Legend of the Seeker fic: Appearances

[meridian_rose]

Title: Appearances
Fandom: Legend of the Seeker
Pairing/Characters: Darken Rahl
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 196
Prompt: For the legendland prompt 'snow'
Summary: Winter has come early to D'Hara. Darken looks over the snow covered landscape and muses on his life.
Warnings: None
Also at : A03 // FF.net

Winter came early that year. Snow fell, inches of it, blanketing D'Hara and the Midlands.

The Palace was warm, with roaring fires in almost every room, and the kitchens were well stocked. Lord Rahl and his people would not suffer from what promised to be a harsh few months.

Comfortable in his secure surroundings, Darken could afford to enjoy the sight of the snow – three feet deep in places, according to Egremont. The pristine snow brought a stillness with it that seemed as if the whole world was in hibernation, awaiting the dawn of spring and a new beginning, cleansed of the horrors of the past.

If only a fresh start could truly be possible. The snow gleamed in the pale sunshine but beneath it there were still battlefields and graves. The evidence of Darken's attempts to control and quell the rebellion wasn't gone, only hidden. Still, as he leaned out of the window, his breath visible in the chill air, he could look upon the snow, pure white as a Confessor's dress, and draw on its calm. Maybe then he could bury his sins deep under his own mantle of calm leadership.

Appearances were important.

Comments

[eternal-moonie.livejournal.com]

AWESOME new story honey!

[meridian_rose]

First comment :D Thank you very much :D

[dorothydeath.livejournal.com]

Oh, this is fascinatingly deep and beautiful!! :D

awaiting the dawn of spring and a new beginning, cleansed of the horrors of the past.
Awww, you're a poet! :D

The snow gleamed in the pale sunshine but beneath it there were still battlefields and graves.
Oh, so true. I love this line!

And the last one. Pure perfection! :D

Great story, bb! :D Thank you for sharing it! :D I enjoyed it a lot! :D

[meridian_rose]

Thank you :D It was an interesting piece to write.

[goth-darkenrahl.livejournal.com]

I love the combination of Darken Rahl and snow!

[meridian_rose]

Thanks for reading and commenting :D I'm glad it worked for you :D

[hrhrionastar.livejournal.com]

This is lovely :D The last line especially is so haunting, and I love the little hint that Darken might feel guilty for his sins...

[meridian_rose]

Thank you :D He's got a lot to feel bad about if he thinks on it too long. The original draft had some stuff about Brennidon but it didn't work in the final draft which took a more generic look at things :D

[brontefanatic.livejournal.com]

Very effective use of imagery - snow as a metaphor for purity and forgiveness. Despite Darken's seemingly sincere desire for a new beginning, one senses that the spring will only bring more horror - that perhaps every winter Darken goes through these same musings.

Haunting piece.

[meridian_rose]

Thank you :D I was stuck on the prompt - snow comes up way too often as a prompt everywere - and then I thought maybe something about how snow just makes everything look clean and fresh, but really it's only covering up the blood. I'm so glad it worked :D

[talath-dirnen.livejournal.com]

I guess I will start my translations with this one story if you would not mind :)

[meridian_rose]

Go ahead :D And thank you very much :D