Fortunate Son - Part II

GAME: GUILD WARS 2
CHARACTER: BLAKE BRENNAN


13 years later...

The rain was holding back, but was about to fall at any moment as thunder shook the walls and lightning lit up the rooms on this other wise black night. The sound of footsteps hitting the floor echoed throughout the many hallways only to be drowned out by the commanding presence of the thunder. Coming to an abrupt stop, almost sliding into the closed wooden doors ahead, the young man gave two quick knocks followed by a short pause and then another knock. Without waiting for a response from within, he opened the massive door and went inside, making sure to close the door behind him.

With a slight grin he pulled a wooden training sword from his hip and sprinted towards the leather chair on his left, jumping up onto it, his feet on each arm rest as he balanced himself and started to fight an invisible foe that resided on the other chair. The wooden sword cut through the air as he repositioned his footwork as he fought, never once losing his balance. The man behind the desk never looked up but kept his focus on the paperwork in front of him, checking boxes and signing his name before turning the page and working on the next. After several more pages he eventually spoke up, his eyes however remained locked on the parchment under hand "Could you at least pretend to be normal?".

Smiling as if he won some great victory, Blake jumped down from the chair and took a seat in it, letting his training sword lay against the desk in front of him as he put his head back over the edge of the chair and looked at the door he came from. "That's not nice to say to your only son father." he kept his head hanging upside down as he spoke.

Letting the pen fall from his hand and pinching the bridge of his nose while taking in a deep breath "We've been through this before, my answer remains the same as it was prior. No."

Gripping both armrests with his hands, Blake sat up with a smile on his face as he looked over at his father. "I have come here today to negotiate. Since it seems that having the good Brennan name spread through heroic deeds isn't something that interests you or Mother, I had to find something that does." His smirk growing slightly with each word he spoke. "I mean, since I could never do to you both what Cousin Trevel did to Aunt Gretchen and all..."
His father's head shot up before Blake could finish his sentence. Looking into his blue eyes that he received from his mother's side the man couldn't help but burst out laughing. Wiping a tear from his eye as he responded to his son "You would never do something as scandalous as that. Besides I highly doubt that it would be your type anyways."

Chuckling along with his father as Blake spoke "Quite true, I never did fancy the Centaurs in that light. Trevel always did have some odd taste when it came to women."

"No, no...that's not it." responded his father while shaking his head. "As it turns out little Trevel ran off with the Chieftain's son."

Both father and son looked at each other for a moment before breaking out in laughter. Blake holding onto his sides while he father dabbed at the tears starting to form.

"I guess there is some comfort in knowing that I could never be the family's Black Sheep, Trevel seems to have that position locked down." said Blake after he finally calmed down from laughing.

Taking in a deep breath as he sat back in his chair, looking over his son as he responded "You wish to do something somewhat similar though, run off and leave the family." He couldn't help but smile as he spoke, he knew his son wished for greater purpose then taking on the family business. But he was the only child, there was no getting around his responsibilities no matter how much Blake wished or dreamed differently.

Changing the subject for a moment, Blake replied with a calm and even voice "I heard about the arranged marriage you and mother setup. It's amazing what you can find out with a little wine and gossiping women." The smile quickly faded from his father's face, he had yet to tell him and was deciding on what would be the best way to do so. Before he could get a word out his son spoke up "How could you do such a thing?". While this wasn't his first choice in getting his son to settle down, the fact remained that Blake should be at least courting a woman seriously by now. The only thing that filled his son's head was weapons and training, something needed to be done about this before he became too old.

"I mean, what if she's as flat as a dining table father? Or worse, what if she has the personality of a dining table or if she's one of those prude snobs who have been catered to their entire life?" Blake was standing with both hands on the desk as he spoke.

His father couldn't help but blink for a moment before responding. He was expecting Blake to object to this arrangement but on a different level, something along the lines of wanting to find someone himself. "I hear she is a lovely young lady." He could barely choke those words out as he tried to fight down the laughter.

Raising an eyebrow as Blake sat back down, folding his arms against his chest as he watched the facial expressions on his father's face "So, you haven't even met her yet. Perfect, I'll wed a dining table and will give you and mother little chairs for grandchildren."

"Come now Blake, it won't be as bad as that. Your mother and I were an arranged marriage and we love each other as much as two people can. Besides, this isn't why you came to see me this night, you said you had some negotiating to do?" It was his turn to try and change the subject. The truth of the matter is most Nobles have their children wed off by now, or at the very least have wedding plans in the future.

Blake sat back up in his chair, a smile once again on his face as he brushed aside their previous discussion "Oh yes! This is my proposal, if I can get your blessing to go out and travel the world, have some fun and adventure then I will willingly marry the dining table. Also, I will perform all the duties expected of me as head of the Brennan House and will happily take over the trading company when you wish to step down."

His father stood from his desk and walked over to the window, looking out as the lighting lit up the dark night sky. "Some conditions must be met." Turning to his son while holding up one finger "One, you must remain in touch at all times. If I need you to attend an event or setup a meeting with your future dining ta...I mean wife then I need to be able to know where you are." holding up a second finger "Two, I expect you to be a perfect gentleman to this young lady. In your case, fake it if need be." and finally he held up a third finger "And three, uphold the Brennan name."

Shooting up from his chair, his blue eyes gleaming as he shot a smile back at his father. "Yes Sir, I agree to all three. You won't regret this father! I'll fight off Bandits and Centaurs and make our name known." attempting to hold back the laughter as he continued "I might even bring Trevel back!".

His father let out a long drawn out sigh as he pinched the bridge of his nose with his thumb and forefinger "You realize I will be sentenced to sleeping in my office after I inform your mother of this."


"But father..."the smile never leaving Blake's face "It is a rather comfortable chair."