regency au } { of crossed lances and wishes for freedom

[impetere]

Stiles: [so he's come to watch the archery match since this is what his uncle is hoping he will start competing in. As he goes to find a seat, he sees a few of the Hale pack up in the stands and goes towards them. He's in a very nice, fancy suit and obviously feels out of place in it, but he's still learning noble ways. As he approaches, she smiles] Could I by chance join you, Ladies?

Cora: [glances over and she does a double take because she almost doesn't recognize him] Stiles?

Stiles: [his grin grows a bit, amused] While technically it's Lord Stilinski now, you are still welcome to call me that, Lady Cora.

Cora: [her smile widens a bit, before moving over on the bench so he had room] Of course. Sit.

Stiles: Thank you. [goes to sit next to her, and damn he really hates the tightness of the pants the nobles wore but he's getting used to them] I had been hoping to see you.

Cora: [her smile widens] I didn't know you'd be here.

Stiles: Well, seeing that I am now the heir to the Stilinski manor in Austria, my uncle feels that I need to make appearances at tournaments and start to forge some alliances and friendships among the other young nobles.

Cora: And how is that working?

Stiles: Beyond feeling like a preened peacock and worrying that my clothing is going to actively take my life or dignity... so far it has been working well.

Cora: [she laughs] I think you look handsome.

Stiles: [blushes a bit] You are too kind, m'lady.

Cora: [turns her eyes back to the competition] Does your uncle expect you to compete?

Stiles: Yes. I don't have the muscle mass for most of the events. He has stated it from meager eating in my youth. But I've been good at a lot of the skills that are more about the mind than body. He does want to learn to arch though, and I have a tutor working with me.

Cora: Do you like it?

Stiles: I've been having fun now that I'm starting to build up the strength to pull the bow. I love learning about using wind and angles and distance to be able to figure out how to aim. [grins sheepishly] I was always good at mathematics.

Cora: [she laughs] It is not a bad thing to be good at.

Stiles: No, it's not. Except for Sir Isaac. He should be very worried. [grins]

Cora: I hear Isaac has more reasons than that to be worried. There is a new knight in the competition who is said to be quite good.

Stiles: And I see Lord Gilbert is also there. This is going to be a very interesting competition I think.

Cora: I think so as well.

Stiles: [nods, and then listens as the competition starts, and as it's going, leans in a bit to talk softly] So, I must ask, I've been told that I must attend the feast for the winners and my uncle has gotten my name on the guest list. I am also told to find a lady to escort. Since it is my first one and I don't know what happens at the feast, I was hoping to ask you to accompany me, if you are already not spoken for.

Cora: [glances over with a small smile before nodding] It would be my pleasure.

Stiles: My tutor has also been teaching me to dance, so I will try and not embarrass you too much, but I have been told I have two left feet.

Cora: [laughs] I think we will manage.

Stiles: [grins] I'm sure we will. So catch me up on the gossip from the Hale manor I am sorely behind on now.

Cora: [and she will do so, catching him up on everything that she knows]

Stiles: [and they can keep chatting as they watch Jeremy and Isaac get schooled by the amazing archer in the archer's hood ensemble so that no one can see his features well]

Cora: [And she can't help but have her attention drawn to the event] That archer is amazing.

Stiles: I know. I'm very glad I was able to convince my uncle not to let me enter this early in my tutelage. I'd hate to go against him on my first go. What was the name of that knight?

Cora: I believe they said his name was Albert Silver.

Stiles: That is a very interesting name.

Cora: It is. I've never heard of him before.

Stiles: I'm pretty sure we'll get a chance to meet him at the feast tonight at this rate. [leans forward, fascinated]

Cora: [and the eventually Silver is the only knight standing and the lord of the tournament requests he remove his hood and the revelation is this smiling face. There's a loud cheer from the where Kate is sitting next to Peter in the stands and Cora's jaw drops] That's Allison Argent!

Stiles: [laughs] Oh, that is not going to over well with the other lords. Even if she was totally the better man. Woman. Better woman.

