Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Raven-Black and Serpent-Gold

Then the memory of her sixteenth birthday rose in her mind and blocked out the pleasant thoughts with a shadow dark as a raven’s eyes—and there was nothing blacker than that. For it was on that anniversary of her birth that Randolph Fitz-Hughes arrived, handsome and dark and coarse with his raven-black and serpent-gold raiment billowing about him. He had come to buy her freedom with a pledge: The princess of Scarlettania for the safety of her country.
Fitz-Hughes knew his own strength—he had set his sights on the Princess of Scarlettania, and he would make her the Queen of Gildnoir—of his own dark, wild, forested country—if not by her will, by the blood of her people.
~The Scarlet-Gypsy Song by Rachel Heffington 

(Yes, this is the working title of my newest story.) I wanted to introduce you to the villain of The Scarlet-Gypsy Song: Randolph Fitz-Hughes.He is handsome and powerful--the ruler of a dark kingdom bordering the homeland of Cecily Woodruff--her beloved Scarlettania. 
"...Fitz-Hughes began pillaging the outer reaches of Scarlettania, spiraling inward, slowly but surely like a python wrapping its coils around its prey."
Because Cecily would not marry him, Fitz-Hughes has declared war on her country. She will be his bride, or it will mean the death of her people. He is arrogant, ruthless, bold, and swaggering. Of course when concocting a villain, one must stop and consider "Why?"
"Why does he desire Cecily?"
"What is so unique about her?"
And my answer for Fitz-Hughes springs from a very simple cause--one that has been reenacted throughout our world's history time and again: He desires her because she is the one thing he does not have. His lust for power and prestige has been immersed in ruling the country of Gildnoir. There is nothing left for Fitz-Hughes to win there, and so his roving eye rests upon the beautiful Cecily, Princess of Scarlettania. When he has won her, he will have her country under his thumb as well.
I am looking forward to writing more scenes with Fitz-Hughes. As of yet he has just been introduced through Cecily's memories of the events that transported her here, to our world. I can't wait to write him as himself in all his horrible, leering beauty. Ah yes. My pen shall be busy indeed.

6 comments:

Rachel Hope said...

Do you finish one story before starting another ? or do you work on more than at a time. This sounds really neat your novels are gonna be very exciting when they are published, are you thinking of publishing someday ? What a neat name for a villain how do you decide on a name ?
I promise I'll stop asking questions
blessings
Rachel Hope

Unknown said...

I Love the title!! I can't wait to read more!! Where did you find the picture? He look so evil and mysterious.

Miss Dashwood said...

It's Mr. Thornton!!!
Oh, no, wait, he played Guy of Guisborne, too, right? Never mind.
Your story sounds exciting! A bit of confusion: is this the same one with the naughty children (Darby, Eugenie, &c.)? Or are you just using the name Cecily Woodruff in both?
If it is the same story, I must say I love the idea of mixing a good old-fashioned adventure story (with a thrilling name like The Scarlet Gypsy Song!) with a story about naughty children in need of a nanny. Brilliant twist, Rachel!

Rachel Heffington said...

Dear Girls,
@Rachel Hope, I usually only work on one story at a time, but I am in the middle of two right now: The Scarlet-Gypsy Song, and Puddleby Lane. As far as publishing goes, I would dearly love to be published one day, and am only waiting on the Lord's guidance to show me where to go and what to do. :) And how do I choose names or characters? :D
Well, Randolph Fitz-Hughes simply banged me o'er the head. It flew out of my fingertips without so much as a by-your-leave, and I liked it so I left him there. :D
@Londongirl, I knew that Fitz-Hughes looked something like Mr. Thornton (Richard Armitage) and I knew Richard Armitage had played in Robin Hood at one point, so I hunted up a picture and there I found him: Raven-Black and Serpent-Gold. :D
@Miss Georgianna, yes, this is the same story. :) Cecily Woodruff is a princess banished to this world through the Scarlet-Gypsy Song to be a nanny for the naughty Macefield children. She can never return home through the Song, but things take an interesting turn when the children accidentally get into *her* world and can't get out either.... :) Thanks for all your sweet comments!

Unknown said...

Awesome!

Carilyn said...

What a JERK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I will definitely want to read this story. You're brilliant.

=)