Arwen

Arwen stuck her tongue out at the retreating figure of her mother. It was childish, she knew, and not at all like anything her namesake would do, and that's why she liked doing it.

What was the big deal about Lord of the Rings, anyway? She'd been stuck with the name; she'd had to deal with moony girls and boys in high school when the movies came out, and she'd just about had it.

She was not, she repeated, not going to have a Lord of the Rings wedding. No elfin flowers, no medieval wedding dress, no church decked out like a clearing in the forest. Her nuptials would be fun; she had the Elvis Chapel in Las Vegas booked already.

This Arwen was as stubborn as the first, and every bit as willing to defy her parents.

© 2009 Cynthia Newcomer Daniel

Seed beads, Swarovski crystals and pearls, freshwater pearls. Hand fabricated.

Wine Country

She gave the car a little more gas coming out of a gentle curve in the road, and laughed as the wind whipped her hair across her face. On both sides of the road were vineyards as far as the eye could see; rows and rows of grapes, winding their way up and around the gentle hills.

In the spring and summer, the vines were green; but now the leaves that were left were red and brown. The grapes had been harvested, and the new vintage celebrated. Just a few weeks ago, the roads had been clogged with tourists drinking their way through the Harvest Wine Weekend; today it was completely empty and hers alone.

Another perfect day.

© 2009 Cynthia Newcomer Daniel

Copper, crystals, seed beads. Hand fabricated. This piece won a Design of Distinction in the Use the Muse III competition.

Echoes of Angels

Karin was late again. It was the one thing she'd promised she'd never do again; he couldn't stand to be kept waiting, she knew that, and she'd sworn that she'd be on time tonight. Well, she could kiss that resolution goodbye. It just wasn't going to happen.

What was it about Geoff that turned her into a dithering fool? She'd never worried about her appearance with any other man, but with Geoff, she spent time she didn't have making sure that everything was exactly right. She loved how he noticed every little detail of her appearance; she loved the way he he put his hand on the small of her back and guided her into a room, subtly announcing that this beautiful woman belonged to him. She'd never had anyone expect so much from her before.

She'd always known she was beautiful, and she'd never had to do anything but throw on a pair of jeans and show up to please her previous boyfriends, but with Geoff, she felt the need to make sure every inch of her was perfectly turned out. He hated sloppiness even more than he hated being late. Time to go. Past time to go. She wondered if he would be mad, or if he would still be waiting for her. Sometimes he showed his displeasure by leaving before she arrived.

And then; quickly, obliquely, she wondered if that was what she'd wanted all along.

© 2009 Cynthia Newcomer Daniel

Seed beads, Swarovski Crystals, faceted vintage glass, lampwork by Melissa Vess. Hand fabricated.