Cora: [the lord of the tournament in fact looks very flustered, and seems to be in a bickering match with Allison on the ground where she's pointing out that she won fair and square] Indeed.

Stiles: So Argent. That's the family your sister is marrying into, yes?

Cora: Yes. I haven't seen Allison in many years, though.

Stiles: Well, I think she has made her reappearance very unforgettable. [looks at the field] She has made an impression on possible suitors if nothing else. [nods where Jeremy and Isaac are talking and watching Allison's argument]

Allison: [eventually a pleased smile breaks across her face when he concedes to let her keep her title, and she thrusts her fist into the air in victory]

Cora: And looks like she's getting her way to boot.

Stiles: Well, she does deserve it. I think I may need to reconsider my tournament event training now.

Cora: I wouldn't be too dissuaded. They probably would not let her pull the same trick again.

Stiles: I know, which is a shame. I'm glad she will be able to at least keep this one.

Cora: Me too.

Stiles: Shall we go down and congratulate our victor?

Cora: [nods] I think we shall.

Stiles: [stands up, holding out his arm] M'lady.

Cora: [takes it with a smile] M'lord.

Stiles: [and he will guide her down the stairs to the rails that divide the stands from the competition floor. Isaac and Jeremy see them and come over]

Isaac: Well, look at the new little lordling. You're looking mighty proper there, Stiles.

Jeremy: ... I take it you know this lord to be treating him in such a familiar matter.

Isaac: Yes. Last year, he was our family page and sometimes stable boy.

Jeremy: [blinks]

Cora: [smiles at Jeremy and nods] It's a very long story.

Stiles: [smiling, holding his free hand out to Jeremy] It is a pleasure to meet you, Lord Gilbert. I'm Lord Stilinski.

Isaac: Not going to get used to that.

Cora: It's a little odd for me as well.

Stiles: I'm not even used to it.

Jeremy: I'm... not sure what is happening, but it is nice to meet you, Lord Stilinski.

Stiles: Same here, Lord Gilbert.

Cora: I should try and find Lady Argent. [glancing over Stiles’ shoulder to see if she's free of the crowd yet]

Isaac: I can go get here, Lady Hale. [nods his head, smiling]

Cora: [her eyebrows go up at that] Oh can you?

Isaac: Yes. [and he will take a jaunty step away and go to the edge of the crowd, working to make his way through it a bit to get to Allison's side]

Allison: [is there talking with Lydia who is looking amused but pleased that Allison won, until she turns and suddenly there's Isaac] Sir Lahey! You surprised me.

Isaac: I have a habit of doing that, m'lady. But I have been asked by my Lady Hale and Lord Stilinski to see if they can have the honor of your presence.

Allison: [pauses, then curious] Which Lady Hale?

Isaac: The younger. [he motioned with his hand to where they were standing]

Allison: [smiles softly before nodding] I will be right there.

Isaac: [nods, smiling] It will be our honor, m'lady. [and he will go back] She will be here shortly.

Allison: [and she is! and going to greet Cora with a smile and a hug] It's good to see you!

Cora: And you! You were incredible.

Jeremy: Yes, I'm very impressed at your skill, m'lady.

Stiles: I'm completely jealous myself.

Allison: I just got tired of the boys having all the fun.

Cora: [laughs] I can't blame you there. Your father though ...

Allison: I think I may stick close to you, if that's alright. He's less likely to disown me if there's an audience.

Isaac: I would be most happy to be your guard, m'lady. Protect you from his wrath.

Jeremy: Or if insufferable ego is not really your taste, I could make the same offer.

Stiles: [leaning into Cora, trying not to laugh and whispering into her ear] I thought we were not supposed to like the Argents.

Allison: [studies the boys for a moment, amused] As gracious as those offers are, I think you both underestimate my father. Particularly you, Sir Lahey.

Cora: [leans over to whisper to Stiles] Gerard is awful and Daniel is insufferable and Peter loathes Lady Kate, but Allison's family, including her father, have always treated us fairly. Allison and I spent some time together when we were children.

