#Numair Salmalin my OG blorbo

[naurielrochnur]

WIP tag game

RULES: Post the last sentence you wrote (fanfic / original / anything)

I'm going to piggie back off @mihrsuri's tag and drop in a piece of my Tortall fic I'm working on of Arram's early days in Tortall and how he came to be known as Numair Salmalin.

I know I just posted another WIP but I'm very fond of this one and want to share.

“Stop that Arram.” Varice whispered. “Don’t tease. Not now. I can’t stand the thought of you trapped down here.” She—finally—withdrew her hands and crossed her arms, not in a display of anger, but rather the self comforting act of drawing oneself inward, the unconscious instinct to guard the vital organs from an attack. “Will you please reconsider? Not just for your sake, but for Ozorne and all those he may hurt in his rampage. For me.” How easy would it be to just give in? To let go of his mug and reach a hand, still hot and damp from the heat of the tea, to her face and say “Yes, I accept.” To finally be released from this smothering prison and allowed to walk again under the sky, able to truly bask in his Gift again like a flower turning its face to the sun. He kept a hold of his mug. Too hard, was the answer. True, the oppressive weight of this magical prison pulled an unending ache straight through his core and sent it rattling around his bones, but that pain was nothing compared to the agonies of the gilded cage Ozorne held open and waiting for him.  If he were to acquiesce to the Emperor’s whims, sooner or later—probably sooner—the gold would flake away and reveal the harsh barbed iron underneath. Those bars, like vines armed with cruel thorns, would slowly but inexorably wind their way around his entire being, sinking their hooks into his flesh and binding his limbs until he had no choice but to be maneuvered like a puppet on a string. Ozorne’s puppet. Varice couldn’t stand the thought of him being kept down here. Arram couldn’t stand the thought of what being released might entail for his soul.

Again, anyone who wants to be tagged is free to do so!