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Post by Edwyn Blackfort on Oct 9, 2016 0:25:36 GMT
19th day, 3rd moon
Edmure makes his way to Belric's solar.
"I wish to speak to my brother.", the heir to Harrenhal informed the guard.
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Post by Lord Belric Blackfort on Oct 12, 2016 1:05:02 GMT
The guard relays Edmure's request, Belric granting him entry. It is noticeable from across the room that Belric is surprised to see Edmure. He is busy suiting up for the nights raid, attention occupied by a particularly stubborn buckle on his right bracer.
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Post by Edwyn Blackfort on Oct 12, 2016 23:19:44 GMT
"You seem surprised to see me, brother." remarked Edmure drily, noting the expression on Belric's face, as he walked in. "Why would that be?"
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Post by Lord Belric Blackfort on Oct 13, 2016 0:24:04 GMT
"Ser Willem had told me you were still lurking around the castle, though I had not expected to see you so soon." Belric fastened the buckle after a fair bit of struggle, turning to address Edmure with his full attention. “You left a letter in a guarded room for my eyes only, I had figured you’d left for fairer tides.”
“What is it that you want, if it is not to be Castellan?”
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Post by Edwyn Blackfort on Oct 13, 2016 1:13:47 GMT
"That's up to you largely." replied Edmure. "I could not continue as Castellan. Not after that scene in the Hall, where you let Jormun and the maester insult me openly. That tells me you agree with them. Clearly my work in the manner of Armistead's Crossing was displeasing to you. Hence you can find another Castellan who you think will handle matters more competently and I will devote my talents and energy elsewhere."
He pulled up a seat and sat, before remarking. "Had any of what transpired in the Hall happened in the field, I would have gutted Percival like a fish and challenged Jormun to a duel."
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Post by Lord Belric Blackfort on Oct 13, 2016 3:20:20 GMT
"You have quite the skewed perspective, dear brother." Belric shook his head negatively. "I told Jormun to hold his tongue, the same as I did you. If you want to throw your position away because you cannot take the ridicule of your half brother and smart mouthed maester, be my guest. Just know that I have no qualms with how you handled yourself in my absence. In fact, you did better than anticipated. Had you not stormed out of the Great Hall in a fit, you would have been acknowledged for your efforts and rewarded. But now, as you so auspiciously cast aside your responsibilities, I will have to pick up your slack." Belric's expression was grim. He was obviously not happy with Edmure, or his decisions.
His eyes narrowed at his brother, "Had we been in the field, and you gutted one of my men to slate your pride, I'd have dressed you in gowns, saddled you to a pony, and let the men pull at your pretty dark hair until you had forgotten your arrogance." Belric slammed his fist against his desk. "And then, I'd have ordered you to duel your bastard brother, so you can teach you a lesson in manners."
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Post by Edwyn Blackfort on Oct 13, 2016 6:46:20 GMT
Edmure snorted in derision at Belric's threats, especially in light of Belric giving the maester a good beating with his fists in order to salve his own pride. Over the non-delivery of a letter he had heard. "You told Jormun to 'hold his tongue' did you?" he replied, his voice hardening.
"I don't recall you saying that at all. What I recall vividly is you...now what was it again? Oh yes. 'And you, that will be enough of the excuses.' You had the chance to reject Jormun's accusations of myself being a 'piss poor castellan' and you failed to do so. As Lord, you had the chance to reject Percival's insults against me - your brother and heir - and you failed to do so. You say you have no qualms with how I handled the Castellanship in my absence and that I did better than anticipated. You say that now, but you failed to say that in front of our kin, not to mention our men and even any servants within earshot. Saying them to me now is almost meaningless. Empty words, Belric."
He slammed his own fist against his thigh.
"What really grates is that I cannot rely on your support and most of our kin know it. That in itself undermines my command and opens me up to criticism and ridicule - which you yourself now admit was unjustified. Yet at the time you did nothing. That's why I resigned as your Castellan."
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Post by Lord Belric Blackfort on Oct 13, 2016 19:14:23 GMT
Belric had to stifle a laugh when he watched Edmure punch himself in the leg. ”I told you and Jormun to end the bickering. Both of you. I ordered him to drop the accusations of your cowardice regarding the bear, and I told you to stop with the excuses. The two of you were acting like children, I do not see where your misunderstanding stems from.” Belric cocked his head to the side, looking at Edmure like the boy had lost his mind. “Do you need me to defend your every battle? Should I have scolded Jormun for upsetting you, proving to the men that you are truly useless without my orders behind you?”
