Mother's Day and story progress

[edenfalling]

I called home to wish my mom Happy Mother's Day, and ended up talking for about 45 minutes, which was good. I hadn't talked to my parents for a couple weeks, since we were having "issues," and we tend to get into screaming arguments over the phone. Well, my dad and I scream; my mom just gets very worried and upset. So we were reduced to email communication. And it was really great to just hear their voices again today.

But we did talk about issues -- now that we've had a chance to settle down and some preliminary stuff has been taken care of -- and I have so much to do this week!

Must register for fall classes. Must hunt down a job. Must pack to go home for the summer. Must get mail forwarded. Must find out what's happening to my records at my university.

Bugger all.

In less stressed-out news, I got one beta back for "Sir Ron and the Green Knight." Now I'm just waiting on lasultrix before I can do final edits and post the sucker.

Here's an excerpt while I'm waiting.

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Note: Hermione is narrating.

Next year, Sir Ron left Hogwarts around Halloween, wearing loads of fancy and heavily-jeweled armor and clothing; this was to overcompensate for his impoverished upbringing in a small country castle. (Oddly, Harry, who'd been brought up in worse conditions before becoming Sir Ron's foster-brother, had no such inferiority complex.) The other knights wished him well and swore that he was the most noble among them, for they might not have had the courage to face certain death like him, let alone go out looking for it on purpose.

Sir Ron found this sort of talk ever so cheering and left as quickly as he could, riding his great horse Ford Anglia.

He rode for nearly two months and had many adventures, but they're irrelevant to this story. Eventually it was Christmas, and he desperately wanted to find a warm house with some chocolates and mulled cider. He also needed to borrow an owl to send a Christmas card to his mother, who was still peeved about the nearly-certain death business.

Suddenly a mist sprang up around him. Suspicious, Sir Ron dismounted and walked forward, waving his arms and poking around with his sword. Just then, the mist cleared as quickly as it had arrived and he found himself staring at a castle wall two feet in front of him.

"Lucky I didn't dent my sword," he muttered, before tilting back his visor and yelling, "Hello the castle! Let a wandering knight in for Christmas?"

"Certainly -- wait a moment while we lower the drawbridge," someone yelled back over the wall. The drawbridge clanked noisily to the ground and Sir Ron led Ford Anglia over the moat...

I hope you realize that it's impossible for him to have been two feet from the castle wall if he's across a moat -- that is, if the moat's at all practical.

Yes, I know it has no bearing on the plot. I simply thought I should point it out. There's no excuse for fuzzy thinking.

Sir Ron was met by a group of servants who led his horse to the stables and escorted him into the main keep to meet the master of the castle, Lord Sirius Black.

That's an interesting choice, particularly for this role. Sirius was a good man, even if he was overly rash at times. I'm glad you paid attention to the investigations over the summer.

Yes, I met him; he's Harry's godfather, you know. No, I won't tell you how. In any case, it's irrelevant to the story and I'll thank you to mind your own business, Apple Rumluck, particularly since I'm already doing you a favor by turning your outline into a proper story!

Where was I? Oh yes, Lord Sirius greeted Sir Ron as a brother, saying, "Welcome! Please consider my house yours."

"Thank you!" said Sir Ron. "I hope I can repay your kindness."

"Oh, don't worry about that. You're a guest," said Lord Sirius, and he led Sir Ron to the table. Sir Ron, though nearly starving, managed to restrain himself from attacking the food in his usual manner, possibly because he was seated between Lord Sirius's beautiful wife and an intimidating old lady. Instead, he answered Lord Sirius's questions, explaining his agreement with the Green Knight and his search for the Green Chapel.

"And I have to be there on New Year's Day, but I still don't know where in blazes it is!" finished Sir Ron, belatedly remembering to wipe his mouth with an embroidered silk napkin (which was probably made under near slave labor conditions by people who really ought to have been emancipated and educated, but let that go).

"Aha! You've come to the right place," said Lord Sirius. "The Green Chapel is only a few miles from here. You can stay until New Year's morning and still be there by midday. I'm sure you're worn out from your travels, so let me invite you to stay and relax for the next week."

"I shouldn't impose -- remember, I'll probably be dead by New Year's evening, so I won't be able to repay you," said Sir Ron.

Lord Sirius laughed. "Nonsense! Hospitality is a gift, not something you trade for. Stay! We don't get much news from Harry's court out here in the wilderness, and we're always eager to entertain visitors. Also, we've heard a lot about your courage and nobility, Sir Ron. You'll set a fine example for my men."

"I guess I could stay," mumbled Sir Ron.

"Wonderful!" cried Lord Sirius. "Everyone! Sir Ron, our king's own foster-brother, the most noble knight of the realm, is staying with us for a week. Break out the wine!"

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And there we are.

Comments

[redwolfoz.livejournal.com]

Sir Ron led Ford Anglia — his horse is Ford Anglia? Hysterical.

[edenfalling]

In the poem, Gawain's horse is actually named -- Gringolet, if I recall correctly. So I felt I ought to name Ron's horse, and the car just jumped out at me. :-)