Jedi Council Forums - Heart in a Cage: the tale of a Hapan Prince (OC's) Chapter 4.5 posted on 4/29/08

Jedi Council Forums » Fan Fiction » Before the Saga »

Post Reply | Active Topic Notification | Previous Active Topic | Next Active Topic

Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 - ~~Previous~~ | Next | Reload

Author	Topic: Heart in a Cage: the tale of a Hapan Prince (OC's) Chapter 4.5 posted on 4/29/08
Meredith_Kenobi Registered: Jul '05	Date Posted: 2/12 8:03pm Subject: Heart in a Cage: the tale of a Hapan Prince (OC's) Chapter 4.5 posted on 4/29/08 - Date Edited: 4/29 9:02pm (4 edits total) Edited By: Meredith_Kenobi
	Title: Heart in a Cage (title taken from a song by The Strokes) Author(s): Meredith_Kenobi Timeframe: sometime pre-TPM Characters: all OC's Genre: Action, romance, mystery, angst, drama, and anything else you can think of. Keywords: OC's, First Sentence challenge Summary: Rutan is a Prince of the Hapes Consortium and heir to the throne. His life is fairly normal, or as normal as it could be with every member of the royal family attempting to assasinate him to clear the path to the crown. But somehow when his mother announces that he has been betrothed, it all seems to fall apart... Notes: Written for the First Sentence challenge I've got a lot written for this already, and updates will come once a week. If you want PM's when I update, just let me know. Thanks for reading, friend! Heart in a Cage ~!~Prologue~!~ Standing on the railing of the skybridge, teetering on the edge of oblivion, he remembered it all; the event, the consequences, and most of all, the disappointment. The thin railing dug into his leather boots painfully, much like a poisonous vine snake biting into the arches of his feet. His hands swam through the air, instinctively searching for something to hold onto and use to steady himself. A sob rose deep in his throat like a bubble and quickly rose to his mouth, threatening to burst. The air around me is as cold and empty as my heart. He gritted his teeth and tears stung his eyes as he fought to hold it all back. His lips pulled back to show his teeth and he squeezed his eyes shut: a perfect picture of pain. He had done enough crying; and much to his shame, most of it had been for himself. ~!~Chapter 1~!~ Queen Mother Pola Kla Telti was lounging gracefully on a plush, scarlet couch. The thin, lacey dress she wore did not leave much to the imagination, though her thick hair covered her entire top half like a curtain. Her long, slender limbs were posed elegantly, crossed at the knee and elbow, much like you might see in a portrait painted by the Ancients. She truly was the ‘Erenada’ of her people, ‘she who has no equal’. Her face and body were perfectly symmetrical, and unblemished by freckles or moles. Her eyes were perfectly spaced, and framed by long, curling eyelashes. Her nose was thin and straight, and her lips were plump and pouted. She carried herself with the elegance and grace of a true noble woman. The Queen Mother brought a delicate fruit pastry to her ruby lips, held between two slender fingers. A female servant stood by with a tiny brush, poised to wipe away any crumbs that might fall on the expensive rug below. A starving family could have been fed for a week for the cost of just one of the pastries that she ate. They were made from a fruit so rare and scarce that many a person would not have even heard of it. It was not even a particularly flavorful fruit: it had only a small amount of juice and was notoriously dry and bland. Its flavor could be enhanced by sugars, but as she was ever watchful of her flawless figure, the pastries the Queen Mother Pola Kla ate contained none. Indeed, everything around Pola Kla was rare and expensive. She enjoyed the finer things, and liked to show off to her many guests just how much more wealthy and important than them she was. Sitting across from her on a stiff white chair (hand-embroidered and made from the imported leather of an albino Rancor) was a young man who appeared to be no older than seventeen. He was dressed primly in the very latest of fashions in a startling array of expensive blue and purple fabrics. His light brown hair was neatly cut, and slightly longer in the front as was recently desirable. His hands were pale and soft as if they had never done a hard day’s work in all the days he had been alive. He kept them crossed, however, as if there was some thing on his palms that he would rather keep hidden. His face was nearly as