Re: The Green Squire [open!]

by **Aerion Storm** Fri Dec 02, 2016 12:01 am

[ignore me!]

by **Lady Corrine Marsten** Fri Dec 02, 2016 12:04 am

Corrine raised an eyebrow.

"I admit you have me curious now. Ask away. I cannot promise an answer though."

by **Aerion Storm** Fri Dec 02, 2016 12:30 am

"I...there are those who feel I'm likely to do well in later rounds." He tries to stay vague, tries to stay humble, tries to stay in his place.

"And I was only just recently reminded," here with a little bob of his head to the Lady Drakeson, as though she'd known he meant it was her Lord husband, "That the winner needs must crown a Queen of Love and Beauty."

He pauses, there, big body tense, stiff as a board, eyes just a hair wider than they should be. He's a squire who's put three good knights on their backsides, today, in just one pass each, seemingly without much effort, with a poorer horse and cheaper equipment. He has every reason to be proud and confident...but for a moment, he looks as helpless as a page again.

"And I've no idea what to do."

by **Gwyneth Drakeson** Fri Dec 02, 2016 12:33 am

Gwyneth's grin softened to a smile. It seemed he was a boy in a man's body. Gods save him.

"Well, I expect you...look around..." she gestured around the hall, "...until you spy some young, fair maiden who's not glued to a man's arm, and then go up to her and ask if that's something she'd like."

She glanced at Corrine wryly. "Or, I'm sure my cousin has a large chest that took two horses to drag in here with a giant book of names in it, just for such an occasion."

by **Lady Corrine Marsten** Fri Dec 02, 2016 1:06 am

Corrine gave Gwyn a small, playful shove.

"I did not!" she laughs, though she blushes lobster pink. Trying to compose herself again, she takes a deep breath and looks up at Aerion sincerely.

"I take it from your conflict that you have no lady of your own yet, so, in the absence of such, I can make a suggestion that will not ruffle any feathers, and that anyone with a beating heart will love. Pick a young girl. Some sweet, wide-eyed ten-year-old who has never been to a tourney before, but is in love with the pageantry. I can help you by finding one and pointing her out, or sitting next to her in the stands. It's always the sweetest thing when the winner chooses to light up a young girl's day and ensuring she feels beautiful for the rest of her life."

The description made Corrine misty-eyed with the romance of it. Her father had promised her the wreath when she was little, but never managed to win before he died. Within her still lived that little girl who longed for that elusive symbol of love.

by **Aerion Storm** Fri Dec 02, 2016 1:17 am

Aerion -- at last -- actually laughs a little.

"No, I've no lady of my own. Nor am I here to try and win one; I am a squire, yet, and my time is not my own. I don't know when I will be back here, or off on campaign, or to another tourney, or..." He shrugs those broad, broad, shoulders. "Or I know not where. I'm not out to leave some maid worrying about me on the road, waiting for me to come back, or anything of the sort."

"My concern is, as the Lady Marsten notes, err, 'ruffled feathers.' I am not from here. I know knights and horses, not lords and houses. I don't wish to leave offense by who I overlook, nor by who I settle on. There are those who would frown on a Storm honoring their daughter or sister, every bit as much as they would frown on her being overlooked for another. The last thing I wish to do, Lady Drakeson, is disrupt this celebration with jealousies, inciting old feuds, or giving any offense."

He doesn't seem to mind the young girl idea, nodding along when the smiling, blushing, Lady Corrine described it, and smiling a little, himself. The bastard might not be as cunning as some, but he's no fool, give him that. He wants only to ride and compete, not quarrel, nor to cause quarrels in others.

"I don't mind -- at all! -- honoring a girl, rather than a woman, in such a way. I just...don't wish to snub certain families by choosing the wrong such girl."

And through it all, he hasn't even noticed that he's talking about the win as though it's already his.

by **Lady Corrine Marsten** Fri Dec 02, 2016 1:26 am

"Which is why I offer my skills to help you," Corrine replies, with a coy smile. "Not having met me before, you could not know that I'm quite the renowned matchmaker. I think I could apply that to finding the right girl."

She tapped her chin thoughtfully.

"Though we may be overthinking it. I cannot speak for everyone, but I wouldn't be offended by a Storm giving me the wreath."

Oh! Oh no you didn't! You didn't just drop that hint!

Problem?

"It may be wise to check with your intended recipient first though, quietly. It lets her decline discreetly if she wants, and spares you embarrassment. Repeat the process until you get a yes."

by **Gwyneth Drakeson** Fri Dec 02, 2016 1:35 am

"Mmmm," Gwyn says warningly, "In this case, it's not if you'd be offended. You have a husband. Who is notoriously rather prickly about that sort of thing. And even if he didn't punch our young king-namesake in the face, it would be a bit of a blow to his honor to have another man lay the wreath at his wife's feet."

She looks at Aerion. "What about Ben's sister though? She's unmarried...actually, wait, no...that's worse. Hm."

by **Lady Corrine Marsten** Fri Dec 02, 2016 1:39 am

"That's actually not a bad idea, if I get Ben in on it. I'm sure I can show him that he would be helping."

by **Aerion Storm** Fri Dec 02, 2016 1:46 am

Aerion nods along as the advice keeps coming, though he seems to mistake the wistfulness that clings to the Lady Corrine.

"While, as a girl, you may not have cared who crowned you with the wreath, Lady Marsten, I'm sure that your parents may have, or some older brother. Or both. I will still be careful, I think," he smiles softly.

