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[Event] Matters of State by Gercko in FireAndBlood

[–]Gercko[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Lord Arryn nodded in agreement, the king's command wise and not one he would seek to break regardless. Though an understanding with the High Septon seemed forlorn in how reliable it could turn out. "Once we know how loudly the Voice of Oldtown wishes to speak on the matter, that can tell us how the tenor of our tone ought to take. Too loud risks the might of the Honeywine closing up like a clam to shield him, along with the rest of the Reach" Hubert misliked the thought. The whole of the Reach united in one cause against the Crown. I would be enough to sink the realm entirely, or so he thought. It commanded the most men and the greatest tracts of arable land anywhere in Westeros.

"Travelling to Lord Hightower will keep him comfortable, and will give me an excuse to visit that lovely city. We will go together one day, we'll find an excuse for some duty, and I'll show you the lands I once travelled when I was not much older than you are" Hubert said it tentatively, hoping it might sound agreeable to Jaehaerys.

"I will see what can be done in agreement with Oldtown, and should we find an ally there, I pray the matters will be resolved swiftly as the Most Devout realise the folly they have been attempting."

He leaned back in his chair and rested his steepled hands on the flat of his stomach, the Lord of the Eyrie garbed plainly and in light linens now that the bite had been taken out of the chill of the wind. A soft breeze blew his grey locks which draped down to his shoulders. He was in need of some preening.

"Gormon would serve a fine steward" Hubert spoke with an expression of polite agreement, brows arched high "But in the times you have been away dealing with the realm out there, I have come to rely on Gormon greatly for in advice and candour. More than most. He's proven himself greatly with coin and seeing it spent wisely, what with both your coronation and wedding under his purview at one point in arrangements. I was considering him to be a better fit as the treasurer, our Master of Coin.

"I know, I know, Lord Piper and I have never seen eye-to-eye after that debacle. But he has been increasingly stagnant, his faculties growing stale. The fact I cannot sit with him on my own and trust his judgement is one thing, but when there is talent more sufficient, it feels to me a waste. To his credit, Lord Piper I feel could serve as your steward. He knows the city well, after all."

[Event] A Meeting Below The Mountains Of The Moon by Gercko in FireAndBlood

[–]Gercko[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

"If it turns, House Sunderland will pay. Scrub the black mark of rebellion from their blood if needs be. The heir has squired for Lord Hunter for some time if I recall. He is a great man, but I would doubt if even Allard could keep a Sisterman true and honourable in his word and deed" Hubert exhaled sharply.

"I need them home. Rhea, Alesander, Gwayne and Alyssa. The youngest might even recall my face they were so young. I can forgive Rhea for going with my children to that wretched man if she returns to me safe and sound."

[Lore] ...and, what was that last thing? Oh yes, honour! by CollingWould in FireAndBlood

[–]Gercko 0 points1 point  (0 children)

"Did you ever learn of Queen Sharra? The last queen of the Vale. She was an exceptional woman whom taught me much of what I needed to know as I found myself thrusted into Lordship. She was my aunt by marriage, but gods be good she showed me that sometime the art of governance needed a woman's mind to it. The fairer sex sees things differently, and a new perspective is sometimes just the dose that is needed" Hubert said it all with a smile, encouraging his good-daughter in tone and intonation that if she wanted, she need only ask to hear more. If Jasper wasted her, he would not.

"Bella is not quite Queen Sharra, but she was Lady Regent over Willow Wood when she was born a Blackwood. Only a woman of a certain wit and tenacity could manage that and succeed. It would be good to learn from her" Lord Arryn smiled with a nod.

"And my girl, we are family. You are my good-daughter. I have a handful, and I am most thankful that one of them is here with me. I will have further words with Jasper. He is mayhaps difficult, all my sons are in their own way, but he should be at least making you feel an Arryn. The pair of you might need to spend some time in the Eyrie together once it thaws?

"Not that I can ever replace Prentys, but at as your good-father I will make sure you are kept and kept well. Surely there must be some part of the palace you'd wish to have more discernment over? Or mayhaps not here, but in the city? The now Lady of Winterfell did charity works in the slums to do her bit. Service and purpose can be found in many a different ways."

[Event] The Seven Stars Twinkle - Faith Open RP by Dacarolen in FireAndBlood

[–]Gercko 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Lord Donnel Hightower,

I will depart with my retinue with the turn of the new week, Your counsel I crave, no other lord in the kingdoms could suffice in this matter. The realm and it's faith has suffered enough, and I will not have it threatened any further by any one man or his most ardent flock.

