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Post by Rainald de Sennis on Apr 11, 2010 10:42:16 GMT -5
The day had finally come. At last! Rainald de Sennis took a deep breath to release any tension he might still feel deep inside. What he was about to do would change a life ...no, it would change more than just the young boy's life. he knew that.
He had been warned by his King, Charles of West Frankia. Not openly, oh no. Subtly, Charles had used his courtiers, servants, old friends to the de Sennis family like Lord Lamont Duchesne; even Rainald's own trusted steward Bertrand who administered the de Sennis estates and wealth, to warn Rainald about the grievous consequences if Rainald would insist on going through with this ceremony.
The threats would become real. But Rainald felt a greater obligation to the boy than he even felt to his King. if need be, he knew which side he would be on!
When he opened the door to his and Gernot's chambers, the young lad was already waiting inside, along with Lady Sofia. The ceremony required a trustable witness, and Rainald had felt it only right to ask the healer lady to be by the boy's side when he would become part of the de Sennis family. For one, it was a gesture of respect towards the lady, as she had been, and would continue to be, instrumental in the boy's education. But then there was another aspect - Rainald had wronged the lady gravely in the past, a wrong he wished to make right again. By placing his trust in Lady Sofia in being the witness to this important personal matter.
In any case, here they were now. Rainald spoke quietly but in no uncertain terms to Gernot who now knelt at his feet. He spoke of the future, that Gernot now would bear the de Sennis family name and the protection, privileges and duties his new family would entail. Gernot would now be considered Rainald de Sennis' son in everything if not by land and wealth. Those two things would be for his true blood son, should he and lady Jessica ever be graced by one of their own.
But, in everything else, Gernot would now be a part of Frankish nobility. It would give him the protection he now needed, he had rights and privileges, and it would show him - at least Rainald hoped so - how much he was considering Gernot truly as part of his blood.
Which he was! Illegitimate, born by a woman of low standing who had not been his wife, but his own blood nonetheless.
"You are now my son, Gernot. From now on you will bear the name of Gernot de Sennis, and you will have my protection ... from everything or anyone!"
Rainald didn't go into the dangers this ceremony meant for the boy or himself. There was no reason to frighten Gernot, who wouldn't understand the implications fully until he would be much older.
When Rainald and Gernot had signed the legal paper, the Frank Lord asked Lady Sofia to do so as well. He was grateful for her help with this, and from a conversation with Lady Beren Rainald knew Gernot would enjoy the protection of windstorm also. And maybe, such protection would be necessary to beg for himself, some day.
Hopefully never!
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Post by sofia on Apr 11, 2010 17:24:06 GMT -5
As she stood in the small room waiting with Gernot for the Ambassador to appear, the petite exotic woman smiled at her young friend and placed a hand to his shoulder, giving a gentle squeeze. Being here meant so much to Sofia, on so many levels. Yes she was of royal blood and birth and to serve as the official Witness, but it was more than that. It was being trusted to teach this young lad after the fights she'd had with his sire. It was De Sennis' effort at peace, and she was glad to take it.
Gernot...she spoke softly, drawing his gaze...suddenly realizing the lad had grown and she had to look up at him.....This is a happy day for you my young friend...he nods but is also pale and gulps a little...she grins...then reaches into her pocket fingering something...I've a gift for you. Gernot looked askance as she handed him a simple strip of richbrown wool embroidered in bright red with beautiful Arabic writing. Slim finger touches the piece...here...this wool is from my family's sheep among the Berber people of the northern Sahara desert...this writing, it ...it says....A dutiful son is the treasure to his father......and here....may god bless and keep you....and here Gernot smiled and tucked the thing away. Sofi kissed both his cheeks then stepped back hearing footsteps. Gernot knelt before De Sennis after polite greetings, and sofia fell silent, watching as the man spoke to his son.
In a few minutes the thing was done, and father and son embraced. Sofia smiled and murmured congratulations to them both, then turned to the desk and took up the quill, dipping it in the ink and setting tot he waiting parchment. As Latin was the legal language of choice, she wrote her attestation in that language in neat, precise, clear lettering, legible to any who could read, being careful to include complete stipulations of inheritance and property.. At the bottom she put her name in Latin of course, but below that she wrote her full name and titles in perfect beautiful flowing Arabic before dripping heated wax onto the document and pressing her family seal into the molten red pool. Yes, she had one, it had been necessary in her years as a courier negotiating trade contracts. Now it stood as a formal witness to a legal document, and as such was incontrovertible proof of Rainald De Sennis' proper adoption of Gernot, and would be above any contestation even in foreign royal courts. If somebody wanted to make a stink about her being a woman, they would find themselves having an interesting conversation with a Moroccan Sultan in very short order. But that didn't matter at the moment, Sofia was happy to sign and seal the document, then handed it to the Ambassador with a smile.
