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badass_tiger) wrote2022-12-20 11:47 pm
badass_tiger) wrote2022-12-20 11:47 pm
Overcast (Where Shines the Sun Aslant)
Title: Overcast
Fandom: Original/Where Shines the Sun Aslant
Characters: Adalhard, Hilbert, background Hilbert/Solange
Summary: It pained Adalhard to watch Hilbert pine for a woman who would never love him back.
From the moment Adalhard saw the woman whom Hilbert was going to take as his bride, he knew that Hilbert would love her, if not instantly, very soon afterwards. Of course, Hilbert was so soft-hearted that he would have likely fallen in love with his wife no matter her disposition or what she looked like, but even Adalhard could acknowledge that Solange had an exceptional beauty that was rarely found anywhere. But she was also determined, resolute, not easily frightened - in other words, she was headstrong, and Adalhard feared that no matter how much Hilbert loved her, she would never so much as spare him a kind word.
Adalhard was returning from a conversation with one of his friends one autumn evening when he saw Hilbert disappearing into a nearby room on the same floor. Having been present on the day that Solange had rebuked him for staying in a guest bedroom, Adalhard knew that his use of it now was not a good sign. He knocked on the door and entered without waiting for a summons.
Hilbert didn't seem to be in the mood to give one anyway. He only glanced at the door as Adalhard entered, then continued glaring at the carpet. Adalhard sat down in the chair next to him.
'Did the queen send you here, or are you seeking refuge from her?' Adalhard said.
'I am not fleeing from her,' Hilbert mumbled. Adalhard couldn't help the smile that tugged on the corner of his lips. Hilbert's tone was almost meek. One would not think to look at the large, burly man before him that he could be cowed by a woman half his size, but it had always been so for Hilbert, even before he met Solange.
'What happened?' he said. 'I thought you were giving her a gift to apologise for your previous argument. Don't tell me you argued again?'
'It wasn't my fault.'
'You're telling me that quarrelling with your wife isn't your idea of flirting?'
'Of course not,' Hilbert snapped.
'Then what did you argue about this time?' Adalhard replied, unperturbed.
'I hardly know. She didn't like the gift I prepared for her. She became angry.'
'Why?'
'She said it doesn't suit her.'
'Well, of course it doesn't,' Adalhard snorted. 'She's not accustomed to wearing the same kinds of clothes as we do.'
'Why didn't you say that before I gave it to her?!' Hilbert demanded.
'It's not my place to give you advice on your marriage. You must know her better than I do, so perhaps you had reason to believe she would like such a thing.'
Hilbert was silent for a moment.
'I gave something like that to Brigitta once,' he said. 'She asked for me to have it made for her, so I thought it would be an appropriate gift.'
Adalhard rolled his eyes. 'For someone with so much experience with women, one would think you'd realise that not all women are the same.'
'They're creatures I can't understand either way,' Hilbert said irritably.
'For what it's worth, I don't think it's right of her to reject your gift either. She did so absolutely?'
'She said it was horrible, and that - that - that -' Hilbert faltered. 'She shouted at me.'
It constricted Adalhard's heart to hear the hurt in Hilbert's voice. How could the queen behave so cruelly towards Hilbert when it was clear that he was only trying to please her? Was she really so heartless? Of course, Hilbert might have done her an injustice by forcing her hand in marriage (in Adalhard's view, at least, it was the kindest possible thing Hilbert could have done in that situation), but if she would only look past that, she would find the most generous, amiable, and noblest man imaginable. Did she really not understand how fortunate she was to be Hilbert's wife?
'She is being unreasonable,' Adalhard said.
'But,' Hilbert said, and Adalhard wanted to roll his eyes again. Why did Hilbert have to make her excuses? 'I understand why she fights me at every turn, considering what I have done to her. I wish I could hold her feast. I would host parties and merrymaking for her every day if I could!'
'You should tell her that. Women tend to like that sort of sentiment.'
'I don't think she would care to hear that from me.'
'Since nothing else you have done for her so far has reached her, you might as well try it,' Adalhard said with a shrug.
'I see. You may be right.'
Adalhard wanted to tell him to be more assertive. That he could not continue to be cowed by his wife if only because he was the king. But he knew it would be no good. Hilbert had always said yes to every woman who approached him, even when he met Brigitta, who made the most outlandish requests of him.
