See the formatted Fleur FAQ at http://users.lmi.net/akr/fk/faq/fleur.htm
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The Fleur FAQ
by AKR
Last updated February 20, 1999
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Index:
1. Who is Fleur?
2. What is her full name?
3. Who plays her?
4. Is there a FORKNI-L Affiliation for Fleur?
5. In which episodes has Fleur appeared?
6. How is Fleur's life dated?
7. Who comprises Fleur's known family?
8. Who else is important to Fleur?
9. What does Fleur look like?
10. What kind of person is Fleur?
11. What did Fleur do in her life?
12. Why is Fleur important to _Forever Knight_?
13. Special Notes
14. Fleur-focused Episode-descriptions
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1. Who is Fleur?
Fleur is a guest character on the syndicated television show, _Forever
Knight_. She is Nick's mortal, younger sister, with whom Lacroix fell in
love.
2. What is her full name?
Fleur would probably have been known as Fleur de Brabant before marriage, and
Fleur of [husband's estate] after. Nothing is known of her husband.
3. Who plays her?
Claire Rankin is the actress who depicted Fleur. The Internet Movie Database
lists parts she has played in _Ed McBain's 87th Precinct: Ice_ (1996), _Two
if by Sea_ (1996), _Death Wish V: The Face of Death_ (1994), and _Janek: The
Silent Betrayal_ (1994). She has also appeared in _Kung Fu: The Legend
Continues_.
4. Is there a FORKNI-L Affiliation for Fleur?
"Fleur-Boosters" attempt to emphasize the importance of Fleur in Nick and
Lacroix's lives, as well as the appeal of the character for her own sake.
"Faithfuls" are the Fleur/Lacroix couple-affiliation, which maintains that
Lacroix has been emotionally faithful to Fleur for eight centuries . . . and
counting. Fleur is always symbolized by a white rose; Faithfuls represent
their opinion by a sword and rose entwined.
5. In what episodes has Fleur appeared?
Fleur's only on-screen appearance is in the second-season episode "Be My
Valentine," which is recalled in a flashback of "Last Knight," the series
finale. She is mentioned by name several times in "Fallen Idol," however,
and symbolically alluded to in "Dead of Night" and "Trophy Girl," and,
retrospectively, possibly even "Love You to Death."
6. How is Fleur's life dated?
Though nothing which does not appear on screen can be considered canonical,
the script of BMV says that Fleur should be "a beautiful woman" in her
"twenties." If this is followed, Fleur was thus 20-25 in 1229 (BMV),
10-15 years younger than Nick (who is usually taken to have been 35 when he
came across in 1228). She died in 1247 of unknown causes, at 38-43 (FI).
Andre, then, was born when she was 24-29. Andre was 14 in 1247.
(The "Fallen Idol" script actually says "1274," but as that is impossible
unless Andre was born in Fleur's sixties, the date has universally been taken
as a typo for "1247." The "Be My Valentine" script says "1229." The BMV
script declares its location as "Castle Brabant;" the FI script says "France.")
7. Who comprises Fleur's known family?
Unnamed father (usually presumed dead in BMV); unnamed mother (seen in BMV);
Nicholas de Brabant (Nick Knight), older brother; Andre, son (seen in FI);
unnamed husband (unmentioned, but historically necessary to match canon).
8. Who else is important to Fleur?
Lucien Lacroix, whom Fleur described as "the one I love" (BMV).
9. What does Fleur look like?
Fleur has thick, wavy, dark-blond hair which reaches just past her shoulders;
some of it is caught back in a thin strap which trails down her back. She
has extraordinarily-large blue eyes. In BMV, she is perhaps 5'3", and
perhaps 120 lbs. We see her first in a billowy, white nightgown and
blue-patterned robe, with her hair loose; later she appears in a blue, satiny,
princess-seamed dress with a wide, low neckline and gold/black-lace trim,
with some of her hair pulled back. She wears small, round, gold earrings, but
no other jewelry.
Her son Andre (FI) has dark hair, but Lacroix says, "He has her eyes."
10. What kind of person is Fleur?
Fleur appears instinctively compassionate ("This gentleman's suffering is
very great") in her initial reactions to Lacroix, supporting him when he
falls. She is careful to secure Nick as Andre's guardian -- whether for a
good home, or social and political advantage, or both. Her literacy and
level of scholarship, while not impossible for a noblewoman of her time,
still presume unusual determination. She is curious; nearly the first thing
she says is a demand for Nick's stories of the Crusades, and in discussing
astronomy with Lacroix, she says, "I hunger for that knowledge!" She twice
defies her brother to choose Lacroix, "the one I love," even if that means
vampirism and the end of their branch of the family line. Nick is quite
fierce about Fleur's "innocence," and Lacroix appears to allow that argument
to affect him. Her "innocence," however, must be tempered by the "sorrow"
she has already seen ("There have been so many from my family. My father
. . . Nicholas to the Crusades once, and now again . . .") and the fact that
it is she who first kisses Lacroix, not vice versa.