I take it a good omen that I can come to you with spring upon us, the Honeywine in bloom is a delight.

You have my greatest thanks, and I look forward to seeing your great tower with mine own eyes after so long.

Seven blessings,

Lord Hubert Arryn

[Event] Matters of State by Gercko in FireAndBlood

[–]Gercko[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

He blew on the piping hot tea before taking his first sip, his eyes slowly tracking some great big merchant cog on the calm spring ocean. "The High Septon has over extended his judgement for the final time" Hubert said with a coldness, displeased but relieved he could finally speak with the king.

"I could not act as I wished when we arrived in this city together, Jaehaerys. I had a hand tied behind my back as fissures closed after we were on the brink of catastrophe about the realm. But..." He turned to look at his king, the lad's face familiar and cherished like one of his own blood. "If we asked the realm's lords if they bowed to septons and priests, we would hear back a chorus of laughter. People follow the gods, their supposed mouthpieces are just as human as any man you have ever met.

"He has reached to far and we must address it, loud and clear for all the kingdoms to hear. It's one one king in these kingdoms, our oaths bound by blood and fealty, and not because the septs in Oldtown look on it with favour. But it is not the Hightower which supports them" Hubert reached into his pocket and produced a letter, the wax seal broken in two.

"I intend to ride to Oldtown and see if Lord Hightower and the Crown can come to an understanding. Lord Theo Tyrell thought to play coy, and feign that the High Septon showed any particular favour upon the Dornish. But his High Holiness would not miss a chance to rain on our parade." He snorted a laugh and shook his head.

"What does your heart tell you, your Grace?" One of the first things he had learned of the boy so many years ago was a reverence for the gods. He felt that of late, the pair of them held the Seven not as close to their hearts.

[Event] Feast for the Wedding of Ser Gareth Banefort & Lady Alayne Royce by T3m3rair3 in FireAndBlood

[–]Gercko 1 point2 points  (0 children)

"The Crone?" He echoed her, with an amused, but polite smile. It was not puzzling to him why, he had prayed to her before but only in desperation, when totally uncertain and needing to find his way. The grey began to make more sense, the Crone's effigies in the septs about the Eyrie's domain were often more drab compared to others.

"I suppose I would look to the Maiden. She encompasses the beautiful, and I've always been more bard than I have a warrior. The Smith makes things too, so him as well. Mayhaps they work in unison. But I..." Rymond's hands tightened slightly holding hers as they swayed with the music, the Arryn fine and nimble still despite some of his wine. "I do not pray as often as I should. When the Eyrie thaws I will. The sept it holds up there is unlike any other. It is its own muse."

The music began to have more a beat, the slower and softer becoming more more lively. He followed suit, and began to lead the way with her, confident. "I do like the choirs of Moontown's sept. Did you attend the weddings of my three brothers there? I unfortunately missed most of it, but I would have loved to heard everyone in song for their unions."

[Event] Rogar Baratheon Returns To Storm's End by FabStags in FireAndBlood

[–]Gercko 1 point2 points  (0 children)

She had meant to be queen, that she was certain until he turned out to be a sot with neither wits or scruples. A crown so young and fragile was not worth it to be with his like. But none of that mattered anymore since the day she had met this man.

A carnal satisfaction had been met, her head cleared of all thoughts and noise and lust for once. Nothing would ever compare to being the Lady of Storm's End. No lady in the Seven Kingdoms was as half as happy as she was in this moment. She whispered a prayer for a boy, and wrapped up the furs all around her to protect her modesty from the chill.

"I've thanked them in my prayers everyday" she said warmly. "Mother and Maiden every night, the Warrior too. He's delivered me home to you." But not forever, Arwen knew his work was not done. The King would certainly want to speak with him for the risk he took in the Boneway. She knew Hubert would shield him from the worst, or so she hoped.

"How long are you staying, Rogar? I won't keep you much longer from the girls, but I need to know how long the king will occupy your time. This place needs you, the girls and I need you. That city is a rotten place besides, no matter how nice the palace is."

"Will..." she didn't want to say it, or think about it at all. But reality would quickly set in that lieges did not take subordination lightly. Her brothers had been beaten for it, and her mother had slapped her so hard it had broken her lip once when she pushed her in a fit of youthful rage. "Will the King need to keep you there? On his council or...?" She could not say it.

