| Of Siblings, Ale and Names |
| Summary: | Leon and his sister Samphire meet at the inn to talk about their positions. |
| Date: | 05/11/2012 |
| Related Logs: | -- |
| Players: |
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| Terrick's Roost, Rockcliff Inn |
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| The Rockcliff Inn is one of the better inns within the town and it shows with the well-lit interior and the relative cleanliness to the other locations in Terrick's Roost. The tables are polished with oils and the floor regularly swept. A set of booths towards a darker rear of the Inn's bottom floor, just beneath the staircase, are where whores generally socialize and eye prospects from when not waiting tables. Signs over the undersized bar area advertise prices for ales and wines as well as several different choices of food to be served at the small eating area by the bar or in the main open area in its comfortable seating. A door behind the bar leads to the kitchen and cellar while another near the staircase leads to a private room that would appear to be off-limits to the 'wait staff' except for food and drink service. |
| 05th November, 289 |
Early evening lets the last strays of sun fall in warm light through the air outside, though inside the Rockliff in, it is already the dancing orange of a fire's flame to enlighten the cosy room.
At the back of the room several people sit in quiet muttering at the tables, clinging closely to freshly brewed ale a rosy-cheeked serving-woman has brought them. Often the door opens, for the first people done with their day's work slowly drip in to gather in the warm cloud of the scent of warming beverages. %r This time a young commoner stands in between the door-frame, skimming the room curiously. Samphire's flaxen hair lies in a lazy knot in her neck, her dress of maroon linnen seems a bit sea-washed but very clean. Again she seems to search for a certain face in between the crowd, the face of her brother.
Early evening lets the last strays of sun fall in warm light through the air outside, though inside the Rockliff in, it is already the dancing orange of a fire's flame to enlighten the cosy room.
At the back of the room several people sit in quiet muttering at the tables, clinging closely to freshly brewed ale a rosy-cheeked serving-woman has brought them. Often the door opens, for the first people done with their day's work slowly drip in to gather in the warm cloud of the scent of warming beverages.
This time a young commoner stands in between the door-frame, skimming the room curiously. Samphire's flaxen hair lies in a lazy knot in her neck, her dress of maroon linnen seems a bit sea-washed but very clean. Again she seems to search for a certain face in between the crowd, the face of her brother.
Her brother is actually there, seated at a large table with a bunch of other young men who are enjoying their fresh ales and some simple dinner food like cut meat and freshly baked bread. Leon is talking animatedly to two others, apparently sharing tall tales of his time in the south. There's some laughter and shoulder-patting and generaly an all-around good mood.
A smile sneaks about the edges of her mouth as Samphire catches the sight, she was hoping for -the hedgeknight's habits are easy to foretell. With firm steps, she wanders over to the table, where the entertaining chortling emerges from those three mouths. Passing by, she grabs a chair from an other table and places herself at her brothers side. "Leon. There you are. For hours I have been looking around the training field or at the place where all those other knights at the Roost polish their armor, but finally I found you. Here.", she says with the usual hint of irony accompanying her words.
One of Leon's companions whistles approvingly at the sight of the pretty young girl and reaches out to slap her backside. "Pretty piece you got there, I think I'm jealous!", he comments and seems rather surprised when he gets a dark glare from Leon. "You watch your mouth and especially your hands if you don't want a broken nose!", he warns and wraps one arm protectiely around Samphire's shoulders. "This is my sister. And if I ever catch one of you getting fresh with her, you'll answer to me!" This seems to shut the others up who offer sheepish smiles and waves to the girl now. Content, Leon gives her a smug look. "Well, here I am indeed, sister. It's good to see you. Have an ale?", he asks and already gestures for the maid to bring another one.
Not only Leon's eyes are the ones to glare at the fellow who's hand almost got a bit to busy, though Samphire's gaze is shorter, only a very flash of disapprovement soon to be softened by her brothers words. "I see you found yourself the most courteous companions. A pleasure to meet you too.", she says plainly to the other two, shaking her head slightly.
"Ale?", she asks, a bit suprised for it is usually only wine the girl is offered -and even then it's mostly watered. "Sure.", she answers with a bemused shrug. "So… you're about to tell your adventures in the South?" -a curious little question, indicating the sister herself must have a lot to catch up with.
"These are Kevan and Rollo.", Leon introduces his companies and since they're both staring, he adds: "This is Samphire Undyl, my sister." The ale is brought and set down in front of the girl and Leon nods. "They've been curious about life at court. Seems not many from here have ever made it to King's Landing.", he says, not without pride in his voice. "And how are you, my dear sister? How's Lady Rebecca?"
