(121-11-08) On Being a Knight
On Being a Knight
Summary: Ser Malcolm Storm disguises knighthood with his squires.
Date: Date of play (08/11/121)
Related: None.
Players:
Malcolm..Andolin..Loryn..

Andolin got back a couple days ago. It's no secret; he made the rounds and let people know he was back, though was tired enough that he didn't really stick around for much conversation. His horse has been in the stable for most the day, and Andy's leaning up against the wall that goes around the roof. He's just in a dark pair of pants, leather boots, and a loose white shirt that he hasn't even bothered to tuck in. Nobles, pft, what's that mean. He certainly doesn't dress like one most the time.

Malcolm has been busy with the charity milk distribution in the Undercity, but he's been rather hoping to catch Andolin. as he comes up to the roof for practice, he is delighted to find the wayward stark there. He strides towards him, arms open, "Andy! It's good to see you home and hale!"

There's little subtle differences in him, and most for the better. There's a little more color to his skin, his hair's still unruly, and he's a little more fit than he was when he left - he is, however, still almost distressingly skinny. Malcolm's voice makes him start a little, and he half turns - and then sends a bit of a smile toward the Storm, pushing off the wall to step over to give him a hug of greeting - fierce, but brief. "I just got back the other day. It's good to see you well."

Malcolm hugs back just as fiercely, "I missed you! But what have you been eating! Ought we send for food? Tell me your adventures! Did the excercises help? Congratulations on the Questing Beast, by the way! You beat out telleur and I, did you know?"

After the hug breaks, the young Stark steps back, leaning against the wall. And, he gives a wry smile. "Mostly, rabbits, sometimes birds. Things I find on the road. Sometimes at an inn. It was a long trip, but it was a good one. And I'm fine right now." A pause, and he adds, "I rode back up to Winterfell, stayed a little bit, and then rode back." That seems… bare bones. He grins, though. "Thanks. Yes, I heard. I thought the whole celebration was a bit… much, though. It was a good hunt."

Malcolm's tone turns serious, "Did you see the Maester and does he still breathe? I know it was only my vow to your cousin kept be from stilling his voice." He clasps his shoulder, it was a hard hunt. I bam knighting Lord Loryn on the strength of it Wednesday. Would you like to join him? I know it's not a thing your house values, but it's something you earned with your own eye and hand.":

"He does," Andolin says, quiet, and then sighs. "I didn't stay in WInterfell long, to tell you the truth. Caught up with my family." Those words, though, make him look a little uncomfortable. "I don't know. Loryn deserves it, but I'm not good with a sword, I'm not a fighter."

Malcolm sighs too, "The reason he still breathes after what he did to you, is there is hope of catching the one that ordered it. As far as I am concerned there is no death to slow or ugly for him. It was not an easy decision for Lord Stark." he fingers his hilt, "I assure you the waiting is not easy." The cold grimness lifts as he says, "I've seen you fight, Andolin and you are more deadly than most knights. I will call you my Squire and knight you a few days hence if you can honestly swear to protect the helpless and innocent and use your arms for the Good and not ill. You deserve it better than many who carry the title, for you are a good man and not a bully."

Andolin grimaces. "Well. There's no one the wiser in Winterfell, anyway. Not that I saw." He sighs, rolling his shoulders back a little. "Well, of course I can pronmise that. That's what I do anyway. I just — I feel like there are many who have been squires for much longer." He gives a wry grin. "It would be an honor, though."

Malcolm nods, "That's good. If he flees, we could lose both." He flashes him a warm grin and squeezes his shoulder, "We don't have to mention you only became my squire today. You've been errant for months. Odds on most won't question it. I won't lie if asked directly, and I suspect Ser Daevon won't approve of either knighting, but I have the right to make new knights and I believe this is the right thing. We will do it proper. The Citadel is a bad place to be right now, but we can do the fasting vigil at the Garden Isle Chapel." He looks into his eyes, very serious, "I will not ask who your prayers are to and to what God or Goddess you pledge yourself to, and best you not tell me, understand? The vigil must be in a Sept, but no man can truly know another's heart."

"Why wouldn't he approve of it?" He still looks really thoughtful about the whole thing, though. "I understand all of that," he adds, quiet, and then studies Malcolm's features for a few moments. "Are you sure this won't cause people to get upset? Or cause problems?"

