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tamingthemuseTitle: Promise to the Sun
Fandom: None, original
Prompt: 97 – Delirious
Word Count: 860
Warnings: None
Rating: G
Summary: A man embarks on a quest that will land him the ultimate prize: love.
Author’s Notes: Thanks to Mr. Floo! For reading this, offering criticism and praise, and encouraging me.
The sky was light grey, a few wispy white clouds streaking the horizon. The ship rocked with the increasingly angry winds, the promise of a storm repeated with every cold raindrop that splattered his skin.
Derrick Koston knew the sea-craft would soon plunge beneath the ocean’s surface to wait out the squall, but these were the moments he felt most relaxed, and he wasn’t ready to head into the ship. This voyage was a special one, and he was determined to see it done right. Absently, he turned a small silver medallion in his hands, the feel of its smooth edges calming his frayed nerves.
If he could find it, the lost city of Atlantis, bring home its treasures, then he could prove his worth to Victoria and earn her father’s approval. He scowled. If only she hadn’t been forced to leave Africa for the colony on Ganymede. Traveling through space to retrieve the hand of the woman he loved would be no easy feat, but he was determined.
Victoria’s father had made it clear that he didn’t approve of Derrick, a young mage of no birth or consequence. Under no circumstances had he wanted his daughter to see Derrick, and yet despite his efforts, the two met first as friends and then fell in love. Victoria didn’t care that Derrick had no large bank account behind his name. He was able to provide and had held steady work for over a decade. Not once had he resorted to begging for food, or much worse, stealing; his record was clean.
When he had attempted to ask for Victoria’s hand, her father hadn’t refused, as Derrick had expected. No, he was far shrewder. If he had outright forbidden the match, he knew the couple would elope and he would lose his daughter forever. Instead, he demanded a price so steep that Derrick would never be able to meet it. The worst part was that the sum wasn’t unreasonable. For the daughter of a highly prominent sorcerer and a member of the Solaris Council, he could have asked for far more. No, Derrick suspected he demanded just enough to get his hopes up, but too much for him to pay.
Without any hope, Derrick had signed up with the crew of the U.E. Cliffdiver, captained by a man with the money to fund his ludicrous missions. Victoria had been almost delirious with grief when he had informed her of his plans, begging him not to risk his life on a fool’s errand.
“The ship needs a mage,” he had explained. “Especially one skilled in underwater magic, Ria. If this quest pays off, then I can approach your father again with the dowry he demanded.”
“It’s too dangerous!” she had protested, fiercely stubborn and beautiful despite the tears that streamed down her cheeks. “What would I do if you were hurt, or … or worse?”
He had placed his arms gently on her arms and told her without a doubt or fear in his mind that he would return to her, whole and intact. “I love you,” he had said. “Nothing can keep us apart.”
She had scoffed. “My father is sending me away, hoping that some rich wizard will take note and ask for my hand.”
That had been the only moment Derrick had faltered. But she had held her head high and promised him that under no circumstance would she entertain the advance of any man whose gaze should happen to fall on her.
“I will wait for you,” she had said, her voice breaking. “Please come back.”
She had given him the medallion, one of two things that had once belonged to her mother. With it, he could communicate with Victoria, though she could not respond to him. He didn’t use it often; at times, the thought that he was really and truly alone were a strange solace. However they were about to dip under the ocean’s surface, and he didn’t know when he would see the sun again.
He touched his finger to the very center of the medallion and murmured the incantation that would open a one-way portal to the listening end that she possessed.
“Victoria,” he said, and then paused a long while, piecing together what he would say. “We’re about to head under. At the least, you’ll hear from me in four months. I hope you are well, that Jupiter’s moons haven’t been too entertaining.” That was selfish. If he loved her as much as he claimed to, then he should be happy if she found someone she adored more than him. However, he wasn’t quite ready to say that.
“I’m forever yours,” he added, then severed the connection.
A door behind him opened and a member of the crew shouted to him. “Get in, Koston! We’re going under in five!”
Derrick nodded, glanced at the wild sea around him and nodded to the sun that was hidden behind the swirling clouds. “I will see you again,” he said before saluting and heading through the door into the dark ship that would be his home until he could change his fortunes and return to Victoria.
