Title: Coronation
Author: bodgei
Rating: PG?
Disclaimer: Carrot, Vimes and basically everybody else in this story is property of Terry Pratchett. I just play with them when they aren't busy.
Notes: This story was written for the Carrot- a-thon inal/jcommunity.
The man who was about to become King Carrot the first was sitting at his desk writing home. Vimes was used to seeing Carrot write home and wondered idly if Carrot could spell better in Dwarvish than he did in Morporkian. Probably not.
Carrot is dressed in his watch uniform, it turns out he only has the uniform and a few pieces of clothing he came to the city with and those have long since stopped fitting. He had refused the more kingly clothes Vetinari had tried to get him into and would go to his own coronation dressed as the Captain of the Watch. Vimes had been surprised by the old clothes folded neatly in a box under Carrot's bed, he hadn't thought that Carrot had a sentimental bone in his body. But, in a box under his bed Carrot had his old clothes letters from home, two Dwarf axes and a few other things that Vimes assumed had to do with Angua. Carrot didn't have much.
"Mister Vimes?" Carrot asks.
"Yes?"
"Do you think this will work?"
Vimes glances out the window. The fires are still burning, but he thinks maybe there are less fires than a few days ago, "It seems to be working Carrot," at least Vimes hopes it is working.
"I don't like this," Carrot says quietly, also looking out the windows. Vimes isn't sure if Carrot means the fires or the impending Kingship.
"I know, but if this works…"
"Yes," Carrot says seriously, "If it works it will all be worth it."
"It will be. Are you sure you wouldn't like a change of clothes?"
"No. This will do."
"Well…"
"As King I'll be the ultimate Policeman won't I? The man of the city."
"Yes, you will."
"So my Watch uniform is fine then."
"If you look like at it like that," Vimes watches Carrot deflate. It occurs to Vimes that Carrot now looks less like Captain Carrot and more like the boy Vimes first met years ago; somehow smaller, the stooped boy just fresh out of the mine, now the boy is taking on responsibilities he never asked for.
"My father has been trying to give me advise, but I don't know if being a Dwarf king is really the same, humans seem to want something … well different."
"You will be fine, you just have to do what you have been doing. You know, walking around talking to people. It can't be hard."
There is a tap at the door and then it is opened slowly reveling a clerk, "Sir Vimes? The Patrician is ready for you. The coronation is to begin soon," the clerk escorts Vimes to the throne room and he joins the Patrician at the base of the throne dais. He turns to the patrician and asks, "This will work won't it?"
"I'm not worried," Vetinari answers.
"It's not your head."
"It is my city."
"It won't be in a few minutes."
"I suppose," a loud murmuring announces the arrival of Carrot, "It must be nice, Vimes, seeing one of your lads do well?"
"I suppose. But we still have to see if he does well."