op2024
LadyAmber
stormphrax
Estylwen
Snowdrops
wintersoldier
Pen Name
Rhona W
Sylvan
Starlance(collabs with @AtomicNut and @MrDidact )
King's Landing
After leaving Willas's quarters, she'd made her way through the Red Keep, a couple of the Reachman guards following close, her handmaidens having the day off today, Alerie had decided. They were in no urgent need, not at the moment, as she made her way over towards where she expected to find Julianna. It wasn't particularly hard, given the Princess would likely be in in the Royal Quarters, and well, she thought it may be an idea to pay a visit to the lady who was keeping her around the Keep as a friend.
The princess was found in Maegor's Holdfast in the married quarters she shared with Prince Aemon. Julianna was sitting on the balcony, examining a case full of seashells and smiling softly. The Princess was often found with a whole entourage, but this was one of the few times she was alone.
Alerie knocked, finding the door was open, this being the shared quarters she kept with Aemon. She waited for her to come to the door, not wanting to come in yet, but took a guess that she was alone. Alerie ordered the guards away, as she wanted on Julianna to resopnd.
The Princess heard the noise and put the trinkets away, coming to the door and opening it to find Alerie, she smiled sweetly and opened her arms for a hug, "Alerie, it's so good to see you. It's been a little since we talked. Please come in. Would you like a drink, something to eat?"
Alerie nodded, as she walked in, hugging Julianna back, resting her head on her shoulder.
"Good to see you too, my Princess. I'm glad to see you are doing well." Alerie said, with a certain tone of voice, a soft and caring one, as she looked through the window, then back at Julianna.
"I've just had some wine and food with my father, but thank you. Any more and I'd be hard pressed to maintain my figure. And that would be something I wouldn't want to spread around the keep!" Alerie added, her feminine charm, that distinctly of a Tyrell coming through, as she sighed, nodding.
"It wasn't long ago, but it feels like it. I hope she's doing better. A sad thing indeed, a bout of madness perhaps." Alerie only could add, knowing the handmaiden was out of Julianna's keep most likely, after the events on the boat, as she stood by her side, looking out at the horizon, the sea and the cliffs of the Blackwater Bay visible from the Holdfast.
Julianna stood with Alerie and they watched the ships gathered in the harbor, scores of dromonds all prepared for combat, "Yes, the word is that the girl is quite unwell. But she is under suprevision now. Perhaps she will get better. I hope so, I hear Rhaegar is quite enamored with her."
She smiled at Alerie, "I doubt that will ever be a problem with you, you'll be beautiful till the end of your days, I am sure." Her expression became speculative, "Is there anything in partiuclar you wished to speak about? I'm glad you came, but I was not expecting this visit."
"There was, actually." Alerie added, as she took a seat, cutting to the point, looking still half at the ships outside.
"I know I asked for your permission, and I did spend some time with Tom. I think there's something real. My father thinks it can work. I just need to speak with Tyrion. And yourself...well, it may be possible to get a letter to him. What Tom wants sounds very impressive, but he wants that with me by his side." Alerie simply said, as she nodded, baring truth, not much more than just that.
"Like you said on the boat perhaps....it may not be too long till you and I are sister in laws." Alerie giggled, as she leaned back in the chair, awaiting a reply. She knew it was the wrong place to go, but chances were, with Tyrion away not much more could be done.
Julianna played with one of her golden ringlets, smiling, "Ah so my brother did charm you after all? I always supspected he would be drawn to you. As for my permission, you do not need it. Tom is almost a man grown. But you have my blessing. I believe, out of all the young maidens my brother can marry, you will be the best one for him. And I would be ecstatic to call you sister, Alerie. I will take up the matter with father when he returns."
"I am thankful to hear it, Julianna. I suppose the rest was getting to know Julianna Targaryen, too. Would be a little....cold of me to just nudge in just for that, shall we say?" Alerie added, a warm smile on her face, as she looked out.
"The rest of the forces are mobilizing there, as you say. All those ships. Never was much my specialty. Highgarden doesn't have many big ships either....it's remarkable to see." Alerie mused, brushing her hair back a little, sighing.
"Us ladies leave that affair to the men, I guess. Well, some of us do. I could never see a Lady from my House fighting, I suppose."
Julianna chuckled, "Nor I, though my Stark cousins are fond of training the women. And all of the Targaryens are dragon riders. Perhaps you and I could visit the armory and ask to be trained hmm? I could use a battle axe and you a polearm?" She smiled and sipped some wine.
Alerie giggled, laughing at the mere thought, as she sighed gently.
"I've ridden on a dragon myself. Not for the faint hearted....I imagine you've seen it for yourself too. Simply magnificent, like quite nothing else. Gets the blood pumping....you can see why the Targaryens have such a fire in their hearts." Alerie said, as she kept away from the wine, not really wanting to make herself too merry yet.
"But I'm too small framed, sadly. I'd leave that to my brothers. They handle swords and polearms far better than I will. But maybe someday, a Lady of the Reach will be a fighter. More than just thorns in words, but in warfare." Alerie looked back across to Julianna, still thinking.
"It does make me chuckle, my brother is more obssessed with his plate than I am with my dresses sometimes. So maybe it isn't as manly as they all make it out to be."
