Ta Da!
We can still comment on the other post and continue the story about Jane, but I just thought I'd start a new post for other ideas. I started writing a story yesterday that I actually kind of like and have ideas for so here's what I have so far:
Far away upon a hill
There is a Lady Fair.
And many a knight has tried and failed
To find exactly where.
Her name is lost to memory
Gone from the minds of all.
And whether she be young or old,
Nobody can recall.
She dances with the willows
And sings among the birds
And tells spellbinding stories
Though no one hears the words....
"Mommy, what are they singing?" A small girl with dark curls and bright blue eyes pointed a chubby finger at the group of singers. Her mother smiled down at her.
"They are singing the Tale of the Lady Fair, a very old song. Do you like it Lilly-lil?" Lilian nodded, entranced by the singers' beautiful harmonies. Her mother picked her up and put her on her shoulders. "Then I shall teach it to you." She turned away from the square and headed towards the fields, Lilian giggling above her. "Would you like that?" she squeezed one of Lilian's chubby legs. Lilian giggled harder.
"Yes mommy," she gasped out between laughs.
"Okay, it goes like this..." she thought back to when her own mother had taught her the song and began the haunting tune, "Far away, upon a hill..."
"Lilian! Wake up!" Lilian opened her eyes sleepily and saw a little face above her.
"Good morning Ollie," she murmured as she sat up. Olive jumped off the bed and began hopping excitedly from foot to foot.
"Today is Fair Day! Fair Day, Lilian!" she exclaimed, her eyes shining.
"Really? Are you sure it's today?" Lilian teased as she pulled on her dress. Olive had been counting down the days for months.
"Yes, I'm sure. Hurry up! Your hair looks fine, let's go!" She tugged on Lilian's arm.
"Just a second!" Lilian laughed, putting a final pin in her dark curly hair. "Okay, I'm ready. Did you tell your mom?"
"Yes, she told me to get something pretty for her." They went out the door and out into the street. Suddenly Olive's face grew solemn. "Lil, how come mommy can't come with us?" Lilian looked down into Olive's green eyes and felt a twinge of sadness.
"Well, she's been feeling tired lately, you know, and she wants to save up her strength for another special day." Lilian smiled and took Olive's small hand in her own. "It's your birthday soon, right?"
Olive gasped in delight and Lilian sighed in relief. It was getting harder and harder to explain to Olive why her mother couldn't get out of bed. Lilian thought sadly about Ellie and wished there was some way she could help her dear cousin. Ellie was a few years older than her and after the birth of Olive had grown sicker and sicker. Lilian had moved in a few years ago to help care for Olive and had watched helpless as Ellie became weaker. Ellie's husband Peter was away and had been for the past year, trying to preserve peace on the border. War had almost broken out between Vistol and their neighbors Algarkia to the south, and thousands of men had been sent to the border to prevent further outbreaks. There had been talk recently of the men returning and Lilian urged it to be true. She thought perhaps Ellie would recover a little just by having Peter back.
"Lilian look!" Olive gasped as they reached the square. All the shops were decked out in colorful ribbons and banners hung above. Besides the regular shops, artists and crafts booths had been set up, and the square was filled with people from neighboring towns. Delicious smells of cakes and cookies and candy filled the air. Lilian looked at Olive's shining eyes and imagined hers were shining just as brightly.
"Where to first?" she asked and they ventured into the crowds. They spent a great deal of time splurging on delightful cream cakes, and then went on to the jewelry booths to find something for Ellie.
"Let's get this one!" Olive said pointing to a silver necklace with shiny green pendant.
"It's very pretty," Lilian replied. It would go nicely with Ellie's golden hair. She asked how much and as she dug through her purse for the change, the vendor turned to Olive.
"You're very lucky your mommy is buying that for you," she said, smiling. Olive giggled.
"But Lilian's not my mommy. She's only...thirteen years older than me!" Olive replied, proud that she knew the age difference. "I'm almost six," she added with a grin.
"Oh, I see," the vendor replied, and smiled at Lilian. "Then you are very lucky that Lilian is buying it for you."
