perils past | walden&emma
heis-waldenmacnair:
Emma’s independent nature was perhaps a consequence of her parents’ neglect, yet it was a trait her uncle was grateful to see in her nonetheless. He tried tirelessly in past years to teach Regulus the same ethics ― you must depend on yourself before anyone else ― and his perceived failure in doing so led the man to favor his niece more so than he already did. Though the occurrence of her asking something of him had become more and more of a rarity as the years went by, Walden was always prepared, without question, to grant anything to her that he could and assist her in finding elsewhere anything that he couldn’t. The protective part of him that wholeheartedly doubted that the Lestrange boy was anywhere near good enough to marry her expected that she came that day to ask his advice on how to get out of the engagement, and he had been plotting for such a scenario all night.Â
While Walden didn’t think of her as the appropriate person to talk to regarding the dysfunctional mechanics of the relationship he shared with Aurora, he could appreciate the fact that she seemed concerned for his stress levels while those he considered his colleagues cared only for the purpose of the union. “It’s difficult,” He confessed. He was accustomed to being the cynical hermit of the community ― to have people suddenly doubting his loyalty was something he wasn’t at all used to. “I don’t know if it helps or hurts that she and I have similar personalities, but that that is is. You two have met, haven’t you? I haven’t heard your thoughts on her yet.” Though she wasn’t even his own blood, her opinion was perhaps the one he cared for most.Â
He leaned forward as he sensed her hesitation, waiting patiently for her to say what she wished ― which was far, far from anything that he was expecting from her that day. It rarely happened, but Walden was surprised. “It’s hardly traditional, and it would certainly upset your father,” He warned, eyeing her to ensure that she was already aware of the possible tension it could cause. “Of course, I’ll walk you down the aisle. … You’ve always been like a daughter to me, Emma, and if that’s what you want, then it would be an honor.” The man couldn’t recall a time when he had ever given a speech before, as the idea of doing so never appealed to him very much until that moment. “I would love to give a speech at the party and the wedding. They’ll be the best speeches I’ve ever given, guaranteed.”
“We have met. I rather like her, we had an enjoyable afternoon spent over tea and cakes.” Smiling in a way she hoped would be reassuring to her uncle, she was completely honest about the time that she had spent with his bride to be and the impression that she had gotten of her, both of which she considered to be extremely positive all things considered. “She is not what I expected her to be, though that is hardly a bad thing, and you two are certainly an interesting match.” While the memories she held of her aunt were slightly more faded than those of her uncle, perhaps because she was still able to see him to jog her memory, Emma knew that the pair had been happy and it was something that she did want for Walden again. “I can only hope that it lasts and makes you happy though.”
Slim shoulders shrugged, completely nonplussed at the idea that her father’s nose may be put out of joint at her decision. In her mind he has simply brought it upon himself from the years of indifference she had suffered from him. “It probably will but I do think father is rather a loose term for the role he has played in my life.” The chilliness that had inhabited her tone quickly thawed out as she moved on to a much happier subject. Her childhood had been far from a complete write off when she had had some family in her life that genuinely cared about her. “You have been far better to me than that man ever has so it seems only right that I ask you. It would be a departure from tradition but life needs a healthy balance of change and following the past to take us all forward.”Â
Her smile brightened at the willingness her uncle seemed to have to speak before all her guests. “I already cannot wait for it.” There was an undeniable excitement held in regard to the event that she had planned and an anticipation of the future that it would unlock for her. It seemed only right that the men that would be speaking would be the two that she counted most influential in her life and the ones who had undoubtedly filled the void in her life where a father should have been. They were the ones that she counted as her family, not Vito Vanity. “Between you and Rodolphus I am quite sure that the speeches will no doubt be some of the best we have all been lucky enough to hear.”