How Adalhard hated every woman who had ever approached Hilbert. It would be alright if they seduced him simply because they found him handsome, but one did not have to know Hilbert for long to discover how gentle and soft-hearted he truly was, and as soon as they discovered that, they would take advantage of him. The women of Rasfura, Adalhard thought, were just the same as their men, just as lacking in inhibition and decency. Hilbert was the only good one of them all, the only one with any propriety or dignity. At least Queen Solange was different from those women in that respect. She had manners and elegance.
But now he was beginning to sound like a native of Fleuyan.
Still, he knew Hilbert was all the more submissive around Solange because he loved her - and Adalhard knew that Hilbert loved her as he had never loved any woman before. Adalhard himself had never been interested in women, having seen the trouble Hilbert always seemed to get to around them, but he had seen a lot of people, and thought he had a word of advice or two for his friend.
'Do you know what the men of this land do to seduce - or court, rather - their women?' Adalhard said.
'No.'
Hilbert was downright idiotic at times, Adalhard thought with an internal sigh. If he loved Solange so much, why didn't he think to ask the men of Fleuyan what he could do to please her? Perhaps it was because he had never pursued a woman in his life. Women always pursued him. That was why it had been easy for Brigitta to manipulate him into being her lover, and that was why she was the only reference Hilbert had for the type of attention women liked to receive from their lovers.
'They recite poetry to one another, you see. Do you know Ivo's son, Erwan? He is interested in one of the female servants here - the queen's lady's maid, as a matter of fact. A boy from the stables is teaching him poetry. Perhaps you can ask to borrow his books.'
'You're saying that to make fun of me,' Hilbert said flatly.
'You don't believe me?' Adalhard said with a laugh.
'No.'
'Try asking one of the men yourself.'
'Very well then, I will.'
A peaceful silence sunk in between them. Hilbert was, without a doubt, contemplating the next morning, and what he would say and how he would act when he saw the queen. Adalhard let him think. Before he left, however, he felt compelled to say something in particular.
'Hilbert,' he said, and Hilbert looked up quizzically. 'You are quite determined to love this woman?'
'What ... do you mean?' A frown formed on Hilbert's brow.
'There's no need for you to martyr yourself to this woman, is there? You could well have a mistress to satisfy yourself and to bear an heir, without grovelling for the queen's graciousness.'
'It isn't like that,' Hilbert said angrily, and that was all Adalhard needed to hear to have his answer. 'Solange is the most elegant, most beautiful, most vivacious woman I have ever met. She is an angel, and any man in my position would understand the fortune he has in being married to a woman half as lovely.'
Adalhard didn't shake his head or let his scorn show on his face. He wanted to be supportive of something Hilbert felt so strongly about. But in his mind, he felt the impossibility of Solange ever returning Hilbert's feelings.
'I understand,' was all he said. 'I'm sure her feelings will have relented in the morning, so I advise you to be prepared to speak to her.'
'Yes. Alright.'
As Adalhard stood up to leave, Hilbert stood up too, and held his hand out to him.
'Thank you, Adalhard,' he said as sincerely as if he had actually said anything of use. Adalhard really did shake his head then, but he smiled too.
'Good luck,' he said, clasping Hilbert's hand.
-
Things began to change after that night, but so gradually that Adalhard's opinion on the likelihood of Solange coming to love Hilbert remained unchanged. That is until, a month later, when Hilbert came out to the hunting party waiting to set out with a shiny silver brooch just above the clasp of his cloak, and everything that had happened in the last month clicked together in Adalhard's mind.
'Why are you wearing jewellery, Hilbert?' said one of their friends, a woman named Emma.
'Take a closer look and you will understand,' Hilbert said with a smugness that was almost shocking coming from him. He mounted his horse then walked it into the centre of their group so that they could all look at the small picture in silver lace.
'Is that a picture of the queen? What are you wearing a thing like that for?' Emma said.
'It is a gift from her,' he said. 'To remind me not to take any unnecessary dangers and to always return to her.'
The party burst into laughter.
'You're getting old if you need a picture to remind you of that!' roared Bruno.
'Sometimes women insist on giving out such sentimental trinkets, but how can you make yourself wear it?' said Conrad with a chuckle.
'I would never think to embarrass a man by giving him something like that,' said Helga.
'Come now, all of you,' Adalhard said. 'Can't you see that in Hilbert's eyes, he is not wearing the image of a woman, but an image of the goddess he worships?'
