Shrewsbury Castle

[Gandalfus]

Gilbert's widow looked upon Roger with ambivalence. She gathered her thoughts and her composure, wanting to say a thousand things. In the end, she settled for simple acquiescence.

"You are welcome here, seigneur Mowbray, under my roof."

The servants knew their duties, scurrying off to fetch wine and bread. They quickly returned with the required nourishment.

"What is it that you would ask of me?"

A weregild was promised, she knew that much. Mayhaps he had come to pay the blood debt.

[General Brewster]

Roger took a cup of wine and downed it with ease, he had been thirsty but perhaps the countess would interpret it as needing some extra courage. Either way, when Roger cleared his throat he said.
"You are too king countess, I can imagine you must look upon me with some disdain, perhaps only for the sins of my father but perhaps because of my own overtures." Mowbray had defeated her father in law in battle not to forget. He was proud about it, as every young lad it proud of his first battle even when it was not the most prestigious battle. Mowbray sighed as he took some bread and started to break it in his hand, closely watching the countess. Mowbray said "I have come to pay my debt countess." as he took a piece of bread and put it in his mouth. "Yet I also came to ask your forgiveness but I would understand if you would want me to pay you what I owe you and wish to never see me again." Roger was somewhat sad, because of the sins of his father this lady had became England's most eligible bachelorette yet because of that same issue he could not start to hope and who her..

[Gandalfus]

“The sins of the father are not your own.”

Though they would not exactly be on friendly terms. Gilbert had suffered for his own father’s death. But life does indeed move on. Night turns to day and mourning comes to an end eventually. Securing her son’s future was the most important thing, though she had an ample enough fortune with which to do that.

“I forgive you, provided the debt is paid. Such is the price put on my husband’s life.”

He was valued at five thousand pounds, apparently. What was her own life worth?

[General Brewster]

Mowbray fainted a smile. How could money replace a husband and a father he thought? He would not wait on the opportunity to offer money for his own fathers life.. how would little Gilbert think when he came of age and developed his own opinion?

"I thank you for your forgiveness and the integrity of recognizing the sins of the father as only his.." Mowbray wasn't too confident about it. After all he would be mad with grief if someone would've killed his father and there was no king in the world who would take away that feeling of loss within him.

"Countess.." he began "There is no money in the world that could take mourning of a loved one away I fear.. yet I have indeed come to offer you the promised 2500 pounds." Mowbray paused, looking down to the floor. His appetite gone whilst he feared the reaction of the countess.. What could this Mowbray do to redeem himself?

Having regained some courage Mowbray proceeded to say. "Countess Christina, I have nothing but sorrow for you. For the impossible position you have been put in. I am here with a sum of money, fulfilling to the terms of a peace treaty that should have never been necessary to begin with. I do not know which motives my father brought with him when he challenged your husband to a dual nor can I make any excuses for it. My family is responsible for the reason that you have been bombarded to the most eligible bachelorette within the Kingdom. It must be a struggle to fend of all the men that come after you right now and I can do nothing but bring my humble apologies and offer you my assistance if you would ever need it. Perhaps I am not the person you would want to come to your aid but I would wish it so that you know that even though I am a de Mowbray, I am here if you would ever need it my lady, countess.." Roger felt genuine sorrow for her, he had tried to offer his hand to her via the King but knew this was nothing but a bygone hope. As if she would ever fall for the charms of a man that was the offspring of someone who caused her and her infant son insatiable amounts of grief.

[Gandalfus]

A thin smile played across the lips of the Countess of Shrewsbury.

”I accept the payment, sire de Mowbray. And I appreciate the offer of aid, though I assure you no man has yet come to threaten me into accepting a suit.”

It wasn’t exactly out of the question. A woman without a husband was independent yet vulnerable, and she was a beacon to every land hungry knight in the kingdom to try their luck.

[General Brewster]

A thin smile played across the lips of the Countess of Shrewsbury.

”I accept the payment, sire de Mowbray. And I appreciate the offer of aid, though I assure you no man has yet come to threaten me into accepting a suit.”

It wasn’t exactly out of the question. A woman without a husband was independent yet vulnerable, and she was a beacon to every land hungry knight in the kingdom to try their luck.

Roger grinned as the countess smiled, however thin it might have been it sure did please him. The younger Mowbray dipped his head when the countess forgave him as it seemed to be a big deal to him.
"I am happy to hear that countess. If need ever arises, I will be there." Roger said as he got up. "I thank you countess, from the deepest of my heart. If you would pardon me. I have to visit Lord de Clare also." he said faking a polite smile. He loathed the idea of going there.

