Passing Grade

[Daveth Coldbrook]

[Chronologically, this happens a short while after the Redwain wedding.]

Daveth sat at his desk in his tower, going over papers, sipping from a wine glass occasionally.  There was never any shortage of work to do.  And he was about to take on more.  Still, it was necessary in his eyes.

He'd asked for Ser Loreia to visit him at her convenience.  When she did, he waved her in, and gestured her towards a chair.  "Ah, Lor.  Glad you could make it.  Now you're a knight, there's some things we need to discuss." despite his use of his casual term for her, and his warm smile, his voice is serious and lordly.

"Most knights were born noble.  They have a nobleman's education.  They are born and bred to etiquette, and typically speak, well, as nobles do.

"You don't.  If you were any other knight, this may be acceptable, but you're not just a knight, you represent your entire gender's right to knighthood.  Any flaw you display will be used to blemish every woman who dreams as you did, not to mention yourself.  Left as it is, you will be turned into a figure of ridicule in short order.

"You need to learn to pass as a noble.  Both in manners, and in your manner of speaking.

"This will be a difficult and likely frustrating journey, unlearning the habits of a lifetime.  But I view it as necessary.  I will require your time, your effort, and your obedience.  Any objections?"

[Loreia]

Loreia takes a seat, her ear trained for a task befitting of her new rank. Political discussion of the place her knightly house serves, or something more philosophical. Mayhaps discussion of where House Coldbrook stands on Daemon Targaryen's martial campaign for justice against House Wyl.

My what? Right to knighthood, flaws and ridicule? Stuff all that. "
Aye, I see nothin' wrong with how I talk. What blemishes you think I'll leave 're for others to face alone, not mine. I don't represent women, I represent just me."

[Daveth Coldbrook]

Daveth seems unruffled, but replies firmly and confidently.  "I know that's what you want, but if we all got what we wanted, I'd still have a younger brother.

"If all you wanted was to swing your sword around and not worry about anything else, you should never have consented to be knighted.  Being a knight carries responsibilities and obligations.  There's the obvious ones, such as to protect the innocent, but there's also others.  Your conduct reflects on House Coldbrook, since you are our sworn sword.  And, like it or not, you are setting precedent.  In future years, whenever a woman is looking to be knighted, those for or against will say 'remember Ser Loreia', since you are the first.  If the reputation you leave behind is that of a true knight, it will be used to support her.  If the reputation you leave is that of an uncouth barbarian, probably part wildling, that will be used against her.

"As well as future generations, your presence has an impact on this generation.  Much as you may wish otherwise, you are a Black symbol.  While I appreciate you don't consider that side of things important or interesting, between our support of you and having Lord Baelon as a banner lord, House Coldbrook is deeply wedded to the Black cause.  Politically, I would argue that you are actually the most important person in this house.  Expectations are set appropriately.

"You're not a fool, Lor.  You knew full well before you accepted that you needed to be better than anyone else to prove that you belong.  This is just another front in that life-long war.  But it is one I can help you with."

[Loreia]

[Not 'sworn shield'?]

The idea that anyone might compare her to wildlings makes her grimace. Although seeking to undermine his reasoning, mulling it over, she realizes his words are the answer to what she wants to strike back with. This is all about how I sound, but even if I don't concern myself with how a lady should talk, many do.

"
Alright. If I'm to secure me place an' back me honor as a knight...I'll take advice to deny them any fault they'd see as excuse to ignore me merits."

[Daveth Coldbrook]

[Not sure.  You will be our sworn shield, once you're leading my Cadre, but I figured for now you'd still be a sword.]

Daveth smiles and nods. "Exactly.  It's not really about you, it's about *them*." he reaches across and hefts a big book onto his desk, and slaps his hand on top.  "To start with, here's a light primer on the basics of etiquette.  Some of it's a bit antiquated now, and other parts are pretty arguable.  But it gives you a good start.  You have until we've got your accent sorted to learn it, since then I'll move on to teaching you etiquette, and the more you already know, the easier it will be." while he seems to be serious, Loreia knows him well enough to recognise a thread of wry amusement in his voice.

"There is something else.  I wish to involve my mother in your education.  She's seemed more ... positive since Ser Jorah left, and I think this kind of project is both something that she would be an asset with, and something that would help her consider more positive matters than she has been.  Once my wedding preparations start, I intend to draw her in there, as well."

[Loreia]

She looks at the tome, looks back at him, and asks, "
You sendin' me off'ta Oldtown, then?"
Though clearly a jest, her eyes impart the bite of incredulity. Mayhaps it has something to do with the size of the monster.

"
There is something else. I wish to involve my mother in your education. She's seemed more ... positive since Ser Jorah left, and I think this kind of project is both something that she would be an asset with, and something that would help her consider more positive matters than she has been. Once my wedding preparations start, I intend to draw her in there, as well."

"
As you say, brother. I'll speak with yer mother also, if she'll 'ave me. I'll use her time an' mine together as a chance to show her kindness."


"
I don't know Lady Alysane very good. I know she'll be content to be married to someone who won't mind her leadin' men an' swingin' a blade. Tell me, little brother, what's she like?"

