"There's something... pure, in what we're doing," Henry says, as though contradicting what Richard has never said aloud, but Richard only smiles, and tastes the smoke in the cold air as he breathes it in, and makes no reply.
There are too many things he will not allow to escape his thoughts or his tongue, and so he does not speak. And they stand amidst stone walls, in night and shadow and firelight, and are silent.
I could have loved you more than them all, says Richard's silence.
I love you more than those to whom I should give it all, says Henry's.
But the chasm remains.
***
And Richard laughs, is the only one to laugh, as he always was, as he always will be at Edward's terrible humour, and for one brief moment, his world is made not of dull metal, but of sheer and gold-glimmering delight.
Henry had been right, in the firelit courtyard and the despairing shadows, right and yet wrong, too.
They are not winning the war begun by Hawkwood's body.
They have already won it.
***
I love these bits. I love the fact that Isabel and Aumerle sing a song by Martin Codax. I love that all of them bond together to fight a war that matters, that Kate Percy is in there slugging with the rest of them, that they remain completely themselves and yet things turn out so much better...despite the hordes of hungry zombies roaming England.
no subject
"There's something... pure, in what we're doing," Henry says, as though contradicting what Richard has never said aloud, but Richard only smiles, and tastes the smoke in the cold air as he breathes it in, and makes no reply.
There are too many things he will not allow to escape his thoughts or his tongue, and so he does not speak. And they stand amidst stone walls, in night and shadow and firelight, and are silent.
I could have loved you more than them all, says Richard's silence.
I love you more than those to whom I should give it all, says Henry's.
But the chasm remains.
***
And Richard laughs, is the only one to laugh, as he always was, as he always will be at Edward's terrible humour, and for one brief moment, his world is made not of dull metal, but of sheer and gold-glimmering delight.
Henry had been right, in the firelit courtyard and the despairing shadows, right and yet wrong, too.
They are not winning the war begun by Hawkwood's body.
They have already won it.
***
I love these bits. I love the fact that Isabel and Aumerle sing a song by Martin Codax. I love that all of them bond together to fight a war that matters, that Kate Percy is in there slugging with the rest of them, that they remain completely themselves and yet things turn out so much better...despite the hordes of hungry zombies roaming England.
I love this so very much. It's BRILLIANT.