15 years ago
Sun Mar 01 2009, 09:05pm
Welcome to the 1st Moonfair Storyboard. This story is a more serious tale set in the Obernewtyn universe. Do with it what you will, and enjoy!
Please read the guidelines before posting.
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Ella woke with a start as the caravan bumped over a rock in the road. For a moment she lay there quietly catching her breath. the bump had woken her from a strange dream. She wasn't sure if it was good, or bad, but something about it made her slightly worried. She poked her head out the back of the caravan to be greeted by the smiling face of her older brother riding along behind and was instantly cheered.
"She wakes," he laughed, "I thought you might sleep all the way to Sutrium."
Ella couldn't help by return his infectious smile. "Don't be silly." she replied, "We've only just left Guanette and I wasn't sleeping for that long was I?"
"No, just a few hours." he answered distractedly, "Can you hear that?"
Ella strained her ears and in the distance she faintly made out a strange pounding noise. Was that horses?
"Sounds like a group of horses." he brother said, echoing her thoughts. "And they're coming this way. I'm going to tell father."
Ella watched her brother disappear around the side of the caravan, then returned her attention back to the road behind. The unsettling feeling from her dream returned and the horse hoof beats grew louder.
15 years ago
Mon Sep 01 2008, 06:21pm
(I'm assuming it's open...if not, plz delete :) )
--
Ella focused on the hoofbeats, watching the road, the echo of her dream blurring her focus, making her wonder if she was still asleep.
At the sound of a shrill, nearby whistle, the wagon lurched a little to the left and Ella grabbed hold of a carved railing to stop from toppling against their supplies. She whacked her elbow against a crate, and winced.
"You could have given me some warning!" Ella called out, but over the noise of the wagon rolling and their own horses clopping, nobody must have heard her because she didn't hear any response.
The wagon halted on the side of the road. Ella rose, rubbing her elbow, and hopped out of the back of the wagon.
Her father and brother were gathering arms from a compartment underneath the wagon; tata was slinging a quiver of arrows over his shoulder and Petre was holding an axe and wearing his dagger holster.
Ella stopped. Then asked in a small voice, "...what are you doing?"
15 years ago
Mon Sep 01 2008, 06:51pm
Her father stopped what he was doing, and turned rapidly to face Ella.
"Nothing, Ella. This is... just a precaution... Ailsa had a vision of a large group of men convening near here, with weapons, she was worried... and so was Swallow". Just as quickly as he had turned to her, Ella's father spun, returning to his beloved weapons.
Ailsa. Eurgh! Ella thought to herself as she turned back into her wagon.
Ailsa was favoured, possessing a strong futuretelling and beast-speaking gift.
Ailsa is a conniving cow! Ella thought/screamed.
"You're awfully loud, Ella!"
Ella glanced up, startled. It was Mair.
"sorry Mair" Ella said feeling embaressed.
"dont worry dear we all have moments of anger" the elderly gypsy said.
" Now i think it is time to prepare breakfast? you go an collect sticks from those trees dear" Mair said waving her arm in teh direction of the trees. Ella set off at a brisk pace to the trees grumbleing about Ailsa. She bent to pick up the sticks for fire wood when she heard a sharp laugh behind her.
" Ella is awake then?" Ailsa asked in a patronising voice.
"Oh go away Ailsa" Ella snapped grabbing a bunch of twigs for the fire.
Alise smirked but bent to help Ella.
Back at the caravan there was a shout.
15 years ago
Mon Sep 01 2008, 10:39pm
"No time to play games!" Petre called, motioning Ella forward. "The riders are getting closer."
Ella dropped the twigs (some falling - wish a smirk of satisfaction - on Alise's head) and ran toward her brother.
He was holding a small sling shot out.
"Take this, get into the tree, and if there's trouble, stay hid, all right?"
"Trouble?" Ella laughed, taking the sling shot. "I doubt anyone's looking for trouble up here, Petre..." Ella trailed off, her ears straining suddenly to hear not only hoofbeats; but voices. They weren't just wild horses up in the mountains. There were people on those horses. A lot of them, too.
