[FIC] 5 things Lykouleon does that keeps Raseleane around.
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Dec. 8th, 2008 | 09:20 pm
Damn, those were really thought provoking prompts! I had to stop writing a couple of them as they were starting to take on a life of their own. The Kai-stern one especially was getting really depressing to write - that sequel better bring him back, damn it!
Title: 5 things Lykouleon does that keeps Raseleane around.
Summary: 5 things fic for![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif)
vuirneen, who wanted Lykouleon and Raseleane fanfic.
Rating: PG.
Notes: It's amazing how much easier I find it to write characters I like but don't love than those I adore madly. Of course, it might just be that it's easier to write characters who are so canonically in love.
1.
Raseleane knows more than most how marriages of convenience are supposed to work. Her mother’s money is what attracted her father, just as it was her father’s title that escorted her mother down the aisle. There has never been any pretence of love or affection between them, and with her role of heir provider met, Raseleane’s mother now spends her summers abroad with her male ‘friends’, while her father gets on all too well with the members of staff.
She expects her engagement to Lykouleon to be the same. She has the right ‘qualifications’ to be his wife, and she is not in a position to object to their arranged marriage. This is how things are done; she tells herself when they are first introduced. This is how things are supposed to go.
But, it doesn’t. For some reason, no-one thought to mention to Lykouleon that marriage doesn’t have to involve love, that equality isn’t essential in a relationship. With a sparkly smile, Lykouleon refuses to marry her until she falls in love him, states that he won’t officially propose until she consents to ruling by his side.
He tells her that, if she wishes to, she may leave.
Because he gives her the choice, she stays.
The fact that she is already falling in love with him has absolutely nothing to do with it.
2.
Raseleane learns on their honeymoon that her new husband makes his own – their own - bed. Lykouleon’s veins flow with royal blood and Raseleane herself is hardly a commoner, and yet even though there are maids and servants and staff especially trained in tucking sheets in so that they meet some impossibly high standard, Lykouleon insists on doing it himself. It is his –their – bed after all, he says with that warm, enticing smile of his. She dryly points out that Lykouleon doesn’t do the dishes he – they – eat off of, nor does he broom the hallways or clean the curtains.
Lykouleon just whips out that damnable smile of his each time she dares encroach on his silly little daydream with bits and pieces of common sense. And each time, despite herself, Raseleane finds herself blushing.
3.
Most wives, Raseleane has come to believe through conversations with her ladies in waiting, generally don’t approve of their husbands bringing home waifs. Waifs are apparently distractions best gotten out of one’s system prior to marriage, especially when those waifs threaten at times to hold more substance and style than the waif-gatherer’s wife. They all mutter and murmur beneath their breaths when Lykouleon saves Tetheus from his demons, Kai-stern from himself, and Alfeegi from the depths of the castle archives (Raseleane likes to imagine that the Dragon had survived by eating the cookery books). All they see is another waif added to the collection, but Lykouleon sees so much more. Raseleane cannot help but love him for that.
4.
Rather strangely for a man, Lykouleon never forgets anniversaries or birthdays. More on par for a man, he never gets them right. This means they celebrate the announcement of their engagement in March instead of June, Raseleane’s birthday is now officially the 12th of December instead of January the 8th, and there is always a small clasp of chocolates on her pillow on the first of September, even though they got married in Autumn. Raseleane knows that this should infuriate her, however she has little time to begrudge Lykouleon’s inability to get such important things right when he gets the most insignificant of dates perfect. There is always a bowl of pears to greet her on January 21st to commemorate their first meeting beneath a pear tree, and a mug of always cold coffee to ‘greet’ her on the 17th of July in reminder of their first argument. There are flowers not on Valentines Day but the day after (for all the times he has forgotten, even Lykouleon doesn’t have the power to change some dates), and a cork screw and a bottle of wine on the anniversary of the day they first got drunk together.
Altogether, there are hundreds of anniversaries they celebrate, often several on the same day. Why Raseleane casually mentions that there is a day in October that Lykouleon hasn’t yet found a reason to commemorate, he simply leans forward and kisses her on the nose.
“I celebrate every day I’m with you.”
It’s terrible corny and Raseleane sighs with exasperation and gives him the Look. There is really little else she can do.
5.
