Fic: Grand Plans

[meridian_rose]

Title: Grand Plans
Fandom: Original
'Verse/Series: Kat
Pairing/Characters: Kat, Honor, Mairenne
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 1057
Prompt: For the 100_tales prompt 059. Trust.
Summary: Kat tells her grandmother she plans to go on the Tour.
Warnings: None
Notes: Honor's annoyed with Kat at this point for something that happened previously and will be elaborated on later.


Mairenne was sweeping the deck outside her cottage when the approached. She looked up and put the broom aside, waving at them. Kat jumped from her horse, and ran over to her grandmother. Mairenne hugged Kat tightly.

"I wasn't expecting you," Marienne said. Her snow white hair was gathered up into a bun and she had on an apron. They'd interrupted her during her chores, Kat thought.

Kat drew back and brushed her hair from her face. "I came for my new horse," she said, pointing at Vince. Honor, still sour faced, dismounted from Black Thunder. He bowed in Mairenne's direction.

"None of that," Mairenne said.

"You're the queen's grandmother," Honor said, leading the two horses over and draping their reins over a nearby tree branch.

"Yes, your grace," Mairenne said, with sarcasm. "If we start with formalities it will be nightfall before we're done. Come here and give me a hug."

Honor couldn't sulk in her presence and obediently came forward to let her embrace him.

"I'll make us some tea," Mairenne said, "and there's oatcakes freshly baked. Then you can show me your wonderful new mounts."

Kat followed her into the comfortable cottage, sniffing appreciatively. "Where's grandfather?"

"Gone on a fishing trip with Old Jonas," she said, taking off her apron and folding it neatly. "Told me he might not be back until tomorrow. No doubt there'll be a tavern or three to visit on the way. I told him, I'm going to the Citadel next month to do something I enjoy."

"You'll be most welcome," Honor said. "I'll arrange an escort."

Mairenne handed him an oatcake and gave Kat a quizzical glance.

"He can't help being so formal," Kat said. "He spends so much time being official he sometimes forgets to take the stick out of his butt." She probably shouldn't be mean while he was still upset about Vince, but she found Honor being officious in casual situations like this one deeply irritating.

"Katerina!" Mairenne shot her a sharp glance before she stirred the teapot.

Kat shrugged and took an oatcake. "I don't like to stand on ceremony."

"That's no excuse for rudeness," Mairenne said sternly. She pulled a shawl around her shoulders before she poured the tea.

They all sat at the table, and Kat wrapped both her hands around her mug. If she closed her eyes, she could pretend she was a little girl again, with the crackling of the fire, and the smell of warm oatcakes and drying herbs.

Not that all her childhood memories were good ones.

Kat shook herself mentally. No use dwelling on the past. She had to focus on the future. On the Tour.

Announcing her decision at the Council meeting had been easy. It had given her especial joy to see Ferran's face turn thunderous at this latest folly. Telling Mairenne was a little more difficult. She didn't think her grandmother would disapprove, but it meant at least a year away from home and would not be without danger. Mairenne would have concerns.

Kat had been putting it off but coming out here to take possession of her new horse meant she was in the area and it would have been rude not to visit. She couldn't avoid it any longer.

Kat opened her eyes, took a gulp of tea, and steeled herself. "I want to go on the Tour," she said without preamble.

Mairenne merely nodded. "Of course you do. All High Kings take the Tour, and so should the High Queen. Your father was about your age when he did the Tour, I think. It was before he met your mother, of course – the Council was hoping he'd find a wife on the way."

"I think the Council are hoping I'll find a husband," Kat said. "It might be the only reason they're letting me go."

Mairenne laughed. "Yes, well, the Council can want whatever they desire, but they can't force the monarch to wed. So, when are you planning on going?"

"I was thinking next spring. That will give us fourteen months or so to prepare. I can make arrangements for my absence, choose my retinue, and we can have scouts gather up to date information so I'm not taken too much by surprise." Kat sipped her tea.

"You've thought this through," Mairenne said with a smile.

Honor stared at the table and Kat relented. "Honor is helping me plan."

"Of course he is. He's your right hand. Why don't you just name him viceregent and have done with it?"

Kat blinked a few times, startled. "The Council –"

Mairenne gave an unladylike snort. "Never mind them. The Council don't want you to name one so that if you die – gods forefend – they can squabble over a successor rather than have the viceregent take command."

Kat shook her head. "They'd want Honor to stay behind then, and he's to come on the Tour with me."

Mairenne pushed the plate closer to Honor. "Have another one, my darling. Now you both know Viceregent Gregor went on the Tour with King Corrigan. He was your father's best and most trusted friend, Kat, and Corrigan wouldn't be parted from Gregor during the Tour any more than you want to go without Honor."

