Tumgik
#aumerlexrichard
themalhambird · 6 years
Note
And - Richard/Aumerle "And his love will conquer all" (it's a line from the song "Shattered" by Trading Yesterday)
Sometimes, Aumerle really doesn’t like Court: it’s all so polished and shiny, and he’s so clumsy and awkward and he’s pretty sure everyone would be quite pleased, really, if he just went away in to a hole and didn’t bother them again. He’s not particularly charming, he knows: he can’t dance, he’s too shy to sing or play in public, and as for the rigmarole of courtly love, forget it-  the only long haired beauty he cares to woo is already married, and taken (quite possibly literally, sometimes) by three other people far more attractive than Ned besides: he’s never going to Aumerle that way, and Aumerle is just going to have to deal with it.
And yet, whenever Aumerle gets low like this, and seriously considers leaving (he’s not even any good at politics, as he’s constantly reminded by his father’s berating him for not doing this or that to make one ally or another) the King refuses to allow it: “We can’t possibly do with out you, Aumerle,” he declares, perfect sincerity in his eyes, and when Ned tries to protest he’ll roll his eyes and say “Cousin, if you won’t stop your mouth I shall”, and kiss him on the mouth with a little more passion (and tongue) than a strictly familial embrace would call for, and the reassuring warmth of Richard’s unspoken love is enough, in that moment at least, to banish all of Ned’s insecurities and fears far far away.
5 notes · View notes
themalhambird · 6 years
Text
@skeleton-richard so you know the Planning Kate and Harry’s wedding is how Ned and Richard sort out their feeling au we discussed.....
The reception was winding down.
The guests had been gradually slipping away over the last two hours, the reduction so subtle that one barely noticed, until they glanced round and realised it was only family and close friends left. It had been Richard’s idea: a compromise between the small, intimate ceremony Kate and Harry had wanted and the large, Society Affair their families had demanded. This last hour or so before they needed to leave for their honeymoon- it was for them. Their day, their time. It had worked wonderfully. 
The evening was drawing in. It was getting a little chilly, standing around in the marquee, but it was a good, calm, summer sort of chilly. Besides: it gave Harry an excuse to get out of his jacket- generously loaning it to her. “D-do you want the w-waistcoat as w-well-- Mrs Percy?” he asked, eyes lighting up and a grin spreading across his face as he called her that.
“Nah, I’m good thanks,” she said, and he groaned. 
“D-dance?” he asked. She went to take his hand, then something caught her eye and she hesitated. 
“Gimme a minute, I just need to go and talk to Ned a sec. Say thanks for all his help.”
“I thought we did that already,” Harry frowned, and Kate smiled.
“Okay, I’ll rephrase. I just need to go and talk to Ned a sec because he’s sitting on his own looking like a forlorn puppy dog and it’s bumming me out.”
“Oh. Okay,” Harry kissed her cheek. “but dance later?”
“We’ll see,” she kissed him back, “It depends on how easily I can fix the moping.” She walked over to her cousin, hand trailing along Harry’s arm for as long as possible before their fingers had to part, and took a seat next to her cousin. He was using a carrot stick to draw in a splodge of coleslaw left seeping in to a fancy cardboard plate; he dropped it quickly as he noticed her, flushing. “Hi,” she said.
“Hi. I was just, um,” he glanced up at the bar.
“Pining?” Kate asked.
“No, it’s- he has confetti in his hair, it’s been bothering me all afternoon. Evening...”
“Why don’t you go up and ask him to dance?” Kate suggested. Ned chuckled humourlessly. 
“Richard doesn’t dance. Not since Uncle Thomas paid his last dance partner a quarter of a million to go away.”
“He tell you that?” Kate asked.
“...no.”
“Then go ask him.2
“I can’t.”
“Why not?”
“Because!” Ned hissed. “Because it’s Richard, he’s,,,Richard. He’s...”
“Lonely.” Kate said softly. Ned snorted. “He is!” she insisted. “You’ve been watching him all day. When was he happiest? Going through all the last minute little catastrophes and sorting them with you, or sitting by himself staring in to a champagne glass at a party he organised and hasn’t spoken to anyone for more than three minutes at a time at. Except for you again.” Ned looked at her, worrying his lower lip.
“What do I say?” he asked, and Kate rolled her eyes.
“I’m hopelessly in love with you please take me to bed and fuck me,” she said. “you say: ‘would you like to dance’, doofus.”
“Would you like to dance,” Ned repeated. “Would you like to dance? Would you like to dance-ow!” he complained, as Kate kicked him under the table. “How can you be wearing a wedding dress and still do that? Okay, okay,” he took a deep breath and stood, straightening his cuffs and making his way across the marquee to the bar. Kate watched Richard turn as he approached. Ned gestured- cringed, she could practically feel him fumbling the words- he glanced at her-
Richard offered him a hand. Kate felt a warm glow of satisfaction fill her as Ned took it, and led Richard on to the dance floor. The gap between their silhouettes closed as their hands moved to each other’s, and each other’s waists, and they began to move with the music. 
“Moping fixed?” said a voice in her ear. 
“Here’s hoping.” Kate said, turning and letting Harry pull her out of the chair, and close to him. She wrapped her arms around her neck. “but if this doesn’t do it, I’m locking them in a cupboard together till they finally give in and actually talk about their feelings. What?” she asked, as Harry laughed. 
“Nothing. I just love you, that’s all. Mrs Kate Percy.” 
“Mrs Kate Percy,” Kate agreed, as they danced together. “I love you too.”
6 notes · View notes
themalhambird · 7 years
Text
To R in the fervent hope he will never read it: My heart belongs to none but thee, mine own, gentle hart. Thou givs't, my love, my life to me- thou art the very air Which I do breathe, thou art my very soul and my whole self Is drawn to thee as a white rose to the warm sun. I do not intend to woo thy love with these words-- My tongue is lead and yours silver, well versed In poetry, eloquence, quick witted jest. It is your second nature, the art of disarming With a pretty turn of phrase designed to cut or heal. This being so I know you do not trust the craft To say something more than what the list'ner would hear.
And if I flatter myself that my words might please-- I would prove myself worthy to thee, dear, by deed.
1 note · View note