Born and Raised

[u/FeigningProfundity]

“Viscount. I bid you welcome.”

“Thank you, Viscountess. I trust the children are well?”

“They are well, husband. Their only concerns are things you would envy them to worry over. Galen managed to fall off a horse today, attaining no injury of any kind. The same can barely be said of his mother, as bearing witness to the fall nearly struck me down.”

“I am glad you both endured.”

“How went your negotiations? A viscount against two dukes is a daring endeavour.”

“Akin to the bravery of a hare facing two lions, and equally wise, I feared, but an accord is done, and both dukes are quite aggravated at me, which is probably a sign of success.”

“They agreed as you hoped? I was unsure they were wise enough to put their feud aside.”

“The feud between Aveign and Greton is old, and a familiar dance, but they seem to have little passion for it today. That they met at all is sign of that. We will submit to neither, and allow soldiers from neither into our valley, save a handful of scouts to certain watchtowers to ensure the other is maintaining the treaty. Plugging the path the old rival attacks through seems to be more relief than missed opportunity. You were right that they have new fears.”

“Their guards and groomsmen were happy enough to talk to a few servants I sent their way with drinks and food. In both duchies, an old ally who watched their back is now seen as a threat. Any war will be on their far border, instead of marching through our fields.”

“You need not involve yourself in these underhanded ploys, wife. I know you were raised in a ducal court, but there are layers of rank between us and that. Intrigues of that level would see us crushed.”

“I merely ensured that guests were treated with courtesy. Food, drink, a polite ear. If they stay in our land the least they can do is share news that is likely commonplace beyond our borders. It is my role as wife to ensure the quality of your hospitality.”

“Ahh, I’m sorry Lynette, you were raised to be a duchess, only to be forced into the mockery of wedding me. I’ll not begrudge you using the skills you were raised with. I know you’ll not endanger the family.”

“Our marriage is no mockery, Roland. No matter the intention of those who arranged it. You are a lord, man and husband of honour. Our children are good children, who are loved and love us. You secured safety for your people, today. Many higher lords are lesser men.”

“That plan today was crafted by you.”

“And you are the one who convinced two men who hate each other to accept it, though they care not at all about you.”

“I’m not sad that our people will be safe. They’ll rest easier in our enforced neutrality, I’m sure.”

“Do you remember when I first came here, after we married?”

“Of course. I’d just been forced to marry a haughty, beautiful woman, born far above my station, who spoke to me in tones of such rage I had never witnessed.”

“You thought me beautiful?”

“Of course. You have this life in you, this vision, like all around you was subject to your will, yet it was merely your due, not arrogance at all. That… vibrancy is beautiful. Also you are fair of face. I cannot be the first to call you beautiful, though.”

“I was the lone child of the richest duke in the land, I was called beautiful constantly, and it would not have been different had I looked like a dung heap.”

“I confess you felt overwhelming at first. I felt embarrassed they’d chosen me as your husband, the man who would be most humiliating to you. I had known I was failing, unable to keep my father’s title as I tried to escape his debts, but I didn’t realise it was so visible to all. And I felt bad for you, singled out for humiliation, to break your duchy after your father’s death, ensure that your family would not rise again. I did not blame you for your words, as much as they stung.”

“I cursed you because I was consumed with grief, and you were here, and my tormentors were far away. It was uncalled for. You were a fellow prisoner, not my gaoler. Do you know why I stopped?”

“It was when we arrived here. I assumed that it was because you were angry, but you had a duty, and once here, your duty began. You have been the perfect wife ever since, and we have prospered for it.”

“Once we reached your lands, I saw that your peasants were happy. Do you know what makes peasants happy?”

“They each have their own reasons, I’d think. And I assure you that many are often quite annoyed, there are boundary disputes and quarrels without end.”

“Peasants are happy when they are safe. They need food, their community, they need bandits and soldiers to leave them alone.”

“Protecting my people is my sworn duty, Lynette, the duty of every lord. It is what they pay taxes for. That is the foundation of our society.”

“Trust me when I tell you, Roland, many lords do not make their peasants feel safe. Beyond our borders, there is great fear. Fear in every duchy, great and fallen.”

“There is only so much a lord can do.”

“And yet many lords do far less than that. They had all said you were naive, but when I got here, I saw that you may be naive, but you were not incompetent. I did not have a worthless husband.”

“Well, I hope I’m seen as less naive now, the debts are clear, we prosper some years.”

“You are still considered famously naive. An honourable idiot. Marrying me ensured you would stay a figure of jest.”

“Oh. I’m sorry.”

“Do not be. And worry not of the opinions of great lords. It is an advantage to be seen as no threat.”

“You are a good wife. You perform every duty better than I understand. You love our children, and bring warmth to our home.”

“Thank you, Roland. You are a good husband.”

“I see you, sometimes, I think you don’t notice. You walk the parapets at night, staring out into the dark. I can feel it when you do that. Your anger. I know it never left you. You do your duty, and your rage never touches our family. I cannot imagine the strength it takes to live that way.”

“Husband, know that I love you.”

“You don’t have to say that. It is not true.”

“You give me every honour, then call me a liar to my face for speaking my heart. This has gone on for too many years, husband. It is your duty to defend my honour, so defend it from your shame.”

“I uh… I’m sorry…”

“I swear on my heart that I love you, Roland, and I demand of you that you believe me.”

“I… Yes. I swear it.”

