Variation #4 - The Four Seasons
Title: Spring Garden
Fandom: Lord of the Rings
Characters: Miaka, Hotohori, Tasuki, Tai Yi-Jun
Word Count: 570
Rating: G
Summary: AU. Miaka finds out exactly why she's been craving sardines with pickle. Sequel to Wintry Oracle.
Table link: http://airelement.livejournal.com/57564.html
“Aww, how cute,” Tasuki teased. Miaka jumped and glared at the seishi; then she returned to carefully brushing Hotohori’s long raven hair. It had become something of a reitual: Hotohori spoilt Miaka in every way he possibly could, and once she was thoroughly pampered she’d pander to his vanity and stroke his ego - or, in this case, his hair.
“All done,” Miaka announced a few moments later. Tasuki sighed in relief audibly - he wasn’t a fan of mushy-gushy displays of affection. At least not when they weren’t being directed at him.
“So what’s wrong with you anyway?” Tasuki asked bluntly.
“Nothing. I’m absolutely, totally and completely fine, thank you for asking. Actually I’m hungry, could you pleeeeeease go get me some sardines and pickle?” Miaka begged. Tasuki shuddered.
“Tell me I heard that wrong,” he begged.
“What is it with you two and hating sardines and pickle?” Miaka demanded. “I need sardines and pickle or I’m going to go completely crazy.”
“If you want to eat sardines and pickle you are crazy,” Tasuki muttered. “It’s not food you need, it’s Mitsukake.”
“I told you, I’m not ill!” Miaka said. Tasuki shrugged, snorted quietly and left the room.
---------
“Well? Where are they?” Tai Yi-Jun demanded. Miaka shuffled slightly closer to Hotohori, who wrapped a protective arm around her.
“Erm… about that…” Miaka started. “You probably have some crazy plan for us to go and get Tamahome and try not to get killed” - her voice turned slightly bitter, because for all she knew it wasn’t his fault she couldn’t help but feel a bit resentful -“and that really isn’t a good option right now.”
“What could possibly be more important than ensuring Konan’s survival?” the oracle hissed.
“That’s what I’m doing,” Miaka retorted. “You wouldn’t want the only heir to the throne to die before he was born, would you?”
“You are expecting a child?” Tai Yi-Jun asked.
“Yep!” Miaka said happily. Hotohori smiled at the look of delight that made her face glow. “So, erm, see ya in a few months!” Miaka rushed out of the temple. No need to tempt fate - or angry oracles - to smite her if they happened to be in a smiting mood. Not that Tai Yi-Jun would smite a woman with a baby… Miaka hoped.
----------
Three months later, Tai Yi-Jun had yet to smite Miaka. Miaka had stopped grossing people out by eating sardines with pickles, and had moved on to eating a whole loaf of bread per day. Well, she was eating for two, and normally she’d have lots at dinner anyway… at least, that was her excuse.
Miaka yawned, and sat down on the grass. The fresh green blades were damp with dew and a spider’s web glistened in the morning sunlight. Although it was only spring, the weather was shaping up to be just as hot as the previous year and so it was comfortably warm even early in the morning in March. White snowdrops poked their way up into the sunlight and purple crocuses basked in the warmth of the afternoon.
Miaka felt as if she could identify with spring right now. It was the season of life, of hope, and of growth. It was the season of birth and children and Miaka herself was contributing to that. So for all it wasn’t appropriate for the empress to just lie back on the grass and snooze, she did just that.
On to part 5
Fandom: Lord of the Rings
Characters: Miaka, Hotohori, Tasuki, Tai Yi-Jun
Word Count: 570
Rating: G
Summary: AU. Miaka finds out exactly why she's been craving sardines with pickle. Sequel to Wintry Oracle.
Table link: http://airelement.livejournal.com/57564.html
“Aww, how cute,” Tasuki teased. Miaka jumped and glared at the seishi; then she returned to carefully brushing Hotohori’s long raven hair. It had become something of a reitual: Hotohori spoilt Miaka in every way he possibly could, and once she was thoroughly pampered she’d pander to his vanity and stroke his ego - or, in this case, his hair.
“All done,” Miaka announced a few moments later. Tasuki sighed in relief audibly - he wasn’t a fan of mushy-gushy displays of affection. At least not when they weren’t being directed at him.
“So what’s wrong with you anyway?” Tasuki asked bluntly.
“Nothing. I’m absolutely, totally and completely fine, thank you for asking. Actually I’m hungry, could you pleeeeeease go get me some sardines and pickle?” Miaka begged. Tasuki shuddered.
“Tell me I heard that wrong,” he begged.
“What is it with you two and hating sardines and pickle?” Miaka demanded. “I need sardines and pickle or I’m going to go completely crazy.”
“If you want to eat sardines and pickle you are crazy,” Tasuki muttered. “It’s not food you need, it’s Mitsukake.”
“I told you, I’m not ill!” Miaka said. Tasuki shrugged, snorted quietly and left the room.
---------
“Well? Where are they?” Tai Yi-Jun demanded. Miaka shuffled slightly closer to Hotohori, who wrapped a protective arm around her.
“Erm… about that…” Miaka started. “You probably have some crazy plan for us to go and get Tamahome and try not to get killed” - her voice turned slightly bitter, because for all she knew it wasn’t his fault she couldn’t help but feel a bit resentful -“and that really isn’t a good option right now.”
“What could possibly be more important than ensuring Konan’s survival?” the oracle hissed.
“That’s what I’m doing,” Miaka retorted. “You wouldn’t want the only heir to the throne to die before he was born, would you?”
“You are expecting a child?” Tai Yi-Jun asked.
“Yep!” Miaka said happily. Hotohori smiled at the look of delight that made her face glow. “So, erm, see ya in a few months!” Miaka rushed out of the temple. No need to tempt fate - or angry oracles - to smite her if they happened to be in a smiting mood. Not that Tai Yi-Jun would smite a woman with a baby… Miaka hoped.
----------
Three months later, Tai Yi-Jun had yet to smite Miaka. Miaka had stopped grossing people out by eating sardines with pickles, and had moved on to eating a whole loaf of bread per day. Well, she was eating for two, and normally she’d have lots at dinner anyway… at least, that was her excuse.
Miaka yawned, and sat down on the grass. The fresh green blades were damp with dew and a spider’s web glistened in the morning sunlight. Although it was only spring, the weather was shaping up to be just as hot as the previous year and so it was comfortably warm even early in the morning in March. White snowdrops poked their way up into the sunlight and purple crocuses basked in the warmth of the afternoon.
Miaka felt as if she could identify with spring right now. It was the season of life, of hope, and of growth. It was the season of birth and children and Miaka herself was contributing to that. So for all it wasn’t appropriate for the empress to just lie back on the grass and snooze, she did just that.
On to part 5