Julianna laughed, "I know what you mean. Aemon has taken me on a ride on several occasions. Though I wager, they may have been a bit more... eventful than the one Jahaerys took you on." She smirked and sipped some more.
"Perhaps someday a Lannister will be as well. But indeed, the men do love their armor don't they? Riding around on their horses with colorful barding, in their bright surcoats with their skirts that aren't skirts and their plumes." She laughed, "It seems to me quite a few knights have a hidden decorative side."
"Oh, too well. Ellion's probably crying over how much mess his armour has now." Alerie giggled in return, as she sat up, bringing the chair in.
"So...if you don't mind me being rather intrusive, but Lady to Princess....what's Aemon like? The young Prince...he must have lots of pressure on his shoulders, and being in the Stepstones, I imagine he's a risky devil." Alerie was so beautifully careful in it, she seemed to almost be an artisan, the topic change smooth yet simple, and genuinely quite innocent....though out of random curiosity Alerie would ask that. It didn't even seem malvolent, just open and sisterly, in a way.
Julianna chewed her lip in thought, "The prince. I've known him since he was a boy. And he's much like his father. He's very driven. Can be very intense. Incredibly strong of will. Brave. Intelligent. Charismatic. Compassionate. Loyal. Honorable. Forceful when he needs to be. But he has a great heart as well. And a wicked sense of humor. Aemon is one of the best men I know, though I may be biased. I think he will be a fine king. As fine as his father."
She grinned wickedly, "And he's part wolf and dragon after all. Going riding with him can be so tiring."
Alerie chuckled, nodding.
"The blood of a wolf, the heart of a dragon. Fire and ice." Alerie mused, as she nodded, agreeing on that point.
"He knows what he wants, I imagine. Sometimes men like that may make decisions that don't have logic, but they do the right thing and always have that compass for us to follow. I find that extraordinary." She said, as she brushed her hair again, sitting up in her chair.
"My father never really took my brothers hunting much, so I've never had to ride with anyone much...I imagine I will have to learn fast. I magine my father left it to them, given he's a cripple and always here. But they always remain falconers. I have to say, it was one thing I nearly got into as well. Would be funny to introduce Tom to some new pretty birds." Alerie gave a sly giggle, as she looked across at the jug of wine, thinking what the hell. She took the goblet and filled it from the glass jug, taking a sip.
Julianna nodded, "Aemon always does what he think is right. Even if everyone else is against him. He does what he does to help people, to protect them."
She laughed, "Tom would want to learn. And he'd want to be the best at it. That's how he is. I think he'd want to show you the menagerie at Casterly Rock. We have all manner of wonders there. Including some actual lions. My father helped save the mountain lions of the west from disappearing entirely. They're such beautiful creatures. Deadly, but beautiful all the same. Rather like some flowers in some ways."
"Has my brother already proposed?"
"I suppose that's what any good ruler has to do, or at least,....perhaps those lions are much like dragons too." Alerie mused simply on Julianna's former point, before she heard what she thought she did. It was a simply reply to make, and there was no hiding it.
"Well.....he wouldn't take no for an answer, and neither would I. So he has. Perhaps my view was misjudged before I got to know him, but I know that it'd break his heart in two if we were to be apart." Alerie replied, sharp in her response, sitting up, barely hiding it.
"My father's already given me the all clear. From my family's perspective, that was the main obstacle. There are Tyrells who won't approve of this. And people in the Reach neither, who may have been graced by Queen Margaery at some point. But it will come to pass, one way or another. I will make certain of it." Alerie added, honesty being the simplest way to make this one work, knowing it was crystal clear to her now.
Julianna nodded sympathethically, "There are Westermen who won't be pleased either. But I will do everything I can to smooth the path. They can hardly say no when a Lannister sits as Queen can they?" She laughed and held Alerie's hand to comfort her, "Do not worry, I'm happy for you and my brother. I'm sure you will be happy too."
"He is his father's son, and is a hopeless romantic. I can tell he's in love with you."
Alerie giggled.
"He found a white rose. He's certainly doing a very good job. The number of Knights that Ellion has been with and have tried to woo me without avail....Tom knows what he's doing." Alerie blushed, as she held Julianna's hand the same, nodding.
"I imagine it shall work out fine. I will have to show him the wonders of Highgarden someday too."
"That sounds just like him. You know, you are the first I have ever seen him so drawn to though. Many girls have courted him, but he's never been as enamored now as with you."
She smiled, reaching down to rub her waist, "And perhaps you can show me around as well. After the new prince or princess is born. I've never been to Highgarden. But I'd love to see it. I'm sure I can convince Aemon as well."
"Glad to hear it...I imagine sometimes the Seven work in weird ways. You'd love it. A city that smells wonderful, and has every flower you could imagine. A little....different." Alerie replied, as she took another sip, fully aware she shouldn't, but just was sipping anyway.
"So, you're pregnant....I imagine the need for a heir was fast. When they come, they will rule a world very different to what our fathers and grandfathers knew. With all it's changes."
Julianna nodded, "Yes, my son or daughter will be born in some months. These few sips I've had are the only wine I've drank in weeks. Sam confirmed it some time ago. It must have been our wedding night."
