The fate of a Knight

[Nandon]

William paced back and forth outside the huge throne room that had been cleaned up following the battle, he was soon to learn his fate.

Biting his upper lip he thought for a moment, his thoughts turning to his home...Briefly wondering if he would ever see it again, He then sighed. He had made his choice to come here for the battle, To aid the varden...To atone in some small way for all the terrible deeds that he had done.

He had dressed in the best attire he had been able to gather for himself, Consisting mostly of a emerald tunic that matched the green on his eyes, With dark brown leather pants and boots to match.

His thoughts then turned to his Lady turned queen and smiled fondly, He had always been extremely fond of her, And often times lamented that he could have never served a better lady if he had searched the entire world over a thousand times.

Slowly the door opened a crack and a slim man stepped out. "The Queen will see you now, Sir William."

William glanced to the man and nodded following him in he approached the throne with swift strides the dropped down onto a knee, Head glancing down at the floor as if suddenly ashamed to be here. "I am here as I have been called My Queen."

[Quetzal]

Nasuada drummed her fingers anxiously on the throne, feeling mildly uncomfortable sitting there. It was her place for dealing with issues such as this one, but she was acutely aware of how corrupt the last monarch had been. Accepting power had been something she was hugely wary of. She had insisted on establishing a council, although just how to determine who was to take a place was yet to be decided. It made sense for those who had been important in the war to have places, but at the same time she didn't want to be the one to pick everyone. It would be far better if each group in the land could choose someone to promote their views to be sure they were not ignored even by mistake, the rest of the council being people skilled and knowledgeable in the areas they had control over - a skilled banker to look after the realm's wealth and expenses, for example. Thinking of ways to organise all that was taxing, and for the present she was temporarily the role ruler, though she took all the advice she could get.

Now came a terrible task for her. "I'm ready. Send him in," she told an attendant, who nodded politely and summoned Sir William into the somewhat bare and slightly damaged room.

Nasuada smiled at him, though there was sadness in her face. "Thanks you Sir, you may rise." She personally did not blame him for what he had done, understanding the nature of cursed objects, but clearly the elves did not. She could not let him get away with his actions, however, since Alagaesia was hanging on thin threads as they tried to pick up the pieces of an organised kingdom as it was. Not punishing William would be seen as an insult by the elves. Immediately they would be against her, something to be avoided for the good of the entire kingdom. She did not want it severing over one person.

"While I do not blame you for your actions and can see clearly you regret them most deeply, I cannot let this go unpunished. You have harmed innocents. The elves sentenced you to die, and you committed another crime in going against them and escaping. You proved yourself in the battle by fighting bravely, however, so I shall not sentence you to execution. Before I set anything in stone, do you have anything to say for yourself?" she asked. Thank goodness he'd fought bravely for the Varden, else she didn't know how she would worm her way out of having to execute him.

[Nandon]

William stood and faced Nasuada on her command, Though his face appeared exceptionally neutral, As if trying purposefully to stop emotion from creeping up on his face.

"Only that which I have said a thousand time, That my actions were horribly terribly wrong. And that I regret every second of it." William said fairly simply, And in truth he did. He made no form of excuses for his actions though. Never one to pass blame onto someone else even though the fact that he was still alive was the fault of another.

He glanced down at his boots for a moment then back up to the Queen. His jaw set and his eyes betraying the neutral look on his face. Crossing his hand behind his back he spread his feet shoulder width apart and wait for his fate.

[Quetzal]

Nasuada studied William's face. His neutral look at this time was out of place considering the grievous circumstances. She could see some emotion in his eyes and the set of his jaw, as if it were taking him effort to keep his expression so unemotional. Perhaps if he did not make the effort, it would have all spilled out, which would have been embarrassing. That was her reasoning, anyway. She hadn't been expecting him to make excuses either. William was an honest man, not the sort to try weaseling his way out of his own mistakes. Accepting one's fate could be a fault and lead to bad situations that may have otherwise been avoided, but in this case it was a good thing. No excuse was good enough to make what he had done any better. Making them would only serve to make him look worse than he already did, as if he was not truly sorry and cared too much for himself. Nasuada was glad the knight had not made that mistake.

