At World's End -- Part 16b
anonymous
May 1 2011, 02:37:25 UTC
"Alfred move..." Ivan yelled over the deafening call sound of thunder.
He didn't need to be told twice he moved instinctively towards the coach, picking up his pace as he felt Ivan's presence close to his back. He gave a startled yelp as another bolt hit the trees directly to the side of them. There was a sizzle of magic and of nature as the trees began to catch fire. Then there was a louder, more ominous cracking sound.
"Alfred!"
Ivan's voice was sharp in his ear as his husband weight smacked into his back. He was propelled forward the momentum carrying them directly towards the ground. He brought his hands up and squeezed his eyes shut preparing for a hard impact with the ground. The impact came but it was quite as painful as he'd been expecting. The ground was much softer then he'd been expecting it to be. A split second later he felt the wind driven out of him as Ivan's body landed on top of him. Being on the top Ivan wasn't left as dazed by the impact as Alfred was and he sprang quickly into further motion covering Alfred's body with his own. Then there was another crackle of magic and a loud crash. Then there was silence. It took Alfred a moment to realize his ears were ringing, blocking out the sound of everything else around him.
He peeked out from underneath Ivan's arms and was greeted by the sight of a purple dome of magic. Ivan must have put up a shield around them in the split second after they'd landed. The reason for it was obvious. A short distance away was the shattered trunk of a tree still crackling with fire and magic. It must have landed on them, or the shield rather, before crashing to the ground. It Ivan hadn't pushed him out of the way he would have been hit dead on by it. He shuddered. Ivan shifted above him moving his arm to block Alfred's view and to further shield his head.
"Keep your head down," Ivan said.
His voice was slightly strained and Alfred realized that he was probably fighting the urge to help his men with the battle. For that was what this had to be...an attack of some kind. No way this sort of storm was natural. He shifted trying to turn enough to tell Ivan to go he would be okay when the shield seemed to shift and grow stronger as another presence joined them. Alfred managed to catch a glimpse of a blue cloak and the thick guttural accent and knew that Berwald had gotten over to them. He positioned himself so that he was protecting Ivan's head and his cloak provided a further barrier around Alfred as well.
Alfred shook his head trying to make the ringing stop. It didn't quite work but it cleared enough that he could hear what they were saying.
"Your Majesty are you alright?" Berwald snapped.
"Da, I am fine, Berwald," Ivan asked though his voice still sounded strained.
"You're sure?" Berwald asked in a voice that sounded like he didn't quite believe it.
"I am as fine as can be expected after doing such powerful magic on such short notice and having a tree collapse on me," Ivan answered back almost dryly.
"It is my duty to check, Your Majesty," Berwald answered in a tone that was mild despite the craziness that had happened and was still going on around them. "And His Highness, is he alright? That fall..."
"I'm fine," Alfred interjected quickly.
"Are you really?" Ivan asked firmly.
"Yeah my ears are ringing and I'm gonna be sore tomorrow probably but I'm okay," he answered tried to turn over to face Ivan but Ivan pressed his weight into him to keep him from moving.
"Head down," Ivan snapped tersely.
Alfred opened his mouth to argue but they began having a agitated sounding conversation in a language that he didn't understand. It was thick and guttural and he new instantly that it was in Berwald's native language. He strained to catch as much of it as he could. He might not understand what was being said but he'd always enjoyed hearing new languages even in a situation such as this.
"I am joining the battle and that is final, Berwald," Ivan snapped sliding back into common speech as he did so.
"It is too dangerous, Majesty," Berwald snapped back.
At World's End -- Part 16c
anonymous
May 1 2011, 02:41:36 UTC
"Exactly why I must join the others," Ivan said. "I am their leader and hold the strongest magic. If whoever is behind this decides to try and breech the wards it will be imperative that I am there to try and hold them back. They cannot get what they are looking for...I will not allow it."
There was a brief pause then Berwald let out a tight, irritated puff of air. "Very well, Majesty, there is no time to argue with you further."
"You are not supposed to argue with me at all, Berwald," Ivan said a bit of good humor slipping into his voice. "You are supposed to be following my orders."
"I am supposed to be keeping you safe..." Berwald growled.
