Post by Duke Gideon of Genlith on Aug 17, 2007 18:03:11 GMT -5
"Malin dear, how faired your day?" were the the falsely cheerful words that followed Gideon's greeting to his wife when he had entered their luxurious suite of rooms.
Malin looked up at him from her intricate emboidery, which she insisted on doing for at least an hour and a half every day. As to why, he hadn't the faintest inkling, and upon being questioned Malin refused to enlighten him. But Gideon was most willing to be indulgent if it kept her happy - which, most unfortunately, it didn't. She seemed to be constantly cross with him, he'd always done something wrong, and it appeared to Gideon to be impossible to do anything right.
Malin's face wore a deep frown as she stiffly spouted out her usual answer. "It was well enough." Two stitches without looking down. "Miss Jenson has already brought up my dinner. Go down to yours now or you'll be late." She immediately continued her needlework after she had spoken, and utterly ignored Gideon, giving the impression that, in her mind, he did not exsist.
Day after day, Malin always did this, refusing to show any love or compassion, always rejecting any Gideon tried to present her. She never ate with him down in the Great Hall, she was never seen with him except on the rare occasions when she absolutely had to. Malin seemed to detest the thought of him even living in this world. Was his one moment of rashness, made in misery and with the hope and promise of a better future, going to ruin his life forever? For what was life if your eternal companion seemed to wish for your demise? Ignored you? Pretended that you weren't there?
Curse his mother. Curse...but no. He couldn't curse Eles.
Gideon almost didn't turn around, open the door, and walk slowly down the hall, trying not to let his head hang, as he always did. He almost stood his grounded and cried out, "Why do you despise me so? Why do you refuse to show any compassion or love? Can you not see I am doing my uttmost to be kind and loving? Why can you not do the same or at the very least try to?"
But he didn't, and once again, the cycle continued. Though this time, as Gideon crossed over the threshold and into the hallway, he turned back and said with as much feeling as he could muster, "I love you, Malin."
She didn't even glance up.
The hall was dimly lit, lonely, and cold. Perfectly attuned to his state mind. Gideon's footsteps echoed softly around him, almost like the pitter-patter of raindrops, but slightly heavier. Just before he turned the corner leading to the more active parts of the New Palace, Gideon stopped. Only after squaring his shoulders, straightening to his full height, and organizing his features into an acceptable expression did he continue on towards the Great Hall.
What has happened to me? I used to be what I now pretend to be. This imposing and regal image that people see when they look at me is just that - an image. That man is gone. And what is left? Gideon almost dropped his head, almost covered his face in his hands, but no, he must keep up appearances. If not for himself then at least for the Queen. That thought jolted him. Since when had he thought of Eles as 'the Queen'?
Gideon mentally shook himself. Excesive loneliness was no exscuse to start pitying himself. His iron self control and disipline were starting to reinsert themselves, returning his internal composure. One woman would not ruin everything he had labored for. But even as the double doors to the Great Hall were opened for him by a squire, Gideon's traitorous mind whispered, Ah, but it's not one woman. It's two...
Malin looked up at him from her intricate emboidery, which she insisted on doing for at least an hour and a half every day. As to why, he hadn't the faintest inkling, and upon being questioned Malin refused to enlighten him. But Gideon was most willing to be indulgent if it kept her happy - which, most unfortunately, it didn't. She seemed to be constantly cross with him, he'd always done something wrong, and it appeared to Gideon to be impossible to do anything right.
Malin's face wore a deep frown as she stiffly spouted out her usual answer. "It was well enough." Two stitches without looking down. "Miss Jenson has already brought up my dinner. Go down to yours now or you'll be late." She immediately continued her needlework after she had spoken, and utterly ignored Gideon, giving the impression that, in her mind, he did not exsist.
Day after day, Malin always did this, refusing to show any love or compassion, always rejecting any Gideon tried to present her. She never ate with him down in the Great Hall, she was never seen with him except on the rare occasions when she absolutely had to. Malin seemed to detest the thought of him even living in this world. Was his one moment of rashness, made in misery and with the hope and promise of a better future, going to ruin his life forever? For what was life if your eternal companion seemed to wish for your demise? Ignored you? Pretended that you weren't there?
Curse his mother. Curse...but no. He couldn't curse Eles.
Gideon almost didn't turn around, open the door, and walk slowly down the hall, trying not to let his head hang, as he always did. He almost stood his grounded and cried out, "Why do you despise me so? Why do you refuse to show any compassion or love? Can you not see I am doing my uttmost to be kind and loving? Why can you not do the same or at the very least try to?"
But he didn't, and once again, the cycle continued. Though this time, as Gideon crossed over the threshold and into the hallway, he turned back and said with as much feeling as he could muster, "I love you, Malin."
She didn't even glance up.
The hall was dimly lit, lonely, and cold. Perfectly attuned to his state mind. Gideon's footsteps echoed softly around him, almost like the pitter-patter of raindrops, but slightly heavier. Just before he turned the corner leading to the more active parts of the New Palace, Gideon stopped. Only after squaring his shoulders, straightening to his full height, and organizing his features into an acceptable expression did he continue on towards the Great Hall.
What has happened to me? I used to be what I now pretend to be. This imposing and regal image that people see when they look at me is just that - an image. That man is gone. And what is left? Gideon almost dropped his head, almost covered his face in his hands, but no, he must keep up appearances. If not for himself then at least for the Queen. That thought jolted him. Since when had he thought of Eles as 'the Queen'?
Gideon mentally shook himself. Excesive loneliness was no exscuse to start pitying himself. His iron self control and disipline were starting to reinsert themselves, returning his internal composure. One woman would not ruin everything he had labored for. But even as the double doors to the Great Hall were opened for him by a squire, Gideon's traitorous mind whispered, Ah, but it's not one woman. It's two...