[Pericles of Athens]

The first signs of winter’s thaw had begun to appear as Godwin made his journey north into the marches, spring would soon be upon them he thought, and it couldn’t come soon enough as far as he was concerned. It had been two years, since both his own wife and Gilbert had died, the former weighing heavily on his mind. He was accompanied by a decently large escort of guards, his brother had driven off the bandits, but when he followed their trail they simply vanished, and could still be floating around the countryside.

[Gandalfus]

The first signs of winter’s thaw had begun to appear as Godwin made his journey north into the marches, spring would soon be upon them he thought, and it couldn’t come soon enough as far as he was concerned. It had been two years, since both his own wife and Gilbert had died, the former weighing heavily on his mind. He was accompanied by a decently large escort of guards, his brother had driven off the bandits, but when he followed their trail they simply vanished, and could still be floating around the countryside.

The Countess' steward, a man from Normandy, saw to the Earl of Wessex being properly greeted at Shrewsbury Castle. He shouted in French for the stableboys to take the horses, and he introduced himself as Seigneur Ranulph; presumably he had been one of Gilbert's men. Godwine and his troupe are escorted into the large timber hall where the King's sister holds her court. They are invited to take their seats before her at an elongated table, at which she sat at the very head. Food had been swiftly prepared, as had wine, though lent would soon be upon them.

"My Lord Godwin."

Cristina politely smiled as a greeting. It had been some time since she had spoken with the Earl of Wessex, before she had even wed Gilbert. It all seemed so long ago.

[Pericles of Athens]

Godwin and his men entered the hall graciously, the warmth loosening his joints. “My lady Christina.” He gave a respectful bow of the head before taking a seat. “You have my thanks for the warmth of your reception.” He reaches for a glass of wine, he had taken a liking to the substance, though he considered himself no expert in the finer points of the beverage.

[Gandalfus]

Godwin and his men entered the hall graciously, the warmth loosening his joints. “My lady Christina.” He gave a respectful bow of the head before taking a seat. “You have my thanks for the warmth of your reception.” He reaches for a glass of wine, he had taken a liking to the substance, though he considered himself no expert in the finer points of the beverage.

”It would be ill mannered of me to not offer you respite on your road northwards.”

She suspected that he was not here simply for an idle visit, but operated upon that pretense nonetheless. The Countess helped herself to a drink of her own.

“You are well, my Lord? I imagine the south has better humours than here, being closer to the sea.”

Something that had not been seen by her in some time.

[Pericles of Athens]

“Luckily I don’t plan on going too far into the north on this trip, my lady. Your keep is a destination in it of itself.” Godwin allowed, taking a sip of the wine. “I suppose I am as well as any man can be after losing his wife..” He coughed to realize the tension as if he had misspoken there. “Though I am certainly grateful to be in good health and to have that blasted Welsh campaign far from my mind.” The Earl allowed, the food had been terrible, as had the weather, and such things addled the minds of the men there. “My father’s old lands treat me well, prosperous and plentiful as they had been in my youth. Warmer there, and the salty air brings balance to the humors, or so the doctors tell me, I am certain being far from the Welsh border aids in that regard.” If he was serious or japing was an enigma, as his visage maintained a serious if inquisitive demeanor. “Tell me though, how are you my lady Christina? It has been many years since last we saw one another, and the last few years have been less than kind.”

[Gandalfus]

“Luckily I don’t plan on going too far into the north on this trip, my lady. Your keep is a destination in it of itself.” Godwin allowed, taking a sip of the wine. “I suppose I am as well as any man can be after losing his wife..” He coughed to realize the tension as if he had misspoken there. “Though I am certainly grateful to be in good health and to have that blasted Welsh campaign far from my mind.” The Earl allowed, the food had been terrible, as had the weather, and such things addled the minds of the men there. “My father’s old lands treat me well, prosperous and plentiful as they had been in my youth. Warmer there, and the salty air brings balance to the humors, or so the doctors tell me, I am certain being far from the Welsh border aids in that regard.” If he was serious or japing was an enigma, as his visage maintained a serious if inquisitive demeanor. “Tell me though, how are you my lady Christina? It has been many years since last we saw one another, and the last few years have been less than kind.”

"I am well. Though Gilbert has since passed, I have grown used to living alone."

Well, not alone, but certainly without a husband.

"My son's lands and my own are ample enough to live on comfortably. I am in my brother's debt, I suppose."