Any other arguments ended as another crack of lightening sounded across the space, this impact was much closer to the camp. The force of it shook the ground and caused a strange burst of unhappy magic to crackle against Alfred's skin. He tried to shift himself to see if he could see around their bodies and find out what was going on but once again Ivan pressed his head back down. He let out an irritated puff of air of his own that was immediately ignored by them both.
"They are getting closer," Ivan said sharply. "We must act quickly so they do not make it to the wards."
"What about His Highness, Majesty?" Berwald asked. "Do you wish me to stay with him?"
Alfred was shocked that Berwald had asked after him. He was even more shocked that there was no censure in his voice. Whatever Berwald might think of him personally he would do his job without question.
"No," Ivan said. "We will need your strength if they breech the wards."
"Should we call over one of the others? He will be defenseless if we leave him on his own," Berwald said.
"We will need every man we can get but yes..." Ivan pondered as another bolt of lightening struck the ground.
Alfred could not see it but he could tell it was closer from the way the ground shook underneath him. "Go," he insisted sharply. "I'll be okay, I'll stay here and I'll keep my head down. I'll be fine on my own..."
"He will be unguarded..." Berwald said.
"It won't matter if I'm guarded or not if you don't go stop them before they breech the wards..." Alfred snapped. "I promise I won't do anything to get in anyone's way I'll stay right here out of trouble..."
Alfred hoped that Ivan wouldn't realize that he would still be in danger even if he stayed right where he was. As already had been proven the magic itself couldn't breech the wards but the trees knocked down by it could. But Ivan needed to take part in the battle and the last thing Alfred wanted to be was a distraction. He'd simply have to fudge a little keep an eye on his surroundings and get out of the way should any more trees be brought down. He didn't think Ivan would buy it there was no way the King was that dumb. But maybe there just wouldn't be enough time to really think about it. In the end he didn't have to worry.
"Your Majesty, they are getting closer, we will need your support!" one of the men called his voice tight and strained but free of outright fear.
"You will stay here," Ivan's voice said. It was a statement not a question.
"Yes," Alfred answered immediately. This was one of the few times he didn't feel the urge to argue with an order.
"You will stay here..." Ivan continued. "And you will not move. Nor will you try to lift it up or pull it off."
"Of course..." Alfred said and then realized he no longer had any idea what Ivan was talking about. "Pull what off..."
At World's End -- Part 16d
anonymous
May 1 2011, 02:44:26 UTC
He didn't get an answer he didn't need to as his words were cut off by a thick fall of fabric being placed over him. It covered him from head to foot and was heavy and soft. Then there was a crackle of magic against it and it became even heavier it felt tight around him even though it still felt and acted like fabric and he could move slightly inside. Cloak magic. Ivan had spelled his cloak to act as a barrier around Alfred. It soon became heavier and darker as what felt like another be spelled piece of fabric was laid over the top of the other. Alfred assumed, though he could not see to be sure, that it was Berwald's cloak.
The air was thick underneath the layers lying over him. And it was completely silent he couldn't hear any of the battle going around beyond the fabric. He quickly grew antsy not knowing how much time had passed or what was going on. He didn't know if Ivan was okay. Through he started gasping he'd always been slightly claustrophobic though he couldn't really think of a reason why though sometimes late at night he had visions of a small confined space and the smell of brunt wood closing in on him. Unable to take it any longer he reached a shaky had out and lifted the fabric a crack. Just enough to let a little bit of air in. He hoped it would not weaken the spells too much. He left his hand over by the fabric ready to pull it back if he needed and inched a bit closer to the hole to breath a bit easier.
The other side effect of his action was that he could now hear what was going on outside. It was just a jumble of noises really. Yells, more lightening crashing, an explosion of spells. He let out a relieved breath as he heard Ivan's voice and then Eduard's above the fray and eventually he heard Berwald's voice as well. They were alright. His relief didn't last long. There was another loud crash of lightening and a sicken crash of wood against wood followed by the panicked sound of agitated horses.
"The trees are starting to collapse...the horses...someone get to the horses and move them!"
