I'm in the same boat as you all. LOL I plan out one idea and then the story shifts course. I, honestly, have no clue... I have snippets floating through my head (the serving girl and breakfast hit me last night as I fell asleep LOL) but no real path. We shall see.
And I haven't even hit the part where you find out her reasoning behind everything... Oh, poor Maly.
The Old Mage
Débuté par
AdorableAnarchist
, janv. 14 2010 01:22
#51
Posté 20 janvier 2010 - 05:58
#52
Posté 20 janvier 2010 - 06:29
Can't wait for more
#53
Posté 20 janvier 2010 - 07:41
Maly nodded her thanks to Jaxon as he helped her settle into the chair across from the Warden Commander’s desk. She leaned back and offered an icily thin smile.
“It’s been too long, dear Rylan,” Maly waved a hand as she spoke, as though she had not a care in the world. She would play the elderly woman card as long as she could. “I was so terribly surprised when you sent for me, my dear boy.”
Rylan took a deep breath. From day one, the old Warden had driven him insane. Personality clashes, differences in style, technique, even the way they put on their trousers, as far as he was concerned. He returned the smile, though his might have managed to be a fraction cooler.
“Don’t play me for the fool, Malaya,” his chuckle was not one of amusement. “I assume Jaxon has spoken to you about our purpose and I’d like to get right down to it.”
“What? Before I get a meal, a hot bath, and a good night’s sleep,” Maly’s voice quavered, causing the other Wardens in the room to shift uncomfortably. “Really, Rylan, I’ve journeyed so far and I am so tired.”
“Surely this can wait one more day, Commander,” Jaxon spoke up. He knew Maly was not as feeble as she led others to believe, but he had also seen the way she had paled and started shaking when they came into sight of the Warden compound. There was something else going on with the mage beyond her wanting to tweak Rylan. If they were to get the desperately needed information, then they needed to keep her in good health.
Rylan growled, “Very well. But do not expect me to let you sleep in, Old Woman.”
Reaching out her hand to Jaxon for assistance in rising, Maly smirked at Rylan, “You know, you always were a little scitan*, Rylan, even as a recruit.”
Her spine was straight as she left the room amidst the gasps from the others. As they made their way down the hall towards her room, Maly noticed that Jaxon was shaking. She angled her head to look up at him questioningly. He could only shake his head, his face turning a darker shade of red with each passing second. Once they were far enough away from Rylan’s office, he let loose with a whoop of laughter that startled Maly.
“My dearest lady, that was the most magnificent display I have ever in my life seen,” he gasped out between chortles, “The look on his face, the shock of everyone else as the sweet, little old lady used such a word,” Jaxon leaned against the wall to catch his breath.
“Yes well, I meant what I said,” Maly said primly. Jaxon composed himself and offered her his arm once more. As she placed her fingers in the crook of his elbow, he leaned down and placed a kiss on her cheek, “If I were but twenty years older, my lady.”
Maly snorted genteely, “If you were but ten years older, my dear boy.”
He opened a door and waved her through, “I hope this will suit you, Maly.”
She nodded, barely glancing at the room, “It will be fine.”
“I made it a point to have them place you next door to me, as a precaution.”
Maly arched a brow at the young Warden, “A precaution? Why? Is Rylan going to murder me in my sleep,” she held up a hand before Jaxon could reply, “No, no, he wouldn’t do such a thing. He’d never get his lily-white hands dirty. Ohh, let me guess, he’s hired the Crows to finish what they failed to do years ago!”
Jaxon sighed, “Really, Maly, it’s just in case you need something in the middle of the night.”
Maly stopped the tirade that was forming on her lips the moment she saw his face. Blessed Andraste, the boy was serious. He meant to make sure she was all right during the night. And then realization dawned as bright as sunlight on the edge of a sword. He had heard her nightmares in camp. How could he have not?
She smiled softly, “Thank you.”
He blushed and shrugged, “I thought it might be easier if you had someone you knew close by. I know the,” he paused and then rushed on, “the nightmares are getting worse.”
“I appreciate the thought, Jaxon. It is nice to know there will be someone nearby.”
