Drabbles, drabbles, drabbles
Seems like I'm on a roll :)
Claim:Dimitri
Themes: Endings, Beginnings, Time, Pain, Stars, Mail, Fear
Completed:20/30
Endings
Clouds of smoke hung deeply in the sky. The reflection of fire dancing on them they remained where all life had left. Everything that had once been was no more. The smell of burned wood stained the air. Flames had licked the old walls of the palace, but it hadn't given in to their temptation. Where there had been crying and laughter mere hours ago was now only emptiness. The halls and ballroom lay in eerie silence, like a sleeping giant in an old fairy tale. This was the ending of the life he had lived for so many years.
Beginnings
A woman screamed. Nodding approvingly an elderly lady wiped the sweat of her brow. It wouldn't take long; it would all be over soon, her eyes seemed to say. Hazel hair stuck to the young woman's head, darkened by perspiration to a deep brown. Briefly she wondered what life had in store for her baby. She didn't have much time to dream and what she wished for was simple: a healthy, strong child that wouldn't die during its first winter. She was tired of losing. Beginnings were tough, but she felt that this time, she would see it grow up.
Time
What time was it? He didn't know. Her small body was pressed against him, her heart beating slower and steadier, now. Maybe he should have let her go. She hadn't cried, but still her head was buried in his chest. Was it improper to hold her? To feel the warmth of her body through her soaked clothing? Did she want to be held? His shirt was clinging to his body, but he wasn't feeling the cold. Maybe only seconds had passed since he had pulled her back? Maybe they had been standing like this for hours? Maybe time didn't matter.
Pain
It hurt to see her dance with another man. She was stunning. How could he have mistaken her for anything but what she really was? Who she really was: a princess, his princess, heir to the Russian throne and he a humble servant. The new clothes Sophie had bought him didn't fit. He felt uncomfortable in the glittering world of Paris, where everything was flamboyant and gay. He had never felt a pain like this. It stung and he knew it would never heal. Gone was his Anya, the obstinate brat. This was Anastasia. He could only watch her dance.
Stars
He recognised Vlad's footsteps. The heavy boots sounded much too loud on the boards of the ship. Dimitri knew that he'd want to talk about what had happened. Fat chance he would get an answer. He didn't even know himself. But instead of interrogating him, the elder man just stood beside him, leaning on the rail, staring at the trail the ship left. Dusk came and they still stood there, not talking, as they approached their destination. Dimitri relaxed. He could make out the first stars on the horizon. Unbelievable that they always shone, but you couldn't always see them.
Mail
Unbelieving he watched her place the crown into a small box. Nobody would guess that this package held such a treasure. He vividly remembered thousands of people bowing their heads to the bearer of this crown, just like he had on a staircase. He smirked as her brows furrowed in concentration. She was carefully wording a letter to her grandmother, letting her know that she had chosen him. She had chosen him. He hoped he wouldn't wake. If this was a dream, he wanted to sleep forever. Finally she had finished. Whoever had heard of a crown returned by mail?
Fear
The thick carpet didn't muffle their steps. Closer and closer they came. He pushed the girl through the opening. Her blue eyes locked with his. Both of them scared. She turned away and ran. The wall closed, swallowing the girl and her grandmother. He was left alone with his fear. His heart was thumping loudly, the blood in his ears was roaring deafeningly. Still, he could hear them: boots hammering, voices calling orders, doors slamming, screams of terror, frightened voices, and commands mingling to form the voice of terror. There was no way out. Suddenly, the door was pushed open.
Claim:Dimitri
Themes: Endings, Beginnings, Time, Pain, Stars, Mail, Fear
Completed:20/30
Endings
Clouds of smoke hung deeply in the sky. The reflection of fire dancing on them they remained where all life had left. Everything that had once been was no more. The smell of burned wood stained the air. Flames had licked the old walls of the palace, but it hadn't given in to their temptation. Where there had been crying and laughter mere hours ago was now only emptiness. The halls and ballroom lay in eerie silence, like a sleeping giant in an old fairy tale. This was the ending of the life he had lived for so many years.
Beginnings
A woman screamed. Nodding approvingly an elderly lady wiped the sweat of her brow. It wouldn't take long; it would all be over soon, her eyes seemed to say. Hazel hair stuck to the young woman's head, darkened by perspiration to a deep brown. Briefly she wondered what life had in store for her baby. She didn't have much time to dream and what she wished for was simple: a healthy, strong child that wouldn't die during its first winter. She was tired of losing. Beginnings were tough, but she felt that this time, she would see it grow up.
Time
What time was it? He didn't know. Her small body was pressed against him, her heart beating slower and steadier, now. Maybe he should have let her go. She hadn't cried, but still her head was buried in his chest. Was it improper to hold her? To feel the warmth of her body through her soaked clothing? Did she want to be held? His shirt was clinging to his body, but he wasn't feeling the cold. Maybe only seconds had passed since he had pulled her back? Maybe they had been standing like this for hours? Maybe time didn't matter.
Pain
It hurt to see her dance with another man. She was stunning. How could he have mistaken her for anything but what she really was? Who she really was: a princess, his princess, heir to the Russian throne and he a humble servant. The new clothes Sophie had bought him didn't fit. He felt uncomfortable in the glittering world of Paris, where everything was flamboyant and gay. He had never felt a pain like this. It stung and he knew it would never heal. Gone was his Anya, the obstinate brat. This was Anastasia. He could only watch her dance.
Stars
He recognised Vlad's footsteps. The heavy boots sounded much too loud on the boards of the ship. Dimitri knew that he'd want to talk about what had happened. Fat chance he would get an answer. He didn't even know himself. But instead of interrogating him, the elder man just stood beside him, leaning on the rail, staring at the trail the ship left. Dusk came and they still stood there, not talking, as they approached their destination. Dimitri relaxed. He could make out the first stars on the horizon. Unbelievable that they always shone, but you couldn't always see them.
Unbelieving he watched her place the crown into a small box. Nobody would guess that this package held such a treasure. He vividly remembered thousands of people bowing their heads to the bearer of this crown, just like he had on a staircase. He smirked as her brows furrowed in concentration. She was carefully wording a letter to her grandmother, letting her know that she had chosen him. She had chosen him. He hoped he wouldn't wake. If this was a dream, he wanted to sleep forever. Finally she had finished. Whoever had heard of a crown returned by mail?
Fear
The thick carpet didn't muffle their steps. Closer and closer they came. He pushed the girl through the opening. Her blue eyes locked with his. Both of them scared. She turned away and ran. The wall closed, swallowing the girl and her grandmother. He was left alone with his fear. His heart was thumping loudly, the blood in his ears was roaring deafeningly. Still, he could hear them: boots hammering, voices calling orders, doors slamming, screams of terror, frightened voices, and commands mingling to form the voice of terror. There was no way out. Suddenly, the door was pushed open.