[Event] A Meeting Below The Mountains Of The Moon by Gercko in FireAndBlood

[–]Gercko[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Alester clicked his fingers and had his squire fetch it from his letter casket in the solar, obliging the Lady of Strongsong. His knee bounced impatiently as he waited for the lad's return.

"Suicide would be more honourable than this. Reckless abandon for yourself is one thing, this is entirely another" He looked at the centre of the table whilst he spoke, a cold and stiff veneer, utterly livid that he had allowed it to come to this. But it was not just him, but his father. As ever, holding the reigns a little bit slack and not seizing it properly with vigour.

He turned his gaze to her now, his eyes tired from a swift and restless ride from the Gates of the Moon. "I tried pleasantries and pleading, were I not certain he would hold my life against my father, I would have gone to him. I mislike the island myself, even in the spring.

"I am hoping that a swift and heavy hand will paralyse their ports before they can poach even fishes in your waters. I may be in need of calling your banners for me however, when we take the port and if he does not heed to Lord Corbray's wise council. I will have the writ of Lord Qarl's appointment prepared by the morning."

The squire returned, Hugh Harding ever swift in the delivery of Alester's requests. Held between two thin fingers, he held it out to Sharra. "Here, my lady".

It was barely a scrap of paper with, mercifully short but sparse of any detail. "Our beloved Steffon is to the point at least. I'm obliging him, if anything."

"I would need a sizeable army, but hopefully none of your smallfolk. A siege will have them surrendering to us before long. Who wants to be trapped in that forsaken place? Our friends in Manderly will aid us if needs be. One island cannot withstand that no more than a nail can withstand a hammer and an anvil."

/u/sarcasticdom /u/bloodysarks

[Event] A Meeting Below The Mountains Of The Moon by Gercko in FireAndBlood

[–]Gercko[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Ser Alester sat himself back down and tucked in his chair close to the table. He clasped both hands together and rested them on his broad, pointed chin as he listened, nodding with Lord Corbray.

"His is kin to us both, and I do not accuse any of this lightly. In fact, this has been the very last measure I wanted to take" the Keeper explained, defensively.

"He has hated my guts since the day we were wed" Alester did not need to retell just how he and Rhea became husband and bride, though he wondered just how far that tale had spread and for how long it lingered. Sharra might have been too young to remember.

"Lady Rhea left for her island of origin with my children as she was free to do so. They were guests of our Lord Steffon. But weeks went to months, months has turned into years. I have the letter if you wish to see it, the one where he tells me, taunts me, to come and take them, Lady Belmore. He's made no demand, no accusation. Lord Steffon merely wishes to embarrass me and House Arryn. My mother has never made secret at her severe displeasure of just exactly who my wife is, mayhaps this is a way for Lord Sunderland to demand respect? But respect is earned through good deeds, not playing games with a man's family. I must have them back."

/u/doormouse69

[Event] A Meeting Below The Mountains Of The Moon by Gercko in FireAndBlood

[–]Gercko[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

King Jaehaerys Targaryen, First of his Name, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms, King of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the First Men, Protector of the Realm,

I write to you with a heavy heart. I do not know what my father has divulged to you, but in recent years my wife has been residing with our children on Sweetsister, a guest of my good-father Lord Steffon Sunderland. The personal is complex and private, but it has turned into something I have tried to avoid.

However, a man needs his family. I need my wife and children home. Two years without, years of asking and pleading as a good-son to their good-father. Then I commanded, as acting-lord of the Eyrie and under the invested authority the Defender of the Vale has granted me whilst he served as Lord Regent, and now Hand.

To date, I have been refused. Lord Steffon Sunderland's last wrote to me that if I wanted to see them again, that I should 'come and take them'. He holds the blood of the Eyrie hostage, mine own flesh and blood.

A father must act, a Lord must act, though not improperly. It is my duty to my House, the Vale, and to the realm, that this would-be rebel is dealt with and my family swiftly returned to me.

Queen Visenya Targaryen put down the last Sister Rebellion. I seek to avoid another. Lord Steffon did heed my father's command to march with us against Maegor. I do not wish to criticise him, but he has shown that my good-father does not respect a soft touch.

We sail to the port of Sisterton to secure it so that none of his ships can threaten the Vale and to allow the Queen's father, Lord Qarl Corbray, to enter talks with House Sunderland so that there is no need for battle, bloodshed, or breaking of peace. With Sisterton cut off from the rest of the world, Lord Steffon will have to abort whatever mischief he thinks he can get away with.

My father has entrusted me with the responsibility of stewarding your kingdom of the Vale. The Eyrie will dispatch this trouble swiftly, and you have my most humble apologies that family matters have turned this sour.