11. What did Fleur do in her life?
She was a mother, an aristocrat and, apparently, a scholar.
In BMV, Fleur was reading a book on "the heavens," describing it as her "new
passion." Lacroix was enthralled by her scholarly curiosity --
stereotypically rare in that medieval era; certainly a great distance from
that of Lacroix's Rome -- and when Nick gloated that Andre was doing well at
his studies, he ascribed this to the boy having "her spirit."
12. Why is Fleur important to _Forever Knight_?
Fleur fell in love with Lacroix, and her feelings did not change when she
discovered him to be a vampire. Nick convinced Lacroix to leave her, however,
and hypnotized away her memory. Before she died, she wished Nick to become
her son Andre's guardian. Lacroix still thinks of her, eight centuries after
her death, and has professed love for her -- in as many words -- on at least
four occasions. Fleur is one of only four people we have ever heard Nick say
he loved.
13. Special Notes
Fleur pronounces Nick's name "Nicolas," French-style as Janette does, and
calls Lacroix, "Lucien."
Obviously, Fleur's name means "flower" in French. Lacroix did call Fleur "my
precious flower" in English at one point, as at the end of BMV he mused over
"a precious flower."
A database of European royal genealogies can be found at:
.
The section for the Duchy of Brabant is at:
.
Nick and Fleur have been hypothesized to be the offspring of a second
marriage of Duke Henry I of Brabant, known as "the Warrior." This is
historically plausible, in accordance with the laws of that time and place
which deny inheritance to children of a second marriage (thus Nick's
mercenary-like service in "Queen of Harps"), while allowing only legitimate
children to be known as "of Place" (de Brabant), but it is not in the least
canonical.
In that time and place, Fleur, as a woman, would not have had the power to
designate Andre's guardian; Nick might have purchased the guardianship from
whomever was their lord, or it might have been time for Andre to be fostered,
and Nick might have seemed advantageous.
The incident with Sylvaine in "Love You To Death" (in which Lacroix tricks
Nick into thinking that the mortal he adores is promiscuous, and Nick kills
her), particularly Lacroix's derisive comments on purity and innocence, is
interesting when taken in light of Fleur and BMV. What Nick seems to value
in Sylvaine is precisely what Nick thought Lacroix valued in Fleur; goading
Nick to kill Sylvaine, Lacroix may intend to demonstrate that his feelings
for Fleur were deeper and more profound than those of which Nick seems
capable at that point.
Lacroix's modern characterization of his love and loss as "a hellish alchemy"
may be a reference to the poetry of John Donne.
The script of "Be My Valentine" calls for Fleur to be familiar with healing
by "the laying on of hands," an art she and Lacroix allude to her having
tried to apply to his injury. These lines do not appear on screen.
In "Francesca," Nick tells Natalie: "You have to understand that every drop
of blood has your whole life in it. It's not just our food; it's the way we
feel life. Imagine if you could know someone's soul by sharing their blood.
Everything you know, everything you are, transformed into touch and taste."
Given this, it is important to note that Lacroix tasted Fleur's blood in the
garden, after she pricked her finger on the rose. This scene directly
precedes that in which an agitated Lacroix insists on his love for Fleur;
his words were spoken in the full of blood-knowledge.
14. Fleur-focused Episode-descriptions
"Be My Valentine" -- 1229, Brabant, and 1994, Toronto
In flashbacks, Nick, Janette and Lacroix arrive at Nick's family home. Lacroix
was caught by the sun and burned as they ducked inside, and neither he nor
Janette are pleased with Nick. Nick says that his "mother and sister" have
not seen him since he "left for the Crusades." Fleur, just awakened,
immediately recognizes Nick. Nick notes that she has grown up in his absence.
When she sees Lacroix's injury, she reaches out to him and he flinches back.
As everyone is exiting, Lacroix weakens and falls. Fleur, the only one
paying attention to him, catches him. He looks into her eyes, and is
disconcerted by what he sees there. Later, presumably the next night, he
comes upon Fleur in the garden, staring up into the sky, an astronomy book
open in her lap. They talk, and she expresses concern for him and his recent
injury. She refuses to be put off by a compliment ("More accurately, my pain
evaporated with the warmth of your touch") and this apparently leaves Lacroix
speechless; he picks a white rose and hands it to her. It pricks her finger.
Hesitating infinitesimally, Lacroix picks up her hand and tastes her blood.
Nick and Janette see this exchange, but while Janette thinks "the attraction
appears mutual" and they should be left to each other, Nick objects and
interrupts. He confronts Lacroix, who insists: "My immortality has nothing
to do with my feelings. Love!"
Either another night, or later that same night, Lacroix says to Fleur, "We
seek the same revelations. If I could spend the rest of my days on this
quest -- with you -- there's nothing more I would ask of life." Fleur
replies, "I've never felt so close . . . this bond I seem to have with you." Lacroix concurs, "As if we've been together forever."