They laughed all the more, Hilbert rolled his eyes, and Adalhard smirked.
'Say what you will,' Hilbert said imperiously. 'I am proud to wear a gift from the queen.' He urged his horse on, and the party finally departed for the forest.
'So that is why Queen Solange was asking everyone for advice on commissioning a portrait of herself,' Adalhard said, staying by Hilbert's side at the head of the party. 'She made this for you?'
'She did indeed,' Hilbert said, full of pride once again, but Adalhard didn't begrudge him his satisfaction one bit. 'As I'm sure you've seen, Adalhard, she even cut a lock of her hair to pin on it - the hair she never cuts but once a year and spends a great deal of time every day caring for so that it always appears immaculate, even though she would be beautiful even if she let it be.'
'Yes, I do see that,' Adalhard laughed. 'Although I confess I never knew that her hair held such profound meaning for herself. But it is a very appropriate gift, considering the Rasfura custom of exchanging body parts as wedding vows.'
'Precisely so. And I must thank you too, for supplying me with the way to express my appreciation to her.'
'What? So you recited poetry to her?' Adalhard said with delight.
'Yes I did, very badly, forgetting half of it, and she laughed at me. But she completed it herself, then said it was the most wonderful recitation she ever heard, and then she looked at me like - like -' Hilbert gazed into the distance with the most idiotic grin plastered over his huge face. 'I cannot describe it to you. She is the sweetest creature anyone has ever laid eyes on.'
Adalhard laughed again, glad for Hilbert, and happy to be proven wrong. Even if they had yet to consummate their marriage or make their feelings clear to one another - for Adalhard could see that there was a piece of Hilbert's happiness still missing - it was clear to him that that time would come very soon. And it was only natural, for what woman had ever been able to resist Hilbert's peculiar, clumsy, yet idiosyncratic charms?
'I will stop jesting only for a moment to tell you that I am glad for you, my friend,' Adalhard said. 'I pray that your happiness only increases by the day.'
Hilbert beamed at him, and took a moment when their horses slowed to clasp his arm.
'Thank you,' he said. 'You have always been my greatest friend - always given me the best advice - brought me to good fortune - I could not do without you.'
Hilbert made such speeches all the time, and Adalhard shook his head, but he had not stopped smiling. Truly, who had ever been able to resist Hilbert?
Fandom: Original/Where Shines the Sun Aslant
Characters: Adalhard, Hilbert, background Hilbert/Solange
Summary: It pained Adalhard to watch Hilbert pine for a woman who would never love him back.
From the moment Adalhard saw the woman whom Hilbert was going to take as his bride, he knew that Hilbert would love her, if not instantly, very soon afterwards. Of course, Hilbert was so soft-hearted that he would have likely fallen in love with his wife no matter her disposition or what she looked like, but even Adalhard could acknowledge that Solange had an exceptional beauty that was rarely found anywhere. But she was also determined, resolute, not easily frightened - in other words, she was headstrong, and Adalhard feared that no matter how much Hilbert loved her, she would never so much as spare him a kind word.
Adalhard was returning from a conversation with one of his friends one autumn evening when he saw Hilbert disappearing into a nearby room on the same floor. Having been present on the day that Solange had rebuked him for staying in a guest bedroom, Adalhard knew that his use of it now was not a good sign. He knocked on the door and entered without waiting for a summons.
Hilbert didn't seem to be in the mood to give one anyway. He only glanced at the door as Adalhard entered, then continued glaring at the carpet. Adalhard sat down in the chair next to him.
'Did the queen send you here, or are you seeking refuge from her?' Adalhard said.
'I am not fleeing from her,' Hilbert mumbled. Adalhard couldn't help the smile that tugged on the corner of his lips. Hilbert's tone was almost meek. One would not think to look at the large, burly man before him that he could be cowed by a woman half his size, but it had always been so for Hilbert, even before he met Solange.
'What happened?' he said. 'I thought you were giving her a gift to apologise for your previous argument. Don't tell me you argued again?'
'It wasn't my fault.'
'You're telling me that quarrelling with your wife isn't your idea of flirting?'
'Of course not,' Hilbert snapped.
'Then what did you argue about this time?' Adalhard replied, unperturbed.
'I hardly know. She didn't like the gift I prepared for her. She became angry.'
'Why?'
'She said it doesn't suit her.'
'Well, of course it doesn't,' Adalhard snorted. 'She's not accustomed to wearing the same kinds of clothes as we do.'
