Impasse
Nathaniel Howe, the disgraced son of Arl Rendon Howe, knocked on Teyrn Fergus Cousland's door. A well dressed servant answered and allowed him entrance. Nathaniel was led into the large outer chamber of the luxurious guest apartments. The man disappeared to announce him and returned a moment later, his face rigid.
"I apologize, Warden Howe, but the Teyrn will not receive you."
Nathaniel was annoyed, but not surprised. He looked at the servant and shook his head.
"Well, tell Fergus that I will not accept that, and to get his pompous ass out here."
The man's eyes widened with shock.
"Never mind, I will tell him," and Nathaniel walked past him and through the door to the other rooms.
Fergus Cousland came to his feet from behind a desk.
"Howe, get out of here or I will remove you myself." Fergus barked.
"Not just yet, Fergus. We have something to discuss, and I will not go until we do." Nathaniel answered carefully.
"Get out of here!" Fergus seethed as he came around to the front of the desk, standing toe to toe with Nathaniel.
Nathaniel was pleased to see that he had a good three inches on the man.
"Fergus, I will speak with you. You could try to remove me, but we both know how that would go." he said, leaning over Fergus a bit.
Fergus's eyes narrowed and he stood his ground. "Talk, then get out!"
The servant was standing in the doorway.
"Your Grace, shall I call the guard?" he asked.
"No, I can handle this piece of filth. Go." Fergus waved his hand in dismissal.
"Insults will not get us very far, Fergus."
"I really do not care what you think. Say your piece, Howe."
Nathaniel sighed heavily and began.
"Fergus, I want you to know that I had nothing to do with what happened at Highever. Nothing." he began. "My father was a sick and seditious man who destroyed everything he touched."
Fergus stood still listening.
"I am sorry for what happened to them, Fergus. I am sorry that you have been forced to endure so much at his hands."
"Your father was a murderous piece of waste who only desired power and pain!" Fergus spat into his face. "He was a coward, and a liar, and he was without any honor!"
"I agree," Nathaniel said.
"He slaughtered my boy and wife! He butchered them with relish!" Fergus fumed.
"I know," he said.
"My father's guts were laid out across his own floor, my mother hacked to pieces."
"I know."
"Do you know too, that they just piled them all together, and threw a torch onto their rotting bodies?" Fergus seethed. "Do you know that I have no ashes to have blessed? I have no way to honor my child, my own wife!"
"I do," Nathaniel said.
"Then why are you here, Nate?" Fergus said, losing some of his gusto.
"Because I did not harm them." He paused, allowing his words to absorb. "I would have stopped him, Fergus, had I known. I would have killed him myself if I had to." Nathaniel said. "Your family and home were destroyed. I would have done anything to prevent that, to stop what you and Juliette went through. But I didn't, and I can only ask that you accept my regrets."
"Your regrets?" Fergus scoffed.
"Fergus, you and I have known each other since we were boys. I loved your parents as my own." Nathaniel said solemnly. "I would never have stood idle and allowed those things to happen. I am sorry that I was unable to prevent it."
Fergus stared at Nathaniel for what seemed an eternity and then nodded. Fergus stepped back and walked to the window, looking out.
A quiet settled between the two and Nathaniel allowed it to calm them both.
"Fergus, I need to speak with you, about your sister," Nathaniel said.
"What about her?" Fergus asked.
Nathaniel took a deep breath. "I love her, Fergus. I ask your permission to make her my wife."
Fergus's face contorted. "You WHAT?"
Fergus came barreling at Nathaniel and punched him in the mouth, knocking him back a step and drawing blood.
"You have the audacity to ask if you can MARRY MY SISTER?" he raged. "You think for one moment I would hand her over to you, the son of an insane murderous lecher?"
Nathaniel pushed Fergus back, careful not to hurt him.
"Fergus, we love each other!" Nathaniel answered. "She knows that I had nothing to do with what happened!"
"Has she AGREED to this? Does she know you are here?" Fergus asked.
"Yes, Fergus, she knows I am here, speaking with you." Nathaniel said.
Fergus stormed over to the door and yanked it open.
"Get my sister in here, NOW!" he bellowed and the servant went running.
"Fergus, this is between us, she has nothing to do with our disagreement." Nathaniel said.
"The hell she doesn't! You two must both be mad to think I would let this happen!"
