*lurks like a lurky thing, waiting*
The Old Mage
Débuté par
AdorableAnarchist
, janv. 14 2010 01:22
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#77
Posté 22 janvier 2010 - 12:09
AdorableAnarchist
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Ok, I'm home, in flannel PJ's (I know, I know, sexaaay LOL), had dinner, found the donuts that Hubby brought home, and am gearing up to write the next bit. Just need to shake Maly until she gives with what happens next.
#79
Posté 22 janvier 2010 - 12:46
AdorableAnarchist
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Feel no sympathy for that blasted elf mage. She's being an old biddy, she is.
#80
Posté 22 janvier 2010 - 01:20
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She was finally sleeping. Jaxon gently removed his hand from hers and tucked the blankets closer around her fragile form. He pursed his lips in thought as he studied the old mage. Just what had she done? What caused her to regret so much? Questions jumbled against each other in his head as he stooped to add more fuel to the waning fire. The only answers he had were scanty at best. Returning to his seat next to Maly’s bed, Jaxon pulled the worn journal from his pocket and, once more, began to read.
The words were familiar. He had read the journal over and over until Avernus’ writing had been burned into his mind. He had to be missing something. The blood mage had written about everything in minute detail but was eerily quiet on the subject of the Warden Commander that had saved his life. Jaxon idly ran his fingers along the cover of the journal, worrying the worn leather between his fingers.
He stopped and frowned. Was it thicker there where the binding met the edge. He slipped a dagger from the sheath at his side and carefully pried the paper from the leather. Several pages of parchment had been slipped between the two, hidden away. How could he have missed this? Was it some sort of magic that the hiding place was revealed only now? He returned the dagger to its sheath and slowly unfolded them. Avernus’ writing stared back at him.
The Warden Commander is back. She is interesting to someone who has seen much over the centuries. I can sense the Power of her Taint. It seethes beneath the surface of her skin, calling to me. I have to wonder: can anyone else feel it? Do they not realize that this is why she is so loved? Yes, she is a hero, but the love the common folk have for her knows no bounds. Even the cold queen in Denerim is coming around to her charms.
She calls to them as the Archdemon called to the Darkspawn.
What is she now? Can I mold this? Can I mold her? She comes to me each time she visits the Peak. A tea tray in hand to entice me, a shawl about her shoulders to keep the chill of my labs from her… She smiles and laughs and asks questions of me. I find myself drawn to her, even though I know it is the Taint beneath her skin, the Power of the Gods, the Darkness… How I wish to mold her in the image I see in my mind.
Such power she would have if she would but let me improve her.
Jaxon shuddered at the tone behind the carefully penned words on yellowed paper. Avernus and his research scared him. The fact that Avernus seemed to hunger for the Warden Commander, for the very woman who slept fitfully under Jaxon’s watchful gaze… It was disgusting and frightening. Just how far had the blood mage gone? Had he truly gotten his hooks and desires into Maly? Knowing now how paralyzed with grief she had been, would she have allowed Avernus to get close enough to change her? Would she have welcomed it?
They whisper that the Warden Commander is running herself into the ground. She works to rebuild the Wardens, play politics, and help the mages. One woman. She is a fool to think that she can do everything. Why does she push herself so?
I asked her this today. She came to my labs again, tea and cakes in hand. As she settled in across from me, I asked her, “Why do you push yourself so hard, Commander?”
The Commander froze then looked away. She would not meet my eyes for several minutes. When she looked back at me, it was only to ask, “One lump or two?”
She intrigues me. With each visit, I find myself wanting the answers to the secrets in her eyes.
He frowned down at the page. Avernus seemed to grow increasingly obsessed with the Commander. It was almost unnatural the way he wrote of her. Jaxon glanced over as Maly shifted, murmuring softly in her sleep. He frowned and stretched out his legs, trying to find some semblance of comfort in the hard-backed chair. What did Avernus mean about Maly’s taint being like the Archdemon’s? Surely the fragile woman sleeping beside him did not compare to the evil Old God? Jaxon felt guilty admitting even to himself that he was suddenly afraid of the old mage he had grown fond of.
