As the wind chimes play along the breeze, singing songs to stir the soul, rainbow colors entwined in fairytales, on the maypole...' 1
Stacey grasped the fluttering ribbon that swayed in front of her face. With a smile she joined the dance around the maypole, singing with the other girls, waiting for the young men to come closer. The music pitches up and they swing around to the other side, their ribbons entwining a pattern of colours around the pole. The fresh smell of spring is all around them and in the distance the small brook flows its way to the lake. Everywhere people are singing and dancing, even the blacksmith is dancing with a woman from the Circle. But Stacy does not care, she knows today she will meet her love, for she cast the spell herself. So she sings and dances, waiting... 2
'Sing the song of lands from far away, other times and another place' 3
A long pole stood erect from the ground, it's base burned black by countless years of grass fires. Everywhere neglect and decay is evident as Jason walks around the fallen ruins of a town gone many ages ago. In his heart he feels sadness. That such a pretty valley should be left to go to nothingness with the advent of modernisation is a sadness that expresses itself only in the empty howling of the wind around the pole. He stares at it for a while before turning to another ruin, but faintly he hears a girl laughing. Quickly he turns back to the maypole, expecting a visitor, but there is nobody, only a ribbon fluttering from the pole. A puzzled frown crosses his face as he slowly steps closer, wondering if somebody is pulling a joke. But the ruins are empty, and only the howl of the wind taunts him. Yet the ribbon sways gently, and he feels he must touch it. Why, he doesn't know, but somewhere somebody is singing an old song, of another age... 4
'The wind can carry us all away from here, charmed in her embrace...'5
She jumps and twirls, her ribbon entwining with the others, weaving her pattern on the pole, when it touches another, one she doesn't know, and there he stood. A boy she has never met, wearing strange clothes, with a dazed look on his face, and she knows it is him, the one she called for. On this celebratory day of new love, she has found him. All around them silence enfolds, and she lets go of her ribbon as he turns to look at her, a strange comprehension filling his eyes. Hoping to meet her, he lets go of his own ribbon, and the clock ticks on... 6
'Leaves turn to red, the nights are getting colder, seasons will change, the clock ticks on...
Leaves fill the trees as the days are getting warmer, days turn to years, the clocks ticks on...' 7
Jason lets go, and the vision fades, bringing him back to his own time. Instinctively he knows that this was no mere illusion. That girl, so much beauty in so small a glimpse of time. And he let it go. With a sob he grasps the ribbon again, but nothing happens, he is where he is, and she is where she is. Separated by ages, he has never felt so alone... 8
'A cloak and dagger, no fear of freedom, when hearts beat in another time, ever changing, the clock ticks on' 9
She stops in mid-stride, and horror fills her every being. He is gone! For such a small moment in time she almost believed that Fate itself could be twisted, and it had, for only a moment. But now silence reigns as she grasps the still ribbon where her love had stood, feeling the fading warmth of his touch. Tears trickling down her face, she sings the song of her lost love. 10
'The wind has died and the chimes are still again...' 11
Slowly he stands up, his eyes fixed on the pole, hoping that something would happen, but he knows it wouldn't. Even the silence of the day has died down to absolute perfection of emptiness, an echo of his own heart. 12
'And though the clock ticks on to the future, It's in the past my heart will stay, in a time so far away from me, I'll return someday...' 13
Both know that someday it may happen again, that somehow they will meet again. The pole stands guard over them, one in the past, and one in the future. Ever changing, the clock ticks on...14
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Part two of this series is available here 16
Author notes
A contest entry
- Strong Women Protagonists by LaBelle.
100 points, ended December 28, 2006, 15 entries
• next story in this contest, remove from contest
What did you think? Please comment!
Comments
1 - 18 of 18
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i like
an original story that keeps you on your seat, and paces well.beginning: 4, language: 4, plot: 5, overall: 6, ending: 3, dialog: 4, characters: 3.
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Wow, that was really interesting! It was time travel but in a non-science-fiction and even romantic way. I really like this, I may keep reading once the contest is over
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I like the way you kept the whole "clock ticks on" another great story, you got my imgination working overtime now
Edited on Oct 02, 9:53 because 'Confused'. -
Very Good
Not bad at all
storyline's good
on to chapter 2 -
What an original concept, I really think you've got something here. I was very pleased near the end to find there was still hope for the two of them meeting again. Thanks, Paggles
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I've noticed that since I started this contest I'm reading more originality than I ever have before since I joined here almost two years ago. This story is no different. It has a very unique feel to it. It also doesn't hurt that the song I was playing when reading this fit perfectly haha. Thanks for entering and good luck in the contest
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That was remarkable, a truly great write. The details formed up in my mind and gave and clear picture, it was very well done.
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Wonderful
Wow! That is so beautiful and wonderfully written. Can't wait to read the next parts! -
So wonderfully written this story with the fine line between time of past and future. So very interesting and creative. I really liked it and thought the descriptions were excellent to make the reader be drawn within the story. Great job on this and thank you for sharing it.
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This reminds me of the diana gabledon books which I love, past and present colliding,in beautiful imagery. well done.
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A marvelous tale of whistful fantasy. So real you can almost touch it yet distant, faded. Your presentation was superb. Easily read and most enchanting.
Sincerely,
Leo Long
ps. Thanks for reading and commenting on my work. -
This was sweet! I was puzzled for a moment when you switched from her time to his time, but when I got that the story floated right on. Like you friends say: WIRTE MORE!
Until the next time I read your story..
Love
Sam
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Perfection takes time *g*
You'll just have to wait, hehehe -
Whoop of joy!!! You go Page... I for one can't wait to read more. Don't keep us in suspence for too long, please?
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Weeeeellllll [long drawn out] ... I *have* been wondering if I should turn TCTO into my own personal pet story-series like you've done with Adara (which I LOVE btw) and Lacyte with her Modern Fairy... and yes, I think I will, so keep your eyes peeled for the next installment of TCTO, soon... I promise it will be most interesting *g*
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Lovely how you meshed the perspectives of two star crossed lovers. Will it ever be? Your story leaves the question hanging. Real love I suppose if it is, can never be stopped. Great write
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Oh, so sad! I like it, though. It makes me want to read more, to hear if the two lovers are ever joined in one single life in the past, present, or future. I also kinda want to know what happened to the village to make it burned and ruined. I LOVE the part about the maypole standing watch over them! That really jerked my heartstrings. The only criticism I have is that you switch from present to past tense. I dunno if you are trying to illustrate that Stacey and Jason are in different times, but I really think you should choose either present or past and stick to it. Other than that, great write!
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BRILLIANT
A wonderful story of past and future, written in your very own personal style. Emotional and fantasy filled. Well done once more my friend! I love it to bits. (And of course it HAD to be Jason!)
Edited on May 01 because ''.
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