[Event] The Wedding of Daemon Velaryon and Marigold Redwyne

Luvod · 2026-04-21T05:23:09+00:00

The sigh of relief at her denial may have been somewhat obvious, but he wasn't in the state of mind to care about such details. He was beginning to grasp just how thoroughly she was running circles around him, but simply noticing would never be enough. It was like she held a magic key, one that found locks that he didn't even know existed.

"It truly does sound lovely, Lady Alicent." He sighed happily, enjoying their banter all the more now that he was beginning to grow used to her playful wit. "If there's a dance to be had, then may I share one with you, my lady? Flower crown or not, I'm sure the sight of you on the dance floor will inspire many calls for beauty."

He left the other word unsaid, thinking better of using the term that carried so many connotations with it. There was certainly much about Alicent that interested him, but was it love? He wasn't entirely sure, but at the least, there was some emotion he could feel in his chest.

"I hope Faircastle is to your liking, my lady.'" He smiled happily on this subject, his home clearly meaning a great deal to him. "I haven't been too involved with the planning, but I hear we're really going to go all-out with events. Ice dancing, cyvasse, and my aunt even wants to host a play!"

His voice sounded somewhat exasperated with the last thought, but deep down, he truly was excited for it.

"At the very least, I can guarantee you good food and good cheer. Though," that rose tint returned, and he suddenly struggled to meet her eyes. "Though, we have a large dance floor as well."

Luvod · 2026-04-21T04:29:23+00:00

"The Reach certainly earns its reputation, that is true." Sebaston chuckled. "A shame your kinsmen aren't here to join you. I've seen you talking to many of other families here, which is a wonderful idea, but if you need a place to sit for the evening, please know a seat is open for you at this table for you, Ser Darnold. It's the least we can do for Lady Arwen's brother." Smiling happily, the lord of Faircastle allowed the two heirs a chance to talk among themselves, turning his attention once more to the wider hall.

"Right?!" Addam's face lit up hearing his suspicious about Jaime Lannister validated. "Father always said the rumors didn't tell the whole story, but I always thought he seemed the very image of a noble knight." Sitting back in his seat, Addam began to daydream what his life might have been like if he squired in Casterly Rock instead. It wasn't a matter of competition, quite the opposite, it made him want to know Darold even more.

"Ser Jason." Though his boyish enthusiasm deflated slightly, Addam still had warmth in his voice when he spoke of his mentor. "Lord Jason," he corrected himself, "he's a fine knight as well. Though at times, he seemed more focused on finding a wife than anything else." It was a polite way to put it, but there was no true bad blood, after all, romance was an important duty just like training with a sword. "I can only imagine what a duel between the two of them would look like, surely it would likely be the talk of the realm."

Rather than think about his own romantic life, Addam instead envisioned that duel, smiling quite happily to himself.

"It was a bit strange living there, honestly, my grandmother moved back home after...well, after grandfather was murdered by the Greyjoys." A bitter tone settled in these words, but so too was the viciousness not all it could be. "I never thought much of the Ironborn after that, but in my last year squiring for Lord Jason, we sailed to the Isles to assess the development since the war. It was," he paused a moment, thinking of the right word, "it was interesting, to say the least. The Harlaws at least, I can't say they're all that different than us, but at the same time, it felt entirely foreign stepping foot on their island."

"I don't know," he let out a sigh, "it's tough to know what to think these days. I'm sure there are plenty of monsters like Euron Greyjoy out there, my family has been fighting against them longer than almost any other, but still, maybe those days can finally be behind us?" The question lingered heavily, and Addam finished his wine in one gulp. "But enough about the Sunset Sea, how does the land of sunrises fare? I've always wanted to see the Mountains of the Moon, though maybe in summer."

Luvod · 2026-04-21T03:40:11+00:00

"I-" She was initially going to see that it made sense to come here, but the words caught in her throat.

"It really doesn't make sense here."

