A Gypsy's History

[Keira2]

This is my little history on Lyriss, the gypsy. Please feel free to post whatever (within reason, of course)

Lyriss watched the frantic rush of doctors and healers in the hospital wing. She sighed and slipped off her cot, trying to be invisible. She caught sight of Wherry and cursed softly, changing directions. Because she was so small, she was able to squeeze beneath the cots as she tried to make it to the door. Halfway through her trek, she ran into a pair of legs in an overly-long skirt. Lyriss lifted her eyes to look at the raven-haired owner of the legs.

"Oh, hello, what are you doing under there?" the woman asked pleasantly. She saw the blank look on the kid's face and switched language to Russic, silently thanking her troupe for insisting on learning the language, and asked the same question.

Although the woman's tone was kind, Lyriss was immediately on the defensive. "I'm not hurt! I shouldn't even be here! Leave me alone, I just wanna get out of here!" Lyriss shuddered, "I hate enclosed places, they make me nervous."

The woman smiled, "You're a gypsy, aren't you?"

"And what if I am?" Lyriss challenged.

"I am also a gypsy. Well, former gypsy. My name is Keira Di'Nalti." the woman said. (ha! Keira is still with us!)

Lyriss stared at the floor, "My name's Lyriss" she murmered.

"Lyriss, very nice to meet you, young lady." Keira replied.

Lyriss looked sharply at Keira, "You can tell?"

"Of course I can, silly. Are you trying to hide it?" Keira asked playfully.

"Oh. Most people can't tell, they think I'm a boy. Most of the time it doesn't bother me cause I hate being treated like a girl. Guys think girls are so weak, I hate it!" Lyriss said vehemently.

Keira chuckled softly, "Life definitely isn't fair. But I would be going if I were you, a very irate woman seems to be looking for you."

"That'd be Wherry. She said she'd kill me if I moved from my cot." Lyriss cringed.

"You'd better hurry then."

The scraggly blonde seemed surprised, "You're not going to tell on me?"

"I can see you are a strong warrior, I believe you can handle yourself. I might go to the kitchen, first, however, you seem a bit thin." Keira replied. "Oh, and a bath might be nice as well."

Lyriss grinned, a rare thing for her to do, "Thanks! Maybe I'll see you again sometime, Miss Di'Nalti!" She plowed under another cot, headed towards the door.

Keira smiled after her. She remembered being young like that once. That girl seemed so familiar, and yet Keira had no idea why.

"Little brat, I'm gonna string her up!" Wherry muttered to no one in particular. She turned to Keira, "You seen a little blonde brat? She's trouble, that one."

"I believe Madame Shela has told her to bathe." Keira said, a perfectly innocent expression on her face. Wherry accepted the excuse and went back to her other patients. Keira smiled and resumed bandaging the man's arm. She had never considered becoming a healer, but since the explosions at the castle, she had found herself being trained as one. And I enjoy it, too. It's much more rewarding than any pickpocket job I was forced to do.

[Keira2]

I thought I'd break it up a little, maybe make it a little easier to read.

Lyriss was already running full tilt through the halls of the castle before she realized that she didn't know where the kitchen was. She skidded to a stop, glancing around uncertainly at her surroundings. In the silence of the hall, Lyriss noticed how close the walls were . . . too close. Her breathing accelerated and her heart began to race. The other gypsies could never figure out what was wrong with Lyriss, but she had always been this way. She panicked when she was enclosed. One year the gypsy children had been playing, and, as a joke, a couple of the boys locked Lyriss in a clothing trunk. Talnin had found her an hour later, screaming as if her life was going to end. It had taken the better part of three days to calm Lyriss down. She remembered Talnin taling to her, soothing her. He had said that she could be afraid, but she couldn't let that fear control her.

With this advice, Lyriss took a deep breath. She noticed a window halfway up a flight of stairs and ran to it. From her vantage point, Lyriss could see much of the castle grounds. Lyriss settled onto the window sill, lightly massaging her aching side. Lyriss leaned her head into the window pane, closing her eyes. From here, she could imagine that she was alone, somewhere high up, like a cliff . . . or flying . . .

