(no subject)
I don't know what it is about the shower, but I tend to solve my most vexing writing 'problems' in there.
For, gosh, years now, I've been trying to figure out a way to get Aurora's parents out of the picture. In fantasy writing, family members tend to be a liability. It's just too easy for the antagonist to get a hold of a family member, and then the protagonist usually has his/her hands tied and it spirals into the realm of cliche. Think of how many movies are based around that premise - hero has his beloved wife/daughter/dog kidnapped and has to go to the ends of the world to undertake a daring rescue.
Now don't get me wrong - it can make for a good story. It's just not the story I'm after.
Therefore, the family has to go.
Prior to now, my only thought was - family dies in a horrible fire. Aurora lives. Time to move on and get to the juicy story.
However, that's not me.
First off, if I were reading a book and that was the so-called 'explanation,' I'd be disgusted if the truth wasn't revealed eventually. There would always be that lingering thought in my head - "But what happened?"
Second off, it's just not me to leave a big gaping hole in the story. Even if I never reveal something to the reader, you'd better believe that I know every detail of the situation.
Not to mention that this is a huge opportunity to weave more complication and irony into the story! To leave it unplanned and unexplained would be terribly wasteful.
Aurora is the tender age of three months. Her parents are simple people - her father a roof-builder and her mother a basket-weaver (subject to change). They live in one of the sprawling inner neighborhoods of Northhaven, and are firmly entrenched in the lower middle class. Their home is a simple construct, nondescript save for the spectacular condition of the roof. The homes in the neighborhood are very much the same, constructed of wood and uncomfortably close to each other.
Late one summer night, when the entire family is asleep, a tiny spark ignites the corner of a cotton rug in the center of the house. There is nothing in the house that could naturally cause such a spark, and the cooking fire had been long since extinguished. Irrylath watches from afar, satisfied with her work. The rug catches fire quickly and spreads.
In the single bed in the house, both Aurora's mother and father pass away peacefully in their sleep, their lives snuffed in a rare moment of mercy on the part of Irrylath. Tiny Aurora, swaddled between them, sleeps on, completely oblivious to the events playing out.
Far on the other side of the city, Tavaras on horseback struggles with six city guards. He had been sent by Irrylath to rescue an infant which had been chosen to be her Bearer of the Light. The guards forcibly refuse Tavaras entry into the city - the hour is late, and their rules are firm in order to protect the citizens from the dangers of the night, some of which can take the form of a man. Tavaras, his panic beginning to mount, realizes that he cannot use magic to deceive so many people and attempts to force his way through the barrier as a glowing spot of light appears within the city.
Fire builds within the small house, thick smoke filling the air. Tiny Aurora is awakened by the smoke and does the only thing she knows how to - she begins to wail.
At this point, Irrylath begins to see her grand plan go horribly awry. Unable to directly control a mortal, she attempts to suggest to the guards barring Tavaras' path to allow him passage, but the are too firmly set in their state of mind.
She then turns to the neighbors of the burning house who pour out into the street, all too aware that their own homes could just as easily go up in flames due to the proximity of the buildings. Irrylath sets the suggestion in the minds of a few that an infant could be in the burning home, and those few rush towards the doorway to attempt a rescue. By now the fire has grown to raging proportions, and the call goes out to fetch water as the remaining neighbors, nearby residents, and the gathering Guard assemble to form a bucket brigade. The neighbors who are under Irrylath's suggestion are driven back by the heat and abandon their task in favor of their own survival and that of their homes. They scatter to join the brigade.
Outside the city gate, Tavaras screams his need to get into the city as the glowing spot grows in the distance and in desperation charges the men. In short order his horse is killed, and he is forced to flee the men who now see him as a threat instead of a benign nuisance.
Rapidly approaching the burning home is Vaelorn, who had over the past few days sensed Irrylath's focused attention on the area as well as the magical potential of a newborn. To investigate and monitor the situation, he rented a room in a nearby Inn. He now senses the blazing potential of the infant Aurora and focuses on it, allowing it to lead him to the burning home. He rushes past the gathering brigade and, unnoticed by any of the neighbors, leaps through the partially collapsed doorway and into the house beyond.
Gold-tinged flames lick at his skin as he works his way into the home, giving him cause for a small grimace, and he quickly locates the tiny swaddled infant who gasps for air. He plucks the small bundle from between the dead and, sheltering it against his chest, makes his way quickly out of the burning remains of the house.
