Post by wordy on Mar 22, 2012 12:37:38 GMT 10
Title: Conviction
Rating: PG
Summary: AU. Alanna had her shield taken away, and Gary is appointed King’s Champion.
A/N: #3 in my Steadfast 'verse. #1 and #2.
When the master of ceremonies finally released him from the mornings's rehearsals, Gary returned to find that his rooms weren't quite the haven of peace and solitude he had been wishing for.
"Why so glum? asked Raoul, rolling off the bed and taking a seat at Gary's desk instead. His dark curls were rumpled, no doubt from a very long nap.
Gary sighed and collapsed onto the bed. "My knees are killing me."
"Well, I don't find that surpising at all - "
The resulting squawk when Gary threw a pillow across the room was very satisfying. "I'm not in the mood for your poor attempts at humour. That Oakbridge fellow is a deranged perfectionist and Jon apparently finds it amusing to play up to him."
"It's only a few more days," reasoned Raoul. "Then you won't even have to face Jon being smug, if you like. Ride off somewhere; surely a Champion can defend his name anywhere in the country."
Gary propped himself up on an elbow. "It's tempting. Or maybe on the day of the coronation I'll just throw my sword at him and tell him to find someone else. I'll probably snap in half at the knees if I try to kneel again." It was rather enjoyable, picturing what Jon's face would look like.
Raoul laughed, but sobered rather quickly. "You can't do that, though."
"Why not?"
"When Jon finds himself without a King's Champion, guess who he'll come to next?" Raoul's eyes narrowed at him.
"Ah, you've caught me out," said Gary. He flopped down again and raised a hand to his forehead, all Player.
He felt the matress depress beside him. "The coronation will be fine. You'll be fine."
After a moment's silence, Gary cleared his throat. "How can you be sure?" he asked, faintly embarrassed at how thick his voice came out. He had thought he'd moved on from these doubts. But what if he never got over it?
"I'm sure," said Raoul, "because if I were king, I'd want you to be my Champion. Now, get some rest."
Gary felt Raoul's weight lift from the mattress and listened as he closed the door behind him. After focusing on the steady beating of his heart for a few seconds, he moved is hand from his face to stare up at the ceiling. Maybe he would always have doubts. And maybe it didn't matter.
Grabbing his pillow and shoving it back under his head, he closed his eyes and waited for sleep.
Rating: PG
Summary: AU. Alanna had her shield taken away, and Gary is appointed King’s Champion.
A/N: #3 in my Steadfast 'verse. #1 and #2.
When the master of ceremonies finally released him from the mornings's rehearsals, Gary returned to find that his rooms weren't quite the haven of peace and solitude he had been wishing for.
"Why so glum? asked Raoul, rolling off the bed and taking a seat at Gary's desk instead. His dark curls were rumpled, no doubt from a very long nap.
Gary sighed and collapsed onto the bed. "My knees are killing me."
"Well, I don't find that surpising at all - "
The resulting squawk when Gary threw a pillow across the room was very satisfying. "I'm not in the mood for your poor attempts at humour. That Oakbridge fellow is a deranged perfectionist and Jon apparently finds it amusing to play up to him."
"It's only a few more days," reasoned Raoul. "Then you won't even have to face Jon being smug, if you like. Ride off somewhere; surely a Champion can defend his name anywhere in the country."
Gary propped himself up on an elbow. "It's tempting. Or maybe on the day of the coronation I'll just throw my sword at him and tell him to find someone else. I'll probably snap in half at the knees if I try to kneel again." It was rather enjoyable, picturing what Jon's face would look like.
Raoul laughed, but sobered rather quickly. "You can't do that, though."
"Why not?"
"When Jon finds himself without a King's Champion, guess who he'll come to next?" Raoul's eyes narrowed at him.
"Ah, you've caught me out," said Gary. He flopped down again and raised a hand to his forehead, all Player.
He felt the matress depress beside him. "The coronation will be fine. You'll be fine."
After a moment's silence, Gary cleared his throat. "How can you be sure?" he asked, faintly embarrassed at how thick his voice came out. He had thought he'd moved on from these doubts. But what if he never got over it?
"I'm sure," said Raoul, "because if I were king, I'd want you to be my Champion. Now, get some rest."
Gary felt Raoul's weight lift from the mattress and listened as he closed the door behind him. After focusing on the steady beating of his heart for a few seconds, he moved is hand from his face to stare up at the ceiling. Maybe he would always have doubts. And maybe it didn't matter.
Grabbing his pillow and shoving it back under his head, he closed his eyes and waited for sleep.