him to concentrate on the lesson, instead of the thoughts that were racing through his mind.
You are slipping out of POV here. Syl would not know if her smile made it hard for Sindorin to concentrate or not, or about what thoughts he might be having. She might guess is all. Remember, we only see what your POV character does, hear what they do, think what they do, etc...

[Acadian]

You do a delightful job here of delivering on your theme of a bird in a gilded cage. From Syl's studying daydreaming to the taste of freedom riding and shooting with Sindorin under the watchful gaze of the Seducers.

It is touching to see Syl's hormones in alignment with her heart.

And more mystery surrounding Syl's father. His motivations seem inscrutable, but. . . he is the Lord of Dementia after all.

[mALX]

I have to agree with Acadian here. The heated longings between Syl and Sindorin have to take a back seat in my curiousity over this new mystery with Syl's father !!! Great Write !!!

[Lady Syl]

SubRosa:Oops! I guess I'll have to fix that slip-up! Thanks for pointing it out!

Acadian:If only we could be certain of a lasting, healthy relationship between them... And Syl's father is one of those characters who just seem impossible to figure out... Even I am confusled [sic] by him sometimes, and I'm the one who created him, lol!

mALX:Thanks! I am, as always, pleased to know you are enjoying it!



Chapter 6.3

My father allowed Sindorin to take me on a two-day long hunting expedition over the weekend, and I was thrilled to be given a little more freedom. Of course, we were not allowed to go without a couple of Seducers for chaperones, so we were not completely alone together. Still, we would make the most of it, and we rode out together early one Fredas morning, with enough supplies to last us until Sundas.

After setting up camp, we took our bows and our quivers of arrows and headed away from the camp by foot, followed at a distance by the Seducers. We had chosen to go after grummites for sport, laying low behind some bushes and trees up on a hill outside of Knotty Bramble, one of the caves the grummites inhabited. There weren’t any grummites outside the cave guarding the entrance, which was unusual, so we waited leisurely for some to appear, talking in low voices until we heard their croaking voices as two of them came out of the Bramble.

It was then we turned our attentions to the frog-like grummites that walked upright and acted like primitive human-beings. The two we saw were huge, hulking giants, both of them carrying crude grummite cleavers—their deadliest weapons. They were some of the toughest of grummites—this we could tell by their size more than anything.

Screenshot--Grummite

“Well now, here we are,” Sindorin said in a low voice, readying his bow and watching them closely as they paced around, patrolling near the path to the entrance. “Watch closely, Syl, as I bring them down with one arrow each.”

I rolled my eyes and waited to see him shoot. He got up to his feet, crouching there and making his aim. Then, just when he was about to shoot, I gasped and reached out to grab his ankle, throwing him off and causing him to miss. I laughed quietly and got up as he sighed and looked down at me with annoyance.

“Very funny, Syl. Now you get to be the one to go retrieve the arrow from down in that swamp. I’ll not waste it—these are the best arrows money can buy, and they are very expensive. Much better than your obsidian arrows, I can say that.”

“Let me see them,” I said, holding out my hand. “I have yet to use a bow and arrows that can out do the ones the Dark Seducers use.”

“Be my guest,” he replied, handing me his bow and one of his arrows. “Let’s just see how well you do with these. They’re not what you’re used to, and it takes a lot of practice.”

I smiled faintly as I concentrated on my aim; then I released the arrow and we both watched as it glided gracefully through the air before striking one of the grummites right between the eyes, killing him instantly.

Sindorin was stunned; but then he recovered, and said, “Lucky shot.”

“Oh really? I’ll show you a lucky shot.”

With that, I pulled out one of my own arrows and shot again. This time the arrow went right through the other grummite’s temple, just as it was running over to its dead companion to see what had happened. He also died instantly, and I smiled and handed the bow back to Sindorin.

“Another lucky shot,” I said with a hint of good-humored sarcasm.

Sindorin took the bow and replaced it on his back, chuckling a bit, and saying, “Guess you showed me.”

“I guess I did,” I replied, flashing my eyes at him. “Did you forget how skilled I am with a bow?”

He let out a sigh and chuckled a bit, saying, “You could teach me a thing or two about archery, eh?”

I smiled and then we went down to search the bodies, taking bottles of poisons they had on them, as well as the cleavers they’d had on their belts.

“These weapons should fetch a nice sum at Morga’s don’t you think?” Sindorin asked, holding one of the cleavers up.

