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Post by Aerion Flowers on Jul 11, 2018 18:46:26 GMT 1
Despite all the commotion and busy schedule of the day, Aerion was still able to duck away from all the goings on to visit one of his favorite places: The Libraries of Highgarden.
Making his way down the halls of the East wing, he chances upon the very lady who had occupied the majority of his thoughts the last two days since seeing her pass when receiving bread and salt. Lady Lysette stood by a stained glass window with the midday sun and dancing colours shining off her fair skin and bright hair, adding radiance to her already divine appearance. Seven help me, she looks like the Maiden herself.
"Forgive me if I am interrupting you, my Lady. I am Ser Aerion. I cannot help but wonder if you are lost, or perhaps attempting to hide from someone? These halls lead to the Libraries, and as grand as they are full, rarely do they receive many visitors, and rarer still any whose beauty dwarfs that of any maiden found within its pages. Although if it is a hiding place you seek, you'll find few better."
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Post by Lysette Starling on Jul 12, 2018 4:30:19 GMT 1
Lysette looked over her shoulder at the knight, not even meaning to look coquettish in doing so. She just hadn't heard him approaching, so intent had she been on the view out the window, and the thoughts in her head. If I'd been a snake, you'd be dead by now. Her father's jovial admonition when he'd accidentally startled her for similar reasons back home. Seven send she never actually encountered a snake then!
His words were grating to her though. Yes, surely the only reason she would be near the library would be a mistake, or because she was hiding. What else could a woman want from such a grand place as the Highgarden Library?
She stifled the roll her eyes wanted to do, swallowed the exasperated sigh behind her lips, and instead gave the knight a demure, sparkly-eyed smile. He was handsome, Lysette supposed, so there was that. Ser Aerion was he now? She gave herself a moment to think by looking towards the Library door as if just having noticed it.
Aerion...one of the Starkwood knights, wasn't he now? Lysette thought he was, and suddenly he was more interesting. Since her chat with the Lady Margeary, Lysette had been thinking of whom she might ask for help. Ashara Starkwood stood out in her mind as a possible candidate. And here was someone who could get a message to her.
"Ser Aerion," she said, turning her face away but looking at him sidelong as if slightly too shy to meet his eyes directly, "I'm Lystte Starling. You've found me out. I supposed I'd have few enough moments to myself once the festivities began...but of course solitude always seems better until it begins. I'd welcome some company, if you don't mind having any. Are you here for the Library?"
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Post by Aerion Flowers on Jul 12, 2018 5:18:20 GMT 1
Aerion pauses as if he's not sure how best to respond, and then nods his head. "Indeed I am. I squired for the Lord to whom we both are guests, and I spent many days down here, usually with smuggled food." he says with a chuckle, and then realizing that he just met this woman, speaks at a slightly quickened pace so as not to linger on the thievery of his childhood.
"And then I began to read while down here. It is much more enjoyable when it's not at the behest of anyone. There are books on almost any topic, and some say the collection here is only rivaled by that of the Maesters in the Citadel." he says, thinking back to his studies when the septas in charge of his education. "I was headed there to walk down memory lane, a reprieve from all of the fake smiles and forced laughter. I would be honoured if you would join me, I can give you a tour if you would like?" he offers his arm for her to hold on to if she would like to accompany him.
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Post by Lysette Starling on Jul 12, 2018 5:30:55 GMT 1
Lysette takes the proffered arm, musing at the irony of a man wishing reprieve from fake smiles only to find yet another one waiting for him. Well, perhaps she'd judged him in haste. It wasn't as if many women would seek the Library out, after all. How was he to know better?
"So," she said lightly. "Ser Aerion. Squired for Lord Tyrell. That would make you Aerion Flowers of Starkwood, wouldn't it? You have some renown. Please, do show me what you know of this place."
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Post by Aerion Flowers on Jul 12, 2018 16:56:32 GMT 1
Aerion allows her to take his arm, and at her recognition of him and her touch, he was suddenly feeling as a boy of 14 upon receiving the touch of a girl he fancies. Blood rushing to his ears, he gives her a nod to her inquiry on his name and begins to guide her toward the library.
"We could spend weeks here showing you all that I know of its secrets, and many years likely discovering those which I do not."