Stiles: Ah, okay. So we can like Lady Allison freely. Good. [grins]

Isaac: I do not underestimate him, m'lady. If nothing else, your aim with the bow will help protect me from his wrath.

Allison: And why would I protect you?

Isaac: I... I... [puppy eyes]

Stiles: I didn't think anyone had the ability to make Sir Isaac stop talking. You have many skills it seems, Lady Argent.

Allison: I do have many talents. [she laughs softly, before taking Cora's arm] You should come to my tent with me while I change for the feast. We have a lot of catching up to do.

Cora: [nods before glancing back to the boys] If the gentlemen do not mind, of course.

Stiles: I don't mind. I will meet you there then, m'lady?

Isaac: If you're sure, Lady Cora.

Jeremy: [aaaand taking his opportunity] Of course, but before you go, M'lady Argent, I would love to escort you to the feast, if you do not already have someone.

Isaac: [scrunches up his face. Damnit, Jeremy]

Cora: [nods in acknowledgement to Stiles]

Allison: I do, in fact. But that was very sweet of you to offer, Sir Gilbert.

Jeremy: Perhaps another time then, m'lady. I would love to talk with you more on your training. [nods]

Allison: Well, there is no saying we can't speak at te feast at all. [she smiles softly before leading Cora away] I will see you there.

Stiles: [and when they are gone] And I will leave you two to bicker with each other. Do you know where Lady Laura is? I wish I give her my regards if she is here.

Isaac: She is probably heading to watch the joust. Her Lord Argent is competing, and from what I gather... the final round is him against Sir Parrish.

Stiles: ....... I have a feeling she will probably want my company in the moment then. [he bows and exits himself to hurry to the jousting arena to find Laura]

- - - - -

Laura: [is sitting in the stands, near the front, waiting for Daniel to emerge from checking on his equipment and his horse prior to the joust, so she can play the part of betrothed lady.]

Parrish: [and he is walking his horse in, Liam at his side along with two new squires that he has picked up in the last few months - Roland and Watt. He sees Laura and there is a sad smile, then turns to Roland to talk about something]

Liam: [runs off towards Laura, smiling] Lady Laura! Hi. We haven't seen you in a while.

Laura: [smiles] Hello, Liam. Unfortunately I have been too busy to come to tourney. Has your master been doing well?

Liam: Yes. He's been winning a lot of tournaments. We have two new companions too. They've been helping him with a lot of the stuff I'm still too small to be able to lift or figure out.

Laura: That's good. Are you learning from them?

Liam: [nods] They served a Sir Hector before, and know a lot about knights. [which Parrish really needed to learn to help keep his cover long term. But that was unspoken]

Laura: [she figures as much, not that Parrish and Liam know that] Good. I hope it will serve him well.

Liam: Me too. [looks past her] Did Malia come with you?

Laura: Not this trip, I'm afraid. But I will tell her you said hello.

Liam: [sad puppy face. He misses his friend] Okay. I should probably get back to him now. You know he's hopeless without me. [and off he runs back to Parrish, who is now mounting up on his horse]

Laura: [smiles softly before leaning back in her seat as Daniel comes around the corner, his servant leading the horse behind him]

Daniel: Friend of yours?

Laura: Just the squire of a knight who spent some time on our land.

Parrish: [looking over at Laura as Watt hands him a lance, preparing to joust against another knight in one of the lesser qualifying rounds. The other knight is announced, and then Liam, the tiny ball of energy, is in front of the tournament hosts, bowing]

Liam: My Lords, My Ladies... [and he spins, grinning] And to everyone not seated on a cushion! Today, today, you find yourselves equals. For you are all equally blessed. For I have the pride, the privilege, nay, the pleasure of introducing to you... [and he will go on about all the great lies that he and Parrish created around campfires when deciding on who Parrish's persona was going to be.]

Laura: [her eyes are drawn to the joust unconsciously, laughing softly at Liam's little song and dance, while Daniel is studying them sharply]

Daniel: Do you often let strange knights stay on your land?

Laura: I do when they are friends of my brother.