“I had just learned of Nyle’s murder, yet here you are to complaining to me again about not receiving the accolade you think you deserve. Do you not see how twisted that is?” Belric shook his head again, his approval of Edmure dropping quickly. “It would seem to me that you have made up your mind. Obviously me telling you that you did well means nothing unless it’s done in front of a crowd. So I’ll ask you again, what are you still doing here? You have made yourself unbelievable useless to me, and have offended my good will. What is it that you would still ask of me?”
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Post by Edwyn Blackfort on Oct 13, 2016 21:17:49 GMT
Edmure sighed, trying for one last time. "You truly do not understand do you." he said. "I didn't want accolades from you, for the sake of accolades. I wanted your support when accused of essentially being derelict in my duty as Castellan in the matter of Armistead's Crossing. You didn't give me that support. How can I continue as Castellan when I have people like Jormun refusing to obey my orders because he thinks he can and the Maester openly insulting me over the same matter?"
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Post by Lord Belric Blackfort on Oct 13, 2016 22:20:19 GMT
"How did Jormun disobey your orders?" Belric asked, this was news to him. "All I heard were two brothers bickering about who could have done a better job. I cannot mend your relationship with Jormun anymore than I can keep him from speaking his mind." He leaned in, putting his weight onto his desk. "He may be a bastard, but he is still family. You may sit higher on the ladder, but I cannot force him to respect you for that alone.”
Belric leaned back again, feeling like this was going to be a long argument. "You are my closest sibling, and heir to all of this until my son is born. Ward of this castle was to be your responsibility, not Jormun's, or the Maester's, or anyone else's. If Jormun's challenge of that is enough to make you forfeit the position, so be it.”
“As for the Maester, there is nothing I can do. He may not even have the ability to speak without insulting. I met a boy once, when we were just kids, who shouted off the wildest obscenities without any ability to control himself. He’d tell a septom to suck his cock, as calmly as I’m talking to you now.” Belric laughed, thinking fondly on old memories. “He got it a lot of fights, much like out Maester here.”
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Post by Edwyn Blackfort on Oct 15, 2016 1:23:56 GMT
"You didn't take any notice of our bastard half brother telling me in the Hall that I was no man he would ever obey?" said Edmure sarcastically. "You condoned that Belric, by your failure to speak up - to reinforce my command as Castellan."
He paused in thought for a moment, before looking up to meet his brother's eyes. "Tell me Belric - what would you do if Jormun said to you that you were no man he would ever obey?"
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Post by Lord Belric Blackfort on Oct 15, 2016 18:19:02 GMT
"Let me be clear," retorted Belric, his voice stern. "I did not fail to do anything. I am not here to resolve your troubles with Jormun. It is as simple as that."
"If he refuses to follow your orders, find a way to fix it. There are many ways to earn respect, none of which include showing your backside and retreating." Belric was surprised he was even having this discussion wth Edmure.
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Post by Edwyn Blackfort on Oct 15, 2016 21:07:01 GMT
"You can't even answer my question?" replied Edmure, exasperated by Belric's evasiveness. "I told you the way I'd fix it. You weren't too pleased with that either."
He sighed. This was getting nowhere. Belric would never understand.
"So where to from here Belric?" he asked.
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Post by Lord Belric Blackfort on Oct 15, 2016 21:37:28 GMT
Belric had to pause for a moment and question the legitimacy of Edmure's parentage. His indecisiveness and lack of leadership were not traits common to House Blackfort. He was acting more like a boy now than he ever had at war.
"If you plan to duel every man who challenges your authority I will have a plot dug for you next to Nyles." He laughed, despite the morbid nature of his comment. "I've never heard anything so obscene. The point of authority is that you don't have to fight your own duels. There is a time when a beating will show a man his place, but you cannot force someone to respect you. It can only be given, through mutual admiration. Start thinking about why you don't respect Jormun, and you will find your answer."
"As for what we do next, I'm not sure what you expect. You are my brother, and are free to remain in Harrenhal as my sworn sword. However, since you so obviousy resent the position I awarded you, I expect you to obey the authority I have set in place, and those who hold titles." He watched his brother for a reaction. "That includes whomever I find to replace you as Castellan."
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Post by Edwyn Blackfort on Oct 15, 2016 22:14:16 GMT
Edmure shrugged in resignation. "I expected no less. However you will not want your brother and heir to be making a nuisance of himself here for any length of time. And given that, it seems desirable that I should turn my talents elsewhere. When our sister is married to Lord Roote, I propose I accompany her to her new home. Our old home. Maybe our new good-brother Lord Roote can make some use of my military experience and perhaps even some of my whisperers. Our father served him. Why not I?"
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