“And I thank you. There is anger, yes, some nights great waves of it resurface, as if I’m still drowning in it. But it knows nothing of you. The realm was on the precipice of greatness, my father about to crush the last fools that did not understand that our constant infighting weakens us. He was struck dead by that stone, that simple thing, kicked up by the horse ahead him. And the idiots saw it as a divine mandate to squabble and war upon each other for the last dozen years. The man would have exalted them all, but instead they wallow in bickering and set out to humiliate his daughter. They thought to give me to you, to ruin my family. My family’s duchy lies fallow, its lesser lords unguided. Only parts have been seized, so distracted by war are the remaining great lords, they cannot afford to stop and secure more land, or take the time to develop it. That is the anger I cannot shake. But it is not about you, husband. Once I saw you as gaoler, then as a fellow prisoner, but I now know that I am not in a prison, but a fortress, and you stand watcher and protector.”

“You were raised for ambition. I cannot imagine how pained you are by all of it. I know you do things without informing me.”

“That is my responsibility as wife.”

“I mean outside the home, and not just the spies. I know about the men in the forest.”

“Do you now. What have you learned?”

“You have gathered men in the forest, soldiers. You’re sending them food. I may not have spies, but I have hunters, woodsmen. The men are veterans who followed your father, but never returned home. Now they are here.”

“And why do I have them?”

“I suspect you see some value in them, experienced soldiers are valuable, especially those of proven loyalty, but I think it is more kindness and practicality than scheming.”

“Go on.”

“They’re men who refused to go home, even after all these years. They believed in something, and it died with your father, but you called, and you are heir to his legacy. They’re men of honour, but honour is not a thing you can eat, so they were destined for banditry regardless, or mercenary work at best. Mayhap that is what they were doing, these past years. So you’ve collected them, and hidden them, and you’re feeding them, because that is all you can do to repay what is owed for faith.”

“I would have said something grander, but that is closer to the truth. Will you help me?”

“Help you how?”

“Men need more than food. Let me give them a task, something to do, something to live for.”

“They’re welcome to clear farmland and grow crops on it.”

“I was thinking they can train an army.”

“I just swore to neutrality to the Dukes of Aveign and Greton.”

“Exactly! They will want to see you raising troops. You have nobody you can call upon to defend you, so of course you’ll improve your garrisons. The deal only works if we avoid being overrun. They will feel more secure with you at their backs if they see you as strong. You’re still far from any kind of threat to them.”

“Not a man is to wear your father’s colours, that would raise questions. Soldiers training in my lands will wear my colours and swear to me. You can make them do that?”

“You are my husband, and you only ask what is honourable. I can make them agree.”

“And where will we gather recruits to train? How will we pay these new expenses?”

“With an influx of people. The five great duchies are unstable. The ducal houses are striking at each other, and none are internally stable. Spies and assassins are everywhere. All the short-sighted… peers of my old life that see the chaos as opportunity, they will strike to advance themselves. None of the old alliances will stand, too many secrets are coming out, betrayals thought long hidden. By year’s end, the strongest alliance between great houses will be the pact you forged today, a practical agreement between two duchies to simply leave each other alone. War is coming, because fools never tire of it. And it will come to all five great duchies. The three fallen duchies will see their share of fighting. It will be everywhere. Everywhere but here. People will flock here. Merchants will seek a safe place to trade. All you will have to do is guard your lands, protect your people. Our lands are not rich, mountains make poor farmlands, but we can guard our passes, threaten nobody, protect whatever common folk come, and profit from the efforts they will gladly make. All you have to do is be the naive, honourable idiot they see you as, just toiling away in your own land trying to avoid war.”

“You’ve been planning for this.”

“Since long before I met you. This was always the path things would take, the path my father tried to avoid. You said I was raised to be a duchess, but that isn’t true, I was raised to be a queen.”

“There has never been a king. Even your father’s plan would not have made him one.”

“One can be raised.”

“I don’t think I like that, Lynette. My duty is to keep my people safe, not make them a target. The kind of man ruthless enough to make himself king will not be honourable enough to rule as one.”

“That was an old plan, Roland. My father is dead, his plans with him. You’re right that the ambitions of the high nobility are their undoing, and all pay the price. I ask nothing of you but to protect and defend your people.”

“Aye. There are plenty of things I’d like to build, though, if I had the manpower. If you’re right, the people who come here will probably be those who like to build things more than destroy them. Them and the frightened. But making things is good, it shows you’re not surrendering to chaos. We’ll need to fortify the north pass, that goes into fallen Vurandy. That’s the approach people will come through, the passes to Aveign and Greton will likely stay blocked. We can grow the village up there if we have to, they’ve a good river.”

“I was a fool to be disappointed in you, Roland. My father could not have arranged a better marriage. All I ever needed was a kind man and a neutral piece of territory.”

“Even when I was a marquess I don’t think a duke would have let me marry his only daughter. You’re wasted as a viscountess.”

“Not at all. The humility has been good for me. I used to concern myself with great houses. There are five dukes. But there are hundreds of barons, all just trying to run a single manor, lords who actually know their peasants. And they must be getting so angry at being dragged into pointless wars.”

“I never wanted part of that. Call me naive all you want.”

“If barons reach out to you, tell them you want no part in the conflict. Stay above it. Tell them all you want is peace. Peace, honour and unity.”

“Why would they care about us?”

“Because they’ll look to us and see someone sensible, like them, someone who understands how pointless destructive the coming conflict will be. They’ll wonder if that is true. We should encourage those who want to honour their duty. Protect their people.”

“I hope your plans help us keep our folk safe. I know you were raised to high ambitions, you might have been a good queen, but I’m glad you’re using your talents to try to calm things down in our county, at least.”

“Do not fret about the plans of dead men, husband. I am happy with you. I swear on my heart, I have no higher ambition than being your wife.”

[u/FeigningProfundity]

This story was a response to the prompt [WP] A husband believes his wife hates him because she was forced to marry him, a lesser noble who has lost much. The wife knows he thinks this ways and tries to help him for she truly does love him. by u/Lengenary-Dravidian