RuneScape Forum Archive | Feel the Silence

Crystal Smee

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Lucas hummed softly to himself as they marched. There was nothing to do; no one spoke. Each soldier was left to his own thoughts and reflections. Lately Lucas had been caught up in the flurry of action as the army was shipped out into Asgarnia and then the attack happened, and for the first time in days, he allowed his mind to wander. He thought of home, he thought of the battle, and he thought of the wound on his stomach. It did*’t really hurt; it was just a dull ache in his abdomen. It felt distant, like only a memory, like he was detached from it.

He hummed some more. It wasn’t that he was happy, it was just something to do. He made sure none of the others could hear him. At first, when he started, the man in front of him turned and stared at him with blank, flat eyes. The man looked almost dead, with his lined face, gaunt cheeks, and tufts of gray hair poking out from under his helmet. Lucas cowed under the glare and quickly stopped humming, while a few nearby men burst into ragged laughter. “Kid,” one muttered, shaking his head, and they all chuckled again. Lucas bowed his head and continued on his way in silence, while their laughter echoed in his mind for many minutes after. He did*’t understand why they laughed at him or what he had done wrong. He was a kid, he thought to himself. There was so much he had to learn. Not just how to fight, although that was clear, but the everyday stuff – how to be a soldier, the rules and etiquette and common sense.

He mused on this for a while, but soon he found himself humming again. He felt nervous and jumpy; his eyes darted quickly from tree to tree, expecting danger lurking in every shadow.

25-Jun-2008 16:44:53 - Last edited on 06-Jul-2013 18:18:54 by Crystal Smee

Crystal Smee

Posts: 7,994 Rune Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

The soldiers marched silently, mechanically, as though they were already dead. He missed the music, Lucas realized. It was the quiet that made him so anxious. It seemed material, it was so thick and heavy, and it threatened to drown him. They moved like ghosts through the forest and left little sign of their passing. A broken twig there, a weed stomped down here, but few besides those with an experienced eye would ever know that an army had come this way.

It was no particular tune he hummed under his breath, just odd notes here and there. It bore some semblance to one of his favorite songs that the minstrels played in the court back home. He had heard it often, danced to it with Justine for hours. Ah, Justine. He smiled happily at the thought of her, and one hand went to his pocket, where his fingers brushed lightly over her letter. He did*’t need to read it; he knew what it said, but just touching it sent a rush of joy and hope coursing through him. He wondered where she was, what she was thinking about, and if she missed him. He began to hum a different song, one she loved to sing to him. She had the most beautiful voice.

He hit a lower note, and his thoughts changed course. This part he would sing, sometimes, although his voice was not even close to hers in talent. Would he ever have the chance to sing it to her again? He chided himself mentally for letting his thoughts go down that road, but knew it was inevitable. After the previous night…He wanted to avoid thinking about it, but somehow he kept coming back to the battle.

The humming stopped as the images flashed through his mind. For a brief second, it was as though he was back there, in the moment. He still saw the trees and the endless flow of the soldiers around him, but it was overlapped with the hills they had left behind, the swarms of Kandarin soldiers, the fighting all around him.

25-Jun-2008 16:45:26 - Last edited on 06-Jul-2013 18:19:03 by Crystal Smee

Crystal Smee

Posts: 7,994 Rune Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

He did*’t have a clear memory of all that had happened; his mind was filled with scattered, random pictures that were out of order. The details, however, stood out vibrantly in each image. The white of the man’s uniform as he was impaled on Lucas* sword; the orange flash of a nearby explosion; the way the blood splattered across each individual blade of grass just before he blacked out. The knowledge that he had killed someone weighed heavily in his mind. In the moment, it had been instinct, almost an accident as he lashed out with the sword. He knew it had to be done, that he’d have been killed if he hadn’t. But he couldn’t shake those images. He wondered if, when the time came, he would have the stomach to do it again. Just thinking about it made his stomach lurch and churn. He tried to be strong, knew he had to, but he felt tears stinging the back of his eyes, and he wished more than anything that Justine was there. But she wasn’t, and he was alone.