She set aside the goblet, dumping the rest over the balcony as she looked over the sea, "I miss Aemon, as I'm sure you miss your brother. I have trouble sleeping this days, as I'm afraid every morning that I will wake and someone will tell me that my child will grow up without a father. I want him to come home. Soon. This waiting is torture. I suppose every wife feels the same when her husband goes to war. I only pray you never need feel this when you are with Tom."
"I don't want my brother to die either......I know the feeling all too well, sadly. He risks himself a lot so I've become used to it, and while he can be an idiot....he has a heart of gold really. He just doesn't know what he wants. I can live in knowing he always finds a way, and so too will Aemon. I can't see it happening." Alerie said, putting her hand on the table, looking to Julianna's eyes.
"It'll be fine. They'll have a father with tales to tell." Alerie beamed, her smile warm and her touch soft.
Julianna smiled sadly and leaned on Alerie's shoulder. The two of them sat together on the balcony, watching the ships, arms interwined and taking comfort in each other as they waited for the men they loved to come home.
----------
Bloodstone
Ellion's low profile had been maintained throughout, as he cleaned his sword and armour, back on the ship's innards, looking across at the others that had ended up gething here. He had gotten a few bad looks, but had mainly followed the group, followed orders, and well, he'd done a few things to prove his worth, but of late, nothing particular. The grey man.
Seran eyed the rest of the people gathered, after several iterations of smalltalk and some wine, his face still ached because the ordeal. He probably had a couple of bad choices of words there, but he was aching to do something, after so much resting. The hostile ambient of the Stepstones certainly helped. He glanced sideways at Ellion Tyrell. Part monster of the sword, part of what he really hated about some of his brothers-in-arms in the stepstones. Naive and inexperienced, with much to prove. The kind of people that got themselves killed, and as well the kind who paind well. He just glanced, not even bothering to salute.
Ellion looked across at Seran, seeing the glance.
"I guess I haven't said a lot and yet you seem pissed. Thought it'd make a change when the shit hit us the way it did. Same amount of blood, nothing needs be added." Ellion mused, a little sharper it seemed, perhaps this had wholly changed his experience a little. He didn't seem as brash as he was at that Tourney, since the fight on the boat, the true gore of warfare had come out to him, though he knew that side was still deep inside him, returning when he came back home to civilization, as he took out the whetstone, gently sharpening the blade.
"My face aches, m'lord." Seran said, in the most corteous way possible, yet still the pang of latent discomfort was present. This man was a good swordsman, but still... he couldn't really place any trust on him. He seemed far too imbibed in the spur of the moment at times, as he eyed his sword sharpening carefully. "Or probably I am jealous. I don't get to have as many luxuries. Who knows." He said back.
"Luxuries are nice. But killing a man is the same experience, rich or poor I guess, same as dethroning a Knight on horseback. Just changes a few things here and there, but it's the same." The blade scraped as Ellion replied, as he finished off the final edge, the blade shining, the weapon cleaned and prepared, as he took a cloth and scrubbed some of the armour's dirt a little.
"Well, my lord. That is where I digress. Killing a man with a sword seems still too clean, when compared to other methods. A few cuts and that's it. But..." Seran trailed off as he eyed the sword. "Those few changes can be a world if you're not ready for them. Overrealiance on a single thing to solve all situations... that's the real dangerous path, m'lord. That is why I am not bothered with my sparse talent at swordplay. I've killed people with my bare hands." Seran said, his eyes reminiscing about past battles in the bloody fields of Essos.
"And it's why I like a polearm. Doesn't fit every situation though. Too long, too sticky. Fists work too, I imagine." Ellion added, nodding in agreement, wiping out some blood and dirt from the top of the collar, squeezing the dirt from the cloth.
"I imagine you and I aren't too different. I mean, I would have taken a career in the wars in Essos. I'm always looking for an adventure or two. It's why I suppose I'm here. If I'm in over my head, then I might as well do it now while I'm not an old man."
"You know nothing, Ser Tyrell." Seran said, frowning. "I am the son of a wine merchant, and I'd rather deal in a safer trade. However, this is the quickest path to regain the status i lost for the sake of my own sister." Seran said. "I'd rather avoid danger at all if I can help it. But it turns out, avoiding dangers doesn't bring you glory or knighthood. One needs to snatch the prizes from the jaws of death." He said. "Which would've taken me decades to do otherwise. We could not be more different." Seran finished.
"Alright, point made. I'm a secondborn and unless I go about killing at least three people who I dearly love, my claim to the Kingdom of the Reach is quite unlikely. I've acted honourably and I know I need to fight. I've proven myself useful, I hope." Ellion merely commented, as he sighed.
"No need to be a cunt about it." He finished with the cloth, as he put his plate back onto the rack, grabbing a swab of spirit and applying it to a cut in his side, gently cooing as he rubbed it in, a wound from earlier that he was looking after and trying to kill any infection, from time to time, his green shirt and dirty messy long hair making him look like some sort of rogue by the day, rather than a dashing Knight that he usually was. To be completely anachronistic of his description, it almost fit a surfer more than a soldier, which was rather amusing to see, as he finished with the swab.
"I hope I can keep being of use. We still have work to do after all."
