Fic: A Beginning (Marcus/Esca)
Sep. 10th, 2011 07:51 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
magog_83Yesterday I was inspired to stop prevaricating and actually attempt a fic for The Eagle fandom. So here it is, all 965 random words of it, set in the movie verse even though I haven't seen it yet, before they go to find the eagle. Esca is still Marcus's slave in this and it is all very G rated and they buy horses.
I haven't written any fic without the words 'Merlin and Arthur' in since mid 2008 so bear with me. Also, this is un-beta'd.
This one is for![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
planejane whose work tempted me over to read Marcus/Esca in the first place <3
It was Marcus’s idea to go to the horse fair today. Now that his leg was improving, the horses his uncle kept were no longer enough. He was used to faster, more spirited animals and it wasn’t long before he chafed at the slow paces of his uncle’s best mare and remembered the thrill of the gallop and the swiftness of the hunt. His uncle had nodded when he broached the subject of a new mount, only showing his surprise when Marcus casually mentioned his intention to buy two, one for himself and another for Esca – but a hunt should be shared, in Marcus’s experience, and he had seen the way Esca handled the horses at the villa and noted his poorly hidden interest when he told him of the trip.
For all Marcus’s good intentions, however, Esca had been a moody companion on the journey, barely responding to Marcus’s commentary on this villa and that, or the bleakness of the weather. Since coming to Britain, Marcus had found the state of the weather to be an enduring topic of conversation and one which never failed to wring a response, but not from Esca it seemed, who merely grunted and muttered something in his own language that Marcus could not understand. Judging from the tone, he thought he probably didn’t want to.
They arrived at the fair a little before noon, to bustling crowds and enough horseflesh to satisfy even the most hard to please buyer. Marcus wasn’t that, at least, he only hoped to find something young, fleet footed and hardy for the cold winters, his chariot days were far behind him. What Esca was hoping for he had no idea, he seemed content to follow Marcus around with a long suffering air that was hardly adding to the enjoyment of the day.
It was a shock then to hear his voice suddenly cut in when Marcus was deep in conversation with a Roman merchant selling what he claimed were “the best hunters in the Isle.”
“They would not last a winter in Calleva.”
The merchant broke off from his lengthy description of the animals’ virtues and raked Esca from head to foot with a hard stare, seeming to take in his position in a moment. “Your opinion was not asked, slave.”
Esca stiffened and something flashed in his eyes that Marcus had not seen for many weeks, and had hoped not to see again. “It is the truth,” he said, defiant.
The merchant snorted and looked at Marcus, as if expecting to share his irritation, but Marcus had already turned to Esca, encouraged by the unexpected show of interest. “You would prefer something else?”
Esca raised his chin. “My people knew horses,” he said, “and those are no good. The others would be better.”
The others he indicated were a group of native hill ponies tethered a little way off, with shaggy coats and strong hindquarters. Marcus looked at them, assessing, then said ruefully, “For you maybe, I fear I may need something larger if it is to bear my weight for longer than a week.”
To his surprise, Esca’s lips quirked in amusement, a fleeting change from his habitual seriousness. “That may be so, we can ask if they have anything more suitable, something with very strong legs I think, or perhaps an ox.”
Before Marcus could respond to what he thought might possibly have been a joke, the merchant interrupted, now sounding distinctly annoyed. “Your slave is mistaken, the ponies may be fit for the tribes, but not for a Roman.”
Esca ignored him and looked at Marcus. It was a challenge, that Marcus could see, but he thought there was something else there too, as though this were a test of some sort and one that he dare not fail. The choice was easy in any case. He turned back to the merchant and said, politely, “Thank you, but I shall take my...” He nearly stumbled over the next word, managing to correct himself smoothly in time, “Esca’s advice.”
The merchant’s eyebrows shot up and Marcus realised with mortification how his words had sounded, his attempt at diplomacy turned into an awkward endearment. “That is...” he started again, “I did not mean to suggest—”
“We must go now,” said Esca, going so far as to tug on Marcus’s arm, apparently before he could make a bigger fool of himself than he already had in front of the now smirking merchant.
