ENDING BLOG

Hey kids. I'm ending this particular blog since I almost never update it. Also, it's just more convenient to have all of my blogs under one email address. If you're interested in reading more of my scrawls, here's the link to my new blog: http://ambermaesnotebook.blogspot.com/

Part of 3 for illusions...

Ok, I don't want to post all of my story up here...sorry, I just don't trust some people on the net...but anyhoo...If any of my siblings are interested, I can email them the story in parts as I get it done. Anyway, enjoy this excerpt from chapter three.

The hall was a lovely light butter cream color that blended well with the bronze-colored trim and decorations, while the silver-speckled tile clashed with the pink and bronze furniture.

“Who decorated this place?” Elendra asked, barely masking her distaste.

Arlen suppressed a grin and said, “My mother did. Don't worry about offending me; I hate it too. I'll speak to the Shadow Lord about it and see what can be done. Now these are your chambers. Mum let me make most of the decisions for these rooms. I hope you like blue.”

He pushed open the white doors on the left side of the middle of the hall. Just inside the doors stood two tables, one on the right and one on the left. Both were made out of cedar and looked highly polished. The tile floor was silver, and the walls of the little alcove were pale, pale blue. An archway led into a parlor of sorts furnished with a white day couch, three dark blue chairs, and a white day bed. A cedar serving table sat before the day couch, and matching curio cabinets stood on either side of a dark brown door.

Elendra went through the door and found she was in a bedroom. A desk stood in a corner under two windows. Next to it was a large bookcase, and next to the book shelf, Elendra was delighted to see, was a blue-cushioned window seat. Against the wall on the other side of the room was a canopied bed next to a tall window. A cedar wardrobe looked menacingly at the room from the wall at the foot of the bed. The carpet in the room was a dark blue, and the walls were white with a blue tint.

Elendra looked at Arlen and grinned delightedly. The young man smiled back, curiously pleased that she liked the rooms. He glanced at the clock above the wardrobe and nearly balked at the time.

“Well, I have to go. I need to see my family and report to the Shadow Lord. Some dresses and things were made for you. If they don't fit, just tell the person who will be in to help you dress. I'll come get you when it is time for you to meet the Shadow Lord. See you later.”

Elendra started after Arlen, but by the time she reached the hall, he was out of sight. She returned to the bedroom and opened the wardrobe. Dresses of all colors and styles greeted her, and she paused, overwhelmed. After a moment, she pulled out a shiny blue gown and examined it.

“This is too fancy for a farmer's daughter to wear.”

She hung the dress back up and delved into the closet once more. A couple of minutes later she emerged holding a grey dress. It had a high, round neck and short, puffy sleeves. Elendra nodded in approval, then slid out of the faded brown pants. The strangely smooth material of the dress did not rustle as the girl slid it over her head. She turned to the full length mirror on the wardrobe door to scrutinize her appearance. The light grey material emphasized the blackness of her wavy, long hair, and the form fitting cut highlighted her figure. The flared skirt barely skimmed the tops of her toes, and it tickled them as she took a step away from the looking-glass. She realized that it wouldn't be appropriate to meet her new ruler barefoot or even in her tough, brown leather farming shoes.

She looked into the wardrobe a third time and saw a neat row of shoes and slippers on the floor of the cupboard. She pulled out a simple black pair. To her surprise, they were made of the same hardy leather as her own country step-ins, just dyed black. She slid them on and peered at her reflection once more. Her black locks were loose and came down to the middle of her back. Satisfied with her appearance, Elendra unpacked the dresses from her bundle.

A knock on the outer doors startled her for a moment, but she recovered quickly and called out, “Come in.”

A thin woman entered the inner room and the first thing Elendra noticed about the visitor was her height. She was at least six foot, possibly taller. She was wearing a matronly, dark green dress that fell straight to her ankles.

“Hello. Who are you?” Elendra asked the newcomer.

“I am Meg, m'lady, a seamstress. I am here to see if everything is to your liking. Also, I am to tend to your needs until you have chosen lady's maids of your own.”

Elendra looked at the woman, startled.

“But I'm only a farmer's daughter. I have not the rank nor the wealth to employ maids of any sort.”

“M'lady, you have both rank and wealth. Here in this court and that of the Night Faeries, you are the heir to your grandfather's throne. Now, do you like the gowns?”

Elendra hesitated before answering, “They are a bit fancy for my country taste, but they are lovely.”

Meg's lips set into a grim frown, but she politely said, “I am sorry they are not to your liking. I will see to it that you get simpler dresses.”

The two stood in an awkward silence. Meg was waiting to be dismissed, but Elendra had no idea that a dismissal was required.

