Current mood:	lethargic
Current music:	...stupid computer. No music for me.

Hidden ficlet/exercise
Well, I've been pretty dead with my writing recently - frankly, I haven't had time.  I've been really busy with my class and my work.  I've done some small exercises, but nothing I can post.  So tonight I was tired and cranky and I realized I hadn't written anything for myself in over a week and a half, so I went to 15minuteficlets and I picked up the word of the week and I spent 15 minutes writing.  It was a good exercise, though it's not really something I'm proud of.  I normally wouldn't even bother posting it here, but I felt like letting people know I wasn't dead.  :-P  Additionally, since my computer's down, it was either post it online or not save it at all.  And I could have done a private view, but what's the fun in that?  That being said, I'm not looking for a lot of feedback on this particular piece - it's simply a look into the "villain's" head for the Hidden series, and it won't be a part of what I eventually 'publish' for Hidden.  (By publish, I mean put up on a website, in order, the chapters).  Frankly, I think it's bad, but I finished in exactly 15 minutes, though I added the definition at the top after I was done.  I also spellchecked after my time was up, but I figured that didn't matter so much.  :-P  Anyway, here it is.  Feel free to comment, but I probably won't change anything, since it's not important, but feedback makes me a better author.  (Though I do know it needs more description - next time I write a 15minfic, I'll be more careful.  Being rushed was kinda fun, though).


Redemption

15 minute ficlet word - redeem

Redeem [ri-'dEm]: To buy back or purchase, repair, restore. (Merriam Webster Online, www.m-w.com)

When I stumbled into my Hill, I knew it was over.  Before that, nothing had set in.  I was happy - joyous - to be free, to feel the wind again, to be out of the accursedly Cold Iron room.  But when I reached the Hill...

They stared at me.  They whispered.  I'd played a joke on most of them at least once, some of them had chased me across the forest and mountain, but now none of them recognized me.  Someone murmured something about humans - but I was one of them!  I am Fae!

There was my mother - she'd defend me!  Parents are always defending their children.  A shudder ripped through me as I remembered the reason I was in this plight to begin with.  The crowd around me drew back.  No, not you too!  Mother!  I said the words out loud - I'd barely spoken for months.  My voice was rough and sounded nothing like the lyrical noise I had made before-  Before.

And that was when she recognized me.  "Thesil?" she whispered.  Her voice was so soft and cool - my mother had always before had a voice of steel and flint, not this quiet thing.

I stared into her eyes. "Mother."

And that was when it happened.  Her eyes grew cold - why had I never noticed how colorful her eyes were before?  Her face grew stern, her mouth pulling down.  When she spoke, her voice was loud, full of the metal I remembered.  "You are not him.  You cannot be.  My son is Fae - you are nothing but a filthy mortal."

The rest of the crowd drew back, turned away.  The Queen just sat there.  I raised a hand, beseeching - she turned her head.  Mother would not look at me either.  There, Alicon, he would help!  We'd played together as children, had stayed as friends for years.

"I have no idea how you got in here, mortal, but you should leave.  Now.  Before we become angered."  Not even a glance with the words.  I frantically shook my head, looked around - but they did nothing. 

I started to weep - simple, mortal tears.  When I touched my face, it came away wet.  In shock at this proof of my difference, I turned and left the Hill.  The manacles around my wrist seemed to weigh more than was physically possible.  When I reached the forest, I turned again to look at the Hill.  At least it was still clear - the manacles didn't change that, at least.  I slumped against a tree and did not even look up when I heard the soft step behind me.  A small kindness, to let me acknowledge what would likely be my executioner - it must not be my mother or Alicon, then.

"Mortal, eh?"  A dry voice - I quickly turned and beheld Helier, the oldest among us.  "What crime did you commit, to be turned into such a beast?"  The moonlight reflected off of his simple silver collar.

I shrugged.  "Does it matter?  It's done.  They reject me.  They knew the truth of who I am - they wanted to ignore it.  There's nothing left for me - you may kill me now."
He gave a short bark, then bent down, to whisper in my ear.  "All is not lost yet, child.  Not until your manacles turn black and tighten with age.  There is only one race that could have done this to you - and there is only one race that can undo it.  Pity they are one and the same."

I looked up at him, hope in my eyes, I am sure.  He smiled - a twisted thing that showed no sympathy - and tapped his collar, the one he was never without.  "Come with me, child, and I will teach you what you need to know to survive.  Perhaps you will be as lucky as me - or perhaps not.  Time will tell - time will always tell."  Chuckling, he turned away and headed deeper into the woods.  I hesitated for a moment, but taking a deep breath, I followed.  A chance - to return to normal, to put this behind me, to regain myself.  How could I not follow?  And that, my friend, was when I truly knew it was over.