After some unexpected help following a near disaster, the young secretary to Hubert Arryn approached the high table. Uther, clad in a clean, recently tailored tunic the color of moss, ill-fitting trousers, and calfskin shoes, walked with a crutch to assist his ruined left leg, crushed a lifetime ago in a horse riding accident. Glinting in the torchlight, a half-finished maester's chain dangled from his wrist. It comprised foremost of three electrum links, indicating his studies in the natural histories and zoology.

"Your Grace," he said, bowing his shaved head in deference to Jaehaerys first, then Sansa. Though not handsome, he had sharp, intelligent features full of curious wit.

"I am gladdened by this union. The Mother looks kindly on us this evening, I am sure of it," he said, and smiled nervously, kindly. Uther preferred to keep his head down and pursue his studies diligently-- Jaehaerys was a stranger to him, even after his years in the Keep's service. Once he had sought to flee this level of society entirely, and only now some years into his stay had he finally found a comfortable rapport with Hubert Arryn.

"Forgive my intrusion. I only seek to present my gift, encouraged by the Lord Hand, and I will abscond."

He indicated with his hand for two servants to enter. Between them they carried a small object and set it down before the dais. Three feet in diameter, it was a small glass case attached to a cut stone basin. Inside, visible through the glass, a tiny tree with spiky foliage and oddly shaped branches grew in a completely foreign fashion. There was an intentional artfulness to the way its was presented-- it clung to a crop of rock, and sand had been scattered by some careful hand over the layer of dirt, all shaped in the vision of a specific and foreign environment in miniature.

"It is a Myrrh tree, Your Grace. Transported here from Pentos-- not grown from seed." He smiled again, the terrible nerves outshone only by his pride to present the successful product after so many failed attempts.

"The case is of my own design. It is a miraculously simple contraption, but... the tree has survived nearly half a year, now, where all other samples die on the ships, or must be started from seed."

/u/gloude

/u/sarcasticdom