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Remembrance, chapter 8
I finished a fic! Yay me!
Title: Remembrance
Fandom: Versailles
Rating: Explicit
Chapter: 8/8
Word Count: 926
Characters Sophie de Clermont, Fabien Marchal, Claudine Masson, Duc de Cassel
Pairings: Fabien Marchal/Sophie de Clermont, Fabien Marchal/Claudine Masson
Warnings: Non-con and abuse, which reference events in the show. Rape recovery. Suicidal thoughts, consensual sex.
Summary: Sophie de Clermont has fled Versailles, with nowhere to go and only her memories for company.
The whole fic on AO3
When Sophie woke up the next morning her first reaction was amazement over how light-hearted she felt. Then she remembered the night before, and when she looked up, she could see Fabien getting dressed in front of the fireplace. She closed her eyes again, wanting to savor her memories before she had to get up and face the day. It had been a glorious night, much better than she had ever dared to hope, and she wished it could have been possible to stay a little longer, just the two of them. But it was Fabien’s duty to take her to Versailles, and her only choice was to follow him. She didn’t want him to think she was trying to stall the return; not after her promise to go back willingly.
So Sophie got up from the bed, dressed and packed her few belongings. Neither she nor Fabien said anything of importance; merely polite phrases concerning their departure. She thought he seemed unusually pensive, but then she had a lot on her mind too. To her surprise, she didn’t found their departure as dreadful as she had thought. Her future at Versailles was uncertain, but now she knew Fabien would do his best to protect her. And if he failed, he would not let her suffer.
For a few hours they rode in silence, but when they reached a crossroads by mid-morning, Fabien reined in his horse to a halt.
“Which way are we going? Sophie asked after a moment.
Fabien gave her a sidelong glance. “It depends.”
“Depends on what?”
He pointed to the left. “That’s the road for the Duchess de Cassel. It will take her to Versailles.”
The odd wording made Sophie frown. It was a statement which begged another question. “And who would travel on the other road?”
Fabien glanced at her again, his face unreadable.
“People of no importance to the crown.” He hesitated for a moment before he continued. “Like an architect’s daughter called Sophie Toutin.”
Something stirred inside Sophie, a feeling she couldn’t name. Her mother had refused to tell her their real name, but Fabien would make it his business to find out.
“I guess such a woman would have no reason to come to court.”
“No, never. No matter how beautiful and accomplished she is.”
Sophie could name the feeling now, unexpected as it was; it was a small glimpse of hope. “And where would she go, this architects daughter of no importance?”
“Only a few miles at first, to a church, where she could be wed. Then half a day further to a convent to wait for her husband while he put his affairs in order.”
“And who would she marry?” She knew the answer now, but she still needed to hear Fabien say it.
“A man who had worked hard and saved his pennies. Who has saved enough for a comfortable life in a small town somewhere.”
It was suddenly so hard to breathe. Only a few minutes ago Sophie’s destiny had been decided; and what she wanted of no significance. And now a life she had never dared to think about was within her reach.
“You would do that for me? Leave Versailles and the King? All your duties?”
“I was prepared to do it for Claudine.”
“But you loved her.”
Fabien finally looked straight at her. “I did. But I have found love has more than one face. I will go with you, Sophie, whichever road you go.”
He looked away again, and for the first time, it occurred to Sophie that even the indomitable Fabien Marchal may feel a little afraid at times. He would not have made her this offer if he didn’t want it, but he couldn’t be sure of her answer.
It was both easy and difficult to decide. Sophie had loved Versailles from her first day there, with all its beauty and intrigue, but she had also been its captive. If she returned to the King’s good graces she would once again be a prisoner subjected to the whims of other people. But it was a life she knew well, and she knew how to navigate the pitfalls and how to best make use of the glitter and artifice.
She loved Fabien, and, it seemed, Fabien loved her too. But they had a past which would always follow them, no matter what they did. Her mother, her husband, her lover, all dead, and all still haunting her, and no doubt also Fabien, with memories. And she knew nothing of life beyond the court. A comfortable life would still differ greatly from the never-ending luxury of Versailles, and Sophie had learned nothing more practical than fine sewing. But she would be free, and she would be with Fabien; surely they could build a life together? To have a future where they could be happy and safe. The possibility of children rose in her mind; children who wouldn’t have to be afraid of their father.
Sophie tried to speak, but she only managed to say Fabien’s name before her voice refused to obey her. Instead, she dug her heels into her horse, allowing it to take the first steps along the right path. Her horse whinnied, and she leaned forward, allowing it to break into a gallop. As if their two minds were one, Fabien’s black horse followed her white without missing a step. The wind in Sophie’s face smelled fresh and sweet like a promise, and soon they had left the crossroads and the road to Versailles far behind.