She was standing on a cliff, glancing down at the valley below. Dragons wheeled above and below her, chortling happily in their own language. She smiled, watching her friends fly. She often wished she could fly, like them, like her dragon friends. She reached up to touch her neck lightly. The crescent-shaped scar always burned slightly whenever she was near her dragons. The burning wasn't painful, more like a warm hug given by her reptilian allies. Her mother said the mark was that of a Guardian, a person chosen to protect the dragons and serve as their Ambassador to the human race. She turned to look at her home, a large cave on the side of the cliff. Her family only slept in it, they never spent any more time there. The rest of their time was spent with the dragons. A draconic scream alerted her to the intruders . . .

Lyriss tossed in her sleep, falling from the window sill. She hit the stone steps with a thud, wincing as the fall jarred her wound. She reached up and rubbed her neck, comforted by the crescent scar. She frowned as she remembered the bits and pieces of her dream. Was that girl on the cliff . . . her? Perhaps this dream was a memory of her past. Lyriss didn't remember anything before the Gypsy camp. Falcour and Shela had told her when she turned sixteen that they found her one morning and took her in. Lyriss was very hurt when she heard that, she had always thought she was a Gideon. Falcour and Talnin had told her it didn't matter what she was before, now she was a Gideon.

But today, now . . . Lyriss knew that the dream held much importance. She thought hard about who she could talk to . . . Now that Talnin was dead, there was no one whom she really trusted. But that Keira, she was pretty nice. Maybe she knew someone Lyriss could talk to. Her mind made up, Lyriss turned back towards the hospital wing. She cringed, though, at the thought of Wherry's angry face. Maybe she would wait in the kitchen, then find Keira later. Yeah, that was a good plan. Now to find the kitchen.

[Alys Breenon]

A light laugh came from an alcove at the foot of the stairs. At Lyriss's wary look into the shadows, a young woman stepped out. A head of unruly chestnut curls and a merry smile confronted the Gypsy. "I'd say you're looking as lost as they come! And like you're waiting for something bad to catch you for it."

Lyriss looked uncomprehendingly up at the woman before her, who's babble of Arconian seemed completely foreign. "What?" she asked, in Russic, hoping for a common language.

"I said you look lost, and as if someone bad is going to catch you." Alys repeated in slightly stilted Russic.

“What were you doing in there?” Lyriss asked, looking a little suspicious. She didn’t like being spied on.

“Sorry.” A shrug, a bit of a shy smile. “I get a little tired of being around people sometimes. I miss open spaces, so I go and sit there to be alone with my thoughts. I didn’t mean to be spying on you, its just that it’s hard not to notice someone in this part of the castle. It’s not used much.” The girl held out a hand, work calloused. “I’m Alys Breenon, I’m a ladies maid here in the palace, if you can believe it.”

Lyriss took the offered hand, noticing Alys stood a head taller, though she didn’t give the impression of being that tall. “I’m Lyriss, I’m here with the Gideon Clan. And I was looking for the kitchen, maybe a bath too.”

Alys grinned. “I can show you the kitchen, and maybe even soften cook up enough that she’ll give us something good!” She lowered her voice, “she’s a bit grumpy with strangers, but she’s really a nice woman. Don’t tell I said so, or she’d have my head.” She turned with a swish of skirts and beckoned for Lyriss to follow.

“And if you couldn’t tell, I’m just a country girl come to the city. Small towns don’t really offer much work, besides a place in the local militia. Though thats mandatory for 5 years for us all. I didn’t really want to stay after that, so I came here figuring all those “country girl” skills might be useful for something.” Shyly, “Its not as exciting as being a gypsy, I’ll bet. Though I’m sure that’s not everything its cracked up to be,” she quickly added, blushing.

