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sixwordstories2013-07-07 06:12 pm
adexuate) wrote in sixwordstories2013-07-07 06:12 pm
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She'll be ready soon, they say.
He's far from a neglectful husband. Much of his life since her arrival had been spent helping his young wife to begin settling fully into the kingdom he loved, learning to be a husband in the public eye and behind closed doors.
This might be his blind spot. This might be his one proper weakness against being a properly devoted man. At least the 'she' in question is a ship and not another human being.
"Before the month is out." He can't tear his eyes from the ship. "We'll be beginning to prepare for her first voyage in the next week. Isn't--" His sigh is entirely devoted. "Isn't she lovely?"
This might be his blind spot. This might be his one proper weakness against being a properly devoted man. At least the 'she' in question is a ship and not another human being.
"Before the month is out." He can't tear his eyes from the ship. "We'll be beginning to prepare for her first voyage in the next week. Isn't--" His sigh is entirely devoted. "Isn't she lovely?"
His devotion does not keep him away now, though she knows that will not always be the case forever, and yet it is not something she will hold over his head when it is time for him to leave. She cannot begrudge him his wishes, nor will he do the same with hers.
"So soon," she murmurs, even though it has not been. It merely seems that time passes more quickly when it is spent in the company of her husband, whether in public or in the privacy of their own quarters. She still blushes to dwell on the activities of the latter.
"So soon," she murmurs, even though it has not been. It merely seems that time passes more quickly when it is spent in the company of her husband, whether in public or in the privacy of their own quarters. She still blushes to dwell on the activities of the latter.
"Very soon."
But something in her tone manages to drag his attention away from the view of the harbour to the woman standing beside him. She doesn't sound quite as elated as he feels for the idea of beginning a new age of exploration for Narnia.
"You'll-- still come, won't you? For her maiden voyage?"
Barring the next few weeks revealing her to be carrying a child, perhaps.
But something in her tone manages to drag his attention away from the view of the harbour to the woman standing beside him. She doesn't sound quite as elated as he feels for the idea of beginning a new age of exploration for Narnia.
"You'll-- still come, won't you? For her maiden voyage?"
Barring the next few weeks revealing her to be carrying a child, perhaps.
"Of course," she promises, smiling up at him. It will be a little harder to bear once he is taking his voyages alone, but she will not object so much to the absence if the reunion is just as sweet. She reaches out to take his hand, squeezing it gently.
While she does not believe herself to be with child, there is that possibility. Her maids have told her that the first sign is typically a lack of monthly bleeding, and then there are other changes - but she has seen enough to know that she is not carrying as of this moment. It does not mean she could not conceive tomorrow, or the day after that. "If you would have me along, my lord."
While she does not believe herself to be with child, there is that possibility. Her maids have told her that the first sign is typically a lack of monthly bleeding, and then there are other changes - but she has seen enough to know that she is not carrying as of this moment. It does not mean she could not conceive tomorrow, or the day after that. "If you would have me along, my lord."
At least her smile looks just the same as ever. It takes a beat, but he does squeeze her hand in return.
"Of course I would." He pulls her fingers briefly to his lips, laces their fingers more contentedly as his gaze again drifts to the Dawn Treader. "I would have you know where I'll be, how I'll be living, while I'm not by your side."
Which certainly wouldn't be always, but also certainly would be frequently once his ship was properly seaworthy.
"Of course I would." He pulls her fingers briefly to his lips, laces their fingers more contentedly as his gaze again drifts to the Dawn Treader. "I would have you know where I'll be, how I'll be living, while I'm not by your side."
Which certainly wouldn't be always, but also certainly would be frequently once his ship was properly seaworthy.
"Good." It is that news that puts her slightly more at ease, and brings a genuineness to her smile that may have been lacking before. The kiss to her hand is a further comfort, and she steps in closer to him once their hands fall, turning to lean against him as they both gaze out on the nearly completed ship.
"It is a wife's responsibility to worry about what others do not, I suppose," she adds, with a small sigh. "Though others will likely fret as well to see you return in one piece."
"It is a wife's responsibility to worry about what others do not, I suppose," she adds, with a small sigh. "Though others will likely fret as well to see you return in one piece."
"But is it not also a wife's responsibility to have faith where others fret?" His head tips naturally against hers for a moment, cheek resting against the top of her lovely coppery hair. "Does my promise as your lord and not just your king not bear an even more serious weight upon my honour?"
Because of course he'll make promises to return safely to her, alone in the quiet of their marital bed. Of course he'd seal it with a kiss.
Because of course he'll make promises to return safely to her, alone in the quiet of their marital bed. Of course he'd seal it with a kiss.
"Then I shall have faith and fret in equal measure," she counters, tipping her face up to his with a sign of amusement in her blue eyes. "I would not see you break your promise to me, and I know you would strive to ensure that it is fulfilled."