Liam: .... Without any further ado, I present to you all Sir Jordan von Parrish of Gilderland! [cheers, and he bows and skips off to Roland's side]

Parrish: [and he's been watching the man next to Laura until then, and then he is in the moment and focusing as he goes on the first round, avoiding the lance and managing to break his upon the other knight]

Daniel: [leans back against the side of the stands as he watches, that shrewd calculating look in his face] He's good.

Laura: [nods] There is a reason he's undefeated.

Parrish: [and after the round ends and Parrish is the victor, he goes to the center to thank the knight for a good joust, handing his helmet down to Liam and shaking out his dark blonde curls from letting his hair grow out a bit. A few girls in the stands are trying to get his attention, and he dismounts to come and talk to them like the good knight he is posing as]

Laura: [her face flickers slightly at that, and while she doesn't realize it does, Daniel, unfortunately, catches it]

Daniel: [reaches for his lance and goes to ride his first round] We shall see how long that lasts.

Parrish: [and he's going to be sweet and charming to the ladies because that is something he can do, but there is a stolen glance up in her direction before he moves to the other side of the safety rails as the next round starts.]

Derek: [going to go with Laura a bit] I had a feeling you could use a sibling.

Laura: Unfortunately you're not wrong.

Daniel: [and as Parrish moves off to the side, Daniel is introduced and he raises his lance in the air to the cheers of the crowd]

Derek: I talked with him earlier. Parrish. He sends his greetings, but because of Daniel's presence, he is staying away from us as much as he can.

Laura: It's smart. Daniel likes to ... assert his territory.

Derek: [takes her hand and squeezes it] I know.

Parrish: [and the girls are now watching the joust because Parrish is focusing on it, and he's watching Daniel carefully, trying to learn the other man's style]

Daniel: [quick and efficient to say the least. It's not long before his opponent is dispatched of and he barely seems riled at the finish]

Parrish: [and as Daniel passes by after the joust was over] You almost made it seem too easy, Lord Argent.

Daniel: [glances over with a small smile] It isn't hard when you have the skill required.

Parrish: I've been looking forward to meeting you. The other knights have told me about your previous victories before you went off to war.

Daniel: I've heard a great deal about you as well. How unfortunate, however, that your streak is about to come to an end.

Parrish: I didn't realize you also dealt in prophecy, Lord Argent. We have yet to even get through the qualifying rounds, and I'm sure three years of war may have put some rust on your lances.

Daniel: Oh, no. No rust. If anything, it helped keep me in practice.

Parrish: How so?

Daniel: It keeps you reflexes sharp.

Parrish: Well, I do look forward to when we meet. [so he can finally vent his frustrations into slamming lances into your chest]

Daniel: As do I. [so he can end your run. and with that, he'll ride off to clear the field]

Parrish: [and he is going to wander off, leaving the ladies and going to get something to eat and check on his squires, lost in thought]

Derek: [having watched that] Well, they didn't kill each other?

Laura: I think Daniel would save that for a situation that gave him some plausible deniability.

Derek: I hope he's ready.

Laura: Me too. [though she's talking about Parrish there.]

Derek: [ so is he]

Laura: [and we skip a bit and Daniel and Parrish both win their respective battles until they've come to the final match?]

Parrish: [yup, and Roland is filling Parrish in and all the fights he's seen in the past, and how he needs to angle his lance]

Stiles: [and he is coming up into the stands] Lady Laura, can I have the honor of your company for this match?

Laura: [glances over with a smile] It would be my pleasure, Lord Stilinski.

Stiles: [goes to sit next to her in the spot Derek had been in, smiling] When I heard who were in the finals, I though perhaps you might need some companionship.

Laura: [exhales slowly] It will certainly be a rough one.

Daniel: [and with that Daniel will emerge to the cheers of the crowd, and lead his horse with his lance over to where Laura was sitting, extending the end to her] My lady.

Laura: [hesitates at first, her fingers playing idly with the scarf in her hand as she thinks]

Daniel: Appearances, Laura.

Laura: [and with that she will swallow, before tying the scarf around the end of the lance] For luck, my lord.

