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Post by Nicholas Gawain Lannsman on Nov 28, 2007 10:23:35 GMT -5
Nicholas slowly made his way, the sword of metal clinking with his every step as his longsword and sheathe bounced on his leg. Straight backed, he stood before the door, taking a deep and calming breathe before knocking three times.
He was partly hoping she wasn't there, but he knew it had to be done. Nicholas had to make up for it.
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Post by Elsbeth Pierce on Nov 28, 2007 13:47:30 GMT -5
Elsbeth was sitting in her office, during a break between classes. She didn't have any prepaaratory work to do for her next class, nor did she have any corrections to go over for the one that had just passed.
She sat quietly at her desk, flipping through the pages of the Daily Prophet, when suddenly, there came a triple knock on her door.
"Come in, please." she said, as she folded up her paper and placed it neatly on her otherwise cluttered desk.
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Post by Nicholas Gawain Lannsman on Nov 28, 2007 14:26:05 GMT -5
Gently, Nicholas opened the door and stood at the threshold, closing it easily behind him. He wore simple school robes, for once in his three years here, the goblin-made sword hanging on his belt.
Humbly, he bowed, his voice actually meek. "Permission to speak with you, Headmistress? You wished for me to speak with you should I have the chance."
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Post by Elsbeth Pierce on Nov 28, 2007 15:22:30 GMT -5
"Good afternoon, Sir Nicholas," She said with a smile. "Thank you for stopping by."
With a wave of her hand she motioned for him to sit opposite her on the other side of the desk. "Please, do sit down."
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Post by Nicholas Gawain Lannsman on Nov 28, 2007 16:48:24 GMT -5
"Thank you." he responded in kind, smiling a bit as he pulled out a chair to sit. Nicholas plopped down onto it and faced the Headmistress, unable to look directly into her eyes.
"How might I be of service, Headmistress?"
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Post by Elsbeth Pierce on Nov 28, 2007 16:54:40 GMT -5
Elsbeth nervously shuffled some papers as Nicholas sat down. She had never done meetings like this before, and this was her first time as Headmistress that she really needed to act professional and do the right thing with her staff.
"Erm, I was hoping to better discuss what happened at the duel and in the Hospital Wing."
She didn't want to upset him again, but this was very necessary and important to her that this issue be resolved. How could the staff work as a team if there was an obvious rift between two of them?
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Post by Nicholas Gawain Lannsman on Nov 28, 2007 18:08:02 GMT -5
The Defence Against Dark Arts professor nodded his head slowly, still unable to make eye contact.
"I know, Headmistress. What is it you'd like to ask em specifically. I'll do my best to answer as honestly and unbiased as possible." he answered calmly and a tad quieter than his normal voice level.
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Post by Elsbeth Pierce on Nov 28, 2007 18:33:47 GMT -5
"Well, first of all, I just wanted to be sure that you understand I wasn't putting any blame directly on you or your actions in the duel. You were noble, as your status of a knight implies. I won't refute that. However, like I said then too, having known his history, you might have hesitated before going into a duel with him, or at least kept it in mind when duelling."
She wrung her hands, obviously uncomfortable. "And I hope you're doing much better today. I understand those were some harsh wounds you received."
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Post by Nicholas Gawain Lannsman on Nov 28, 2007 18:46:37 GMT -5
Nicholas' eyes remaind glued to something on the desk as he spoke softly.
"There was an amount of hesitation in my decision to continue the duel, Headmistress. I knew he had disregard for certain rules and regulations, but that had been well over ten years ago. I had only assumed that in ten years, as well as gaining the position of Deputy Headmaster would have instilled some common thread of dueling etiquette. It just didn't strike me that he would attack me if I came to help him."
He sighed a bit as he remained staring at the desk. "My rib is fine, as is my breathing, if that is what you are asking. I deserved what he had told me; there is no need for my romantic notions in a duel, or in many things we deal with."
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Post by Elsbeth Pierce on Nov 28, 2007 19:02:29 GMT -5
"Don't think that, Nicholas. If you didn't have those romantic notions, you wouldn't be who you are today. I admit, it is very noble of you to use them in a duel, but I suppose in a display for education the children, it might be misplaced."
She reached out and touched his hand. "Please, don't beat yourself up over this. We're all human; we make mistakes. It's what we get out of them that count the most, y'hear?"
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Post by Nicholas Gawain Lannsman on Nov 28, 2007 19:17:55 GMT -5
Nicholas looked the Headmistress in the eyes, finally, a silent plea behind his look.
"Is it wrong to teach the children to fight with some degree of honor, Headmistress? Is it so wrong to still try maintain some vestige of respect for people even when in combat? Must we teach them to fight without mercy, and to win without some vestige of courtesy to your opponent? These are duels; a pre-arranged event where the opponents fight to settle a point of honor. That's what a duel is. A fight is when someone will beat his opponent."
He looked to be searching for something in her eyes, an answer perhaps. He continued after a moment's pause. "I suppose I should keep those notions to myself though, no?" he asked, sounding defeated and not resentful.
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Post by Elsbeth Pierce on Nov 28, 2007 19:48:04 GMT -5
"No, no, Nicholas, that is not what I meant at all, and I apologize for making you think so. Those romantic notions are a far cry from being silly, believe me. I admire those ideals in a person; surely others do as well."
She frowned slightly. "But why is it that Deputy Novim would say such a thing? Why do you have such a terrible rivalry between you two?"
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Post by Nicholas Gawain Lannsman on Nov 28, 2007 19:58:20 GMT -5
A ghost of smile graced his crestfallen features as he leaned back into his chair. He wet his lips before continuing.
"I don't understands why he hates my ideals so much. Maybe because they're easily associated with me, or maybe because of the title I have." Nicholas began. "The reason I know for certain why he thinks I'm a barbarous brute is because I beat him in a duel after he...after..."
Closing his eyes, he steadied his breathing. "He had dueled Althea, and while disarmed, used Legilimency to invade her mind. She ahd no way of protecting herself...and he hurt her...raped her memories..."
He opened his eyes and looked to the Headmistress. "I loved her then, as I do now. I was beside myself with rage at his arrogance, his abuse of power, and his blatant disregard of respect for a defeated opponent. I fought him next."
Nicholas sighed, looking none too proud. "I beat him in the duel."
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Post by Elsbeth Pierce on Nov 28, 2007 20:40:19 GMT -5
"I can't believe Orynn would do such a thing." she replied. "It's just so shocking. I know he's not the world's most likeable person, but I never suspected anything like that. I suppose I'd have to hear his side, as well."
"So, this hatred, of sorts, stemmed from that first duel?"
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Post by Nicholas Gawain Lannsman on Nov 28, 2007 20:58:40 GMT -5
"To an extent, it was more of a culmination of years and years of dislike. He'd always be a sneaky person in school, constantly puppeteering events for his own pleasure. Manipulating students into doing things against each other and making them dance to his strings. He found that the social aspects of school were far more interesting than the actual classes. He was always very good at it." Nicholas said. He scratched his head. "I never liked that. He'd always orchestrate something and get away with it. When he did that to Althea, I just snapped."
Nicholas winced slightly when he spoke. "I wasn't being figurative when I said I beat him in the duel, either. That's where his association with me being barbaric comes from."
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