Heroes by thehappyreturn (PG-13)

[quigonejinn.livejournal.com]

Fandom: HORATIO HORNBLOWER
Pairing: Horatio Hornblower/William Bush
Author on LJ: thehappyreturn
Author Website: N/A
Why this must be read: Alternate ending to Flying Colours, the eighth book of the series. It sums up everything that is moving and terrible and wonderful about the Horatio Hornblower series with heart stopping, breathtaking precision. The language is amazing, the charecterization is amazing, and the ending stands alone in this fandom, in my experience, for sheer emotional impact. You think the story is done with its insights and brilliance and fierce commitment to breaking your heart, but oh no, it's not. Even hyper-critical, cynical fandom dogs like me get a little teary.

This is not a fic to miss if you are at all interested in the book versions of either Horatio Hornblower or William Bush.

Each soldier cast a shadow pooling ahead of him over the white ground. Each soldier held a rifle. With the lamps behind them, they were black, identical.

Heroes.

Comments

[killabeez.livejournal.com]

Thank you. A most profound thank you, as I can't express how much I loved this story.