Once again, She visits. This time, She is in battered robes, Her curls straggling around Her face, and fatigue etched in every line of Her body. There is no tea tray, no witty banter. She is grim and determined. There is a focus in Her that I have never seen before. Beneath the fatigue, She burns like a fire. She comes to me with a request – such a request. To see Her bow beneath the knowledge of what She will have to sacrifice… Once more, I am drawn to Her, as though a moth to Her flame. She is my Andraste. She will burn into immortality. I will attempt to fulfill Her request, grant Her what She desires. She will be my Masterpiece.
Jaxon could barely believe what he was reading. Maly had gone to Avernus with a request? She had willingly gone to a Blood Mage for something? What would have driven her to such a thing?
“What do you have there, Jaxon?”
He started and looked over. Maly’s eyes were open and intent as they studied him and the journal in his hands. She frowned and struggled to sit up against her pillows. Jaxon helped her but there was no smile for his aid. She nodded towards the book, “That looks familiar,” her voice lowered as she remembered, “Avernus’ journal.”
Jaxon nodded, “And within, three pages that I found,” he shook his head and simply handed them to her.
Maly read them, her face paling with each paper. She let them fall to her lap as she tilted her head to regard Jaxon, “Interesting. I am certain you have a lot of questions, then?”
“Well, for starters, what did you ask him to do for you?”
“That, Jaxon, is the crux of everything I have become,” Maly sighed sadly, “It is why you found me half-dead in the Tower instead of here. Why the Hero of Fereldan,” she twisted the title into a denunciation, “was living her days as alone and as forgotten as possible.”
She cleared her throat, “This will take some telling. Why don’t you sneak a snack from the larder and some tea,” she managed a smile up at him as he paused, “I promise not to disappear until after I’ve answered all of your questions.”
He quirked his lips at her as she continued, “Now, disappearing before Rylan sends for me, that is another matter all together.”
The words were familiar. He had read the journal over and over until Avernus’ writing had been burned into his mind. He had to be missing something. The blood mage had written about everything in minute detail but was eerily quiet on the subject of the Warden Commander that had saved his life. Jaxon idly ran his fingers along the cover of the journal, worrying the worn leather between his fingers.
He stopped and frowned. Was it thicker there where the binding met the edge. He slipped a dagger from the sheath at his side and carefully pried the paper from the leather. Several pages of parchment had been slipped between the two, hidden away. How could he have missed this? Was it some sort of magic that the hiding place was revealed only now? He returned the dagger to its sheath and slowly unfolded them. Avernus’ writing stared back at him.
The Warden Commander is back. She is interesting to someone who has seen much over the centuries. I can sense the Power of her Taint. It seethes beneath the surface of her skin, calling to me. I have to wonder: can anyone else feel it? Do they not realize that this is why she is so loved? Yes, she is a hero, but the love the common folk have for her knows no bounds. Even the cold queen in Denerim is coming around to her charms.
She calls to them as the Archdemon called to the Darkspawn.
What is she now? Can I mold this? Can I mold her? She comes to me each time she visits the Peak. A tea tray in hand to entice me, a shawl about her shoulders to keep the chill of my labs from her… She smiles and laughs and asks questions of me. I find myself drawn to her, even though I know it is the Taint beneath her skin, the Power of the Gods, the Darkness… How I wish to mold her in the image I see in my mind.
Such power she would have if she would but let me improve her.
Jaxon shuddered at the tone behind the carefully penned words on yellowed paper. Avernus and his research scared him. The fact that Avernus seemed to hunger for the Warden Commander, for the very woman who slept fitfully under Jaxon’s watchful gaze… It was disgusting and frightening. Just how far had the blood mage gone? Had he truly gotten his hooks and desires into Maly? Knowing now how paralyzed with grief she had been, would she have allowed Avernus to get close enough to change her? Would she have welcomed it?
They whisper that the Warden Commander is running herself into the ground. She works to rebuild the Wardens, play politics, and help the mages. One woman. She is a fool to think that she can do everything. Why does she push herself so?
I asked her this today. She came to my labs again, tea and cakes in hand. As she settled in across from me, I asked her, “Why do you push yourself so hard, Commander?”