Safely outside and distanced from the burning building, he monitors the gasping breaths of the tiny infant and casts his gaze skyward. "You have interfered yet again," he whispers, eyes narrowed in anger. "Add two more lives to your long tally, but you will not claim a third, either in death or for whatever twisted plan you had in mind for her." Aware of how uncharacteristic the act is for him, he places his protection on the tiny infant, taking a form of enjoyment in sensing the enraged goddess thrash and scream. "You forced my hand once again, but no more," he answers her rage, then casts his gaze on the gathered people who, working with smooth efficiency, douse the burning home with bucket after bucket of water to prevent the spread of destruction.
Locating one young man among the group, he moves over to the individual and pulls him from the line. Initially reacting with anger, the young man then notes the small reddened infant in Vaelorn's arms and gapes. "Is that.. that's young Aurora! We thought her dead for sure! Blessings upon you!" He drops his bucket and reaches out to take the infant as Vaelorn passes her on to him.
"She needs a family, and you are well-known in the city for your kindness and good nature. Watch over her, protect her, and let her grow." Vaelorn detaches a small pouch from his belt and hands it to the man. "That will pay for what she needs so your family is not burdened."
"I.. of course," the man answers, transfixed by the tiny squirming infant in his arms. "My wife.. she'll be beside herself with joy.." He looks up to thank the man, only to find that he is nowhere in sight. Bewildered, he shakes his head and abandons the fire-fighting efforts, instead trotting down the street in the direction of the local healers.
Far outside the city, Tavaras watches the smoke billow into the sky, not unlike that of a funeral pyre, and silently grieves.
So! How's that for irony? *big grin*
- Irrylath sends Tavaras to rescue Aurora from a disaster of her own making.
- He is stymied from completing his mission due to rules and fears in effect because of The Falling - which, incidentally, is also Irrylath's fault!
- Because of Irrylath's meddling, Aurora ends up under the protection of the very being that the goddess chose her to defeat!
- And, of course, the simple fact that Vaelorn is the one that rescued Aurora as an infant!
Poor Aurora.. I'm not very nice to her, am I? And yes, Irrylath is quite the bitch. Fire is her calling card, and she looks for every opportunity to use it and be dramatic in the process.
Now I'm not sure how I'll reveal all of this to her. I don't know that Vaelorn would ever volunteer the information, and Irrylath sure as hell wouldn't, but I'll figure something out. I'm toying with a few ideas, but haven't settled on a particular one just yet.
For, gosh, years now, I've been trying to figure out a way to get Aurora's parents out of the picture. In fantasy writing, family members tend to be a liability. It's just too easy for the antagonist to get a hold of a family member, and then the protagonist usually has his/her hands tied and it spirals into the realm of cliche. Think of how many movies are based around that premise - hero has his beloved wife/daughter/dog kidnapped and has to go to the ends of the world to undertake a daring rescue.
Now don't get me wrong - it can make for a good story. It's just not the story I'm after.
Therefore, the family has to go.
Prior to now, my only thought was - family dies in a horrible fire. Aurora lives. Time to move on and get to the juicy story.
However, that's not me.
First off, if I were reading a book and that was the so-called 'explanation,' I'd be disgusted if the truth wasn't revealed eventually. There would always be that lingering thought in my head - "But what happened?"
Second off, it's just not me to leave a big gaping hole in the story. Even if I never reveal something to the reader, you'd better believe that I know every detail of the situation.
Not to mention that this is a huge opportunity to weave more complication and irony into the story! To leave it unplanned and unexplained would be terribly wasteful.
Aurora is the tender age of three months. Her parents are simple people - her father a roof-builder and her mother a basket-weaver (subject to change). They live in one of the sprawling inner neighborhoods of Northhaven, and are firmly entrenched in the lower middle class. Their home is a simple construct, nondescript save for the spectacular condition of the roof. The homes in the neighborhood are very much the same, constructed of wood and uncomfortably close to each other.
Late one summer night, when the entire family is asleep, a tiny spark ignites the corner of a cotton rug in the center of the house. There is nothing in the house that could naturally cause such a spark, and the cooking fire had been long since extinguished. Irrylath watches from afar, satisfied with her work. The rug catches fire quickly and spreads.
In the single bed in the house, both Aurora's mother and father pass away peacefully in their sleep, their lives snuffed in a rare moment of mercy on the part of Irrylath. Tiny Aurora, swaddled between them, sleeps on, completely oblivious to the events playing out.
