#earthrunes

Beltaine is approaching... and in Fiona hold that is ... a lot.

Even Zara is not immune. Of late, despite her challenges, she has been feeling... romantic. Even sappy. And that is fine if she reserves it just for her trueheart. But alas, it has bubbled up in an area that alarms her...

it's affecting her writing

Zara has always danced between courts - never too deeply, a foot in each. Their Raven is shifting, black and white feathers intermingled in anticipation of the day.

She looks at her latest chapter... why she has introduced... tasteful romances before this is down right... well, it's a bit more sunshine than she's used to writing.

It must be the glamour of the balefire here.

A faint nose-wrinkle.

To be fair this didn't happen LAST year.

Why is there so much flower imagery?

Did lord, did she make her heroine a blonde?

And yes, there is a lot of flower imagery. Lips are compared to petals.

Well, blondes can still get consumption...

Yes... mm how to slip in consumption?

Oh, that's an idea.

"And as her lips parted with a cough, blood and rose petals fell upon her covering hand - a curse, borne of love unrequited..."

This, the muse works with... yes, there is sunshine, and sweetness, but what if it is a cover meant to shield others from her pain? or shield her from their pity?

And will she survive the roses - and their thorns - as they take root in her lungs? Does she give voice to her feelings or conceal her suffering?

And is the man she pines for notice her pain, and her love at last , to return it? or is there another in the shadows who will see what those in the sunlight do not?

Suddenly, the influence of Beltaine is working WITH her rather than bullying her.

She can do this!

The option of a figure in the shadows, who maybe another romantic interest, or a threat...

Well, it adds potential.

The sunshine, the flowers, the bright things, the pretty things take on a sinister aspect in a way.

Black lace is still lace, is the thing. Zara has always been a romantic.

And as much as she might deny it, Fiona leanings and her own are not... incompatible. Perhaps the pretty sunshine heroine is not where she belongs after all? Let there be temptation.

No - this is her story, and hers to steer.

Seizing the lead on her story, she introduces a self prolciamed friend who is as poison in the confidence of heroine.... and, contrary wise, creates another lady, an apparent critic or rival who might actually be a source of hidden aid.

Ladies in this story will be a power, a force, even the ones on the sidelines.

Someone sets tea down for her, she may not even notice that it was done till she smells it. Delores moving on.

It's actually rather cool and the milk quite clotted by the time she pauses typing enough to take a sip.

It's alright though, tepid tea is still tea.

And that matters.. mm a snag. But a minor one in the story, yes, it might require editing later but one member of the supporting cast is seeming too much like another. Should she merge them, or fill them out to heighten differences? It IS supposed to be about the protagnoist after all

Write first, edit later. You can edit a bad page, but not a blank one.

True, a road may need repair, but it's better than standing still... she moves on. She continues on her theme of the threat of the hidden challenge within the heroine grows... signs of the fight being a struggle are hinted at... a touch of foreshadowing of course.

She begins to get things more on track. This may call for more tea! But she will ride this muse to tell the story SHE wishes!

(Fade to writing frenzy with beltaine's magic flowing)