Horas
Westeros 
is Horas.
Posts: 1,146
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Post by Horas on Mar 9, 2014 18:45:26 GMT -5
Aegon did not like it, but the priest's protestations seemed sincere enough. He released his grip on the man, the knelt next to Laena instead. "We must take her somewhere and find a healer," he told Arenya. "They must have one at the palace."
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Post by Vhagar on Mar 9, 2014 18:56:16 GMT -5
Unfortunately for the Targaryens, Laena herself was the only healer they were personally acquainted with at present.
The old woman's hand was still bleeding. The priest grabbed the bowl and knelt beside Aegon, water splashing as he lay the bowl down. He grabbed her hand, roughly, and without asking permission. The water was already pinkish from the blood shed by Aegon and Arenya but now it turned deep red. Laena began to scream, though she cried no words either of them recognised.
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Post by Daemon Waters on Mar 9, 2014 21:44:26 GMT -5
"Mother", Arenya uttered as she knelt beside her, she then looked at the priest,"You said it was sorcery, what kind?! Where would she learn this?!"
The words Laena screamed made Arenya look at her mother shocked not understanding, she then looked from Aegon to the priest again. "Help her, please.... What can we do?"
Her face saddened as she gently held Laena's other hand, watching the blood drain from the Dragonmother's wound,"She is the only who has the ability to heal, we don't have anyone else with us."
"Are there any close near the temple? If there are I will go find them."
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Horas
Westeros
is Horas.
Posts: 1,146
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Post by Horas on Mar 9, 2014 22:26:50 GMT -5
Aegon cut a ragged strip out of his cloak with his axe, then used it to bind the unnaturally bloody wound. He knelt and wrapped his arms around Laena's back and legs, lifting the old woman like a child. "I'll eat my hat if a man as rich as Jaes Azantys does not have a healer or four on his staff. It is time to ask our hosts a favor," Aegon said, shooting another dark look at the priest before beginning to hurriedly walk out, still carrying his grandmother in his arms.
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Post by Daemon Waters on Mar 9, 2014 22:42:33 GMT -5
Aegon cut a ragged strip out of his cloak with his axe, then used it to bind the unnaturally bloody wound. He knelt and wrapped his arms around Laena's back and legs, lifting the old woman like a child. "I'll eat my hat if a man as rich as Jaes Azantys does not have a healer or four on his staff. It is time to ask our hosts a favor," Aegon said, shooting another dark look at the priest before beginning to hurriedly walk out, still carrying his grandmother in his arms. "I agree, it's time we used their hospitality for more than a meal and a party. " She caught the look Aegon gave the priest, and sighed, "Come on let's hurry." |
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Post by Vhagar on Mar 10, 2014 3:00:45 GMT -5
The priest wrung his hands in distress, while the people milled about in confusion. "There is a healing woman in the next street along, the symbol if the staff and snake," he told them. "It was not my doing, I promise. It is not part of our rites. It looks like some kind of blood magic to me, though I know little of such things." He grabbed Arenya's arm. "Why do you ask how the old woman could have learned this thing? Is she herself a sorceress? Who is she?"
Laena writhed in her grandson's hold, seemingly chanting something none of them could comprehend. Her hand still bled, but much less since it had been thrust into the water.
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Post by Daemon Waters on Mar 10, 2014 7:27:06 GMT -5
The priest wrung his hands in distress, while the people milled about in confusion. "There is a healing woman in the next street along, the symbol if the staff and snake," he told them. "It was not my doing, I promise. It is not part of our rites. It looks like some kind of blood magic to me, though I know little of such things." He grabbed Arenya's arm. "Why do you ask how the old woman could have learned this thing? Is she herself a sorceress? Who is she?" Laena writhed in her grandson's hold, seemingly chanting something none of them could comprehend. Her hand still bled, but much less since it had been thrust into the water. "She is Princess Laena Targaryen of Westeros", Arenya replied a she looked at the priest and how he held her arm. "And she's also my mother. Thank you for your help, please excuse us while we take care of her." |
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Post by Vhagar on Mar 10, 2014 10:02:53 GMT -5
"Of course. Take care of her," he said. "I must calm my people. Many are frightened."
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Horas
Westeros
is Horas.
Posts: 1,146
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Post by Horas on Mar 10, 2014 10:18:16 GMT -5
Hearing about the healer on his way out, Aegon carried his grandmother down the street until he found a sign with a staff and a snake. He gritted his teeth as he shouldered open the door. There was black magic in play here, something evil, and Aegon did not know if it was worse if it stemmed from Laena or the gods.
"This woman needs a healer!" Aegon called out.
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Post by Vhagar on Mar 10, 2014 10:53:18 GMT -5
A young woman ushered them inside the tent. Inside, Aegon saw the oldest woman he had never met, or at least that's what she looked like. She was certainly older than his grandmother. She was, however, still fairly fit for her age, and able to move unhindered, her sight and hearing still sharp.
