[D7 Early Morning] Bladed Meditation (Open)

[Nathaniel Mason]

It was unusual for Nathan to be up so early, especially after a party of such magnitude, but the week had been so frantic and draining, he needed to recharge his spirit and calm his mind. He stood in a secluded part of the Godswood under the canopy of trees beside a spring and small pool. Few came to the Godswood at this time of day, and those that did came to worship at sunrise before the great white tree.

Nathan was a worshiper of the Seven, but he did not agree with the Septon's position that they were the only Gods. He could believe that the other Gods existed, even if he didn't agree with their tenants. He didn't agree with many of his own faith's tenants. His faith need not come at the expense of another's. So long as a person's faith helped them try and lead a good and productive life, he saw no reason to challenge them.

He carried a dagger in each hand, moving from stance to stance, sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly, his soft boots barely rustling the grass and fallen leaves. Deep in concentration, he did not notice the rabbit near the pool snipping off tender shoots at their base and inhaling their lengths. He did not notice the fawn that seemed to eye him curiously from a distance, nor did he pay much attention to the birds singing in the branches above him.

He had idly wondered before he'd started if the Old Gods would object to him doing his knife exercises in the wood, or if there was some stricture against it. As he was not hunting or meant anyone harm, he'd decided he didn't think they'd mind. There were few places one could get solitude, and none as beautiful.

He'd been neglectful of his exercises, and he felt it. A muscle in his left side was resisting some of the movements and it was interfering with his concentration. It took a full ten minutes for it to settle into the routine. Ideally, Nathan should feel his entire body working in harmony. Every muscle working in concert at his command. He slight frame meant he would never be a muscled athlete, but he tried to work every day to ensure his body was at it's peak. There should be no hesitation when his mind commanded it to do what he needed, be that fighting, skulking, or sexual performance.

Ultimately, his meditations were not about the blades, or the muscles, or the movement. It was about Nathan being comfortable in his own skin.

[Yoren longshore]

Yoren stumbles across Nathan in the middle if his training session. Not wanting to surprise a man swinging knives around Yoren simply settles down to wait. When Nathaniel lays his knives down Yoren coughs discreetly before telling Nathaniel:
"
Good bladedancing, you are a man of many surprises. Do you have a moment to spare?"

[Nathaniel Mason]

Nathan smiled. "
For you, my friend, of course."
The blades he carried seemed to vanish into his clothing.

Moving to the Ironborn, the young man produced two apples, tossing Yoren one, and settled down into the grass. "
It's good to see you. It's been a few days. How are you fairing?"

[Yoren longshore]

Yoren puts his teeth into the apple, savouring the taste: "
Thanks, I have not had time to eat breakfast yet."

"
It's been a while since I saw you around, I suppose we have quite different schedule. I want to talk to you about just that: Yesterday there was this great feast arranged by Bartheld, do you know the implications of that deal? Who benefited from it, who paid for it?"


Yoren raises for a moment scrambling through his robes before finding a sheet of paper and settling down: "
for Longshore assistance to be cemented the young lord should sign this piece of paper. This ensures a treaty."

[Nathaniel Mason]

Nathan sighed. "
I'd like to help you Yoren. I really would, but no treaty with House Bartheld will be worth the paper it's written on until the matter of the inheritance is settled."


The young man looked around the secluded clearing in thought. "
As it stands, Davain has the most support, including the Queen herself. The Grandmaester also has given his support, quashing Lord Tully's innuendo over Davain's birth. Yesterday Lord Tully supported Fendrel, today he supports Davain. Who he will support tomorrow only an oracle could foresee. Finally, Lord Dunstan of House Tullison, Lord Edmund of House Lyras, and Lady Corrine of House Marsten have pledged their support."


"
Fendrel also has his supporters. Currently Prince Daemon has pledged to support him, as has his son Baelon and Lord Baratheon. How much support he managed to garner at the Bartheld Ball I am not privy too."


"
So, as I see it, you have one of two choices, Yoren. Support one of the two men, and hope the one you support wins, or wait till the situation resolves itself. I expect one of the men will be confirmed before the end of the tourney."


Nathan gave a small shrug and tossed his apple core deep into the wood. Perhaps a tree would grow someday, a silent testament to him having been here. "
I wish Lord Brom would come back and settle this mess once and for all. It would have saved everyone a great deal of effort and grief if he had just made his Heir clear from the beginning."

[Yoren longshore]

Yoren smiles;
"
I am aware of the risks, but me and Davain already have a deal, which you helped broker, only if he becomes lord. The deal is done, this is only a letter of confirmation."

Yoren frowns slightly: "
Daemon is a force to be reckoned with, if we could win over his support, i believe that we have a fighting chance, regardless of what the results of the ball was..."

Yoren settles down against a stub of a tree: "
The queens support is important nevertheless, she may prove important."

[Nathaniel Mason]

Nathan rises from the grass. "
Well, let's go get your treaty signed then. Lord Davain is an early riser. Your support would certainly help, and even if Davain does not win, it may be that Ser Fendrel will honour it. I don't think the man would be foolish enough to renig on an agreement signed in good faith, or make an enemy of the Ironborn."

[Yoren longshore]

OOC Before we continue, would this be done in mid morning, or may we do this here?

[Nathaniel Mason]

[OOC: Since the negotiations were done in another thread, I presume we would just go get your treaty signed. I doubt it needs another slot and could even be done off screen... since I don't see Davain refusing to sign an agreement that was negotiated. Why don't we leave it here and let Reader close the scene.]

[Yoren longshore]

OOC
Good idea, we do some amiable chatting and scene is over. I only have one question;
What is Gorman Tullys position on the inheritance?

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