beautiful as the older woman’s before him; it was boyish in its beauty, and made lovelier by the innocence that shone in his wide eyes. In fact, there was something about him that made him seem even more beautiful than Pola Kla: in her eyes you could see an intense lust for power; she was a woman who longed to rule over every living being she came in contact with, and this was clear by the way she treated them. She was a very jealous person and had put many a girl to death who came close to rivaling her beauty. Her heart was shriveled and black, a very ugly thing. The young man spoke. “Mother, I do not think—” Pola Kla barked a laugh and licked fruit from her lips with a small pink tongue. “Of course you do not think! You are but a man, after all.” The young man, Rutan Telti, lowered his eyes. He had to physically bite his tongue to hold back a retort. As a young child, he had been unable of caging his wagging tongue and had gotten many a slap across the face for his trouble. Now that he was older, he knew to hold his tongue until his words could do some good. He had very strong feelings on many a controversial subject, but mainly that of men’s rights. He was just biding his time until the people would listen. “You are but a man-” Pola Kla repeated. “-and, unfortunately, you are my man, the only fruit my womb and the goddess Lyla would give to me.” She took another bite of pastry and chewed it for a long moment. Then she dabbed her mouth delicately with a shimmersilk napkin and spoke again. “I’ve said it once if I’ve said it a thousand times. Rutan, I wish you had been born a woman.” Inside he boiled. Rutan felt he was supposed to say something here, so he said the only thing his bruised pride could manage. “Yes, Majesty.” He kept his eyes lowered. “You’re certainly pretty enough — there’s no denying that — but men and women, they are simply not the same. Men are so—well, given the present company I won’t say it.” Pola Kla smiled, but the smile did not reach her eyes. It never did. “But as you were not born a woman, we will simply have to make do.” She snapped her fingers and two attractive male servants stepped forward. “I wish to continue this talk in the gardens.” She held out her hand, and one of the servants bent forward to kiss it; the other servant, meanwhile, bent to take the weight of her body in his arms. He picked her up delicately and then set her on her dainty feet. She could easily have gotten to her feet by herself, but she preferred the help of handsome young men. She snapped her fingers again and the two servants stepped back. Two noblemen, who had been standing in the background waiting for their chance during the entire conversation between mother and son, quickly filled the servants’ place. The Queen Mother took a man on each arm and walked with them, laughing primly to their feeble jokes. Rutan stood and followed his mother. He stuffed his hands improperly in his pockets, and shook his head. ~!~ “I have found for you a wife,” Pola Kla informed her son as they walked arm in arm through the gardens. All Hapans were lovers of nature and all things that grew from the earth. The Palace gardens reflected this and were bursting with beautiful rare flowers, fruits, and vegetables. They were cared for only by the most handsome of men servants who were as much a part of the display as the greenery. Rutan looked at the Queen Mother unhappily from the corner of his eyes. She was looking straight ahead and would not meet his eye. “Have you now?” Pola Kla smiled briefly, a display of pearl-like teeth behind painted lips. “I will hear none of your nonsense about ‘love’, Rutan. You are my only heir—the heir to my throne—and you will marry a woman worthy of such an honor. Whether you love her or not is hardly an issue. She will be of high birth and clean blood; her family will be honored and renowned by all; she will be wealthy and well-learned; her intellect will be superior to most; she will know many languages, and will be well-spoken and skilled in the art of politics; she will rule our world with a steady hand, with you as her advisor.” She patted the hand that was looped in hers and he had to fight not to flinch at her touch. “I believe I have found such a woman.” “Who is she?” Pola Kla smiled cunningly. “You’ve not met her.” She paused suddenly to admire a blooming white flower; thousands of tiny petals had blossomed into a bundle nearly as large as her head, framing a center of brilliant red. “Oh, look at this beauty!” She