Written for measuringlife on FE Exchange. :)


"Love does not consist of gazing at each other, but in looking together in the same direction."
-Antoine de Saint-Exupery

-x-

It was over. He'd finally learned the truth about House Cornwall and given a formal apology to House Ostia. The day Raven had been preparing for since the end of the war had come and gone, leaving him with only a single thought.

"Now what?"

"Lord Raymond?" Lucius put down his pack and sat beside him on the steps of the inn. Raven rolled hie eyes.

"I told you to stop calling me that."

"Old habits are hard to break, Lord Raymond." Lucius smiled. "What's troubling you?" Raven sighed.

"Where do we go from here?" he asked.

"Pardon?"

"I guess I didn't plan too well," Raven continued. "I've been thinking about this day and nothing but this day for months, and now that I've accomplished what I set out to do..." He kicked at a pebble. "I don't feel like I thought I would. I'm happy, of course, but..."

"You're uncertain about the future," Lucius finished.

"I haven't given any thought to it, and now it's come back to kick me in the teeth," Raven said. "I didn't want to burden Lord Hector with rebuilding my home, not when he's already got so much to do as Marquess Ostia, but maybe I should've taken him up on that offer. Otherwise, what am I supposed to do? Spend the rest of my days wandering, with no purpose whatsoever?"

Lucius moved closer and laid a hand on his shoulder.

"You're forgetting something important," he said gently. "You're not alone. I've remained at your side throughout the journey, and will continue to do so."

Raven relaxed a little, comforted slightly by the words and the gentle contact. Lucius had always been the one person who could calm him at times like this.

"I know."

"And it matters not to me whether we settle down or spend the rest of our lives wandering," Lucius continued. "All that matters is that we are together. You'll not be alone, Lord Raymond, for as long as I live."

It was the pure, straightforward honesty of his promise that moved Raven. He'd never had any reason to doubt Lucius's loyalty to him, but it was nice to be reminded of it every now and then. With the barest hint of a smile, he reached up to place his hand over Lucius's.

"I guess you're right," he finally said. "Maybe we don't need to worry about it right now. The future's still a long way off." He leaned against Lucius's shoulder and gazed towards the setting sun. Why worry about the future when he had so much to be happy for right now? He'd found the answers he'd been seeking, and thus could begin to lay a longtime grudge to rest at last. And best of all, he had someone to stand beside him.

The future could wait.