I smiled and placed my foot on one of the grummites to pull my arrow from his head. Then, after searching for Sindorin’s lost arrow together, locating it stuck in a stump near the marsh, we returned to our camp with our loot and cooked up the eggs we’d collected from the grummites’ egg sacks, to go with our meal. While the Seducers stood nearby, always on the look-out for danger, we dined on the grummite eggs, dried beef, fresh strawberries, and an assortment of fire-roasted vegetables, such as onions, fungus stalks, and blister pod caps. Sharing a bottle of cheap wine, we rested together beneath the shade of a willow tree, admiring the beauty of the landscape that surrounded us. Dementia is truly the most exquisite place in all existence, and I can’t imagine any place being more beautiful.

Sindorin laid back, resting on his elbow, while I rested upon my back with my eyes closed in the afternoon sunlight that drifted through the leaves on the tree as a gentle breeze blew. As I lay there, I felt his hand begin to gently stroke my cheek, and I looked up to see him smiling down at me, his crisp blue eyes brimming with pure love and admiration. I felt like the luckiest woman in all the Isles as he gazed at me that day, the afternoon sun shining down through the trees.

That night, when darkness fell and the Seducers stood guard over our camp, Sindorin snuck into my tent. He was wet from the rain that had begun to fall an hour or so earlier, and his loose hair fell over his face. I was completely in awe of this beautiful man who stood there before me—the man I had loved for so long. When he came to me, slipping his arms around my waist and drawing me close to his body, I was entirely swept away. This time, it felt like all the romantic stories I had read. I found that night, to my greatest delight, that love and sex could, in fact, be the same.

******

My father didn’t seem to notice the change between Sindorin and me after we returned from our hunting trip, and we continued to go out every afternoon together. However, he now sent three Seducers with us, and I knew that he suspected something. I felt eyes on me constantly, and it became rather annoying to have so little freedom living under his roof. The only way I could possibly escape that now, would be to move out, but that was never going to happen, as my father would never let me get out from under his authority. I felt like I would be trapped forever, but at least there was hunting and the archery lessons—the closest thing to freedom I ever got.

“Do you love me?” I asked Sindorin point-blank one afternoon, while out on our excursion, and he looked into my eyes when he gave his answer.

“You know that I do.”

“Then why don’t you ask my father to marry me? Then we can be together, and he’ll never bother us again.”

“Marriage?” he asked, straightening uncomfortably. “You—you want to marry me?”

I felt my face grow hot, and I realized I had spoken too brazenly. Muurine had told me many a time never to speak to a man about commitment unless he broached the subject first. Madgod, I was such a fool! “Well, I mean…it was just…. I’m sorry.”

I didn’t know what to say, and I felt like I wanted to cry, but I couldn’t let him see it, so I turned away and began heading for our horses, ready to leave.

“Syl, wait!” he called, running after me and grabbing my arm to stop me. The Seducers both became more alert, watching more closely as they perceived a possible threat. Sindorin realized himself and backed down, but they still watched us to be sure nothing happened, and he spoke in a voice only just above a whisper.

“Syl,” he said again, glancing at the Seducers for a moment, “I didn’t mean to make you feel as if marriage was not an option. I love you, and I want to spend my life with you, but…you’re still very young, and--.”

“I’m still only a child to you,” I cut in, not even bothering to lower my voice. “Don’t worry, I get it. You want to marry someone old and boring, not someone like me!”

The Seducers couldn’t help but listen now, as I was speaking rather loudly, and Sindorin stopped talking quietly, too. “Syl, now wait a minute! You know that’s not true. I want to marry no one but you, but you’re only seventeen. No elf is ever happy in marriage at such a young age. You need to experience more before you will be ready to settle down with anyone.”

“I’ve experienced plenty! If you think I’m just an ignorant and naïve little girl, then you know nothing about me at all. I know what I want, and it is you. I love you, Sindorin; I have loved you for as long as I have known you. What more do I need than that?”

Forgetting about the trouble we might get in, he pulled me into his arms and started kissing me passionately. But then he pulled away just as suddenly and grabbed the reins of his horse, leaving me stunned and rejected.

“What are you doing?” I asked, running to catch up as he began heading back to the road. “Why did you stop?”

“We can’t do this, Syl. I can’t have you.”

“Because of the Seducers?”

“Because of your father,” he replied, looking up at the palace on the cliff behind the city, both of which created a backdrop for all of this.

I looked at the palace, and I could see a figure standing by one of the windows on the palace grounds. I couldn’t see the person’s features, but I knew it was him. He had been watching us all this time, for who knows just how long.

“Come on,” Sindorin said to me. “We have to get back. I’m sure that he’ll be waiting for us when we get there.”

I took my horse’s reins and followed silently, feeling overwhelmed and wanting to cry. Part of me hated my father for doing this to me, but the other part of me strove only to please him. I feared what he would do to Sindorin, and to me, if that was him in the window, watching the whole scene from afar. I just prayed he would be lenient to us both.

