Mended - A Tethers FanFiction
So, I should have been doing other things this evening but after reading Tethers by Jack Croxall, I fell in love with the two main characters and have been unable to stop thinking about them all day.
So much so, I opened up a word document and well, this happened. I seem to have written a 1,210 word fan fiction piece about Karl and Esther. Whoops. I think I've crossed the 'normal' fan girl line and become a proper stalker.
Well, if anyone cares to know how much I love Karl and Esther and how desperately I want them to spend the rest of their lives together then read on...
So much so, I opened up a word document and well, this happened. I seem to have written a 1,210 word fan fiction piece about Karl and Esther. Whoops. I think I've crossed the 'normal' fan girl line and become a proper stalker.
Well, if anyone cares to know how much I love Karl and Esther and how desperately I want them to spend the rest of their lives together then read on...
Mended
Friendly shadows danced across the ceiling as Karl lay perfectly still in bed. The sound of horse’s hooves connecting with the bone dry cobbles outside calmed him and the predictable rhythm of their trot steadied his mounting anxiety. Tomorrow was the day he would marry Esther Emerson, the girl, now woman, he had fallen in love with so long ago. He’d known he loved her as soon as he’d saved her life back when the Viniculum was their sole focus. He could remember the way she’d tended to him after he’d been injured and the subtle jealously she had displayed in front of Shona. Karl’s eyes stung with memories of the poor girl who was taken so cruelly and far too soon but he remembered Esther’s words as if she were saying them to him now…
‘You can’t save someone from their own decisions’
A small smile danced across his lips at the thought of Esther. So feisty and smart was she, that at times Karl even felt a little sub-standard when stood next to her. Her sword fighting skills were far superior to his and her passion for life was one rarely matched. Karl couldn’t wait to call her his wife.
*
‘Here ya go, summat new,’ Esther’s mother said, placing a delicate silver necklace around her daughter’s beautiful neck.
‘Cheers ma,’ Esther smiled into the mirror, ‘I hope he likes it.’
‘Don’t be a fool, of course he will.’
A small knock on the door distracted them from their reflections and Mr Caudwell tentatively put his head around the door.
‘Alex!’ Esther enthused as she ran towards the old man and placed her dainty arms around his neck.
‘My dear girl, just look at you,’ he stepped back and surveyed Esther lovingly, admiring the feminine, white wedding gown that she wore. He brought his pale grey handkerchief to his eyes and mopped at the stray tear that forced its way out. He couldn’t believe that he’d known Esther for over ten years. He’d first met her when she was just thirteen and a feisty young girl ready to take on the world. Little had changed except her age and her height.
‘Ya ready?’ Esther asked Mr Caudwell.
‘Ready if you are,’ he replied, offering his arm for Esther to take.
Esther took hold of his bony arm and walk gently beside him as they made their way through the pub floor and out into the blazing sunshine. She felt the warm sun caress her shoulders and smelt the fresh, fragrant air. Esther’s mum sidled past them, placing a kiss on her daughter’s cheek as she did.
‘See ya in a minute,’ she grinned as she ran ahead to take her seat in the ceremony.
Mr Caudwell squeezed Esther’s hand tightly and adjusted his smart top hat. Esther smiled gloriously at him and placed a friendly kiss on his gaunt cheek. As they rounded the corner of The Lazy Badger, they simultaneously gasped at the pure beauty that lay before them.
There was a short path lined with pale flowers and the guests were seated on straw bales either side, giggling and gossiping to each other, waiting for the arrival of the bride. Esther’s eyes were automatically drawn to Karl; he stood with his back facing her and wore an expensive black frock coat with a large top hat. She felt her stomach somersault in the most pleasurable fashion and she had to refrain from running straight down the aisle into his arms.
A small round of applause greeted Esther as she started her way down the aisle. Mr Caudwell was once a spritely man but now age had caught up with him and he relied on a walking stick to get him from place to place. He hobbled along happily next to the beautiful woman he’d come to know as his best friend.
As they neared Karl, Esther saw him turn around and glance in her direction; his beautiful eyes locking firmly onto hers. She automatically smiled and saw a single tear slide down Karl’s left cheek. She had never felt happier in all her life.