"Nothing more, no excuses? Very well. William, you have committed acts of murder, and made yourself a threat to all around you with your violent actions. However, I am aware you were not under complete control of your own body at the time, and believe you are sorry enough not to take a cause of action that may lead down that road again. You must still be punished for allowing those actions to be made in the first place. The elves will take it as a great insult or even threat were you to walk among them again, as you have made an enemy of that race. I therefore declare that you may never walk on elven territories as long as you may live. Du Weldenvarden and all its lands and settlements are forbidden to you. This banishment will last until your death, or until the elves declare otherwise. The penalty for breaking your banishment will be decided on by the elves, and is likely to be death." Nasuada said solemnly. She hated to make such a declaration regarding a friend, but it had to be done. She could not exclude people from punishment based on her own relationship with them - that only lead to corruption.

[Nandon]

William let out a small breath that he had been holding, His upright posture relaxed slightly, Shoulders retreating an inch. He looked at Nasuada and gave a bow.

"Thank you my lady...Will that be all?"

To william the punishment had been extremely mercifull, Considering he had gone in fully expecting the death penalty.

[Quetzal]

Nasuada was pleased to see William taking the news well. It was a better punishment than some would have said he deserved, but in her opinion it was the right thing to do, both for William and politically. William had already learned his lesson, she knew, but it was hardly just to know deal out some consequence for an action and banishment from any settlement of a race containing a wealth of intricate knowledge and being considered an enemy by said race was not a good thing to happen. Politically, had she made an example of him she may have been seen as cruel and harsh, too little a punishment and she would be considered soft and she would upset the elves, and it was safest for William and the relationship between the elf kingdom and the rest of Alagaesia if he had no chance of ever being seen in their dwellings.

She nodded. "Yes, that is all. I am pleased you are taking this so calmly, it makes everything much easier. Take extra care around elves from now on; a slip there will cost you dearly. You are dismissed. Good luck," she told him. A couple of guards moved aside to allow William to use the doorway to exit.

[Nandon]

William bowed and started to turn before suddenly twirling around on his heels again. "I would also like to seek your private council on a matter when next you are free. Until then I shall linger."

William then finally started to walk out, Walking as he always had in life with a calm Nonchalant strut. Anything could have happened to him at that moment and in truth he would not have cared. Simply accepting it. It seemed that his 'death' had affected him in more ways than even he knew.

[Quetzal]

Nasuada nodded and waited for a moment after William had left, contemplating the words that had just passed between them and what that would mean for the knight's life, before calling in the next visitor. The next few were quickly seen to, mostly people confused with the new regime or wondering if they could have this or do that now the king was dead.

After a few more people, Nasuada decided she had seen enough and the queue was short enough to allow a break to offer William council. Technically it was still helping someone so she did not feel too guilty for leaving a couple of people waiting. She found him before too long and offered him a smile. "What was it you needed help with?" she asked. There were many blatant issues, but she did not know which one William needed help with.

[Nandon]

William turned to look at Nasuada as she appeared next to him, He then beckoned for him to follow him and he started to walk abit, Walking always made talking better right? Once he was sure that Nasuada was following him, and sure that he himself was walking at a plenty leisurely pace.

"Why did you spare me if I may ask?" William asked as he glanced briefly over at her. "Not that I am not ungrateful. It was just unexpected." William started as his mind started to wander. A habbit that had begun to effect him ever since his 'death'

[Quetzal]

Nasuada followed William, glad at the chance to stretch her legs. Sitting in that council chamber all day made her legs stiff and restless. Walking would work out all the little kinks inactivity gave her as her legs had spent the morning slowly falling asleep.

"Because I thought it was just." Nasuada gave him the short answer before elaborating. Politics was tricky, delicate work, and a calculating mind was needed to achieve the desired end goal. With the entire kingdom now part of her ever increasing responsibility, any slip ups would be catastrophic. On a smaller scale, mistakes had been fine, but now everything had to be done so carefully. Even the tiniest thing like the punishment of a criminal like William may have escalated with dire consequences. "I understood that you were not yourself, that you were under the influence of that sword. I fully believe that you would never do such a thing again, and know you well enough to be certain you wouldn't have done such a thing of your own accord. Killing you would not have brought those you killed back. I still thought some punishment was due since it would be disrespectful for those hurt for any alternative, and because the elves would be in outcry. Banishing you from all elven dwellings is also an excellent way of significantly reducing your ability to kill any more of them in the unlikely event this happens again."