He didn't recognize the voice but perhaps it was Ivan's heavy with strain and fear two things he had never heard it hold before. He felt fear of his own as he thought of the poor animals tied as they were they would not be able to escape quickly enough if the trees were coming down. For a brief moment he fancied he could almost feel their panic and confusion skitter against his skin. He reached out for them in a hopeless attempt to calm them and to help them despite that he was too far away to do them any good.
There was a strange twist in the ground beneath him a shudder that he could feel to his bones. He drew his knees instinctively closer to his chest and ducked his head inwardly as well. His hand quickly snapped back from where it had somehow slipped out through the crack he'd created in the cloaks on top of him. A cry of "Earthquake!" was the last thing he heard before the fabric fell back down and recreated the seal of magic over the top of him leaving him once again in darkness and silence. The ground continued to shake underneath him and all he could do now was hope and pray that they would all make it through alright.
* * * TBC
Author's Note: Another one that took forever. Sorry, sorry. Action sequences...orz. On the plus side is that the next part should be out rather quickly because it's literally almost completely written since it was supposed to originally be part of this part.
Re: At World's End -- Part 16d
anonymous
May 1 2011, 03:20:43 UTC
I'm so happy! I'm so happy! I'm so happy! An update, yay! AND action!! AND Alfred's magic!! I smiled through the whole thing ^.^ I am SO excited for next part!!
Re: At World's End -- Part 16d
anonymous
May 1 2011, 05:08:22 UTC
I totally feel your pain, authoranon, writing action sequences is so hard. But you managed, this is exciting! I'm always so glad to see an update of this, and awesome to hear the next bit may come soon.
Yeah action sequences and I have never gotten along very well and unfortunately it's made the next part a bit of a struggle as well I'll be happy to be done with them for a bit once this section is over.
Thanks for the comment, glad you're enjoying the fic!
Re: At World's End -- Part 16d
anonymous
May 1 2011, 05:20:49 UTC
My face when I saw this update = 8D
haha but seriously, I was so excited for this! It seems with each new part we find out more little details about Alfred's magic. It almost reminds me of the kind of nature/wild magic...like from those novels by Tamora Pierce, only it had a deeper connection to the environment. Uwaaahh can't wait to read more!!! ♥
Don't worry, I thought the action sequences were good!
Re: At World's End -- Part 16d
anonymous
May 1 2011, 13:24:51 UTC
You updated! Yehaw! I love love love this story. I have been reading fanfic since 1997 and let me tell you this story is one of my all time favorites. Your fairy tail writing is sublime... it reminds me very much of some of my favorite authors- Mercedes Lacky and Robin Mckinly. I get sucked into the texture and nuances of your world and don't ever want to leave it. Your characterizations are spectacular as well-I have a crush on BOTH Alfred and Ivan. The hurt comfort potential rocks it out. Please keep this story going- I look forward to it everyday! ;-)
So, I am guessing whatever magic Alfred has is very rare and Ivan knows what it is. Earth magic?
Re: At World's End -- Part 16d
anonymous
May 2 2011, 03:52:07 UTC
A!A I love you, and this fill. I've been having a pretty bad day, yet just reading over an update makes me so happy. <3 Thank you so much! I look forward to your updated, and are always so delighted to read them!
Re: At World's End -- Part 16d
anonymous
May 13 2011, 05:40:21 UTC
*cries* I'm so happy I found this updated!! *flails about madly* This is one of my favorite fills on the meme. I think you wrote the battle scene really well, and I know how hard it can be to write those. Kept my interest the whole way through! And we finally got to see what was probably Alfred's magic!! Now I'm wondering if he has some sort of elemental earth magic that was undetected up to this point.
So happy for the updates. Can't wait for more author anon!!
He didn't need to be told twice he moved instinctively towards the coach, picking up his pace as he felt Ivan's presence close to his back. He gave a startled yelp as another bolt hit the trees directly to the side of them. There was a sizzle of magic and of nature as the trees began to catch fire. Then there was a louder, more ominous cracking sound.
"Alfred!"
Ivan's voice was sharp in his ear as his husband weight smacked into his back. He was propelled forward the momentum carrying them directly towards the ground. He brought his hands up and squeezed his eyes shut preparing for a hard impact with the ground. The impact came but it was quite as painful as he'd been expecting. The ground was much softer then he'd been expecting it to be. A split second later he felt the wind driven out of him as Ivan's body landed on top of him. Being on the top Ivan wasn't left as dazed by the impact as Alfred was and he sprang quickly into further motion covering Alfred's body with his own. Then there was another crackle of magic and a loud crash. Then there was silence. It took Alfred a moment to realize his ears were ringing, blocking out the sound of everything else around him.