Jaxon nodded and backed out of the door, leaving her to her own devices. Andraste’s knickers, but he liked the old mage. When she let her guard down, she was funny and interesting. He had no idea what Rylan had planned, but it could not be good. He had never seen Rylan look as hateful as he did when Maly entered the room. Best not to think about it now. He needed to get some sleep. Tomorrow was going to be a beast of a day and he had a feeling that he was going to need every ounce of wit he had to keep the Commander and the Mage from hurting each other.
Scitan: Old English for sh*t
“It’s been too long, dear Rylan,” Maly waved a hand as she spoke, as though she had not a care in the world. She would play the elderly woman card as long as she could. “I was so terribly surprised when you sent for me, my dear boy.”
Rylan took a deep breath. From day one, the old Warden had driven him insane. Personality clashes, differences in style, technique, even the way they put on their trousers, as far as he was concerned. He returned the smile, though his might have managed to be a fraction cooler.
“Don’t play me for the fool, Malaya,” his chuckle was not one of amusement. “I assume Jaxon has spoken to you about our purpose and I’d like to get right down to it.”
“What? Before I get a meal, a hot bath, and a good night’s sleep,” Maly’s voice quavered, causing the other Wardens in the room to shift uncomfortably. “Really, Rylan, I’ve journeyed so far and I am so tired.”
“Surely this can wait one more day, Commander,” Jaxon spoke up. He knew Maly was not as feeble as she led others to believe, but he had also seen the way she had paled and started shaking when they came into sight of the Warden compound. There was something else going on with the mage beyond her wanting to tweak Rylan. If they were to get the desperately needed information, then they needed to keep her in good health.
Rylan growled, “Very well. But do not expect me to let you sleep in, Old Woman.”
Reaching out her hand to Jaxon for assistance in rising, Maly smirked at Rylan, “You know, you always were a little scitan*, Rylan, even as a recruit.”
Her spine was straight as she left the room amidst the gasps from the others. As they made their way down the hall towards her room, Maly noticed that Jaxon was shaking. She angled her head to look up at him questioningly. He could only shake his head, his face turning a darker shade of red with each passing second. Once they were far enough away from Rylan’s office, he let loose with a whoop of laughter that startled Maly.
“My dearest lady, that was the most magnificent display I have ever in my life seen,” he gasped out between chortles, “The look on his face, the shock of everyone else as the sweet, little old lady used such a word,” Jaxon leaned against the wall to catch his breath.
“Yes well, I meant what I said,” Maly said primly. Jaxon composed himself and offered her his arm once more. As she placed her fingers in the crook of his elbow, he leaned down and placed a kiss on her cheek, “If I were but twenty years older, my lady.”
Maly snorted genteely, “If you were but ten years older, my dear boy.”
He opened a door and waved her through, “I hope this will suit you, Maly.”
She nodded, barely glancing at the room, “It will be fine.”
“I made it a point to have them place you next door to me, as a precaution.”
Maly arched a brow at the young Warden, “A precaution? Why? Is Rylan going to murder me in my sleep,” she held up a hand before Jaxon could reply, “No, no, he wouldn’t do such a thing. He’d never get his lily-white hands dirty. Ohh, let me guess, he’s hired the Crows to finish what they failed to do years ago!”
Jaxon sighed, “Really, Maly, it’s just in case you need something in the middle of the night.”
Maly stopped the tirade that was forming on her lips the moment she saw his face. Blessed Andraste, the boy was serious. He meant to make sure she was all right during the night. And then realization dawned as bright as sunlight on the edge of a sword. He had heard her nightmares in camp. How could he have not?
She smiled softly, “Thank you.”
He blushed and shrugged, “I thought it might be easier if you had someone you knew close by. I know the,” he paused and then rushed on, “the nightmares are getting worse.”
“I appreciate the thought, Jaxon. It is nice to know there will be someone nearby.”
Jaxon nodded and backed out of the door, leaving her to her own devices. Andraste’s knickers, but he liked the old mage. When she let her guard down, she was funny and interesting. He had no idea what Rylan had planned, but it could not be good. He had never seen Rylan look as hateful as he did when Maly entered the room. Best not to think about it now. He needed to get some sleep. Tomorrow was going to be a beast of a day and he had a feeling that he was going to need every ounce of wit he had to keep the Commander and the Mage from hurting each other.
