Subject: The Soldier 01/01 Date: Tue, 7 Dec 2004 06:42:01 -0800 From: Amanda Berendt To: FKFIC-L@LISTS.PSU.EDU This is not a 'songfic' per se. The idea came to me when I listened to the song "The Soldier's King" on my Donny Osmond (stop snickering) Christmas CD. The song works more as a background to the story and I will put it up when I add this story to my site. Disclaimer: The characters do not belong to me, I am just borrowing them for a little romp through history. Thanks to all the people on forkni-l for the help on the history of Christmas. Too many to list here, but you know who you are. I apologize for any grammatical errors, but I am at work and the WP program stinks. I just wanted to get this story posted because I am working on another holiday story that I hope to get finished in time. Questions and comments can be sent to nicholas_debrabant1228@yahoo.com Flames will be used to bake Christmas cookies. The Soldier 01/01 By Amanda Berendt Copyright December 2004 Bethlehem - circa 1225 The man sat alone on the crumbling wall along the road watching as the new regiments marched by. The new soldiers were full of vigor and excitement for the upcoming campaign. When the army passed and the dust settled, the man looked after them and shook his head. Unlike many of the men here, he had never been filled with excitement for the cause. He had not voluntarily joined this crusade, but had instead been pressed into service as a penance for a crime he did not commit. He stood and dusted off his tunic trying to get as much of the dirt off as he could. Grime still clung to his now shoulder length flaxen hair and his bronzed skin despite his repeated attempts to wash it off. *Damn this god-forsaken place* he thought. He shook is head in disgust and started off down the road. He had traveled far from the commotion of Jerusalem where his comrades celebrated the season with wine, revelry and women. His destination was no place in particular but his journey through the town was far from aimless. Something seemed to be guiding him. In spite of the late hour, the heat of the day still radiated from the ground and surrounding buildings. He thought of home. Snow would most likely be falling by now. This time of year was usually spent with his mother and sister beside the fire. It was a time to celebrate, not a time for battle. He passed by one of the inns where many of his fellow travelers were celebrating the season with gusto. Briefly, he considered joining them and forgetting his worries for a time, but something in him made him continue his journey through the ancient city. He wandered through the winding streets as the darkness deepened. At last he found himself at the edge of a marketplace. The late hour ensured his solitude. Approaching the fountain in the center of the square, he dipped his hand in the cool water and washed his face. Gazing up at the clear night sky, his thoughts turned once more to his mother and sister and he wondered if he would ever see them again. In the darkness he found a single bright star. Remembering his sister's love of the heavens, he closed his eyes and imagined her looking at the same bright star. Silently, he wished his family a merry Christmas. For that brief moment, he was home. ~Fin~ Questions, comments, can be sent to nicholas_debrabant1228@yahoo.com ===== "Life after life, you won't need flowers on your grave You won't need prayers, you have no mortal soul to save." --- Dracula the Musical http://www.darksideoftheglass.com __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com