((This was some private Discord RP written by my girlfriend (Lihana) and I. I wrote for Aronaux’s and Oliver Hawkwood’s characters, with their permission. Every bold word is a writer swap. I published this here because of two things! One, his little sister being alive is pretty important, and two, Anthony being elevated to Baron is also pretty important. Also, there’s some good speeches in here.))
Anthony sighed heavily, twirling his pen between thumb and forefinger as he thought. Today was supposed to be an auspicious day but he found a sense of dread and foreboding fill his being as he tried to write. He was behind schedule – the Sentinel Papers weren’t going to write themselves and the deep rifts between the conservatives and liberals of Ishgard weren’t going to simply be bridged by the passage of time.
A few more moments passed before he rose, putting his pen back in the inkwell and began to pace. The ceremony was supposed to start at the tenth bell and Viscount de Farendaire was going to be performing it himself. With a shake of his head, Anthony turned to his closet and began to dress in his finest clothing: a crimson doublet with a golden lion embroidered upon it. Over it, he pulled his Alpine Coat on and buckled it on.
A knock came on his door. It was Captain Oliver Hawkwood, the commander of the House Guard. “My Lord, are you ready to go? The ceremony is on schedule to begin as planned.”
Anthony nodded at the Midlander, “Of course.” He grabbed his sword belt from the rack by the door and girded it on, “After you.” The pair descended the stairs and headed out front. Two liveried guards waited for them and as they passed, they fell into position behind. They headed for Saint Reymanaud’s Cathedral where a crowd of commoners and noblemen alike awaited them – and inside, seated in the pews, were his fellow members of Parliament. At the altar was the Viscount de Farendaire and one of the remaining Priests of Halone.
With a smile on his face, he left his guards behind and confidently began to walk down the aisle. He ascended the steps and knelt before his cousin.
Lihana is in place long before Anthony comes into view. This is the plan, though one she hasn't been privy to. Her guard keeps a bruising grip on her thin wrist as a reminder to keep her silence. The clothing she wears are appropriate for the situation, though in the house colors of her captives. She watches her brother with hungry eyes, drinking in the sight of him though it makes her heart ache. He had done so well for himself but he hadn't come for her. The thoughts war in her mind as the ceremony begins.
Anthony wasn’t expecting to see her – his eyes didn’t scan the crowd as he ascended the steps and knelt. No, his bright eyes focused on Aronaux as the latter began to speak, loud enough to be heard by all.
“Anthony, Lord Vieri, you have served the Republic of Ishgard with distinction. For a decade, you fought in the Dragonsong War. For the past year, you have served as a member of Parliament.” The Viscount continued, “You are an exemplar to all with your beliefs and your tireless advocacy of Ishgardian reform and rebuilding. I am honored to call you family and doubly honored to be the one to perform your ascension ceremony today.”
“People of Ishgard, highborn and low, here stands before us the Lord of House Vieri. He has suffered for us, bled for us, his entire life. He fought, well and truly, for his early adulthood and now he commits his life to even further service.” Aronaux’s discerning eyes turned to look over the crowd. “We all should live up to this man’s example! He embodies the very ideals of the Republic – of religious freedom and tolerance, of the rights of man to gain advancement beyond their birth. And so we are here today to grant him a Barony within the Viscounty de Farendaire.”
The Viscount turned back, drawing his sword and placing it on Anthony’s right shoulder. The Lord had remained on a knee the entire time, though a small, pleased smile had spread over his lips at his cousin’s words.
“Rise, Baron de Vieri! Your service to Ishgard shall not be forgotten.”
And so he rose to stand beside his cousin and look out upon the crowd. One face in particular stood out - the clapping of dignitaries, from the fellow members of Parliament, Speaker Aymeric himself - nothing mattered but his sister’s face, clad though she may be in the colors of House Haurtelle, there was no mistaking her. No mistaking her face. His complexion turned ashen as his eyes locked on hers, shock registering clearly for all to see. His voice murmured softly, only Aronaux could hear. “Lihana.”
Lihana met his eyes and gave a small, sad smile as her applause grew slightly. Pride shone from her, so pleased to see him doing well that she can't help but be excited for him. Even if in all likelihood she still won't be free to return to her family. Her good behavior had been rewarded by her presence here today.
The tall Elezen at her side placed a guiding hand at the small of her back, readying them to leave as soon as it would be polite too. Lihana stares at her brother, silently pleading for him not to break the ceremony but to do something, anything.
There was no way she was here. She was dead. Dead. Gone. He’d given up hope - he’d sent people to find her, from the halfbreed Callaway to his entire force of guardsmen, scouring the City in hopes of finding her four years ago. Callaway still tracked down every lead he found, just pro-forma - just in case. She was his sister, his little sister and now, seeing her stand there, he realized he’d failed to keep her safe.
But he couldn’t afford to stand silently and awkwardly any longer. So he began to speak, his voice echoing through the Cathedral as he did.
“My fellow Ishgardians. It is an honor to accept my raising and promotion. I am glad that so many of you came here to see it. In the past year and a half, we have gone through tremendous changes. Some of us have felt that they are not the most beneficial, but others, such as myself, have embraced them. So, today, as I and my fellow members of Parliament continue to lead our nation, I wish to remind you that government is not the enemy of freedom, but rather the guardian of it. In the coming days, I call upon you to help us create a new Ishgard based upon the four essential freedoms.
The first is the freedom of speech and expression – everywhere in Eorzea.
The second is freedom of every person to worship as they see fit – everywhere in Eorzea.
The third is freedom from want, which means trade agreements that will help every nation secure a healthy peacetime life for its inhabitants -- everywhere in Eorzea.
The fourth is freedom from fear, which means the elimination of aggressor and oppressor states like the Garlean Empire so that no one suffers and no one fears for their lives and their freedoms -- anywhere in Eorzea.”
He took a step forward, approaching the edge of the dais and he met the eyes of the crowd with a growing confidence.
“And so, my fellow Ishgardians, will you stand with me and help me build a new future for ourselves and all Eorzea?” His voice rang out with clarity, though internally, he fought with himself. Should he have his guardsmen seize her? Should he do something? The war inside was waging as hard as the Dragonsong War, though it would only last a brief span of minutes.
