Threads / Ansegar. - Blog Posts
" why thank you. always nice when people appreciate my ... nimbleness. " ansegar says with a smile ... a true, genuine, and amused one, though you might see a hint of smugness if you look close enough. to be fair to solomon, though, he has fought many men both on the wall and off it, both royals and not. there are even some who has been training their whole lives. and he can confidently say that some of them are less of a fighter than the prince.
" yeah. we definitely can't have that. " ansegar chuckled before walking to where the weapons rack was, and coming back to the sparring ground with a staff in his hand instead. he gave solomon a look, as if asking for his permission to use it. " no blade, though this is a pretty strong wood. can't promise it won't be painful. and your choice? "
"if my form is weird, your speed is inhumane." it should not be taken as an insult, though. the prince was genuinely impressed by the trainee's abilities in combat. and solomon was not a lousy fighter, at least he didn't think so. but he was aware that his strength lied on his brains, not his brawn. swallowing his pride, he took ansegar's hand, standing up and brushing off the excess of dirt from his trousers.
he flashed the man a questioning look, his heart still struggling to slow down its pace. "as long as i can bear a shield. i intend to return to beacon's reach with my head still attached to my neck."
EXT. THE PORTS OF RITRINC. NIGHT.
unmoving, like the earth below them, ansegar held the boy's neck and leaned him over the edge of the port, with the dark waters of the ocean below them. it would be so easy to let him go: it's not like he was an innocent man, especially when he found him harassing the servant to stood now on his side. these people might have grown with the comforts of a kingdom above them, and the loopholes of the laws and a forgiving society that they can easily weasel through. but ansegar grew up on the wall ... and injustices like this are not tolerated there. he had seen men banished from the wall for similar crimes.
the only thing that is keeping them from letting go was the victim of the crime, who still stood quiet even at the sight. but ansegar can also see both fear and anger in their eyes. which one is for him? he doesn't know. " are you hurt? " he asked them simply, his eyes scanning what he can see of their body. " what did they do to you? did they hurt you? steal from you? tell me. "
closed starter for @thequiettide.
INT. THE VISSAI THRONE ROOM. DAY.
ansegar stood like a sore thumb in the grand hall of the vissai's throne room, and though no eyes looked at him with any judgement, his own self was the one who is causing his nervousness. before he came down from the wall, his brothers have told him of vissai's generosity. not only to the night's watch all throughout their history, but also to himself.
apparently, he was presented here first: at the foot of their king, seeking sanctuary from the family that wanted to kill him. and not wanting any conflict to break out, he had advised his mother to take the child to the wall instead ... but they will support him. even take him as a ward if he chooses. ansegar has chosen differently, then, training instead to be soldier of the night's watch. so nervousness must have come from there: to prove that he is still worth their support after all this time.
when he was finally called, ansegar then walked up to the spot close to the foot of the throne ... and was presented, not to the king, but the crown prince instead. remembering the lessons he got from the other bastard princes, he then knelt and lowered his head. in his hand he gripped the scabbard of the gift he made for this occasion, which seemed heavier and warmer now that he is kneeling there. he cleared his throat. " i come to you as ansegar, an unsworn wolf of the night's watch. " he says, keeping his eyes down still. " it's an honor to be in your presence, your highness. "
closed starter for @heavensoared.
INT. A TAVERN JUST OUTSIDE THE KINGDOM. AFTERNOON.
ansegar listened intently as the bar keep explained to him the drink that he was holding in his hand. because since the moment he came down from the wall, he has received all the different kind of looks, greetings, and treatment from all the different people. he was either asked questions, or was openly criticized. given stares that ranged from wonder to fear. some disdain. but never was given a drink ... for simply being a wolf from the wall.
so, after finding out who did it, ansegar simply thanked the bar keep and stood up ... only to make a bee line to where the other man was sitting, and occupying the nearest seat he could find. he gave them a smile. he still has not touched the drink. " i would say thank you. but a hard lesson in grained in me since i was a child is to never accept anything from a stranger ... especially a man who's trying to hide their colors in the dark. " he says, pointing at the unmistakable silk robes under his dark cloak. " should i know who you are, stranger? "
closed starter for @powergrabbed.
EXT. HARVEST MOON FESTIVAL GROUNDS. NIGHT.