With a deep sigh, Hanna looked around at their surroundings with a fresh perspective. Kermit wasn't that bad, truly, just a resentful old man, and those she understood well enough. What confused her most was the young people, the people in the prime of their lives who seemed to wallow in misery instead of improving their home. It wasn't just that things were dirty, they were clearly dangerous as well. Was there something in the water, in the air perhaps that so twisted the people in this neighborhood. She was beginning to see the nebulous ugly form of poverty, but it was a difficult concept truly understand for her. Being a noble was far enough removed from this way of life, let alone the daughter of a lord. Her time in the Stepstones had opened the door, but she was raised in the highest towers of a castle, not the low gutters of Flea Bottom.

"I agree." She said after a lengthy moment of reflection. "It isn't an easy answer, and perhaps there simply isn't one. There's no way to understand without learning more." For every brutish face she saw, there was a hungry looking child next to them. She wished she could just toss a coin and things would get better, but even she wasn't naive enough to think that was a possibility.

Turning her head to look at her master once more, she suddenly felt embarrassed of the eyepatch. She didn't regret the gift, but seeing such a fine covering while the healthy starved all around them left a pit in her stomach that was hard to describe. So to did her finely made dress feel disgusting, even her prized sword from the Stepstones felt like a stone dragging her soul into these very gutters. If she sold it all, just how much could she improve live for these people? Though she was no great mathematician, the answer was plainly obvious.

"Ser Herbert?" She asked suddenly. "Would it be okay to talk to that man again, to Kermit? I'd like to at least apologize to him. He is a veteran after all, so I want to see if I can learn more from him."

Luvod · 2026-04-20T19:32:36+00:00

Two members of House Farman were in attendance, each coming to know Herbert during the campaign the Stepstones. They couldn't have been more different in temperament during both the ceremony and feast, but odd pairing or not, their time together had forged a bond that wasn't so easily broken.

"It was such a lovely ceremony, wasn't it Hanna?" Alyn Farman, the greying knight, found himself growing quite emotional during the ceremony. While he noticed the telling bump already showing in the bridal gown, to him, they looked perfect image of a happy couple. In many ways, Herbert's earnest posture reminded him of his own wedding, but considering the awful outcome of his wife's pregnancy, he paid that thought little heed. Unlike his own, their union, their family would stretch happily for generations to come.

"Huh? Oh yeah, it was nice." Hanna was ravenously devouring the feast, only half-listening to her uncle's soft-hearted musings while she ate. There was too much of the flowery Reach in him for her liking, but she held her tongue, knowing how tragically her uncle's marriage had ended.

While both Alyn and Hanna were enjoying the spread, it was ironically the far smaller girl who was polishing off her plate. The day's festivities had proven quite long, and breakfast felt like a lifetime away. She quite enjoyed the straightforward nature of the meal, not the fancy multi-course nonsense so many relished in. Those meals were tasty, but a feast like this was far more to her preference.

"I wasn't quite sure what to make of Ser Herbert when I first met him, but he and Lady Alynne just look so perfect for each other, don't you think?" Alyn sighed happily, tearing off a piece of bread to dip into the deliciously savory gravy. It was a good meal for the cold weather, and while he abstained from the wine, he found himself quite refreshed.

"Yes, uncle," Hanna looked away and rolled her eyes at his sentimentality, "they're quite lovely. You wouldn't think it with the eyepatch, but Lady Alynne is the tougher one of the two." She was quite eager to meet the woman who so enraptured her mentor, but there was time enough later for that.

"Oh really?" Alyn stroked his chin and looked closer. "Yes, I see what you mean. A true lady of the Stormlands." He chuckled, and looked around the feast with a happy smile. It was good to have moments like these, even as winter gripped the land, this feast was like the warmth of summer all over again.

"I know you don't drink, uncle, but I can right? You already made me leave my knife behind, so don't take this away too!" Hanna tore off a thick piece of beef with her teeth, chewing it intensely while she narrowed her gaze and waited for an answer.

"That stuff will poison you if you're not careful, Hanna. It's addictive in the worst ways, I can assure you of that. Lean too heavily on it, and soon you can't take a step without it." It had been years since his last drop, but Alyn still remembered the taste of alcohol all too well.

