(514-05-21) Talk of Betrothals
Summary: Bryce and Cyndeyrn have a talk.
Date: May 21st, 514; on the morning before the Grand Melee
Related: Logs of the Grand Melee of the Wedding Tourney; happens before another log that till has to be posted.
bryce cyndeyrn 


Early morning it is, and it seems Bryce de Baverstock is already out and about, already wearing his maille beneath the tabard of red and black that shows the golden bear, coat of arms of Baverstock Manor. Having stepped out of the tent a moment ago, Bryce is currently busy with giving instructions to his squire Carl, to check on the shield and the tourney sword, and possibly some instructions in regards to Devil as well, his black stallion that grazes close by. But with the impending Grand Melee of today, a certain excitement is lingering in the air, evident in the faces of other knights, servants running about on errands, and… even in the animals, the horses in particular. Just now, Devil tilts his head up and lets out a whinny, prancing a little where he is tied to a post.

The early hours see similar rituals among all the knightly host, with squires of course waking the earliest of all and beginning their many tedious chores, but the knights themselves also typically up and about in their militaristic fashion. Except maybe Brynmor, who will probably sleep till noon. The Dinton tent, perhaps in some imitation of real world geography, is not far from the Baverstock one and so when Cyndeyrn emerges to check with his own lad about their preparations for the upcoming melee, the largest and grandest moment of the tournament, he readily spots his longtime acquaintance the short ways down, or perhaps hears his steed first and THEN spots him as he glances off. "It looks as if he's recovered well from that spill in the hills," he'll comment offhandedly of the other man's steed, spirited as it seems. "And looks eager for the day's business."

Cyndeyrn's words draw the attention of Bryce and he looks up a ready smile warming his features as he sends his squire away on his tasks with a vague gesture of the hand. "Devil has recovered well indeed," he replies, taking a step in the Dinton's direction, which will by coincidence lead him past where the steed in question stands. A good-natured pat to the stallion's flank is administered by the Baverstock knight, as his dark eyes meet the gaze of his long-time acquaintance and friend. "And I am relieved he has. It was an unfortunate slip, a bruise that could have rendered him useless. I feel much more at ease, knowing I'll ride into the melee on Devil's back - mayhaps that will bring me good fortune." Speaking of fortune, Cyndeyrn will notice the favor wound about the Baverstock's right arm - as it has been these past days, during the joust, the challenges. A pendant can be glimpsed, twined about a braided ribbon of blue and red.

Bryce's demeanor lights up when he suddenly remembers to address a certain matter - which has nothing to do with a favor - at least not directly. "I heard some marvelous news, Cyndeyrn. That you have been betrothed? My congratulations to you. Lady Seren is a woman of grace, beauty and wisdom." And literacy, being the scribe of Earl Robert. "A prestigious match.", Bryce remarks with a smile. A smile, by the way, that exceeds his usual faint curving of lips.

Cyndeyrn may have a brief chance to glimpse the item hanging on Bryce's arm, and this may not be the first time that its presence - or even its absence - has been cause for notice. Previously, he might have only ever had the smallest glimpse and thus cause for hunch or suspicion, but worn openly now, he does not mistake the pendant, and can think back to recall the conspicuousness of its absence on prior occasions. No comment is made immediately, and in fact, he might well be distracted from the thought when Bryce brings up his own… romantic issues. "Ah, we are not properly betrothed. I requested the Earl's permission… perhaps hastily, forgetting myself with the King and his own glorious bride there before me, and the Lady just steps away from them. But her brother still must give his full consent. For the moment, at least, she has granted that I wear her favor and he has allowed us to spend some time together, though whether it would be fit to call it proper courting, I couldn't say. While I would not normally see any reason he would object, in the end, I suppose…" and here he does glance toward that object again, "… that one might yet remain."

"Not properly betrothed?", Bryce echoes, raising his gaze as he looks up into the face of Cyndeyrn de Dinton who is a much taller fellow than he is, "but I would think such consent as you mention would be a mere formality." The smile dims a touch. "Ah. By her brother you mean, Sir Acwel? A worthy knight, but I can't see why he should not support such a match when you are the heir and… Lady Seren has granted you her favor…?" Oh, how his mirth dims even more when the talk turns to favors, and as if that were not already enough to remind him of the lady's favor he wears on his own arm, the glance aimed so pointedly at it now will certainly do that trick. "What do you mean?", Bryce inquires, his brows furrowing ever so slightly as he returns the gaze of Cyndeyrn. "What could Sir Acwel indeed hold against you? That you wear her favor without his consent?" Persisting on the topic at hand while the other continues to loom over them.

But then there is a cough, a slight clearing of his throat, and Bryce de Baverstock straightens. "How do you feel about your sister giving me her favor?", he asks, with a voice that is surprisingly soft despite the bluntness of his words. A surprising bluntness perhaps, but then again, he has never been someone to beat about the bush. As Bryce is of course aware that the Dinton has recognized both House colors and the pendant of his sister, Lady Lysanor de Dinton.

