But Hold Me Fast [1/?]
anonymous
April 28 2009, 18:48:33 UTC
All right, I think I have enough material and research to at least start on this story. I’ll do my best to try and update at least once a day, if not more.
I don’t know if this will be as epic as my last story, and there are definite differences that I’m still uncertain of, and there will be crossovers here as well (though I’ll try to make them more subtle than last time). But I certainly hope that you will enjoy it, anyway. ___
Prologue Hallow’s Eve For once when I'd a huntin' gone, twas fray my horse I fell. The Queen o' Faeries she caught me, in yon green hill ta dwell. -The Ballad of Tam Lin ___
Arthur’s eyes flutter open when Alfred snores in his ear and shifts closer to him. He doesn’t complain, though, when he looks up at the clock, when his eyes clear enough to see that it’s 3:27 AM.
I have to leave now, if I’m going to get there on time.
Arthur slips out of Alfred’s grip, careful and slow; he slips a pillow into Alfred’s arms to hold so that he doesn’t wake. He moves about the room with quiet, deliberate movements, gathering his clothes and slipping them back on, taking care not to rustle them too much.
He bends down one last time to grab his shirt, but when he pulls his hand back up he finds he’s grabbed Alfred’s bomber jacket instead. He hesitates, his fingers curling into the leather; he brings it to his nose and inhales, smelling hamburger grease and old cologne and Alfred.
As if on cue, Alfred shifts on the bed behind him and sighs. Arthur doesn’t turn around, because if he sees Alfred like that - peaceful, lips parted, eyes twitching under eyelids - he knows he won’t be able to go through with this.
But I have to. I made a promise.
Arthur bites his lip hard enough to bleed and drops the jacket; he searches on the ground again, coming up triumphant when he finds his button-up plaid fleece. He slides it over his shoulders and buttons it, his movements methodical and efficient.
He moves to the closet, sorts through the clothes he has hanging; when he pulls away, he’s holding his conjuring cape, the material warm and slinky beneath his fingers. He drapes it over his shoulders, ties the strings into a knot, and pulls the hood over his head.
He’s ready now. All he needs to do is go out into the Catskill Mountains, let himself be swallowed by America’s deep forests that hold more power than Alfred knows.
The sunrise is coming; the Queen and her entourage will come for him soon. He must make haste.
He pauses, and in a moment of weakness he turns back to the bed. Alfred’s lips twitch up into a smile; the miasma of darkness that surrounded him is gone, just as the Queen had promised him.
His resolve slips further; Arthur moves to the bedside, runs his fingertips through Alfred’s hair. Alfred hums, trying to shift up into the barely-there touch.
I’m so sorry, Arthur thinks to himself as he leans down and presses a slow, gentle kiss to Alfred’s forehead. You will never understand. But maybe it’s better that way.
Alfred moans, eyelids twitching. Arthur moves away, quick and skittish, making his way to the cabin’s front door and closing it gently behind him when he steps out into the crisp autumnal morning.
It’s dark in the woods, though the sky is brightening enough that he can see the mist surrounding the trees. Arthur shuts his eyes and allows himself to feel. The night still holds magic, strong and powerful, and hers should be the strongest.
There.
Arthur steps on pine needles and dirt as he lets their trunks swallow him up, following Mab’s magic and whatever his future has in store. ___
An entire ocean and countless miles away, Feliciano walks with Francis, Lovino, and Antonio through the Fontainblane Woods, excitement humming through every atom of his body.
“Ve, ve! Is the sunrise really as pretty as you say it is, Francis?” Feliciano asks, latching onto Francis’ arm and making the other chuckle.
“Oui, it is. I think you will enjoy it.”
Feliciano cocks his head. Francis isn’t looking at him, and even though he’s smiling there’s a little bit of sadness in those blue eyes. Curious, he opens his mouth to ask why, when -
“I can’t believe you dragged me out of bed for this!”
Re: But Hold Me Fast [1/?]
anonymous
April 28 2009, 23:33:34 UTC
Gfarble. Not only am I thrilled that you're filling this...but you put the Ballad of Tam Lin in! That is one of my favourite myths ever and I actually recognised the very first line and squealed so loudly. Oh author!anon, I do declare my love and adoration for thee once again and I wait in anticipation to see what happens next...and what part Feliciano, Francis, Lovino and Romano are going to be playing in this story. Glee!