" whoa ... " ansegar says, craning his neck back ... so far back that he almost fell over, as he tried to look at the entirety of the lights above them, with his expression nearly mimicking it as well-- bright and awestruck as he was bathed in color. all he could remember about ritrinc's harvest moon festival are from stories his brothers would tell him-- from the housekeeper and his run down of the festivals history which he clung to as a child, from the new arrivals who would indulge the curiosity of the child, and finally from the scouts who would bring him gifts of food and trinkets from the festival stalls. and when he was old enough to see over the wall, all he could see of it was the faint view of blinking lights in the distance, but it would still imagine what it would be like to be there.
and from all of these, his young mind has built a picture of what the festival must've looked like ...
... and to his surprise, the real thing was even better than what he could imagine. and this realization made the boy euphoric. " you've never brought me here before. " ansegar says to them, as a statement with no hint of sadness or disappointment. he knew why he wasn't allowed to leave the wall until he was old enough, or strong enough. the words of his mother and his future still ringing in his ears. but still ... it would've been nice to be here when he was younger.
before he knew it, he was already lagging behind. so he quickened his steps to catch up. " so, uhh ... what do you usually do here? "
closed starter for @bladewandered.
if what he has read about royals and their peculiar lives, he was sure that in some other time, or with some other royal, this would have been a capital offense: embarrassing a prince on another land, or dirtying their clothes by sending them tumbling to the ground. in the back of his mind, the young wolf was expecting some hidden executioner to come out of the grass or the rocks and hit him through the neck and his head will be rolling on the floor.
but then again, his brothers have also often told him of the relationship between vissai and feranthor-- how the kingdom on the mountains supported the establishment of the night's watch. not only as a group that will protect the kingdom from the dangers of the unknown. but also as a sanctuary for the lost, banished, or those with nowhere to go.
perhaps the royals of vissai are just different from the stories he read.
with another chuckle, ansegar then approached the prince ... unfastening the dagger that was hidden on his lower back, and handing it to him. " if you don't want to learn now, then at least take this. " he says, placing the dagger on the prince's hand before he could even say anything else. " it's not the most elegant looking. but it's made of drakon scale ... stronger than most metals of the earth. just whip it out and it should protect you from most things. you do know how to use a dagger, right? "
with that, he then turned to the direction of the prince's ride. " alright. show me your mighty steed. "
"i-..." dusting himself off with a petulant huff, he isn't very good at presenting himself as low-brow. he was decidedly a lover, not a fighter, but the importance of good self-defense training wasn't lost on him. "am fine."
exhaling sharply, he decides to salvage what was left of his ego, shaking his head. "i believe it prudent to return before dark. come, you can ride with me."
ansegar can only reply to that with a smile, seeing the other man's face be painted with a look he is already familiar with every time he, or anyone else from the brotherhood would see their emblem or would know who they are. it was not a look of judgement, really ... his brothers take great offense in that and rarely are the people foolish enough to say it to their face. but it was the look of awe that often get him, and how people could not believe that people like him exists-- those who chose to leave their kingdoms and their faiths, to live with other bastards and the banished atop a cliff-face. and he would always have an answer for it that should be enough to let the subject rest.
" i mean, i wouldn't say it's madness. when the kingdom that you have followed your entire life, or when the faith you have worship and is expected to worship until you die, turn their backs against you ... well, even the cold will become a comfort for you up there. " ansegar says, his voice was leveled without any sign of malice, anger, or annoyance. what can be found there, though, was love and pride. for the only family he's ever known his whole life. " it's a sanctuary for them. but i can tell my brothers of your admiration. "
at the mention of a tavern, ansegar's eyes lit up as his head follows the direction they were pointing at. " oh, please. i insist. it's the least i can do after my pet attacked you. " before the arkelos could even say more, he already have his hand on their arm, and was weaving though the crowd. " hmmm. your best? are you telling me there's more to this kingdom than just stones and crystals? " he continued, chuckling at himself for that.