He shrugged, smirking. "All the same. Tata's gone ahead to scout. You git into the tree. I'm going to wait a little ahead, 'n case there's trouble."
He turned back toward the other women, building the fire still. Alise looked mutinous.
"Both of you, scatter the sticks, and hide in the woods, 'til tata says come out."
Mair grumbled. "You ain't the boss of me, kid."
Alise rose, hands on hips, "Yeah. Who made you D'rekta of us?"
"Ah!" Petre waved his hand at the women and ran down the road, into his position.
"Shut up," Ella muttered quietly. "Just shut up, both of you. Go."
"Now, hang on right there Ella--"
Ella didn't stay to hear the end of Alise's comeback. She ran for one of the large roadside trees, and climbed up.
--
Sure, it could be nothing. But there was something about the combination of hoofbeats and all those voices, that jolted Ella into action. Something familiar...something from her dream.
She waited.
Dreamweavers' Guildmistress
15 years ago
Dreamweavers' Guildmistress
Dreamscape Artist
How long are they going to take? Ella wondered. Her legs were beginning to cramp up as she waited in the tree. She could hear laughing, getting closer. It was definitely a group of people. Just pass, she willed them. Please just pass. Finally they were in view. Ella bit her tongue to stop from crying out. It was just like her dream. And that meant-
'Stop!' It was tata, and he now stood in front of the men on horseback. 'Go no further.'
Their leader snarled at him, 'Get out of the way, or I'll make you!'
'No! It is not safe to go further.' He was protecting us, putting himself before us as usual. And it was just like my dream. I didn't want to think about what might come. It couldn't happen. Not now, not ever. Silently I watched, waiting to be told to come out.
The leader of group held out his hand signalling a stop. The horses cloping slowed and with it the men's tone deaf singing died down. The leader looked around, he could feel eyes on him that didnt belong to one of his party.
"Shamus!" He called and a young boy stepped forward. "Go into the trees that are behind us, see if you find anything."
Shamus nodded and turned towards the trees on the side of the road. The boy had proven to be very stealthy in the past and was the best chance of catching any gypsy. The boy knew that by telling him to look in the trees behind that he was actually being told to scout ahead.
"Something wrong Captain? 'cause i dinnae see nothing..." One of the men asked.
"I'm just being cautious" the Captain casually replied, but his eyes sent a warning the the loudmouth. No one questioned him. Ever.
Shouting suddenly came from the trees and the Captain smiled. Just as he thought there had been another set of eyes. Shamus pushed out of the trees pushing a dirty looking man out in front of him. No not dirty, the captain corrected himself. It was a Gypsy.
Tata glared furiously at the group unsure of what fate was waiting for him. They weren't soilderguardsand they weren't mercenaries either. Who are you? he wondered.
15 years ago
Tue Sep 02 2008, 10:15pm
The Captain sneered down at the dirty Gypsy. It was a half-blood - not even worth noticing. That meant there would be no fuss when he went missing.
The gypsy drew himself up, staring at the captain in righteous anger. He shook off the arms that restrained him and took a step forward, sweeping into a mocking bow. "Greetings. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Tata, a free gypsy and a humble traveller. I must say, I was suprised to find myself suddenly man-handled and hauled out here like a seditioner for questioning. But I suppose we gypsies must learn to expect such acts of ill-manners."
The Captain raised an eye-brow. This one had a bit of fight in him, then. Gypsies were notoriously sharp of tongue, and it seemed this Tata was no exception. This may even be amusing.
"I apologise for my men's brashness. It seems you were ill treated."
Tata tried to cover his surprise at being adressed in such a courteous wway. He had expected an insult or a kick in the ribs. Still, he did not like the captain's tone of voice, and he glared at him suspiciously.
"It was my belief that gypsies always travelled in groups," the Captain continued. "To find one seemingly alone is... odd." His mouth twisted on the word.
"Most travel in groups, it is true. But it is not un-heard of for a gypsy to go his own way."
"Is that your wagon? Surely a lone traveller has no need of a wagon."
