Subject: Courtyard Lullaby (1/1) From: April French Date: Wed, 3 Sep 2003 15:33:07 -0700 To: FKFIC-L@LISTS.PSU.EDU X-UIDL: daf730abbbb7ec265b5f4e687b5632c2 X-Mozilla-Status: 0001 X-Mozilla-Status2: 00000000 Return-path: Envelope-to: stephke@IGLOU.COM Delivery-date: Wed, 03 Sep 2003 19:05:11 -0400 Received: from [128.118.141.59] (helo=f05n16.cac.psu.edu) by iglou.com with esmtp (8.12.5/8.12.5) id 19uggZ-0005Xj-8n for stephke@IGLOU.COM; Wed, 03 Sep 2003 19:05:11 -0400 Received: from f05n16 (f05s16.cac.psu.edu [128.118.141.59]) by f05n16.cac.psu.edu (8.9.3p2/8.9.3) with ESMTP id TAA70036; Wed, 3 Sep 2003 19:04:23 -0400 Message-ID: <200309032304.TAA70036@f05n16.cac.psu.edu> Reply-To: April French Sender: Forever Knight TV show stories X-To: Nickn'Nat FanFic X-Foreign-Sender: 128.118.141.59 X-UIDL: daf730abbbb7ec265b5f4e687b5632c2 If I've already posted this one once, I apologize. It's been a hectic couple of weeks! Courtyard Lullaby--a Forever Knight story By April French Author's Note: This story is a sequel to 'The Dark Night of the Soul.' The song is 'Courtyard Lullaby,' once again by Loreena McKennitt. Maria belongs to me; no one else does, more's the pity. Praise, comments, criticisms and kudos much appreciated and immortalized in song. Nasty flames will be used to burn textbooks. This story will be archived at my site http://www.geocities.com/runeshard/fkficindex.html with all the others. Permission to archive is given to the FTP index. All others wishing to archive must first bribe me with pomegranate seeds. ~~~ Courtyard Lullaby (1/1) A flutter in her sixth sense woke Natalie from a sound sleep. The loft was quiet, except for some rustling coming from the old guest room. She moved to get up, but a light hand on her shoulder pushed her back down. Nick was already putting on his robe. "Go back to sleep, hon," he whispered, leaning over to stroke her hair. "I'll check on her." Natalie nodded, and snuggled back under the covers with a peaceful expression. Wherein the deep night sky The stars lie in its embrace The courtyard still in its sleep And peace comes over your face Barefoot, Nick gently eased open the door to his former guest room, now a nursery, and switched on a soft light. "Hey there," he whispered, bending over the crib and smiling. Little Maria smiled back at him with her endearing toothless baby smile. Easily, Nick reached in and picked her up, holding his daughter closely. 'Come to me' it sings 'Hear the pulse of the land The ocean's rhythms pull To hold your heart in its hand' Maria Rose Knight was barely a year old, but she had stolen her father's heart long before she had even entered the world. And then when she was born with her head full of chestnut curls and her beautiful stubborn cobalt eyes, Nick had been a complete goner. By now, though, he was used to getting up nights to put his child back to sleep; she had a tendency to wake up around two in the morning and think it was playtime. And when the wind draws strong Across the cypress trees The nightbirds cease their songs So gathers memories "I never thought I'd get to hold you, you know," he told her, sitting down in the rocking chair. "Know why? 'Cause Daddy wasn't always the good, upstanding citizen he is now. I wasn't bad... just misguided. Well, that's what your mommy says, anyway." Maria's chubby hands batted at his chin like a cat with a toy mouse. Last night you spoke of a dream Where forests stretched to the eat And each bird sang its song A unicorn joined in a feast "Your grandfather didn't want me to have this kind of happiness. I haven't seen him since before you were born. But I think you'll see him one day, ma petite." Nick trailed off thoughtfully. He could no longer feel LaCroix through their bond, but somehow, he still knew when the ancient one was near. He had heard from Janette--who Natalie reluctantly allowed near their daughter--that LaCroix had warned the Community off the child, and any more Nick might have. The General was confusing, if he was nothing else. "You'll see him someday, Maria," Nick said, still rocking. "And I'll see him again, I'm sure. I owe him that much." And in a corner stood A pomegranate tree With wild flowers there No mortal eye could see "You see, my sister was a flower, and he loved her. But I wouldn't let him have her. You were named for her, my little rose, did you know that? For her and for my dearest mother. Maybe one day you'll name your daughter for Mommy." Yet still some mystery befalls Sure as the cock crows at morn The world in stillness keeps The secret of babes to be born "I've got a secret to tell you, my sweet," Nick whispered. He smiled, fancying that Maria was waiting with breathless anticipation. "You're going to have a little brother or sister soon." He hugged her closely. "Your mommy just told me tonight. She is an amazing woman, isn't she?" Maria didn't answer; she was asleep. I heard and old voice say 'Don't go far from the land The seasons have their way No mortal can understand.' Nick kissed her tiny forehead, and laid her back in her crib, setting her fluffy dog within her reach. "Goodnight, ma fille. I'll see you in the morning." ~Finis--August 21st, 2003~ April French daomir_darkfell@yahoo.com ~Forever Knight: The Sons of Lilith~ http://www.geocities.com/runeshard/fkficindex.html ~The Corvina~ http://www.geocities.com/runeshard/index.html "And we shall exist by amusing ourselves, by dreaming of monstrous loves and fantastic universes, by complaining and quarreling with the pretenses of the world..." --"The Flash of Lightning" by Arthur Rimbaud --------------------------------- Do you Yahoo!? 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