In Fidelitas
Warnings: Pent/Louise, Louise/Erk. Musings, infidelity... etc. Rating - T?
X+X+X
She lay awake in the moonlight. The youth beside her slept on, unaware of her contemplations and the slender hand that ran in gentle caress through his dark locks.
Louise hadn't exactly meant for this to happen.
She didn't think that any of them had expected this turnout, although with further consideration... Perhaps Pent had foreseen this situation; he had brought in an apprentice, someone for her to care for and nurture and love. Not to this degree certainly, but...
Perhaps he had foreseen himself becoming distant in the future of their relationship. Lord Pent had always been intrinsically fascinated with the workings of strange magic. Perhaps one had allowed him to fathom the depths of time as well. His aspiration had been to become like Lord Athos after all, needing only his studies to sustain him.
After all, what were food and sleep to the accomplished mage? And what was love?
For one who might live on for aeons it might be a momentary reprieve in the bonds of reality.
Louise sighed. She did not doubt that Pent loved her, in his own way. It was only that he had become quite distant and withdrawn, foregoing food and drink, house and wife with alarming frequency. In the beginning, she had been worried. Acceptance had come with time, as had a blossoming devotion from the student who was left behind in her care.
Hazy mist or warmth of fire?
In the end she had chosen to take the one who was nearest and supported her daily, as opposed to the individual who merely reappeared upon occasion in his family's life.
Perhaps that choice would brand her as unfaithful in the eyes of others. She did not care to dwell on it for long; she had need of someone to care for her and her daughter on a daily basis, not when a convenient break in one's research prompted a moment of clarity to the world.
Knowing that he cared for his family, Louise could not feel as though Pent would disapprove.
The moonlight shone unabated by the clouds as Louise finally closed her eyes. Her life was here and now, not in whatever might have been...
Where ever you might be, I wish you well, Milord Pent...
X+X+X
AN: Yeah... um, weirdness that wouldn't leave me alone. Started writing as a drabble, it got way too long for drabble... rewrote as this drabble. Unsure whether this sucks or not... Ah well, tis drabble. Not a situation that I'd be wanting to cast any judgments on, personally. Can't say I approve of infidelity, but this is kind of a 'what-if' situation, so don't read more into it than is written. If you please.
Also, this wasn't meant to be the next drabble in 'Life in a Box' - but the others are somewhat stalled half-way. Hopefully I'll get them out in time.