"Well," Lucy says slowly, thinking, "once upon a time--a very long time ago, mind you--there lived two queens. And the older had dark hair that fell to her feet, and all the kings around the land desired her for their own, while the younger had fair hair and was
(desired by all the princes, that she should be their queen)
more content to go watch the soldiers drill than be courted. For being sisters, you see, doesn't mean you're very much the same, in all ways. The older was a gentle sort, graceful and elegant and all things a queen should be, while the younger was a bit more wild, perhaps," and she might sound a little rueful, for a moment, but she's smiling, "and unable to restrain herself or be pleased with gowns the way her sister was when there were trees to climb.
"Eventually, the day came," watching Sunny still, and the way her breathing is slowing, slightly, as she rubs the little girl's back, "that both queens went out on their ship--and a fair ship she was, beautifully carved and put together with advice by the sea people, who knew the water well--to spend the day away from suitors and soldiers alike.
"Now, the younger of the two, we've said, was a wilder sort, and was dressed in hunting clothes that weren't quite suited for a noble lady, though were too pretty things for a man. It gave her the advantage, when she and her sister ran across the deck like the children they'd been years ago, but it also caused one of the crewman, who was had come to the land from distant parts, to mutter about her honor and how improper she was, as well as less-kind words. And the fair haired queen blushed and felt ashamed," shifting again to let Sunny rest her head against Lucy's chest, her voice a little quieter, "for she felt he had a point. She was not the Lady her sister was.
"But the elder queen, who was gentle and soft-spoken, remember, the Lady of the two, flew into a rage of the sort few had seen her in, or thought she could indulge in. Because--because, perhaps, the dark-haired queen knew her sister better than anyone else, and none would come close to it for many years. And the elder saw her sister's shame, and the way her smile was gone, and defended the younger woman. Because that is what sisters do," Lucy murmurs.
"And the younger sister couldn't help but grin to see the crewman flustered, and to listen to him apologize. Of course, she was a mischief," with a wide smile, "and had her own revenge by pushing him off the docks when they reached land again."
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2006-02-17 01:10 pm (UTC)(desired by all the princes, that she should be their queen)
more content to go watch the soldiers drill than be courted. For being sisters, you see, doesn't mean you're very much the same, in all ways. The older was a gentle sort, graceful and elegant and all things a queen should be, while the younger was a bit more wild, perhaps," and she might sound a little rueful, for a moment, but she's smiling, "and unable to restrain herself or be pleased with gowns the way her sister was when there were trees to climb.
"Eventually, the day came," watching Sunny still, and the way her breathing is slowing, slightly, as she rubs the little girl's back, "that both queens went out on their ship--and a fair ship she was, beautifully carved and put together with advice by the sea people, who knew the water well--to spend the day away from suitors and soldiers alike.
"Now, the younger of the two, we've said, was a wilder sort, and was dressed in hunting clothes that weren't quite suited for a noble lady, though were too pretty things for a man. It gave her the advantage, when she and her sister ran across the deck like the children they'd been years ago, but it also caused one of the crewman, who was had come to the land from distant parts, to mutter about her honor and how improper she was, as well as less-kind words. And the fair haired queen blushed and felt ashamed," shifting again to let Sunny rest her head against Lucy's chest, her voice a little quieter, "for she felt he had a point. She was not the Lady her sister was.
"But the elder queen, who was gentle and soft-spoken, remember, the Lady of the two, flew into a rage of the sort few had seen her in, or thought she could indulge in. Because--because, perhaps, the dark-haired queen knew her sister better than anyone else, and none would come close to it for many years. And the elder saw her sister's shame, and the way her smile was gone, and defended the younger woman. Because that is what sisters do," Lucy murmurs.
"And the younger sister couldn't help but grin to see the crewman flustered, and to listen to him apologize. Of course, she was a mischief," with a wide smile, "and had her own revenge by pushing him off the docks when they reached land again."