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Westeros 
Posts: 96 
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Post by flex on Jun 19, 2014 16:42:28 GMT -5
The Gates of the Moon is a stout castle with a moat, a gatehouse, a yard, and square towers. It is larger than the Eyrie. At night torches flicker at its ramparts and the moon is reflected in its moat. Beyond its postern gate is a dense forest of pine and spruce, as well as the steep, carved steps along the Giant's Lance.
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flex
Westeros
Posts: 96
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Post by flex on Jun 19, 2014 17:09:22 GMT -5
Alysanne flew down atop Daeneryon, landing outside the gates of the castle that sat at the bottom of the Giant's Lance.
She dropped from the saddle and called up to the wall for her to be let in. It wasn't quite snowing, but cold nonetheless, so she wore a thick white cloak over her pale blue dress, fur trimmed hood pulled up.
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Post by Vhagar on Jun 19, 2014 17:23:55 GMT -5
Alysanne is soon welcomed into the castle. She recalls that it's kept by Ser Artys Arryn, her uncle, and his wife Myranda.
The guard who let Alysanne in said "Ser Artys is away from home, but Lady Myranda is hosting Lady Taena at present. I'll take you to them, m'lady, unless you'd prefer to go straight to a guest room?"
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flex
Westeros
Posts: 96
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Post by flex on Jun 19, 2014 17:25:32 GMT -5
"No thank you, I will see Lady Myranda and Taena," Alysanne said to the guard, a cheerful look on her face. "It's getting colder, don't you think?" She said with a shiver.
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Post by Vhagar on Jun 19, 2014 17:47:49 GMT -5
"Aye, m'lady. Be winter soon," he said. "Lord Arryn and them will have ter come down soon. Won't be no going up to the Eyrie 'xcept for them as has dragons." He nodded at Alysanne.
They walked along several corridors until they reached a heavy oak door, guarded by two men. They were allowed in and the guard announced "Lady Alysanne Arryn."
Two women rose. One, slender and fair, was clearly Taena Royce, herself a dragonrider. The other was much plainer of face, with sharp features. Taena's smile was welcoming and she went to hug Alysanne at once. Lady Myranda, however, was not far behind.
"You grace us with your presence, my lady. Will your father and grandsire be joining us ahead of the winter?"
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flex
Westeros
Posts: 96
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Post by flex on Jun 19, 2014 17:53:48 GMT -5
Alysanne smiled at both of the women, hugging each in turn warmly. "It is good seeing both of you. You look well, Taena, and you Myranda."
She pulled off her cloak and folded it over a nearby chair, brushing off her dress. "My father will be coming down soon, though only briefly. We will be heading for King's Landing." She smiled brightly.
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Post by Vhagar on Jun 19, 2014 18:27:51 GMT -5
Myranda looked curious. "Oh. Is there to be a ball or feast I love the court events. How is Ser Edmyn? Well, I hope?"
Taena went to pour wine. "I have not been to Kings Landing in more than a year. I have been thinking about visiting the Academy. Your mother's namesake is a student there."
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flex
Westeros
Posts: 96
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Post by flex on Jun 20, 2014 2:41:18 GMT -5
"Not a ball, lady Myranda. I had expressed my wish to finally visit King's Landing to my father, which of course means he has to come too." Alysanne grinned and rubbed her hands over a nearby fire.
"Father did say that he wished you to come with us, Taena. But this academy sounds interesting. Perhaps we should both look into it!"
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Post by Vhagar on Jun 20, 2014 5:33:03 GMT -5
"I can certainly travel with you. Maric can spare me for a little while, at least." Taena smiled at the thought of her husband. "Your father wishes only to see you safe, Alysanne. He holds to a stricter code of behaviour than our relations in the city. No doubt he fears some unscrupulous knight will seek to steal your virtue. But don't worry, perhaps I can persuade your father to let me be your chaperone, should you wish to stay a while. He has many duties in the Vale, I know, as well as the Lady Wylla to care for."
Myranda sighed. "Ah, Lady Wylla. A sweet creature to be sure." But there was a bite in her voice and Alysanne sensed that here at least might be an ally against Wylla, should she require one.
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flex
Westeros
Posts: 96
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Post by flex on Jun 20, 2014 11:04:53 GMT -5
Alysanne briefly met Myranda's eyes, a smile crossing her lips, before she turned to Taena.
"That's a wonderful idea! Father has the servants packing already but I can make the flight again to the Eyrie and let him know you are coming with me. I am sure father will be happy not to have to make the journey to King's Landing."
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Post by Vhagar on Jun 20, 2014 13:21:39 GMT -5
"Perhaps. Whether he comes or not, we can travel much faster by dragonback," Taena replied. "I know you will want to escape your father's eagle eye for a time, but he won't let you go easily." She sighed a little. "Yet perhaps it will answer. Though I have not your father's rank, despite being blood of the dragon, and the queen's cousin. I should not think it will matter so much to Her Grace, but who can say what is in the mind of others? Alas, there are some men who think women alone may be taken advantage of."
