Years of work, of silly daydreams and games, of wild imaging’s, of fighting with rebellious characters, dodging the worse bad guy that has ever lived, mopping when plots changed, putting up with Maddock’s perfect ness has come down to this, a 153 page document, a grand ending, and an over bearing need to cry.
How is it authors can be so shifty? Yesterday I was walking on air, Reid was finally dead, yesterday I was giddy, knowing full well that today I would be gloomy. And here I am, I can’t float today if you paid me, I could cry. I know, there is all that encouraging, “You get to edit it, you get to write the next one,” but let’s face it, it is over. Editing never holds the same bliss, joy, and struggles as writing. Maddock can’t change the plot anymore, Reid can’t pop up when I least expect him. And sure, writing the next one is exciting, but it isn’t the same. Maddock and Carlyss are in love, there is no more debating about it. Theobald is king; he told all of Hemlock, he is no longer the outcast who hides his face. Clyde is really dead, Reid’s…forget that! That is classified. Ulrich and Tamar are dead; Hemlock is free…or is it?
And so, as I close Despair and Hope, as I bid farewell to the man who has pestered me for how long I forget, as I watch Maddock and Carlyss step into the next stage in their life, I want to reach for the pack of tissues and cry my heart out into the nearest pillow. It doesn’t help any that Thomas was just kidnapped by that snake Carlos.
Yet, as I wail Theobald smirks and says, “You still have the rest of my tale…” Don’t tell me he is following Maddock! Traitor. And yet, as Hemlock has grown from a game to a book with a message I never thought it had, I also see Theobald changing from a dorky boy into a king worthy to sit upon the Hemlocan throne. And as he smiles at me I see some of the gloom leave his eyes and can hear him repeat the very words I utter, seemingly all the time now, “God is amazing and has so many surprises for us!”
Theobald’s comes in the form of a day dreamy maid, while mine comes in many forms, one of which I never thought would be a new old, two dear friends, and a country called Hemlock. And now as I stand here, looking back upon a game, and turning see a new world I can use to glorify God I can almost hear Him saying, “It is up to you, will you go on My daughter or turn back?”
I want to turn back, I admit it. Hemlock is unlike anything I have ever taken on, it is frightening and new. And yet, I see two giggly girls holding out their hands to me and I know we can enter this new world together. And so I take the plunge, Hemlock will live, the characters will walk into other peoples lives, not only mine. And everywhere they can weep with me as Despair and Hope ends and Treason and Loyalty starts.
So here I come, toss aside the tissues and jump right in. And though I feel heavy hearted I can hear Maddock laughing at me and telling me to stop being such a ninny, “I am in the next book after all!” Maybe not Maddock! If you make my Theobald join you, you shall join Reid’s fate.
Also, I am willing to say not a one of you can guess who the new villain is to be!!
Thus, being a somewhat sad entry I will be semimetal and give some well earned thanks.
First on the list are Molly and Katie. If EVER Hemlock amounts to anything it is because of these two. One, they NEVER let me give up, that is the best thing about friends, they can threaten you if you try and give up. Also, when Maddock started his revolt they where there with me, they mopped and scolded with me and won’t let me kill him off as I SOO wanted to do!
Then when Reid waltzed in they cringed with me and gleefully rubbed their hands together as we thought about his death. Whenever something happened, whenever something changed, whenever I needed someone to talk to, they were there. They even put up with my terrible cliff hangers, now that is a true friend! All the good GOOD parts are thanks to them, Maddock would have been dead had it not been for them, and Theobald would have been a hopeless gloomy man who days would have been endlessly tormented. And Carlyss, Carlyss would be a perfect pain in the neck! And if Maddock hadn’t died his only purpose would have been to blow things up, and Carlyss just might have ended up with Theobald, there was that chance.
Thanks girls, you two are the best!!
Next is Sarah. Sarah didn’t get Hemlock till it was nearly over, and then her first words were, “It’s the best thing you have ever written!” I covered Nate’s ears but grinned.
The best thing about Sarah, she knows I am a nut and puts up with me; that takes a lot. Though she did not play much part in the Hemlock tales she is the one who threatens me if I stop writing, if I stop writing she would have my head, which I want to keep.
