Asking Permission

Writers: Anika, Tyr
Date Posted: 4th February 2015

Characters: Gautrek, Symion
Description: Symion asks Gautrek about taking Geirlene on a picnic.
Location: Vintner Hall
Date: month 11, day 2 of Turn 7
Notes: Mentioned: Geirlene

Gautrek

Symion cleared his throat to gain Gautrek's attention as the man sat
reading through hides at his desk. "Sir, may I speak with you,
please?"

"Certainly, Symion. Did you have a question on the assignment?"

"No, sir I understood the assignment just fine, thank you. I wanted
to speak with you about a personal matter."

Gautrek's eyes widened some at that, and he sat back in his chair,
waiving for the apprentice to have a seat. "Of course, how can I help
you?"

Sitting down, Symion faced the Senior Journeyman, trying to choose his
words carefully. "Sir, you know I've visited quite a bit with your
niece since coming here."

"Yes, she has appreciated your friendliness," Gautrek noted amicably,
though inside he was not overly pleased with the direction of the
conversation.

"Well, sir, she's a very nice girl. Very special," he looked straight
into Gautrek's eyes squaring his shoulders. "I was wondering if I
might invite her on a picnic next restday, if I find an appropriate
chaperon?"

Stunned silence met the young man's request. Gautrek had been bold as
an apprentice, but even he would not have been so brash. His first
response was to lambast the apprentice and insist he stay
dragonlengths away from Geirlene, but he took a deep breath instead
and let it out very slowly.

"Why?" He finally asked.

"Uh, well, sir she's really nice, like I said, and I would, um like to
get to know her better."

**Oh, I just bet you would.** The older man thought to himself, but
when he spoke his tone was calm and reasonable. "Get to know
her better? So are you asking to court Geirlene?"

"I, ah, I don't know. I mean I think we should get better acquainted
before we talk too much about courting."

"I see. Have you spoken to Geirlene about your intentions?"

"Well, I told her I wanted to ask you." Symion answered, feeling
rather uncomfortable with Gautrek's questions.

Gautrek nodded. "I know it must have taken a great deal of courage to
come and ask me and I commend you for approaching this honorably.
However, I cannot consent. If you wish to get to know my niece
better, you will have to do so in a public venue. Individual
excursions, even chaperoned, tend to lead to courtship and I would
need to be confident in your prospects prior to agreeing to that. As
an apprentice, you have very little to offer a wife. Once you receive
journeyman's rank, however, I would consider your request if Geirlene
is amendable."

Symion looked down and tried to control his emotions and appear
disappointed instead of angry. For some reason, the man's words had
filled him with rage. As if he weren't worthwhile unless he was a
Journeman! Of course he'd only wanted to get close to Geirlene
because he thought it might help his chances at walking the tables but
that didn't matter one bit right now. Gautrek had just told him that
he wasn't good enough and that left a bitterness in the pit of his
belly.

"Come now, don't look so dejected. You're doing quite well in your
courses. I'm sure you'll make Journeyman soon. All good things are
worth waiting for." Gautrek privately thought that the wait would be
good in and of itself. If Symion was really interested in Geirlene
and this was not just some youthful fancy then the time should make
little difference.

"Yes, sir," Symion offered a half-hearted smile, still seething
inside. Oh, he'd wait alright, and once he held journeyman's rank and
could not be dismissed from the Hall, he would have Geirlene. Then
once he'd had her he would show Gautrek who wasn't good enough.

Last updated on the February 10th 2015

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Asking Permission