Giles hoped to find WIlliam before he threw his name in for the melee, before he committed any more of his hard earned winnings to the De Clares. So straight after court he stomped his way to the tent he occupied hoping that he would be within or around for a long overdue conversation.

William de Braose was not hard to find. In fact, he had a smile upon seeing his brother, and drew him into an embrace.

"Having a good time, Giles?"

Giles returned the hug, pleased at the warmth he rarely had a chance to enjoy.

"I am glad to se you Will, it has been an eye opening time and I owe you more than I can repay for the invitation. I trust you've been making the most of your time as well? Your joust seemed a near thing."

"What can I say, the Breton is good in the saddle." He smiles. "And I do hear of some of the stuff you get up to. Treatises on architecture and love, sidling up to Queens and poets. Not too shabby, brother."

"We can't all stake our claim in society with a horse and a stick." He teased William in the way only family can get away with.

"So my activities have become the stuff of gossip? Then I'll have to go the extra mile to ensure I don't embarass the family."

"Small chance of that, unless you make it a habit to meet women in the Abbey."

"Then I'll be asking for your help William, and that help starts with a question." He works himself up to it, knowing he has to broach the topic, but equally knowing his brother's vicious mean streak.

"What happened to our alliance with the d"Aubigny line? You're not making a play for a larger slice of the Welsh pie from the de Clare are you?"

"Why not?" William looks over at Giles. "The d'Aubignys are good people, but they're already on crusade. Old William has no interest in the Marches, really, and we need lords who have the strength and the will to back us up. The de Clares are waxing strong again. Change is coming to the Marches. The d'Aubignys are stagnant."

"And your brother might have appreciated a heads up so he didn't get caught unawares when he met with the Earl yesterday." Giles looked on at his brother exasperated.

"I've expended significant resources convincing people that the d'Aubigny should have a strong hand in helping name the next Lord Chancellor. Imagine my surprise to hear that my brother is backing a different horse. At least try and steer your horse in a separate race brother, I have irons in this fire."

William nods slowly. "Good for you. Like I say, there's plenty of opportunity to go around. If you managed to light a fire under d'Aubigny's ass, that's great. But I suspect that you're pretty much pulling that cart on your own, aren't you? There's big doings in Wales, kid, and I mean to have us secure at home before we start worrying about how our overlords in Surrey are doing. I hope you get something out of it for yourself, though."

"I'm working on it brother, just know that whatever transpires, whatever the rumors might say, I need you to trust that I have your back. Our blood is thicker than any of these oaths., to de Clares or d'Aubigny."

"Of course. Blood first." He crosses his arms. "And last, when it comes to it. I'll always have your back, Giles, and I do trust that you have mine."

"Always got your back Will if there's anything I can help with let me know, but speaking of blood what does Father think of all this? Approving or ignorant? Was this in the works from before you left home?"

Giles askes. It was a delicate tightrope he was going to be walking and one misstep could bring down the whole house of cards.

"It's been touch and go. All kinds of arrangements have been circling around. But the Clares are active, and I appreciate that. And I expect that father will, too. It's high time the "fluid" nature of Wales ended and some certainty came to the region. I don't regret having to get my hands a little dirty to see it happen, and I don't think father would, either."

"I hope you're right Will," Giles replies as he pinches his nose using the slight twinge of pain to focus his thoughts. "If I side with you in this and father feels differently then I think Reginald will be moving significantly up the food chain. now how dirty exactly are these hands of yours?"

"Nothing yet, brother." He waggles his eyebrows. "But what the Queen wants, she gets. And she pays handsomely for it, too."

"Yes, I get the impression that she is a very hard woman to say no to." Giles agrees in a deadpan voice, thinking back to the debates from yesterday and their interaction this morning.

"Any tips you have learned for dealing with her?"

"She expects to be deferred to. Um...and she appreciates people who respect the rules. But not pedantically like Queen Ermengarde. More like, people who understand their spirit, and keep to that, more than the letter."

"So play nice, but don't be an idiot? I'll try my best." Giles answers sarcastically with a roll of his eyes. "Will I see you at Mass tomorrow brother? With the Melee on the horizon a little aid in your corner might not be a bad plan."

"You know, for such obvious advice, it's amazing how few people really follow it," William huffs. "and yes, I'm going to Mass. Can't ask God to see to the victory without asking him first."

"I'll offer prayers for your well being brother, both in the melee and beyond. Perhaps seek a little wisdom and guidance for myself as well, or perhaps my dear brother will suffice?" Giles muses out loud.

"Tell me Will, you always fared better with the ladies than I. If one were to seek out a gift for a lady above one's station, I assume London town would be a suitable place to begin ones search?"

"Best assortment of wares on the island, though Lincoln and Norwich are doing their best to catch up. Who's the lady?" William asks, suddenly interested.

"So wrapped up in your own activities you haven't heard oh brother?" Giles teases lightly. "It is far from a thing yet, but I would pay court to the lady Marie."

"Oh! Marie de Chatelaine? I heard her father's got into a bit of a snag with King Philip. He might not look askance at an English connection."

"Oh Will, I thought you knew me better than that. The Chatelaine girl has certain...assets that most find appealing but lacks the wit to entertain any man with more than half one of his own. I mean the Breton poet, Marie de France." Giles explains, a little perturbed that there could be another his brother would have mistaken his quarry for.

"Oh? Well, alright then! So, you're thinking something...well, probably something pretty, but..." He shrugs after a moment. "Look, I don't know her. What's she like, outside of her writing?"

Giles laughs. "Eloquent, intelligent and far prettier than I deserve with impossibly high standards, but the heart wants what it wants. I think it should be something that shows I think of her as more than a writer, that I see her as a woman, but more than just a trophy to be won."

"Beautiful outside and in."

"So she's a writer and a woman. You'll want to get her something woman-y, then, if you don't want to play up the writer thing. Maybe...and I'm just stabbing in the dark here...but maybe you want to do some jewelry?"

"Mother did always seem pleased whenever she got any." GIles recalled with a nod. "I was thinking something pretty, it's not too bold for a first gift?"

William frowns. "You know, it might possibly be. But...outside of some gesture or taking her on an outing, it seems like a pretty safe bet. Expensive, maybe."