Though these three were the main ones who helped me there were many others. Beth for reading it even when it got mushy and for begging for more, Poetic Maiden who printed it off to read, Gaby who gave helpful hints and changed the plot for the better, (Gotta wait for the edited version to see how), Alex who let me out of the dungeon because he thought it was a good bribe, Thrill Author who has not read it yet but still argues with Maddock, Anna (Molly’s sister) and anyone else who ever read it or endured me complaining about Maddock and Reid.
And so, I close, leaving you teary eyed, just kidding. But I really have to go, being me I have already started the second one, not to mention I have to work on Peril with the Pirates and I HAVE to find out what happens to Thomas, I was informed he knocks Carlos into next week so I have to get to that part. Oh, I will start answering comments now, sorry to leave you all like that, I haven’t even written in my journal for so long! However, I am now among the living again, until I get taken away into another story.
Until then I remain…me :D
Hemlock is nearing completion. I don't know when it will be but I know it will be soon. It is a rather sad feeling to be honest, I am fond of the characters. However, I have come up with a pen name that I shall be using with this story, Sybil Forbes. There is a long story behind it which isn't important.
The real reason I am writing this is the characters found a new place in Hemlock and I would love some feed back on it. So, please tell me what you think. Also I am thinking of retitling it, something like "Dispair and Hope"? What do you all think?
My first waking thought was, “I wish someone would turn that light out!” My second was, “How very soft this bed is!” And that was when I opened my eyes. I found myself lying upon my back, looking up at a glass roof through which the sunlight was streaming. Vines grew all over the glass, giving the effect that one was under ground. The light was weaving through the vines as though in some dance no mortal could no.
From somewhere I could hear the softest, warmest, and lightest strains of music coming. I smiled to myself as I listened and murmured in complete happiness, “I must be Home!”
I sat up and tossed off the light, pale green blanket that had been covering me. However, when I caught a better glimpse of the blanket I yanked it back on to get a closer look. Someone had woven flowers into the green cloth, yet you could not see the flowers right off, you had to move the blanket first. When the blanket was moved the flowers appeared and seemed to dance upon it, changing color as they did so.
“How lovely!” I exclaimed,
“I am glad you think so,” A voice said from the doorway.
Never in my life had I heard a sweeter voice then that one. It sounded like, well, there are no words for it. I could say it sounded like a brook playing over the rocks, like the rain dancing on a roof, like the wind whispering secrets to the trees, but those all fall short. It was like everything good, put into words.
I turned and saw a girl, about my age, standing in the doorway. She was tall, thin, and nearly while, her cheeks where a soft shade of pink, her lips as red as a rose, her eyes as blue as a summer sky, and her form as graceful as a willow. She was wearing a simply shaped dress, light pink, which draped about her and seemed to add to her grace, the dress left her long white arms bear. Her hair, as yellow as the sunlight, hung loose down her back, it looked like a waterfall of light.
“Who are you?” I whispered.
“My name is Iris,” The girl said with a smile that would make all shadows flee. “And you are Carlyss are you not?”
“Aye,” I whispered, I was not sure what to say to this lovely girl.
“Come Carlyss, someone is anxious to see you.” She held out her hand to me.
I stood up and was suddenly aware I was dressed in a dress much like hers, though it didn’t look half as pretty on me as it did her. My dress was the same green as the bed covering. In fact as I looked closer about the room I began to notice things I had missed when I first awoke.
All about the room were plants, vines grew up the white walls and flowers bloomed on them, showing off all their radiant beauty. I could only gasp in wonder, and as I took Iris’s soft hand I whispered, “Where am I?”
“At the foot of the mountain,” Iris said wisely.
“Which mountain?” I asked.
“Why the King’s mountain,” Iris said with a laugh, “You are near the King’s country.”
“But not in it?” I asked sadly.
“Nay, did you think you were?” Iris looked at me kindly.
I sighed. “I had hoped I was.”
Iris touched my arm and I looked up into her blue eyes, all sorrow flew from me. “The King has a task for you to do before He will call you to His country, be patient Carlyss.”
