By Narsus ([email protected])
Disclaimers: don’t own them etc…
A silly fic which owes it’s inspiration to an evening spent sat on the floor of ‘Clwb Ifor Bach’ with Ashura, and also to a point made by Summer on the ArslanChat mailing list about character relationships.
Rated: PG, I guess, if even that.
This doesn’t take place in the same reality as my other fic “Alternately”, since I’m listening to the theme tune to CLAMP’s “Wish” which demands I write a ‘happy ending’.
Gieve strolled down one of the many corridors of the fortress. The vague smile on his face and his half lidded gaze gave him an even more non-committal appearance than normal. A minstrel with few concerns in life other than to enjoy himself, apparently. Unfortunately for the minstrel in question his apparent appearance had nothing at all to do with his current state of mind.
Having returned to Peshawar with the news of Hermes’ attempt to claim Ruknerbard it could be possible that the implications of the situation were finally beginning to affect even Gieve. This, however, was not the case. His return having been greeting with that most marvellous of things, a smile, abet a small one, from the Lady Pharangase. Gieve, hoping to push the advantage, was disappointed to find that every spare moment of the Lady’s time seemed to be spent caught up in her duty to the Prince. Every time he passed her in his walks she was seemingly caught up with something else, when he could not find her she was said to be busy, when he could, she was not to be disturbed. It was most unlike Pharangase, she’s always had some time for him before.
Another turn down another corridor and Gieve almost walked into the Prince. Arslan smiled up at him cheerfully, glad that it seemed for a little while at least that Gieve might be content to stay.
“Highness” Gieve bowed partially mocking, partially serious. “I trust you’ve found your time with the Lady Pharangase most useful.” Which was a polite way of him saying ‘I hope you’ve finished with her now.’
Arslan raised his eye-brows “I haven’t seen Pharangase for the last few days.”
“Haven’t seen her!”
“No, I think she’s with Daryoon now.”
So she’d been with Daryoon for the last couple of days. Well, that could be explained by the business of organising troop details etc.
Gieve found Daryoon in the stables brushing down his horse, and from the indications of the stable boys the General had been taking this on as a daily duty.
“Oh, my Lady Pharangase isn’t here?” It wasn’t his best opening line but it was direct enough.
“Pharangase. I haven’t seen her for a while”
“How long’s ‘a while’?”
“A couple of days…”
Then where could she be… and what had she been doing? Just as he exited the stables Daryoon called after him “If you see her, could you ask her if I could have Narsus back.”
Of course, she was probably going over further battle plans with the strategist, that was all.
Gieve entered the map room with a flourish, after all, he had to make an impression. Elam looked at him silently.
“Eh..”
“If you’re looking for Lord Narsus he’s supposed to be busy.” said Elam, though the stress on busy suggested that the boy didn’t believe a word of it.
“Busy. Would that be busy with Lady Pharangase?”
Elam nodded as if it was a topic he was somewhat bored with now.
Now was the time for a direct assault Gieve though as he made his way to Pharangase’s chambers. But once he reached her rooms he found them empty. One of the servant girls was singing softly as she fussed about the room. She looked up and catching sight of Gieve smiled and confided in him “It’s so much easier to clean when Lady Pharangase doesn’t sleep here.”
Many heads turned as the red-headed minstrel strode past. It was an odd sight, Gieve looking rather angry.
He reached Narsus’ chambers, and stood panting in front of the doors, having half run all the way across the fortress. Now what? Gieve just stood there. Then simply stepped aside to let some servants pass. He heard a woman’s laugh from inside as the doors opened. Pharangase had never laughed like that with him, oh, she’d laughed at him… Gieve was faintly amazed. Of all the competition he’d though he’d had, he’d never even given a thought to this possibility, of all the possibilities… He started to wonder back down the corridor.
That
evening as they all dined…
Gieve was still stunned. He was watching everyone else simply act as if nothing was happening. Daryoon was taking it pretty well, he though, as the General turned to smile at the strategist, who smiled back, as if… as if he hadn’t spend the morning in bed with Pharangase! And Lady Pharangase, she simply carried on as normal. This was a little too much. Gieve retired early that night.
Pharangase watched Gieve leave the room with a puzzled look.
Narsus leaned over “What’s wrong?”
“I wonder if Gieve is coming down with something, he was rather quite.” She replied
“Perhaps he’s tired.”
“Of course, it must be something like that. And what about you, are you feeling any better now?”
“Yes. Sometimes I just need to talk to someone who understands.”
“Yes, I miss the talks we used to have.” Pharangase said putting her hand over Narsus’… just as Gieve re-entered the room to retrieve his lyre.
OK, so I’m being unfair to Gieve but I like to think that Pharangse has a bit more to do that sit around waiting for his one-liners or wonder round after the Prince. Besides people do tend to assume the silliest things.
To any Gieve fans, I know he’s probably out of character but ‘suspension of disbelief’ can work wonders for literature, just try reading “King Lear” if you don’t believe me.
- Narsus (29/1/01)