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A Song of Ice and Fire - the Blackfyre Rebellion

House Arryn

House Arryn of the Vale

As High As Honor.

House Description:

The Eyrie is an ancient Castle and seat of House Arryn, one of the oldest lines of Andal nobility, within the Vale of Arryn. It is situated in the Mountains of the Moon on a shoulder of the peak known as the Giant's Lance, several thousand feet above the valley below. Although small compared to the seats of other Great Houses in Westeros, the Eyrie is considered impregnable to attack. During wintertime, the Arryns seek refuge against the cold in the Gates of the Moon at the base of the mountain.

The Eyrie is the smallest of the great castles, being no larger than Maegor's Holdfast. The castle is made of fine white stone. Its seven slim, white towers are bunched tightly together and can hold up to five hundred men. The waterfall known as Alyssa's Tears can be heard from the Eyrie, and falcons fly near the castle.

The Eyrie lacks stables, smithys, and kennels, but it's granary is as large as those found in much larger castles, like Winterfell. The Eyrie also contains a sept. The castle's household guard wear sky-blue cloaks.

• The High Hall is a long and austere hall, with walls made of blue-veined white marble. The High Hall is decorated with rows of slim fluted pillars and a blue silk carpet. At the end of it sit two thrones carved of weirwood, one the high seat of the lord and the other a lesser throne for a consort. It has narrow, arched windows, between which are torches mounted on high iron or silver sconces. Feasts can be held in the High Hall. Entrance to the High Hall is through carved wooden doors.
• The Moon Door is a narrow weirwood door that stands between two slender pillars halfway in the High Hall. A crescent moon is carved into the door, which opens inward and is barred by three heavy bronze bars. The door opens into the sky. Most executions at the Eyrie use this door, which opens onto a six hundred foot drop to the stones of the valley below.
• The Crescent Chamber is the Eyrie's reception hall. Here, guests are given refreshments and warmed by the fire after making the climb up the Giant's Lance.
• A flight of steep marble stairs from the Crescent Chamber bypasses the Eyrie's undercrofts and dungeons and is protected by three murder holes. The portcullis atop the stairs leads to an arcade decorated with tapestries.
• The solar is located at the end of the arcade. The chamber is decorated with a Myrish carpet and has enough room for a trestle table and at least eight heavy oak-and-leather chairs.
• The Lower Hall is a hall in which food and wine can be served.
• The Morning Hall is located above the kitchens and is where people can break their fast.
• The Maiden's Tower is the easternmost of the seven towers of the Eyrie. From a balcony on the tower, one can see the Vale and the Giant's Lance.
• The Moon Tower contains the bedchambers of Lord Arryn, which is protected by an oaken door four inches thick and has curtains of plush blue velvet. The bedchamber's window has small diamond-shaped panes.
• The garden is encircled by the castle's towers. It was intended to be a godswood, but no weirwood heart tree would take root in the stony soil. The garden, which is overlooked by the ruler's chambers, instead contains blue flowers, grass, shrubbery, thin dark trees, and statuary, including a depiction of a weeping Alyssa Arryn in its center.
• Sky cells are the Eyrie's infamous dungeons. They are shelves on the side of the mountain's sheer cliffs, left open to the cold sky, with slightly sloping floors to unnerve the prisoners. Many prisoners, driven mad by the cold and howling wind, commit suicide rather than remain imprisoned.
• The Eyrie is located six hundred feet above a waycastle, Sky. Using handholds carved into the rock within the Giant's Lance, visitors can climb a ladder-like chimney which leads from Sky up to the castle's undercellar. Alternatively, wicker baskets and six great oaken buckets are drawn on long iron chains between the Eyrie and Sky. Supplies can thus be brought from Sky to the Eyrie's winch room, as can visitors unable or unwilling to climb the chimney ladder. Oxen are used to turn the winches, and the animals are slaughtered and left for falcons when the Arryns descend to the Gates of the Moon before winter. When the court returns to the Eyrie after winter, unspoiled meat is served in a spring feast.

To reach the Eyrie from the west, an invading army would have to first overcome the Bloody Gate guarding the high road. Within the Vale, the stout Gates of the Moon guard the base of the Giant's Lance.

Steep stone steps carved into the Giant's Lance creep up the mountainside from the Gates of the Moon; they are too narrow for horses, but are accessible by mules. Travelers on the staircase are exposed to defenders in three waycastles.

• Stone, the first waycastle, is on a path surrounded by forest.
• Snow, the second waycastle, is on a trail steeper than that of Stone. It is nestled into the Giant's Lance so as to command the entire pathway from Stone to Snow.
• Sky, the third waycastle, is on a treacherous path. Handholds carved into the rock lead up to the Eyrie. Baskets and oaken buckets can transport supplies and travelers up to the Eyrie as well.

History of the Eyrie

History
Kings of Mountain and Vale
Legends claim that the Winged Knight drove the First Men from the Vale and flew to the top of the Giant's Lance on a huge falcon to slay the Griffin King. Records indicate that Artys I Arryn, the first King of Mountain and Vale, constructed the Gates of the Moon at the foot of the Giant's Lance, where he had defeated King Robar II Royce's army of First Men in the Battle of the Seven Stars.

Artys's grandson, Roland I Arryn, believed that the Gates of the Moon was both inferior to Casterly Rock and the Hightower and strategically vulnerable to raids from the Vale mountain clans. Allegedly inspired by Teora Hunter, Roland decided to build a new royal palace high in the mountain above the Gates of the Moon.

Construction of the Eyrie took place intermittently over generations, and marble was imported from Tarth in the narrow sea, as Roland disliked the appearance of stone available in the Vale. The first maester to serve at the Eyrie was Quince.

The Eyrie was inhabited as a pleasure palace for the Kings of Mountain and Vale during spring, summer, and autumn. The Arryns descend to the larger Gates of the Moon for winter and host a feast when they return to the Eyrie in the spring.

The Conquest
During Aegon's Conquest, Queen Regent Sharra Arryn fortified the Bloody Gate and had her son, the boy king Ronnel Arryn, take refuge in the Eyrie. The fleet of House Arryn defeated that of House Targaryen in a battle in the waters off Gulltown.

After the Field of Fire and the submission of the north, Queen Visenya Targaryen, bypassed the Eyrie's lower defenses by flying upon her dragon, Vhagar, to the castle's inner courtyard. Realizing that the Eyrie's isolated location could not protect against dragons, Sharra submitted to Visenya. Visenya flew Ronnel thrice around the Giant's Lance, and the boy became Warden of the East for King Aegon I Targaryen, the new Lord of the Seven Kingdoms.

Early Targaryens
King Aegon I Targaryen visited the Eyrie during his royal progresses.

During the reign of Aegon's successor, King Aenys I Targaryen, Jonos Arryn imprisoned his brother, Lord Ronnel, and took control of the Eyrie. When Lord Allard Royce's host of loyal bannermen defeated Jonos's rebels below, the self-proclaimed King of Mountain and Vale threw Ronnel to his death through the Moon Door. Aegon's younger son, Prince Maegor Targaryen, rode the dragon Balerion to the Eyrie. To avoid being burned by Balerion's dragonflame, the Eyrie's garrison captured Jonos and threw him through the Moon Door. Maegor hanged all of Jonos's followers from the walls of the Eyrie.

After Elinor Costayne was forced to wed King Maegor I, one of her sons from her first marriage was sent to the Eyrie to be raised.

King Jaehaerys I Targaryen visited the Eyrie on Vermithor during his royal progress in 52 AC. Princess Daella Targaryen died at the Eyrie after giving birth to Aemma Arryn in 82 AC. Lord Rodrik Arryn wanted his wife to be buried in the Vale of Arryn, but Queen Alysanne Targaryen insisted that her daughter be burned and her ashes interred at Dragonstone.

During the Dance of the Dragons, Prince Jacaerys Velaryon flew to the Eyrie on Vermax to secure an alliance between Jeyne Arryn, Lady of the Eyrie, and the blacks of his mother, Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen. According to Grand Maester Munkun, Jacaerys and Jeyne agreed to an alliance in the castle's High Hall, with Jacaerys promising to have dragonriders sent to the Vale to help protect the Eyrie from enemy dragons.

Jeyne had her first cousin, Ser Arnold Arryn imprisoned in the sky cells of the Eyrie and in the dungeons of the Gates of the Moon after two failed rebellions. After Jeyne died, her preferred heir, Ser Joffrey Arryn, was contested by Arnold's son, Ser Eldric Arryn, and by Isembard Arryn of Gulltown. After a civil war in the Vale of Arryn, Joffrey eventually emerged as Lord of the Eyrie during the regency of Aegon III.

House Arryn of the Eyrie is one of the Great Houses of Westeros, and is the principal noble house in the Vale of Arryn. Their main seat is the Eyrie, which is considered impregnable. House Arryn has at least one other holding, their winter castle at the Gates of the Moon, which was once their main seat. Both of these fortifications sit astride the Giant's Lance, the tallest mountain in the Vale, the Gates of the Moon at its foot, the Eyrie at its top.

The Arryn sigil is a sky-blue falcon soaring upwards, outlined against a white moon on a sky-blue field, and their words are "As High as Honor".

The Arryns of the Eyrie have a collection of distant relatives located throughout the Vale. Although they are much poorer than the ruling Arryns, aside from the Arryns of Gulltown, these lesser branches are described as proud due to their name and heritage.

History of House Arryn

Kings of Mountain and Vale
The Arryns are considered to come from the oldest and purest line of Andal nobility, which they say reaches back to Andalos and possibly Hugor of the Hill.

When King Robar II Royce began to unite the First Men and defeat some of the petty Andal kings during the Andal invasion, the Andals of the Vale united behind Ser Artys Arryn, the Falcon Knight, a native Valeman esteemed amongst his peers as the finest warrior of his day. Robar was slain in the Battle of the Seven Stars, possibly by Artys, and the First Men houses who remained bent the knee and swore fealty to Artys Arryn, the First of His Name, new-crowned King of Mountain and Vale. From that day, the Vale became known as the Vale of Arryn. Songs of the Vale conflate Artys with the legendary Winged Knight, who is said to have slain the Griffin King atop the Giant's Lance. The First Men who did not accept Artys as their king were forced into the Mountains of the Moon, becoming the Vale mountain clans.

The Arryns initially lived at the Gates of the Moon, but over generations they constructed the Eyrie. They often used the Eyrie as a summer pleasure palace, descending to the Gates of the Moon before winter made the Eyrie inaccessible.

The Arryn kings added Pebble, the Paps, and the Witch Isle to their realm. They battled with the Stark Kings of Winter over the Three Sisters in the War Across the Water, which featured King Osgood Arryn and his son and successor, Oswin the Talon, who burned the Wolf's Den. There were bloody battles wherein the Arryn fleet turned back slavers from Volantis, ironborn reavers, and pirates from the Stepstones and the Basilisk Isles. The legendary Lady Alyssa Arryn gave her name to Alyssa's Tears, a waterfall on the Giant's Lance, when she did not shed a tear for her murdered husband, brothers and children.

Aegon's Conquest
During Aegon's Conquest the Arryn and Targaryen fleets fought in a battle in the waters off Gulltown, which resulted in the destruction of the Targaryen fleet and the death of its commanding officer, Daemon Velaryon. Visenya Targaryen, on her dragon Vhagar, burned the Arryn fleet in response. Since both fleets were destroyed, the battle was considered a tactical draw, but a strategic defeat for the Targaryens as they were unable to take Gulltown. For House Arryn the trouble did not end there, since the Sistermen on the Three Sisters revolted after the destruction of the Arryn fleet.

Later in Aegon's Conquest, Visenya was charged with subduing the Vale. Sharra Arryn, Queen Regent of the Vale, ruling in the name of her son, the boy-king Ronnel Arryn, amassed the Vale's army at the Bloody Gate. Visenya, however, flew on Vhagar to the courtyard of the Eyrie to obtain the surrender of the Vale of Arryn. When Sharra returned to the Eyrie she found her son sitting on Visenya's lap asking if he could ride the dragon with her. Once Sharra yielded and bent the knee, Ronnel twice flew with Visenya and Vhagar. The Arryns have since remained Defenders of the Vale and Wardens of the East for the Iron Throne.

Targaryen Dynasty
Queen Rhaenys Targaryen arranged the marriage of Lord Ronnel Arryn to the daughter of Lord Torrhen Stark of Winterfell, in an attempt to knit the new realm together. There are letters at the Citadel which suggest that Torrhen only agreed to this match after much protest, and that his sons had refused to attend the wedding. In 37 AC Ronnel was deposed by his brother Jonos. When House Royce gathered forces against Jonos and besieged him in the Eyrie, Jonos threw Ronnel and his family through the Moon Door. Prince Maegor Targaryen flew to the Eyrie on Balerion, and hanged Jonos and his supporters. House Arryn continued through a cousin, Hubert Arryn.

In 80 AC, during the reign of King Jaehaerys I Targaryen, Lord Rodrik Arryn married Princess Daella Targaryen, the king's daughter. Daella died in childbirth, giving birth to their only child, Lady Aemma Arryn. Aemma was married to Prince Viserys Targaryen in 93 AC. By the time Jaehaerys called a Great Council in 101 AC, Rodrik was deceased as well, and Lady Jeyne Arryn ruled the Eyrie. However, as she was in her minority in 101 AC, House Arryn played a small role in this council.

Upon the death of Jaehaerys in 103 AC, Prince Viserys was crowned king and Aemma Arryn his queen. During the early years of their marriage, Aemma gave birth to a stillborn son and suffered multiple miscarriages, though she also gave birth to a daughter, Rhaenyra Targaryen, in 97 AC. Aemma died giving birth to her second son, Baelon, who followed her to the grave a few days later.

Following the death of Viserys I in 129 AC, House Arryn became involved in the Dance of the Dragons, where Aemma's daughter, Viserys's elder child and proclaimed heir, Princess Rhaenyra, and Rhaenyra's younger brother, Prince Aegon, Viserys's eldest surviving son, fought over their claims to the Iron Throne. Jeyne Arryn supported the blacks and her kinswoman Rhaenyra. At the start of the Targaryen civil war, Prince Jacaerys Velaryon, Rhaenyra's eldest son, traveled to the Eyrie to secure aid for his mother's cause. Jeyne kept true to her promise and sent men by sea by way of Gulltown to join Rhaenyra's hosts.

Following the conclusion of the civil war, and the coronation of King Aegon III Targaryen, Rhaenyra's eldest surviving son, at the age of eleven, Jeyne became one of seven regents of the young king. She died in Gulltown of illness in 134 AC.

This led to a succession struggle. Jeyne's will named her fourth cousin Joffrey Arryn as heir. However Jeyne's first cousin Arnold Arryn had been imprisoned for trying to depose her but his son Eldric Arryn pushed their claim. A more distant cousin, Isembard Arryn, head of House Arryn of Gulltown, also pushed their claim. Even though Eldric was eventually killed, Arnold continued to oppose Joffrey. Finally Arnold and Isembard were forced to submit to Joffrey.

Recent History:
Joffrey Arryn the father of Donnel, Lysander and Alys lived to the age of 67 and died of a lung ailment. Once the civil unrest in the Vale had been quashed Joffrey had turned to further improvements in the Vale’s Navy. His actions were a long term plan to shore up the merchants with cogs, schooners and galleys. Sadly Joffrey did not live to see his vast improvements fully completed. His son Donnel however took over and improved on his father’s plan with the help of his wiley wife Brighid. Being well acquainted with vessels, her input was invaluable to finish what Joffrey started and Donnel envisioned with greater clarity.

Donnel and Brighid started to expand contracts with Essos, Riverland and coastal merchants. Having an arranged marriage that turned out well and grew into love. There was a bit of a rocky start, due to the young age that they married but understanding and growth soon followed the couple. It was Brighid’s idea to further trade with the Riverlands being from the most southern end of the Riverlands; she was keen to use any influence she could.

The oldest son, Arthyr, was sent to Gwayne Corbray, a Kings Guard at the Red Keep. While Jaslyn was kept at home with her mother and Mycah was fostered to different houses within the Vale starting at the age of eight.

Family Members:

• Donnel Arryn - 41 born 161 AC. Always ready with a smile, Donnel enjoys life to the fullest extent. He's always playing about and active, and brings joy to all within his sphere of influence. But even with his amiable personality he is a cunning ruler that has developed an uncanny ability to read other people, particularly his bannermen. He adopts a shrewdness and probing demeanor to match his bubbliness which leaves people with spun heads as they try to figure out just what the Lord of the Vale was thinking.
• Brighid Arryn née Mooton - 40 born 162 AC. Stern, serious but loving mother that takes her job seriously. She has a sharp tongue and suffers no fools, save for her children and husband occasionally.
• Arthyr Arryn - 23 born 179 AC. [See Character Sheets below]
• Jaslyn Arryn - 20 born 182 AC. [See Character Sheets below]
• Mycah Arynn - 17 born 185 AC. [See Character Sheets below]
• Alys Targaryen née Arryn - 29 born 173 AC. Wedded to Rhaegel Targaryen
• Lysander Arryn - 37 born 167 AC. Head of House Arryn of Gulltown has been widowed these past 3 years and looking for a bride.
• Ysolde Arryn - 20 born 182 AC

Household Members:

• Captain of the Household Guard: Ser Royce Deddings - 32 born 170 AC.
• Maester: Maester Trenten - 37 born 165 AC.
• Septa: Septa Leynara - 50 born 152 AC.
• Gaoler: Todd - indeterminate no one knows. You ask.
• Ladies in Waiting: Lyndsay, Khloe, Serah - 26, 24, 22 born 176 - 180 AC.
• Master at Arms: Ser Lonald Royce - 42 born 160 AC.
• Bastian Forel 30 born 172 AC. Water dancer instructor for House Arryn.
• Senischel: Arrold Mortimer - 65 born 137 AC.

