Post by Rosie on Dec 19, 2018 22:31:23 GMT 10
Title: Wooing Knight-masters
Rating: PG
For: westernsunset
Prompt: 2. Page life, either with Alanna's cohort or Kel's, any sort of school-time story.
Summary: Douglass realises he doesn't want to get left behind in the hunt for a knight-master
Notes: Happy Holidays!
--
The pages are lamenting being left out of the trip to Fief Meron when it dawns on Douglass that everybody else seems to have a much clearer idea about who will take them on as squire.
"I'm going, of course," Geoffrey says with a languid air, "I think Alex wants to try me out, you know."
"You're going because it's your father's fief," Douglass points out sourly. "But feel free to give Alex prior knowledge of your inadequacies. I've no doubt they'd all love to have another packhorse along."
Sacherell grins, not so quick to rile as Douglass. He's still the best swordsman in their year (though Alan seems to be creeping up on him), and it's given him a sense of security. Personally, Douglass thinks the future knights would rather have a project, somebody who appears to be in need of the knowledge they can impart.
He hopes that's the case, anyway.
"I've heard Jon's asking Duke Gareth if he can bring Alan out to Meron."
Douglass pulls a face, though he never really had designs on being the royal squire. There would be too much attention on him, for one thing. Fewer chances to sneak off for an afternoon. "Maybe he's hoping to leave him out there."
"I'd only suspect that was Jon's plan if I heard he was taking you," Sacherell replies with a smirk, and Douglass thinks this is a great opportunity to practise his wrestling skills.
--
It's time, Douglass concludes, for drastic action.
He encounters Jon first, which isn't ideal given that Alan appears to have designs on the prince, but at least he can definitively rule out one prospect.
"Say, Jon - might I comment that you are looking magnificent? Very regal."
Jon, who is currently mucking out the stables, tosses a shovelful Douglass's way. "Ha ha, Douglass. Are you in trouble? I'm not going to Uncle again - I have it on very good authority that you were in the kitchens when the platters went missing."
Douglass coughs. This is inconvenient. "Of course I'm not in trouble. I in fact came to see if there was anything you needed from me."
Jon cocks his head to the side, and holds his shovel out with a grin.
"Anything that wouldn't turn my stomach," Douglass adds.
"Suit yourself." Jon returns to shovelling, and Douglass wonders if he should compliment him on his technique, or if that's something that isn't appreciated when the heir is knee-deep in muck.
"Have you given any thought to your squire?" asks Douglass, doing his best to sound nonchalant.
From the look on Jon's face, Douglass doesn't succeed. "Alan, if he'll have me."
Figures. Douglass reasons it couldn't hurt to ingratiate himself a little in case Alan does refuse Jon (much as Douglass likes him, Alan is a peculiar boy at the best of times, and he also doesn't appear to wash, so maybe Jon won't appreciate being in close quarters with him on this trip to Meron). "Who would think of refusing you?" Then, because he likes not being the only one in trouble, he asks, "By the way, what did you do?"
"Made Gary bet his allowance down the Dancing Dove," Jon says, pulling a face. "Uncle Gareth doesn't like gambling, apparently."
--
Gary is next up, but Douglass think it's rather unlikely that Gary will take him on, mostly because Gary says, "Douglass, I would rather have no squire than you as my squire", though really, there's several ways to take that. It might be that Gary thinks he's unworthy of a squire such as Douglass. At least he tells Gary that Jon is looking at Alan, because honesty is the best policy, and it definitely isn't because Gary has loudly declared that he'll happily duel anyone to get Alan.
He tries Alex next, mostly so he can see if Geoffrey was correct in his assumptions, but when he lightly enquires what Alex is looking for in a squire, he decides that Geoffrey is better off with Alex anyway.
And that leaves Raoul. Well, really, he has the whole of Tortall's unsquired knights to pick from, and he's sure that he could persuade a few of those with squires to ditch them. On the other hand, if his yearmates are picking from this batch of knights, he doesn't want to be left out. He's already started breaking this lot in, to boot. It's unthinkable to have to start over with somebody who isn't used to him.
So. Raoul it is.
"Raoul. You are the most noble of almost knights, a bastion of honesty in this hollow world. If chivalry had a face, it would be yours."
Raoul grins, wiping the sweat from his brow. "I was wondering when you'd finally work your way round to me."
It is Douglass's misfortune to be surrounded by boys who tattle like washerwomen. "Those who have gone before you were merely inferior. I was ashamed to prostrate my lowly self at your most gracious feet."
"That's a nice way of saying I'm the only one left."
Douglass shrugs. "I would anticipate your every desire before you were aware of it. I would keep you full of wine and bread, your feet warm, and your boots clean."
Raoul's eyebrows raise as he unwraps the cloth from his fists. "Douglass, I'm looking for a squire, not a wife."
"I'll make sure you spend as little time at social events as possible."
"Done."
Douglass blinks, surprised. "What?"
"I was thinking about asking you anyway." Raoul claps Douglass on the back. "Jon called dibs on Alan. Don't let me regret it."
"Never," Douglass vows, "I'll handle all your balls, I promise."