took her time to smell and admire it. Rutan tried to hide his impatience. “Her name?” The Queen Mother plucked the flower and held it in her hands. She began to pluck the petals one by one. “She is my sister’s daughter, your sweet cousin.” Rutan raised an eyebrow. “If she were sweet, you would not have chosen her.” The Queen Mother smelled the flower delicately. A smile tugged at her lips. “Her name is Cumin Li.” “Cumin Li. When do I meet her?” “Meet her?” The Queen Mother laughed coldly. “What a notion. When or if you meet the woman before you marry is hardly the issue. This is not one of those silly novels you read and write, my son, which is a vulgar pastime and is clearly unhealthy for your young, impressionable mind.” She took one of his hands in her own and examined the dark stains on them that before he had been taking such care to hide. She snorted in disgust. “Why can you not use a datapad to write in, like a normal person?” Rutan quickly pulled his hand away. “I like to write with a pen, with my own hand; somehow it makes my writing come more from my heart, my very soul.” Pola Kla leaned forward mockingly, pouting her lips. “Always the poet.” “Datapads are so impersonal,” Rutan continued, ignoring her words. He added a certain stress to his next sentence by leaning forward slightly. “Just like arranged marriages.” The Queen Mother arched an eyebrow and looked quite displeased. “Unbreakable arrangements have already been made.” With each word, she plucked more petals from the large flower in her hands. “Papers have been signed, and promises made. You may be a hopeless romantic, Rutan—” She placed the empty flower stem in his hands. “—but you are now spoken for.” to be continued... -----signature----- Proud to be ZaraValinor's Padawan Delighted to be brodiew's Master
	Post Reply \| Quote Reply \| Active Topic Notification \| Private Message \| Post History
Jinngerbread Title: Mafia Host Registered: Sep '07	Date Posted: 2/12 11:04pm Subject: RE: Heart in a Cage: the tale of a Hapan Prince (OC's, First Sentence Challenge response) 1st post:
	Wow your OC Queen Mother was a nasty piece of work. I don't like her the slightest bit. I do feel sorry for Rutan though, poor guy, somehow I think this arranged marriage isn't going to work out so well as his mother hopes. Excellent start, looking forward to more! -----signature----- Into Another Day http://boards.theforce.net/before_the_saga/b10475/27926050/p1/?5 Gate Crashin' http://boards.theforce.net/before_the_saga/b10475/28492848/p1/?21 NaNoWriMo Wordcount: 40,806 of 50,000
	Post Reply \| Quote Reply \| Active Topic Notification \| Private Message \| Post History
dark_jedi_lover Registered: Dec '04	Date Posted: 2/12 11:34pm Subject: RE: Heart in a Cage: the tale of a Hapan Prince (OC's, First Sentence Challenge response) 1st post:
	Ooh, this looks like an interesting story. I like your descriptions--they're very vivid. Looking forward to more. -----signature----- "If I were her, I'd be screaming like a stuck mynock. Well, I mean a very strong, manly mynock." on the lookout for some random ninjas... Where Few Tread - KOTOR Drabbles: http://boards.theforce.net/Message.aspx?topic=29122175&brd=10475
	Post Reply \| Quote Reply \| Active Topic Notification \| Private Message \| Post History
SUGARBANTJINN Registered: Apr '07	Date Posted: 2/13 10:29am Subject: RE: Heart in a Cage: the tale of a Hapan Prince (OC's, First Sentence Challenge response) 1st post:
	oh, I hope he finds a way to avoid it! That marriage sounds like a catastrophe waiting to happen! I can't wait to read more! -----signature----- Bant and Jonny. Forever one. Two hearts entwined God's Will will not take us to a place where His Grace will not carry us. Padawan Sunkisser 288days O my, my this here Anakin guy Maybe Vader someday later, Now he's just a small fry!
	Post Reply \| Quote Reply \| Active Topic Notification \| Private Message \| Post History
Lola64 Registered: Mar '05	Date Posted: 2/13 12:09pm Subject: RE: Heart in a Cage: the tale of a Hapan Prince (OC's, First Sentence Challenge response) 1st post:
	Ooooh, a story about the Hapes Consortium ! Unfortunately for Rutan, he wasn't born into a society that allows him any choices, really. I kind of get the feeling that the Queen Mother has chosen for him someone much like herself. That in itself should send him to the skybridge, but there's probably way more to it than that. Looking forward to see what you have planned for your Rutan. Please feel free to PM me with updates. -----signature----- Kyp/Nurse Lola: the new ship I stalk people. It's a Lola thing. Senator & Dozen 11 of the KDFC