Character Sheets:

Arthyr Arryn

Name: Arthyr Arryn
Age: 23 born 179 AC
House/Affiliation: House Arryn
Description & Biography: Arthyr is a mirthful bundle of looking on the bright side. With a coy grin always plastered on his face the young man takes after his father eerily in terms of appearance and bearing. Like Donnel, Arthyr likes to make people laugh and smile while also being a very good listener. He has a tendency to be polite to the small folk and has even helped out quite a few pages or maids in the Red Keep. Arthyr also enjoys heading out into the city itself and to get a feel for life outside the castle walls. He has a group of kids that he taught basic swordplay and even bought them all arming swords when they came of age.

Arthyr is sometimes mistaken for a Lannister with his features, a curse of the golden hair. Luckily the Arryn livery he tends to wear makes up for it. He stands at exactly six feet, and has an athletic build. He has deep blue eyes that tend to always be shining with laughter, smiling eyes they have been called.

When he was twelve, Arthyr was sent to Kings Landing to squire under Ser Gwayne Corbray to train in arms and armor but to also learn the way of politics from the best that exist, the courtiers of Kings Landing. He watched, listened, and took notes on every day in court. He has developed a strong sense of being lied to, or being used, and like his father he has developed a formidable mask. He is hard to read and can go from smiling to blank faced instantly.

Arthyr is a skilled swordsman, not the best, but not the worst but his true strength is on horseback. On a Horse Arthyr is almost unstoppable. Sword, Lance, axe, mace, spear, and even the bow. He spends a lot of his early evenings in the stable training his horse and continuing the bond he has with the animal.

Arthyr's primary weakness is his blunt, stubborn nature. When negotiating he says what he wants and will rarely be moved from his decisions. He's shrewd and uncompromising but he does it with a smile.

Jaslyn Arryn

Name: Jaslyn Arryn
Age: 20 born 182 AC
House/Affiliation: House Arryn
Description & Biography: Jaslyn is a petite and beautiful girl who looks younger than her actual age. Her light blue green eyes are framed by deep brown thick lashes. Freckles dust her pale skin like stars in the night sky. Her hair is a pale rose gold and mostly kept up in intricate braided updos. When her hair is down it falls in a straight unbroken line to mid-thigh.

Jaslyn has spent her life in the Vale and takes after her mother and is a very serious young lady. Her days consist of learning heraldry, needle point, playing the harp, dancing, riding, hawking and water dancing. Her mother insisted that she learn to protect herself and consequently hired a Braavosi Master Waterdancer. Jaslyn learned the history of Westeros and Essos from Maester Trenten and Septa Leynara. She learned Braavosi and water dancing from Bastian Forel, the water dance tutor for House Arryn.

Mycah Arryn

Name: Mycah Arryn
Age: 17 born 185 AC
House/Affiliation: House Arryn
Description & Biography: Mycah is the youngest of the family but perhaps one of the most treasured as tends to be the case for the youngest. Mycah stands at five foot four and has a slim build. He has lighter blonde hair, a natural two-tone where the darker just undercuts the light. His eyes change shades of blue in the light and tend to be searching.

Mycah doesn't do a whole ton of talking, and when he does he tends to be well spoken and sure of himself. He's intelligent, calculating, strategic, and mature.

When he was eight years old Mycah came up with the idea to spend a year with each of the Vale banner lords. A year of getting to know, but also letting them know of himself. Mycah has a keen tactical mind, a natural strategist, and while he isn't the best swordsman he can hold his own and invent new ways of fighting.

A Song of Ice and Fire - the Blackfyre Rebellion

A Mummer’s Farce & A Reunion Part I

---

Leaving behind the Wolves and the Grapes had been easy, Ashton cared little for petty squabbling and even less for politics overall. He could stomach it, sure, and was even starting to get used to it but it remained a fact for the young man that if he could be anywhere else? He would. And to his great excitement he had upon his arm the most beautiful woman in Summerhall OR its grounds.

He escorted her dutifully to the entrance, eyes that were used to watching minute movements of his opponents now watching Gwen. She was upset, that much was certain and Ashton couldn't really blame her. He shuddered to think what could have been if the Hightower clan had suddenly all walked in to retrieve him. Not that such a thing would ever occur. For one, Ash wasn't that important, and secondly his father had a rule that no more than three of the immediate family, along with their own families, could be in a location at one time.

Finally Ashton simply looked over to Gwen, pulling her gently to the side and away from the people entering. "I'm very sorry that this happened, and if I can do anything that would help I would do it in a heartbeat." He offered a genuine smile to her, not one of pity or reassurance, more one of understanding and support. "Perhaps I can take you to the Stark camp myself, that way I can have the honor of your company a bit longer and you can have a companion." He did NOT add 'that's not of your vast family' to the end of that phrase out loud but did think it. It was so strange…

Clearing her throat softly Gwen swallowed and smiled wobbly at Ashton. She didn’t want to take her temper out on him. He barely knew her and he was being so wonderful. Clearing her throat yet again Gwen nodded. “Yes. That would be wonderful. Yes please."

Squeezing Ashton’s arm Gwen wanted to lean her head on his shoulder. But that would be too personal. Far too personal, but it seemed right. Still no matter how right it seemed she was not ready to have more people stare at her for more reasons.

With a nod, Ashton mentally made a map through tent city to where the Starks had made camp. He giggled softly as he thought about going through the backs of those tents again, and navigating the ropes where he had met Gwen earlier. But no, that wouldn't do, he was officially escorting a Lady now, and he was going to do it correctly. He smiled brightly at her and then set off on a comfortable pace towards the Starks.

"Guess I'm not the only one that has family drama. I mean I suppose it could be seen as a positive AND negative at the same time. At least they obviously care, perhaps a bit more than you would want, or well anyone would want, but yeah. Could be worse!", he winked at her and stepped closer to her to sort of playfully nudge her. "Either way, it's behind us. Literally in this case and now we can just enjoy the fresh night air."

Blinking away the tears as her frustration and anger faded Gwen gave Ashton a true smile. “The sun must always shine in your world Ashton. Are you sure you’re Westrosi? Seems more like you’re a fable. You must be that prince that catches a maiden’s eye and runs off with her heart." A teasing smile flashed dimples at Ashton. Gwen giggles quietly, stepping closer and winding her arm more closely with Ashton’s arm.

Raising an eyebrow and furrowing the other, Ashton looked at her and just shook his head. "I am certainly not a Prince, though I do hope to make a decent Knight. From my observations that in of itself is becoming more and more rare. But it's impossible to stay angry or upset when I'm near you, so I guess you just make it easy for me. I'm not usually this cheery unless I'm watching the sunset, I have this really nice spot on a hill close to the Castle that I found one day while exploring." He gives a shrug and when Gwen stepped closer he beamed even brighter if that was possible and his cheeks turned a bit more crimson.

Gwen noted the blush and the grin. “You should smile more. It makes you even more handsome."

Ashton can't help but turn even more red, now resembling the hit red wax the Maesters use to seal various messages. "Well thank you, so long as you're at my side I foresee a lot of smiling in my future.”

Sighing Gwen pouted teasingly. “Too bad this tournament is merely a blink. Truly I wouldn’t mind this mild weather at Winterfell and the company is sublime." Ashton was so attentive and sweet. Gwen was reminded of the old bard tales of knights and their lady loves. Impulsively she leaned up and placed a kiss on his cheek, her lips lingering there.

And then her lips connected with his cheek and his entire world stood still. It was nothing, not really, sure it was a sweet thing to do but in the grand scheme of things it was a simple action. And yet, Ashton's brain had shut down; all systems offline. He stood rooted to the spot and blabbering like some sort of fish that found itself unable to get back to the water and now couldn't breathe. His cheeks were fiery red and his arm clenched unconsciously around Gwen's own. When his mouth did some blabbing it opened and shut twice with no words coming out. Abandoning such things, he simply gave her the widest smile she would have seen yet on the Hightower lad and then leaned down to place his forehead on her own and look her straight in the eyes. "Well, that was something." His words were breathy, but at least he didn't have stinky breath.

Perhaps it had been some luck of the Maiden for her to have stumbled upon the blissful pair, perhaps another god entirely. Her own mind, however, was on other matters. Matters of survival and utter importance. Having slipped from a distracted escort and into the city of tents after being escorted by the handsome Ser Ryon, Alysanne Lothston was just as ready to get thoroughly drunk as she was to get a knife in the ribs. Courtesy of Danelle. Had her sister seen her and, if she had, had she known whom Alysanne was? That was a name she had not thought of herself as, in many years. Alysanne Lothston, buried and forgotten in the mires of trouble that ran around Alys Rivers. Her lips left their thinned grimace as she paused in the shadow of a tent to watch the two young love-birds kiss. Nobles, she thought, by their cloth.

“I’d say." She agreed with the young man, he had the look of a Reachman about him. Her? It was hard to say. Desperation, recent tears and now this? Forbidden love most likely. An interesting tidbit and one she would have to pass on to buyers sooner or later, but for now? Best that no one else sees and that tidbit loses its value. Leaning against a barrel, the woman small though she was gave the two a stern look, though a smile played about her lips. “Unwise too, but perhaps an explanation might sway me from raising a fuss over such a lady being taken advantage of?"

Gwen groaned softly, laying her head on Ashton’s shoulder. “And of course..." She looked at the girl who could practically be a shorter version of Gwen herself. Taking in the slight little female Gwen couldn’t help but smirk. She felt that this little one would be a bigger spitfire than even her. It was obvious that she was a redhead and couldn’t be too much younger than Gwen herself. However the way she spoke was someone who knew how much trouble she could indeed make. “He earned it. He did cheer me up and he couldn’t be sweeter even if he was covered in honey."

Ashton normally would've jumped when a random person speaks without him realizing their presence. He startled easily when he got distracted but he was so enraptured he simply frowned and looked at the newcomer. He smirked as Gwen spoke her piece and then added on. "Nor would I ever take advantage of anyone, least of all her. I would say well met but if I'm being totally honest, I was not quite ready to give up my free time with the Lady here, if there ever truly was a free moment. I am Ashton Hightower, and you are?"

Alys had to smile at the fondness she saw between the two. So he had been a Reachman, and a Hightower at that. The Lady, for lady the girl must be, was yet unknown. Still there were manners to be had and Alys considered the best option. “I am Lady Rohanne Webber of Coldmoat." She stated with all the formality of one of rank. It would be easy enough to pass for the woman in these shadows and with her own red hair much similar to the young girl’s. It was best to keep an eye out for those nobles you might take the appearance of, Alys thought with wry amusement. “And you are Lady…?" She gave the woman a pointed look.

Gwen smiled at the pointed look. “Gwendolyn Carmyne of Redfield. We are headed to the Stark camp if you’d like to join us, Lady Rohanne. I’d love to know how Coldmoat got it’s name." The Reach household was one that she had read about since it was close to the Riverlands in the northern section of the Reach. Gwen wondered if the Lady had grown up there or married in. Gwen tapped her nails in a four count on Ashton’s arm absently.

Something tickled her memories. Gwen’s eyes lit up. “Oh Coldmoat is the Osgrey’s. Ashton the Osgrey line crosses the Hightower line. Why you might be distant cousins!! You have to come with us Lady Rohanne. How could you not recognise each other?"

Of all the schemes to have hit a snag! Hightower, of course. She was mentally kicking herself and hid it with a cold smile. “No. Though for not recognizing a Hightower, I for one blame the lack of lighting." There was an answer easy enough to explain the mistake. Shadows could make mistakes. She could not afford one, not right now. Alysanne ran a hand over her braid, playing with it as she had heard the Lady Rohanne played with hers. “Though I dare say, I may be married but it is not a match desired on my part." If it had been, Alys would eat her boots and Dannel’s. Now she had to slip away. She had what she came for, the names of the two love birds and she need not linger. More subtle measures could find out if they were promised to one another or no. “Lady Gwendolyn, a pleasure I must say. Though I fear I will have to decline your invitation. I need to return to my husband," What had been the fool man’s name? She knew there had been talk of it. “Lord Uffling, actually." She curled her lip slightly, an artful display of distaste she thought.

"Lady Rohanne, I must say you look very much different than when I saw you in Oldtown previously but I suppose we all grow differently. As for declining our offer I must insist you take it. I will speak with your husband and let him know how you helped a son of Hightower. In fact, I'm sure my brother and Aunt would like to thank you and him themselves. Perhaps breakfast tomorrow morning? I can set it up very easily, and of course Gwen you are invited as well." He smiles brightly at the girl still close to him. He fully felt like he had been channeling his older brother Leo at that moment and Ashton felt proud himself, perhaps he really was learning.

“Having children tends to change a woman." She stated simply, praying it would be the case. “Though I shall take you up on breakfast should I find myself able to tomorrow, I must decline tonight. It already grows late for me." She shrugged and considered if they would seek out the woman tomorrow. Perhaps, and perhaps not. Drink and lust could make a mind wander and forget and with any luck it would be so here.

Gwen grinned, catching on to the game. “Of course I’d be happy to break my fast with you both. Ashton you might be getting ready for the tournament tomorrow or helping your Lord Dayne. I’m sure the Sword of the Morning will need some assistance and you’d be far too busy to escort Lady Rohanne and her husband. Lord… I dare say I have forgotten his first name. No matter, I will come to your camp on the morrow. Uffling you said right?" Gwen nodded.

“Yes it is decided I will come and get you tomorrow. Besides, I'd love to meet your family Ashton." Gwen had caught the suspicion in Ashton’s questions and Lady Rohanne was being rather dodgy. Dodgy people reminded her of the fact that Ashe was in the dark somewhere like a slinky little lizard just waiting for the right moment to jump out and snark at them or scare someone to death. Well maybe half death.

Alysanne was less than pleased by that, but there was no help for it. Smiling, she chuckled and was about to say it was not necessary when thunder crashed through the camp.

“Little Cousin!" Bennifer was as loud and obvious as a bull. Gwen, willing or not, would find herself plucked from Ashton and whirled about in a giant’s embrace before she was set down on the side far from both the strange woman and Ashton without a by your leave. Grinning, the man hardly looked like a grim Northman. Hair that had slightly darkened from blonde with age, the large man looked between the three. The Lady Rohanne stiffened from where she leaned against a barrel, her blue eyes narrowed as Bennifer, one of the last people she wanted to meet, took stock of the situation. “Ah, cousin. I saw what happened in the tent and would have come sooner had I not been making sure Roger did not pinch too many a bottom. Come introduce me!" He patted the Carmyne lady on the back with a hand the size of a dinner plate.

“Benni!!" Gwen shrieked as Bennifer twirled her around. “I haven’t seen you since Auntie Mya’s wedding." She hugged him quickly, making a face by scrunching up her nose cutely. “Roger. Is he still as ugly as a duck’s butt? No, I take that back, ducks are adorable."

Gwen giggled and indicated Lady Rohanne. “This is my new friend Lady Rohanne Webber of Coldmoat. We’ll be breaking our fast on the morrow with her. If I can pull her away from her husband and children. May-hap we can take them as well? We shall see. So exciting!"

Blushing slightly, Gwen reached out and put a hand on Ashton’s upper arm. ”Lord Ashton Hightower, may I introduce you to my cousin by marriage. Lord Bennifer Blackwood Heir of Raventree Hall. Though no doubt I couldn’t ask for a better one so I think he might have arranged it because I was too adorable to be left alone." She smirked at Bennifer. “You’re words not mine Benni."

The large man nodded, his eyes narrowing at the Lady of Coldmoat. “A pleasure to both. Though might you have been in the Vale over the past few years, fair Rohanne?"

“You flatter me, My Lord." Alysanne nodded, her eyes cold as she gave a small incline of her head towards the man. “I have not had the opportunity." Taking a step back, she made her motion to leave clear as day and knew if that giant tried to stop her, family or no, she would stab him where it hurt. “I have felt unwell of late, so I take my leave. My Lords, My Lady." Taking the dismissal for what it was, Bennifer sketched a bow towards the familiar, yet not woman before turning her gaze towards the two who had been crossing social morays mere minutes before. Allowing the smaller woman to slip into the shadows to Alys’s grateful delight.

“Ugly? He grew up looking well enough, though Mother’s death put a marr on the boy." The giant shook his head and gave Ashton a searching look. Weighing him as other opponents had been measured on the field of battle. “The Squire to the Sword of Morning, a pleasure." He slapped the man’s shoulder and grinned. “Perhaps you shall be knighted on the morrow! Tell me cousin, do you mean to give him your favor? Make him your Florian?"

Ashton watched the Lady Rohanne closely, and as such totally missed yet another large person come up towards them and quite literally sweep Gwen up off of her feet. Now with her in the air and moved out of his reach, he couldn't help but narrow his eyes at the person. When Gwen did introductions he did relax, if but a bit. Somehow, yet another relative of Gwen coming to check on her. But at least Gwen seemed to be content with this one.

"Lady Rohanne, if you would let me know the answer to the question my father asked you via Raven? No doubt you and your Lord husband discussed it, as it was quite serious and my father can get a bit paranoid when replies take too long." Ash had watched as Rohanne had attempted to leave and of course stopped that. He had a few questions, the first of which being why the girl was being so shady.

He turned then to Gwen, still keeping Rohanne in his sight, as he was introduced and gave a nod of respect to Bennifer along with a flashing smile and tilt of his head. He could tell Bennifer was sizing him up. It was a look that Ash himself had used many times before to many other people. "Pleasure is all mine Lord Blackwood. If you'll permit Gwen to return to my side, I have given my promise of an escort to the Stark encampment and intend to keep my word."

