[D7, LM, Court] Our Neighbours to the North

[Eleanor of Aquitaine]

Arrivals in the chamber today will notice a stormy expression on the face of Eleanor of Aquitaine.

[William the Lion]

--an expression which darkens still further every time she looks at William the Lion, standing to the near left of the dais.

[William of Brunswick]

The German princes are in their customary position on the right side of the hall.

[Gundreda de Beaumont]

Gundreda de Beaumont is also here, deep in conversation with the Earl of Salisbury.

[Constance of Brittany]

On the dais, sitting beside Eleanor and looking somewhat uncomfortable, is Duchess Constance. Little Arthur sits on her knee. The Fair Maid of Brittany seems not to be present at the moment.

[Giles de Braose]

Giles had slept in somewhat and looked far better for it this morning. He arrived at Court with his best foot forward even though he realised that where that foot would land could well be in a tiger trap but there was no reward for the coward in life or in love.

So he approached the dais and upon spying the dark clouds hovering around the hostess, his own demeanour fell also, but he was too far committed to turn back now.

"Duchess Constance, a pleasure to see you out today, did you get a chance to enjoy the debates yesterday. Despite our best efforts none of us proved a fair match for the skills of our hostess." He greeted Constance of Brittany, indicating Eleanor with that last line.

"Though we all shall be better for our defeat. Our Queen has definitely given me much to think on in the subject of Love and mutual experience." He bowed deeply before Eleanor with a respectful look upon his face, switching language to her local tongue, one he hoped was not shared with the apparent subject of her ire.

[Geoffrey of Tournemine]

Geoffrey bowed to the important people of the day, but didn't interrupt. Instead, he went off to find conversation elsewhere.

[Andre l'Ecrivain]

Andre, following suit, adopts his accustomed place.

Oh, to have a player who could be more involved, he might think, were he aware of his fictional nature!

[Cearnach]

"Duchess Constance, a pleasure to see you out today, did you get a chance to enjoy the debates yesterday. Despite our best efforts none of us proved a fair match for the skills of our hostess." He greeted Constance of Brittany, indicating Eleanor with that last line.

The Duchess inclines her head, and, confident that the Queen has never bothered to learn Breton, answers in an almost sing-song voice dripping pleasantness.
"And who among us has ever been able to wriggle out from under her thumb? Just King Henry, and he is very dead."

"Though we all shall be better for our defeat. Our Queen has definitely given me much to think on in the subject of Love and mutual experience." He bowed deeply before Eleanor with a respectful look upon his face, switching language to her local tongue, one he hoped was not shared with the apparent subject of her ire.

"The limits of our senses create a lot of problems, Mr. de Braose, but I hope that now you are thinking about them, they might be resolved."

[Giles de Braose]

The Duchess inclines her head, and, confident that the Queen has never bothered to learn Breton, answers in an almost sing-song voice dripping pleasantness.
"And who among us has ever been able to wriggle out from under her thumb? Just King Henry, and he is very dead."

Giles's voice had a deep soothing tone that lent itself well to that musical nature of speech, and when he replied a smile crossed his face, emboldened by the confidence of Constance's words.. "Then is your Grace willing to risk the ire to set free another worthy soul? Or perhaps just watch as another gets crushed beneath that power?" He asked leaving the decision of her input up to her before turning and giving his full focus to ELeanor.

"The limits of our senses create a lot of problems, Mr. de Braose, but I hope that now you are thinking about them, they might be resolved."

"I can find myself thinking of little else your Highness, and it is my reflection on your wisdom that brings me here today. In the spirit of mutual love, I have asked the subject of my heart and soul's desires to consider me a suitor for her affection and she has not rebuffed me yet. However I know there are procedures and formalities to be observed, one of which is to petition her ruler, and given the opportunity, I would ask you Queen Eleanor, matron of this great land, should your subject be willing to do me the honor, would you consider, in time, approving the betrothal of Marie de France?"

There...it's out there Giles thinks to himself, feeling like he is sweating buckets despite the chilly weather. The weight is lifted off his chest however at putting his intentions (though likely well known after yesterday if not the earlier rumors) out in the public eye and he finds himself able to let out the breath he had been holding in during his little speech.

[Eleanor of Aquitaine]

"I can find myself thinking of little else your Highness, and it is my reflection on your wisdom that brings me here today. In the spirit of mutual love, I have asked the subject of my heart and soul's desires to consider me a suitor for her affection and she has not rebuffed me yet. However I know there are procedures and formalities to be observed, one of which is to petition her ruler, and given the opportunity, I would ask you Queen Eleanor, matron of this great land, should your subject be willing to do me the honor, would you consider, in time, approving the betrothal of Marie de France?"