Title: Remembrance
Fandom: Versailles
Rating: Explicit
Chapter: 8/8
Word Count: 926
Characters Sophie de Clermont, Fabien Marchal, Claudine Masson, Duc de Cassel
Pairings: Fabien Marchal/Sophie de Clermont, Fabien Marchal/Claudine Masson
Warnings: Non-con and abuse, which reference events in the show. Rape recovery. Suicidal thoughts, consensual sex.
Summary: Sophie de Clermont has fled Versailles, with nowhere to go and only her memories for company.
The whole fic on AO3
When Sophie woke up the next morning her first reaction was amazement over how light-hearted she felt. Then she remembered the night before, and when she looked up, she could see Fabien getting dressed in front of the fireplace. She closed her eyes again, wanting to savor her memories before she had to get up and face the day. It had been a glorious night, much better than she had ever dared to hope, and she wished it could have been possible to stay a little longer, just the two of them. But it was Fabien’s duty to take her to Versailles, and her only choice was to follow him. She didn’t want him to think she was trying to stall the return; not after her promise to go back willingly.
So Sophie got up from the bed, dressed and packed her few belongings. Neither she nor Fabien said anything of importance; merely polite phrases concerning their departure. She thought he seemed unusually pensive, but then she had a lot on her mind too. To her surprise, she didn’t found their departure as dreadful as she had thought. Her future at Versailles was uncertain, but now she knew Fabien would do his best to protect her. And if he failed, he would not let her suffer.
For a few hours they rode in silence, but when they reached a crossroads by mid-morning, Fabien reined in his horse to a halt.
“Which way are we going? Sophie asked after a moment.
Fabien gave her a sidelong glance. “It depends.”
“Depends on what?”
He pointed to the left. “That’s the road for the Duchess de Cassel. It will take her to Versailles.”
The odd wording made Sophie frown. It was a statement which begged another question. “And who would travel on the other road?”
Fabien glanced at her again, his face unreadable.
“People of no importance to the crown.” He hesitated for a moment before he continued. “Like an architect’s daughter called Sophie Toutin.”
Something stirred inside Sophie, a feeling she couldn’t name. Her mother had refused to tell her their real name, but Fabien would make it his business to find out.
“I guess such a woman would have no reason to come to court.”
“No, never. No matter how beautiful and accomplished she is.”
Sophie could name the feeling now, unexpected as it was; it was a small glimpse of hope. “And where would she go, this architects daughter of no importance?”
“Only a few miles at first, to a church, where she could be wed. Then half a day further to a convent to wait for her husband while he put his affairs in order.”
“And who would she marry?” She knew the answer now, but she still needed to hear Fabien say it.
“A man who had worked hard and saved his pennies. Who has saved enough for a comfortable life in a small town somewhere.”
It was suddenly so hard to breathe. Only a few minutes ago Sophie’s destiny had been decided; and what she wanted of no significance. And now a life she had never dared to think about was within her reach.
“You would do that for me? Leave Versailles and the King? All your duties?”
“I was prepared to do it for Claudine.”
“But you loved her.”
Fabien finally looked straight at her. “I did. But I have found love has more than one face. I will go with you, Sophie, whichever road you go.”
He looked away again, and for the first time, it occurred to Sophie that even the indomitable Fabien Marchal may feel a little afraid at times. He would not have made her this offer if he didn’t want it, but he couldn’t be sure of her answer.
It was both easy and difficult to decide. Sophie had loved Versailles from her first day there, with all its beauty and intrigue, but she had also been its captive. If she returned to the King’s good graces she would once again be a prisoner subjected to the whims of other people. But it was a life she knew well, and she knew how to navigate the pitfalls and how to best make use of the glitter and artifice.
She loved Fabien, and, it seemed, Fabien loved her too. But they had a past which would always follow them, no matter what they did. Her mother, her husband, her lover, all dead, and all still haunting her, and no doubt also Fabien, with memories. And she knew nothing of life beyond the court. A comfortable life would still differ greatly from the never-ending luxury of Versailles, and Sophie had learned nothing more practical than fine sewing. But she would be free, and she would be with Fabien; surely they could build a life together? To have a future where they could be happy and safe. The possibility of children rose in her mind; children who wouldn’t have to be afraid of their father.
Sophie tried to speak, but she only managed to say Fabien’s name before her voice refused to obey her. Instead, she dug her heels into her horse, allowing it to take the first steps along the right path. Her horse whinnied, and she leaned forward, allowing it to break into a gallop. As if their two minds were one, Fabien’s black horse followed her white without missing a step. The wind in Sophie’s face smelled fresh and sweet like a promise, and soon they had left the crossroads and the road to Versailles far behind.