http://amaranthine-7.livejournal.com/ ([identity profile] amaranthine-7.livejournal.com) wrote in [community profile] tamingthemuse2015-04-18 11:30 pm

Prompt#456 - Consanguineal - Consanguineal - amaranthine-7 - Arthurian legends

Title: Consanguineal
Fandom: Arthurian legends
Prompt: Prompt 456 - Consanguineal
Warnings: N/A
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: "Con-san-gui-n...guine-eal." The words rolled with difficulty on Gaheris' tongue.

"Con-san-gui-n...guine-eal." The words rolled with difficulty on Gaheris' tongue.

"Yes, consanguineal." Gareth agreed, the word flowing effortlessly off his mouth.

"And you say, it means we're related?" Gareth nodded. "But you're old." Gaheris protested. The idea was inconceivable to him. Gareth was his teacher, he couldn't be related to him. He had never known him before, and he was already seven years old. Surely if Gareth had been from his family he would have known by now.

Gareth slid off his chair to crouch closer to Gaheris. He placed his hands on his knees and looked him in the eyes. "The dreams you've been having," he began.

"How do you know about my dreams," Gaheris asked suddenly defensive.

Gareth looked towards the wall. "You drew them." Gaheris followed his gaze and had to admit it was pretty obvious. He wasn't very good with pencils and crayons but the horses and men in armour where still easily recognisable. They had felt real in his sleep and had lingered past his awakening, seeping through into his life. The only way he had been able to let them go was through those drawings.

"They are not dreams exactly," Gareth went on. "They are memories. Your memories."

"But they can't be." Gaheris tore his gaze away from the wall. "They can't be," he repeated angrily. "We have cars now, and trains, and TV, and phones, and, and..." He rose to his feet, his fists tightening against his sides. "They can't be," he shouted unable to find any other words to express his thoughts.

Gareth remained crouched in front of him. He had to lift his eyes to look at him now. "But they are," he said softly. "I know it's hard to understand but I think you can. You're cleverer than you think." He knelt down, lifting his upper body to meet Gaheris' eyes once more. "And you're my brother." He smiled.

"But I'm seven and you're... you're thirty or something. We can't be consang...consang... We can't be!" Gaheris kicked the chair and ran out of the room. Gareth let the weight of his body fall to the floor and sighed.

In the corridor, Gaheris kept on running as fast as he could until he reached the locked door to the playing ground. He had nowhere else to go so he stopped. He stared at it without seeing it. What Gareth - what his teacher - had said made no sense and yet it did. He couldn't understand it but his words had resonated in him and somehow he knew he was telling the truth - no matter how impossible it was.

He turned around and slowly walked back to the classroom. Gareth was by his desk, putting paper into his briefcase.

"Does that mean my parents are not my parents?"

Gareth raised his head at the sound of his voice. He looked surprised, as if he had not heard Gaheris approach.

"No, of course not." He dropped his paper and went to the door. "It will never mean that."

"Then what," Gaheris asked his voice trembling.

"It only means you have a much bigger family than you thought. We have three brothers and a sister still to find." Gareth smiled and opened his arms. Gaheris hesitated for a second before accepting the invitation and returning the hug.

Post a comment in response:

This account has disabled anonymous posting.
If you don't have an account you can create one now.
No Subject Icon Selected
More info about formatting