Scitan: Old English for sh*t
#54
Posté 20 janvier 2010 - 09:01
Finally took the chance to catch up with today's posts and they're great. Keep it up, I can't wait for more.
#55
Posté 20 janvier 2010 - 09:07
Thanks!! I'll need to rest the brain for a bit and let inspiration soak back in. LOL maybe play some tonight since I didn't last night.
#56
Posté 20 janvier 2010 - 09:26
As I'm up to the final battle with what may be my last PC for a while (ME2 in just a few days) I find I've been putting off playing. Don't want it to end (again) just yet... We'll all just have to keep writing until March.
#57
Posté 20 janvier 2010 - 09:55
Mesa like where this a going...Sorry for the Jar Jar speak lol
#58
Posté 20 janvier 2010 - 11:00
tallon1982 wrote...
Mesa like where this a going...Sorry for the Jar Jar speak lol
This took me so much by surprise, I choked on my sandwich. Not a lot of free oxygen in turkey and pepperjack cheese.
As for ME2 coming out (TUESDAY!!!!!!!!!! SQUEEEE *ahem*), I'll be busy playing it, but I didn't really like writing for it. So, I'll keep writing as long as Maly has a story. I also have another idea for Resa.
#59
Posté 21 janvier 2010 - 12:50
Seriously, this is getting better and better! Can't wait for next bit
#60
Posté 21 janvier 2010 - 04:43
gah Rylan what are you planing
#61
Posté 21 janvier 2010 - 12:08
Jaxon should be in the next DLC, obviously he's the most extra awesome. I am impressed by your characterizations - I would have liked several pages of travel, however. It would have been interesting to see the gradual change between Malaya and Jaxon as the road unfurled before them and her stories at the nightly campfire became more and more detailed. Rylan's tone has me wondering if this is a fact-finding mission or a trial. Maybe he grows weary of forever being the "Other Warden Commander" while Malaya holds the title with no further effort. Well done, my dear anarchistic nug lover!
#62
Posté 21 janvier 2010 - 12:13
Ummm... not like a lover who happens to be a nug, that's just nasty, I mean that you must surely LOVE NUGS. Yeah... I'm going back to work now.
#63
Posté 21 janvier 2010 - 12:53
Yeah, I may do flash backs of their travel. That's a good idea. Drat you for working so much this week and not being around to go over things for me. And you are too in touch with my head -- that's one of Rylan's issues, most definitely... But, I'll not go into him much as yet...
There is still much to be done in the eight hours between bed time and waking.................
I do love nugs, with a piquante dill sauce. (But only if the Boy Child isn't looking since he's enamoured of the bloody things!)
There is still much to be done in the eight hours between bed time and waking.................
I do love nugs, with a piquante dill sauce. (But only if the Boy Child isn't looking since he's enamoured of the bloody things!)
#64
Posté 21 janvier 2010 - 02:54
“Maly. Maaaaly,”” the figure before her drug out her name as he laughed and reached for her arm, “Nice to know you’ve finally decided to trust me just a little.”
“Hush, Templar,” she swatted at him, trying to keep her lips from twitching, “I know your lot are a sneaky bunch.”
He grinned boyishly down at her, “How can we be sneaky in all of this armor,” he asked, reaching over to tug a curl that had slipped from behind her ear, “Besides, I like Maly better than Malaya. It makes you more approachable.”
Maly frowned, swatting at him once more. He held out his hand, palm up, and, slowly, a rose formed. It lay there, glaringly red against the dusty colors of the Fade. She drew in a breath, preparing to vanquish the dream but he held up a finger.
“You never seem to want to talk to me, Malaya,” Alistair continued to hold the rose out, “Why is that, I wonder?”
His smile hardened and then shifted into an expression of hatred as he crushed the rose he held, “You know you’ll become this soon, Mage,” he laughed as his face continued to contort and stretch into that of a hurlock. Maly stepped back, eyes widening as Alistair moved closer.
“Do you really think you can escape this?”
“Leave me be,” Maly yelled, trying to dispel the dream. She looked around frantically as the Fade slipped away and only an empty campsite remained. Bodies of friends were strewn about as though a child had left its dolls when playtime was finished. There was Sten, the once proud Qunari, broken and bleeding. Lelianna, Zevran, Oghren, Etzian, Wynne, even Morrigan and Shale… All were lying there, covered in blood, faces drawn into expressions of terror, bodies crushed.
