Can it be? (D3, EE)

[Yoren longshore]

Yoren sits in the great hall once again. After a day of pounding his own chest he feels quite good about simply sitting with a wineglass in one hand, reading a choice book from the Tully library. He suddenly looks up to see a younger man across the room. He turns down his gaze to his book again before recognition of that face tingles on his memory. He looks up, hesitantly, as he is not sure if wine and exhaustion plays him a trick. He gets hesitantly to his feet, walks over, as it would be best to see if the man recognise Yoren too, they have not met in a long time, so it might be that he simply does not recognise Yoren. Best to err on the side of caution and let him approach me, Yoren thinks.

[Kevan Lyras]

Kevan sits in the Great Hall, enjoying a beer after a long day. He thinks about everything that happened since he arrived at the Tournament. Overall, he was quite happy with himself. Lost in thoughts, he lets his gaze wander across the crowd and notices the man heading towards him.

"
Is that..? Yoren? Is that you? How long has it been?"


He stands up and strechtes out his hand to greet him.

"
How are you? And in what capacity are you here? The last time I saw you, you were travelling on your own..?"


Edit: Got confused with the time slots, had to switch out the description, as this was for the MA slot...

[Yoren longshore]

"
Kevan!"
Yoren looks him up and down: "
I thought it was you. Looks like the years have been good to you, as I still remember you ten years later!"


Yoren finds a seat and motions to the seat next to him for Kevan. "
I've just returned, I am getting too old to travel around with no more possessions than what I may carry."
He nods to Kevan suddenly more somber: "
As I heard that my father has grown ill I knew that I had to return if I wished to see him again. Now I am also dutibound to do the tasks my father can no longer do."


Yoren cocks his head: "
How have you been faring?"

[Kevan Lyras]

"
Well, I am not the wide-eyed boy you caught staring at a dragon anymore"
, Kevin answers smiling, taking the seat next to Yoren "
I returned to House Marsten after becoming a knight, where I served the last five years fighting clansmen for the most part...."


He takes a sip from his beer.

"
Yoren as the dutiful son and future heir? Well one of us did change in the 10 years! Sad to hear about our father's health though. And how are you doing now that you switched your freedom for the protecting arms of your family?"

[Yoren longshore]

Yoren barks a laugh: "
I still think I got the closest to it before we bolted."
Yorens smile fades.

"
Duty is a horrible thing that you take so that others may be free to do as they wish. Even still people stare daggers at you for it."


Yoren shakes his head before emptiying his cup. "
The clansmen you say, it must be hard to fight an enemy who will not face you on the field of battle. May I enquire how you defeat such foes? I am sadly ignorant in such matters."


Yoren leans back, but continues to listen attentively.

[Kevan Lyras]

"
Yes it has been though... we are fighting them wherever we can, but they seem more interested in burning down farms and killing smallfolks, before disappearing again. Sometimes it feels like a spent most of the last few years running from one incident from to the other, fighting off these savages, but their numbers don't dwindle. Hopefully, we can organize a small campaign after this tournament and put an end to this..."


After another sip from his beer mug, he speaks again

"
Well, I assume you have bigger problems occuping your time after what happened this morning. I am surprised to see you here at the feast after that. What are planning to do now? "

[Yoren longshore]

Yoren shakes his head: "
Fighting an enemy you can not see, sounds like an impossible task. Would it work if you train your smallfolk to withstand their raids, as then they would have a harder time, when the villagers takes up arms against them."


Yoren looks down at the mention of his brother: "
I honestly don't know what to do. He was a prick, he had no respect, but he was still my brother. I still loved him. I will have to be as two sons to my father after this. To tell you the truth, I dont know if I can do this..."
Yoren trails off before he empties his cup.

[Kevan Lyras]

"
I may not know the man you've become, but the boy I met all these years ago, would never let himself be assailed with doubts!"

Kevin softly touches Yorens shoulder and adds:
"
That boy was competitive and almost cocky at time. You will do fine!"