"Well, if you want to keep being useful, I can give you a few pointers that will help you survive. At least when you're out of your depth, Ser Tyrell." Seran said, shrugging. He reasoned that arrogant and stupidly skilled, it would still be nice to increase the survivability of the Knight in this kind of environment. "Also has that wound been taken care properly?"
Ellion nodded, gently putting the spirit away.
"It's fine. It's only a flesh wound." Ellion mused with a slight chuckle, aware that it wasn't deep enough, it was surface-based and came from a bash, not a brush of a blade against his side. Platemail helped stop that from becoming something that could do far more damage, which was always a good thing.
"I've seen enough injuries and treated enough in the past to know my own. Us Reachmen are hard to kill anyway. Greenhand blood."
"It won't save you from a slit throat, regardless, Ser Tyrell." Seran frowned as he levelled himself with Ellion's sight. "Alright, listen up. You can kill a man in a single punch if you aim properly. Here in the nose, if you hit hard enough, or in the throat, crushing it with enough force. You don't even need a weapon, only a good arm." Seran said. "Also, Westerosi rarely pay attention to attacking a body's joints... but speak with a healer and they will tell you joint injuries are among the most cripping injuries one can make. You can drive a polearm through someone and he'll still fight in its death throes. Bend his sword arm backwards and he'll flail without doing much." He said. "Try grabbing a sword a making a mock stab, sire."
Ellion took the blade, taking it on board, though he knew most of this already. Punch a man correctly, and he was going to fall to the ground. Ellion knew that, any old wench in Flea Bottom could tell you that, he thought to himself, but it was a more eloquent, in relative terms at least, way of putting it. Perhaps different, but Ellion knew he was being underestimatated a little. He pushed the sword forwards, letting Seran show him.
Like a snake, Seran's arm shot and wrapped Ellion's in a peculiar way, immovilizing said sword arm... and then he started to exert strength and leverage, the grip of the sword arm weakening as an unbelievable strain begun to affect the elbow. Seran stopped short of popping the joint, but made sure Ellion felt it, before releasing.
"Just like that, unless you have a bonesetter, you'd be limping with a useless sword arm for the remainder of the fight. Of course you need reflexes enough to read the moves before attempting to do so." Seran added.
"I can read a man before he fights...you would need it. It's interesting." Ellion said curiously, feeling a little pain but knowing it was a immobilizing move. Ellion would have gone for a punch but it was a useful remark to make.
"You are a good improviser, Seran. I noticed that. But in Westeros, they do things different. You form as a man in a unit, not as a warrior going from point to point. We have cohesion, units, troops, not the Essosi style. But I will keep it in mind, it will be useful to me." Ellion added, as he put the blade back, sitting down again, taking it on board but not going any further with it.
"And last but not the least" Seran said, a disinterested expression. "Women WILL kill you. The wiles of women are more dangerous than rampaging dragons. I've seen it. Keep your guard up at all times with them. Speaking as a Lyseni, I know how truly dangerous pearly white teeth and a husky voice can be." The mercenary added. "Cohesion and troops will not help against this kind of thing. And those moves are for when I said, out of your depth, sire. Like being half drunk and disarmed in an alley."
Ellion chuckled, nodding.
"The trick is not to go to Lys, or be...too far out of your depth. I mean....as tempting as it is to explore the bottoms of the barrel, I'm good thanks." Ellion laughed, as he took a swig of water from his canteen, brushing his beard a little that had grown out.
"That sounds like common sense anyway. I'm keeping away from whorehouses for another reason too. But I'm tempted to go back. And besides Seran...where's the fun in living then?" Ellion added, and speaking anachronistically again to put it straight, it was a real James Hunt moment that he had there and then.
"If that was what I wanted, I'd go join the Unsullied and their legion of cockless. Famous warriors, haven't had the joy of sex and the touch of a woman. Or a man....let's be fair here, some do swing that way. Do you, Seran?" Ellion nearly pissed himself laughing, knowing he could, and would make that joke, even with his own ways.
"You can try Cyvasse. It's good for the mind. I'm not very good at it, my siblings beat me every time." Seran deadpanned. "Or reading books. Or cooking. Or winemaking." He enumerated a series of random things, his frown accentuating because of the cocky dismissal. "I've bedded men, yes." He shrugged. "Quicker coin than the sword, nobody gets hurt. A bit repugnant for my tastes, though." He deadpanned.
Ellion chuckled, nodding.
"Cyvasse is fun. And I am the same, not good at it either. Falconry is a good pursuit, as is jousting. For you, perhaps not. But it is a test of bravery, controlled. A rush like no other, a noble pursuit in precision and valour. The thrill of the chase, for no good reason yet every reason. It may seem pointless as a thrill....but one I happen to be quite good at doing. And it plays dividends for the presitge of my House." Ellion replied, knowing he was a little more humble now.
"We may be more different than we could ask each other to be. But alas. We do what we have to do, I guess." Ellion mused, a little relaxed now, as he took another swig of water.
"I tried birdkeeping. I got a loud, dirty loose-bowelled magpie who can only say one word." Seran said. "Guess I don't have much money for such endevours. Don't get killed, ser Tyrell." He said, tiring finally of the conversation.