(It isn't quite two years before he reneges on this, and arranges Raoul to be present at every social event he can think of, from Midwinter festivities to poetry recitals. Raoul is grateful when Gary suggests swapping squires, and it is some twenty years before he considers taking another one)
Rating: PG
For: westernsunset
Prompt: 2. Page life, either with Alanna's cohort or Kel's, any sort of school-time story.
Summary: Douglass realises he doesn't want to get left behind in the hunt for a knight-master
Notes: Happy Holidays!
--
The pages are lamenting being left out of the trip to Fief Meron when it dawns on Douglass that everybody else seems to have a much clearer idea about who will take them on as squire.
"I'm going, of course," Geoffrey says with a languid air, "I think Alex wants to try me out, you know."
"You're going because it's your father's fief," Douglass points out sourly. "But feel free to give Alex prior knowledge of your inadequacies. I've no doubt they'd all love to have another packhorse along."
Sacherell grins, not so quick to rile as Douglass. He's still the best swordsman in their year (though Alan seems to be creeping up on him), and it's given him a sense of security. Personally, Douglass thinks the future knights would rather have a project, somebody who appears to be in need of the knowledge they can impart.
He hopes that's the case, anyway.
"I've heard Jon's asking Duke Gareth if he can bring Alan out to Meron."
Douglass pulls a face, though he never really had designs on being the royal squire. There would be too much attention on him, for one thing. Fewer chances to sneak off for an afternoon. "Maybe he's hoping to leave him out there."
"I'd only suspect that was Jon's plan if I heard he was taking you," Sacherell replies with a smirk, and Douglass thinks this is a great opportunity to practise his wrestling skills.
--
It's time, Douglass concludes, for drastic action.
He encounters Jon first, which isn't ideal given that Alan appears to have designs on the prince, but at least he can definitively rule out one prospect.
"Say, Jon - might I comment that you are looking magnificent? Very regal."
Jon, who is currently mucking out the stables, tosses a shovelful Douglass's way. "Ha ha, Douglass. Are you in trouble? I'm not going to Uncle again - I have it on very good authority that you were in the kitchens when the platters went missing."
Douglass coughs. This is inconvenient. "Of course I'm not in trouble. I in fact came to see if there was anything you needed from me."
Jon cocks his head to the side, and holds his shovel out with a grin.
"Anything that wouldn't turn my stomach," Douglass adds.
"Suit yourself." Jon returns to shovelling, and Douglass wonders if he should compliment him on his technique, or if that's something that isn't appreciated when the heir is knee-deep in muck.
"Have you given any thought to your squire?" asks Douglass, doing his best to sound nonchalant.
From the look on Jon's face, Douglass doesn't succeed. "Alan, if he'll have me."
Figures. Douglass reasons it couldn't hurt to ingratiate himself a little in case Alan does refuse Jon (much as Douglass likes him, Alan is a peculiar boy at the best of times, and he also doesn't appear to wash, so maybe Jon won't appreciate being in close quarters with him on this trip to Meron). "Who would think of refusing you?" Then, because he likes not being the only one in trouble, he asks, "By the way, what did you do?"
"Made Gary bet his allowance down the Dancing Dove," Jon says, pulling a face. "Uncle Gareth doesn't like gambling, apparently."
--
Gary is next up, but Douglass think it's rather unlikely that Gary will take him on, mostly because Gary says, "Douglass, I would rather have no squire than you as my squire", though really, there's several ways to take that. It might be that Gary thinks he's unworthy of a squire such as Douglass. At least he tells Gary that Jon is looking at Alan, because honesty is the best policy, and it definitely isn't because Gary has loudly declared that he'll happily duel anyone to get Alan.
He tries Alex next, mostly so he can see if Geoffrey was correct in his assumptions, but when he lightly enquires what Alex is looking for in a squire, he decides that Geoffrey is better off with Alex anyway.
And that leaves Raoul. Well, really, he has the whole of Tortall's unsquired knights to pick from, and he's sure that he could persuade a few of those with squires to ditch them. On the other hand, if his yearmates are picking from this batch of knights, he doesn't want to be left out. He's already started breaking this lot in, to boot. It's unthinkable to have to start over with somebody who isn't used to him.
So. Raoul it is.
"Raoul. You are the most noble of almost knights, a bastion of honesty in this hollow world. If chivalry had a face, it would be yours."
Raoul grins, wiping the sweat from his brow. "I was wondering when you'd finally work your way round to me."
It is Douglass's misfortune to be surrounded by boys who tattle like washerwomen. "Those who have gone before you were merely inferior. I was ashamed to prostrate my lowly self at your most gracious feet."
"That's a nice way of saying I'm the only one left."
Douglass shrugs. "I would anticipate your every desire before you were aware of it. I would keep you full of wine and bread, your feet warm, and your boots clean."
Raoul's eyebrows raise as he unwraps the cloth from his fists. "Douglass, I'm looking for a squire, not a wife."
"I'll make sure you spend as little time at social events as possible."
"Done."
Douglass blinks, surprised. "What?"
"I was thinking about asking you anyway." Raoul claps Douglass on the back. "Jon called dibs on Alan. Don't let me regret it."
"Never," Douglass vows, "I'll handle all your balls, I promise."
(It isn't quite two years before he reneges on this, and arranges Raoul to be present at every social event he can think of, from Midwinter festivities to poetry recitals. Raoul is grateful when Gary suggests swapping squires, and it is some twenty years before he considers taking another one)