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Post by Vhagar on Jan 10, 2014 11:48:58 GMT -5
"Not at all. I'd be happy to. She has gracious granted us lodging in the keep as long as we require it. No doubt her children and their children will boast that they once hosted a queen and several dragons."
She smiled and saluted him with her wine glass.
/////////
Shortly afterwards, a young servant girl came to ask if they needed anything and if the food was to their liking.
"The food is very good," Rhaella answered. "But I wish an audience with Lady Cuy."
"At once, Your Grace." The servant girl scurried off.
A few minutes later, a young woman entered the hall. She was dressed in a plain but well cut dress. She was pale and slender with chestnut hair falling in loose waves to the small of her back and soft brown eyes. Her face was delicate and pretty though she had the fragile appearance of someone who has known much suffering. She curtsied to the dragon riders.
"Your Grace."
"Lady Arwyn. I wished to present my cousin, Lord Aerion of House Targaryen, and my brother, Baelon Waters."
The girl looked up at the two men with a nervous expression. "You honour me, Your Grace, my lords."
"Not at all. Perhaps you would be so kind as to show my brother to the armoury. With war at hand, no doubt he wishes to sharpen his blade."
"Of course, Your Grace. My lord, if you will follow me?" The girl smiled at Baelon.
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Erik
Westeros
Erik
Posts: 478
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Post by Erik on Jan 10, 2014 12:08:21 GMT -5
Baelon finished his wine and followed Lady Cuy. "It is good of you to offer us your hospitality, my lady. Not every lord or lady would be pleased to host four fire-breathing monsters in their courtyard."
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Post by Vhagar on Jan 10, 2014 13:23:59 GMT -5
The girl smiled. "I am loyal to my king, my lord. As my father was before me. I could not shame his memory by failing to offer hospitality. And, truly, I would be a fool to refuse with the dragons to hand, wouldn't I?"
She escorted him out the hall and into a corridor. "I hope you will tell me if my servants are failing to provide anything you need, my lord."
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Erik
Westeros
Erik
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Post by Erik on Jan 10, 2014 13:44:21 GMT -5
"Alas, I won't be around long enough to test the servants properly," Baelon told her. As they walked, he inspected her figure out of the corner of his eye. "It's back to war as soon as my sword is sharpened. And please, my lady, I am no lord. Call me Baelon."
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Post by Vhagar on Jan 10, 2014 13:59:37 GMT -5
She turned to smile at him. Her teeth were small but even and white with none missing.
"My mother taught me my courtesies. I did not wish to cause offence by appearing impolite. But if you are sure, I will call you Baelon. I thought you would be staying overnight, I confess. Her Grace planas to remain here until morning so her dragon can rest. Will you not stay with her?""
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Erik
Westeros
Erik
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Post by Erik on Jan 10, 2014 14:11:03 GMT -5
"I suppose that I could. Better to fly at dawn than to spend half the night in the air, trying to find my destination in the dark. If it would be no trouble for you and your household, of course. And if my sister approves."
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Post by Vhagar on Jan 10, 2014 14:15:18 GMT -5
"Why would Her Grace not approve?" They were walking down the corridor now. "You would be no trouble, my-Baelon. We are already hosting the queen. Why not you as well? You're Her Grace's own brother. It's quite an honour for our house. The dragons are...very spectacular. I got quite a shock when the queen arrived." Her laughter was musical but low and her smile was friendly and probably genuine. "I didn't see you come in. Did you come on a dragon too?"
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Erik
Westeros
Erik
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Post by Erik on Jan 10, 2014 14:28:03 GMT -5
"Oh, she might just wish me back with the fleet. But I'll simply explain that the lovely Lady Cuy has entranced me, and I could not possibly fly off so soon," He replied, smiling back, "And yes, the smaller grey one is mine. Seaskimmer is his name."
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Post by Vhagar on Jan 10, 2014 14:37:13 GMT -5
"Oh. I would like to take a closer look at him, if he's safe? I would be most happy if you wished to stay overnight, of course." She smiled and opened the door to the courtyard. "It's but a short walk to the armoury. Do you need anything from our stores while we are there?"
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Erik
Westeros
Erik
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Post by Erik on Jan 10, 2014 14:43:43 GMT -5
"Of course you may see him. He's usually quite good with other people, comes from being on a ship so much." Baelon followed her through the door. "I do not think that I need anything, my lady. But if you have a cask open in the stores, I would certainly like to share a glass of wine with you."
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Post by Vhagar on Jan 10, 2014 16:11:44 GMT -5
"You honour me. Of course we have wine. We have a couple of old Arbor vintages from before the war. Red or gold?" She smiled sweetly at him.
Outside in the courtyard, her hair seemed lighter and brighter. "I don't know very much about dragons. You'll tell me if I can provide food for them, won't you? I should so hate you to think I am not doing the best I can."
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Erik
Westeros
Erik
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Post by Erik on Jan 10, 2014 16:19:04 GMT -5
Baelon thought for a moment. "Red, I think." He glanced over to the dragons. "They're not very picky. Any meat will do, really. Raw, they'll cook it themselves. Seaskimmer prefers fish, and the Queen would know far better than me what Amethyst likes."
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Post by Vhagar on Jan 10, 2014 16:30:09 GMT -5
"Of course. I'll see it done. If you are staying, I'll arrange accommodation for you as well. Is there anything else I can do?" She leaned close, probably unconsciously, brushing his arm with her breast.