[Keira2]

Lyriss walked along beside Alys, "Yeah, being a gypsy isn't all that great. I mean, I love being able to be outdoors for so long, but because of your reputation, you have to move a lot. Makes it hard to find friends outside of the clan." Lyriss stopped, wondering why she had said so much. What was it about the people here that made Lyriss want to open up to them? First Keira, then this Alys . . .

"Yes, that must be hard. But I'm sure you'll make plenty of friends here in Arconia!" Alys replied.

"Who knows how long Falcour will want to stay here, though . . ." Lyriss said, mostly to herself. She glanced sideways at Alys. "Do you know anything about dragons?"

[Alys Breenon]

Alys thought for a moment. "Well, I guess only what my mother used to tell me. I don't know if any of its true. The other mothers in the village would tell me dragons would come and eat up wicked children like me. My mother told me they were smart, and that wouldn't eat me." Alys gave her a wink. "And I was sorely disapointed. Getting eaten always seemed better than chores. But sometimes she'd tell me stories about them."

They rounded a final corner and came into the kitchen. Crockery was stacked on counters between helpers working steadily away at some chore. Dishwashers banged about in several large sinks, someone was carring a sack of flower, another a basket of roots. Alys skirted her way around the madness with practiced ease and came to stand (respectfully! ) in front of the flustered women who seemed to be running it all. "Please, cook, we're both really hungry. And Lyriss, she's just come in with the Gideon clan and is in dire need of some food." (Lyriss did her best to look hungry, not that THAT was hard)

Alys's plea was met with a crossed arm look of skepticism. "I know you, Alys Breenon, you're always hungry."

"Please? The Queen has had be busy, not that I mind, and I missed the lunch hour. And Lyriss has been on the road a long time. I'm sure she'd appreciate cooking as good as yours!" Alys stared at her shoes, then looked back up pleadingly.

"Oh, alright. There are left over pastries over there in the pantry, and some fruit. But stay out of the sweets, or you'll never get another thing from me, miss!"

"Thank you!" Both scampered over to the pantry, pilfered a respectable fare (and some that would be deamed illegal fare) and hightailed it from the kitchen to eat in peace somewhere their sweets would not be noticed.

Alys winked at Lyriss. "Told you she was nice. But don't let her know we were into the sweets, or I'll get a frying pan to the head!" Though, she reflected, she most likely knew all the same.

[Keira2]

Lyriss sat eating her pastry in silence. She reflected on what Alys had said about dragons. Surely she was just teasing Lyriss . . . dragons really couldn't be like that, could they? Lyriss thought about her dream again, no dragons couldn't be cruel like that. But who could she ask about dragons? Someone who really knew them?

"So, do you know anyone who knows lots about dragons?" Lyriss asked.

Alys laughed, "This dragon business again? A kid like you should be worried about other things, like education, than about fantasies and myths."

Lyriss glanced at Alys, "How old do you think I am?"

"Ten, maybe twelve." Alys said after a moment of pondering.

Lyriss smirked, "Yeah, that's what I thought. Actually I'm seventeen. At least, that's how old the Gypsies think I am."

Alys recovered from her shock to ask, "So the gypsies don't really know how old you are? How can that be?"

"They found me." Lyriss said simply. Suddenly Lyriss doubled over, clutching her head.

"Lyriss? Lyriss, what's wrong?!" Alys asked frantically.

Screaming. The dragons were screaming. She rushed to the end of the cliff to peer down at the valley. A procession of men was coming into the valley, HER valley. She crooned softly to the dragons, to try to comfort them. She raced to her home to warn her parents, but her mother and father had already left, going to look at the commotion. She waited with her closest friend, Delnik, the emerald dragon. Suddenly she heard more screams . . .human screams, and the dragon's roar of rage. . .

"Lyriss, please! Are you all right?" Alys's voice penetrated Lyriss's consciousness.

"Yes . . . I'm all right." Lyriss said softly.

Alys sighed in relief, "What was that?"

Lyriss opened her eyes, but looked at nothing, "A memory." She turned from Alys. "I have to go. Thank you for the food, Miss Breenon." Without another word, Lyriss rushed off.