In public, of course, she would allow herself little more than a brief embrace, a small touch of her hand to his. Here and alone, she welcomes his kiss and responds to it, suffusing it with newfound feeling.
In public, of course, she would allow herself little more than a brief embrace, a small touch of her hand to his. Here and alone, she welcomes his kiss and responds to it, suffusing it with newfound feeling.
They're alone enough here that there's no harm in this sort of closeness. It keeps his lips curled into a hopeful sort of smile.
"I cannot promise I will never disappoint you, but I'll be certain to do my best to keep the disappointments to smaller things."
To being distracted by a book when he ought to be attending to her, perhaps. That realm of disappointing as a man.
"I cannot promise I will never disappoint you, but I'll be certain to do my best to keep the disappointments to smaller things."
To being distracted by a book when he ought to be attending to her, perhaps. That realm of disappointing as a man.
There are ways, of course, of drawing her husband's attention fully back to her, although she has only just discovered some of those methods within the last few days.
Sansa kisses the subtle indent in his chin and draws herself close, one arm winding around his middle.
"Then I will strive to do the same, and we can forgive each other for the little disappointments in advance."
Sansa kisses the subtle indent in his chin and draws herself close, one arm winding around his middle.
"Then I will strive to do the same, and we can forgive each other for the little disappointments in advance."
"How soon is soon?"
Probably not soon enough for him, really.
Probably not soon enough for him, really.
Edited (....DW that was way rood.) 2013-07-07 15:54 (UTC)
"There are things you never truly get out of your blood." Like a people born of pirates and the ocean.
"I thought so as well," Sansa agrees, closing her eyes at the sensation of his chin nestled in her hair, that familiar weight as he rests his head on hers.
"I only hope I do not become very seasick," she considers out loud, eyes reopening. "That would put something of a damper on the Dawn Treader's maiden voyage."
"I only hope I do not become very seasick," she considers out loud, eyes reopening. "That would put something of a damper on the Dawn Treader's maiden voyage."
Absolutely not soon enough. He can barely look at Susan for his eyes being upon the ship, his entire being keyed into the work he's only holding back from helping because he's certain he lacks the proper skill.
"We'll be sailing before the next month is out, they promised." And it looks to be a promise they'll be able to keep, the way men are swarming with a diligent effort over the nearly-complete frame. "Isn't she beautiful?"
"We'll be sailing before the next month is out, they promised." And it looks to be a promise they'll be able to keep, the way men are swarming with a diligent effort over the nearly-complete frame. "Isn't she beautiful?"
And, of course, people born to really, truly be Narnians. That's what had both these young men here, in the long view.
In the short view, of course, standing at the docks has a good deal more to do with Caspian having dragged them here to stare up at the nearly-ready hulk of a ship. "Like memories in your bones before you've even really lived. Yes?"
In the short view, of course, standing at the docks has a good deal more to do with Caspian having dragged them here to stare up at the nearly-ready hulk of a ship. "Like memories in your bones before you've even really lived. Yes?"
"She's lovely," Susan agrees with an amused smile he won't see because of his focus on the ship, "What were you planning on naming her?"
Peter is staring up at the ship, with appreciation of the workmanship, though he's more amused by Caspian's eagerness and delight than particularly eager himself. Not that the thought of a good adventure is at all unappealing, just in a more generic way.
"Yes. Though I think ships feature more heavily in your bones than mine. How long do you think it will be, before she's ready to sail?"
"Yes. Though I think ships feature more heavily in your bones than mine. How long do you think it will be, before she's ready to sail?"
Oh right. [Obviously, Rose] Have you been waiting long?
It's such a relief, really, to fit so well with the woman he's to spend the rest of his life with. Physically, emotionally; in the little moments like this when they're both quietly allowed to be themselves.
"How often have you spent time on the sea, Sansa? Much at all?"
"How often have you spent time on the sea, Sansa? Much at all?"
If he had been able to focus, he might have heard the smile. Then again, if he had been able to focus, he might have turned to see the smile.
"There have been a million suggestions. Everyone wants to name her after one of the ships of old."
"There have been a million suggestions. Everyone wants to name her after one of the ships of old."
"I suppose so."
Although, in a way, he couldn't help but think ships bound him back somewhat to the Golden Age of Narnia--to Kings like the one now standing beside him--almost as much as to his own ancestors in Telmar.
"In a few weeks time. You'll come, won't you?" And that manages to tear his eyes from the ship to the other young man. "When we take her out? The first time, at least?"
Although, in a way, he couldn't help but think ships bound him back somewhat to the Golden Age of Narnia--to Kings like the one now standing beside him--almost as much as to his own ancestors in Telmar.
"In a few weeks time. You'll come, won't you?" And that manages to tear his eyes from the ship to the other young man. "When we take her out? The first time, at least?"
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