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tamingthemuseTitle: Safe
Fandom: Arthurian legends
Prompt: Prompt 416 - Lighthouse
Warnings: None.
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: The Arthurian legends are in the public domain. I make no reference to any copyrighted work. So all is mine.
Beta: None, so any mistakes you see are mine.
Summary: The sea was calm that evening and the small boat was rocking gently at the edge of the waves.
The sea was calm that evening and the small boat was rocking gently at the edge of the waves. Arthur was grateful for the peace of the water. It would give the babies a chance to survive and be rescued. He didn’t want them to die. He glanced over his shoulder, Merlin was still there overlooking his gestures from the safe distance of a cliff. He didn’t have to see the children, hold their small bodies and hear their cries. Arthur looked down at the boy he was holding. He had a soft cover of jet black hair on his head and green eyes.
“Are you my child,” Arthur asked in a whisper.
The boy raised his head at the sound of his voice and calmly looked at him. Arthur felt a heavy weight at the bottom of his stomach. This child was trusting him, reassured by the warm embrace of an adult, of his king. Arthur wanted to hold this child forever and save him but he could feel Merlin gaze on his back.
“I’m sorry,” he murmured into the boy’s ear. “I never meant for this to happen.”
He knelt down on the sand and lay the last infant into the boat and covered him with a blanket. Thirteen babies. Seven boys. Six girls. Arthur stared at them for a long time. He wanted to engrave each of their faces into his memories. He owed them that much. Finally he pushed the boat into the sea and watched it roll away on the waves.
“Please…” he begged of the world around him.
His gaze fell on the lighthouse casting its light over the water. “Keep them safe”, he silently demanded of it. He had chosen this beach because of the lighthouse in the distance. He wanted to know someone could see the boat drifting away and come to its rescue. He knew the chances were slim but it was always better than no chance at all.
He remained on the beach for a long time, his eyes fixed on the boat until it was too far for him to see it. He waited still after the boat was gone, uselessly hoping for a sign from the gods. But none came that night and he would have to bear the knowledge of his crime fully. There could be no consolation and no possibility of forgiveness for him.
—*—
In the boat, the boy with the jet black hair remained calm his eyes following the beacon of light from the tower in the distance. He knew that as long as it was there, he would be safe from harm. His mother was waiting for him to find its way to the lighthouse.
Fandom: Arthurian legends
Prompt: Prompt 416 - Lighthouse
Warnings: None.
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: The Arthurian legends are in the public domain. I make no reference to any copyrighted work. So all is mine.
Beta: None, so any mistakes you see are mine.
Summary: The sea was calm that evening and the small boat was rocking gently at the edge of the waves.
The sea was calm that evening and the small boat was rocking gently at the edge of the waves. Arthur was grateful for the peace of the water. It would give the babies a chance to survive and be rescued. He didn’t want them to die. He glanced over his shoulder, Merlin was still there overlooking his gestures from the safe distance of a cliff. He didn’t have to see the children, hold their small bodies and hear their cries. Arthur looked down at the boy he was holding. He had a soft cover of jet black hair on his head and green eyes.
“Are you my child,” Arthur asked in a whisper.
The boy raised his head at the sound of his voice and calmly looked at him. Arthur felt a heavy weight at the bottom of his stomach. This child was trusting him, reassured by the warm embrace of an adult, of his king. Arthur wanted to hold this child forever and save him but he could feel Merlin gaze on his back.
“I’m sorry,” he murmured into the boy’s ear. “I never meant for this to happen.”
He knelt down on the sand and lay the last infant into the boat and covered him with a blanket. Thirteen babies. Seven boys. Six girls. Arthur stared at them for a long time. He wanted to engrave each of their faces into his memories. He owed them that much. Finally he pushed the boat into the sea and watched it roll away on the waves.
“Please…” he begged of the world around him.
His gaze fell on the lighthouse casting its light over the water. “Keep them safe”, he silently demanded of it. He had chosen this beach because of the lighthouse in the distance. He wanted to know someone could see the boat drifting away and come to its rescue. He knew the chances were slim but it was always better than no chance at all.
He remained on the beach for a long time, his eyes fixed on the boat until it was too far for him to see it. He waited still after the boat was gone, uselessly hoping for a sign from the gods. But none came that night and he would have to bear the knowledge of his crime fully. There could be no consolation and no possibility of forgiveness for him.
—*—
In the boat, the boy with the jet black hair remained calm his eyes following the beacon of light from the tower in the distance. He knew that as long as it was there, he would be safe from harm. His mother was waiting for him to find its way to the lighthouse.
no subject
Date: 2014-07-13 02:13 pm (UTC)