Rowaini Musketeers: One For All and All For One

[Rystil Arden]

*Figuring he’s the source of at least some, if not all the gossip surrounding Meleagant’s death, Gabriel just smiles politely at anyone who looks his way.*

“What’s the bet that the crying girl in the corner is either Meleagant’s sister or a lady in love with him,” Gabriel thinks to himself, as he turns and heads in her direction, “Well, I might as well see how things stand now rather than later ... if I’ve guessed correctly.”

“Pardon me, my lady, but I couldn’t help but notice you crying from across the room. Is there anything I can do?” he asks as he approaches.

"You...you're Gabriel Marteau?" she asks, wiping a few tears away with the back of her hand.

 

[unleashed]

"You...you're Gabriel Marteau?" she asks, wiping a few tears away with the back of her hand.

“I am, my lady,” Gabriel replies, lowering himself to one knee in front of her so he’s at her level.

 

[Shayuri]

"Marie gave that to you without telling you about the Lunar Festival?" Richard wags his finger, "You are naughty, ma petite souer."

*Marie blushes.*

"I wasn't thinking, and I just took it for granted that he knew," Marie admits, "The youngest unmarried Dulirand daughter has a part to play in that festival. It's why the flower usually blooms later. I'm supposed to give a brave noble knight the flower, and he will play the part across from me in the Festival and be my champion in the tournament...But Jacen, you're doing so much already and I know you might not be here by then. I didn't mean for you to have to do that if you didn't want, I just wanted to give it to you...it would have wilted by tomorrow."

"Oh...no, it's...I'm flattered," Jacen replies. "I'm not really a -knight- though. I'd be honored to be your champion, but I can't promise I'd be much good on horseback or with lances or any of that. And I don't really fight well in all that armor." He clears his throat and shrugs. "So I wouldn't be offended if you chose another. But I would do my best, if you chose me."

 

[Fenris]

"Oh...no, it's...I'm flattered," Jacen replies. "I'm not really a -knight- though. I'd be honored to be your champion, but I can't promise I'd be much good on horseback or with lances or any of that. And I don't really fight well in all that armor." He clears his throat and shrugs. "So I wouldn't be offended if you chose another. But I would do my best, if you chose me."

Tristan laughs, "She's already has chosen you lad. You worry about learning to be a woman for the next week. Then when we have the Tear and Marie both safe, I'll show you how to hold a lance and other knightly things, if that is what is required of you. And dammit Jacen if a woman gives you an invitation such as this again and you say anything other than 'I would be honored to be your champion' I'll teach you proper manners in a manner you wouldn't like. Now would you care to amend your answer to Mademoiselle Marie?" says Tristan with a glare at Jacen.

 

[Rystil Arden]

“I am, my lady,” Gabriel replies, lowering himself to one knee in front of her so he’s at her level.

"You...you...you killed..." she strikes out at him rather impotently but just winds up falling over herself and onto him, "...my poor brother. Why did you...?"

 

[Shayuri]

Jacen sighs and rubs the back of his neck.

"I was just being honest," he protests feebly...but then gives Marie an abashed 'what can you do' smile and repeats, "It would be an honor to be chosen as your champion."

Then he glances at Tristan, his expression suggesting that he'd like to stick his tongue out, but doesn't quite dare go that far.

 

[unleashed]

"You...you...you killed..." she strikes out at him rather impotently but just winds up falling over herself and onto him, "...my poor brother. Why did you...?"

Gabriel catches Melisante Degorre and sits her gently back in her chair, holding her hands as he says, “I’m sorry Meleagant’s dead, Melisante, but it was not I who killed him. If he had died in the courtyard, I could not fault your judgement, my dear, however, he walked away from our duel, wounded and in pain to be sure, but still in full control of himself. Even those far better versed in the healing arts than I are confused as to why he died exactly, though I did hear them say your brother seemed to have weathered the wounds alright. Which seems a reasonable assumption, given my own observations and the fact he made it all the way from the courtyard to the great hall before suddenly collapsing.”

 

[Fenris]

Jacen sighs and rubs the back of his neck.

"I was just being honest," he protests feebly...but then gives Marie an abashed 'what can you do' smile and repeats, "It would be an honor to be chosen as your champion."

Then he glances at Tristan, his expression suggesting that he'd like to stick his tongue out, but doesn't quite dare go that far.

Tristan reaches down and tousles Jacen hair. "There you go lad. A lady's champion does not refuse her. Now, I know I could you a drink. Tommy, Richard why don't you show me the the way to the cellar eh? Perhaps some cheese as well, but no bread!" says Tristan as he steers Tommy and Richard out of the room to try to give Jacen and Marie some privacy.

 

[Rystil Arden]

Gabriel catches Melisante Degorre and sits her gently back in her chair, holding her hands as he says, “I’m sorry Meleagant’s dead, Melisante, but it was not I who killed him. If he had died in the courtyard, I could not fault your judgement, my dear, however, he walked away from our duel, wounded and in pain to be sure, but still in full control of himself. Even those far better versed in the healing arts than I are confused as to why he died exactly, though I did hear them say your brother seemed to have weathered the wounds alright. Which seems a reasonable assumption, given my own observations and the fact he made it all the way from the courtyard to the great hall before suddenly collapsing.”

"I...you..." Melisante was sort of slumped against the wall before, not in a chair. She sniffles and starts crying wordlessly against Gabriel's chest before pulling herself back to say one word, pregnant with a variety of strong emotions, "Why!?"

 

[Rystil Arden]

"Actually, Sabine, why don't you and I conference on makeover tips now, since I won't be here for it tomorrow. Tommy, do you want to go with Sir Tristan?"

"Okay," Tommy agrees, following Tristan. Afterwards, he adds, "It seems like you're always taking me to get cheese..."

*Meanwhile, with everyone gone, Marie gives Jacen a reassuring hug, though whether she's trying to reassure Jacen or herself is unclear.*

"Jacen...it's going to be okay. I'm so sorry that I got you involved in all of this..."