Tam Lin Chapter 1

Note; Yes, I'm throwing in my hand at this again. Never done worrying this bone. I hope to have it done as a gift.

Janet had grown into a truly wild beauty, as was kindly put by the old knights of the hall. The women, as is often the case, were more critical. Arrogant, willful, foolish, stubborn, and disobedient were more oft used by the clucking female tongues. Her mother had died a few short years after her brother Alec was born. Another baby boy, he didn't survive either. It had aged her father very quickly. While Alec was still being groomed for Lairdhood, at 17, Janet had run wild and run things her way for years.

She breezed into the kitchen from the yard like a chilly spring breeze; her dark, unbound curls bobbing, her court of ladies in her wake like a flock of birds. Through her kitchen and down into the hall, she flounced onto the hearth rug with her dog, Bridie, a descendent of Brute, slapping out a welcome with her tail. She began sorting through the wild berries they had picked as the other young ladies took up their embroidery. She picked out the sticks and bugs and leaves. Bridie nuzzled her head into her mistresses lap. Soon the chitter of talk amongst the ladies had begun. It began with the same old stuff and Janet held her tongue. Her thoughts as the young and not so young men where talk of and their suitability discussed and weighed. As the tone of the conversation changed to more secretive and dark whispers, Janet turned her attention to what was being said. "No one has been there is years, the Laird willna allow it," said Cait "Yet the gardens are always attended so fair.

" Oh some ha been thare," Lessie lowered her voice," ol farmer Fletcher's daughter used ta creep off thare. Spent an awful amount of time int he wood near by. Now she's gone of ta live wit her auntie by the loch. Been thar nigh on nine months, reckon she'll be back again soon." She looked about with a pointed expression.

"I heard she's all but pinned away aunts or no." Broken in timid little Jinny, pulling her fair hair off her face, "They say....well they say Carterhaugh is haunted by a lovetalker. That he's been there, or court to the queen of the Fae for weel o'er 20 years." She rushed out the words as though she was hurrying their escape before they were found.

"The Laird would not approve such talk in this hall," Nurse nearly bellowed, " This is a Christian house and the Fae are nought but demons in fair clothes. " She sniffed. "Likewise they hear when we speak of them, and they come wit trouble. "

Janet returned to the berries, all excitement now gone again from the prattle. She stared into the flames as a seed took root, more from the stomping of it that the laying of it. A willful and curious flame began in her ungoverned mind.

***
Tom had finished checking the new seed, he was so encouraged by the results. They were all potable and showed nice growth. Everything was so very encouraging, and he had wonderful news to pass to Her Majesty for once. Tom wiped his brow with the back of his wrist, just above his work gloves. He could smell the dark rich soil. Tom was tall, with a muscular yet slender build. His straight black hair and eyes a sure sign of his half Japanese heritage. IF only he could be sure the seeds could survive in the polluted soil with acid rain. Stage two, Fewer seeds and tubers have passed that test. The computer made the annoying ringing sound that let him know he was summoned again. With a sigh he took off his gloves and and tucked them in his back pocket. and walked to the desk. tapping the mouse the screen sprung to life and his perfectly tanned, perfectly manicured, perfectly Park Ave boss popped into view with her enduring scowl in place. Like the stereotype of her class and time she looked like she had just discovered a nasty bug and you were it.

"Well?" She never wasted time on small talk not with anyone who she wasn't in control of.

"Nice to see you, Tallulah. Looks like the Martha's Vineyard was nice this year. At least the tanning beds there must have worked." Tom, sardonically said. Tallulah didn't twitch so much as a muscle. With a sigh Tom continued, "The latest batch has done well in lower light conditions, however I haven't gotten them through the rotten soil yet. The seeds are pure genetically and If they are strong enough to thrive in the modern conditions we may see a great decrease in hunger. Africa is less contaminated and a bit..."

"Africa is too poor to pay for anything we could see a profit from," She snapped, cutting him off. Tallulah's daddy dearest was the CEO of the largest company still remaining in what was left of the USA.

Chapter 2

I wasn't going to do this, but heck with it. I don't think the first chapter hooked anyone, so maybe a bit more will. ;) Again, read the title of the blog, rough draft.

