Of A Sort

by Trisana McGraw

Author's Note: Written for tammydrabbles prompt 12: for the kingdom. Set post-TQ, but the only book-related spoiler is what Alan Cooper is up to right now. Also, this is a follow-up to the June 18 drabble in my 31days story Wind Chimes, snow on the mountains, flowers in the fields (plot: Raoul and Alan, joined by Buri, enjoy a few days' respite at Goldenlake), but you don't necessarily have to have read that fic to understand this one For Gem (fyrethief), who always gives thoughtful reviews for my Raoul/Buri as well as every other fic I write.

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For several moments their panting breaths were all that could be heard, one echoing the other in a sort of mismatched rhythm, until Buri laughed shakily. She smoothed her fingers over the coarse hair of Raoul's chest and pressed kisses to his sweaty skin even as he stroked her back with one large hand. "Horse Lords, Raoul," she murmured appreciatively, her voice wobbly with exertion.

He chuckled, glad that she felt as dazed as he did and that their sex was still that good. "I'll have you know," he informed her once he had caught his breath, "that you have single-handedly made me reevaluate my position on marriage."

This prompted a lazy smile which soon turned playful as, her movements intentionally slow, Buri lifted herself up on her elbows. "And what's your position now?" she asked, leaning her face close to his.

He grinned. "I love it." He pulled her against him and kissed her deeply, enjoying her soft moan as one hand moved up his chest to wrap around the back of his neck. "I love you," he murmured when they pulled back; Buri sighed a reply and kissed him again. They shared several more lazy, heated kisses, until Buri made to get out of the bed.

"It's cold," she said in response to his questioning look. Indeed, they were lying only on thin sheets.

Raoul nodded and kissed the top of her head. "Stay. I'll take care of it." He stood up from the bed and padded over the cold stone floor to the closet, from which he retrieved a heavy blanket.

He admired her dark skin as Buri stretched languidly. "I don't know why Thayet said that the spark of romance dwindles with marriage," she commented with a sly grin.

Raoul tossed the blanket to her and slid back into bed beside her; she immediately rolled over so that her back was pressed against his chest. Pulling the blanket up to her shoulders, he said, "You have to remember, though, that Jon and Thayet have been married for – Mithros, it's been twenty years – to our one."

She nodded. "True."

Raoul stroked her hair; he had tangled his fingers in it as they made love. "Furthermore, they see each other so constantly that they must get sick of one another."

Buri tilted her head back to look him in the eye. "Are you saying that you would get sick of me if you saw me all the time?" she asked playfully, though he couldn't miss the note of warning in her voice.

"Of course not," he responded truthfully, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. "But you have to admit, absence did make our hearts grow fonder."

She stroked his cheek, then trailed her hand along his neck. "Does that mean that I should expect you once every few months, then? Twice a year, and maybe on the solstices and Midwinter if I'm good?"

He laughed. "A little more often than that – after all, it wouldn't be fair to keep poor Alan on the road for half a year."

The fingers tracing over his chest paused. "Why did you decide to take Alan on as your squire? We never really talked about it."

Raoul was quiet for several moments. "Well, for the good of the realm," he finally answered. "The King and the royal family need protectors to spread their laws and conventions to the rest of Tortall and to other countries. What with our losses in the Immortals and Scanran wars, we're lacking valuable role models to properly rear the next generation."

"That excuse worked with Kel, Raoul," Buri said, not unkindly. "But I'm sure that there were plenty of knights who would have jumped at the chance to squire Alanna's son. Why did you take on another squire?"

"Have I ever told you that it's irritating how well you know me?" Raoul asked wryly after several more beats of silence.

Buri grinned. "Many times, I believe. Often when we argued on Progress, to the delight of Flyndan and all of my trainees." She stroked his neck both with affection and to show that she still expected an answer.

He exhaled slowly. "Let me preface this by saying, as we discussed before, that I don't want to have children – I don't need anyone more than you to complete my life, and, considering our ages and my life with the Own, it wouldn't be fair to any younglings we might bring into this world. That said . . ." He paused to clear his throat. ". . . there's such pride in passing on the rules of chivalry and combat to a young man – or woman, in Kel's case – in watching him or her interact with other beings and the world and grow as a person. I know that you don't care much for chivalry, Buri –"

"No," his wife cut in, her voice gentle, "I understand."

His lips turned upward in a smile. "Over the years – decades – I've improved the Own and shaped it into the honorable squad of protectors that it was always meant to be, but it's seeing the development of an individual that most makes me feel that I've done something worthwhile." He expelled a long breath. "You're right – it's not so much for the realm, or for Jon, as much as for me. Does that make me selfish?"

"Terribly so," Buri teased. "Alan is lucky to have you, just like Kel was."

Raoul chuckled. "Sometimes I think that I was the one who benefited more from taking Kel on."

"That could be true." Buri turned in his arms so that they were face-to-face. "But try not to let the months drag between your visits, or I may have to ride out there myself and tow you home."

"Yes, ma'am."

Buri rolled her eyes at him. "Besides," she added, leaning closer, "although I may not be a chivalrous knight of the realm, I'd like to think that I have ways to occupy your attention." She illustrated her point with a lingering kiss, which her husband gladly returned.

When they broke apart, Buri resettled herself in Raoul's arms and pulled the blanket up again. "Another thing about Jon and Thayet," she said as her husband was closing his eyes, "is that they have to control all of Tortall – you and I are in charge of just one small fief, and even then we don't devote that much attention to it."

"We're a terrible lord and lady of Goldenlake, possibly the worst in its history," Raoul deadpanned. "You see now why we don't have a squalling infant or four? Instead we jump straight to the teenage years."

"I've heard from Thayet that those are the worst. . . . You know, Raoul, this is nearly how I imagined our marriage."

"Lazing around Goldenlake and ignoring our noble duties with the quasi-children that we steal from our friends for as long as they interest us?"

She barely managed to keep from laughing. "Exactly."

He covered her smile with his own. "Perfect."