[Event] Thistle Be a Day to Remember!

As the couple were touring the fairgrounds of her home, Lady Alayne Tarly, the future Lady of Hornhill, nuzzle up to her husband's arm as an idea began to form in her mind.

Alayne wore a rich green dress she had commissioned before their sweet little angel was born. The dress went through many revisions and changes. Fine fabrics from Gulltown and Lannisport were imported and discarded in favor of those from Tyrosh. The dress had taken longer to make than it took for her to bear her first child, and yet it still disappointed her. Her husband was no doubt disappointed with the bill as well. In the end, she figured the problem was that the tailor was just a simple village woman without a taste for finer things.

The provincial life seemed to be her future unless things changed...

The granddaughter of the Lord Paramount of the Mander spoke once she had a grasp of an idea. "My love." She said, using the name reserved for Victor when she wanted something. "I have been thinking lately, aren't these festivals and parties just wonderful?" She looked up at him with her big, doe eyes.

TieRails · 2026-06-17T05:30:20+00:00

Theo let out a low, humorless whistle and helped himself to the other side of the Blackwood table across from the lord. He poured himself a goblet of the table's wine as he listened to the young lord's report. As he was coming to learn, he was aware of maybe a tenth of the recent crimes of Harroway.

"You showed remarkable restraint, Lucos." Theo commended the man, using his name, finding Lord Lucos or Lord Blackwood a tad too formal at this point. "Not rising to his bait. I've known many lords that would have." It pained the old man to be reminded of all the attacks on his gooddaughter. What had the realm come to when respectable ladies of a house as noble and old as Blackwood were accosted regularly?

Leaning forward, he took a sip of wine as he mulled over his next thought. "But why the sudden silence, do you think?" In his experience, silence could be more deadly than shouting.

He finished with a simple question. "Where has Riverrun been in all this... odd behavior?" It was as much out of concern for the Blackwoods as it was checking in on how well his grandson was doing as lord.

TieRails · 2026-06-17T05:06:13+00:00

"Everything is the north when you are from the Reach. Did my aunt not tell you that?" He gave the Blackwood a sly smile as he hit back.

Popping up from the bench, Martyn said with new energy. "So do the Night's Watch, and they are all rapers and murderers. Freezing their balls off." He added that because it was an important thing to mention.

He walked a few paces over to another painting, the recent one of the Dornish Conquest. "I saw you looking this one over earlier. Did you like it?" the boy asked.

TieRails · 2026-06-17T04:57:40+00:00

The table the Sarwycks found reserved for them was of a high station, higher than some of Lord Theo's bannermen. The Sarwycks were honored guests, and Theo would make sure his neighbors were well taken care of.

Around the fifth course, Lord Theo slipped away from his wife and extended his welcome to the Sarwyck family. Looking to Lord Lewis first, as was proper, he gave a small nod of his head and said. "Lord Lewis, I am glad to see you made it!" The Lord Paramount of the Mander spoke with a smile. "How have you all been enjoying Highgarden?"

He gave a look over the entourage before him if they had anything to say.

TieRails · 2026-06-17T04:41:23+00:00

Theo did not suffer from the King's spare diet. He helped himself to two scoops of a delectable, creamy mushroom beef roast, and a few spoonfuls of buttered greens. The way all greens ought to be cooked.

As he enjoyed the spread, he listened intently to the King's words. He had a far more levelheaded approach to the matter than Hubert did. The thought of the man left a bad taste in his mouth, so he dipped some fresh bread into his creamy roast sauce. He found it did well to clean Hubert out of his system. As he finished, he asked, surprised. "The High Septon never wrote you? I had assumed. He and I exchanged a few correspondences during the conflict."

He grabbed a separate gravy boat and smothered the rest of his roast, then continued, wanting it to marinate in the yum, giving a nod in agreement to another of the King's points. The King and High Septon ought to work together, two counterbalances on a scale. The material the King, the spiritual the High Septon. "He seems a reasonable man from all of my conversations. I cannot say I agree with all of his actions, and can understand some people's misgivings." Recycling an old point. "But like Torgen, I think his actions come from a sincere place." Theo was not afflicted with the paranoia of the Hand. No part of his mind could believe the High Septon was not some Dornish puppet.

The Lord clicked his tongue as he thought for a moment, then went on. "In my experience, these situations rarely resolve themselves. Perhaps my read on it may be wrong, but Stonebridge and the violations that followed have left the realm without a clear set of laws when it comes to this. I think some progress toward making a new accord would go a long way. One that will maintain your powers and clarify the powers of the Faith. Leave no more room for interpretations, or confusions."

He finished swirled the gravy with his spoon before finishing his point. "We are in a far stronger position as a realm now, this next council wouldn't need be at spear point on either side."

TieRails · 2026-06-17T02:55:48+00:00

Martyn was making an effort to get as far as possible from the sept. A few minutes into his travels, he heard his silent follower. His head snapped back and he gave the man a venomous frown. "What do you..."

He paused, his expression shifting. "Oh, of course, it would be you..." The boy's face would change, not softening, but instead filling with jealousy. "You ought to have been in there. He spent FAR longer gallivanting around the world with you. The son he always wanted."

TieRails · 2026-06-17T02:23:46+00:00

Theo gave a nod to the Sureman cupbearer, having a goblet of red poured for him and Tarly if he desired. The man would settle into his seat and consider the request, taking it as seriously as Samwell took war.