"Samphire… Rivers. ", the girl corrects her brother. "At least as long as Lady Rebecca is around. She is fine. As usually talking in her dreamy voice about dragons and … art. I already learned that's nothing to worry about. She is charming, warm-hearted and generous. I can't complain. She may have a few quirks, though…" Her eyes wander off to look out for the maid to bring the ale, as she adds to explain. "One of her quirks. She wants to call me Rivers because… well, she thinks the name Undyl doesn't fit for a handmaiden in her services. … "
A bit of hesitation, before she tries to change the subject in a rather cheery tone. "So… about King's Landing. It /is/ far away, isn't it? Are the maidens fair, the wine sweet and the opportunities for a brave knight like you as boundless as they say? "
"And she thinks that the name of a bastard sounds better?", Leon frowns and shakes his head, "You are not a bastard, you are of a decent family and you should honor your family. If Lady Rebecca doesn't like your name, it's her problem.", he says firmly and his frown deepens. "Do you want me to have words with her?" Then he shrugs, the memories of Kings Landing apparently having soured a bit right now. "It's not bad.", he grumps, "Opportunities… yes… if you know whose ass to kiss."
For a heartbeat she ponders about her brother's suggestion of bringing the issue of her name to her lady and just a heartbeat later both of her brows jump into the height of her forehead as the imagination of his diplomacy and the possible outcome of this meeting spreads in her mind.
"Ah, nobles.", she answers carefully. "No worries, brother, I'm fine. I know I'm of a decent birth, I know my family's name… but as grandmother used to say: Nobles tend to get a bit tricky because of marrying cousins and siblings. Better avoid contradicting them more often the absolutely needed. She could call me grumpkin or snark, it wouldn't change neither my birth nor my honour."
Finally the ale arrives with a few companions to smoothen the other three throats at the table. "Thank you.", Samphire says to the maid. The others seem to be not as polite, though the reddening cheeks of the serving-maid herself prove, she is used to the more direct rhetorics performed by the men.
"Kissing asses? That might explain the rumors of the lovely smell around the city… So, it hasn't been a talent of you or your knight, I guess? Or have you been already knighted back then? By the way, knighting… an important thing, you never told me about."
"No, I shan't have anyone call my sister a bastard!", Leon says firmly, "If you don't want to talk to her, I will." There. Now she's got a problem on her hands. As she moves on to talk about his knighting, he smiles a little, inwardly proud of his achievements, though he tries to look cool and unaffected. "Ah yes, it happened not in Kings Landing but outside, in the Vale, where I slew several bandits and saved an important man's life, so he had me knighted to reward me.", he explains, then shrugs. "I could have gone into employ in Kings Landing but I thought I'd rather see my family first. Little did I know what would wait for me here…"
Samphire sighs. "I already did talk to her, and she even offered me an opportunity to …gain back the name I have been born with. A little piece of information concerning a certain lady… one of the Terrick's, Lady Lucienne. You don't know such juicy bit's of courtly gossip, do you? "
As she watches her brother's mien at his next sentences, again a soft smile appears on her face. "Saving one's life -indeed a noble act. A knight. Finally… I'm still not sure where the lanky squie went, who left our home at this chilly afternoon, back when… " and there they are. The persistant memories so closely attached to the name Undyl, the town of Stonebridge. A sip of ale tries to flush them away, the beverage bitterness unsuccessfully facing the thoughts. "Mother would be proud of you. ", Samphire closes quietly.
"GAIN back?", Leon frowns, "Why would you need to GAIN back your name that is yours to begin with?" He gives her a long look and once he's sure that his companions have already turned their attention elsewhere, leans in to whisper to Samphire: "Did you do anything that requires you to regain your proper name instead of a bastard name?" IT bothers him enough to not follow her down memory lane for now but keeps his eyes on her.
Samphire responds with a resigned pressing together of her lips. "As I said, nobles and their quirks. She told me the watery sound of 'Rivers' pleases her and to suit herself with a bastardly handmaiden is somewhat of a sign to her noble relatives. She mentioned some bastards to ursurp her father's attention… Well, that's what nobles do – sending cryptic signs. My position is safe and enjoyable after all, brother and in a few moons, I guess, nobody will remember me beeing called 'Rivers' again. Also I guess it makes me sound more … noble.", her words follow in a lowered voice. "Be patient.", she adds, hoping the word patience may sink through her brother's hot-headed mind at least once.