Alistair only smirked as his face flashed between his own and that of the Hurlock. He shook his head as he reached for Maly’s arms, “Oh no, my darling, that is one desire I will not allow you. You see the waste here,” he jerked his head towards the camp as Maly stared, “That is what you caused. You did this to them.”
“No, no, they all lived through the battles. The only one that died was,” she stopped, unable to finish. The feelings came flooding into her, rocking her back a step.
“Yes, my dear, the only one that died was me,” slowly Alistair’s face re-knit, becoming the image of the boy to whom she had once given her heart. He wrapped an arm around Maly’s shoulders, studying the campsite, “But, you killed our friends as surely as if you had plunged a knife into their hearts. Why did you push them aside, Maly? Why did you shut yourself off from everyone? That’s not what I wanted when I saved you.”
“How dare you reprimand me,” Maly wrenched herself from his arm and spun to face him, eyes lighting with fire, “How dare you, of all people, speak of responsibility to those you love, after what you did?”
“Do you hate me so much,” Alistair’s voice was wistful, “Did your heart die on that tower so long ago,” he turned away as the campsite shimmered and faded into the room they had once shared at Aemon’s estate.
“I only wanted you to be safe. To live.”
Maly swallowed against the tears she had never shed for him, “You left me, twice in a less than two days. How could I,” her voice caught, “I couldn’t go through that again. I had to harden myself. There was so much to do, so much to rebuild. I couldn’t let myself think.”
“You couldn’t let yourself feel,” a hand rested gently on her shoulder, “And so you made a deal with him.”
“Please,” she begged, “Don’t…”
Alistair smiled wryly, “I wish things…”
Maly shook her head violently, “No, don’t say it.”
He shimmered from view, “If you are unwilling to deal with me, then I have to let them return,” she caught a glimpse of regret in his eyes before she was flung into the Dark Roads.
Around her, she heard the rasping of rotting flesh against stone. She smelt the Taint of them as they moved ever closer. Their voices rose in joy as they saw the Grey Warden for their feast. Bodies leapt, flying through the air towards her with preternatural speed. All she could do was scream before they knocked her to the roughly hewn stones.
“Shh, shh,” arms tightened and held her close as the voice hummed nonsense words in her ears. Maly tried to struggle, but the grip, though gentle, was too strong. Her body ached as the years she had shed in the Fade settled back onto her shoulders.
“Please,” she begged, hating the weakness in her voice, “Please,” she could not say much more as she began to shake uncontrollably. Seeing him, as though not a moment had passed since that last kiss on the tower… It had rocked her to her very soul. Maly gave in to the sobs and let her head drop as they ravaged her body and heart.
Kind hands continued to stroke her hair and back, as if she were but a child. How long she sat there, unable to see beyond the tears and grief, she did not know. There were decades of tears to release. And yet, the fingers stroking her hair never stopped.
Slowly, the sobs began to quiet themselves. Maly took a deep breath and raised her head, looking around with wide eyes. She was, of all things, in Jaxon’s lap! She blinked slowly at the young Warden. He flushed and shrugged, carefully settling her back into her bed and drawing the blankets up.
“What, should I have left you alone with those terrors,” he asked, his voice defensive.
Maly reached out a trembling hand and brushed his arm, “Thank you.”
He nodded and offered her a glass of water, “Drink.”
She flushed as her hands refused to hold the cup without shaking. Jaxon raised it to her lips and she drank greedily. He set it aside and studied her, “You know, Maly, if you need to talk,” he voice trailed off. She looked so frail against the pillows. Her eyes were sunken in and her cheeks drawn.
“I don’t know what I would say,” she tried to smile, “I had a bad dream, as is customary.”
“I’ve seen other Wardens go through the ending nightmares. They were never this extreme. I couldn’t wake you!”
“And I couldn’t free myself,” Maly sighed and slowly shook her head. She was weary and heart-sore. “They are getting worse and worse, Jaxon. I don’t know how much more I can take before I lose myself in them.”
“Is that possible,” he asked in surprise.
“Perhaps,” Maly stared into the fire that was slowly dieing in the grate, “People get lost in the Fade all the time.”
