Drabble #178: Tides

[jalenstrix]

...we had a nice response to my last posted drabble prompt of Drabble 174, with entries by redwolf, apachefirecat, 3iggy (welcome back!!), and me (one of your intrepid drabble proposers, jalenstrix), and commenting by all four of us. Huzzah!

As always, special labyfic love to redwolf for adding entries and comments for several previous drabble prompts. You continue to be the best!





For this prompt, we continue with our one-word/phrase drabble roots:

Tides

Tides of what? For who? Are they shifting and changing? Or being held up? How? Why? Tell us all about it. Labyfic-style, of course.




Given our entries from recent months, let's continue with the suggested limit for this month of 500 words. Though remember that shorter pieces are most definitely welcome!

Your entry should take the following format, posted as a comment on this entry:
Word count: # of words
$your_beautiful_drabble


I'll aim to get my next drabble challenge out on the first Tuesday of next month (Nov 5).

I'm also very happy to take suggestions if something in particular strikes your fancy -- comment on this post or PM me with your suggestions. You can see our current collected suggestions here.


Remember: Feedback is LOVE. So do reply to your fellow labyficcers' drabbles if so inclined. (Though be careful of concrit unless specifically okayed by the author beforehand. Authors generally write for love.)

Comments

Contented Queen

[apachefirecat]

Word Count: 400


When she was a girl, the ocean had made her feel small. No matter how great her troubles, standing beside the water's edge had made anything seem both possible and ultimately insignificant. But today, as a grown and happily married woman, standing on the shore with her husband's arms wrapped lovingly around her, watching the tide roll in together, it is the perfect culmination to a perfect day.

It also marks the first time Sarah can honestly say she has no remorse in leaving this world again. "Sarah, my Sarah," Jareth croons softly against her ear, kissing her raven hair, "what would you have us do now?" He expects, fully, to stay for a while yet, for her to request to peek back in on her brother if not her father as well. He is not prepared for the answer he does receive.

Her fingers wrapped around his forearm, Sarah answers, "Let's go home." She leans back into his embrace, her head pressing against his chest.

"Home?" he asks, and her smile grows at his quizzical tone. Although she cannot see his face, she easily pictures the questioning arch of his elegant brow.

"Yes," she repeats, firmly but gently. She knows why he is so surprised and turns in his arms to face him. "Let's go home," she repeats again, cupping his handsome face in her loving hands. "Home to our castle. Home to our bed. Home to our people."

This world has nothing left for her, she realizes, although she will always love her brother and father. Her blood family has moved on without her, as well they should, but they have a family who needs them, a family they share. She wonders what kind of mischief the Goblins have gotten into in their absence. They are not unlike children in their own ways, and even Sir Didymus and Hoggle working together can oft do little to contain their curiosity.

"As you wish, my Queen." He takes her lips with his. Sarah feels his magic pour from him, wrapping around them both, but is content to stay in his arms, kissing him lovingly and deeply, as they move through time and the cosmos, through spaces that are both there and not, until the scene shifts around them. She can no longer smell salt on the air, and she knows they are home, home at last. She sighs, completely contented.



The End

Re: Contented Queen

[redwolf]

Nicely evocative use of the prompt. Completely delightful. 🦊🧡

Re: Contented Queen

[apachefirecat]

Thank you! :)