"I'll try not to. It'd piss off my sister too much anyway."
"Heh. Now that is something we have in common." Seran added.
King's Landing
After leaving Willas's quarters, she'd made her way through the Red Keep, a couple of the Reachman guards following close, her handmaidens having the day off today, Alerie had decided. They were in no urgent need, not at the moment, as she made her way over towards where she expected to find Julianna. It wasn't particularly hard, given the Princess would likely be in in the Royal Quarters, and well, she thought it may be an idea to pay a visit to the lady who was keeping her around the Keep as a friend.
The princess was found in Maegor's Holdfast in the married quarters she shared with Prince Aemon. Julianna was sitting on the balcony, examining a case full of seashells and smiling softly. The Princess was often found with a whole entourage, but this was one of the few times she was alone.
Alerie knocked, finding the door was open, this being the shared quarters she kept with Aemon. She waited for her to come to the door, not wanting to come in yet, but took a guess that she was alone. Alerie ordered the guards away, as she wanted on Julianna to resopnd.
The Princess heard the noise and put the trinkets away, coming to the door and opening it to find Alerie, she smiled sweetly and opened her arms for a hug, "Alerie, it's so good to see you. It's been a little since we talked. Please come in. Would you like a drink, something to eat?"
Alerie nodded, as she walked in, hugging Julianna back, resting her head on her shoulder.
"Good to see you too, my Princess. I'm glad to see you are doing well." Alerie said, with a certain tone of voice, a soft and caring one, as she looked through the window, then back at Julianna.
"I've just had some wine and food with my father, but thank you. Any more and I'd be hard pressed to maintain my figure. And that would be something I wouldn't want to spread around the keep!" Alerie added, her feminine charm, that distinctly of a Tyrell coming through, as she sighed, nodding.
"It wasn't long ago, but it feels like it. I hope she's doing better. A sad thing indeed, a bout of madness perhaps." Alerie only could add, knowing the handmaiden was out of Julianna's keep most likely, after the events on the boat, as she stood by her side, looking out at the horizon, the sea and the cliffs of the Blackwater Bay visible from the Holdfast.
Julianna stood with Alerie and they watched the ships gathered in the harbor, scores of dromonds all prepared for combat, "Yes, the word is that the girl is quite unwell. But she is under suprevision now. Perhaps she will get better. I hope so, I hear Rhaegar is quite enamored with her."
She smiled at Alerie, "I doubt that will ever be a problem with you, you'll be beautiful till the end of your days, I am sure." Her expression became speculative, "Is there anything in partiuclar you wished to speak about? I'm glad you came, but I was not expecting this visit."
"There was, actually." Alerie added, as she took a seat, cutting to the point, looking still half at the ships outside.
"I know I asked for your permission, and I did spend some time with Tom. I think there's something real. My father thinks it can work. I just need to speak with Tyrion. And yourself...well, it may be possible to get a letter to him. What Tom wants sounds very impressive, but he wants that with me by his side." Alerie simply said, as she nodded, baring truth, not much more than just that.
"Like you said on the boat perhaps....it may not be too long till you and I are sister in laws." Alerie giggled, as she leaned back in the chair, awaiting a reply. She knew it was the wrong place to go, but chances were, with Tyrion away not much more could be done.
Julianna played with one of her golden ringlets, smiling, "Ah so my brother did charm you after all? I always supspected he would be drawn to you. As for my permission, you do not need it. Tom is almost a man grown. But you have my blessing. I believe, out of all the young maidens my brother can marry, you will be the best one for him. And I would be ecstatic to call you sister, Alerie. I will take up the matter with father when he returns."
"I am thankful to hear it, Julianna. I suppose the rest was getting to know Julianna Targaryen, too. Would be a little....cold of me to just nudge in just for that, shall we say?" Alerie added, a warm smile on her face, as she looked out.
"The rest of the forces are mobilizing there, as you say. All those ships. Never was much my specialty. Highgarden doesn't have many big ships either....it's remarkable to see." Alerie mused, brushing her hair back a little, sighing.
"Us ladies leave that affair to the men, I guess. Well, some of us do. I could never see a Lady from my House fighting, I suppose."
Julianna chuckled, "Nor I, though my Stark cousins are fond of training the women. And all of the Targaryens are dragon riders. Perhaps you and I could visit the armory and ask to be trained hmm? I could use a battle axe and you a polearm?" She smiled and sipped some wine.
Alerie giggled, laughing at the mere thought, as she sighed gently.
"I've ridden on a dragon myself. Not for the faint hearted....I imagine you've seen it for yourself too. Simply magnificent, like quite nothing else. Gets the blood pumping....you can see why the Targaryens have such a fire in their hearts." Alerie said, as she kept away from the wine, not really wanting to make herself too merry yet.
"But I'm too small framed, sadly. I'd leave that to my brothers. They handle swords and polearms far better than I will. But maybe someday, a Lady of the Reach will be a fighter. More than just thorns in words, but in warfare." Alerie looked back across to Julianna, still thinking.
"It does make me chuckle, my brother is more obssessed with his plate than I am with my dresses sometimes. So maybe it isn't as manly as they all make it out to be."
