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fandomtownies2005-10-03 02:28 am
geoff-chaucer.livejournal.com) wrote in fandomtownies2005-10-03 02:28 am
Geoff's Departure, Monday Morning
The sound of hoofbeats draws the attention of passers-by to a man, dressed in the livery of King Edward III of England, on horseback. He stops in front of Chaucer's and dismounts. The door of the shop opens and Geoff steps outside. The two men briefly converse and the liveried man gives Geoff a sealed packet, then remounts and rides off out of town. Clutching the packet, Geoff goes back inside the shop, locking the door behind him.
Paige raises an eyebrow at Geoff as he enters. "Well that's new! What's happening, Geoff?"
Geoff looks up from the papers he's holding, an expression of concern -- and a little anxiety -- on his face. "I believe it's a royal summons."
Paige she goes over and puts her arms around him. "And what does that mean exactly?"
"Well, it means that I have to go to London. Immediately."
She looks at him with a tear in her eye. "How long for? Do you have to go?"
Geoff takes Paige's hand and pulls her closer. " I'm not certain how long. With any luck, not very. I do have to appear, though. You don't ignore a royal summons." He gives Paige a kiss on the cheek. "I wouldn't worry about it. King Edward is a decent man. I've done some...work for him. That may be what he wants to see me about."
Wiping away a tear, Paige replies, "You'll be here for homecoming right? I won't go without you."
"Of course I will! I'll speak to His Majesty about it as soon as I get to London -- well, as soon I get to actually see him, anyway. If they can send a courier here, they can help me get back for the dance." Geoff wraps his arm around Paige's waist and kisses her. "I'm sorry I have to go. I promise I'll do my best not to be gone long. I'll try and write, if I can."
Paige forces a smile. "It's ok, I understand. I'll just miss you that's all. But I guess if you'll be here for homecoming it won't be so bad."
"Paige, this is very important. I promise you, I wouldn't go if I didn't have to. I only wish I could take you with me."
Geoff pulls her into an embrace, and Paige rests her head against his chest. "It's ok, I know you wouldn't leave me if you didn't have." She looks up at him. "I know I have to stay here, I'd get kicked out of the school if I just left for-- "Paige pauses and lowers her voice. "--however long. And I guess I can get started on the flat upstairs and look after the shop for you." She forces herself to smile for Geoff's sake. "It's ok, really."
"Would you look after the shop for me? You could just tell any customers who come by that...I'll be back straight away. And Sonia can take care of any artwork requests." He can tell that her smile is forced, but he isn't feeling very happy about the situation himself, so he doesn't say anything more. Instead, he kisses Paige and holds her close.
Paige kisses him back, holding on to him tightly. "I'll do anything you need me to, baby, don't worry about me. I'll be fine." Probably. "Want me to help you pack?"
"I don't really have much to pack. But I would love some help, my love. Or at least the company."
"Company I can do!" She smiles up at him. "I love you Geoff, I just wanted you to know that before you leave." She bites her lip and looks down at the floor, determined not to cry.
Geoff gathers Paige tightly into his arms and kisses her hair.
"Keep me in thine heart, my love,
And never shall I stray,
The brilliant beauty of thine eyes
Shall ever light my way."
Paige looks up at him with tears in her eyes. "Are you trying to make me cry?" She smiles slightly and hugs him as hard as she can.
"I'm trying to stop myself from crying," Geoff whispers. He holds her tightly, and then lets go and steps away. "I-- I should go. The sooner I'm there, the sooner I can return."
Paige stands in the doorway and nods. She almost lets him leave, but rushes out in bare feet and kisses him goodbye.
Geoff kisses her back and holds her tightly for a moment. "I love you."
He lets go of Paige, turns, and walks slowly down the street and out of town.
Paige watches him as he leaves, as soon as he's out of sight she burst into tears and runs back into the shop holding on to her necklace.
Paige raises an eyebrow at Geoff as he enters. "Well that's new! What's happening, Geoff?"
Geoff looks up from the papers he's holding, an expression of concern -- and a little anxiety -- on his face. "I believe it's a royal summons."
Paige she goes over and puts her arms around him. "And what does that mean exactly?"
"Well, it means that I have to go to London. Immediately."
She looks at him with a tear in her eye. "How long for? Do you have to go?"
Geoff takes Paige's hand and pulls her closer. " I'm not certain how long. With any luck, not very. I do have to appear, though. You don't ignore a royal summons." He gives Paige a kiss on the cheek. "I wouldn't worry about it. King Edward is a decent man. I've done some...work for him. That may be what he wants to see me about."
Wiping away a tear, Paige replies, "You'll be here for homecoming right? I won't go without you."
"Of course I will! I'll speak to His Majesty about it as soon as I get to London -- well, as soon I get to actually see him, anyway. If they can send a courier here, they can help me get back for the dance." Geoff wraps his arm around Paige's waist and kisses her. "I'm sorry I have to go. I promise I'll do my best not to be gone long. I'll try and write, if I can."
Paige forces a smile. "It's ok, I understand. I'll just miss you that's all. But I guess if you'll be here for homecoming it won't be so bad."
"Paige, this is very important. I promise you, I wouldn't go if I didn't have to. I only wish I could take you with me."
Geoff pulls her into an embrace, and Paige rests her head against his chest. "It's ok, I know you wouldn't leave me if you didn't have." She looks up at him. "I know I have to stay here, I'd get kicked out of the school if I just left for-- "Paige pauses and lowers her voice. "--however long. And I guess I can get started on the flat upstairs and look after the shop for you." She forces herself to smile for Geoff's sake. "It's ok, really."
"Would you look after the shop for me? You could just tell any customers who come by that...I'll be back straight away. And Sonia can take care of any artwork requests." He can tell that her smile is forced, but he isn't feeling very happy about the situation himself, so he doesn't say anything more. Instead, he kisses Paige and holds her close.
Paige kisses him back, holding on to him tightly. "I'll do anything you need me to, baby, don't worry about me. I'll be fine." Probably. "Want me to help you pack?"
"I don't really have much to pack. But I would love some help, my love. Or at least the company."
"Company I can do!" She smiles up at him. "I love you Geoff, I just wanted you to know that before you leave." She bites her lip and looks down at the floor, determined not to cry.
Geoff gathers Paige tightly into his arms and kisses her hair.
"Keep me in thine heart, my love,
And never shall I stray,
The brilliant beauty of thine eyes
Shall ever light my way."
Paige looks up at him with tears in her eyes. "Are you trying to make me cry?" She smiles slightly and hugs him as hard as she can.
"I'm trying to stop myself from crying," Geoff whispers. He holds her tightly, and then lets go and steps away. "I-- I should go. The sooner I'm there, the sooner I can return."
Paige stands in the doorway and nods. She almost lets him leave, but rushes out in bare feet and kisses him goodbye.
Geoff kisses her back and holds her tightly for a moment. "I love you."
He lets go of Paige, turns, and walks slowly down the street and out of town.
Paige watches him as he leaves, as soon as he's out of sight she burst into tears and runs back into the shop holding on to her necklace.
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