“Will there be anything else, m'lady, or may I leave?” Meg asked with forced politeness.

“Oh, dear. I am sorry if I've been keeping you. You may go.”

Just as Meg passed through the doors, Arlen entered the room.

“Hey, nice dress, Lady Elendra. I can see you didn't let Meg pick out one of those frilly things. Anyhoo, it's time for you to meet the Shadow Lord. Let's go.”

Illusions

You might notice that this is chapter 1 of G of S...yes, but I rewrote it up a bit. :) enjoy

Chapter One
The group halted at the stone gateway a ways outside the village. The four tall men wore long, grey cloaks and rode tall white horses. Elendra saw them from the window at the west end of her room. From the bed at the northeast corner came a small girl's voice:
“Lennie, come back to bed. What are you doing there so late?”
Elendra returned to the bed and climbed in beside a pale girl with long, golden braids and sparkling green eyes.
“Snuggle up, then, and I'll tell you about the night faeries.”
The younger girl complied, and Elendra was about to start on her tale when a fierce, thunderous pounding came from below. Elendra sat up again and strained to hear what was happening. She tried to ignore the terrified and wriggling child beside her, but her sister continued to try to dive under the covers.
“Hush, Alana. I'm trying to listen. No, they are not bandits; these people have horses.”
In the land where Elendra and Alana lived, only the rich or soldiers had horses, with the exception of one or two farm plugs that had been the steeds of noblemen and women in their hey day.
Although Alana had settled down at her sister's reprimand, Elendra could not hear a thing other than murmurs. She crept out to the hall next to the wooden stairs where she was met by her twin brothers James and Jadewell. Tall and muscular, the two blondes were hard to tell apart, but Elendra, being particularly close with James, always knew which boy was which. When he saw Lennie creeping quietly toward them, James scooted over to give his favorite sister some room. None of the three said a word as they listened to the exchange occurring downstairs.
“It has been ten years, Johnmenthus. Give us our payment.”
The voice was rough, as if the speaker had swallowed gravel. Elendra's father's bass wobbled as he replied, which unnerved the eavesdroppers. Father was usually so sure of himself.
“I do not know what you are here to claim. The price was not stated in any certain terms. What does the Shadow Lord wish from me?”
The gravelly voice started to reply, but was interrupted by a soothing baritone.
“Enough, Ranger, hold your peace. Sir, when you sought the help of our master ten years ago, the price he required of you was the fairest thing in your possession. To the Shadow Lord, the price is exactly what it was then: we have come for the girl.”
Lennie did the math quickly. If the transaction had taken place ten years ago, she would have been the only girl in the family. Alana was only six years old, and her mother had died shortly after Alana was born.
The gravelly voice spoke again. “Come, man. We will not harm your daughter, but she is what we have come for.”
Knowing he had lost the battle with these men, Johnmenthus resignedly said, “Will you promise that she will have the choice to come back if she so desires? She is sixteen and the most willful girl I have ever met, so like her mother.”
“I cannot promise that which is my master's place to determine, but I can and will promise that she will be well cared for and want for nothing,” the soothing voice sounded almost apologetic.
“Very well. Return at dawn, and she will leave with you then.”
“I am afraid we must leave tonight if we are to return by my master's deadline. It took longer to find you than the Shadow Lord counted on.”
James, Jadewell, and Elendra scampered back to their rooms when they heard the chairs scrape against the stone floor of the kitchen and a foot start on the bottom step. Alana looked at her sister in alarm and begged her to what was going on. A knock on the bedroom door put an end to the child's queries, and she ducked back under the covers like a startled rabbit.
Elendra opened the door and two grey-clad men walked in. One was tall and appeared thin, but the other one was short, and even in the bad lighting, one could see his muscles. The former spoke first, and life was given to the fair voice.
“Hello. You must be Elendra. I am afraid that you will be going on a journey with us. You won't need much as some clothes will be provided where we are going. How long will you need to pack your things?”
Before she could reply, the other man broke in impatiently, “You have one hour. We leave at the stroke of midnight.” With that he turned on his heel and departed, soon followed by the tall man.
Lennie was sure that if she made a fuss, at least the tall man with the fair voice who seemed to be in charge would have qualms about carrying her off, but at sixteen she was ready to have an adventure. She set about packing a bundle. James and Jadewell appeared and sat on the bed. Alana curled up in Jadewell's arms, but still watched her sister solemnly. After a while James broke the silence.
“Are you going with these men then?”
Elendra nodded and continued packing. She only owned three dresses: her everyday dress was a coarse, tan-colored chemise and a a dark brown skirt which came to her ankles and was usually topped with a white apron. Her Sunday dress was a dark blue chemise that tightened at the waist by a tan-colored vest that tied in front. The third dress she owned had been her mother's wedding gown. Made of the finest satin, the white dress had an empire waist and long, translucent, flowing sleeves. The skirt extended to the floor and had an overlay that split down the middle made of the same transparent material as the sleeves. The plain neckline was low and square and had a single small, cloth rosette in the center. A circlet of cloth roses was attached to the floor-length veil made of the finest netting. This dress and its accessories made up Elendra's dowry. Lennie debated with herself whether she should take the gown as it was so delicate and decided that she would. Although the man had said that she would receive clothes when she arrived, she had no idea how long it would be until she arrived at her destination nor if the clothes they were giving her would fit, so she packed all three dresses. Then, knowing that pants were more practical when one was traveling, she turned to her brother and asked, “Jamie, may I have your old trousers?”
James did not look surprised at the request. Instead, he nodded and went to retrieve his patched, brown pants.
Once she finished packing, Elendra made her way into the kitchen, followed by her brothers and sister. She added a loaf of coarse brown bread and a hunk of cheese to her pack and filled her canteen with water from the spring a few yards from the house. She changed into the trousers and wrapped herself into the heavy traveling cloak before the hour was three-quarters of the way past and made her way back into the kitchen. Her father still sat at the table as if in a trance. She kissed his strong and wrinkled forehead and said, “I love you, Papa. I'll come back some day.” She hugged Alana and then Jadewell. James walked her to the door, and when she embraced him tightly, her eyes shone with the gathering tears.
“I'll miss you, Jamie. Take care of Papa.”
“I will. And Lennie, when you get lonely, look at the stars and know that I'm looking at the same ones.”
Elendra looked at her family one last time. The boys were both crying quietly. Jadewell had his arm around Alana. Johnmenthus sat still and looked like a lost man. Finally, Lennie turned to go. Alana broke away from Jadewell and wrapped her little arms around Elendra's knees.
“Lennie, don't go! Please don't leave me.”
The child's sobs seemed to go unnoticed as the elder girl extracted herself from her arms and gently put her in Jadewell's waiting arms. The young woman walked slowly out the door of her home of sixteen years, and no one saw the single silver tear she shed.

