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dragonbe-writing · 2 months

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Fallen Feathers

Fantasy AU ft. Knight!John Price

Summary: John Price is sent out by the king to hunt a monster. He wanders through the woods and finds a girl, living alone who wishes not to be seen.

This is Part 1 of a series

Word Count: ~2K

Author's Note: Hello! It's been a while. I've had this story idea typed up for nearly a year and just couldn't get comfortable with it. But I've been inspired by @a-small-writer-in-a-big-world 's fantasy AU, and decided just to post this and see what happens. Enjoy!

Sweat trickled down the back of his neck as he made it to the top of the hill. He looked out over the basin, the sun rising behind him and casting shade from the trees out onto the village below. The village- Edriel (Ee-drill), -was already bustling with life in the early hours. Farm-help out watering crops before the sun wilted them, mothers cooking breakfast for the little ones before their day of chores and play, priests walking through to say their blessings and good mornings.

A world of intimacy, a world of peace.

The very things John had sworn to protect, the very reason he was on this hill in the first place. He was a Commander, a third-rank Knight sent out to protect the village. His village. The place he’d grown up, the place he devoted his life and servitude to.

A monster lived in the forest, he was told. The King ordered him to find and slay the monster. So, John turned away from the village, and headed into the forest.

He used his sword to cut through the thick brush, heading for… well, he wasn’t sure. The King wouldn’t give him a description of the monster- perhaps he didn’t have one. But if he didn’t have one, then was John just chasing a rumor? He had been under the King since he was a boy, it was a little insulting to be sent on a goose chase.

Slice.

He was a Commander, for God’s sake! A third rank Knight- a position he had worked hard for. And here he was, running around the forest, looking for something that wasn’t even there.

Slice.

This is a rookie’s task, he figured. Something to keep them busy, to test their loyalty.

Slice.

Perhaps the King was becoming senile in his old age. Or maybe John was just upset at the mission. He saw the way the other Commanders smirked when he was given his task. It was embarrassing, especially after a life of devotion.

Slice.

The brush cleared away, revealing a secluded area that looked… cared for. He crouched under a branch, keeping his sword at the ready- just in case. A small stream ran near his feet, water as clear as he’d ever seen. There was a garden, and even a house. It looked similar to the Edriel houses, however it was poorly built. Things seemed to be added over time: patches to the roof, new ties for the wood. He studied it carefully, jumping when he heard a noise from inside the house.

“Who’s there?” a woman asked from inside the house. She sounded human.

“I am a Commander of Edriel’s army. I am coming in,” he said, sword raised as he opened the door.

The house was small, just enough for one person. The curtain was closed, engulfing the house in darkness. He could tell she was in the corner, but he couldn’t see her.

“Open the curtain,” he ordered, his voice coming out gruff.

“...I’d rather not,” she said quietly, her body pressed against the walls. “I-I am horribly burned, I’d prefer not to be seen.”

John lowered his sword, putting it back in its sheath. “Yes ma’am,” he said in a much softer voice. It was a foreign feeling. It had been ages since he had spoken so softly. “...what is your name?”

She went quiet, and it sounded as though she was shuffling on her feet. A wave of realization washed over him. He had broken into this poor woman’s home and demanded to see her. She was probably terrified.

“I am John Price, a proud Knight of Edreil,” he started, hands behind his back as he respectfully tipped his head. After a few moments of silence, she spoke.

“Adelaide,” she said quietly.

“Adelaide… what?”

“Just Adelaide.”

A tense silence covered them. He cleared his throat, looking around the house. “..Okay, Adelaide. I apologize for my rude intrusion. If I may… why do you live out here?” he asked.

“People do not stare at me out here. It is peaceful,” she said. “What has you out here?”

He hesitated. His business was embarrassing, but if anyone knew where a monster was, it would be her. He took a breath. “The King has sent me out in search of a monster.”

“A monster?” she asked, voice pitching higher.

“Do not worry,” he said quickly, raising a hand in front of him. “I will take care of it, you will be of no harm.”

“What does it look like?”

Another pause, this one longer. He let out a low sigh, his chainmail armor clinking as he raised a hand to run through his hair.

“...You do not know?”

“...no, ma’am.”

He swore he heard her snort. “What kind of king sends a knight out with no description?”

He huffed, rolling his eyes. “You’d be a fool to talk poorly of the King in front of one of his knights,” he said dryly.

“Are you going to detain me?” she asked with a hint of amusement.

“I could,” he responded quickly, hand resting on the hilt of his sword. He was met with silence, to which he sighed. “Do you know of any monster living around here?”

“...no. But, I will be weary,” she said to him, any details of emotion stripped from her voice.

He gave her a nod and turned to leave. “Good day, ma’am,” he said, closing the door to her home and going out the way he came.

