Post by Lisa on Dec 13, 2009 1:31:45 GMT 10
Title: An Unexpected Gift
Rating: G
Advent Prompt #8 – Generosity
Summary: After his Ordeal, Wyldon surprises Owen with an unexpected offer.
“Walk with me, Jesslaw,” Wyldon said one morning, when he found Owen in the indoor practice courts. It was bitterly cold outside; the temperature had dropped even more over night. A part of him dreaded the notion of traveling back to Mastiff in such conditions.
Owen nodded, sheathing his sword. “Something on your mind, my lord?”
“I wanted to let you know that I’m going to be leaving in two days’ time. I’ve been away from Mastiff long enough to accommodate your Ordeal.”
Owen matched his stride easily, despite being a good four inches shorter than Wyldon. But still, he had grown up quite a bit in their three years together. It made Wyldon feel old. And tired. Had he ever been as young and enthusiastic as this hellion?
“I should probably pack my bags tonight,” the young knight said with a sigh. He ran a hand through his sweat-soaked curls. “Too many Scanrans to chop up, I suppose. Can’t have knights in the capital.”
Wyldon rubbed his arm absent-mindedly. “That’s actually what I wanted to talk to you about,” he said gruffly. “Do you have any preference in your assignment?”
Owen blinked rapidly. “I-I assumed you’d keep me at Mastiff. I know the way things work there.”
“As a squire,” Wyldon pointed out. “Things will be different as a knight. And while I like the notion of having you at Mastiff, you will have to prepare yourself for slanderous comments.”
“Slander?” Owen asked, confused.
“You’re betrothed to my daughter now. People will assume I’m keeping you close to protect you – because I don’t want my daughter’s heart to be broken.” He sighed. “Granted, I don’t want that to happen. However, I fully trust your martial abilities and I think you will stay alive while under the command of a different knight. But other knights won’t believe it.”
“So you think I should go somewhere else? Northwatch?”
“I’m leaving it up to you, Owen.”
“Why?”
Wyldon clenched his eyes shut, thoroughly irritated. He stopped in his tracks, opened his eyes, and turned to face his future son-in-law. “Because it’s your name that might be dragged through the mud.”
Owen frowned. “Do you give other men this option?”
“No.”
“Then you shouldn’t give it to me.”
Wyldon sighed again. “Fine,” he said tersely. “You’ll report to Fort Mastiff. I’ll expect you to set out for the border in two weeks’ time.”
“I thought you said you were leaving in two days, sir.”
“I did.” Wyldon turned away and continued to walk. Owen remained standing where he was. “I’m giving you a furlough, Jesslaw. You and the rest of your year-mates.”
“But there’s a war going on, and we’re needed—“
“Just say thank you, Owen.” Wyldon called over his shoulder.
Rating: G
Advent Prompt #8 – Generosity
Summary: After his Ordeal, Wyldon surprises Owen with an unexpected offer.
“Walk with me, Jesslaw,” Wyldon said one morning, when he found Owen in the indoor practice courts. It was bitterly cold outside; the temperature had dropped even more over night. A part of him dreaded the notion of traveling back to Mastiff in such conditions.
Owen nodded, sheathing his sword. “Something on your mind, my lord?”
“I wanted to let you know that I’m going to be leaving in two days’ time. I’ve been away from Mastiff long enough to accommodate your Ordeal.”
Owen matched his stride easily, despite being a good four inches shorter than Wyldon. But still, he had grown up quite a bit in their three years together. It made Wyldon feel old. And tired. Had he ever been as young and enthusiastic as this hellion?
“I should probably pack my bags tonight,” the young knight said with a sigh. He ran a hand through his sweat-soaked curls. “Too many Scanrans to chop up, I suppose. Can’t have knights in the capital.”
Wyldon rubbed his arm absent-mindedly. “That’s actually what I wanted to talk to you about,” he said gruffly. “Do you have any preference in your assignment?”
Owen blinked rapidly. “I-I assumed you’d keep me at Mastiff. I know the way things work there.”
“As a squire,” Wyldon pointed out. “Things will be different as a knight. And while I like the notion of having you at Mastiff, you will have to prepare yourself for slanderous comments.”
“Slander?” Owen asked, confused.
“You’re betrothed to my daughter now. People will assume I’m keeping you close to protect you – because I don’t want my daughter’s heart to be broken.” He sighed. “Granted, I don’t want that to happen. However, I fully trust your martial abilities and I think you will stay alive while under the command of a different knight. But other knights won’t believe it.”
“So you think I should go somewhere else? Northwatch?”
“I’m leaving it up to you, Owen.”
“Why?”
Wyldon clenched his eyes shut, thoroughly irritated. He stopped in his tracks, opened his eyes, and turned to face his future son-in-law. “Because it’s your name that might be dragged through the mud.”
Owen frowned. “Do you give other men this option?”
“No.”
“Then you shouldn’t give it to me.”
Wyldon sighed again. “Fine,” he said tersely. “You’ll report to Fort Mastiff. I’ll expect you to set out for the border in two weeks’ time.”
“I thought you said you were leaving in two days, sir.”
“I did.” Wyldon turned away and continued to walk. Owen remained standing where he was. “I’m giving you a furlough, Jesslaw. You and the rest of your year-mates.”
“But there’s a war going on, and we’re needed—“
“Just say thank you, Owen.” Wyldon called over his shoulder.