Parrish: [ yup, he sees that and that steeliness in his jaw is there as he put his helmet on]

Liam: Sir? [because he can smell the anger]

Parrish: I'm fine, Liam.

Liam: Just remember... don't ride angry. [hand Parrish the reins]

Daniel: [smiles at her before going to take his place at the end of the runway, taking a deep breath and slamming the visor of his helmet down as he prepares to ride]

Stiles: They can't... kill each other doing this, right?

Laura: Not intentionally. [but it could happen and that has her worried]

Parrish: [and off they go with the first pass, and they both connect and hit each other hard]

Daniel: [leans away from the blow, allowing some of the momentum to pass through him, but he stays on his horse all the same, shaking out his arm as he drops the remains of his lance]

Parrish: He hits like a cannon.

Roland: But it's not perfect. His aim is off and to the right. Lean that way and you'll be able to have it glance off you.

Parrish: And if he hits right he'll dehorse me, or worse.

Roland: I didn't say it was perfect.

Daniel: [gets a new lance and some water, before preparing to make another pass, making no move of seeming worried or concerned]

Parrish: [and then they go on their second pass and Hey, Parrish lands a blow but Daniel misses. And there is a lot of cheering and chanting of Parrish's name]

Laura: [ glances away from the rest of the crowd to hide the pleased expression on her face, mostly from her husband to be than anything else.]

Daniel: [looks less than pleased when his visor comes up but he doesn't seem riled either. Merely determined as he repositions his lance and takes another look at the field]

Parrish: [as he's riding back, oh look there's a scarf on the ground. He uses the remains of his lance to pick it up and ride over to Laura, handing it to her with a smirk] I believe this is yours, m'lady.

Laura: [sighs as she takes it before leaning forward] You are playing with fire.

Parrish: I don't fear the flame, m'lady.

Laura: You should. It's not something you can predict. [there's nothing more uncontrollable than fire and the Argents had fire in spades] But thank you, my lord.

Parrish: [there's something in his eyes that show her that fire was something he was oh too familiar with, and then a nod] I will keep that in mind. [and he's riding back over to get a new lance]

Daniel: [saw all of that, and he still doesn't seem bothered, his face a cool mask as he lowers his visor again. This time, when they come around for a pass, his aim is near deadly, putting a little extra speed on his horse and landing a blow in the dead center of Parrish's chest]

Parrish: [and off the horse he goes flying, Landing hard on the dirt, his armor split as he struggles to breath.]

Laura: [the entire crowd goes quiet and launch to their feet, Laura included, waiting to see if he will get to his feet again]

Daniel: [slows his horse as he makes his way around to Parrish's side of the pass, looking down on him from his horse as he removes his gloves and lifts his visor] As I said, my friend. I am not rusty.

Parrish: [he would give a snappy reply, but he's still focusing on his breathing. But the look he gives the man is deadly]

Daniel: [and with that he will just ride off to accept his victory and all that jazz]

Deaton: [Laura glances over and meets the eyes of Dr. Deaton on the edge of the crowd, and he nods before making his way forward to inspect him] Sir Parrish? Can you hear me?

Parrish: [nods] The armor is bent in... into my ribs.

Deaton: [nods, before gesturing for Liam to come closer] How are you at controlling your strength?

Liam: I can do it when I have to. I don't use it a lot though.

Deaton: I need you to use it here. But this needs to be done delicately as well as firmly, do you understand?

Liam: [looks at Parrish, worried]

Parrish: I trust you Liam.

Liam: [nods] Tell me what to do.

Deaton: [and he will explain how they're going to peel back the fragments of Parrish's armor so that it's no longer digging into his chest, but it needs to be done slowly to make sure the armor doesn't dig in to other areas and make things worse]

Liam: [nods, and he knows people are watching so he's going to hover over Parrish, trying to make it look like he was using all his strength when he was barely using any of it, digging his fingers in to find the metal and carefully peeling it back]

Deaton: [will do the same and once the armor is peeled back, Deaton will listen for his breathing to see if that is any better]

Parrish: [and that it is, and he's taking deep breaths as his body is starting to carefully heal himself. He's going to be bruised for a day, but he wasn't in danger anymore. He went to pat Liam on the back] Good boy.

