purplefizzgirl

Something was definitely off that day. That was it, she decided. There was a tangible sense of offness in the world today, and she didn’t much care for it. She had woken up far too early for her taste, that is to say, before ten, and she was in no mood for offness of any kind. Elle climbed wearily up the stairs to the seminar room, lamenting the loss of their previous teacher who had had to leave due to her partner having a baby. She had been a great seminar leader, Mrs Gatridge. A highly caffeinated woman with a penchant for Freud and  amazing shoes. Happy Days. She turned the handle of the dull white door and made her way to her usual

Once upon a time there was a bull who lived on a farm in a vast field bordering a great forest. One day a young stag, seeking adventure, came across the field. He called over to the bull, who approached cautiously. ‘Hello there friend! Tell me, what are these strange trees that grow around this grass?’ The bull replied, ‘It is a fence, it stops others getting in.’ ‘Why don’t you want others getting in? Don’t you like strangers?’ Asked the stag, sounding hurt. ‘I like strangers. It’s to keep bad things out, so that they don’t hurt me.’ The young stag pranced about and laug

     "Murtagh knows the way back to your chambers. You are dismissed."    The man and the child bowed in unison an turned towards the door. Night fell early in the winter months, and the howling wind flung snow at the high windows as if trying to break in. Tornac shivered, sparing a brief thought for those less fortunate. Doubtless fewer would wake than had gone to sleep.     The halls and corridors were dark, twisting like a vast labyrinth. Tornac vaguely recognised an archway here, a cloister there, and yet Murtagh never seemed to falter. Indeed, despite his inferior size, he kept such a swift pace Tornac marvelled at the fact that he

1) Get a box of tissues- because you'll either cry a lot or get a cold 2) If you don't always want to go out, join in and guarantee yourself a hangover – DON'T 3) Make sure you have a couple of boring, work-like things to do at first- it's quite relaxing 4) Bring enough stuff that you're room feels homely- you want to feel comfortable 5) Don't bring too much from home- think of all the new stuff you can get 6) Do something that you did back home- read a book, watch a TV series 7) Remember everyone is in the same situation- they want friends and are homesick too 8) Get into your own rhythm- sometimes a bit of structure is nice 9)

Where is she? She should be back by now… Or is this a long trip? No. She'll be back soon, tomorrow maybe. But she's not back, and what if she never comes back? What if I never get to feel her walking around, making the floorboards squeak slightly? The subliminal signs of life that she gave each and every day for the past 15 years… they can't just be gone. I saw my family pack some bags, but maybe the large red suitcase she packed and pulled from room should have been  the first warning. The pots, pans, cutlery and crockery cavorting on the bed in my guestroom should have been the second. She's gone. What now? Who

     Murtagh sat down lightly and breathed out a small sigh of relief. The most difficult part of the evening was over. He'd rather have the green rot than go through that again. He'd never been one for grand entrances, and that evening every eye in the banquet hall had been upon him.     He'd walked slowly, as instructed, with his wings pulled out, showing off his costume to the room of courtiers. Lords, ladies, dukes, dames, and earls- they had all watched him enter. Now that he had sat down a light wave of whispers gently washed against him.     "The King's godson I heard-"     "Heir to the throne obviously-"     "Oh yes- we hunt t

     Tornac hated this day. He hated it because of the pain he knew it brought to Murtagh. March 18th. Today was the day mothers were celebrated and cherished.     He'd taken Murtagh out at dawn for a day in the forest. They'd hunted the spring deer, swam in the hidden pools and picked the first berries. He'd seemed as happy as any other eight year old freed from the day's lessons, but Tornac suspected there was something under that masked face.     "Tornac, why are we going the long way round? Why don't we just go through the main square as usual?" asked his young charge. His voice was clear and high.     "Umm… I think it's marke

Sleep, sleep my angel child, Let your dreams run far and wild. Close your eyes and drift away, To keep you safe here I'll stay. I'll keep you safe, I swear to light, I'll not go anywhere else tonight. You will not die, you'll only sleep, And when I go I must not weep. As I leave my heart will break, And again with every step I take. As the moon goes so must I, If I don't another might die. I'm sorry you were born with these chains, But you'll never be free whilst he reigns. So let your dreams run far and wild, Sleep sleep, my angel child

I'm glad you're gone, gone to ground That when went you made no sound Did you really think I'd stay on your leash? That I'd forever, hold my peace? We've had and we've held, who did you take? I tell you now, they made a mistake. You never saw me, I worked with stealth I always preferred you in sickness than in health That day I wore black, today I wear white, You may not have noticed, the lighting was bright. I thought all went well, it was the perfect day, Too bad I didn't see the thorns in my bouquet Not long, you took all I had to give. It's over, as long as we both shall live. All that came I took in my stride, You ended yo