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The Boys by jjjean65
Kate was ensconced in the corner of the tavern watching the sea of faces ebb and flow from the bar to the tables and back. She held a tankard of foamy brew in front of her, sipping quietly. Waiting for the rest of the boys, her thoughts led her astray… @@@ I had an idea before Paris that Wat had taken a shine to Chaucer. The half-hearted threats of fonging and the like. I saw Geoff hug him at the sword on foot, Wat had objected fiercely at being hugged in public. It was after that happened that I noticed Chaucer's interest in our squire was quickly overtaken by his fascination for Will. "Do you want to touch him." Och! What a line! The fact that Wat was still hankering after the Herald became obvious to me when he agreed to Chaucer to use all our money on the bet in Paris. Wat had a thing about gambling. Wat let himself be led to gamble on uncertain things - like Will not being found out. Will had him wrapped around his finger with talk of glory and honor. When it came to out and out throwing money after dice, he objected, strongly. Making his opinion known with fists on occasion. The fact that Wat allowed himself to be swayed was more due to the fact he had fallen for the Herald than any real love of the game of chance. Then again, it must have seemed to Chaucer that Wat had thrown caution to the wind and decided his life was a gamble with the ruse we were playing out. Glory and honor? I suppose money seemed rather minor concern to all of us just then. We placed our faith in Will's arm and Chaucer's odds to win us home. I saw that during the joust the realization that it could all be lost alarmed Wat. But it was Geoff's offhand acceptance that pushed him over the edge. It must have hit Wat like a ton of bricks that money didn't mean much to Geoff at that point, that it was the game that mattered to the Herald. I believe this told him plain and clear that Chaucer did not view money as security but a toy to be used. That's when he jumped him inflicting gammy handed pummels rather than extremely painful thumps. Personally, I think Wat just took any opportunity to get his hands on the Herald. He never really objected to the teasing and hugs he got from Geoff. I wonder if he understood they were Geoff's way of showing affection. I think Roland is so wrapped up in Christiana that he hasn't quite worked out what is going on. I do believe he thought I was commenting on Will's painful declaration of love when I commented that it to be romantic. I had meant Wat's rough affection for Geoff. Roland might have gotten close to the idea when he told Geoff to put Wat down. They were grappling in close - almost as if they were hugging, holding hands. Roland can fool himself… I know better. Ah, here comes Roland now… @@@ Roland sat down at the small table next to Kate with a tankard of his own. Roland watched the door for Christiana, though he doubted she would enter such an establishment. Nor would she spot him in the back of the tavern with his tankard of brew. "Did you mean it?" Roland asked suddenly. "When you said it was romantic." Kate grinned mischievously and nodded, "Wat and Geoff? Well, sure it is. Don't you think so?" "Chaucer and Wat?!" Roland choked on his beer. "I thought you meant Will taking a beating for Jocelyn." Kate scoffed. "That's not love, just a cruel girl's game." She looked at him in surprise. "Surely you've noticed?" She paused and smiled. "Ah no, you wouldn't would you. You only have eyes for the dainty maid, eh?" Roland glanced again at the door, hoping the object of his interest would enter and take him out of a suddenly dangerous situation. A woman talking of love to a man - he was in serious trouble. He shifted in his seat and said firmly, "We just discuss embroidery patterns." Kate laughed at his awkwardness, smacking him lightly on his beefy arm. "Och now, that's an old line, that is!" She said in a fair imitation of Roland's voice. "Come and see my embroidery." "Nuff of me, alright?" Roland tried to settle in his seat. "Now, what did you mean? About our wayward squire and the lanky Herald." Kate snorted. "It's obvious to me that Wat adores Chaucer." She took a draught of her beer. "Always saying he'll fong him, isn't he?" He replied, "But Geoff never takes it seriously." Kate sighed. "Yes, I know. I think our Herald will break Wat's heart." Roland snorted, "Break Wat's heart? More like he'll trash the Herald to death first." He subsided at Kate's glare. "You yourself told me of your adventures before I joined this merry band. Chaucer's been nude in front of Wat several times. When they met. At the summoners." Roland agreed. "Aye, just those times. Besides everyone else was there too!"" "That you know of." Kate added with a wink. Kate nodded. "But each time Wat reacted violently?" At Roland's nod, "There you see? T'was only to cover his tender feelings. Hurt feelings." Roland sat back on his chair starting to wonder, he looked at Kate. "You know, you could be right. When Chaucer was arrested, Wat was the only one of us who noticed him missing." He took a thoughtful sip of his beer. Kate repeated herself. "He'll break Wat's heart. Our Herald wishes for William's regard the same way Wat seeks his." She sighed heavily and muttered into her tankard. "They're all doomed." Roland sprayed his beer yet again, this time to shouted complaints from his companion suddenly drenched in a foamy wash. "Watch it!" Kate exclaimed brushing droplets off her leathers. "I'll never get the beer stains out and that wouldn't do for business. A boozy wench for a farrier!" She looked up at the worried frown on Roland's face. "Och, don't take on so. Geoff'll stay quiet for much the same reason you have." Roland dropped his head to the table and quietly banged his forehead against the rough grain. A small boozy smelling cloth was suddenly between his skin and the wood muffling the thumps. Flinching away from the grimy cloth, he stopped and looked up into Kate's unruffled face. "Roland. I'm a canny Scot's gal. I don't miss much." "Sometimes it would be better if you did, lass." He grumbled. Kate shrugged. "T'is of no matter, what will be will be." Roland gave her a scornful look. "That was profound." He looked towards the door again only to see Wat and William enter. He watched as they looked around and spotted them in the corner. "Here come Wat and Will." He waved them over as Kate flagged down a tavern wench to order more beer. @@@ After a while in the tavern they all decided to take off back to the tents, to rest for the games the next day. It was then that they encountered their Herald. Nude. With his wife. All hell broke loose. "You lying shite…" accompanied the pained look from Wat. "I can't think of anything to say." Kate tried to block the sight from Wat's eyes only to be thrust aside. She could hear Wat's heart break at the sight. Nothing would be the same. Fin |
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