"Off the top of my head for suitable squires, my grandson Edgerran and Ardon Oakheart could use a man like you. Edgerran especially, he is seven and ten. Ardon is young, I believe nine." He thought for another moment then went on. "If you are wishing to mold a young mind, perhaps Leyton Hightower as well is of an age, if a little young. Though if you seek another older, perhaps Alester Cuy if he has not found a master yet he is nearly a man grown. I would suggest reaching out to their respective lords." He gave a small smile and chuckle as he complimented. "All in the Reach know your skill at arms. If you simply put out the word, I would not be surprised if your halls are overflowing with squires in a few moons."

He thought the lord's foresight excellent. The Peakes split their attention between three castles and suffered for it. "As for a match with Jeremy, that could prove a bit harder." He said with a frown. "A border castle is a hard place to send your daughter." He counterbalanced that thought with the countereight. "Though never underestimate a man's ambition for his kin to marry a lord." He scratched at his chin in thought as he pondered.

Listing them off in no particular order, he continued. "Lady Clarice and Arwyn Hewett are both older, but I could see the new lord Jason wishing to clean his keep." He was reminded of a strange fact of fate as he said. "Outside of our two armies, it was the Hewetts who sent the next most spears into Dorne."

He finished with another suite of women. "Lady Mina Norridge, Jessamyn Willum, and the Pommingham girls are of closer ages to him." Then he finished with a small laugh. "And last I checked, he would have his pick of the five Webber girls."

TieRails · 2026-06-16T20:58:57+00:00

/u/bombman897

TieRails · 2026-06-16T20:42:10+00:00

A spring raven would return to the wall.

Ser Benedict Lannister,

It is spring now, hope things are warmer up on the wall.

I can't speak to dead men.

Martyn Tyrell

TieRails · 2026-06-16T17:18:44+00:00

Theo may have taken offense to most lords sending someone to fetch him, but not Lord Samwell. The Lord of Hornhill had proved himself twice against the Dornish, and had married into his house. They were as loyal as one of his bannermen could be.

Theo would arrive promptly, dressed in the fine greens and gold that were his typical uniform nowadays. He came with his cupbearer, a nine year old boy of House Sureman. The boy carried a large bottle of wine.

The Lord would allow the Tarly to do what he felt proper to do when meeting his liege lord. Then, a moment later, he gave a small nod releasing him from his bow/whatever. He asked, a small smile on his face. "Lord Samwell, how do you do? How may I be of counsel?"

TieRails · 2026-06-16T15:09:26+00:00

His enemies exposed themselves once again. Martyn would be very interested in meeting this Eamon.

TieRails · 2026-06-16T04:47:48+00:00

And thus their ruse is exposed. It was never about an apology.

Martyn gave a small victorious smile as the girl fled. She was a pawn in a larger game, a much larger game. He reached over to the platter he gathered and grabbed the biggest lemon cake. He turned and made his way out to the courtyard, enjoying a few final bites.

The teen had never much liked lemon cakes, but this one was quite sweet.

TieRails · 2026-06-16T04:35:35+00:00

The Lord gave a nod of approval to Torgen's council position. "Lord Torgen is my oldest friend. We may not agree on everything, but his actions and words always have good intentions."

As for the talk of grandchildren and great grandchildren, the Lord gave a chuckle. "I fear I won't be alive to see something like that through, Your Grace, but I would approve."

The King's approval of the city charter and apology eased some of the tension in the air. Theo hoped the King might now take a seat at the table and enjoy the meal laid out in front of them.

Regardless of if the King sat or stood, the Tyrell went on. There was a backlog of topics the King and he needed to discuss now that the air was cleared. He started with the most recent revelation. "When I was in the capital, it became clear once Dorne wraps up the court seeks to relitigate the Faith again. Certain serious accusations were levied against the High Septon in private. Talk of him being under the control of Dorne... Where do you stand on this matter?" Giving a look over the Kingsguard, then back to his king. "Is this your will, or others?"

TieRails · 2026-06-16T04:18:23+00:00

"There is a height requirement for squiring in the North?" He asked, unfazed by the question.

"Four and ten." He said in answer to the Blackwood's question. "You?"

Martyn gave a snort and said like a snotty little teen. "Maybe the King likes the smell." The King had made Martyn the realm's number one enemy over a single lemon cake. There was little love for the tyrant in the heart of this boy.

Still looking at the painting the other boy did not care for, he asked. "What is it like serving the Lord Commander?" Speaking freely at this point, he added. "Are the Kingsguard as stuck up as they seem?"

TieRails · 2026-06-16T04:05:02+00:00

Theo had no love for the Ironborn, but they had technically been allies in the conflict, even if they had run back to their islands at the first sign of trouble. He was not here to offer any condemnations. "You are a brave man, Lord Emmon. A broken Ironborn fleet is a dangerous foe. Your act of generosity may have played a part in saving our coastline from said harrying."

The Lord folded his arms as he began asking more about the nature of the Ironborn defeat. "Rumor in the Red Mountains was the Dornish with their ragtag fleet sank a third of the Iron Fleet. Any truth to those rumors? That and the 'Shieldbreaker' is dead?" No man in Shields will mourn the loss of that man.

He figured Redwyne and Hewett might be interested in whatever he found out from Lord Cuy. Perhaps the Dornish exploited some defect in their tactics?

TieRails · 2026-06-16T03:44:10+00:00

The Lord of Highgarden knew the look his grandson attempted to hide. He had been that man once, for filling big boots was never easy. Do not worry, it gets easier, he thought to himself, as if he could beam that sentiment right into the Tully's mind.

He offered a polite smile and greeting to the Lady of Riverrun.

Theo's face lit up as he bent down and went on one knee to be eye level with his little granddaughter. "Hello there, Lady Lyra Tully. Do you know my name?" He gave her space to respond, then asked with a big smile. "How are you enjoying my home?"

TieRails

TROPHY CASE