Julianna laughed, "I know what you mean. Aemon has taken me on a ride on several occasions. Though I wager, they may have been a bit more... eventful than the one Jahaerys took you on." She smirked and sipped some more.
"Perhaps someday a Lannister will be as well. But indeed, the men do love their armor don't they? Riding around on their horses with colorful barding, in their bright surcoats with their skirts that aren't skirts and their plumes." She laughed, "It seems to me quite a few knights have a hidden decorative side."
"Oh, too well. Ellion's probably crying over how much mess his armour has now." Alerie giggled in return, as she sat up, bringing the chair in.
"So...if you don't mind me being rather intrusive, but Lady to Princess....what's Aemon like? The young Prince...he must have lots of pressure on his shoulders, and being in the Stepstones, I imagine he's a risky devil." Alerie was so beautifully careful in it, she seemed to almost be an artisan, the topic change smooth yet simple, and genuinely quite innocent....though out of random curiosity Alerie would ask that. It didn't even seem malvolent, just open and sisterly, in a way.
Julianna chewed her lip in thought, "The prince. I've known him since he was a boy. And he's much like his father. He's very driven. Can be very intense. Incredibly strong of will. Brave. Intelligent. Charismatic. Compassionate. Loyal. Honorable. Forceful when he needs to be. But he has a great heart as well. And a wicked sense of humor. Aemon is one of the best men I know, though I may be biased. I think he will be a fine king. As fine as his father."
She grinned wickedly, "And he's part wolf and dragon after all. Going riding with him can be so tiring."
Alerie chuckled, nodding.
"The blood of a wolf, the heart of a dragon. Fire and ice." Alerie mused, as she nodded, agreeing on that point.
"He knows what he wants, I imagine. Sometimes men like that may make decisions that don't have logic, but they do the right thing and always have that compass for us to follow. I find that extraordinary." She said, as she brushed her hair again, sitting up in her chair.
"My father never really took my brothers hunting much, so I've never had to ride with anyone much...I imagine I will have to learn fast. I magine my father left it to them, given he's a cripple and always here. But they always remain falconers. I have to say, it was one thing I nearly got into as well. Would be funny to introduce Tom to some new pretty birds." Alerie gave a sly giggle, as she looked across at the jug of wine, thinking what the hell. She took the goblet and filled it from the glass jug, taking a sip.
Julianna nodded, "Aemon always does what he think is right. Even if everyone else is against him. He does what he does to help people, to protect them."
She laughed, "Tom would want to learn. And he'd want to be the best at it. That's how he is. I think he'd want to show you the menagerie at Casterly Rock. We have all manner of wonders there. Including some actual lions. My father helped save the mountain lions of the west from disappearing entirely. They're such beautiful creatures. Deadly, but beautiful all the same. Rather like some flowers in some ways."
"Has my brother already proposed?"
"I suppose that's what any good ruler has to do, or at least,....perhaps those lions are much like dragons too." Alerie mused simply on Julianna's former point, before she heard what she thought she did. It was a simply reply to make, and there was no hiding it.
"Well.....he wouldn't take no for an answer, and neither would I. So he has. Perhaps my view was misjudged before I got to know him, but I know that it'd break his heart in two if we were to be apart." Alerie replied, sharp in her response, sitting up, barely hiding it.
"My father's already given me the all clear. From my family's perspective, that was the main obstacle. There are Tyrells who won't approve of this. And people in the Reach neither, who may have been graced by Queen Margaery at some point. But it will come to pass, one way or another. I will make certain of it." Alerie added, honesty being the simplest way to make this one work, knowing it was crystal clear to her now.
Julianna nodded sympathethically, "There are Westermen who won't be pleased either. But I will do everything I can to smooth the path. They can hardly say no when a Lannister sits as Queen can they?" She laughed and held Alerie's hand to comfort her, "Do not worry, I'm happy for you and my brother. I'm sure you will be happy too."
"He is his father's son, and is a hopeless romantic. I can tell he's in love with you."
Alerie giggled.
"He found a white rose. He's certainly doing a very good job. The number of Knights that Ellion has been with and have tried to woo me without avail....Tom knows what he's doing." Alerie blushed, as she held Julianna's hand the same, nodding.
"I imagine it shall work out fine. I will have to show him the wonders of Highgarden someday too."
"That sounds just like him. You know, you are the first I have ever seen him so drawn to though. Many girls have courted him, but he's never been as enamored now as with you."
She smiled, reaching down to rub her waist, "And perhaps you can show me around as well. After the new prince or princess is born. I've never been to Highgarden. But I'd love to see it. I'm sure I can convince Aemon as well."
"Glad to hear it...I imagine sometimes the Seven work in weird ways. You'd love it. A city that smells wonderful, and has every flower you could imagine. A little....different." Alerie replied, as she took another sip, fully aware she shouldn't, but just was sipping anyway.
"So, you're pregnant....I imagine the need for a heir was fast. When they come, they will rule a world very different to what our fathers and grandfathers knew. With all it's changes."
Julianna nodded, "Yes, my son or daughter will be born in some months. These few sips I've had are the only wine I've drank in weeks. Sam confirmed it some time ago. It must have been our wedding night."