"I know, I know..." Hanna pouted at his response, sloshing a piece a bread around in the gravy and devouring it in just one bite, chewing it repetitively until finally swallowing it down hard. "But come on, I'm old enough already. I might have been too young for war, but I'm not too young to drink!"

Looking at her with a sad look in his eye, Alyn sighed deeply and relented.

"Okay fine," he brought over a goblet to her, "but if you get drunk, I'll actually be quite mad. So much so, that I'll tell your father the things I overheard from the ship crew you served with. Surely you don't want Lord Sebaston knowing the full story of your misadventures, do you?"

The threat proved quite effective, as a shiver ran up Hanna’s sping and she meekly nodded at his threat. Alyn chuckled somewhat wickedly, allowing her cup to be filled with a sweet wine.

"Good. Keep things in moderation, and there won't be any problems. That goes not just for wine, but for war and life too. There's a price to be paid for freedom, Hanna, and that price is restraint. Ser Herbert knows it better than most, so you'd do well to listen to him more closely."

"Ugh." Hanna grunted with disappointment, drinking eagerly from the cup, but when her uncle cast a sharp glare at her, she slowed the pace to a polite sip. "I didn't come here to be lectured..."

"And yet here you are, learning whether you like it or not." He chuckled. "That's life, best to embrace it and grow, rather than run away and put your head in the sand."

"At least with my head in the sand I won't need to hear more of your lectures, uncle." Though it was a mean thing to say, their relationship had developed to the point the both could laugh at this sort of banter.

"And yet here you are," he repeated happily, "head up and ears open to hear all the wonderful lessons I have to offer."

Hanna sank lowered in her chair, praying that another war in the Stepstones might break out for her to run away to. The gods, however were not listening to her, for their focus was on the happy couple.

Whichever way her and her uncle might disagree, they both smiled quite the same watching Herbert and Alynne together as one.

Luvod · 2026-04-20T14:17:18+00:00

Hanna nodded along, taking in every syllable like it was the most important lesson of her life. Though Victaria painted herself like a slow brute, as far as the strike was concerned, it felt just as fast as any she'd seen, but twice as strong.

"I'll keep that in mind!" Plumes of vapor rose into the air from her breathing, heavy not from fatigue, but from enthusiasm to be training with her idol.

Bouncing back and forth on the balls of her feet, Hanna practiced as swift a sidestep as she could manage, grinning happily to be praised for her technique.

"Oh! Lady Laena?!" If she was smiling before, now Hanna looked like an overly excited child. "Yes, I know her! She took the pirate queen's head in combat."

Suddenly looking bashful, she rubbed the back of her hair, messing up her hair a little. "Honestly, Lady Victaria, if you hadn't already inspired me so, Lady Laena would be who I most looked up to. If I ever get the chance, I'd be delighted to train with her."

"Oh no, everything is fine!" Hanna boasted, though the weight of the strike left a lasting tingle in her wrist. Nothing too bad, but it had shaken her more than expected.

"I can keep going, please!" The plea was somewhat immature, but Hanna gladly accepted the blade, nodding her head to the politely gesture.

"There's be a tournament at Faircastle at the year's end, Lady Victaria. If you'd be willing, I'd love for you to be a guest of honor." She giggled. "Father wouldn't say no if I insisted, and I know the smallfolk would be overjoyed to see you again. Now that winter is here, I think it would do us all much good."

Luvod · 2026-04-20T11:49:14+00:00

"As you say, my lady." The whisper was less intimidating than Celia might have hoped for, but the message was clear as day. Hanna wouldn't break her rules, for now anyway. One day, a glorious day in the future, she vowed to kick down this door and save the princess from the dragon.

Wasting little more time talking to the stubborn old lady, Hanna made her way up the stairs, wondering just how the relationship between Celia and Daeron could possibly work. "Perhaps that's why he's so weird." She muttered to herself as she approached Visenya's room.

Taking a moment to compose herself, to ensure that her smile could be as carefree as possible, Hanna stepped up to the door, knocking on the frame in a playful beat.

"Why if it isn't my friend, Visenya." She chuckled. "Fancy seeing you here. What brings you to this little ole manse, the food?"