Tata felt cold. He sensed evil purpose in this man, and he did not want him to discover the others. "I need a place to put my wares."
"Indeed." The Captain seemed bored now, and he continued on in an uninterested tone.
"I think you are lying, gypsy filth. And I do not take kindly to liars." He summoned up one of his men and whispered into his ear. Tata watched with a sinking heart as a group of men broke off and headed into the forest.
"I am a free traveller!" He yelled frantically, trying to distract them. "Yo have no authority over me, you filth!" He spat.
the Captain wiped the spit off his face with a look of disgust. "Bind him and put him in the wagon with the other slaves," he ordered.
Tata choked. "...slaves?" he asked weakly.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Ella watched all this from her perch. It was exactly like her dream, and now she could hear the men rustling through the undergrowth, searching for her. Slavers, she thought with trepidation.
"MairMairMairMairMair!" Ella screamed as she rushed back into the ring of caravans.
"What's wrong now?" Ailsa shook her head.
"Where's Mair?"
"In her wagon... Why?" Ailsa looked worried now, she grabbed Ella's wrists.
Ella, ignoring her, broke away at a run, heading for Mair's wagon.
Mair's wagon was larger than the rest, and pulled by three tall, proud palominos. As resident healer, there were bunches of herbs and whole dried plants, roots and all, hanging from the verandah. The scents made Ella's head spin.
She knocked on the door, knowing how much Mair hated people just bursting in, and a resounding, "Come in, Ella!" Came from deep inside. Mair knew everybodies knocks.
Mair was sitting on a leather stool, plaiting herbs with her dexterious fingers.
"Mair get up!" Ella scream at her. "Ella, shh!!! what has happened?" Mair asked calmly. Ella felt like slapping her. "Mair the men are slavers they have taken Tata! we have to move! NOW!!!" Ella insisted Mair's eyes widened in shock. "Slavers" she whisperd. Ella grabbed the old womans wrists and pulled her out of the wagon, spreading the herbs across the floor and steps.
********
Alisa stared after Ella. "whats with her"she mumbled. SHe rememberd the men on the road. "But they are kilometers away from the camp" she said to herself. Suddenly a han clasped over her mouth. "Dont scream" The voice sounded sinister to Alisa. She kicked out. The man swore under his breath. "Who are you?" she asked.
15 years ago
Wed Sep 03 2008, 11:42pm
He grimaced, rubbing his shin.
"I'm not with those slavers, if thats what you mean." Ella saw Ailsa open her mouth to question him further and pulled her back.
"We don't have time for this! They'll be on the camp any second now and us barely able to defend ourselves. We have to go!" She started draggin Ailsa away, following Mair's already fast retreating back into the woods.
"Not that way!" The man ran to Mair and gently restrained her arm, turning her on an angle. "I know a hiding place, a rebel's abandoned den, not far from here. The slavers wont know it." Pushed for time, hearing voices coming closer, Ella grabbed the bag of her most precious possessions.
"Fine! Now quick, lead us there!" The other women hastened after them as they rushed into the surrounding green depths of the forest.
"Try to keep up and not get lost," the man called out to them. "Its not too far." Ella was close enough to hear his muttered comment, "Lets hope they dont have trackers."
Ailsa rolled her eyes at the newcomer, in a desperate attempt to remain nonchalant about the whole business. She kept pace with the man, and was walking ahead of Ella, who was helping Mair to move swiftly.
They passed the gnarled trees and shrubs in silence, the strange man stopping ever so often to look wildly around himself. He twitched, sort of. Like a nervous tic, his left eyelid and his hands were shaking, ever so slightly.
Ella and Mair had caught up somewhat, while the man paused, then he walked, suddenly, at a perpendicular angle, and straight into a clearing. In the middle of the clearing was a mere, like Glenelg Mor in miniature. They skirted around the edge of the Mere, as it was likely to be tainted. And then Ailsa heard a noise.
Like a twig snapping.
15 years ago
Fri Sep 05 2008, 07:48pm
"Quick, everyone down!" The man whispered fiercely. Ella dropped to the ground, not caring about the dirt and leaves, the smell of earth and plants filling her senses.
