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rthstewart) wrote2012-04-27 04:27 pm
In which an adventure begins
I'll post this over in the LB AU for the heck of it but really I had this idea and it wouldn't let go. TAG. You're IT
In a month of beastly days, one after another, the last had been absolutely the worst. She’d stormed out of chapel, unable to stomach another lecture from Reverend Collins on Eve’s sin – and he was staring at her the whole time. He was the most horrid sort of hypocrite. The weather had been too rotten even for her own tastes – Lucy would so much rather be out of doors, but she wasn’t going to sit in a tree in a thunderstorm.
Marjorie and Jane were trying their best but Lucy knew she wasn’t being fair to her friends. She didn’t want her classmates punished for her truancy. Their explanations to matron and Headmistress Blockhead were becoming too far-fetched to cover for Lucy’s disappearances.
Dinner was the same as always, cold, rigid and whispered. Afterwards, there was more studying in their hall that she pretended to do and then bedtime at precisely 9 o’clock, lights out at 10.
Lucy was roiling with so much anger over the day’s injustices, small and large, she finally gave up trying to sleep. She slipped out of her bed. As she was pulling a jumper on over her nightdress (she never bothered with slippers), she saw Marjorie open her eyes and stare at her in the dark. There was a little sigh and then Marjorie rolled over in her bed. If there was a bedcheck, Marjorie would pretend she never noticed Lucy sneaking out, again.
All was going well. She eased out of the room (Lucy had oiled the hinges so the door didn’t squeak). Unfortunately, she turned about and nearly trod upon the girls’ Prefect, sitting on the floor and reading by torchlight in the hall.
“Too bad I fell asleep out here,” Alice said, not even looking up from the book of Islamic poetry Asim had sent her. “Make sure you’re back before the morning bell.”
Lucy bent down and put her hand on Alice’s shoulder, giving her a gentle squeeze of thanks. It was all very dark but Lucy knew the way as she crept down a narrow flight of stairs at the end of the hallway to the supply closet on the second storey. Usually she used the room for sneaking in and out of the school as it had a window that opened out next to a large, sturdy apple tree.
With the weather, she settled tonight for opening the window and letting the rain and cold wind in. She leaned out the window, opened her arms and the storm carried away her cries. She was so tired of fighting, but to give in was as good as giving up. Lucy couldn’t do that.
I fought in an Army. I trained hardened soldiers. I ran with Wolves. I sailed to the End of the World. I am a Queen. I was a man’s wife. I hear the voices of my Dead. I belong to Aslan.
I did not tolerate hatred and bigotry before. I will not now. I will not be silenced.
Ever.
I am the only sane person in a building of hypocrites.
She knew that was not fair. There were good people, like Alice, Marjorie, and Jane, Nurse, and Mrs. Park. There were just precious few of them, and they were all as powerless as she. Lucy sniffed and the rain mingled with her tears.
It was rotten of her to ask. There was a war. Things were more important than one woman’s misery in beastly school. Still, she would not presume to make the decision for him. If you can come, Asim, I would welcome it.
And that was all she needed to do, and immediately felt better for it. Aslan had heard her plea, and so would Asim. If he could come, he would. If he could not, she would receive a letter in a few days.
With that she had to be content.
Lucy stayed at the open window and sang to the tree that bent in the wind to her listen to her voice. When she began hearing stirrings in the school that were not the footfalls of mice, she shut the window and crept back to her bed.
She endured another day and then a short note arrived at breakfast.
I must acquire provisions first. Look for me at the end of the week.
The prospect of an adventure with Asim kept Lucy in class – though not especially attentive. Nothing could keep her in chapel and she endured a caning for that disobedience. She just gritted her teeth and suffered through it and the lecture about her wickedness.
Friday came and was on its way to leaving. Something was also approaching.
Aslan?
Yes, my Lioness, your friend is coming.
There was an odd tone to his voice not normally present. You sound as if you do not approve, Aslan.
The Lion’s sigh ruffled her hair even as she sat to lunch across from Marjorie and Jane. It was boiled carrot and potato soup. Again.
I do not. But I do understand and do not blame either of you. Have care, which you may not, but which my most searching brother, Asim, will.
It’s why were so well-matched, she told the Lion, smiling in spite of herself.