He peeked out from underneath Ivan's arms and was greeted by the sight of a purple dome of magic. Ivan must have put up a shield around them in the split second after they'd landed. The reason for it was obvious. A short distance away was the shattered trunk of a tree still crackling with fire and magic. It must have landed on them, or the shield rather, before crashing to the ground. It Ivan hadn't pushed him out of the way he would have been hit dead on by it. He shuddered. Ivan shifted above him moving his arm to block Alfred's view and to further shield his head.
"Keep your head down," Ivan said.
His voice was slightly strained and Alfred realized that he was probably fighting the urge to help his men with the battle. For that was what this had to be...an attack of some kind. No way this sort of storm was natural. He shifted trying to turn enough to tell Ivan to go he would be okay when the shield seemed to shift and grow stronger as another presence joined them. Alfred managed to catch a glimpse of a blue cloak and the thick guttural accent and knew that Berwald had gotten over to them. He positioned himself so that he was protecting Ivan's head and his cloak provided a further barrier around Alfred as well.
Alfred shook his head trying to make the ringing stop. It didn't quite work but it cleared enough that he could hear what they were saying.
"Your Majesty are you alright?" Berwald snapped.
"Da, I am fine, Berwald," Ivan asked though his voice still sounded strained.
"You're sure?" Berwald asked in a voice that sounded like he didn't quite believe it.
"I am as fine as can be expected after doing such powerful magic on such short notice and having a tree collapse on me," Ivan answered back almost dryly.
"It is my duty to check, Your Majesty," Berwald answered in a tone that was mild despite the craziness that had happened and was still going on around them. "And His Highness, is he alright? That fall..."
"I'm fine," Alfred interjected quickly.
"Are you really?" Ivan asked firmly.
"Yeah my ears are ringing and I'm gonna be sore tomorrow probably but I'm okay," he answered tried to turn over to face Ivan but Ivan pressed his weight into him to keep him from moving.
"Head down," Ivan snapped tersely.
Alfred opened his mouth to argue but they began having a agitated sounding conversation in a language that he didn't understand. It was thick and guttural and he new instantly that it was in Berwald's native language. He strained to catch as much of it as he could. He might not understand what was being said but he'd always enjoyed hearing new languages even in a situation such as this.
"I am joining the battle and that is final, Berwald," Ivan snapped sliding back into common speech as he did so.
"It is too dangerous, Majesty," Berwald snapped back.
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There was a brief pause then Berwald let out a tight, irritated puff of air. "Very well, Majesty, there is no time to argue with you further."
"You are not supposed to argue with me at all, Berwald," Ivan said a bit of good humor slipping into his voice. "You are supposed to be following my orders."
"I am supposed to be keeping you safe..." Berwald growled.
Any other arguments ended as another crack of lightening sounded across the space, this impact was much closer to the camp. The force of it shook the ground and caused a strange burst of unhappy magic to crackle against Alfred's skin. He tried to shift himself to see if he could see around their bodies and find out what was going on but once again Ivan pressed his head back down. He let out an irritated puff of air of his own that was immediately ignored by them both.
"They are getting closer," Ivan said sharply. "We must act quickly so they do not make it to the wards."
"What about His Highness, Majesty?" Berwald asked. "Do you wish me to stay with him?"
Alfred was shocked that Berwald had asked after him. He was even more shocked that there was no censure in his voice. Whatever Berwald might think of him personally he would do his job without question.
"No," Ivan said. "We will need your strength if they breech the wards."
"Should we call over one of the others? He will be defenseless if we leave him on his own," Berwald said.
"We will need every man we can get but yes..." Ivan pondered as another bolt of lightening struck the ground.
Alfred could not see it but he could tell it was closer from the way the ground shook underneath him. "Go," he insisted sharply. "I'll be okay, I'll stay here and I'll keep my head down. I'll be fine on my own..."
"He will be unguarded..." Berwald said.
