[Day 8, Mid Eve] Fealty and family, unfaltering [Closed]

[Loreia]

Day Eight, Mid Evening, Godswood

Raucous laughter and hearty tones fill Lord Tully's great hall with recounts of the jousts and the melee, and past deeds and exploits. While given the cold shoulder by many, Loreia shares company with Coldbrook men, and a few new friends*, who are happy talk of her favorably and go back and forth about women fighters and other black-and-green debates. She chooses to take no clear side other than to comment or tease, but does make it clear that she could have beaten Baelon at her best, looking forward to the next time they meet on the field. She excuses herself to speak with Daveth, the with whom she'd been avoiding in the wake of much goings-on.

"
Master Daveth, I'm about to go reflect on the day's victories,"
she announces to him, her tone full of purpose. "
Would you join me in the godswood? I was hopin' we could talk."


The word choice is not her style, but conveys the intent of avoiding a scene in the great hall with others gathered to watch and listen. Evening darkens the color of the garden in the godswood, all but removing it under the bleak sunlight. Nary a star has yet to peer through the shroud of winter stretched across the land, clenching tight upon the sky for all it can, defiant in the face of fair weather. Loreia stops before the great bone-white tree, red-running tears and eerie, expressionless scowl bidding her to face the injury she caused.

"
Well, you got what you wanted."
The congratulatory words are devoid of dryness or defeat. "
You're the heir, now. How does it feel?"


*Assorted, such as Kevan, Dyana, Benedict(little does she know), Corrine, etc. Dunstan not excluded.

[Daveth Coldbrook]

Daveth can't help but raise an eyebrow at Loreia' invitation. Is that Loreia ... trying to be *subtle*?! Dear gods, what *has* this tournament done to her? It's like watching Garret turn down a roll in the hay.

Nonetheless, he follows her to the Godswood with naught but a nod.

"
How does it feel?"
he sighs slightly. "
Frankly, mixed. On the one hand, I'm elated - the house is unified, and we can display confidence in our future. On the other hand, I've got some big shoes to fill, and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't worried.

"
But honestly, as strange as it sounds, to me, the bigger prize today was Lord Coldbrook's respect. The heirship, I was pretty confident I'd get, sooner or later. But his *respect*? That, that was something ... special to me. 'Grudging acceptance' was all I was really expecting today. But I think that today, for the first time, we were *all* of us family."


Daveth looks awkward for a moment. "
And ... I wanted to say something to you, soon as I got the chance."
he takes a deep breath. "
I'm sorry. About our argument - I still believe that I was right, but I shouldn't have lost my temper at you like that. You're a good, loyal friend, and just because we disagreed doesn't mean I should have said those things I did."
he extends a hand to shake. "
Forgive me?"

[Loreia]

*+1 toward Daveth. I'm not done yet, though.*

Loreia takes his hand firmly in her leather grip. "
Of course. And, I have something to say to you."


"
I was unfair to you, Daveth."
Releasing her grip, she sheds her steel poise, yielding a gentle side. "
I lost my temper an' my good sense when I should've listened. I realize now that was rash, an' for that I'm sorry."

[Daveth Coldbrook]

Daveth smiles and nods. "
Forgiven. We were neither of us at our best that day. Let's both just try and do better in the future. Deal?"


(Daveth is back up to Affectionate, if he weren't already)

[Loreia]

"
I'd never throw away our friendship over some small spat."
She grins at his ability to move past it so quickly, but briefly. "
But, there's more to it than that."


"
I once told you that you were wise beyond your years, and I meant it. When we lost Joren, it was more than a loss in the family. We lost our ideal man, the one we'd prepare for the role you'll soon be given. It put me on guard, but today you've shown me that there's more to what a lord must be. A man mustn't have skill at arms, but a warrior's spirit, to be a good lord, an' that you have."


She steels herself for what she is about to say next. It's much more, what she's about to say, something she chooses not to say lightly. In front of the weirwood, she has to mean it - and she does. It's a strange balance as her features flit from gentle sincerity to warrior's conviction, but not timed any poorer for it.

"
You'll make a fine lord, and you'll have my unfailin' loyalty when you take your father's place. Apart from that, you'll always be family to me, my brother,"
she says, testing the term for the first time. "
In the eyes of the gods, I swear it to be true, from now until the end of my days."

[Daveth Coldbrook]

This...I did not expect. The apology, yeah, kinda. Not this.

He's tempted to ask 'are you sure?'. But realises that she is. That's why she specifically brought him here to say it. It's already sworn before the gods.

Presumptuous of her to claim kinship with a noble.

Shut it. It's Loreia.

So, family. Brother. What does that mean, exactly? She's not looking to be cut into the inheritance or anything. So, what's the difference between family and a friend?

You can stop being friends, but you can't stop being family. The unbreakable tie.

In effect, she's just declared the platonic equivalent of marriage.

So? You're on the spot, now. You have to answer the question - what is she to you? Yes, she's your guardian and avenger. But she's also the walking diplomatic incident waiting to happen. The woman who doubted you while Ser Jorah had faith.

She won't fill the gap that Joren left. And you know how reckless she can be. There's a very real chance you're just creating the grounds for a new hole in your heart.

But think of it like this: when you were describing a figure dressed as the Knight of Twin Peaks fighting Ser Theomore in his hypothetical future trial, who were you thinking of being inside the armour?

Loriea.

And you accepted that as justice. If you would instinctively entrust her with that, if you would trust her to carry your family's grudges for you, I think you have your answer.

Daveth slowly nods. I hope this isn't a mistake.

A lowborn father, an mother unwanted by her family, a bastard brother, and you. She'll fit in perfectly.

Daveth's voice is calm and confident as he responds. "
I, Daveth Coldbrook, born Daveth Oberyn, swear in the eyes of the gods that I recognise Loreia Merrgal as being family to me, from now until the end of my days."


There. It's done.

Daveth gives a small half-grin to break the tension. "
Except for the part where I go 'my sister's *how old*?' and immediately try and wed you off to some other house for political gain."


(OOC: Whelp! Well, that's what happens when you let your disposition towards a PC get too high. Stuff like this actually starts looking like a good idea. )

[Loreia]

That little joke lightens the incredibly serious and grim mood she came here with.

"
See?"
she giggles. "
You know me too well, little brother. We're family, just don't feel like you have to take me into the family."
I'm not your daughter, silly, she thinks. She inwardly shudders at the thought that it normally doesn't matter. You poor nobles.

She puts her hands on his shoulders, a semi-embrace. "
This really meant a lot to me, Daveth. Now come, let's never sulk in each other's presence again."


*Pssh, this was a great idea! Now we're playing Ice and Fire!*

/scene?

[Daveth Coldbrook]

(Yeah, /scene. And I don't think we mentioned anything confidential, so we can ask that Reader move it to the main forum, so other people can bask in my stupidity, if you're alright with that?)

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