	Post Reply \| Quote Reply \| Active Topic Notification \| Private Message \| Post History
Meredith_Kenobi Registered: Jul '05	Date Posted: 2/15 6:40pm Subject: RE: Heart in a Cage: the tale of a Hapan Prince (OC's, First Sentence Challenge response) 1st post:
	Jinngerbread: Your intuition serves you well. I'm glad you like it so far. I hope to see you around for the rest. Thanks for reading! dark_jedi_lover: Thanks so much, d_j_l! More coming soon. SUGARBANTJINN: Hi, nice to see you in here! I'm honored. I'm so glad you like this. Lola64: Exactly. Cumin Li is very much like Rutan's mother, which is exactly why she chose her. Not a good thing for my poor litle OC. Thanks for reading, Lola! More coming soon! You're on the PM list. I'll post the next chapter Tuesday, the 19'th. -----signature----- Proud to be ZaraValinor's Padawan Delighted to be brodiew's Master
	Post Reply \| Quote Reply \| Active Topic Notification \| Private Message \| Post History
ZaraValinor Registered: May '02	Date Posted: 2/16 1:49pm Subject: RE: Heart in a Cage: the tale of a Hapan Prince (OC's, First Sentence Challenge response) 1st post:
	Ahhh, I completely missed that you had posted this. Excellent characters here, as you know. Very well fleshed out. Brilliant. -----signature----- Proud Master to Meredith_Kenobi & Lolly_Tolly "He full-on Obi-Wan'd me!" Dean Winchester - Supernatural
	Post Reply \| Quote Reply \| Active Topic Notification \| Private Message \| Post History
Meredith_Kenobi Registered: Jul '05	Date Posted: 2/20 5:19pm Subject: RE: Heart in a Cage: the tale of a Hapan Prince (OC's, First Sentence Challenge response) 1st post: - Date Edited: 2/20 5:48pm (4 edits total) Edited By: Meredith_Kenobi
	PM LIST Lola64 ~!~ ZaraValinor: Yeah....I couldn't wait. ~!~ Darnit! I thought I was supposed to update on Wednesday. Guess not. Stupid brain. Here's more! Thanks for reading! And a special thanks goes to ZaraValinor for Beta-ing this. ~!~ ~!~Chapter 2~!~ Rutan put his ear to the door and heard the rumbling of a droning voice inside; it was the distinct, dull sound of a man reading a school lesson. He winced. He was late. He sensed the ever-present company of his bodyguard—who insisted on being addressed as Mr. Man—behind him. Mr. Man had just been assigned to him recently; his last bodyguard had fallen in the line of duty due to the sampling of a gift of candies from one of Rutan’s aunts. With the threat of assassination always present, Rutan was never allowed to go anywhere unattended. The exception was when he was with his mother who detested the presence of all bodyguards; no one was quite sure why. When he was with her, his bodyguard had to keep out of sight at all times. This new bodyguard was young; and though he could not be any older than thirty, he had not a single hair on his head. Rutan still had not decided whether it had fallen out or been shaved off. His hairless head tended to catch the light, which would glimmer and sparkle like fire on his forehead; it reminded the Prince of the demons from his old storybooks when this happened, and always made him think of death and laughing skulls. And indeed, the way the bodyguard’s skin clung to his knobby cranium only enhanced the image. But besides his ominous skull-like head, Mr. Man seemed to be a pleasant enough fellow. Rutan had never heard him joke, but there was a distinct humorous twinkle in the bodyguard’s eyes. Maybe his sense of humor had simply not been nursed to life yet. Rutan glanced at the large, black-clad man for permission. Mr. Man nodded gravely. “It is safe, you may enter.” Rutan stood up straighter and ran his hands down his clothes to smooth away the wrinkles. He then took a deep breath and keyed the door open. The first thing he saw when he entered was a large black desk at the front of the room. It was standing in front of a bulky holoprojector, which was now displaying a large blue-light image of some far away planet. An elderly man was standing in front of the displayed image, pointing out with a gnarled, age-spotted finger a dark splotch on the planet’s surface that could only be an ocean. Spread-eagled in his other hand was an old-fashioned datapad, one of the ones you have to flip open to get it to display an image, instead of just pushing a button. Even as Rutan stepped inside and waited in the doorway, the old man did not skip a beat. Despite the