[Nandon]

"I see." William said with a small nod as he thought over everything she had said, It made sense, And she was straight forward with him, Something he had always appreciated.

"Well do you have further need of me then My lady? The war -is- over." William asked, glancing to her with a perked eyebrow. He didnt really know what he wanted, He wanted to find Naomi sure. And possibly go home. But he had grown a taste for adventure, and that was a taste that he was not sure he was ready to give up. "My skills are, as always. At your service." He added.

[Quetzal]

Nasuada thought about what William asked her. Presently she had no need of his skills as an uneasy peace had settled itself around the kingdom, but she was confident there would always be a use for a knight. Whether as a respected ambassador, a peacekeeper, or someone to go on missions as they arose, someone of his talents was always good to have around. Right now she could think of no pressing tasks. Should one come up, she had plenty of other knights who had distinguished themselves over the course of the war at hand. Many of those were returning to their families, but many still she knew would happily answer any call for help from her or another Varden member. It was true that William was one of her best, but all the same there was always a way to cope.

"I fear there may always be some need for a man of your skillset just around the corner. However, I cannot think of any right now, and I refuse to force anyone to stay with the Varden against their will. You may do as you please, but keep in mind I may request your service in future. You always have the choice of saying no, though," she told him. "Out of curiosity, was there anything in particular you wanted to do?"

[Nandon]

William thought carefully about that, Leaning against the wall, His face pursed up in a thinking face.

"You know, I actually havent gotten that far in my plans, There are many things I could do in all honesty. I could settle down and get married, I could go off into the woods and become a mad man." At the last part he laughed abit before continuing.

"But more than likely I will be going to find Naomi. She is the only family I have left, And I would like to find her and make sure she is safe." William said with a much more serious expression upon his face.

"What about you? Apart from running a country I mean."

[Quetzal]

Nasuada nodded. It was difficult to know what to do with life in the long term. She didn't expect William to know much about his own future, aside from any hopes and dreams that motivated him today. Getting married, rising to a certain rank, that sort of thing was common. She laughed too. Being a madman in some woods was not quite William's style.

"Finding Naomi is an excellent task to set yourself. Family members should go to each other's aid. I wish you the best of luck in that," she agreed. That was a good start for the young knight. Perhaps along the way he would discover more about where he wanted to take himself, what he wanted to do in life. Perhaps he wouldn't. Maybe if he found her, Naomi would have something important to tell him, something that gave him new ideas about what to do with himself.

Aside from running a country, Nasuada had little else to do. "Running a country is very time-consuming, I rarely have the chance to do much else. Aside from that, or I suppose, still relating to that, I'd like to see more of the different races working and getting along together. It worked for the Varden during the war, and I hope people have learned enough to keep up the good relationships now they're not fighting for any common cause," she said. She never had given much thought to her own personal goals outside her position.

[Nandon]

William nodded as he listened to Nasuada in turn.

"The only group I see you having trouble with is the urgals...THey helped us greatly during the war, But now that it is over they will search for conflict, It is there nature." He stated simply, Remarking on something she most likely already knew.

"Have you ever thought of marriage, My lady?" William asked with sudden brashness as he glanced over at her. It was by no means a proposal of any means. Just a curious itch he felt he had to scratch, To wonder if he was indeed the only one who was having these thoughts now that the fighting was over, Though he had been having them ever since his 'death'.

[Quetzal]

Nasuada had a similar concern with the urgals. It could not be allowed for them to start conflicts, which was a tricky business given their nature and given that until around a year ago, people thought them to be mindless brutes and savages. Within the Varden they had found a place, but even then many people avoided them. The world at large had not encountered them in a civilised setting. The prejudice would be tough to break. "I have similar concerns. The urgals will have a seat at the council, for sure, and I just hope they can find other ways to channel their aggression. I fear the general population has a hatred of them running too deep not to provoke them." She frowned.

