Feeling refreshed after a hot bath, and given a change of clothes, I made my way back down to the main hall for dinner and was curious on what dinner would entail. Hopefully not to many questions would be asked of me, but knowing these people I did not put up my hopes to that. I was a mystery and foreign, so that alone grew curiosity and questioning. I was escorted by my guard and upon entering the hall, I was slightly hesitant at all before me. It was a lively dinner occurring, almost a celebration but limited and subdued.
Tables were arranged up and down the hall facing each other with room to walk down the middle and at the end of the hall was the main table where Lord Forrester and his family and close house staff sat upon looking down at us.
I walked forward and looking down the middle of the hall found a spot to sit and started walking towards it, but when I was going to sit down I was called at.
"Ser Ethras, please do sit up here with us, you're a special guest for this feast tonight!" Lord Forrester spoke loudly and I heard many "yays" and approval remakes from others at the feast.
"Of course my Lord, I would be honored". I replied back as I walked up to the front table and after looking found a seat a few down from the Lord and just by luck, was next to Mira. She looked up at me as I made my way to sit down and gave a small smile and said "Hello Ser Ethras".
"Hello my Lady" I replied back and sat down and was served some warm stew with bread and cheese and was asked what I wanted to drink. After given a few choices I settled on a cup of water and some drink called an ale that was apparently a Northern treat. I took a test smell of the ale and it had a hearty aroma to it, so I took a drink and after swallowing, coughed a bit at the strength of the ale. A heard a few chuckles around me as I tried to recompose and turned to my host, " My Lord I must say this is a strong ale for a proper Northerner, I don't know if I can be worthy of it" I replied with a laugh.
"Oh aye Ser, it is a proper Northern drink. Worthy for a man with blood from the First Men and follower of the Old Gods, none of that southern piss they try to pass off as a good ale. This will make you a proper warrior and survive any harsh winter we have up here." He laughed back at me and those around us joined in laughing, nothing harsh but a good whole hearted laugh I found to be welcoming.
After resuming eating and taking more drinks of this ale and learning to drink it without cause harm, I found myself much warmer and in lighter spirits. By the force, I was getting my way to being drunk. I drank some water in-between my food to stay somewhat thoughtful and not succumb to the Ale. Soon the questions started towards me and I had to concentrate to say proper answers that didn't sound to strange and maintain a proper attitude and respect for what this planet had to know and not know of where I really was from.
"Ser Ethras, I'm curious on this Order of the Jedi you speak of, I've never heard of it and was curious about its origins and how it came to be and why I have never heard of it.", a younger man next to Lord Gregor asked me.
"I'm sorry my lord.. what is your name might I ask?" I said towards him. He gave a apologetic nod to me and said," I'm sorry my name is Rodrik Forrester, heir and first born son of my father Lord Gregor."
"Oh yes my apologies, I have not gone around introducing myself to the entire household, I'm sorry for my lapse in decorum." I said to him with a bow while I was looking towards the rest of the family.
"Might I know the rest of the family here before I explain my Order's purpose and how have come upon your lands? I Must not forget my manners after all", I said gently. While nodding to the rest of the family sitting down.
"Of course, of course, what was I thinking" Lord Gregor replied.
"This is my wife, Lady Elissa, from the House Branfield from south below the neck. Next is my eldest son and heir, Rodrik, quite skilled with the sword and will be a proper Lord to follow after me one day." He spoke of his wife next to him and a younger version of himself on his other side from his Lady Wife. I nodded and smiled back at each person as Lord Gregor introduced them to me.
"This is my eldest daughter Mira, quite a proper Lady in waiting to be sure, she is to be warded in the future to a great Southern house at the end of the year, show the southerners what a great class of Ladies we have here in the North." He spoke of Mira with great pride, who was trying not to blush, she was keeping her head down a bit and continued sipping her drink in hand. She seemed to be a bit humbled in my mind from what her father was singing her praises. Interesting indeed, seemed a bit different from the young woman I had met earlier. I was taken out of my thoughts as Lord Gregor continued on.
"Here are my twins, Ethan and Talia, both very talented in music and books skills, a treasure upon our house, and last is my youngest, Ryon, quite energetic and a future house warrior I would say! haha!" Gregor explained pointing at the three youngest Forresters towards the end of the table, they all seemed at ease and a bit relaxed from being introduced. I'm sure they had been introduced to many visitors in the past.
"A pleasure to meet all of you and to be hosted in your keep here" I said to all that I was introduced to.
"Ser Ethras, I'm curious if you would be up for a spar tomorrow in the training yard, you not being from the North, I would be very interested in seeing other fighting forms and what there is to offer from afar in terms of fighting." Rodrik asked to me while drinking from his cup.
"I would be happy to spar with your my good Lord. I'm always up to test myself with new challenges and see what more I can learn. There is never enough one can try to experience." I responded back at him and he seemed quite eager and excited for the next day. After that everyone went back to eating and having tiny conversations between themselves.
I was finishing up my stew when Mira turned towards me and asked what I had been expecting all evening. "So Ser Ethras, what exactly is the Jedi Order that you and apart of? I've read a few books here and there and while I can't say I am very learned upon everything out there in the world, I dare say I have not heard of this order.." She asked and left with a hanging question that only I could answer. Conversations and chatter started to quiet down as everyone in the hall wished to hear what I would say to the question.