[Daveth Coldbrook]

Daveth's serious face cracks a little in a snort of amusement.  "I think I'll stick with having you storm only one set of battlements of the bastions of masculinity.  If we were to go for two, people might start saying we're radicals." his tone is decidedly dry as he says that.

His voice turning more serious, "I know it's a lot to take in, but bear in mind nobles spend *years* learning this stuff growing up.  You have months to cram it all in.  It will take a lot of effort." And a minor miracle.  "But we'll get there."

"As you say, brother. I'll speak with yer mother also, if she'll 'ave me. I'll use her time an' mine together as a chance to show her kindness."

He nods.  "Thank you.  I'll mention this to her next time we speak, hopefully make it go smoothly." he pauses.  "I also think it might be worth my mentioning our oath to her.  There may come a time when she needs to know who she can absolutely trust.  When that time comes, and the family she knows isn't available, I'd feel most comfortable should she turn to you."

"I don't know Lady Alysane very good. I know she'll be content to be married to someone who won't mind her leadin' men an' swingin' a blade. Tell me, little brother, what's she like?"

Daveth pauses for a few moments in thought before answering.  "Dangerous.  I mean, I could describe her as attractive, dutiful, and considerate, and that would all be true.  But that's not what I see at her heart." he turns his full focus to Loreia.  "You know better than most how much better a woman has to be to compete in areas typically reserved for men.  She's not just a fighter, she's a leader.  *Men* follow her to war.  Where she is so successful against the Brackens that they smear her with the reputation of being a warg.  After all, should men feel threatened by a woman's success, they have but two main routes: deny the successes, or claim she has an unfair advantage.  That she has that reputation means she's too good for them to deny her successes.  Expect others to do the same to you.

"So what sort of noblewoman turns her back on a relatively safe life awaiting her to lead men into war?  After all, she's not like you - she never *had* to fight.  She willingly and knowingly chose this path of bloodshed.  She's shed more blood than I will likely ever see, and lost more than I ... have.  And she's still standing, not just willing, but wanting to get back in the fight."

He shrugs.  "So, in a word, dangerous." he gives a small smile.  "But also attractive, charming, and supportive.  She's a woman of layers, and it would be wrong to say I really know her yet."

[Loreia]

He nods. "
Thank you. I'll mention this to her next time we speak, hopefully make it go smoothly."
he pauses. "
I also think it might be worth my mentioning our oath to her. There may come a time when she needs to know who she can absolutely trust. When that time comes, and the family she knows isn't available, I'd feel most comfortable should she turn to you."

We should tell her, we've kept it secret for too long. There's no telling how badly it will affect the family later, if we don't tell anyone at all...

Listening aptly, she nods when Daveth draws similarities and marks differences between her and House Blackwood's hitherto leading lady. She cocks her head at the mention of the untoward rumor about her success. A "
warg"
? What...is that??

Loreia smiles, glad for her lord's newfound attraction, tempered with wisdom and the promise of being blessed with Lady Alysane's hand in a loving marriage. "
She's 'ad success, an' found an 'unger for battle. I'll tell ya what sort of noblewoman she is: a headstrong girl who knows what she wants, an' I hope she's every bit the keeper you say, to be worth any danger yer love might tempt from the gods."
Including what they may risk when heeding what House Blackwood may ask of them in return.

"
What about...the rumors? D'you think they're of any merit?"

[Daveth Coldbrook]

He snorts slightly.  "What, of her being a warg?" he shakes his head.  "There's no such thing.  They're just a myth.  Crops fail?" he raises his hands in mock shock, "She's a Warg!  Man cheats on his wife?" he raises his hands again, "She's a warg!  Woman succeeds in male-dominated area?" he raises his hands for a third time, "She's a Warg!  You get the idea.  It's like the so-called 'Curse of Castle Grenward' - a simple answer to a complex situation that does not hold up under scientific analysis."

He gives a small smile.  "And thank you." I hope she is, too.

[Loreia]

The illustration of the parallel to her own success makes Loreia laugh. She nods at his expression of gratitude. As she picks up the book, its weight and thickness causes her to grimace. "
I'll read it ev'ry chance I get."
Gods give me strength.

[Daveth Coldbrook]

Daveth nods, and gives an encouraging smile.  "It may seem like an insurmountable obstacle, but when you compare it against the wall you scaled to achieve your knighthood to begin with, it is not so large a thing.

"Still, aside from that, we should begin today's elocution lesson.  Unless there's anything more you wish to discuss first?"

[Loreia]

"
What, now?"
The book goes in her lap. "
How long's this gonna take?"

[Daveth Coldbrook]

Daveth gives a slightly predatory smile.  "As long as it takes.  And I assure you, that any excuse you care to try and use to avoid this, I've heard them all.  Mostly coming out of my mouth as I try and avoid my sword lessons.  They didn't work for me, and they won't work for you."

He leans back into his chair, and steeples his hands together.  "So, let's begin."

[And that's /thread, as far as I'm concerned.]

[Sponsored content]