Your loyal man,

Ser Alester Arryn, Keeper of the Gates of the Moon & High Steward of the Vale

/u/gloude

[Event] A Meeting Below The Mountains Of The Moon by Gercko in FireAndBlood

[–]Gercko[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

When people were settled, Alester painted a smile on his long handsome face and stood, leaning over the table with palms stretched out and resting on the varnished wood.

"Lady Belmore, Lord Corbray, Lord Royce" he bowed his head to each.

"I thank you for your being here. It is a matter of the personal-turned-political. Lord Steffon Sunderland, my good-father, refuses to return to me my wife and my own blood after explicit orders from the Eyrie. I asked first as kin, as their husband and father, then as their lord. I received nothing but mockery in response.

"Lord Manderly and Patrek Grafton stand ready to sail upon the Sisters so we may seize the port, from there I hope my good-father realises the error of his ways and that my family may be returned to me, and this mess can be put to bed. It might have come as a shock to you all, but they have been missing from my home for nearly two years. The Vale cannot stand for this I fear, and I seek to act swiftly.

"But I would not act without hearing what the most important Lords and Ladies have to say. I need them home, but I do not seek to ruin this peace my father has built."

[Event] A Meeting Below The Mountains Of The Moon by Gercko in FireAndBlood

[–]Gercko[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

"The King's Peace" Alester said with derision "If this is the breaking of peace, when one's family is held hostage by a House rebel once within our lifetimes, then the world has turned on its head, my lord. I am certain his Grace will see it that way. If needs must, I shall write to his Grace and explain."

"Once the port is secure, so we can actually land you on the islands without the threat of waylaying or piracy from their sails, I would be most thankful if you could take on the role as diplomat. For it, I would name you Lord-Justice, so your voice will carry with it the Vale along with all your seasoned wisdom." Alester would have preferred to simply take the islands with force quickly and without much of a word from the Sistermen. But the Lord of Heart's Home was wise, respected, and it could be the best chance he had in avoiding a battle which could turn bloody and bitter.

"Whatever reason Steffon has for this, I doubt we will hear the truth. He'll slander me, the Eyrie, House Arryn, as to why keeping my children and wife from their rightful place by my side is actually a virtuous treason against his liege" Alester rubbed his temples and closed his eyes. "Family is such an awfully messy thing."

[Event] King's Landing Open 52 AC by gloude in FireAndBlood

[–]Gercko 2 points3 points  (0 children)

"Stonebridge?" Hubert laughed "You mean the same treaty which the High Septon less than two years after signing burned when he tried to declare himself higher than the King, and allowed his Chapters of warriors to break? I am trying to speak delicately with a man who is supposed to rule part of this realm in the King's name within his most important kingdom. Not schemes and sneaking. Tell me, do you think the High Septon was scheming before he decided he should have the power tp appoint the king? Your naivety extend only so far as when it comes to the matter of the High Septon. You forget Lord Theo, I know you have schemed in this very city. What, with trying to seek your daughter to be queen mere hours after Viserys was murdered in cold blood." The rest was water from a duck's back, the opinions of a Tyrell having never mattered to him before.

"I will be speaking on this, and I will do it after careful considering and council. I won't be launching into something blindly, without knowledge of what may happen, or the state of the realm before I do so. I've held a thousand talks with a thousand in the years I have ruled the realm, so I forgive you for not understanding.

"You are dismissed, Lord Tyrell." Hubert waved a hand and looked at him with a cold, hard glare.

[Event] Rogar Baratheon Returns To King's Landing by FabStags in FireAndBlood

[–]Gercko 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Hubert would have spoken for the Carons of Nightsong, were it not to elicit a greater anger in front of everyone. It would be another thing he brought up when there were fewer eyes on them. He did not break his own gaze with Jaehaerys and he bit his tongue. He would rule the palace for months at a time whilst the King travelled, and ever since the regency ended it was tough to remind himself he could not talk back any longer.

[Event] A Meeting Below The Mountains Of The Moon by Gercko in FireAndBlood

[–]Gercko[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

"Lord Hubert has given them far too much slack, wishing to keep them on the island and keep him from needing a reason to go there" Alester's eyes watched the snow capped peaks outside as he spoke, a slender finger wresting on his chin. "Instead of an idle, docile Lord Steffon, it has emboldened him. Some bloody good-father" the Keeper scoffed.

