Post by Kypriotha on Dec 21, 2012 16:37:27 GMT 10
To: Em
Message: Merry Ficmas! (And Merry Christmas too, of course ) I hope you like your present Please excuse any sloppy/messy sentences that may have crept in!
From: Kyp
Title: One Last Midwinter
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 1270
Prompt: Gary/Raoul
Summary: Gary and Raoul have a chance for one last Midwinter together before everything changes
***
The capital was quiet. It was not surprising, given the events of the last few months. Of course, it had been hectic right after the Coronation, but now the trials were done and the pardons given and it was time for healing and rebuilding.
Jon had taken Thayet and the other nobles to the summer palace, even though the weather was not warm enough to even venture outside frequently, let alone go to the beach. The wealthier merchants and Corus folk had followed the nobles or gone to Port Caynn or to visit family in the country. Only the Lower City still hummed with activity, but even that was not its normal buzz. The return of the dead Duke and the tearing of the land were still fresh in people’s minds. That, and the weather, was enough to keep them indoors.
After the builders packed up for the day, the palace was as quiet as the rest of the city. This was the time of day Gary liked best. The peace and quiet gave him a respite from the nightmare of the past year; let him think back to happy times and almost – almost – forget the things he wished he didn’t remember.
He had helped oversee the trials and then, once his father was well enough to travel, had gone home to Naxen with his parents. But his father was on the mend now and Jon didn’t need his Prime Minister’s assistance with his courtship of the Saren Princess. So Gary had returned to the capital – ostensibly to do work, but really to get away from everyone.
Well, almost everyone.
A shadow loomed in the doorway to his office.
“I thought I’d find you here,” Raoul’s voice rumbled above Gary’s desk.
Gary raised his head from where it rested on his hands and grimaced. “I knew I should have chosen somewhere less obvious to hide.”
“It wouldn’t have mattered. I know all your hiding spots.” Raoul threw himself into the chair in front of Gary’s desk, mercifully free of papers at that time. “Not that I can understand why you’d want to hide from me.”
An idle comment that in their younger days would have been taken as the joke it was surely meant as, before being discarded. But now it hung in the air between them, hinting at past whispers and caresses that dared not be mentioned in the light of day, for fear of what might be revealed.
Gary ventured a glance at Raoul. His old friend looked mostly composed, apart from the slight pink blush creeping up his neck. Gary sighed, half in remembrance, half in exasperation. That blush always got to him.
“I wasn’t hiding from you. It’s just…everything. It’s more peaceful in here.”
Raoul nodded, no words necessary to show that he understood. It was the same for everyone. He himself had gladly taken a company to train with the Bazhir in the desert once Jon and Thayet were safely settled at the summer palace.
Silence hung in the air between them. Gary began to fiddle with the papers on the desk in front of him. Had their silences always been this uncomfortable? Their easy companionship, unchanged even as they explored other avenues, had been strained a bit by recent events. A lack of privacy and time alone, along with changing lives and growing up, will do that to the even the best of relationships, Gary reflected.
But still…when Gary was overwhelmed with work, it was Raoul who made him laugh. When Jon struggled through his grief, needing all of Gary’s support to get him through, it was Raoul who took the pain away from Gary’s own grief.
Gary didn’t want to lose Raoul, but he knew things had to change.
Raoul shifted in the chair, which creaked ominously, and cleared his throat. Almost as if he had read Gary’s mind, he asked hesitantly, “So, did you see Cythera whilst you were at Naxen?”
Gary shook his head. “No, it was just family. Mother wants Father to be kept quiet whilst he recovers.”
“I gather, then, that entertaining young ladies your mother wants you to make a match with falls outside the category of ‘quiet’?”
Now it was Gary’s turn to blush. “Mother’s not playing matchmaker between Cythera and I, if that’s what you’re trying to imply.”
Raoul raised an eyebrow. “Don’t all noble mothers play matchmaker for their eligible children?”
“Oh? Where are the eligible young ladies your mother wishes to match you with?” Gary didn’t like this conversation, which made his tone sharper than it perhaps ought to have been.
Raoul’s reply was also a bit sharp. “My position with the King’s Own protects me from that kind of parental interference. At least I don’t have to marry anyone if I don’t want to.”
