Feral Heart
FeralHeart Creations => FeralHeart Media => Stories => Topic started by: ColonelHamilton on May 21, 2011, 01:59:29 pm
-
All right. This is the start of a script for a comic, as this topic thread suggests. I'm having trouble motivating myself to work on it, and I figured posting it here might help.
The Demon & The Prince
CASTLE COURTYARD
Two young men stand facing one another, swords in hand. The
first is JULEN: a young, white, rather effeminate looking
teenage boy whose cringing posture suggests he isn't the
very pleased with the current situation. The second is
DELROY: tall, black, and about the same age, and in a much
more confident in his deportment.
DELROY
Ready?
JULEN
Y-yes.
Delroy lunges forward. Julen barely parries Delroy's strike,
staggering backwards. Julen pulls further away to avoid the
second slash, but trips and falls backwards.
He lays on the ground, eyes closed and arms pulled up to
protect his face. The tip of Delroy's sword smacks him
gently in the center of the forehead, and Julen opens his
eyes.
DELROY
I love you Julen, but I have to say
that your performance was...not
very good.
Julen sits up, massaging his forehead. He is blushing in
embarrassment, and smiling sheepishly.
JULEN
That was rather terrible, wasn't
it?
DELROY
I dare not use such demeaning
language towards my honorable
prince.
But yes. It was.
JULEN
(As Delroy helps him to his
feet)
Oh, I'm sorry. I just-
DELROY
I know, I know. It's fine.
Julen's expression grows more serious.
JULEN
(Examining his sword,
discouraged)
I'll never manage to wield a weapon
with much skill...Any skill.
DELROY
That's probably true. I doubt any
amount of training will chance
that.
JULEN
Delroy-
Delroy puts his hands on Julen's shoulders.
DELROY
You're gentle and sweet and
harmless. You've always been this
way, and it's why I love you so
much.
Soldiery is not in your nature,
Julen. And you have no reason to be
ashamed of that.
Julen bows his head.
JULEN
I already know that...but...
Julen trails off, looking over Delroy's shoulder at a
perched crow.
DELROY
What is it?
Delroy turns and follows Julen's gaze.
JULEN
I'd swear that bird has been
watching us.
DELROY
(Amused)
Well, they are very clever animals.
Perhaps he is hoping for a treat.
Julen frowns at the crow, fiddling with his fingers. The
crow does appear to be watching them intently.
JULEN
It doesn't seem...strange to you?
DELROY
(Teasing)
Crows and ravens are the preferred
servants of demons, you know. They
are sent from the Black Valley to
spy and act as messengers.
JULEN
Is that true? Do you...Do you think
it could be one?
Delroy raps his knuckles on the center of Julen's forehead,
indicating where the sword had swatted him earlier.
DELROY
What has brought this on? Did I hit
you too hard before? You're being
very silly.
JULEN
(Pushing the hand away)
It struck me as unusual, that is
all. But-
BAKKAR
Julen.
King Bakkar walks into the courtyard. He's a tall,
intimidating man, with a stern expression.
Julen and Delroy immediately step away from one another,
bowing to their king.
JULEN
Father-
BAKKAR
If you're not going to use this
time for actual training, then come
with me.
Julen glances guiltily back at Delroy, and follows his
father towards the entrance to the castle.
The crow, still perched nearby, watching the pair until they
go inside. Once they are gone, it flies aware.
-
I think it is very interesting so far! I would love to see the finished product for sure.
-
Thanks...trying to figure out what to put in the next scene. Aaarg
-
The next part part the script. : )
INSIDE THE CASTLE
They walk together, Bakkar leading and Julen following
after, having a bit of a hard time keeping up.
BAKKAR
You're taking those lessons to
learn proper swordsmanship, not to
flirt with your instructor.
JULEN
(Blushing)
I was not-that is-
BAKKAR
Delroy should not be sacrificing
his duties as a guard for nothing.
You will have a proper, serious
instructor.
JULEN
But-but Delroy is a good teacher,
and it helps that we know
eachother so well. I really was
training until just before you
arrived. And I do not think
changing to new instructor could be
much help.
They reach the door to their destination: a meeting room.
BAKKAR
...No. I suppose it wouldn't.
Julen cringes at the statement, touching the vague red mark
on his forehead. Guards open the door to the chamber, where
several men and women are seated around a table. They stand,
bows are exchanged, and Bakkar and Julen take their seats.
COUNCILMAN A
The situation in Hartlayne has
escalated, your Majesty. A small
skirmish broke out.
BAKKAR
Was our Lady Alana victorious?
COUNCILWOMAN B
It seems that neither side was.
The council woman hands Bakkar several pages of letters,
which he scrutinises. Julen continues to watch and listen
quietly.
COUNCILMAN A
This must be handled with care.
Hartlayne is a valuable town, but
if Lady Alana is too hasty to
obtain it she could draw the wrath
of the entire Lanhaim Kingdom down
on us.
BAKKAR
One of our least influential ladies
is clashing with one of their least
powerful lords over the border of a
modest sized piece of land. It is
in their interests to avoid a war
over triviality.
COUNCILWOMAN B
The same could be said of us.
BAKKAR
Yes, but we have greater spirit.
Apply the correct amount of
pressure to the correct places, and
Hartlayne will be ours without any
escalation.
COUNCILWOMAN B
A dangerous game, but such a
strategic spot on the White River
might be worth a bit of risk.
COUNCILMAN A
If the worst happens, we can
distance ourselves from Lady Alana
and let the chips fall where they
may.
