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 Posted: Wed May 15, 2013 6:17 pm
The vast, sprawling forests that belonged to the hidden city of Alfheim were kept wild and unwieldy for a purpose, but the young page-to-be knew most of them like the back of her hand.
Ala hadn't started training yet, she hadn't even truly named as the next knight of the wonder her family ran like an over articulated clock. But it was assumed, and it was assumed when her potential showed she would be sent right back here.
She had other plans, though. As the wild haired child grit her teeth tightening the twine holding together her latest animal trap beneath the leafy deciduous flora,she calculated her position, and scuttled into the shadows to lie in wait.
Moments ticked by, and there was a steadily increasing sensation that something was wrong, and she couldn't quite put her finger on it. Not for a while, at least, when it hit her that the forest was silent.
No birds chirping, no insects buzzing, just total, uneasy silence.
More fascinated than frightened, she crept around, kicking rotted undergrowth beneath her soft shoes before she came to a clearing, and on the other side was something she'd heard about, but nothing she had ventured brave enough to see with her own eyes.
The trees beyond here were twisted and darkened, like a fire had ravaged the area, but there was no char. It was their coloring. If she could impose emotions on the alien looking plants she would call it something like sad, or angry. But it wasn't alive, she thought. How could it be? It wasn't green, it was evil.
This was territory in their lands that was forbidden, but she couldn't say why. There were fairytales and bedtime stories, but she didn't believe an of them. She just knew she was supposed to stay away. All of the Elphame's lands and farms were available to this spoiled child, for her personal adventures and playtime and existence, but not this place.
And she'd never wanted to visit anywhere else more.
With cautious steps, she reached out slowly, like touching the dark trunk of the tree would burn her if assaulted too quickly.
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Posted: Wed May 15, 2013 7:02 pm
The forests were polar opposites by any standard, and mirroring Alatriel in the distance from within the twisted and dark forest was a young boy. He couldn't have been much older than her, and like her he was also the most likely candidate for succession of a knight line. However, that's where their similarities ended. The boy's name was Nicholas and unlike her his skin was dark enough to blend into the forest with ease. His hair was long, tied nearly in a ribbon, and as black as the darkness.
He hadn't come to the edge of the forest out of curiosity. Instead he had come here on a dare, a simple request. He was aware of what sat on the other side and had been prepared for it since he was first able to understand the concept. However, what he was prepared for wasn't why he was here today. Today he took a step into manhood but that step hesitated when he seen Alatriel approach.
Who was she? What was she doing here? He approached and when he was close enough to really get a good look he pressed his body into one of the twisting trees and stared at her. Finally, he whispered to her.
"Who are you? What are you doing here? Did you bring a gift? It's customary. You did, didn't you? Father will be upset if you didn't." He rambled. However, even he had to bring gifts for his father every time he arrived.
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Posted: Wed May 15, 2013 7:13 pm
Alatriel inhaled with such force she was certain she sucked up half the oxygen in the land with that one gasp as she retracted her hand and held it close, green eyes wide and alert.
She certainly knew these were not normal trees. She hadn't expected them to talk!
"I-I'm sorry I poked you!" She ended up squeaking out before she did a little attempt at a curtsy, or the best one could do with no skirt. Laced up pants and a tunic, she was running around in what would be considered 'boys clothes' in any other region.
In the Elphame matriarchy, however, it was hardly out of the ordinary.
"I'm Alatriel, Amariel's daughter. I was making traps when-- oh goodness," She suddenly turned to try to get into a pouch at her side, and when she couldn't quite reach, ended up spinning in a circle.
"I'm sorry, ser tree, I didn't know I was supposed to bring anything!" Now she sounded upset. She certainly didn't want to offend the only talking tree she'd ever met.
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Posted: Wed May 15, 2013 7:35 pm
Nicholas didn't know she was a girl per se but he definitely knew she wasn't a boy from where he came from. Where he was raised there were very few women women, and the men all typically had long hair and were adorned in lavish clothes and accessories. Something as bland as what she had wouldn't even be acceptable for the help to wear.
What she did next was unexpected though, and a jolly old laugh roared out from his gut. Did she think he was this tree? Well then, things just got interesting! He would play this game and see how far he could take things and then perhaps he could continue on with what he'd planned to do from the start.