Alys was going to scream. “Surely that can be discussed over breakfast with my Lord husband?" Whose name she could not for the life of her place! Alys was going to set herself to shrieking obscenities. There was no reason for sighting Danelle, her oh-so-beloved sister, to make her lose her wits! Now she was to pick up the pieces and be the shadow that slipped with this conversation with none the wiser, but they would be wiser! Toying with the notion of killing the three, she dismissed it as foolishness. Something she had used up over the last few hours. “Let us speak of that in private, if we are to speak of it at all. Lest I take insult at your suggestion of tardy replies!" She growled, alone she could get this youngling to be silent and see reason. “Your lady is in good hands and will find herself busy enough on the morrow." She gestured to a dip between two carts. Shadowed and well devoid of people. She was going to have to indebt herself and it galled Alysanne.

"I have but one thing then till the morrow. When you visited Oldtown and the Hightower, what color doublet did I wear? You mentioned it quite fondly and stated how much you loved it, and I told you I got it from a merchant stopping in from Volantis. Do you remember?"

Rolling her eyes, the small woman seized the squire by the arm and said in a voice that dripped with absolute irritation. “Green. You were in love with the red and black gown I found, as I recall." She drawled, her tone dipping as she hissed in words said only for Ashton’s ears alone. “Ser Ry and Lady Dy were most fond of my current gown." Her voice jerked upwards slightly to more normal tones. “Squire." A demand in waiting.

Ashton narrowed his eyes even further then as he was seized. He would jerk his arm away with a training yard twist and then placed his hand on the hilt of Vigilance. "Wrong, black with gold trim. Now reveal your true identity and stop with this mummers farce before I have the guards come and take you."

The unfolding drama between Ashton and Rohanne made Gwen tilt her head. She didn’t particularly care for the way that the two were hissing at each other. It felt rather familiar and a bit hostile. Gwen looked at Bennifer then at the two arguing heatedly. Rohanne put her hands on Ashton and Gwen sucked in a breath.

Recognising the feeling of jealousy hot in her belly and much stronger than she ever had prior to this moment. Like dragonfire it burned in her. “Allow me to point out Lady Rohanne that if he takes this to a guard that this could be dealt with by Prince Maekar who has seen fit to enact swift merciless punishments these past few days. As the Heir to Redfield I suggest you provide irrefutable proof for Lord Ashton as to your identity. I will vouch for you if you speak truly. I’m sure that Lord Ashton and I would be willing to overlook a jest and let you be on your way. Come now, the proof or the truth." Gwen’s temper made her snap out a fact of which she didn’t want to spread around.

There was a glare as the woman drew herself up to her diminutive height. Short though she was, as the languid air of Rohanne drifted from her. The woman sighed, not in defeat but exasperation. “I see, shame. I thought we’d have a nice lovely time of lying to each other and each be on our way. I hardly wanted to watch the two of you frisk like fools down a side alley." She cocked her head, hands on hips. “That being said, I shall have to mention this to Ryon. The man seems to be one who would find this amusing as the seven hells." There was a wicked grin on her face as she decided cock and sure was going to get her out of this. Plus? It was all true. “Ser Ryon." She corrected herself with a sigh. “Handsome man, would love to go riding with him." She mused more to herself than the other three.

Bennifer looked between the pair, who were far too familiar with each other, and the strange woman. Woman, who was awfully familiar yet not. But it could have been the ale. Probably was the ale, he had drunk a lot. Deciding that two youngsters on the edge of temper versus someone who was probably a lover of the Sword of Morning, the giant shrugged. “I heard Ser Ryon is a man of… appetites." He turned his question on, not the woman, but the Squire Ashton. “Some women, do not like to have their affairs in the view of the public eye." He advised. “And some young people should not have theirs aired so openly." He noted the familiarity between the Hightower and his cousin and gave Gwen a pointed look.

Alys inclined her head to her cousin, though she doubted he knew such. “Young people are so incredibly jumpy."

“They can be when they have something to hide." Bennifer agreed, “I have younger brothers."

“My sympathies, Ser. Are you as of yet unmarried?" Hating herself, Alys forced herself to keep that lascivious smile and glance at the man, handsome yet utterly unattractive to her, up and down.

Bennifer grinned, “Aye and with a young son!" Turning his beaming eyes on Gwen, he looked like a moon eyed fool. “Benjicot Blackwood! Just born a month before we left Raventree! Olyria, my wife from the Frey’s, is well and the lad is so small. Would I not have come except for Aunt Melissa being willing to look after them." For a man of his size, Bennifer looked distinctly worried and sighed. “I still worry, not being there. The lad is just so… small." The man looked like he might actually start wringing his hands like a worried midwife.

Glad that Bennifer was distracted, the woman sighed and shrugged slightly. “I’m a bastard and friend to your knight master. Alys Flowers. From the Bushy’s. Though beforehand, I was in Starfall. Before your time, boy. Your lovely knight master was of… interest and a great riding partner. Simply ask him when you see him next. My Ser knight, and brother, is here to compete and I decided to come and call on an old… friend. My deepest apologies for the misunderstanding. I simply did not want to have you two think to start trouble with me in case I did come upon you so unawares. Some nobles get far more… sharp and heavy handed when they think you know their secrets." Giving a sigh, Alys shrugged and winced. She had felt that heavy hand from other men and could well recall it to her own ends.

The more the girl talked, the less Ashton was alarmed. By the end he sighed and relaxed fully, shaking his head and eyeing her up and down. "Look, I don't know what kind of 'relationship' you have with my Knight and frankly… I don't want to know anything, ever. I'm glad that you ended up telling at least a better lie and one I can't prove. I did not wish to accost you so harshly but what you did was against the laws of the realm and had to be addressed. I may not be a Knight but as a noble I still have that right."

He ignores the back and forth between her and Bennifer. He didn't need any other people how to live his life, he got plenty of that from his father and that man did it enough for the whole realm. "I will say… I didn't know Ryon had such young… Friends, and I'll be sure to mention I told you hello. Now, if you'll excuse Gwen and myself, I have an escort to finish and then a Knight to serve. I wish you both a good evening."

“Oh, do mention me. It’s a shame he was too busy tonight. Perhaps he’ll call on me tomorrow." Alys giggled, and sauntered off. Slipping into the shadows and cursing herself a fool. She would have to have Dannel send the boy flying a few times and scramble his skull a bit so he would forget her.

"Right… perhaps he will." Ashton rolled his eyes and moved back to Gwen's side.

Gwen’s eyebrows climbed at the suggestions tossed around about the Sword of the Morning. This woman was laying to on thicker than a novice mason. And if she wasn’t then the debauchery that Ser Ryon practiced was never intended for her ears. In fact she was sure the word friend was used with no less than three different inflections used each different than the last.

Gwen’s head snapped up at Bennifer’s comment about Ashton and herself. Narrowed eyes hopefully conveyed the message of ‘Not a subject we need to harp on…’. In reality it did convey that message, the males in her family typically ignored it.

Gritting her teeth at the fact that Alys and Ashton basically circled each other growling and finally settling down as they both realized that it wasn’t worth it. Gwen picked her nails as the little Flower verbally sparred with Ashton. Was what she noted true? That they seemed to have some sparks between the two?

Narrowing her eyes Gwen studied the girl. She couldn’t be much older than Gwen’s own eight and ten. The little Flower could give Ashton things that Gwen couldn’t. If there was one thing that Gwen knew meant as much as her life it was her virtue. Smallfolk had it easy in the department of choosing your own spouse. A noble maid that was no longer a maid wasn’t worth anything.

These thoughts, and lack of attention, turned Gwen’s thoughts to Arystide. Confusing was one way to explain that man. Handsome, no, beautiful. But he was confusing to her. She wasn’t sure if he did or didn’t want her. Or if he wanted her for more than someone to warm his bed. Him telling her that she needed to protect herself from everyone himself included,

Gwen blinked as the motion of the Flower girl walking away brought her back. Ashton got a little high handed and she raised an eyebrow at him as she took his arm again. She also reached out and did the same to Bennifer on her other arm. “Shall we?"

Of course Bennifer would be coming. Ashton gave a small smile and nodded to Gwen and took a moment to fully calm down. That situation could have been handled far better but it was a learning opportunity and Ash was certain that he would replay the events many times over.

"Of course let's continue if you wish. I apologize for my temper. Blatant disregard for the rules and posing as someone else for some reason just makes me angry. Illogical as my brother would say. Would you like to visit anywhere else?"

The giant grinned down at Gwendolyn and chuckled. “Feisty as ever, though..." He cocked a brow at the Hightower and gave the young Lady a skeptical look. “Should I skin some wolves for you tonight or tomorrow?" There was a grin on the man’s face but a wicked gleam of delight at showing those Starks where true might lay.

“Illogical? Perhaps. Foolhardy more like. And the Prince doesn’t seem to be in a mood to suffer fools. More like you saved the woman." Gwen shook her head. “No where else. It seems I have pushed the boundaries of House Stark tempers. Best to let things cool before I press my luck again."

Gwen raised her eyebrow at Bennifer leaning away from him slightly, in turn leaning more toward Ashton, her unbound hair sliding over his arm. “The wolves need me down here more than I need them. I may have been in the North for most of my life but I was born in the South. You can take the girl out of the South but you can’t take the South out of the girl."

Nodding Gwen tipped her head and her silky long hair shifted over Ashton’s arm softly, teasingly. “I would never deprive you of matching your prowess against another. How are you going to get better if you are not shown how to lose? I make no promises since the last time I saw you were a mere Squire. If you fancy skinning a wolf I’ll not stop you Benni."

Ashton laughed then, a full laugh that Gwen may have only heard once before. He smirked over to Bennifer and shook his head rapidly while holding onto Gwen. "No need to skin any wolves for me. I'm quite capable of skinning them myself if the need arises. But I don't think it will, but I will happily take your friendship. Perhaps we can spar and teach each other some things at some point."

The lad had a new respect for the Blackwood, and could see why Gwen liked him. When the ladies hair brushed across his skin though he blushed again and tried not to cough. All the other symptoms were present though. Rapid heartbeat, wide eyes, beads of sweat suddenly on his forehead. This girl could stop his heart and Ashton would only thank her for it.

"Er. Right, to the Stark encampment then."

“Ale and mead!" Bennifer grinned and clapped Ashton on the shoulder. “Though if you two don’t mind, I’ll see you there. Lest I find people speaking ill of my little cousin’s virtue with her suitor! Ha! Father and Lady Melissa will be delighted!" The giant guffawed and chuckled. “Boy, do you mean to make an honest Lady of my cousin? Or shall I have to use your pretty, red face for target practice?"

Gwen almost stumbled over her own feet. Surely he isn’t speaking of marriage already?! Yes he is!! She didn’t know Ashton’s mind on it. Most men his age… she had never asked his age. See we don’t know each other well enough for him to even entertain the idea. He can’t be thinking that far ahead he barely knows me. Even the word suitor would be stretched at this point. Surely not…

Her mind went a mile a minute and Gwen swatted Bennifer playfully to hide her insecurity. “Benni! Really you know that is the easiest way to drive a potential off. Having the males in the family interrogate them sends them packing. Besides being as wonderful as Lord Ashton has been I am sure that he is very popular with his easy manner and sweet chivalry. He likely has many admirers no matter where he goes. I just happen to be the damsel in distress at present."

She would be wrong. Not only did Ashton not have anyone else, he had NEVER had anyone else. Not one single time other than attending various girls that his parents forced him to dance with or talk to in the Hightower. Until Gwen, Ashton was terrified of being even close to a girl. But of course they couldn't know that, he really liked Gwen and the thought of her knowing just how much of a loser he was was not an option. He glanced at Bennifer and then down at the ground as they walked, taking his time to answer. He heard Gwen, but he was distracted and didn't quite catch everything.

And then he counted to three so he wouldn't overthink things and stopped abruptly. "I have never connected with another person other than my twin in my entire life like you. And while my honor dictates that I tell you that we hardly know each other, the thought of getting to know you brings a smile to my face and sets my heart beating faster than I knew possible. What comes in the future I know not, but if you would be willing I'd like to explore it together. In whatever way makes the most sense."

Nodding in agreement to the words of the squire, Bennifer nodded sagely. “I shall speak to Lord and Lady Stark alongside my Lord Father. Surely they will see reason that Gwendolyn is betrothed to such a charitable young man. Though it would go better if you got yourself knighted at this tournament and better still if you found yourself crowning her Queen of Love and Beauty. Though do not think I would go easy on you for that honor!" The large man laughed again and patted Gwen on the head, gently for all his size. “There you go, little cousin. All sorted! If you change your mind, I shall speak to mine aunt and see if a knife cannot be spareds to drive a knife between the young squire’s ribs if he displeases you." And to the giant? So it was, even if he had to impress on this young man that Gwendolyn had connections though slightly distant they might be. It would behoove him to treat the Lady Carmyne well, very well.

It was a hard thing to not shriek in equal parts frustration and happiness. Gwen cleared her throat. “I think that getting to know you would be a wonderful adventure Ashton. I, unlike Bennifer here, know that there are more than one side to speak to. You can’t just betroth someone instantly. Benni and Ashton is far too sweet to displease me." She had diverted her attention to Bennifer to speak to him and looked back at Ashton.

His bright blue eyes shone with emotion that made Gwen blush. Excitement and worry shot through her. She blushed and studied his tunic rather than meet his eyes and blush all the harder. “I… your family will have to approve of the match. My family would have to approve and I think Uncle Bran might be an obstacle. Possibly. Just don’t want to move so fast that I get dizzy." Gwen looked back up into Ashton’s eye and her mouth opened then closed. The emotion that was there rendered her enthralled by him. “I… uhhh..."

Ashton jumped in quickly as Gwen's words left her. Bennifer was more or less entirely ignored. His words meant nothing, the well meaning threats meant nothing. The only person that mattered was the girl before him. He nodded a few times. "I know, and I don't want to get close and then have either of our families decline. But the thought of not at least trying hurts itself. My brother, Aunt, and sister are coming tomorrow morning. I will set up a meeting with them tomorrow evening, after the first day of games. If we can get them on board I think my father will be convinced. And then I will make my way to whoever can make such a decision for you and speak my intentions plainly."

He took her hands in his own and smiled brightly to her, still staring directly at her. "If we want this we have to fight for it, and I'm not afraid of doing just that if you're not. But as you said, if this is going too fast. I understand, I get it. Whatever you want to do, however you want to do it. I'm yours."

The smile that Gwen graced Ashton with was that smile she got from her grandfather. The famous one that grew a beauty from the North to a River Lord. Her dimples deepened and her eyes sparkled. “Mine? I rather like that."

“Just make sure you don’t get your cock and balls lopped off in the melee!" Bennifer bellowed in delighted laughter. “Come, let us drink to the good news!"

TLDR

• Ashton decides to walk Gwen to the Stark Camp.
• Gwen kisses Ashton on the cheek which is seen by Alys.
• Alys poses as Lady Rohanne Webber. Ashton doesn’t believe Alys and starts to set up a trap verbally.
• Bennifer enters the scene to check on his cousin by marriage.
• Alys is caught in the lie. She decides to tell a more believable one.
• They let Alys go not entirely sure she is telling the truth but decide it isn’t worth it.
• Bennifer shows his romantic side and offers to help get the two betrothed.
• Gwen and Ashton comment on the fact that it would take more than just Bennifer saying they were.

A Song of Ice and Fire - the Blackfyre Rebellion

House Arryn

House Arryn of the Vale

As High As Honor.

House Description:

The Eyrie is an ancient Castle and seat of House Arryn, one of the oldest lines of Andal nobility, within the Vale of Arryn. It is situated in the Mountains of the Moon on a shoulder of the peak known as the Giant's Lance, several thousand feet above the valley below. Although small compared to the seats of other Great Houses in Westeros, the Eyrie is considered impregnable to attack. During wintertime, the Arryns seek refuge against the cold in the Gates of the Moon at the base of the mountain.

The Eyrie is the smallest of the great castles, being no larger than Maegor's Holdfast. The castle is made of fine white stone. Its seven slim, white towers are bunched tightly together and can hold up to five hundred men. The waterfall known as Alyssa's Tears can be heard from the Eyrie, and falcons fly near the castle.

The Eyrie lacks stables, smithys, and kennels, but it's granary is as large as those found in much larger castles, like Winterfell. The Eyrie also contains a sept. The castle's household guard wear sky-blue cloaks.

• The High Hall is a long and austere hall, with walls made of blue-veined white marble. The High Hall is decorated with rows of slim fluted pillars and a blue silk carpet. At the end of it sit two thrones carved of weirwood, one the high seat of the lord and the other a lesser throne for a consort. It has narrow, arched windows, between which are torches mounted on high iron or silver sconces. Feasts can be held in the High Hall. Entrance to the High Hall is through carved wooden doors.
• The Moon Door is a narrow weirwood door that stands between two slender pillars halfway in the High Hall. A crescent moon is carved into the door, which opens inward and is barred by three heavy bronze bars. The door opens into the sky. Most executions at the Eyrie use this door, which opens onto a six hundred foot drop to the stones of the valley below.
• The Crescent Chamber is the Eyrie's reception hall. Here, guests are given refreshments and warmed by the fire after making the climb up the Giant's Lance.
• A flight of steep marble stairs from the Crescent Chamber bypasses the Eyrie's undercrofts and dungeons and is protected by three murder holes. The portcullis atop the stairs leads to an arcade decorated with tapestries.
• The solar is located at the end of the arcade. The chamber is decorated with a Myrish carpet and has enough room for a trestle table and at least eight heavy oak-and-leather chairs.
• The Lower Hall is a hall in which food and wine can be served.
• The Morning Hall is located above the kitchens and is where people can break their fast.
• The Maiden's Tower is the easternmost of the seven towers of the Eyrie. From a balcony on the tower, one can see the Vale and the Giant's Lance.
• The Moon Tower contains the bedchambers of Lord Arryn, which is protected by an oaken door four inches thick and has curtains of plush blue velvet. The bedchamber's window has small diamond-shaped panes.
• The garden is encircled by the castle's towers. It was intended to be a godswood, but no weirwood heart tree would take root in the stony soil. The garden, which is overlooked by the ruler's chambers, instead contains blue flowers, grass, shrubbery, thin dark trees, and statuary, including a depiction of a weeping Alyssa Arryn in its center.
• Sky cells are the Eyrie's infamous dungeons. They are shelves on the side of the mountain's sheer cliffs, left open to the cold sky, with slightly sloping floors to unnerve the prisoners. Many prisoners, driven mad by the cold and howling wind, commit suicide rather than remain imprisoned.
• The Eyrie is located six hundred feet above a waycastle, Sky. Using handholds carved into the rock within the Giant's Lance, visitors can climb a ladder-like chimney which leads from Sky up to the castle's undercellar. Alternatively, wicker baskets and six great oaken buckets are drawn on long iron chains between the Eyrie and Sky. Supplies can thus be brought from Sky to the Eyrie's winch room, as can visitors unable or unwilling to climb the chimney ladder. Oxen are used to turn the winches, and the animals are slaughtered and left for falcons when the Arryns descend to the Gates of the Moon before winter. When the court returns to the Eyrie after winter, unspoiled meat is served in a spring feast.