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Post by sofia on Apr 11, 2010 21:49:30 GMT -5
**Some little while later, the woman makes her way to the proclamation boards, and tacks something up with a grin  |
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Post by Gernot de Sennis on Apr 12, 2010 16:18:28 GMT -5
He had squeezed Sofia's hand like a little boy moments before the door to the private chambers he shared with his soon-to-be father Rainald de Sennis opened. "I am not sure I'm ....worthy, Lady Sofia!" Immediately the lady had shushed his doubts and spoken to him in a low voice, reassuring him and steadying his nerves. So long now had he known Lord de Sennis, longer even than his own mother who was always so busy with ... well, other men and stuff. Never once had Lord Rainald raised his hand against Gernot, not like some of those men his mother did service. Never once! Sure, he had chided him occasionally, corrected him on matters he did wrong or not as they should be done properly. But never had he raised his hand, or taken the whip to him, of chased him away because he had no time for him! On the contrary - more than once had Lord Rainald taken the time to further Gernot's education by reading to him; doing the basic numbers with him; he always prevented bodily harm coming to the boy, and for that Gernot would always be eternally grateful. But there was much more he felt, his feelings went much deeper. For so long now had he secretly wished to be more to Lord Rainald than just his servant, or even his squire. And today, his wish would become true! He was so glad the Lady Sofia was with him! he had learned so much from her already, and she from him! He was really proud of her progress in Frankian, she could already hold a small conversation with him. As he stood, now his hands behind his back, one foot tapping nervously as he watched the door to open, he felt a great satisfaction about his good teaching skills. But now the moment had come, and Gernot knelt before the man he would so soon call his father. He felt Lord Rainald's hand on his head, his low whispered prayers. "Be thou strong, be thou wise, be thou merciful and be thou true, to God, yourself and your family. You are now my son, Gernot. From now on you will bear the name of Gernot de Sennis, and you will have my protection ... from everything or anyone!" With a gentle pull Rainald bid Gernot to stand and embraced him for a long moment, finally kissing his brow. Gernot returned the affection he felt, only with great effort he managed not to cry like a little boy. Like the boy he had been - not any longer. Now he had a real family, a real father, he was a man now! After his father released his from his embrace, Gernot looked back to Lady Sofia, smiling at her with a pride he had never before felt. He covered the short distance between them and now also embraced her, as if she was his mother. "Thank you, Lady sofia, for so much. For everything ... for the peace between you and my father!" The last words he meant with all his heart. Gernot hoped and prayed to the Good Lord that the peace of this day would never come to an end. After all, he still was a small boy of only 14 years of age! (And thank you so much, dear sofia, for that wonderful scroll!)  |
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Post by sofia on Apr 12, 2010 16:28:03 GMT -5
(*grins, most welcome hun, t'was a pleasure)
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Post by Lady Berens scribe on Apr 14, 2010 17:17:45 GMT -5
((wonderful rp - thank you for sharing!  )) |
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Post by Rainald de Sennis on Apr 15, 2010 12:07:14 GMT -5
He shook his head when he had entered his chambers last night after a whole day out along the borders. He had been told there would be an excellent woodworker who produced the finest of chests and other trinkets made from wood. Rainald would ask the man by the name of Harrold of Barnstable, to fashion a jewelry box for his bride to be, lady Jessica.
When he returned back to Windstorm, tired as a dog, all he wished for was some sleep, a short nap before he would go down to the hall and see who else would be there. Entering, a strong smell of mint and carmomille, mingled with a distinct scent of dried hay, hit his nose. "What the devil..." After the first of his footfalls produced a crunshing sound, rainald stopped in his tracks and looked around - the whole floor of the room was covered with HAY!
"Gernot?" Where was that boy? What was this supposed to be? "GERNOT???" Apparently the lad wasn't in their chambers, possibly doing other duties. Rainald could barely stiffle a yawn as he decided to resign to his fate and simply get a small nap before he would find gernot and find out about this mess.
Sitting down at the foot of the bed and let himself fall back onto the sheets, he took a deep breath ... the scent of mint and other herbs infused his nose, bringing a strange calm and clearing his nose and head. Soon, he was fast asleep, and noone would be able to raise him until the early morning the next day!
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Charles III of Frankia
Guest
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Post by Charles III of Frankia on Apr 20, 2010 13:11:48 GMT -5
With shaking hands the ruler of West Frankia held a letter in his hands. With loathing he turned his eyes onto it again to re-read the ipossible, the impudent news its letters held.
"How dare he? How DARE HE?"
Charles, King, ruler and sovereign of the western part of the Frankian lands roared like a lion, making two of the pages cringe with fear, one taking a step backwards away from the throne.
"How dare that traitor defy me like this? Taking his ... this misrable littleBASTARD as his son?"