'Why didn't you say that before I gave it to her?!' Hilbert demanded.
'It's not my place to give you advice on your marriage. You must know her better than I do, so perhaps you had reason to believe she would like such a thing.'
Hilbert was silent for a moment.
'I gave something like that to Brigitta once,' he said. 'She asked for me to have it made for her, so I thought it would be an appropriate gift.'
Adalhard rolled his eyes. 'For someone with so much experience with women, one would think you'd realise that not all women are the same.'
'They're creatures I can't understand either way,' Hilbert said irritably.
'For what it's worth, I don't think it's right of her to reject your gift either. She did so absolutely?'
'She said it was horrible, and that - that - that -' Hilbert faltered. 'She shouted at me.'
It constricted Adalhard's heart to hear the hurt in Hilbert's voice. How could the queen behave so cruelly towards Hilbert when it was clear that he was only trying to please her? Was she really so heartless? Of course, Hilbert might have done her an injustice by forcing her hand in marriage (in Adalhard's view, at least, it was the kindest possible thing Hilbert could have done in that situation), but if she would only look past that, she would find the most generous, amiable, and noblest man imaginable. Did she really not understand how fortunate she was to be Hilbert's wife?
'She is being unreasonable,' Adalhard said.
'But,' Hilbert said, and Adalhard wanted to roll his eyes again. Why did Hilbert have to make her excuses? 'I understand why she fights me at every turn, considering what I have done to her. I wish I could hold her feast. I would host parties and merrymaking for her every day if I could!'
'You should tell her that. Women tend to like that sort of sentiment.'
'I don't think she would care to hear that from me.'
'Since nothing else you have done for her so far has reached her, you might as well try it,' Adalhard said with a shrug.
'I see. You may be right.'
Adalhard wanted to tell him to be more assertive. That he could not continue to be cowed by his wife if only because he was the king. But he knew it would be no good. Hilbert had always said yes to every woman who approached him, even when he met Brigitta, who made the most outlandish requests of him.
How Adalhard hated every woman who had ever approached Hilbert. It would be alright if they seduced him simply because they found him handsome, but one did not have to know Hilbert for long to discover how gentle and soft-hearted he truly was, and as soon as they discovered that, they would take advantage of him. The women of Rasfura, Adalhard thought, were just the same as their men, just as lacking in inhibition and decency. Hilbert was the only good one of them all, the only one with any propriety or dignity. At least Queen Solange was different from those women in that respect. She had manners and elegance.
But now he was beginning to sound like a native of Fleuyan.
Still, he knew Hilbert was all the more submissive around Solange because he loved her - and Adalhard knew that Hilbert loved her as he had never loved any woman before. Adalhard himself had never been interested in women, having seen the trouble Hilbert always seemed to get to around them, but he had seen a lot of people, and thought he had a word of advice or two for his friend.
'Do you know what the men of this land do to seduce - or court, rather - their women?' Adalhard said.
'No.'
Hilbert was downright idiotic at times, Adalhard thought with an internal sigh. If he loved Solange so much, why didn't he think to ask the men of Fleuyan what he could do to please her? Perhaps it was because he had never pursued a woman in his life. Women always pursued him. That was why it had been easy for Brigitta to manipulate him into being her lover, and that was why she was the only reference Hilbert had for the type of attention women liked to receive from their lovers.
'They recite poetry to one another, you see. Do you know Ivo's son, Erwan? He is interested in one of the female servants here - the queen's lady's maid, as a matter of fact. A boy from the stables is teaching him poetry. Perhaps you can ask to borrow his books.'
'You're saying that to make fun of me,' Hilbert said flatly.
'You don't believe me?' Adalhard said with a laugh.
'No.'
'Try asking one of the men yourself.'
'Very well then, I will.'
A peaceful silence sunk in between them. Hilbert was, without a doubt, contemplating the next morning, and what he would say and how he would act when he saw the queen. Adalhard let him think. Before he left, however, he felt compelled to say something in particular.
'Hilbert,' he said, and Hilbert looked up quizzically. 'You are quite determined to love this woman?'
'What ... do you mean?' A frown formed on Hilbert's brow.
'There's no need for you to martyr yourself to this woman, is there? You could well have a mistress to satisfy yourself and to bear an heir, without grovelling for the queen's graciousness.'
