The Young Lord

[Emenzi 1069]

 

The morning mist in Schattenburg was thick as the bells of Feldkirch begun to rang, the heavy bells of the tower was echoing along the mountains and coast.

The young lord awoke in his chambers on the third floor of the castle, he dressed himself and walked out into the empty halls of the keep.

He went and stood alone on the top at one of the western towers, overlooking the march that he was soon about to rule.

 

The bells stopped ringing as he heard a deep recognizable voice behind him, he turned around smiling slightly as his Uncle Beron stood before him.

 

“Young lad, what are you doing out here so early? You could catch a cold.”

 

“I just needed to get some air Uncle..”

 

“Well today is a big day, do you remember everything I have taught you?”

 

“Yes Uncle, of course. How would I forget.?” He chuckles slightly

 

Beron smiles slightly and looks at the young man

 

“Are you nervous?”

 

“I don’t know. Maybe, probably..”

 

“You should be, today is a big day for both you and Stafyr. A lord will again rule the house.”

 

“I know uncle.. I know. I’ll go and get something to eat.”

 

“Don’t eat too much, i’m sure your aunt has had the servants prepare a fine meal for later.”

 

The young lord nods slightly and walks down the stairs, heading back to the main keep.

He eats a small breakfast prepared by some servants before going into his room, deciding to sleep until noon to be as fresh as possible during the ceremony.

 

He is awoken by a servant that his Aunt sent to prepare the young lord for the ceremony.

The servant helps him to get dressed in his finest outfit, he can hear the noises of the crowd through the corridors of the keep and glances through the open door on the servants and family members that occasionally passes by.

 

As he is finished, his cousin Ford enters the room looking at the young lord.

 

“Cousin, Aunt Leana and Uncle Alistier sent me here to ask if you are ready.”

 

“Aye Ford, tell them I am ready..”

 

Ford nods before leaving the room and the young lord stares at the wall, gulping before leaving the room shortly after him.

His steps are light and swift, the servants, courtiers and family members nodding and curtsying to him as he passes.

The young lord is stopped by two gardists in the stairwell, as his aunt walks up beside him.

 

He looks at his aunt, trying to look as determined as possible, the insecure and scared boy hiding on the inside.

 

“Are you ready?”

 

“Yes, aunt. I was born, raised and educated for this moment.”

 

“Good, remember that your father is looking on you from the afterlife together with all the former lords of Stafyr, they are all proud of you and so am I.”

 

The young lord hugs his aunt, before grabbing her arm and leads her down the stairs, followed closely by the two gardists.

A silence appears as they enter the throne room of Schattenburg, the courtiers, guards, servants, peasants and family members all going quiet as the young lord and his aunt walks down the carpet towards the wooden throne of Stafyr.

A hooded man with a scar running through his face stands by the side of the carpet, looking upon the young lord as he passes.

He stops by the end of the carpet, letting go of his aunt and walking the three steps to the throne.

 

He looks out over the hall, seeing his family, friends and subject looking upon him.

The young lord takes a deep breath before beginning to speak

 

“My friends, family.

From the moment I was born I have been raised to lead, to be your lord, commander and leader.

To be as the lords before me.

To hold true to the words of Stafyr. Law, Honor, Loyalty.

I promise, that I will follow these words and lead this house to the best of my abilities.

I swear so on the creator and my ancestors, that House Stafyr will live and that it will not fall under me.

So do I swear, Farley Stafyr, the second of my name, descendant of Hanethor.”

 

The young lord backs up slightly before lowering himself down on the throne.

His Uncle Alistier approaches the throne holding forth a pillow to the servant standing besides the throne, on the pillow rests a copper crown with an emerald shining in the center of it.

The servant takes the crown and gently places it upon the young lord’s head as Alistier walks back into the front of the crowd.

The young lord loudly speaks

 

“Law, Honor, Loyalty.”

 

The crowd repeats after him, applauds and cheers begin, echoing out the main gates and throughout the march as the bells of Feldkirch rings once again.

 

As celebrations starts in the castle the hooded man walks down the path to the fields, nodding to himself.

“He’ll do fine”

 

And so it was that a new lord was again ruling House Stafyr.

Marquis Farley II. Stafyr, son of Marquis Edmund Stafyr and Marchioness Angelika Geminine, descendant of Hanethor.

[Galendar 631]

Alexander stands in the archway at the side of the throne room carpet, arms crossed as he stares forward from under his cowl. His expressionless face shifts into a small and proud smile as he watches Farley walk down the carpet towards the throne. "Like his father and the man he is named for..." he mumbles lowly. As he places the crown atop Farley's head, Alexander smiles brightly before moving briskly out behind the hooded man. He hears his words in the village before separating from him, adding "He will, just as his father did... now I've completed my vow to Edmund... time to let go of my little buddy.." He smirks as he drops his hood, seeing nobody around.

[Birdwhisperer 1174]

Moved to the Great Library. It shall be sorted into appropriate category shortly.