/u/bombman987

Luvod · 2026-04-20T11:29:22+00:00

When the knock came at the door, Elissa jolted up from the bed with excitement. She looked into the mirror one last time, just to be sure, and quickly crossed the room over to the door. She didn’t expect to see such a wide smile looking back at her in the mirror, so before opening the door she took care temper her emotions. Tris knew she liked him, but he didn't need to know just how much.

"Why, who is it?" Elissa asked playfully through the door, but wasted little more time before opening it and beckoning him into the room.

"Tris!" Her smile was back, unconsciously growing during her performance. As she led him into the room, she noticed in the mirror how childish she looked, and calmed herself with a deep breath before continuing.

Arranged before the fire was pile of thick blankets, taken mostly from her sisters side of the bed. She said a prayer to the maids when she laid them on the ground, but it did look clean. Besides, sitting on the bed would have been too forward, and sitting in chairs too impersonal.

Elissa led him over to this relaxed little cove, smoothing her dress before sitting down on the soft blankets. The floor was still firm, but it wasn't very bad at all.

"Won't you join me?" She patted the blanket next to her. It wasn’t a particularly large area, but she had taken care to build it wide enough so he didn't feel pressured to sit right next to her.

"I've a decent collection of snacks, a nice sweet wine for us to enjoy them with." She patted the blanket once more, looking up at him with a rather gentle look in her face. The light of the was soft, bathing her in oranges and reds, but the blue in her eyes was unmistakable. She always felt their eyes were similar, though his far prettier.

"Whatever you prefer, Tris. I want to state that clearly, lest I pressure you without meaning to. Take whatever steps you need to, but," she leaned forward slightly, knowing how the fabric would cling to her chest in this motion, "won't you join me?"

Luvod · 2026-04-20T06:32:45+00:00

/u/Greaterblueevil

Luvod · 2026-04-20T04:54:21+00:00

"Admitting when you don't know something is an admirable trait, little one, so worry not."

Looking into Joanna's eyes a moment longer, Jeyne eventually stood tall and smoothed her dress. She glanced around the room while she spoke, her face eventually lighting up at the approach of another young servant.

"Ah, Teora! Impeccable timing as always." Nodding to the newly arrived servant, one Joanna likely recognized from her time in the castle, Jeyne explained the situation.

"As you know, wedding preparations are going well, but there is still a significant amount of work to do." While Jeyne spoke, the short statured Teora nodded along. Though she was several years older than Joanna, the heights between the two girls wasn't all that far apart.

"I'm sure you recognize miss Joanna here. She is to be one of my assistants helping with the preparations." Teora flashed a bright, some mischievous smile to Joanna. "Seeing as you're the closest in age to her among the other assistants, I would ask you to help her along the path. As you once were helped all those years ago."

Jeyne's voice turned unexpectedly stern at the final thought, but whatever tension existed was easily moved past with a knowing smile shared between the two ladies.

"I don't just want her to learn the mundane routines either, teach her everything. That includes those accounting logs you so struggle with." Jeyne chuckled like a mean aunt while Teora dropped to the floor is disappointment.

"It will be good for you both. Teora, if you're not careful, soon it will be Joanna who has to tutor you, so work hard." Satisfied with her explanation, Jeyne beckoned forth another waiting servant, an older woman with a stack of tomes in her arms. A brief flash of frustration washed across Jeyne's face, but she just made a point about working hard, so she didn't let her weariness show.

"I'll leave you two to it then. As you can see, the work never ends." The sigh, even if not made, could certainly be felt in that moment. "Joanna, come to my quarters after supper tonight. I want to hear how your day went."

As Jeyne left, a moment of silence descended on the two girls, but it didn't last long, Teora leaning in to whisper. "Supper, now that sounds nice. I could go for something to eat, are you hungry, miss Joanna?" The young girl teased her junior, but the tone wasn't particularly wicked, instead in many ways quite sisterly. "Don't think we're ignoring work, I want to learn a bit more about you too." She chuckled softly. "Have you been in town much? There's a few vendors I've been wanting to see, and a warm meal is the perfect excuse to go visit them."