Mr Caudwell slowly passed Esther’s hand over to Karl, feeling great pleasure in being able to witness such a magnificent event. The bride and groom stood holding hands and stared longingly into each other’s eyes as words of love, promises and forevers were shared between them.
As the ceremony drew to a close and the guests began to cheer and throw rice at the newly wedded couple, Esther noticed Vivian and Tommy waiting for her at the edge of the pub garden. She lifted her hand to wave and shout a hello in their direction but was momentarily rendered speechless as Karl swept her up into his strong arms and carried her over to the waiting horse.
‘Tommy,’ Esther cried in delight, ‘you beautiful boy.’ She stroked Tommy’s aging muzzle and gave him a firm kiss on the head.
‘Let’s get ya on there then!’ Karl laughed and gave Esther a leg up so she could straddle Tommy. Karl took Tommy’s reins and led the gorgeous horse out of the pub garden and into the busy street. Passers-by cheered and waved as the newly wed couple and their handful of guests made their way along the cobbles, Karl and Esther both owning irreplaceable smiles.
*
‘I always knew she’d marry me,’ Karl said, standing in Mr Caudwell’s back garden, nursing a glass of champagne and addressing the gaggle of guests.
‘Na ya didn’t!’ Esther shouted, goading him playfully.
‘I did. I saw it in the Viniculum. I knew. I knew ten years ago that one day you’d be my wife. I’ve been waiting my whole life for this very moment.’
Esther drew in a deep breath and opened her mouth to speak.
‘But…how…why didn’t ya tell me ya cheeky sod!’ She laughed, scowling in mock anger at her new husband.
‘Some secrets are just too precious to tell,’ he replied, holding his glass of champagne in the air.
‘Please, ladies and gentleman may you all raise a toast to my beautiful wife, Esther Schaffer.’ The garden broke into a chorus of voices all congratulating and raising toasts to the new couple.
Esther sat grinning at her new husband and felt incredibly blessed to be surrounded by those she loved. As she moved her right leg to position it more comfortably under the table she felt a cold blade rest on her thigh.
‘I miss you Harland,’ she whispered, running her hand along the length of his tiny sword, resting under her dress. ‘I’ll always miss you.’
‘Oh, and one last thing, before we start dancing, I just want to let you all know that Esther and I have some news.’ Karl shouted over the din.
Esther couldn’t believe Karl was about to tell everyone, she didn’t know if she was ready.
‘We’re having a baby.’ Karl grinned, shouting it to all who would listen.
Screams of delight and shock rang around the sweet smelling, sunset lit garden and as a small string quartet started to play a beautiful song, Karl took Esther into his arms and held her close to his chest.
This is where she belonged. This is where she always belonged.
‘You can’t save someone from their own decisions’
A small smile danced across his lips at the thought of Esther. So feisty and smart was she, that at times Karl even felt a little sub-standard when stood next to her. Her sword fighting skills were far superior to his and her passion for life was one rarely matched. Karl couldn’t wait to call her his wife.
*
‘Here ya go, summat new,’ Esther’s mother said, placing a delicate silver necklace around her daughter’s beautiful neck.
‘Cheers ma,’ Esther smiled into the mirror, ‘I hope he likes it.’
‘Don’t be a fool, of course he will.’
A small knock on the door distracted them from their reflections and Mr Caudwell tentatively put his head around the door.
‘Alex!’ Esther enthused as she ran towards the old man and placed her dainty arms around his neck.
‘My dear girl, just look at you,’ he stepped back and surveyed Esther lovingly, admiring the feminine, white wedding gown that she wore. He brought his pale grey handkerchief to his eyes and mopped at the stray tear that forced its way out. He couldn’t believe that he’d known Esther for over ten years. He’d first met her when she was just thirteen and a feisty young girl ready to take on the world. Little had changed except her age and her height.
‘Ya ready?’ Esther asked Mr Caudwell.
‘Ready if you are,’ he replied, offering his arm for Esther to take.
