Embraced by Madness continued..
Who knows. But I'm in the mood to work on it again, so here is the latest version- Intro and first 2 chapters, around 1650 words.
Embraced by Madness: The Story of Phaedra and Uthgar
Midsummer’s Eve 6 A.D.
Ursa wiped the sweat from her brow, as she gazed at the bloody, twisted entrails resting in the wooden bowl before her. Looking up from the oxen’s remains, to the light-speckled heavens outside her window, and then back again, she uttered a prayer for what was to come.
~ * ~
The wise-woman’s humble cottage echoed with the sound of small fists hitting the thick, wooden door repeatedly, yet unheard. The knocking continued, at last bringing Ursa out of her reverie, with a start. Her walking stick firmly grasped in gnarled fingers, she carefully moved across the tidy, dirt floor, to unbolt the door. A young village boy, Dieter, she thought his name was, stood at her threshold, attempting to breathe and talk, all at the same time.
“Calm down boy, what is it?” Ursa asked in her down-to earth way; her voice reminiscent of one’s favorite aunt or grandmother.
“It’s time! The woman, Gerta! The baby! You need to come!” Gasped the boy, grabbing at the wise woman’s homespun sleeve.
“I understand, young man” Ursa calmly continued, “now let me gather some supplies, and I will be there shortly. You run on ahead and tell them I am coming, and to heat some water on the fire.”
The anxious young man was gone before the wooden door was once more firmly seated in its jam. “Ah the enthusiasm of youth,” chuckled Ursa to herself. Setting the strap of her bag of herbs and supplies firmly over her shoulder, she grasped her stick once more and made her way to Gerta and Arminius’ cottage. There was a baby to deliver. But not just any baby. All of the signs were in place to indicate that this child would be held as special in the eyes of the Gods, both old and new. But, that could wait, thought Ursa, first, she must assist the mother with the delivery, which would prove to be a difficult one, then she could sit down with Arminius and Gerta to talk about the “touched” nature of their offspring.
~*~
Young Uthgar’s eyes lit up as he heard the screams of his newborn sister coming from the next room. In his heart, he had known that the baby would be a girl, and his small lips moved silently as he vowed to the Gods, old and new, that he would forever care for his sister and protect her from all who would do her harm. Even at the tender age of four, he was mature beyond his years, and could not wait to follow the path of his father; that of a soldier; a protector.
~*~
Gerta, beautiful in her complete exhaustion, gazed down at the angel resting in her arms. Beautiful red hair crowned flawless, fair skin, and eyes, the blue of babies and the fey, breathlessly captured the mother’s heart.
“Phaedra,” she breathed, “Her name shall be Phaedra.”
~1~
Phaedra sat, curled up in her favorite place in all the woods, as she played with the new doll that her mother had crafted for her. The bits of scrap fabric, stuffed with leaves and adorned with a mane of thin leather strips, had easily become the lonely young girl’s new best friend; Agathe. The lush grass, beneath her favorite tree, was now little-girl shaped; the result of many a day spent lounging on its loam. While this was Phaedra’s favorite place, she could not be certain that it was the best place in the entire woods, but then Uthgar would only let her explore a tiny portion of the forest that met the yard, just behind their small, timber and thatch home. Every now and then, she contemplated going deeper into the tall trees, but always decided that it would not be worth her brother’s wrath to stray beyond the boundaries he had given her. Even though Uthgar was not that much older than her; a mere ten years to her six; he was always very serious, especially regarding the safety of his sister. Phaedra often thought him a bit silly in all his seriousness, but she loved him tremendously just the same, and never wanted to upset him.
As she brushed her dolly’s hair with a small, forked twig (which she thought made a lovely comb), Phaedra heard a noise behind her. Stifling a giggle and a small gasp of pleasure, she sat completely still, waiting; hoping; to see the forest spirit once again. The spirit had been there as long as she had been coming to the woods alone; sometimes appearing as a beautiful young woman of slight build, with delicately pointed ears, and other times, as nothing more than a voice in the mist. Well, sometimes the voice sounded like it was in her head, but it was always friendly and told her the most wondrous stories, complete with pictures and sounds and smells. Suddenly the smell of fresh flowers filled Phaedra’s nose, and her green eyes grew wide as she watched, waiting for her friend to appear once more.