“Just don’t do anything stupid,” Jaxon cautioned.
Maly’s eyes fluttered shut as she sank back against the pillows, “It’s too late, my dear boy, I already did.”
“Hush, Templar,” she swatted at him, trying to keep her lips from twitching, “I know your lot are a sneaky bunch.”
He grinned boyishly down at her, “How can we be sneaky in all of this armor,” he asked, reaching over to tug a curl that had slipped from behind her ear, “Besides, I like Maly better than Malaya. It makes you more approachable.”
Maly frowned, swatting at him once more. He held out his hand, palm up, and, slowly, a rose formed. It lay there, glaringly red against the dusty colors of the Fade. She drew in a breath, preparing to vanquish the dream but he held up a finger.
“You never seem to want to talk to me, Malaya,” Alistair continued to hold the rose out, “Why is that, I wonder?”
His smile hardened and then shifted into an expression of hatred as he crushed the rose he held, “You know you’ll become this soon, Mage,” he laughed as his face continued to contort and stretch into that of a hurlock. Maly stepped back, eyes widening as Alistair moved closer.
“Do you really think you can escape this?”
“Leave me be,” Maly yelled, trying to dispel the dream. She looked around frantically as the Fade slipped away and only an empty campsite remained. Bodies of friends were strewn about as though a child had left its dolls when playtime was finished. There was Sten, the once proud Qunari, broken and bleeding. Lelianna, Zevran, Oghren, Etzian, Wynne, even Morrigan and Shale… All were lying there, covered in blood, faces drawn into expressions of terror, bodies crushed.
Alistair only smirked as his face flashed between his own and that of the Hurlock. He shook his head as he reached for Maly’s arms, “Oh no, my darling, that is one desire I will not allow you. You see the waste here,” he jerked his head towards the camp as Maly stared, “That is what you caused. You did this to them.”
“No, no, they all lived through the battles. The only one that died was,” she stopped, unable to finish. The feelings came flooding into her, rocking her back a step.
“Yes, my dear, the only one that died was me,” slowly Alistair’s face re-knit, becoming the image of the boy to whom she had once given her heart. He wrapped an arm around Maly’s shoulders, studying the campsite, “But, you killed our friends as surely as if you had plunged a knife into their hearts. Why did you push them aside, Maly? Why did you shut yourself off from everyone? That’s not what I wanted when I saved you.”
“How dare you reprimand me,” Maly wrenched herself from his arm and spun to face him, eyes lighting with fire, “How dare you, of all people, speak of responsibility to those you love, after what you did?”
“Do you hate me so much,” Alistair’s voice was wistful, “Did your heart die on that tower so long ago,” he turned away as the campsite shimmered and faded into the room they had once shared at Aemon’s estate.
“I only wanted you to be safe. To live.”
Maly swallowed against the tears she had never shed for him, “You left me, twice in a less than two days. How could I,” her voice caught, “I couldn’t go through that again. I had to harden myself. There was so much to do, so much to rebuild. I couldn’t let myself think.”
“You couldn’t let yourself feel,” a hand rested gently on her shoulder, “And so you made a deal with him.”
“Please,” she begged, “Don’t…”
Alistair smiled wryly, “I wish things…”
Maly shook her head violently, “No, don’t say it.”
He shimmered from view, “If you are unwilling to deal with me, then I have to let them return,” she caught a glimpse of regret in his eyes before she was flung into the Dark Roads.
Around her, she heard the rasping of rotting flesh against stone. She smelt the Taint of them as they moved ever closer. Their voices rose in joy as they saw the Grey Warden for their feast. Bodies leapt, flying through the air towards her with preternatural speed. All she could do was scream before they knocked her to the roughly hewn stones.
“Shh, shh,” arms tightened and held her close as the voice hummed nonsense words in her ears. Maly tried to struggle, but the grip, though gentle, was too strong. Her body ached as the years she had shed in the Fade settled back onto her shoulders.
“Please,” she begged, hating the weakness in her voice, “Please,” she could not say much more as she began to shake uncontrollably. Seeing him, as though not a moment had passed since that last kiss on the tower… It had rocked her to her very soul. Maly gave in to the sobs and let her head drop as they ravaged her body and heart.
