Dude.

Maxie...

Pooooost. I need moooooore!

I am going to. x3

*needs to get on desktoooopp*

Chapter 14:
The Rose that Grew


"Did you hear about the rose that grew,
from a crack in the concrete?
Proving nature's law is wrong it
learned to walk with out having feet.
Funny it seems, but by keeping its dreams,
it learned to breathe fresh air.
Long live the rose that grew from concrete
when no one else ever cared."


In the village of Liliforth, winter had arrived in grander fashion than usual – the snow came down heavier, and each house smoked copious amounts of black vapours, as sheets of white raised their pearl-white arms to wrap roofs in their ice-like embrace. The scarlet of autumn gave way to grey-white with little protest, and children ran into the streets, comforters round their necks as they raised snowmen and castles.

“Do you know,” asked Guinevere. “That I have waited twenty years for you to ask me this question?” Her eyes were bright with happiness, and her cheeks red, not with cold, but joy apparent.

“I would have asked earlier,” Al Keith said, sincerely. “Had I been certain of yours feelings. You know, Guinevere, how many complications they have set in the paths of lovers such as we are. I do not –”

“Do not be afraid!” she cut through, and she took his hands in hers. They were hardened, his hands, by years of toil, and hard work, but she liked the feel of them, for it did not seem – as it might have ot many – crude, but lovely. “If we can love, we can overcome obstacles, Al Keith! We shall wed!”

“You know we can not wed now,” he said. His sigh, though small, felt weighed down. “It is ever my wish, but I am practical, and do not make uncessary castles in the air. You are an elf-maiden, and I am human, and our union shall never be appreciated. I have no large family, only a mother, and she shall be overjoyed in my decision, but your family would not look at the twop of us kindly.”

“Long, they have loved you,” Guinevere said slowly. When his mother had moved into their lands, an ill, young girl who had escaped the clutches of a marriage she had been forced into against her will, Al Keith had had been a little child. The village elders, suspicious of their intentions, had not welcomed the humans; but Guinever’s parents had seen the eyes of the young mother, and realized that she meant no harm, only sought sanctuary – and sanctuary they had provided, taking her under their wing, and raising her son as their own. “They shall not want their daughter to wed a human, you are right –” For in the realm of elves, it was taboo to wed humans - “But you are an exception.”

“How so?” he asked, with quiet eyes. “They have loved me, I know – first out of pity, and then out of truer things – but the rules of the Land make clear that it is exile for those who dare to break tradition, and marry out of turn – elves for elves, and humans for humans. There is no other way. They would not let you marry me, Guinevere, for such a thing means they will be banned from the land, perhaps even persecuted and punished.”

Guinevere’s face fell. “Is there no other way, Al Keith?”

“I do not want to bring misfortune upon your family,” he said quietly. “If your parents grant us permission, we can run away, and start a life for our humble selves in a land where no laws persecute us, or your family.”

“But such a land would be laden with troubles!” she said, quietly. “There shall be creatures, and little shelter, and food will be hard to come by.”

“These are risks we must take, if our hearts are true. I vow to protect you every living second, Guinevere, but you must vow, too, to stand by my side. If so you can not vow, then our paths must part, fo there is no other honourable way that we can be together.”

“I understand,” she said slowly. “I will talk to my parents, and my good friend Atara. They shall understand, I am sure, Al Keith – I think, too that they have, within their hearts, seen our union arrive. They know me, Al Keith!”

Under the cloak of winter time, he kissed her, and Guinevere laughed and placed her arms around him. They were happy in each other’s company, content to face troubles if that was, indeed, the only way to be together, in honour; and it seemed to them that, if they persisted, no man or woman, no elf-lord or elf-lady, could prevent their happiness, tilt their basket of quiet joys, crush their dreams.

Time would prove them wrong.

*

[] Reference:

+ "Did you hear about the rose that grew -" - Tupac Shakur, The Rose that Grew from Concrete.

