Library
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You stand in an enormous library. Six white Corinthian pillars with gold detail rise from the tiled floor, supporting a white ceiling painted in classical style with songbirds in gold, green, blue, and red. Two staircases can be ascended from the south side to reach a second floor of books. Instead of a rail, huge snakelike greenish-gold dragons line these staircases, their tails meeting in a loop at the middle of the second level and their gaping jaws greeting the great hall entrance on the south wall. Both above and below the second floor of the north wall are grand windows draped with heavy curtaining. Window seats furnished with embroidered pillows lie beneath each of the six windows. Between the windows and on the east, west, and south walls reside the books. Nooks are set at even intervals between the books to hold statuary, except in one spot on the east wall, where a door sits instead.
In the center of the library stands a metal-crafter’s somewhat dramatic interpretation of an aspen dryad. She stands with her arms and face lifted to the ceiling, a great glass globe which can be lit to illuminate the room in her upheld hands. Around her a set of tables are arranged in a circle, each furnished with two glass lamps for ease of studying. ===============================================================================
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Tyren comes toward you through the archway leading to the great hall.
Tyren sits at a table, glancing back and forth between two books open before him, and occasionally scratching at a piece of parchment before him. He leans closer to examine one of the tomes, tapping at the page with a finger.
Tyre enters the library from the door into his study. He pauses a few steps into the large room upon seeing Tyren at his own usual business.
Tyren does indeed look very much like his brother at work, save for the difference in build, appearance and such. He keeps his finger on the page while glancing to the other book before him, brow furrowing somewhat.
Tyre approaches the table, “What are you studying?”
Tyren looks up, brief surprise registering on his face. “Ah! Tyre, didn’t expect… although I suppose I should have.” He glances back to the books, replying, “Ah, doing a little research, I suppose. Started… something of a treatise of my own on the subject of chivalry some time ago. Put it aside for a while, but something about being here again has… led me to pick it up again, for some reason.”
Tyre says, “Ahh– yes I see.” He pushes up his glasses. “Well, it’s going well, then?”"
Tyren hehs. “As well as can be expected, at least. It’s been a while since I’ve done something of this nature.”
Tyre says, “You have been quite busy.”
Tyren shrugs a shoulder. “So I have. Not so much so that I don’t have any time at all for other pursuits, though. I just tend to focus them elsewhere, it seems.”
Tyre says, “Indeed.”
Tyren closes one of the books for the moment, turning his attentions toward his brother. “What of you? Were you intending to do a little research of your own tonight?”
Tyre says, “Ah, I had just come in to fetch a book on the Chesterton crest. I was recalling something in the history relevant to my writing.”
Tyren’s brows rise at this, interest clearly sparked. “Oh? What would that be?”
Tyre says, “It’s a vague memory, you know. Something about the form of the dragon changing to reflect… I can’t recall exactly.”
Tyren brings a hand to his chin, expression thoughtful. “It does ring a bell in my mind as well, though I can’t seem to recall the precise details either.”
Tyre moves toward the shelves. “Well–”
Tyren rises himself. “Only one way to find out, isn’t there?”
Tyre says, “Indeed so.”
Tyren looks over the shelves, remarking, “Though… you probably have the better idea of where to /start/ than I do…”
Tyre nods, heading toward a particular shelf with assurance. “Somewhere about here, I believe.”
Tyren nods in return, heading to the opposite end of the shelf. “I’ll start at this end, then, and we’ll work toward the middle?”
Tyre says, “Very well, yes.”
Tyren nods again, and begins to run a finger along the tomes near him, pausing every now and again to pull one out and give it a more thorough once-over.
Tyre’s eyes run over each spine with familiar rapidity. It takes him very little time before he pulls out a book, opens the cover, and nods to himself. “This is the one, I believe.”
Tyren lifts his head from the book he’s got his own nose in, and replaces it to make his way back to his brother’s side. “What does it have to say?”
Tyre says, “Ah, now there’s the more difficult part– finding the proper page.” He indicates the thick spine. “I know this particular change was 2-300 years ago, but we’ll have to search that century.”"
Tyren says, “We’ll just have to patient and diligent, then.”
Tyre murmurs some agreement, already perusing the book and beginning to walk toward the table.
Tyren follows after, curiosity etched in his features.
Tyre sits down and removes his glasses, polishing them with a cloth to better serve their purpose.
Tyren remains standing, for his part, leaning against the edge of the table and his attentions on the book.
Tyre replaces his glasses, moves the book so that it is out of Tyren’s shadow, and begins flipping pages to find the century he is looking for.
Tyren’s glance flicks across the pages as Tyre turns them, gleaning what he can from the brief glimpses he gets.
Tyre’s fingers slow as he nears the right era.
Tyren’s expression shows some vague relief, as this gives him more of a chance to peruse the pages before they’re turned over to the next one.
Tyre says, “Ah here it is.”
Tyren leans a little closer, taking advantage of the differnce in height to look over Tyre’s shoulder.