"They've gone in the other direction," Ella almost lept up as the mans voice whispered in her ear. How had he crept up so silently on her? "For now." He added as he stood up once more.
Ella guestured to the others and they continued on. She wondered how crazy this was - all the women and children of her gypsy troupe putting their lives, their very freedom, in the hands of a complete stranger. But it was all they had.
Suddenly, the man disappeared from in front of her.
"Where are you?" she whispered, straining as to be as loud as she could while still whispering. "Where have you gone?"
15 years ago
Sat Sep 06 2008, 09:52pm
"I knew it was a trick" Alisa declared glaring at Ella. "Shh!" Ella whispered peering into the shadows of the tree's. She took a step forward and fell in to a black hole. She couldnt stop the scream that escaped from her lips as a pair of hands wrapped around her waist, breaking her fall.
"Its ok" HE whisperd.
"You! so you came down here?" she asked.
"Yes, i was looking for this place, however i didnt realise it was so close" he grinned sheepishly in the gloom.
"How do we get the others down?" Ella asked.
" Call up to them" he said. " Is it safe?" She asked again
" HEY! WE"RE DOWN THE HOLE! ITS SAFE" he yelled. Ella cringed as his voice echoed around the tunnel. Soon they could hear people falling down the hole. The stargne man stepped forward to catch Mair as she fell. The old woman grinned at Ella.
" Havent done something like that since i was a youth" she said
Soon the others were all standing around in the tunnel.
Alisa turned to the man " who are you?" she asked.
He shrugged.
"Enough time for that later - got to keep going for now."
"Keep going?" She echoed. "Its dark, we have no light.. there could be Lud knows what down here and we'd stumble on top of it without knowing!" She realised how hysterical she was starting to sound and quickly shut up. The stranger put his hand briefly on Ella's shoulder in a comforting guesture.
"I know you want answers - and you'll get them - but just try trust me for now," his voice turned grim "Its all you've got now." She decided not to answer, refusing to believe that all hope was lost for the men of their troupe.
"As for the dark.." There was the sound of a flint striking stone, a sulfuric smell and a blaze of light. Ella shielded her eyes. "Torches." He grinned at her and she felt herself grinning in return.
"Grab a torch, everyone, and lets get moving."
Dreamweavers' Guildmistress
15 years ago
Wed Sep 10 2008, 09:29pm
Dreamweavers' Guildmistress
Dreamscape Artist
"So who are you? At least tell us your name!" Ella said to the stranger. It was unusual for a gypsy to be helped, and yet he was, so who was he.
"You don't need to know my name. It's a name no one has heard in a very long time, and I don't plan on telling you just yet," his face was tense as he continued moving ahead.
Mair was watching him closely, looking to see if she knew him, and whether he knew her. He was so familiar to her, that she couldn't help it. Even though he wanted no one to know his name, she had to find out.
"Doom, is it you Doom?" she asked softly.
The man stopped where he was and turned to Mair. "How do you know my name?" he hissed. His face had paled as he looked at her, curious and frightened.
Doom.
The name seemed to awaken something in Ella, something from her dream. A vision flashed in her eyes of her brother Petre trying to rescue their father, but failing.
"Stop!" she cried grabbing Mair's arm.
The man glanced at her seemingly relived that Mairs attention was taken away from him.
"We have to go back! We've left Petre behind and he's going to try and save Tata but it's going to go wrong."
Alise frowned, "I never saw that." she sneered.
"I don't care what you saw." Ella almost screamed, "We have to get Petre!"
She turned to the stranger. "Please, will you help us?" she asked.
15 years ago
Fri Sep 12 2008, 07:12pm
The man was poised to run. His eyes traveled across the group. Mair was staring at him with curiosity, Ella with panic and...hope. He let out a sigh.
"I will help, follow me, i know of another tunnel leading back to your campsite. It is quick but very dangerous" he said.
" Dangerous?" Ella asked
" Only one will be able to come with me." he said.