Ch. 2

the Library of the University of Travail was huge, three floors lines with books, parchments, papyrus, and even stone tablets . All lined on dark hues heavy shelves shooting down five wings. The lobby stretched the entire three stories and had a glass cupola, letting natural light down on the stone scholars, philosophers, Wizards, Gods and Goddesses, and all sorts of creatures inhabiting niches and plinths. A door near the rear of the Library opened and Mrs. Miria Vas and Mr. A. Hails quietly entered. They could hear chatter from the lobby. An unnatural sound in a library and though the wonderful, musty smell of old books surrounded her, Miria couldn't help feeling chilled. They made their way through the stacks until they could see the lobby. They were on the second floor, which was entirely empty. Motioning Hails to stay back, Miria laid flat on the ground and moved to the edge. She could see the same group that entered with Hart and more. The Dean and his witch sister included. Laughing and acting like small school children at play. Hails had moved forward to see.

Suddenly the double doors to the library opened wide and a well dressed man in a dark suit, lead a procession in. He had dark hair and a widows peak, his hair brushed back. A steal door was wheeled in and ropes strung between poles set up a line.
The man in charge addressed the group with is hands clasped behind his back. "I am so glad to you all have enjoyed to excursion with us," He smiled a smile that didn't quit reach his eyes. "You are the pioneers in our fantasy vacations. and hope you will return. You will be ushered from here to the hub, you will have a grand banquet and royal suites for one last night and then returned home."
"I have a complaint," a blond young man spoke up, Miria recognized him as a student friend of Hart's. He was sporting a black eye.
"Any injury incurred due to abuse of the tulpoids is covered in the contact you signed, Mr. Young. I have already heard you tried to force your self on a young lady meaning a great deal to the the man who hit you in the pub. Just like any fight you would start on vacation, we are not libel."
Mr. Young took his seat again with a scowl.
" Now if we may, single file of you please through the door." The man turned and nodded to the black clad soldiers manning the door, they flipped a switch and with a hum that started low and rose the door int he doorway disappeared as if the middle was stretched out to make a molecular and then string size hole big enough to fit the doorway. The susurrus of conversation in a lower tone started and the strangers in the guise of beloved and despised began moving through the door.
Miria slid back and whispered, "Come on!"
Miria and Hails stood and walked purposefully down standing in line far enough that Hart and the others who knew them wouldn't see them. Her heart thumped loudly, but she tried to show an outward appearance of assurance, even trying for boredom.
A guard had caught Miria's eye. When he noticed them he came right over and crooked his finger, "You two! With me."
They had no choice but to follow. Miria felt as if the entire world was staring at her with malice, her head felt light and she really hoped she wouldn't pass out.
In the hall the guard turned, "You should know service people going in this way," He pointed down the hall to a room with the same bluish white glow that came from the door in the Lobby. He walked back grumbling.
"Maybe we should just count ourselves lucky and hide til this is over, " Hails quavered, he looked very old, tiny and disheveled.

" No I have to know what this all is. It is something wrong right down to the bones and blood of everything." Miria said in a worried voice. " You can stay and hide if you want, Mr. Hails. I have a feeling all ties and loyalties built by our pasts and memories wont mean anymore than a puff of air by days end." She heard Hail's intake of breathe and felt horrible. She was thinking of Hart and not Her dear old friend, but she couldn't take back the words now.
She had inched her way to the doorway and peaked cautiously in. A small line was making there way in through another door, looking much the same in purpose but less ornate. No red plush carpet here. "Come on, lets get this over with," A female guard was urging them in and toward the door. No real way to back out unless they wanted the carts.