Leon frowns. "It is not right.", Leon insists, "She is playing some noble game with you and we do not know to what end. And why would you want to be thought of as a bastard noble?", he asks with a hint of sharpness in her voice, "What is the meaning of all that?"
"What I liked to be thought of is not the matter, Leon.", Samphire's voice shows a little sharpness too, as she responds. "Believe me, I've never been ashamed of my family. But since most of them weren't able to take care of me, I had to find a way to get around. Again, my position is safe and respectable. And what's right is, that it is bloody dangerous out there for a young girl like me and that there are few opportunities like this to find a position like that. Time will come, when swords will summon you away again -at least I know I won't have to scare for an empty belly as long as I turn around when somebody calls 'Rivers'. If she wants me to rpove my loyalty with this, be it, it won't be for long, I repeat." An other sip of ale wanders down her throat, this time accompanied with one of the frowns, that show the family's resemblance between the two siblings easily.
The reminder that he will eventually leave again sobers Leon a little and his brow unknits a little. "I would not wish to put your position at risk.", he admits, "I just… think it is undignified for a girl from a respectable family." He takes a gulp of ale to steady his nerves, then eyes her again: "And what makes you think it will not be for long? Do you mean until you… find a husband whose name you will take?"
"Seven, I haven't worried about that yet." Samphire answers, almoust choking on the last sip. "Well, not exactly. The time I left Stonebridge I certainly considered it as a possibility to… well, to ensure my safety. I'm healthy, I'm sure I could have found one to take me… But no, all I wanted to say is, I only have to find some bits of gossip to make her call me 'Undyl' again. That won't take long, I'm sure. For now I'm too busy serving m'lady to be looking for… how do the nobles call it: suitors?", she muses. A bit more quietly she adds "Well, I thought it's a hedgeknight's life to travel around and after all, you are able to call yourself a knight and must have slept under much and many hedges. Besides… you're healthy too and of a certain age. There might be the time for you to share our name soon."
Leon looks suitably confused at the circuitous way Samphire takes to finally ram her message home and he almost chokes on his ale. "What? Oh, oh no, sister, I will not share our name in such a way.", he assures her hastily and smirks, "I could not expect a damsel to sleep under much and many hedges, can I?" He pauses and gives her a long look, then sighs. "I will want to stay here until I see you safely settled down, sister. I will seek employment with one of the families here. With Lady Rebecca if I have to."
Samphire surpresses a bit of laughter, as she notices her brother's first reaction to the last suggestion. "Well, mother certainly didn't have to sleep under hedges… though I'm not sure whether there might have been the time, when she chose to." The second part of her brother's words mildens her gaze again. Laying one of her small hands at his arm, the apple-gemmed token of Lady Rebecca glistening in the warm light, she answers. "Thank you. I'm sure I don't have to worry when you're around." -at least not for her /own/ health. "And I'm sure there might be a position that will fit a talented fellow like you. "
"I am sure of it.", Leon replies confidentially, "To be honest I haven't yet anyone I feel worthy seeking employment with. Bunch of damb squibs around the place.", he scoffs, then shrugs. "But don't worry, I shan't give up so easily. And I look forward to meeting Lady Rebecca again.", he adds, looking a bit cryptic, then looks at their empty glasses. "Now, shall I walk you back to their residence? I will not let you go out there alone in the dark."
Looking out of a window Samphire seems to be surprised about the velocity darkness has embraced the town with. "Meet her again?", she asks with the moment of surprise still in her voice. "You already met?" eyeing him closely, she searches for signs ofemotions to indicate the outcome of this meeting.
"But right you are, I should get back by now. I brought my lovely ill-humoured donkey, I'm sure he would bite all evildoers badly enough but I won't say no to your kind offer.", she says with a bit of a glance back to the two fellows at the other side of the table.
"Yes we have.", Leon replies, though it seems to be all he is willing to reveal on the matter. His companions look up in surprise when they notice the pair getting to their feet and Leon grins, placing a hand on Kevan's shoulder. "Not to worry, man, I'll be back soon. Just taking my sister home and keep her safe from scoundrels like you!" This is met with a roar of good-natured laughter and Kevan rises to his feet for a bow. "I bid you adieu then, dear Samphire.", he says formally and Leon rolls his eyes before ushering Samfy out into the cold evening.