Malcolm smiles crookedly, "Ser Daevon is a Romantic and very… He has a fixed idea of what should be. He thinks all knights should be out of stories, perfect in every way to an ideal no man can live up to. He thinks a Knight should be a knight first and only, but no one can really be as perfect as he wants to be, and trying does him harm sometimes." His expression turns wry, "I try to be a good knight and man. I try to use my skills to for the Good, but I love the sword, not the title, and I am far from perfect and without discipline, I could easily be a worse monster than Ser Quillian, though a more subtle one. I chose to serve the best I can, but I am not blind to the other choices I could make. I also see that while Ser Daevon thinks he serves the Maiden and most knights think they serve the warrior that we all serve the same master in the end. I love Ser Daevon, but seeing to the heart of things would destroy him, so I go gentle with him when it comes to these truths." His tone lightens, "Loryn loves his theater and falling in love best, not Knighthood. You have the same duty all Starks bear, even if it's a tad lighter on your shoulders." He laughs, warm and bright, "I am a Storm! I can weather disapproval. If there are problems, I will handle them."

Malcolm smiles crookedly, "Ser Daevon is a Romantic and very… He has a fixed idea of what should be. He thinks all knights should be out of stories, perfect in every way to an ideal no man can live up to. He thinks a Knight should be a knight first and only, but no one can really be as perfect as he wants to be, and trying does him harm sometimes." His expression turns wry, "I try to be a good knight and man. I try to use my skills to for the Good, but I love the sword, not the title, and I am far from perfect and without discipline, I could easily be a worse monster than Ser Quillian, though a more subtle one. I chose to serve the best I can, but I am not blind to the other choices I could make. I also see that while Ser Daevon thinks he serves the Maiden and most knights think they serve the warrior that we all serve the same master in the end. I love Ser Daevon, but seeing to the heart of things would destroy him, so I go gentle with him when it comes to these truths." His tone lightens, "Loryn loves his theater and falling in love best, not Knighthood. You have the same duty all Starks bear, even if it's a tad lighter on your shoulders." He laughs, warm and bright, "I am a Storm! I can weather disapproval. If there are problems, I will handle them."

"I think that's the expectation a lot of people have about knights," the Stark says, quiet. "To tell you the truth, I barely know what it would mean. I haven't been raised in that sort of life." He sighs. "I'm also a cripple and an archer, not a swordsman or even a jouster or anything like that." It's mostly matter-of-fact. "And I think most people could just push me over. If you think this is a good idea, it would be an honor, I just… want you to not be doing this because you think it's a noble thing, but because you ''really'' think it's a good idea."

Malcolm studies him, "It's not a decision Lord Loryn or I can make for you, Andy. I can't tell you if it's a good idea. I'd be happy to keep training you with sword or lance as you wish if you want to go the tourney route, but honestly, I do tourney fighting to try my hand against other knights, to learn from fighting them. Now I have a place, I don't need the fame, though it doesn't hurt to be known, since what name I have is the one my deeds make for me, but there are all sorts of reasons to be a knight. Some knights don't do tourney. Some guard Lord or kings or fight in wars. Some right around trying to repair injustices. The tourney was meant to be a practice for War, though in peace time, it is the only way men might prove themselves. Ask yourself what sort of Knight you want to be, and if the answer is worth the looks you might get, then I will knight you. If it isn't, I will not be insulted."

Andolin listens, but there's still a conflicted look on his face. "Let me think about it," he says, more solidly. "I don't want to make promises right now, and I need to consider it a bit before I jump into such a thing."

Malcolm gives him a manly pat on his back, "That you want to think it through speaks well of your character, Andolin. It oughtn't be done lightly. Vows are not light things, for all it may look like I carry mine lightly. I don't. I take the call to service seriously. I take knighting seriously."

Andolin oofs a little under the pat; he's more fit, sure, but he's lost a bit of weight he really didn't need to lose, and so he's pretty narrow. Scrawny thing. He gives a crooked, wry smile after, too. "I understand. And I know you don't. And that's the reason I would want to think it over. I've never even considered that life before."

Malcolm nods, "To be honest, I don't think Lord Loryn has though as deeply as I'd like. You might not be the swordsmen he is, but I think you have the sort of seriousness that needs to be brought to decisions like this." He eyes him, "We really need to feed you up. You can't have been eating well on the road."

