amari_z: (Sir Launcelot and the Witch Hellawes--de)
amari_z ([personal profile] amari_z) wrote2005-10-25 09:55 pm
Entry tags:

King Arthur Drabble

Written for the King Arthur drabble community [livejournal.com profile] ka100 Challenge #12: "Sleep"

Title: The Dull God
Author: amari
Word Count: 100
Challenge: #12: Sleep
Characters/Pairings: Arthur/Lancelot
Author's Notes: Any feedback welcome. [Edit--I forgot to mention that I cribbed the title from Henry IV, Part II, act III, sc. i.]

Lancelot had learned early the soldiers’ trick of sleeping anywhere, anytime. Curled on a patch of icy, exposed rock; stinking hot and covered in bloody amour with Woads lurking only yards away; or leaning against a wall while pretending to listen to Roman commanders bicker--it was simply a matter of learning to empty one’s mind.

It seems a fitting joke by Arthur’s God that Lancelot lies awake now when he is dry and warm and safe in Arthur’s bed, with Arthur’s slow breath against his neck and Arthur’s arm heavy across his body, unable to sleep but for thinking.


[identity profile] sasha-b.livejournal.com 2005-10-26 02:24 am (UTC)(link)
Ah, nice. And so very Lancelot - nothing's easy for our OTP is it? LOL

Welcome to the group and thanks for sharing!

[identity profile] amari-z.livejournal.com 2005-10-26 03:33 pm (UTC)(link)
Thanks very much for the welcome! I only just recently watched the movie, and Lancelot at least certainly doesn't make things easy-he's been bugging me incessantly since!

[identity profile] far-mountain.livejournal.com 2005-10-26 04:23 am (UTC)(link)
Welcome, Amari!

I love the contrast between cold and hot, exposed and covered, the fighting and the thinking. And the irony is wonderful!

[identity profile] amari-z.livejournal.com 2005-10-26 03:34 pm (UTC)(link)
Thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[identity profile] just-jimbo.livejournal.com 2005-10-26 06:37 am (UTC)(link)
Great work! That is so true. Having been a soldier, you do learn to sleep anywhere, and then it's strange when you're lying awake with a lover.

I love the rhythm of your work and your language.

Welcome to the group! We need some new blood, so to speak!

[identity profile] amari-z.livejournal.com 2005-10-26 03:35 pm (UTC)(link)
Wow, that's wonderful praise! Thanks for the warm welcome.

[identity profile] amari-z.livejournal.com 2005-10-29 05:28 pm (UTC)(link)
(Thanks. It's made from a landscape photo taken in China. I've had the original picture for some time, and unfortunately I can't remember where I got it or what the photographer's name is to credit him or her. Shamefully, I've used it anyway, since I love it.)

Welcome!

[identity profile] brn-gamble.livejournal.com 2005-10-26 06:49 am (UTC)(link)
And congrats on this drabble! Nice job.

It's very true that a soldier can sleep anywhere. I mean that! Man.

But it's not that strange for someone to lie awake listening to their lover breathing in sleep...

Thanks for sharing.

Bri

Re: Welcome!

[identity profile] amari-z.livejournal.com 2005-10-26 03:42 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm happy you liked it! Thanks for responding.

[identity profile] dea-liberty.livejournal.com 2005-10-26 12:15 pm (UTC)(link)
I like this :D The contrasts and then the final contrast at the end works wonderfully. Welcome to the group and hope you enjoy it here!

[identity profile] amari-z.livejournal.com 2005-10-26 03:46 pm (UTC)(link)
Thanks! I'm so glad that came across. The group seems like a fun place, and since I've been going back to some of the earlier challenges, you're probably going to hearing from me again soon.

[identity profile] dea-liberty.livejournal.com 2005-10-26 03:51 pm (UTC)(link)
Great :) Just make sure the challenge numbers are labelled so that it makes it easier for me to archive :) Thanks.

[identity profile] gypsyluv.livejournal.com 2005-10-26 07:41 pm (UTC)(link)
Don't ya just hate those nights.... hehe! This sounds so "Lancelot"! You've got him perfectly! love it!

[identity profile] amari-z.livejournal.com 2005-10-27 12:16 am (UTC)(link)
Hee. I wouldn't be either unfortunate enough nor lucky enough to know. I leave that to him. Glad to hear he seemed in character to you. Thanks for responding!

[identity profile] gwenn-b.livejournal.com 2005-10-26 11:43 pm (UTC)(link)
oh, i loved the rhythm of your drabble!

and welcome to the group!

[identity profile] amari-z.livejournal.com 2005-10-27 12:17 am (UTC)(link)
Thanks much for the welcome, and I'm happy you liked it!

[identity profile] forublue2c.livejournal.com 2005-10-27 01:22 am (UTC)(link)
I loved your story! I could even feel the weight of Arthur's arm across Lancelot's body...I'm so jealous! Great job!

I'm thinking of joining the group so I'm surfing the drabbles.

Laurie

[identity profile] amari-z.livejournal.com 2005-10-27 03:22 am (UTC)(link)
Thanks so much! I just joined myself, and I'm having a blast.