She set aside the goblet, dumping the rest over the balcony as she looked over the sea, "I miss Aemon, as I'm sure you miss your brother. I have trouble sleeping this days, as I'm afraid every morning that I will wake and someone will tell me that my child will grow up without a father. I want him to come home. Soon. This waiting is torture. I suppose every wife feels the same when her husband goes to war. I only pray you never need feel this when you are with Tom."
"I don't want my brother to die either......I know the feeling all too well, sadly. He risks himself a lot so I've become used to it, and while he can be an idiot....he has a heart of gold really. He just doesn't know what he wants. I can live in knowing he always finds a way, and so too will Aemon. I can't see it happening." Alerie said, putting her hand on the table, looking to Julianna's eyes.
"It'll be fine. They'll have a father with tales to tell." Alerie beamed, her smile warm and her touch soft.
Julianna smiled sadly and leaned on Alerie's shoulder. The two of them sat together on the balcony, watching the ships, arms interwined and taking comfort in each other as they waited for the men they loved to come home.
----------
Bloodstone
Ellion's low profile had been maintained throughout, as he cleaned his sword and armour, back on the ship's innards, looking across at the others that had ended up gething here. He had gotten a few bad looks, but had mainly followed the group, followed orders, and well, he'd done a few things to prove his worth, but of late, nothing particular. The grey man.
Seran eyed the rest of the people gathered, after several iterations of smalltalk and some wine, his face still ached because the ordeal. He probably had a couple of bad choices of words there, but he was aching to do something, after so much resting. The hostile ambient of the Stepstones certainly helped. He glanced sideways at Ellion Tyrell. Part monster of the sword, part of what he really hated about some of his brothers-in-arms in the stepstones. Naive and inexperienced, with much to prove. The kind of people that got themselves killed, and as well the kind who paind well. He just glanced, not even bothering to salute.
Ellion looked across at Seran, seeing the glance.
"I guess I haven't said a lot and yet you seem pissed. Thought it'd make a change when the shit hit us the way it did. Same amount of blood, nothing needs be added." Ellion mused, a little sharper it seemed, perhaps this had wholly changed his experience a little. He didn't seem as brash as he was at that Tourney, since the fight on the boat, the true gore of warfare had come out to him, though he knew that side was still deep inside him, returning when he came back home to civilization, as he took out the whetstone, gently sharpening the blade.
"My face aches, m'lord." Seran said, in the most corteous way possible, yet still the pang of latent discomfort was present. This man was a good swordsman, but still... he couldn't really place any trust on him. He seemed far too imbibed in the spur of the moment at times, as he eyed his sword sharpening carefully. "Or probably I am jealous. I don't get to have as many luxuries. Who knows." He said back.
"Luxuries are nice. But killing a man is the same experience, rich or poor I guess, same as dethroning a Knight on horseback. Just changes a few things here and there, but it's the same." The blade scraped as Ellion replied, as he finished off the final edge, the blade shining, the weapon cleaned and prepared, as he took a cloth and scrubbed some of the armour's dirt a little.
"Well, my lord. That is where I digress. Killing a man with a sword seems still too clean, when compared to other methods. A few cuts and that's it. But..." Seran trailed off as he eyed the sword. "Those few changes can be a world if you're not ready for them. Overrealiance on a single thing to solve all situations... that's the real dangerous path, m'lord. That is why I am not bothered with my sparse talent at swordplay. I've killed people with my bare hands." Seran said, his eyes reminiscing about past battles in the bloody fields of Essos.
"And it's why I like a polearm. Doesn't fit every situation though. Too long, too sticky. Fists work too, I imagine." Ellion added, nodding in agreement, wiping out some blood and dirt from the top of the collar, squeezing the dirt from the cloth.
"I imagine you and I aren't too different. I mean, I would have taken a career in the wars in Essos. I'm always looking for an adventure or two. It's why I suppose I'm here. If I'm in over my head, then I might as well do it now while I'm not an old man."
"You know nothing, Ser Tyrell." Seran said, frowning. "I am the son of a wine merchant, and I'd rather deal in a safer trade. However, this is the quickest path to regain the status i lost for the sake of my own sister." Seran said. "I'd rather avoid danger at all if I can help it. But it turns out, avoiding dangers doesn't bring you glory or knighthood. One needs to snatch the prizes from the jaws of death." He said. "Which would've taken me decades to do otherwise. We could not be more different." Seran finished.
"Alright, point made. I'm a secondborn and unless I go about killing at least three people who I dearly love, my claim to the Kingdom of the Reach is quite unlikely. I've acted honourably and I know I need to fight. I've proven myself useful, I hope." Ellion merely commented, as he sighed.
"No need to be a cunt about it." He finished with the cloth, as he put his plate back onto the rack, grabbing a swab of spirit and applying it to a cut in his side, gently cooing as he rubbed it in, a wound from earlier that he was looking after and trying to kill any infection, from time to time, his green shirt and dirty messy long hair making him look like some sort of rogue by the day, rather than a dashing Knight that he usually was. To be completely anachronistic of his description, it almost fit a surfer more than a soldier, which was rather amusing to see, as he finished with the swab.
"I hope I can keep being of use. We still have work to do after all."
