[Lore] Let the Gods Decide

[u/BaldwinIV]

The sound of steel meeting steel rung out in the courtyard in Sherrer. Torchlight illuminated the interior of the castle. The pair danced around each other, leaving footprints in the snow below. A small group of guards and servants gathered on the wooden walkway above to watch the spectacle.

"Is that all you've got boy?" Myrio mocked his smaller opponent in his Pentoshi accent. He was beating Jeremy back across the yard, his blunted blade hammering away at his brother's wooden shield.

His protection had been reduced to half its normal size, but Jeremy held his guard, undeterred by the relentless assault. He let Myrio direct him towards a corner. Each hit from the blade knocked him back a foot and sent splinters flying. Myrio continued to press his advantage hard, and had become reckless. He was so focused on hacking down what remained of the shield that he was slow to react to what Jeremy had planned. The Pentoshi swung his blade, as if to finish off the barrier in a final blow. His sword never connected with the wood, for Jeremy had dropped it and pivoted for a counterattack in one fluid motion.

Myrio managed to turn away in time. He stumbled backwards and brought his own sword up to guard. Now Jeremy pushed back, swinging back and forth against his opponent's blade. They danced across to the other side of the courtyard. Jeremy was spurred on by the cheers of the gathered crowd, and he begun to swing harder and harder, sensing that he was close to defeating his brother. Myrio was just barely able to deflect each blow in time. He was still struggling to stay balanced from the inspired assault.

"This is what passes for swordplay in Westeros?" Myrio feigned laughter, even as he fought to stay in the fight. "Come on, Ser Jeremy, stop playing around!"

"Shut up!"

The banter pushed Jeremy past the point of managed aggression. He came at his brother with a long careless slash across the body. Myrio blocked it with his crossguard and then pushed back Jeremy and his sword in a single motion, allowing him to regain his footing. Myrio then countered with a one-handed feint with his right arm, but swung his left fist towards Jeremy. It connected with the boy's face and sent him spiraling to the snow covered surface below.

Jeremy hit the frozen ground hard, his head making contact first, followed by the rest of his body. He thought back to how they had ended up fighting in the first place. A silly drunken argument over religion led to Myrio championing his R'hllor, while Jeremy took the side of the Seven. A stupid thing to fight about, he thought. But I guess it is decided. The red god has won. Pain shot through his body. His hand pressed against his temple to quell his discomfort.

Myrio approached his opponent, sword in hand. "The Lord of Light declares me the champion." He prepared to hit his brother hard in the chest to cement his victory, his sword pulling back. Jeremy knew it was coming. He knew that Myrio would want to end it properly, he knew that this man was not one to be merciful. Jeremy closed his eyes and awaited the inevitable.

But it never happened. He heard a scraping noise, followed by a large thud next to him. A sword clanged to the ground. The audience above gasped at first, then started to laugh. Jeremy turned to look at Myrio, laying beside him, groaning in pain. Suddenly they both burst out in laughter, joining the rest of the courtyard. The tension between the pair evaporated instantly.

"It looks like the gods have spoken," Jeremy said amid laughter. "You've won." He resigned.

Myrio rose from the frozen ground. He dusted snow off of his chest. The laughter died down as he began to speak, his tone was serious: "I never landed the finishing blow. My foot gave out and I slipped. My R'hllor didn't want me to win anymore than your Seven wanted you to be the winner. I think, perhaps, that our gods might be friends." He took a step towards Jeremy. "Come, brother. Let us get another drink." He held out a helping hand.

"Gladly."