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31_days2005-08-15 11:57 pm
of-carabas.livejournal.com) wrote in 31_days2005-08-15 11:57 pm
[August 15] [The Heroic Legend of Arislan] The More Things Change
Title: The More Things Change
Day/Theme: August 15th/Air and stars
Series: The Heroic Legend of Arislan
Character/Pairing: Daryoon and Arislan
Rating: G
A breath of wind. The shine of starlight on the water. It was strange, how these things - universal things, a world that had existed long before Daryoon's birth and that would exist long after he was gone - became tied to memories. Made him think of other nights, long ago, when he'd been able to look up at those stars and get lost in his own thoughts, without having to worry when the next attack would come.
A particular night. One nearly a decade ago. Aside from the soft sounds of a flute and Narsus's voice in the distance, he could have been back then, back in the capital, in a time of relative peace - mental peace, if nothing else. A man's duty was clear, then. The country had a strong king. A beautiful queen. A promising young prince, adored by all.
A young prince who, inexplicably, adored the people around him right back - even the young soldier who'd only just learned which end of a sword was which. A young prince who would slip away from his nurse and walk among the people of the palace, and was scolded for it, only to slip away again.
A prince who would get himself lost in the endless corridors, his soft sobs attracting the attention of a young off-duty solider, leaning against the railing of the balcony and looking up at the stars. And the prince had quickly stifled his tears, a smile emerging the moment he saw a friendly face, as if Daryoon's presence guaranteed that all was right in the world. And when Daryoon tried to guide him back to his nurse, the prince shook his head, stubbornly clinging to the railing, wanting to spend just a few more minutes out here in the night air with the stars. It's okay, he insisted. I'm safe with you, aren't I?
And they'd sat together on the balcony, Daryoon stiff-backed and uncertain, the prince curled up against him, silent except for the occasional protest of just a little bit longer. The prince had fallen asleep at Daryoon's side.
Nearly a decade later, they weren't in the palace, or the capital. The country's beautiful queen was imprisoned, the strong king declared usurper; the so-promising young prince was a hunted man.
But for all that, the stars were the same. The wind was the same. And the boy was curled up against Daryoon's side, eyes closed and breath slow and even, a slight smile on his sleeping face, as if Daryoon's presence guaranteed that, despite everything, all was right in the world.
Day/Theme: August 15th/Air and stars
Series: The Heroic Legend of Arislan
Character/Pairing: Daryoon and Arislan
Rating: G
A breath of wind. The shine of starlight on the water. It was strange, how these things - universal things, a world that had existed long before Daryoon's birth and that would exist long after he was gone - became tied to memories. Made him think of other nights, long ago, when he'd been able to look up at those stars and get lost in his own thoughts, without having to worry when the next attack would come.
A particular night. One nearly a decade ago. Aside from the soft sounds of a flute and Narsus's voice in the distance, he could have been back then, back in the capital, in a time of relative peace - mental peace, if nothing else. A man's duty was clear, then. The country had a strong king. A beautiful queen. A promising young prince, adored by all.
A young prince who, inexplicably, adored the people around him right back - even the young soldier who'd only just learned which end of a sword was which. A young prince who would slip away from his nurse and walk among the people of the palace, and was scolded for it, only to slip away again.
A prince who would get himself lost in the endless corridors, his soft sobs attracting the attention of a young off-duty solider, leaning against the railing of the balcony and looking up at the stars. And the prince had quickly stifled his tears, a smile emerging the moment he saw a friendly face, as if Daryoon's presence guaranteed that all was right in the world. And when Daryoon tried to guide him back to his nurse, the prince shook his head, stubbornly clinging to the railing, wanting to spend just a few more minutes out here in the night air with the stars. It's okay, he insisted. I'm safe with you, aren't I?
And they'd sat together on the balcony, Daryoon stiff-backed and uncertain, the prince curled up against him, silent except for the occasional protest of just a little bit longer. The prince had fallen asleep at Daryoon's side.
Nearly a decade later, they weren't in the palace, or the capital. The country's beautiful queen was imprisoned, the strong king declared usurper; the so-promising young prince was a hunted man.
But for all that, the stars were the same. The wind was the same. And the boy was curled up against Daryoon's side, eyes closed and breath slow and even, a slight smile on his sleeping face, as if Daryoon's presence guaranteed that, despite everything, all was right in the world.