To reach the Eyrie from the west, an invading army would have to first overcome the Bloody Gate guarding the high road. Within the Vale, the stout Gates of the Moon guard the base of the Giant's Lance.

Steep stone steps carved into the Giant's Lance creep up the mountainside from the Gates of the Moon; they are too narrow for horses, but are accessible by mules. Travelers on the staircase are exposed to defenders in three waycastles.

• Stone, the first waycastle, is on a path surrounded by forest.
• Snow, the second waycastle, is on a trail steeper than that of Stone. It is nestled into the Giant's Lance so as to command the entire pathway from Stone to Snow.
• Sky, the third waycastle, is on a treacherous path. Handholds carved into the rock lead up to the Eyrie. Baskets and oaken buckets can transport supplies and travelers up to the Eyrie as well.

History of the Eyrie

History
Kings of Mountain and Vale
Legends claim that the Winged Knight drove the First Men from the Vale and flew to the top of the Giant's Lance on a huge falcon to slay the Griffin King. Records indicate that Artys I Arryn, the first King of Mountain and Vale, constructed the Gates of the Moon at the foot of the Giant's Lance, where he had defeated King Robar II Royce's army of First Men in the Battle of the Seven Stars.

Artys's grandson, Roland I Arryn, believed that the Gates of the Moon was both inferior to Casterly Rock and the Hightower and strategically vulnerable to raids from the Vale mountain clans. Allegedly inspired by Teora Hunter, Roland decided to build a new royal palace high in the mountain above the Gates of the Moon.

Construction of the Eyrie took place intermittently over generations, and marble was imported from Tarth in the narrow sea, as Roland disliked the appearance of stone available in the Vale. The first maester to serve at the Eyrie was Quince.

The Eyrie was inhabited as a pleasure palace for the Kings of Mountain and Vale during spring, summer, and autumn. The Arryns descend to the larger Gates of the Moon for winter and host a feast when they return to the Eyrie in the spring.

The Conquest
During Aegon's Conquest, Queen Regent Sharra Arryn fortified the Bloody Gate and had her son, the boy king Ronnel Arryn, take refuge in the Eyrie. The fleet of House Arryn defeated that of House Targaryen in a battle in the waters off Gulltown.

After the Field of Fire and the submission of the north, Queen Visenya Targaryen, bypassed the Eyrie's lower defenses by flying upon her dragon, Vhagar, to the castle's inner courtyard. Realizing that the Eyrie's isolated location could not protect against dragons, Sharra submitted to Visenya. Visenya flew Ronnel thrice around the Giant's Lance, and the boy became Warden of the East for King Aegon I Targaryen, the new Lord of the Seven Kingdoms.

Early Targaryens
King Aegon I Targaryen visited the Eyrie during his royal progresses.

During the reign of Aegon's successor, King Aenys I Targaryen, Jonos Arryn imprisoned his brother, Lord Ronnel, and took control of the Eyrie. When Lord Allard Royce's host of loyal bannermen defeated Jonos's rebels below, the self-proclaimed King of Mountain and Vale threw Ronnel to his death through the Moon Door. Aegon's younger son, Prince Maegor Targaryen, rode the dragon Balerion to the Eyrie. To avoid being burned by Balerion's dragonflame, the Eyrie's garrison captured Jonos and threw him through the Moon Door. Maegor hanged all of Jonos's followers from the walls of the Eyrie.

After Elinor Costayne was forced to wed King Maegor I, one of her sons from her first marriage was sent to the Eyrie to be raised.

King Jaehaerys I Targaryen visited the Eyrie on Vermithor during his royal progress in 52 AC. Princess Daella Targaryen died at the Eyrie after giving birth to Aemma Arryn in 82 AC. Lord Rodrik Arryn wanted his wife to be buried in the Vale of Arryn, but Queen Alysanne Targaryen insisted that her daughter be burned and her ashes interred at Dragonstone.

During the Dance of the Dragons, Prince Jacaerys Velaryon flew to the Eyrie on Vermax to secure an alliance between Jeyne Arryn, Lady of the Eyrie, and the blacks of his mother, Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen. According to Grand Maester Munkun, Jacaerys and Jeyne agreed to an alliance in the castle's High Hall, with Jacaerys promising to have dragonriders sent to the Vale to help protect the Eyrie from enemy dragons.

Jeyne had her first cousin, Ser Arnold Arryn imprisoned in the sky cells of the Eyrie and in the dungeons of the Gates of the Moon after two failed rebellions. After Jeyne died, her preferred heir, Ser Joffrey Arryn, was contested by Arnold's son, Ser Eldric Arryn, and by Isembard Arryn of Gulltown. After a civil war in the Vale of Arryn, Joffrey eventually emerged as Lord of the Eyrie during the regency of Aegon III.

House Arryn of the Eyrie is one of the Great Houses of Westeros, and is the principal noble house in the Vale of Arryn. Their main seat is the Eyrie, which is considered impregnable. House Arryn has at least one other holding, their winter castle at the Gates of the Moon, which was once their main seat. Both of these fortifications sit astride the Giant's Lance, the tallest mountain in the Vale, the Gates of the Moon at its foot, the Eyrie at its top.

The Arryn sigil is a sky-blue falcon soaring upwards, outlined against a white moon on a sky-blue field, and their words are "As High as Honor".

The Arryns of the Eyrie have a collection of distant relatives located throughout the Vale. Although they are much poorer than the ruling Arryns, aside from the Arryns of Gulltown, these lesser branches are described as proud due to their name and heritage.

History of House Arryn

Kings of Mountain and Vale
The Arryns are considered to come from the oldest and purest line of Andal nobility, which they say reaches back to Andalos and possibly Hugor of the Hill.

When King Robar II Royce began to unite the First Men and defeat some of the petty Andal kings during the Andal invasion, the Andals of the Vale united behind Ser Artys Arryn, the Falcon Knight, a native Valeman esteemed amongst his peers as the finest warrior of his day. Robar was slain in the Battle of the Seven Stars, possibly by Artys, and the First Men houses who remained bent the knee and swore fealty to Artys Arryn, the First of His Name, new-crowned King of Mountain and Vale. From that day, the Vale became known as the Vale of Arryn. Songs of the Vale conflate Artys with the legendary Winged Knight, who is said to have slain the Griffin King atop the Giant's Lance. The First Men who did not accept Artys as their king were forced into the Mountains of the Moon, becoming the Vale mountain clans.

The Arryns initially lived at the Gates of the Moon, but over generations they constructed the Eyrie. They often used the Eyrie as a summer pleasure palace, descending to the Gates of the Moon before winter made the Eyrie inaccessible.

The Arryn kings added Pebble, the Paps, and the Witch Isle to their realm. They battled with the Stark Kings of Winter over the Three Sisters in the War Across the Water, which featured King Osgood Arryn and his son and successor, Oswin the Talon, who burned the Wolf's Den. There were bloody battles wherein the Arryn fleet turned back slavers from Volantis, ironborn reavers, and pirates from the Stepstones and the Basilisk Isles. The legendary Lady Alyssa Arryn gave her name to Alyssa's Tears, a waterfall on the Giant's Lance, when she did not shed a tear for her murdered husband, brothers and children.

Aegon's Conquest
During Aegon's Conquest the Arryn and Targaryen fleets fought in a battle in the waters off Gulltown, which resulted in the destruction of the Targaryen fleet and the death of its commanding officer, Daemon Velaryon. Visenya Targaryen, on her dragon Vhagar, burned the Arryn fleet in response. Since both fleets were destroyed, the battle was considered a tactical draw, but a strategic defeat for the Targaryens as they were unable to take Gulltown. For House Arryn the trouble did not end there, since the Sistermen on the Three Sisters revolted after the destruction of the Arryn fleet.

Later in Aegon's Conquest, Visenya was charged with subduing the Vale. Sharra Arryn, Queen Regent of the Vale, ruling in the name of her son, the boy-king Ronnel Arryn, amassed the Vale's army at the Bloody Gate. Visenya, however, flew on Vhagar to the courtyard of the Eyrie to obtain the surrender of the Vale of Arryn. When Sharra returned to the Eyrie she found her son sitting on Visenya's lap asking if he could ride the dragon with her. Once Sharra yielded and bent the knee, Ronnel twice flew with Visenya and Vhagar. The Arryns have since remained Defenders of the Vale and Wardens of the East for the Iron Throne.

Targaryen Dynasty
Queen Rhaenys Targaryen arranged the marriage of Lord Ronnel Arryn to the daughter of Lord Torrhen Stark of Winterfell, in an attempt to knit the new realm together. There are letters at the Citadel which suggest that Torrhen only agreed to this match after much protest, and that his sons had refused to attend the wedding. In 37 AC Ronnel was deposed by his brother Jonos. When House Royce gathered forces against Jonos and besieged him in the Eyrie, Jonos threw Ronnel and his family through the Moon Door. Prince Maegor Targaryen flew to the Eyrie on Balerion, and hanged Jonos and his supporters. House Arryn continued through a cousin, Hubert Arryn.

In 80 AC, during the reign of King Jaehaerys I Targaryen, Lord Rodrik Arryn married Princess Daella Targaryen, the king's daughter. Daella died in childbirth, giving birth to their only child, Lady Aemma Arryn. Aemma was married to Prince Viserys Targaryen in 93 AC. By the time Jaehaerys called a Great Council in 101 AC, Rodrik was deceased as well, and Lady Jeyne Arryn ruled the Eyrie. However, as she was in her minority in 101 AC, House Arryn played a small role in this council.

Upon the death of Jaehaerys in 103 AC, Prince Viserys was crowned king and Aemma Arryn his queen. During the early years of their marriage, Aemma gave birth to a stillborn son and suffered multiple miscarriages, though she also gave birth to a daughter, Rhaenyra Targaryen, in 97 AC. Aemma died giving birth to her second son, Baelon, who followed her to the grave a few days later.

Following the death of Viserys I in 129 AC, House Arryn became involved in the Dance of the Dragons, where Aemma's daughter, Viserys's elder child and proclaimed heir, Princess Rhaenyra, and Rhaenyra's younger brother, Prince Aegon, Viserys's eldest surviving son, fought over their claims to the Iron Throne. Jeyne Arryn supported the blacks and her kinswoman Rhaenyra. At the start of the Targaryen civil war, Prince Jacaerys Velaryon, Rhaenyra's eldest son, traveled to the Eyrie to secure aid for his mother's cause. Jeyne kept true to her promise and sent men by sea by way of Gulltown to join Rhaenyra's hosts.

Following the conclusion of the civil war, and the coronation of King Aegon III Targaryen, Rhaenyra's eldest surviving son, at the age of eleven, Jeyne became one of seven regents of the young king. She died in Gulltown of illness in 134 AC.

This led to a succession struggle. Jeyne's will named her fourth cousin Joffrey Arryn as heir. However Jeyne's first cousin Arnold Arryn had been imprisoned for trying to depose her but his son Eldric Arryn pushed their claim. A more distant cousin, Isembard Arryn, head of House Arryn of Gulltown, also pushed their claim. Even though Eldric was eventually killed, Arnold continued to oppose Joffrey. Finally Arnold and Isembard were forced to submit to Joffrey.

Recent History:
Joffrey Arryn the father of Donnel, Lysander and Alys lived to the age of 67 and died of a lung ailment. Once the civil unrest in the Vale had been quashed Joffrey had turned to further improvements in the Vale’s Navy. His actions were a long term plan to shore up the merchants with cogs, schooners and galleys. Sadly Joffrey did not live to see his vast improvements fully completed. His son Donnel however took over and improved on his father’s plan with the help of his wiley wife Brighid. Being well acquainted with vessels, her input was invaluable to finish what Joffrey started and Donnel envisioned with greater clarity.

Donnel and Brighid started to expand contracts with Essos, Riverland and coastal merchants. Having an arranged marriage that turned out well and grew into love. There was a bit of a rocky start, due to the young age that they married but understanding and growth soon followed the couple. It was Brighid’s idea to further trade with the Riverlands being from the most southern end of the Riverlands; she was keen to use any influence she could.

The oldest son, Arthyr, was sent to Gwayne Corbray, a Kings Guard at the Red Keep. While Jaslyn was kept at home with her mother and Mycah was fostered to different houses within the Vale starting at the age of eight.

Family Members:

• Donnel Arryn - 41 born 161 AC. Always ready with a smile, Donnel enjoys life to the fullest extent. He's always playing about and active, and brings joy to all within his sphere of influence. But even with his amiable personality he is a cunning ruler that has developed an uncanny ability to read other people, particularly his bannermen. He adopts a shrewdness and probing demeanor to match his bubbliness which leaves people with spun heads as they try to figure out just what the Lord of the Vale was thinking.
• Brighid Arryn née Mooton - 40 born 162 AC. Stern, serious but loving mother that takes her job seriously. She has a sharp tongue and suffers no fools, save for her children and husband occasionally.
• Arthyr Arryn - 23 born 179 AC. [See Character Sheets below]
• Jaslyn Arryn - 20 born 182 AC. [See Character Sheets below]
• Mycah Arynn - 17 born 185 AC. [See Character Sheets below]
• Alys Targaryen née Arryn - 29 born 173 AC. Wedded to Rhaegel Targaryen
• Lysander Arryn - 37 born 167 AC. Head of House Arryn of Gulltown has been widowed these past 3 years and looking for a bride.
• Ysolde Arryn - 20 born 182 AC

Household Members:

• Captain of the Household Guard: Ser Royce Deddings - 32 born 170 AC.
• Maester: Maester Trenten - 37 born 165 AC.
• Septa: Septa Leynara - 50 born 152 AC.
• Gaoler: Todd - indeterminate no one knows. You ask.
• Ladies in Waiting: Lyndsay, Khloe, Serah - 26, 24, 22 born 176 - 180 AC.
• Master at Arms: Ser Lonald Royce - 42 born 160 AC.
• Bastian Forel 30 born 172 AC. Water dancer instructor for House Arryn.
• Senischel: Arrold Mortimer - 65 born 137 AC.

Character Sheets:

Arthyr Arryn

Name: Arthyr Arryn
Age: 23 born 179 AC
House/Affiliation: House Arryn
Description & Biography: Arthyr is a mirthful bundle of looking on the bright side. With a coy grin always plastered on his face the young man takes after his father eerily in terms of appearance and bearing. Like Donnel, Arthyr likes to make people laugh and smile while also being a very good listener. He has a tendency to be polite to the small folk and has even helped out quite a few pages or maids in the Red Keep. Arthyr also enjoys heading out into the city itself and to get a feel for life outside the castle walls. He has a group of kids that he taught basic swordplay and even bought them all arming swords when they came of age.

Arthyr is sometimes mistaken for a Lannister with his features, a curse of the golden hair. Luckily the Arryn livery he tends to wear makes up for it. He stands at exactly six feet, and has an athletic build. He has deep blue eyes that tend to always be shining with laughter, smiling eyes they have been called.

When he was twelve, Arthyr was sent to Kings Landing to squire under Ser Gwayne Corbray to train in arms and armor but to also learn the way of politics from the best that exist, the courtiers of Kings Landing. He watched, listened, and took notes on every day in court. He has developed a strong sense of being lied to, or being used, and like his father he has developed a formidable mask. He is hard to read and can go from smiling to blank faced instantly.

Arthyr is a skilled swordsman, not the best, but not the worst but his true strength is on horseback. On a Horse Arthyr is almost unstoppable. Sword, Lance, axe, mace, spear, and even the bow. He spends a lot of his early evenings in the stable training his horse and continuing the bond he has with the animal.

Arthyr's primary weakness is his blunt, stubborn nature. When negotiating he says what he wants and will rarely be moved from his decisions. He's shrewd and uncompromising but he does it with a smile.

Jaslyn Arryn

Name: Jaslyn Arryn
Age: 20 born 182 AC
House/Affiliation: House Arryn
Description & Biography: Jaslyn is a petite and beautiful girl who looks younger than her actual age. Her light blue green eyes are framed by deep brown thick lashes. Freckles dust her pale skin like stars in the night sky. Her hair is a pale rose gold and mostly kept up in intricate braided updos. When her hair is down it falls in a straight unbroken line to mid-thigh.

Jaslyn has spent her life in the Vale and takes after her mother and is a very serious young lady. Her days consist of learning heraldry, needle point, playing the harp, dancing, riding, hawking and water dancing. Her mother insisted that she learn to protect herself and consequently hired a Braavosi Master Waterdancer. Jaslyn learned the history of Westeros and Essos from Maester Trenten and Septa Leynara. She learned Braavosi and water dancing from Bastian Forel, the water dance tutor for House Arryn.

