[Fic] "Dissolution" -- original, Ironheart's War
I felt like writing something random today, so here is a new 15 minute fic. It's original, not fanfiction, and is a bit of a character study. Eilonnua belongs to a world I have been writing about for several years now. She's only peripherally involved in most of my stories, but indirectly influences a number of them. This vignette is set shortly after the worst time of her life, as she struggles to hold things together.
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Dissolution
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Eilonnua cannot remember a time before she knew she was a disappointment. Her mother was the second-most beautiful woman in her grandfather's court, and would have been the first if not for the king's new wife. Her father, the royal heir, was a man of great learning, dignity, and virtue. Her grandfather was one of the most glorious kings in the past century.
And what is she? The eldest legitimate child, born female to her family's dismay. Too plain to entrance foreign dignitaries. Too much loved by her younger brother to be quietly ignored. Too curious for her own peace of mind.
Eilonnua remembers the day she realized that being a disappointment was a gift as well as a curse. When the Danna came to the Isles, to her grandfather's court, a woman led them. She was not beautiful, not quiet, not virtuous, not content to pull strings from the shadows. She was strong. She stared the world in the eye and took what her people needed. And Eilonnua, standing on the dais, letting her brother clutch her hand, decided that she would also be strong. She was of the blood of Ammun. What else could she be but strong?
Now, in the chaos after the loss of the Tarranny Isles, in the bloody aftermath of the rebellions that stole life from her family, she and her infant daughter are the last of the blood to live. And it doesn't matter that she isn't beautiful. It doesn't matter that she isn't virtuous. It doesn't matter if she wins glory. She is strong and she knows what her people need. All she has to do is take it.
She stares the world in the eye and leads her army into battle.
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Inspired by the January 4th 15minuteficlets word: perfection
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Random stuff from my life: I've been reading Al Franken's Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them. It's an interesting book. I was expecting to feel righteous indignation at the exposed ugliness of the right, but instead all I can feel is a sort of weary pity. All these right-wing figures come off more as pathetic losers who can't even admit when they were wrong, instead of fearsome opponents. It's a weird effect for me as a reader.
And it's Cat's birthday. Happy Birthday, Cat! (Hmmm. I should call her.)
That's about it.
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Dissolution
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Eilonnua cannot remember a time before she knew she was a disappointment. Her mother was the second-most beautiful woman in her grandfather's court, and would have been the first if not for the king's new wife. Her father, the royal heir, was a man of great learning, dignity, and virtue. Her grandfather was one of the most glorious kings in the past century.
And what is she? The eldest legitimate child, born female to her family's dismay. Too plain to entrance foreign dignitaries. Too much loved by her younger brother to be quietly ignored. Too curious for her own peace of mind.
Eilonnua remembers the day she realized that being a disappointment was a gift as well as a curse. When the Danna came to the Isles, to her grandfather's court, a woman led them. She was not beautiful, not quiet, not virtuous, not content to pull strings from the shadows. She was strong. She stared the world in the eye and took what her people needed. And Eilonnua, standing on the dais, letting her brother clutch her hand, decided that she would also be strong. She was of the blood of Ammun. What else could she be but strong?
Now, in the chaos after the loss of the Tarranny Isles, in the bloody aftermath of the rebellions that stole life from her family, she and her infant daughter are the last of the blood to live. And it doesn't matter that she isn't beautiful. It doesn't matter that she isn't virtuous. It doesn't matter if she wins glory. She is strong and she knows what her people need. All she has to do is take it.
She stares the world in the eye and leads her army into battle.
-----------------------------------
Inspired by the January 4th 15minuteficlets word: perfection
-----------------------------------
Random stuff from my life: I've been reading Al Franken's Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them. It's an interesting book. I was expecting to feel righteous indignation at the exposed ugliness of the right, but instead all I can feel is a sort of weary pity. All these right-wing figures come off more as pathetic losers who can't even admit when they were wrong, instead of fearsome opponents. It's a weird effect for me as a reader.
And it's Cat's birthday. Happy Birthday, Cat! (Hmmm. I should call her.)
That's about it.