a wonderland of words

Title: Everything’s Different
Genre: Fantasy
Writing Prompt/Inspiration: Another scene for my really big idea. Takes place after “The Sahar House”, but before “Celestial Gold”. I’m not entirely sure what the story wanting to be told here is, so I’m just writing scenes as they come to me, hoping that eventually I can find the plot and piece together the scenes. This is the conclusion of the scene that picks up from “Everything’s Different, part 1” , “Everything’s Different, part 2”, “Everything’s Different, part 3“ and “Everything’s Different, part 4“.  This part of the scene is told from Seth’s point of view.

*     *     *

(Seth)

His meal was growing cold in front of him, but he could care less. All he could think of was that Noa was upstairs in his room. Noa, his “little sister”. They hadn’t seen each other in years, but the ease at how quickly they had picked up where things had left off was comforting.

And then she had told him about Arctic.

He refused to believe that Arctic, who was more of a father to Noa than her own father had been, had abandoned Noa. Something was wrong. When Noa had told him about Arctic and then Braeden, Seth had made up his mind. He would take Noa home, give her a place to stay and then he would go out in search of either Arctic or her uncle, Isaac.

He’d also hunt down Braeden and kill him for what he tried to do to Noa.

She’d been through too much already. Arctic had taken her away to get away from the people hunting her. She didn’t need to keep looking over her shoulder wondering if Braeden was there too.

But Noa had different plans, like traipsing through Chernobog as though it were a field of daisies. Surprisingly, Seth had found himself agreeing to escort her. Not that he really had a choice. Noa was thick-headed enough to try to make the trip to Lagrima on her own.

Seth came out of his reverie as Rona, the chambermaid, tapped him on the shoulder.

“I believe your, ah, guest is bathed. Jessica’s picked up her belongings. They’ll be cleaned and pressed by morning.”

“Relax, Rona,” Seth said with a smile as he finished his ale and stood up. “She’s my sister.”

He left Rona sputtering apologies as he walked toward the stairs and up to his room. He didn’t blame Rona for her thoughts. He knew what it looked like, a young man taking a young girl into his room with no chaperone. If it were any other girl but Noa, Seth would have just purchased another room. But with Arctic gone and no one to watch her, Seth wanted to be positive that Noa would be safe.

As Seth entered the room silently, everything changed.

Noa was leaning against the side of the window, the lamp light flickering across her bare legs. His shirt stopped above her knees, and Seth wished for a moment he had given her a smaller, shorter shirt. Standing so close to the window as she was, the moonlight poured in, kissing her midnight hair. Seth could make out the silhouette of her curves underneath his white tunic.

He wondered when she had gotten those curves.

Seth immediately scolded himself and coughed to let Noa know he was in the room. When she turned, he forced his eyes to focus on her face, but not before he caught a glimpse of her breasts just barely visible from beneath his shirt.

“I thought you’d be in bed,” he answered, struggling to look anywhere but the perfect form in his tunic.

Noa smiled and sat on the bed. Seth’s eyes lowered when Noa’s slim thighs peaked out from beneath the tunic as she walked and sat on the bed.  Seth found himself grateful that they were going to bed. He looked away from Noa to the floorboards, expecting to see a bed pallet.

“Oh,” Noa said sleepily. “The lady with the auburn hair, Roma?”

“Rona,” Seth corrected, gritting his teeth as Noa stretched her arms over head, causing the tunic to lift a few tantalizing inches.

“Her. She said there were no available pallets. Something about the snow and people sleeping in the bar room.”

Seth muttered under his breath in frustration, “Figures.” He sat on the chair and pulled off his boots. “No matter. I’ll just sleep in the chair.”

“Are you sure?” Noa asked. “We could share the bed; it looks big enough.”

As tempting as the invitation was, Seth shook his head. “That wouldn’t be very proper, Noa. You’re only sixteen.”

“Well, it wasn’t very proper of me to be travelling alone to begin with,” she interjected. “Besides, it’s not as though any improper will happen between us, Seth. You’re my brother, remember?”

Seth shook his head again, “No, Noa. I will be fine on the chair. I’ve slept in worse places.”

He didn’t know how to tell her that he would never think of her as a sister again. He blew out the lamp on the table and heard Noa sigh as she settled herself in the bed.

“Goodnight, Seth,” she murmured beneath another sleepy yawn.

“Night, Noa,” he answered, gazing at the beautiful young woman in his bed.

He felt like a fool for not taking her offer to lay in the same bed. She didn’t see him as anything more than a brother. And even though Seth hungered for Noa in ways he had never imagined before, she wasn’t his to have. Her path was different.

Everything was different.

