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Description
                                                                    Somehow this year's RPG fit right in to an ongoing story so here it goes.
                                                                                      September Main Prompt: The Letter

                                                                                     << |>>>Next>>>
Word Count: 1319
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Billy walked slowly through the grand entrance to his home, shutting the door quietly behind him. Clutched tightly in his hand was a crisp letter, unopened, but judging from the grim look on his face, the man clearly knew exactly what the envelope contained. Not bothering to turn on any lights, he moved slowly into the dining room and sat, finally looking down at his summons. He slowly traced his thumb over the fine wax seal, studying the crest he knew all too well. With a sigh, he slid his thumb under the seal, slowly peeling it back, taking care not to crack it. Without warning, the lights in the living room came on and in strolled his fiancé, Marshira, with a friendly smile.

"What are you doing sitting here in the dark honey?" She touched his shoulder softly,"I didn't even hear you come home."

Billy did not return her smile, his gaze still on the letter.

"Sit down.' He murmured.

Marshira's smile faded as she pulled out a chair next to him, sliding into it with a concerned look. She slowly laid her hand over his arm.

"what's wrong B? You can tell me..."

"We knew tensions were rising in Aleria... we knew...something... was out there. We didn't, and don't know what. But we have been preparing for this and I believe our worst fears have been realized. This is our summons..." Billy pulled the paper from the envelope and rested it on the table where they could both see the unmistakable signature of the High Queen of Aleria. Marshira leaned back slowly, her breath taken away.

"B-but I don't understand. Aleria has it's army... and all the same, there's know way Teagan would send her best general to the front lines!" She looked up, fire flashing in her eyes.

Billy pinched the bridge of his nose, shaking his head softly. "Their wars are our wars. Aleria is the first line of defense in protecting this world. If they were to fall, the rest of our kingdoms would stand absolutely no chance! It is our duty!"

Marshira slammed her fists down on the table, pushing her chair back as she rose.

"You talk of duty when this is your life! If we don't even know what they're fighting, then I am going to assume it's NOT good!"

Billy rose as well, clenching his fists.

"You know as well as I do that the day I took the oath to protect my queen, I also swore to protect this realm! If I turn tail and run, how could I live with myself if my actions force me to watch everything we've built get destroyed!? How!?"

The tension left his fiance's shoulders and she sank slowly back down into her chair, deflated.

"I know it's selfish," She whispered,"But what about me? What about... us? We are to be married-"

"And we will be!". Billy sat again, taking both of her hands into his. "None of that will change. I'm not going to die! I am going to help our High Queen save this world and then I will return. I will not allow my story to end in death." He looked at her fiercely, his eyes bold. Marshira cracked a small smile, shaking her head.

"You know, when you look at someone like that, you could almost make anyone believe your words. It's settled then."

"Yes." He stood, beckoning her to stand with him,"I leave at dawn, but this will not be goodbye."

"I know." Marshira stood back, placing her hands firmly on her hips,"Because I'm coming with you. Do not try to argue with me on this one Billy Dames."

Billy sighed, frowning,"Shira please. You know I can't allow-"

"And you know I can't allow my future husband to gallivant of to some strange lands without someone to watch you back. I said don't argue. I went through the Royal Academy same as you. Just because I decided to breed horses instead of marching around in hot armor all day does not mean I can't look out for myself and you!" Marshira looked firmly at him, her eyes shining, almost with excitement," Do not deny that you always used to say I was the best with a bow in the entire army. I would be useful."

Billy looked at the floor, desperately trying to think of a counterargument but secretly deeply touched that this woman would so willingly lay down her life to be at his side.

"I must think it over. Pack your things and I will give you my answer before sunrise." Billy murmured gruffly, walking to the stairs without another glance.

"B, I love you." Marshira called over his shoulder.

"And I love you." He whispered back, climbing the stairs.

  Early the next morning, two figured moved through the early morning fog, picking their way down the dark path to the Royal Stables. Once inside the barn, they quickly set to work in the soft lantern-light, pulling out large canvas packs from the tack room. A couple Nordanners hung their heads over their stall doors, nickering in hopes of receiving an extra early serving of mash. Billy paid them no mind while Marshira stroked the closest one's nose, looking smug still from her victory over her fiancé. Bit by bit, the pair loaded tack, weapons, food and two small tents into the heavy bags. Efficiently, they finished within twenty minutes and Billy grabbed three matching halters from the tack room and headed down one of the aisles.