The Commander froze then looked away. She would not meet my eyes for several minutes. When she looked back at me, it was only to ask, “One lump or two?”
She intrigues me. With each visit, I find myself wanting the answers to the secrets in her eyes.
He frowned down at the page. Avernus seemed to grow increasingly obsessed with the Commander. It was almost unnatural the way he wrote of her. Jaxon glanced over as Maly shifted, murmuring softly in her sleep. He frowned and stretched out his legs, trying to find some semblance of comfort in the hard-backed chair. What did Avernus mean about Maly’s taint being like the Archdemon’s? Surely the fragile woman sleeping beside him did not compare to the evil Old God? Jaxon felt guilty admitting even to himself that he was suddenly afraid of the old mage he had grown fond of.
Once again, She visits. This time, She is in battered robes, Her curls straggling around Her face, and fatigue etched in every line of Her body. There is no tea tray, no witty banter. She is grim and determined. There is a focus in Her that I have never seen before. Beneath the fatigue, She burns like a fire. She comes to me with a request – such a request. To see Her bow beneath the knowledge of what She will have to sacrifice… Once more, I am drawn to Her, as though a moth to Her flame. She is my Andraste. She will burn into immortality. I will attempt to fulfill Her request, grant Her what She desires. She will be my Masterpiece.
Jaxon could barely believe what he was reading. Maly had gone to Avernus with a request? She had willingly gone to a Blood Mage for something? What would have driven her to such a thing?
“What do you have there, Jaxon?”
He started and looked over. Maly’s eyes were open and intent as they studied him and the journal in his hands. She frowned and struggled to sit up against her pillows. Jaxon helped her but there was no smile for his aid. She nodded towards the book, “That looks familiar,” her voice lowered as she remembered, “Avernus’ journal.”
Jaxon nodded, “And within, three pages that I found,” he shook his head and simply handed them to her.
Maly read them, her face paling with each paper. She let them fall to her lap as she tilted her head to regard Jaxon, “Interesting. I am certain you have a lot of questions, then?”
“Well, for starters, what did you ask him to do for you?”
“That, Jaxon, is the crux of everything I have become,” Maly sighed sadly, “It is why you found me half-dead in the Tower instead of here. Why the Hero of Fereldan,” she twisted the title into a denunciation, “was living her days as alone and as forgotten as possible.”
She cleared her throat, “This will take some telling. Why don’t you sneak a snack from the larder and some tea,” she managed a smile up at him as he paused, “I promise not to disappear until after I’ve answered all of your questions.”
He quirked his lips at her as she continued, “Now, disappearing before Rylan sends for me, that is another matter all together.”
#81
Posté 22 janvier 2010 - 01:37
Kulkodar
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Oh my! wicked wicked leaving us hanging! You have a talent for storytelling and making your readers awaiting the next installment. I'm thoroughly enjoying this, even if I growled at being left wondering 
#82
Posté 22 janvier 2010 - 01:43
tallon1982
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The plot thickens even more...=)
#83
Posté 22 janvier 2010 - 01:45
AdorableAnarchist
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Yeah, I had to bring it to a close because it's time to get some tea, a well-earned donut, and settle in for Supernatural and Burn Notice. Ahhh, Thursdays... Evening of hot men, good writing, and lots of explosions... Oh, and the best bit of all, Bruce Campbell.
#85
Posté 22 janvier 2010 - 01:48
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Oh yeah... Love him! Best night of TV... Actually, it's my only TV night. Bones (which I usually DVR), Supernatural, Burn Notice... Then collapse into bed because I'm old and up past my bed time. LOL
#87
Posté 22 janvier 2010 - 02:00
AdorableAnarchist
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It ain't the age, it's the mileage, baby....
And I am so not telling those stories.
And I am so not telling those stories.
#88
Posté 22 janvier 2010 - 02:01
tallon1982
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AdorableAnarchist wrote...
It ain't the age, it's the mileage, baby....
And I am so not telling those stories.
Mileage is still a number and it's what you did with those miles that mean anything to start with hehe
#89
Posté 22 janvier 2010 - 03:56
tevikolady
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wonderful wonderful stuff AA!! Looking forward to some more!!