I suddenly smiled and whispered, “I shall.”
We went down many halls, all of which flowering vines grew up. The ceiling was glass as in my room and over it vines grew. As we walked we passed many people, all as lovely as Iris. There was so much I forgot much of it by the time we reached another room.
Iris opened the door of that room and looking in I cried out with glee, for who should be in it but Maddock, Adele, Kendra, Kenrick, Julian, and Bettina! Without a word to Iris I ran in and into Adele’s arms.
“Careful!” She moaned, “I just woke up!” And once I released her she giggled and sat on a bed.
I then exchanged greetings with the others, Maddock seeming the most pleased out of them all though he didn’t say much. Once I had greeted everyone I turned back to the door, and found it was closed and Iris was gone. With a sigh I sat down beside Adele and asked the others what had happened.
“From what I was able to gather,” Julian began, he was sitting on a couch, arm around Bettina, “Is that these people work for the King, are his special servants. When the Unspeakable came,” We all shuddered at the very mention of their name, “They received word that the Unspeakables were after us, and so they came and saved us and brought us here.”
I sat in silence for a long while, trying to take it all in. So, it was true. I of course knew it but it was one thing knowing it on the inside and actually hearing it in words. The Unspeakable had come. How where we supposed to fight them? No living man could fight them and win.
“Trust Me, My daughter,” The voice whispered, although this time it was nearer, louder. I smiled; yes I had to trust the King.
After a moments more silence I suddenly asked, “Where is Theobald?”
Hi! This is a poem I just wrote. What do you guys think of it? I think I'm going to put it in FAD er, well you know what I mean. It's going to be sung by a gypsy girl named Rhona. What do you think?
Her ebony tresses fell silvery in the moonlight,
She danced by the light of the moon.
The silver sphere shown down from heaven,
Its gaze fell softly upon the wood nymph,
Dancing, dancing,
Dancing in the moonlit night.
Her voice lifted its song silver-tuned in the moonlight.
She sang by the light of the moon.
The feathery mists smiled, framing the moon.
The forest nymph was Swayentlay – the moon’s daughter,
I need help. I wrote this song for Hemlock that Carlyss and Maddock sing together. Only I don't like it, one bit! Any suggestions? Other then "Never write another song again!"? Which would be very true :D
Maddock grinned and then began. His voice was deep, but not as deep as Theobald’s, as he sang.
“He traveled through the country,
He traveled all alone,
He traveled without companion and friend.
Into the wild he went to seek out the one he loved
He traveled the lands alone
Looking for the one he loved.”
Then it was my part.
“She lived in the forest
She lived all alone
Alone in the forest without companion and friend.
She stayed there, waiting for the one she loved
Knowing he would come for her
Come for her as he had promised.”
“He faced many dangers
Many dangers alone he faced
Traveling with the strength and courage of ten
He would not stop
He would not give up
Until he had found her and took the one he loved”
“She waited in the summer
She waited through the bitter winter
She waited, knowing he would come to her
Come to her and save her
Save her from the enchantment that held her
She watched for him and waited.”
“He entered the forest at last
The enchanter was waiting for him
He fought for her, willing to die for her.”
“She saw him come
She saw him enter
She watched him fight for her, she would die for him:
“The enchanter struck him, he fell to the ground”
“She ran to him and clasped him in her arms”
Then we both sang together.
“The enchanter raised his staff, raised his staff to kill.
They clung to each other
Clung to each other as death fell upon them
Even in death they could not be parted
And in each others arms they died
In each others love they died
Under the willow they died.”
Hello all! I am here to announce that I have posted the first chapter of my part of what used to be FAD on this blog, but I am going to post all of my story stuff as "Registed User Only" (I've had trouble with "Friends Only" in the past) so make sure you log in when you check this blog. Thanks! And let me know what you think of my story so far!
~ Katie
The fates are from Greek mythology, they were three women who wove the mortals lives, and cut the thread of life when it was time. They also shared an eyeball. We're like the fates in a way, since we share the same Muse. And this is where we talk about our novels in progress
