I wrote Cadfael slash...

[wiseheart]

Now, before anyone starts calling me a hypocrite - after all, I've ranted against the very same thing more than once - I hurry to point out that Cadfael himself isn't involved. Neither is Hugh Beringar, nor any of the other canonically happily married characters. Just that it's clear.

No, the two people being slashed are (the late) Prince Anarawd of Deulbaeth (sp???) and his faithful friend/guard/foster brother (no true blood ties between them, so no incest, either), who grew up with him, gave his arm to protect him, and when he failed, only kept on living for the vengeance. In other words, the short piece I've written takes place before "The Summer of the Danes", at the dawn of the very day on which Anarawd and Cuhelyn would set off on their fateful journey.

Yeah, I know. I was dedicated to finish frigging Web of Darkness next, as only two or three chapters are left to be written. Instead I not only wrote another chapter to Vox Angelica (well, almost an entire chapter), I also spent my every free minute with researching 12th century Wales, Owain Gwynedd, his family, the Welsh kingdoms of that era and Anarawd himself, who, interestingly enough, was an actual historic character.

It was very interesting, in truth, but now I'm well behind my self-appointed schedule again. Plus, I've started another new story, which I swore not to do before finishing "Web". But Prince Anarawd was suffering from serious sexual deprivation (commonly known as blue balls) and wouldn't leave me alone until I let him have some. *sighs*

Muses are capricious creatures.

Edit: I know the chances are slim, but would any Brits be interested in doing the beta work? It's mostly grammar cleaning, as usual, and perhaps picking out the overly modern-sounding phrases, should there be any...

In the unlikely case that there would be any volunteers, the first part has been posted to hiddenrealms.

Edit #2: Of course, in the equally unlikely case that you simply want to read the story, you're very welcome to do so. I keep bumping up this dratted post in the disillusional hope that someone actually might read the stuff one day. Even shamelessly self-promoted it at shrewsburymonk, but to no end, so far.

Sometimes I'm really wondering why I still bother.