He makes some small talk about the basics of the library, such as it's founding, and leads her down a side hallway lined with colourful if not faded leather books, most of which are thankfully devoid of dust. He notes that the servants take very good care of the library.
"This is the history wing. Here you'll find stories great and small, some detailing the rise and fall of vȳs, others giving insight into the crop patterns of farmers. What topics interest you most? We can go there next."
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Post by Lysette Starling on Jul 12, 2018 20:00:41 GMT 1
Lysette looked around the library, marking any changes to its layout since she last visited...but there weren't any of note. There were probably some new acquisitions tucked away on the shelves, but they would wait. It would be interesting to see what 'secrets' he knew, but...
"I think I'd like to know more about contemporary nobility," she remarked, and looked up at him. "Lets say...the Starkwoods. Have you served there for long? What are they like?"
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Post by Aerion Flowers on Jul 12, 2018 22:09:23 GMT 1
As she looked up at him, he was momentarily stunned. Enthralled, more like. It took him a moment to look away before answering, unsure himself if he could find words while still looking in her eyes.
"The Starkwoods are of a good kind. Being out of the way, they aren't often found as the main characters to the grand stories, but there is a history there of chivalry and nobility. More importantly, to your question, the family today does justice to their forefathers."
"My mother was from house Starkwood, although she is no longer with the family. My sister, the Seven bless her, unfortunately lost her husband and they were kind enough to take her in along with my nice and nephew. It should speak volumes that they have done everything in their power to help her, and have asked for nothing in return." Aerion speaking about his mother is clearly a sore spot for him, and he is almost shocked that he has opened up so freely to a relative stranger. Maybe this woman is indeed the Maiden after all?
"I myself have only spent a handful of years there in my life, most of which were as a small boy before being legitimized by my father, king Aegon." he watches her to see if she reacts to him being a Great Bastard.
"Those who have joined us at these events I can speak nothing but good things, as uninteresting as that may be. Ser Mikel is of low born birth but makes a better knight than many here. Lady Ashara is dutiful and intelligent, and House Cordwayner should consider themselves lucky to have her. Sadly I admit to knowing little of Ser Clayton, though his acceptance by Lord Ulbert lends itself well to his character."
"And of course there is my sister, Lady Laena Pyre. An amazing woman and an even better mother." he says lovingly, though nothing beyond that of a brother.
As if realizing he's been speaking for a while, he poses a question to the lady to learn more about her. "And what of yourself? From what I have heard you are to inherit the lands of your father. Between that and your unearthly beauty, any man here no doubt would seek your hand. These events must seem burdensome as much as they are fun, even without all the current political tides, churning as they are."
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Post by Lysette Starling on Jul 12, 2018 23:40:47 GMT 1
Lysette let her eyes slide away from Aerion, and her pale cheeks blossomed in spots of coral at the compliment.
"Unearthly beauty...you tease me, ser," she reproves softly. "But you're correct about the state of my House. My lord father has seen fit to allow me a say in who my husband will be, though I will of course look for the best match for the House. It is...a difficult thing, to balance the needs of so many, with whatever desires I may have for myself."
Her gaze, clear pools of blue, rose back to meet him again, abruptly interested in something he'd said.
"Laena Pyre, yes...I have heard her name before. You're her brother?" For a moment Lysette seemed to be looking through Aerion's head, past him to things whirling in the sky overhead. Then her focus snapped back onto him.
"Do you think she might meet with me sometime? I'd love to get to know the sister of a knight like you better." Her smile was incandescent, warm as a summer's afternoon. "And the lady Ashara too? We met at the bread and salt ceremony, and she was a joy to converse with. But I don't know anyone in House Starkwood to ask after them."
"At least not until now. Could you let them know?"
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Post by Aerion Flowers on Jul 13, 2018 1:37:24 GMT 1
Aerion nods in approval. "Far too often are marriages for duty rather than love. And worse yet are those who trap the unwilling. That your father allows you a say is a sign of a wise man, and likely a loving father."
"My lady surprises me. You have half the reach here willing to move mountains for your favour, and yet all you ask of me is for an introduction to my sister?" he asks incredulously. Then suddenly putting on a sarcastically serious voice, he holds a hand to his heart and asks "What sort of knight would I be if I couldn't even do such a thing?
