NaNoWriMo Followup

There was a request for more from the book I was writing for NaNoWriMo. I haven't had a chance to do any revisions yet, but this is a snippet I was particularly proud of when I wrote it, an interaction between the main character and the Faerie queen.

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It was late afternoon before the storm finally blew itself out. Most of the trees fronting the east side of the clearing had fallen, while the ones on the west side were leaning toward the palace at various angles. The queen had seemed unsettled when Jyra confirmed Pawl's observations - the storm had been magic-sent. It hadn't been natural.

"It's more important than ever that this wedding go forward as planned," she said softly, looking out at the fallen trees from a window over the drawbridge. The massive construction couldn't be lowered, because the moat had flooded above the palace's ground level. The entryway sported an inch of water already, but it was only a slow seep between the cracks, and could be handled better than the deluge that would flow in if the drawbridge were lowered. A team of Guards were already working on draining the moat back to its normal level.

"The wedding?" Jyra shivered. "But what about finding the mage? Stopping these disasters?"

"Yes, well… that's important, too," the queen agreed slowly. "But the faerie and elves need to be properly united against this threat."

"Properly united…" Jyra shivered again, harder this time, and Snowfall peeked over her shoulder, chirping softly with concern. She wasn't frightened, though. The anger from the previous day was beginning to flare up in her chest again, and it was harder this time to suppress it. "We can be properly united against an earthquake, but that won't stop it from ruining our home. We need to stop this mage before he destroys everything we know and love!" The volume of her words rose passionately, but Oda gave her a look that was almost one of pity.

"A kingdom relies on its people as much as its land. As long as we are alive and strong, the loss of the forest won't be the end of the world." There was a slight catch in her voice at the word "end," but Jyra wasn't in the right mood to pay attention to subtleties. She was angry that Oda was willing to sacrifice the forest. Her home.

"And if you have a kingdom of people to feed and the forest has been obliterated? Earthquakes and storms. What if he sends a fire? What if this flood gets worse? How will you feed your people? How will my mother keep her subjects safe?" Snowfall chirped more loudly this time, and nipped her ear, standing awkwardly in his sling with his forepaws on her shoulder. The elf yelped. Her ears were sensitive, and that had hurt! But it had the desired effect, assuming Snowfall's intent had been to make her stop being angry. The bubble of anger that had been swelling in her chest and straining to get out deflated, as though the gryphon had poked a hole in it when he nipped her ear.

"I know this forest means a lot to you, but it's not the only forest in the world, and we can plant new trees to replace the old ones. This is a scary, uncertain time, and that's alright. But we need to keep in mind what can't be replaced. For every elf and faerie that dies, there's another life that will never be kindled again." Oda's voice was solemn, her gaze fixed on Jyra's face. "Do you understand, Jyra?"

"Yes, ma'am. But why would my wedding make a difference?" Jyra was still rubbing her ear tenderly, though she didn't protest when Snowfall climbed out of his sling to stand on her shoulders, balancing carefully and playing with her hair.

"It will make a difference. In morale, in perspective, in willingness to help one another. It's a matter of giving them something else, someone else to focus on. Do you understand?" Though she was earnest, and seemed to truly believe what she was saying, it didn't make sense. Jyra shook her head, feeling young and dumb. Oda sighed. "Well, maybe this is one of those things that will come to light as you learn more about other things. Context can make all the difference." Without asking for permission, Oda reached up to touch Snowfall, who made a quiet sort of crooning sound in his throat. The variety of noises he could make seemed to be expanding all the time, and Jyra wasn't yet sure what they all meant.

"I think he likes you," she observed, and sighed. "I know he likes Ramsey, but I don't know why."

"Good judge of character," suggested Oda with a smile. "We'll be leaving for the Summer Palace as soon as the moat is low enough to let us pass. Will you be ready?"

"Yes, ma'am." Jyra thought about her trunk, still packed and locked up in her room.

"Oda," corrected the queen, and smiled.