Title: Everything’s Different
Genre: Fantasy
Writing Prompt/Inspiration: Another scene for my really big idea. Takes place after “The Sahar House”, but before “Celestial Gold”. I’m not entirely sure what the story wanting to be told here is, so I’m just writing scenes as they come to me, hoping that eventually I can find the plot and piece together the scenes. This picks up from “Everything’s Different, part 1“ and “Everything’s Different, part 2”

*     *     *

Noa slid her arm through Seth’s and followed him through the main room. There were no pinches on her bottom this time, but the leers and jeers remained the same. Noa felt Seth tense and she stood on tiptoe to whisper into his ear.

“Let it go,” she said to him, “tis not worth it.”

He didn’t relax, but he didn’t retaliate on any of the patrons either.

Once inside his room, Noa remained standing against the door while Seth paced for a moment before plopping onto the bed. Seth held his head in his hands muttering to himself and Noa could not help but giggle a little.

“This isn’t a joke, Noa,” Seth murmured from behind his hands.

“Never said it was,” Noa replied, smiling.

Seth looked up from his hands and cocked his head to one side quizzically, “Why are you standing by the door?” He gestured to velvet burgundy chair against the wall, “Sit.”

Noa untied the black ties of her cloak, shaking the brown fabric off of her shoulders. She slung the cloak over the back of the chair and took a seat.

“What are you wearing?” Seth asked looking at Noa’s attire.

Noa looked down at her clothes. She wore loose brown trousers and a very worn, dirty white tunic shirt. The shirt was obviously a man’s shirt, but Noa had cinched it around her waist with a black leather belt. She shrugged as she looked from her ensemble back to Seth.

“Clothes,” she answered.

“They’re men’s clothes,” Seth pointed out.

Noa remained silent.

Seth sighed as he realized whose clothes she was wearing. “They’re Arctic’s clothes.”

“I left in a hurry. Arctic always kept two packed bags near the door and I grabbed his by mistake. With Braeden…” Noa hesitated for a moment, “I didn’t have time to check which bag was which.”

Rising from the bed, Seth moved and knelt in front of Noa placing a hand on her knee. “You did good, kid. You got away.”

“I’m not a kid,” Noa murmured.

Seth grinned, “Sure you are. You’ll always be the little girl we all took care of. “

Noa shot Seth a pointed look, “You’re only two years older than me.”

“Still older,” Seth teased. “Besides, I was a clan member. You were just the daughter of the clan leader.”

“Onan is not my father.”

“Sure, sure,” Seth replied. “I’m not going to lecture you about Onan.” He stood up and stretched and walked toward the small chest of drawers in the room and pulled out a crisp, clean white tunic shirt. Turning around he tossed it at Noa, “I’ll have the chamber maid fill the bathing pot and bring up some wine and wash your clothes. You’ve had a long journey. A bath and some wine will relax you.”

Noa nodded and looked around the room awkwardly for a moment. “Where will you be?” she asked softly.

Seth laughed, his golden brown eyes sparkling, “We used to bath together, you know.”

Noa’s emerald eyes widened in horror and Seth only laughed harder.

“Relax, Noa,” he said between laughing breaths. “I’m going downstairs. I’ll have some ale, a little dinner and I’ll knock before I come in. I’ll ask the chamber maid to bring a bed pallet. You take the bed; I’ll take the pallet.”

“You’re a terrible tease,” Noa replied attempting to sound irritated.

“It’s what brother’s do: tease their sisters.”

“You remember that?” Noa asked.

“Of course,” Seth answered with a smile as he left the room.

Title: Everything’s Different
Genre: Fantasy
Writing Prompt/Inspiration: Another scene for my really big idea. Takes place after “The Sahar House”, but before “Celestial Gold”. I’m not entirely sure what the story wanting to be told here is, so I’m just writing scenes as they come to me, hoping that eventually I can find the plot and piece together the scenes. This picks up from “Everything’s Different, part 1“.

*     *     *

Seth listened to her story with growing anger and amazement. That Braeden tried to rape Noa angered him. Braeden was one of the original clansmen. He’d taken care of Noa as a baby, along with her uncle and Arctic. But the fact that she had travelled on foot from Mihlak, in the southern states of Merdicci up north past Hershey City and into Somerset was incredulous.

“You walked from the Merdicci Provinces into Aingael territory? Why would you come into Arellas, you know what the Aingael would do to you if they found you,” Seth replied in a hushed whisper.

“Technically,” Noa said, “we’re in Senka, which is neither of Arellas or Chernobog.”

Seth narrowed his eyes and frowned, “Noa, you’re in a city that has your two greatest enemies on either side. Senka is no safer for you than Arellas or Chernobog is.”

“Don’t worry, Seth,” Noa answered, “I am not staying here. I only came to find you. I need a favor.”

“Anything, you know that,” Seth said, relaxing a little.

“Without dad, er, Arctic here,” Noa amended, “I can’t stay on my own. Merdicci could only be safe for me for so long. And now that Braeden is looking for me…well I have to move on.”

Seth nodded in agreement, but wondered what favor Noa was getting at. “Where will you go?” he asked.