Ella nodded understanding, the others were to old and some to young. She looked at
Alisa expecting her to demand that she go. The other girl simply nodded. It took Ella a moment to realize that she was having a vision. Alisa's eyes cleared and she nodded.
"your vision?" Ella asked
" You will go with this man, hurry for if you linger you wont be able to save him" she said. The man grabbed Ella as she hesitated. He whispered in her ear one word "Doomable" as he pulled her away from the group. She understood this to be his full name. A secret. The darkness covered them.
Dreamweavers' Guildmistress
15 years ago
Dreamweavers' Guildmistress
Dreamscape Artist
"Oh, what is taking them so long Ailsa?" Mair begged of her. It had been some time since Ella, and the man she knew as Doom had left, and almost their lanterns had run out.
"They will return when they can Mair, you know that. I cannot say anything more, and I do not know if they will get to Petre in time." She paused, looking Mair in the eye. "All we can do is wait for them."
-------------------------------
Ella stumbled after the man who had given her his deepest secret, knowing he would do all he could to help her and her family. He had been through so much, you could see it in his eyes.
"We are nearly there," he said, without turning to look at her. Ella could see light ahead, and knew that soon, if they didn't hurry they would be too late. Then she heard it. The sound of a wagon coming closer, as they neared what looked like the exit to a cave network. Ella gasped as she could hear what the slavers were saying, so surprised at what she had just heard.
"These new slaves will go straight to the Red Land."
The Red Land.. Ella had never heard of it but the name sent shivers down her spine. Doom guestured for her to get down low and follow him as he crept forward.
There was their campsite ahead, the slavers lounging around on her family chairs and possessions, casually going through their things and all but ignoring the bound and gagged men in their midst.
"Where would your brother be?" Doom's voice was a breath by her ear, so quiet that at first she thought she had imagined it. Not trusting herself to be as quiet, she guestured up into the trees, willing Doom to understand. He did.
"Would your brother know my name as a person to trust?" She nodded. "I want you to search for him, with your heart and mind. He's your brother - i know you're linked." She stared at him. She knew what he wanted her to do but.. it was so risky, that letting go of the mind. Doom seemed to know what she was thinking. "It wont be for long - he would be close by. Trust me."
A sensation of mistrust prickled its way up Ella's spine and neck. He was trying to trap her...he wanted her to...how could he know she could do that? Ella had told no one. Not even Petre.
"Ella?" Doom prodded her, a little impatiently, in her side.
Ella startled slightly, turning her eyes down. Lud, what was she going to do? Even if he was trying to trap her, she had little choice. She nodded.
She shaped a probe, to her brother's thought-shape, and tentatively swooped it forward in to the group.
Garbled thoughts tugged at her, but she sluiced them away, winding in a spiral around the camp toward the treeline.
"Wait," Ella registered a small voice. The noises and thoughts emnating from the campsite of slavers stilled.
A knife plunged into her head and Ella couldn't help but scream, reeling backwards.
She heard Doom curse in a whisper, and he grabbed her hand. He ran, pulling her along behind him. Ella stumbled to come back to herself. Someone had felt her presence, and attacked. She could hear the crashing sounds of pursuit behind her. Hear her own panting, their hurried footfalls, a whooshing sound like a gale, deep in her ears.
"You idiot!" Doom called out as they ran. "Why in Lud's-name didn't you shield yourself?!"
Ella shook her head, trying to make her legs move properly. "Shield? I...didn't know," she tried to call but her voice was muffled, or her ears were blocked.
"Shut up," Dooms voice was inside her head. "Close them out, close off your mind, or they will find us. NOW!"
Ella responded urgently, an oddness filling her as she spoke straight into his mind, naturally, as though she'd mind-spoken all her life. "I don't know how to do what you're asking!"
Doom removed himself from Ella's mind in a frustrated tug, and he changed direction.
"There's only one thing for it, then," he muttered.
Ella wanted to ask 'what?', but was pulled off-balance. She felt like she was flying, for an instant. No, falling.
Doom's grip on her hand was tight, so tight it was hurting.