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Erik
Westeros
Erik
Posts: 478
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Post by Erik on Jan 10, 2014 16:35:07 GMT -5
"No, my lady," Baelon answered, choosing to be gentlemanly and not notice the touch, "The pleasure of your company is already more than I deserve."
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Post by Vhagar on Jan 10, 2014 16:41:34 GMT -5
Lady Arwyn blushed at the compliment. "You are too chivalrous, my-Baelon. I am sure I could not compare to one of the fine ladies in Kings Landing. They say the Hightowers kept a fine court in Oldtown, once, and the Tyrells in Highgarden, and the Gardeners before them, but this war is all I have ever known. I have spent my whole life on my father's land. We could not go to Oldtown, of course, and it was too dangerous for my father to let us visit Highgarden or other places."
She sighed a little. "I envy you the freedom of your dragon and your ship. You must have been many wondrous places."
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Erik
Westeros
Erik
Posts: 478
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Post by Erik on Jan 10, 2014 16:47:29 GMT -5
"Not in some time. When I was young, I...traveled a bit in the East. Visited many of the Free Cities. But more recently, my time has been spent sailing up and down the coast, looking for Redwyne ships and merchants out of Oldtown. I desire nothing more than for this war to be done and to be able to sail freely once again." He smiled at the thought. "As to the ladies in King's Landing, they are a scheming, debauched lot. It is refreshing to spend time with one more candid."
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Post by Vhagar on Jan 10, 2014 16:56:20 GMT -5
"Oh." She laughed. "I have no time for scheming. Most of our smallfolk got called up to fight in te King's war, and the women have to till the fields in their place. So the servants we have are mostly old people. The girl serving in the great hall is a little simple, and not strong. Working for us suits her better than the fields. We have to do a lot of things ourselves. Can you imagine it? Lady Cuy and I have to bake bread and start my own fire! My poor sisters have to peel the vegetables and dust the cabinets." She laughed again.
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Erik
Westeros
Erik
Posts: 478
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Post by Erik on Jan 10, 2014 17:03:58 GMT -5
Baelon laughed with her. "Well, when the war is done and you've got your servants again, mayhaps you'll have a chance to practice your scheming. I admit, I had not thought much about what the war was like for those away from the front lines. I suppose that means you've not had many suitors, either, while all the young knights are off winning glory for themselves?"
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Post by Vhagar on Jan 10, 2014 17:22:41 GMT -5
"Only one," she confessed. "I was betrothed to a Costayne when I was a girl, but he died a few days after they made him a knight. I was fifteen. There has been nobody since, because of the war. We get few visitors here. Once we lost the castle to the Faith Militant, and there was a man who..." She lowered her eyes. "But I screamed and hit the man when he touched me, and the commander hanged him. And then the men from Brigtwater and Bandallon came to take the castle back and we were saved. I am still a maid, and like to die that way if this war does not end soon." She laughed again. "The queen said it will be ending very soon, but my father said that for years and he was always wrong."
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Erik
Westeros
Erik
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Post by Erik on Jan 10, 2014 18:04:14 GMT -5
"I think she may be right, this time. We've never amassed such a force against the Faith Militant as we have now. And," Ah, fuck it, may as well jump in head first, "once it ends, with your leave, I would be very much interested in visiting Sun House again. You see, my sister the queen has suggested that we might make a match."
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Post by Orys Storm on Jan 10, 2014 18:05:48 GMT -5
Orys looked about him, taking in the surroundings. He'd spent most of his life in King's Landing, and despite making numerous excursions from the city in his life, he still found himself not used to everything being so open. He laughed to himself, but deep down he felt slightly intimidated by the vastness of it all.
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Post by Vhagar on Jan 10, 2014 18:36:20 GMT -5
"I think she may be right, this time. We've never amassed such a force against the Faith Militant as we have now. And," Ah, fuck it, may as well jump in head first, "once it ends, with your leave, I would be very much interested in visiting Sun House again. You see, my sister the queen has suggested that we might make a match." "Oh!" Her eyes widened in surprise and she dropped a brief curtsey. "You honour me. You and the queen! I never dared dream...Oh, yes, of course you may visit me. I would be happy to receive you! May I..." She blushed. "May I give you a token to wear in the war?" Orys looked about him, taking in the surroundings. He'd spent most of his life in King's Landing, and despite making numerous excursions from the city in his life, he still found himself not used to everything being so open. He laughed to himself, but deep down he felt slightly intimidated by the vastness of it all. Orys was shown into the great hall where Rhaella and Aerion sat. "Ah, cousin," Rhaella greeted him. "Come sit and eat with us. We will be resting here overnight. Arenya is taking a message for me and Baelon is speaking with the lady of the house."
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Post by Orys Storm on Jan 10, 2014 18:42:43 GMT -5
Orys nodded and answered, "It would be my pleasure, your grace." Orys took a seat at the table. Orys was not one for overindulging in the pleasures of food, so he only pecked at the food sat in front of him. He was aware he was in the company of those far out of his league, but he sat at ease. If anything, he was conformable with nobility, and he supposed royalty wasn't much different.
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Post by Vhagar on Jan 10, 2014 18:51:58 GMT -5
"I'm sorry we all got separated," Rhaella said. "But it would have been too dangerous to travel together in case we were seen."
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Post by Orys Storm on Jan 10, 2014 18:58:41 GMT -5
Orys dabbed at his mouth lightly with a handkerchief and said, "I completely understand, your grace. You exercised great caution and I applaud your grace's wisdom." Best to choose his worlds carefully here. He did not know the queen well, and knew little of how to speak to her. But, Orys knew enough to know that those in power often enjoy compliments.
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