[Day 3: Late Morning] Theirs is the Fury (Closed)

[Ser Fendrel Bartheld]

Ser Fendrel smiled to himself remembering the contents of the letter he had delivered to Lord Borros Baratheon, the current lord of House Baratheon. He had brokered a meeting, drawing upon their long-lasting friendship and the services rendered to the Lord Paramount of Stormlands. The dark-haired knight wondered who from among the large Baratheon family arrived at Riverrun and whether he would bump in any familiar faces. He honestly preferred if he didn't. He shook his head, approached the pavilions and introduced himself, "
Ser Fendrel Bartheld. Lord Baratheon is expecting me."

[Reader]

Lord Borros Baratheon seems somehow to have grown even larger and more imposing since Fendrel departed his lands. A big, brave man and skilled fighter, but also a grasping politician, keen to seek his own advantage.

"
You left us under a cloud Ser Fendrel, but we meet at the happy occasion of a tourney! Let us wash away past unhappiness with glorious deeds!"


A servant offers a goblet of wine as Lord Baratheon offers a toast.

So far, the Seven were merciful - no signs of old friends turned new foes.

[Ser Fendrel Bartheld]

"
I am very grateful to you, my lord, for agreeing to meet me."
Fendrel takes the goblet of wine and sips. "
Indeed I did, my lord, you have my most sincere apologies for that. The death of Raelis..."
Fendrel stops and shakes his head, "
...it left me powerless. Unable to fulfill my duty to you, to your house, and even worse so, unable to keep true to my house's words: Joy in Service. I was unable to find any joy, in anything. And then, I went back to Hart House where the most unexpected happened, as you surely know, my lord, my father made a decision much too hastily, without thinking, and left leaving us all leaderless. If it please you, my lord, I would like to talk about a matter arising from it..."


"
Let us drink to finding new joy in our lives and let us drink to glorious victories in the incoming joust!"
Fendrel, even though still visibly distracted by the memories, tries to smile, but it is a difficult, hard smile instead of his usual mischievous one.

[Reader]

Such details are lost on Lord Baratheon despite his usual pursuit of any advantage, at least while a cup is there to distract him.

He salutes the toast and drains his cup. While his servants refills his goblet, he returns to business.

"
Brom's shame is writ large across the realm, but one man's tragedy is another man's opportunity..."


He waits for Fendrel to fill the silence, thinking himself clever.

[Ser Fendrel Bartheld]

Fendrel smiles and raises his cup, tasting the wine. Not bad, it might not be Dornish red, but it leaves a pleasant bittersweet taste in his mouth. Hopefully the meeting itself will not leave him in such a mood. "
Indeed, my lord, you could very much say that,"
He agrees, "
in fact my father's decision divided the house as the inheritance matter has not yet been resolved. While my nephew is a good man, he does not seem to understand - or desire to understand - our house's tradition nor our duty. You know yourself, my lord, how pleasant hours at Hart House's balls can be, with wine and entertainment served for the joy of the attendants. You knew my father and thus, you'll know that Brom never refused any nobleman or noblewoman the right of hospitality... my nephew, however, does not seem to remember to uphold these traditions. He seems keen to remake House Bartheld into a stern and laughter-less place under his command. He does not ask for permission in doing that - he decides that years, generations of joyous practices and traditions of our house should be stopped because his is the claim of inheritance."
Fendrel stops and drinks from his cup, "
Wonderful wine, my lord,"
he praises the lord's choice of drink - even if he has drunk much better - before continuing, "
I do not wish to see the legacy of my father nor the legacy of my whole house destroyed by Davain's personal conviction. It pains me to see how our house becomes devoid of joy, joy that is present in our words: Joy in Service. And so I have come to you, my lord, in the hope that your influence could help my house and my case and prevent the destruction of all that I - and many others - hold dear to my heart."


[OOC: should this be an intrigue? or negotiation/yield [via PM?]?]

[Reader]

[OOC: intrigue conducted off stage, Fendrel to post results as discussed via PM]

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