Esther took hold of his bony arm and walk gently beside him as they made their way through the pub floor and out into the blazing sunshine. She felt the warm sun caress her shoulders and smelt the fresh, fragrant air. Esther’s mum sidled past them, placing a kiss on her daughter’s cheek as she did.
‘See ya in a minute,’ she grinned as she ran ahead to take her seat in the ceremony.
Mr Caudwell squeezed Esther’s hand tightly and adjusted his smart top hat. Esther smiled gloriously at him and placed a friendly kiss on his gaunt cheek. As they rounded the corner of The Lazy Badger, they simultaneously gasped at the pure beauty that lay before them.
There was a short path lined with pale flowers and the guests were seated on straw bales either side, giggling and gossiping to each other, waiting for the arrival of the bride. Esther’s eyes were automatically drawn to Karl; he stood with his back facing her and wore an expensive black frock coat with a large top hat. She felt her stomach somersault in the most pleasurable fashion and she had to refrain from running straight down the aisle into his arms.
A small round of applause greeted Esther as she started her way down the aisle. Mr Caudwell was once a spritely man but now age had caught up with him and he relied on a walking stick to get him from place to place. He hobbled along happily next to the beautiful woman he’d come to know as his best friend.
As they neared Karl, Esther saw him turn around and glance in her direction; his beautiful eyes locking firmly onto hers. She automatically smiled and saw a single tear slide down Karl’s left cheek. She had never felt happier in all her life.
Mr Caudwell slowly passed Esther’s hand over to Karl, feeling great pleasure in being able to witness such a magnificent event. The bride and groom stood holding hands and stared longingly into each other’s eyes as words of love, promises and forevers were shared between them.
As the ceremony drew to a close and the guests began to cheer and throw rice at the newly wedded couple, Esther noticed Vivian and Tommy waiting for her at the edge of the pub garden. She lifted her hand to wave and shout a hello in their direction but was momentarily rendered speechless as Karl swept her up into his strong arms and carried her over to the waiting horse.
‘Tommy,’ Esther cried in delight, ‘you beautiful boy.’ She stroked Tommy’s aging muzzle and gave him a firm kiss on the head.
‘Let’s get ya on there then!’ Karl laughed and gave Esther a leg up so she could straddle Tommy. Karl took Tommy’s reins and led the gorgeous horse out of the pub garden and into the busy street. Passers-by cheered and waved as the newly wed couple and their handful of guests made their way along the cobbles, Karl and Esther both owning irreplaceable smiles.
*
‘I always knew she’d marry me,’ Karl said, standing in Mr Caudwell’s back garden, nursing a glass of champagne and addressing the gaggle of guests.
‘Na ya didn’t!’ Esther shouted, goading him playfully.
‘I did. I saw it in the Viniculum. I knew. I knew ten years ago that one day you’d be my wife. I’ve been waiting my whole life for this very moment.’
Esther drew in a deep breath and opened her mouth to speak.
‘But…how…why didn’t ya tell me ya cheeky sod!’ She laughed, scowling in mock anger at her new husband.
‘Some secrets are just too precious to tell,’ he replied, holding his glass of champagne in the air.
‘Please, ladies and gentleman may you all raise a toast to my beautiful wife, Esther Schaffer.’ The garden broke into a chorus of voices all congratulating and raising toasts to the new couple.
Esther sat grinning at her new husband and felt incredibly blessed to be surrounded by those she loved. As she moved her right leg to position it more comfortably under the table she felt a cold blade rest on her thigh.
‘I miss you Harland,’ she whispered, running her hand along the length of his tiny sword, resting under her dress. ‘I’ll always miss you.’
‘Oh, and one last thing, before we start dancing, I just want to let you all know that Esther and I have some news.’ Karl shouted over the din.
Esther couldn’t believe Karl was about to tell everyone, she didn’t know if she was ready.
‘We’re having a baby.’ Karl grinned, shouting it to all who would listen.
Screams of delight and shock rang around the sweet smelling, sunset lit garden and as a small string quartet started to play a beautiful song, Karl took Esther into his arms and held her close to his chest.
This is where she belonged. This is where she always belonged.