"He loves me, he loves me not, he loves me -"
"How is my favorite girl?"
Yarrow smiled at her eldest son's words.
"Put down that rag and dance a spell with me!"
Yarrow laughed as Alexander swept her about the room.
Then he'd set her down and looked in her eyes.
"I love you darling."
"I do so love you."
Yarrow tried to shut out what came next.
"He loves me not."
Yarrow let out a very unladylike sob.
"Even the flower says so." she whispered.
Lady Yarrow stood outside watching the sunset, trying to keep the memories from coming. They came anyway.
She had been cleaning the stove at the end of the day. It wasn't work for a lady, but there was no money for hired help. She couldn't ask her men to do it, so she worked without complaint.
Yarrow smiled at her eldest son's words.
"Put down that rag and dance a spell with me!"
Yarrow laughed as Alexander swept her about the room.
Then he'd set her down and looked in her eyes.
"I love you darling."
"I do so love you."
Yarrow tried to shut out what came next.
Unbidden the memories came. They came just the same.
Alexander had leaned toward her. She closed her eyes, expecting a kiss from her devoted son. Kiss her he had. Kissed her deep and full.
Yarrow tried again to stop the memories.
Mercilessly they flooded her mind.
Yarrow had been stunned by the unexpected gesture. She hadn't returned his kiss, but did nothing to stop him. Nothing!
And while she was still reeling from the drink on her son's breath, Lord Richard had smacked her across the face. He had seen! And she had said nothing. What could she say? My son kissed me like a lover and I did nothing? I did nothing... I am a terrible wife, a terrible mother...
Was I too affectionate with my dear boy? And if I did not entice him, I raised him poorly. And Richard? Could he possibly love me now?
Burdened by the weight of her pain, Yarrow sunk to the floor.
"He loves me, he loves me not, he loves me, he loves me not, he loves me, he loves me not...."
Woah! I did notice that Alexander was quite attached to his mother, and I remember thinking at one point that he didn't exactly treat her like an adult (I think it was when he promised to take care of her?), but I never expected him to act on any Oedipal desires.
ReplyDeleteGod, Richard! If he'd seen, he should have been able to tell that it was Alexander initiating the kiss, then he goes and smacks Yarrow? And now she feels like the whole thing is her fault while both Alexander and Richard are blameless? I think Yarrow needs a trip to Albion for some intense therapy and self-esteem building sessions with Morgan.
The Lionhearts could use family counseling from Morgan. Poor things never heard of Albion.
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