"Lay her down, my child," she commanded, quickly ascertaining that the Common Tongue would be required.
Laena's cries had become less frequent but were no less distressing. She was still unconscious. The woman sat beside her, examining the wound.
"What happened to her?"
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Horas
Westeros
is Horas.
Posts: 1,146
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Post by Horas on Mar 10, 2014 11:23:41 GMT -5
"She was cut with a knife at the Valyrian temple," Aegon replied after he set Laena gently down on the ground. He held up his own, far lesser wound on his palm as a comparison. "But blood kept pouring out of her and she collapsed, then she started screaming and babbling in tongues. This was just minutes ago; we brought her here as quickly as we could."
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Post by Vhagar on Mar 10, 2014 11:40:29 GMT -5
"'Tis blood magic," the old woman said. "I can feel it. See how pale she grows. She has lost much blood. 'Tis a vision, perhaps, a portent of things to come. It is often so." She looked directly at him. "Bring me a goat from the market, young and healthy. It is close to here. I will pray for her and seal the wound, but the loss must be paid for."
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Horas
Westeros
is Horas.
Posts: 1,146
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Post by Horas on Mar 10, 2014 12:08:48 GMT -5
"Are you a healer or a witch?" Aegon demanded. He did not move, not wanting to leave Laena with the woman. "Bind the wound, give her some poultice or potion, and you will be paid well."
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Post by Daemon Waters on Mar 10, 2014 12:27:58 GMT -5
"Aegon, just do as she asked", she looked at him fearfully,"if this is magic, mother did something that caused this reaction."
"We have to fix it. This is to be done the Valyrian way."
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Horas
Westeros
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Posts: 1,146
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Post by Horas on Mar 10, 2014 12:37:00 GMT -5
"I've seen a maester clean and sew a wound, and they did not have to kill a goat to do it," Aegon answered grimly. "If this old woman cannot, we will find someone who can. If someone has truly laid a curse on grandmother, using more evil magic on her is not what she needs."
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Post by Daemon Waters on Mar 10, 2014 12:41:58 GMT -5
"We are not in Westeros and its not a curse", she looked at him. "Mother dabbled in magic. I don't know what kind, so don't ask me?"
"A Maester can not help us, unless he knows magic. Mother can't tell us what to do, so we have no choice."
"But we are not going to keep running all over town until she bleeds to death."
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Horas
Westeros
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Posts: 1,146
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Post by Horas on Mar 10, 2014 13:06:23 GMT -5
"You will do what you can without using blood magic," Aegon instructed the healer firmly. "She is strong. A cut to the hand will not do Laena Targaryen in."
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Post by Vhagar on Mar 10, 2014 13:13:46 GMT -5
"You do not understand," the woman spat. "Only death can pay for life. Sacrifice must be made and spells worked. You will let me do my work if you wish your grandmother to live. The wound was inflicted by blood magic, do you not see that? That is the cut of the holy sacrament. I have seen it, many times. Though never like this. Fetch the goat, and hurry!" She pointed at Arenya, seeing an ally in the princess. Then she bent over Laena and began to clean the wound. To Aegon, she said "You help or you leave. Her heart still beats but something is very wrong here. A spell will put it right."
Laena's cries had stopped and the wound appeared to stop bleeding as the woman washed out the cut with wine, but Laena had still not woken. She was very still.
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Post by Daemon Waters on Mar 10, 2014 13:19:03 GMT -5
She realized he was not listening. Arenya held her mother's hand.
"Aegon...... "She looked at him. "Please..."
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Horas
Westeros
is Horas.
Posts: 1,146
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Post by Horas on Mar 10, 2014 13:40:09 GMT -5
Aegon's hand went to his axe, his first thought to threaten the old woman into doing what he said. He was angry, though truth be told he was also frightened. Battle had not scared Aegon, nor the Faith's explosive bolts or Hector's sword. But this was something different, something he knew was very wrong to his core. Coldly, for a moment he thought that if this was the sort of thing Laena practiced then perhaps she deserved her fate. It was only Arenya's plea that softened Aegon's heart. He might have little love for the Princess Laena, but someone else clearly still did.
"Will she die without it?" Aegon asked the witch-woman softly.
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Post by Vhagar on Mar 10, 2014 13:53:22 GMT -5
"It is very likely. She lives yet, but I cannot wake her." The woman frowned and began to chant spells in High Valyrian, too fast even for Arenya to catch the gist of her words.
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Post by Daemon Waters on Mar 10, 2014 14:21:12 GMT -5
As she tried to listen, Arenya stared at her mother waiting for her to say something glib or contrite, but there was nothing.
Laena may not have been much of a mother to her after she became of age but the old woman that laid before in stillness was her mother. Arenya closed her eyes and silently said a prayer for Laena.