"Oh yes, I have been waiting to properly explain myself and how I came be to a Knight of the Jedi Order, or Jedi Knight as I would say. Well, a simple way to say is, where I come from my Order has people that will go forth and find new potential recruits and if they feel that the person in question could have a future benefit to the order, a recruit will be taken into training and begin the 'Path of the Jedi' as they say. It's quite an honor to those chosen and when we attain our Knighthood, we go forth and maintain the peace, learn martial arms to help uphold our Laws and try to bring the Light to the darkest places of the land to help peace prosper." I spoke clearly as I heard my voice echo slightly around the hall chamber as everyone was listening to me intently.
"That sounds like a prideful path to fulfill and maintain order as a proper Knight should." Lord Gregor said after a pause of silence from everyone. I heard a few murmurs of "Aye aye!" from the rest of the hall.
"Yes my Lord Husband, it sounds like a noble endeavor to do so and maintain peace and help out the common good. I would ask you good Ser, what does your family feel of this, how long have you been training and when did you gain your Knighthood if I might ask?" Lady Elissa responded to her husband and started talking to me while maintaining a strong presence towards me. From what I learned about the customs here, I would have to tread carefully trying to explain how the Jedi were and operated.
"My training has been extensive to say the least, since I was a Youngling... what we call our young children in training, I have been taught and schooled to learns the ways of what my Order calls for. I've had many years of training and just within the last year gained my Knighthood and attained the rank of Jedi Knight from within my Order." I said firmly with a praise and feeling of accomplishment. Everyone one me looked and talked softly to each other trying to gauge what I was meaning.
Mira looked towards me after a bit and asked what I knew someone would ask and everyone would not like to hear the answer to. "That sounds wonderful my good Ser Knight, what does your family feel after you attained your rank. ?" she spoke with a soft gently feel that quite honestly I was feeling affected that I knew shouldn't be happening. With a soft blush I answered back.
I stood up and looked towards the table I was sitting at and looking towards the Forrester family and attendants, I spoke with a slight hesitation.
"I'm afraid, I don't know my parents at all.. I have their name you see.. but how our Order works is.. when a child is found to be worthy of being a potential Jedi Knight, we are given to the Order, so they can raise us and we can learn the ways without any outside influence that could potential stop our wayward traits or ways of maintaining the peace without certain emotions. So to be given the gift of a Knighthood within the Jedi Order, we forsake any family namesake, titles, or anything that would to say, take away from our true purpose.. so I do not know my parents, their names, their opinions, I cannot really recall how they look or act.. but I know that they gave me to the Order for a better life and they accepted that it would be a better life than if I had stayed with them." After I spoke this, I heard silence.. from the entire hall, all the family before me was shocked and looking towards Lord Gregor and his wife, they had open mouths of confusion, several gasp and I had seen this before but I do not know what this was a situation that affected me more. The children of Lord Gregor ranged from the same as their parents, to the younger children that didn't know exactly what I was explaining. But after a long silence I heard a response to what I had said.
"At what age did you join the Jedi Order Ser Ethras?!" Lady Elissa said with a heightened emotion to her voice.
"I was given over to my order when I was 1 Year old my Lady. I know it sounds harsh but its considered an honor to be selected and I do not harbor any bad feelings to my parents. It was meant to be, the Force willed it". After I said those words I automatically winced, as I accidently said something to which I knew they would not understand.
"What is this Force you speak of Ser Ethras?" Lord Gregor asked trying to comprehend what I said.
Taking a deep breath and channeling my emotions along with focusing on what to say correctly, I spoke...
"To be short my Lord, The Force is what we believe as Jedi.. it's our way of life, our spirit and what guides us in everyday life and decisions." I replied back. I heard soft discussions and what I'm sure would be debates that I know would take many more talks to get through.
"My lord I'm feeling a bit tired after the long day I feel I should be heading in to rest for the night if that is okay with you, with your permission." I asked softly while I drained my cup of water.
Ser Gregor looked at me, then to his wife then after receiving a nod and soft smile, he turned back to me, "Yes of course Ser Ethras, it has been a long day. Tis no trouble for an early night. Have a good rest, I only request to have a meeting in my solar in the next day to help clarify what has been said today." He said while he motioned for a servant to lead me back to my guest room for my stay here.
"I'm looking forward to discussing more of my reason to be here my Lord and help any future questions you have. And perhaps it will make more sense in a smaller audience as well." I said as I bowed to him and his wife, walked from the table with a certain nervous feeling.. and few feet from the table I turned back towards it and said, " My lords and ladies, a pleasure meeting you, good night". The Forrester family children smiled and chuckled back at me, all except Mira who kept a straight face and seemed to be thinking something over in her mind. I could sense it from her. She projected a sense or wonderment and confusion to what was before her. I did not know what to think about it but I let it go. I arrived at my room and settled into bed, hoping tomorrow would be better and was trying to subdue a dread, as if I accidently set a benign, neutral world down the path of being involved into a Galaxy wide war that they could not have any understanding of.