Post by Rosie on Nov 15, 2011 7:32:46 GMT 10
Title: Fool Me Once
Rating: PG
Prompt: #35, Humility
Summary: Gareth considers the aftermath of Alanna's fight with Roger. Many thanks to Lisa for betaing, especially for the snappy ending.
"She was a girl all along," Gareth said thoughtfully, beginning to unbutton his shirt.
"What do you make of it?" Roanna asked. She had been in bed for a good half-an-hour, having chosen to retire early from the hysteria. Now, she laid aside the book she hadn't been able to read, awaiting her husband's assessment.
Her sharp eyes noted his hands trembling as they laid his shirt over his chair. "It must have been challenging for her. I told you, I thought Alan was on a course to be better than me, someday."
She slipped out of bed as he stripped off his breeches, and then held out his favourite brocade robe out for him. It was a small measure of comfort, but one she knew he'd need. Roanna smiled at him and helped him into the robe.
Gareth tied a knot around his waist, and then tugged Roanna close, his arms tight around her. "I can't believe I didn't notice - not all those years," he said bitterly.
"You weren't supposed to," Roanna said, choosing her words with care - knowing that they were talking about two events at once.
"What use am I as - as training master, as Prime Minister, as Champion, if I can't see what a foolish boy is up to?"
Roanna pressed her lips to his cheek. "A great deal of use. He had no care for anybody else but himself, remember that."
Gareth nodded, pulling away, looking frighteningly old all of a sudden. She had never considered him to be old before, not really, and a fierce hatred for Roger coursed through her.
"She is still alive," Roanna offered, knowing not whether she spoke of Alanna or Lianne now. "You're a part of that. Don't forget it."
"I will never forget this night," Gareth said hollowly, and there was nothing more to be said.
(The End)
Rating: PG
Prompt: #35, Humility
Summary: Gareth considers the aftermath of Alanna's fight with Roger. Many thanks to Lisa for betaing, especially for the snappy ending.
"She was a girl all along," Gareth said thoughtfully, beginning to unbutton his shirt.
"What do you make of it?" Roanna asked. She had been in bed for a good half-an-hour, having chosen to retire early from the hysteria. Now, she laid aside the book she hadn't been able to read, awaiting her husband's assessment.
Her sharp eyes noted his hands trembling as they laid his shirt over his chair. "It must have been challenging for her. I told you, I thought Alan was on a course to be better than me, someday."
She slipped out of bed as he stripped off his breeches, and then held out his favourite brocade robe out for him. It was a small measure of comfort, but one she knew he'd need. Roanna smiled at him and helped him into the robe.
Gareth tied a knot around his waist, and then tugged Roanna close, his arms tight around her. "I can't believe I didn't notice - not all those years," he said bitterly.
"You weren't supposed to," Roanna said, choosing her words with care - knowing that they were talking about two events at once.
"What use am I as - as training master, as Prime Minister, as Champion, if I can't see what a foolish boy is up to?"
Roanna pressed her lips to his cheek. "A great deal of use. He had no care for anybody else but himself, remember that."
Gareth nodded, pulling away, looking frighteningly old all of a sudden. She had never considered him to be old before, not really, and a fierce hatred for Roger coursed through her.
"She is still alive," Roanna offered, knowing not whether she spoke of Alanna or Lianne now. "You're a part of that. Don't forget it."
"I will never forget this night," Gareth said hollowly, and there was nothing more to be said.
(The End)
This is great, I can really picture Gareth reacting this way. It must have been difficult for him to wrap is head around it at first, though I love that in Lioness Rampant (?) he seems to have come to terms with Alanna. Also, the brocade robe made me giggle. 