#90
Posté 22 janvier 2010 - 04:06
jenovan
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Eeeek, the suspense! XD I can only wonder what all is going through Jaxon's head right now!
#91
Posté 22 janvier 2010 - 04:27
MarcusDeVarro
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wvat a twieeest
y do i picture Jaxon like becoming this complete and total bad**** to protect Maly...
y do i picture Jaxon like becoming this complete and total bad**** to protect Maly...
#92
Posté 22 janvier 2010 - 12:36
AdorableAnarchist
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Jenovan, excellent question... In fact, I've just opened Word and am waiting to see myself.
Marcus, we shall see. Jaxon has his own agenda too........
Marcus, we shall see. Jaxon has his own agenda too........
#93
Posté 22 janvier 2010 - 02:57
Inzhuna
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Modifié par Inzhuna, 22 janvier 2010 - 02:58 .
#94
Posté 22 janvier 2010 - 03:28
AdorableAnarchist
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BWUAHAHAAAAA! That made me grin on a beastly day!
#95
Posté 24 janvier 2010 - 08:26
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Jaxon piled whatever he could find quickly onto a tray while he waited for the water to boil on the hearth. Maly was willing to tell him everything! Could he really be this close to the answers he so desperately needed?
He shook tea leaves into a small, silver basket and dropped it into a tea pot. He liked the old mage. She had slowly opened up to him on the trip to Amarinthine, telling stories of the Blight and the rebuilding of the Wardens. Jaxon smiled a bit as he added a small pile of honey bars to the tray. Their talks by the fire each night had been fascinating – even his companion Wardens had sat closer each night, drawn by her stories.
“I remember,” Maly said, accepting a mug of tea from a young Warden with a grateful smile as Jaxon wrapped her cloak around her shoulders, “We had made camp one night. Alistair was, unfortunately, cooking. Morrigan had, as usual, made her own camp a bit away from us.”
“That was the Witch of the Wilds, right,” piped up the Warden that had given her the tea. He was hushed by another, but Maly nodded.
“Aye, Morrigan was a Wilder Folk, as Duncan called her, with forbidden knowledge and the attitude of a pit viper,” Maly chuckled fondly, “She and Alistair were constantly fighting like school children. It was amusing, I must say. They often tried to ‘get’ the other with little tricks or sarcastic comments.”
Maly paused to sip her tea, enjoying the warmth that seemed to reach to her very toes, “Well, this night, Alistair had some help with his battle against Morrigan. It seemed that Etzian, my mabari,” she elaborated at a few questioning looks, “He had deposited a half-eaten hare in Morrigan’s pack.”
“Oh yes,” Maly continued over the laughter, “Alistair had seen what Etzian had done and could barely contain his mirth. There were a couple of times, as he waited for Morrigan to find her gift, that I thought he was going to fall into the,” Maly paused, crinkling her nose in distaste, “Well, he swore it was stew.”
“Morrigan screeched like a shriek when she found it sending Alistair to the ground in a fit of laughter. Etzian went bounding over to the witch who had yet to regain her ability to say more than the shrill yells,” Maly smiled over the rim of her cup as she watched her audience collapse into their own laughter.
Jaxon grinned down at her, enjoying the light in her eyes. For a moment, she looked young again. Maly winked at him and leaned closer, “You think they’ve gotten over their fear of me yet?”
Each evening, another Warden would come and sit to listen to her tales. Jaxon was amazed at how they had unbent to laugh at her jokes. They were even unbending enough to offer her small treats whenever they stopped for rests during the trip. There was just something about the old mage.
He sighed and poured the boiling water into the pot. Apparently, there were still many Wardens that feared Maly, not the least of which was Rylan. He could not really blame them, not after what he had read. And he was suddenly aware as to why everyone seemed to fall under Maly’s spell. Her Taint called to them, lulled them, entranced them.