Brillient chapter Maxie
Really well written! *nods*
Ah, i wonder what happens to them...i wanna know now
Can't wait for more

Thanks, Eviiee!

I haven't been so sure about it, because it's a little shorter than the others.



I'll try to update more quickly, this time.

-hides-

Ohmigosh! Maxie updated

Oooh, that was so beautifully written! It was simply lovely..

Hmm, I is suspicious about everyone in this story now.. Completely suspicious

Love the update! Those two characters sound pretty neat!

Gabbeh

Your Welcome Maxiee

Ah, The length doesn't matter, it's the contense that does im not sure with my spelling there! But you see my point. Your a really good writer *nods*

Haha. Yeah there was quite a wait...not that im complaining, your writing always makes up for that! I shall be looking forward to reading some more

I lovely this Maxie!
I think the size of this chappie is perfect!
Take your time with writing! We won't mind.

UPDATESUPDATESUPDATES! -flails-

Ooh, I like this old-world, elfin era feel. It reminds me of Lord of the Rings.

Tupac, ! West side.

XD

Okay, I'm done being a weirdo, love. PAMS, as always!

- Melelell

I did. =D
Thanks, luff. I'm glad you like it + the characters. <3

Suspicious? =O Whyyyy?

Content. xD

I'm glad you think so. I posted the chapter, then eyed it, thinking, 'This looks a little too short,' so yes, I wasn't too sure. But thank you. =]

Woot! Thank you. <33

Does that mean the other chapters should be shorter?

YUS! Mah Melelell. <3

Aww. Lord of the Rings is awesome. I can't possibly compare what I write, to that. Those books... are splendidly-written.

Tupac = <3
Shall update, soonish.

Hello Maxie. This is the forth time today that I've tried to comment. Each time I start I only get to say how much I love this chapter, and I have to do something, causeing me to not get to finish my comment. This time I'm going to wait till I'm done to tell you I love this chapter.
I was sooooo excited when I started reading this! I loved the dream Ginny had when the great Aunt aparrated them to her mansion. I've been so anxious to find out more about Guinevere, and, Al Keith. Last we knew she was grabbed from behind, and familiar hands slit her throat, and then stabbed her. Now we get to read more! I'm so wanting more! This is my favorite part of the story so far!

I agree with, princess of *hp* The feel is the same, but the story is a tragedy like Shakespear's, 'Romeo and Juliet.' (So far anyway) Only much better. I'm not dissing him, but, I can understand your writing much better. I'm afraid her dear friend Atara, is not the friend she thinks she is. Such a tragedy to trust someone so much, and find betrayal for your troubles. Maxie, you see, not even Shakespear could've written this any better. It's so sad, but beautiful, so much so that you must have hope for their love to survive.

OK, it's safe for me to say this now. I love this chapter! You are so talented! Please post as soon as you can. Of course school, and all your duties, and your family come first. Much love to you Maxie.

Great Chapter Maxie!

Aww.

Coming from you, I find that a HUUUGE compliment. <3

Is it saaaad, that I don't like Shakespeare, as a writer? I've always thought his plays are excellent as plays. To be acted out, read aloud. But I feel like they faiiiil, as prose.

But thank you. <3

Thank you, Connie. MUCH love to you. <3

Thanks, DrooblyDroo.

No i swear i got it right. Well anyway you know what i meant xD

Ah, i do that all the time in my stories, but as long as i have readers that'll read it and comment in good

Can't wait for more

Loved this chapter.

Cool!

Ooh, new readers! Welcome to 'Wings of Glass,' and it's awesome to know that you likey the story. ^___^

Nice, new chapter.

I'm pretty intrigued. Are we going to get to see Al Keith and Guinevere's story develop?

Love,
~~Jay~~

Thank you.

Yes, we are. It's important to the fic. ^___^

Ooooohh!! I'm excited.