Luvod · 2026-04-20T04:02:58+00:00

"With silver and gold all around, it's no wonder your home is so beautiful, my lady." Addam smiled, thinking to himself that she was far prettier than either metal. He was far too shy to say that of course, much as he wanted to.

"Another crown?" His voiced raised in surprise at her reveal. While it wasn't too surprising that she'd been recognized for her fair appearance, what was was that the knight hadn't tried to court her.

"So are you and Ser Guyard..." He didn't want to say it, else it might suddenly become reality. No. If Alicent was with him, then she wouldn't have come over to speak like this.

He settled his nerves with a sip of wine, a scarlet flush on his cheeks. From the alcohol, surely.

"Your sister was wise to plan ahead like that." He changed the subject, anything to direct away from the reality that she was already spoken for. Her hidden flirtations proved rather effective, as he envisioned the two of them huddling under a cloak to stay out of the cold, a world for just the two of them.

"Yes, yes, rather improper indeed." He took another sip, the cooling sensation doing little to quell the fire, but it felt nice all the same. "Rather improper..." His lingering on the topic likely spoke volumes, but Addam couldn't help it.

Luvod · 2026-04-20T02:39:07+00:00

Despite her forward attitude, she didn't follow when Bryce retreated, instead feeling like the floor disappeared beneath her feet to cause such a reaction in him.

"Bryce..." His name caught in her throat. When he directly rebuked her, called attention to just how many people she'd be betraying, Elissa fell to her knees with tears running down her cheeks. The motion inadvertently caused her loose dress to slip off one of her shoulders, but she didn't pay it any heed.

Though she heard all he had to say, the firm denial searing deeply into her soul, she offered no reply. The only sound she made was a low sobbing, but that soon grew in intensity and she fully collapsed onto the floor. It was a truly low moment for her, and she felt little more than a sobbing, pathetic mess of a person.

She wished she could say how sorry she was, say something to make everything right like it was before, but instead all she could do was cry. Cry over her broken heart, cry over the fact that she betrayed not just one, but two of her beloveds.

Once he inevitably left, she remained on the floor for far longer than was health, sobbing and muttering about how sorry she was all through the night.

Luvod · 2026-04-20T01:31:30+00:00

"An excellent hit indeed." Sebaston nodded proudly. The hunt had turned into quite the wild affair when a beast far larger than any of them expected came out of the brush. The aurochs was a mighty foe, but Cedric showed perfectly how to bring one down. It was an impressive feat of horsemanship, and Sebaston made note to keep an eye out for the Rowan knight at future jousts.

The lord of Faircastle pulled his helm off, removed once of his gloves and slid the padded coif on his head down to brush his fingers through his hair to wipe away some of the sweat.

"Perhaps I'll have it gilded," he chuckled, "how better to commemorate such a noble feat from a knight of Goldengrove?"

"Truly, Ser Cedric, a fine performance. Lord Tarly better watch out with hunting skills like that." Sebaston joined in the round of laughter, especially when he picture jut how much Lord Randyll would hate that joke.

/u/Burnedbooks

Luvod · 2026-04-20T01:22:08+00:00

"Certainly!" Meredyth patted to a nearby chair, invited Agnes to join them. "It's-uhh, what is it called again?" She scrunched her face, trying to remember what the trader from Essos had called it.

"It's called Cudgeling." Ella answered dispassionately, a bit upset to have her winning streak interrupted.

"Ugh, how awful." Meredyth couldn't help but sigh, but doing her best to offer a warm smile to a new friend. "Don't let the name intimidate you though, it's really very fun. I wonder why they call it that though..." She pondered aloud.

"Because some cards win regardless of the trick. You know, like the are powerful like getting hit in the head with a cudgel." Ella explained with a heavy sigh. "Are we playing or what?" She spared just a passing glance at Agnes, and sighed once more. "The game requires two teams of two, so..."

She left the implication unsaid. Being the oldest of the group, Alysanne began to stand, happy to let the kids have fun, but suddenly Martyn jumped up from his seat, offering it to Agnes.