Far on the other side of the city, Tavaras on horseback struggles with six city guards. He had been sent by Irrylath to rescue an infant which had been chosen to be her Bearer of the Light. The guards forcibly refuse Tavaras entry into the city - the hour is late, and their rules are firm in order to protect the citizens from the dangers of the night, some of which can take the form of a man. Tavaras, his panic beginning to mount, realizes that he cannot use magic to deceive so many people and attempts to force his way through the barrier as a glowing spot of light appears within the city.
Fire builds within the small house, thick smoke filling the air. Tiny Aurora is awakened by the smoke and does the only thing she knows how to - she begins to wail.
At this point, Irrylath begins to see her grand plan go horribly awry. Unable to directly control a mortal, she attempts to suggest to the guards barring Tavaras' path to allow him passage, but the are too firmly set in their state of mind.
She then turns to the neighbors of the burning house who pour out into the street, all too aware that their own homes could just as easily go up in flames due to the proximity of the buildings. Irrylath sets the suggestion in the minds of a few that an infant could be in the burning home, and those few rush towards the doorway to attempt a rescue. By now the fire has grown to raging proportions, and the call goes out to fetch water as the remaining neighbors, nearby residents, and the gathering Guard assemble to form a bucket brigade. The neighbors who are under Irrylath's suggestion are driven back by the heat and abandon their task in favor of their own survival and that of their homes. They scatter to join the brigade.
Outside the city gate, Tavaras screams his need to get into the city as the glowing spot grows in the distance and in desperation charges the men. In short order his horse is killed, and he is forced to flee the men who now see him as a threat instead of a benign nuisance.
Rapidly approaching the burning home is Vaelorn, who had over the past few days sensed Irrylath's focused attention on the area as well as the magical potential of a newborn. To investigate and monitor the situation, he rented a room in a nearby Inn. He now senses the blazing potential of the infant Aurora and focuses on it, allowing it to lead him to the burning home. He rushes past the gathering brigade and, unnoticed by any of the neighbors, leaps through the partially collapsed doorway and into the house beyond.
Gold-tinged flames lick at his skin as he works his way into the home, giving him cause for a small grimace, and he quickly locates the tiny swaddled infant who gasps for air. He plucks the small bundle from between the dead and, sheltering it against his chest, makes his way quickly out of the burning remains of the house.
Safely outside and distanced from the burning building, he monitors the gasping breaths of the tiny infant and casts his gaze skyward. "You have interfered yet again," he whispers, eyes narrowed in anger. "Add two more lives to your long tally, but you will not claim a third, either in death or for whatever twisted plan you had in mind for her." Aware of how uncharacteristic the act is for him, he places his protection on the tiny infant, taking a form of enjoyment in sensing the enraged goddess thrash and scream. "You forced my hand once again, but no more," he answers her rage, then casts his gaze on the gathered people who, working with smooth efficiency, douse the burning home with bucket after bucket of water to prevent the spread of destruction.
Locating one young man among the group, he moves over to the individual and pulls him from the line. Initially reacting with anger, the young man then notes the small reddened infant in Vaelorn's arms and gapes. "Is that.. that's young Aurora! We thought her dead for sure! Blessings upon you!" He drops his bucket and reaches out to take the infant as Vaelorn passes her on to him.
"She needs a family, and you are well-known in the city for your kindness and good nature. Watch over her, protect her, and let her grow." Vaelorn detaches a small pouch from his belt and hands it to the man. "That will pay for what she needs so your family is not burdened."
"I.. of course," the man answers, transfixed by the tiny squirming infant in his arms. "My wife.. she'll be beside herself with joy.." He looks up to thank the man, only to find that he is nowhere in sight. Bewildered, he shakes his head and abandons the fire-fighting efforts, instead trotting down the street in the direction of the local healers.
Far outside the city, Tavaras watches the smoke billow into the sky, not unlike that of a funeral pyre, and silently grieves.
So! How's that for irony? *big grin*
- Irrylath sends Tavaras to rescue Aurora from a disaster of her own making.
- He is stymied from completing his mission due to rules and fears in effect because of The Falling - which, incidentally, is also Irrylath's fault!
- Because of Irrylath's meddling, Aurora ends up under the protection of the very being that the goddess chose her to defeat!
- And, of course, the simple fact that Vaelorn is the one that rescued Aurora as an infant!
Poor Aurora.. I'm not very nice to her, am I? And yes, Irrylath is quite the bitch. Fire is her calling card, and she looks for every opportunity to use it and be dramatic in the process.
Now I'm not sure how I'll reveal all of this to her. I don't know that Vaelorn would ever volunteer the information, and Irrylath sure as hell wouldn't, but I'll figure something out. I'm toying with a few ideas, but haven't settled on a particular one just yet.