Fandom: None, original
Prompt: 97 – Delirious
Word Count: 860
Warnings: None
Rating: G
Summary: A man embarks on a quest that will land him the ultimate prize: love.
Author’s Notes: Thanks to Mr. Floo! For reading this, offering criticism and praise, and encouraging me.
The sky was light grey, a few wispy white clouds streaking the horizon. The ship rocked with the increasingly angry winds, the promise of a storm repeated with every cold raindrop that splattered his skin.
Derrick Koston knew the sea-craft would soon plunge beneath the ocean’s surface to wait out the squall, but these were the moments he felt most relaxed, and he wasn’t ready to head into the ship. This voyage was a special one, and he was determined to see it done right. Absently, he turned a small silver medallion in his hands, the feel of its smooth edges calming his frayed nerves.
If he could find it, the lost city of Atlantis, bring home its treasures, then he could prove his worth to Victoria and earn her father’s approval. He scowled. If only she hadn’t been forced to leave Africa for the colony on Ganymede. Traveling through space to retrieve the hand of the woman he loved would be no easy feat, but he was determined.
Victoria’s father had made it clear that he didn’t approve of Derrick, a young mage of no birth or consequence. Under no circumstances had he wanted his daughter to see Derrick, and yet despite his efforts, the two met first as friends and then fell in love. Victoria didn’t care that Derrick had no large bank account behind his name. He was able to provide and had held steady work for over a decade. Not once had he resorted to begging for food, or much worse, stealing; his record was clean.
When he had attempted to ask for Victoria’s hand, her father hadn’t refused, as Derrick had expected. No, he was far shrewder. If he had outright forbidden the match, he knew the couple would elope and he would lose his daughter forever. Instead, he demanded a price so steep that Derrick would never be able to meet it. The worst part was that the sum wasn’t unreasonable. For the daughter of a highly prominent sorcerer and a member of the Solaris Council, he could have asked for far more. No, Derrick suspected he demanded just enough to get his hopes up, but too much for him to pay.
Without any hope, Derrick had signed up with the crew of the U.E. Cliffdiver, captained by a man with the money to fund his ludicrous missions. Victoria had been almost delirious with grief when he had informed her of his plans, begging him not to risk his life on a fool’s errand.
“The ship needs a mage,” he had explained. “Especially one skilled in underwater magic, Ria. If this quest pays off, then I can approach your father again with the dowry he demanded.”
“It’s too dangerous!” she had protested, fiercely stubborn and beautiful despite the tears that streamed down her cheeks. “What would I do if you were hurt, or … or worse?”
He had placed his arms gently on her arms and told her without a doubt or fear in his mind that he would return to her, whole and intact. “I love you,” he had said. “Nothing can keep us apart.”
She had scoffed. “My father is sending me away, hoping that some rich wizard will take note and ask for my hand.”
That had been the only moment Derrick had faltered. But she had held her head high and promised him that under no circumstance would she entertain the advance of any man whose gaze should happen to fall on her.
“I will wait for you,” she had said, her voice breaking. “Please come back.”
She had given him the medallion, one of two things that had once belonged to her mother. With it, he could communicate with Victoria, though she could not respond to him. He didn’t use it often; at times, the thought that he was really and truly alone were a strange solace. However they were about to dip under the ocean’s surface, and he didn’t know when he would see the sun again.
He touched his finger to the very center of the medallion and murmured the incantation that would open a one-way portal to the listening end that she possessed.
“Victoria,” he said, and then paused a long while, piecing together what he would say. “We’re about to head under. At the least, you’ll hear from me in four months. I hope you are well, that Jupiter’s moons haven’t been too entertaining.” That was selfish. If he loved her as much as he claimed to, then he should be happy if she found someone she adored more than him. However, he wasn’t quite ready to say that.
“I’m forever yours,” he added, then severed the connection.
A door behind him opened and a member of the crew shouted to him. “Get in, Koston! We’re going under in five!”
Derrick nodded, glanced at the wild sea around him and nodded to the sun that was hidden behind the swirling clouds. “I will see you again,” he said before saluting and heading through the door into the dark ship that would be his home until he could change his fortunes and return to Victoria.
