Tanaerel

The illegitimate son of his father - not with a peasant but with the noble wife of his swornbrother. The wife who also became his squire. But, this was a loving coupling, and his name was chosen to meld his father, his mother, and his father's wife's name in the Saxon tradition. He's never been made to feel unequal to his siblings at home, even as the court continues to see him as a bastard. Despite his station, he has always acted as the eldest, and done his best to prepare and shield his siblings by turns from the world they are stepping into. In this way, he also often chose not to stand out, trying to minimize his own deeds so as not to cast a shadow for his siblings to fight against. It is only with the engagement and marriage to Ser Florie that he has truly come into his own as a knight.

Appearance
Tanaerel is pretty in that noble way, with sharp symmetric features and a smooth, sometimes even smarmy smile. Sadly, this was normally overshadowed by the fact he did absolutely nothing to acknowledge it, and instead had unkempt hair and clothes that did nothing for it. Of course, that was before his competition with Ser Florie. Since their rivalry began, he started wearing clothes and colors that fit him better (based on her commentary), and he cleaned up his unkept hair. Now he wears the straight black hair smoothed back and up, properly complimenting his jaw line (to further piss her off).

Of Love and Rivalry
Tanaerel, as the eldest, was always calm but capable, and while he shielded his siblings from much of the gossip of the court, he himself never stood out on his own. He focused on not standing out, and minimizing his deeds as a knight to avoid casting a shadow on his siblings behind him. At least, until he met Ser Florie on the the battlefield, who fueled his competitive spirit and gave him a reason to strive for glory and greatness. The two of them were constantly sparring, and bickering, and sparring, and doing their best to show themselves superior to the other at every opportunity. It went from maybe real bickering to good natured ribbing, victory counts, and camaraderie. They often went on adventures together, spurred by one or the other.

There were two events that morphed their friendship to courtship. The first was a sparring match that became a wrestling match when both refused to yield, until both were exhausted and entwined and arguing about the victor, nose-to-nose. A pause, and a shift, and Tanaerel misread the motion and leaned in for a kiss that was not to happen. Instead he found Florie's bewildered face slowly morphing into one of wicked mischief as his own began to heat. He was quick to flee, even as she crooned about having no idea he had gotten soft for her.

This teasing continued for months, and was the focal point whether he lost or had an advantage in their competitions. It wasn't until winter court, several drinks, and an arm wrestling match when she accidentally showed her own hand. In that moment, Tanaerel's embarrassment and grudging acceptance of his teasing transformed, and he took every opportunity to play the gallant romantic at her. He would dip her during sparring, take every competitive comment she tossed and throw it back as an overly saturated complement, and use every opportunity to display their breath taking, awe inspiring love... Primarily to embarrass her.

Ser Florie is the one to ask Earl Roderick's permission to marry first, but Tanaerel isn't far behind. However, the Earl tells him that to prove the seriousness of his request he must complete a number of quests. Tan agrees, and it takes a full year for him to complete all that was required of him. Upon returning to the Earl he's told of the jest, and that he had already approved when Florie had asked, but was impressed with his undertaking all the same. The two married in pagan tradition in Bedegraine after winter court in 486.

The Chivalrous Bed
A notable example of their one upsmanship is the tale of The Chivalrous Bed. The two often traveled together, and on one such outing they came to an inn late with pouring rain. The inn was full except for a single room, with a single bed. Upon seeing the bed, Tanaerel of course offered it to Florie, but, as she also is a chivalrous knight, she in turn refused, and offered that he take it instead. He refused, she refused, until they were both sitting opposite on the floor one another, and it continued long into the night. Come late morning, the innkeep came to check in on them, as they had not shown up downstairs for breakfast, only to find them both asleep... On the floor, the bed untouched.

Timeline

 * Born in 462
 * Knighted in 483
 * Married Ser Florie in 487, he lost the battle and she dipped him during the proceedings.
 * Took on Ceri as his squire in 488
 * Went to Faerie with Ser Florie, Fhionna, Ser Serill, and Ser Wriggly in spring of 489 in search of his brother, his squire, and his little sister

In Search of Family - A foolhardy excursion into Faerie
In the fall of 488, Mailes, Aema, and Ceri all went missing through a faerie gate that had literally sprouted from seeds planted by the twins years prior. Thus, in the spring of 489, Tanaerel obtained Roderick's permission and took a party into faerie in search of his younger siblings. In order to get into Faerie and on the right trail, they enlisted the help of the fae to which Ceri and Mailes gave their wedding gift from Ceri's mothers. Fhionna offered the creature a favor at a later date. To obtain information inside, they enlisted the help of a gnome named Bartlebee, who extracted claim of a favor from Ser Wriggly and providing information on the Castle of Flowers, which is friendly to humans. The party made their way there, where Ser Wriggly bartered (something?????) for a closed face helmet, and flirted unsuccessfully with the merchant. Fhionna exchanged stories, and memories of her time in Ireland for three skewers of meat. She ate two, and offered the third to Serill, who instead knocked it to the ground. Florie exchanged her shield for a sword with a red gemstone in the pommel (or hilt??). Tan, alarmed, and trying to protect his wife, then exchanged his sword for her shield, and then gave her her shield back, and is now borrowing the magic sword until they return to Logres.

