[D1, LM] Redirect

[Constance of Brittany]

After having been directed to the second floor of the palace and passing the king's guards, Geoffrey finds himself at the south end of a hallway that bisects the floor. At one end, the Royal Apartments. At the other, this end, the apartments of the Earl of Chester and Richmond and the Duchess of Brittany.

The guard lets him in to find Constance at table, little Eleanor sitting across from her, with Arthur playing with blocks of wood on the floor. She rises to greet him with a tired half-smile.

"Brother," she says, weary but glad to see you, "Come in so that I can see you."

[Geoffrey of Tournemine]

Walking in, he approaches to a proper distance for one's lord and offers a bow to Constance. "Sister, I am glad to see you well."

He then steps much closer to offer a supportive hug for her.

[Constance of Brittany]

Walking in, he approaches to a proper distance for one's lord and offers a bow to Constance. "Sister, I am glad to see you well."

He then steps much closer to offer a supportive hug for her.

Constance returns the hug, and in it you get a sense of the tension in her body. Pulling a way after a short moment, she sighs.

"And I, you. Your journey was uneventful?" She turns again, tiptoeing around Arthur's blocks to resume her seat at the table, waving you over in the process.

[Geoffrey of Tournemine]

"It was for the most part," he replied, moving to sit next to her.
"And howAre Eleanor and Arthur doing?"

This question seems directed so that the children could answer if they wished.

[Cearnach]

Arthur looks up from his game with the curious expression of a child who can't quite remember who exactly the person who is addressing them is.

But Eleanor answers for herself.



"I am well, Uncle Geoffrey, but..."

"Yes, we all are quite well," Constance adds. "But..." She laughs. "Isn't that always the way? Life is a thousand "buts."

Eleanor frowns at her mother's monologue, then looks down at her little brother, clear concern on her face.

[Geoffrey of Tournemine]

"'Buts' are excuses, dear sister and niece. I prefer 'ands'," he says with a smile. "When you use an 'and' you have to spin your news in a positive light and consider solutions for something that might be a problem."

He clears his throat. "My sister and niece are doing well, but..." he says then shaking his head with a frown.

"Or... My sister and niece are doing quite well, and even though there may be something more going on, Geoffrey is ready to listen and help."

[Cearnach]

Constance makes a small smile, but it is Eleanor who speaks.

"We are doing well, and while I don't like the way daddy's family look at my little brother, Uncle Geoffrey is here to help."

[Geoffrey of Tournemine]

"You are right in that," he says with a smile at Eleanor. "Young Arthur is beloved by many, including my dear cousin, your uncle Richard. So if any look at him in a way that you don't like, I will encourage them to change their attitude and possibly even adjust it for them if needs be."

He then looks to Constance, and his eyes told her that he meant that. She would know that he was not the strongest knight among the many gathered, but he was also not a slouch. Just needed to pick his battles, which he tended to be decent at doing.

"As for adjusting people's attitudes. The tournament... rumors are that it will be helping fund the crusade. Which is not a cheap thing to fund. I'm not exactly looking to sell of a castle for the mere chance to unseat or knock senseless some other lords, but I would appreciate the opportunity to try and represent de Blondeville well."

[Constance of Brittany]

Constance tries not to wince at the use of her husband's name, but she nods.

"I see no harm in that, dearest brother. In fact, I think it good that you should wield a lance in my name."

She looked down at Arthur. "But the battles you may need to pick might be...challenging. I struggle for time with my own son, so insistent is his grandmother to hold him, and his uncle John..." She shudders. "The man knows his rival, that is certain. You'll need to be careful, Geoffrey. We all will."

[Geoffrey of Tournemine]

"Well then," he says with a smile at that. "I will ride, more specifically, for my dear sister, Constance of Brittany."

"When have you known me to not show care. You know that I tend towards the patient and thoughtful side in most things. That will not change. And if every you wish my presence for any meeting or date, you need only send for me and I will be there."

[Constance of Brittany]

She hesitates a moment before nodding her agreement. "Alright. But I warned you, Geoffrey."

Arthur chooses that moment to chuck a block at his little tower, causing it all to crash down, then laughs.

[Geoffrey of Tournemine]

"I am duly warned," he says with a serious nod, putting a hand on her forearm. He is not playing around. "If you like, I can stay a while and entertain Lady Eleanor while you attend Arthur. Then lunch together before the coronation?"

[Constance of Brittany]

Constance looks down at her son, grinning amidst the ruins. "That sounds...like a relief. Thank you, brother."

[Geoffrey of Tournemine]

"So, Lady Eleanor. Are you a fan of Alquerque?" he asks, suggesting a game that could easily be conversed over. There was likely a board in such a richly decorated apartment.

[Cearnach]

The little girl looks up at him. "I enjoy it, yes." She rises to retrieve the board and pieces from a bookshelf and soon returns, laying it out in front of you.

"I'll even let you take first move, Uncle Geoffrey. Because you seem like a nice Uncle."

[Geoffrey of Tournemine]

He smiled at her. "I appreciate the gesture. I will try my best to not beat you too badly," he says playfully. In truth, he expected she would likely beat him. As much as he enjoyed a good game, he was far more familiar with different leisurely activities.

[Cearnach]

"You can try, Uncle Geoffrey, but I will not make it easy for you."

She does, in fact, play a mean game of Alquerque, but she hasn't quite got the killer's instinct.

[Geoffrey of Tournemine]

Geoffrey does not play quite so mean a game. But he did have the advantage of around 25 years of experience. So it's probably a pretty even game. He plays well into the afternoon when Arthur inevitability speaks of hunger and lunch is taken. A hopefully pleasant day for the family...

/scene?

[Cearnach]

/scene