"Child, please do not fret," he said, playing the roll. "I am a tree and cannot leave this forest so perhaps you could go over to the other side of the field and bring me back some flowers," he suggested. "That would be an... an adequate offering."
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Posted: Wed May 15, 2013 7:47 pm
Alatriel was unfortunately sheltered enough to believe such things. A fervent requester of fairytales, the thought that there could be magic outside of her tiny realm was a notion often indulged in.
And the alien look of this clearing was definitely outside of her realm.
"Oh, flowers!" She knew just the flower. She already had one, stem and all in her pack. The white flowers in the fields around the city were a common sight in Alfheim, and nowhere else, to the point it's inhabitants refused to offer the versatile petals for sale or trade. Ala didn't know that, though, she just knew is was a flower and she had one. "I was going to eat it later if I got hungry, but you can have it. Look, she's not even wilted," She chirped, delicately separating pearly white petals before gently laying it at the base of the tree trunk.
"Where you always a tree? Were you born a tree? How can trees have fathers?" She was bursting with questions. "Or was it a curse? Was it a witch? Maybe the flower can make it better?" The Alfheim's flowers usually made things better, but as far as Ala remembered, only cuts and colds and certainly not turning into a tree.
"I heard witches curse things sometimes. Mostly princes. Were you a prince?"
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Posted: Mon May 27, 2013 11:19 am
Nicholas couldn't believe she fell for it! In all his years, he had never met someone quite as gullible as this one. It was new, foreign, and a slight bit intoxicating. He couldn't help but wonder how many things he could trick her into doing or believing, and so quickly it became a game for him.
Following Alatriel's offering, there was a moment of silence before Nicholas said anything. He had never seen a flower like it before, and for a moment he couldn't help but gaze upon the white petals in awe. He'd never have guessed it was a flower from Alfheim and perhaps that was for the best because then the game would end.
"I was once heir to this forest but then yes, just as you heard, I was cursed," he said as mournfully as he could foreign.
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Posted: Sat Jun 01, 2013 11:18 pm
"Not the whole forest though," Alatriel corrected in her best know-it-all voice. "Just this one, beyond the clearing, yes?"
Because that would just be silly!
She plucked one of the inner petals as she thought and munched on it like it was nothing. "So you were a prince, though? Did you have a palace? Have you been here for very long? Because my family has been here for a very long time and I don't think they know you! They don't like to talk about this forest, though."
He must've been ancient.
"Have you tried getting uncursed? I heard kisses usually undo curses but it's much easier to kiss a frog than a tree."
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Posted: Tue Jun 11, 2013 7:40 pm
There was a small window of silence when Alatriel corrected him.
"Yes, you can see the differences," he said quietly.
"Are you eating your offering?" He inquired, almost bemused over it, before silence fell on him again from what she said. He was reading too much into it and eventually he stopped lingering on it.
"I've been here a very long time," he said slowly, carefully. "Long enough that no one remembers me, and have all but forgotten me and this forest."
It wasn't entirely a lie but what he said next was. What he said next was simply for his own game and amusement.
"That would probably work but no one wants to kiss a tree," he said sullenly, or at least mimicking the tone as best as he could. "Oh, I will be trapped in this bark body until the end of time itself..."
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Posted: Mon Jun 17, 2013 7:48 pm
"Oh, oops!" Alatriel suddenly realized her absentminded mistake and tried to put the half nibbled petal back where it was, resulting in the half wilted flower looking even gimpier.
"Aaaaaw," She gave a long, drawn out whine of sympathy. "That is just awful. I would kiss you, but I am not allowed to kiss anyone. It was be far too inappropriate," She said with a sniffle, followed b puffing out her chest and a swelling of pride.
"As the youngest daughter of Amariel of house Elphame it is my duty to either become a knight of our house or marry whoever they decided I'm betrothed to, so I can't just be goin' around giving out my first kiss, it might be important later! And hard to explain I gave it to a tree. But..."
She moved closer to gingerly put the flower down at 'his' roots. "You can still have this! And I can go back and get you better ones that aren't so used."