Can't wait fo you to update!!

PAMS! PAMS! PAMS! PAAMMMSSSS!!!!

Love,
~~Jay~~

Chapter 15:
Broken Dreams


"Dreams in the dusk,
Only dreams closing the day
And with the day’s close going back
To the gray things, the dark things,
The far, deep things of dreamland.

Dreams, only dreams in the dusk,
Only the old remembered pictures
Of lost days when the day’s loss
Wrote in tears the heart’s loss.

Tears and loss and broken dreams
May find your heart at dusk. "


When she retired to bed that night, Ginny picked at shards of the dream, once more. It had come like a carpal tunnel, painful to the point where she did not want to think of it. At length, she whipped out quill and parchment, dipped the latter into ink, and pressed it to the surface of the former. She wrote, then, to the one girl who understood her better than anyone else, to her old friend, Hermione.

She lay down once she had dispatched the letter, pulling a blanket up to her neck. The mattress was soft beneath her, unlike any she had known at the Burrow, and it had a warm scent, like new cloth or fresh cookies, that made thoughts less coherent, and sleep more welcome. Ginny rolled on to her side, saw the bedroom bathed in the soft yellow light of a single, faint torch-on-the-wall, and then sleep had rolled over and she was breathing regularly. For a while, her closed eyes saw blankness – and then the scene shifted, and a dream sprang up, like a blaze of fire, so hot it seemed to burn her even in her state of sleep.

She was walking down the pathway again and, this time, Atara led her into her bedroom. Her eyes were brighter than usual and she knew, in her heart, that this was because Al Keith had agreed to wed her, even though the conditions attached to their union – self-imposed exile and settlement in a new land – called for sacrifice. But to gain, certain loss is necessary, and Ginny bore herself with dignity.

“What is it that you wanted to tell me, Guinevere?” Atara queried. Best friends, the two of them had been for longer than she could remember, and Ginny was aware her happiness had to do with the fact that she had, here, a chance to share her big news with her friend.

“Al Keith and I are to wed soon, Atara!”

Atara’s eyes filled up with sudden fire. “Atara?” The Ginny-that-was-Guinevere asked. “Is all not well? ”

If Guinevere had known how hideous Atara's thoughts were then, she would have been stunned. But she did not; and Atara, sharp as steel, realized that now was not the time to unleash them. She had known this would happen and, much as she had attempted to ensure that it did not come to pass, the love between Al Keith and Guinevere had continued to rage on, a fire her advices and endeavours could not kill.

“I am only concerned!” Atara said quickly. “You are an elf-maiden, Guinevere - he, a lowly human!”

Guinevere’s eyes bulged. “I did not know you hold to such predijuices, Atara!” she said, and there was shock, pure and undiluted shock, in her tones. “I had thought you would be happy for me, you who I have long called my best friend."

“Were it that I could be!” Atara said, placing a hand on Guinever’s shoulder, and pulling the elf-maiden closer. “I would love you to wed, and bear a family, but it is your choice that surprises me. The authorities shall not ignore his ancestry, Guinevere. My heart cries, for I wish you to be happy, but know your union is impossible!”

“But it is not,” Guinevere said, happier now because she understood that her friend only felt sympathy for what she perceived a case hopeless. “We shall leave these lands, and start a fresh life, Atara, in a place where no man or woman, no elf-lord or elf-lady can persecute us.”

“Your parents shall be exiled, do they allow you to marry Al Keith!” Atara flared. Try as she might, she could not subdue her fury but, thankfully for her, Guinevere took it as a sign of wrath at the harshness of the prejudiced governors. “Do you not care for your family?”

“They shall not know!” Guinevere said. “Or so they shall pretend. It would be easy for them to feign innocence, and they shall cry when they discover that I have left, against their wishes. There is nothing the governors can do about that, my friend! They can not persecute my family because their daughter eloped against their orders, and against her better judgment.”

