The Raven
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Post by The Raven on Jun 3, 2016 14:59:28 GMT
Before dawn, Ser Richard Blackfort was roused from his brief sleep by Ser Robb Reyne. Unlike his Lord Commander, Robb was the very image the word Kingsguard invokes. His armor was spotless, his features pleasing, and his speech clever but restrained.
"Raise yourself and follow me without making a sound. Today you are to be reborn."
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Ser Richard
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Post by Ser Richard on Jun 3, 2016 15:04:49 GMT
Before dawn, Ser Richard Blackfort was roused from his brief sleep by Ser Robb Reyne. Unlike his Lord Commander, Robb was the very image the word Kingsguard invokes. His armor was spotless, his features pleasing, and his speech clever but restrained. "Raise yourself and follow me without making a sound. Today you are to be reborn." Richard looked at the man, opened his mouth, then shook his head and dressed silently. He'd do as he was told.
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The Raven
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Post by The Raven on Jun 3, 2016 16:15:58 GMT
In truth, there was little cause for discretion. Most of the castle was sleeping off the earlier revelries, and Richard's sole challenge was not tripping over the occasional sleeper who had found the hallway floor comfortable enough.
Past a certain guarded door, Richard was reminded of how fresh their victory was. These walls still bore the red dragon of true House Targaryen. The knight could see clear evidence of looting, though not by Daemon's people. After all, the city was surrendered by the Grand Maester and Daemon had entered long before his soldiers to make arrangements. No, this was done by Maekar's men, probably scavenging anything that might profit a Blackfyre victory.
Up a flight of stairs, he found himself the ramparts facing the bay. The sun was rising across the Narrow Sea. There are no views like this in Lord Harroway's Town. The image is such a rush, Richard nearly fails to realize where he is. The White Sword Tower's plain white banners are unmistakable, especially after hearing Fireball describe it a hundred times.
Robb holds the door open for Richard. Inside, he finds a curious table carved in the shape of a white shield. Before the table stood Daemon himself, clad in full armor and bearing his name sake. To his right stood Aegor Bittersteel, Gareth the Grey, and Black Byren Flowers. To his left were Gwayne Corbray, Aubrey Ambrose, and Quentyn Ball, who bore a serenity unbefitting his byname. As Robb took his place beside Flowers, Richard became conscious of the fact none of these knights had the look of men who had been drinking since the following day. This was a conclave of the finest killers in Westeros and everyone of them was staring intently at him.
The King drew Blackfyre and commanded, "Approach, Ser Richard, and kneel before Us."
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Ser Richard
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Post by Ser Richard on Jun 3, 2016 17:05:56 GMT
The King drew Blackfyre and commanded, "Approach, Ser Richard, and kneel before Us." Richard looked intently at the man, then squared his shoulders and walked forward, gait smooth, graceful. He was not the largest of man, nor the strongest. Of the large Blackforts, he was actually the smallest of the brothers, and, he had to admit, of the nephews as well. What he did have was speed, agility, and natural horsemanship. The Knight approached the king and knelt.
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The Raven
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Post by The Raven on Jun 3, 2016 17:22:00 GMT
Richard felt Blackfyre touch like a jealous lover's teeth. "Repeat these words and forsake the life you once knew." Between each oath, Daemon paused so Richard might repeat.
"I swear to ward the king with all my strength, to give my blood for his. I swear to obey His commands and keep His secrets. I swear to defend His honor and serve at His pleasure. I will never flee, nor falter in my duty. I shall take no wife, hold no lands, and father no children. I pledge to His Grace my life and honor, until the day that I die."
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Ser Richard
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Post by Ser Richard on Jun 3, 2016 17:37:53 GMT
Richard repeated the words, tasting each oath as it left his lips. Their weight settled on his mind, settling channels carved deep by words that had bound him before.
""I swear to ward the king with all my strength, to give my blood for his." This was the expected, this was the norm. In some ways he believed this to be the easiest of the oaths. He was of The Warrior, and The Warrior was the shield of others.
" I swear to obey His commands and keep His secrets. I swear to defend His honor and serve at His pleasure." He did not know this man, not truly, yet he was the true King this kingdom needed. Richard believed that fiercely, and hoped and trusted that the man would rise to the challenge now facing him. What secrets he held, his honor, that was something he could never betray.
"I will never flee, nor falter in my duty. I shall take no wife, hold no lands, and father no children." Robert and Harry were on there own now. This was the only oath he had dreaded to take, but the King needed his service. There was no higher call to duty. The brothers would have each other, and he would write to Belric, his last act as their father. To give them a place to call home, to help them.
" I pledge to His Grace my life and honor, until the day that I die." And so it was done.