"They will travel better on an empty stomach." Billy said, entering a stall," We'll stop mid-day an let them have a graze but for now, we should go ahead and tack up. We have at least a three day ride ahead of us. My company will follow but we must be there early to appear before the Queen and receive further orders." He slipped the halter onto the kindly red nordanner's head, holding the lead rope out to Marshira. "Here, this gal should be familiar."

"Of course she is! I bred her after all." Marshira smiled, scratching a spot between the mare's ears,"You're looking wonderful Tox, my sweet little tater-tot!."

  She kissed the mare's nose affectionately, then the mare returned the favor, lipping at Shira's platinum hair. The woman giggled and led the mare down the aisle to the cross ties. She clipped the horse in and set about grooming her, glancing up briefly as Billy brought two more Nordanners to stand beside them, having chosen one of their best stallions, a grullo peafowl named Duncan, and a young but talented cemophora named Kat as a spare. Within no time, Tox and Duncan wore fine tack custom made on the island. It was lightweight with minimal coverage so they felt it would be the best for travel while also allowing them to present themselves properly when they reached the camp. First impressions were very important when many armies came together for the first time after all...

Just as sunlight was beginning to crawl under the big barn doors, the couple loaded the last of their packs onto Kat and led the horses out into the cool morning air. All three horses' ear swiveled rapidly, sensing something different from their usual morning patrols but they obediently stood still as their master's mounted up. Billy glanced at Marshira and noticed a troubled look on her brow. Offering a comforting smile, he squeezed his legs, sending Duncan off at a walk. Marshira hesitated for a moment, glancing back at the village beyond the palace. Would this be the last time she ever saw home? Shaking away those thoughts, she gathered Kat's lead up tighter and sent Tox forward at a trot to catch up with Billy.

This would not be the last time they saw home. Perhaps they would be the ones to tip the scales in the Great Aleria's favor...
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Horse Tracker Image: Tracker
Horses Featured: 1883 Duncan , 2510 Toxicity , and 4477 Blod Katteart
Art, Story and Characters (C) Leigh-Fleur
Nordanner Breed (C) HoT-Stables

Image Info
Stock Used: Walking Horses Forest Path
Time Spent: 12+ Hours including story
Number of Layer: 58
Tools Used: PS Elements 8, Wacom Bamboo Fun Tablet

Description
                                                                    Somehow this year's RPG fit right in to an ongoing story so here it goes.
                                                                                      September Main Prompt: The Letter

                                                                                     << |>>>Next>>>
Word Count: 1319
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Billy walked slowly through the grand entrance to his home, shutting the door quietly behind him. Clutched tightly in his hand was a crisp letter, unopened, but judging from the grim look on his face, the man clearly knew exactly what the envelope contained. Not bothering to turn on any lights, he moved slowly into the dining room and sat, finally looking down at his summons. He slowly traced his thumb over the fine wax seal, studying the crest he knew all too well. With a sigh, he slid his thumb under the seal, slowly peeling it back, taking care not to crack it. Without warning, the lights in the living room came on and in strolled his fiancé, Marshira, with a friendly smile.

"What are you doing sitting here in the dark honey?" She touched his shoulder softly,"I didn't even hear you come home."

Billy did not return her smile, his gaze still on the letter.

"Sit down.' He murmured.

Marshira's smile faded as she pulled out a chair next to him, sliding into it with a concerned look. She slowly laid her hand over his arm.

"what's wrong B? You can tell me..."

"We knew tensions were rising in Aleria... we knew...something... was out there. We didn't, and don't know what. But we have been preparing for this and I believe our worst fears have been realized. This is our summons..." Billy pulled the paper from the envelope and rested it on the table where they could both see the unmistakable signature of the High Queen of Aleria. Marshira leaned back slowly, her breath taken away.

"B-but I don't understand. Aleria has it's army... and all the same, there's know way Teagan would send her best general to the front lines!" She looked up, fire flashing in her eyes.

Billy pinched the bridge of his nose, shaking his head softly. "Their wars are our wars. Aleria is the first line of defense in protecting this world. If they were to fall, the rest of our kingdoms would stand absolutely no chance! It is our duty!"

Marshira slammed her fists down on the table, pushing her chair back as she rose.

"You talk of duty when this is your life! If we don't even know what they're fighting, then I am going to assume it's NOT good!"

Billy rose as well, clenching his fists.

"You know as well as I do that the day I took the oath to protect my queen, I also swore to protect this realm! If I turn tail and run, how could I live with myself if my actions force me to watch everything we've built get destroyed!? How!?"

