coprime_writes (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
coprime_writes) wrote2004-04-27 12:53 am
coprime_writes) wrote2004-04-27 12:53 am
Entry tags:
Original (Universe A): Death of an Era
Title: Death of an Era
Author:coprime
Fandom: Original (Universe A)
Characters: unnamed king, Baldric
Rating / Word Count: PG-13 / 629 words
Warnings: Original character death.
Disclaimer: Belongs to me!
Summary: This was not right. It was Baldric's fault the elves had been able to invade.
Notes: Orignally written for the Story Seed I challenge in![[deadjournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/dj-community.gif)
acropolis. I have a couple different orignal universes in my head. This one, Universe A, is the oldest and has a high fantasy setting. And this particular bit is a bit of backstory that takes place a hundred years before the main story.
~Death of an Era~
"Seize him," cried the crippled king. The king fell to his knees grabbing for his sword that lay at his feet, broken into shards. He watched in horror as all around him elves rushed into his keep. He could see Baldric, his trusted lieutenant, creeping away unnoticed in the melee.
This was not right. It was Baldric's fault the elves had been able to invade. It was Baldric's fault he could not lead his men into a battle proper. And it was Baldric's fault the sword of his forefathers lay shattered on the ground. Baldric would not get away.
The king grabbed the hilt of his sword and pushed himself up off the stone floor. He ignored the battle raging around and his people falling to an enemy they were ill-prepared to meet. Instead, the king concentrated solely on Baldric who was making his way towards one of the tapestries—the one behind which a secret passageway lay. That passage was supposed to be known only to him.
More than once, the king's legs nearly gave way under him as he limped to Baldric. By some miracle—perhaps the Black Woman had not totally abandoned them—no one tried to engage the king in the battle.
Baldric disappeared behind the tapestry, and the king followed.
The king finally managed to catch up to Baldric at the end of the tunnel. The tunnel was dry and free of dust but dark; the only source of light came from Baldric's torch. The king grinned when he saw Baldric. The traitor may have known about the tunnel, but he didn't know its secrets. Baldric was too busy scrabbling along the wall blocking his path to hear the king behind him.
The king thrust once, the shard of his sword sliding neatly into Baldric's side. Baldric wore no armor, so confident in his escape was he. As the king pulled out his sword, Baldric turned to face him. His traitorous mouth opened, but the king stabbed him before he could say anything. This time, he let his sword stay lodged in Baldric's chest.
"I do not understand why you have done this thing, Baldric, nor do I care. But I will bring you to justice for your crimes."
Baldric fell then, into an obscene parody of the position he took when swearing fealty to the king. He coughed—once, twice—splattering blood onto the king's shoes. The king felt a wave of sympathy sweep over his anger towards this once great man. This was vengeance not justice; Baldric's betrayal had assured that justice would be impossible.
The king's legs finally crumpled beneath him. He fell on top of Baldric but pushed himself away to lean against the wall. He wanted to see Baldric dying. Baldric somehow managed to pull the sword out and flung it down the tunnel, too far for the king to grab. That was all right; only the elves could heal Baldric now, and elves were not known for their kindness. Baldric's compatriots, the ones he had let into the keep, would find the same satisfaction in Baldric's death as did the king.
Baldric did not take long to die. And, after he had died, the king had nothing to do but wait for the elves to find him. He was crippled, too weak to stand on his own much less flee, and he was the king. Kings did not flee. So he calmly contemplated his impending death. The elves found the tunnel quickly, whether because Baldric told them about it or because they found it magically, the king never knew. They killed the king as soon as they spotted him, for which the king was glad. He had killed Baldric: his work was done.
Author:
coprimeFandom: Original (Universe A)
Characters: unnamed king, Baldric
Rating / Word Count: PG-13 / 629 words
Warnings: Original character death.
Disclaimer: Belongs to me!
Summary: This was not right. It was Baldric's fault the elves had been able to invade.
Notes: Orignally written for the Story Seed I challenge in
acropolis. I have a couple different orignal universes in my head. This one, Universe A, is the oldest and has a high fantasy setting. And this particular bit is a bit of backstory that takes place a hundred years before the main story.~Death of an Era~
"Seize him," cried the crippled king. The king fell to his knees grabbing for his sword that lay at his feet, broken into shards. He watched in horror as all around him elves rushed into his keep. He could see Baldric, his trusted lieutenant, creeping away unnoticed in the melee.
This was not right. It was Baldric's fault the elves had been able to invade. It was Baldric's fault he could not lead his men into a battle proper. And it was Baldric's fault the sword of his forefathers lay shattered on the ground. Baldric would not get away.
The king grabbed the hilt of his sword and pushed himself up off the stone floor. He ignored the battle raging around and his people falling to an enemy they were ill-prepared to meet. Instead, the king concentrated solely on Baldric who was making his way towards one of the tapestries—the one behind which a secret passageway lay. That passage was supposed to be known only to him.
More than once, the king's legs nearly gave way under him as he limped to Baldric. By some miracle—perhaps the Black Woman had not totally abandoned them—no one tried to engage the king in the battle.
Baldric disappeared behind the tapestry, and the king followed.
The king finally managed to catch up to Baldric at the end of the tunnel. The tunnel was dry and free of dust but dark; the only source of light came from Baldric's torch. The king grinned when he saw Baldric. The traitor may have known about the tunnel, but he didn't know its secrets. Baldric was too busy scrabbling along the wall blocking his path to hear the king behind him.
The king thrust once, the shard of his sword sliding neatly into Baldric's side. Baldric wore no armor, so confident in his escape was he. As the king pulled out his sword, Baldric turned to face him. His traitorous mouth opened, but the king stabbed him before he could say anything. This time, he let his sword stay lodged in Baldric's chest.
"I do not understand why you have done this thing, Baldric, nor do I care. But I will bring you to justice for your crimes."
Baldric fell then, into an obscene parody of the position he took when swearing fealty to the king. He coughed—once, twice—splattering blood onto the king's shoes. The king felt a wave of sympathy sweep over his anger towards this once great man. This was vengeance not justice; Baldric's betrayal had assured that justice would be impossible.
The king's legs finally crumpled beneath him. He fell on top of Baldric but pushed himself away to lean against the wall. He wanted to see Baldric dying. Baldric somehow managed to pull the sword out and flung it down the tunnel, too far for the king to grab. That was all right; only the elves could heal Baldric now, and elves were not known for their kindness. Baldric's compatriots, the ones he had let into the keep, would find the same satisfaction in Baldric's death as did the king.
Baldric did not take long to die. And, after he had died, the king had nothing to do but wait for the elves to find him. He was crippled, too weak to stand on his own much less flee, and he was the king. Kings did not flee. So he calmly contemplated his impending death. The elves found the tunnel quickly, whether because Baldric told them about it or because they found it magically, the king never knew. They killed the king as soon as they spotted him, for which the king was glad. He had killed Baldric: his work was done.