[Intro] And then the sun shone in Dover, at noon

[firstbornoflot]

The words flow from his trembling hand, blood smears onto the shaking page as the battle slowly dies out. The Channel's waters are calm as he writes his dying words.

Comments

[northernprince]

If Gawain makes his way into the stables, he might notice a certain half-brother in one of the stalls, grooming a horse. Medraut is quite absorbed in his task, so much as to be actually talking quite animatedly to the animal. In a generally snarky way, as he does.

&hearts &hearts &hearts &hearts &hearts &hearts &hearts

[firstbornoflot]

Bathed and no longer armored, Gawain is a bit more settled, thankfully.

Maybe someone directed him there - maybe it was the horse itself who led Gawain to the stables (after all, he was there all along, abandoned for years, even.)

The knight is in fact frowning at that sad state of affairs, but upon hearing that voice.

There's a long, long pause. Then he pokes his head in, just in case.

Because Medraut, Mordred, his brother should not be here.

He cannot be dead. Not now.

That thought is rather hard to deal with, we'll confess. That's probably why he isn't saying anything. Epic BSOD is what it is.

^___________________________^

[northernprince]

Oh dear, poor Gawain. We expected as much, from one side or another.

"Complete nonsense," Medraut tells his horse, "What have you been doing, to get so untidy? I think you're manipulating me, truth."

He hasn't actually noticed Gawain yet. Medraut's horse does give a friendly nicker in his direction, though.

[firstbornoflot]

Gawain is still staring, as if he'd seen a ghost - but his first thought is, how did he die?

--- "Brother?"

Because no matter what happened, a brother is a brother. Some things cannot be erased or changed.

[northernprince]

Medraut starts at the sound of Gawain's voice, and the grooming brush drops with a clatter.

He turns to look. Stares a bit.

"Gawain," he says then, quietly, tensely, uncertainly.

[firstbornoflot]

He nods, then, doesn't move either.

"-- brother," he says, quietly. "-- I did not think you would be here."

It's been -- a long time, months, years, perhaps, since they parted in silent terms, since the war was taken to the continent.

And yet, here is, still, a brother. Gawain is suddenly painfully reminded of his childhood.

Think they'd have been the roughhousing brother types, maybe? I kind of see Gawain and Medraut as more or less similar at first, perhaps a bit competitive, but still close, and growing apart after Gawain's maid-killing and oath-taking, with Gawain growing closer to Gaheris - thoughts? He'd be sad about the drift, though.

[northernprince]

"What did you expect would happen?" Medraut says, a bit sharply. He takes his horse's head in his hands absently, strokes her gently. "Gawain -" and awkward question is awkward, "Are you - dead? Because then you know about what I - and I don't see why this is so surprising -" he's frowning uncertainly. This is uncomfortable, and eeeep distressing.

I can definitely see them growing apart - there would be, er, some friction on their views on a lot of things, I think >> (like the oath, which gets a massive eyeroll). Plus I do think Medraut was a bit resentful of how awesome Arthur thought Gawain was (yeah, Medraut has some issues >>). I think closer when younger, yes, before the whole Arthur being there thing & etc. made the world more complicated. Also because Medraut is totally with Gawain on the importance of ~family~ (except Arthur, he DOESN'T COUNT OK WAIT YES HE DOES NO I DON'T KNOW /daddy issues). Yes, totally the roughhousing brother types! & they had epic weapon training sessions? :D

[firstbornoflot]

"I died this day, at noon," he tells him, and yes, discussing your own death is SO MUCH FUN, mum, can we do it every day? "-- at Dover. The King sent for Lancelot on my word --"

A beat, then. "Is it true, then, brother? They claimed that you took the Queen captive in the tower of London." His tone is almost hopeful - he wishes Medraut would just tell him that it was all a big fat lie.

But he still takes an uncertain step in his direction - more for an embrace than anything else, at this point.

Word Mc WordyWord, you got it straight out of my brain, I SWEAR.

[northernprince]

A heavy sigh. Medraut slips out of the stall. He does not look very happy. "So you did," he says quietly. Then gives Gawain a very unimpressed look, "But Lancelot? What were you thinking with that, exactly?"

A pause, and Medraut shuffles his feet awkwardly. "What was I supposed to do? Let her run off? I thought you were supposed to disapprove of treason, and she had done that."

~psychic nerd connection~

Also just to clarify 100% Medraut would have totally have kept Gwen prisoner but not done the whole ~marriage~ aspect.

[firstbornoflot]

Gawain's temper rises unexpectedly. "He'd killed our brothers - did you expect me to stand by and do nothing? Truly?"

He's deliberately leaving the issue of Guinevere aside for now. Family first.

~brain twinz~

Aaaaw, no beheading bishops? XD - but yeah, I remember you saying that. It was just kind of hard to ignore on Gawain's side... (Also, I really hope you read my two Mordred papers one of these days, particularly the Malorian one... *nerd*)

[northernprince]

"What?" Medraut frowns at him, "Christ, no. I thought you meant something else. I didn't - Jesu, I would never oppose you in that."

He goes silent for a moment - what is he supposed to say, anyway? After everything that happened -

He lets out a heavy breath, and watches Gawain with a gaze still filled with uncertainty. "Would you just - " he says, shoulders tensing, "Aren't you angry with me?"

I just wanted to make sure it was clear, sorry, not that Gawain should ignore it. (Hey, I have holidays for two weeks now, I'm sure I can fit it in between all my sleeping... :D)

[firstbornoflot]

Gawain's face remains serious. "Aye, so I am," he says, but is tired, suddenly. "Or I will be, mayhap, if you tell me that it is as they say, that you rebelled and sought to take the kingdom by force, along with the Queen."

But for someone who is as temperamental as he usually is, Gawain is strangely calm.

"Yet you are my brother, and will remain so, come what may."

Never mind the bit where he sic'd Lancelot on Mordred in that letter. >.> Deathbed delirium, probably.

&hearts Oh, no worries, I didn't think that was what you meant. ^^ Also, yay for more yooooooou, it will be awesomecakes. ^^ Hopefully, we can have more than hi-bye in chat, grrrr, timezones. (Though I'm hiatusing next weekend, I'll be putting that up in the com, before I go, er.)

[northernprince]

The last comment garners a sort of sad fondness in Medraut's gaze. "You know that I did," he says, voice sharp, "You saw the men at Dover. I sent them there."

A pause, and the next thing is said with an attempt at confidence that falls half flat, "I am not ashamed of it."

&hearts You are not allowed to goooo, you must stay and rp with me.

[firstbornoflot]

Gawain can feel that - the falling flat, and comes closer, a touch deflated.

"Aye, brother, I know what you did, and those were your men," he says, still quiet. But it wasn't your man who killed me, it was Lancelot. :|

"And I know what I did in turn," he replies quietly. "I would embrace you, all the same."

*huggles* I promise, it won't be loooong! But I'm going off camping, so there will be no technology, er. Also, this Proves that I Have a Life. XD &hearts

[northernprince]

Medraut glances down at his feet for a moment, then back up at Gawain.

"As you like, then," he looks all flaily, argh. He really missed you, Gawain, despite everything.

As a Girl Guide I feel it is my duty to approve of camping. Don't leave any litter behind! &hearts

[firstbornoflot]

Ah, angst be damned - Gawain crosses the distance, pulls a brother in a tight hug (over his protests, maybe) -- "I like," he mutters at one point or another.

Aaaaaw dude, they are just Nnnngh. I love them.

And ^^ Girl Guide! My bf is a former, hm, whatsitcalled - Pack Leader, or something? I only know the jargon in French. XD &hearts