THE REAL LJ IDOL SEASON 9 -- WEEK 7: NO TRUE SCOTSMAN
Despite Her reputation, Fate is neither cruel nor capricious. There is sound reasoning behind all Her decisions; it is simply not for us to know what those reasons are. Perhaps that is for the best…
There is no question that Fate had a hand in the creation of the Bladesedge clan. Had they not lived among us so recently, their story would be considered the stuff of legends. Every member of that prestigious family was a valiant warrior who fought tirelessly for what was right and just. Every member, that is, save one…
“Where is that boy?!” Sir Stephen Bladesedge had always been tempermental, and the strain of the previous six months had distressed him greatly. “Bad enough we had to postpone his coming-of-age ceremony this long. If he ends up making us wait any longer--”
“Calm yourself, my Elder.” Sir Jonathan was only two years younger than his brother, but had always been the more level-headed of the two. “I’m certain he’ll be here shortly. Surely you don’t blame the youth for feeling nervous, especially in light of what happened with Reynolds?”
“Feelings shouldn’t prevent him from doing what’s necessary,” the older man growled. “That boy has been ‘feeling’ far too much for his own good since the accident.”
The door to the room opened suddenly, and Stephen’s youngest son Peter entered quickly. “Finally!” the elder man exhaled. “Everyone else is waiting for you. Let’s get this started.”
“I need to speak to you, Father.” The sixteen-year-old was clearly quite upset. “I’ve… made a decision.”
“Tell me after the ceremony; we've delayed this far too long already.” Though the boy tried to object, Stephen refused to listen; he grabbed Peter’s wrist and practically dragged him to The Great Hall while Jonathan followed the pair, clearly upset by Stephen’s behavior.
The Great Hall was filled to capacity; all twenty members of the Bladesedge clan were in attendance, and they were each accompanied by a sizable retinue. Having a new member formally join their ranks was always a cause for great celebration, and all of them had been disappointed that Peter’s ceremony had been postponed after the unfortunate incident…
The opening prayers and rituals went as expected, though Peter stayed silent through all of them. Eventually, the time came for Peter to formally take the family oath of service. Sir Stephen, as patriarch of the clan, escorted his youngest son to the center of the congregation, handed him a sheathed long sword, and began the oath:
“Young Master Peter, will you solemnly swear to take up arms and fight tirelessly for justice and the law, to use your weapons and skill to defend the weak and those in need?”
Peter stared into his father’s eyes, and after a moment’s pause he loudly proclaimed: “No, I will not!” He cast his weapon to the floor without breaking eye contact, and continued: “I swear to never fight again! May the day I break this vow be the day I die!”
There was a moment of stunned silence… then the room, quite simply, went mad.
“Have you lost all reason?!” Though Stephen, Peter and Jonathan had moved to a private chamber, the patriarch’s shouting could clearly be heard all the way up the corridor. “How could you say such a thing in front of the entire clan?!”
“I tried to tell you privately, Father.” Peter stood tall in the face of the elder man’s rage. “But you wouldn’t listen.”
“How dare you!” Stephen’s anger was truly unnerving, but the boy never flinched. “In the seven generations that this family has existed, no one has ever behaved as shamefully as you have! Now listen to me and do as you’re told-“
“No.” Jonathan interrupted his brother’s tirade. “*YOU* listen. What happened a little while ago occurred because you refused to hear what Peter needed to say to you.” Though Stephen had insisted that the issue was purely a father-and-son matter, Jonathan had successfully countered that the boy clearly needed an advocate… and he was now fulfilling that role quite ably.
Stephen was stunned by Jon's words. “You think I should listen to the excuses of a child?”
“I think you’re refusing to listen because you’re still grieving over Thomas and Franklin.” Stephen’s two eldest sons had fallen in battle the previous year, and the patriarch had taken their deaths very hard. “And I think it’s wrong for you to take out your anger and frustration on everyone else… especially your own flesh and blood.”
Sir Stephen’s face went pale… but then he took a few deep breaths and calmed himself somewhat. “Alright.” He turned to face his youngest son. “Speak to me. I’m listening.”
Peter slowly exhaled, then explained himself. “Father… ever since… what happened with Reynolds… I just can’t bear the idea of ever taking up a sword again. Not even to defend my own life.”
