Icy's Blunt Pencil: Friday Flash - The Sought After Smile

Friday, 10 September 2010

Friday Flash - The Sought After Smile

This post has been taken down as the story is out for submission!

27 comments:

Sulci Collective said...: This has a really authentic feel to its period setting and I think you got the details of the jester just right. Great story telling
marc nash; 10 September 2010 at 09:19
Marisa Birns said...: Yes, you took the prompt and wrote a wonderful story! Very intriguing and the details perfectly fit the story. Well done.; 10 September 2010 at 09:44
Carrie Clevenger said...: Loved the descriptions in this. Lots of colors and movement, sealed up with a tenderness that really sent me over the moon for this story.; 10 September 2010 at 09:59
~Tim said...: Oh no. Now I have the song "One More Night" stuck in my head.; 10 September 2010 at 10:25
Benjamin Solah said...: What a clever take on the prompt. That Gadd character is a pretty selfless fellow.; 10 September 2010 at 13:45
Icy Sedgwick said...: Glad everyone liked it. It was originally going to be about a jester who has to make the Queen laugh or she'll have him executed, and thus he resorts to sorcery, but then I figured I preferred the necromancy!; 10 September 2010 at 13:48
Eric J. Krause said...: This was an excellent story. I'm glad my prompt made this possible because I thoroughly enjoyed reading this. All of the details of the throne room and his act and everything else truly brought this to life. Well done!; 10 September 2010 at 19:40
Icy Sedgwick said...: Thank you so much for the prompt, Eric! I'd never have come up with this without it, and it's been so long since I wrote any fantasy!; 10 September 2010 at 21:19
Laurita said...: Necromancy should always win out, especially if a story like this is the result.; 10 September 2010 at 21:56
Laura Eno said...: An excellent tale and great details!; 10 September 2010 at 23:29
Anonymous said...: I loved this story. So sweet and heartbreaking, yet disturbing on so many levels. :); 10 September 2010 at 23:50
Unknown said...: Excellent story, Icy! Loved every word. You did a wonderful job with the prompt.

Great stuff!; 11 September 2010 at 00:17
Karen from Mentor said...: I'm glad he made his queen happy. Now I'd like to hear the bawdy song about goblins please.
:0); 11 September 2010 at 00:28
Joanie Rich said...: I think it's better that you went with this concept instead, it really turns a lot of the usual plots on their heads! I felt so much compassion for the queen through the people who were trying to make her smile. This piece is very emotional and the ending is perfect for it. It's bittersweet. Perhaps she only needed time to say goodbye. I love his raven too. :) The idea of a Jester being a necromancer is great!; 11 September 2010 at 00:35
Valerie said...: It was funny, because as soon as the bird showed up I knew this must be based on Eric's prompt. You really took it and made it your own. Good work!; 11 September 2010 at 01:22
John Wiswell said...: Gadd save the Queen!

Sorry... I had to...; 11 September 2010 at 02:06
PJ said...: Icy - this was stellar - i adore period pieces and the emotion and description of this was dead on - A+, my dear! :-); 11 September 2010 at 03:04
Anonymous said...: I was immediately transported to a medieval court and had a very strong image in my mind. I also conjured up a courtly version of Britain's Got Talent as he was waiting to go in.
Halfway through Gadd feels he has caught the Queen's interest- you certainly caught mine. I love a tale told well. Mysticism and magic had such a strong hold over people back then. Now it's reality tv.; 11 September 2010 at 15:41
Cathy Olliffe-Webster said...: This was amazing, Icy! SO WELL WRITTEN. I had no idea what his trick was, but what a happy, romantic ending - just the way i like 'em these days! As my dad would say, a big Gold Star to you!; 11 September 2010 at 16:12
Anonymous said...: Excellent job, Icy. I was sucked into the tale from the beginning. Brilliant story telling. And great use of the prompt!; 11 September 2010 at 18:10
Mari said...: Awesome prompt and fantastic story! I'm envying you now, heh. ;p; 11 September 2010 at 23:44
Unknown said...: Icy ... you wrote the crap out of that prompt. So very well-done!; 12 September 2010 at 06:29
Jason Coggins said...: I think this is my favourite story of yours. That a necromancer can be a jester is a mighty powerful twist in itself. That that necromancy is used as an act of mercy and kindness blew me away. The title rocks too.; 12 September 2010 at 08:42
Icy Sedgwick said...: Thank you, everyone! But credit where credit is due to Eric for the prompt!; 12 September 2010 at 11:41
AidanF said...: Nice prompt, and I like what you did with it. I was expecting her to "off the jester's head" and really enjoyed the necromancy twist that you gave it instead.; 12 September 2010 at 18:57
mazzz_in_Leeds said...: Awww, cool and cute story!
But how is he going to make the Queen smile after her one day of happiness is over?!; 14 September 2010 at 18:21
Genevieve Jack said...: The love between the king and queen was palpable. I enjoyed the humble adoration Gadd seemed to have for her, too. Also, you were authentic to the time period. Really goo stuff, Icy.; 15 September 2010 at 14:55