Mycah Arryn

Name: Mycah Arryn
Age: 17 born 185 AC
House/Affiliation: House Arryn
Description & Biography: Mycah is the youngest of the family but perhaps one of the most treasured as tends to be the case for the youngest. Mycah stands at five foot four and has a slim build. He has lighter blonde hair, a natural two-tone where the darker just undercuts the light. His eyes change shades of blue in the light and tend to be searching.

Mycah doesn't do a whole ton of talking, and when he does he tends to be well spoken and sure of himself. He's intelligent, calculating, strategic, and mature.

When he was eight years old Mycah came up with the idea to spend a year with each of the Vale banner lords. A year of getting to know, but also letting them know of himself. Mycah has a keen tactical mind, a natural strategist, and while he isn't the best swordsman he can hold his own and invent new ways of fighting.

Delbrook Academy Senior Year

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Riley Alexander Revels

_{"When I focus on fixing everyone else Who fixes me?"}

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_______________________________________ N A M E Riley Alexander Revels ∞ Riles ∞ Revely ∞ Revels ∞ Music Man (To those that know him) ∞ Class Clown A G E August 24th, 17-years-old G E N D E R Male S E X U A L I T Y Bi-sexual P L A C E O F O R I G I N Naples, Long Beach, California E T H N I C I T Y Australian-American _______________________________________ A P P E R A N C E Voice: ∞ Talking 1.0 ∞Talking 2.0 Height: 5'11" Weight: 147lbs Hair: Light brown and Blonde two-tone Eyes: Bright Blue Body Type: Mesomorph Body Marks: None _______________________________________ R E L A T I O N S H I P S T A T U S Single Crushes: ∞ Daniel Murphy ∞ Samantha Rhodes ∞ Sasha Lopez Current: ∞ None Past: ∞ Jackson Whills F A M I L Y Mother: ∞ Ava Revels Father: ∞ Alex Revels Maid: ∞ Felicia P E T S Two Huskies. Lux & Kayn H O M E S W E E T H O M E No one knows where I live... And I like to keep it that way but here it is. - 1.0, 2.0 _______________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________ L I K E S ✔ ALL Music ✔ Performing ✔ Football, both watching and playing ✔ Hanging out with friends ✔ Meeting new people ✔ Composing ✔ Swimming ✔ The Beach ✔ His dogs ✔ The Ocean at night ✔ Video Games (League of Legends) ✔ Parties ✔ Football Practice ✔ Marching Band ✔ Watching TV with friends ✔ Watching movies with friends ✔ Staying somewhere other than his house ✔ Dancing ✔ Musicals D I S L I K E S ✘ Chinese Food ✘ Japanese Food ✘ 'Rich foods' ✘ His parents ✘ Bee's ✘ Spider's ✘ Overuse of text speak ✘ Being 'forced' to sing like a trained animal ✘ Waking up ✘ Stuck up teachers ✘ Math! ✘ Fake people ✘ Bullies of any kind ____________________________________________________________________________ P E R S O N A L I T Y Creative ₳ Musical ₳ Extraverted ₳ Intuitive ₳ Loyal ₳ Goofy ₳ Playful ₳ Honest The kind of guy that likes to have friends, but while he knows everyone and considers everyone a friend he's the guy that has an inner circle that he keeps very close to himself, and entry is highly regulated. Then within that circle, there's only one or two that he can trust explicitly. The friends that he can speak on his deepest and darkest secrets. A creative genius when it comes to music and expressing himself through the arts, Riley has been writing songs and composing songs since he was in middle school. When truly upset and out of control only music can soothe him. It's his go-to coping method for just about everything in his life. Riley is exceptionally friendly and very out-going. With everything that goes on inside of himself, he sees it as a job to make everyone else feel better than he. He memorizes names and goes out of his way to greet everyone he passes to ask how their day has gone. He's commonly written a simple song for someone having a bad day and keeps a large stack of singles to treat his friends to their favorite candy or soda. He's always been empathetic and intuitive, able to tell how someone is even if they say they're 'ok'. He's built a reputation for being someone that you can talk to and that whatever you tell him doesn't go anywhere but him. He's loyal to a fault, likes to goof around and make people smile, and when you ask Riley something you can bet that it'll be the truth. Whether you like the outcome or not. ____________________________________________________________________________ B I O G R A P H Y Riley was born in London, England to Alexander and Ava Revels. Alexander, Riley's father, was a renowned archeologist, professor, and holder of a fortune found from historical finds and his family's already exuberant wealth. Ava, Alexander's wife, and Riley's mother was the Australian counterpart to the academic professor. Ava was old money, the family coming to Australia from England sometime after World War 2. Ava was a philanthropist who began funding the expeditions of one Alexander Revels. And on one fateful treasure hunt, the two fell in love. Eventually they 'settled' down in Long Beach, California where they build a large manse on the Naples island and had Riley. Riley was raised from birth truthfully by Felicia, a maid that made the trip from Australia to America to help Mrs. Revels. Riley rarely got to see his parents who became addicted to the nightlife of LA. They were constantly gone and bought other properties so they didn't have to come home often. No other children were in the cards and when Riley was 5, he overheard his mother tell Felicia that Riley was more a mistake than anything. Those words stuck with Riley and while he wanted to nothing, and was spoiled beyond measure Riley hated it. Instead, as he grew and under Felicia's guidance Riley grew to be a loving and empathetic child. He himself was hurting, which was made worse in his elementary and middle school years but he learned to hide his pain well, hiding under a desire to see others happy. Riley thrived in social situations and while his desire for attention from adults meant that he acted out and was the 'class clown' so to speak he was otherwise a great child in school. He received top marks in everything but Math where he struggled. An area where he certainly didn't struggle was in the arts. His teacher in elementary school noticed the affinity for music and pushed the boy further into music. In middle school, he was allowed to take Band and he fell in love with the Violin. During middle school, Riley learned how to play the guitar, violin, cello, saxophone, clarinet, and could read and write in both treble and bass clefs. The band director at the middle school also introduced Riley to musical theory and during both the spring and winter concerts of his eighth-grade year, Riley co-wrote the arrangement with the director. Highschool was instantly different. His freshman year he spent mostly with his music and getting to know all the new children that came from all the surrounding middle schools. He continued his habit of being nice to people and trying to make their day while offering advice or just listening to people that just needed an ear and a pat on the back afterward accompanied by a happy smile and an endorsement that it will get better. He was decently well liked and between his music, his love of making others laugh, and his still reigning class-clown title Riley has managed High-school thus far. But who knows what Senior Year will involve. ____________________________________________________________________________ S C H O O L I N F O G R A D E Y E A R 12th grade G P A & A V E R A G E 3.8 / A in everything but Math. No Honors or AP classes F A V O R I T E C L A S S Orchestra E L E C T I V E C L A S S E S Chorus and Marching Band E X T R A C U R R I C U L A R Marching Band (Saxophone section leader), Orchestra (Violin First Chair) Tenor in Chorus, Theater, Gaming Club, Football (Wide Receiver) T R A N S P O R T A T I O N ∞ 2021 Honda Civic Type R that he traded his new Camaro for (It was a present from his parents). P L A N S A F T E R G R A D U A T I O N Riley plans to attend either Julliard or Berkeley School of the Arts. He hopes to make it broadway and continue composing. ____________________________________________________________________________ A F T E R - S C H O O L I N F O E M P L O Y M E N T Volunteers at the Middle School where he came from. He helps the students with various instruments. He also teaches Violin and Piano to wealthy children who homeschool. F A V O R I T E P L A C E S ∞ Band Room ∞ His roof, watching the boats and water surrounding Naples ∞ The Beach at night ∞ Long Beach Towne Center Movie Theater R E S P O N S I B I L I T I E S ∞ Tutor for Piano and Violin ∞ Section Leader in Marching Band ∞ Wide Receiver for the Football Team ____________________________________________________________________________ O T H E R His favorite movie is Whiplash. Regularly works with the drama teacher, choral instructor, and band director to compose and talk musical theory. Riley's parents have come to no school function whatsoever, leading many to believe his nanny Felicia is his mother instead. In addition to his music, Riley takes dance lessons, vocal lessons, and acting classes. T H E M E S O N G Talking to Myself by Watsky Unity by Shinedown Face Claim: Alex Lange | 0AFFE7

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Aymeric Landon Miland

_{"Time doesn't really heal anything. It just teaches us how to live with the pain"}

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_______________________________________ N A M E Aymeric Landon Miland ∞ Landon (He prefers to go by his middle name in America) ∞ Emmy (Only extremely close friends) ∞ Miland ∞ Lady Killer (though he despises it) ∞ Leonardo Di Caprio ∞ French Prince Charming (Mostly due to his still present French Accent.) A G E March 21st, 17-years-old G E N D E R Male S E X U A L I T Y Pansexual P L A C E O F O R I G I N London, England E T H N I C I T Y French _______________________________________ A P P E R A N C E Voice: ∞ Talking 1.0 ∞Talking 2.0 Height: 6'0" Weight: 165lbs Hair: Light Brown Eyes: Light Blue Body Type: Mesomorph Body Marks: None. _______________________________________ R E L A T I O N S H I P S T A T U S Quite happily Crushes: ∞ Marco Costello ∞ Riley Revels ∞ Eretria Simmons ∞ Monserad Tul Current: ∞ Marco Costello Past: None F A M I L Y Aunt: ∞ Claire Weston Uncle: ∞ Wyatt Weston Brother: ∞ Astor Axell Miland Brother: ∞ Corbin Renault Miland P E T S None at the present moment. H O M E S W E E T H O M E Aunt/Uncles House in Rossmoor - 1.0, 2.0 _______________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________ L I K E S ✔ Talking to People ✔ Being part of a team ✔ Playing Sports ✔ Watching Sports ✔ Hanging out at the Beach ✔ Being a Leader ✔ Languages ✔ Busy work ✔ Schoolwork ✔ Teachers ✔ Coaches ✔ His brothers ✔ His Aunt and Uncle ✔ Exercising ✔ Working Out ✔ Memories of his parents ✔ Watching Movies ✔ Work Ethic ✔ Honesty D I S L I K E S ✘ Rap music ✘ Guns ✘ Any reference to gun violence ✘ Breaking Down ✘ Memories of his parents ✘ Peer pressure ✘ Being allergic to so much ✘ Heights ✘ Being called Frenchie ✘ Naysayers ✘ Letting his team down ✘ Anyone who doesn't give 110% ✘ Cheaters/Bullies ____________________________________________________________________________ P E R S O N A L I T Y Athletic ₳ Dedicated ₳ Damaged ₳ Loyal ₳ PTSD ₳ Competitor ₳ Leader ₳ Brave At one point Aymeric or Landon as he prefers to be called in the states was an extremely nice bundle of energy. He radiated warmth and happiness and was almost always in a good mood. He made friends with everyone, could talk to anyone without issues, and wasn't afraid of anything. And even though he struggled with medical complications most of his life he never once quit or let it get to him. This energy and passion helped him overcome many of those childhood ailments including early Asthma which went away when he turned nine. Unfortunately, things changed after what he calls the darkest day. Aymeric and his parents were shopping in Cumbria, England. The family was visiting a national expert in childhood asthma when they were randomly targeted by a shooter wielding a shotgun. Both of Aymeric's parents were killed. After this incident, Aymeric closed in on himself. He suffered from PTSD and loud sounds scared him constantly. Without that bubbly personality, his health also began to diminish and a heavy cloud hung over him. He and his brothers were sent to California to live with their mother's brother. Aymeric would go to school, doodle on his work, ignore everyone, and then come home where he went to his room and remained. When he reached Middle School he only participated in Gym because of the gruff and wizened Football coach who was in charge of physical education. Aymeric found that when he was being active he was able to get rid of the memories plaguing him and he could think for the first time in years. The coach recruited Aymeric to play Football for him and the young man took to it. It was here that Aymeric became much more Athletic, a competitor, dedicated, and loyal. Fast forward to current times and Landon is a mix of damaged and healed. He still struggles at times with PTSD, and will still break down when certain memories come rushing past him. He hides it extremely well however with a large focus on sports. He now plays every single one he possibly can, and found that his schoolwork can also help. He sees a therapist twice a week and with the man's help Landon has become a true leader on the field, and someone that any teammate can be happy to have around. Landon hesitantly flexes his personal skills and likes to introduce himself to new people and make new friends. For those that already know him or are friends with him know that he's one of the most loyal people you could met and would do ANYTHING for you. ____________________________________________________________________________ B I O G R A P H Y Aymeric was born in London, England to British mom Susan Cresswell and French father Renault Miland. Susan, a member of the British parliament had taken to Renault who served as an ambassador for the French Prime Minister. The two fell in love and Renault agreed to leave his country and move to England. Their love was true and soon enough came Aymeric, their first child. The joy of his birth was tempered with complications with first the pregnancy and then Aymeric's health right after. He suffered from a number of issues including stridor, asthma, and seizures. But, despite this Aymeric grew, and while one might consider a boy so sick to be starved of energy. It was the opposite, and Aymeric became a true bright light in the darkness for his parents. He guided them and as if through the pure power of will Aymeric defeated every single disease. To be sure, Aymeric's parents took him to a specialist in the Cumbria province. The specialist confirmed what Aymeric's doctors had said. The boy was clear of symptoms and had beaten back the disease before it had clawed its way forward. It was a time for celebration and the three of them, the other two members of their family Corbin and Astor having remained in London with family friends, went out to lunch to eat. They then left and hailed for a taxi... A taxi drove by an active shooter that had been driving about the province and committing violence. When the Miland's approached the gunman pointed a shotgun at them and fired twice. The first shot hit Susan and clipped Renault who took the full brunt of the second shot after he shoved Aymeric into a ditch at their left. Both of Aymeric's parents were killed. The constables couldn't console the grieving boy and he didn't stop crying until he passed out from exhaustion. At first, the Miland children were going to be sent to France, to live with Renault's family. But instead, it was decided that they would be sent to California, to Susan's brother Wyatt and his wife Claire. They were well off already but the insurance payments of a British public servant and Renault's family's gifts none of the three boys would want for much of anything... It was placed in a trust with Aymeric, the oldest receiving the largest share. Wyatt and Claire were also not exactly hurting as Claire served as a pediatric surgeon, and Wyatt ran a computer manufacturing business with his father. Aymeric was eleven years old by the time he arrived in America, a year before middle school and two years after the incident. He was a silent and numb child at first, his whole fifth-grade year and it seemed to anyone that tried to be friends with him that such would continue into the sixth grade. And it might've had it not been for Coach Frank Long. Long served a triple threat role within the middle school. He was the Physical Education Teacher, the Head Football Coach of a national level team, and helped in the IT department. The man was a no-nonsense gruff man but he also had an eye for potential and was good at spotting pain. He used sports to first get Aymeric, now Landon to talk to him, and then recommended a therapist to Wyatt and Claire who they instantly used. Landon became obsessed with sports and he joined the Football team in his sixth-grade year and surprised everyone, including Long when he began outperforming the starters near the end of the season. Long continued to mentor the boy and coached him in the off-season where Landon also played every other sport he possibly could. One day Long found that Landon was failing most of his classes and after a very long heart to heart explained to the boy that grades were just as important, if not more so than quality play. Between that and finding out that diving into work helped him process Landons grades began to get better and better until right at the end of sixth grade he was on the AB honor roll. The rest of Middle School went about the same, Landon getting better and better at all aspects of his life. If anyone had known him before they would just realize that he was healing and becoming more like himself from before. Long continued to coach him specifically and the now young man led the school to the national middle school championship and won it as the quarterback. In addition to Quarterback, he also played shortstop in baseball, shooting guard in basketball, and center forward in soccer. Exceptionally Athletic and with a natural leadership quality Landon not only excelled himself but raised everyone around him by being genuine a true team player. He was also the second-highest grade in the school, and it was apparent that Frank Long had truly helped Landon perform a 180. Then came Highschool. Delbrook Academy was definitely a change but Landon stuck to a simple strategy. Just continue to do what he did best. His Freshman year he was top of his class, and was one of the most promising Football players in Southern California, with scouts already being told of the young man. (With help may or may not come from a certain Middle School Coach.) Sophomore year, Landon had to sit out of Fall and Winter sports but was able to at least participate in Baseball and Swimming in the Spring. His Junior year he was the Varsity starting Quarterback and performed quite well despite only having one real target on the receiving corps. The team was first in the state, yet fell in the first round of nationals. Throughout all of this, he continued to be either at the top of his class or in the top five of his year. Now that Senior Year has come everything is looking up. New talent has come up from the JV squad, including three new receivers, and another rising star running back. Landon has truly begun feeling healed, still struggling but now beginning to believe that he truly can become better. He's also realized that he has pushed himself far too much and that stress has become a best friend to himself. He knows he needs to temper himself but there's so much that needs to be done. And if that wasn't enough, Landon has finally healed enough to start taking notice of his sexuality and the many classmates of his at the high school. Sure, it might be a bit late, but better late than never right? The pressure is on, lets see how the year turns out! ____________________________________________________________________________ S C H O O L I N F O G R A D E Y E A R 12th grade G P A & A V E R A G E 4.9 / A+ Average, all Honors and AP classes, no free periods. F A V O R I T E C L A S S Calculus E L E C T I V E C L A S S E S Quantitive literacy E X T R A C U R R I C U L A R Football (Captain and Quarterback) in the fall, Basketball (Shooting guard) in the winter, Baseball (Co-captain and Shortstop/Pitcher), and Swimming in the Spring. T R A N S P O R T A T I O N ∞ 1966 Ford Mustang Fastback. P L A N S A F T E R G R A D U A T I O N Landon is sort of taking it by ear, but with the combine truly testing him this year he hopes he will have enough scores and grades to get a full scholarship to play College Football. Preferably at Alabama or USC. If that doesn't work out he has considered something in the mathematic field. ____________________________________________________________________________ A F T E R - S C H O O L I N F O E M P L O Y M E N T Assistant Offensive Coach at his old Middle School. F A V O R I T E P L A C E S ∞ Football Stadiums ∞ School ∞ The Beach ∞ Home R E S P O N S I B I L I T I E S ∞ Captain of the Football and Co-captain the Baseball teams ∞ Coaches Middle School Ball ∞ His Grades ____________________________________________________________________________ O T H E R His favorite movie is Rudy. Landon is fluent in French, Spanish, Italian, and is learning German. Landon constantly checks on his teammates, and is the first to offer help to anyone. Is allergic to peanuts, soy, bananas, mangoes, cherries, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, watermelon, and sulfur. T H E M E S O N G 10 by Built by Titan (feat. Starxs) Ghost by Built by Titan (feat. Joe Kirk) Face Claim: Gavin Casalegno | DEA2FF

Delbrook Academy Senior Year

@Squashedquatch

Send me a DM with what you have and I will try and fix it.