"I've talked with Loryn since I've been back. I went over to Garden Isle. He—" The Stark hems and haws around the words. "He's eager. And I think he'll do fine, but I do think he's one of those who likes the image more than he should." He glances down at the words, plucking at his shirt, and shrugs. "Game was a little scarce on the road. It's that time of year. I wanted to get back while hunting was still decent."

Malcolm nods, "He likely does, and he's a brother to please who isn't easy of temper. I will talk to him too. I am fond of him, but he's not got the mind of my Starks." There is a fierce fondness for Andolin, "Any of them, Andy. I respect you. I offer the Knighting as a sign of that respect, understand?" He nods, "I man can starve eating rabbit. Let's hope tellur brings back a big deer when he's done with his hunt."

"Your Starks," Andolin says, amused, and nudges Malcolm with his foot. "I understand. And venison would be fantastic. But what have you been up to? How have things been here? Is everyone well?"

Malcolm looks down at his hands, suddenly embarrassed, "I made sacrifice for the festival, and was… drugged. Things got a little out of hand just generally."

Malcolm and Andolyn are up on the roof talking quietly. If one were looking for them, a servant would show one up.

Andolin is up on the roof in completely casual, loose clothes - his shirt isn't even tucked in - and currently leaning against the wall 'round the roof talking with Malcolm. And, speaking of, his brows raise. "A little out of hand?" he echoes. "What do you mean? Did something happen?"

Loryn had known that Ser Malcolm wished to talk to the budding knights. He had been a bit busy, organising food and help for the poor, but here he is at last, dressed rather slobbily in baggy dark pants and a white shirt too. No need to go all formal when visiting friends, right? And so the young Tyrell approaches, pleased to see Andolin around as well.

Malcolm is dressed much the same: hose and a loose shirt. Smiles sadly, "Several that would be hard to live down, if any but Cat knew it was me. Also, I saw a man who turned out to be a murderer at Lord Loryn's party, though it's the costume rather than man I recognized. His expression goes from embarrassed to welcoming on Loryn's approach, "Well met, Squire Loryn!"

Andolin's expression looks a little concerned, really. "A mur—" And then lo, a Tyrell. The Stark's expression brightens a bit, and he sends him a smile. "Evening, it's good to see you."

"A murderer at my party?!" Loryn does finish that sentence and he looks worried. "Was he apprehended? Hello Andy. You're here for a lesson on How To Be a Knight, too?", he smiles at his friend. Since they are apparently standing, he stands as well, hovering uncertainly.

Malcolm grins, "Just the man I wanted to see. We were speaking of the duties of a knight… Why yes. There was a man dressed in an unnervingly realistic costume for the ghost of Robar II at your party. A few days later the supposed ghost of Robar II murdered Lord Lucamore Arryn in a particularly nasty fashion in front of his Squire. I think a large Valeman of uncertain temper in a costume is more likely the murderer than a coincidently identical ghost, and told Lord Edmund so." he clasps Andolin's shoulder, "I think lord Andolin is approaching this ceremony with admirable depth of thought. I did want to ask, what knighthood means to you, Lord Loryn."

Andolin wrinkles his nose a little. "I'd hope he was apprehended," he agrees when Malcolm explains, and then just gives a little wry smile at the explanation, but doesn't elaborate. "Yes, we were just talking about it. I can go downstairs if you two want to talk in private about it."

"Ah I see… how terrible.", Loryn comments. Then Malcolm asks his question and the young Tyrell begins to fidget a bit. "No no, stay, Andy.", he quickly urges when Andolin offers to leave, "Admirable depth of thought, huh? What did you say?" Obviously he needs some pointers here.

Malcolm shakes his head. "I fear not. There was something vaguely familiar about him though I couldn't place it." He laughs softly, "Nop cheating. I want to know what it means to you, not to someone else, including me. A Knighting is a serious thing."

Andolin lifts his hands as Malcolm stops him. "Apparently I can't. Besides, you've been a squire for awhile, you probably know better than me, anyway."

Eep, foiled. Loryn fidges for a bit, then shrugs. "Well… I think of it as… uh, some rite of passage.", he tries to explain, "Being knighted means you're… sort of grown up now? Adult, mature? Ready to take on responsibility, ready to live up ancient values of valor, be a guiding light for those around you?" He pulls a face. "See, I know all about what a knight is MEANT to be, but then I think of Laurent and … well…. you know him.", he sighs.

