History of an Earl

[Cedric Atherton]

RATHER FAIL WITH HONOR

than succeed by fraud

Where does one start the history of a man who has walked so many years upon the earth's soil? Some would say at the beginning, at his birth, and yet others would say that perhaps life truly doesn't start until after childhood. When ones eyes can truly become open to the world around them. This is the case for what occurred with one Francis Cedric Laurence Atherton the Third, born the 5th son and 7th child to an Earl. Some would say...ah 5th son? Of course, 5th sons are by no means important right? Yet, in this case, that was not so. For the second Francis Cedric Laurence Atherton stated to many that upon looking into the eyes of his 5th born son he foreseen "great things" and so he gave his son the same name, an honor he called it, to do them with. Many attributed this to slight mania that began to take hold of the Earl in his late 20's and had done the same to his own Father before him. It was well-known among the servants that the man went around at night ranting and even sometimes struck staff, and his own wife! Yet it was also whispered that he never recalled the events that occurred when controlled by these delusions.

And that was how he came into the world. It was nothing special, really, and as he grew up the favoritism shown Cedric by his Father bred jealousy in his brothers. They were older! Far more important than a mere 5th son! And yet, none of what they did seemed to gain his praise. Some amongst the noble-born called it an unhealthy obsession. As soon as Cedric's Mother, Caroline, stopped breastfeeding him she saw him little for his Father took over. He raised the boy in his image, teaching him the business and the masculine arts men are known to care about- hunting, riding horses, and fighting- and ensconced him with the best tutors money would buy. Even at the tender age of five Cedric was being breed to be the next Earl of Warwick- though he wasn't aware of that or the treachery his own Father's mania bred to make this come true years later- when all he longed to do was play outside with the servant's children.

Yet with time all childish things are pushed aside and so was it in his case. Cedric became a man intent upon education and work. Social events were attended as was proper of a noble, business made over games of cards or drinks with a bit of a pipe, and ladies wooed by the dozens. Here was one area where his Mother's brief influence aided him most for Cedric was known to be quite the ladies man and had had more than a handful of mistresses by the age of twenty years. It was also well-known that he made quite the enemies and friends in life. His mistresses weren't always unattached and for this reason his dueling skills became quite superior- ticking off many a man- as his Father had been positive to teach him everything possible about different aspects of combat.

Was not it the purpose of men to be trained so? This would allow them to be prepared if their King ever called them up for battle. During his younger years was when he met a man by the name of William Maubrey, a noble born man who was 13 years older than him, and they seemed to get on well. Though as years moved by that changed. While yes, as a young man, Cedric briefly fought on field with men against those of Scotland and watched comrades, including all his brothers, die bloody deaths- it also gave him a chance to have eyes opened to the truth of men. A great majority that you thought innocent pups turned out to be deadly vipers, and so was the case of William Maubrey. Any respect that might have been forthcoming towards the man vanished upon one day going to visit him years later- and instead spotting his wife battered.

Rumors had always been abundant that Maubrey beat his wife, but Cedric had always discredited it as gossip. Yet there lied the truth. Seeing such a lovely woman having suffered so hardened his heart. From that moment forward Maubrey became enemy. Though both had served Eduard the II it was with ill will that Cedric observed the man's favoritism toward the viper. It gave him insight that he found made him want to see Scotland succeed. His Father would have forbidden such thoughts if he had known of them, but his death came swiftly- the madness taking fully over and causing him to throw himself off a balcony on the highest floor of Castle Warwick. It would be one reason why years down the road, after his death, Cedric realized that he could not turn out the way his Father had. Not only had his madness drove him to death, but his greed and urge for glory had goaded him to do things...most dishonorable.

Throughout the years Cedric kept his eyes on Maubrey while also going on with his own life. Having been married four times in his life, having watched two wives die in childbirth, and having fathered many a daughter and son- more than could be counted on two hands- legitimately and illegitimately- Cedric was a man who loved family. Though he lost children to illness, injury, or battle- and it saddened him. Even a couple of his daughters died in childbirth, and he's been lucky to see some survive to give him many a grandchild. Yet a better future is what he strives to give them all and hope flared upon hearing of the Gaelic Nations. While Cedric had fought to protect his family's name and his home to the best of his ability when the battle came to England from the forces of Skye, and their allies, he had not tried to stop them from doing what it'd take to see a better future in the making.

It was during this time that he recalled having once or twice attended the same gathering with Claramae St. Laurence, Baroness, whom was also the acting Ambassador for England. Yet any hopes of furthering his ties with those of Skye was put on hold to some degree as his fourth wife, Caroline, fell ill. Three years of his life were spent almost all at her bed side, trying to save her with the best healers and medicine that could be afforded, yet alas in the summer of 1332 his beloved wife- whom he'd successfully been married to for 15 years- passed away. She was only a handful of years younger than he and it struck him hard- perhaps why he drinks a bit liberally sometimes. Now he has decided that his focus need be fully on his ties to Skye instead of only partially as before. He'd visited the place many times on business trips, but generally sent someone in his stead- his son or a daughter even!- so as to be at the side of his wife.

Yet...one worry still lingers...for sometimes at night some will say the Earl of Warwick roams the upper floors of the castle screaming like a lunatic. Had he inherited his Father's madness along with the title and fortune?