Alys looked down at the forgotten pastry, a single bite taken out of it.

[Keira2]

Lyriss finally found an exit and rushed outside. She got a glare from a guard, but apparently the guard thought she wasn't too much of a threat, and left her alone. Lyriss made her way to the side of the castle, away from the eyes of the Arconians. They frightened her, with their strange language and customs. They were so friendly, Lyriss had never known a people like them. She hoped she would be here long enough to learn a bit of the language.

Men on horses grabbed her, dragging her along, talking in some language unknown to her. Their tone was kind, but they were taking her away from her friends! The dragons cried for her, pleading with her to come back . . .

Lyriss doubled over as she was hit with another memory. Why now? All her life she had no memory of her past, but suddenly . . . was it this place? Arconia? What had brought back these memories?

A shadow passed over Lyriss and the scar on her neck burned sharply. Lyriss gasped and looked up. A large bird, no, it couldn't be a bird, it's wings were obviously not feathered. Could it be . . .?

Lyriss stumbled back into the castle, but the burning persisted. Why? From her dream-memories she knew the scar never hurt when dragons were around, so why now? She needed to talk to someone, someone who knew dragons. Perhaps Crin? She seemed very knowledgable when the Gideon clan met up with her, and she knew Russic as well as Arconian, maybe she could find someone for Lyriss to talk to . . .

[Crin Dalmeiier]

Oh, word, here we go again. Feeling fresh from her bath, Shela watched the exchange between the ladies' maid and Lyriss, the Clan Spitfire (with good reason). I wonder what propaganda she's spreading now.

She hobbled over to the young woman, the fresh wound in her leg paining her. She had taken medicine for it, but it was taking awhile to sink in. "Just been talking to Lyriss?" she asked in heavily accented Arconian. "Interesting character, isn't she?"

She lowered herself into a chair, wincing as it brushed against her leg. "She told you the dragon stories?"

An uncertain nod. The maid looked friendly, but Shela was an imposing figure. Probably not as imposing as the queen, but the queen wasn't from a country nobody had heard of until a few days before. "Aye, miss."

"They're not real. Dragons are mythical." Shela sighed. "Lyriss is...sick. She lost her parents at a young age--they were high-standing members of the clan. It changed her. A few years ago, she hit her head on a rock and hasn't been the same since. That's where the scar's from--she fell on a rock and nearly bled to death."

Shela sighed again and patted the maid's shoulder before standing. "Just thought I would let you know before she draws you into the complexities of her mind. Just nod and go along with from now, okay?"

"Er--" the maid looked confused, but then relented. "As you wish, then."

[Keira2]

Wow, I had no idea I was so complex I feel so proud.

[Alys Breenon]

I'll be looking at all this this evening. I've got to pack and drive up North... can't use the compy till late tonight.

And complex'd be ONE way to put it. WOO!

[Keira2]

Lyriss skidded to a stop when she noticed Shela talking to Alys. She watched as the maid's face suddenly became confused, then she nodded and walked away from Shela. Lyriss's hand curled into fists.

"You said it again, didn't you." Lyriss said quietly.

Shela turned to look at her, "Oh Lyriss, there you are, you really should be rest--"

"You told her I was crazy, didn't you?! That I had no idea what I was talking about, that I simply 'have always been like that, poor child'!" Lyriss said vehemently.

Shela crossed her arms, "Now listen, Lyriss--"

"NO! I won't listen to your lies anymore! There is something about my past, something I have to find out, do you understand?! No matter what you say, to me or to others, I will find out. I won't be kept in the dark anymore!"

"Lyriss, child--"

"I am not a child! I am seventeen, Shela, no longer a foundling child for you to care for!" Lyriss yelled.

Shela grabbed Lyriss and shook her so that the blonde would listen to her, "Lyriss, you cannot go about asking for information of dragons. You'll upset these people and have them turn against us, thinking we're sorcerers with power over dragons. We found you, Lyriss, and not anywhere near dragons. Don't go delving into the past. Some ghosts are better left undiscovered." Shela let go of Lyriss and walked away.