He finishes his beer in one large gulp and motions for a page two bring two new mugs.

"
Hm, yeah maybe that would work. However, we would rather protect the smallfolk so they can live their live more productive and leave the fighting to us. I realize this is not the best time to ask, but do you think your father could be interested in sending some fighters to support us in our campaign after the tournament? I would think your kin can hardly pass up an opportunity for some skirmishes...? Mind you, this is just an idea forming in the head of retainer tired of fighting a largely inivisble enemy, I do not act in the name of my Liege Lady"
...yet, he adds in his head...

[Yoren longshore]

Yoren brightens at his words: "
I guess we will move forward, the issue with getting old is the doubt that comes. When we were younger mad dashes in front of dragons was done with few considerations, now.... We have grown old, but you are right, of course. We should ride through the storm, waiting for better days."


Yoren takes a big swallow before continuing.

"
We might be able to lend our forces, but as you say: we are not of a rank where we may make decisions for our house. Tell you what: if you later on could introduce me to a man or woman with more authority, we may discuss this more closely. Then I may message my father by raven, and he may give you his answer before the tourney is over!"
Yoren tells him with excitement.

"
Regardless, how have you gotten settled, are you married yet?"
Yoren asks with curiosity

[Kevan Lyras]

"
I certainly can do that, as this was never for me to decide. However, it would help if I had an idea what your conditions would be for supporting us. Is it payment your father would be interested? But you are right, maybe I should leave that for others to discuss"


Yoren's questions, Kevan answers with a large smile.

"
No, unfortunately, I am not. But who knows, there is still time for that... How about you? Unlike myself, you are probably not in a position to negotiate a potential marriage yourself. Is your father already bartering away the place besides you?"

[Yoren longshore]

Yoren smiles: "
My father was always one for gold, so I believe that that would be enough for him to lend his support."

Taking a deep sip he continues.
"
I do hope to find a lady to my liking here, but if I know my father I will not know who I am to marry untill the wedding night, he had never caref much for my love."
Yoren empties his cup: "
for that freedom I am jealous of you."
Yoren tells him before waving over more drinks.

[Kevan Lyras]

"
Yes, the ones of lower status have their advantages!"
he replies to Yorens last comment before shifting in tone.

"
But tell me, where have you been in all these years before you returned home? I am sure your tales are a lot more exciting than mine..!"
and with a look at the drinks Yoren ordered, he adds: "
I see all this talking leaves you thirsty, maybe we should add some food to that as well."


He stands up and takes to plates from the tray of a passing page.They are filled with pork and lamprey pies and two greasy garlic sausages. The perfect dish to support their drinking...

[Yoren longshore]

Yoren nods: "
could not you take my place and I take yours, I don't like the lack of freedom we bobles has to have!"

Yoren ignores the foodtray, but he does take a drink when an opportunity arises as a serving woman passes by. He takes a deep sip:
"
Let me tell you, of the jungle south of Quarth. in these jungles you can find men who speaks no language, that swings from trees, builds no homes, and most amasing of all: are well over 16 feet tall. I never saw one myself, but me and a small group came across the bones of one, the hip bone alone was almost the length of a man! They would scream and you cpuld hear them for miles!"
Yoren empties this cup too: "
Those screams ran shivers through my spine!"

[Kevan Lyras]

Kevan stares in disbelief. "
That is like the boy Yoren I used to know. Boasting with tales from beyond my imagination!"


He takes a bite from a pie and continues: "
You know, I am happy with the life I live, even though it may seem boring compared to the adventures you lived through. Though I cannot deny I envy you for all the things you saw in your life..."



___

OOC: We have a slight timing issue here, as the EE slot is at the same time as the judgement thread. However, the way Kevan and Yoren interact, it is clearly before the trouble with Lord Tully. Maybe we should wrap up and have this lead in to the judgment scene, where Yoren runs off to meet Athelstan etc.?
(Maybe the heavy drinking in this scene had an effect on his speech before Tully )

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