Gary thought that was unfair. It wasn’t that he wanted to get married – he just didn’t want to not get married either. He knew his duty towards Naxen and the kingdom. And Cythera was a lovely young woman. Gary even fancied the two of them could be quite happy together – if other people didn’t stick their noses into their business and make things awkward.
Raoul must have seen some of the inner turmoil on his face. His voice softened. “Look, I’m sorry. I didn’t come here to have a go at you. I know this is something you have to do. I did listen to what you said, last time, and I respect it. I respect you. I won’t bring it up again. Or throw my different position in your face like that.”
Gary was truly touched. He looked down at the papers in his hands, so Raoul couldn’t see the tears in the corner of his eyes. “Thank-you. That means a lot to me.”
There was silence between them again, but this time it wasn’t uncomfortable. Gary smiled. Perhaps it was a sign that things would, eventually, return to normal and the kingdom could go on as before.
Before he could say as much to Raoul, the other knight bounced to his feet. Gary looked up, slightly alarmed at the sudden movement, to see that Raoul’s face had assumed a look of excited determination. Gary knew this look. It was the look Raoul got before he came up with some crack-brained scheme. Gary knew he should feel apprehensive, but instead he felt a slight quiver of anticipation.
“Camping!” Raoul loudly exclaimed.
“Camping?” Gary echoed, unsure of what Raoul meant, but still intrigued.
“Yes, camping! You and me. The Royal Forest. Camping. One last time, like we used to. Before everything got so crazy.”
“Camping?” Gary repeated. “In this weather? Are you mad?”
“What does the weather have to do with it? We’ve been camping in the snow before.”
“Only because we had no choice! Given the choice, however, I think I’d rather stay warm!”
Raoul waved a hand dismissively. “You’ve become soft in your cloistered office life. We have snow gear. We can light a fire. It’ll be fine.”
Gary hesitated, hovering between thinking Raoul was mad and getting caught up in his excitement.
“Come on,” Raoul urged. “When will we have another chance like this? The whole court’s away and there’s no work to be done. You need to live a little more! Take one last shot at excitement before we have to go back to our normal lives and everything changes.”
“Well…” said Gary.
Raoul smiled encouragingly. “One last Midwinter together. Just the two of us, roughing it in the forest. Just like we used to.”
Gary smiled back, finally giving in. “Okay. One last Midwinter.”
Message: Merry Ficmas! (And Merry Christmas too, of course ) I hope you like your present Please excuse any sloppy/messy sentences that may have crept in!
From: Kyp
Title: One Last Midwinter
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 1270
Prompt: Gary/Raoul
Summary: Gary and Raoul have a chance for one last Midwinter together before everything changes
***
The capital was quiet. It was not surprising, given the events of the last few months. Of course, it had been hectic right after the Coronation, but now the trials were done and the pardons given and it was time for healing and rebuilding.
Jon had taken Thayet and the other nobles to the summer palace, even though the weather was not warm enough to even venture outside frequently, let alone go to the beach. The wealthier merchants and Corus folk had followed the nobles or gone to Port Caynn or to visit family in the country. Only the Lower City still hummed with activity, but even that was not its normal buzz. The return of the dead Duke and the tearing of the land were still fresh in people’s minds. That, and the weather, was enough to keep them indoors.
After the builders packed up for the day, the palace was as quiet as the rest of the city. This was the time of day Gary liked best. The peace and quiet gave him a respite from the nightmare of the past year; let him think back to happy times and almost – almost – forget the things he wished he didn’t remember.
He had helped oversee the trials and then, once his father was well enough to travel, had gone home to Naxen with his parents. But his father was on the mend now and Jon didn’t need his Prime Minister’s assistance with his courtship of the Saren Princess. So Gary had returned to the capital – ostensibly to do work, but really to get away from everyone.
Well, almost everyone.
A shadow loomed in the doorway to his office.
“I thought I’d find you here,” Raoul’s voice rumbled above Gary’s desk.
Gary raised his head from where it rested on his hands and grimaced. “I knew I should have chosen somewhere less obvious to hide.”
“It wouldn’t have mattered. I know all your hiding spots.” Raoul threw himself into the chair in front of Gary’s desk, mercifully free of papers at that time. “Not that I can understand why you’d want to hide from me.”
An idle comment that in their younger days would have been taken as the joke it was surely meant as, before being discarded. But now it hung in the air between them, hinting at past whispers and caresses that dared not be mentioned in the light of day, for fear of what might be revealed.
