|
|
Post by Vhagar on Jan 11, 2014 16:01:29 GMT -5
The royal woods. Deer and other game can be hunted here.
|
|
|
|
Post by Vhagar on Jan 11, 2014 16:02:21 GMT -5
Lord Reyne leads the hunt with a number of his cronies, a kennelmaster and his dogs and a few squires.
|
|
|
|
Post by Lady Visenya Targaryen on Jan 11, 2014 16:16:02 GMT -5
Back in the stables, Visenya had looked at the horses and dismissed horseback as certainly simpler than dragonback; one was closer to the ground and one's mount did not breathe fire. Even though she had been paired with one of the gentlest mounts available, a white mare named Rarity, Visenya found herself having a bit of difficulty. She smiled, though, and did not let on. Holding on to the reins and making sure her riding gown was draped elegantly over her legs, Visenya hoped this would be a cakewalk in the end.
She let her horse drift toward the back of the group, where those less intent on murdering a small animal and more content with enjoying the fine day and the company of others rode. She had never been on a hunt before, and with her siblings and cousins gone, she knew most of these people only by sight. She was certainly the only silver-haired lady on horseback, as far as she could see.
|
|
|
|
Post by Vhagar on Jan 11, 2014 16:41:55 GMT -5
Visenya saw her kinswoman Taena Storm ride up on horseback, with her young dragon, too small to be ridden, flying overhead. Meanwhile, one of Lord Reyne's companions, a young man, handsome and fair-haired rode over to Visenya and bowed low in the saddle . "My lady is most beautiful. May I wish you joy of the hunt?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Lady Visenya Targaryen on Jan 11, 2014 16:50:08 GMT -5
Visenya nodded and smiled to Taena. They were kin and of an age but she had never exchanged more than a few words with the girl.
Of course, who could keep their eyes on girl cousins when there were good-looking men about? Visenya turned her smile on the man, no doubt a Westerlander of some description, and nodded in return. "You are kind to say so, ser, and I thank you: this is the first hunt I have ever had the pleasure of participating in. I don't know you, might I ask your name?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Vhagar on Jan 11, 2014 17:01:51 GMT -5
He gave her a charming smile. His hair glinted like gold in the sunlight.
"I'm Jaime Westerling, my lady. Pleased to meet you. I'm part of Lord Reyne's household at court."
|
|
|
|
Post by Lady Visenya Targaryen on Jan 11, 2014 17:08:49 GMT -5
His hair reminded her of the resource that was so plentiful in the West and which was surely piled in the Westerling coffers.
"And I am Visenya Targaryen. A pleasure to meet you as well. Might I ask why Lord Reyne and his men have not gone to war with the rest? I am sure your thirst for honor and glory is not outweighed by your desire to entertain bored young ladies left behind in the Red Keep." She smiled coquettishly, pleased by his attention.
|
|
|
|
Post by Vhagar on Jan 11, 2014 17:18:31 GMT -5
"h. Well, Lord Reyne is needed at court. How could he go to war when he must keep an eye on the crown's finances. Any knight can lead an army to war, but not all men could serve as Master of Coin. As for me, well, someone must stay to protect the capital."
|
|
|
|
Post by Lady Visenya Targaryen on Jan 11, 2014 17:24:02 GMT -5
"Of course he is needed, coin must be counted and spent even if there is a war on!" Visenya glanced away, feeling stupid for having forgotten Reyne's important place. She wouldn't let it bother her, she decided, and carried on as before. "You know, I do feel all the safer knowing capable men like you are here to defend us in the unlikely event of emergency."
|
|
|
|
Post by Vhagar on Jan 11, 2014 17:47:36 GMT -5
"You are most kind, my lady. We all do our duty. Seeing the ladies who remain here make it all worthwhile. There is no glory in staying behind, but someone has to. An even the king has stayed behind," Westerling remarked. "Sharing the king's decision cannot be such a bad thing, can i?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Lady Visenya Targaryen on Jan 12, 2014 0:37:55 GMT -5
She laughed. "Well the entire line of succession has gone to Oldtown. The King certainly couldn't leave the city!" she joked.
|
|
|
|
Post by Vhagar on Jan 12, 2014 5:30:25 GMT -5
"Now there's a good point," Westerling agreed. "My lady is very wise. So...does that mean, if they are all slain in battle, will the king name you heir to the throne?"