Marcus let him pull him away a few steps – towards the shaggy hill ponies – before he pulled his arm free and risked a look, half expecting to see Esca scowling at him for daring to give the man ideas, shameful ideas, about their relationship. It was not as if Marcus had never thought it of course, but there was a difference between thought and deed and he would not reduce Esca more than his servitude already had. But Esca was not scowling at all, if anything the amusement that had appeared so briefly before was even more obvious, his eyes bright with mirth.
Marcus frowned indignantly. “It is not funny!”
Esca quickly sobered, so quickly in fact that Marcus suspected he didn’t mean it at all. “Of course not, domine.”
Marcus continued to look at him, suspicious, but Esca only ignored him and moved ahead, already calling out to the new trader in his own language, gesturing to Marcus behind him.
An hour later, they were on the road again, the horses Esca had chosen in tow. They were good, sturdy animals and Esca had promised him they would please him better than any Roman hunter, the pride clear in his voice when he spoke of them, and his pleasure too at the prospect of the coming hunt.
It felt like a beginning.
The End.
and now back to Merlin and Arthur's tragic Victorian love :D :D
I haven't written any fic without the words 'Merlin and Arthur' in since mid 2008 so bear with me. Also, this is un-beta'd.
This one is for
planejane whose work tempted me over to read Marcus/Esca in the first place <3 It was Marcus’s idea to go to the horse fair today. Now that his leg was improving, the horses his uncle kept were no longer enough. He was used to faster, more spirited animals and it wasn’t long before he chafed at the slow paces of his uncle’s best mare and remembered the thrill of the gallop and the swiftness of the hunt. His uncle had nodded when he broached the subject of a new mount, only showing his surprise when Marcus casually mentioned his intention to buy two, one for himself and another for Esca – but a hunt should be shared, in Marcus’s experience, and he had seen the way Esca handled the horses at the villa and noted his poorly hidden interest when he told him of the trip.
For all Marcus’s good intentions, however, Esca had been a moody companion on the journey, barely responding to Marcus’s commentary on this villa and that, or the bleakness of the weather. Since coming to Britain, Marcus had found the state of the weather to be an enduring topic of conversation and one which never failed to wring a response, but not from Esca it seemed, who merely grunted and muttered something in his own language that Marcus could not understand. Judging from the tone, he thought he probably didn’t want to.
They arrived at the fair a little before noon, to bustling crowds and enough horseflesh to satisfy even the most hard to please buyer. Marcus wasn’t that, at least, he only hoped to find something young, fleet footed and hardy for the cold winters, his chariot days were far behind him. What Esca was hoping for he had no idea, he seemed content to follow Marcus around with a long suffering air that was hardly adding to the enjoyment of the day.
It was a shock then to hear his voice suddenly cut in when Marcus was deep in conversation with a Roman merchant selling what he claimed were “the best hunters in the Isle.”
“They would not last a winter in Calleva.”
The merchant broke off from his lengthy description of the animals’ virtues and raked Esca from head to foot with a hard stare, seeming to take in his position in a moment. “Your opinion was not asked, slave.”
Esca stiffened and something flashed in his eyes that Marcus had not seen for many weeks, and had hoped not to see again. “It is the truth,” he said, defiant.
The merchant snorted and looked at Marcus, as if expecting to share his irritation, but Marcus had already turned to Esca, encouraged by the unexpected show of interest. “You would prefer something else?”
Esca raised his chin. “My people knew horses,” he said, “and those are no good. The others would be better.”
The others he indicated were a group of native hill ponies tethered a little way off, with shaggy coats and strong hindquarters. Marcus looked at them, assessing, then said ruefully, “For you maybe, I fear I may need something larger if it is to bear my weight for longer than a week.”