He loves her, despite –
Despite –
No, not despite.
He is her everything.
Title: 5 things Lykouleon does that keeps Raseleane around.
Summary: 5 things fic for
vuirneen, who wanted Lykouleon and Raseleane fanfic.Rating: PG.
Notes: It's amazing how much easier I find it to write characters I like but don't love than those I adore madly. Of course, it might just be that it's easier to write characters who are so canonically in love.
1.
Raseleane knows more than most how marriages of convenience are supposed to work. Her mother’s money is what attracted her father, just as it was her father’s title that escorted her mother down the aisle. There has never been any pretence of love or affection between them, and with her role of heir provider met, Raseleane’s mother now spends her summers abroad with her male ‘friends’, while her father gets on all too well with the members of staff.
She expects her engagement to Lykouleon to be the same. She has the right ‘qualifications’ to be his wife, and she is not in a position to object to their arranged marriage. This is how things are done; she tells herself when they are first introduced. This is how things are supposed to go.
But, it doesn’t. For some reason, no-one thought to mention to Lykouleon that marriage doesn’t have to involve love, that equality isn’t essential in a relationship. With a sparkly smile, Lykouleon refuses to marry her until she falls in love him, states that he won’t officially propose until she consents to ruling by his side.
He tells her that, if she wishes to, she may leave.
Because he gives her the choice, she stays.
The fact that she is already falling in love with him has absolutely nothing to do with it.
2.
Raseleane learns on their honeymoon that her new husband makes his own – their own - bed. Lykouleon’s veins flow with royal blood and Raseleane herself is hardly a commoner, and yet even though there are maids and servants and staff especially trained in tucking sheets in so that they meet some impossibly high standard, Lykouleon insists on doing it himself. It is his –their – bed after all, he says with that warm, enticing smile of his. She dryly points out that Lykouleon doesn’t do the dishes he – they – eat off of, nor does he broom the hallways or clean the curtains.
Lykouleon just whips out that damnable smile of his each time she dares encroach on his silly little daydream with bits and pieces of common sense. And each time, despite herself, Raseleane finds herself blushing.
3.
Most wives, Raseleane has come to believe through conversations with her ladies in waiting, generally don’t approve of their husbands bringing home waifs. Waifs are apparently distractions best gotten out of one’s system prior to marriage, especially when those waifs threaten at times to hold more substance and style than the waif-gatherer’s wife. They all mutter and murmur beneath their breaths when Lykouleon saves Tetheus from his demons, Kai-stern from himself, and Alfeegi from the depths of the castle archives (Raseleane likes to imagine that the Dragon had survived by eating the cookery books). All they see is another waif added to the collection, but Lykouleon sees so much more. Raseleane cannot help but love him for that.
4.
Rather strangely for a man, Lykouleon never forgets anniversaries or birthdays. More on par for a man, he never gets them right. This means they celebrate the announcement of their engagement in March instead of June, Raseleane’s birthday is now officially the 12th of December instead of January the 8th, and there is always a small clasp of chocolates on her pillow on the first of September, even though they got married in Autumn. Raseleane knows that this should infuriate her, however she has little time to begrudge Lykouleon’s inability to get such important things right when he gets the most insignificant of dates perfect. There is always a bowl of pears to greet her on January 21st to commemorate their first meeting beneath a pear tree, and a mug of always cold coffee to ‘greet’ her on the 17th of July in reminder of their first argument. There are flowers not on Valentines Day but the day after (for all the times he has forgotten, even Lykouleon doesn’t have the power to change some dates), and a cork screw and a bottle of wine on the anniversary of the day they first got drunk together.
Altogether, there are hundreds of anniversaries they celebrate, often several on the same day. Why Raseleane casually mentions that there is a day in October that Lykouleon hasn’t yet found a reason to commemorate, he simply leans forward and kisses her on the nose.
“I celebrate every day I’m with you.”
It’s terrible corny and Raseleane sighs with exasperation and gives him the Look. There is really little else she can do.
5.
He loves her, despite –
Despite –
No, not despite.
He is her everything.
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from:![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif)
toriko_roller
date: Dec. 10th, 2008 02:53 pm (UTC)
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FANFIC
from: anonymous
date: Jan. 26th, 2009 06:04 am (UTC)
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