Ch. 1

Ch. 1

Two wonderful weeks had passed since her wedding. Things had been so perfect. Yet this morning she had woken with such a feeling of dread. Some weird feeling that the universe did not give so much with out taking more. Where this came from she didn't know. Travail had always been a place of simple lives, simple loves, simple clear problems and resolves. But it seemed the universe was disagreeing. She was feeling that things didn't work that way, despite all she could remember. She always felt that virtue wold win a good life, and she had felt that way right up to this morning. Now it felt as if she had learned different life lessons, lessons that the universe was unpredictable, that rewards went to the strongest. And something was not right, she felt she was a stranger to herself. When she walked down to the kitchen for breakfast. Hart looked at her with his beautiful eyes, his perfect features, his hair that moved with the slightest breeze, and she saw a stranger looking through his eyes. She was terrified.
"What's wrong darling?" He asked. A slight note in his voice off, like he was enjoying a joke at her expense.
Instincts she didn't know she had kicked in. "Nothing. I-it's just the rain. I was going to plant flowers this morning."
"I wouldn't worry about doing that," Hart said. Was there a slight sneer in his voice she couldn't be sure.
"Breakfast, dears!" called Mr. Hails, the loyal servant Miria had rescued from the Dean. The Dean's sister had turned him into a dog for standing up to her over a rutabaga they both wanted in the market. Mr Hails seemed the same as ever, Cheerful and wiry, an elderly man who was happy to live with the new couple being completely devoted to them, especially Miria.
Hart held the dining room chair for Miria, seating her a bit hard, absentmindedly or resentfully she couldn't tell. "Hart....Is something the matter this morning?"
"Quite the contrary! today is a perfect day," he replied with a wry chuckle. "Eggs?"
Miria took the silver tray with far to many eggs for the three of them. "Thank you," she replied quietly.
A jangle of bells took her out of her revelry, Hails when into the hall toward the front door. Before he could reach it it burst open with Holly, Miria's sister, coming in full sail. "Morning Hails!" she shouted and gave him a huge kiss on the cheek. Holly was usually serious and her intensity was in a wound way, like the clockwork and watches she made. She seemed a completely different person, so different it was frightening.
"You're too early," Hart said, not looking up but sopping up the running eggs yellows with a piece of toast.
"Couldn't care less," Holly said as she grabbed a couple of slices of over crisp bacon. Normally she would have observed etiquette to a T. Something was obviously very wrong.
"Do you have plans this morning, Hart?" Miria's voice broke.
"I'm all packed," Holly said, "two carry-ons, I couldn't part with more, you?" She hadn't even looked at Miria, as if she wasn't even there.
"Holly has some business to due with the flight squadron at the university, I offered to be her guide," Hart's explanation came across as dull and an unimportant lie, as if Miria's belief in it didn't matter. He turned back to Holly and replied,"I'm only taking these." He held up his gold watch that Miria had given him and his ever important set of keys.
Holly's nose wrinkled in disgust, "Why the watch?" She glared briefly at Miria.
"Changed you mind a bit late, darling," Hart chuckled, "But you wanted to fly." Holding up his cup with the last swill of tea.
"I didn't want to be a limp, old fashion dish mop!" Holly said waving toward Miria.
"Holly!" Miria was in a panic, like suddenly waking in a baer's den not sure what was next.
Hart stood, swept Miria into a huge embrace, and kissed her hard and long. "Goodbye, my dearest. "
Holly continued to glare, Hart took her arm and one of her bags, grabbed his coat and an umbrella and headed off into the street, toward the university. Holly's mocking laugh echoing through the rain. Miria stood int he door watching them go. Nothing in the world made sense in this moment. Her skirt was getting wet as the rain splattered the stoop. Miria tried to process what was happening, with her Husband, her sister, even in her own head. Suddenly she heard a scream from down the street, toward the town center. She stepped back and quietly closed the door. Why she felt like quiet was necessary, she didn't know. Something bad was happening. She turned and hurried up the three floors of the house and then stood at the bottom of the wrot iron spiral staircase that lead tot he roof.
Mr. Hails came puffing up behind her and handed her a cape and an umbrella. With out a word they climbed tot he roof. The rain was letting up a bit. Hart and Miria had a lovely brass telescope in a glass dome. They entered and Miria opened a window toward the university. She adjusted and peered toward the formidable front gate of the university. She spotted Hart and Holly with a small group being ushered into the gate with a great deal of deference from the guards. Guards? There was only an elderly porter that manned the gate for as long as anyone could remember. These guards were dressed in black, polished and shiny and gave the impression of wanting to prove how tough they were. A number of professors and students were roughly turned away and a few were man handled into a wagon. She hardly recognized those turned away, but knew most of those in the wagon. She looked again at the group Hart was chatting and laughing with, she gasped and her heart that she thought was at it's lowest dropped again. The turncoat ladies maid, The dean's Secretary and others who upheld the tyranny Hart, Holly, and Miria had fought so hard against was there as well as the queen herself, the admiral of the sky ship fleet. But he had died in the last battle! It was impossible.