Such anger! Atara felt it rise, threaten to choke her in a bed of tears, but she stemmed it as best as she could. “I am sorry for you, Guinevere,” she said softly. “Who must make her parents lie, for the sake of a human.”

Guinevere gripped her shock. “Do you not care for my happiness, Atara?” she asked, tones hollow.

“That has ever been my desire, Guinevere. It only pains me that I shall not be able to give you the blessing of a sister when you leave for your new house. You know I do not like untruths, Guinevere – it shall always be my wish that you do not fall trap to a union that is based, not on beauty, but on a thatched, taterred roof of many lies. You must not misunderstand me,” she went on quickly. “I desire solely your well-being and, although I realize now that you are in love with Al Keith, he is a lowly human with no known father, and perhaps comes of poor stock.”

“You have hurt me,” Guinevere said, quietly. “But it is alright, Atara - were I in your stead, perhaps I would wish the same.”

“I apologize, best of friends!” Atara gushed. “You know how deeply I care for you.” But her words seemed to burn her tongue, lies that she found difficult to articulate. The last thing she wanted was to see Guinevere snatch, from her, the man she had loved all her life - and she would put a stop to it, or die in the attempt. By the time Guinevere departed, a serpent of a plan had already formed in her mind, coiled - furious - venomous - ready to strike at any given movment.

Guinevere, for her part, wondered if she made the right decision; and, when she came out of her reverie five minutes later, realized that she faced her own house, led there on auto-pilot, by the love of her heart and the yearning of childhood memories. For a long while, she stood there, her heart beating like a fairy of wispy smoke, fragile, delicate, ready to break -- and she wondered, then, how things would turn out for her and Al Keith; wished upon each star that faith might lead them to good joy and beauty, to the freedom of life.

The dream shifted.

There was a flash of fire, a muffled scream – Guinevere screamed as hands gripped her throat, soft, white hands that she knew better than any other, and then a dagger had been slashed across her front. Its point was silver, she remembered, sharpened against – perhaps – some sorcery, for the pain that shot up her spine seemed like black-red fire, twisted into unnatural shapes and reminiscent of the most bitter memories of her short life.

She fought to keep her attacker at bay, but it was of no use, and then the dagger came down again, and a choke of nothingness escaped her throat. She was going to die, she knew, but she did not want to die. She –

Ginny Weasley woke up in a sweat.

*

[] Reference:

+ "Dreams in the dusk -" - Carl Sandburg, Dreams in the Dusk from the volume, Chicago Poems.

Very good chappie darlin!

Thanks, Droobles. <3

Brillent Chapter!!!
That Dream..is very very interesting.
I wonder who attacked her in the end
and how Ginny will take the whole thing.
PAMS!

Eviee <33

Hello Maxie. I'm going to start and say right up front that you have to be a most brilliant writer to be able to pull me into a story such as you do. By the time I'm done reading what you have provided, I'm breathing hard and watching the next space as if willing the next words that should be there to come, but, alas they do not come. I love this story so much! I'm so happy Ginny wrote to Hermione. Hermione will be thrilled to do research into the past to find some history on the matter. I can't wait till she has the information. How nice it would be for an old fashioned slumber party for Hermione and Ginny. Ginny would love Hermione's new hair cut. I do! But would the Great Aunt allow it. And but of course it is my own thoughts. I can't wait to read what you'll have for us. I'm sooooo glad you posted this morning insted of in the evening. It makes me sleepy just thinking of that bed of Ginny's. Poor, poor, poor Guinevere! How different things would have been if she only she could have lnown. She is a lier! She should look at her own thatched, taterred roof of many lies! I knew it! I knew that she wanted Guinevere's wonderful Al Keith! How sad! How very, very sad!
I can't wait till Hermione finds out the information for Ginny.
Great post Maxie. Of course that'sa huge understatement but it has to do. I'll be watching for my notice saying there is a new post. Much love to you Maxie.