“You have been in better spirits,” Jane said, interrupting her.
Marjorie nudged Jane in the ribs. “Over there.”
Lucy felt the warmth on her back and immediately jumped up from the dining room bench, already knowing who waited for her.
“She knows without even turning around,” Marjorie said.
Major al-Masri – he usually dressed as the Major when he visited to get by Headmistress Blockhead – was in the dining room foyer, talking to Alice. Lucy grabbed her coat and hurried to them. She didn’t need anything else, surely; Asim had said he was taking care of the provisions.
“Hello, Major!” Lucy cried, pushing her way by everyone else who, by now, mostly ignored the man.
He was better now about not wincing when he saw her.
“Good afternoon, Miss Pevensie.” He made a show of patting his pocket. “I have some news for you from your brother and sister.”
Alice snorted. “Just make sure you sign out with the office if you won’t be back by curfew.”
Lucy felt a crush of disappointment when Major al-Masri said, “I do not believe this will take long.” Gravely he nodded to Alice. “Will you excuse us?”
“Sure,” Alice said. “And thanks for the books.”
Expectations dashed, Lucy dejectedly followed Asim to the visitors’ lounge. “I thought you said…”
“Please wait, Lucy,” he said quietly.
She glanced at him, now curious for Asim seemed oddly excited, which was not his natural state at all.
He courteously held the door open and Lucy went into the lounge; Asim carefully looked up and down the hall before shutting the door firmly.
“Yes?” she asked.
“I have something to show you.”
With very great, even exaggerated, care, he put his hand into his jacket pocket and withdrew an envelope. Gingerly, he lifted the flap and held it open for her.
“Don’t touch,” he warned.
Lucy leaned forward and never could she recall being so shocked. “Oh!”
Two rings, one bright green, one bright yellow, were nestled in the envelope. They hummed softly, enticingly, invitingly.
“You may not travel to Narnia,” Asim said. “But there are other places to which we might go and still have you back in time for your curfew.”
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Hmm. I must think about this. It's an intriguing idea and definitely one way to keep Lucy from getting bored. But oh... there must backstory on how he got the rings (from Digs & Polly, I would assume) and the explanation that all entails!
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Of course they have maps.
I do so need to get back to writing.
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I hope somebody writes this one. Because. OMG. This fragment is like fireworks in my brain.
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If only I could do it justice and write Asim properly and you are a terrible temptress and OMG LUCY IN THE DARK CASTLE GET DOWN FROM THERE YOUNG LADY YOU ARE GOING TO HURT YOURSELF AND RUMPLE HAS ISSUES WITH QUEENS OKAY
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Asim nods and, with a grimace of distaste, hands the evil thing back to Rumpelstiltskin. "We can draw the darkness from you, if you wish it," he tells the magician.
"But you must wish it very much," Lucy says. She looks at him closely, seeing as much as another young woman once did. "I am not sure you wish it enough, though."
Rumpelstiltskin has heard these threats and false promises before. These pretenders are much the same, and he's killed them all. "You would take the darkness, on yourselves? You want power so much you would take this terrible curse?"
The way Asim repeats the word "Power?" so dismissively is the most terrifying thing he has ever heard -- until he hears the music of Lucy's laugh.
"We have no need of your dark power!" Lucy cries. "Asim and I have power of our own."
"And lest you think you may kill us now, know that it is far greater than your simple magiks," Asim says.
Lucy puts a hand on his arm and he recoils from the burning touch. “Will you let us, help you, dear Rumpelstiltskin?”
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Lucy, Asim, the Doctor, and the TARDIS??
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Asim had been studying the Doctor as he tinkered with the Tardis' console. He looked up and straight through the Time Agent. "I beg you pardon, Captain Harkness. Did you say something?"
Lucy giggled.
"Stop flirting, Jack," the Doctor snapped. "Hand me the..."
"This?" Asim says, handing the Doctor the this and, anticipating his need, the that as well.
"I'm never letting that woman near my Tardis again," the Doctor grumbled.
"Asim did warn you," Lucy said. "If Mary can't get near an internal combustion engine without it spontaneously igniting, it stands to reason a time machine would be vulnerable as well. Can we go to the Cat planet next?"
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And has possibilities for tons of spin-offs ...
