nagi_schwarz
Joined December 2009 and calls Other Haven home.
72 stories, 0 challenges, 132 comments, and 3 friends
Unemployed law grad who needs to catch up on her writing to stay sane.
Stories
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It Is Time
“Don’t worry,” Guinevere said before Lila could speak. “You don’t have to apologize. You did nothing wrong.” “It happened, and it was wrong,” Lila said quietly. “I’d wager you did something ri...
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My Queen, Jenny
The knights and Emrys bore Arthur back to his tent. Guards formed an impenetrable human wall of armor and misery while Lila sat with Guinevere and, in the distance, Lancelot dealt with Mordred’s forces. “I should be helping Emrys dress Arth...
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Respect for the Dead
“Don’t cry, Jenny,” Arthur said. His voice was hoarse, his eyes distant, but he smoothed a hand over her hair. “My Lord,” Emrys said. “Let me pull the blade out. I can â” “It’s done,” Arthur...
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Demon, Hellspawn
Agravaine scooped up a fallen Orkney banner and leapt astride Mordred’s horse, ordered the men to stand down. Lancelot hoisted a Pendragon banner and began ordering Arthur’s men to clear a path. Guinevere, still screaming, tore through the ...
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With Him
Lila supposed that, from the proper angle, it would’ve looked like a scene from a film, swords flashing, armor glittering, men dancing with the savage grace of battle. To her it was chaos, terrified eyes and blood-slick hands. The stench of burni...
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Betrayals and Ends
“The mark of a man is how he answers a mistake,” Emrys said. In the distance, trumpets sang. Arthur had reached the front line. The clash of metal on metal renewed. Lila glanced over her shoulder, then back at Emrys. “I don’t un...
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Sorrow, Healing, Mistakes
Lila looked at Guinevere. Guinevere handed her a sword and said, “The king needs you.” “And you?” “Will wait.” Lila said, “I’m sorry.” “You shouldn’t be.” “I â” ̶...
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Taking Sides
Lila’s hands shook. “Arthur, we can’tâ” Arthur reached up, tangled his fingers in her hair. “You don’t know how long it’s been since I’ve known any heart was truly mine.” “Now is not the tim...
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Mine Alone
Emrys’ brow furrowed, and he glanced at Lila. He knew, but he didn’t know she knew. “If he has Clarent -” “Fetch the horses and find some way to hoist me up,” Arthur said. Emrys sighed. “My Liege -” ̶...
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Rhon
“Why isn’t it working?” Lila demanded. Emrys cast again. “I don’t know. I -” Then something happened. The silver haze in his eyes turned black, and he snatched his hand back. “Clarent,” he said. Lila knew...
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First Time for Everything
Tom tugged nervously on his collar, darted a glance around the street. Where was the contact? He glanced down at the description he’d scrawled on his palm with a biro, but he was nervous and most of it was smudged with cold sweat. Then he saw her...
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Punish, Pain, and Fear
Lila wavered. She didn’t think a king could beg, but now Arthur was a man whose friends were dying for him, and he wanted to be at the front, saving as many as possible. “My Liege -” Arthur reached for her. “I’ll need a ha...
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Please
Somehow Lila managed to haul Arthur onto her horse and then, against every code of honor her brothers had drilled into her, she urged her horse back through the ranks, away from the clash of metal and the spray of blood. She found a copse of trees and ...
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Terror and Boredom
Actual battle was both terrifying and boring, terrifying because Lila could hear the infantrymen screaming in the distance as they were run through, boring because all she could do was hang back behind Arthur’s horse, clutching the Pendragon penn...
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Unspoken
“Are you afraid?” Sir Tor asked. Lila clutched the pennant tightly in one hand; she wished she was clutching her sword. “Just because you’re playing my squire doesn’t mean I’ll actually make you fight,” Arthur ...
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For King and Camelot
“Maybe,” Lila said, “no boys like me back.” Arthur frowned. “What’s not to like?” Lila huffed, amused. “Would you marry a woman who could best you with a sword?” Arthur said, blue eyes solemn, ̶...
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Freedom and Chaos
“You have made friends with Emrys,” Arthur said. Lila stood just inside his tent, waiting for some order. Unless she was supposed to just know what to do? He was already wearing a gambeson and leggings. She spied his armor in the corner. &#...
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Before the Battle
“When do you think we’ll be able to try to send me home?” Lila asked. She and Emrys were sitting away from the campfire, sharing a bowl of stew. Arthur was in his tent with Ector and the other knights, planning for war. “We migh...
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Justice and Might
Mordred leaned in, and his ice-blue eyes glittered with malice. “Your beloved kingdom is built on arrogance and deceit. Does your lovely Jenny not know the truth of your heir? Does your venerable Round Table know of the weakness of your own marri...
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Tyranny and Freedom
Mordred was nothing like Lila had imagined. In films, in plays, he was always thin and brooding, dark-haired and sloe-eyed. In truth he was blond, handsome, like a fairytale prince. Anyone who looked at him had to know he was Arthur’s son. He sat...
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Caledfwlch
Emrys glanced over his shoulder and saw Lancelot place a hand on Guenevere’s shoulder. Emrys said, “I’m sure Lancelot â” Arthur’s eyes darkened. “I meant Mordred.” “It’s his mother’s fault,&...
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Far and Why
As much as Lila had enjoyed sparring with her brothers’ friends and ‘learning’ the intricacies of medieval warfare, she was of the general opinion that war was never as glorious as anyone made it out to be, and if she had her way she&...
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Find Out
“You’ve not yet been home a day,” Guenevere said. Her eyes were dark. “Arthur -” “Jenny,” he murmured. The page bounced, impatient, not but enough to interrupt his king. Emrys cleared his throat pointedly. Arth...
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On The Horizon
“Morag.” Guenevere appeared in the doorway. She saw Arthur and paused, curtseyed. Arthur turned to her and bowed, though Lila could see affection and something else gleaming in his eyes. Lila thought it looked like pain. But then Arthur smi...
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Thinking the Same Thing
“Lila was just repairing my armor,” Arthur said. “I see,” Emrys said slowly. “Smith is ill,” Lila said. “Why do you need armor? Are you riding out?” Sir Ector asked. Arthur peeled his gaze away from Lila&...
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Midnights on Skype
It was a half-echoed pattern on the other end of the line, the staccato of typing and the rustle of pages turning, the scratch of pen on paper. The wonders of modern technology could let us pretend, in the middle of the night when the rest of the world...
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Dear Child, Kittens and Katanas
Dear Child, It’s bloody awful, living in a new country where everyone thinks you sound funny and no one understands what you mean by crisps. Those people who keep telling you that high school will be the best years of your life are liars. Keep yo...
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Highly Suspicious
Lila blinked. “Your armor, Majesty?” “Yes,” Arthur said. “We’re riding out in the morning, and my squire said he couldn’t find -” “Where’s your page?” Lila asked. She couldn’t imag...
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Say More
Morag brought a light supper of bread and cheese, then settled back in with some embroidery while Lila continued working on the hauberk. Some of the pages had left to run errands for their masters, but the rest were gathered at Lila’s feet, liste...
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Weaving
“I can help repair,” Lila said. Sir Ector blinked at her. Lila held up one of the shirts. It was well-made and cleaner than the others, but also in the most disrepair. “Really. I can make this one thicker, safer. If you like.” S...