Deaton: [smiles softly, before checking over his ribs to make sure they weren't broken] Looks like you should be just fine.

Laura: [sags briefly in relief as she goes to take her seat next to Stiles again, bringing her hand up to her lips as she takes a deep breath]

Stiles: I take it he's okay?

Parrish: Only thing broken is my winning streak.

Deaton: All streaks must end sometime. That doesn't mean you can't start a new one.

Laura: [nods] Dr. Deaton helped him with his armor, he should be able to breathe now.

Liam: Now we know what you're up against. You'll get him next time.

Parrish: [nods, then moves to sit up] Help me back to my tent so I can rest without all eyes on me. [Laura's eyes]

Stiles: I can go check on him later. [had actually been planning on asking him something anyway]

Deaton: [helps as well, so that Liam doesn't draw too much attention to himself]

Laura: [glances to Stiles and nods] I would appreciate that, thank you.

Parrish: [and they will go back to his tent, Roland and Watt following worriedly behind]

Stiles: I will see you at the feast and I will tell your lady sister his condition and she can share it with you later so that I don't get you in trouble.

Laura: [nods before reaching over and giving his hand a squeeze] Thank you, Stiles.

Stiles: Even now, I will always be of service to you, m'lady. [bows and kisses her hand]

Laura: [smiles softly, before waving him off as Daniel approaches] Go. I will see you at the feast.

Stiles: M'lady. [and he's off, heading away carefully to avoid Daniel's approach so that he doesn't have to talk to the man. But he is going to go to Parrish's tent to check on the man, and in doing so offer him stay at the Stilinski manor. They were down a few knights and if he wished to spend the winter there helping to defend the lands, his uncle had agreed to take in the southern knight who was a tournament champion many times over]

Laura: [good boy, Stiles. and if Daniel asks who he is, Laura will simply lie and say that he was a noble's son that they were fostering at the Hale Manor. Much easier than trying to explain the truth.]

Stiles: [and there is an argument about Parrish attending the feast, and that he needs to not stroke the fire that Daniel already beat at him once, but the knight is very stubborn. However, he finally relents, and Parrish is going to rest in his tent for the night and Stiles goes off to the feast after changing into a fancier doublet because really, what are these noble clothing that people keep putting him into]

Cora: [how fortunate that Cora also decided to wear red and is waiting for him at the entrance to the feast, as promised]

Stiles: [well, red is a good color on her. And he knew she had a lot of it in her wardrobe from when he lived there so he may have asked the tailor to always make his tourney clothes match red. No, there wasn't a long term goal in his plans at all] You look just as lovely as the first day we met, m'lady. [he bowed]

Cora: [she smiles softly before curtsying in return] Thank you, my lord.

Stiles: Did you enjoy catching up with Lady Allison this afternoon?

Cora: I did. It was a good reminder that not all dealings with the Argents are tactics and strategies. I believe I may have convinced her to have her and her lady to spend the summer at the Hale Manor instead of Paris, provided we can convince her father.

Stiles: I would think they would be doing that, if your sister's wedding was to be then. Does her father not wish to go?

Cora: Oh, no, they would come for the wedding, but their visit may have only been for a couple of weeks. They were not going to be involved in the original planning, and would not have stayed for the rest of the summer.

Stiles: Ah, I understand now. [and he's going to guide her inside and greet the servant who will show them to their table.] I do have a message for your lady sister, but I dare not give it to her while her husband to be is in her presence. Can I give the message to you to give to her later when you are alone?

Cora: [nods] Of course. Daniel will not be traveling back to the manor with us right away - I can tell her as we travel.

Stiles: Tell her that Sir Parrish is insistent on besting her husband. I fear recklessly so. I have offered him a place though in Stilinski Manor so that he can have a safe harbor in the north. But I fear his actions are in retaliation to being denied the one he's grown to love without his own knowledge.