The tension left his fiance's shoulders and she sank slowly back down into her chair, deflated.

"I know it's selfish," She whispered,"But what about me? What about... us? We are to be married-"

"And we will be!". Billy sat again, taking both of her hands into his. "None of that will change. I'm not going to die! I am going to help our High Queen save this world and then I will return. I will not allow my story to end in death." He looked at her fiercely, his eyes bold. Marshira cracked a small smile, shaking her head.

"You know, when you look at someone like that, you could almost make anyone believe your words. It's settled then."

"Yes." He stood, beckoning her to stand with him,"I leave at dawn, but this will not be goodbye."

"I know." Marshira stood back, placing her hands firmly on her hips,"Because I'm coming with you. Do not try to argue with me on this one Billy Dames."

Billy sighed, frowning,"Shira please. You know I can't allow-"

"And you know I can't allow my future husband to gallivant of to some strange lands without someone to watch you back. I said don't argue. I went through the Royal Academy same as you. Just because I decided to breed horses instead of marching around in hot armor all day does not mean I can't look out for myself and you!" Marshira looked firmly at him, her eyes shining, almost with excitement," Do not deny that you always used to say I was the best with a bow in the entire army. I would be useful."

Billy looked at the floor, desperately trying to think of a counterargument but secretly deeply touched that this woman would so willingly lay down her life to be at his side.

"I must think it over. Pack your things and I will give you my answer before sunrise." Billy murmured gruffly, walking to the stairs without another glance.

"B, I love you." Marshira called over his shoulder.

"And I love you." He whispered back, climbing the stairs.

  Early the next morning, two figured moved through the early morning fog, picking their way down the dark path to the Royal Stables. Once inside the barn, they quickly set to work in the soft lantern-light, pulling out large canvas packs from the tack room. A couple Nordanners hung their heads over their stall doors, nickering in hopes of receiving an extra early serving of mash. Billy paid them no mind while Marshira stroked the closest one's nose, looking smug still from her victory over her fiancé. Bit by bit, the pair loaded tack, weapons, food and two small tents into the heavy bags. Efficiently, they finished within twenty minutes and Billy grabbed three matching halters from the tack room and headed down one of the aisles.

"They will travel better on an empty stomach." Billy said, entering a stall," We'll stop mid-day an let them have a graze but for now, we should go ahead and tack up. We have at least a three day ride ahead of us. My company will follow but we must be there early to appear before the Queen and receive further orders." He slipped the halter onto the kindly red nordanner's head, holding the lead rope out to Marshira. "Here, this gal should be familiar."

"Of course she is! I bred her after all." Marshira smiled, scratching a spot between the mare's ears,"You're looking wonderful Tox, my sweet little tater-tot!."

  She kissed the mare's nose affectionately, then the mare returned the favor, lipping at Shira's platinum hair. The woman giggled and led the mare down the aisle to the cross ties. She clipped the horse in and set about grooming her, glancing up briefly as Billy brought two more Nordanners to stand beside them, having chosen one of their best stallions, a grullo peafowl named Duncan, and a young but talented cemophora named Kat as a spare. Within no time, Tox and Duncan wore fine tack custom made on the island. It was lightweight with minimal coverage so they felt it would be the best for travel while also allowing them to present themselves properly when they reached the camp. First impressions were very important when many armies came together for the first time after all...

Just as sunlight was beginning to crawl under the big barn doors, the couple loaded the last of their packs onto Kat and led the horses out into the cool morning air. All three horses' ear swiveled rapidly, sensing something different from their usual morning patrols but they obediently stood still as their master's mounted up. Billy glanced at Marshira and noticed a troubled look on her brow. Offering a comforting smile, he squeezed his legs, sending Duncan off at a walk. Marshira hesitated for a moment, glancing back at the village beyond the palace. Would this be the last time she ever saw home? Shaking away those thoughts, she gathered Kat's lead up tighter and sent Tox forward at a trot to catch up with Billy.

This would not be the last time they saw home. Perhaps they would be the ones to tip the scales in the Great Aleria's favor...
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Horse Tracker Image: Tracker
Horses Featured: 1883 Duncan , 2510 Toxicity , and 4477 Blod Katteart
Art, Story and Characters (C) Leigh-Fleur
Nordanner Breed (C) HoT-Stables

Image Info
Stock Used: Walking Horses Forest Path
Time Spent: 12+ Hours including story
Number of Layer: 58
Tools Used: PS Elements 8, Wacom Bamboo Fun Tablet