when they stopped walking, they finally found themselves at the entrance of the tavern. from the outside, he could already hear chatter coming from inside. " my story ... is a long and complicated one. but unlike my brothers, i am not sworn to the oath yet. technically, i am still a free man ... free to go anywhere i wanna go. " he explains, clearing his throat right after before gesturing to the door. " my very first tavern. since this is your home, after you? "
🔨 * ﹕ㅤㅤ arkelos tracked the other man's gesture to the summit of the wall, gaze lingering there for a moment, caught somewhere between awe and curiosity. he'd heard all the stories— well, who hadn't ?— the men of the night's watch were bastards and the poor, removed from the lords and their banners, from games of politics and ambition. he heard many of them didn't believe in the gods of the continent. they didn't take oaths to kings but to their duty, guarding the realm against whatever nightmares might claw their way in from the unknown. and needless to say, seeing one of their stewards here left arkelos slightly unmoored with interest. ❝ i've always admired anyone who decides to live in feranthor. it must take a certain kind of madness to live there, y'know ? i could barely survive the peaks of vissai, can't imagine the type of cold you're used to there. ❞ there was a warmth to arkelos' voice as he spoke, a reverence carried by someone who wasn't quite sure how to put admiration into words without sounding foolish. he looked at the man and smiled, though for the most part he was also just glad to see that eagle fly away. good riddance. ❝ but i promise there's no need to make it up to me, ❞ arkelos laughed, giving the man a measured look. slightly taller than he was, though human as far he could tell. ❝ but if you insist, there's a tavern a bit further down the square. they've got the best kidney pie this side of the continent⸻ and i feel like it's my chasquan duty to show a man of the watch the best our land has to offer. ❞ head tilted toward the path ahead, ❝ it'll give us time to sit down and talk. i've got so many question, like, what brings you down here ? cause i really thought your lot didn't stray from the wall, unless it was something urgent ... or dangerous ... ❞ voice lowered slightly with a speculative tone, though his grin remained, crooked and easy.
EXT. SOME OPEN SPARRING AREA. DUSK.
" what ? i did say your form was all weird. just showing you how that can be dangerous. " ansegar says says, giving himself the pleasure of a laugh first before he reaches a hand out for them to grab. hey, he really did try to hide his amusement, attempting to turn his smile into something that looks like encouragement instead. but seeing them flat on their ass was really funny.
" come on . we could do one more round before the sun fully sets. " he continues, when they have caught their breath. " you can even use weapons this round, if you want. "
open starter. @colosseumbred
" oh, no. protective is just the way she is since i saved her. and i'm afraid i can't really shake that off. so, i guess in a way, that is my fault. " ansegar says, which received a proud squawk from gunna, making him smile wider. looking back at the wide assortment of jewelry around him, ansegar took the shiniest one he could find-- a simple chain made of metal he is not familiar with, light in weight but sturdy to the touch, twinkling like diamonds even at the smallest hint of light. after paying for the item, he then began trying it to one of gunna's feet. " though, i should say ... the soot and the dirt are really doing your face a huge disservice. "
once the jewelry is secured, he raised the arm where gunna was perched on ... and with a click of his tongue, the eagle was airborne. up and up, to the summit of the wall. gunna returning with the jewelry was simple but effective message to his brothers: the fact that she returned means that he's still alive, and the craftsmanship of the jewelry means he's in chasque ... not too far from home. satisfied, he faces the other man again. " that you are. i'm sorry again. now, i feel like i should make up to you somehow. "
and at his question, ansergar simply nodded before pointing at the peak of the wall in the distance, and the small community of his brothers that can be seen on it. " oh. i'm from there. " he says. " it's my first time to be out here ... or at least, the first time i'm by myself. and you? do you live here? "
🔨 * ﹕ㅤㅤ thank the gods, old and new, for how the eagle's talons kept on missing him by a hair's breadth, though it did not stop arkelos from flailing like a man swarmed with bees⸻ as if he could just swat the sheer nerve of the creature away. ❝ away ! get off me, you winged devil ! ❞ he barked between startled huffs, voice cracking somewhere between outrage and desperation, the crowd jostling around him with their laughter and gasps. the blacksmith faced roaring fires, sparking steel, and the sharp hiss of molten metal every day, foolishly had very little fear, but this ? this was humiliating. fortunately, arkelos found his footing again once the bird's owner appeared, settling on the other man's forearm, a gleam in its eyes that he could only describe as smug satisfaction, like it knew it had won this round. and arkelos had never been as hungry for roasted eagle as he was now. he could only stare at the bird for a few moments, breath ragged, his hands planted on his knees as if holding himself upright took an incredible amount of will. ❝ protective ? do i really look that much of a brigand today ? ❞ arkelos chuckled as he turned his attention toward the other man, skin smeared with soot from his day at the forge, understood see how a stupid bird could mistake him as some bandit from the badlands of old varlinnis. maybe he should have taken a bath before venturing out into the market for something to sate his appetite. and perhaps, arkelos had always been a forgiving creature, utterly incapable of letting his frustrations be more than fleeting. ❝ but i'm fine. still in one piece, aren't i ? ❞ said with a small smile, standing a little straighter, hands smoothing the fabric of his smoke-scented shirt. ❝ though, i gotta ask ... you're not from around here, are you ? it's just quite rare for chasquans to have pet birds. ❞ especially when the expanse of their colonies were beneath the ground.