The noise down the street had turned into a loud struggle and the sound of a bull horn barking orders was heard, though they weren't close enough to make out the words. Hails was already opening the window on that side of the dome. As Miria looked through it, she saw more soldiers, they must be soldiers, carrying out the fishmonger's wife that had rallied the resistance with the market folk. They had nudged her lay about hubby back into the house with the children. "It will be alright!" The man with the Bull horn was closer and the rain had stopped completely now, so they could hear. "We simply need to speak with certain citizens! No one will be harmed!" as we read out your name, come out!" The wagon they lead up the street was nearly full.
"We should head to the university, we'll be safe there." Hail's voice quavered with fear.
"No, hurry grab a bag and put food and a few tools....and the hand gun under your bed."Miria had never told Hails she knew of the hand gun, but now explanations had to be quick. This was bad, she didn't know what it was, but the word 'Nazis' floated through her mind with images of rail cars filled with people. She didn't know where this knowledge came from, but she had to trust it. Nothing else was what it had seem to be yesterday. "Meet me int he kitchen with your warmest coat."
She ran to the bedroom, 'if the house was on fire what would you save...." she opened her jewelry box and grabbed a pendant her father had made for Hart's father to give to Hart's mother. Hart had given it to her on their wedding day. It meant so much to her. She threw it around her neck, grabbed a slim book of poems she had borrowed from the university library, threw her ridding bloomers and a few clothes in a small bag and left.
From the kitchen to the basement she explained to Hails what she had seen at the university. "We had better find another place to go, Miri. We can't hide int he basement, we'll be found quickly," He responded.
"We're not staying," Miria said as she reached the Eldrich looking door that lead to Hart's Laboratory.
"Master Hart has the only key, and you asw he took them."
"The old mangy tabby cat told me where the Hart's father kept a spare, " Miria whispered and she counted stones and reached under a nondescript stone. A catch clicked and a stone near the door sprang out with a key identical to the master key Hart had on his chain. She gingerly picked it up the key and with shaking fingers put it int he lock. With a deep breath she turned it. It turned easily but cogs and wheels sounded loudly from behind the door. Finally the locks slide back and the door opened with a loud creek. Dramatics, Hart was good at that. Miria took the key and slid it in a small dark blue velvet drawstring purse in her bag. Hails ushered her in and closed and locked the monstrous door from the inside.
Many vials and potions lined the stone shelves all the way up to where the ceilings started to vault to the roof. Passages lead off into the dark but it was a simple wooden door on the dais behind Hart's desk that took up all Mira's attention. It wood was a rich, warm, dark honey color, worn around the handle. Hails had never been in this sanctuary of Hart's and he didn't know whta to look at next. Finally Miria's stillness caught his attention. "what is it?" he whispered.
"it's a door," Miria replied. realizing the stupidity of the reply she continued, "A portal. Hart could open it to almost anywhere in Travail and even beyond with his keys."
Hails knew Hart's keys were important, but never knew why til now, "What good is it without the keys?"
" The keys were just an easy way to keep the things he needed," Miria was rummaging in her bag and pulled out the slim volume from the bottom of the bag. Hart had taught her how to work the door, and she had managed it alone that fateful night of the last battle of Travail. She would need to do it now. She silently prayed she could. Suddenly they heard boots on the stone steps outside the lab.
Miria and Hails exchanged a silent fearful glance. as the door handle rattled outside. "they can't be in dere!" A northern English accent derided.
"How do you know?" an American voice asked.
"I did my homework, didn't I?" They were checking the wine and food cellar as far as Miria could make out.
"Like you knew were we'd be sent." The voices receded with the clunk of boots back up the stairs.
Miria took a long quiet deep breathe. She placed the book on the lock and it stuck as if magnetism held it.
"Where are we going,?" Hails breathed.
"To the university."
"I thought that was a bad idea."
"If I'm right we should be safe, we aren't using the front door. Miria replied. Planting her feet shoulder width apart, knees just slightly bent, she held her arms bent with the palms facing each other. She brought them together til she felt the slight resistance of energy. She breathed out and moved her hands apart, she brought them back together with an inward breathe. She continued this as the energy between her hands took form and gained energy. She could see a faint light start in the energy bubble. Could she do it? No, she had to relax and concentrate, doubt would defeat them. Finally the energy was a brilliant white and the size of a basketball. Basketball?! Another hidden knowledge coming out a pebbled surface and black groves. No time for this! She moved the energy toward the lock of the door. It absorbed it and she reached for the latch and pulled the door open.

