The Priory School: Forgetten Valour

[capt-facepalm.livejournal.com]

Canon Story: The Adventure of the Priory School
Title: Forgotten Valour
Author: capt_facepalm
Characters: Dr Thorneycroft Huxtable, M.A., Ph.D., etc.
Rating: G
Author's Notes: (...waves "Hello" from behind a lurker bush...)

My dear Heidegger, I wish I had been more sympathetic when you said you missed your homeland and your family. Is that why you were awake on that fateful night? Perhaps if the students had been more respectful… but then, they took their lead from the other masters. This poor grave is little reward for your gallantry. I’m so sorry.

Comments

[thesmallhobbit.livejournal.com]

*Waves back*

I'm glad there's some recognition for the essentially forgotten victim. Nice one.

[capt-facepalm.livejournal.com]

Thanks!
I had not read PRIO in some time since I have Edward Hardwicke's recording of it. Somehow, in listening to it, I lost some of the subtle horrors of the story; like Arthur being left at the Inn for a few days more, and that Heidegger is pretty much forgotten.

[scfrankles.livejournal.com]

(I thought there was some rustling going on in the shrubbery, but I'm new here and didn't like to ask ^^)

I second what thesmallhobbit says. It isn't exactly forgotten but Herr Heidegger's death is in the background rather because everyone is concentrating on the missing child. Conan Doyle does give a sympathetic portrait of the man (Watson refers to his "vitality and courage") but it's nice to see Heidegger being remembered properly for his heroic actions in your story.

[capt-facepalm.livejournal.com]

Thanks!
I try to take original angles when I write. In PRIO my sympathies lie mostly with young Arthur, so that is why I did not write about him. Also, I would need more than 60 words (and a higher rating) just to cuss out his father!

[spacemutineer.livejournal.com]

*waves hello* A cheery welcome to you! Always glad to have lurkers join in and extra glad to see a post from the renowned capt_facepalm!

And you've done a marvelous job here. Heidegger deserves honor for his bravery and quality. It pleases me to see Dr. Huxtable realizing that -- and regretting his treatment of a quiet and reserved but brave man.

[capt-facepalm.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the warm welcome!
To me, everyone in this little drama is a bit off except Dr Huxtable who is genuinely worried about what has happened. As founder and principal of the Priory School, he would have been responsible for hiring Heidegger in the first place. I felt he would be grieved by the man's loss even if they weren't on close personal terms. I would like to believe that his concern over Lord Saltire's kidnapping was due to the threat to the boy and not to the reputation of himself and his school.