To his surprise, Esca’s lips quirked in amusement, a fleeting change from his habitual seriousness. “That may be so, we can ask if they have anything more suitable, something with very strong legs I think, or perhaps an ox.”
Before Marcus could respond to what he thought might possibly have been a joke, the merchant interrupted, now sounding distinctly annoyed. “Your slave is mistaken, the ponies may be fit for the tribes, but not for a Roman.”
Esca ignored him and looked at Marcus. It was a challenge, that Marcus could see, but he thought there was something else there too, as though this were a test of some sort and one that he dare not fail. The choice was easy in any case. He turned back to the merchant and said, politely, “Thank you, but I shall take my...” He nearly stumbled over the next word, managing to correct himself smoothly in time, “Esca’s advice.”
The merchant’s eyebrows shot up and Marcus realised with mortification how his words had sounded, his attempt at diplomacy turned into an awkward endearment. “That is...” he started again, “I did not mean to suggest—”
“We must go now,” said Esca, going so far as to tug on Marcus’s arm, apparently before he could make a bigger fool of himself than he already had in front of the now smirking merchant.
Marcus let him pull him away a few steps – towards the shaggy hill ponies – before he pulled his arm free and risked a look, half expecting to see Esca scowling at him for daring to give the man ideas, shameful ideas, about their relationship. It was not as if Marcus had never thought it of course, but there was a difference between thought and deed and he would not reduce Esca more than his servitude already had. But Esca was not scowling at all, if anything the amusement that had appeared so briefly before was even more obvious, his eyes bright with mirth.
Marcus frowned indignantly. “It is not funny!”
Esca quickly sobered, so quickly in fact that Marcus suspected he didn’t mean it at all. “Of course not, domine.”
Marcus continued to look at him, suspicious, but Esca only ignored him and moved ahead, already calling out to the new trader in his own language, gesturing to Marcus behind him.
An hour later, they were on the road again, the horses Esca had chosen in tow. They were good, sturdy animals and Esca had promised him they would please him better than any Roman hunter, the pride clear in his voice when he spoke of them, and his pleasure too at the prospect of the coming hunt.
It felt like a beginning.
The End.
and now back to Merlin and Arthur's tragic Victorian love :D :D
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2011-09-10 11:41 am (UTC)(You haven't seen the movie yet? I've seen it only recently too.)
Small things, like the mention of hill ponies, or the vocative of "dominus" make the fic ring true/authentic. (Is this too shallow a reason to envy you your education? :P)
The words "Merlin," "Arthur," AND "tragic love" shouldn't be used in the same sentence. My poor tender non-Victorian heart!
no subject
Date: 2011-09-11 05:57 pm (UTC)Fear not! It is only tragic for a short while, the ending is happy, in a true Bronte-esque "Reader, I married him" sort of a way <3
no subject
Date: 2011-09-12 06:16 pm (UTC)I'd kill to be able to write fluff right now.
No, wait, killing would be too dramatic and angsty. XD Heh, I think my happy & funny muse laughed too hard and choked on her own spit. Or something gruesome and ridiculous like that. *sigh* (Anyway, if an angsty Marcus/Esca fic pops up in my journal, I'll just blame it on you. ;) Yes, that makes so much sense.)
In that case it's all right. Heroes are supposed to overcome all kinds of obstacles before the happy ending. And congrats on the fic progression!
no subject
Date: 2011-09-10 05:49 pm (UTC)I read Eagle fic before I saw the movie and I haven't started the book yet.
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Date: 2011-09-11 06:03 pm (UTC)I don't know if I ever will watch the film, I loved the book a lot, and I've seen fanvids and sections of the film but I don't know if I want to see Marcus and Esca being so mean to each other before the big finale :/
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Date: 2011-09-11 09:26 pm (UTC)Stay in your bubble of love! ♥
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Date: 2011-09-10 06:40 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-09-11 06:04 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-09-10 08:29 pm (UTC)It's nice to see my favourite writers stretching their wings into other fandoms I like. :-)
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Date: 2011-09-11 06:06 pm (UTC)I'm very relieved you enjoyed it!
