Fic: Greetings
Jun. 4th, 2013 07:00 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
meridian_roseTitle: Greetings
Fandom: Original
'Verse/Series: Kat (High Queen)
Pairing/Characters: General Series
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 465
Prompt: For the thirty days of flash fiction (remember this meme?!) 17) Write a scene with a character in a foreign land, unable to speak the local language
Summary: Cal gets the chance to prove his worth as a linguist
Content Notes: No standard warnings apply.
Index Page for this series: DW/ LJ
Cal greeted the king eloquently, or so it seemed to Kat. The language was called Iath, though this literally meant 'tongue' referring to the language of the place. It was considered wrong to call it Cambrian, and was usually referred to by the long winded 'tongue of Cambri'. Of course Cambri was what outsiders, particularly the Citadel's inhabitants, called the kingdom. The inhabitants called their home Rhaeadrau in reference to the waterfalls of which they were rightfully proud.
The language was unique to this kingdom and few outsiders had much familiarity with it. Cal's mother had taught it to him, perhaps to keep some connection with her homeland, and Elias, who prided himself on knowing most of the used and many of the dead languages, had tutored both his protégés, Cal and Tamsin alike. They were the only four people in the Citadel to know Iath with any fluency.
Kat found it only mildly unnerving to not understand a word of what was being said. She rather thought it irked Honor more, on both a personal level, and professional one in terms of worrying if what was being said might cause diplomatic issues.
The king nodded cheerfully and responded with a few words that sounded encouraging. Clearly Cal was doing something right. Then Cal bowed, and began a long speech. "Yn fy ngalluogi i gyflwyno i chi Ei Mawrhydi y Frenhines Fawr, Gloriana Katerina Mallika Mairenne –"
Kat blinked. Was Cal going to recite all twenty five of her names? She could barely remember them all, in the right order, herself!
To her surprise he did, and then added, in Iath, what had to be a roll call of her various titles. Some of them, anyway. If he tried for all of them, they'd be here until midnight.
Cal finally stopped for breath and bowed. The king nodded and met Kat's gaze. She smiled and he bowed. Kat inclined her head in acknowledgement. The King addressed her briefly in her his own tongue and gestured. A finely dressed woman brought forth a silver tray with two glasses of water on it. The king took one glass and the woman offered the other to Cal. He sipped at it, nodded, and handed it to Kat.
Kat waited for the king to raise his glass and make a toast of some description. Then they both drained their glasses. So this was the famous Dwr Rhaedrau. It was nice, slightly chilly, and crisp. It was also merely water. Nonetheless she smiled broadly as she relinquished the glass to the serving woman and the king beamed back.
"Let me welcome you in your tongue, now, Majesty," the king said. Honor gave an almost imperceptible sigh of relief. It seemed they'd negotiated the unfamiliar ritual without causing a diplomatic incident.
Notes: Online Welsh translators gave me Cal's introduction which should roughly mean "Allow me to introduce Her Majesty, the High Queen," although I used the Welsh word for Great rather than High to ensure the correct sense.
Obviously there will be lead up to, and follows on from this, which may necessitate some amendments to this piece. I'm still pinning down details.
Fandom: Original
'Verse/Series: Kat (High Queen)
Pairing/Characters: General Series
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 465
Prompt: For the thirty days of flash fiction (remember this meme?!) 17) Write a scene with a character in a foreign land, unable to speak the local language
Summary: Cal gets the chance to prove his worth as a linguist
Content Notes: No standard warnings apply.
Index Page for this series: DW/ LJ
Cal greeted the king eloquently, or so it seemed to Kat. The language was called Iath, though this literally meant 'tongue' referring to the language of the place. It was considered wrong to call it Cambrian, and was usually referred to by the long winded 'tongue of Cambri'. Of course Cambri was what outsiders, particularly the Citadel's inhabitants, called the kingdom. The inhabitants called their home Rhaeadrau in reference to the waterfalls of which they were rightfully proud.
The language was unique to this kingdom and few outsiders had much familiarity with it. Cal's mother had taught it to him, perhaps to keep some connection with her homeland, and Elias, who prided himself on knowing most of the used and many of the dead languages, had tutored both his protégés, Cal and Tamsin alike. They were the only four people in the Citadel to know Iath with any fluency.
Kat found it only mildly unnerving to not understand a word of what was being said. She rather thought it irked Honor more, on both a personal level, and professional one in terms of worrying if what was being said might cause diplomatic issues.
The king nodded cheerfully and responded with a few words that sounded encouraging. Clearly Cal was doing something right. Then Cal bowed, and began a long speech. "Yn fy ngalluogi i gyflwyno i chi Ei Mawrhydi y Frenhines Fawr, Gloriana Katerina Mallika Mairenne –"
Kat blinked. Was Cal going to recite all twenty five of her names? She could barely remember them all, in the right order, herself!
To her surprise he did, and then added, in Iath, what had to be a roll call of her various titles. Some of them, anyway. If he tried for all of them, they'd be here until midnight.
Cal finally stopped for breath and bowed. The king nodded and met Kat's gaze. She smiled and he bowed. Kat inclined her head in acknowledgement. The King addressed her briefly in her his own tongue and gestured. A finely dressed woman brought forth a silver tray with two glasses of water on it. The king took one glass and the woman offered the other to Cal. He sipped at it, nodded, and handed it to Kat.
Kat waited for the king to raise his glass and make a toast of some description. Then they both drained their glasses. So this was the famous Dwr Rhaedrau. It was nice, slightly chilly, and crisp. It was also merely water. Nonetheless she smiled broadly as she relinquished the glass to the serving woman and the king beamed back.
