Post by Rosie on Aug 1, 2010 8:06:46 GMT 10
Title: Something Borrowed
Rating: PG-13
Length: 574
Summary: Sacherell goes about fixing Jon's problems.
Orginal and Subsequent Haunts: Goldenlake, TKO.
--
Douglass could think of worse sentences than, "We need to talk", but right now, that was probably up there with, "I'm afraid we've found your bear's head".
It was the expression on Sacherell's face that tipped him off to the fact that this was not going to be another conversation about Douglass stealing the covers. Of course, it would be a good tactic, were that Sacherell's intention. Douglass would sleep uncovered on the floor for the rest of his life to take away that pinched, tight look.
He didn't let that show, though, and gripped his currently still intact teddy in one hand. "All right," Douglass said easily enough, jumping up onto his bed. "What is it we need to talk about?"
Sacherell hadn't been this serious since he'd left the Chamber of the Ordeal. Inwardly, Douglass contemplated releasing Lord Theodore and embracing Sacherell instead, but then, Lord Theodore didn't look like he was about to say something Douglass didn't want to hear. "Gwynnen," he said hoarsely.
Some of the tension left Douglass's chest. Not a problem for them, then. "Does she not know which shade to wear to the ball tonight?" he snorted, unable to help sounding snide after the shock he'd just received. "From what I can see, she's had plenty of attention lately."
"That's the problem, Dougy," Sacherell said gently. "It's Jon. You know he's not been right since Alanna - well, since he came back from the desert. Geoffrey thinks it might be all the Voice business, messing up his head, but then, Geoffrey's never had girl problems."
"Neither have you," Douglass put in.
It raised a smile from Sacherell, but one that was only fleeting. "Look, Dougy, I've been sworn to secrecy, but... I can't not tell you, I don't care what she says." He paused, and in the yawning gap before he started to speak again, a million possibilities raced through Douglass's mind. "Jon got Gwynnen pregnant."
Douglass inhaled sharply, the enormity of the issue hitting him immediately. He could feel his blood pounding in his ears, because he knew what this meant. He knew how Sacherell would have reacted to the news. "You're-"
"I asked her to marry me," Sacherell confirmed, his eyes searching Douglass's face. "The wedding needs to be soon; fortunately, it seems she caught the pregnancy early."
There was a fortunate side to this?
"I..."
He trailed off, because there was simply too much to be said - and in the end, it would be easier for them both if he left it unsaid.
"I know," Sacherell said heavily. "I feel the same. You'll look after Jon, though, won't you? He can't ever know, Douglass, but he can't go on like this. If he gets that Copper Isles princess pregnant next, it'll cause an international incident, and Tortall can't take that, not with Queen Lianne in her condition."
Douglass nodded, rubbing his face. He didn't know whether he liked Sacherell speaking for him; the echo of their closeness made his heart ache. This was the beginning of the end of it, after all. Whatever they had been to one another would fade into half-forgotten memories, the substance of happy teenage years. "I'm not sure Josiane's human enough to get pregnant, but I'll speak to Gary anyway. We'll work something out." He looked up at Sacherell, fingers tightening around his bear. "Congratulations, then. I suppose the sooner you leave, the better. For Gwynnen, that is."
Rating: PG-13
Length: 574
Summary: Sacherell goes about fixing Jon's problems.
Orginal and Subsequent Haunts: Goldenlake, TKO.
--
Douglass could think of worse sentences than, "We need to talk", but right now, that was probably up there with, "I'm afraid we've found your bear's head".
It was the expression on Sacherell's face that tipped him off to the fact that this was not going to be another conversation about Douglass stealing the covers. Of course, it would be a good tactic, were that Sacherell's intention. Douglass would sleep uncovered on the floor for the rest of his life to take away that pinched, tight look.
He didn't let that show, though, and gripped his currently still intact teddy in one hand. "All right," Douglass said easily enough, jumping up onto his bed. "What is it we need to talk about?"
Sacherell hadn't been this serious since he'd left the Chamber of the Ordeal. Inwardly, Douglass contemplated releasing Lord Theodore and embracing Sacherell instead, but then, Lord Theodore didn't look like he was about to say something Douglass didn't want to hear. "Gwynnen," he said hoarsely.
Some of the tension left Douglass's chest. Not a problem for them, then. "Does she not know which shade to wear to the ball tonight?" he snorted, unable to help sounding snide after the shock he'd just received. "From what I can see, she's had plenty of attention lately."
"That's the problem, Dougy," Sacherell said gently. "It's Jon. You know he's not been right since Alanna - well, since he came back from the desert. Geoffrey thinks it might be all the Voice business, messing up his head, but then, Geoffrey's never had girl problems."
"Neither have you," Douglass put in.
It raised a smile from Sacherell, but one that was only fleeting. "Look, Dougy, I've been sworn to secrecy, but... I can't not tell you, I don't care what she says." He paused, and in the yawning gap before he started to speak again, a million possibilities raced through Douglass's mind. "Jon got Gwynnen pregnant."
Douglass inhaled sharply, the enormity of the issue hitting him immediately. He could feel his blood pounding in his ears, because he knew what this meant. He knew how Sacherell would have reacted to the news. "You're-"
"I asked her to marry me," Sacherell confirmed, his eyes searching Douglass's face. "The wedding needs to be soon; fortunately, it seems she caught the pregnancy early."
There was a fortunate side to this?
"I..."
He trailed off, because there was simply too much to be said - and in the end, it would be easier for them both if he left it unsaid.
"I know," Sacherell said heavily. "I feel the same. You'll look after Jon, though, won't you? He can't ever know, Douglass, but he can't go on like this. If he gets that Copper Isles princess pregnant next, it'll cause an international incident, and Tortall can't take that, not with Queen Lianne in her condition."
Douglass nodded, rubbing his face. He didn't know whether he liked Sacherell speaking for him; the echo of their closeness made his heart ache. This was the beginning of the end of it, after all. Whatever they had been to one another would fade into half-forgotten memories, the substance of happy teenage years. "I'm not sure Josiane's human enough to get pregnant, but I'll speak to Gary anyway. We'll work something out." He looked up at Sacherell, fingers tightening around his bear. "Congratulations, then. I suppose the sooner you leave, the better. For Gwynnen, that is."