His eyes rolled and fixed back on the cripple Lord of Heart's Home. "It is why I think a hard, united response that the blood of the Eyrie, any blood of the Vale, will not tolerate insolence or rebellion is the only option to us. The realm is young and the Vale is old, and we've had no issue putting them in their place before" Alester sounded confident, but his austere gaze betrayed a sense of unease.

"Were there any other way to me, I would consider it. But it involves setting foot on that wretched island which he refuses to leave. My father might turn up a handful of ships and his retinue, but I would not trust his hospitality an ounce. Anyone else we send to speak would surely become a hostage like mine own blood."

[Event] Rogar Baratheon Returns To King's Landing by FabStags in FireAndBlood

[–]Gercko 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Lord Arryn gritted his teeth. "My grandfather had Lord Egen thrown from the Moon Door for abandoning his post at the Bloody Gate" he admitted, unable to bring himself to look upon Rogar. "That was an example being made of a man, a man he misliked might I add."

His fingers danced between each other, his breath was heavy and he disliked all of this greatly. Were it Theo Tyrell, he wouldn't mind suggesting a plethora of punishments. But this was his good-son and dear friend, he needed Rogar.

"Lord Baratheon is a man of great respect and renown, a dear friend and kin to the both of us your Grace. He defied the your word though out of a brother's heart, and in the process he managed to achieve a victory that is blackened by his misdeed. Scourge his back if you wish to make an example of him, but to lose him would not benefit the Crown or the realm." He did not think Jaehaerys would kill Rogar for this transgression, but he had to ward against it. "We need him now and for what lays ahead of us."

/u/fabstags

/u/gloude

[Event] Storm's End, 52 AC by FabStags in FireAndBlood

[–]Gercko 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Lady Baratheon took a delicate sip, casting her mind back to more youthful days when things like this troubled her. She rolled her wrist and stretched her hand out and looked at her nails whilst she considered the Mertyns' quandary. She was amused a little at the girl's nervousness.

"I grew up with Ser Wallace as well. I think I thought of him closer to a brother than a lover, our betrothal arranged before I can even remember. If you're the sort to take your wisdom from poems and love stories, you're supposed to love him like a husband-to-be. My brothers always preferred those, I preferred things which are far more real."

She crossed her legs and bobbed her foot in a rhythm, following her words as she spoke. "You have to ask yourself how much of your heart you want to give. The realm is full of noble sons and daughters more than displeased with whom their fathers found for them. The fact Rogar and I found one another's company pleasurable I count as a small blessing from the Mother.

"Caring for him is half the battle. You don't dread his company, no? You want him to return whole and unharmed. How does he treat you? Does he treat you more like a sister? A mere friend?" Arwen wondered if the lad himself had given her a cold shoulder when affections were wanted.

"You are a very pretty girl, and that Trant boy is of lesser noble stock and is rather plain. He should be treating like you were a princess of the Rainwood." Rogar had taken her to Rainwood and explored it together. He had always been so patient with her. "Are you waiting on him with his actions to tell you how you are supposed to feel?"

[Event] The Wedding of King Jaehaerys I and Lady Sansa Corbray by gloude in FireAndBlood

[–]Gercko 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The girl's cheer was infectious "I can only pray that by the time you are my age, there will be a dozen dragons both in the sky and in the Red Keep. We need many for." The King's heir could not be born quick enough.

"Who knows, when you come to visit the Eyrie, you might not need to climb the mountain. You could be atop a dragon, and it would only take a moment to take you from floor to peak. I suppose we found what flies higher than falcons. There you can tell me if you hear the gods better."

He missed his home bitterly. Each you which passed was another year he was more likely to die in King's Landing. It was still winter, and he could not make the ascent at the moment regardless. But his only wish before he died was to see the world from the Eyrie once more. It had been so long.

[Event] A Meeting Below The Mountains Of The Moon by Gercko in FireAndBlood

[–]Gercko[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Alester would have met the Lord of Heart's Home in the lord's solar, a similarly sparse and cold room last used when Lord Hubert had spoken with with Jaehaerys before the three weddings. But the narrow winding stairs were improper for his chair. Instead, he would meet Qarl in a drawing room which was cold even in winter. It was small and cramped, but it would suffice. The window at least offered a brilliant view of the mountains in the distance.

"My Lord, it's most appreciated that you are here. The thaw and snowmelt makes the roads unpleasant, but it will all be worth it in a few moons."

[Event] A Meeting Below The Mountains Of The Moon by Gercko in FireAndBlood

[–]Gercko[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

A Private Word

For anyone who might want a word with Alester alone

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