~*~
“Uthgar! Uthgar!” cried Phaedra as she pulled at the hem of his well-worn shirt, “I saw her again! The forest spirit! She’s sooooooo pretty, Uthgar! You need to come meet her! She says that she wants to meet you too, but that she can’t come out of the forest when it’s still light outside. I told her that I can’t stay in the forest in the dark; that you’d get mad, ‘cause you would, Uthgar, wouldn’t you? You’d get mad if I stayed to play with her after the sun went away.”
Uthgar couldn’t stifle the small smile that played at the corners of his all too stern mouth. Very little could make the man-child smile, but Phaedra was one of those things that brought the occasional joy into his somber life. He never really understood the young girl’s need to keep these imaginary “forest spirits” as friends, but they seemed to make her happy, and as such, he did not have the heart to refuse her. He would do anything for his sister’s happiness. Anything, that is, except go into the woods to meet this “spirit friend” of hers. That was just taking the fantasy too far, and Uthgar felt that it would not help his sister eventually learn to cope with the harsh realities around her, if her were to totally indulge her fantasies.
“Yes, Phae, you know that I would get very mad if you stayed out after dark. I worry about you, and it is not safe to be outside at night; there are many animals in the woods who would happily eat you alive in one bite if they caught you!”
Phaedra’s eyes grew even wider at Uthgar’s response. “They’d eat me up whole!? They’re that big!?” She gulped as she glanced nervously at the forest behind her.
“That’s right, little one, so you always have to be home before the sun leaves the woods, agreed?”
“Agreed. I don’t think it would be much fun to be eaten.” Phaedra replied forlornly. Suddenly her eyes lit up once more, “But the forest spirit! She’d protect me! She says that she’s magic, and can do all sorts of wonderful thing…”
Phaedra stopped mid-gush, as she saw the look on her brother’s face. “I’m sorry Uthgar, don’t worry, I won’t ever stay in the forest after dark; I promise!” Wrinkles of concern marred her innocent face.
“Good.” Was Uthgar’s only response, as he solemnly strode off, into their cottage.
~2~
[insert more back story here- more examples of Phae being “touched”, Uthgar overhearing villagers talking about his sister] Young Uthgar was deeply worried about his sister. It seemed with each passing of the moon, she became more and more touched by the gods. Glancing out the cottage window, he could see Phaedra sitting on the ground playing with her dolls. Relatively certain that she was safe for now, he sat down with their mother in an attempt to discuss Phaedra’s future.
“She is becoming more distant…” Uthgar began, but Gerta did not seem to hear him.
“Mother. Please, we need to find a place for her!”
Gerta shook her head, as if awakening from a dream; it had been mere months since Arminius’ death, and she was still deeply grieved. As she raised her eyes to meet her son’s, she was struck once more by the resemblance- Uthgar truly was the image of his father. Uthgar watched as her eyes once more began to slide out of focus.
“Mother. It is time,” came the stern, young voice. Gerta once more woke from her sad reverie to stare at her son, as if she were seeing him for the first time.
“Whatever do you mean, Uthgar, she will stay here, with us, and you and I, we will take care of her,” her serene expression in deadly contrast to her panicked tone.
“Mother, we cannot give her the training that she needs. It is time. I will speak to Ursa on the morrow, and arrange for her keeping.” Uthgar was grim in his determination. If his mother was too weak to care for his sister, then he would do what needed to be done. He did not like the idea of sending Phaedra away, not even just to the other side of the village, where he couldn’t protect her. But on some level, he also knew that she needed to learn how to deal with her “gifts”, if she were going to survive at all.
Silent tears began to flow down Gerta’s face. She had lost a husband, she did not want to lose a daughter too, but with one glance at Uthgar’s expression, it was clear what was to happen. Her shoulders slumped as the sobs shook her body. Ever solemn, Uthgar stood at his mother’s side, awkwardly patting her shoulder, as he watched his younger sister through the window.