"Well, if you want to keep being useful, I can give you a few pointers that will help you survive. At least when you're out of your depth, Ser Tyrell." Seran said, shrugging. He reasoned that arrogant and stupidly skilled, it would still be nice to increase the survivability of the Knight in this kind of environment. "Also has that wound been taken care properly?"
Ellion nodded, gently putting the spirit away.
"It's fine. It's only a flesh wound." Ellion mused with a slight chuckle, aware that it wasn't deep enough, it was surface-based and came from a bash, not a brush of a blade against his side. Platemail helped stop that from becoming something that could do far more damage, which was always a good thing.
"I've seen enough injuries and treated enough in the past to know my own. Us Reachmen are hard to kill anyway. Greenhand blood."
"It won't save you from a slit throat, regardless, Ser Tyrell." Seran frowned as he levelled himself with Ellion's sight. "Alright, listen up. You can kill a man in a single punch if you aim properly. Here in the nose, if you hit hard enough, or in the throat, crushing it with enough force. You don't even need a weapon, only a good arm." Seran said. "Also, Westerosi rarely pay attention to attacking a body's joints... but speak with a healer and they will tell you joint injuries are among the most cripping injuries one can make. You can drive a polearm through someone and he'll still fight in its death throes. Bend his sword arm backwards and he'll flail without doing much." He said. "Try grabbing a sword a making a mock stab, sire."
Ellion took the blade, taking it on board, though he knew most of this already. Punch a man correctly, and he was going to fall to the ground. Ellion knew that, any old wench in Flea Bottom could tell you that, he thought to himself, but it was a more eloquent, in relative terms at least, way of putting it. Perhaps different, but Ellion knew he was being underestimatated a little. He pushed the sword forwards, letting Seran show him.
Like a snake, Seran's arm shot and wrapped Ellion's in a peculiar way, immovilizing said sword arm... and then he started to exert strength and leverage, the grip of the sword arm weakening as an unbelievable strain begun to affect the elbow. Seran stopped short of popping the joint, but made sure Ellion felt it, before releasing.
"Just like that, unless you have a bonesetter, you'd be limping with a useless sword arm for the remainder of the fight. Of course you need reflexes enough to read the moves before attempting to do so." Seran added.
"I can read a man before he fights...you would need it. It's interesting." Ellion said curiously, feeling a little pain but knowing it was a immobilizing move. Ellion would have gone for a punch but it was a useful remark to make.
"You are a good improviser, Seran. I noticed that. But in Westeros, they do things different. You form as a man in a unit, not as a warrior going from point to point. We have cohesion, units, troops, not the Essosi style. But I will keep it in mind, it will be useful to me." Ellion added, as he put the blade back, sitting down again, taking it on board but not going any further with it.
"And last but not the least" Seran said, a disinterested expression. "Women WILL kill you. The wiles of women are more dangerous than rampaging dragons. I've seen it. Keep your guard up at all times with them. Speaking as a Lyseni, I know how truly dangerous pearly white teeth and a husky voice can be." The mercenary added. "Cohesion and troops will not help against this kind of thing. And those moves are for when I said, out of your depth, sire. Like being half drunk and disarmed in an alley."
Ellion chuckled, nodding.
"The trick is not to go to Lys, or be...too far out of your depth. I mean....as tempting as it is to explore the bottoms of the barrel, I'm good thanks." Ellion laughed, as he took a swig of water from his canteen, brushing his beard a little that had grown out.
"That sounds like common sense anyway. I'm keeping away from whorehouses for another reason too. But I'm tempted to go back. And besides Seran...where's the fun in living then?" Ellion added, and speaking anachronistically again to put it straight, it was a real James Hunt moment that he had there and then.
"If that was what I wanted, I'd go join the Unsullied and their legion of cockless. Famous warriors, haven't had the joy of sex and the touch of a woman. Or a man....let's be fair here, some do swing that way. Do you, Seran?" Ellion nearly pissed himself laughing, knowing he could, and would make that joke, even with his own ways.
"You can try Cyvasse. It's good for the mind. I'm not very good at it, my siblings beat me every time." Seran deadpanned. "Or reading books. Or cooking. Or winemaking." He enumerated a series of random things, his frown accentuating because of the cocky dismissal. "I've bedded men, yes." He shrugged. "Quicker coin than the sword, nobody gets hurt. A bit repugnant for my tastes, though." He deadpanned.
Ellion chuckled, nodding.
"Cyvasse is fun. And I am the same, not good at it either. Falconry is a good pursuit, as is jousting. For you, perhaps not. But it is a test of bravery, controlled. A rush like no other, a noble pursuit in precision and valour. The thrill of the chase, for no good reason yet every reason. It may seem pointless as a thrill....but one I happen to be quite good at doing. And it plays dividends for the presitge of my House." Ellion replied, knowing he was a little more humble now.
"We may be more different than we could ask each other to be. But alas. We do what we have to do, I guess." Ellion mused, a little relaxed now, as he took another swig of water.
"I tried birdkeeping. I got a loud, dirty loose-bowelled magpie who can only say one word." Seran said. "Guess I don't have much money for such endevours. Don't get killed, ser Tyrell." He said, tiring finally of the conversation.
"I'll try not to. It'd piss off my sister too much anyway."
"Heh. Now that is something we have in common." Seran added.