Fleur reaches up to kiss him, and at her touch he flinches back as if shocked,
before leaning down to kiss her back, his embrace almost lifting her off her
feet.
Later yet, Fleur asks him to take her with him, for she has "never felt such
overwhelming sorrow" as this parting. Lacroix intends to bring her across,
that they "will be together through all eternity," but Nick interrupts before
Lacroix can bite her, and tries to turn her away from Lacroix by revealing
his vampirism. That fails ("I am interested in so many things that are of
another world; why should this be different?"), as does his attempt on her
family loyalty ("When I chose this, the future of our family fell to you").
Seeing his sister's determination, Nick then changes tactics, and tells
Lacroix that "It is the beauty of her innocence that you see . . . . If you
truly love Fleur, Lacroix, you will not destroy that." And he does not.
"It is a great irony, is it not, that such a cold, still heart can feel such
pain?" He lets Nick hypnotize Fleur into forgetting, but demands
"retribution" from Nick: "one day, when you have fallen in love, I will take
from you what you have taken from me now." Nick agrees to this condition.
In the present, Lacroix reminisces bitterly about Fleur, as he sees Nick
apparently falling in love with Natalie. He sends Natalie white roses; he
threatens to kill her, to make Nick feel "the torture I have felt every moment
since I left your sister behind." When Nick behaves as if he is willing to
bring Natalie across, however, Lacroix concludes "No. I will not trade Fleur
for that. Your heart is still untouched. It has never quickened with such
passion; it has never ached with such sorrow." In the end, Lacroix crushes a
white rose in his hand: "The silent scream of endless pain. A 'hellish
alchemy' indeed. Not death, not hell itself: but a precious, precious
flower, long withered, and gone."
"Trophy Girl" -- 1995, Toronto
Lacroix's Internet alias is Rosebud, represented on his computer screen as a
rose icon. This has been taken by some as an allusion to Fleur, as well as
the more obvious, contemporary probability of a reference to _Citizen Kane_.
"Dead of Night" -- 1528, Linz, Austria
Lacroix holds a dead, white rose at Nick's wedding to Alyssa. This has been
taken by some as an allusion to Fleur, and to the vengeance Lacroix promised
if Nick "ever truly love[d] a mortal." A scene removed from the final cut of
DoN -- the "missing sword-fight scene" -- has been interpreted by some as
Lacroix testing the level of Nick's love for Alyssa in an attempt to
determine if Alyssa's life would be a fit payment for Fleur's.
In that missing (and, thus, not canonical) scene, Lacroix, who has apparently
returned to Linz after a short absence, tosses a sword to Nick. Lacroix gives
Nick a questioning look, inviting him to a sporting duel, and they face off
and fence as they talk. Defiantly, Nick says, "I know others of our kind who
have relationships with mortals and take wives. There's no reason I cannot
have what I want." Lacroix responds, "I suppose you'll tell her the gruesome
truth in due course." Nick asserts, "She will accept me. She loves me
without condition. In time, I will immortalize her." Lacroix says, "You'll
bring her across, will you? Imagine it, Nicholas: gone such a short time, yet
I've missed so much: your whirlwind romance, your nuptials . . ." And then,
with an expert parry and thrust, Lacroix disarms Nick and warns him not to
"take too much."
"Fallen Idol" -- 1247, France
Lacroix and Nick watch Fleur's grave being covered. Lacroix remarks
pointedly to Nick, "The loss of a family member is never easy, especially
when you had the power to prevent it," and says, "Goodbye, my love," in
French. Nick, however, is consistent in his belief that he "loved her too
much to subject her to your hell." Nick reveals that Fleur wrote to him
before she died, and that he intends to take charge of her son. Lacroix
leaves Andre and his Uncle Nicholas alone for a time, but when he visits, he
finds Nick smug in Andre's affection for him. To make a point, Lacroix
allows the horrified Andre to see Nick feeding on a comatose woman. The boy
runs from the sight, and there is no evidence of the rest of his life. When
Lacroix first sees Andre, he is presented as "an old friend of your
mother's." Andre responds that she never spoke of him; Lacroix almost
flinches. Later, Lacroix remarks, with a catch in his voice, "He has her
eyes." Nick complacently replies, "And her spirit. His tutor says he is
doing well."
"Last Knight" -- 1996, Toronto
As Nick cries over Natalie's drained body, Lacroix remonstrates with him at
length, and Nick flashes back to Lacroix's relationship with Fleur during
this part of the speech:
"For all the things that we are, there is a price to be paid. Love may be
tasted, but never savored. In our darkest moments, we may envy mortality,
but we should never aspire to it. Guilt is a poison, and staying past our
time is death. *But it need not be.* If we truly care for a mortal -- truly
*love* one -- then we must go. Isn't that something that *you* taught *me*?
Leaving is the purest form of love."
---
END
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