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I'll leave it to someone else to work out the Vorkosisaga crossover.
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The first day, when Asim and Lucy land on the bridge of the flagship, the Dendarii Mercenaries rightly almost kill them, assuming they are a threat with desperately advanced tech and murderous intent. Within a week, the Dendarii wish they had shot Lucy and Asim on the spot because the Admiral has given Asim his own squad to command, and teaches Lucy to fly shuttles. A month later, the Jackson Whole organ parts pirates of House Xanto would have wished that the Dendarii had killed Lucy and Asim, but they weren't any position to wish anything, being quite dead.
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I wonder how Asim would handle Five Gods? The Bastard? Lucy and the Daughter? Aahahahaaaaaaa!!!!
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Iselle had invitations sent to the Mother's midwife in Cardegon and the Father's judge up in Taryoon; both sent grateful notes for the opportunity, and for the purses facilitating that opportunity to participate in the festivities. Crossing the room with the midwife's letter in hand, Iselle paused by the window, sighed, and squinted at the crows sitting in the sun on the roof below.
"Why didn't we do this for her birthday when she was celebrating her fifth one, Cazeril?" Her Chancellor glanced up from the morning news packet, correctly assumed the question to be rhetorical and went back to the gleanings of his agents. Iselle sighed again, less sharply and more sadly, and turned back into the room. The sun fell on her back, giving her a glow almost saintly, which may have excused Cazeril from immediately noticing the silent appearance of two strangers in the far corner of his Chancellery chambers. The first he knew of them was a gasp, followed by the sound of a girl's voice saying, "Oh, Asim, look! He shines like you do!"
Before his chair hit the ground, Cazeril was standing before his Queen, sword out and pointed at a man a little younger than himself, but with slightly darker skin and dressed very unusually, and an adolescent girl with light skin, but dressed completely shamefully in a shift which ended above her knees. He had to squint to see them through the blaze of light they emitted; happily they failed to produce weapons of their own, so he gradually allowed his point to dip while his eyes adjusted to the glare. It sprang up again when he felt Iselle brush past him.
"Majesty...," he expostulated weakly, but attempting to restrain Iselle was like attempting to hold back the tide, and Caz had always felt the futility of that. He was relieved that his Queen did not advance too far beyond his inadequate defense.
"Welcome to Chalion." Iselle's voice was firm, and never slow to seize an advantage. "Which of the Gods may we thank for your presence at Our daughter's celebration next week?"
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Elouise is reading Chalion now and she just got to the point where Caz meets Umegat after the funeral and everyone is blinking at Caz's holy fire. "You my lord, are like a burning city." and the mother's midwife who says Caz is "disturbing to contemplate." Wonderful! And Lucy in her shameful shift!
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Lucy looked around with clear disappointment at the arched roof, the train just beginning to steam, the trolleys loaded with trunks and boxes.
"Apart from the definitely-not-wartime-drab clothes, this one looks just like our King's Cross Station", she said.
"Very like, but there are subtle differences" answered Asim, as he pointed to the sign: Platform 9 3/4.
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"And a large broomstick?" Asim remarked.
They watched as trolley, owl, broomstick, trunk on the trolley and a boy pushing it all ran straight into the pillar. And disappeared.
"Curious," Asim said. "Magic, I suppose."
"I'm sure of it," Lucy said decisively. "Where do you suppose they are going?"
"We are in King's Cross. They could be going anywhere and it is never just a train ride."
"Nothing for it then," Lucy said. She seized his hand and they ran straight toward the pillar.
What About When Lucy and Asim meet
It was a lovely sunny day and Lucy and Asim where sitting eating lunch on a silver sand beach beside a sparkling blue green sea on the planet of Pern. The waves where gently lapping the beach.
Lucy sighed "You know it was so peaceful here"
Asim suddenly says "Lucy be very still"
"Why?" she whispered.
Asim " Errr there a large bronze dragon looking at us"
Lucy slowly turned her head to look at the dragon " Asim there a rider on the dragon"
Re: What About When Lucy and Asim meet
"Lucy, I do not believe that is rain."
Re: What About When Lucy and Asim meet
(Anonymous) 2012-05-03 11:59 am (UTC)(link)Thanks for that.
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hehehe
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