"But she's not. We're getting it for my mommy," Olive replied instantly.
"Oh..." the vendor replied coloring a little.
"Just stop talking," Lilian laughed, handing over the money. "That's what I do." The vendor laughed and they went on their way.
"Lilian, are you going to get anything?" Olive asked, "you should get a pretty necklace 'cause you're so pretty." Lilian laughed.
"Well, if I should, you should too 'cause you're much prettier." Olive swelled with the compliment. They decided on matching bracelets and were putting them on when Olive gasped.
"What's that music?" she asked.
I have more written but the lab is closing so that's all for now.
5 Comments:
Lilian paused to listen and suddenly remembered her dream.
Far away upon a hill...
Memories of her mother flooded her mind and she held back tears as she turned to Olive.
"That's a very old song," she said. "Do you want to go listen?" Olive gave an enthusiastic yes and they made their way to the middle of the square where a choir was singing. Lilian listened to the haunting tune, watching the singers. She did not recognize any of them, they must have been from another town. She found herself singing along and felt a pang of jealousy that she could not sing with the town choir like she used to.
She tells spellbinding stories though no one hears the words...
Lilian always loved that part, especially when her mother would sing the harmony. She had to stop singing as tears crowded her throat. The song soon ended and they were about to turn away when one of the young men stepped forward and began singing a solo. He had a clear honey-like voice and Lilian paused to listen, holding tightly to Olive's hand, who was trying to leave.
"Just wait. Listen," Lilian told her and turned back to the singer. He was probably about her age and had thick brown hair and a pleasing face. He was singing an old sad ballad and his face showed the many emotions of the piece. Lilian found herself entranced, oblivious to Olive's complaints. When the song ended, the crowd erupted in applause and the singer thanked them shyly, coloring a little.
"Come on Lilian," Olive cried. She was on the verge of a tantrum. Lilian sighed. It was past Olive's naptime.
"Okay, let's go," she said, picking up Olive. She turned away from the singers, feeling a twinge of regret.
So I was sitting in class the other day, and I kinda got inspired. I wrote this little intro thing, and I have ideas on where to take it.
In my language there are two ways to say goodbye. One means forever, and the other means for now. Mother says they used to never use the former, but i'm afraid I hear it all the time now.
Legend claims our language evolved from emotions. Rather than words, the ancestors spoke through tears and smiles. But that wasn't enough when the outsiders came. They
didn't understand that letting a tear flow down unstopped meant death.
It's real short-like. But let me know if your intruiged haha.
Girl I'm super intrigued! Just the first paragraph alone hooked me. Why does she hear it all the time now? The last sentence though kind of confused me. Is the "they " the ancestors or the outsiders?
She turned away from the singers, feeling a twinge of regret. She was pushing through the crowds when a voice called out.
"Lilian! You're not leaving are you?" Lilian turned to see a pretty blonde girl wearing a bright green dress bound towards her.
"Hi Fiona. Yeah, I have to get Olive home, she's really tired," Lilian responded. Olive squirmed in her arms. Fiona made a face.
"Oh drats," she said. "Our choir is going out to the lake for a picnic with Whitestone's choir. I was hoping you could come. Did you see them perform?" Lilian nodded. "I heard from Lucia who heard from...well somebody that the really good soloist, his name is Frederick, is from Algarkia! Isn't that just thrilling?" Fiona gave a dramatic sigh. "He's so swoony. I think I nearly fainted when he sang!" She giggled. Lilian laughed.
"He is awfully handsome," she said, "and I've never heard such a clear voice."
"I know!" Fiona sighed.
"I wonder what he's doing in Vistol and in Whitestone of all places," Lilian mused.
"Well, I can find out when I meet him at the picnic. I'm going to try to convince him to move to Greenvale so he can sing in our choir," Fiona giggled again. "I'll tell you all about it. It's too bad you can't come." She pouted. "We all miss you being in the choir."