Upon reaching Queen Edith within the Castle of Flowers, the party asked after Mailes and Ceri, and were told that the Queen had talked with them, and where she sent them... Ten years ago (dun dun dun!). However, the queen, excited for guests, requested a song in trade for her hospitality - one from the heart. Tanaerel, off-key, but earnest in his singing, much as he is when practicing sword drills or dancing, did his best rendition (and critted on an energetic roll) and, with help from Fhionna's musical accompaniment, they managed to bring the entire hall into song and dance. Tan danced with the Queen, who tried to bring him off to her chambers, but Tanaerel was not willing to leave Florie... So the queen ensorcelled them both! They went off for an active evening, and Serill's chambers were below. Come morning, the party was provided an elaborate and mouth watering breakfast. Ser Wriggly, Ser Serill, and Ser Tanaerel were all able to resist the lure, but Tanaerel, in trying to prevent Florie from eating of the feast, instead ended up in an eating competition with her, and the two ate far too much.

The party then left in search of Mailes and Ceri, and found the pair living in a little cottage in a field with their now ten year old child. The party gave them some bark from Logres, and sent them back through the faerie portal with their belongings and heirlooms, and recieved a dusty map of where they had searched for, and failed to find Aema.

From their, the party moved on to an unsearched area, where they found some gnomes who discussed eel-mail as a form of communication with Logres, before learning where they might find Aema. Tanaerel traded his boots for this information.

Responsibility - 473
"C'mon, sprout, get your sword back up!" I reach out with my own wooden blade, tapping carefully at his forearms and getting a tired groan in response.

"Haven't we been at this long enough? I was gonna go to the henge..." My chest feels warm hearing him whine. He's just a boy, and mom's done so much to let him stay that way. I want him to stay that way too. I want him to keep seeing the world with glee and wonder, but- but he's father's heir. And father is dead. He has to learn his role, but I don't want to put that on him. I feel my own sword dip down before I just... drop to sit in the grass. His brows draw low in confusion, pinching the freckles on his nose, but he joins me, leaning into my side.

Only two years different but he feels so small by comparison. He still looks like the bean he was when he was born, and I can't help myself but to loop an arm over him and tuck him in tight to my side. "What's wrong...?"

Gone is the petulance and instead his voice is quiet, and my chest is tight and it hurts. But I have to tell him. Mom is so tired, and mamma wont say it. "You gotta learn all this stuff, sprout... You're soft and gentle, but we gotta teach it to you, because..." I can feel the lump in my throat, choking me, making my eyes burn. I try to swallow it down... And again... And again.

"Because why, Tan? You 'n Gerin are already learning. Why is-" I squeeze him tight and he stops, still watching me with concern. I'm still choking on how to explain it. Because Father is dead. Because you're the heir. Because we can't take that burden. Why not? I'm the eldest. Why can't I shield him?

"Because... you... Well, you're father's heir." I stare at the clouds, rolling past above us, but I can still imagine Mailes' scowl. "But you're the oldest!"

The little huff of laughter bubbles up unbidden, but it eases the knot in my gut just a bit. "I know, but... It's a weird situation. Cause mom gave birth to me, but father's married to mamma, you're considered first born-" "That's dumb."

He said it, so quickly and I, I wasn't expecting it. So sharp and immediate and it's just so- of course he thinks that way. And I'm laughing again, and I can feel my eyes burning, and I just... I don't want him to see what mom has. I want to protect him. He reaches up and pats on my back until I stop laughing, and I dread the idea of a real sword in his careful hands. "I know, sprout... But we can't change it. I..."

I look down at my own hands. I don't want to say the words, but I know I have to... I watch them curl and uncurl, and... I think maybe I have the words. "I... I want to protect you. I want to protect you and the twins and everyone, and you know I'll help you every step of the way, but... As the heir, it's your responsibility to take care of everyone. You have to be strong, and you're going to have to stand for the family. So we're doing this to make sure you're ready, cause I can't do it for you."

"But I-" "I know you don't want to. But it's... I can't give you the choice, you know? I wish I could..." My words are thready, but they've come untethered, and I can't stop the spill. "I know you don't want to fight, but in order for us to keep our place and our family we have to. But I know you love everyone too, and I know you'll be a great knight and leader... I want you to not have to be, so I'm sorry..."

I can feel the words dry up, and I feel empty... Tired and embarrassed by the outpouring... And guilty. I don't want to do this to him. I don't want this for him. I don't look at him. I can't. I feel like I've betrayed him, and how could I? He's my precious little brother, and I give him something so heavy- "Okay."

I... What did he say? He squirms out from under my arm and I can't stop from turning to watch as he picks up his wooden blade again. "Let's keep going then, Tan."

He looks... More solid, though I don't know how to describe what that means. I must be gaping at him though, because he frowns at me, lifting his chin and squaring his narrow shoulders. "I want to protect everyone too, y'know."

Looking like that, all I can do is follow his determination, and I rise to my feet without having decided to do so. "Okay then, Mailes, lets keep going."