This post has been edited by Lady Syl: May 23 2011, 02:14 AM

[Acadian]

Aww, love blossoming and blooming! I'm so glad that Syl's emotions enhanced and allowed her to fully enjoy their time in the tent.

And some grummite hunting!

I'm curious to see what happens next regarding Sindorin and Syl's father.

Nit:
'But then he pulled away just as suddenly and grabbed the reigns of his horse,
I took my horse’s reigns and followed silently, '
In both these passages, you want the word, reins instead of reigns.

[SubRosa]

A bosmer bowgirl, with a faint smile? How perfect! Syl is indeed growing up, showing that she had indeed learned something after all. Perhaps she will employ that archery skill to rid her father of that concubine?

Ahh, young love, and the first argument over the future. But worse, being caught by daddy, which I had not expected to happen for a little longer. It looks like Sindorin will be the entertainment at the next party!

[Lady Syl]

Acadian:Oh, thank you for that nit! I hadn't even realized there were two different kinds of reigns! lol

SubRosa:Not a bad idea, employing her archery skills against Alanwen...




Chapter 6.4—Freedom at a Price

My father was not waiting for us on the palace grounds, as we had feared, but he was waiting in the main hall. He looked at both of us with disappointment and fury, and he ordered me to go to my quarters where we would talk when he had gotten through speaking with Sindorin. I knew better than to disobey, though I feared for Sindorin, and I went to my quarters to wait nervously there.

Half an hour had passed before my father came to me, and I trembled when my door opened and I saw him there. He seemed to have cooled down some, though the disappointment was still all over his face, and I was ashamed that I had let him down. At the same time, I felt that he was being unfair, because I loved Sindorin more than my life itself.

After closing the door, my father came over to stand before me, and I kept my head down in shame, as I knew he expected of me. To raise my head or to meet his eye would have been seen as defiance, and I was expected to remain submissive, as he was not only my father, but also my Duke.

“You have displeased me yet again with your unwillingness to follow my rules,” he began, his voice cold, stinging at me like ice. “All I have asked is that you act like a decent young lady, but you can’t even keep your skirts down long enough to listen.”

“Ada, it was only a kiss,” I started to say, defending myself without raising my voice, so as to stay submissive. But then he slapped me with the back of his hand and I fell back upon my bed, my eyes welling up with burning tears as he continued to chastise me, yelling loudly.

“I am your father! You have disobeyed me for the last time! I don’t care what you think of my rules; as long as you are living in my House, you will obey them without question! No more friends, no more parties, no more hunting with Sindorin! You will stay in your quarters, day and night, except when I say otherwise! You will take your meals in here, alone, and you will continue with your studies under strict supervision. If you so much as bat your eyes at a man, I will have him executed, and you will be beaten! Is that clear?”

“Yes,” I whispered, barely able to speak.

“Good. Then your sentence begins right now. Get to studying. I want to see progress in your knowledge of the history of the Realm. You are to read about the fall of Vitharn, and you will be questioned in the morning, to be sure that you have learned something from it.”

He began toward the door, but I stood up, and managed to ask, “What about Sindorin?”

He stopped and took in a breath, but he didn’t even turn to face me. “He has been sent away and banished from the House of Dementia. You are not to see him again, so forget about him and get to work.”

After saying that much, my father left, and I collapsed onto the bed and wept for over an hour.

******

Over the next week, I was prevented from leaving my quarters, just as my father had said, and not even Muurine was allowed to see me. I wanted so badly to know if Sindorin was still staying in Crucible, and if he was all right, but without having anyone to talk to, I was left with nothing but worry and speculation. My only comfort was the knife from my alchemy equipment, and I cut myself often, whenever I felt overwhelmed and empty. It kept me sure that I was alive, as my current situation made me feel like I was dead. I thought of Cutter and my other friends every time I cut myself, and I realized that it had been months since the last time I had been allowed to speak to any of them. I wondered how they were, and felt betrayed that they were probably still having the time of their lives without me. How I envied their freedom.

I thought my captivity was going to go on forever; a week already felt like an eternity in and of itself. But then my father sent a Seducer to escort me to his garden, and it was the first time I had seen daylight and fresh air in a week. I realized then that I had begun to feel sick, being cooped up inside for so long and the sun on my skin was revitalizing. I didn’t care so much about my skin freckling, and I relished the warmth and the light that shined down on me then.

When my father entered, I could see right away that he was somewhat nervous; but what worried me was that he also seemed almost giddy. He looked more cheerful than I had seen him in many years, and I wasn’t sure what to think of that. Should I be relieved, or afraid?

