Claim For Yourself
For quickyfant, in response to the ficlet meme and "Winifred and Bob, where he has done something that needs to be forgiven--a role reversal of "Hasty Retreat".". :)
Title: Claim For Yourself
Fandom: The Dresden Files ~ TV/pre-canon
Characters: Winifred and Hrothbert
Rating: G
Words: 684
Summary: Hrothbert makes a proposal.
Disclaimer: I do not own The Dresden Files.
***
Winifred had abandoned waiting some time ago. Her home felt empty and she was restless.
He is not coming.
Stepping over root and stone, and wending carefully through ensnaring bramble in the gloom of eventide, she climbed the steep hill behind her little croft--as was habit when she wished to think--and slowly made her way to the top.
A clearer view of the awakening night sky might ease her frustration and calm brewing anger.
Might.
Reaching the highest point at last, Winifred propped her staff against the base of a large rock, hitching trailing gown material to ease movement, and sat on the smoothest portion.
He has forgotten.
She pulled her knees up, crossing her arms over them, and rested her chin, listening to the night sounds that drifted up through the trees.
It is to be expected. He is a man after all.
Time passed, the moon rose, the soft murmur of the distant sea wove under the closer chirruping chorus of insects; leaves rustled in the freshening evening breeze, birds gave a last call before settling in their mud and twig shelters, water trickled over a rocky stream nearby, fabric ripped and a man cursed--
--She looked up with a blink and a frown.
"Winifred, my heart, why must you persist in cloaking yourself with Nature whenever I have need of you?"
"Hrothbert."
"Indeed." His tall silhouette blocked out a portion of the stars as he moved to sit beside her. "In the flesh, my lady. I expected to find you at home."
"You 'expected'...." Anger flooded her veins and heated her voice. "Am I now to wait for your visits--without regard for time or date--patiently and obediently? Never to venture far for fear my Lord will arrive and expect to find me at home?"
"Ah... no...."
"I suppose you have your reasons why you did not come earlier. Your time is your own and I have no true claim--" She pushed herself up and stepped to the ground, grabbing up her staff. "I should not have trusted you to remember."
A rising wind stirred in branches down the steep slope, creaking and moaning.
"Remember?" Hrothbert stood as well, genuine confusion in his voice. "What have I forgotten?"
Her face remained in shadow as she replied softly, all anger draining away as quickly as it had come, to be replaced by sharp disappointment. "We met a year ago today."
Hrothbert closed the distance between them. "That was today? What--ah, I believe I have lost track of the time again. I was occupied with the-- no, no matter. Winifred... I have no excuse for mistaking the day. I had promised to spend it with you. I have disappointed you... hurt you."
She replied simply. "Yes."
"Winifred." He reached for her. "I came tonight, rather tardily as it happens, to ask if you would consider, again, combining households?" He cupped her cheek gently and grasped her free hand, twining his fingers with hers.
"I know that you have your obligations, your own various pursuits, the girl to train in healing and midwifery. You feel a responsibility for these people." Hrothbert's voice became intense, nearly pleading. "But, my lady, these visits are not enough, and it seems I need you close by to remind me of important dates." A smile threaded through his words now, though the intensity did not lessen. "I need you. I would stay here with you, if that would suffice until the right time? The Ways ease travel, if one is careful."
Winifred stood silently, unable to answer, caught quite off guard by a rush of feelings so intense, they threatened to overwhelm her.
"I am truly sorry." He leaned down, kissing her lips lightly. "I promise to never forget again." His lips moved to her jawline. "And you have every claim on my time, my love. Always."
Every claim? Always?
Melting into his arms, she demonstrated her forgiveness completely and thoroughly as the moon shone over them both.
Then, after a time, he pulled away, wondering, "Your answer?"
"Yes, of course."
Men.
Title: Claim For Yourself
Fandom: The Dresden Files ~ TV/pre-canon
Characters: Winifred and Hrothbert
Rating: G
Words: 684
Summary: Hrothbert makes a proposal.
Disclaimer: I do not own The Dresden Files.
***
Winifred had abandoned waiting some time ago. Her home felt empty and she was restless.
He is not coming.
Stepping over root and stone, and wending carefully through ensnaring bramble in the gloom of eventide, she climbed the steep hill behind her little croft--as was habit when she wished to think--and slowly made her way to the top.
A clearer view of the awakening night sky might ease her frustration and calm brewing anger.
Might.
Reaching the highest point at last, Winifred propped her staff against the base of a large rock, hitching trailing gown material to ease movement, and sat on the smoothest portion.
He has forgotten.
She pulled her knees up, crossing her arms over them, and rested her chin, listening to the night sounds that drifted up through the trees.
It is to be expected. He is a man after all.
Time passed, the moon rose, the soft murmur of the distant sea wove under the closer chirruping chorus of insects; leaves rustled in the freshening evening breeze, birds gave a last call before settling in their mud and twig shelters, water trickled over a rocky stream nearby, fabric ripped and a man cursed--
--She looked up with a blink and a frown.
"Winifred, my heart, why must you persist in cloaking yourself with Nature whenever I have need of you?"
"Hrothbert."
"Indeed." His tall silhouette blocked out a portion of the stars as he moved to sit beside her. "In the flesh, my lady. I expected to find you at home."
"You 'expected'...." Anger flooded her veins and heated her voice. "Am I now to wait for your visits--without regard for time or date--patiently and obediently? Never to venture far for fear my Lord will arrive and expect to find me at home?"
"Ah... no...."
"I suppose you have your reasons why you did not come earlier. Your time is your own and I have no true claim--" She pushed herself up and stepped to the ground, grabbing up her staff. "I should not have trusted you to remember."
A rising wind stirred in branches down the steep slope, creaking and moaning.
"Remember?" Hrothbert stood as well, genuine confusion in his voice. "What have I forgotten?"
Her face remained in shadow as she replied softly, all anger draining away as quickly as it had come, to be replaced by sharp disappointment. "We met a year ago today."
Hrothbert closed the distance between them. "That was today? What--ah, I believe I have lost track of the time again. I was occupied with the-- no, no matter. Winifred... I have no excuse for mistaking the day. I had promised to spend it with you. I have disappointed you... hurt you."
She replied simply. "Yes."
"Winifred." He reached for her. "I came tonight, rather tardily as it happens, to ask if you would consider, again, combining households?" He cupped her cheek gently and grasped her free hand, twining his fingers with hers.
"I know that you have your obligations, your own various pursuits, the girl to train in healing and midwifery. You feel a responsibility for these people." Hrothbert's voice became intense, nearly pleading. "But, my lady, these visits are not enough, and it seems I need you close by to remind me of important dates." A smile threaded through his words now, though the intensity did not lessen. "I need you. I would stay here with you, if that would suffice until the right time? The Ways ease travel, if one is careful."
Winifred stood silently, unable to answer, caught quite off guard by a rush of feelings so intense, they threatened to overwhelm her.
"I am truly sorry." He leaned down, kissing her lips lightly. "I promise to never forget again." His lips moved to her jawline. "And you have every claim on my time, my love. Always."
Every claim? Always?
Melting into his arms, she demonstrated her forgiveness completely and thoroughly as the moon shone over them both.
Then, after a time, he pulled away, wondering, "Your answer?"
"Yes, of course."
Men.