Post by wordy on Mar 10, 2011 15:06:11 GMT 10
Title: K is for Keystone
Rating: G
Word Count: 616
Pairing: Jon/Zahir – Team Bend-a-lot
Round/Fight: 1A
Summary: (n) the middle stone at the top of an arch, holding the stones or other pieces in place.
Jonathan decides that it’s finally time to discuss it; Alanna has been ignoring him for days, shooting him unhappy glances every time he tries to speak to her. And so he calls his squire to his study, waits while he sits down and makes himself comfortable in what Jonathan knows is a damned uncomfortable chair. They look at each other; Jonathan doesn’t quite know how to begin.
“You wanted to see me, sire?” says Zahir finally. His long fingers tap out a soft, impatient beat on the arm of the chair. Jonathan gathers his thoughts and clears his throat.
“Yes. I feel as though we need to discuss some issues.” He pauses, trying to feel for the right way to go on. “Perhaps we should talk about...Keladry.”
Zahir’s eyebrow arches almost imperceptibly, which doesn’t improve Jonathan’s confidence about continuing the conversation. “What exactly do you wish to talk about?” asks Zahir.
“Female knights are, obviously, a controversial topic,” Jonathan begins slowly. He tries to measure his words before he speaks. “Even more so, now that Keladry of Mindelan has her knighthood in sight and page training has been opened up to girls. I realise that you and Keladry have had...altercations, in the past.”
Jonathan watches as Zahir’s lips twist. “Mindelan will not affect my obligations as a knight,” his squire says. “I don’t see why it is necessary to discuss this.”
“It’s necessary because I say it is,” says Jonathan, frowning. “I am your knight master, and your king; I’d hope that you’d listen to my opinion and my counsel, though it is clearly your own decision if you want to agree with it or not.”
Zahir bows his head; Jonathan goes on.
“I realise that your upbringing—your cultural and religious beliefs—may influence you in regards to female knights, and to other females and how they conduct themselves here in Corus. And while I respect that, being a knight requires certain things of you. You must be able to bend, Zahir, and know when you need to.”
“You’re saying that this is one of those times?” queries Zahir, his face unreadable. “That I should change my opinion about Mindelan?”
Jonathan shakes his head. “I’m not asking you to change your opinion to suit anybody else. But I do think that you should learn how to accept the opinions and beliefs of others, even if you don’t agree with them. You may see Keladry as a woman, but she is also going to be a knight. She, like you, will swear an oath to protect and serve Tortall. She has duties and obligations. Above all that, we need her.”
“Need her?”
“There are different kinds of knights, Zahir,” says Jonathan. He spreads his hands. “I’m a knight, yet here I am, ruling a kingdom. Sir Gary is a knight, as is Sir Myles, yet neither of them has encountered battle for quite a few years now. Sir Raoul is a knight, and he’s commanding hundreds of men.”
Zahir shifts in his seat. “I understand what you’re saying.”
“Good. Because I know that Sir Raoul has already discussed with Keladry what kind of knight she will be; Lord Wyldon tells me that it was clear throughout her training that she will make a fine commander. We need knights, Zahir,” says Jonathan. “The sex of a person does not alter the reality of that.”
Jonathan can already see that he has made an impression on the boy, and that gives him a small burst of hope. Zahir nods and taps his fingers on the arm of his chair once more.
“And what kind of knight do you think I will be?”
Jonathan smiles. “Hopefully, a great one.”
QC by: journeycat
Rating: G
Word Count: 616
Pairing: Jon/Zahir – Team Bend-a-lot
Round/Fight: 1A
Summary: (n) the middle stone at the top of an arch, holding the stones or other pieces in place.
Jonathan decides that it’s finally time to discuss it; Alanna has been ignoring him for days, shooting him unhappy glances every time he tries to speak to her. And so he calls his squire to his study, waits while he sits down and makes himself comfortable in what Jonathan knows is a damned uncomfortable chair. They look at each other; Jonathan doesn’t quite know how to begin.
“You wanted to see me, sire?” says Zahir finally. His long fingers tap out a soft, impatient beat on the arm of the chair. Jonathan gathers his thoughts and clears his throat.
“Yes. I feel as though we need to discuss some issues.” He pauses, trying to feel for the right way to go on. “Perhaps we should talk about...Keladry.”
Zahir’s eyebrow arches almost imperceptibly, which doesn’t improve Jonathan’s confidence about continuing the conversation. “What exactly do you wish to talk about?” asks Zahir.
“Female knights are, obviously, a controversial topic,” Jonathan begins slowly. He tries to measure his words before he speaks. “Even more so, now that Keladry of Mindelan has her knighthood in sight and page training has been opened up to girls. I realise that you and Keladry have had...altercations, in the past.”
Jonathan watches as Zahir’s lips twist. “Mindelan will not affect my obligations as a knight,” his squire says. “I don’t see why it is necessary to discuss this.”
“It’s necessary because I say it is,” says Jonathan, frowning. “I am your knight master, and your king; I’d hope that you’d listen to my opinion and my counsel, though it is clearly your own decision if you want to agree with it or not.”
Zahir bows his head; Jonathan goes on.
“I realise that your upbringing—your cultural and religious beliefs—may influence you in regards to female knights, and to other females and how they conduct themselves here in Corus. And while I respect that, being a knight requires certain things of you. You must be able to bend, Zahir, and know when you need to.”
“You’re saying that this is one of those times?” queries Zahir, his face unreadable. “That I should change my opinion about Mindelan?”
Jonathan shakes his head. “I’m not asking you to change your opinion to suit anybody else. But I do think that you should learn how to accept the opinions and beliefs of others, even if you don’t agree with them. You may see Keladry as a woman, but she is also going to be a knight. She, like you, will swear an oath to protect and serve Tortall. She has duties and obligations. Above all that, we need her.”
“Need her?”
“There are different kinds of knights, Zahir,” says Jonathan. He spreads his hands. “I’m a knight, yet here I am, ruling a kingdom. Sir Gary is a knight, as is Sir Myles, yet neither of them has encountered battle for quite a few years now. Sir Raoul is a knight, and he’s commanding hundreds of men.”
Zahir shifts in his seat. “I understand what you’re saying.”
“Good. Because I know that Sir Raoul has already discussed with Keladry what kind of knight she will be; Lord Wyldon tells me that it was clear throughout her training that she will make a fine commander. We need knights, Zahir,” says Jonathan. “The sex of a person does not alter the reality of that.”
Jonathan can already see that he has made an impression on the boy, and that gives him a small burst of hope. Zahir nods and taps his fingers on the arm of his chair once more.
“And what kind of knight do you think I will be?”
Jonathan smiles. “Hopefully, a great one.”
QC by: journeycat