"Straighten your legs out," he mindspoke.
She did, instantly. And not a moment too soon.
15 years ago
Mon Sep 15 2008, 07:21pm
She landed painfully, but had no time to dwell on this as Doom was pulling her up again and running down the tunnel. It wasn't the same tunnel she'd been in before and she didn't like that he was dragging her away from her family. She didn't seem to have any energy to ask though.
It was then that she noticed he was still in her mind. "What are you doing?" She felt so tired, it was such an effort just to say those words.
"I told you to shield, they can still find you."
"I don't know what you mean. Oh, I'm so tir-" Suddenly they both noticed another presence in her mind, the one from the camp.
Doom hit her head and she fainted, her mind silenced. He gently picked her up and put her over his shoulder, hoping she would forgive him when she woke up.
Ella woke with a grimace, as a drop of water fell on her closed eye. She sat up, wiping the water away, then grabbing her painfully throbbing head.
Where were they? It was quite dark, and musty. A cave? Ugh, did it matter?
A bubble of anger boiled; Doom had dragged her along, sure, yes, trying to save her life, then hit her on the head. Again, trying to save her from the bad guys. What was next, "Oh, I'm just cutting your arm off, you know, to save your life"?
Ella rubbed her head a moment longer, letting her eyes adjust to the darkness, scouring it for Doom.
Where was he? He'd better be ready to explain himself.
When she couldn't see him, she sent her mind out briefly. She hit a numbing sort of static, on the walls of the cave, and just beyond the entrance.
She paled. One: she was surrounded by taint. Two: Doom wasn't here.
He'd left her.
Dreamweavers' Guildmistress
15 years ago
Dreamweavers' Guildmistress
Dreamscape Artist
Ella began to stand up, fighting back a wave of nausea caused by her aching head. Slowly she began to edge towards the dark entrance, to get some fresh air. The cave didn't seem to be used much, and the air was thick. Feeling along the wall, Ella moved inch by inch, though she was still weak, towards the opening. At last she reached it, and found that it was dark outside. Night had fallen. How long have I been here? she wondered.
To her left she could see a forest, but what forest, it could be any forest unless she knew how long it had been. She started as she heard the snapping of a twig coming from the forest. What could it be? Is it Doom? Or something worse?
It was a hedgehog. The little creature's nose poked out of a low shrub, snorting and sniffing. It didn't seem to notice Ella and went on snuffling the ground, wiggling through the bushes.
Ella groaned, holding her head in her hands, feeling silly at her immediate fear. What was she doing? Why was she still here, when it was clear that nobody was--
Another rustling sound, to her left. Ella forced the wave of nauseating fear down angrily, and swiftly turned her head in the direction of the noise.
The hedgehog looked up at the sound, and scuttled away.
Ella squinted. "Come out, little buddy. I can see you back there," she called in a sing-song voice.
"Who's back there?"
"Eek!" Ella startled, turning around to see Doom, inches from her. She whacked him on the arm, somewhat relieved to realise he hadn't abandoned her. "Why'd you sneak up on me?!"
Doom gave her a you're-so-childish look. "I didn't sneak. What are you doing outside?"
"Am I a prisoner?" Ella crossed her arms, sniffing, inwardly riling at his patronising gaze.
"Not yet, but keep it up," he grabbed her arm and started to lead her back into the cave.
"Get your hands off me!" Ella spat indignantly, flicking her arm to free herself. "I'm sick of being dragged around. Just ask me, okay?"
"Sorry," he half-shrugged, then walked toward the cave himself. "But the cave will shield you from the slavers. It's--"
"Yes, it's tainted," Ella rolled her eyes. "I know."
Doom shrugged again. "So-rry."
"Hmm," Ella hadn't expected his apology, even his sarcastic one, and had to quell her anger suddenly when she failed to come up with a come back. She followed him into the cave.
"What now?" she asked boldly.
He threw something at her, and she fumbled to catch it. Food package.
"I mean, how do we get my family back?" Ella shook her head.
Doom snorted, unwrapping and biting into a roll of some sort. "Your family is as good as dead."