no more dreaming of the dead, as if death itself was undone

[commandsthewind]

Who: Elizabeth Tudor and whoever feels like straying in here.
What: Nightmare plot, which in this case is just how awful the 16th century is to hapless queens.
When: All through the plot.
Where: The back pages of her mind.
Rating: R, for blood, beheading, death, sex, death and beheading.

[Elizabeth herself has fallen at her table, reading a book. A nice enough book for that matter, something silly and senseless.

Nothing at all that reflects what her dreams are about. Welcome to court, ladies and gentleman. 'Tis a merry occasion it seems.

For those taken into this part of dream -- it's not so bad at all, or at least not to start with. In fact the whole of court appears to have come out to this event, the great hall of Hampton is teeming with people. The gold and silver tapestry glitter like fairies wings in the candle light, the clothing of the courtiers is bright with colour, and their extravagant jewels shine so brilliantly. Something not unlike the Masquerade Ball so recently. The ladies with their perfectly made up faces, the men with their elegant manners. There is music playing in the background, and for the most part, it seems to be such a happy and lively place. Banners hang with the emblem of the royal family, the double rose in red and white. It's sewn into the servants clothing, it hangs around the neck of some men and women, carved into the stone and wood in some places, a mark of the gracious hospitality of the host. But what stands out most is they all seem to adore you, bowing to you as you pass as you make your way to whatever is in the centre.

It seems beautiful -- too beautiful. For there is something off with almost off with all of it. Behind their pretty laughter of the women, it sounds so subtly like a snake's hiss. The men smile and their teeth look like the fangs of a wolf. The back of your neck seems to prickle as you make your way through your crowd.

But come, stay a little while? Surely it cannot be so bad? It's just so lovely.]

Comments

[commandsthewind]

[That never works, because they always follow. She is their darling queen, to be parted from her is unthinkable if they think they can gain something from it.

The hissing seems to build, it's almost as loud as the shrieking laughter.]

It's how ladies dress, and it's unseemly to be without it. [Elizabeth tries to force herself to be calm though.] I face my fate.

[and whether it's recognised or not, the room starts to reflecting her mood, they all seem to feed off her. Where she becomes nervous, so do they, the laughter becomes shaky, and they begin to move restlessly, and somewhere from the back, the people begin to part.] Katniss go!

[she goes to shove the younger woman, to get her to move, to escape before --]

ELIZABETH! WHORE! DIE YOU BITCH.

[three's a scream, a loud, desperate scream from a young woman it sounds like before a young man breaks through the crowd. His intent is clear from his raised gun and his desperate eyes. Elizabeth freezes, and she's not seeing Katniss any more. In fact, she does nothing at all. She turns to her assassin, she draws in a breath and she waits. There's no fear in that way from her, no scream from her at least. She's content, in a way, to die it seems.]

[the_effect_she_has]

How ladies dress in this time is idiotic... [Katniss muttered under her breath, turning around swiftly as the hissing and the laughter float from around the room. Where is that coming from? Why does this entire room feel like it's choking her?]

[She reaches for a knife on the table, to find her fingers slide right through it. So does a candle stick holder, and Katniss really wished she had it's solid weight in her hand when she heard the yell - ] No!

[Elizabeth's push caught her off guard, and she stumbled off to the wall. She turned, just in time to see the young man with the pistol raised - and her grey eyes went wide as she pushed herself off the ground and tried to push Elizabeth back - ] ASSASSIN! GET DOWN!

[commandsthewind]

[As soon as Katniss drew attention to herself, the assassin turned on her. He didn't waste any time, lounging and pouncing on her, blade aimed straight Katniss's neck.

And still, the people around the room watched. They didn't help, they just back into the walls.]

[the_effect_she_has]

[Katniss all but snarled, grabbing for the man's hand and trying to wrench it away from her throat. She thrashed underneath him, trying to move in all the skirts and tight corset, but it was all she could do to keep the knife at bay.]

Elizabeth! RUN!

[commandsthewind]

[the man keeps fighting to take Katniss down, and as if my magic, he pulled another blade, trying to aim true to the young woman's heart. Wanting to bring it straight down and land a fatal blow.

Elizabeth is still caught still, watching this. As helpless as she ever was to these things.]

[the_effect_she_has]

[Well Katniss only has two hands and if the guy has another hand -- she gasps as the blade sinks into her chest - and she spasms - hard. Death always surprises her - and she feels her hands spasm around the man's wrist, hard enough to break it in her death throes.]

[commandsthewind]

[He stumbles, falling backwards and off Katniss now he's finished her and he too is wounded. Nursing his wounded hand, and Katniss's blood dripping down his fingers.

Not that his work is done, he turns back to Elizabeth and he draws his rapier with his good hand as he strides towards her. This time he doesn't bother with insults, he grabs Elizabeth by the neck, as hard as Katniss grabbed him.

He runs her clean through. Blade straight into her stomach. She doesn't say anything, just grasps at his clothes as blood bubbles out of her mouth, out of the wound.

Then, the applause starts around the room. Just one clap at first, then another, and another. Till the room is echoing with it, just watching their queen die.]