Undertow — Laertes's Background
Laertes, Son of Gerard
© 2004 Mark MacKinnon and Simone Cooper
A tale of Woe and Sorrow, as told by Mark C. MacKinnon
Laertes was the unplanned result of a brief love affair between Gerard, Prince of Amber, and a shadow dweller named Magdelana. Although Magdelana's husband, Rupert, was not Laertes's true father, he raised Laertes as his own and loved him very much. Laertes and his parents lived in a rural pioneering community, and earned their living farming and logging. His teenage years before Laertes learned of his true heritage were the best of his life, spent felling trees and ploughing fields.Laertes's Amber blood nourished his body deeply, turning a hearty boy into a strapping young man. At nearly seven feet tall and over 300 pounds of solid muscle, Laertes was the greatest powerhouse in his shadow's known world. Unfortunately, much of this changed the day that Gerard came to take Laertes to Amber where he would learn his true heritage.
Upon learning that his life was a lie, and that his home was created from one of Gerard's mere lustful desires, Laertes began to wonder if anything even mattered. He grew to respect and even love Gerard over time, but he cared little for the mundane shadow world and his own dreams.
After Laertes walked the Pattern, Gerard returned him to his shadow home to conceal him from the meddling of Amber's royal family. After briefly living with Magdelana and Rupert once again, Laertes grew bored of his lot in this so-called life and left home to find his way. He settled down in a cabin in a sparsely populated forest, far away from everything he knew and everyone he cared for.
And settled he did. Day after day Laertes would lounge about - by the lake, in his bed, or under the trees - growing lazy and tired and fat. His granite muscles softened, his fit body bloated, and his mind grew numb. Now, at over 500 pounds, Laertes is still incredibly strong, but primarily from having to support his massive girth.
Laertes, Sloth of Shadow, desperately wants his life to have meaning … but he is foolishly waiting for it to come to him. And this lack of motivation and drive is killing him. Literally.
--Simone:
Something you know from those few months you did get to spend with him: Gerard had trouble looking at you straight, like he was ashamed (this is before, when Laertes was still a fit man). Sometimes, when your mind is clear and insight strikes, you realize it is not you that causes his shame, but I'm guessing (let me know otherwise) that usually you just felt angry...* * *
other writings: Background, Quiz