Treaty of Edinburgh
Scottish and English negotiators, along with French representatives, are finalizing the Treaty of Edinburgh in the Great Hall of Edinburgh Castle, marking the end of the Siege of Leith and the removal
Setting
Great Hall of Edinburgh Castle, a grand medieval chamber with high vaulted ceilings and stone walls adorned with tapestries depicting Scottish battles and royalty. The hall is filled with a long oak table at its center, surrounded by heavy wooden chairs.
Characters
William Maitland of Lethington
primary
A lean, middle-aged man with sharp features, piercing blue eyes, and a neatly trimmed beard. His posture exudes confidence, though there's a weariness around his eyes from prolonged negotiations.
English Negotiator
primary
A tall, lean man in his late forties with sharp features, a neatly trimmed beard, and piercing gray eyes that convey both intelligence and wariness. His posture is erect, exuding the authority of his station.
French Representative
secondary
A middle-aged man of average height with a slender yet dignified build. His sharp, angular features are accentuated by a neatly trimmed beard and piercing dark eyes that convey both intelligence and wariness. His posture is upright, exuding an air of aristocratic refinement.
Scottish Scribe
secondary
A thin, middle-aged man with a pale complexion and a slightly hunched posture from years of bending over documents. His sharp nose and deep-set eyes give him a studious appearance, while his ink-stained fingers betray his profession. His light brown hair is neatly trimmed but shows signs of graying at the temples.
English Guard
background
A tall, broad-shouldered man in his late 30s with a weathered face, a thick brown beard, and piercing blue eyes that scan the room with military precision. His hands are calloused from years of wielding weapons, and he stands with the disciplined posture of a seasoned soldier.
Dialog
William Maitland of Lethington
Ipso facto, the removal of French garrisons from Leith must be completed by the kalends of August, lest we find ourselves entangled in further discord.
English Negotiator
Her Majesty’s government cannot countenance any delay in this matter. The terms are clear, and our patience wears thin as a winter’s sun.
French Representative
Messieurs, let us not be hasty. The withdrawal of our troops requires careful arrangement, lest disorder take root where peace is sought.
William Maitland of Lethington
Aye, but disorder already festers like a wound untended. The sooner the French depart, the sooner Scotland may bind her own hurts.
English Negotiator
Then let us seal this accord with ink and wax, that all parties may know the weight of their obligations.
French Representative
As you wish. But remember, gentlemen, the winds of fortune shift as swiftly in Edinburgh as they do in Paris.
William Maitland of Lethington
Then let us pray they blow in favor of peace, for Scotland’s sake and for all who call her ally.