He abruptly realized that the forest was clearing, giving way to more rolling hills. Lucas could see the western horizon where the sun had begun to set, reflecting red and pink patterns on the wispy clouds. A horn blew from the front of the lines, signaling the soldiers to stop for the night. The army stopped moving and soldiers merely dropped their things where they stood, then began to settle down, setting up tents and starting fires. Lucas let his pack fall to the ground and sat for a moment, savoring the chance to relax his legs. Then it occurred to him that he had no tent, and therefore, nowhere to sleep. As the sun went down, the air began to feel cold, and a chill wind blew over the hilltops. He’d have to sleep out in the open, in the cold…his heart sank.

25-Jun-2008 16:45:50 - Last edited on 06-Jul-2013 18:19:15 by Crystal Smee

Crystal Smee

Posts: 7,994 Rune Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

He looked furtively around, and realized he wasn’t the only one with this problem. A number of weary soldiers simply threw their bedrolls on the ground next to the nearest fire and collapsed. Lucas felt a rush of relief that he wasn’t alone and quickly followed suit. Once his belongings were settled, he jogged off in search of food. The cooks were spread out sparsely through the camp, and it was awhile before he was able to chase down the smell of soup that had been tantalizing him and join the end of the line. As he waited, the sun disappeared fully behind the hills, leaving the sky a deep gray-blue. A single star twinkled overhead as he scanned the night, and he smiled, losing himself in another memory. They’d sit on her balcony together, watching the sun set over the walls of Varrock, then race to spot the first stars.

“You want food or what?”

Lucas started, realizing he’d reached the front of the line. After his battered tin bowl was filled with the chunky stew, he wandered off, meandering slowly back in the direction of his belongings. He’d made sure to be more careful this time and remembered the way back. But for now, he just wanted to enjoy the dusk and the peace that had settled over the camp.

“Hey, you!” Lucas turned. A man was waving from where he sat on a rickety stool next to a campfire. It was the man from earlier, the one who helped him get the sword and look for the letter. “You want to sit?” He gestured to an empty space beside him.

Lucas debated briefly, then shrugged. Why not? It might help to have some friends. “Sure,” he said, and joined the man and the four others beside him.

The soldier grinned, showing crooked teeth. “Forgive me for not introducin’ myself earlier. Name’s Gavin.” He stuck out a wrinkled hand.

Lucas shyly took it. “I’m Lucas,” he offered softly.

25-Jun-2008 16:46:23 - Last edited on 06-Jul-2013 18:19:25 by Crystal Smee

Crystal Smee

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“These here are my friends. That’s Martin, Shem, Reynolds, and Corland.” Lucas looked them over quickly. They were all large men, tall and burly, with long beards of various colors. Martin and Reynolds both had brown hair streaked with gray, and Martin was almost bald. He lay on his side, twirling a long piece of grass through his fingers. Corland had sandy, almost blond hair, and a much smaller goatee. Shem had thick, curly black hair and a beard that reached down past his shoulders, along with very dark skin. He looked foreign. Gavin followed his glance and chuckled. “He’s from Al-Kharid.”

“And you’re fighting in our war?”

Shem laughed. “There aren’t enough wars in the desert any more. I was in Varrock when word got out. Why not?*

Lucas looked at his hands, at a loss for words. He actually wanted to fight? It did*’t make sense, being excited to go to war. Sure, he’d joined willingly too, but that was different, he did*’t really WANT to fight. “Besides,” Corland added, in a low voice, “Al-Kharid does business with Misthalin. It’s in their interest to help us. Just like it’s in our interest to help Asgarnia.”

“And supposing we fall, although that’s unlikely,” Gavin added with pride, “well, they’d be next. King Russ won’t stop till he's got the whole d*** world beneath his rule.”

