The Crusades

I am researching the Crusades at the moment in order to get some experience in warfare for my books. Of all the battles in history for me right now the Crusades are the most interesting. You have very clear cut "who is who", there were many of them and the men for fighting for a set goal. I am speaking from the Frankish side, which is where most of my research comes from as it has been translated into English and is easy to find online. Reading the chronicles is quite hard, considering I am revising at the same time. So I have been watching some documentaries on Youtube. Unfortunately they are all the documentaries I watched when I studied Medieval History at college. However this video is very cute! for crusades that is. It was written for a game but I think it sums up the Crusades also and has pretty cute diagrams.

Characters

I am in love with Cerys, she is amazing. She has been a character who has grown with me, she was with me during the worst times and she and I grew together. Reading back when I first began I see how much she changed over the book and how much she struggled. As someone who is often very sensitive about herself, it gives me confidence to see how wonderful she is and how there is no one else like her. When she first began she was so young she was like a child then she became a woman, a Queen. She struggled to find her voice just as I have struggled. She still has her problems and is still shy and wary of others but it is not a bad thing. She is unlike any other heroine I have read. I hope that this is a good thing.



Whereas Cerys is quite young and unsure of herself, the character of my next book, as soon as I finish my current novel will be much older. She will be very sure of herself. I have chosen the name Angelique for her and she is the opposite of Cerys, whereas Cerys was quiet, Angelique is loud. Whereas Cerys was demure, Angelique speaks her mind. Angelique is the supporter of the main character Rana, in fact she is his only support. She watches over him throughout the book and does all she can for him. However in one part of the book she will come into conflict with Rana, Angelique may be strong but in this scene she will be vulnerable. Angelique is an angry character and feels very strongly. But in this scene she will denounce love in all it's forms. She wishes to be independent and fears the idea of someone else being "half" of her, she never wants to be like those women. I think I will enjoy finding out about Angelique as I write her.
(Sorry CLAMP for using your image but I haven't commissioned an artist as yet ^-^)

Swan Lake

It's one of my life's dreams to see this ballet. Princess Tutu is a beautiful Japanese series and introduced me to the ballet *blush*. I love the interplay between dark and light. In the first video her triumph over the prince is stunning and so powerful. In some versions, the evil force behind the black swan dances with her, as see in the second video, lending her seduction his powers. Beautiful.



The second, a little less close but still as beautiful.

Tomorrow Is The Day

Reynadine

Her ruby lips and cherry cheeks, the lass of Firmadie, ^[4]

She fainted in my arms there, all on the mountains high,

When I had kissed her once or twice, she came to herself again,

And said kind Sir be civil and tell to me your name.

Go down in yonder forest, my castle there you'll find,

Well wrote in ancient history, my name is Rynadine:

Come all you pretty fair maids, a warning take by me,

Be sure you quit night walking, and shun bad company,

For if you don't you are sure to rue until the day you die

Beware of meeting Rynadine all on the mountains high.