AN: Kathryn gave me a prompt of "sad violin" or something along those lines a few weeks ago, and this is what came from it. It is part of the universe, but it's nothing that's crucial to the story line (although it does have a bit of a foreshadow in it!) So you can read it on it's own without any of Heartstones being spoiled! :)
If you want to know what Robert and Jane look as (as I haven't actually described them, but then I didn't need to really did I? :P) click here.
*loves little boy Jack*
Enjoy!
*****
The crescendo of the haunting, dramatic and sad violin music reverberating up through the theatres high ceiling, allowing the final notes to carry on a little longer before they disappeared, leaving the audience silent from the impact of the tune.
Robert chuckled to himself as the five year old Jack wriggled impatiently in his knee. Jack had only been silent during the more dramatics moments of the music, but staying silent and still for more than five minutes just didn't work for him. His games were far too important and much more interesting than sitting in a theatre, listening to music that made everyone cry for reasons Jack didn't understand.
“Is that the end Daddy?”
“Almost...now shhh.”
Robert smirked as he heard a small huff of impatience coming from his son and wrapped his arms around him gently. Jack soon had hold of his fingers and began to play a silent game with them as the music started up again. Robert didn't know what the game was, only that Jack needed his fingers to play it. Robert didn't mind though, now Robert had turned into a lively boisterous little boy Robert didn't get a chance to just hold him on his knee closely like this.
He had to let go instead.
By the time the concert had finished Jack had fallen asleep on Roberts knee. The applause that erupted at the end of the show being the liveliest moment within the theatre, yet Jack was so tired from boredom that he'd fallen asleep soon after he'd played with Roberts fingers.
Robert and Jane walked back through the city, happily discussing their thoughts on the concert. Jane had wanted to see this particular violinist since she'd been a teenager. So when Robert found out they were playing in the town they lived in, he'd surprised her with tickets.
Jacks head leant against Roberts shoulder as he continued, his arms gently tucked up against Roberts chest. He roused briefly as a the chilly winter wind picked up and blew over their faces, but he'd soon dropped off back to sleep by the time they reached their street. And he was soon snuggled up amongst his toys in his bed when they got home.
Jane could tell that Jack was going to be asleep until morning and so persuaded Robert to put Jack to bed when they got home.
Robert smiled when he came back downstairs. He watched silently as Jane read a newspaper on the sofa, happily sipping at the wine she'd poured herself. He sat down next to her and gently kissed her shoulder instinctively.
“Anything interesting today?”
“Just an article about that illness that has doctors confused. Says there's been another death. But...”
Jane put the newspaper down cuddling into his side.
“You're much more interesting.”
They smiled at each other lovingly.
When Jack awoke early the next morning, he didn't question why his parents had fallen asleep on the sofa the night before.
Instead, he quite happily played with his toys.
Showing posts with label story. Show all posts
Showing posts with label story. Show all posts
Friday, 18 June 2010
Friday, 8 January 2010
Jack: The Hero
The smoke was entering into her system. , forcing her lungs to feel tighter and tighter by the minute. The flames were starting to burn at her toes and she wriggled attempting to free herself from the ropes binds.
“Anyone who should disobey the rules will suffer the same consequences! Let this woman, this traitor be an example of what is forbidden in Elderlake!!!”
Kandower’s silhouette weaved himself in and out of the red and orange flames surrounding Eliza. He looked at her, just for a moment, no longer and no more than a second. But Eliza knew what was coming; she understood the merciless look he’d given her.
Her last thoughts were of smoke and pain inside her feet, gradually moving up her legs towards her calves. And it was only then that the darkness took hold of her…
*****
“We can’t leave her down there!” Jack shouted running across the empty room. “I’m saving her!”
“Jack…”
Jack was already grabbing the rope from the windowsill when Riley spoke, ready to swing down and attempt to save Eliza.
Jack turned his head, glaring intently at Riley. His hands were grasping onto the rope, almost burning into his skin but Jack didn’t care.
“Don’t try and stop me Riley. I think you‘ve done enough damage.”
The window was pushed open more and Jack laid his feet onto the side of the window ledge. He could see the people gathering in the court yard below, each and every one of them intent on watching another violent and un-necessary execution.
He panicked slightly as he saw Eliza slump against the stump below and he held onto the rope tighter, closed his eyes and swung.
He didn’t care for the gasps or screams as he swung down from the ledge. His legs outstretched he kicked Kandower down and grabbed a bucket of water and splashed the water over the fire on Eliza. He was mobile, and quick, so managed this task before Kandower had even lifted his head up.
