Brothers at Lunch - Chris and Henri

[Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai]

"Yes, but it is amazing what a well made outfit can do for your confidence," I replied with a smile. "I'm just so thankful that you and Marie wanted to visit. Having my family at my wedding means the world to me."

[Henri Legard]

"True," I said, nodding, "and I am glad. Very glad. I know it must mean the world to Marie as well, I know it does to me. I wonder how she will find it in the City. It is hard I think, or it will be, for me, for us as brothers... watching her grow up and into her own as a woman. I will be hard put not to embarass her by putting each and every man she might meet to question about their intentions. Btu she needs this bit of freedom, I think. I... I do not think she will go back, you know, if she has the choice, to Camlach," I did not know how I felt about this, but I knew she would feel free here, not under Pierre's or my own watchful eye, or hinged to the house and kitchen.

[Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai]

I nodded at his words, listening to both the words and the intention behind them. "No, I doubt as well that she will ever return. I have the feeling that only Father can call her back now. But she was not happy there. I hope she can find something better here."

[Henri Legard]

"Me too," I whsipered, fiddling a bit with my stew, spoon in hand. "I just want her to be happy. And if she is happy here, then I hope Father sees that and allows her to stay," I thought for a second. "I do not think I have that... chance... I guess. With Father as he is, and the house and lands, and Pierre a military man, I am the only one left to run the lands," I explained. "But I am happy for it," and I was, "but when it comes time to leave, it will be certainly bittersweet."

[Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai]

"I'm just glad that one of us enjoys the work of the farm," I told him with a soft smile, deliberately not dwelling on how it might have turned out if I hadn't been sent away. "I know that Father's happy that you wish to tend to it."

[Henri Legard]

I smiled warmly. "You know... I once thought that I would make a good priest," I said with a grin and shaking my head, "but I think that tending to the land is the closest I will get to that, and it makes me happy. Where Elua touched the ground, green shoots would pring up. I only hope I wil continue to work the land to bring the same results," IO said with a grin. "Although... what will I do if ... well if there is a girl... or something... I mean not that I am looking to court someone but... while I am here... if it happens... well I guess it wouldn't be fair to do that," I murmured, coming to a decision in myself before my words could even begin to make sense.

[Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai]

I looked at him for a long moment, watching the thoughts flow across his face. "Don't say that Henri," I said quietly. "Don't shut yourself off. You never know where you might find love."

[Henri Legard]

I nodded, but still my brows furrowed. "But... if I do it would not be fair to ask her to come back to Camlach with me, would it? to leave all of this to go there? And live a simple life? I would think most of the girls here are used to a certain level of splendour that I would not be able to give them."

[Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai]

"And maybe you'll be lucky enough to find a girl who wants a simple life," I replied simply. "It would be her decision. Please don't follow Pierre's example in making decisions for other people."

"And in the end, if you find someone and she chooses to stay here, at least you will have known love."

[Henri Legard]

I nodded. His words were true.

"Christophe?" I asked my voice still soft. "Is it hard? to love and lose? Is it really worth the pain?"

[Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai]

I pushed aside the remains of my dinner and took a sip of ale before replying. "Yes. It's the hardest thing I've ever experienced. But it was always worth the pain," I told him seriously, honestly.

[Henri Legard]

I nodded, taking a sip of my ale. "Who did you love and lose?" I asked, my voice soft as I looked up from my glass and into Christophe's eyes. "I mean, if its not too much to talk about.... we could discuss something else" I stammered. I did not want to make our lunch into a sad event.

[Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai]

"After I came to the City you mean?" I asked, looking down at the grain of the table.

[Henri Legard]

"There was... someone in Camlach?" I asked softly. I truly did not know much about my brother's life, and I realised it now. It was actually very saddening.

[Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai]

"Our family Henri," I whispered. "I lost my family."

[Henri Legard]

My heart wept at his words, and I had to hold back so I didnt weep visibly, but I did reach across the table and grasp his hand with my own. I smiled softly.

"No, you still have us. Late, but better late than never," I responded. I knew father loved him, regardless, and now as he was getting older, I knew that he was softening towards him. "You should come back, you know... to see father when you and Malabel wed. I think that he would like that, and Marie, I know she adores you so very much, and Pierre... he is a hard one, but he too will soften eventually, I know he has goodness in his heart. And you have me," I said with a bright smile. "And mama... I know she is looking down from Terre d'Ange beyond and seeing that you have done well by the Legard name, Christophe. I know it."

[Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai]

I shoved away the tears. I had been dealing with this for a long time now, it was easy to pretend the grief didn't exist. "Yes, I have you and Marie again. And maybe someday I'll have Papa, if his pride will ever allow it," I agreed, still unable to look at him though I did try to smile a little. On Mama and Pierre I said nothing. They were the deepest wounds. "And now I have Mala, and Synnove. I have much love in my life now."

[Henri Legard]

I could see the pain and it made me frown. I did not want to rehash these feelings, this was a joyous time. I placed my hand genteely on his shoulder, giving him a reassuring pat.

"And we aren't going to take the love away," I said with a smile. "And papa... he is coming around, I assure you of that." I knew for I spent the most time with him when it came to the matters of the house, and I knew that when he had received word that Christophe was to be married, the first step in him realizing the error of his ways was in letting us go.

[Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai]

I nodded noncommittally, and drank my ale. Then desperately wanting to change the subject, I asked, "So any sights that you wish to see while you're here?"