Cora: [sighs softly] She is no more happier with this arrangement than he is, but the last thing she would want is for him to get hurt or worse - give the Argents a reason to want to hurt him. Gerard is very unforgiving.

Stiles: I heard rumor from the nobles earlier that word is Lord Argent has fallen ill and taken to bed in his manor.

Cora: No illness would stop him. That man has lived through three wars and fought in all of them. I am not sure the Devil himself could kill him.

Stiles: And here I was hoping that it would be seen as good news. [he helps pull out Cora's chair, and they get served their meal]

Cora: [sits easily, before shaking her head] Even then, the duty would fall to Allison's father to enforce the treaty to maintain the peace. A Hale must marry an Argent - that is the agreement.

Stiles: Is that what it says? A Hale and an Argent? Not Laura and Daniel in specifics?

Cora: Laura and Daniel were the only viable options at the time, so it's who it was intended for.

Stiles: But it doesn't have to be if they wish to have someone else take it up in their place, does it?

Cora: Do you see Daniel willing to concede what he thinks is his? [she sighs] And even then the other options don't work. Peter or Derek to marry Kate? Marry me to Daniel or Allison's father? Peter would kill Kate within a week of marriage and I am too young for either of them. Plus with Derek and the baby, Kate is ... no mother.

Stiles: Perhaps out it on Malia or the baby? Another generation's worth of time to be able to find a way to prove that this contract is not needed to form an alliance for peace. Your and Allison's friendship alone proves that.

Cora: [she shakes her head] They want our land. They are not going to wait for that. If we try to renegotiate now, they will simply declare it an act of war.

Stiles: Maybe you need to form a few alliances then that will back you and challenge them.

Cora: Laura just wants to keep the pack together. She doesn't want to marry Daniel but she doesn't think that any of us should be forced into a marriage we don't want, so better her than anyone else.

Stiles: [sucks on his lips a moment before reaching for the wine. He's thinking, trying to strategize a way that he could find a way to give Laura what she desired too]

Cora: [and she can see the wheels in his head turning, and she reaches forward to place a hand on his leg gently] Don't put yourself on their radar, Stiles. You are still a new noble and your uncle is still responsible for you. You don't want to make enemies out of the Argents.

Stiles: No, but I want to continue to offer my allegiance with the Hales. My Uncle knows this already.

Cora: That is fine. But getting my sister out of this contract isn't the way to do it.

Stiles: [bites his lip] Then I will not look.

Cora: [she squeezes his hand gently] Thank you. Things are still new for you - I don't want you to get into trouble.

Stiles: I appreciate your continued concern for my wellbeing.

Cora: Of course. You are my friend.

Stiles: [he gives her a smile, one that shows how much he appreciates that, but there’s something more. Affection he always showed in his actions, but always looking away so she wouldn't see it, now he knows he can show it without fear of reprimand for his station] As are you, Cora.

Cora: [if she sees it she doesn't indicate it, expecting them to fall into their normal rapport as friends, this time more freely now that Stiles is a noble. Thinking or expecting more from that isn't possible in her mind. It's not even something she realizes she wants]

Stiles: So should I be worried that next tourney you will be in men's clothing trying to steal away your brother's sword fighting title?

Cora: [she laughs] No, I don't think so.

Stiles: You sure? It would be quite the scandal.

Cora: [shakes her head] I would not want to steal Allison's thunder.

Stiles: That I would understand. [and look, their main plate now. Time to eat with the rest of the guests now]

Cora: [yep, lots of eating, and drinking and later there will be lots of dancing]

Stiles: [yup, dancing and for the most part Stiles can do the dances, even if he stumbles on a few of the more complicated steps.]

Cora: [and she will gently lead him through and try not to laugh and eventually she will lead him out of the feast and into the fresh air when the heat got to be too much]

Stiles: [and while he knew it was supposed to be his arm that he gave her to walk with, he had gotten so used to holding her hand that it was just second to him to do so as they walked] So, if you could imagine yourself five years from now, where would you want yourself to be?