He quirks an eyebrow as the women toss their ideas back and forth, but he's also begun to cast a curious eye around the assembled nobles, perhaps looking for a likely candidate.

"Helping?" Aerion glances from one noble woman to the other, sounding almost hopeful. "If there is some hurt I can heal with the flowers, I'm all for it."

by **Lady Corrine Marsten** Fri Dec 02, 2016 1:53 am

"Well, Ellie has felt terribly sheepish since an attempt to foster romance between two of her friends went wrong. She's a darling girl. I think, if you don't find a candidate you like, it would bring her much cheer to be chosen. And I can let my husband know it will happen and tell him why. I'd make sure he knew your predicament and that I offered this solution. He'd never say no to a chance to make his sister smile."

by **Aerion Storm** Fri Dec 02, 2016 2:08 am

He nods, sincerely.

"If such a thing would help, and if your Lord husband would not be offended by a Storm so favoring her, I would be all for such a thing."

by **Lady Corrine Marsten** Fri Dec 02, 2016 2:12 am

"I'll speak with him and let you know as soon as I can. But don't feel you have to. It's just a suggestion. I don't want to keep you from winning a fair lady's heart with gallantry, if that's what you want."

by **Aerion Storm** Fri Dec 02, 2016 2:15 am

He, forgetting himself for a moment, actually snorts and chuckles a little.

"I've few aspirations towards such, m'lady. Not until I've my spurs, at the least."

by **Gwyneth Drakeson** Fri Dec 02, 2016 2:17 am

Gwyn shrugs. "If you think you can talk Ben into not taking offense, it's safe enough I suppose."

She wasn't sure if there was a boy after Ellie's heart or not, but perhaps it simply spur him to try harder?

A small thing next to incurring a nobleman's wrath regardless.

by **Aerion Storm** Fri Dec 02, 2016 3:25 am

"My ladies, I thank you both for your time and your guidance with this matter. I am sorry for my own clumsiness with such things, but..."

But I am just a bastard. But I am not a knight. But I know only riding and fighting.

"...but I am in your debt. If ever I can, somehow, repay your generosity in this, I am at your service."

by **Lady Corrine Marsten** Fri Dec 02, 2016 5:47 am

Corrine gave a respectful nod. Bastard or not, this man had shown a sensitivity that was as impressive as his riding.

"It's quite alright. I am touched by your plight, and am also invested in keeping the peace. I shall take my leave, but I will let you know if my part of this little plan is successful."

by **Aerion Storm** Fri Dec 02, 2016 5:51 am

Aerion, perhaps relaxing now that they seem to have a plan, gives her another smile. Less forced, a little warmer. Grateful.

"Don't forget to keep an eye on the field, m'lady, to see if this is all worrying for naught, as well."

by **Lady Corrine Marsten** Fri Dec 02, 2016 5:59 am

"Of course. I shall observe with interest. Farewell for the time being," Corrine replied, offering an encouraging smile.

She turned to Gwyn and squeezed her arm affectionately.

"I will see you soon, cousin."

With a flash of a cheerful smile, she bustles off to look for Ben.

by **Aerion Storm** Sat Dec 03, 2016 8:13 am

[Sounds like that's /scene, unless the vivacious Lady Drakeson has something more to add, or anyone else wants to come over and introduce themselves or whatnot?]

by **Lady Corrine Marsten** Sat Dec 03, 2016 8:14 am

[It's end scene for Corrine only. Gwyn and others may still want to interact with you.]

by **Gwyneth Drakeson** Sat Dec 03, 2016 8:37 am

Gwyn gave Corrine a wave and a smile as she left, but stayed where she was for a moment, studying Aerion.

"Have you been a squire for long? Do you mind my asking? I'm always keen for news from other kingdoms."

by **Aerion Storm** Sat Dec 03, 2016 5:25 pm

She means nothing by it. You know that.

"Aye, m'lady. I've been in Ser Harbert's service since I was a boy of twelve or so, and I was a page before that." His smile is a fragile thing, when the topic of his age comes up, so he tries to focus on the roads, instead. "We've traveled ever since, ten years now, criss-crossing the Stormlands, down along the Dornish Marches, over to the Reach, and sometimes up into the Westerlands. 'Where ever the horses are swift and the wine sweet,' Ser Harbert puts it, but I think it's more that he prefers the warm weather."

by **Gwyneth Drakeson** Sat Dec 03, 2016 8:55 pm

"Hmm. Ser Harbert must be a man of uncompromising standards," Gwyn mused. "Or have some reason to keep you close. Which do you think it is?"

She sipped at her wine, but her eyes never left his face.

by **Aerion Storm** Sat Dec 03, 2016 10:02 pm

"A bit of both, I think, my lady. He has a reputation to uphold, and there are those who already doubted his wisdom in taking me on as a squire. Should he loose me 'pon the world, with spurs, and I shame myself? If I seem not to have earned them? I would also shame him. So...he waits. But soon! I'm told...soon."

Another smile, it's easy for a perceptive noblewoman to tell how forced it is, how fragile.

"And he does keep me close, m'lady, on behalf of the House. I am -- my mother, I mean -- a Baratheon by blood. By serving him, I serve the whole House. I owe them a debt for my food, my clothing, my training all these years. If I can serve them best as a squire...then...so be it. I shall serve them as a squire."

He is too decent a man to be a good liar. There's no disguising the bitter twist of his mouth -- another attempt at a smile -- that comes with the 'so be it.' He aches for the spurs as other men might ache for earthier things. It's decent of him to try, at least, to conceal his impatience.

by Sponsored content