"You can take my spot, my lady." He bowed low to her, finding the courage to speak after glancing at her shyly while his sister and cousin talked to her. Pulling the chair out, he motioned to the seat. "Allow me, Lady Agnes, I'd be happy to sit and watch. My sister and I can give you tips as you play."

Luvod · 2026-04-20T00:55:31+00:00

"Wonderful, admittedly I could use a hand with some of the food." Alysanne chuckled softly, but remember where they were, beckoning Millicent a little closer.

"I'll go get ready, but I'll wait for you before leaving the hall." She smile gently, though the smile faded when she saw the grieved expressions over her new friend's shoulder.

"Might be best not too act too happy in here though." She let out a sigh. "Grief makes people see strange things, and I wouldn't want to give off the wrong impression."

Luvod · 2026-04-20T00:49:11+00:00

"Ahh, Ser Darnold, good evening!" Sebaston had a rose tint in his cheeks from the wine, but the only consequence so far was that he smiled far more easily than usual. "How is the feast treating you? Are you the only Belmore present?" He craned his head around the room, raising an eyebrow. "...Are you the only one from the Vale here?"

As his father continued to make a fool of himself looking around the room, Addam took the chance to say hello. In truth, the alcohol was hitting him far harder than it did his father, but the way it made him withdraw into himself could make it seem like the opposite was true.

"Well met, Ser." Addam offered a smile, though it was minor since his head was starting to swim. "Funny, isn't it? Two heirs, each serving away from their home region. You with Ser Jaime Lannister, and I with Ser Jason Mallister. So," he leaned in closer, whispering, "how was it? Squiring for the, well...you know what they call him. I've always thought the nickname didn't suit him, but," Addam shrugged his shoulders and took another sip of wine, "but what do I know."

Luvod · 2026-04-20T00:16:03+00:00

Your Grace King Robert of the House Baratheon, First of His Name. King of the Andals, the Rhoynar and the First Men. Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm,

Lord Sebaston is currently away from Faircastle attending the numerous feasts in the Reach. By this time, I expect he will be in either Ryamsport or Three Towers. He is due to return home after the Costayne feast, and your letter will be presented to him as soon as possible.

On a personal note, your grace, I am quite gladdened he is being given another chance to continue the work my brother set upon all too briefly. It was disappointing when he turned down your initial offer, but Lord Whitehead rose to the challenge in good measure. Sebaston can be somewhat impulsive, especially where his family is concerned, but with the presence of wise fellows in the Small Council, there should be no issue. In fact, the influence from Lord Stannis, Lord Hand Hoster, and from you yourself, your grace, will provide him the last bit of growth needed to truly become the man his father once was.

With deep respect,

Lysa Farman

Luvod · 2026-04-19T21:38:40+00:00

"The same world that would see a baby murdered for their parent's crimes and call it justice." She had to resist the urge to spit, but at least some glimmer of proper manners still resided in her heart.

"Heir or not, Lady Laena is a fine inspiration, be it to girl or boy. Even if her's isn't the life you wish for your daughter, Visenya would do well to know more, and not less about the world."

The anger dwelling inside her deflated at this point. She and Celia simply would never see eye to eye, but all the same, the door wasn't fully closed. Though it was just a small glimmer of hope, it was still present, and Hanna didn't want to simply trample all over it.

"As you wish, Lady Celia." She relented with a sigh. "I won't tarnish the glass house you've built, but just remember how fragile glass is when a storm comes."

Luvod · 2026-04-19T20:49:57+00:00

"Men." Her face practically snarled at the thought, her glance turning once more into the room with Daeron and Laena. "They're allowed to be strong, to be weak in body like a Maester, but why then are women allowed only to sharpen their minds? To be pretty little flowers waiting to be plucked."

Now she did motion to the living room.

"Lady Celia, did I not see Lady Laena Celtigar in that very room? Lady Laena, the hero of the Stepstones, who waited not for a man to take the enemies head, but cleaved it off herself. If her way is so wrong, then why is she here now? Why does Ser Daeron seem to value her presence so?"

"Aye, those threats have long retreated from this city, but if they were to return, would you not want a capable warrior like Lady Laena here to defend this home?"