Kat had a lot to thank Gregor for, and that his presence at her father's side had set a precedent was one more thing she could be glad of.

Honor, another oatcake in hand, said, "It might not be the right time to stir the hornet's nest."

Mairenne shrugged and smoothed her shawl around her shoulders. "As you say. But better an empty throne with a named successor than one without."

Kat considered this for a moment. "I'll think about it." She had utter faith in Honor and he had always been her strongest supporter. To name him viceregent would only be making official what everyone already knew was the truth.

As always, her grandmother had a point.

Comments

[eternal-moonie.livejournal.com]

Can't wait to find out why Honor is annoyed with Kat.

Another AWESOME story Lisa Honey! *HUGS!*

[meridian_rose]

Aw, thank you :D Have a great weekend!

[eternal-moonie.livejournal.com]

You too sweetie!

[hrhrionastar.livejournal.com]

Meeting Kat's family, yay! It sounds like her parents are dead, but at least she still has her grandparents. Poor Kat, always fighting the Council.

I like the details about her father, too, and the hint of the system of government with Honor as her (so far unnamed) viceregent.

[meridian_rose]

I keep forgetting I haven't given out these details yet! More backstory is needed :D (Of course some of it I'm still figuring out)

I've been looking for a title for Honor for a while - Vizier has such negative connotations as they're often the bad guy trying to usurp the throne*. And then yesterday I looked up 'viceroy' which wasn't exactly what I thought it was, but it led me to 'viceregent', which is perfect :D

Thanks for the comments :D

*Disney's "Aladdin", I think, and in Pratchett's "Pyramids" too, but I'm sure there are other examples.

[dorothydeath.livejournal.com]

Why does it feel familiar? o_O Is my mind playing tricks on me? O_o

He spends so much time being official he sometimes forgets to take the stick out of his butt
LOLOLOLOL. :D

"That's no excuse for rudeness,"
Even if it's funny... *sighs* Of course she's right. Grandmas are always right about everything. Love Mairenne! :D

Ferran? Is he Kat's archenemy I'll be non-canonly shipping her with? Please, make him smart! The smarter the enemy the harder it is for the protagonist, and putting your protagonists through hardships is always for the better. :D (Also I love smart men so it'll be easier for me like the antagonist if he's smart, and you know how I love antagonists! :D)
Love the name btw! :D

That will give us fourteen months or so to prepare.
I like that she's not like "yay, how about tomorrow". It's important to be prepared. :D

"They'd want Honor to stay behind then, and he's to come on the Tour with me."
Who will she leave in charge then?

As always, her grandmother had a point.
Yep. Grannies ftw! :D



"I'll arrange an escort."
On a re-read this made me thinking that maybe Honor is right. Being the queen's grandmother Mairenne is a target to Kat's enemies. Both of her grandparents are... Living alone in a cottage, unprotected... It's dangerous. O_O (Paranoid here, remember?) After Kat goes on the Tour they will be even more vulnerable, with the queen and her most loyal men far away, unable to come to help if something happens... Is a tragedy on its way or am I taking this too far?

Mairenne was sweeping the deck outside her cottage when the approached.
Typo? O_O


Love this, bb! :D And I hope we'll soon meet Ferran. :D I'm very excited about him! If you don't mind me liking a bad guy... @_@

[meridian_rose]

I think I showed you a rough draft though I've done some work on it since, though not without adding typos, sigh. Thanks for pointing that out!

Mairenne doesn't have any power, not even an official title. Hurting her would do nothing but piss Kat off and rally more sympathy towards the Queen. A smart enemy would probably realise that.

I doubt Ferran is very shippable. He's older, dismissive of females in authority, definitely more enemy than ally an not in a 'Rahl is a sexy enemy' way :)

[dorothydeath.livejournal.com]

Hm... Yes, I understand how killing Mairenne will not help Kat's enemies in any way... What about kidnapping her and threatening to kill her to force Kat into something? O_O
(My mind is a sick place)

Re: Ferran.
Well, let's see... :D

Old? Nah, not a problem for me at all. If anything age is an advantage (I have weird preferences).

Dismissive of females? Hm... Is he really? Does he really make a mistake of underestimating his enemies on account of their gender? Then he's stupid and I don't like him.
Or does he take women seriously and because he takes them seriously he manipulates the society prejudice towards them to get the upper hand? Then he's smart and I like him! :D

Also what is his goal? Is it power? Supposing he gets this power what will he do with it? Power is not only a goal, it's a means to an end. What does he want power for? What is his political agenda? What mark in history does he want to make? Surely he wants his name to be remembered, every politician does. How does he want to be remembered?