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The Raven
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Post by The Raven on Jun 3, 2016 22:01:30 GMT
Richard repeated the words, tasting each oath as it left his lips. Their weight settled on his mind, settling channels carved deep by words that had bound him before. ""I swear to ward the king with all my strength, to give my blood for his." This was the expected, this was the norm. In some ways he believed this to be the easiest of the oaths. He was of The Warrior, and The Warrior was the shield of others. " I swear to obey His commands and keep His secrets. I swear to defend His honor and serve at His pleasure." He did not know this man, not truly, yet he was the true King this kingdom needed. Richard believed that fiercely, and hoped and trusted that the man would rise to the challenge now facing him. What secrets he held, his honor, that was something he could never betray. "I will never flee, nor falter in my duty. I shall take no wife, hold no lands, and father no children." Robert and Harry were on there own now. This was the only oath he had dreaded to take, but the King needed his service. There was no higher call to duty. The brothers would have each other, and he would write to Belric, his last act as their father. To give them a place to call home, to help them. " I pledge to His Grace my life and honor, until the day that I die." And so it was done. The King lifted his blade and rested it on Richard's other shoulder. There was no sense of weight to the blade itself, a reminder of His Grace's own prowess. "I, Daemon Blackfyre, First of His Name, entrust my life and my family and if need be, my realm and all her peoples to your protection, now and until the Stranger claims you. Rise, Ser Richard Blackfort, and take your place among the Kingsguard." When Richard raised his head, he found that his new brothers now bore the pieces of his new armor. Each was perfectly enameled white, and Fireball carried the cloak itself like a newborn baby.
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Ser Richard
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Post by Ser Richard on Jun 3, 2016 22:21:52 GMT
The King lifted his blade and rested it on Richard's other shoulder. There was no sense of weight to the blade itself, a reminder of His Grace's own prowess. "I, Daemon Blackfyre, First of His Name, entrust my life and my family and if need be, my realm and all her peoples to your protection, now and until the Stranger claims you. Rise, Ser Richard Blackfort, and take your place among the Kingsguard." When Richard raised his head, he found that his new brothers now bore the pieces of his new armor. Each was perfectly enameled white, and Fireball carried the cloak itself like a newborn baby. "Your honor on my shoulders" intoned Richard " and seven hells for those who sully it." he stood, ready to receive the cloak. He knelt a Blackfort, and rose a Kingsguard.
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The Raven
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Post by The Raven on Jun 3, 2016 22:47:18 GMT
The armor was not especially difficult to put on, and it fit perfectly. Apparently, your blacksmith learns about your appointment long before you do. When Richard was dressed, Daemon stepped forward and held out his weapon. "Perhaps you do not recognize this blade. After you claimed Dark Sister from Breakspear all those years ago, I had thought to gift it to one of my sons in time. Now, I think, it should be in the hands of a proper knight." He offered it, pommel first. "Consider it a loan for services to be rendered."
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Ser Richard
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Post by Ser Richard on Jun 4, 2016 0:09:41 GMT
The armor was not especially difficult to put on, and it fit perfectly. Apparently, your blacksmith learns about your appointment long before you do. When Richard was dressed, Daemon stepped forward and held out his weapon. "Perhaps you do not recognize this blade. After you claimed Dark Sister from Breakspear all those years ago, I had thought to gift it to one of my sons in time. Now, I think, it should be in the hands of a proper knight." He offered it, pommel first. "Consider it a loan for services to be rendered." Richard accepts the blade with reverence "I am greatly honored your Grace. Its service to your family will not falter." dressed in new armor, and with Dark Sister now riding on his hip, Richard felt like a new man. A much, much, much, much more expensive man. Dear Seven he would have to sleep on top of this sword to make sure it never was stolen. Maybe he should get a safe. Maybe several safes.
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The Raven
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Post by The Raven on Jun 4, 2016 16:33:34 GMT
Richard accepts the blade with reverence "I am greatly honored your Grace. Its service to your family will not falter." dressed in new armor, and with Dark Sister now riding on his hip, Richard felt like a new man. A much, much, much, much more expensive man. Dear Seven he would have to sleep on top of this sword to make sure it never was stolen. Maybe he should get a safe. Maybe several safes. "I don't doubt it." Daemon nodded to Fireball, who turned to the other knights. "Flowers and Reyne, you're with the boys. Ambrose and Gareth, you're with the girls. Corbray, you're with me. Same drill as before. No armed strangers, no one on guard duty whom you can't vouch for. Nobody on the list sees past any of closed areas. And no more gambling after last night! The fucking party's over! We're lucky we didn't get a riot after that farce in the Great Sept... Blackfort, you're with the King today. He hasn't gone soft in his old age yet, he just wants to know if the royal arse has gotten fat from sitting in that ugly chair." "I haven't even sat in the accursed thing yet and everyone knows it." Daemon fired back with a grin. "You just don't want to sit through any more boring meetings." "Your Grace, you wound me! And no, I really don't."
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Ser Richard
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Post by Ser Richard on Jun 4, 2016 17:50:54 GMT
"I will suffer so you are spared Lord Commander" Richard says soberly, then grins.
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Ser Richard
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Post by Ser Richard on Jun 6, 2016 0:27:01 GMT
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Later, when Richard had some of his scant free time available, he would seek out one of the servants who attended to White Sword Tower.
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The Raven
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Post by The Raven on Jun 6, 2016 4:09:09 GMT
He found a page sweeping the floor, whose livery marked him as serving House Ball. He looked up at Ser the knight and with a serious but open gaze, asked, "May I assist you, Ser Richard?"
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Ser Richard
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Post by Ser Richard on Jun 6, 2016 4:26:35 GMT
He found a page sweeping the floor, whose livery marked him as serving House Ball. He looked up at Ser the knight and with a serious but open gaze, asked, "May I assist you, Ser Richard?" Ricahrd nodded his head "Yes, I do believe I am in somewhat of a conundrum. May I have your name, as you obviously already have mine?" Richard had come back from his first day to discover that the clothes he had worn before, stored under his bed, had already been whisked away. He suspected he now had a small battalion of servants that now attended him and the other Kingsguard, but he wasn't entirely sure.
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