nagi_schwarz
Joined December 2009 and calls Other Haven home.
51 stories, 0 challenges, 121 comments, and 3 friends
Third year law student who writes non-law things to stay sane.
Stories
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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...
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The Majesties
Guinevere smiled gently. “If that is what you wish, Lila. Morag, take her to the armory?” One of the maids curtseyed and peeled away from the group. Lila bobbed a curtsey to the queen, and then she followed Morag through the cluster of keep...
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The Coterie
Lila turned the names over in her mind. She knew them from reading Arthurian legends, but then she reflected that most of the legends she’d read hadn’t been originals as much as modern adaptations, and besides, legends got things wrong. Lik...
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Fortunate
The palace was little more then a motte-and-bailey keep set atop the village, but out-buildings had turned the courtyard into a thriving community. Emrys rode back to the palace with them – Lila was perched on the back of the queen’s horse ...
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Civilization
She was no Helen of Troy, but she was lovely, and her handmaidens had chosen a gown and colors that made her radiant in the dawn. Lila wasn’t sure she could see it, but she could believe that a friendship and a kingdom would fall to ruin over thi...
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Queen Guinevere
Lila thought Lancelot’s presence meant they were near Caerleon, but she was wrong, because one moment she was wincing at Sir Tor’s recount of her battle prowess, and the next Emrys was waking her up by wiggling his shoulder blades because s...
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It's A Wonderful World
“This one’s for you.” He held out a box. “I don’t want you to want me.” She didn’t take it. He smiled hopefully. “If life is so short, that’s all right.” “I think I’m falling in love,” he began, but she cut him off, shook her ...
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Showtime on the Dream Shift
“We’re working on it. Promise!” Declan glared at the message. After a long night on the job, he’d been hoping to kick back and relax with some good fiction writing. No such luck. Working the dream shift really robbed him of dece...
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Culture Crash
“So you speak Japanese?” It was less of a question and more of statement. “I said I was from Hong Kong.” I resisted the urge to sigh impatiently. “You speak really good English, too.” I folded my hands neatly in my l...
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Culture Crash
“So you speak Japanese?” It was less of a question and more of statement. “I said I was from Hong Kong.” I resisted the urge to sigh impatiently. “You speak really good English, too.” I folded my hands neatly in my l...
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Lady Lila
“Lady Lila is no squire,” Sir Tor said. “We rescued her.” Lila arched an eyebrow. Rescued? Arthur cleared his throat. “We thought it prudent to dress her as a boy so as not to besmirch her reputation or put her at risk sho...
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His Own Squire
“Maybe,” Emrys said. “When we’re back in Caerleon. I can look in the library for…something.” Lila smiled wanly. “That would be great.” Raised voices up ahead startled both of them. Emrys murmured somethin...
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Hoping You Could Help
“None?” Emrys asked. Lila nodded. The laughter in Emrys’s eyes faded. “Then how did you come to be here?” “I don’t know,” Lila said. “The last thing I remember, I was walking up the hill away from t...
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Fire and Ice
Singapore. Sticky-hot air. Bright sun and baby-laughter, splashes from the nearby pool. Warm days meant diapers only, free to soak up UV rays and darken skin. Laughter turned shrieking, happy turned angry. One great shove. Onto an anthill. Shrieking tu...
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Not Anymore
Arthur twisted around in his saddle. “Emrys, do you want Hengist’s men to find us? With you braying like a donkey, the entire Pictish army will hear you.” Emrys buried his face against Lila’s shoulder. “I’m sorry, si...
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Try Me
“If I were a witch who meant harm, you would be dead,” Lila said. “You wouldn’t be the first witch to think so,” Emrys returned. “If you are from the future, tell me of it. Make me believe you.” “You won&...
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Worth Her Salt
Emrys let his horse fall behind the others’. Lila watched Arthur and the others get further and further ahead; dread curled in the pit of her stomach. Emrys’ words stirred the air beside her ear. “You’re no merchant’s daug...
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Will They?
Emrys released the other knights from the spell. They stumbled blearily, shaking their heads as if to clear them. Then they turned and bowed to Arthur and Emrys both. “What course now, My Liege?” Sir Bedwyr asked. Arthur looked at Emrys. Em...
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And Send For The Magician
Juno could only stare at the pair of tiny, blood-spattered shoes the weeping duchess laid at her feet. She knew those shoes, had listened to them patter across the marble floor in the throne room. Those shoes came with bright laughter and blue eyes, bo...
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The On Switch
Trained to kill since birth, a knight extraordinaire. He lived and breathed, slept and dreamed weapons in his hands, the enemy’s blood dripping down his skin. He leaned against a wall, hands cupped around his cigarette to shield the cherry from t...
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Unaffected
Sir Bors was poised mid-strike against a man in leather armor. Sir Safir was punching his opponent in the face, his greaves bloodstained. Arthur had a man on the ground, sword tip at the man’s throat, and his face was pale with fury beneath the d...
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Nothing Like Practice
A battle cry rent the air. The horses shrieked, and men spilled into the camp. The knights were on their feet, swords drawn to meet the enemy. Sir Tor leapt into the fray. Lila froze. Her grip on the sword went slack, and she could only stare. This was...