“Nowhere yet,” she said. “I don’t have the money. But Arctic used to tell me he had a secret stash hidden for emergencies. I don’t know exactly where the stash is, but I do know it’s on Lagrima.”

“No, Noa,” Seth said sternly. “You can’t travel to Lagrima. The clan is gone, there’s no safe passage through Chernobog. Especially not for you.”

“It’s the only way I can escape. I mean to head across the sea to Koqui. Arctic talked about it all the time. But I need money for passage on a ship and I need money to start a life once I reach Koqui. Arctic’s hidden stash is the only way. And it’s on Lagrima.”

“Noa, Lagrima has been abandoned for years. There’s no telling who or what lives there now. Not to mention you’d have to travel through Chernobog to get there, and that’s too dangerous for you,” Seth explained, trying to talk Noa out of it.

“Either I go with you or I go alone,” Noa stated simply.

She was stubborn enough to do it too, Seth reasoned. He sighed and leaned back in his chair, debating. “Fine,” he answered unhappily. “But we’re not travelling through Chernobog unarmed and we’re not leaving tonight. I have a room here; we’ll stay here for a couple of days and gather supplies.”

Noa grinned and nodded as she rose from her seat and walked around the table to hug Seth tightly. She planted a soft kiss on his cheek, “Thank you, Seth.”

“As if I really had a choice,” he muttered. “Come on, let’s go to the room, and we’ll talk plans.”

Title: Everything’s Different
Genre: Fantasy
Writing Prompt/Inspiration: Another scene for my really big idea. Takes place after “The Sahar House”, but before “Celestial Gold”. I’m not entirely sure what the story wanting to be told here is, so I’m just writing scenes as they come to me, hoping that eventually I can find the plot and piece together the scenes.

*     *     *

She ran up the tavern steps quickly, shaking the snow out of her midnight locks as she stepped inside. Loosening the ties of her brown cloak she made her way through the busy room, ignoring the jeers and occasional pinch on her bottom. She approached the bar, vaguely aware of a bard strumming on his lyre and singing bawdy bar songs. As the bartender noticed her she held up two fingers and he nodded, returning with two large glasses of ale. She plucked a few coins from the purse at her belt, handed them to the bartender and took her glasses of ale.

She walked once more through the main room, again gritting her teeth and ignoring the jeers and pinches that followed her. Despite the lewd comments directed toward her, she smiled as she spotted an empty chair at an empty corner table.

As she sat down, she pushed one glass of ale across the table.

“How’d you know I was here?” a voice said from within the shadows.

She laughed softly, her emerald eyes twinkling playfully, “Because we’ve been friends a long time, Seth.”

It was Seth’s turn to chuckle as he raised the glass of ale to his lips and took a deep swig. “Yes, we have,” Seth replied. “It’s also been a long time since I’ve last seen you. What brings you to Somerset? Last I heard, you were living down south somewhere in the Merdicci Provinces.”

Her emerald eyes darkened, and she looked downward for a moment before bringing her gaze back to Seth. “Arctic left,” she said somberly.

“Are you sure?” Seth asked gently. “Maybe he’s just got a contract and it’s taking longer to finish.”

She smiled softly at Seth and shook her head, “It’s been two years. He’s gone.”

“Noa…” Seth replied as he placed his hand over hers. Seeing the tears brimming in her green eyes broke his heart. “Noa,” he repeated, “I’m sorry.”

As she sat across from him, he watched as she fought back tears. When a few tears managed to spill, he was at an utter loss for words. Arctic had been like a father to her, no, more than that. When Noa’s father abandoned her when she was six, Arctic had taken care of her. He was the only father she had ever truly known.

“I sold everything,” she said as she wiped the tears from her eyes. “Little by little in order to get by. I didn’t want to leave in case…well in case he came back. Before I knew it, everything was gone. All that was left was the house.”

“What about Isaac and the others? Have you contacted them? Do they know anything?” Seth asked. It wasn’t like Arctic to just pick up and leave.

Noa shook her head, “I haven’t seen Isaac in years. No one has. Before I left Milhlak, Braeden came by looking for Arctic. When he found out he’d been gone for two years he…well it doesn’t matter.”

By the sound of her voice, Seth knew that whatever it was that didn’t matter did. He could only imagine what Braeden might have done if he came upon Noa alone. “What, Noa?” he pressed. “What did Braeden do?”

She shook her head again, “Nothing.”

“Noa, I know you better than that. Tell me.”

“He tried to…” he voice faltered, “…he tried, but I got away. I ran. I found Joseph in Hershey City. He let me stay with him and his wife for a few days. They didn’t know where any of the old clan was, but they mentioned that they ran into you from time to time. He said the last he’d seen you was near Tiir and that you were on your way to Somerset. So I came here, asked around for you. I was here yesterday, but you weren’t. I was afraid you’d moved on already. The bartender told me to come back today and here I am. With you.”