GiskLord Barristan
Little stirred in the lush, dense Rainwood. Distant birds called but there was little else to grace the ears of men this morning. The short storm the night before left much evidence of its passing with felled trees and disturbed underbrush, and still, fog hung to the canopy of pines and blanketed the ground like the wispy, thin veil of a maiden. Through this did Lord Barristan's footfalls make for an unexpected breaking of the silence of the wood.
Having some days ago departed from Storms End with ample retainers and companions to attend the royal wedding Barristan had insisted on stopping near the end of the Rainwood for a boar hunt. The hunt had begun hours ago and eventually, the large party of noble companions had split up in order to cover more ground and stand a better chance at making a kill. Brus had taken off with his young and rowdy fellow knights, many other Lords and Knights had formed smaller hunting parties including Lord Caryll Connington. Barristan however had by far the smallest party comprising only himself and his squire and son Selwyn. It had been a few hours now since they had slipped his other retainers and made off into the wood at Barristans urging, their voices long since replaced by only Barristans own.
"Every feast I've ever been to since I was a man, I've eaten a kill of my own! Royal wedding or not I won't break that tradition now! We'll show up to Kings Landing with a nice fat boar I put my spear through, or I'll wear a dress to the tourney!", his coarse laugh rumbled through the trees, seeming to shake their branches as he boasted to his son. "I hope to find one as big as that which I ate at my fifteenth name-day! A real monster it was! Took three spears to bring him down! Think the boar who killed King Robert was as big?!", he turned to his son with his beaming smile.
Selwyn smirked at his fathers urging, "As fat as I've heard tell he was it'd have to be or its tusks wouldn't breach his fat.", eliciting a deep laugh from Barristan in response, who responded quickly, "Sharp boy, sharp indeed! Gods a boar! Selwyn if a boar kills me, you have my permission to toss me into the sea for being such a fool.", Selwyn chuckled at his father's joke, ensuring Barristan retained his sunny attitude. "I hope you get one too Selwyn, and your brother! Imagine it three Baratheons and three great spitted boars! We'll have provided half the main course! I'll have to charge King Aegon when he gets back! Can't have such fine hunter for free!", At the mention of his brother Selwyn seemed to darken, much to Barristans chagrin.
Brothers may bicker often, but sometimes Barristan thought his sons may want to kill each other in recent months... maybe for years now. Barristan was only just back to himself he felt, the last two years being given back to him by the grace of the seven and Maester Davos' medicines. During that time he'd watched his sons at each other's throats, relentlessly in competition. Perhaps he could finally put an end to it at Kings Landing...
Barristan cleared his throat after a surprising silence, "You'll meet your bride in Kings Landing." Selwyn stopped at that, consternation writ heavy upon his face, "Father I-", Barristan rounded on his rounded on Selwyn, looming over his son darkly, "I'll not hear it! You are to marry a woman I choose as is my right as your father and Lord, and you will do as you're told as an obedient son! You're at the right age and I've managed a fine match, a Princess of Dorne, and you will marry her! If nothing else it shall put a stop to the rumors and lies that my bannermen bandy about! Is that understood?", Selwyn glowered at his father's scalding and Barristan met his gaze hardily.
Selwyn, although younger than his brother, was as much Barristans son and a Baratheon. Already broad of shoulder and tall at fourteen name days and still growing no one could deny Selwyn's blood but that was not Barristan's concern. "Yes.", was all the squire managed, his eyes burning circles of hot blue flame. With that Barristan turned, father and son now stalking through the Rainwood in uncomfortable silence.
It felt like many more hours as they stalked through the misty morning, slower than Barristan would like but he had little choice. He could not move as he once had in younger days before his injuries, wounds that now haunted his every step with pain often running up his right leg if he went too fast or rested too long or simply moved incorrectly and a growing concern of gout was less than welcome. The cool air seemed to help, his body obeying him for once without the need for heavy drink to dull himself though a slight ache would always remain. It hurt more the longer they went however and Barristan's patience began to run thin as he followed the signs of a boar. It had been years since he'd done any hunting without dogs and more men, perhaps they should turn back for a better chance he thought, but was halted in his thoughts abruptly as he spotted prey and crouched low to avoid its sight.
He had been tracking no boar but had mistakenly come upon a stags tracks it seemed. A noble, no kingly stag stood scraping its antlers upon a great pine tree. The beasts rack was magnificent and bloodied from its scraping, giving it a disturbing visage as blood dripped down its head to stead its dark brown fur. The loud scratching must have covered the pair of hunters approach and Barristan smiled eagerly at Selwyn. While hunting deer was easier with a bow they were close enough they could fell this stag with their spears. Barristan loomed low to the ground as he turned his spear around, its haft passing over his shoulder and its point just near his ear. He exhaled quietly to calm his aim and then drew up to throw. The stag's eyes caught him just as he drew back, stepped, and tumbled with a shout.
In his haste, Barristan had poorly placed his bad leg forwards and caught it on a root, and a shock of intense pain sprinted up his body. The Lord of Storms End doubled in pain, his spear clattering to the ground, and could only watch as the stag leaped between a pair of trees, seemingly now free to escape!
Just as a second spear sailed over Barristan's head and struck the stag in the neck. Selwyn's aim was true, and the magnificent beast toppled with a gurgled attempt at a scream. Head over hoof the stags great strength turned against it, flinging its body against a tree from its failed attempt at flight. It came to rest some distance from Barristan who gave a pained laugh as Selwyn rushed to his side.
"A fine throw Selwyn! That will be a fine meal I say! Here, set me down.", Selwyn had helped his father to hobble over to sit next to the kill. The Stag was still breathing raggedly, but blood was pooling around the creature quickly with the spear lodged deeply in its neck. "Go and get the men! We'll carry this out, maybe your brothers bagged a boar by now as well. Seems I won't get one myself for once! Though I'll happily take the lions share of your kill!"
Selwyn left to bring the rest of their hunting party to help retrieve the kill, leaving Barristan with the dying stag. Barristan watched the noble creature expire, crimson seeping into the grass around its kingly antlers and a ring of dark blood around its neck.