BAKKAR
Julen.
Julen looks at his father, startled.
BAKKAR
Tell us your thoughts.
Julen squirms in his seat, reluctant.
JULEN
...I suppose...It just seems
that...
BAKKAR
Well?
JULEN
Hartlayne does belong to Lanhaim,
does it not?
The only response is blank stares.
JULEN
Of course, I may be recalling my
geography and history incorrectly.
It is an area in dispute. But...if
they do have it now, it seems, to
me, that it might be better to
leave it be. Leading men to perhaps
die in battle over a small-
BAKKAR
Enough.
Bakkar outshis hand to his forehead, radiating displeasure.
All over the council members look away from the scene,
uncomfortable. Julen stares intently down at the floor.
BAKKAR
This meeting is over for today.
The council members get up, pay their respects, and exist
the room, leaving Julen and his father alone.
BAKKAR
Do you know what happened to your
step-mother last night?
JULEN
She said that she'd been ill?
BAKKAR
A miscarriage.
JULEN
What?! I-I had no idea that she
was-
BAKKAR
Kyra chose to keep it secret from
all but me and the physicians. Gods
know she did not want to endure
losing a child before all the eyes
of the kingdom. Again.
Julen's eyes are suffused with tears, while Bakkar is tense
with barely controlled emotion. Uncertain, Julen reaches out
a hand to put on his father's shoulder, but Bakkar bats it
away and gets to his feet. He paces back and forth as he
speaks.
BAKKAR
I am not telling you this because I
need comfort. Not that type of
comfort.
You know what this means, don't
you?
He pauses and looks at Julen, half expecting a response, but
Julen does not know what to say.
BAKKAR
It means that it is almost certain
that you will be and my only heir.
As much as I wish it not to be so,
it is unlikely to the extreme that
Kyra will bare a healthy child.
And you, the one who will be
entrusted with the entire kingdom
after my death, are utterly unfit
for the task.
Julen looks away, tears beginning to gather at the corner of
his eyes.
BAKKAR
Look at me when I talk to you.
Julen does so, reluctantly.
BAKKAR
I am entirely serious when I say I
have seen children half your age
with twice as much courage and
decisiveness. The life of a king is
a life of a warrior. A leader. You
are more suited to the occupation
of nursemaid.
Gods know how you got this way.
Perhaps it is my own fault. I left
you to your mother, who taught you
this excessive softness.
Julen cries, covering his face with his hands.
BAKKAR
I am at my wit's end with you! No
more weeping.
Bakkar grabs Julen by his arms and drags the startled boy to
his feet.
BAKKAR
You're going to be a king! Act like
one!
Bakkar gives Julen several furious shakes, and shoves him
away and onto the floor.
Julen sits there for a moment, shocked and miserable. Then,
he gets to his feet and flees the room.
Bakkar sighs and sinks into his chair.
KING'S CHAMBERS
Still tense from his previous altercation, Bakkar returns to
his chambers. Queen Kyra is lying across the bed, an arm
over her eyes. Bakkar goes to her, sitting on the edge of
the bed.
BAKKAR
How are you feeling?
Kyra removes her arm to look at him. She appears drained,
but calm.
KYRA
Just tired.
BAKKAR
Do you need anything?
KYRA
No, nothing. I just need to rest
here a little while longer.
BAKKAR
Of course.
Bakkar stands.
BAKKAR
I will be in my study, if you need
anything.
KYRA
Bakkar?
BAKKAR
Yes?
KYRA
I'm sorry.
Bakkar hesitates, then walks to the door of his private
study. He reaches for the doorknob, but stop short. Strange
rustling noises are coming from within. He frowns.
BAKKAR
Is the study being cleaned? I told
the servants not to without asking.
Kyra sits up.
KYRA
No. No one has been in there.
Bakkar readies himself, takes a deep breath, and throws open
the door.
BAKKAR
Who's-?!
A small, dark shape flies out of the open window, just as
Bakkar enters. There is no one in the room.
Sitting on the center of Bakkar's desk is a a letter. The
wax seal depicts a pair of ram horns and protruding from a
crown. Next to it is a single black feather.
-
I like it, very interesting, just ine question: Are Julen and Delroy actually in love?
-
Sorta. They're very good friends that have developed stronger feelings for one another over time. They've got crushes on one another, and they've exchanged a few chaste kisses, but they are not lovers. Their respective positions in life make an actual relationship impractical.
-
I see, again very interesting, good job! Also, from what you've wrote, Julens father seems to be quite aware of their feelings for one another, how does he feel about this? The comment he made about Julen flirting made me think that he would prefer it if Julen didn't have feelings for Delroy, however eh has accepted it
-
Bakkar doesn't really care about Julen's relationship with Delroy. He was more annoyed that Julen seemed not to be taking his training seriously than anything else. However, he knows that there is no chance of the pair having a formalized, settled relationship, because Julen is going to have to marry for political reasons. He thinks that by indulging in romantic feelings for Delroy, Julen is setting himself up for some serious future disappointment.
-
Ah I see, very good, please continue with this!
-
I am really getting into the story. Julen's personality makes the story more unique and more interesting to read, in other words its not so cliche.
Its still in the beginning, but I'm already getting hooked. Very interested in the raven (though that could just be me 8D) and what it has to do with all of this. Can't wait to read more!
-
I agree with you, The Mere Introduction To The Demon & The Prince was very capivating indeed.
(And Of Course, You were The Original "Raven")