Delbrook Academy Senior Year

<Snipped quote by Apoalo>

Thanks! You have the best pfp ever. Hands down.

@Squashedquatch

Aww, thank you. I've used it for some time! I still miss him haha.

Delbrook Academy Senior Year

Hey Squash! One of the easier things to do I found was to go to the CS post of someone and then at the top right there's a 'raw' button. That will basically copy a fully coded copy of their CS and then you can just edit your character stuff in, instead of theirs.

A Song of Ice and Fire - the Blackfyre Rebellion

Afternoon Flirtations [Present time for Gwen flashback for Ashton]

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Arranging to find Beylee and Sasja wasn’t that hard. Sasja Reed was a small thing and very pretty. She’d be where Beylee was, attempting to talk Mathias into them squiring for him. Gwendolyn rolled her shoulders anticipating that Beylee was going to annoy her till her temper flashed. Looking around and not seeing Luci or Quinn right away Gwendolyn sighed and thought they had gone to lay down for a nap much like their Uncle was doing at present.

Catching sight of a page Gwendolyn beckoned him over. “Have you seen Lady Beylee or Lady Sasja recently?" She smiled as he nodded.

“I ‘ave. They be o’er at th’ lists wi’ th’ gian’ in fur." His accent was thick and utterly adorable.

“My thanks." Gwendolyn handed the boy a groat and he grinned while running off.

Sighing, Gwendolyn knew that she’d have to go get the girls. If she remembered correctly, which she almost always did, then she'd have to go past the Redwyne Pavillion again. While part of her did want to stop in and enjoy herself more she knew it would disappoint her Uncle. Disappointment and or disapproval was far worse than him being upset at her. Swiftly walking in the direction she needed to go, Gwendolyn made her way to the lists in between tents. Picking up her skirts she dashed looking in between tents in case Beylee and Sasja had given up on nagging Mathias.

Seven hells, why were there so many pavilions strong? Barely did Ashton manage to jump and dodge the variety of straps and ropes all tying down fabric of all colors. He needed a break. He had traversed these tents many times already, having been at Summerhall for some time already and being present when the first tent came up. But everyday now more and more added to the flood of color on the grounds.

Stumbling, much like he had earlier near the lists he looked for feet and giggles but he heard nothing, it was his own clumsiness. Luckily he was able to keep his feet, a testament to his training, but his head was still spinning as he mentally tried to remember his shortcuts through the maze.

Sighing, and with great internal strife, Ash turned to continue on his way toward his 'secret spot' which was little more than a tucked away hill where he liked to watch the sun set and relax for a small moment or two before he got to work on getting things prepared for the next day.

She had barreled into someone. Of all the luck trying to catch a glimpse of either of the cousins. This is what she gets for being even close to disobedience. Not to put too fine a point on it but she was in between tents and no one would check back here for a while. She had turned a corner and ran right into a solid wall of muscle.

Gwendolyn's breath left her in a rush as she tripped and was on her way to the ground. She was going to hit hard when suddenly a solid pair of arms wrapped around her and her descent to the ground was halted.

There was a soft 'oof' followed by a quick inhale and gasp as Ashton realized someone had just run straight into him. And judging by the dress it was a Lady. "Oh! By the Seven, are you quite alright?" Ash exclaimed as he suddenly had a five foot ten woman in his arms, preventing her fall. It wasn't every day when a woman would just sort of fall into your lap, or arms in this case, and it never happened to Ash. In fact he was quite positive he had never even dreamed of such a scenario happening. His younger brother perhaps had, but that was because he was in Essos.

"Um." He looked around to see if anyone was watching and raised an eyebrow. When he was certain she wasn't going to fall and he couod habdle her weight he chuckled. "Got to watch that rope there. Whoever put that tent up decided to use way more ropes than was needed. I'm Ashton by the way, Ashton Hightower."

Gwendolyn stifled a giggle as she sat up and looked up and up and up at Ashton. “Pleased to make your acquaintance My Lord or is it Ser Hightower? Excuse my lack of a curtsy but I find it rather difficult to curtsy while being held. I’m Gewndolyn Carmyne." She smiled up at him.

Automatically, Ash straightened and pulled her up with him to her feet while smiling. “Just Ashton or Ash. I’m the third born and still a squire so i'm not really anything important.” He shrugged off any remaining awkwardness and finally got a look at the person he ran into. His cheeks were burning a bit as he did so, embarrassment now taking the place of awkwardness. “I er- hope that you’re enjoying the uh." He looked around again, finding the words to describe the busy pavilions. “Uh, city of tents?"

Gwendolyn brushed off her dress and shook out his skirts. “It rather seems like a city doesn’t it? Well Ash you can call me Gwen. A squire is still something." She tapped her lip. He sounded like he was a poor sheltered lad. Accidents happen because Ashton definitely wasn’t capable of having engineered their meeting. She needed to put him at ease.

“A city without a repository of knowledge is such a shame. I suppose that a tent city is too fleeting to include one of those. But such is the price we pay for watching men bash each other on horseback with sticks. Skills used in war made to entertain." Gwendolyn shook her head, her hair swaying back and forth. She itched for a comb, she was sure there was something in her hair; a piece of grass, a twig something. Rather than dancing about like a rasher of bacon being cooked she stayed still. “Oh I’m sorry I just insulted what you’re working toward in life. I didn’t mean… oh bother."

"Gwen it is then." His goofy smile widened a bit as he rhymed and then shrugged as she mentioned that he was at least something. "I suppose I really can't complain, I was lucky enough to be born into the family I was and to be trained."

As she spoke he found himself nodding along with her and quickly put out his hands and shook them in a rapid gesture of negative. "No, no you're right. I've always found the tourneys to be weird. They're nothing like real combat, but all you can do is train and try and prepare as best as you can. I see it, if anything, as a way to meet new Knights and a very good opportunity to learn. From them, my defeats, my victories. Everything."

He realized he was talking. A lot. And the Hightower had to blink at that. He never spoke like this to anyone, let alone a relative stranger. But, his filter was gone. "You should come to Oldtown. It has a rich history and the Citadel is one of the greatest areas of education in the 7 kingdoms. You may be too pretty for it though." He smiled as he said it but when his brain caught up to his words the smile became one of embarrassed horror.

Gwen raised an eyebrow. “You think I’m pretty? And what am I too pretty for?" She smiled at him, teasing him. He was endearing.

Sputtering a bit, Ash quickly tried to explain. "Oh! I just meant that you'd be the prettiest Maester or uh, scholar there. And that it would be a shame that no one else got to see it since you'd be inside and reading all the time like my brother Leo." The lad had no idea that he was being messed with, the poor squire was entirely out of his depth and was feeling the rush of adrenaline. "So, what exactly were you doing running through the tents instead of the perfectly good worn travel path out there? Are you also an introvert who despises social interaction?"

Gwen smiled at Ashton. “Well you see I was on my way to find my cousins. So I really needed to find them, but I didn’t want to be obvious because I didn’t want to wait for an escort. Unless you’d like to escort me? Older or younger brother? You don’t enjoy reading? What about riding?"

The questions came in rapidly and Ash barely could prepare one answer before the next question was fired. He let her finish and then attempted to go one by one. "I hate reading, or at least normal reading. I struggled as a child so the Grand Maester developed a way for me to read as I trained. He called it a sort of meditation. As for your escort, I will be delighted my Lady and do so solemnly swear that you will not run into anyone else on my watch. As for riding, I do plenty of it here with my Knight, Ser Ryon Dayne, the Sword of the Morning. Oh, and older, I'm the third born son. I'm only older than my youngest sibling, my brother Gerold. My twin doesn't count." As he finished speaking he was heading off towards the lists.

Gwen walked with Ashton in the direction she was hoping to go. At least she remembered from the walk-about she had done with her Aunties. “It must be nice having siblings. I had one but he and my mother died when he was born. And with me being the oldest they sent me to my grandmother’s family, the Starks. Ser Ryon Dayne is your Knight? Only the best of House Dayne carry the title. You must be proud of your Knight. Tell me does he win tournaments often? I should think that if I bet on him that I could see a great return. Do you think he’ll win? If he does not, whom do you think will? Does he carry a Valyrian steel blade? I would like to see another at some point and compare it to Ice."

Looking over at him as she followed. Gwen had noticed the sword, rather hard not to when she was positively itching to test it out, and this was a ploy to see it without coming out and saying that she’d like to see it. Southern men didn’t like women that were ‘too’ interested in blades, or bows, or anything that didn’t fit in their ‘women’s things’ box. Box ha. More like thimble. She would also need to be careful. As Heir to a house she would need to make a solid decision on whom to marry or her Uncles would do it for her. That much was evidenced by her Uncle’s comments this afternoon.

Glancing up at the sky Gwen noticed that it was probably about a quarter of an hour since she left the Stark tent. She’d better hurry or someone would come looking for her and Beylee and Sasja. If they were with Mathias it was not an issue but Ashe… by the Seven that boy. She still remembered the time he tied a stick to a goat’s forehead and called it a unicorn then ran it around the courtyard. Uncle was furious but he couldn’t hide the twinkle of laughter in his eye. She smiled widely flashing her dimples at Ashton, she knew it would make it easier for her to get her hands on the sword. She didn’t want to take it, she just wanted to see it.

The more excited Gwen seemed to get Ashton matched equally and he answered her questions easily. "I'm sorry about your mother and brother, and yes Ryon is my Knight and also the best in my own opinion. I suppose I'm slightly biased but I trust him unconditionally and am proud. As for tournaments, he's not showy so he doesn't enter them all the time, just enough to get some practice in. We've had to deal with bandits though and of course tensions have been rising on the borders. I hope to be like him and the Dragonknight, that's my goal anyway. Pretty lofty sure, but shouldn't goals be lofty?"

As the conversation moved to swords, Ash couldn't help but look to Vigilance. He smiled a bit and even as she was talking took it and respectfully offered it to her. "This isn't as storied as Dawn but is still Valyrian steel. This is Vigilance, the Sword of the Tower." Ashton wasn't like most Southern lords, a fact that he had been aware of most of his life. He was happy to see someone enjoy quality craftsmanship. He wasn't concerned she would go out and steal it, or hurt herself as she seemed quite capable. When she smiled at him, his stomach did a backflip and he gave an exaggerated swallow while his eyes widened. He had already been handing the sword over so all it served to do was knock the poor boy off his feet. This time, luckily, not literally.

Taking Vigilance from Ashton she treated it with the reverence it deserved. Taking a good look at it Gwen noted that this was an amazing sword. "Thank you. It's beautiful." She stepped closer. Ashton was harmless, he was a gentleman. Not that it was bad or wrong but rather boring. But boring was fine. Boring, she had the upper hand.

Gwen reached out and grabbed the sheath at his hip to the sword. She fitted the sword in and slowly stepped closer as she simultaneously slowly slid the sword back into the sheath. Her lavender gray eyes sparkled with mischief and excitement.

Ash was no stranger to court, he had been plenty of times and had watched his father countless times. He knew about the game but was probably one of the most abysmal players of that game in Westeros. Mostly because he didn't care. He had no ambitions other than to be the absolute best swordsman he could be and to strive to the tenants of knighthood. Girls however, scared him. Not his twin, she didn't count and now standing here with Gwen, Ash was entirely under her power and he knew it. As she stepped closer, Ash held in his next breath and looked down to her. He didn't have to look down much, being only a few inches taller than she, which he found he liked.

Eventually he croaked out. "Thank you. So are you." He smiled then, his brain not exactly functioning correctly. There seemed to be some sort of interference.

That warm smile bubbled up and Gwen blushed at the compliment. "Thank you. You're not bad yourself." She attempted to keep it light and fun. "I should let go of the sword and step back…" Stating the obvious as she watched Ashton. "Blue. Like the sky on a clear day." She murmured about his eyes.

Ash was hooked and he couldn't help but blush as well. "Guess training pays off…" He considered for a few moments and thought about what his older brother once said about women. 'Don't think, just do. If you try and think you'll screw everything up like you usually do.' And so, Ash didn't think. As she murmured about his eyes and before she could actually step back, whether she ever intended to or not, Ash closed the short distance and went to kiss her quickly.

The kiss came as a surprise and Gwen gave a little sound of surprise as Ashton kissed her. She had never been kissed before. His lips were soft and warm. Letting go of the sword fully, her hands found his sides. She didn't know what to do. No one mentioned what you're supposed to do now. This wasn't covered in a book or lesson that a Maester had given her.

Were bells ringing somewhere? Or perhaps lightning had struck him. Ashton wasn't sure but his first kiss had surely sent the Hightower into a shock. His skin filled with gooseflesh and heart felt like it was going to burst out of his chest. He had closed his eyes but opened them, irises widening as he felt her hands on his sides. He wasn't sure what to do next and his rational brain started sending all the what ifs. He leaned into the kiss just a moment before breaking it and looking at her. "I… sorry. I-..."

Blinking Gwen looked at Ashton in a bit of a haze. "Sorry? Sorry!" Her lavender gray eyes snapped with temper. "Of all the things to say to a girl after her first kiss you picked 'Sorry'?! Why did you do it then?"

Blinking, Ashton opened his mouth to speak before closing it again even as a perplexed expression shot across his face. "I-er. I only meant… I should have…" Wincing. He realized big brother was right, thinking only resulted in him looking stupid. "I'm not sorry actually… I just felt like I should've apologized for just randomly kissing you, but I'm not. Honestly, I think that was the first time I did something outside of the practice field without regretting it. And I'd like to do it again."

Gwen blushed and touched her mouth, her temper falling away. "Oh… again? I…" Now she didn't know what to say.

"You certainly don't have to. You seem to be quite intelligent. But you have the final say, and I'll respect whatever decision you make." He glanced over toward their path to the lists and was glad that it at least appeared to be empty.

Ashton was giving her time to think. Gwen appreciated the time normally but she found in this situation she didn't want time to think. That scared her. She took a step back. "While I wouldn't mind, I think not having been caught by anyone the first time is pressing our luck after that." She blushed deeply. "My Uncle, Brandon Stark, will not be pleased if he finds out. Nor any of my male relations. I'd rather they didn't for your sake."

Ash nodded slightly and sighed softly. He had a feeling that he had enjoyed the moment a bit more than she and while it may have been just because of the wine he recognized his position and an honest retreat was needed. "I suppose you are right, My Lady. It wouldn't do for either of us to be the talking points of gossip tomorrow morning. Please, allow me to continue my escort of the Lady to the lists." He offered his arm and straightened fully while offering a small smile. "And I thank you greatly for the small sliver of time I managed to have with you."

Biting her lip Gwen reached out. Ashton pulled away from her and that hurt. Perhaps her meager attempt at protecting him was not what he wanted. Violence because of her behavior was not something she was keen to witness. She was trained to protect herself and while she knew she didn't have to rely on others it was nice to have someone offer to be there. She curled her hand into a fist then relaxed it. "You have my gratitude My Lord." She curtsied and put her hand lightly on his arm as propriety dictated. "I would have it last at least a while longer."

As Gwen reached out Ashton sighed and gave her a soft smile. "I'm not the best at this, and I'm afraid that I'm not exactly your type anyway, not that I know you have one. I just… I REALLY like you, and I hardly know you. And I'm afraid because of it. I don't trust my own actions or emotions. Please don't think less of me for it. And the last thing I want to do is to cause you any distress or grievances with your family." His eyes were soft and clouded with confusion, curiosity, and a small bit of longing.

As they walked to the lists Gwen replied. “As you stated we hardly know each other. I don’t think less of you Ashton. Truly you have risen in my estimation. You could have ignored your gentlemanly behavior and blamed it on myself for being there. Truly this gladdens my heart and do you want to know a secret?" She leaned in to whisper to Ashton.

With a raise of his eyebrow, Ash listened and walked. He was careful this time, not wanting to fall AGAIN as that seemed to be something that was becoming a habit. "I suppose secrets are to be shared by those who can trust each other… I can trust you?" He looked at her then, his eyes now searching and seeking with their glint, sunlight just catching his face.

Tilting her head Gwen didn’t flinch from the question. “I am willing to be the one to share my secret. I do not need one in return." She smirked and paused them in their walk. “No you’re right I do need one in return. However I will collect it at another time. I enjoyed our kiss more than you think."

Grinning, she let go of his arm and winked at him over her shoulder, tossing back at him. “Am I escorting you or are you escorting me?"