"Shela." Lyriss called. She waited until the woman was facing her before she spoke, "I'm sorry. You and Falcour have been good to me, I was wrong to yell at you."

Shela hugged Lyriss quickly and fiercly before walking away again.

[Alys Breenon]

*wide eyed* oooooo.... now I want to know more.

I guess Alys may be atypical, she's an awfully open minded, down to earth person I think. But now shes CURIOUS!!

[Keira2]

Sigh, may not go anywhere if everyone thinks Lyriss is insane . . .

[Crin Dalmeiier]

With most of the women at the baths and the men at the pub, Shela mostly had the hospital wing to herself. The gypsies would need to establish a home soon, as well as a training ground. They had brought enough bows to aid several Arconians in joining them as archers. Soon they would have Arconians archers up to the skill and prowess of gypsies.

But Shela's thoughts weren't on the future. Rather, she was thinking about her past, and Lyriss'. The girl had never seen a dragon, really.

Talnin's death marked something dark for the gypsies. He had always been a guardian to Lyriss, keeping the child out of trouble by distracting men and women from her outlandish stories. Honestly! Dragons! Such a thing could hardly exist! Shela had acted as a midwife over Lyriss' very birth; she had seen the girl's parents fall to ruin over the decision in the clans. Keeping silent the fact that the Gideon clan had the only child of remaining of the true Sylace blood, a blood noble to the church, was no easy task.

That was the problem with Lyriss. She was not gypsy-born, nor born unto a regular family that had been supposedly killed off by dragons. Her parents, dead though they were, had been nobility as was Lyriss herself. Arconia, ironically enough, was one of the last safe places remaining for the child, so she had accompanied them.

She remembered the meeting that had taken place when Lord Palik had come to the gypsies for protection. She had been eight, Aldour seven, both of them sitting by their father on the council.

"I am sorry, Lord Palik. We can offer you and your wife protection for only a short time. It would be far too dangerous to keep any child from the Syrace line." Those had been the words of Clan-Chief, Liol. Shela's father was the only one who voted to protect the child of Lord Palik and Lady Rowenna. It had been with the Gideon clan that Lord Palik and Lady Rowenna had chosen to remain. And four months later, when Lyriss was born and when the church warriors attacked, it had been the Gideon clan to keep a hold of Lyriss.

It was a tragic past to have, and sometimes Shela was glad that the fall had injured Lyriss' thought-capacity somewhat. At least she was happy thinking herself seventeen and that dragons were real.

For now they would play along, but how long was it until Lyriss' stories started getting them into trouble?

[Keira2]

I think I'm becoming as unstable as my character....

Oh wait, that's already happened, ha ha.

[Crin Dalmeiier]

*grins* I think we're all a bit unstable. But do continue on with your character's past anyway. It's very interesting.

[Keira2]

Lyriss sat in the hall for a bit, puzzled about...well...everything. She knew Shela and Falcour were hiding something from her, but she had no idea what. She didn't even know if dragons really existed or not. She just felt very....dizzy... Lyriss doubled over as a wave of dizziness swept over her. What was going on? Her side burned, and she itched all over....so hot.... She had to find Shela...

She stumbled around, glancing wildly around for the hospital wing....it had to be around here somewhere. Lyriss finally spotted the familiar doors and crashed through them.

Shela jumped at the sound, "Lyriss, good heavens, what's wrong?"

"So...hot...help..." Lyriss collapsed onto the floor.

Shela started to go to Lyriss, but another woman got there first. Shela recognized her as one of the healers of Arconia. The woman cradled Lyriss in her arms.

"Come, now, what's your name? We have to get her up on a cot." Shela said, her natural commanding attitude taking over ( hee hee)

"My name is Keira. Please, tell me what to do. I'm not fully trained yet, but I will do anything to help." the woman said.

Together the woman lifted the small girl onto a cot. Shela quickly checked all of Lyriss's vitals, "Fever. Silly girl, she's been told she couldn't move until her wound healed, but she wouldn't listen."