'It isn't like that,' Hilbert said angrily, and that was all Adalhard needed to hear to have his answer. 'Solange is the most elegant, most beautiful, most vivacious woman I have ever met. She is an angel, and any man in my position would understand the fortune he has in being married to a woman half as lovely.'
Adalhard didn't shake his head or let his scorn show on his face. He wanted to be supportive of something Hilbert felt so strongly about. But in his mind, he felt the impossibility of Solange ever returning Hilbert's feelings.
'I understand,' was all he said. 'I'm sure her feelings will have relented in the morning, so I advise you to be prepared to speak to her.'
'Yes. Alright.'
As Adalhard stood up to leave, Hilbert stood up too, and held his hand out to him.
'Thank you, Adalhard,' he said as sincerely as if he had actually said anything of use. Adalhard really did shake his head then, but he smiled too.
'Good luck,' he said, clasping Hilbert's hand.
-
Things began to change after that night, but so gradually that Adalhard's opinion on the likelihood of Solange coming to love Hilbert remained unchanged. That is until, a month later, when Hilbert came out to the hunting party waiting to set out with a shiny silver brooch just above the clasp of his cloak, and everything that had happened in the last month clicked together in Adalhard's mind.
'Why are you wearing jewellery, Hilbert?' said one of their friends, a woman named Emma.
'Take a closer look and you will understand,' Hilbert said with a smugness that was almost shocking coming from him. He mounted his horse then walked it into the centre of their group so that they could all look at the small picture in silver lace.
'Is that a picture of the queen? What are you wearing a thing like that for?' Emma said.
'It is a gift from her,' he said. 'To remind me not to take any unnecessary dangers and to always return to her.'
The party burst into laughter.
'You're getting old if you need a picture to remind you of that!' roared Bruno.
'Sometimes women insist on giving out such sentimental trinkets, but how can you make yourself wear it?' said Conrad with a chuckle.
'I would never think to embarrass a man by giving him something like that,' said Helga.
'Come now, all of you,' Adalhard said. 'Can't you see that in Hilbert's eyes, he is not wearing the image of a woman, but an image of the goddess he worships?'
They laughed all the more, Hilbert rolled his eyes, and Adalhard smirked.
'Say what you will,' Hilbert said imperiously. 'I am proud to wear a gift from the queen.' He urged his horse on, and the party finally departed for the forest.
'So that is why Queen Solange was asking everyone for advice on commissioning a portrait of herself,' Adalhard said, staying by Hilbert's side at the head of the party. 'She made this for you?'
'She did indeed,' Hilbert said, full of pride once again, but Adalhard didn't begrudge him his satisfaction one bit. 'As I'm sure you've seen, Adalhard, she even cut a lock of her hair to pin on it - the hair she never cuts but once a year and spends a great deal of time every day caring for so that it always appears immaculate, even though she would be beautiful even if she let it be.'
'Yes, I do see that,' Adalhard laughed. 'Although I confess I never knew that her hair held such profound meaning for herself. But it is a very appropriate gift, considering the Rasfura custom of exchanging body parts as wedding vows.'
'Precisely so. And I must thank you too, for supplying me with the way to express my appreciation to her.'
'What? So you recited poetry to her?' Adalhard said with delight.
'Yes I did, very badly, forgetting half of it, and she laughed at me. But she completed it herself, then said it was the most wonderful recitation she ever heard, and then she looked at me like - like -' Hilbert gazed into the distance with the most idiotic grin plastered over his huge face. 'I cannot describe it to you. She is the sweetest creature anyone has ever laid eyes on.'
Adalhard laughed again, glad for Hilbert, and happy to be proven wrong. Even if they had yet to consummate their marriage or make their feelings clear to one another - for Adalhard could see that there was a piece of Hilbert's happiness still missing - it was clear to him that that time would come very soon. And it was only natural, for what woman had ever been able to resist Hilbert's peculiar, clumsy, yet idiosyncratic charms?
'I will stop jesting only for a moment to tell you that I am glad for you, my friend,' Adalhard said. 'I pray that your happiness only increases by the day.'
Hilbert beamed at him, and took a moment when their horses slowed to clasp his arm.
'Thank you,' he said. 'You have always been my greatest friend - always given me the best advice - brought me to good fortune - I could not do without you.'
Hilbert made such speeches all the time, and Adalhard shook his head, but he had not stopped smiling. Truly, who had ever been able to resist Hilbert?