As he continued his search for the monster, he thought about her. Was she truly so badly burned that she must live alone? He didn’t remember a fire in the village.

Perhaps she was from Pulsk?

No, surely not. Pulsk was a lawless trading post crawling with criminals, monsters, witches- she would not have to move from there, her appearance would not be so bad there. So she must be from Edriel. But he had never heard of a fire that bad- he had never heard of a woman living outside the village.

How long had she been alone? Who else knew she was there?

~~~~

John was sent out every day for the next week. It seemed he’d be doing this until the monster was found. On the fourth day, he stopped by her area again.

“Miss?” he called out. He heard a door slam, and saw the curtain in her window close.

“John?” she asked worriedly.

“At your service. May I come in? Is it dark enough?” he asked, waiting by the door for her word.

“Yes,” she called out after a moment. He opened the door, the smell of smoke filling his nose. She must’ve blown out a candle. She was in the same corner as last time.

The light from the door fell on his face, lighting him up with a glow. He smiled at her, clearing his throat. He shifted a bit uncomfortably on his feet. “How is life out here?” he asked, eyes glancing around as he tried to figure out where to look.

“Peaceful. Quiet, most days,” she replied. His lips pursed, eyebrows creasing.

“…Would you like me to leave?”

“Oh! Oh, I didn’t… I did not mean you,” she clarified quickly. He imagined she looked worried, and he smiled a bit to make her feel better.

“So, other people visit?” he asked with a grin.

“Well… no…” she murmured, and he chuckled. It was a deep timbre that reverberated through his chest.

“Right,” he said. They fell into a silence, and he shifted again. It was difficult having a conversation with someone you couldn’t see. “…do you ever miss the village?”

He heard ruffling- it must’ve been her clothes. “No. I miss the food sometimes,” she said, watching as he looked around her place. “There used to be a woman who sold pastries. I think about her quite often.”

He lit up, eyes shining and lips stretched in a smile. “Mrs. Dresel?”

“Yes!” she said, the most enthusiastic he’s ever heard her. “Is she still alive? She was quite old when I last saw her…”

“Yes, she’s still around. Still making those pastries, too,” he smiled fondly, thinking of them. “I have not visited her in a while,” he thought aloud.

“Nor have I… for obvious reasons…” she said and the house creaked. John looked around at the roof worriedly. “Oh, it does that,” she said dismissively.

“…did you build this yourself?” he asked her, eyes scanning over the structure. Pillars of wood, stuck together with what appeared to be mud. The roof was wood planks, with some more mud, and dried straw. Simple, but effective.

“I did,” she replied, also now looking at it.

“…it isn’t bad,” he said with a shrug. She let out a laugh.

“You’re very polite.”

“I’m a Knight.”

She laughed, making his eyes tear away from the roof back to the corner she hid in. He could imagine her, standing there with bright eyes. It made him chuckle.

“My house isn’t much, but it is mine,” she continued.

“It’s lovely,” he replied, eyes going back to the structure. “Very impressive.”

“Thank you,” she replied. “Any luck on finding your monster?”

He groaned, rolling his eyes. His entire body tensed, lips pressed in a thin line. “No. I’m starting to think the King is playing a trick on me,” he remarked, chainmail clanking.

“Perhaps he’s gone bad? Like a fruit?” she offered up, amusement clear in her voice.

“Careful,” he warned, trying not to smirk. “I still work for the man- even if he is a bit mushy.”

She laughed, a noise that made the corners of his lips turn up. He pictured her shoulders shaking, her smile wide and unapologetic. He wondered how often she laughed out here.

“You’re funny- for a Knight,” she poked, voice dripping with sarcasm.

“D’you have a thing against Knights?” he asked, arms crossed over his chest but a smile on his lips.

“They haven’t always been kind to me,” she remarked, making his mood change. His arms fell to his sides, and his eyebrows creased as his smile vanished.

“Then you must’ve been doing something you weren’t supposed to,” he replied with a bit of an edge. A blanket of tension wrapped around her house.

“…do you take me for a criminal, John?”

He thought in silence for a couple moments, before finally replying. “No, I suppose not,” he muttered, almost begrudgingly. Though, if a Knight had been rude to her, it was likely deserved. “Never mind.”

They fell into silence, the air thicker than the smoky scent of her home. She huffed a bit, more rustling heard. “Don’t you have a monster to catch?” she asked, voice carrying a sharpness to it.

He cleared his throat, chainmail clunking as he readjusted himself. “Indeed. Have a good day, Miss Adelaide,” he said politely, before turning and leaving her house, door closing behind him.

Perhaps she was a criminal. Why else would a knight have been rude to her? It would make sense, her living out here by herself. He would have to go through the old town logs, see if the name Adelaide appeared. Though, it might be difficult without a last name.

He was ducked under the branch again, leaving the area she had claimed. He huffed, wiping the sweat on his neck with his handkerchief.

What if she wasn’t a criminal? What if she was just horribly burned? He still could not remember a fire that bad- though, if he looked through the logs…

He had taken his horse, Obsidian, with him today. He gently pet her nose, sighing softly. “C’mon, old girl,” he said, hoisting himself up onto the saddle. “Back to the castle- let’s get you an apple, hmm?”

#call of duty #captain price #john price #captain john price #cod mw22 #writing #fanfic #cod #cod fanfic #cod mw2 #fantasy john price #Fallen Feathers #im nervy about this LMAO #ive edited this first part like a billion times #knight!price #knight!au #knight!johnprice

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dragonbe-writing · 13 days

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Fallen Feathers (Pt. 2)

Fantasy AU ft. Knight! John Price

Summary: Price does his research, trying to find his monster. What he finds instead could change the trajectory of his life...

(Part 1 Here)

Word Count: 1.5k

Author's Note: Hello! Sorry it's been over a month since part 1- I am mentally ill and in college. I'm not super happy with this part, but it's necessary to kick this story into high gear. Enjoy!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

John walked through the streets of Edriel, smiling at people as he did. He was headed to the eastern side of town, a place he didn’t visit often. He was originally from the east, but his parents had moved him north- towards the castle -when he was a young boy.

He headed over to the square, making friendly conversation with merchants, playing with some of the children. But that’s not why he was here.

Truth be told, this wasn’t even his jurisdiction. He patrolled the west more often than not. But his eyes settled on a frail old woman, selling her pastries. He smiled.

“Mrs. Dresel,” he greeted, tipping his head. “Good to see you again.”

“Oh, Johnny!” she said, her voice crackly and high but oh so sweet. He grimaced at the name, but made no remark- just settling on a polite smile. “I haven’t seen you in ages! Look how big you are!”

“Yes, I have gotten quite big,” he said, looking at her array of pastries. His eyes landed on two rolled buns- stuffed with strawberry jam and drizzled with honey. He fished through the pocket of his trousers. “How much for two?”

“10 Den,” she said, wrapping the two up for him. “I have a feeling you aren’t just here for the pastries, Johnny,” she said, giving him a knowing smirk. He sighed, shaking his head and clicking his tongue.

“No, ma’am, I’m not,” he admitted, handing her the Den and taking the pastries. “I was wondering- do you remember a fire in this side of town?” he asked her.

“A fire?” she repeated, looking up as she thought. She scratched her head, getting flakes of pastry in her graying hair.

He pressed further. “One that left a girl badly burned.”

“Oh, heavens no,” she said with a wave of her wrinkly hand. “No, we haven’t had anything like that. Why?”

John smiled politely. “Just Knight business, ma’am. Don’t be concerned. Have a good day, Mrs. Dresel,” he said, tipping his head again before heading off down the street.

He huffed, stuffing the pastries in his pocket. He knew it- there hadn’t been a fire, at least not here. Still, he best check the logs.

It didn’t make sense. Why would she lie? Why wouldn’t she want to be seen? He wasn’t there to arrest her- though, maybe he should be.