Embraced by Madness: The Story of Phaedra and Uthgar
Midsummer’s Eve 6 A.D.
Ursa wiped the sweat from her brow, as she gazed at the bloody, twisted entrails resting in the wooden bowl before her. Looking up from the oxen’s remains, to the light-speckled heavens outside her window, and then back again, she uttered a prayer for what was to come.
~ * ~
The wise-woman’s humble cottage echoed with the sound of small fists hitting the thick, wooden door repeatedly, yet unheard. The knocking continued, at last bringing Ursa out of her reverie, with a start. Her walking stick firmly grasped in gnarled fingers, she carefully moved across the tidy, dirt floor, to unbolt the door. A young village boy, Dieter, she thought his name was, stood at her threshold, attempting to breathe and talk, all at the same time.
“Calm down boy, what is it?” Ursa asked in her down-to earth way; her voice reminiscent of one’s favorite aunt or grandmother.
“It’s time! The woman, Gerta! The baby! You need to come!” Gasped the boy, grabbing at the wise woman’s homespun sleeve.
“I understand, young man” Ursa calmly continued, “now let me gather some supplies, and I will be there shortly. You run on ahead and tell them I am coming, and to heat some water on the fire.”
The anxious young man was gone before the wooden door was once more firmly seated in its jam. “Ah the enthusiasm of youth,” chuckled Ursa to herself. Setting the strap of her bag of herbs and supplies firmly over her shoulder, she grasped her stick once more and made her way to Gerta and Arminius’ cottage. There was a baby to deliver. But not just any baby. All of the signs were in place to indicate that this child would be held as special in the eyes of the Gods, both old and new. But, that could wait, thought Ursa, first, she must assist the mother with the delivery, which would prove to be a difficult one, then she could sit down with Arminius and Gerta to talk about the “touched” nature of their offspring.
~*~
Young Uthgar’s eyes lit up as he heard the screams of his newborn sister coming from the next room. In his heart, he had known that the baby would be a girl, and his small lips moved silently as he vowed to the Gods, old and new, that he would forever care for his sister and protect her from all who would do her harm. Even at the tender age of four, he was mature beyond his years, and could not wait to follow the path of his father; that of a soldier; a protector.
~*~
Gerta, beautiful in her complete exhaustion, gazed down at the angel resting in her arms. Beautiful red hair crowned flawless, fair skin, and eyes, the blue of babies and the fey, breathlessly captured the mother’s heart.
“Phaedra,” she breathed, “Her name shall be Phaedra.”
~1~
Phaedra sat, curled up in her favorite place in all the woods, as she played with the new doll that her mother had crafted for her. The bits of scrap fabric, stuffed with leaves and adorned with a mane of thin leather strips, had easily become the lonely young girl’s new best friend; Agathe. The lush grass, beneath her favorite tree, was now little-girl shaped; the result of many a day spent lounging on its loam. While this was Phaedra’s favorite place, she could not be certain that it was the best place in the entire woods, but then Uthgar would only let her explore a tiny portion of the forest that met the yard, just behind their small, timber and thatch home. Every now and then, she contemplated going deeper into the tall trees, but always decided that it would not be worth her brother’s wrath to stray beyond the boundaries he had given her. Even though Uthgar was not that much older than her; a mere ten years to her six; he was always very serious, especially regarding the safety of his sister. Phaedra often thought him a bit silly in all his seriousness, but she loved him tremendously just the same, and never wanted to upset him.
As she brushed her dolly’s hair with a small, forked twig (which she thought made a lovely comb), Phaedra heard a noise behind her. Stifling a giggle and a small gasp of pleasure, she sat completely still, waiting; hoping; to see the forest spirit once again. The spirit had been there as long as she had been coming to the woods alone; sometimes appearing as a beautiful young woman of slight build, with delicately pointed ears, and other times, as nothing more than a voice in the mist. Well, sometimes the voice sounded like it was in her head, but it was always friendly and told her the most wondrous stories, complete with pictures and sounds and smells. Suddenly the smell of fresh flowers filled Phaedra’s nose, and her green eyes grew wide as she watched, waiting for her friend to appear once more.