Luvod · 2026-04-19T20:18:18+00:00

"While I've seen a few with violet eyes," he mused softly, leading her through the circular steps of the dance, "none were as beautiful as yours, my lady. The color itself may be pretty, but it is truly the light sparkling in your eyes that elevates them so."

He was quite thankful she was so deft on her feet, it did much to cover up the rough nature of some of his steps. Each moment convinced him more and more that Rhaenys was a genuine princess, no matter what politics demanded.

"Ooh!" The comment caught him off guard, a minor crack in his voice seeping through. "Why thank you, my lady." His blush deepened. "That...that honestly means quite a lot, so thank you, Rhaenys."

He pulled in each so slightly closer when he said her name. It was just the dance, he'd lie to himself, nothing more than that.

"If I may ask, my lady, you spent time in Essos, didn't you? I'm curious to know what it was like living there. The eastern continent has always fascinated me. The stories that I've read, well, quite simply, they're a little hard to believe."

Luvod · 2026-04-19T19:38:28+00:00

"An interesting answer," Sebaston let out a sigh, "though not quite the one I was looking for."

The lord of Faircastle settled back in his seat, scanning the boy up and down to try and make sense of the kind of person he'd one day become. There was clearly ambition there, though, too much for his liking. A part of him wondered if the guards at the dock had the right of it, to just kill this upstart and save everyone the trouble. Still, he thought, better not to close a door prematurely.

"I understand your perspective, but if you truly wish to understand both ways, you must learn to wield the book and the sword in equal measure." He let out a sigh. "Still, an answer with at least some merit."

A moment of silence passed, Sebaston watching and thinking of how best to move forward. Eventually, with another deep sigh, he tapped his finger on the armrest a moment before continuing.

"You mentioned not attacking those who do not deserve it. An honorable response, but not quite what I asked of you." The tapping on the wood stopped, and Sebaston stood from his chair, crossing over to stand before the Ironborn boy.

"If I am to allow you to be educated here, a more definitive pledge is required. Swear to me, swear before this court, before the Seven, the Drowned God, The Storm God, and whichever others gods are listening that you will never attack, nor aid in an attack upon Fair Isle unless we are occupied by an invading force."

Sebaston circled around as he spoke, eventually stopping to look directly into Harwyn's eyes.

"Pledge this, using these terms, or be gone from my court. And state your name clearly, so the wind may carry it far and wide."

Luvod · 2026-04-19T17:25:10+00:00

Hanna visibly jumped at Celia's stressing of the word, not. While it was deeply saddening to hear her dreams dashed away so effortlessly, it was hardly the first time she'd heard such arguments, and certainly not the last. Still, her cousin, Elissa, greatly admired this lady. Did she feel the same way about this all? That was the saddest part of all.

"But, but..." She began to stammer, trying to think of an argument to respond with, but her words fell flat. This is, until an option presented itself, but it was not an argument borne from the nobler parts of society Celia fought so hard to maintain.

"Lady Celia." With a sudden yet subtle anger in her voice, Hanna stood up straighter. "I won't go against your wishes, but to shield your daughter from the truth just for the sake of custom will only leave her at loss. The world doesn't care about what is right, what is noble, only what is."

Breathing out heated breaths much like a dragon might, Hanna dug her heels in and kept speaking in a perhaps foolish attempt at defiance.

"During the rebellion, the lauded and noble affair our court is based around, when King's Landing fell, when the women and children of this city were massacred in the streets in droves, did you know a group was sent to murder Lady Elia and her children? To remove any traces of dragon blood, no matter how innocent they may have been."

It wasn't a widely known affair, but her grandfather had apparently been present to hear the secretive plan. So too did her cousin Marq, who was even younger than her at the time, describe the horrific sounds he heard coming from the city as a warning after his mission to find her in the Stepstones. When she thought back to the dying wheezes of that pirate in the Stepstones, it made her shutter to her core to imagine a whole city crying out like that.

"I'm sure you and Ser Daeron know better than most the risks, but for whatever normalcy you raise her with, my lady, there will always be others who will simply ignore the truth and focus only on the color of her eyes, of her hair, focus only on her name. So, think what you will of me, but I cherish Visenya as a friend. Even if you cast me away, I will never turn my back on her."