Malcolm's tone is gentle, "Some people live up to the ideal better than others, Loryn, and the less I say about your brother the better. Not all knights understand the duty of it or care. I'd not want to send knights into the world who failed to understand the responsibility that comes with it, top protect the weak and defend the innocent. Can you promise me that you will do that, whatever other pursuits you follow? Will you also promise not chastity, but that in your private life you will protect the reputation of your partners?"

Andolin is quiet right now as Loryn and Malcolm talk, but that last bit of Malcolm's makes him raise his brows a little and blink.

Loryn blinks as well and his cheeks color a little, but he nods. "Yeah… yes, of course. Doing it already.", he assures the man with a suspicious look, wondering what he may or may not know. Then he chuckles wryly, "Honestly, Ser, my brother is such a shining example of how not to be a knight, I think I know very well how to do better than him. I -am- all for helping the weak and innocent. Right now I'm making a great effort to help my friends from the Whimsy and their families through these troubled times and support my sister's efforts at the Sept… I'd like to think that Loryn Tyrell is known as someone ready to help those in need, knightly title or not."

Malcolm catches Andolin's look and Loryn's blush, "I do not believe love a crime, far from it, but discretion protects those innocent of everything but love from the cruelty of gossip. I am a product of such a love, conceived in a tourney camp, quite literally. How can I condemn what made me as I am? Still, My Mother was lucky in a family who treated her gently. Not all families are so loving, and society can be very cruel. I just wanted to make sure you'd thought on the way service and duty aren't just about arms and great deeds. It sounds like you have, and that is important to me. Ser Daevon and i have been bringing free milk to the poor also in the spirit of service." He sighs, "So many see the title as an honor to be waved about, an endorsement that their might always makes right. I want any man I knight to be of better stuff than that. I am very pleased you are and can welcome you into the brotherhood without reservation. After wednesday, our reputations will be linked."

Andolin studies Loryn sideways, but otherwise says nothing. "—and I'll be thinking on whether or not I'm ready to take on that responsibility," he adds, mostly for Loryn's benefit. "I haven't told Malcolm here yes or no yet."

Loryn smiles happily when Malcolm tells him that he's passed the test - sort of. "Oh yes, I know Ser Daevon's helping - he came to me yesterday, asking me to let his sheep and goat graze in our gardens.", he then smirks, "I tried to explain how I would not appreciate them eating all our flowers, but I think a solution can be found - that feeds both the animals and spares our flowers. You what?", he frowns at Andolin when his friend speaks up, "What do you mean?"

Malcolm flashes Andolin a smile of honest approval, "Which shows the right sort of seriousness, I think. You haven't had a lifetime to think about it and it's a big step." He turns that sunny approving smile on Loryn, "That's truly generous of you. I admit, I was a bit worried what we'd feed all that dragon food.".

Andolin shrugs a shoulder. "It's just like he said. It's not something I've considered for myself before. And there's some things, too. I haven't been trained like you have."

"Oh, I see." Loryn looks deflated, but he rallies quickly. "You're a Stark though. You are a terrific archer. Surely if someone deserves to be called Ser, it's you. Even if you haven't had a big brother leaning on you for years that you have to be a knight." And those who know Laurent know that the man leans rather heavily. Then he gives Malcolm a look. "Dragon food? He told me the animals were for milk and meat for the smallfolk… I'm not having our flowers ruined for dragon food." He shakes his head.

Malcolm says in a firm tone, "I've seen you in a real battle, Andy, and I'd rather have you on my side than not any day. You are certainly brave and deadly enough to satisfy me or wouldn't offer." Then he is laughing again, "That's why he bought all those goats. They were intended to keep the dragon from eating the city, only he couldn't bring himself to do it. So when I heard about the cure I went to ask what he'd done with them, and it turns out, they were stashed on a holding with most of the Dragon Manse horses. The milk really is to be given free to those in need. I'm sorry my little joke alarmed you."

"Well, like I said," Andy says, considering, "I'll think on it." He's clearly a little flattered, though, no matter how much he tries to hide it. He pushes himself up off the wall though. "I think I'm going to head downstairs to get some dinner. It was nice seeing you two."

"Ah, I see." Loryn looks relieved, then smiles at Malcolm. "I think I'm gonna join Andy for dinner. But thanks for the talk… and I'll see you at Garden Isle if not before?" He gets ready to tag after Andy .

You say, "Sure. Make sure you eat hardy. There is a fast in your near future!"

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