Tyre’s finger marks the place, “You see, 7 generation ago, it was when we were first becoming successful in our trade with Calormene. Previously the Calormene merchants had trouble communicating with ours due to cultural differences. It was at this time that our several times great grandfather made a visit to Calormene to better understand their customs, and upon his return he changed the dragon’s form so,” he indicates the illustrated change, “to indicate that Chesterton is a place which protects its assets. He felt this could not be done without a particular understanding of those with whom one shares one’s assets.”
Tyren nods once, studying the image. “It would make sense. The dragon, after all, is meant to both be reprsentative of our valor and our desire to defend what we value – if the perspective on precisely what that /is/ in the latter case shifts, then it seems reasonable that its design would shift as well.”
Tyre says, “Precisely so.” He holds up the book to his brother. “Perhaps you might find this useful in your own studies.”
Tyren chuckles a bit. “Useful, perhaps, though my interest is piqued whether there would be use or not. I have found little that goes back quite /this/ far.”
Tyre says, “It’s quite a thorough history of our family up until our grandfather’s generation, when it was written. You’ll find it focuses more on the ruling lords, but there is a knight or two among them, and you may find the politics of interest anyway.”
Tyren nods. “While we may do so in different ways, upholding the honor and history of our house is for us to do now. I am sure I will find it a very enlightening read.”
Tyre puts the tome into his hands. “Mother has commissioned another detailing father’s generation and our own up to now.”
Tyren runs a hand over the cover of the tome, taking a breath. “Let us hope our own chapter of the tale lives up to the rest.”
Tyre says, “Let us work to that end.”
Tyren nods slowly. “We will both play the part we have been given to the best of our ability.”
Tyre’s bland expression forms something like a frown for a moment. He gives no explanation for the seemingly nonsequitor reply, “How are Lady Astera and the child settling in?”
Tyren says, “It is… something of a slow process, and perhaps understandably so, but I believe they are settling in decently enough.”
Tyre nods, “You are finding marriage… palatable?”
Tyren chuckles a bit. “Quite. Far moreso than I imagined.” He shrugs a shoulder. “For a long while I imagined I would ever remain unmarried, or if that did not prove to be the case, then a marriage for purely political reasons. But now that I find things otherwise, I find it suits me rather well.”
Tyre hmmmms, “Very well, then.”
Tyren runs a hand through his hair. “Although I admit the, er… circumstances could have been more desirable. But we’ve all pulled through that, and it’s behind us now.”
Tyre blinks a few times. “Hmm? Oh. Yes, I suppose so.”
Tyren says, “Marriage has been good for me, and I expect fatherhood will be the same.”
Tyre says, “Very good, very good.”
Tyren studies his brother’s demeanor a moment, perhaps reading a bit more into the shift in conversation, though he does not comment on it.
Tyre coughs and straightens. “Well, I hadn’t meant to interrupt your research.”
Tyren says, “A plesant conversation with my brother is hardly what I would consider an interruption, but I am sure you have things to attend to tonight as well.”
Tyre seems a little surprised, either at the idea of ‘pleasant conversation’ in general, or at the revelation that this has, in fact, largely been one. “Ah– oh. Well, I suppose I could ring for the tea to be served in the library instead of my study, and bring my writing out here for the night, if you like.”
Tyren says, “I… think I would enjoy that, honestly.”
Tyre nods, and finds no further need for discussing the matter, awkwardly cutting off the conversation to head in the direction of the bellrope next to his study door.
Tyren returns to the table, adding the book in his hands to the ones already there, and beginning to settle in.
Tyre disappears into his study and emerges a few moments later with a stack of books and manuscripts and a quill and ink.
Tyren has already opened his own books at this point, continuing to make notes and furrow his brow in thought as he compares notes with book with other book.
Tyre settles at the table nearby, looking up again only to give the servant who brings them their nighttime meal a vague acknowledgement.
Tyren nods his thanks toward the servant, and takes up the tea brought to him in one hand while he runs his other down a line of text.
Tyre doesn’t even move to touch his tea, so absorbed is he in his work. In fact, it might even be surprising that he noticed the servant arrive at all.
Tyren continues with his own work, content to remain in at least somewhat companionable silence.
Tyre finally sets down his pen, turning his full attention to the now rather lukewarm tea and bread.
Tyren has set his own now-empty mug aside some time ago, and he blinks once or twice as he looks over his notes. “I seem to be losing some coherence… perhaps I should call it a night.”
Tyre glances at him. “Ah– yes, very well. Sleep well, then.”
Tyren gathers up the books and papers in a manner rather reminiscent of the man across from him, and bows as best he can. “A good eve to you, Tyre, and my thanks. Tonight has been both pleasant and productive, I think.”
Tyre rises and bows in returns. “Ah, very good, then. See you at the morning meal.”
Tyren simply nods again, and makes his exit.
Tyren departs from the library in favor of the great hall.
