The High King could not send me back so easily, not without losing a small force to escort me, and I would not see him fight alone. He was trying to protect me, and I wished only to protect him. He is my favorite brother, you see, in such as it is unkind to proclaim such a thing. He made me stay back, with the bowmen, but-
[She whispers, then.]
d'Artagnan, no one said to me that you have a wife. You must be so lonely, then, without her! How cruel to make you leave half your heart behind!
Oh, she is a woman after his own heart. His thoughts stray to Constance far more often than his words, for the main reason that he knows he can't just go and see her while he's here. Speaking of her always makes that want stronger.
Though the truth is, he always wants to do that anyway. Lucy is entirely right. He hates being apart from her. He had expected that separation to come because of war, but to come because of this is so much harder. ]
It...is part of why I want so badly to go home, my Lady. We were married the day before I came here. For all she knows, I have gone to war and she will never know I've gone much further.
But you're right. I miss her very much. Her name is Constance, and she is Lady in Waiting to my Queen. She would understand how you felt about fighting. She made me teach her, not long after we met.
[ He hopes that, too. It seems that something is always trying to come between himself and Constance.
But he hasn't given up on her yet. He never will. If love was meant to be easy, it wouldn't be love. ]
Thank you. I do as well. A good husband should not just disappear and leave his wife behind. I know that's not what I wanted. I hope the same for you and your family, my Lady. I'm sure you miss your brother very much.
[ Oh. Oh no, this is so very much not what he meant to do. Alarmed, he curses himself for speaking so freely. He should have been more careful. Now she's worried about her family all over again and it's all his fault.
He tries to make it better. ]
No, no no, that's not what I meant at all.
My Lady, I'm sure -
I spoke to more than one person, and their tale was always the same. None of their friends or families knew that they'd been gone. I'm sure they're right. You will see your brother again, I know you will, and he'll be just fine, and happy to see you.
It is not your fault, nor your burden to bear. It is you who should be receiving my apologies. I was selfish this night, I simply wanted to know there was another soul with me, who cared for me and cherished me out in this world, where I oft feel unloved.
[She doesn't mean romantic love, of course. She doesn't even need to think that d'Artagnan loves her. But he does care for her, and that matters so much, in the grand scheme of things.]
And for listening to my girlish, silly problems, I do thank you.
[ Of course it's not. Missing the people you love could never be silly. His bed is empty at night, when Constance should be in it. And unlike what he had expected, it's not because he's at a camp at the front lines, or holed up in the garrison. It's just because he's elsewhere, and that's entirely wrong. He understands Lucy's upset. ]
You're far from home, and those you love aren't with you. That's not silly at all. I miss people, too. I'm sure I'm not the only one.
[ He’ll hang up when the line goes dead. It’s not long before he’s fallen back to sleep, with thoughts of what they discussed still rolling around in his head. ]
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The High King could not send me back so easily, not without losing a small force to escort me, and I would not see him fight alone. He was trying to protect me, and I wished only to protect him. He is my favorite brother, you see, in such as it is unkind to proclaim such a thing. He made me stay back, with the bowmen, but-
[She whispers, then.]
d'Artagnan, no one said to me that you have a wife. You must be so lonely, then, without her! How cruel to make you leave half your heart behind!
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Oh, she is a woman after his own heart. His thoughts stray to Constance far more often than his words, for the main reason that he knows he can't just go and see her while he's here. Speaking of her always makes that want stronger.
Though the truth is, he always wants to do that anyway. Lucy is entirely right. He hates being apart from her. He had expected that separation to come because of war, but to come because of this is so much harder. ]
It...is part of why I want so badly to go home, my Lady. We were married the day before I came here. For all she knows, I have gone to war and she will never know I've gone much further.
But you're right. I miss her very much. Her name is Constance, and she is Lady in Waiting to my Queen. She would understand how you felt about fighting. She made me teach her, not long after we met.
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[There is a very quiet sadness in Lucy's voice, that he is here and his wife is elsewhere, so soon after they had been married.]
I hope to see you reunited very soon.
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But he hasn't given up on her yet. He never will. If love was meant to be easy, it wouldn't be love. ]
Thank you. I do as well. A good husband should not just disappear and leave his wife behind. I know that's not what I wanted. I hope the same for you and your family, my Lady. I'm sure you miss your brother very much.
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Luckily, it's not loud sobs, or even whimpers, it's just wet sniffling.]
I'm so sorry, I really am.
I miss my brother terribly. Everyday. What if they are wrong? What if Peter is terribly worried about where I am?
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He tries to make it better. ]
No, no no, that's not what I meant at all.
My Lady, I'm sure -
I spoke to more than one person, and their tale was always the same. None of their friends or families knew that they'd been gone. I'm sure they're right. You will see your brother again, I know you will, and he'll be just fine, and happy to see you.
Please don't cry. I'm sorry.
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I am very lonely. I have never felt lonely before.
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I'm sorry.
You're not alone, my Lady, I promise you that. I know I can't be your brother, but I am here. I won't let you be alone.
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[She doesn't mean romantic love, of course. She doesn't even need to think that d'Artagnan loves her. But he does care for her, and that matters so much, in the grand scheme of things.]
And for listening to my girlish, silly problems, I do thank you.
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[ Of course it's not. Missing the people you love could never be silly. His bed is empty at night, when Constance should be in it. And unlike what he had expected, it's not because he's at a camp at the front lines, or holed up in the garrison. It's just because he's elsewhere, and that's entirely wrong. He understands Lucy's upset. ]
You're far from home, and those you love aren't with you. That's not silly at all. I miss people, too. I'm sure I'm not the only one.
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[She whispers it, and finally-]
I will see you tomorrow, won't I?
[For whatever reason. For an outing, or for a meal, or just for company.]
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[ It's easy to promise that, and his voice sounds gentle. Already, he values Lucy's friendship. ]
I'll come to find you, when the hour is decent. You can rely on it.
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[She really is. She waits a moment, in case he wishes to say something else, but she's already falling back asleep, ready to hang up.]
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Goodnight, Queen Lucy.
[ He’ll hang up when the line goes dead. It’s not long before he’s fallen back to sleep, with thoughts of what they discussed still rolling around in his head. ]