Eleanor pursed her lips in thought. "And what have you done, that such a talent should be entrusted to your care?"

[Giles de Braose]

Eleanor pursed her lips in thought. "And what have you done, that such a talent should be entrusted to your care?"

GIles dips his head. "I am young yet my Queen, with a future that holds who knows what, talk even hints that King Richard is seeking to fill several high ranking and recently vacated Offices of State." He hinted with a touch less modesty than he'd normally display.

"But if you seek a peer, a man of equal worth to match Marie with then no matter what station I may rise to, I shall spend the remainder of my days in solitude mourning her loneliness, for your search shall be fruitless."


D7 LM Modesty test TN13: 1d20 18

[Eleanor of Aquitaine]

"Well said." She leans forward slightly, bony hands supporting the motion with a death-grip on the arms of her chair. "You believe that you'll take such a position, Giles de Braose. That is a gamble, I think. And it really is only in such circumstances that you would have the means to keep her in the manner she deserves. Would you not weep as bitterly if you were to live with her at your brother's sufferance? I think you a clever man, de Braose, but I would fain be certain before I made such a momentous decision. How can I get that surety?"

[Giles de Braose]

"Well said." She leans forward slightly, bony hands supporting the motion with a death-grip on the arms of her chair. "You believe that you'll take such a position, Giles de Braose. That is a gamble, I think. And it really is only in such circumstances that you would have the means to keep her in the manner she deserves. Would you not weep as bitterly if you were to live with her at your brother's sufferance? I think you a clever man, de Braose, but I would fain be certain before I made such a momentous decision. How can I get that surety?"

"To say I believe it would be a stretch, but if that is the path to provide for her happiness then I will move mountains to make it happen." Even as Giles speaks though, the gears in his brain turn concocting plans and contingencies.

"But if there is one surety to be taken from this is that were it within my power I would not see Marie's fate tied to a man less than she deserved. For her sake, and the sake of the true love that you spoke of yesterday, I would beseech you to think not unkindly of a young man who reaches for the stars merely because his own star has not yet risen to a similar height. After all at a gathering like this with many of the movers and shakers of the Realm, who knows what may yet transpire?"

[Eleanor of Aquitaine]

Eleanor shakes her head slowly.

"I accept your request, in that she will marry someone worthy or will never marry. Go prove yourself, Bold Giles de Braose."

[Giles de Braose]

"Until that day your Highness."

Giles bowed his head to Eleanor, offering Constance a smile and nod as well before backing away and departing to the cheap seats of the hall.

[King Richard Lionheart]

The sennet that heralds the arrival of the king is punctuated by a tremendous *boom* as the door leading deeper into the palace slams against the stone wall of the hallway. The king enters, his prodigious height surmounted by an expression like a thundercloud. Behind him, Prince John and the Earl Marshal enter. The Marshal seems unhappy as well, but John looks...amused.


This can't be good.

Two steps take Richard to his seat, and he does not bother with the formality of the herald's address, practically shoving the poor man back into his place as he bellows:

"You have all failed me."

This eruption produces a negative effect on those assembled. The faces of the German princes in particular turn white as a sheet.

"The man most committed to My work is no English-man. No Frenchman, neither. William, King of Scotland has devoted more treasure in the name of Northumbria than any other; to him goes the honor. Well done!" He claps twice, slowly. "Well done, Brother Scotland! And shame on my people!"

[Prince John]

The king turns and stalks out of the hall. There is a moment's hesitation, and John steps forward, much to Eleanor's astonishment. "In my brother's absence...I suppose that I am best suited to hear your business. Now...let's see." He taps his finger against his chin as he looks around the room. When his gaze falls on the Earl Marshal's non-plussed expression, John smiles broadly. "Oh! I have remembered! The melee registration opens today! Please see the Marshal here to register and have your pledges for the Holy City ready! Now, how can I help you?"

He sits in Richard's seat, crossing one leg over his other and leaning back like a spindly little king.

[Giles de Braose]

Giles breathes a huge sigh of relief at his timely escape from the dais before the catastrophe that just blew in. He sat in situnned silence as he observed the movements around the hall as the courtly knights reacted to the display.

[William the Lion]

The King of Scotland seems to be entirely unphased by the eruption. If he's pleased that he came out ahead, it doesn't show.

[Llywelyn mab Iorwerth]

-snip-

Llwelyn waits until the man speaking to the Queen has finished, and then approaches himself. He hesitates for a moment, studying her for a reaction.

"Good day your Grace. I hoped to confirm that you were consulted on the plan for the Pilgrimmage. If not...or, if this is a bad time?"