interruption, he continued to read the school lesson aloud. “—and the deep fissures on the ocean floor are the perfect hiding place for all kinds of creatures. Now, the erosion that caused—“ Besides the desk, the holoprojector, and the old man, the large room was mostly empty. There were only two more chairs in the room, both of them facing towards the talking man. One chair was empty, while the other had a young woman sitting in it. Rutan cleared his throat. “Sorry I’m late, Mr. Nu.” The old man only then glanced up from his reading. “Yes, yes, we-we-well you’re the chume’da, yes? Not much I c-c-can do about it.” When he was reading a lesson out loud Mr. Nu’s enunciation was perfect; any other time and he stuttered and stumbled over his words. Rutan smiled apologetically. “I suppose not.” Mr. Nu waved a hand impatiently. “Have-have a seat, young Rutan.” He looked back down at his datapad. “Where was…Ah. The sand in the deep waters of the Cladriatic Ocean only serves to—” Mr. Man went to take his place beside the door and Rutan took the empty seat beside the young woman. Her skirts rustled as she leaned over to whisper in his ear. “How did it go? Your meeting with the Queen Mother?” He forced himself not to let his emotions show. “Very badly.” He glanced up at Mr. Nu. “I will tell you about it later.” Lyla frowned at him, then nodded and leaned back in her chair. She turned her gaze back on Mr. Nu, but it was clear by her glazed-over expression that she wasn’t listening to his words. Lyla was the daughter of a very rich, very influential noble woman who happened to be one of the Queen Mother’s closest “friends”. She was a year younger than Rutan and very pretty in her own way; she might even have been the one Ploma Kla chose for Rutan’s bride if her hair had not been such a dull brown, and if her nose did not have that crease near the tip. The Queen Mother’s appearances had to be perfect and without flaw, and alas, Lyla’s were not. It was unjust, it was unfair, but that was how it was. This was not so bad though, because Rutan thought of Lyla as a sister—he had known her for most of his life. He could not imagine her as his lover. It would feel like a breach of their friendship, and of Lyla’s trust, if he loved her like that. Lyla fidgeted beside him as if she knew he was thinking about her. She leaned in again. He stopped her before she could speak. “No.” “Please?” “No, later.” “Rutan, pleeeeease—“ “Class?” Rutan and Lyla looked up guiltily. Mr. Nu snapped his datapad shut. “Is there anything you would like t-to share with me?” Rutan stood from his chair. “Sorry for interrupting your teaching, Mr. Nu. Lyla wanted to know how my meeting with the Queen Mother went.” Mr. Nu eyed Lyla sternly. “The P-Prince does not—” Rutan held up a hand to halt his scolding. “No, it is fine. I was going to tell her later, but I think you should hear this too. You are more of my friend than any of those blood-sucking noblemen of the Court.” He looked at the big muscled man standing beside the door. “You, too, Mr. Man, though you already know the news.” The corners of Mr. Nu’s eyes creased happily and Mr. Man nodded expressionlessly. Rutan braced himself. “It seems that I have been betrothed to someone.” “What—no!” Lyla’s reaction was much more dramatic than he would have expected. She jumped to her feet and her chair clattered to the ground behind her. “No!” Mr. Man twitched instinctively, but relaxed when it was clear that Lyla meant Rutan no harm from her sudden movements. Rutan shook his head helplessly. “Yes, to my cousin. Cumin Ni, or Cumin La.” Lyla’s hand went to her mouth. “Not Cumin Li.” “Cumin Li, yes that sounds right.” “Cumin Li—” Lyla spit the name out as if it were something that gave her mouth a bad taste, “—is a dreadful woman, and at least ten years your senior. She cares nothing for others; she lives for personal pleasure and gain.” “Sounds like someone else I know,” Rutan said bitterly, thinking of his mother. “Mr. Nu, you must stop this!” Lyla stepped forward and took the old teacher’s hands in her own. “It cannot be legal. Rutan is seventeen, nearly an adult! Surely—“ “And he is also the son of the Queen Mother, her only heir. If she wi-wishes to choose her successor—R-Rutan’s wife—then she has every right to.” Lyla turned to Rutan with sympathy etched on her face. Rutan forced a smile to his face and looked at Mr. Nu. “Mr. Nu, would it be all right if we had the rest of the day off? I would like to speak privately with Lyla.” ~!