{Again, a very rough raft, ignore grammar and other major problems. Just getting it down.}

Prologue

{A new start on a new book. I will keep on on this one! I have a start into chapter 3 Woot!~ And I know where I'm going this time. Remember this is ALL rough draft. Oh and mine, don't steal it, it's bad but it's all I got. ;) }

PROLOGUE
The Dean had disappeared into the night, gone for good. The King and Queen though still a bit daft were under the influence of the people and not the witch sister of the Dean. Miria's heart was singing, Hart had told her he loved her. It looked like her life was headed to a happy ending after all.

Miria was a watchmaker like her father and younger sister, Holly. The family's shop was a long established and well respected one, being the very best in watches and clockworks of all kinds right down to the minicule. She had been dragged into the affairs of the city when her family had been taken by the evil behind the rulers of Travail. She escaped with the help of Hart. A stunning and impressive master student at Travail University, Hart was a master of microkenetics, better than most of the professors. The two of them had helped restore the city to normal with a number of other students of magic and brave souls of the township. Hart had taught her how to manipulate things on a micro level with her mind during the struggle. She turned out to be a quick study, and very good.

While her father had given his life in the struggle for freedom, her sister was taking over the shop. Miria and Hart were going to be married this weekend, and live closer to Travail campus they both attended, in the lovely, slightly twisted townhouse of Hart's. Travail was the loveliest city ever imagined again. The sea a perfect blue, the ships in the harbor strong and white sailed, the sky ships floating like steal clouds, the university upon the rock outcrop, ancient as the secrets it kept and imparted. The citizens, women is bright lovely spring dresses, the men in morning coats, even the hawkers in the markets seemed perfect and new. The Castle shining on the opposite peak across the town and white and shiny as the university was dark and stolid.

As Miria looked out though the bright brass telescope on top of the town house, things were just so very perfect...

This is the universe speaking...

I've had a few serendipitous events telling me I need to write, more. And so as my facebook games obsession is at an all time low, I shall try to post more and write more.

On this blog.

'Cause that's what it is for.

Christmas stuff not withstanding of course!

Janet

Janet lay on her back beneath the rough hewn bench. Her soft black curls falling to the floor, as she kicked her feet up, pinning baaby to the under side of the bench with her bare feet. She'd had baaby since she was one herself. Nurse had sewn her out of scraps as she watched over young Janet's cradle. Brute groaned and snuffled with his grizzled muzzle, taking it upon himself to watch Janet now that her Mother and nurse was busy with the new baby, a son and the future Laird.
No one knew she was there as the business and squabbles that her father presided over continued. Janet loved her father dearly. He was always so cheerful and playful with her, even when Nurse was cross or exasperated with her, her father never was. He was tall and strong with the 'dark Celt' look he gave to his daughter, black hair and bright cornflower blue eyes crinkled at the edges by smiles and sun. The chill of the evening was driven away by the fire burning in the great hall and the sound of her father's voice was making Janet content and almost sleepy.
Sudden the hubris of voices died away. "All out!" commanded Janet's father. Janet crawled under the table to see what was going on as the men of the land shuffled out. When the last left the hall and shut the door, all that was left was the Laird, an old knight of the land, Janet's mother, a man Janet had not see before, and the daughter of the old knight. The daughter had been crying, her red eyes brought out more by her pale freckled skin and copper hair that flashed in the firelight. Her chin stuck out defiantly, but her fear was nearly palpable.

"Robert her, has traveled down from Motherwell. He's agree to take you as his bride, Maggie", the Laird said kindly.
Maggie didn't answer still seeming to be held fast with terror and pride. "Speak up, lass!" shouted her father. "Ye, canna be choosy in your...condition!" the old knight spit the last word. Maggie gave a barely perceived nod. Her erstwhile groom, gave her a tentative smile, He was obviously many years her senior.
Janet's mother regal and straight in bearing, but with light brown, straight hair and the aquilined nose Janet bore was not many years older than the frightened bride. She whispered, "He'll be good ta ye, dear. Dinna Fret." whith that encouragement the young lady took the hand of the man she would leave with. The laird handed a small sack that jingled with coin to the one called Robert and shook his hand.
After the new couple had silently departed, the old knight turned, "I'm forever in yer debt."
"Dinna fash," said the lady. "Robert will treat her and the child vera well."
"Did she say who is to blame for her disgrace?" Asked the Laird
The old knights embarrassed and weary face grew dark, "She would only say 'twas a man in Caterhaugh." Janet's mother gasped.
"Not again."
The Laird sighed and said, " From here forth, I forbid all maidens to go by Caterhaugh!" His face was grave and angry, "If we canna rid this plague of a lovetalker from the place, the devil's own may keep it to themselves!"
At the loud and angry sounds of the exchange Brute gave a loud bark revealing their hinding place. The Lairds face softened at the sight of his precocious toddler, "What are you doing dune thar, my bonnie wee child?" extending his arms to her. Janet jumped to her feet and ran to her father's arms.

The begining (of this blog. My life is getting old.)

What to say? I'm 38, mother of three. I've had fibro for at least 10 years, diagnosed 15 months ago. My mother has Fibro and I worry about my girls getting it. I'm a proud nerd, who likes all sorts of nerdy things. I worked with special needs kids and did a bit of photography on the side. Both of that was taken from me by my fibro. I'm married to a cop, which adds to the stress, but he is good at what he does and enjoys his work.