If his goal is the prosperity of his kingdom (technically Kat's queendom), isn't it Kat's goal as well?

Is he really the enemy, or can their differences be worked out in the end?

Yes, my mind is a sick, sick place.

[meridian_rose]

Political enemies wouldn't use that strategy, and I think Kat's family have a tradition of not living in fear from every potential whackjob. It's maybe not the safest thing, but a life lived under constant guard isn't something Mairenne would want - and she's probably safer out in the forest with her friends and probably a weapon or two, than in the crowded city-state with lots of strangers around. I'll think about what arrangements she might have in place.

I'm thinking less Lionel Luthor and more...Mitt Romney. Ferran believes women need to be kept in their place. He probably smirks a lot too.
He'd like to discredit Kat and take her place - Oliver Cromwell, maybe. There's no arguing with men who think they are by their (usually God given) birthright, supposed to be in charge. Supposedly all political parties want what is best for the country, but they tend to go about that in very different ways, often with an eye on supporting diversity and equality or by stamping it out because of God/Tradition/'Family Values'. Kat's very left leaning - how could she not be? - but Ferran is on the far right.
I think I'm getting a clearer picture now, thanks for the questions :D

[dorothydeath.livejournal.com]

Oh noes, but Mitt Romney is dumb! There's no honor for the Hero/Heroine in defeating a dumb enemy. He must have at least some semblance of intelligence! O_O

And I don't think a smart man can blindly believe in his God/Tradition given birthright. I would understand if his desire to keep women in check came not from thinking himself superior (which is never a god idea, to overlook your enemy's strengths) but from fear that women might actually be superior. Some sick inferiority complex that makes him misogynist. And makes him cultivate the "women is inferior" worldview as a twisted act of self-defense.

Have I mentioned that my mind is not a healthy place?

[meridian_rose]

Clever is not the same as sensible ;) For leaders to rise to the top they must have some smarts and plenty of support. Their supporters can be sheep, but they must have some intelligence. That doesn't stop them from being vile human beings or doing terrible things. Plenty of renowned figures from history held views we would now find despicable on things like women, slavery, sexuality.
I'd argue many are trying to recreate this 'golden age' when "men were men" and everyone of a different gender/race/sexual orientation knew their place. "Traditional" usually means exactly this.
I don't want to make Ferran too 'attractive'. I don't want readers siding with him because he's 'misunderstood', the way we view Darken!
All that said, I'm still constantly trying to sort out all the politics in my head!

[dorothydeath.livejournal.com]

I don't want to make Ferran too 'attractive'.
It's actually a very interesting problem. :D

Uhm... I hope you don't mind if I write a mini-essay on the subject... Please ignore my opinions if you disagree with them!!! O_O

So...
No matter how vile a character is there still will be people who support him. It's unavoidable. Even Joff in GoT has his fanbase.

So if Ferran truly believes women inferior it gives his supporters the ground to argue pro his worldview. (which is clearly not the worldview readers are supposed to cheer for, but it will happen anyway)

If, however, it was revealed in the end (and not clear from the beginning) that Ferran himself did not believe in the point he stood by, it would render his supporters powerless to argue in defense of this "golden age", "women should now their place" stuff. (which, I guess, is exactly the goal here).

Also if your favorite character is revealed to have an opposite point of view it makes you wonder, maybe your point of view isn't entirely right after all? It makes you think more and analyze things and maybe it will help someone see the flaws in their previous views. Which is totally a good thing.

If Ferran was revealed to have irrational, deep, sick, twisted fear of women that made him a misogynist... there would be a chance that some of his old "golden age" supporters would be converted to accept his real point of view ("women are freaking powerful"). Which is a step forward for them! Making someone think and change their mind is super cool!
And of course Ferran would gain new supporters (the "he is misunderstood" thing). But the point is that those new supporters would not share the "women are inferior" worldview. They would try to fix Ferran rather than bash women in his name. There will be countless AUs where he saw the error of his ways and became a hero. Which, again, is a very, very good thing and a step in the right direction.

So the way I see it that plot twist is a win all around.

Of course my logic is far from perfect and I may be very wrong about everything. O_O
I hope I'm not too annoying... Please forgive me if I overstep!!
I like your verse very much and I'm very emotionally invested in it so I tend to get over enthusiastic about everything and say stupid things. O_O

And in the end it's always your decision how to draw the characters and where to take the plot. :D

[dorothydeath.livejournal.com]

BTW Kat's very left leaning - me likes this! :D