Tossing the letter written in the neatest of handwriting to the ground, Charles got up from his seat, hastily grabbing one of the chalices from a tray nearby, drowing it in one long gulp before depositing the vessel next to the descarded letter onto the ground.
"I begged him, I bargained with him ... I warned him, and this is how he repays my friednship? I will wipe out the de Sennis' from the face of this Earth! - Call Duchesne to my private chambers ... NOW!"
Never had the pages and servants seen their king so irate! Never had they felt the danger of his wrath for those he chose to bestow it upon so real.
Turning on his heels, Charles strode out of the throne room, heading for his chambers, while one of the page boys made busy fetching Lord Lamont Duchesne ... a friend and benefactor of the de Sennis family. Now a loyal servant to Charles, and one of the deadliest assassins in West Frankia!
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Post by Lady Beren on Apr 27, 2010 10:08:51 GMT -5
((*shivers in her boots! *))  |
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Post by Rainald de Sennis on Apr 27, 2010 11:37:04 GMT -5
Alone he is in the small chapel being part of Windstorm castle, deep in prayer and thoughts chasing through his mind .By now King Charles would have received his letter in which he had announced the done deed - becoming a father again! Rainald knew that Charles would see this act as one of defiance, if not even treachery. Rainald had known this, and thus had thrown his family onto a dangerous path. "It was worth it, by God! I would do this again...for my boy...."
In his hands he held the letter he had written to his old friend Lamont Duchesne. They had grown up together as boys, as nobles, as knights of the realm. they had shared battles together, had safed each other's lives. He could always trust Lamont with his most intimate thoughts ... but was that still so?
When he had been back in Frankia at court he had seen lamont in a different light and position than when he had left Frankia many years ago. Lamont had still embraced his old friend with a cordiality grown from long knowledge and yet... too easily had Lamont laughed at even the most feeble wits Charles threw at them; too eagerly had he repeated the King's stanze about adopting the boy; too profound had Rainald felt the silence which on occasion now filled the room between them over dinner or riding out for a hunt.
"Can I still trust you, my friend?"
Setting the sealed letter aside Rainald knelt down in front of the altar and closed his eyes, asking God to guide him, to send him a sign whether he should still trust despite his nagging doubts.
TBC
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Post by Rainald de Sennis on May 15, 2010 15:03:48 GMT -5
is in the Library, and says to ALL: Rainald has chosen the library to spend his time in some quiet this evening. Something had happened which had shaken him beyond what he had expected, beyond which he had ever thought he would allow in himself. It was a small accident .... Gernot and him had been out riding close to Windstorm forest. Rainald wanted to show his son some good spots for hunting, to later this month maybe gather a few of the other squires for some hunting experience.
(14:45:09)
Emissary of West Frankia
is in the Library, and says to ALL: They were in the woods, not armed, only their knives and his sword with them. Dismounting, they had left the horses at the edge of the forest, to go on deeper inside on foot. There was a clearing Rainald had discovered which attrated game of all sorts, from rabbits to boars and deer. As careful as they had been, they dissturbed a boar with her young. The boar began to attack, heading for the boy .... Raianld had become frozen, drawing his sword too late to effectively defend his son ... gernot had mastered the threat with bravery, standing his ground without fear before aiming his knife against the neck of the beast ... the blade was diverted and got stuck in the boar's shoulder, but the beast stopped and turned to flee. Gernot was unharmed, a few scratches, nothing more.
(14:46:04)
Emissary of West Frankia
: And yet
"He could have been crippled or .... dead....damn!"
(14:48:02)
Emissary of West Frankia
is in the Library, and says to ALL: Rainald held on to his mug with ale, eventually taken a long gulp from it, the cooling liquid soothing his mind. Things like these happened, they would continue to happen. gernot was no child any longer, Rainald had to begin to trust that his training so far had equipped the boy with the skills necessary to survive such accidents
(14:50:45)
Emissary of West Frankia
: He sighed and set the wine aside, taking a map from a nearby table. The map showed the country of Lune.... Lady Beren's home
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Post by Gernot de Sennis on Jun 10, 2010 3:41:18 GMT -5
As he was readying the horse of his father, Gernot thought about the upcoming hunt he would go on with Ranger Nocholas and some of the other squires. Meat was direly needed in cook's kitchen, so some rabbits, fowl and maybe even a deer or a boar would be some welcome additions to the meal plan of the castle residents.
His father Rainald would go on this hunt, too. He felt it his duty to try and provide a little to the upkeep of the castle and its residents, even though he was still only a guest here. Just as Gernot felt so often.
Was this really his home? Where was home? In Frankia? Here in Windstorm? ... The more he thought about it, he knew the only answer he could come up with - home was where his father was!
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Post by Lady Beren on Jun 10, 2010 14:33:13 GMT -5
(a nice one *SS* )
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))