~*~
“Uthgar! Uthgar!” cried Phaedra as she pulled at the hem of his well-worn shirt, “I saw her again! The forest spirit! She’s sooooooo pretty, Uthgar! You need to come meet her! She says that she wants to meet you too, but that she can’t come out of the forest when it’s still light outside. I told her that I can’t stay in the forest in the dark; that you’d get mad, ‘cause you would, Uthgar, wouldn’t you? You’d get mad if I stayed to play with her after the sun went away.”
Uthgar couldn’t stifle the small smile that played at the corners of his all too stern mouth. Very little could make the man-child smile, but Phaedra was one of those things that brought the occasional joy into his somber life. He never really understood the young girl’s need to keep these imaginary “forest spirits” as friends, but they seemed to make her happy, and as such, he did not have the heart to refuse her. He would do anything for his sister’s happiness. Anything, that is, except go into the woods to meet this “spirit friend” of hers. That was just taking the fantasy too far, and Uthgar felt that it would not help his sister eventually learn to cope with the harsh realities around her, if her were to totally indulge her fantasies.
“Yes, Phae, you know that I would get very mad if you stayed out after dark. I worry about you, and it is not safe to be outside at night; there are many animals in the woods who would happily eat you alive in one bite if they caught you!”
Phaedra’s eyes grew even wider at Uthgar’s response. “They’d eat me up whole!? They’re that big!?” She gulped as she glanced nervously at the forest behind her.
“That’s right, little one, so you always have to be home before the sun leaves the woods, agreed?”
“Agreed. I don’t think it would be much fun to be eaten.” Phaedra replied forlornly. Suddenly her eyes lit up once more, “But the forest spirit! She’d protect me! She says that she’s magic, and can do all sorts of wonderful thing…”
Phaedra stopped mid-gush, as she saw the look on her brother’s face. “I’m sorry Uthgar, don’t worry, I won’t ever stay in the forest after dark; I promise!” Wrinkles of concern marred her innocent face.
“Good.” Was Uthgar’s only response, as he solemnly strode off, into their cottage.
~2~
[insert more back story here- more examples of Phae being “touched”, Uthgar overhearing villagers talking about his sister] Young Uthgar was deeply worried about his sister. It seemed with each passing of the moon, she became more and more touched by the gods. Glancing out the cottage window, he could see Phaedra sitting on the ground playing with her dolls. Relatively certain that she was safe for now, he sat down with their mother in an attempt to discuss Phaedra’s future.
“She is becoming more distant…” Uthgar began, but Gerta did not seem to hear him.
“Mother. Please, we need to find a place for her!”
Gerta shook her head, as if awakening from a dream; it had been mere months since Arminius’ death, and she was still deeply grieved. As she raised her eyes to meet her son’s, she was struck once more by the resemblance- Uthgar truly was the image of his father. Uthgar watched as her eyes once more began to slide out of focus.
“Mother. It is time,” came the stern, young voice. Gerta once more woke from her sad reverie to stare at her son, as if she were seeing him for the first time.
“Whatever do you mean, Uthgar, she will stay here, with us, and you and I, we will take care of her,” her serene expression in deadly contrast to her panicked tone.
“Mother, we cannot give her the training that she needs. It is time. I will speak to Ursa on the morrow, and arrange for her keeping.” Uthgar was grim in his determination. If his mother was too weak to care for his sister, then he would do what needed to be done. He did not like the idea of sending Phaedra away, not even just to the other side of the village, where he couldn’t protect her. But on some level, he also knew that she needed to learn how to deal with her “gifts”, if she were going to survive at all.
Silent tears began to flow down Gerta’s face. She had lost a husband, she did not want to lose a daughter too, but with one glance at Uthgar’s expression, it was clear what was to happen. Her shoulders slumped as the sobs shook her body. Ever solemn, Uthgar stood at his mother’s side, awkwardly patting her shoulder, as he watched his younger sister through the window.