"Damn you, man! It will only hurt her to see us tearing into each other. Leave her alone."
"Hurt her? No, Howe, I would never hurt her. I will not allow you NEAR her!" Fergus bellowed.
Juliette arrived almost immediately; Nathaniel realized she had been waiting in her rooms.
The moment she crossed the threshold, Fergus pounced, "Did you agree to MARRY him?" he seethed, pointing at Nathaniel.
Juliette walked into the center of the room, placing herself between them. "I did."
"Have you lost your mind?" Fergus spit out.
"No, Fergus, I know what I want." Juliette answered calmly.
"You would marry a HOWE? You would take your good name, through it into the muck with his?"
"Fergus, my name has nothing to do with this. I love him." she said
"You love him? Love him?" Fergus looked astonished, and then his eyes changed. "Have you let him climb into your bed?" Fergus accused. "Are you carrying his bastard? Is that what this is?"
Nathaniel's fists closed tight and he came at Fergus.
"Nate!" Juliette stepped toward him and grabbed his arm. "Please, he's angry."
"You call your own sister a whore?" Nathaniel shouted at Fergus.
"Answer me, Juliette!" Fergus said.
Juliette whirled around, her face angry. "No! No Fergus! I have not been with him, and I am not pregnant!" Juliette stepped closer to her brother hey eyes searching his face. "Are you so incapable of remembering that he was once your dear friend? Circumstances have changed, yes! Awful things have happened, yes! But, he is still Nate!"
"Awful things, that's what you call the murder of our entire family?"
Juliette gasped.
"Don't you dare! I was there, Fergus!" she came at Fergus, shoving him hard in his chest. "I was there! I saw their blood, I was covered in it! I smelled the fire and smoke, I watched as our home was destroyed!" Juliette's voice dropped to a harsh whisper. "Don't you ever…NO! I will not let you belittle me about that!"
Fergus was overwhelmed by Juliette's emotion and looked away briefly, nodding. He knew he had gone too far.
"Sister, think about this," his voice quiet as he returned to his argument,"You have the love of the King, Juliette, the King!" Fergus argued. "He would gladly put a crown on your head! You could be a queen, and you want this, this worthless fool?"
"I want the man I love Fergus!" Juliette yelled.
"Fergus, I have made the King aware of my intention to marry Juliette. He made no protest." Nathaniel said.
Juliette turned around and stared at Nathaniel with shock. "You have? When did you speak with him?"
"At our departure, he did not argue." Nathaniel answered.
Juliette nodded and turned to Fergus. She wanted to reason with him and reached for his hand. He pulled away from her.
"Well then, I shall have to rethink my opinion of Alistair," Fergus shook his head." You realize that if you have his son, and I have none, then the Howe's will have everything that Rendon murdered for!" he said. "Have you considered that may be his intent?"
"Fergus, you bastard, you may write our children right out of your damned will, if that is your greatest concern!" Nathaniel yelled.
Juliette looked at Fergus and shook her head sadly. "There will be no children, Fergus, wardens together, it all but promises us none."
Fergus looked at Juliette for a long time and took a shuddering breath.
"So you want to marry a penniless, landless, disgraced man, who cannot even make you a mother?" Fergus asked incredulously. "I will not do this, Juliette. Father would never have allowed it."
"That, Fergus, is dead wrong, and you know it!" Juliette said. "They would have been overjoyed to see me so well loved!"
"Really? By a Howe? By a man who can give you NOTHING?" Fergus laughed without humor. "Yes, they would have rejoiced."
Nathaniel put his hands on Juliette shoulders and gently asked her to go.
"You brother and I will reach an agreement, love." Nathaniel told her.
"Not going to happen, Howe." Fergus said.
Juliette rounded on her brother again. "Fergus, I will marry him without your consent. It will break my heart if you refuse, but I will not live like this! I have no intention of spending my life alone solely to mourn what is gone." Juliette said. Her tone changed to pleading. "Please talk with him, Fergus, please."
Nathaniel took her hand and led her from the suite, before returning and shutting the door. He pulled two chairs to the center of the room and pulled a brandy decanter off of the sideboard.
"Sit Fergus, I will not let either of us cause her any more pain."
"Go to the Maker, Howe." Fergus said.
"Sit down, Fergus, now."