Gary ventured a glance at Raoul. His old friend looked mostly composed, apart from the slight pink blush creeping up his neck. Gary sighed, half in remembrance, half in exasperation. That blush always got to him.
“I wasn’t hiding from you. It’s just…everything. It’s more peaceful in here.”
Raoul nodded, no words necessary to show that he understood. It was the same for everyone. He himself had gladly taken a company to train with the Bazhir in the desert once Jon and Thayet were safely settled at the summer palace.
Silence hung in the air between them. Gary began to fiddle with the papers on the desk in front of him. Had their silences always been this uncomfortable? Their easy companionship, unchanged even as they explored other avenues, had been strained a bit by recent events. A lack of privacy and time alone, along with changing lives and growing up, will do that to the even the best of relationships, Gary reflected.
But still…when Gary was overwhelmed with work, it was Raoul who made him laugh. When Jon struggled through his grief, needing all of Gary’s support to get him through, it was Raoul who took the pain away from Gary’s own grief.
Gary didn’t want to lose Raoul, but he knew things had to change.
Raoul shifted in the chair, which creaked ominously, and cleared his throat. Almost as if he had read Gary’s mind, he asked hesitantly, “So, did you see Cythera whilst you were at Naxen?”
Gary shook his head. “No, it was just family. Mother wants Father to be kept quiet whilst he recovers.”
“I gather, then, that entertaining young ladies your mother wants you to make a match with falls outside the category of ‘quiet’?”
Now it was Gary’s turn to blush. “Mother’s not playing matchmaker between Cythera and I, if that’s what you’re trying to imply.”
Raoul raised an eyebrow. “Don’t all noble mothers play matchmaker for their eligible children?”
“Oh? Where are the eligible young ladies your mother wishes to match you with?” Gary didn’t like this conversation, which made his tone sharper than it perhaps ought to have been.
Raoul’s reply was also a bit sharp. “My position with the King’s Own protects me from that kind of parental interference. At least I don’t have to marry anyone if I don’t want to.”
Gary thought that was unfair. It wasn’t that he wanted to get married – he just didn’t want to not get married either. He knew his duty towards Naxen and the kingdom. And Cythera was a lovely young woman. Gary even fancied the two of them could be quite happy together – if other people didn’t stick their noses into their business and make things awkward.
Raoul must have seen some of the inner turmoil on his face. His voice softened. “Look, I’m sorry. I didn’t come here to have a go at you. I know this is something you have to do. I did listen to what you said, last time, and I respect it. I respect you. I won’t bring it up again. Or throw my different position in your face like that.”
Gary was truly touched. He looked down at the papers in his hands, so Raoul couldn’t see the tears in the corner of his eyes. “Thank-you. That means a lot to me.”
There was silence between them again, but this time it wasn’t uncomfortable. Gary smiled. Perhaps it was a sign that things would, eventually, return to normal and the kingdom could go on as before.
Before he could say as much to Raoul, the other knight bounced to his feet. Gary looked up, slightly alarmed at the sudden movement, to see that Raoul’s face had assumed a look of excited determination. Gary knew this look. It was the look Raoul got before he came up with some crack-brained scheme. Gary knew he should feel apprehensive, but instead he felt a slight quiver of anticipation.
“Camping!” Raoul loudly exclaimed.
“Camping?” Gary echoed, unsure of what Raoul meant, but still intrigued.
“Yes, camping! You and me. The Royal Forest. Camping. One last time, like we used to. Before everything got so crazy.”
“Camping?” Gary repeated. “In this weather? Are you mad?”
“What does the weather have to do with it? We’ve been camping in the snow before.”
“Only because we had no choice! Given the choice, however, I think I’d rather stay warm!”
Raoul waved a hand dismissively. “You’ve become soft in your cloistered office life. We have snow gear. We can light a fire. It’ll be fine.”
Gary hesitated, hovering between thinking Raoul was mad and getting caught up in his excitement.
“Come on,” Raoul urged. “When will we have another chance like this? The whole court’s away and there’s no work to be done. You need to live a little more! Take one last shot at excitement before we have to go back to our normal lives and everything changes.”
“Well…” said Gary.
Raoul smiled encouragingly. “One last Midwinter together. Just the two of us, roughing it in the forest. Just like we used to.”
Gary smiled back, finally giving in. “Okay. One last Midwinter.”