wherein Liz is under siege by bears

I am working busily on my Yuletide fic. I think I have finally hit the point where I shouldn't need to research any new topics, and am merrily inventing fictional people to fill out the historical landscape, because stories work better with more than three characters interacting against a blank backdrop. (Which reminds me: I must add some more descriptive passages once I finish the rough draft.)

I think I have hit on a sort of thematic through-line, to accompany the historically attested event. We shall see if I can make it cohere into something functional. If not, well, that's what second drafts and edits are for. :-)

...

I have a strong feeling that once I get to my parents' house, I am going to basically collapse and come down with a vicious cold. I have been running on stress and determination for a good while now, and when you stop that sort of relentless push, everything else tends to fall down in sympathy. Nrgh.

Okay, time for an ice cream break.

Then back to writing.

wherein Liz conditionally defeats Yuletide!

Ha! My story is DONE, and it is POSTED.

Of course, it hasn't been edited much, let alone beta-read, but eh, details.

Um. Speaking of which, is anyone willing to look over a historical fiction tale under 5,000 words long? I am not really worried about historical accuracy at this point. I have done all I can reasonably be expected to do on that front. I'm not even hugely worried about canon fidelity. I just want to know if my story works as a story.

If you have time in the next two days, please tell me and give me a way to send you the file. :-)

(I will probably also make my family read it, since my mom has read the canon in question, my dad is a historian, and my sister knows where I get narratively lazy, but more eyes are always helpful.)