"It's been nearly a year, you'd think you all would've gotten over me by now," Lilian joked but the thought that she was missed felt good. "Maybe Peter will come home soon and I can rejoin."
"Wouldn't that just be super? Well, I better go. The others are waiting for me. Tell Ellie I said hi and maybe I'll stop by later to gossip." Fiona smiled and waved goodbye. Lilian waved in return and watched Fiona disappear in the crowd before continuing on her way. As much as she liked Fiona, somehow the conversation had depressed her.
"Oh well," she sighed and shook it off. Olive was nearly asleep in her arms and was growing heavy. Slowly, the sounds of the fair faded and soon Lilian turned on to the street they lived on. The houses all had rambling front yards, the flower buds just beginning to open. A crab apple tree, with little pink blossoms, distinguished Ellie and Peter's home from the others and disguised the ugly white house. Although it looked a little shabby from the outside, it was cozy inside and Lilian sighed in contentment as she stepped into the front parlor. The smell of baking bread permeated the room and Lilian remembered that Betsy had said she would stop by today. Betsy was an old friend of Ellie's who often came by to make a meal or bake some goodies or just sit and gossip with Ellie. Lilian quickly dropped Olive off in her bed and made her way to the kitchen, rubbing her sore arms.
"Oh Betsy, you're an angel!" She exclaimed. Gooey, feathery cinnamon rolls covered the entire counter. Betsy looked up from the oven and pushed a lock of light brown hair out of her eyes.
"Well, I'm glad someone thinks so. Go ahead, eat one. They are pretty spectacular if I do say so myself." She grinned smugly. Lilian took a roll.
"Mmm, it's delicious! But why are you making so many?"
"For our special visitors of course!" Even though Betsy didn't live there, she still considered herself one of the household.
"What visitors?"
"You mean you haven't heard? Jiminy girl, go in and talk to Ellie!" Betsy exclaimed. "Oh and take one of these," she added and put a roll on a plate. Lilian took it and in surprise and excitement skipped down the hall to Ellie's room. She hesitantly pushed open the door and seeing Ellie awake and sitting up in her bed, walked in.
"Look what Betsy made!" She said, handing Ellie the plate.
"I thought I smelled something delicious. This looks perfect!" Ellie exclaimed. Lilian noticed a bit more color in Ellie's cheeks and her eyes seemed a bit brighter than they had been of late.
"How was the fair? I hope Olive wasn't too trying," she said between mouthfuls.
"Oh no, not at all," Lilian replied easily. "She got a bit fussy from getting up so early and missing her naptime, but she's in bed now. The fair was great. The same usual stuff, but it's always fun. There was a really good choir from Whitestone too," she added, and was perplexed when she felt her cheeks burn a little. Ellie smiled and didn't seem to notice. "Anyways, I hear you have some news. What's this I hear of visitors?"
Ellie beamed. "Well, not exactly visitors...at least not all of them..." She smiled secretively. Lilian gasped.
"Peter's coming home?"
Ellie's smile grew bigger. "Yes! I just got an express letter this morning saying he's on his way! Oh! I think if I don't die of this sickness, I shall die of happiness!" She gave a laugh which quickly turned into a cough. Lilian fetched her glass of water from the bedside table and waited until the coughing fit stopped. Ellie smiled weakly as Lilian sat down on the edge of the bed.
"So when does he arrive?" she asked.
"The letter said to expect him sometime tonight! Oh Lilian you have no idea how excited I am! I can't wait to tell Olive."
"She'll be speechless. I'm speechless." Lilian smiled and squeezed Ellie's hand. "But you said visitors. Who are the others?"
"Oh, I'm not sure. Peter said there were four others with him. I think they'll stay at the inn, but we'll have them for dinner of course," she said dismissively.
At that moment Betsy came in and Lilian left them to gossip and strolled into the backyard. The garden that she and Olive had planted was just beginning to blossom, the red tips of the tulips peaking through the green. Lilian knelt down in the tall grass surrounding it and after a moment rolled onto her back and stared up into the blue sky. Peter was finally coming home.
This is all I have written. Let me know what you think!
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