Post by dornishprince on Apr 4, 2008 15:30:17 GMT -5
As he rolled Dornish Red around in his parched mouth, Elijah took stock of the last few weeks. He'd been appointed by his sister, Lady Tristeza, as an interim handler of all minor politics in her absence and he had never really realized how much of a hassle it could be. He knew his way around an interrogation chamber and also how best to coerce someone into admitting their crimes, but matters of state were a completely different animal. He swallowed and sighed deeply. A completely different animal indeed.
It amazed him still how petty and filled with greed people could be. If there was anything he came away with in dealing with his people for the last month, it was shame. War was imminent and would bring with it all the trappings; death, starvation, possible enslavement. Still people argued over property, livestock and, at their worst, imagined slights to honour that apparently no longer existed.
He had settled matters of property lines, price gouging, shipping rights, sentencing criminals and more in the last month. Just now, he was in the middle of negotiating a truce between two minor lords because their children were caught in the middle of sex. This was well and truly madness.
"I demand that the boy be hanged," a red faced, plump Dornish man screamed, "He violated my daughter.
"Hold on there," countered the young man's father, "The act was consensual. They both said--"
"Shut your damn mouth, bastard! If you impugn the honour of my daughter one more time, I'll gut you where you stand!" The man was seething.
"I've heard enough from you, sir," snapped Elijah, "and any more threats you direct against this man or his son, I will consider an attempt of said threats."
The man turned towards Elijah, clearly no less angry. "Look, let's try to look at this another way. How long have your children been with each other?"
"Pretty much since the time they were able to walk," said the other man, "They've been inseparable nearly their entire lives."
Elijah breathed a sigh of relief. "Does this man's estimation of the length of your children's courtship seem accurate to you, sir?"
"Yes, sir," the man said simply, visibly calming down but not quite happy.
"As I'm sure you are both aware, if you are completely honest with yourselves that is, your children have most likely been intimate with each other for quite some time. I believe you said that they are both fifteen, am I right?"
A chorus of "yes" came from the both of them.
"Well, let me ask you this, sir," Elijah said to girls father, "what was your opinion of the boy and his family prior to this encounter?"
The man was nearly back to an even keel, thank the gods, "I liked them well enough, sir."
"Okay then, next question. Would either of you object to a marriage? It would restore your daughter's honour and fortify both of your households. Not only that, given their current behavior, you will most likely soon be blessed with grandchildren."
They both smiled a bit at that. "I certainly wouldn't," said the boy's father, "I've loved her like a daughter for years. I would consider it the highest form of honour should her father allow my son to wed her."
All anger faded away from the other man at that. It was all downhill from there and Elijah excused them shortly thereafter to begin the plans for the next step in their children's lives.
He sat back and took the rest of his wine in one long gulp. If everyone didn't begin pulling together, setting aside their differences and preparing for the troubles to come; all under the shadow of the blockade set up at every Dornish port...He quickly put aside the thought and refilled his cup. No use thinking of the problems, Elijah thought, I'd be much better served comptemplating solutions.
However, even that would have to wait until another day because, even though time was a luxury that he couldn't afford to waste, his sister had just given birth to a healthy baby boy, Horas Martell. His most pressing matter at the moment was to visit her and see his nephew for the first time.
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Elijah attains Expert in Negotiation
Elijah attains Noteworthy in Stewardship
It amazed him still how petty and filled with greed people could be. If there was anything he came away with in dealing with his people for the last month, it was shame. War was imminent and would bring with it all the trappings; death, starvation, possible enslavement. Still people argued over property, livestock and, at their worst, imagined slights to honour that apparently no longer existed.
He had settled matters of property lines, price gouging, shipping rights, sentencing criminals and more in the last month. Just now, he was in the middle of negotiating a truce between two minor lords because their children were caught in the middle of sex. This was well and truly madness.
"I demand that the boy be hanged," a red faced, plump Dornish man screamed, "He violated my daughter.
"Hold on there," countered the young man's father, "The act was consensual. They both said--"
"Shut your damn mouth, bastard! If you impugn the honour of my daughter one more time, I'll gut you where you stand!" The man was seething.
"I've heard enough from you, sir," snapped Elijah, "and any more threats you direct against this man or his son, I will consider an attempt of said threats."
The man turned towards Elijah, clearly no less angry. "Look, let's try to look at this another way. How long have your children been with each other?"
"Pretty much since the time they were able to walk," said the other man, "They've been inseparable nearly their entire lives."
Elijah breathed a sigh of relief. "Does this man's estimation of the length of your children's courtship seem accurate to you, sir?"
"Yes, sir," the man said simply, visibly calming down but not quite happy.
"As I'm sure you are both aware, if you are completely honest with yourselves that is, your children have most likely been intimate with each other for quite some time. I believe you said that they are both fifteen, am I right?"
A chorus of "yes" came from the both of them.
"Well, let me ask you this, sir," Elijah said to girls father, "what was your opinion of the boy and his family prior to this encounter?"
The man was nearly back to an even keel, thank the gods, "I liked them well enough, sir."
"Okay then, next question. Would either of you object to a marriage? It would restore your daughter's honour and fortify both of your households. Not only that, given their current behavior, you will most likely soon be blessed with grandchildren."
They both smiled a bit at that. "I certainly wouldn't," said the boy's father, "I've loved her like a daughter for years. I would consider it the highest form of honour should her father allow my son to wed her."
All anger faded away from the other man at that. It was all downhill from there and Elijah excused them shortly thereafter to begin the plans for the next step in their children's lives.
He sat back and took the rest of his wine in one long gulp. If everyone didn't begin pulling together, setting aside their differences and preparing for the troubles to come; all under the shadow of the blockade set up at every Dornish port...He quickly put aside the thought and refilled his cup. No use thinking of the problems, Elijah thought, I'd be much better served comptemplating solutions.
However, even that would have to wait until another day because, even though time was a luxury that he couldn't afford to waste, his sister had just given birth to a healthy baby boy, Horas Martell. His most pressing matter at the moment was to visit her and see his nephew for the first time.
---------------
Elijah attains Expert in Negotiation
Elijah attains Noteworthy in Stewardship
Hope you all are well and happy.