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Date: 2011-09-10 08:56 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-09-14 08:18 pm (UTC)Anyway, IN CONCLUSION, I am glad you enjoyed it, it was a bit scary to try something new but I am glad I did.
no subject
Date: 2011-09-15 05:45 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-09-11 04:56 am (UTC)This is absolutely adorable. I would smirk too, if I were the merchant. "My Esca" indeed. I've seen the movie and the whole time I was thinking "Omg this is so Arthur and Merlin!" I tried very hard to suppress my inner slasher, but she just refused to behave.
Good luck with the writing! =D
PS: I still need to pay you back for the Island dvd.
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Date: 2011-09-14 08:29 pm (UTC)I'd forgotten all about the dvd. Don't worry about it now, unless it really bothers you :) Once I've been paid again, I tend to consider all past money spent and gone and don't think of it again! I was more than happy to spread the Colin love anyway and I love to send exciting airmail post :)
no subject
Date: 2011-09-15 02:10 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-09-19 08:46 am (UTC)Ooooh - I am not allergic to anything that I know of! Although I'm not a big fan of nuts. Me and Colin could Never Be, since he loves peanut butter so much. Yuck.
no subject
Date: 2011-09-19 03:45 pm (UTC)*gasp* What? I love peanut butter. I eat it straight from the jar sometimes. I guess myself and Colin can Possibly Be haha. Right, so no nuts. =D
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Date: 2011-09-13 11:11 pm (UTC)Merlin, of course. But then! OH MY GOD SHE WROTE A MARCUS/ESCA FIC AS WELL. <3
There can never be enough Marcus/Esca fic in the world, and this little gem is a perfect addition. <3
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Date: 2011-09-14 08:31 pm (UTC)Thank you for your lovely comment!
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Date: 2011-09-15 12:16 am (UTC)And I loved the fic so much--you described the awkwardness of their relationship so well, both of them constrained by social bonds yet constantly trying to break out of them.
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Date: 2011-09-24 09:14 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-09-15 01:33 am (UTC)I really liked this fic; your summary had it exactly right, their relationship thaws a little bit, and I love seeing that, a slow little beginning, like the last line says. Lovely! (Also, Esca's joke about finding him an ox, hee)
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Date: 2011-09-24 09:16 pm (UTC)I thought I ought to start with something small and simple, since I have never written the pairing before, and I do like fierce-yet-maybe-just-a-teeny-bit-fond-already Esca <3
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Date: 2011-09-15 01:43 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-09-24 09:17 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-09-24 10:14 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-09-24 10:17 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-09-24 11:01 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-09-24 09:25 pm (UTC)So far I have tried movie verse, and I also wrote a book verse fic over at the kmm. I like them both I think. I love sparky fierce Esca from the film, but I also love his total loyalty to Marcus from the first in the book. Hmmm. I guess as long as he looks like Jamie Bell in my head, it will be all right either way <3
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Date: 2011-09-15 02:11 am (UTC)and i love stories that deal with their slow-budding friendship before the quest and the accidental endearment was just lovely.
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Date: 2011-09-15 03:22 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-09-15 08:28 am (UTC)I didn't find that the film spoiled the book for me. I've been a diehard fan of the book ever since... forever... long before I realised that I was not the only slasher in the world... and although the film is a very different take on the two of them (and mangles the plot somewhat) it still has much to offer. I see them as alternate universes, each with many and delicious possibilities...
no subject
Date: 2011-09-15 09:20 am (UTC)Charming!
Date: 2011-09-15 07:13 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-09-15 07:54 pm (UTC)And nice to meet you! Am I the only person here at the Eagle who doesn't know all the Merlin-writers?!
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Date: 2011-09-16 01:21 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-09-17 08:31 pm (UTC)This was adorable. I love stories set in the beginning of their friendship, when they're still puzzling out the ground between them.