There was a distinct lack of any mention of trust. And yet, Ash couldn't help but be drawn in. The promise of another meeting both exhilarated and terrified the Squire. "I am glad that I did not make a fool of myself then. As for the escort, I made a vow to see you safely there. A Knight does not break their vows." He caught her stride and leaned toward her more closely. "And I vow that when I fight in the melee to come it will be your beautiful face that spurs me forward."

Raising her eyebrows. “For shame Ser Hightower! It should be the Queen of Love and Beauty you fight for, not I." Gwen tried to look serious, she really tried but the sparkle in her eye and the slight knowing smile that lightly pulled her mouth up just the slightest gave the game away.

Ash chuckled a bit, this time letting go of any potential mask. It was a light smile, showing his own dimples and perhaps giving back as good as he got finally. "Any who even attempted to name someone other than yourself for that title doesn't see what I see, My Lady. Now, the lists are right. Around. This corner." He gestured to the last pavilion, a ghastly green and tan and then sighed.

Gwen laughed freely, the music of it sweet and pure causing more than one male head to turn her way, all of whom she did not notice. “Whoever told you that you are not enough is more than incorrect Ashton Hightower. I fear for their soul for they have committed a grave sin against the Seven."

She didn't know it, but she had just given Ashton the largest compliment of his life. He stood at the very edge of the last pavilion and simply glowed. "Thank you Gwen. Hope guides me. It will be what gets me through the day and night. The hope that after you are gone from my sight that we will see each other once again."

Dipping a curtsy Gwen blushed prettily. “I can but count the hours Ashton."

Ash gives a full bow, his eye glinting as he straightens and turns, going back the way he had come.

TLDR

• Gwen and Ashton run into each other
• Bit of flirtation
• Scandal!!!
• Escort

Will he or will he not be gobbled up by wolves? Or will the tower stand strong? Find out next post… (Maybe)

Credit & Tags

Credit: @Almalthia Tags: Mentioned; @Apollosarcher@Espada Emi

Delbrook Academy Senior Year

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Riley Alexander Revels

_{"When I focus on fixing everyone else Who fixes me?"}

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_______________________________________ N A M E Riley Alexander Revels ∞ Riles ∞ Revely ∞ Revels ∞ Music Man (To those that know him) ∞ Class Clown A G E August 24th, 17-years-old G E N D E R Male S E X U A L I T Y Bi-sexual P L A C E O F O R I G I N Naples, Long Beach, California E T H N I C I T Y Australian-American _______________________________________ A P P E R A N C E Voice: ∞ Talking 1.0 ∞Talking 2.0 Height: 5'11" Weight: 147lbs Hair: Light brown and Blonde two-tone Eyes: Bright Blue Body Type: Mesomorph Body Marks: None _______________________________________ R E L A T I O N S H I P S T A T U S Single Crushes: ∞ Daniel Murphy ∞ Samantha Rhodes ∞ Sasha Lopez Current: ∞ None Past: ∞ Jackson Whills F A M I L Y Mother: ∞ Ava Revels Father: ∞ Alex Revels Maid: ∞ Felicia P E T S Two Huskies. Lux & Kayn H O M E S W E E T H O M E No one knows where I live... And I like to keep it that way but here it is. - 1.0, 2.0 _______________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________ L I K E S ✔ ALL Music ✔ Performing ✔ Football, both watching and playing ✔ Hanging out with friends ✔ Meeting new people ✔ Composing ✔ Swimming ✔ The Beach ✔ His dogs ✔ The Ocean at night ✔ Video Games (League of Legends) ✔ Parties ✔ Football Practice ✔ Marching Band ✔ Watching TV with friends ✔ Watching movies with friends ✔ Staying somewhere other than his house ✔ Dancing ✔ Musicals D I S L I K E S ✘ Chinese Food ✘ Japanese Food ✘ 'Rich foods' ✘ His parents ✘ Bee's ✘ Spider's ✘ Overuse of text speak ✘ Being 'forced' to sing like a trained animal ✘ Waking up ✘ Stuck up teachers ✘ Math! ✘ Fake people ✘ Bullies of any kind ____________________________________________________________________________ P E R S O N A L I T Y Creative ₳ Musical ₳ Extraverted ₳ Intuitive ₳ Loyal ₳ Goofy ₳ Playful ₳ Honest The kind of guy that likes to have friends, but while he knows everyone and considers everyone a friend he's the guy that has an inner circle that he keeps very close to himself, and entry is highly regulated. Then within that circle, there's only one or two that he can trust explicitly. The friends that he can speak on his deepest and darkest secrets. A creative genius when it comes to music and expressing himself through the arts, Riley has been writing songs and composing songs since he was in middle school. When truly upset and out of control only music can soothe him. It's his go-to coping method for just about everything in his life. Riley is exceptionally friendly and very out-going. With everything that goes on inside of himself, he sees it as a job to make everyone else feel better than he. He memorizes names and goes out of his way to greet everyone he passes to ask how their day has gone. He's commonly written a simple song for someone having a bad day and keeps a large stack of singles to treat his friends to their favorite candy or soda. He's always been empathetic and intuitive, able to tell how someone is even if they say they're 'ok'. He's built a reputation for being someone that you can talk to and that whatever you tell him doesn't go anywhere but him. He's loyal to a fault, likes to goof around and make people smile, and when you ask Riley something you can bet that it'll be the truth. Whether you like the outcome or not. ____________________________________________________________________________ B I O G R A P H Y Riley was born in London, England to Alexander and Ava Revels. Alexander, Riley's father, was a renowned archeologist, professor, and holder of a fortune found from historical finds and his family's already exuberant wealth. Ava, Alexander's wife, and Riley's mother was the Australian counterpart to the academic professor. Ava was old money, the family coming to Australia from England sometime after World War 2. Ava was a philanthropist who began funding the expeditions of one Alexander Revels. And on one fateful treasure hunt, the two fell in love. Eventually they 'settled' down in Long Beach, California where they build a large manse on the Naples island and had Riley. Riley was raised from birth truthfully by Felicia, a maid that made the trip from Australia to America to help Mrs. Revels. Riley rarely got to see his parents who became addicted to the nightlife of LA. They were constantly gone and bought other properties so they didn't have to come home often. No other children were in the cards and when Riley was 5, he overheard his mother tell Felicia that Riley was more a mistake than anything. Those words stuck with Riley and while he wanted to nothing, and was spoiled beyond measure Riley hated it. Instead, as he grew and under Felicia's guidance Riley grew to be a loving and empathetic child. He himself was hurting, which was made worse in his elementary and middle school years but he learned to hide his pain well, hiding under a desire to see others happy. Riley thrived in social situations and while his desire for attention from adults meant that he acted out and was the 'class clown' so to speak he was otherwise a great child in school. He received top marks in everything but Math where he struggled. An area where he certainly didn't struggle was in the arts. His teacher in elementary school noticed the affinity for music and pushed the boy further into music. In middle school, he was allowed to take Band and he fell in love with the Violin. During middle school, Riley learned how to play the guitar, violin, cello, saxophone, clarinet, and could read and write in both treble and bass clefs. The band director at the middle school also introduced Riley to musical theory and during both the spring and winter concerts of his eighth-grade year, Riley co-wrote the arrangement with the director. Highschool was instantly different. His freshman year he spent mostly with his music and getting to know all the new children that came from all the surrounding middle schools. He continued his habit of being nice to people and trying to make their day while offering advice or just listening to people that just needed an ear and a pat on the back afterward accompanied by a happy smile and an endorsement that it will get better. He was decently well liked and between his music, his love of making others laugh, and his still reigning class-clown title Riley has managed High-school thus far. But who knows what Senior Year will involve. ____________________________________________________________________________ S C H O O L I N F O G R A D E Y E A R 12th grade G P A & A V E R A G E 3.8 / A in everything but Math. No Honors or AP classes F A V O R I T E C L A S S Orchestra E L E C T I V E C L A S S E S Chorus and Marching Band E X T R A C U R R I C U L A R Marching Band (Saxophone section leader), Orchestra (Violin First Chair) Tenor in Chorus, Theater, Gaming Club, Football (Wide Receiver) T R A N S P O R T A T I O N ∞ 2021 Honda Civic Type R that he traded his new Camaro for (It was a present from his parents). P L A N S A F T E R G R A D U A T I O N Riley plans to attend either Julliard or Berkeley School of the Arts. He hopes to make it broadway and continue composing. ____________________________________________________________________________ A F T E R - S C H O O L I N F O E M P L O Y M E N T Volunteers at the Middle School where he came from. He helps the students with various instruments. He also teaches Violin and Piano to wealthy children who homeschool. F A V O R I T E P L A C E S ∞ Band Room ∞ His roof, watching the boats and water surrounding Naples ∞ The Beach at night ∞ Long Beach Towne Center Movie Theater R E S P O N S I B I L I T I E S ∞ Tutor for Piano and Violin ∞ Section Leader in Marching Band ∞ Wide Receiver for the Football Team ____________________________________________________________________________ O T H E R His favorite movie is Whiplash. Regularly works with the drama teacher, choral instructor, and band director to compose and talk musical theory. Riley's parents have come to no school function whatsoever, leading many to believe his nanny Felicia is his mother instead. In addition to his music, Riley takes dance lessons, vocal lessons, and acting classes. T H E M E S O N G Talking to Myself by Watsky Unity by Shinedown Face Claim: Alex Lange | 0AFFE7

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Aymeric Landon Miland

_{"Time doesn't really heal anything. It just teaches us how to live with the pain"}

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_______________________________________ N A M E Aymeric Landon Miland ∞ Landon (He prefers to go by his middle name in America) ∞ Emmy (Only extremely close friends) ∞ Miland ∞ Lady Killer (though he despises it) ∞ Leonardo Di Caprio ∞ French Prince Charming (Mostly due to his still present French Accent.) A G E March 21st, 17-years-old G E N D E R Male S E X U A L I T Y Pansexual P L A C E O F O R I G I N London, England E T H N I C I T Y French _______________________________________ A P P E R A N C E Voice: ∞ Talking 1.0 ∞Talking 2.0 Height: 6'0" Weight: 165lbs Hair: Light Brown Eyes: Light Blue Body Type: Mesomorph Body Marks: None. _______________________________________ R E L A T I O N S H I P S T A T U S Single Crushes: ∞ Marco Costello ∞ Riley Revels ∞ Eretria Simmons ∞ Monserad Tul Current: ∞ None Past: None F A M I L Y Aunt: ∞ Claire Weston Uncle: ∞ Wyatt Weston Brother: ∞ Astor Axell Miland Brother: ∞ Corbin Renault Miland P E T S None at the present moment. H O M E S W E E T H O M E Aunt/Uncles House in Rossmoor - 1.0, 2.0 _______________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________ L I K E S ✔ Talking to People ✔ Being part of a team ✔ Playing Sports ✔ Watching Sports ✔ Hanging out at the Beach ✔ Being a Leader ✔ Languages ✔ Busy work ✔ Schoolwork ✔ Teachers ✔ Coaches ✔ His brothers ✔ His Aunt and Uncle ✔ Exercising ✔ Working Out ✔ Memories of his parents ✔ Watching Movies ✔ Work Ethic ✔ Honesty D I S L I K E S ✘ Rap music ✘ Guns ✘ Any reference to gun violence ✘ Breaking Down ✘ Memories of his parents ✘ Peer pressure ✘ Being allergic to so much ✘ Heights ✘ Being called Frenchie ✘ Naysayers ✘ Letting his team down ✘ Anyone who doesn't give 110% ✘ Cheaters/Bullies ____________________________________________________________________________ P E R S O N A L I T Y Athletic ₳ Dedicated ₳ Damaged ₳ Loyal ₳ PTSD ₳ Competitor ₳ Leader ₳ Brave At one point Aymeric or Landon as he prefers to be called in the states was an extremely nice bundle of energy. He radiated warmth and happiness and was almost always in a good mood. He made friends with everyone, could talk to anyone without issues, and wasn't afraid of anything. And even though he struggled with medical complications most of his life he never once quit or let it get to him. This energy and passion helped him overcome many of those childhood ailments including early Asthma which went away when he turned nine. Unfortunately, things changed after what he calls the darkest day. Aymeric and his parents were shopping in Cumbria, England. The family was visiting a national expert in childhood asthma when they were randomly targeted by a shooter wielding a shotgun. Both of Aymeric's parents were killed. After this incident, Aymeric closed in on himself. He suffered from PTSD and loud sounds scared him constantly. Without that bubbly personality, his health also began to diminish and a heavy cloud hung over him. He and his brothers were sent to California to live with their mother's brother. Aymeric would go to school, doodle on his work, ignore everyone, and then come home where he went to his room and remained. When he reached Middle School he only participated in Gym because of the gruff and wizened Football coach who was in charge of physical education. Aymeric found that when he was being active he was able to get rid of the memories plaguing him and he could think for the first time in years. The coach recruited Aymeric to play Football for him and the young man took to it. It was here that Aymeric became much more Athletic, a competitor, dedicated, and loyal. Fast forward to current times and Landon is a mix of damaged and healed. He still struggles at times with PTSD, and will still break down when certain memories come rushing past him. He hides it extremely well however with a large focus on sports. He now plays every single one he possibly can, and found that his schoolwork can also help. He sees a therapist twice a week and with the man's help Landon has become a true leader on the field, and someone that any teammate can be happy to have around. Landon hesitantly flexes his personal skills and likes to introduce himself to new people and make new friends. For those that already know him or are friends with him know that he's one of the most loyal people you could met and would do ANYTHING for you. ____________________________________________________________________________ B I O G R A P H Y Aymeric was born in London, England to British mom Susan Cresswell and French father Renault Miland. Susan, a member of the British parliament had taken to Renault who served as an ambassador for the French Prime Minister. The two fell in love and Renault agreed to leave his country and move to England. Their love was true and soon enough came Aymeric, their first child. The joy of his birth was tempered with complications with first the pregnancy and then Aymeric's health right after. He suffered from a number of issues including stridor, asthma, and seizures. But, despite this Aymeric grew, and while one might consider a boy so sick to be starved of energy. It was the opposite, and Aymeric became a true bright light in the darkness for his parents. He guided them and as if through the pure power of will Aymeric defeated every single disease. To be sure, Aymeric's parents took him to a specialist in the Cumbria province. The specialist confirmed what Aymeric's doctors had said. The boy was clear of symptoms and had beaten back the disease before it had clawed its way forward. It was a time for celebration and the three of them, the other two members of their family Corbin and Astor having remained in London with family friends, went out to lunch to eat. They then left and hailed for a taxi... A taxi drove by an active shooter that had been driving about the province and committing violence. When the Miland's approached the gunman pointed a shotgun at them and fired twice. The first shot hit Susan and clipped Renault who took the full brunt of the second shot after he shoved Aymeric into a ditch at their left. Both of Aymeric's parents were killed. The constables couldn't console the grieving boy and he didn't stop crying until he passed out from exhaustion. At first, the Miland children were going to be sent to France, to live with Renault's family. But instead, it was decided that they would be sent to California, to Susan's brother Wyatt and his wife Claire. They were well off already but the insurance payments of a British public servant and Renault's family's gifts none of the three boys would want for much of anything... It was placed in a trust with Aymeric, the oldest receiving the largest share. Wyatt and Claire were also not exactly hurting as Claire served as a pediatric surgeon, and Wyatt ran a computer manufacturing business with his father. Aymeric was eleven years old by the time he arrived in America, a year before middle school and two years after the incident. He was a silent and numb child at first, his whole fifth-grade year and it seemed to anyone that tried to be friends with him that such would continue into the sixth grade. And it might've had it not been for Coach Frank Long. Long served a triple threat role within the middle school. He was the Physical Education Teacher, the Head Football Coach of a national level team, and helped in the IT department. The man was a no-nonsense gruff man but he also had an eye for potential and was good at spotting pain. He used sports to first get Aymeric, now Landon to talk to him, and then recommended a therapist to Wyatt and Claire who they instantly used. Landon became obsessed with sports and he joined the Football team in his sixth-grade year and surprised everyone, including Long when he began outperforming the starters near the end of the season. Long continued to mentor the boy and coached him in the off-season where Landon also played every other sport he possibly could. One day Long found that Landon was failing most of his classes and after a very long heart to heart explained to the boy that grades were just as important, if not more so than quality play. Between that and finding out that diving into work helped him process Landons grades began to get better and better until right at the end of sixth grade he was on the AB honor roll. The rest of Middle School went about the same, Landon getting better and better at all aspects of his life. If anyone had known him before they would just realize that he was healing and becoming more like himself from before. Long continued to coach him specifically and the now young man led the school to the national middle school championship and won it as the quarterback. In addition to Quarterback, he also played shortstop in baseball, shooting guard in basketball, and center forward in soccer. Exceptionally Athletic and with a natural leadership quality Landon not only excelled himself but raised everyone around him by being genuine a true team player. He was also the second-highest grade in the school, and it was apparent that Frank Long had truly helped Landon perform a 180. Then came Highschool. Delbrook Academy was definitely a change but Landon stuck to a simple strategy. Just continue to do what he did best. His Freshman year he was top of his class, and was one of the most promising Football players in Southern California, with scouts already being told of the young man. (With help may or may not come from a certain Middle School Coach.) Sophomore year, Landon had to sit out of Fall and Winter sports but was able to at least participate in Baseball and Swimming in the Spring. His Junior year he was the Varsity starting Quarterback and performed quite well despite only having one real target on the receiving corps. The team was first in the state, yet fell in the first round of nationals. Throughout all of this, he continued to be either at the top of his class or in the top five of his year. Now that Senior Year has come everything is looking up. New talent has come up from the JV squad, including three new receivers, and another rising star running back. Landon has truly begun feeling healed, still struggling but now beginning to believe that he truly can become better. He's also realized that he has pushed himself far too much and that stress has become a best friend to himself. He knows he needs to temper himself but there's so much that needs to be done. And if that wasn't enough, Landon has finally healed enough to start taking notice of his sexuality and the many classmates of his at the high school. Sure, it might be a bit late, but better late than never right? The pressure is on, lets see how the year turns out! ____________________________________________________________________________ S C H O O L I N F O G R A D E Y E A R 12th grade G P A & A V E R A G E 4.9 / A+ Average, all Honors and AP classes, no free periods. F A V O R I T E C L A S S Calculus E L E C T I V E C L A S S E S Quantitive literacy E X T R A C U R R I C U L A R Football (Captain and Quarterback) in the fall, Basketball (Shooting guard) in the winter, Baseball (Captain and Shortstop/Pitcher), and Swimming in the Spring. T R A N S P O R T A T I O N ∞ 1966 Ford Mustang Fastback. P L A N S A F T E R G R A D U A T I O N Landon is sort of taking it by ear, but with the combine truly testing him this year he hopes he will have enough scores and grades to get a full scholarship to play College Football. Preferably at Alabama or USC. If that doesn't work out he has considered something in the mathematic field. ____________________________________________________________________________ A F T E R - S C H O O L I N F O E M P L O Y M E N T Assistant Offensive Coach at his old Middle School. F A V O R I T E P L A C E S ∞ Football Stadiums ∞ School ∞ The Beach ∞ Home R E S P O N S I B I L I T I E S ∞ Captain of the Football and Baseball teams ∞ Coaches Middle School Ball ∞ His Grades ____________________________________________________________________________ O T H E R His favorite movie is Rudy. Landon is fluent in French, Spanish, Italian, and is learning German. Landon constantly checks on his teammates, and is the first to offer help to anyone. Is allergic to peanuts, soy, bananas, mangoes, cherries, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, watermelon, and sulfur. T H E M E S O N G 10 by Built by Titan (feat. Starxs) Ghost by Built by Titan (feat. Joe Kirk) Face Claim: Gavin Casalegno | DEA2FF

A Song of Ice and Fire - the Blackfyre Rebellion

Ser Addam Hightower

^{On the road to Summerhall}

Complicated. Everything was oh so difficult. Addam Hightower, heir to House Hightower and Oldtown sat in his tent leaned forward, and pinched the bridge of his nose. In front of him, laying half opened, was a letter. Addam looks up at his Aunt, Celene, who was also sitting quietly with a thoughtful expression on her face as she was leaning forward and staring at the letter. Finally, Addam breaks the silence. "Guessing at loyalty is going to be impossible. And each person we poke is a potential threat. We have to assume the Lannisters will ally with the crown. The Lord Paramount of the West is friends with the king, they have history. The Iron born are wild card and could attack anyone. Bringing them into the plan is not the right move."

