A/N: Okay, so to clarify two points before the story:
-David Lyons is the son of the Narracotts' landlord
-I've looked a few places, but I've never found the first name of the landlord, so let's just say it's 'Edward'
BE BRAVE
(I)
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When his son David turns nineteen, Edward Lyons knows what's coming next, and dreads it, too.
Because even though he knows he'll be nothing but proud when David sets out to defend his country, he remembers all-too-well the sounds of war. The gunshots, the screams, the sound of approaching hooves. And he thinks of the sights and the smells, too – the blood, the desperation, the fear – the look of the dying men, the betrayal in his comrade's eyes as he shot them.
And he wants to forget. And that's something he has in common with Ted Narracott, except for the fact that he doesn't drink to forget.
No, he's better than that, more talented. He builds up his walls and he hides everything under a layer of egomania and spite and condescendence, because it's easier than showing everyone his vulnerable side. After all, he is the landlord's son, and he doesn't have feelings, right?
When his father dies and he gets all the land, he quickly establishes his authority and expects nothing more, nothing less from the farmers renting out his land. He makes allies and finds those who'd follow him anywhere, those who fear him and hate him under stony glowers and hands-on-hips.
David does the same, mind, because he's much too similar to his father. He makes the girls swoon and is followed by his cronies and drives a nice car because he's the landlord's son – and one day, he'll be the one who's feared and hated. Like father, like son; it's not just a cliché.
So when David sits his father and mother down three weeks after his nineteenth birthday, Edward stays impassive and nods at the right moment and during the same time thinks to himself, BE BRAVE LYONS BE BRAVE – because it's not the same as when he left. David is his son and he watched him grow up and he's probably not been the best father, but he doesn't want to see him suffer through the horrors of war.
"You be careful, son," he tells David, guarded, and he lights his pipe. Beside him, Edward's wife chimes, "Yes, you'd better come back, David."
The nineteen-year-old laughs and gets to his feet, hugging his mother and clapping his father's back. "Yes, I'll be good, Mother, Father," he says, smiling, and Edward can't help but think that this is no laughing matter, that the light will be out of his eyes in no time. "Don't worry, I'll be brave. I'll make you proud."
I'M ALREADY PROUD, Edward thinks to himself, BUT YES, BE BRAVE BE BRAVE BE BRAVE, DAVID.
He knows the boy is going to need it.
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War Horse was definitely better than some of the movies I've watched this year, and like the King's Speech, it leaves a nice feeling at the end. Good movie. So yeah, I figured I'd do a few fics on these, especially since I had insomnia last night and all my hyperactive mind could do was make up fics :/
Anyways, this will be a three-shot. Next chapter will be Rose and Ted Narracott, and last chapter will be Captain Nicholls and an OC I've created. So... Please read and review, especially if you favourite/alert! :D