As Bryce's confusion becomes obvious, it seems that something more dawns on Cyndeyrn. Although he is not a man of numbers, he is certainly doing a lot of 'adding up' of facts now, not just regarding the token on the other man's arm. He starts to say something, pauses, and then takes a moment, as if unsure how to put everything together. And though the other man comes right out to ask him about his sister's own favor, it is not that question that he answers first, although it clearly shapes his reply. "Some weeks ago… I think just before we went journeying north, Lysanor came and told me that Sir Acwel had asked to meet her in Sarum, and suggested that they, well, told her that he wished to marry her," he explains. "And she told me then, well, well, that she had put him off in answering because there was someone else who she did favor… Well, I suppose she did not quite use those words, but that was the jist of it. But she did not tell me who, though I suppose now it should all be obvious enough. But I think it is because of this, all this waiting, that Sir Acwel has grown a bit cross. Which is why I fear he may resist the idea of my courting his sister now, especially…"

After a bit of a pause, he seems to realize that he has not answered the actual question, and blunt as it was, the other man is owed as much. "We have grown up close enough to being brothers, you and I, so… no, well, ah, it should not surprise me that Lysanor should also hold great affection for you." If presumably of a different sort! "Neither surprise, nor upset me, even. I, ah, her choice would seem a, a good one in my eyes, as good as she could make."

While there is confidence in Bryce's posture, and the way he carries himself, his gaze lingers attentively on Cyndeyrn, flickering even slightly when he notices the other knight is about to speak, then has to rethink what he is about to say. Dark eyes are bound to widen when the Baverstock learns of the Woodford's request of marriage. "Sir Acwel… did what?", Bryce inquires, the voice hardly above an astonished whisper. "I… did not know. When did this occur? Before the mission we embarked upon, together?" The look in his dark eyes goes distant for a moment as the Baverstock tries to consider the timeline. But he seems to be overall more surprised with the news than showing off any cunning or triumph about it all. "Lysanor gave me the pendant as a token of luck, before we left for Tilshead," he finally admits. "I returned it to her when she paid me a visit at Baverstock Manor after our return. She… never said she… I mean… we never spoke of such." She favored him? Deductions that come so easy to the Dinton seem a touch harder to grasp for the Baverstock. Implications he seems to pick up on more easily. A grave glance is given the Dinton knight, and Bryce swallows.

Still, Bryce seems to be reluctant to voice any regret for a development that he never intended to happen in the first place, nor does he find the words to offer encouragement, when his own happiness threatens to impede that of his good friend and the competent scribe of Earl Robert. A simple nod is given to Cyndeyrn's opinion on the matter of Lysanor's favor, and affection, as this Baverstock knight still needs a moment to regather his composure and loquacity. "I am glad you would not… oppose a match," he intones carefully, "between your sister and me, even so… none of the kind has been said between Lysanor and I, apart from me in fact requesting her favor for this tourney and she granting it." He swallows. "Even if I must admit… I have wondered what you and your father might think of such an idea." The idea of marriage.

"I think it was all discussed before then, before we left," Cyndeyrn will agree, although he does not seem to give the timing of it all so much weight and importance now. "Which means, that even with Sir Acwel already asking after her, that yes, she sent her pendant with you, to keep you safe." There is definitely a subtle encouragement here, to not let the revelation of this other suitor dissuade his friend of any of his own thoughts or feelings in the matter. "I had seen she was missing it, but I did not really put the whole of it together until now." Since the other man had not worn it quite so openly before. Again he pauses, seeming to weigh his words, before going on. "She did not answer Sir Acwel because her mind was on another, even then, and clearly," he gestures to his arm, "so have her thoughts remained. I admit, it is not easy for me to speak of the idea of, well, losing my sister, in the way a marriage would mean her going off to a new life and a new family, but as I have said, you are near enough to a brother that I do not think I would feel the loss quite so keenly, in your case." That is really the strongest endorsement he is able to offer, glancing off after having said it, as if he requires some reprieve from the talk of such … matters. When he speaks again, it is a bit more formally.

"Of course, the decision will remain with our father, but I would gladly attest to him your… good knightly character, and I think, being as close as we are, our manors I mean, that it would be well-suited in his eyes." Then, a bit more evenly he continues, "I do not know what will happen with Sir Acwel, in that case. My feeling is that he does not love my sister, so much as he simply is charmed by her as many are, and wants a well-mannered and handsome wife, as most men might. Perhaps there may be some negotiating with him on the manner, as he has been socializing with one of my cousins as well… and were she given a slightly better dowry, or something of that sort, maybe he could be placated."

"Dinton is not far from Baverstock," Bryce adds, mentioning another advantage of such a hypothetical match, as the intention of it still needs to be brought before Cyndeyrn's and Lysanor's father, the Lord Knight of Dinton. But all in all, he seems rather pleased with the reluctant happiness in his friend's reaction, that in that way echoes his own disposition so well. He inclines his head when Cyndeyrn assures him of attesting his good character towards Sir Cynfarch.

"I squired for him. They say the knight who trains you can see right into your soul.", Bryce muses thoughtfully and not without a bit of amusement lacing his tone. "As for Sir Acwel…" Amusement fades and shifts into concern, "if there is anything I can do to help in this… But if you say he might be interested in a cousin of yours…", Bryce de Baverstock assures, leaving the rest of the sentence dangling somewhat in the air.

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