Parlay

[Bunny-Rabbit]

Ser Piers rides out on a horse alone and positions himself to the right of Rhodri. "With which hand do you draw your weapon, Rhodir? Should I be on your other side?"

[Lord Rhodri Arryn]

"In a fight like this, I tend to grip my spear in both hands. But if their message is anything but capitulation, it is not spear that will make the first mark, it will be the trebuchet that will swing before they even ride back to their bloody gate."

[Bunny-Rabbit]

"Spears are two-handed? Well I think some one trained me wrong. I never did pay attention to the Master-or-arms." Looking over his shoulder at the trebuchet, "Those things, they don't ever accidently drop a rock down halfway to a target do they?" Piers seems to be measuring how far from the wall they are standing.

[Lord Rhodri Arryn]

"Oh, you can use one or two hands to grasp a spear. Depends if you reckon you need a shield. Ser Gathor has paid less attention to his masters than even you, the man is a known coward. I imagine I won't need my shield should I come to blows with him."

"I don't think the trebuchet could fire this short a distance if we wanted it to. Those things could fire a boulder if you could load one in."

Ser Rhodri is full of swagger, but his eyes never leave the gates of Highgarden. He does not bother to look at Ser Piers when he speaks.

[Bunny-Rabbit]

Staring at Rhodri, Ser Piers chuckles, "I see all the rumors about your sense of humor are blatantly false. That was quite funny."

[Lord Rhodri Arryn]

Rhodri does allow a glance at Piers.

"What? I'll have you know I am known for my good humor."

Rhodri says this without a sense of irony.

[Bunny-Rabbit]

"When say good humor, do you mean plesant disposition or an amusing wit?" says Ser Piers with dry smirk.

[Lord Rhodri Arryn]

"When I'm sober, I am best known for my pleasant disposition. When I'm drunk, I'm known for my bludgeoning wit. Take that for what you will."

"I could use a drink."

[Bunny-Rabbit]

Ser Piers laughs deeply. "Then we should get you a drink. Better to bludegon these Tyrells wit; then to kill them with courtesy." Checking through his saddle pack he continues, "I do not have any wine, but would you like a plum?"

Piers pull two plums from his bag, and throws one to Rhodri. Taking a bite from the other, he smiles at the fruit.

[Lord Rhodri Arryn]

Rhodri examines the cleft fruit, but does eat it. He has plenty of Arbor red and gold in his tent, but for now, he awaits Ser Gathor to arrive and deliver his decision. The waiting made him itch. While Royces were often known for patience, it was not a virtue he inherited.

"Tell me, Ser Piers, I know nothing of you. How did you rise to your position of trust with Lord Baldwin? He seems a calculating man; you must have done something to prove your worth, something beyond ripe fruit and droll witticisms. Or is that what it takes to please him?". Ser Rhodri glanced at the man.

[Bunny-Rabbit]

Looking to Rhodri, Piers raised an eyebrow, "Who was the first women you ever laid with? What was the first night with your wife like?" Waiting for a little color to show before continuing, "There are certain questions that a man does not ask another he is not particularly friendly with."

Chuckling to himself, Piers went on, "To not get too specific the Lord Lannister will have any man who fulfills two requirements, Loyal and effective. I am his man, and I always complete my assigned tasks. And my lord does have a love of droll fruit. "

Piers licks some plum juice off his fingers. "How did you come to your master's attention?"

[Lord Rhodri Arryn]

"Hah. You can't embarrass me with such questions. I'll forgive much in men, but I do tire of secrets. Have it all out, deal with each other on equal terms. You and I are here together with the same tasks, no secrets between us, eh? How else could we measure each other's advice? The first woman I've laid with was a woman of the Stone Crow clan. I was thirteen years or fourteen, already a knight but a fool in a dozen different ways. I had been caught by her brother trying to raid their camp. She decided I was pretty, fucked me, and convinced her brother to spare my life."

"The first night with my wife was ... interesting. She is a strong willed woman. I learned a few things. But there have been precious few nights with her since, as I am sitting in this stiff saddle in this muddy field a thousand leagues from her bed."

"Glory in battle I want. But a long fucking war? I could do without. Let's have it over with."

"That was a good plum, good ser."

Rhodri tosses the pit.

[Bunny-Rabbit]

Laughing at the recitation by the younger Knight, "Well I guess now that we are more friendly." Piers paused for a moment, "I came to serve my lord a long time ago. I am good friends with his cousin Maurin, as children we would always play Knights of the Rock together. I always lost, I think my ass is still sore."

"My father, a broken-down knight could not see beyond his bulbous nose, decided that I must follow in his footsteps. So he apprenticed me to another broken-down drunkard of a knight. Ser Drunkard was always getting into unnecessary fights for one reason or another. So I became an expert at getting him out fights. My mouth was always stronger then my arm."

Piers looks up, and his smile grows wry, "One night at a ball celebrating one of my Lord's cousins, Ser Drunkard stabbed the groom. Eight other knights knocked him to the ground and Lord Baldwin was furious, and blood on his mind. Literally and figuratively, the stabbed man had gushed blood onto the Lord's head."

"My lord had Ser Drunkard forced to the ground and his axeman get his axe, when I stepped forward. I apologized, I pointed out that groom was known for his quick temper and the fact that the groom had a knife in his hand. I pleaded for all the food I would never be able to eat. I made them imagine the children, fictional, of Ser Drunkard. And I ended with a quip, 'And isn't time for a groom to be pierced with a long, hard object?'"

"The crowd all guffawed and clapped. And I got a smile from the Lord. The next day Ser Drunkard was flogged instead of beheaded, and I served a new lord." Ser Piers spat the plum pit to the ground.

"I don't think anyone wants this war, but what are we lowly servants to do."

[stahadis]

Ser Gathor approached under a peace banner, "House Tyrell will bend its knee to the usurper under the terms of forgiveness of any crimes and the safe return of Bethany Tyrell."

[Lord Rhodri Arryn]

"These terms are granted, Ser Gathor, and much honour on you for doing so. Though it be best if you start referring to your King as King Aegon, not usurper."

"We shall return to King's Landing together so that you can swear your fealty to the Iron Throne. Lord Caron will hold Highgarden in House Tyrell's name until the King has accepted your fealty and your rights and priviledges shall be assured. The Lady Bethany shall be presented to you in King's Landing."

Ser Rhodri nods his head in respect to Ser Gathor.