~ They sat on a stone bench in the garden with the soothing sound of a water fountain trickling behind them. It was, Rutan noted wryly, not so far from the very spot his mother had given him the news of his betrothal. Mr. Man was lurking somewhere nearby, though to Rutan’s request he was keeping out of sight. Rutan knew that Mr. Man had only accepted this order because of the tiny tracking device and microphone that he was made to wear at all times which was directly linked to a tiny device in his bodyguard’s ear. “This is dreadful, I am so sorry for you.” “It is not your fault, Lyla.” Lyla tilted her head. “I know that, Rutan, but I am your friend. I have every right to feel sympathy for you when you have been wronged.” She put her hands over his. “For so long you have talked of marrying for love and finding your soul mate. You had me beginning to believe that for you it would be different; that you would be the exception. A male chume’da marrying his true love!” She laughed wryly. Her fingers touched one of the ink splotches on his hands and she met his eyes. “Like in the beautiful stories that you write.” “Maybe I can love Cumin Li,” Rutan suggested. “Maybe she is my soul mate.” “That shitha?” Lyla cursed. “I should hope not.” “You have met her, then. Is she really that bad?” “That bad and worse. Your mother could not have picked a woman less suited to you.” Rutan moaned and his head fell to his hands. “What am I going to do, Lyla?” She did not answer. He lifted his head just enough to look into her eyes. They were wet with tears, though she shed none. “Will you come with me when I go to meet her?” “Of course.” “Why are you crying?” “I am not crying.” “Yes you are.” Lyla wiped her eyes viciously on her sleeve. “I am just so sad for you, Rutan! It feels like all my dreams have been dashed, though it is yours that are gone.” They sat in awkward silence, listening to the water fountain, before Rutan finally spoke. “Lyla?” “Hm?” she sniffled. “Do you love me?” “Of course.” “No—what I mean is…” Rutan scratched the back of his neck nervously. “As more than a friend.” She looked at him. “I do not think so. Do you?” “No, I do not think so.” They again lapsed into silence. It lasted for so long that Mr. Man appeared on the scene, looming over them like a dark shadow. “There was an extensive, unscheduled silence on the chatter line. I came to investigate. Are you all right, Majesty?” Lyla gave Rutan an astonished look. “You have to schedule your silences?” “Only when you are around.” The two friends traded solemn looks. As one, they looked at Mr. Man, who stared back at them as somber and serious as ever. Lyla and Rutan met eyes again then burst into laughter. Sensing that their laughter was not going to let up any time soon, Mr. Man wandered off again. He did not even bother to hide that he had rolled his eyes at them. Rutan took deep breaths in an attempt to stop laughing, but as hysterical laughter always goes, that only made it worse. “I think we have upset him.” Lyla covered her mouth with her hand to make her laughter less obvious. “That was really mean of us.” “He just thinks we are overly silly, I do not think he is truly upset.” “He is just trying to protect you.” “From awkward silences.” They fell into new fits of laughter. TBC... -----signature----- Proud to be ZaraValinor's Padawan Delighted to be brodiew's Master
	Post Reply \| Quote Reply \| Active Topic Notification \| Private Message \| Post History
ZaraValinor Registered: May '02	Date Posted: 2/20 7:13pm Subject: RE: Heart in a Cage: the tale of a Hapan Prince (OC's, First Sentence Challenge response) UPDATED 2/
	Non scheduled silence. Still makes me laugh. Great post. -----signature----- Proud Master to Meredith_Kenobi & Lolly_Tolly "He full-on Obi-Wan'd me!" Dean Winchester - Supernatural
	Post Reply \| Quote Reply \| Active Topic Notification \| Private Message \| Post History
SUGARBANTJINN Registered: Apr '07	Date Posted: 2/22 6:14pm Subject: RE: Heart in a Cage: the tale of a Hapan Prince (OC's, First Sentence Challenge response) UPDATED 2/
	lol! yes, I loved the 'unschedualed silence' bit! that was great! aw! Lyla and Rutan are PERFECT for each other! May it be the WIll of the Force(or in this case I guess, Meredith_Kenobi ).... -----signature----- Bant and Jonny. Forever one. Two hearts entwined God's Will will not take us to a place where His Grace will not carry us. Padawan Sunkisser 288days O my, my this here Anakin guy Maybe Vader someday later, Now he's just a small fry!