Lucas nodded. He’d been one of the first to hear the news that the Kandarin King was mobilizing troops. The King in Varrock kept regular spies in other courts and cities, and as soon as word got back, the news was leaked to the court and eventually the city. King Arland had been outraged that they would dare attack the Asgarnian border. Asgarnia was a small country with few major strongholds beyond Falador, which could easily be the first to fall. He’d rushed to raise his own army and send them out to defend his ally. But Lucas knew that their efforts weren’t entirely heroic or generous; they were protecting themselves as well as their neighbors.

25-Jun-2008 16:46:50 - Last edited on 06-Jul-2013 18:19:35 by Crystal Smee

Crystal Smee

Posts: 7,994 Rune Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

“He’s not really after Asgarnia, though. I mean, it’s a nice bonus, Falador and Port Sarim are major trade centers, but that’s not why he attacked them.

Lucas frowned. “So what is he after?”

“To get to us. Varrock, mostly. He hates King Arland. You know about the war ten years ago?”

“I was just a kid, but I heard about it. I’ve read the histories.”

Martin raised his eyebrows. “You read, kid?”

“He’s a scholar, so he says,” Gavin supplied. “Get on with the story, will you?”

“Well, like I said, Russ has a grudge against Arland. They go at it every couple of years. Arland attacks Russ, Russ attacks Arland. They attack each other’s ships, they invade each other’s land, they fight on the islands like Karamja and Crandor. That’s another reason Asgarnia** so important; it** a middle man. They hate trading with each other, so they go through Falador. He wants to control trade, cut us off. Anyhow, ten years ago, Russ sent some ships over, skirted Asgarnia, and invaded Lumbridge swamp. Thought he’d sweep through, take the town and march on Varrock within days. But Arland has one hell of a spy network, see, and he knew they were coming – much like this war. Duke Borrin levied all the farmers from Lumbridge – us, we’re all from down there except Shem – and headed into the swamp to beat them off.”

“It was awful. A nightmare. It was midsummer, hot as can be, and the swamp got so humid. We shocked ‘em enough to beat ‘em back, but there were still a few bands wandering around. For three months we chased ‘em through the swamp, guerilla fighting, before we finally eliminated them all. We thought we had ‘em in the beginning, so the Duke sent word not to send help from Varrock, we did*’t need it. But the fighting dragged out. Everyone thought we pretty much disappeared.” Reynolds shook his head and closed his eyes against the memory.

25-Jun-2008 16:47:32 - Last edited on 06-Jul-2013 18:19:45 by Crystal Smee

Crystal Smee

Posts: 7,994 Rune Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

Martin nodded in agreement. *It really was terrible. No, the best one was back about, what, eighteen years? My first war, back when I was as green as you, kid…”

Lucas stared at the men sitting around the campfire, no longer really listening as they traded stories. He had become filled with a sense of longing. It made his chest tighten, his eyes sting, and he laughed inwardly at himself. Could he ever really hope to have this? He sat with these soldiers, joked with them, but as they recounted their memories, he began to realize that he did*’* fit in. Not just that he did*’t have any stories to tell thus far; he knew he’d never be able to look back on his own experiences with anything but terror and shame. He’d never be a hero, never survive a battle and be able to joke about it later. He was kidding himself; he just did*’t belong here. Not with these men, and not in this war. And he was a fool for letting himself believe otherwise for this long.

It had seemed so easy. Sign up at the barracks, take your pick of the rusty old gear, and march out to fight the evil Kandarins. But he was a scholar, not a fighter. He’d never be a fighter. Everyone else here seemed to know what they were doing. Lucas knew he couldn’t be the only new recruit, but everyone else seemed to catch on quicker. He had no idea what he was doing. He had thought maybe he could learn from these men, but now he knew they’d just laugh and call him ‘kid’. He felt as though everyone could see his shortcomings, like it was scrawled all over his face that he was clueless and terrified.

“Kid, you got any stories?”

