Note: This is from my ongoing story "A Rebel's Heart." A love triangle between Captain Hamish (this character), Lady Madelaine Elwood and her betrothed Sir Tomas Westfield. Feel free to check it out - its just to get the romance bug out of my system. Sir William is Tomas's head knight. XD
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I closed my eyes, centering myself. Using borrowed guard armor, I flexed my muscles. Loosening my body. No more thought of Madelaine not being able to meet my eyes. No emotional swordplay, no conflicting emotions battling inside my skull. No more.
I opened my eyes in time to watch William jog into view, his sword pressed against his thigh as he slowed to a walk. He calmly looked up at me, a helmet in the crook of his arm.
The world flashed, pulsing so I could barely stand. I fell forward, frowning.
Closing my eyes I could hear… clicking and a yelp like someone had been burnt. Behind my eyelids words drummed past and out of sight.
Wait. What is…
“When did we become entertainment?” William asked mildly.
As he spoke my head throbbed painfully, forcing me to close my eyes. And there were his words flashing against my eyelids.
Wait.
I grimaced, willing my eyes not to glance at the lord and lady seated behind us. “I fear it may be partly my fault.”
William stopped… moving. He stood there, a slight smile playing on his lips. I closed my eyes again, the tapping sound growing louder. I saw… words… and… dots… and
….
I fell to the ground, clutching my head. Two colliding worlds in my head.
Worlds
Words.
Me.
I saw a flickering parchment smoothed onto a black frame. The clacking… so much louder. Like tiny horses running.
Wait.
I was… words.
My name was there. So was William’s.
Stop.
I’m trying.
The voice was a whisper. Fearful as I again closed my eyes. Words. My thoughts splattered across it.
Stop.
Stop thinking then. I can’t…
And… I thought of Madelaine before I could pause my frantic thoughts.
Tapping grew louder until Madelaine stood before me. Her eyes questioning, her smile waiting. Frozen she stood there.
What if she kissed…
A sigh.
I yelped as Madelaine lunged forward, her heavy dress scrunched in her hands as she reached for me.
Wait. No.
Backspacing….
What is backspacing?
Madelaine disappeared, the world shivering around me as though the sky would fall down.
A thought crossed my mind and I walked towards Sir William, pointing a finger at him.
Blue hair. Purple eyes. Hair braided down his back.
By my thoughts he changed. The blue flashed against his tanned skin, braided expertly down his back.
Stop.
My thoughts crashed around inside my head, unwilling to settle and let me read them.
Read them.
Am I…
No! Yes… Wait.
I am not real.
The thought boomed through my being, fading me a little.
STOP. YOU WILL ERASE YOURSELF.
Erase?
You are real. Every person who reads you knows you. They go with you through your life.
Who are you?
A… friend.
Can you make anything happen?
Not if I want it to make sense.
I looked at William, hearing the never-ending clacking. Slowly he returned to his handsome self, his smile warmer. As though he truly lived.
…can you make me win this duel? I asked the sky, waiting. Madelaine would want that.
True to character, hey.
I frowned, holding my head as the clicking continued.
Can you?
Clicking and clacking continued. Distantly I could hear the sound of a cat loudly complaining. Finally, the voice whispered,
If you allow me to backspace this conversation.
Backspace?
Ah… destroy.
Will I remember this?
I sensed a shrug the way you can sense an enemy behind you.
Probably not.
I nodded, satisfied.
You don’t want… anything else?
The question surprised me. But I shook my head. If I was but a figment and thought – better be one of good. Perhaps the destiny writer would look favourably upon me.
Though from the pause in the clicking and clacking, I wasn’t so sure.
Before I go, I want to tell you something for you to forget.
The words made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. What could they tell me? What twisted fate lay before me that they wished to bestow hope.
She does love you. I will write you a scene one day. I promise.
Madelaine.
The thought forced her to me again. She wore her riding gear, hair swept back and pinned away from her face. Her fierce beauty shone from her. I wanted to touch her, to feel her wrap her arms around my neck.
Golden light like sparkling dust motes lit up around me. Laine stepped closer, fully aware and watching me.
This won’t count? I asked the sky.
Nope.
I strode over to Madelaine, pulling her closer. Her eyes widened, watching me carefully. “To dreams.” I told her, leaning down to kiss her on the forehead. If she was to love me. I would earn it. Deserve it.
She smiled, the golden light touching her as she gently pressed a palm to my cheek. Slowly she faded away, the world shook and I closed my eyes.
When my eyes opened William smiled slightly, as though he was privy to an inside joke. “No, I think you’ll find the brunette beauty is even more talented than believed.”
I frowned, processing his words, “sir?”
He waved my concern away, “enjoy this match Captain, learn from it. I mean no ill will against you personally, but your presence has stirred my city. I am captain here.”
All I could do, was grin. The sound of clacking gone from my ears.
ns 15.158.61.7da2