Llywelyn tries to offer the chance for a polite dismissal if she is not in the mood.

[Simon IV de Montfort]

The King's announcement does produce some guilt in his heart, but not much - his own estate was of minimal keep at the moment, and most likely he would need to sort out squires, knights, and indeed an heir upon his return.

Which made him wonder...

[Eleanor of Aquitaine]

Llwelyn waits until the man speaking to the Queen has finished, and then approaches himself. He hesitates for a moment, studying her for a reaction.

"Good day your Grace. I hoped to confirm that you were consulted on the plan for the Pilgrimmage. If not...or, if this is a bad time?"

Llywelyn tries to offer the chance for a polite dismissal if she is not in the mood.

"Not at all," she replies, "my son has indeed asked me to write a letter to the King of Aragon. I was actually in the court of his wife's Grandfather, the King of Castile, when I was just a young thing, so perhaps we are not as close as we might be to Castile, but we shall see if anything comes of it."

[Geoffrey of Tournemine]

Geoffrey looks to John after the outburst and exit of Richard. He didn't seem to approve or disapprove the move to sit in the kings chair, it simply was and he had no intention of challenging what was.

[Andre l'Ecrivain]

Andre, of course, stood when the king entered, and he resumes his seat when the king departs.

And he marks John's assumption of control.

The stone, yes. There will need to be one there.

[Llywelyn mab Iorwerth]

"Not at all," she replies, "my son has indeed asked me to write a letter to the King of Aragon. I was actually in the court of his wife's Grandfather, the King of Castile, when I was just a young thing, so perhaps we are not as close as we might be to Castile, but we shall see if anything comes of it."

"Excellent. I thank you, Your Grace, for your assistance." The young welshman offers a smile. "This...this is perhaps a strange question to ask Your Grace, but your skill at Court is well known, while I am called a neophyte. Charitably." He chuckles at his self-effacement. "There is a question that I have been struggling with: when you need to move a prize from someone who deservedly holds it, to the one you need to hold it, what do you do? Especially if the former is well regarded."

[Eleanor of Aquitaine]

"Excellent. I thank you, Your Grace, for your assistance." The young welshman offers a smile. "This...this is perhaps a strange question to ask Your Grace, but your skill at Court is well known, while I am called a neophyte. Charitably." He chuckles at his self-effacement. "There is a question that I have been struggling with: when you need to move a prize from someone who deservedly holds it, to the one you need to hold it, what do you do? Especially if the former is well regarded."

She ponders that for a moment. "The more well-regarded someone is, the more damaging their secrets are. Who is without sin, after all? But if you did not wish to damage the person, you might seek to trade with them in some way. If I knew more about the specific situation, I might be able to provide you more tailored advice."

[Llywelyn mab Iorwerth]

"Excellent. I thank you, Your Grace, for your assistance." The young welshman offers a smile. "This...this is perhaps a strange question to ask Your Grace, but your skill at Court is well known, while I am called a neophyte. Charitably." He chuckles at his self-effacement. "There is a question that I have been struggling with: when you need to move a prize from someone who deservedly holds it, to the one you need to hold it, what do you do? Especially if the former is well regarded."

She ponders that for a moment. "The more well-regarded someone is, the more damaging their secrets are. Who is without sin, after all? But if you did not wish to damage the person, you might seek to trade with them in some way. If I knew more about the specific situation, I might be able to provide you more tailored advice."

"Contested territories, Your Grace, as sides press their claim now that the new King is crowned. I would hope for aid in my own goals, upon my return, but the cost...the cost would be to win out lands duly won by a Lord in good standing. If anything, I would hope that honors are lavished upon him further, so that his attention is divided and cannot press that one claim"

[Eleanor of Aquitaine]

"Contested territories, Your Grace, as sides press their claim now that the new King is crowned. I would hope for aid in my own goals, upon my return, but the cost...the cost would be to win out lands duly won by a Lord in good standing. If anything, I would hope that honors are lavished upon him further, so that his attention is divided and cannot press that one claim"

"But only the King can bestow territory, and in any case there are Earls with more than one Earldom. Mandeville, for instance. I think to have him relinquish territory he already has would require his disgrace or consent, or a King that is not terribly invested in this lord's happiness. It sounds as though that might be a difficulty, however."

[Llywelyn mab Iorwerth]

Llwelyn thinks for a moment. "What about a position apart from holdings? After all, His Grace is due to leave for the Holy Land. If he...is unhappy about something, or wants greater control on a situation would it not be an honor to be assigned to act in his stead over an area he sees as troublesome?"