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Post by Marie on Oct 14, 2013 14:30:21 GMT -5
Gwayne nodded. "Goodnight, Ser Mace. I know you have been a good friend to my sister. Your friendship is most valuable to me as well."
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Post by Lord Gareth Hightower on Oct 15, 2013 4:21:17 GMT -5
Gareth rose in deference to the Queen as she left the room. A broad grin appeared on his face as he sat down. He poured himself a cup of wine and looked around the remaining guests.
"Well that went well."
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Post by Marie on Oct 15, 2013 7:39:49 GMT -5
Gwayne shook his head. "It could have gone much better, unfortunately. I fear I may have overstepped the mark," he sighed. "But I have never asked a woman to marry me until tonight."
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Post by Lord Gareth Hightower on Oct 15, 2013 15:38:58 GMT -5
"You're trying too hard." replied Gareth. He drained the contents of his cup and poured another. "You can have the pick of women in the Far Reach and elsewhere. What is it about this woman that attracts you, if not her Crown? She seems rather unremarkable otherwise."
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Post by Marie on Oct 15, 2013 15:49:22 GMT -5
"I wish I knew," Gwayne replied, picking up his wine glass. "I want her, Gareth. There is something about her, and it's not only her crown. Though I'd be lying if the titles of Queen's Consort and Lord Protector didn't appeal to me. But all my life I have striven to be the perfect chivalrous knight. Violet seems to like that, and many ladies do too, but...the queen is blind to such things. She intrigues me. She is a different sort of woman to those I've known all my life."
He drank deep. "For years I dreamed of marring the perfect lady. But now...I am not sure that perfection is what I seek."
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Post by Lord Gareth Hightower on Oct 15, 2013 18:22:18 GMT -5
"It's passing easy to disregard those qualities regarded as virtues in our society when one is the ruler of all she surveys." replied Gareth. "She is blind to such things because she need not care about them. She has her pick of any just about any man of the Kingdom. Many strive for her hand."
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Post by Marie on Oct 15, 2013 18:32:22 GMT -5
"I know that!" Gwayne snapped. "What the bloody hell would you have me do, then? I'm not made for rough wooing, and that could well lose me my head. If not a gentle courtship, what else is there?"
He finished his wine and reached for more.
"You know I'd treat my wife with kindness and respect, and all the more so if she is queen. I do not seek to take power from her. Far from it. I would offer assistance, no more than that unless the queen wished it."
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Post by Lord Gareth Hightower on Oct 15, 2013 19:28:48 GMT -5
"You can offer assistance without being her husband." replied Gareth coolly, quite unruffled by his brother's anger. "There is much to be said for just being a loyal subject."
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Post by Marie on Oct 15, 2013 19:38:02 GMT -5
"I could, but it would look very ill if I advised the queen in any capacity other than that of her husband or a member of the Small Council, and I am not doubtful that I will get the latter if I do not get the former. I'd be honoured if I were chosen, of course, but time will tell. But if I am not granted the honour of a formal place among the queen's advisers, it may seem that I am simply trying to..." He frowned "Get into the Queen's bed, or else curry favour with her for personal gain. I don't wish that, and I doubt the Queen does either."
He drank some more wine.
"I am set on this course, Gareth. I am determined to pursue it to its resolution."
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Post by Lord Gareth Hightower on Oct 15, 2013 20:38:41 GMT -5
Gareth sighed inwardly.
"Very well brother. However I would be preparing for alternatives, should your plan not come to fruition. Push for a place on the Small Council. If a man like Oswyn Baratheon can be appointed as Master of Ships, then surely there is a place for you and the Far Reach there. From the Small Council you can advise your beloved at will."
He smiled wickedly. "Provide true and wise counsel and she could not help but fall in love with you."
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Post by Marie on Oct 16, 2013 3:51:13 GMT -5
"Perhaps," Gwayne mused. "But it is Lord Tyrell who chooses the Small Council at present. I have the impression that the queen is not yet ready to make such decisions in her own right. I will see what can be done. No matter what happens, you are right that House Hightower ought to be close to the queen and placed to offer support and counsel."
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Post by Lord Gareth Hightower on Oct 16, 2013 6:26:25 GMT -5
"Of course we should." replied Gareth. He lifted his wine cup to his lips, took a draught and reached across for the wine jug to re-fill.
"I must confess brother, I grow weary of Kings Landing. When do you intend returning to Oldtown?"
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Post by Marie on Oct 16, 2013 6:37:00 GMT -5
"Soon. I've a tourney to prepare for. Unless this business of the North prevents it from occurring. But I will be leaving soon, certainly."
He glanced at their sister. "Izzy, you'll stay, won't you? So we have somebody to monitor things in the capital."
"I will stay until the queen comes south to the tourney."
If she does, Gwayne thought, but he hoped she would. "Thank you. Gareth, you must of course do as you see fit. Leyton, too."
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Post by Ser Leyton Hightower on Oct 16, 2013 12:14:51 GMT -5
Leyton cleared his throat. "I have kept my silence until now." He said, calmly. "But I must question your comments of the queen coming before the faith, my lord."
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Post by Marie on Oct 16, 2013 12:22:33 GMT -5
Gwayne raised his eyebrow as his young cousin spoke.
"The Father Above has set Queen Rose to rule over us," he pointed out. "I am sure he would wish me to remember my duties to her. I serve the Faith through serving my queen. I do not forget that the Faith was born in Oldtown, cousin. Should I be chosen as the queen's consort, I will be well placed to promote the interests of the Faith in Kings Landing. But to do that, I must win Her Grace's favour first. And I do not believe she yet shares your devotion to the gods. There has been no particular evidence that the High Septon's call for men to act against the North is one that the crown feels strongly about. After all, peace is in the best interests of the crown, not religious war."
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