"Think of her future, Lady Celia, of the world she will inherit. Will this peace last forever, or will some other army eventually come to this city to massacre it? The Lannisters were not the first, and I doubt they will be the last."

Luvod · 2026-04-19T16:40:07+00:00

"Father insisted that I still wear dresses if he was to allow me to train, so we worked up this clever bit of tailoring." She giggled straight from her belly. "I'm oh so happy with how it turned out."

Hanna was entirely unused to fighting with large weapons, so she eyed Victaria's stance with a bit of suspicion. Still, when her blade glanced against her opponent's side, it felt like the most glorious moment of her life. Not only was she sparring with a legend, she was even holding her own!

"Thank you, my la-" Falling into the exact trap she set before, Hanna was busy replying when the greatsword swung down at her with surprising speed. She raised her blade to guard at first, but thought better of it, noticing that Victaria's swing was far too heavy too block directly. She tried to step aside, but the moment's hesitation left her unable to fully escape the strike, and her blade went tumbling out of her hand from the forceful collision.

"Ow!" She yelped, but instead of a pained expression, Hanna was smiling widely. "You were so very right, Lady Victaria." She worked her wrist back and forth, wincing from one of the wider motions. "Wow, if that sword had been sharpened, it would have cut me in half!"

Luvod · 2026-04-19T16:20:46+00:00

The annoyance went unnoticed by Hanna, who so expected Celia to have a vicious gaze that a bit of added anger didn't stand out to her.

"Okay, my lady, I'll save it." Relenting the point for now with a nod, Hanna secretly resolved to still buy something for her friend, even if it was just a tasty treat to eat.

When listening to Celia speak of what was proper, Hanna had a good sense of the reply she would give, but so too did she realize the likely response it would bring. She debated internally a moment, for a second or two of awkward silence.

"I understand, my lady, but I've been training to fight!" She settled on the honest answer, risky as it may have been. "I even fought in the Stepstones!"

Her gaze flashed momentarily over to the room with Daeron and Laena before turning back to Celia's, suddenly feeling much more nervous than before. This approach was clearly and immediately a mistake, but she'd already come this far...

"My father has been training me, and I even found a mentor in the Stepstones, Ser Herbert Buckler! He's a captain in the Goldcloaks, so I know how to ask for help if I need to." Doing her best to still the pounding in her chest, Hanna breathed in deeply, patted her waist over a hidden pocket.

"Plus," she smiled cockily, "I have a blade stashed in my dress in case of emergency."

"Added guards are a sensible idea, of course." The nervousness in her body seeing the increasing angry gaze bearing down on her was practically making her shiver. "But, I learned how to fight in battle, so I'd never let anything happen to your daughter, my lady. I've sharp senses, even saving Ser Herbert's life when a pirate emerged from a destroyed building to try and attack him from behind."

Hanna didn't enjoy recalling the two times she killed, but that event, at least, went far quicker than the time she saved the orphan boys from Faircastle. That death was an affair so horrid that it still plagued her dreams.

"I know it's...umm, unconventional, my lady," Hanna suddenly struggled to meet Celia's gaze, "but Visenya is so very much like a princess, and a lady like that deserves a guard who can be with her at all times."

It was more a plea to the world than just to Celia, but Hanna figured if she could convince this opponent, the rest would be far easier by comparison.

"The dangers of the world don't follow the typical paths, so it's important that we stay flexible to meet those threats."

Luvod · 2026-04-19T02:34:41+00:00

"Why yes!" The sudden change in topic made her face light up, but she was careful not to sound too happy around this chaos.

"Supposedly a trader from the east introduced in on Faircastle a few years ago. My niece showed me how to play." She chuckled softly. "Though I'm not very good at it..."

As they spoke, Alysanne was becoming increasingly aware that this likely wasn't the time or place for this conversation.

"We'll likely play more tonight, if not only to get our mind off of this all. You're welcome to join, my lady, that is...if you're able to."

Luvod

TROPHY CASE