Kind hands continued to stroke her hair and back, as if she were but a child. How long she sat there, unable to see beyond the tears and grief, she did not know. There were decades of tears to release. And yet, the fingers stroking her hair never stopped.
Slowly, the sobs began to quiet themselves. Maly took a deep breath and raised her head, looking around with wide eyes. She was, of all things, in Jaxon’s lap! She blinked slowly at the young Warden. He flushed and shrugged, carefully settling her back into her bed and drawing the blankets up.
“What, should I have left you alone with those terrors,” he asked, his voice defensive.
Maly reached out a trembling hand and brushed his arm, “Thank you.”
He nodded and offered her a glass of water, “Drink.”
She flushed as her hands refused to hold the cup without shaking. Jaxon raised it to her lips and she drank greedily. He set it aside and studied her, “You know, Maly, if you need to talk,” he voice trailed off. She looked so frail against the pillows. Her eyes were sunken in and her cheeks drawn.
“I don’t know what I would say,” she tried to smile, “I had a bad dream, as is customary.”
“I’ve seen other Wardens go through the ending nightmares. They were never this extreme. I couldn’t wake you!”
“And I couldn’t free myself,” Maly sighed and slowly shook her head. She was weary and heart-sore. “They are getting worse and worse, Jaxon. I don’t know how much more I can take before I lose myself in them.”
“Is that possible,” he asked in surprise.
“Perhaps,” Maly stared into the fire that was slowly dieing in the grate, “People get lost in the Fade all the time.”
“Just don’t do anything stupid,” Jaxon cautioned.
Maly’s eyes fluttered shut as she sank back against the pillows, “It’s too late, my dear boy, I already did.”
#65
Posté 21 janvier 2010 - 03:00
more please
#66
Posté 21 janvier 2010 - 03:01
Awww....very nice. I love it
#67
Posté 21 janvier 2010 - 03:02
Maly’s eyes fluttered shut as she sank back against the pillows, “It’s too late, my dear boy, I already did.”
You can't end like this...you better be posting more today....
You can't end like this...you better be posting more today....
#68
Posté 21 janvier 2010 - 03:27
Sisimka wrote...
Maly’s eyes fluttered shut as she sank back against the pillows, “It’s too late, my dear boy, I already did.”
You can't end like this...you better be posting more today....
I probably will, actually. Writing is giving me a boost in my spirits and I'm getting TONS accomplished at work, despite writing. I already have an idea....
#69
Posté 21 janvier 2010 - 03:36
Great stuff, keep it up!
#70
Posté 21 janvier 2010 - 03:58
Very nice story. Oh, I choked up when she saw Alistair in the Fade, and then he was corrupted...
You have captured the terrible emotions she must have felt in the aftermath of Fort Drakon and her subsequent actions very well. It makes perfect sense for her to have done what she did. Though I'm still wondering what the deal was that she made with Avernus. It would have to be something big, because otherwise I think she would have welcomed the Deep Roads much sooner...
You have captured the terrible emotions she must have felt in the aftermath of Fort Drakon and her subsequent actions very well. It makes perfect sense for her to have done what she did. Though I'm still wondering what the deal was that she made with Avernus. It would have to be something big, because otherwise I think she would have welcomed the Deep Roads much sooner...
#71
Posté 21 janvier 2010 - 04:07
Yeah, I'm still trying to figure out what the deal was. Maly is being especially recalcitrant this morning, the wretched thing. But, Jaxon is being much more gracious, so I think I'll turn my attentions to him -- after lunch. My stomach is growling too loudly for me to hear them. LOL
#72
Posté 21 janvier 2010 - 04:08
Yeah, I want to know what deal she made and why to prolong a life that was so apparently utterly miserable without Alistair and her friends.
#73
Posté 21 janvier 2010 - 04:26
Well, well, well... It seems the deal has come to light. When I get back from lunch, I'll finish the next bit...
#74
Posté 21 janvier 2010 - 04:51
How utterly evil of you...I love it lol
I can't wait to see what you cooked up now
I can't wait to see what you cooked up now
#75
Posté 21 janvier 2010 - 09:40
AdorableAnarchist wrote...
Well, well, well... It seems the deal has come to light. When I get back from lunch, I'll finish the next bit...
Ah, i can't wait!





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