When she finished, she whispered to Laena,"Even in my darkest hours, I pray for you. Even as you sleep, I pray for you. I will always pray for you, even if you do not for me."
She sighed and looked at Aegon,"Stay with mother, I'm going to get the goat."
Arenya returned after a few minutes, holding a small goat. The animal was bleating and scrambling as if it knew it's end was near. She placed in front of the woman,"Do what you must."
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Post by Vhagar on Mar 10, 2014 20:22:58 GMT -5
The woman ordered Arenya to hold the goat still, placed a bowl nearby and sliced deep into the goat's neck with the sharpest knife she owened. Blood spurted down the beating goat's neck as it thrashed in its death throes. The woman chanted in a singsong voice, High Valyrian again, as she caught the gushing blood in the bowl. The corpse went still and the old woman chanted over the bowl, the blood bubbling slightly as she sang. And then she dipped her fingers in the bowl and began to annointed Laena's wound with the blood, covering her entire hand and forearm until it was red to the elbow. She daubed her forehead, eyelids and ears, pulled aside her clothing to smear the blood over Laena's heart. And then she lifted Laena's head and poured some of the remaining blood gently into her mouth, whilst still chanting. Nothing happened at first, and then, Laena coughed. Her eyes opened. Wide and staring, they looked up at the woman in confusion.
"Who? Who?" She turned her head, feeble but restless, saw Arenya. "Daughter. What is this place?" Her eyes moved wildly around, while the ancient woman hovered nearby. Arenya knew her mother was still extremely weak by the fact that she failed to complain about the blood staining her clothing.
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Post by Daemon Waters on Mar 10, 2014 20:58:25 GMT -5
The woman ordered Arenya to hold the goat still, placed a bowl nearby and sliced deep into the goat's neck with the sharpest knife she owened. Blood spurted down the beating goat's neck as it thrashed in its death throes. The woman chanted in a singsong voice, High Valyrian again, as she caught the gushing blood in the bowl. The corpse went still and the old woman chanted over the bowl, the blood bubbling slightly as she sang. And then she dipped her fingers in the bowl and began to annointed Laena's wound with the blood, covering her entire hand and forearm until it was red to the elbow. She daubed her forehead, eyelids and ears, pulled aside her clothing to smear the blood over Laena's heart. And then she lifted Laena's head and poured some of the remaining blood gently into her mouth, whilst still chanting. Nothing happened at first, and then, Laena coughed. Her eyes opened. Wide and staring, they looked up at the woman in confusion. "Who? Who?" She turned her head, feeble but restless, saw Arenya. "Daughter. What is this place?" Her eyes moved wildly around, while the ancient woman hovered nearby. Arenya knew her mother was still extremely weak by the fact that she failed to complain about the blood staining her clothing. After the grizzly scene of blood and chanting, Arenya stared at her mother's still body to see any movement. When her eyes opened Arenya grinned in relief. "Someplace where you were healed", she sighed, not wanting to ask the questions but she did anyway. "Mother, what happened to you after the priest cut your hand for the offering?" "Why in the seven hells did it take blood magic to revive you? " |
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Post by Vhagar on Mar 10, 2014 21:12:18 GMT -5
Laena tried to sit, but could not manage to lift herself more than a few inches. The old woman urged her to relax. "You will be very weak, my lady. You must rest. You will need to ride home in a litter."
Laena sighed. "Ugh...how frightful, to be so weak. I feel like a newborn kitten. Arenya, girl, this is no place to discuss it. I want to go back to our lodgings. Now." She again tried to rise, and again failed. "I fear I cannot even stand at present."
"I will give you a healing potion, to help you sleep," the old woman promised. She rummaged in a cabinet and produced a vial of milky liquid, which she handed to Arenya. "She must take the entire potion and sleep naturally until she wakes, and rest as often as she needs afterwards. Then she will grow strong again."
Laena nodded. "Good woman, give me your hand. We are sisters, in a sense." The two women linked fingers, the ancient leaning over Laena. When they were joined by both hands, Laena began to chant, high and fast until her companion's eyes widened and the ancient tried to pull away "No, it is forbidden! You are hurting me" The ancient cried in High Valyrian. But Laena held fast. As Arenya and Aegon watched, she pulled herself upright, let go of one of the woman's hands.
Everything then happened impossibly fast. The ancient's neck was bleeding, and Laena was holding a slim dagger no larger than her middle finger, while blood pooled on the floor around the dying ancient. Laena, however, stood straight-backed and proud though her face was pale and drawn with pain. She smiled slightly at her daughter and grandson. "It is done. Let us go somewhere safe. I must speak with you both, as well as Rhaena and the Lord Commander. Hurry!"
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all alone and also really bored 
Hopefully going to kickstart the festival too