What If Games

So...recently I found a way to stimulate my writing. Hurray! Sometimes I need the extra boost. Anyway, I realized the other day that I daydream a lot. No big shock, huh? I know, but I realized this fact as I was watching a special on Einstein. Now, I thought to myself, "If Einstein could call his daydreams 'thought experiments' and use them for his great works, why can't I call my daydreams 'what if games' and use them to garner plot ideas?" Well, the moral of my story is that just since realizing this stuff, I have come up with three new story ideas...I just don't have enough notebook space to follow up on them right now. When I get home I fully intend to continue with my what if games and see where they take me in the literary world.
Ok, so to play the what if game, just sit still for a moment...if you are good at focusing, then the place you are utilizing doesn't even need to be quiet. Sit still for a moment and close your eyes or focus on something that is fixed in your view, like a chair or something. Then, choose a thought. Mine tend to be, "If it were ten years from now, what would life be like for me?" or "If I lived in outer space in a billion years, what planet would I live on?" Once you choose a thought to follow, try to picture it in your mind. Don't forget details, that's where this gets fun. What does the moon smell like? How does the sun shine through the trees and onto a lake? Have fun.

Untitled Beginning Part 1

Lavender Flyswatter, that's my name. My parents named me Lavender just because they're nature freaks, but my last name has a longer story.
A super-long time ago, my ancestor Kina worked for this pharaoh guy. Her job, although a privilege, must have been extremely dull; she swatted the flies that swarmed around the pharaoh guy all day- and sometimes all night too. She was eventually banished by the Queen because the pharaoh guy got Kina pregnant and the Queen was jealous. So Kina wandered in the desert until she was found by a nomadic band that took her in. The sheik person recognized her from one of his trips to the palace and ever after, she and her son were known as Flyswatter. And her son's son. And his son's son. And so, after a long line of Flyswatter sons, I was born, the lone Flyswatter daughter.
My dad, Trivonius Flyswatter is the son of Clerval Flyswatter, who happens to be named after some guy in the book Frankenstein. Clerval was the first person to fly from Butte, Montana, to Phoenix, Arizona, hanging upside down. Now it's so common that no one remembers Grandpa.

quote from best english teacher ever!