Stephen shook his head violently. “No one blames you for what happened, Peter. You shouldn’t blame yourself, either. How many times have I told you that?”
“It’s not just a matter of the guilt I feel, Father. How can I view what I did to Reynolds as anything other than a terrible omen?”
Stephen waved his hand dismissively. “It was an accident during a training duel. Such things happen occasionally. Haven’t I told you of many similar instances from our family history where men got injured during training?”
Peter stared earnestly into his father’s face. “You told me of numerous non-fatal injuries… but can you name another instance in our family history where someone was killed in a training duel?”
Sir Stephen’s extended silence spoke volumes. When he found his voice again, he tried to change the subject: “For seven generations, every man in this family has taken the oath and fought nobly for what was right and just.”
Jonathan responded before Peter could. “Is forcing him to take the oath against his will right? Is it just?”
Stephen’s jaw and lips moved randomly and soundlessly for several seconds… and finally he said quietly “A Bladesedge… who will not fight? It's unthinkable!”
“Then I won’t use the name.” Peter’s voice trembled, but he continued to reason aloud. “Tradition says I only have the right to call myself a Bladesedge after I take the oath… and I have not done that.”
After a moment’s silence, Stephen spoke again. “You can’t stay among us. Not if you refuse to fight.”
Peter nodded once. “I know that. I… wouldn’t be comfortable here, anyway.”
Sir Stephen blinked in mild surprise in response to his son’s words. “Alright… but I can’t just abandon you, either. That wouldn’t be proper. But where are you to go? All of our allies have sworn to help members of the Bladesedge clan, but technically you are not one of us.”
After a prolonged silence, Jonathan spoke up again. “I… may have a solution. Eight years ago I stayed in a little farming village, hunting down a band of marauders that had been harassing the town regularly. The family I stayed with was so grateful for the service that they swore a life-debt to me. I told them they owed me nothing, but they insisted that they felt beholden to me… and that they would do anything I ever asked of them. So if I wrote them a letter, asking them to assist a… friend of mine… I’m sure they would do so.”
Stephen scoffed aloud. “Do you honestly think the boy will fit in there? He knows nothing about farming!”
“Then I’ll learn!” Peter’s response was immediate and earnest. “I’m not afraid of hard work… and I think I could be… content… as a farmer.”
Stephen mulled it over while rubbing his hands over his face. At length, he spoke again. “Alright. If that’s what’s to be done, then it had best be done quickly. Send your message out tonight, Jon… and the boy will leave in one week’s time.” Stephen turned to face his son. “I’ll give you enough gold so you can purchase a decent plot of land for yourself… but I do have one request.” He reached into a pocket of his doublet, and took out a signet ring bearing the family crest; he had intended to present it to Peter upon his completing the family oath, but now it would serve another purpose. “I hate the idea of completely severing a branch of the family tree; there aren't enough Bladesedges as it is. If you should have a child who is strong and brave, give this to them and send them to us. You may not be a Bladesedge… but your children may be a different matter.”
Peter hesitated before accepting the ring. “I… will tell my children where I came from, and of your noble offer… but it must be their choice to come, just as it was my decision to leave.”
Stephen’s expression clearly indicated that he was deeply displeased by the boy’s response, but before he could speak a word in reply he heard Jonathan clear his throat. When the elder man looked up and saw the withering glare his brother was directing at him, he softened his heart and sighed. Stephen turned back to face his son once more. “Agreed. No one shall be forced to serve against their will.”
The youth smiled nervously, and took the ring. “Thank you, Father. I’m… sorry… that I disappointed you.”
“Don’t blame yourself, son.” The elder man’s eyes began to well up with tears. “I guess this was the way things had to be…”
As always, there was sound reasoning behind Fate’s manipulation of this incident. Perhaps it is for the best that mortals are unaware of Her reasons… but it does not make Her decisions any easier to bear.
As for Peter, he would keep his vow until the day he died, and even then he did not fight to defend himself...
This post is an entry for THE REAL LIVEJOURNAL IDOL SEASON 9. It was inspired by the prompt "No True Scotsman". If you enjoyed reading it, please vote for me by clicking here. My check box is 14th from the top.