He stopped before me, and I knelt down to kiss his hand, but then he helped me back up very quickly and embraced me, kissing my forehead the way he always had. I looked at him curiously, suspiciously, and I waited for him to speak, knowing that it was not allowed for me to address him first.

“Thank you for coming to see me,” he said, though I didn’t really have much of a choice. “How are you faring, my dearest daughter? I’m terribly sorry that I didn’t get to see you yesterday at all, but I was rather busy.”

“I am well,” I replied in a meek and almost child-like voice. “Did something happen?”

“Well, yes,” he said vaguely. “But it was not something terrible.”

“Pray, tell me what it is? Should I be rejoicing?”

“I hope that you shall,” he replied, smiling proudly. “Syl, I have asked Alanwen to marry me. She has agreed to become my wife.”

Suddenly I felt as if a wall had tumbled down upon me. The news hit me like a bolt of lightning, and I was stunned. I wanted to kill her. I wanted to slit her throat from ear to ear. She was going to take my Ada away, just as she had been planning ever since she killed my mother. But I was not going to let her. Somehow I had to stop it.

I shook my head in disbelief, saying, “No. No, Ada, you cannot marry her. That woman is a witch! She is a murderer! She killed my mother, and she would kill me, too, if she had the chance!”

“Now, Syl, Alanwen is a good and caring woman. We’ve gone over this many times before—she had nothing to do with your mother’s death. If you’d get over your hatred of her, you would see the woman I see in her, and I love her.”

“She doesn’t have a caring bone in her body!” I snapped. “No. You cannot marry her, Ada. I forbid it.”

“You forbid it?”

“I will not give you my blessing to marry that witch!”

“I did not ask for your blessing, Syl, nor your approval. I am going to marry Alanwen, whether you like it or not. She is the love of my life, and she makes me very happy.”

“Damn you, and that woman!” I spat. “She will not be my step-mother. I would sooner slit my own throat than call her Mother!”

“Don’t you dare say that!” he cried, slapping me rather abruptly across the face and taking me by surprise. My eyes filled with tears, and I looked at him in shock. He realized himself and began to apologize, but I pulled away from him.

“You and your harlot-bride can both rot in hell, for all I care!” I cried. “I won’t be a part of this!”

I ran away from my father as he cried after me, and I only stopped when I ran into Alanwen, who had been listening by the door.

“You!” I sneered. “I am going to kill you!”

“Gelebor!” she cried, as she turned and began to flee.

I tore after her then, and grabbed her by her hair as soon as I caught up to her, yanking so hard that she fell to the floor. She looked up at me, terrified, but unable to say anything.

“Get up,” I demanded. “Get up, you salacious witch! You deceitful little worm! Get up!”

I reached down and grabbed her by her arms to pull her up, and then I whipped her against the wall and squeezed my hands around her long, slender neck. “You came into my home to destroy my family, killing my mother, and now you think you can take my father away from me, too?”

“Syl! What in Oblivion are you doing?” My father found us in the corridor and ran to us, grabbing me by the arms to pull me away. He practically threw me at the Seducers that had followed him, and they held me tight as he went to help Alanwen. She sank to the floor, coughing for air, but I hadn’t been able to choke her long enough to kill her. Muurine had just happened to show up as I was chasing Alanwen, so she stood by and watched the scene, taking in every little detail for the latest gossip.

After checking on Alanwen, my father turned to me, glaring coldly as he marched up to slap me across the face. “How dare you attack my fiancé, you ungrateful little wretch!” He stopped and continued glaring at me, and it sent chills down my spine. He had never looked at me the way he did just then, and it reminded me of the way he had always glared at my mother before beating her.

“Get out of my House,” he said, gritting his teeth just to keep from hitting me. “You are not welcome here any longer!”

My heart ripped in two. He was disowning me. He was abandoning me, for the woman who had murdered his wife? How could he do this? How could he choose her over me—his own daughter?

“But…Ada….” I reached up to him, pleading with my eyes, but he turned away.

“Go. Before I change my mind and have you thrown in the dungeon for this treachery! You have cut me deeply with this betrayal, Syl. Leave now; do as you please. But don’t come back to this House until you are ready to obey me, and accept my decision.”

Muurine stepped through the Seducers, who had released their tight grip on me. She took me in her arms, and whispered softly, “Come on, Syl. Come. You can stay with me, and Uncle Leo. Come.”

I let her lead me out, but I felt numb and betrayed. I thought my life was over that day, and a part of it was. I was no longer Ada’s faerie princess anymore. Alanwen had finally won. He was all hers.

This post has been edited by Lady Syl: May 23 2011, 06:16 PM