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flex
Westeros
Posts: 96
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Post by flex on Jun 21, 2014 5:25:28 GMT -5
"Of course we must be weary about the thoughts of others," Alysanne said in agreement, rising from before the fire. "But Queen Rhaena has ruled these past seventeen years. The lords of this realm will have grown accustomed to women in charge, will they not?" She smiled. "No matter, I shall rest a little before flying back up to the Eyrie to inform father, then fly back down."
She turned to the other woman. "Lady Myranda, may I make use of some of your rooms until we leave? I always enjoy spending time at the Gates of the Moon and would love to be in your company for a short while."
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Post by Vhagar on Jun 21, 2014 5:45:16 GMT -5
"Of course," Lady Myranda replied. "I would be happy to have you here. You are always welcome at the Gates of the Moon."
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flex
Westeros
Posts: 96
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Post by flex on Jun 21, 2014 5:50:33 GMT -5
"Thank you, Lady Myranda," Alysanne said, before putting her coat back on and leaving the castle to fly back up to the Eyrie.
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flex
Westeros
Posts: 96
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Post by flex on Jun 22, 2014 6:16:43 GMT -5
/////////
Alysanne returned to the Gates of the Moon and asked to see Lady Myranda.
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Post by Vhagar on Jun 22, 2014 9:51:28 GMT -5
This time Lady Myranda was alone with a piece of sewing in hand, but she had a smile for Alysanne. "My dear," she cried. "Welcome. Will you take some wine?"
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flex
Westeros
Posts: 96
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Post by flex on Jun 22, 2014 10:21:09 GMT -5
"Watered wine, please," Alysanne said, taking a seat. "Father is still of the opinion I shouldn't be drinking." She laughed.
"I have been meaning to speak with you, Lady Myranda."
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Post by Vhagar on Jun 22, 2014 10:34:32 GMT -5
"I am flattered," Myranda said as she poured water and wine into a cup and stirred them together before handing it to Alysanne. "Your father is a dear but he worries too much. You are a woman grown now. You are in need of better female company than your new mother can provide. I would be happy to oblige."
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flex
Westeros
Posts: 96
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Post by flex on Jun 22, 2014 10:40:27 GMT -5
Alysanne sipped from her wine and smiled. "Father worries overly much, I will agree. I cannot fault him though... he loved my mother dearly and I am all that remains of her. As for Lady Wylla, well... the poor dear is so out of place here."
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Post by Vhagar on Jun 22, 2014 10:49:53 GMT -5
"Yes. I have seen the way she clings to her father. It's not good for her, and certainly not for him. But your grandfather was set on the match and I daresay your father rather liked the thought of more children now you are grown. Alas, I have not been blessed with more children myself, yet. I do not know how I will manage having to be kind to her once the time comes to make the descent from the Eyrie. A pity she cannot be left there to freeze to death once winter comes." She smiled cattily. "Do you suppose your father would be very angry if the Lady Wylla were to suffer an accident during the descent?"
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flex
Westeros
Posts: 96
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Post by flex on Jun 22, 2014 10:54:53 GMT -5
Alysanne studied the Lady Myra with an interest gaze, one hand swiveling about her wine.
"Accidents do happen, don't they?" She said, her question beyond a doubt rhetorical. "But no, I would not wish such harm on Lady Wylla. My father loves her, or thinks he does, and I would not want to harm a woman that means something to father. Especially one who is pregnant."
She looked down into her glass, a small smile appearing on her lips. "It would be fortunate however if news of an affair would come to light. Say, that the Lady Wylla had slept with a man, or two, in the last year. Around the time she became pregnant."
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Post by Vhagar on Jun 22, 2014 11:01:55 GMT -5
Myranda's smile widened. "That would be perfect. Then she could be packed off to her father, or to some sept or other, and nobody could say a thing about it! But who can we name? Naturally we must be sure not to hurt any man who is a close friend of the family. Perhaps...one of the household knights might serve."
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flex
Westeros
Posts: 96
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Post by flex on Jun 22, 2014 11:07:06 GMT -5
"A man willing to go to the Wall," Alysanne replied, knowing her father would likely give any man caught bedding his wife the chance to serve in the Night's Watch. "Surely one of the household knights must have a history that he wishes no one to know about. A man who can admit to having slept with the Lady Myranda."
She sipped again from her wine and studied the fireplace. "My father loves me, as does his father. The people of the Vale are fond of me, that much I know. For the last seventeen years they have all settled into the likelihood that I could become heir to the Vale. It is best not to stir things up."
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Post by Vhagar on Jun 22, 2014 11:12:55 GMT -5
"Is it? And yet you know well that you will lose your place as heir if your father has a son." Myranda remarked. "I am afraid I cannot recommend any man of the kind you seek. The Eyrie is remote from the Gates of the Moon, and travelling between the two is not easy unless you have a dragon. You must surely know the likely candidates better than I ever could."
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flex
Westeros
Posts: 96
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Post by flex on Jun 22, 2014 11:19:33 GMT -5
"My father won't have a son if the child by Myranda turns out to be a bastard," Alysanne said. "It is unlikely he will remarry, should his heart become broken yet again."
She sighed, evidently sad for her father. "I will need to have a think about potential candidates. I am somewhat familiar with the guards, though not all of them."
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all alone and also really bored 
Hopefully going to kickstart the festival too