"Let me welcome you in your tongue, now, Majesty," the king said. Honor gave an almost imperceptible sigh of relief. It seemed they'd negotiated the unfamiliar ritual without causing a diplomatic incident.
Notes: Online Welsh translators gave me Cal's introduction which should roughly mean "Allow me to introduce Her Majesty, the High Queen," although I used the Welsh word for Great rather than High to ensure the correct sense.
Obviously there will be lead up to, and follows on from this, which may necessitate some amendments to this piece. I'm still pinning down details.
no subject
Date: 2013-06-04 07:39 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-06-04 12:25 pm (UTC)Not a fandom, an original fic verse that I'm continuing to develop and write in :D
no subject
Date: 2013-06-04 03:18 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-06-04 04:11 pm (UTC)The bulk of the story is set around The Grand Tour, which Kat is going on to prove/secure her right to rule as the second ever High Queen. However there's lots of backstory and I'm still unsure how I'll fit it all together - maybe marry up moments from the Tour with similar/important events from the past.
If I pick three, I think http://meridian-rose.livejournal.com/321727.html is a good representation of the Kat/Cal dynamic; http://meridian-rose.livejournal.com/221793.html illustrates Kat's independent nature; and http://meridian-rose.livejournal.com/227988.html I think shows the importance of myths in this world, along with some of the story themes, and insight into some of the recurring characters.
no subject
Date: 2013-06-04 05:22 pm (UTC)Makes me want to write again ... but I have to write way too much for my work, and so I hardly have time to write fiction then.
no subject
Date: 2013-06-04 05:43 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-06-04 08:31 am (UTC)No internet yet at my place, so it'll have to wait until I get in for work... but I absolutely LOVED this one sweetie!
Keep them coming! :D
no subject
Date: 2013-06-04 12:26 pm (UTC)Hope you get your internet sorted out soon. It's awful to be without at home *hugs*
no subject
Date: 2013-06-05 02:45 pm (UTC)Kat found it only mildly unnerving to not understand a word of what was being said. She rather thought it irked Honor more, on both a personal level, and professional one in terms of worrying if what was being said might cause diplomatic issues. An interesting personality difference between Kat and Honor. Languages are fascinating, aren't they? I like seeing how much I can understand from body language and context, even if I don't know what's being said.
Also, yay for Kat's 25 names ;D
no subject
Date: 2013-06-05 03:23 pm (UTC)Of course if you're going to trade, and no one else speaks your language, you'll have to learn a more common tongue - so many people would speak Kat's language - but in keeping the language alive, there are times that your own tongue must be used. So I'm trying to have the balance there, that they're a largely insular community, but with trade links. I need to play around with languages more :)
That's a good point about the body language :)
LOL, at some point I got the number fixed in my head, but I didn't write all 25 out because I don't know them all yet :P I added one more though, so I'm getting there!
no subject
Date: 2013-06-17 10:02 pm (UTC)THIS STORY IS SO AWESOME AND I LOVE EVERY WORD!!! I'M FLAILING SO HARD RN!!!
The inhabitants called their home Rhaeadrau in reference to the waterfalls of which they were rightfully proud.
*FLAAAAAAAAILS*
It's only the beginning and already I can't wait to see more of this!! *grabby hands*
Cal's mother had taught it to him, perhaps to keep some connection with her homeland
Can I just say that I totally adore that Cal's mother is from Rhaeadrau? :D And Cal speaking their language - HOT!! :D
Kat found it only mildly unnerving to not understand a word of what was being said. She rather thought it irked Honor more, on both a personal level, and professional one in terms of worrying if what was being said might cause diplomatic issues.
What Riona said! :D Absolutely in love with this!! :D
"Yn fy ngalluogi i gyflwyno i chi Ei Mawrhydi y Frenhines Fawr, Gloriana Katerina Mallika Mairenne –"
*FLAILS LIKE CRAZY*
Was Cal going to recite all twenty five of her names? She could barely remember them all, in the right order, herself!
LOLOLOL! :D
If he tried for all of them, they'd be here until midnight.
LOOOOOOOOL!! :D
So this was the famous Dwr Rhaedrau. It was nice, slightly chilly, and crisp. It was also merely water.
I can't even begin to tell how much I love this! The tradition itself and the fact that this drink with a fancy name is just plain water, LOL :D This is brilliant!! :D
"Let me welcome you in your tongue, now, Majesty," the king said.
We only just met the guy and I'm already fully prepared to stan him for life. Even if he's a total douche who eats unborn babies for breakfast and drinks blood of virgins with his dinner I don't even care. He's the king of Rhaeadrau and that's enough for me. I'm that easy (and shallow).
But I'll try to keep my enthusiasm about him in check!! O_O
OMG BB I JUST CAN'T STOP FLAILING!!! PLEASE WRITE MOAR!!! I NEEEEEEED EEEEEET!! PLEEEEEEAAAAAASE!!
*FLAILS SUPER HARD*
no subject
Date: 2013-06-22 05:40 pm (UTC)Dwr Rhaedrau is literally water of Rhaedrau (or indeed water of the waterfalls!) but they're so very proud of it!
The king's a nice guy; laid back so long as you don't insult the water :D
Obviously there's bookends to this; the before they get there and their stay in Rhaedrau, and I shall get to them eventually :D
no subject
Date: 2013-06-18 01:55 am (UTC)Great job at incorporating another language into your story in such a meaningful way.
no subject
Date: 2013-06-22 05:43 pm (UTC)I've been wanting to include another language for a while other than the Old Tongue which is mostly ceremonial. Iath is still very much a living language for the inhabitants of Rhaedrau :)