Title: Lord Theodore's Origin
Author: Kate, K4writer02
Rating: G
Disclaimer: Don't own anything to do with Tortall.
Summary: Lord Theodore lives a long and mostly happy life with Douglass (and Sacherell, because where there's one, you find the other). Birthday fic for Rosie
Recipient: Rosie.
Author's Note: Happy birthday!!!! I hope it's a happy and wonderful year. Sorry I've vanished from the face of the internet lately. I simply had to return to wish you well.
Lord Theodore lives a long and mostly happy life with Douglass (and Sacherell, because where there's one, you find the other). He presides over pranks, is kidnapped and ransomed several times, and he shares his bed with all sorts of odd creatures—frogs, kittens, a puppy, and, on a few notable occasions, Faithful, the constellation walking among them.
On those occasions, Faithful looked at the bear in such a knowing way that Douglass started to feel uneasy. One night, after consuming about twice his usual quantity of wine, Sacherell said he thought he heard faithful observe to Lord Theodore that these young heroes are more work than they used to be.
Even Douglass laughed that off.
Lord Theodore endures an unknown number of surgeries that repair his limbs, replace his internal organs, and keep his sweet, somehow knowing, button eyes in place. He regards it all with the same benevolent expression.
Over the course of his career as the premier teddy bear in Tortall, he comforts children of every class. He accepts the cuddles of Maura of Dunlath and Vania of Conte as easily as he accepts kisses from peasant children in villages from the Grimhold Mountains to the Great Inland Sea. He travels to every corner of the realm with his favorite person.
But how did he come into the knight's keeping—or how did the knight come into the bear's care?
For the answer, you must go back to the days when Douglass was a page. Lord Theodore had been left behind at Nond by a shy blond boy who was ashamed of loving the old bear—even then, Lord Theodore was not young, though no one ever aged or taxed him like Douglass (and Sacherell). A loving auntie, upon discovering the treasured companion, sent the bear with a package of sweets and games. And Francis hid Lord Theodore in his chamber, far from the rough handling of Ralon of Malven and the teasing of his idol, Raoul of Goldenlake.
Perhaps Douglass became acquainted with the bear when Francis sponsored him and tutored him. Perhaps Francis shared his old friend with his new one, knowing how overwhelming the first weeks were. Whatever the case, when the Black God took Francis, he would not leave until the bear and Douglass were united.
If they'd been less exhausted, the healers would have burned the bear immediately, so it could not carry disease out of the room. But Douglass, knowing Francis's wishes and his chivalric duty to the weak or helpless, stuffed the bear under his tunic and made a grand escape. He did not fall sick, nor did he die, and so Lord Theodore became something of a good luck charm for him. He was teased, but the affectation was no stranger than anything else he did, so it was mostly overlooked by the other boys.
Lord Theodore might have simply vanished into the mists of history, his good work remembered only by a few, but a particularly gifted story teller and historian of the knights of Jonathan of Conte's reign, championed his cause. This story is in recognition of her efforts on his behalf.