Writing Prompt 2: The Lion's Shadow

Okay so here is my second prompt, this one was a little longer than I planned. I really got into the story and excited about my main character. The grammar and writing mechanics are pretty screwy because, well I'm still in the learning stages you could say :) besides, simply being created for the sake of a brain exercise means I get to have screwy mechanics...so hah! For this prompt I used the iOS app iDeas for Writing to generate a title (The Lion's Shadow) and with that in mind I began to just write. Here's to hoping you get to the end and want to know more, rather than feel the need to scrub your brain clean :D Let me know what you think!

Here is the link to the previously mentioned app I use for coming up with new writing ideas.

Writing Prompt 2: The Lion's Shadow

Being a wizard's apprentice was not the glamorous life she had always imagined as a child. Between her studies she had often daydreamed of heroic adventures where she saved the day with an exotic spell, perhaps by making balls of fire rain down from the sky, like how wizards so often do in her books. Of course in these daydreams her master had always mysteriously fallen ill, so the people would look to her for help. She would always come quickly to their aid in beauty and grace. The grateful people of the town would cheer her name "Zarella! Zarella!" and she would no longer be just the town's clumsy apprentice. She knew hers was a childish dream because even with age she has not grown in beauty and grace, and is certainly not the heroine type. Exotic spells? Hah! That may have been her most laughable offense.

Under her master's training Zarella's days are not spent learning exciting magics or exotic potions. Rather her apprenticeship consists of mixing potions for a women's face paint that will change colors every hour. Or perhaps she's tasked with gathering new ingredients for her master's failed attempts to match the potency of dwarven ale. After the long awaited alliance with the elves, and no Frenzied seen near town for ages, there was no more need for war spells, magic wards, or enchanted weapons.

SMACK- In her bitter musings Zarella had failed to pay attention to where she was walking and hit something very solid, tall, and...glaring right at her. "Watch where you are going apprentice." snapped the man she had just rammed into. She did a half stumble, and fell hard into a nearby pillar. Straightening herself, Zarella looked up to find herself staring into the eyes of Valion, more commonly referred to as the Lion due to his family's feline crest.

"M-m-my apologies" Zarella stammered. The Lion was the sole heir to Lord Aerion, one of the more influential lords of the town who was extremely wealthy and owned many of the town's taverns and brothels. Lord Aerion was infamous for his cruelty, sharp tongue, and weakness for pretty girls. The Lion was rumoured to be following close in his father's footsteps. However, when Zarella looked closely at his face she saw only irritation, no... impatience perhaps? But not the cold glint of cruelty Lord Aerion's face was always masked with.

Zarella stood cradling the arm she had slammed against. She had grown quiet under the Lion's shadow, lost in her thoughts. "Are you simply going to stare apprentice?" Valion demanded. The man who had been conversing with Valion (before being rudely interrupted) laughed harshly, "Perhaps mixing all those potions for the Wizard has scrambled her head.

"The Lion noded, "You would do well to watch where you are walking girl."

"Yes, quite right m'lord." her cheeks blossoming red with embarrassment.

Zarella, remembering her place, did a quick awkward half-bow and lowered her gaze. As she turned to walk, no run away as quickly as possible, Valion placed his hand on her shoulder. "Wait" he said. I recently traded coin with the Wizard for a...specific item. The nature of this request is rather pressing, as it were." He paused, looking her up and down, as if he could gather a complete assessment of her with one look.  Apparently he approved because he continued, "Do you think you could bring my parcel to the Lion's Tavern before the sun sets?" Zarella knew from general gossip that this was a common hang out for the Lion and his cronies.

She nodded quickly, "Yes m'lord, I happen to know the Wizard is putting the final touches on your-"

"Thank you" he said, quickly cutting her off. He warily eyed his companion. The man had a dull, bored look in his eyes as he scraped dirt from under his nails with a dagger. Valion looked satisfied, nodded once again to Zarella and abruptly turned and continued towards his previous destination.

As Zarella continued walking she felt a glimmer of hope. She now had a chance to redeem herself, a chance to change the Lion's impression of her. She would prove herself a capable and reliable apprentice. Getting off the main cobblestone road she began walking down alongside the sparkling river. After a few minutes of following the river she stopped and looked down at her reflection in the water. Long black hair fell messy, past her shoulders, her face was narrow and had a slightly crooked nose (she had been in many fist fights as a child with those who would quickly learn it wasn't worth the run to try and catch her.) She was gangly with long legs, but was finally growing into her height at 17 years.  As a child she had often loomed over the other children, making her a likely (but luckily quick!) target for bullying.

She knew she would never charm men with looks, a honey sweet voice, or  her severe lack of bust. Her only redeemable feature was her bright blue eyes, which darkened when she was angry or concentrating. Therefore she did everything she could growing up to learn as much about the world as she could, she flexed and exercised her mind like sharpening a weapon for battle. She wanted to be a quick thinker with a comprehensive knowledge base. She already knew much of the races and their cultures and history, a myriad of survival skills such as hunting and skinning animals, what plants are safe to eat and which are poisonous. She knew a spattering of medicinal herbs and procedures, and many other snippets of knowledge from any books she could get her hands on.

Zarella bent down and splashed away her reflection, startling a nearby leera bird that squawked and flew off, though not before giving her a reproachful look. Shaking her head she spoke softly to herself, "Why do I even care?" Why care about impressing this arrogant lordling. She had never been one to desire coin or power, his handsome face did not weaken her in the knees. So...why? She noticed her long shadow and realized how much time she had wasted strolling alongside the river. If she was to get to the Magic Quarter and back to the Lion's Tavern before the sun sets, she would need to quicken her pace and quiet her mind. Zarella would have to continue considering her questionable motivations on her own time.