I've spent almost every spare minute of my life playing Final Fantasy 5 for my brother's Gameboy SP for the past week. Know what my English teacher would say? "How adolescent of you." lol rofl...I think I'm tired and need to go to bed. :)

Wachoo!!!!

:) I don't know if I'm going to follow up on here very much.

Sleepiness

Well, lately, I've been pretty sleepy. And...it's showing in my writing. So...today I decided to do a writing exorcise. It's in my science book at school right now, but I post it when I remember to bring it home. Ug...it also means I have to re-vamp all of my story that I've written in the past two months.

Oh, darn!

Ever have so much to do that you don't have enough time to immerse yourself in your writing? I mean, it might take you a minute or two to get into the story again, and by the time you get those juices flowing, you have to go study for a test or go to bed or something. RAWR Oh, well. I'll have time eventually.

Battle Hymn of the Burrito

One day my little brother killed the house and then the school.
He burned two burritos. Then he tried to kill my cool.
He burned those tasty pastries, but forgot one fatal rule:
He left the oven on!

Glory, glory charred burrito!
Glory, glory hallelujah!
Glory, glory charred burrito!
He left the oven on!

I woke up in the morning to the smoke and to the flames.
I thought it was the puppy, but it’s not his turn for blame.
It was my little brother who burned the house that day:
He left the oven on!!!

[CHORUS]

I smelled like burnt burrito for all of school that day.
When I get home, that little boy will have a lot to pay.
He ruined my favorite shirt and he ruined my favorite way.
He left the oven on!!

[CHORUS]
[CHORUS]

Excerpt 2 GoS

Elendra did not hear what was spoken next; she was so deep in her thoughts. If the agreement or whatever it was had taken place ten years before, they could not mean Alana. She, Elendra, had been the only daughter until six years before. The gravelly voice broke into her thoughts:

“Come, man. We will not harm your daughter, but she is the payment we demand.”

Fair voice seemed to think a gentler approach was needed, as he said, “My dear sir, I cannot promise that you will ever see or hear from the girl again, but I can promise that she will be taken care of well. We would not claim such a fair young woman unless we were sure that we could care for her.”

“Well, if she is at all willing to go, I suppose she must. Will you promise to give her the choice to stay or go?” John sounded resigned.

“We will promise no such thing,” declared gravel voice, but fair voice said, “We will not force her if she completely does not wish to go. I will not have a blubbering woman on my hands, but if she will go without kicking and screaming, she must come with us. She is desired by our Master.”

“Very well. Return at dawn, and she will depart with you then.”

“No. She must come with us now.” Gravel voice sounded as if he had a deadline, and fair voice proved it by saying, “Alas, Ranger is right. We must have the girl tonight if we are to make it to our Master in time.”

James and Jadewell had been staring at Elendra in horror, but rushed to their room once the heard chairs scraping against the stone kitchen floor. A moment after, Elendra followed suit. Alana looked at her sister once, then began begging to know what had happened.

“Lennie, what’s wrong? Is anyone killt?”

“It’s ‘killed’, but hush now, Alana or we’ll both be in trouble. You’ll know in a moment.”

Elendra’s unusually harsh voice put an end to any questions, and soon, footsteps could be heard in the hall. The door opened, and two grey-clad men walked in. one was tall and appeared thin in the pale moonlight, but the other was short and thick. Even in the dim lighting, Elendra could see his bulging muscles. The former spoke first, and a body was put to the fair voice.

“Hello, daughter of John. We have come to take you to our Master. How long will you need to gather provisions for one day?”

The short man made an impatient noise then said in his voice of gravel, “You have one hour to ready yourself. We leave at the stroke of midnight.”

Hate

Sitting ignored
grimacing through pain
trying to ignore back
missing so much it turns cold
hate comes from neglect
wishing you away
just for one day of peace
go, leave, you're not wanted here
you've hurt more deeply than the one you hate
life is better without you
and your love and friendship
death is pleasing, the easy way,
dealing is hard
living is harsh
go away
go away
my hate consumes

G of S update

So, after a month of writer's block, I got quite a bit of writing (for me) done last night. :) I finished of chapter five and started on chapter six. :) YAY FOR ME! :)

Christopher Paolini!

So here's some pictures of the man himself!

The Cheese Stands Alone

I sit, thinking, silent.
The people, my peers, I guess,
are chattering all around me.
I look up, irritated by their
constant yakking.
I say nothing, though a
thousand words come to mind.
No one notices my hesitation:
I'm not there to them.
All their prattle and unfeeling
thoughtlessness magnifies
our differences, widens the gap.
I realize:
I am alone
in this room of people.
I cannot connect, can't
bridge the chasm.
I think of a childhood song.
It fits perfectly:
The cheese stands alone.
I Am The Cheese.