A guard grabbed his arm but Jack was quick again and elbowed him before he could grasp his clothes properly. The fire on the post was out but the hay still warm as Jack walked onto the stack. But he didn’t worry; he undid the binds behind her hands and hauled her over his shoulders.
Kandower closing in around him with his guards, an evil smile on his face, Jack retreated back into a corner, his eyes desperately searching for a way out.
Riley flew down through the air, his legs out stretched much like Jack had been minutes previously and they hit Kandowers head knocking him to the floor a second time.
Riley stood there, his sword at the ready for the next fight. He glanced over his shoulder looking straight at Jack and shouting his final command.
“GET OUT HERE!”
Jack didn’t hesitate and ran from the stand, he held onto Eliza as he waded his way through the panicked crowds and into the palace. He skidded to a halt as he saw more guards running through the halls next to him and he hid away in the shadows, making a lot of effort not to be seen.
The moment the guards had disappeared he ran down the hallway and found the wall with the magic door. Like Alera had shown him he opened it up and snuck inside. He ran up the staircase and looked down at Eliza’s legs, wincing internally when he saw the burns gorged into her skin.
He placed her on the bed in the silent room and stepped back, watching her silently. The room was empty, still, everything that had been here before of theirs were gone.
Jack stayed quiet, collapsing next to the bed. He hadn’t noticed until now that the emptiness of the room was mirrored by Eliza’s still chest. No gentle breathing came to her as it normally would.
She wasn’t sleeping.
“Eliza…” he whispered and closed his eyes in despair. He held onto her hand and laid his head against the bed next to it.
“Not you…"
“Anyone who should disobey the rules will suffer the same consequences! Let this woman, this traitor be an example of what is forbidden in Elderlake!!!”
Kandower’s silhouette weaved himself in and out of the red and orange flames surrounding Eliza. He looked at her, just for a moment, no longer and no more than a second. But Eliza knew what was coming; she understood the merciless look he’d given her.
Her last thoughts were of smoke and pain inside her feet, gradually moving up her legs towards her calves. And it was only then that the darkness took hold of her…
“We can’t leave her down there!” Jack shouted running across the empty room. “I’m saving her!”
“Jack…”
Jack was already grabbing the rope from the windowsill when Riley spoke, ready to swing down and attempt to save Eliza.
Jack turned his head, glaring intently at Riley. His hands were grasping onto the rope, almost burning into his skin but Jack didn’t care.
“Don’t try and stop me Riley. I think you‘ve done enough damage.”
The window was pushed open more and Jack laid his feet onto the side of the window ledge. He could see the people gathering in the court yard below, each and every one of them intent on watching another violent and un-necessary execution.
He panicked slightly as he saw Eliza slump against the stump below and he held onto the rope tighter, closed his eyes and swung.
He didn’t care for the gasps or screams as he swung down from the ledge. His legs outstretched he kicked Kandower down and grabbed a bucket of water and splashed the water over the fire on Eliza. He was mobile, and quick, so managed this task before Kandower had even lifted his head up.
A guard grabbed his arm but Jack was quick again and elbowed him before he could grasp his clothes properly. The fire on the post was out but the hay still warm as Jack walked onto the stack. But he didn’t worry; he undid the binds behind her hands and hauled her over his shoulders.
Kandower closing in around him with his guards, an evil smile on his face, Jack retreated back into a corner, his eyes desperately searching for a way out.
Riley flew down through the air, his legs out stretched much like Jack had been minutes previously and they hit Kandowers head knocking him to the floor a second time.
Riley stood there, his sword at the ready for the next fight. He glanced over his shoulder looking straight at Jack and shouting his final command.
“GET OUT HERE!”
Jack didn’t hesitate and ran from the stand, he held onto Eliza as he waded his way through the panicked crowds and into the palace. He skidded to a halt as he saw more guards running through the halls next to him and he hid away in the shadows, making a lot of effort not to be seen.
The moment the guards had disappeared he ran down the hallway and found the wall with the magic door. Like Alera had shown him he opened it up and snuck inside. He ran up the staircase and looked down at Eliza’s legs, wincing internally when he saw the burns gorged into her skin.
He placed her on the bed in the silent room and stepped back, watching her silently. The room was empty, still, everything that had been here before of theirs were gone.
Jack stayed quiet, collapsing next to the bed. He hadn’t noticed until now that the emptiness of the room was mirrored by Eliza’s still chest. No gentle breathing came to her as it normally would.
She wasn’t sleeping.
“Eliza…” he whispered and closed his eyes in despair. He held onto her hand and laid his head against the bed next to it.
“Not you…"
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