Lucas looked up, startled. “Uh…no. This is my first time fighting,” he admitted quietly.

Martin gestured to his stomach. “What about that? You’re bleeding, kid.”

Lucas eyed the dark patch on his shirt. Tenderly, he touched it, then lifted up the hem to check the bandages around his abdomen. “That’s old – it’s dry.”

25-Jun-2008 16:48:15 - Last edited on 06-Jul-2013 18:19:55 by Crystal Smee

Crystal Smee

Posts: 7,994 Rune Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

“First battle and you got your first wound,” Gavin teased. “Nice. How’d that happen?”

Lucas wasn’t sure if he was being mocked or if he should feel proud. *I * I don’t really remember,” he stammered truthfully. “Everything happened really fast.”

Gavin clapped him on the back. “It gets easier,” he promised. “I remember my first battle…”

That nostalgic gleam had returned to his eyes. Lucas knew where the conversation was bound, and he had no desire to be a part of it any longer. He rose, muttering, “I’ve got to go,” and walked quickly away into the darkness. He felt restless, however, and wasn’t prepared to go to sleep just yet. So he began to wander again, feeling lonely and missing Justine. If she was here, he wouldn’t have to worry about anything. He’d be too busy having fun to feel so self-conscious, and all of his other problems would go away. He wouldn’t need to make friends because he’d have her. Fighting wouldn’t be scary; he felt he could conquer the world with her at his side. It would all be so easy. And he wouldn’t have that sad pit in the bottom of his stomach making him miss home and reminding him how alone he was.

Eventually he found his way back to his belongings and sat cross-legged, then pulled the letter from his pocket. As always, first he smoothed away the crinkles, muttering to himself that he needed to be more careful with this piece of treasure. Then he ran his fingers over the words scrawled on the front of the envelope. “Private Lucas Val’Eyra: Tenth Squad; Eighth Company; Army of Misthalin.” The first time he saw it, he had smiled with pride at the words. Now he grimaced and quickly pulled out the pages inside. Gods, he was such a fool.

25-Jun-2008 16:48:40 - Last edited on 06-Jul-2013 18:20:06 by Crystal Smee

Crystal Smee

Posts: 7,994 Rune Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

Gently he unfolded the three small sheets, then cursed and wiped his hand on his trousers. There was a dark smear in the shape of his thumb on the side of the page, now. Sighing, he gripped the pages more lightly and began to read quietly to himself by the light of the fire. Her handwriting was beautiful, all smooth curves and loops, perfectly slanted to the right. His own handwriting, despite his extensive training in the library, would always be awkward and uneven.

When he was finished, he carefully folded the pages, replaced them in the envelope, then lay on his back and stared at it for a long time, turning it over and over in his hands. He did*’t know when he’d be able to get another letter, or even if she’d written one. Perhaps there would be one waiting for him at Rimmington. He’d received this at the outpost in Draynor, only a week and a half after he set out. It helped to know that she missed him just as much as he missed her. He couldn’t wait to get back to her, to put aside his sword for good and marry her just like they’d always planned.

“Soon,” he promised himself. “I just have to be strong a little longer. Then this will all be over. I’ll come home to you, Justine, I promise.” Then he tucked the letter back into his pocket and settled down to sleep.

25-Jun-2008 16:48:55 - Last edited on 06-Jul-2013 18:20:16 by Crystal Smee

Chuk

Posts: 14,177 Opal Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

Nine Posts!
Nice. I shall commence reading.

"...signaling the soldiers to stop for the night. The army stopped moving..."
A slightly annoying repetition of stop here.

That's the only thing that really bothered me throughout this new add. It's excellent as always, and I'm glad you're writing stuff that's not all action. To me, too much action gets repetitive and boring, and sometimes abandons the plot to too much cliche, so it's nice to see interesting adds that aren't just fights. Looking forward to more.

25-Jun-2008 18:41:03 - Last edited on 25-Jun-2008 19:15:20 by Chuk

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Feel the Silence