9) Hoster – Brynden Tully: "You do Duty, I'll do Honor"
The two young men were sitting across one another at the table. Their pursed lips and clenched fists were a clear indication that they had been arguing for a long time.
"Bethany Redwyne"
"Bethany Redwyne?"
"Yes, Bethany Redwyne" Hoster repeated, infuriation and frustration getting the best of him.
"Why her?" his brother Brynden asked.
"Why not her?"
"Not my type"
"Not your type?"
"Not my type" Brynden repeated defiantly.
Boom! Lord Hoster Tully slammed his fist on the table and glared at his younger brother.
"You're a disgrace to House Tully. Family, Duty Honor. Do these words mean nothing to you?"
"None of those words are Marriage."
"You think you're clever. Some sort of glorified rebel?"
"No. I'm being true to myself."
They fell into another awkward silence. They had been here before, and probably would be here again. Hoster had married his wife and hopefully his beloved Minisa would be able to give him heirs soon. But his younger brother kept refusing to marry and he couldn't even fathom an explanation as to why.
"If not Bethany Redwyne, then who?
"Why any woman at all?"
"Do you love men?" he asked horrified, not so much for his brother's sake, but for the stigma it might bring to his house.
"Why any marriage at all?" Brynden rephrased the question.
"Because it's our duty."
"It's your duty. You are the Lord of Riverrun."
"What if something happens to me? I have no heirs yet. If you don't have heirs, when you die this House will pass on to some other RiverLord and everything our forefathers have done would be in vain."
"I want to be free to decide."
"But we're not free to decide."
They had reached an impasse and neither was willing to budge. Hoster insisted his younger brother needed to marry and fulfil the responsibilities his status implied. Brynden was adamant in his desire to remain unmarried and did not want to yield to his brother's demands. They had been having the same conversation for years now.
"Hoster," the younger brother started, "Minisa is a wonderful Lady. She's pretty, funny and very pleasant to be with. She obviously loves you and I know you love her. Hopefully you will live together for many years and you will have lovely children. You will run this castle to the best of your ability with the guidance of your wife as you have done so far. When it's your time to go, hopefully you will have a son who's old enough and trained enough to fit your shoes. Hopefully you won't need me."
"Hopefully. But what if…"
"If the time comes and the situation is such that you need me to marry, I will. But in the meantime, let me be free."
"We don't choose to be free" Hoster replied dejectedly.
"You can't choose to be free because you're the eldest. As the eldest you have the right to become Lord. You also have the responsibility to become Lord. I don't."
"Brynden, I don't want to fight you any more."
"I know you don't. Neither do I"
"But you promise that should the time come you will marry."
"Yes, I promise."
They nodded at each other and shook hands solemnly.
"You know that people will label you the black sheep of the family, right?"
"Wouldn't that be the black fish of the family?" Brynden winked at his brother.
"Blackfish?"
"Has a nice ring to it, heroic even," he replied with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes.
"Is everything a joke to you? This is a serious matter Brynden,"
"I know Hoster, I know."
"You're shying away from your responsibilities."
"I'm also shying away from the benefits, am I not?"
"Are you sure this is what you want?"
"I'll become a knight. I'll fight. I will defend you and your family. I'll fight for the Riverlands."
"That's honourable at least, I suppose."
"Family Duty Honor, brother. You do Duty, I'll do Honor. And together we'll take care of the Family."
An agreement had finally been reached.