~~~~~

John rubbed his eyes, strained and tired. He’d been reading old logs for hours, faded handwriting lit only by the candle burning next to him.

This is ridiculous.

He had a monster to catch- one that he had no description for. That’s what he should be searching for- not some woman in the woods.

Perhaps she was mad. That could explain it.

But she didn’t sound mad. She sounded like any other villager. And even she recognized the absurdity of the King’s goose chase.

“Oi!”

Another Knight banged on the table he was at, pulling John from his thoughts. He jumped, color rising to his cheeks as he rolled his eyes.

“What the hell do you want, Smith?” he grumbled, setting the log book down.

Smith grinned, sitting on the table. “Just wanted to see how your monster hunt was going,” he replied with a snicker.

John glared at him. “About as well as you’d think, given no direction.”

“I heard it’s a crow,” Smith started, boyish grin growing larger. “Big, black wings, sharp talons- sharper than your sword. Ugly thing, supposedly.”

“And where’d you hear that?” he asked, voice gruff with annoyance.

“Rumors from when I was just a lad,” he said, hopping off the desk to pace. “Mum used to call it a fallen angel- swore she saw it once, in the dead of night.”

John resisted the urge to roll his eyes again. She ran a hand through his beard, scratching at the skin. “Right. Well, if I see it, I’ll tell you,” he said in a grumble.

Smith clicked his tongue. “Atta boy. Now- what the hell are you doing with the old logs?”

“You should learn to mind your business,” Price snapped, earning an amused chuckle from Smith.

“Oh, I see.”

“See what?”

Smith just grinned. “Is this for a maiden?”

Price froze. He felt his cheeks warm up- though he chalked it up to annoyance. “…yes. But not in that way-“

“In what way, then?” he asked cheekily.