Celene sighs and gives a slight shrug. "It's not the worst play, the Lannisters are wealthy and Tytos has rebuilt. The mines are flowing again and should the Rock empty their lands it'll be easy pickings. The Lannister fleet is also more or less easier to defeat than a combined Redwyne and Hightower flotilla. But don't focus on what moves your father is making, instead focus on the plan already in motion. Your job is to ensure the triple Alliance and all marriages are finalized. Anything less than that and nothing else matters. Alicent knows her role, to ensure the Redwyne boy is taken with her, you must do the same for Lord Tarly. He is a proud man, and rightly so he will be watching you closely to make sure his daughter weds correctly. Everything comes down to you. No pressure." Celene smirks and leans back before winking over at Addam who gave a roll of his eyes and groans. His hands no longer pinched the bridge of his nose and instead rubbed his eyes. He was tired, the travels hadn't helped matters.

"I understand Aunt Celene. I will make the House proud." He didn't think his sister, Alicent would struggle either. By all words, the youngest son of House Redwyne should be a decent match and someone that his sister could be happy with. The Lord Tarly though was a different huntsman. And Addam would be lying if he wasn't nervous. Just as he was about to speak again a page entered wearing the Hightower livery.

"Apologies my Lord, My Lady, but we will need to be off if we're to make Summerhall by tomorrow morning. Addam smiled softly and nodded before shooting a look at his Aunt.

"Thank you Lyam, we'll be out shortly." The page bowed and left leaving the two Hightowers alone once again. No words needed to be spoken, both knew what they needed to do.

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Ashton Hightower

^Summerhall

A Collab with @Vanq

Lazy, and wasting precious time. Ashton could hear his one-time teacher even now while he lay upon the grass of Summerhall, letting the sun's rays gently caress, and cradle him in their warmth. A smile ghosted at the young man's lips as he thought about Otho's face if he came across Ashton in this place at this moment, and what colors of rage would manifest. Still smirking, Ash slowly leaned up and moved his arms behind him to support his weight as the sun started to ever so slowly disappear and surrender to dusk. It was the Hightower's favorite time of day and he always allowed himself this little sliver of personal time. When the sun finally set, Ash sighed in contentment and with a groan began to stand up, his muscles instantly protesting after having been still for the last hour. He attempted to alleviate their distress with a cat-like stretch and even gave a small yawn. Slowly the muscles relented.

Setting off from his hilltop perch, Ashton slowly walked back to the main Castle ground and started a mental list of things to do before sleep. Sharpening blades, shining armor, cleaning leather, collecting letters for Ryon and himself, bringing up supper, cleaning clothing, and making the beds with the fresh linens he had washed earlier that day. It was hard work surely but Ashton never once complained, finding the word a fair trade for the knowledge and training he got in return. Besides, by this time he and Ryon were good friends and so Ash wasn't in the greatest of hurries to be Knighted. He'd get it when he got it and not sooner.

Stumbling, Ashton glanced behind himself to see a foot sticking out from a pavilion and rolled his eyes as he heard snickering. Some young lords making trouble and trying to trip people. Not a smart move really, but Ashton wasn't a guard nor their family and so simply continued on his way. Now that so many were making their way to the celebratory tournament more and more pavilions were being set up and serving to cause Ashton's journey to and from his hilltop refuge to take longer and longer as the maze grew. Briefly, he realized that his brother and the entourage from Oldtown would be arriving either tonight or early in the morning. It would be good to see his brother after so long.

Eventually, Ashton made it to the main Castle and waved to the guards as they allowed him passage. Ash was for the most part a very shy boy and awkward when not discussing combat or knightly topics. He didn't speak much and didn't make many friends though he was slowly trying to do better by remembering names and simply being nice. "Evening Rolf, Malak, hope you're doing well?"

The two guards smiled back and gave quick nods before replying. "Can't complain, don't have tent city duty." They gestured towards the pavilions and Ashton nodded in understanding before heading inside and making a beeline for Ryon's room.

He made the bed, collected the dirty clothing that he could find, and then took them and his own to the washing woman. He then ensured supper would be brought up and then retired to his Knight's room to begin the process of cleaning sword, and armor.

Ryon made his way through the corridors of Summerhall effortlessly. Perhaps because of the grimace he currently wore, or perhaps because he had become as well known in this castle as the sword he carried. Dawn. The fabled sword that he had been the first to wield in decades. It was a heavy burden to bear. And having welcomed in the rest of his family - family that he rarely saw in the past few years - that burden was heavy on his mind and the cause of his grimace.

Lord Ormond was in good spirits and had wanted a meeting with his daughter and the Prince. Ser Ryon had interceded on Dyanna’s behalf; Seven knew she did not need her father suddenly interested in her welfare or haranguing the Prince for some kind of favor. It had been pleasant at least to see young Arron and Eldon again. The boys had truly become men, and Ryon had been all too happy to have an excuse to take them around the tents and pavilions that had been sprouting up ahead of the tourney start. But then Eldon had pulled him aside to share the more worrying news out of Starfall. Vorian grew more unstable of late. The heir had refused to come north and had become deluded with conspiracies that Ryon acted to usurp him upon Ormond’s death. Rubbish of course.

Instead, having shown Ormond and his cousins where they would stay, he made his way to gather his squire. It would be good for Ashton to have time away from duties and with company closer to his own age as well.

Even before entering his rooms, Ryon was certain he was correct. He could hear the familiar sound of work being done. The boy was relentless at times in his duties. And while it was something that Twilight Star could respect, it was also a source of something to jest about.

“Ashton, how many times have I told you, don’t start a bit of work if you’ll need to end it early to have some fun.” In rounding the corner into his rooms, the knight had rubbed the grimace from his face and plastered on the care-free smile he used with others. “My cousins have arrived at last and are quite eager to meet your acquaintance again” He leaned against a wall, at ease, arms crossed lightly against his chest. He waited for the squire to look up before he continued. “And of course, by meet your acquaintance, what they mean is to have their old cousin buy them rounds of drinks down at the Redwyne pavilions.” He laughed, a quick and hearty noise. “Somehow they think I’ve become as rich as the Prince their sister married. But if I am buying for them, surely I am buying for you. Come on now.” He snapped his fingers dramatically.

Even before Ryon showed himself and spoke his jest, Ash could tell that he was there. It was one of the things about Castles, you could hear when someone was coming for the most part and Ryon wasn’t exactly trying to be sneaky. Ryon would see Ash’s back when he entered fully, the squire bent at the waist as he shined his boots. The rest of the equipment of both squire and Knight were neatly organized to Ash’s left, an obvious ‘clean’ pile. “Just finishing up, so if anything it was perfect timing. Oh, your practice shirt is going to need to be resewn, it tore during the wash I was told. I have your backup ready for tomorrow in case you need it.”

That was Ashton, always ready and prepared and going above and beyond to the best of his ability. He took his job seriously, and he supposed going out and mingling was a part of that job. The young man finished his task and then slowly turned, a wide grin on his face. Ash knew that Ryon was aware of his squire's weaknesses and as with all good mentors always attempted to strengthen them. "I suppose I should go and change into something a bit more appropriate then if we're going to go out and be festive. You know I can't dance though so don't even try to trick me into it."

With his smile growing ever wider Ashton headed for the doorway, preparing to go to his room, which wasn't far, to change. It would be good to see the younger Daynes. And it would be a good chance to stretch the more social muscles.

— —

Eldon and Arron were not well accustomed to being outside of Starfall, and though they were men grown, they acted like children at their first summer fair. It was a flaw mostly laid at Ormond’s feet, but Ryon thought reluctantly, him having left before he was done training them had not served them well. They had run ahead at least, to gather drinks with Ryon’s silver for the group of them.

For all that he had said about not having grown rich, Dyanna had seen fit to ensure that her cousin was taken care of for his station, or perhaps the Prince had not wanted his wife’s family and sworn protector to look anything but the part. Ryon stalked the grounds now wearing a fine lilac robe, open to reveal the crisp linen tunic beneath. His house sigil was finely embroidered in cloth-of-silver across his shoulder. The knight would rather be in a practice shirt and trousers, but if Dy could will herself into the pageantry and gowns, he could certainly bear to don a more formal attire as well.

He clapped his hand to his squire’s back. His squire was getting rather old to be a squire, but taking on a squire as the Sword of the Morning had felt as though much more was required of his charge. “I’ve prepared you as much as I could, so tell me, are you ready for what lies ahead?” He spoke jovially though with a weighted undercurrent. Placing well in the melee would surely satisfy most as cause to knight the lad. It felt lacking for the untapped potential of the boy though.

As Ashton walked into his room his gaze unconsciously moved to his things. The content they were all organized and ready he tried to figure out what to wear. He certainly did not want to overshadow his Knight. But he was also the son of a powerful House so it couldn't be too simple either. Knowing Ryon's wardrobe helped matters and Ash figured he would go with a dark blue silk tunic with the High Tower embroidered in silver along with a dark gray cape that was clasped below his neck by a glittering diamond tower, another sigil of his house. The chain going from shoulder to sigil was also silver. Simple, yet elegant Ash figured it fit well enough.

He buckled on Vigilance, as he never let the blade out of his sight, and then headed back out. Upon seeing Ryon, Ash was content that he had made the right choice in his outfit and nodded politely before falling into step beside the Dayne. He wasn't certain where exactly they were headed but the Redwyne tent was always supposed to be the most popular. Briefly, Ash remembered his latest correspondence with his father and brother, the latter of which was supposed to be arriving the following morning. They were seeking an alliance with the Redwynes and Tarly's while the Reach figured out what to make of the new Tyrell paramount…

The lad was brought out of his thoughts on the matter by Ryon asking him a question and Ash took a breath in to buy some time before frowning. "I'm ready, all I can do is my best and follow your training but there are some very experienced Knights competing. I'm excited but nervous, I know I still have a lot to learn." Some other young men, squires to other Knights might have been arrogant and cocky. But Ashton always considered his potential opponents his equal or better and realized that the art of swordsmanship was constantly evolving and changing. One was forever a student and there would always be someone better at some point.

"Either way, I just want to make sure I don't disappoint you or my family." Ashton shrugged and then blinked rapidly as the mass of torches and lights suddenly came into view as they reached the edge of the tent city.

Ryon had always appreciated his charge’s outlook, perhaps it reminded him of himself. But the young man sometimes needed a stronger push. He glanced to the lad’s side, knowing Vigilance would be secured round his hip - much the same as Ryon always carried Dawn. It was not just protection or pride. It was duty, a heavy weight and reminder that they did not serve themselves or even just their families.

Ryon’s face turned serious. “Your family has already bestowed you with your Valyrian steel. You will do your best, and you will always learn. Just remember that it is a foolish man who confuses the Warrior for the Stranger and seeks to tempt Them to prove themselves.” His hand still rested on his squire’s shoulder, and he allowed his friendly smile to return. “You’ll make us all proud I’m sure of it. Now then, my other young charges are not so responsible as you. Shall we find them and make sure they don’t mar my family’s name?”

Ashton stared up at Ryon as he spoke. It was a teaching style that the Hightower squire had come to appreciate. Serious, yet understanding, and then right back to simple friendship. Mentally, Ash was taking notes should he ever have a squire of his own someday. As they stood at the edge still Ash remembered the important conversation he was supposed to have with the Dayne.

"Yes, let's go and find them but uh.. I have to ask you something. It comes from my father and not me but I am duty bound to ask." He went quiet for a second and then just grit his teeth and went for it.

"My father is attempting to consolidate power in the Reach. He is aiming to support Daemon should he ever make a bid for the Throne and he was curious where you stood. As he could see about having you become Lord Dayne." Ashton made a face as he finished as if he had just eaten something exceptionally sour and sighed. His shoulders sagged and a defeated look crossed his face. "I'm sorry, I didn't want to bring it up…"

Ryon's face darkened immediately. Surely they had spoken of the realm and of politics, but this was treason thrown to the open. He furrowed his brow, his eyes narrowed, in an uncharacteristic way. What foolishness did the Lord Hightower have to make his son approach his knight with such things.

The Twilight Star pressed the bridge of his nose between finger and thumb. "Your father gave you an impossible task, I will not hold this against you, but you will listen closely and we will never speak of this again." He paused, lips pressed tightly. "I am not and never will be heir to Starfall. I have no desire to add the weight of lordship to my shoulders, you understand?" Had Vorian actually heard rumors of this? It would perhaps go to explaining how serious Eldon had seemed. “Beyond that, my beloved cousin is sister-in-law to our king. She has born children to his brother. I would not betray them for anything.” He had pointedly avoided speaking the Blackfyre’s name. Seven, how he hated this positioning and angling.. “Tell your father…tell him that I wish House Hightower continued prosperity and a bountiful future.” It was an inelegant non-answer, but Ryon had no taste for these affairs.

Ash had shrunken back when he noted Ryon's initial reaction. But he steadied himself, he knew his Knight well and had never seen him lose control. Ash had told his father pursuing Ryon as a potential ally was folly but Lord Hightower wanted to cross every t and dot every I before making his final play. Even Ash didn't know any plans, he had simply been asked to find out about Ryon and Maekar. There was probably a hidden message but Ash was unintelligent about such subtle maneuvers and was abrasive in his words. He said what he meant, meant what he said, and always kept his word. He had ambitions to be another Aemon the Dragonknight, to serve as best he could.

"I'm sorry Ryon.. Er, Ser Ryon. I didn't want to ask but my family was insistent. And I knew you would understand that I'm not exactly the best at… Well speaking." It was a known weakness for the Hightower, which was odd, considering how good the rest tended to be. "As you said, we will speak no more of it." As if to punctuate his words Ash moved forward into the throng, waiting just a bit for any final words from his Knight.

Ryon worked to smooth away the frustration that still bristled underneath. “Ash…” He forced a smile across thinned lips. “I think it best we go find my cousins - and several bottles of wine. A final night of revelry before you need to be sober for the challenges.” His voice held an edge to it, and he remained unsettled as they crossed the grounds. Perhaps things were more dire than he had assumed. Unconsciously, his hand rested on Dawn.

Arron and Eldon had quickly found themselves a corner of the Redwyne pavilions to set up with bottles of wine, a smattering of food already picked over, and two women on their laps, when Ryon and Ashton found them. “Go on now, have some fun Ash.” Ryon patted his squire’s shoulder. “I should settle up with what these two fools have gotten themselves into.”

Eldon and Arron looked up from their cups and their women. “Ah here he is, our famed cousin, the Sword of the Morning himself! Ser Ryon! And his Squire of Hightower, Ashton - at long last.”

Ryon gave the group a half-smile, his head nodded in response. “Eldon, Arron - you’re to get Ashton drunk as a boiled owl, and if you haven’t found the lot of yourselves stumbling out of tents in the morning with your trousers lost, you haven’t tried hard enough tonight.” He picked up a half full goblet of something and knocked it back in one long gulp. “And Ashton, I still expect you for training come the morn.”

Summary

The Heir of House Hightower, his aunt, and only sister travel to Summerhall for the tourney while discussing the plots of the current Lord. Ashton Hightower spends some time with his Knight in preparation for the big tournament and also has an awkward moment neither one wishes.