Christopher Paolini

Yay! So, Christopher Paolini is coming to Montana on 22nd of this month! For those of you who don't know who he is...he's the guy who wrote Eragon. I am really excited. I hope to be able to have him sign one of my books. (I own all three that are out.) :)

"Change"

A tree in spring
Has new buds of green
That will grow and bring
Happiness to many.

But the tree grows restless,
And the leaves that were best left
As they were are changed
Into colors they think strange:
Red, orange, yellow, and copper penny.

For a short time
The tree is satisfied.
But soon he will sigh
And the leaves will die,
And drop like the Queens of King Henry.

All through the winter,
The tree stands bare,
All alone, without a care,
Not a single one, not any.

Spring comes once more,
And the leaves once again adorn
That tree of mine.
It's one of a kind,
Unique among many.

Change is required,
Although we are tired,
In order to grow,
To learn, to know,
And be different than any.

"Fly"

The boy looked down at his brown-haired companion, and he could see the silvery star tattoo on her cheek glitter in the moonlight. He felt a surge of affection for his good friend in front of him, and he suddenly wanted to give her anything she asked for.
"If you could have any power you wanted, no strings attached, what would you choose?"
She thought for a second before a smile lit up her features. She spread her arms out and said, "Fly."
Of course, this amazing girl would have to choose the most difficult to teach. He was determined though, and soon thought of a way around the obstacles.
"Close your eyes," he commanded gently. She obeyed after giving him a questioning glance.
"Don't open them until I tell you."
He touched her star tattoo with one hand and held her hand with the other. He felt the weightlessness wash through him and into her. The girl's mouth widened in surprise, and she started to move her hand away. But the tall blond boy had firmly entwined his fingers with hers. After a moment, he removed his hands.
"Open your eyes."
The girl looked into the lake beside her and gasped at the sight. Two transparent, shimmery blue wings shaped like a butterfly's appeared behind her bare white shoulders.
"Can I...?"
She couldn't bring herself to voice the hope.
"Try it. Just jump."
She kicked off the ground, then brace herself for the inevitable impact. It never came. She looked at the beach in surprise. She was floating about a foot above the ground. She started laughing. It was an exhilarated, tinkling sound that sent a thrill through the boy.
*note: I did not specify completely their relationship...I just said they are friends...please don't assume who they are just because you know me.

The Girl of the Shadow Lord

Chapter One

The company halted at the stone gateway aways outside the village. The four men wore long, grey cloaks and rode tall white horses. Elendra saw them from the bed at the west end of her room. From the bed at the northeast corner of the room came a small girl’s voice: “Lennie, come back to bed. My feet are ever so cold. I need my warmer.” Elendra returned to the bed and climbed in beside a pale girl with long golden braids and light, sparkling green eyes. “Snuggle up then, right up next to me, and I’ll tell you about the night faeries.” The younger girl complied, and Elendra was about to start on her tale when a fierce pounding came from below. Elendra sat straight up and strained to hear what was happening. “Lennie! Who is that? Are the bandits back?” “Hush, Alana. I’m trying to listen.” Then, seeing her sister’s frightened face: “It’s not any bandits. These people have horses. Ever heard of bandits with mounts?” Alana shook her head and lied back down, but she still looked frightened. Elendra couldn’t hear anything besides murmurs, so she crept to the hall by the stairs where she met her twin brothers Jadewell and James. James scooted over to give his favorite sister room, but not a word was spoken by any of the eavesdroppers. They were too intent on listening. “It’s been ten years, John, son of Faeries. Give us what we claim.” The voice was rough as if the speaker had swallowed some gravel. Elendra’s father spoke. “But the price was not stated. I do not know what you come for.” Elendra looked at James in surprise; her father sounded afraid and unsure of himself. James shrugged, and they turned back to the conversation taking place below. The gravelly voice had started to say something threatening, but a soothing, deep voice broke in: “Enough, Ranger. Friend John, when you came to my Master ten years ago, he named the fairest thing in your possession as the price. The price remains the same, as does the fairest thing you own. We have come for the girl.”

Adelyn's Stories

Hi! Welcome to Adelyn's Stories! I am Adelyn Adams, author. I hope to use this blog as a sounding board for some of my story ideas. Adelyn Adams is my pen name, and so far I've only been published locally, under my real name. Soon, I hope to be published nationwide, though. Haven't got a story quite ready to be sent to a big publisher yet. Well, Since this is my sounding board, please LEAVE COMMENTS. It would be much appreciated. :)