And now, as soon as he could get the tea and food upstairs, he was going to find out the story. Jaxon blew out a breath as he noticed that his hands were shaking. It wouldn’t be good for him to drop the tray on the stairs. No, he needed to pull himself together before he got back to Maly’s room. Jaxon swallowed, took a deep breath, and straightened his shoulders as he picked up the tray. Months of research, of wondering, were all about to come to a head over tea, sandwiches, and honey bars. Jaxon smirked down at the tray and shook his head.
He shook tea leaves into a small, silver basket and dropped it into a tea pot. He liked the old mage. She had slowly opened up to him on the trip to Amarinthine, telling stories of the Blight and the rebuilding of the Wardens. Jaxon smiled a bit as he added a small pile of honey bars to the tray. Their talks by the fire each night had been fascinating – even his companion Wardens had sat closer each night, drawn by her stories.
“I remember,” Maly said, accepting a mug of tea from a young Warden with a grateful smile as Jaxon wrapped her cloak around her shoulders, “We had made camp one night. Alistair was, unfortunately, cooking. Morrigan had, as usual, made her own camp a bit away from us.”
“That was the Witch of the Wilds, right,” piped up the Warden that had given her the tea. He was hushed by another, but Maly nodded.
“Aye, Morrigan was a Wilder Folk, as Duncan called her, with forbidden knowledge and the attitude of a pit viper,” Maly chuckled fondly, “She and Alistair were constantly fighting like school children. It was amusing, I must say. They often tried to ‘get’ the other with little tricks or sarcastic comments.”
Maly paused to sip her tea, enjoying the warmth that seemed to reach to her very toes, “Well, this night, Alistair had some help with his battle against Morrigan. It seemed that Etzian, my mabari,” she elaborated at a few questioning looks, “He had deposited a half-eaten hare in Morrigan’s pack.”
“Oh yes,” Maly continued over the laughter, “Alistair had seen what Etzian had done and could barely contain his mirth. There were a couple of times, as he waited for Morrigan to find her gift, that I thought he was going to fall into the,” Maly paused, crinkling her nose in distaste, “Well, he swore it was stew.”
“Morrigan screeched like a shriek when she found it sending Alistair to the ground in a fit of laughter. Etzian went bounding over to the witch who had yet to regain her ability to say more than the shrill yells,” Maly smiled over the rim of her cup as she watched her audience collapse into their own laughter.
Jaxon grinned down at her, enjoying the light in her eyes. For a moment, she looked young again. Maly winked at him and leaned closer, “You think they’ve gotten over their fear of me yet?”
Each evening, another Warden would come and sit to listen to her tales. Jaxon was amazed at how they had unbent to laugh at her jokes. They were even unbending enough to offer her small treats whenever they stopped for rests during the trip. There was just something about the old mage.
He sighed and poured the boiling water into the pot. Apparently, there were still many Wardens that feared Maly, not the least of which was Rylan. He could not really blame them, not after what he had read. And he was suddenly aware as to why everyone seemed to fall under Maly’s spell. Her Taint called to them, lulled them, entranced them.
And now, as soon as he could get the tea and food upstairs, he was going to find out the story. Jaxon blew out a breath as he noticed that his hands were shaking. It wouldn’t be good for him to drop the tray on the stairs. No, he needed to pull himself together before he got back to Maly’s room. Jaxon swallowed, took a deep breath, and straightened his shoulders as he picked up the tray. Months of research, of wondering, were all about to come to a head over tea, sandwiches, and honey bars. Jaxon smirked down at the tray and shook his head.
Modifié par AdorableAnarchist, 24 janvier 2010 - 08:29 .
#96
Posté 24 janvier 2010 - 08:34
tallon1982
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Can I have Maly be my grandma? kidding! lol
#97
Posté 24 janvier 2010 - 08:35
Sialater
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You're killing me with this suspense, you know.
#100
Posté 24 janvier 2010 - 08:49
AdorableAnarchist
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I'm on a roll. I've got one more segment in my head, but I need to clean the kitchen and swap laundry over. I've been cooking ALL day (homemade lemon bars, glazed lemon poppyseed bread, corn bread, chili... Still need to make the crab enchiladas LOL Hubby's birthday tomorrow and I need to prep tonight so a work / school night birthday is easy) and still have tons to do.