"It won't matter if I'm guarded or not if you don't go stop them before they breech the wards..." Alfred snapped. "I promise I won't do anything to get in anyone's way I'll stay right here out of trouble..."
Alfred hoped that Ivan wouldn't realize that he would still be in danger even if he stayed right where he was. As already had been proven the magic itself couldn't breech the wards but the trees knocked down by it could. But Ivan needed to take part in the battle and the last thing Alfred wanted to be was a distraction. He'd simply have to fudge a little keep an eye on his surroundings and get out of the way should any more trees be brought down. He didn't think Ivan would buy it there was no way the King was that dumb. But maybe there just wouldn't be enough time to really think about it. In the end he didn't have to worry.
"Your Majesty, they are getting closer, we will need your support!" one of the men called his voice tight and strained but free of outright fear.
"You will stay here," Ivan's voice said. It was a statement not a question.
"Yes," Alfred answered immediately. This was one of the few times he didn't feel the urge to argue with an order.
"You will stay here..." Ivan continued. "And you will not move. Nor will you try to lift it up or pull it off."
"Of course..." Alfred said and then realized he no longer had any idea what Ivan was talking about. "Pull what off..."
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The air was thick underneath the layers lying over him. And it was completely silent he couldn't hear any of the battle going around beyond the fabric. He quickly grew antsy not knowing how much time had passed or what was going on. He didn't know if Ivan was okay. Through he started gasping he'd always been slightly claustrophobic though he couldn't really think of a reason why though sometimes late at night he had visions of a small confined space and the smell of brunt wood closing in on him. Unable to take it any longer he reached a shaky had out and lifted the fabric a crack. Just enough to let a little bit of air in. He hoped it would not weaken the spells too much. He left his hand over by the fabric ready to pull it back if he needed and inched a bit closer to the hole to breath a bit easier.
The other side effect of his action was that he could now hear what was going on outside. It was just a jumble of noises really. Yells, more lightening crashing, an explosion of spells. He let out a relieved breath as he heard Ivan's voice and then Eduard's above the fray and eventually he heard Berwald's voice as well. They were alright. His relief didn't last long. There was another loud crash of lightening and a sicken crash of wood against wood followed by the panicked sound of agitated horses.
"The trees are starting to collapse...the horses...someone get to the horses and move them!"
He didn't recognize the voice but perhaps it was Ivan's heavy with strain and fear two things he had never heard it hold before. He felt fear of his own as he thought of the poor animals tied as they were they would not be able to escape quickly enough if the trees were coming down. For a brief moment he fancied he could almost feel their panic and confusion skitter against his skin. He reached out for them in a hopeless attempt to calm them and to help them despite that he was too far away to do them any good.
There was a strange twist in the ground beneath him a shudder that he could feel to his bones. He drew his knees instinctively closer to his chest and ducked his head inwardly as well. His hand quickly snapped back from where it had somehow slipped out through the crack he'd created in the cloaks on top of him. A cry of "Earthquake!" was the last thing he heard before the fabric fell back down and recreated the seal of magic over the top of him leaving him once again in darkness and silence. The ground continued to shake underneath him and all he could do now was hope and pray that they would all make it through alright.
* * *
TBC
Author's Note: Another one that took forever. Sorry, sorry. Action sequences...orz. On the plus side is that the next part should be out rather quickly because it's literally almost completely written since it was supposed to originally be part of this part.
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Thanks for the comment, glad you're enjoying the fic!
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haha but seriously, I was so excited for this! It seems with each new part we find out more little details about Alfred's magic. It almost reminds me of the kind of nature/wild magic...like from those novels by Tamora Pierce, only it had a deeper connection to the environment. Uwaaahh can't wait to read more!!! ♥
Don't worry, I thought the action sequences were good!
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ahem...ya...so I'm excited, is it obvious?
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XD
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So, I am guessing whatever magic Alfred has is very rare and Ivan knows what it is. Earth magic?
Thank you for updating.
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Don't worry I have a feeling the story will be continuing for a good long time...probably too long a time for its own good actually lol.
You're welcome. Thanks for commenting!
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I love the action sequence, who the hell is the culprit!?
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So happy for the updates. Can't wait for more author anon!!
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