Iago, by shimere277 (Gen)

[alinewrites.livejournal.com]

Title: Iago
Author on LJ: shimere277Author's website: none
Fandom: Drake's venture
Pairing: none

Why this must be read: This is a very short piece. It takes place long after Drake's return, and still long after his success against the Spanish fleet. He is at the end of his life, and he is bored. He meets a young playwriter who is always in search of inspiration...

 "Iago" is history at his best and an awesome ficlet. It's full of longing for a ghost from the past while the present is already fading. Only the figure of a young Shakespeare stands out of the shadows, vivid and brilliant.


Shakespeare knows he’s playing a dangerous game, but his profession is the most dangerous there is.  He writes histories knowing full well if their propaganda does not suit the prevailing winds, he might end up out of favor and fast in gaol.  Yet he is wily enough to slide the knife of truth between the slices of his well-buttered bread.  What he was about to say to Elizabeth Drake was this: What manner of man would systematically discredit and destroy his closest friend?  And then he realized that it was as if he had made a wish to view the reaches of farthest Africa and found himself suddenly presented with a lion in his chambers.

So of course, the writer invites the lion to sup and hopes that he shall not become the meal.



Read it Here