Unchained- a fanfic
Apr. 25th, 2007 08:21 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
xgirl30Category- Missing scene, angst, drama
Rating- PG to PG-13
Spoilers- None if you've seen "Catch 22"
Disclaimer- All Lost characters belong to ABC and their creator J.J. Abrams. I derive no profits from this and no copyright infringement is intended
Quickie summary- What life at the monastery was like for Desmond before what we saw in catch 22.
Rating- PG to PG-13
Spoilers- None if you've seen "Catch 22"
Disclaimer- All Lost characters belong to ABC and their creator J.J. Abrams. I derive no profits from this and no copyright infringement is intended
Quickie summary- What life at the monastery was like for Desmond before what we saw in catch 22.
Unchained
Chapter 1
"Let us pray"
Desmond Hume sat quietly in the chapel during the morning service. He glanced around, taking in the flickering candles, the Stations of the Cross carved in the pale stone of the walls, the crucifix behind the altar. Somehow none of it brought him any comfort. "I'm sorry Ruth." He thought sadly. Pulling himself back to the present Desmond knelt along with the other monks as Father William prepared to perform the consecration. He caught Brother Alwyn, the novice master looking in his direction and quickly turned his eyes to his missalette.
After the mass was over Desmond followed the others out of the chapel and went to the kitchen to begin his daily duties. The monastery was also a working vinyard and most of the professed monks toiled in that aspect of things. The novices and a few older monks took care of the monastery building and it's immediate grounds. (novices did get to help out with the winemaking sometimes. Every three weeks they changed duties to give them a better taste of monastic life.) Desmond's current duties were to help with food preparation and clean up and to deliver meals to the infirmary and the retired monks wing. He was slicing melons for the fruit cups when brother Alwyn entered the kitchen. "I need to speak to brother Desmond for a moment." he said to the head cook, brother Michael. "Of course, brother Alwyn." Desmond continued his work, wondering if he had done something wrong. He had felt called to religious life and hadn't regretted his decision since he had been there. He deeply regretted leaving Ruth at the altar and thought he likely always would. Would he have regretted the marriage more? Quite possibly.
"Brother Daniel would like to see you after breakfast." Alwyn said. Desmond nodded. "Of course, Brother." Brother Daniel was the Abbot, the monk in charge of the monastery. For him to want to see you privately had to mean a serious offense had been committed. "You look like you've just been condemned to the gallows." Brother Alwyn said with a slight smile. "There's nothing to worry about, really. Brother Daniel speaks to all the new postulates individually before they make their first vows." Alwyn was a cheerful man in his late forties with close cropped blonde hair and a hearty laugh. Desmond had liked him as soon as they met. "That's a relief." Desmond said softly. Alwyn went to speak with Brother Michael again and Desmond returned to his work.
After a hearty breakfast Desmond helped two other postulates, Peter and Edward clear the tables. Brother Alwyn caught his eye and looked at him pointedly as if to say "don't forget what you have to do". Desmond took the tray of dishes to the kitchen, then straightened his clothes and smoothed his hair. He felt he stood out starkly among the robed monks in his postulates dress of dark trousers and matching dark jumper. Hopefully he would soon be accepted into the novitiate and be allowed to wear the chocolate brown robe the other novices wore. He walked across the main hall to Brother Daniel's office and knocked hesitantly on the heavy oak door. "Come in." came the reply. Desmond took a deep breath and entered the study. He looked around the room taking in the big mahogany desk and the heavy leather chairs in front of it, the wall of bookshelves, and the crucifix and religious pictures on the walls. "You wanted to see me Brother?" Desmond asked, all the while trying to shake the feeling of being sent to the principal's office in grammar school. "Have a seat Desmond." Brother Daniel said. Desmond sat in one of the big chairs.
"Would you care for some tea?" Daniel asked. He reached for a pot on the side of his desk and filled two china cups. "Yes please, Brother." Desmond took the offered cup and sipped the rich black tea. "Why did you come here?" Brother Daniel was a tall man in his fifties with dark hair just beginning to gray and piercing blue eyes. Right then Desmond felt like he was looking right into his very soul. 'Pardon?" he replied. "I asked you why you came here to this monastery. It's a question I ask of all new postulates." Brother Daniel said. Desmond thought for a moment. "It's hard to say exactly. I felt a calling, that this was where I was meant to be." Daniel sipped his tea. "A calling? Aye, this isn't the first time I've heard that and I daresay it won't be the last." He set his cup down. "Young men come here for many reasons. When I ask for those reasons nine times out of ten I'll be told it's because of a calling." He paused. "Nine times out of ten that's not the real reason. A lot of them are running away from something. A responsibility, a problem, maybe even a criminal activity." Brother Daniel looked at Desmond. "What are you running from?" He knew for certain that the young man sitting accross from him was hiding something. It remained to be seen how he would respond. Desmond sipped his tea not sure how to answer. Should he tell the truth or make something viable up? When he was a small boy his grandmither told him he would go to hell if he told a lie in church. This had to be equally bad, if not worse. Taking a deep breath he began.
