Wednesday 4 May 2011

Prologue- Incomplete First Draft

I really held no intentions to write anything until I did lots of planning and my exams were over but once I began typing I could not stop. Now I am tired and decided to post this part of the prologue up, partly due to my past history of losing so many drafts due to computer breakdown. (A major shame, I had some nice stuff written up that I'd love to read over.)

Prologue
The Acknowledged Heir

Once he had bowed to Kings, now they greeted him as an equal. Twenty four years had passed since his journey to throw away his common background and take up a future filled with unique challenges and rewards, and he held few regrets. His name was spoken with respect, even if hostile, respected was he by even his enemies. Ruefully, he recalled he had gathered quite a few of them, enemies were unavoidable to someone of his stature.

Sitting in his study, he wondered if casting aside his past had truly been worth it. He stood at the top, he held prestige, fame, loyalty, wealth, influence and most importantly magery skills beyond the norm. The magery skills which had once been a curse had helped make him into who he was today, Lord Amadeus. Everyone had heard his name, songs of his exploits were sang far and wide and in his relative youth he had felt that he was fulfilled. Now, he was lonely in his own self-built fame. Now he waited with impatience, although his outer appearance would not have reflected that he held more than a mild degree of interest in the happening of the infirmary.

At the age of of thirty six years of age he was soon to become a father. The child was not borne out of love, although he did feel affection towards Arlyn the mage who had consented to carry his child. She had been a dear friend in the decade he had known her and out of mutual desire to experience parenthood they had came to the agreement.

The repercussions would be felt some day in the future, only if the child had inherited the gift both of his or her parents held. It was not unlikely but nor was it definite that the babe would inherit the gift that had brought Amadeus his fame and fortune. Despite the knowledge that the child might not have his gift, Amadeus was prepared to accept the child, he was not arrogant enough in his acceptance to believe he would not be disappointed but he could not allow himself to blame a child who had no say in what he or she inherited.

His study with its mage lights making up for the lack of natural light, he was paranoid not to have a window in his sanctum, too many of his peers had been killed in such manners, being negligent of their own but obvious mortality. Lining the walls were the mahogany bookshelves, where he kept his prized collection under magical protections that would put the Royal Records Room to shame.

His stout padded chair, battered and old but comfortable despite that held the place of honour to the left side of his desk that was covered in various parchments, scrolls, books, and ink quills. Normally, true to his routine he would be working on one project or another but his mind was devoted to his thoughts now, the thoughts of the child that would soon arrive. Such excitement even closely guarded with walls of calm surrounding it was something that was growing rarer and rarer as each day passed for him.

It wouldn't fade as he waited to be informed, to hear the news of this child, his child. The child would be brilliant, of that he was certain, Amadeus had proven at a young age he held a brilliant mind, and Arlyn was a gifted woman herself. He could already imagine feeling pride fill him at each important milestone that this child would pass, something that Amadeus had presumed his own father would have felt when he heard of each of his achievements.
      ****

"Your son,Amadeus," the bundle in her arms stirred as she spoke while presenting the newborn babe to the man. "a worthy heir of your blood presented to you." Her face was obscured from view from hair that was tangled and damp with sweat. Arlyn's lips twisted into a half-smile at his expression of barely veiled wonder.

Amadeus studied the newborn babe with interest, the child indeed possessed a gift that held great potential, his face reminiscent of his own as a child. "I have decided in his favour," he announced noting the relaxing shoulders of Arlyn at his words.Arlyn who perhaps knew him better than most had been unsure of his reaction to the child, her agreement to carry his child mostly out of her own desire to be a mother. "Aric will be the name I bestow to him, what of you?"

"Alden, the choice is of Alden from myself." Arlyn who birthed the child answered softly as she brought her gaze up to the Lord. Silver eyes meeting the startling green of his without a flinch. She saw approval in her choice.

"Alden Aric, a good strong name." Amadeus commentated as he once again brought his eyes down to the child. The child was not a handsome one, not so soon after being brought into the world but part of him could only feel amazement at the newborn. The child while being healthy was small, so fragile in appearance that he had found himself reluctant to hold the child as expected of him as the father.

No comments:

Post a Comment