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Posted: Mon Jun 24, 2013 6:42 pm
Nicholas simply couldn't believe his eyes. Never in his days had he ever met someone quite as dumb as this. It was so ridiculous he couldn't even bring himself to laugh at it or the notion of it, instead his hidden facial expression sneering. Of course, when Alatriel went on to say how important her first kiss was, his expression shifted to an intrigued look. No, he didn't care about the fact she was protecting her first kiss from a tree so much as the very beginning of her sentence. She was a family member of the house of Elphame!
He wasn't sure if he should be thankful or cautious of his good blessing. He knew if he were to bring her home to his father he would be heavily rewarded. Could this be a trap? Why would she be here otherwise? Well, from what he had gathered she was quite dumb. Perhaps she really didn't know the danger she was in simply being here.
Slowly a dark face with a shy look forced upon it peeked out from behind the tree. Long black hair fell over his shoulders and swung over his hips while the rest was done up in a very intricate fashion. Vibrant purple eyes seemed to examine her curiously as his body completely became unhindered by the tree. There she could see that his form of dress was very intricate. Long flowing fabrics with carefully sewn in details were highlighted with gold, silver and gemstones.
In silence, he carefully leaned over to pick up the flower. He examined it and then tucked it into his hair.
"Your act of kindness has freed me from my curse," he said softly, using his game as an excuse out of it. "Please, allow me to escort you to my father. He will definitely reward you for your deed today."
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Posted: Tue Jun 25, 2013 7:29 pm
Alatriel's first reaction when he emerged from behind the tree was to gasp, blush, and cover her mouth as he eyes went wide with embarrassment.
"O-oh, pardon," She stammered. "I thought you were a boy! I'm so sor--..."
And then a realization hit her and she puffed out her bright red cheeks in a pouting frown as she balled her fists and stomped one foot. "You jerk! You were behind the tree the whole time!"
She was so humiliated she could feel lightheaded already. This was going to be just like when her sisters teased her, and told her to get her head out of books and scrolls and silly fairy tales. She could just crawl into a hole and die there. Or live with the toads and earthworms.
She whined and growled and her fists at her sides vibrated with rage until she turned on her heel and started stomping off in the other direction before he could start teasing her.
Only stopping once to turn around so she could stammer and squeak until she eventually formed the words, "That was mean!"
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Posted: Tue Jun 25, 2013 7:34 pm
Nicholas face dropped completely when she apologized about thinking he was a boy. He is a boy! His face turned red from a bit of anger and embarrassment but immediately the girl went to stomp off away from him. He wouldn't, couldn't, let it end like that. Not only had she insulted her but he still needed to take her back home to his father!
"I am a boy!" He called out. "Now that is mean!"
He hoped that'd get her attention at least momentarily so he could catch up. He moved gracefully, his clothes moving carefully with his movements between the dark forest.
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Posted: Tue Jul 02, 2013 9:23 pm
Well.
Ala didn't know what to say to that. She was caught between being completely mortified and angry, and now with an added dose of 'what the ********' thrown in.
She stopped her storming and looked at him, her face flushed red with embarrassment and etched in the most serious of serious frowns she could muster, which was hard because she was not very frowny in general.
Eventually she sputtered, making an awkward gesture to his person. "Th-then why you dressed like a girl?!"
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Posted: Fri Jul 12, 2013 8:29 pm
Nicholas' chest puffed up as he took a big breath and held it before the air exploded out of his mouth with a laugh from the insanely awkward gesture. However, the laugh didn't carry on with any sort of chipper nature. He was appalled that he had been called a girl, and that now the traditional attire of the Ivaldi Clan was being insulted.
"I am not! Men of great status wear this. You would be so lucky," he said, looking down at Alatriel. "Perhaps my father will reward you. Come along," he tried to move back to the subject of taking Alatriel with him into the dark forest.
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Posted: Sun Jul 14, 2013 12:57 am
"H-hey!" Ala's cheeks were already tomato red, but now her toes curled as she became acutely aware of her wild curls with a few leaves and twigs snagged in the mess and her bare, dirty feet.
"I have dresses at home! I just-- I--.... I mean... Well I don't wear them for playing or hunting. I m-mean, obviously," But she was still embarrassed. He was so fancy and so much prettier than her. And mean. And embarrassing. And she very much wanted to crawl up in a rabbit hole and die.
She stomped on of her feet. "I don't want to meet your father!" Especially not after he had made her feel so self conscious and embarrassed. "I-... I want my flower back!"
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