The next question was completely out of the blue. It caught her off guard. She knew it was not a proposal, of course, but it was still unexpected. "I've been too busy for marriage, but once everything settles down... yes, I think marrying eventually might be nice. I have never really considered anyone for marrying for love, but it might happen one day, and I would be happy to marry for political reasons," she mused over the possibilities, thinking it was most likely she would end up marrying for politics rather than anything else. She never had the time for romance, which was a shame sometimes, but she didn't mind too much. There were more important things than love. "Why do you ask? Have you been considering settling down?" she too was curious. William had always been the travelling soldier, it would be interesting to see him develop a desire to stop and raise a family now. Unless he had thought of a way to do both.

[Nandon]

"It is as you said. I think later it might be nice, Once things have settled down. Have a loving family to return to when I come back from a mission, Have a son I could train to be a knight, Or a daughter for that matter." William said with a small smile, His parents had taught both him and Naomi to cook, Fight, And sew. So why not pass those lessons on to the next generation?

"It gets a bit lonely when I go home is all, I love my sister dearly, And she me. But she isn't always there. So that just leaves the three servants we have. And sadly they are in to much awe of me to be good company." He continued on with a sigh, He didn't know why he was saying all these things. But at this point he couldn't stop the flood.

"And when I was about to 'die'. I had a revelation of all the things I had yet to do. Which may surprise you but its a pretty long list."William finally managed to cork the flood after that last thing he said. But he had already gotten most of it off his chest first.

[Quetzal]

Nasuada listened to William with interest. This was a side to him she had not seen before; the real, human side to him. He was opening up. These desires, this loneliness, was not something she had ever imagined coming from him before. It changed her perspective on him slightly to hear these things. Warriors were too easy to categorise into generic hero characters. Here she was discovering more depth to William. It was good to be reminded of how soldiers were all real individuals with dreams beyond fighting.

"I understand. Alagaesia is my top priority, but sometimes I too stop and think about what other people my age have done with their lives, about the things I have had to sacrifice to get where I am. My list is a long one as well, but for most of them it still is not too late - I could still get married, still have a family, and so could you." She looked away, thinking about where her train of thought was going. There were things she wanted to do, but she was already doing the thing she wanted to do most. Was that really so bad? Being unable to do many things in return for achieving her main goal?

"Don't feel like you have to answer, but do you ever regret the path you chose? Even though other missed paths led to nice places, I don't regret not taking them. By ignoring them in favour of this path I've accomplished everything my father started, achieved something I thought would remain a far-off dream. I chased that dream down by refusing to get distracted by other ones along the way, and have not regretted it for a moment," she said, confident that what she was saying was true.

[Nandon]

((Posting from my phone.))

"Regret? No. Never once. The path I have chosen has given me so very much on life. But. It would be a lie if I said I dont occasionally stop and wander what could have been. And I do that frequently...especially lately with more time to myself."

William answered the question truthfully and not blinking at all. He looked at nasuada with new eyes. The conversation had really prompted him to look at her differently. He then journeyed back to what she had said about a family.

"Yes. I could still have a family...but that's not what I want...well...it is...but I don't want some dull but attractive woman that understands nothing but how much money I have....if that makes sense...I guess I don't just want a wife...I want...a companion?"

William let out a small laugh. "Or maybe I am just a greedy noble who wants more than I deserve."

[Quetzal]

"Of course. If you are going to settle down with someone, they can't just be some pretty trophy. They need to be a friend to you too. Unless you get along very well the years ahead may be miserable," Nasuada agreed. While most of the people she considered true friends were more sensible, she did know quite a few people to be taken in by a pretty face and not realise how incompatible their personalities were until it was too late. Breaking apart a marriage, however broken that marriage already was, was almost always painful and damaging to at least someone, especially if the couple had had children already.

"Perhaps you will meet another adventurer, a woman who can keep you on your toes, in your search for your sister. I would be patient though, give it time rather than latching onto the first person you meet. Do you have any idea where your sister is, by the way? I know enough lords and ladies to be able to find out if there have been any disturbances around, if that aids you," she offered.