I am still going through old tags, and this was one I saved lol
The WIP I decided on for this is "Kingdom of Othrys" - which is my Tangled AU featuring characters and story elements from my own stories because of a weird dream I had once. It's almost its own thing at this point. It even has a blog (@tpc-tangled-au)
"Star" was surprisingly hard to find, actually. It was always either plural or part of a compound word. But I settled on a plural at last, from the beginning of Chapter 4 (Dire Warnings):
Azarias whirled like wind over the hills, wisplike in his dematerialized form. It was not quite like real flying, but it was faster. Faster too, he knew, was Wayland, astride the swiftest horse he could find. Between the two of them, they would surely find King Frederick soon.
But these hopes brought Azarias no cheer. His mood was still foul, and his thoughts stewed in its growing heat.
I grow sickened of kings. Kings are fools—they do not understand the power of these stones! You cannot simply take them at will, to use or destroy! The Underworld is already thrown into chaos by ITS king, all because he thought he could rid himself of one as easy as if it were a rat in his cellar. Now this Othryan, this roughland ruler, thinks he can pluck a fireflower and not catch his kingdom ablaze! THEOS tou keravnoú, can they not SEE the stars can rend them?!
His silver form flickered black once as he flew. Only once. He kept his head level, so far as any phantom physically could in that wisplike state. He kept his sight peeled for any signs. He kept his focus to the task at hand. But a low growl echoed behind in the hills as he left them, and he could feel frustration creep along his spine.
I really like Azarias and Wayland, guys. They're so epic, and I love their dynamic. (Honestly, I could've used my Chesterton reference for "star", but I just wanted to have one with Them so much.)
"Fade" was actually pretty easy - it came up less than I realized! So I have part of the first appearance of a... certain evil witch, in Chapter 5 (The Impossible Blossom).
As Salome sang, a familiar change crept across her. It tingled of power, and tasted of magic. The tune was forbidden fruit upon her tongue.
Ahh... She smiled as she sang, feeling wrinkles fade from its corners. ‘Tis well for me. Well that I do sing so sweet, even as age comes forth.
Her weak and brittle hair strengthened, thickened, darkened.
No bearer am I, dear master, nor you. Only a mistress of magic, I.
Beneath her gloves, her fingers reclaimed their softness and cleverness.
But even if I knew no magic, it would be well. And well now.
She ran her hands across her form, restored to its familiar shape.
‘Tis the music that does it. Well for me.
(By the way, the magic is triggered by singing in general, not a specific song. She's singing a bad song, because she's a witch and she's bad. Also, this was actually the first time I'd ever written a scene for Salome, AU or otherwise!)
"Time" came up a lot. But I decided on a little bit of description from Chapter 8 (The Lighthouse).
The tower, though tainted by time, had once been white. But faded splotches on the sides told also of stripes worn away. Gleaming black and bright red, once upon a time. Its walls smelled of lost seas.
The little gold thing made a half-circle, tracing along the tower’s side. Then it stopped. It returned to the side where it had first arrived, and started back the other way. Furrows scratched into its face as it roamed. But no questions came aloud.
The stairs, facing the north westerward, were gilded at last. The gold thing scrambled up readily through the ivy. But it found no greeting. No cracked boards, no rusted knobs, no gaping hole into which it could creep. Only blank.
The furrows scratched deeper. “What sort of tower hasn’t any door?”
(That's the Tower, you see, being explored by a certain young prince. Also, I like the Lighthouse. He's nice.)
"Laugh" is a fun one. The one I picked is from Chapter 6 (Seeing the Lights), and it is cute. That whole chapter was super cute, but I liked this moment especially.
She glanced at her friend, about to reply. But she stopped. Naphtali was staring at her, mouth slightly open. His grey eyes gleamed wide in the light.
“What?”
“I never heard you laugh afore.”
“Oh.” Melisande shrank, just a little. “Is it bad?”
“Nuh-uh.” He shook his head, his grin returning. “’s nice.”
Naphtali smiled at her, just a little moment more, before he looked back out at the lights. It didn’t take long for excitement to spark in him again, and he soon started eagerly pointing out the splendidest lanterns, guessing who made which one, and bouncing on his heels. And Melisande smiled too. She liked the lights. But she decided she liked them standing right here much better than she would like them flying.
She didn’t notice that he hadn’t let go of her hand. But then, neither did he.
So yeah, I know I sort of stole this from a long time ago, but it was open! And I had fun, so maybe I can get this going around again.
I'm assuming I need to pick new words for another round, so I will pick... silver, cheer, hands, and fire.