	Post Reply \| Quote Reply \| Active Topic Notification \| Private Message \| Post History
BrentusofGath Registered: Aug '05	Date Posted: 2/23 10:27pm Subject: RE: Heart in a Cage: the tale of a Hapan Prince (OC's, First Sentence Challenge response) UPDATED 2/
	A sob rose deep in his throat like a bubble and quickly rose to his mouth, threatening to burst. Nice comparison! The thin, lacey dress she wore did not leave much to the imagination She sounds like my kind of chick. A starving family could have been fed for a week for the cost of just one of the pastries that she ate. Isn't that always the way? Those at the top stand on those below them. She enjoyed the finer things, and liked to show off to her many guests just how much more wealthy and important than them she was. Ok, so she's nothing like my type. Nothing at all, just a bitter, petty old crone. You may be a hopeless romantic, Rutan-" She placed the empty flower stem in his hands. "-but you are now spoken for." Methinks Junior is going to run not walk away from this as soon as he gets a chance. I'll be back for the second chapter soon. -----signature----- In time or so I'm told, I'm just another soul for sale, oh well Feel it in my bones when you break my back, break it just to watch me bend Why'd you have to go and Let it Die? -Foo Fighters http://conscienceoftheking.blogspot.com/
	Post Reply \| Quote Reply \| Active Topic Notification \| Private Message \| Post History
ZaraValinor Registered: May '02	Date Posted: 2/26 7:05pm Subject: RE: Heart in a Cage: the tale of a Hapan Prince (OC's, First Sentence Challenge response) UPDATED 2/
	Just a gentle bump. -----signature----- Proud Master to Meredith_Kenobi & Lolly_Tolly "He full-on Obi-Wan'd me!" Dean Winchester - Supernatural
	Post Reply \| Quote Reply \| Active Topic Notification \| Private Message \| Post History
Lola64 Registered: Mar '05	Date Posted: 3/2 5:35pm Subject: RE: Heart in a Cage: the tale of a Hapan Prince (OC's, First Sentence Challenge response) UPDATED 2/
	“Hm?” she sniffled. “Do you love me?” “Of course.” “No—what I mean is…” Rutan scratched the back of his neck nervously. “As more than a friend.” She looked at him. “I do not think so. Do you?” “No, I do not think so.” Do they honestly not believe they love each other? Or are they lieing through their teeth so as not to let the other one know how they truly feel? Most likely the latter. This was a good chapter. And since Lyla knows this Cumin Li and doesn't like her, having her join Rutan for the meet ought to be quite interesting. Another great chapter MK. -----signature----- Kyp/Nurse Lola: the new ship I stalk people. It's a Lola thing. Senator & Dozen 11 of the KDFC
	Post Reply \| Quote Reply \| Active Topic Notification \| Private Message \| Post History
Meredith_Kenobi Registered: Jul '05	Date Posted: 3/5 6:18pm Subject: RE: Heart in a Cage: the tale of a Hapan Prince (OC's, First Sentence Challenge response) UPDATED 2/ - Date Edited: 3/5 6:38pm (3 edits total) Edited By: Meredith_Kenobi
	ZaraValinor: Thanks for your support and for the gentle bump to the top. SUGARBANTJINN: Guess you'll just have to wait and find out! BrentusofGath: I always love your reviews. Lola64: My goal is to keep you guessing. Glad you're enjoying this so far! Sorry for the delay, everyone, something that I could not ignore came up. Hope you enjoy this next update. And a special thanks to ZaraValinor for the Beta read. ~!~Chapter 3~!~ Rutan had an entire apartment house all to himself, decked out with all the things he could ever possibly need or want: all the latest holo games, and holo game systems; a large, theatre-sized holoprojector; a pantry full of all his favorite foods and treats. He found no pleasure in holo games or the holo vision and was most times completely oblivious to them; he much preferred an old-fashioned pad of flimsy and a pen. Not that any of those things were of any use to him now as he sat on the living room couch trying to puzzle out the homework Mr. Nu had assigned to him. He was not perfectly alone, of course. Mr. Man was lurking in the back rooms doing whatever it was that he did; bodyguard things. Rutan chewed the end of his pen thoughtfully. Then he reached down to the corner of his shirt where he knew the hidden microphone was and pulled it up close to his face. “Do you know anything about what causes the many whirlpools in the oceans of….how ever you pronounce this?” He heard a sleepy moan from one of the back rooms, followed by a loud noise as if Mr. Man had fallen out of bed and heavy footsteps. A tousled head appeared around the corner. “Do you need assistance, Majesty?” “Sorry, I did not realize you were asleep.” “I am at your command, Majesty." Rutan frowned. “No, no, I do not want to force you. If you are still tired I can puzzle this out on my own.” “No need, Majesty. I am glad you woke me. I should not have been asleep. I let my guard down. I should be pun—” Rutan shook his head, smiling. “A grievous crime indeed. You fell asleep? My, my, my. I will forgive you of this disappointment most readily if you will help me with my homework. Do we have an agreement?” Mr. Man hesitated. “If you wish, Majesty.” “And stop calling me ‘Majesty.’ When we are not in formal company you will address me as Rutan.” “As you command, Maj—Rutan.” Rutan grinned and cleared a space on the couch for the large bodyguard to sit. “Have a seat.” “Have a—but, Majesty! You are my superior, the chume’da! I am but a bodyguard, your lowly servant!” “How can you help me if you cannot see the material I am working from? You certainly cannot read from behind my chair.” “But, Majesty—!” “Rutan,” Rutan said firmly. “But…Rutan, if we were caught people would think—“ “Who cares what the people of this palace think? These royals, these noblemen and women.” Rutan shook his head in disgust. “I do not. I much rather prefer the company of you or Mr. Nu.” “I could lose my job.” Rutan confessed he had not thought of that. His old bodyguard had never mentioned it; but then his old bodyguard had not mentioned much. He had been a silent, looming, intimidating man, and only answered Rutan’s questions when directly ordered to do so. “That is a problem. Being my bodyguard, well that is probably the best job in the whole galaxy,” he smiled. “I would not want to deprive you of it. No, that would never do.” “No, Majesty.” “I was joking. You may laugh if you wish.” “Of course, Majesty.” Rutan held up a finger. “I have an idea. What if you were to sit on a chair behind me? Would that do?” “I should not sit in your presence at all, Majesty.” “That can not be good for your legs, Mr. Man. I am only thinking of your health. Your ankles will be worn to the bone in no time at all.” “You are joking again, Majesty?” Rutan tilted his head back and laughed. “Now we are getting somewhere!” Mr. Man allowed a smile to crease his face. “What if you were to sit on the floor, instead of on a chair? That would denote that you are of lesser rank, but it would also be easier on your ankles. How does that sound?” “That sounds very well, Majesty.” Rutan allowed a note of sternness into his voice. “Rutan.” “That sounds very well, Prince Rutan.” ~!~ Rutan came to learn that his bodyguard knew very much about whirlpools; and not only whirlpools, he also had an extensive knowledge of waves and how they formed; he could list off many oceanic creatures from memory, and knew at least ten ways to cook the salty water plant known as tanna, or seaweed. He had grown up practically on the bank of one the Hapan oceans; the way he talked it sounded as if he were more fish than man. “Thank you very much, Mr. Man,” Rutan said, switching off his datapad. “I do believe I have got quite enough material now for the essay Mr. Nu assigned.” Mr. Man bowed his head from the cross-legged position he had adopted on the floor near Rutan’s feet. He looked almost like he was in a meditative position, and indeed, he looked much more relaxed than he had at the beginning of their talk. “You are most welcome, Majesty.” Rutan shook his head, smiling. “You are never going to address me as Rutan, are you?” The bodyguard smiled lightly, but did not offer up a response. The smile fell, and he hesitated. “Do you have something to say?” Rutan urged him. “Please, tell me.” “You are not at all how I imagined you would be.” “Is that good or bad?” “You are not like any of the other Royals.” Rutan was pleased. “Good, then.” “I was very sorry to hear of your engagement. I was very much touched by the conversation between you and Miss. Lyla. You do not…” Mr. Man hesitated. “It is okay. Speak your mind.” “You are a good person, I think, Majesty. Not like the others. They kill each other mercilessly for places of power and for wealth. It is terrible to see these things happen; precious lives lost for such greedy reasons and for empty pleasure.” “If you can call them precious.” “Forgive me, Majesty, but I believe all lives are precious, even those lives that have been darkened by evil thoughts and deeds. The Royal Cumin Li, she is one of these bad people. I believe she would kill anyone to gain a place of power.” “She does not have to kill, though,” Rutan reminded him. “Instead, all she has to do is marry me.” “Maybe it will all turn out well.” Rutan sighed. “We shall see. We shall see.” TBC -----signature----- Proud to be ZaraValinor's Padawan Delighted to be brodiew's Master
	Post Reply \| Quote Reply \| Active Topic Notification \| Private Message \| Post History
ZaraValinor Registered: May '02	Date Posted: 3/7 5:44pm Subject: RE: Heart in a Cage: the tale of a Hapan Prince (OC's) Chapter 3 posted on 3/05/08
	I'm very interested in Mr. Man. There is this aura of mystery around him. I can't wait to see what happens next. -----signature----- Proud Master to Meredith_Kenobi & Lolly_Tolly "He full-on Obi-Wan'd me!" Dean Winchester - Supernatural
	Post Reply \| Quote Reply \| Active Topic Notification \| Private Message \| Post History
SilSolo Registered: Mar '04	Date Posted: 3/8 12:10pm Subject: RE: Heart in a Cage: the tale of a Hapan Prince (OC's) Chapter 3 posted on 3/05/08
	please pm me about updates -----signature----- http://boards.theforce.net/beyond_the_saga/b10477/27517284/p1/?11 Like this quick sketch: http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/32848083/ ? Then commission me. Prices are negotiable.
	Post Reply \| Quote Reply \| Active Topic Notification \| Private Message \| Post History

Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 - ~~Previous~~ | Next | Reload

Jedi Council Forums » Fan Fiction » Before the Saga »