Practical Squiring, Thursday

[givehimahand.livejournal.com]

"A knight is more than just a soldier when all is said and done. Anyone can have a weapon given to them and told to kill to defend their lord, but a knight is supposed to be better than that."

Emphasis on the 'supposed to be' there. Today they met in a regular classroom, devoid of barrels, or armor, or swords. Jaime granted the students a slightly brittle smile as he kept on. "To become a knight, you are made to swear vows before your gods--who or whatever they may be--vows that demand you protect the defenseless, defend the weak, obey your king and liege lord... All sorts of vows."

Perhaps it was Brienne's fault that he was even bringing this up for class. Time spent with that beast of a woman had forced him to remember when he'd actually believed in honor and glory.

"But what do you do when they conflict?" Jaime asked. "You will be an oath breaker regardless of your choice. So where does your honor lay? To defend the weak or to obey your master?"

Comments

Re: Discuss

[nomelancholy.livejournal.com]

"To defend those in need of defending," Ulrik said, without even needing to think about it. Yes, that was indeed the voice of experience there.

Re: Discuss

[givehimahand.livejournal.com]

"Not even a second thought for loyalty?"

Not that Jaime disagreed, but...

Re: Discuss

[nomelancholy.livejournal.com]

"My loyalty is with all the people of my country, not just the one with a crown upon his head," Ulrik shrugged. "The politics of my world are undergoing a rather dramatic shift at the moment, and there are those who understand this and are learning to adapt, and those who cling to the notion that they can do as they please because they are in charge. I consider myself to be one of the former."

Re: Discuss

[givehimahand.livejournal.com]

Bitch please! War of the Five Kings.

"And why is that?"

Re: Discuss

[nomelancholy.livejournal.com]

Thirty Years War... as interrupted by a couple thousandtime traveling Americans. Yep.

"Why the change, or why am I, to borrow a phrase, 'rolling with it'?" Ulrik asked.

Re: Discuss

[givehimahand.livejournal.com]

TOUCHE.

Jaime snorted in amusement. "Both would be good."

Re: Discuss

[nomelancholy.livejournal.com]

"I'm sure you've noticed by now that the Americans have can be... Very spirited when it comes to their views regarding government and the rights of the common people. They are starting to spread those ideas across the continent I call home. There will come a time when the will of the people determines who will rule them, and the girl I am bound to marry shall one day sit upon not one throne, but three. I would vastly prefer that the people of those nations consider us worthy of such a position."