His grin indicated that he knew full well it was highly unlikely to happen.
|
|
|
|
Post by Lady Visenya Targaryen on Jan 12, 2014 13:06:04 GMT -5
Visenya kept her smile bright through force of will alone. "My lord, your jests edge ever nearer to treason! I am sure the King would grieve at his loss, as would we all, but quickly do his duty and take another wife to start from scratch." Her grip tightened on the reins, turning her knuckles white.
|
|
|
|
Post by Vhagar on Jan 12, 2014 17:20:07 GMT -5
Visenya kept her smile bright through force of will alone. "My lord, your jests edge ever nearer to treason! I am sure the King would grieve at his loss, as would we all, but quickly do his duty and take another wife to start from scratch." Her grip tightened on the reins, turning her knuckles white. "Oh perhaps," Westerling murmured. "I was but teasing, my lady. I have every faith that your royal cousins will not endanger their lives more than they must, and that all will return safe and well when the fighting is done. Let us speak of better things. I wonder what kind of world the king will build when his enemies are dead. It seems strange to talk of peace, does it not?" |
|
|
|
Post by Lady Visenya Targaryen on Jan 12, 2014 17:29:26 GMT -5
She inclined her head toward him politely. "I suppose it is strange, since war has been going since my parents were born, if not before. But to have grown up here in the Red Keep, and to have been so untouched by all save rumors of troop movements, well, its almost as if there were no war at all. If my cousins and siblings had not all gone, it would make no difference." She looked pensive. "Is that not somewhat depressing?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Vhagar on Jan 12, 2014 17:35:37 GMT -5
"I don't find it so. A lady as beautiful as yourself is an ornament to the court, and besides, someone has to stay to remind our brave warriors what they are fighting for."
A dog yipped ahead of them and some of their fellow riders spurred their mounts forward.
"Ah," said Westerling. "Ready for the chase, my lady? Or would you rather hang back and talk?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Lady Visenya Targaryen on Jan 12, 2014 19:01:15 GMT -5
"Thats a much more pleasant way to think of things. They're fighting to protect those who cannot fight." She thought of Silverwing, then. They could fight, not hand to hand, but a sweeping blast from the dragon would ensure Visenya didn't need to. she felt some guilt that she had not gone with the rest.
She was startled out of her thoughts by the baying of the dogs. Would she like to ride faster? Oh, she was terrified, but she felt her heart beat more strongly. "Let's be off, my lord!" She cried as she dug her heels into the mare's flank and went off with a burst of speed.
|
|
|
|
Post by Vhagar on Jan 12, 2014 19:19:58 GMT -5
He raced alongside her, grinning and hooting. Then he looked over at her and asked "What's better? Riding a horse or riding a dragon?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Lady Visenya Targaryen on Jan 12, 2014 20:09:49 GMT -5
She laughed loudly, to be heard over the sound of hooves and hallooing. "A dragon, of course! There can be no comparison!"
|
|
|
|
Post by Vhagar on Jan 12, 2014 20:23:01 GMT -5
"Lucky! I wonder if a dragon would enjoy the hunt? I heard they eat charred meat?" He queried.
|
|
|
|
Post by Lady Visenya Targaryen on Jan 12, 2014 21:41:24 GMT -5
"I am sure they would, though there would not be much sport for those on the ground below," she called into the wind. "Look up, there's my cousin's flying over us!" As if on cue, the dragon shrieked overhead. Visenya was enjoying the hunt far more than she had thought she would.
|
|
|
|
Post by Vhagar on Jan 12, 2014 21:52:18 GMT -5
"Oh, that's Lady Taena's dragon, isn't it? It's so small compared to some of the dragons I've seen." Ser Jaime Westerling grinned, his hair stirring with the speed of his horse. "We have a tradition when it's someone's first hunt. Do you know what it is?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Lady Visenya Targaryen on Jan 13, 2014 0:58:57 GMT -5
"Oh, Victory's just a baby, of course she's small!" Visenya giggled. "What's the tradition? I hope I don't have to stab the thing myself. What are we hunting, anyway?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Vhagar on Jan 13, 2014 3:40:58 GMT -5
"Deer. Lord Reyne heard tell there was a magnificent white hart to be found in these woods, so he wanted to hunt it down and present it to the king and get some venison into the bargain. Some men are saying it would be a good omen if the little dragon got there first. Deer aren't as dangerous as boar, my lady. Hunting is no pretty sight and boar hunting is dangerous even for the hunters." He paused, grinned at her. "The custom of the first hunt is that we wipe a bit of the prey's blood on the person's face. I really couldn't tell you why."
|
|
|
|
Post by Lady Visenya Targaryen on Jan 13, 2014 12:19:48 GMT -5
"If the dragon got there first, there might not be any left for the rest of us!" Visenya laughed happily. "She's small but her fires burn hot all the same." Her smile fell a bit when she heard of the tradition. It was most disgusting. At least she didn't have to eat anything strange. It was just a bit of blood, she told herself, and its there in my family's words. "What a peculiar custom! I will allow it, but..." She shot him a look. "You had better not be teasing me, and wipe a bunch of gore on my face."
|
|
all alone and also really bored 
Hopefully going to kickstart the festival too
Jul 3, 2014 12:43:09 GMT -5
Hopefully going to kickstart the festival too
Jul 3, 2014 12:43:09 GMT -5