Stones
Title: Stones
Author: Soujin
Characters/Pairings: Gaheris, Morgause, Lynet, Lynet/Gaheris.
Rating: PG-13
Archive: Yes.
Disclaimer: Copyright has presumably expired.
Summary: Five times Sir Gaheris loved his mother.
Notes/Warnings: Written for assimbya.
1.
"I love you."
Morgause glances down at her son, her fearful one, his face stained with dark, dark berry juice, his hair tangled up with a few briar twigs and leaves. He's standing beside her, one hand on her green skirt, too serious for smiles. But then he never smiles.
"Why is that?" she asks.
"You're my mama."
"You should have a better reason."
"I'm sorry," he whispers, turns, and flees to the door.
2.
"I love you," Gaheris says, laughing. It's a feast day, he's still very young, he's had too much wine--they always do, when they're this young. They don't know how much they can hold. "I have got a reason for you, my Lady." At least he remembers to address her properly.
"Aye?" Morgause asks him, not bothering to try to pretend she isn't bored with all of this, and doesn't want to go to bed.
"Because you're my mother. I don't mind you don't love me."
"Thou'rt a fool," suddenly sharp. "I love thee. I love thee in mine own manner."
He isn't sober enough to understand her, but he does laugh again. She knows he will cease that soon.
3.
"I love you."
He's fifteen now, almost grown up, ready to go to court. He's kneeling before her, holding one of her hands with his forehead pressed to it, all respect and quiet. Outside his horse is waiting. She shakes her head.
"Go on. I have tired of you."
She has a lover waiting in her bed, and nothing to wear but a robe, and she hasn't time to stand out here in the cold for the emotional theatrics of a leaving son. Gaheris watches her with his secret-keeping eyes--he's obvious, all the boys are, but she knows he's hiding things from her.
"My lady--"
"Go on." This time the irritation flickers into her eyes. Gaheris nods obediently and hurries out, but he keeps looking over his shoulder.
4.
"I love you," he tells the woman standing in front of him, taller by a head, her laugh scathing.
"Love me? I'm a shrew."
"I've no objection."
Lynet rolls her eyes. "Madman."
"Harpy."
"Oh, you are a silver-tongued bastard."
"No more than thou art a flattering bitch."
"I love no whoreson from an isle colder than a monastery of celibates."
"I love thee."
She pushes him up against the wall and kisses him, tangling her hands into his hair, and Gaheris finds his arms around her waist.
"I'll marry thee, though," she whispers against his lips.
His mother is there when they're wedded, so shining that Gareth and Lyonors are almost forgotten, never mind Gaheris and Lynet. When he sees her among the guests, he's glad.
5.
"I love you. I love you."
She doesn't hear him; her hands in his are cold. Gaheris sits awash in her blood and tries to stop the aching.
"I love you," he says. "I love you."
Author: Soujin
Characters/Pairings: Gaheris, Morgause, Lynet, Lynet/Gaheris.
Rating: PG-13
Archive: Yes.
Disclaimer: Copyright has presumably expired.
Summary: Five times Sir Gaheris loved his mother.
Notes/Warnings: Written for assimbya.
1.
"I love you."
Morgause glances down at her son, her fearful one, his face stained with dark, dark berry juice, his hair tangled up with a few briar twigs and leaves. He's standing beside her, one hand on her green skirt, too serious for smiles. But then he never smiles.
"Why is that?" she asks.
"You're my mama."
"You should have a better reason."
"I'm sorry," he whispers, turns, and flees to the door.
2.
"I love you," Gaheris says, laughing. It's a feast day, he's still very young, he's had too much wine--they always do, when they're this young. They don't know how much they can hold. "I have got a reason for you, my Lady." At least he remembers to address her properly.
"Aye?" Morgause asks him, not bothering to try to pretend she isn't bored with all of this, and doesn't want to go to bed.
"Because you're my mother. I don't mind you don't love me."
"Thou'rt a fool," suddenly sharp. "I love thee. I love thee in mine own manner."
He isn't sober enough to understand her, but he does laugh again. She knows he will cease that soon.
3.
"I love you."
He's fifteen now, almost grown up, ready to go to court. He's kneeling before her, holding one of her hands with his forehead pressed to it, all respect and quiet. Outside his horse is waiting. She shakes her head.
"Go on. I have tired of you."
She has a lover waiting in her bed, and nothing to wear but a robe, and she hasn't time to stand out here in the cold for the emotional theatrics of a leaving son. Gaheris watches her with his secret-keeping eyes--he's obvious, all the boys are, but she knows he's hiding things from her.
"My lady--"
"Go on." This time the irritation flickers into her eyes. Gaheris nods obediently and hurries out, but he keeps looking over his shoulder.
4.
"I love you," he tells the woman standing in front of him, taller by a head, her laugh scathing.
"Love me? I'm a shrew."
"I've no objection."
Lynet rolls her eyes. "Madman."
"Harpy."
"Oh, you are a silver-tongued bastard."
"No more than thou art a flattering bitch."
"I love no whoreson from an isle colder than a monastery of celibates."
"I love thee."
She pushes him up against the wall and kisses him, tangling her hands into his hair, and Gaheris finds his arms around her waist.
"I'll marry thee, though," she whispers against his lips.
His mother is there when they're wedded, so shining that Gareth and Lyonors are almost forgotten, never mind Gaheris and Lynet. When he sees her among the guests, he's glad.
5.
"I love you. I love you."
She doesn't hear him; her hands in his are cold. Gaheris sits awash in her blood and tries to stop the aching.
"I love you," he says. "I love you."