Cora: [she glances over at him, confused, before laughing] What kind of question is that?

Stiles: What? I want to know what your dream life would be. Is that so wrong to ask?

Cora: That is not what you asked. You asked me to imagine where I would be five years from now, not about my dreams.

Stiles: You don't believe you could achieve a dream within five years?

Cora: My dreams and my reality are two very different things.

Stiles: But what if they could be the same? You never know. [he goes to sit on a bench, pulling her to join him]

Cora: [goes to sit next to him, before shaking her head] My dream is to be free. To choose things that I am not allowed to choose for myself. I will never be able to have that, to be my own person in the eyes of the rest of the world.

Stiles: You are your own person to me. And to your family. Does the rest of the world really need to matter so much in that?

Cora: Because it means I can't choose anything for myself. [she pauses before glancing back to him, clearly frustrated] Did you know that when Laura gets married, if I want to stay in my home and he forces Peter to leave, I have to marry whoever he tells me to? No matter if it's a good person or if it's what I want? In the eyes of the law I will always be property. It's simply a matter of which man I happen to belong to at the time.

Stiles: [he lowers his eyes to his lap a moment, and then reached over to take both of hers into his] Not all men would see you as that.

Cora: [she glances down at his hands] No. But I still don't have a choice. I don't want to be married. I don't want to be leverage or property or any of that. I just want to live with my family in my home and marry when I am ready to.

Stiles: [and he has a feeling that his plan isn't going to work now. That his offer to marry her, his desire to give her that freedom wouldn't be seen as it because it would still be him making the choice. Him using his status as an heir to ask for her in that way, even if it was a societal way of being able to love her the way he wanted to. He just squeezed her hands] I wish I could give that to you, Cora. You saved me from a horrible life. I would give anything to be able to give you the life you want.

Cora: [she smiles softly at that] I know you would. But some things aren't possible.

Stiles: I happen to like to think that sometimes.... sometimes dreams can come true. Sometimes you can change your stars and a stable boy can become a noble and a beautiful woman can live her life free.

Cora: [glances back to him, watching him for a moment] Maybe.

Stiles: Did you know my family was nobility when you left me in Austria?

Cora: [shakes her head] I just wanted to find your father. You deserved to see each other again.

Stiles: So you weren't expecting to lose me then when my uncle came to claim me. [which... fixes something in his head. He had wondered if Cora knew and was trying to free him for a better life]

Cora: [she shakes her head] No. I had hoped that your father might have the money to buy you back from us so that you could be with your family, but I had no idea about your uncle.

Stiles: [he squeezed her hand a bit, then looked up at her] Well, if I can't find a way to free Laura... would you allow me to find a way to free you?

Cora: [tips her head to the side, confused] How do you mean?

Stiles: You want to be free to make your own choices. To choose who you want to love, and not be someone's property. Let me see if I can find a way to give that to you.

Cora: I'm sure there are more important things you could be spending time with as a new noble.

Stiles: Maybe. Or maybe there are things more important to me than the rest of the things I could be spending my time on.

Cora: [she watches him for a moment. she's not sure he can make that happen, but the fact that he's willing to try means enough to her] Thank you.

Stiles: [He smiled, nodding his head] Anything for you, Lady Cora.

Cora: [smiles in return, before taking a deep breath and glancing back to the rest of the tents] I think I have had enough for one night. I'm going to return to my tent. [it's more like she's got too many emotions to really enjoy the party fully, and she doesn't want to take that out on Stiles]

Stiles: Can I see you again before you leave?

Cora: [she nods] Breakfast?

Stiles: Breakfast. I will follow the scent of bacon to your tents. [but first he will stand and give her his arm, walking her back to them]

Cora: [and she will take it, letting him lead as they go]

Stiles: [and it's too short of a walk before they are there, and he's letting her go] I will see you in the morning, m'lady.

Cora: I will see you then. Good night, Stiles.

Stiles: Good night, Cora. [and he will go to see himself back to his tent. Then there will be breakfast as the servants pack, and they head their separate ways?]

Cora: [yep, everyone goes back to their own houses]