Saturday, July 13, 2002

the palace gardens/Juclecia's mind

Juclecia had stepped into the gardens with a wave of emotion, although her regal composure was untouched. Before her the gardens looked like a familiar dream, only the sharp scent of roses betrayed their reality. And in a corner, on a stone bench beneath a bower of scarlet blooms was a woman.... Her face was beautiful and timeless and she was humming softly. The melody constricted painfully around Juclecia's heart and though none of the others noticed, her haughty lips did seem to quiver just the slightest. The woman rose in a haze and stepped - or did she float? - towards the princess. She removed a blood-red glove and lifted her hand to Juclecia's cheek. Her touch was soft but the fingers were ice-cold. Her cherubic lips were moving, but was it a melody or words? So hard to tell...."Be happy....or it will destroy you" Her eyes were deep and dark and soft and one could imagine getting lost in them and never finding your way out...And her expression was...what was that shadow across her face? She looked...anxious. Yet loving. But suddenly she was fading away, further and further away and her red red dress was flowing and flowing and somewhere along the way it turned into blood and she was gone and all that was left was a tide of scarlet blood staining the grass, encroaching, nearing Juclecia's feet. She stepped back and looked nauseous and stepped into the support of Chelsea's concerned arms. The garden...was still.

Friday, July 12, 2002

palace walls

Adora glanced at the others bemusedly; their individual expressions toward the palace differed: Felicia with awe, Calintz and Chelsea with an indifferent attitude, and Juclesia... more with a mix of everything - awe, sadness, and an extra ounce of determination. Quickly, she looked away and said with her usual smile, "Follow me to the back?" The party came along, and Adora suddenly felt like giggling as she the fact that she's the temporary leader of this group dawned on her. She suppressed the urge, and came to a halt near the palace walls. Pointing to the back entrance to the left of them, she whispered, "I'm going to open that door for you guys, okay?" The next second, she already climbed up the walls and crouched on the top, looking back down onto her companions. Her dark brown eyes twinkled, and with a wave, she hopped down into the other side. A familiar scene of the gardens greeted her, and Adora breathed in. The view still had an impact on her...

Quietly, she snuck to the entrance she pointed out to the others earlier and eyed the dust wearily. How long has it been that people had used this door? With a sigh, she blew away the dust from the handle, and pulled the door gently open. As she let the others in, she kept a firm look behind them in case any guards passed by.

Wednesday, June 26, 2002

Outside the Palace

The little crowd had exited the inn into the bright noonday sunlight, into the thronging streets. Adora, with whom Felicia felt quite comfortable, had fallen into step with Claintz and Juclecia, so Felicia was stuck beside with Chelsea, following the other three. The bustle meant that they had to follow closely. The two smiled akwardly at eachother, then spent the short journey shooting suspicious glances at eachother when the other wasn't looking, unaware that their behaviour would have looked rather comical to anyone watching. Watching...Felicia had felt something in the back of her neck like intense watching eyes; she looked around, careful not to alarm any pursuers, but the surging tide of people made it impossible to single out anyone, and she was after all only an assassin-in-training; their tail was far more skilled. Soon, however, the group stopped short and Felicia raised her eyes to the palace. All five of them stood silent for a short moment, even Adora who haad seen it so often. Well it was rather awe-inspiring, rising towering above them, riddled with spires and statues in tiny recesses and ornamentation of every kind. Grand flying buttresses spread out on either side, supporting the weight of those varied roofs and spires, and a pair of rather frightening gargoyles glowered down on them above where they stood. It's stones were dark in colour, rather unlike the bright white towers and buildings of the newer part of the city. She thought about everything that must have happened within its walls; this place was heavy with history. This castle had been the seat of power in this land for hundreds of years...but would it continue so? Rose had held back on details, but this much was sure; this land was bound for change. Whether it be for better or for worse remained to be seen.

Friday, June 21, 2002

near the palace

The streets was still lively as before, but their crowd of people was bound to draw attention. As they walk by she notices the little store "Dating Louge". Giggling a bit she walked pass it. "Maybe when i have time i can come back." She thought, but it was just a thought that won't happen anytime soon.
The castle was a piece of art, every detail of it was fined with pattenrs. It was truely magnificent. But it was something she would not like to think of more, for she has to betray the people for the crown sooner or later. Sighing she followed Adora toward the castle. Guards was pacing slugishly. How will adora go pass them will surely be an entertainment.

Thursday, June 20, 2002