Post by The Smith on Jul 25, 2012 20:50:48 GMT -5
Lara wrung her hands, and shuffled her feet. She was sitting on a strong bench. Shifting back and forth she looked both ways down the long hallway. She could see Maesters moving down distant parts of the corridor, but name came close to her.
Lara frowned, they had been ordered to stay away. That was a very poor sign. She placed a hand on her stomach, and closed her eyes. She took a deep breath, followed by another.
If Lymon knew where she was he would be most displeased, but she had to ask. Even if she already knew the answer. She shook her head, and tried to calm herself.
The door in front of her opened slowly, and an Arch-Maester stood there looking at her. He said dryly, "You may come in, Lara."
She shivered as she rose. Arch-Maester Duerwin had a dark reputation in the city. It was said he would pay for the corpses of the freshly dead. She wished she was making this request before any of his colleagues.
Lara followed him into the council room, and Duerwin motioned for her to take the only seat. It faced a table with three empty chairs behind it. The Arch-Maester walked around and sat in the middle of the chairs.
The old man slowly poured himself a glass of wine, and then looked up at her. "I heard that you sent a letter requesting a meeting with the council."
Lara took a deep breath, and then politely said, "Yes ser."
Duerwin growled, "I am no knight. Call me Duerwyn."
Lara's cheeks reddened, and said, "Of course.... Duerwyn."
The old man nodded, and took another sip from his wine. Then looking up he said, "Well go on with it. I am old, and have no time for this foolishness. Ask your question."
Lara looked at him, "You know what I will ask?"
Duerwyn harrumphed, "Of course we do, we are the Maesters."
Lara looked at her hands suddenly afraid. Almost sure of the answer, but still clinging onto that last sliver of hope. "May... I..." She quieted as her nerves soared. And then looked up at the Arch-Maester and was trapped in his iron gaze.
After a moment of silence Duerwyn waved for her to continue. And Lara burst out, "I want to train as a maester." Instead of pleased she felt empty inside once the words were aloud. Like they had been the last thing filling her up. She looked at the ground, not out of nerves now, but grief.
Duerwyn chuckled, "Your uncle said you had some spirit." She looked up surprised, and he snorted, "Of course we talked to him, and if it makes you feel better he said that you were smarter then several of the council."
Lara could not help but smile a little, and her hands tightened against one another.
Duerwyn said, "Unfortunately those idiots on the council were the ones deciding your fate. I am sorry to say only one voted for you. The rest wish to stay with the old ways."
Lara bit back tears and nodded slowly, "Of course... I understand." She turned as if to go.
Duerwyn said, "Young lady, you may not be able to train in these halls, but they are hardly the only place of learning. Listen to that uncle of yours, and one day you may shove your knowledge in the face of the Council." He snorted as if that idea really appealed to him.
Lara forced a smile on her face, even though she felt completely empty. She walked home, and could not get the old man's words out of her mind.
Lara frowned, they had been ordered to stay away. That was a very poor sign. She placed a hand on her stomach, and closed her eyes. She took a deep breath, followed by another.
If Lymon knew where she was he would be most displeased, but she had to ask. Even if she already knew the answer. She shook her head, and tried to calm herself.
The door in front of her opened slowly, and an Arch-Maester stood there looking at her. He said dryly, "You may come in, Lara."
She shivered as she rose. Arch-Maester Duerwin had a dark reputation in the city. It was said he would pay for the corpses of the freshly dead. She wished she was making this request before any of his colleagues.
Lara followed him into the council room, and Duerwin motioned for her to take the only seat. It faced a table with three empty chairs behind it. The Arch-Maester walked around and sat in the middle of the chairs.
The old man slowly poured himself a glass of wine, and then looked up at her. "I heard that you sent a letter requesting a meeting with the council."
Lara took a deep breath, and then politely said, "Yes ser."
Duerwin growled, "I am no knight. Call me Duerwyn."
Lara's cheeks reddened, and said, "Of course.... Duerwyn."
The old man nodded, and took another sip from his wine. Then looking up he said, "Well go on with it. I am old, and have no time for this foolishness. Ask your question."
Lara looked at him, "You know what I will ask?"
Duerwyn harrumphed, "Of course we do, we are the Maesters."
Lara looked at her hands suddenly afraid. Almost sure of the answer, but still clinging onto that last sliver of hope. "May... I..." She quieted as her nerves soared. And then looked up at the Arch-Maester and was trapped in his iron gaze.
After a moment of silence Duerwyn waved for her to continue. And Lara burst out, "I want to train as a maester." Instead of pleased she felt empty inside once the words were aloud. Like they had been the last thing filling her up. She looked at the ground, not out of nerves now, but grief.
Duerwyn chuckled, "Your uncle said you had some spirit." She looked up surprised, and he snorted, "Of course we talked to him, and if it makes you feel better he said that you were smarter then several of the council."
Lara could not help but smile a little, and her hands tightened against one another.
Duerwyn said, "Unfortunately those idiots on the council were the ones deciding your fate. I am sorry to say only one voted for you. The rest wish to stay with the old ways."
Lara bit back tears and nodded slowly, "Of course... I understand." She turned as if to go.
Duerwyn said, "Young lady, you may not be able to train in these halls, but they are hardly the only place of learning. Listen to that uncle of yours, and one day you may shove your knowledge in the face of the Council." He snorted as if that idea really appealed to him.
Lara forced a smile on her face, even though she felt completely empty. She walked home, and could not get the old man's words out of her mind.
Hope you all are well and happy.