Re: But Hold Me Fast [1/?]
anonymous
April 29 2009, 20:19:20 UTC
I just finished reading your Croatoan fic today and I loved it. I'm greatly anticipating this new story of yours! <3 I'll be hanging off your every word~. And yay for a new "cast" to help the hero! XD
I don’t know if this will be as epic as my last story, and there are definite differences that I’m still uncertain of, and there will be crossovers here as well (though I’ll try to make them more subtle than last time). But I certainly hope that you will enjoy it, anyway.
___
Prologue
Hallow’s Eve
For once when I'd a huntin' gone,
twas fray my horse I fell.
The Queen o' Faeries she caught me,
in yon green hill ta dwell.
-The Ballad of Tam Lin
___
Arthur’s eyes flutter open when Alfred snores in his ear and shifts closer to him. He doesn’t complain, though, when he looks up at the clock, when his eyes clear enough to see that it’s 3:27 AM.
I have to leave now, if I’m going to get there on time.
Arthur slips out of Alfred’s grip, careful and slow; he slips a pillow into Alfred’s arms to hold so that he doesn’t wake. He moves about the room with quiet, deliberate movements, gathering his clothes and slipping them back on, taking care not to rustle them too much.
He bends down one last time to grab his shirt, but when he pulls his hand back up he finds he’s grabbed Alfred’s bomber jacket instead. He hesitates, his fingers curling into the leather; he brings it to his nose and inhales, smelling hamburger grease and old cologne and Alfred.
As if on cue, Alfred shifts on the bed behind him and sighs. Arthur doesn’t turn around, because if he sees Alfred like that - peaceful, lips parted, eyes twitching under eyelids - he knows he won’t be able to go through with this.
But I have to. I made a promise.
Arthur bites his lip hard enough to bleed and drops the jacket; he searches on the ground again, coming up triumphant when he finds his button-up plaid fleece. He slides it over his shoulders and buttons it, his movements methodical and efficient.
He moves to the closet, sorts through the clothes he has hanging; when he pulls away, he’s holding his conjuring cape, the material warm and slinky beneath his fingers. He drapes it over his shoulders, ties the strings into a knot, and pulls the hood over his head.
He’s ready now. All he needs to do is go out into the Catskill Mountains, let himself be swallowed by America’s deep forests that hold more power than Alfred knows.
The sunrise is coming; the Queen and her entourage will come for him soon. He must make haste.
He pauses, and in a moment of weakness he turns back to the bed. Alfred’s lips twitch up into a smile; the miasma of darkness that surrounded him is gone, just as the Queen had promised him.
His resolve slips further; Arthur moves to the bedside, runs his fingertips through Alfred’s hair. Alfred hums, trying to shift up into the barely-there touch.
I’m so sorry, Arthur thinks to himself as he leans down and presses a slow, gentle kiss to Alfred’s forehead. You will never understand. But maybe it’s better that way.
Alfred moans, eyelids twitching. Arthur moves away, quick and skittish, making his way to the cabin’s front door and closing it gently behind him when he steps out into the crisp autumnal morning.
It’s dark in the woods, though the sky is brightening enough that he can see the mist surrounding the trees. Arthur shuts his eyes and allows himself to feel. The night still holds magic, strong and powerful, and hers should be the strongest.
There.
Arthur steps on pine needles and dirt as he lets their trunks swallow him up, following Mab’s magic and whatever his future has in store.
___
An entire ocean and countless miles away, Feliciano walks with Francis, Lovino, and Antonio through the Fontainblane Woods, excitement humming through every atom of his body.
“Ve, ve! Is the sunrise really as pretty as you say it is, Francis?” Feliciano asks, latching onto Francis’ arm and making the other chuckle.
“Oui, it is. I think you will enjoy it.”
Feliciano cocks his head. Francis isn’t looking at him, and even though he’s smiling there’s a little bit of sadness in those blue eyes. Curious, he opens his mouth to ask why, when -
“I can’t believe you dragged me out of bed for this!”
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adashsdfhdgfsdkjgl.
I LOVE YOU. SO HARD.
And the scene of Arthur leaving just. God, it's just how I imagined it. DEAR GOD.
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