"Wound?" Keira asked, startled.

Shela pulled up Lyriss's shirt to reveal an angry red wound. "Yep. I'd say this is what's causing her delirium."

"Delirium?" Keira asked again ( Keira really isn't this blonde, she's just confused right now. ha ha.)

Shela glanced at Keira, "Didn't she say things to you? Ask you about dragons and such?"

"No. She was just trying to get out of here." Keira bowed her head, "I didn't know she was injured. It's my fault, I didn't say anything when she left."

"We'll worry about guilt later, right now we have to help this little one. Craig knows she's already been through so much." Shela muttered.

The two women bent over Lyriss.

[Keira2]

Sorry everyone, my muse is going nuts, so just bear with me

Lyriss floated in the darkness of unconsciousness. Scenes from her life flitted through her mind, but what was real...?

Talnin was sitting by the fire with a very young Lyriss in his lap. He was carving a figure from wood with his knife. Lyriss watched the old hands shave bit by tiny bit from the wood, gradually giving the figure shape.

"Can you tell me what this is, Lyriss?" Talnin held up the figurine towards her.

Lyriss touched the wings, claws, and head of the figure, "It's a dragon, Talnin!"

Talnin smiled, "Yes, indeed, love. You can have it if you like."

"I'll always keep it!" Lyriss yelled happily. She curled closer towards Talnin, "Tell me about dragons."

"Oh, love, I'm so tired..." Talnin groaned.

Lyriss bounced up and down on his chest pleading, "Awww, please? I don't think I can sleep unless you tell me!"

"Very well. It's a story my mum told me, ever since I was little. See there are some special people, little dwarves, who care for dragons."

"Am I a dwarf, Talnin? The other kids tease me and say I'm too small." Lyriss asked.

Talnin looked at her, "Well, I dunno, love. I think your just a squirt."

"Talniiiin!"

"Oh all right. Anyway, these dwarves take care of dragons, their called Guardians. They can talk to the dragons all they like, just like I'm talking to you!" Talnin said.

Lyriss's eyes sparkled, "Wow! Really? Talnin, I'm a Guardian too!"

"Oh really, now?"

Lyriss nodded vigorously, "Yeah, and my parents must have been too, and their still with the dragons, huh, Talnin?"

Talnin's eyes watered, "Aye, love, they're still with the dragons."

Lyriss fell asleep on Talnin, but she thought she heard him whisper, "Better than her knowing what really happened. This little fantasy of hers can't hurt..." Lyriss merely shrugged off this comment and slept on...

"Will she make it, Mme Shela?"

"She's been in worse scrapes before, I think she'll pull through..."

Lyriss was skipping through the camp, proudly toting her dragon figurine. She was having great fun telling the other kids about her famous parents, who got to take care of the dragons. Most of the time she ignored the pained looks from the parents, and the scornful looks from the children. They were just jealous that Talnin didn't make them something.

Suddenly Lyriss heard horses screaming. Lyriss never realized how much their screams sounded like humans...

The gypsies were racing about, trying to put out a fire that had started in one of the wagons. The fire soon spread to many other wagons, and the gypsies ran. Someone grabbed Lyriss and dragged her with them on a horse. Lyriss heard the sound of dragons....no, it was the groan of wood as the wagons fell apart...

Lyriss dropped her figurine and screamed. She turned to plead with the man carrying her to let her go back, but he kept muttering to her that it was going to be all right. Lyriss struggled and managed to leap from the horse and rolled when she hit the ground. She spotted her figurine and dove for it. A man carrying large bags didn't see her and kicked her. Lyriss went skittering to the side, slamming her head on a rock. The world went black...

"There we are, I think she'll be all right now. She just needs to rest."

[KShan5[PrFC]]

Keira why does your post number says 0?

[Swordsman]

Fantasy Land posts don't count toward the total. You'll notice my number is pretty much frozen since I've quit posting in the Water Cooler.