“None of your concern-“

“Price’s got a little lady!” he exclaimed.

“I do not-“

“Who would’ve ever thought? You finally settling down-“

“Fuck off, Smith,” Price finally growled, slamming the log book shut and looking up at him angrily.

Smith, already halfway out the door, replied, “Night, Price~!”

The door closed, and John was alone again. He closed his eyes, leaning back in his chair. A crow? A fallen angel? Smith was known for his stories, that’s for sure.

“Ridiculous,” he muttered, blowing out the candle and heading to his quarters.

~~~~

The next morning, he hopped on Obsidian and headed back out to the woods. He knocked on her door once more. “Miss Adelaide?” he called gruffly.

“Hang on!” she called back. He heard the curtain close. “Come in!”

John opened the door, walking into the dark house once more. It smelled wonderful- whatever stew she had over the fire made him realize he had skipped breakfast.

“What has you out here again?” she asked him, back in her corner.

“You,” he replied, pulling something wrapped in cloth from his pocket. “I-“ he stopped, a sudden sense of nervousness filling him. He cleared his throat. “I brought you some of Mrs. Dresel’s pastries,” he admitted, growing a bit sheepish. His face flooded with warmth.

“…you did?” she asked quietly. He nodded.

“If you don’t want them, I won’t be upset-“

“No, I do want them,” she said, sounding surprised. He realized she wouldn’t come get them, and he set them on her table.

“Well- good.”

A hush fell over them, a bit tense. He looked around her home, and cleared his throat again. “Uh- seen any monsters?” he asked.

She laughed a little. “No, I haven’t,” she replied. He nodded.

“Me either,” he grumbled, shoulders relaxing a bit. She snorted.

“The King’s lost it,” she murmured, and John sighed. He didn’t correct her, or warn her. He just silently agreed.

“I had a fellow knight tell me that he believes it’s a crow,” he said, glancing at her house again.

“A crow?” she asked in a high pitched laugh. He wasn’t quite sure what was funny, but he didn’t comment.

“Yes. Big black wings, talons. Apparently,” he said, looking back to her corner.

“Sounds hideous,” she commented, and he heard her shift.

“It sounds fake,” he replied, rolling his eyes. “It’s ridiculous. I’ve served under the King for fifteen years, and he-“ John’s hands balled up into fist, and he took a breath to calm down. He looked out the door, eyes on the leaves trembling in the wind. “I apologize,” he said softly to her, looking back to her corner.

“It’s alright. You aren’t the first Knight I’ve seen angry,” she said shortly.

John’s brain was swimming. Should he ask? It would be rude- and he really didn’t want to arrest her. But Knights aren’t rude or angry for no reason.

“…what do you mean by that?” he finally asked, hand absentmindedly drifting to the hilt of his sword. He could almost feel the blanket of discomfort wrap around them.

She was silent. He heard her huff- he could just imagine her rolling her eyes. “You people tend to have quite the temper,” she remarked.

“Only if provoked,” he replied.

“Only if afraid-“

“Knights are not afraid.”

“Call it stupidity, then,” she snapped.

“Watch your mouth, Adelaide,” he boomed, stepping towards her dark corner. He heard the rustling of her shifting.

Silence.

He rolled his eyes at himself, moving his hand away from his sword. He let out a sigh, pinching the bridge of his nose. “…I apologize, ma’am, I didn’t intend-“

His eyes caught something in the corner of her home. A couple large, black feathers. He froze, heartbeat shooting up to his ears and brain working double time.

“…I found them outside, I thought I could use them to stuff my pillow-“

“Reveal yourself.”

A beat.

“…excuse me?” she asked in a shaking voice.

“I said: Reveal yourself,” he demanded again, hand moving back to the hilt of his sword. He glared into her corner, heart racing.

“…John, you know I am burned-“

“In a fire that never happened?” he snapped, drawing his sword with a haunting ring.

“John-“ she pleaded.

“Do not make me repeat myself.”

She fell silent again. Slowly, she pulled back the curtains.

Light flooded the room, making him blink in surprise. When he finally saw her, his jaw dropped. Piercing black eyes stared back at him, full of sorrow. Two big black wings folded behind her back, sharp talons on the ends of her black fingers, and a beak-like nose adorned her features. Her skin was smoky along the edges of her hairline and small black dots littered her skin.

John staggered backwards, faltering for a moment before putting his sword back up. Adelaide wasn’t a woman- she was a monster. His monster- the one he was sent to kill. His arm shook. He swallowed. Stepping towards her with a hateful look in his eyes.

She looked up at him with those dark eyes, exhausted and knowing. “Can I eat my pastry before you kill me?”

Taglist:

#fallen feathers #knight!johnprice #knight!price #call of duty #captain price #john price #captain john price #cod mw22 #writing #fanfic #cod #cod fanfic #cod mw2

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