Sunshine Challenge fic: Gather your memories against the dark

[dolorosa_12]

I have written a ficlet in response to the second prompt of the sunshine_challenge, which is the word 'orange'.

The fic is in the Lions of Al-Rassan fandom, and you can find it on Ao3.

Gather Your Memories Against the Dark (788 words) by Dolorosa
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: The Lions of Al-Rassan - Guy Gavriel Kay
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Rodrigo Belmonte/Jehane bet Ishak/Ammar ibn Khairan, future Rodrigo Belmonte/Jehane bet Ishak/Ammar ibn Khairan/Miranda Belmonte
Characters: Jehane bet Ishak, Ammar ibn Khairan, Rodrigo Belmonte
Summary:

Late at night in the winter darkness, Ammar, Jehane, and Rodrigo carve out a memory for themselves.

This fic was written for the 2020 Sunshine Challenge, to the prompt of 'orange'.

As soon as I saw the prompt, I knew I wanted to write something for this fandom, and I have spent much of the past two days rereading this gorgeous, tragic, beautiful book, which is among my favourite things I've ever read. Much of the weight of its story is the terrible knowing grief that suffuses it — of a beautiful world and culture dancing towards its own destruction, and of three wonderful, brave, clever people who love this world with all their being, but whose own bravery and cleverness are in part what brings about its inevitable destruction. I don't have it in me to rewrite that ending, but I thought at least I could give the three of them a brief moment of light and happiness.

Comments

[iberiandoctor]

aaaa! You know how this is the fandom of my heart! Heading over to read now <3 <3

[dolorosa_12]

Awww, that's so lovely to hear! I love this fandom so, so, so much, and Andalucía is one of my favourite parts of the world.

(I feel I ought to apologise pre-emptively: this is a very short fic, written more quickly than I would normally take, in response to a prompt for a challenge. Although there aren't many fics for this fandom, those that exist are of extremely high quality, and I have to admit I felt a little daunted even trying to write one myself!)

[iberiandoctor]

There is absolutely a paucity of fics in the fandom, which is why I am so glad you've written this one <3

I love Andalucia, too, and this canon, which is a love letter to three different cultures and a love story involving three very different people coming together in love and understanding rather than discord, seems even more important today ...

[dolorosa_12]

I love Andalucia, too, and this canon, which is a love letter to three different cultures and a love story involving three very different people coming together in love and understanding rather than discord, seems even more important today

Exactly so, and that is why it is among my very favourite books of all time.

🧡

[oldtoadwoman]

I don't know this book, but I will take your enthusiasm for it as a recommendation and add it to my to-read list.

Re: 🧡

[dolorosa_12]

Awww, that's lovely to hear!

(And thank you for your wonderful icons that you've made for the sunshine_challenge — they're so bright and happy!)

Re: 🧡

[oldtoadwoman]

I'm glad you liked them! I find making icons a relaxing past-time. It's like coloring; I get to make a pretty picture without having to start from scratch. (Though I sometimes enjoy making original art from scratch too.)

[lirazel]

Oh wonderful! I also really loved this book when I read it a few years ago! I don't want to read your fic right now because I know that I wouldn't appreciate it all because I've forgotten so much of the book, but when I reread the book (and your post has definitely made me want to do that!), I will be so excited to read your fic!

[dolorosa_12]

Oh, excellent! The book is so, so good (for reasons that iberiandoctor has outlined so well in the comment above), and very close to my heart. Writing fic for it was daunting, as although there's not much on Ao3, what is there is of very high quality. I hope you enjoy the book (and the fic) when you get around to reading them.

[lirazel]

Yes, the better the original canon is, the more intimidating it is to write fic for it! It's great that you went through with it.

I actually have been meaning to reread the book for several years now, so hopefully this will give me the nudge I needed!