Chapter 1
"Let us pray"
Desmond Hume sat quietly in the chapel during the morning service. He glanced around, taking in the flickering candles, the Stations of the Cross carved in the pale stone of the walls, the crucifix behind the altar. Somehow none of it brought him any comfort. "I'm sorry Ruth." He thought sadly. Pulling himself back to the present Desmond knelt along with the other monks as Father William prepared to perform the consecration. He caught Brother Alwyn, the novice master looking in his direction and quickly turned his eyes to his missalette.
After the mass was over Desmond followed the others out of the chapel and went to the kitchen to begin his daily duties. The monastery was also a working vinyard and most of the professed monks toiled in that aspect of things. The novices and a few older monks took care of the monastery building and it's immediate grounds. (novices did get to help out with the winemaking sometimes. Every three weeks they changed duties to give them a better taste of monastic life.) Desmond's current duties were to help with food preparation and clean up and to deliver meals to the infirmary and the retired monks wing. He was slicing melons for the fruit cups when brother Alwyn entered the kitchen. "I need to speak to brother Desmond for a moment." he said to the head cook, brother Michael. "Of course, brother Alwyn." Desmond continued his work, wondering if he had done something wrong. He had felt called to religious life and hadn't regretted his decision since he had been there. He deeply regretted leaving Ruth at the altar and thought he likely always would. Would he have regretted the marriage more? Quite possibly.
"Brother Daniel would like to see you after breakfast." Alwyn said. Desmond nodded. "Of course, Brother." Brother Daniel was the Abbot, the monk in charge of the monastery. For him to want to see you privately had to mean a serious offense had been committed. "You look like you've just been condemned to the gallows." Brother Alwyn said with a slight smile. "There's nothing to worry about, really. Brother Daniel speaks to all the new postulates individually before they make their first vows." Alwyn was a cheerful man in his late forties with close cropped blonde hair and a hearty laugh. Desmond had liked him as soon as they met. "That's a relief." Desmond said softly. Alwyn went to speak with Brother Michael again and Desmond returned to his work.
After a hearty breakfast Desmond helped two other postulates, Peter and Edward clear the tables. Brother Alwyn caught his eye and looked at him pointedly as if to say "don't forget what you have to do". Desmond took the tray of dishes to the kitchen, then straightened his clothes and smoothed his hair. He felt he stood out starkly among the robed monks in his postulates dress of dark trousers and matching dark jumper. Hopefully he would soon be accepted into the novitiate and be allowed to wear the chocolate brown robe the other novices wore. He walked across the main hall to Brother Daniel's office and knocked hesitantly on the heavy oak door. "Come in." came the reply. Desmond took a deep breath and entered the study. He looked around the room taking in the big mahogany desk and the heavy leather chairs in front of it, the wall of bookshelves, and the crucifix and religious pictures on the walls. "You wanted to see me Brother?" Desmond asked, all the while trying to shake the feeling of being sent to the principal's office in grammar school. "Have a seat Desmond." Brother Daniel said. Desmond sat in one of the big chairs.
"Would you care for some tea?" Daniel asked. He reached for a pot on the side of his desk and filled two china cups. "Yes please, Brother." Desmond took the offered cup and sipped the rich black tea. "Why did you come here?" Brother Daniel was a tall man in his fifties with dark hair just beginning to gray and piercing blue eyes. Right then Desmond felt like he was looking right into his very soul. 'Pardon?" he replied. "I asked you why you came here to this monastery. It's a question I ask of all new postulates." Brother Daniel said. Desmond thought for a moment. "It's hard to say exactly. I felt a calling, that this was where I was meant to be." Daniel sipped his tea. "A calling? Aye, this isn't the first time I've heard that and I daresay it won't be the last." He set his cup down. "Young men come here for many reasons. When I ask for those reasons nine times out of ten I'll be told it's because of a calling." He paused. "Nine times out of ten that's not the real reason. A lot of them are running away from something. A responsibility, a problem, maybe even a criminal activity." Brother Daniel looked at Desmond. "What are you running from?" He knew for certain that the young man sitting accross from him was hiding something. It remained to be seen how he would respond. Desmond sipped his tea not sure how to answer. Should he tell the truth or make something viable up? When he was a small boy his grandmither told him he would go to hell if he told a lie in church. This had to be equally bad, if not worse. Taking a deep breath he began.
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Date: 2007-04-26 07:28 pm (UTC)