Post by Rosie on Jul 23, 2011 0:52:43 GMT 10
Title: Pulling Threads
Rating: PG-13
Couple: Gareth I/Roanna
Event: Donkey Discus
Word Count: 472
Summary: Roanna summons Gareth to the solarium under false pretences. Based off my AU fic. Thanks to Lisa for betaing, and she accepts the blame for the final three paragraphs. This is the last in the series!
Warning: potential triggers, not explicit.
"You took longer than I expected."
Gareth nearly dropped his stack of papers on opening the door. "Your Majesty. I was expecting-"
"My brother?" Roanna's mouth curled into a smile, but her eyes were strangely empty. "I thought you'd know for certain that the note was actually from me when it told you to meet me in the solarium. Or did you often reconvene with Alun here?"
In truth, Gareth's mind had been so preoccupied with Roanna and thoughts of the last time he had even entered the solarium all those years ago that he hadn't suspected a ruse. It looked much different in the daytime, the late autumn sunshine sending rays through the glass ceiling. The more marked difference was in Roanna, looking frail and wan against the golden cushions.
Knowing he shouldn't, Gareth closed the door.
"It's been a while," Roanna said quietly, picking at the embroidery on the cushion next to her. "We haven't been alone together since that first day at the summer palace, when you were called away. Urgently. You weren't really called away, though, were you?"
Mutely, he shook his head.
"I knew you weren't; I asked the guards. No messengers that day, not for you. You were going to kiss me that afternoon."
"Roanna, please - we cannot speak this way."
Roanna pursed her lips, beginning to unravel the stitching on the cushion. "Why not? I love you, Gareth. I have loved you since I was a girl, and crawling into my husband's bed felt like a betrayal of you - of what we were, or could have been."
He came to kneel at her feet, at once thrilling and nervous at being so close to her. "Roanna - Mithros, you're burning up. You are not well."
She half-smiled at him, some of the life coming back into her eyes. "I am well enough. It is easier with you here. Will you promise me you won't go anywhere?"
"I will stay if you ask it of me," he said in a low voice, "though truly, I think it best for all of us if I find other engagements."
Roanna took his hands in hers, trembling. "I lost the baby, Gareth. Roald left as soon as he could be sure I was going to live. He doesn't care for Caitlyn - she wasn't enough for him. He's gone to Naxen." She pressed her lips to his knuckles. "I'm yours. If you will have me."
Gareth stared up at her, his fingers tightening in hers. "Truly?"
"Truly," she confirmed. "Do you know, I used to fear that you would find somebody else, and I would have to watch you in wedded bliss?"
He smiled, because now, at least, that life was behind them. "There was no danger of that. There was never anyone for me but you."
Rating: PG-13
Couple: Gareth I/Roanna
Event: Donkey Discus
Word Count: 472
Summary: Roanna summons Gareth to the solarium under false pretences. Based off my AU fic. Thanks to Lisa for betaing, and she accepts the blame for the final three paragraphs. This is the last in the series!
Warning: potential triggers, not explicit.
"You took longer than I expected."
Gareth nearly dropped his stack of papers on opening the door. "Your Majesty. I was expecting-"
"My brother?" Roanna's mouth curled into a smile, but her eyes were strangely empty. "I thought you'd know for certain that the note was actually from me when it told you to meet me in the solarium. Or did you often reconvene with Alun here?"
In truth, Gareth's mind had been so preoccupied with Roanna and thoughts of the last time he had even entered the solarium all those years ago that he hadn't suspected a ruse. It looked much different in the daytime, the late autumn sunshine sending rays through the glass ceiling. The more marked difference was in Roanna, looking frail and wan against the golden cushions.
Knowing he shouldn't, Gareth closed the door.
"It's been a while," Roanna said quietly, picking at the embroidery on the cushion next to her. "We haven't been alone together since that first day at the summer palace, when you were called away. Urgently. You weren't really called away, though, were you?"
Mutely, he shook his head.
"I knew you weren't; I asked the guards. No messengers that day, not for you. You were going to kiss me that afternoon."
"Roanna, please - we cannot speak this way."
Roanna pursed her lips, beginning to unravel the stitching on the cushion. "Why not? I love you, Gareth. I have loved you since I was a girl, and crawling into my husband's bed felt like a betrayal of you - of what we were, or could have been."
He came to kneel at her feet, at once thrilling and nervous at being so close to her. "Roanna - Mithros, you're burning up. You are not well."
She half-smiled at him, some of the life coming back into her eyes. "I am well enough. It is easier with you here. Will you promise me you won't go anywhere?"
"I will stay if you ask it of me," he said in a low voice, "though truly, I think it best for all of us if I find other engagements."
Roanna took his hands in hers, trembling. "I lost the baby, Gareth. Roald left as soon as he could be sure I was going to live. He doesn't care for Caitlyn - she wasn't enough for him. He's gone to Naxen." She pressed her lips to his knuckles. "I'm yours. If you will have me."
Gareth stared up at her, his fingers tightening in hers. "Truly?"
"Truly," she confirmed. "Do you know, I used to fear that you would find somebody else, and I would have to watch you in wedded bliss?"
He smiled, because now, at least, that life was behind them. "There was no danger of that. There was never anyone for me but you."