"I would be more than happy to make an introduction on your behalf, Lady Lysette. But now on to more immediate concerns. Would you like to see one of the real secrets this place holds?" he asks with a sudden hint - could that be mischief? - in his eyes?
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Post by Lysette Starling on Jul 13, 2018 1:42:15 GMT 1
Lysette chuckles at that and a lock of white-gold hair falls over her eyes, which she brushes back into place behind her ear.
"I like the mountains where the gods put them, ser knight," she says with a grin. Then nods, "Yes, show me these secrets, before you explode from trying to restrain yourself."
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Post by Aerion Flowers on Jul 13, 2018 3:46:18 GMT 1
"A good thing too. It would have been awfully difficult to have to move them." he says cheekily.
As they come to stand in front of a nondescript bookshelf, Aerion looks to her as if considering something. "What I am about to show you has been a closely guarded secret since I was but a boy. Please take that into account when you think of sharing it."
He reaches out to the side, behind a stack of books that looks near enough to toppling over that the slightest breeze would spell it's downfall. Expertly fingering around without being able to see his hand, a slight clicking could be heard, before pulling it back empty.
"If you would stand back, my lady. I wouldn't want to ruin your dress with any dust. This likely hasn't happened in years." with that he gives a slight tug at the shelf that appeared to be against the wall, only to have it swing forward freely and silently. From inside the opening, the outline of a small room can be seen. Aerion takes a lamp from the wall outside, and leads Lysette in behind him.
Inside is a small oaken table that has what looks like decades of various oil and ink spills. Along the walls are several more books, these ones covered in dust and looking neglected. The shelves are devoid of the organizational systems present in the main library, and there is a small section where it looked like there once was a small fire. About two feet high of the ground, there were carvings in the wood of what might be horses or knights, though an by artist they were not.
"I think this was once a private study, but it must have been ages ago; there hasn't been a new book in here in at least a few hundred years I'd say. With the door closed, it is all but soundless for the outside world. A useful place indeed!"
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Post by Lysette Starling on Jul 13, 2018 3:55:19 GMT 1
Lysette's eyes widened in surprise as Aerion showed her that his boasts were not idle. She'd visited the library here more than once, but had never suspected. She glanced over the tiny space, taking in the details. The titles on the shelves. The burned spot. The little table. The inexpert carvings in the wood of the shelves. He squired for Lord Tyrell.
She ducked down to get a closer look, reached out to brush her fingertips over the tiny etched figures.
"This was your doing, hm?"
Then the lady glanced back over her shoulder wryly at Aerion and added, "And the fire?"
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Post by Aerion Flowers on Jul 13, 2018 4:58:33 GMT 1
A deep laugh erupts and he looks like he's ten again and was caught trying to steal an apple pastry from the kitchens. "Not quite the stuff of legends, eh? And that.. Yeah.. "
He looks closely at the charred shelf and is brought back to his childhood. "I had come here one evening when I was quite upset. This was my safe haven. My secret castle that was safe from any seige. But other than singing, which I was of no mood to do, and carving these... Well, I opted to pretend to be a knight, as in all the stories, slaying dragons and rescuing maidens."
"...well, lets just say, that playing knight in such quarters with an open lamp nearby is not the best practice for a boy of nine." he picks up a page that was barely holding together,so charred that it was clearly close to the ignition point.
"A wonder I didn't burn the whole library down!" he says, shaking his head with a smirk and turning back to Lysette.
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Post by Lysette Starling on Jul 13, 2018 17:08:57 GMT 1
Lysette laughed softly at that and looked fondly at the little hidden room.
"What I would have given for a place like this when I was young," she said wistfully. "But perhaps it's for the best. I think I might have just stayed there after some time. The servants would have had to have just...left food in random rooms, hoping I'd find it when no one was looking."
Carefully she backed back out and stood up straight, brushing her hair back with automatic passes of her hands.
"I can't imagine the librarian was particularly pleased about the smell of smoke though," Lysette commented to Ser Aerion with a knowing smile. "From Lord Tyrell's squire, no less."
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Post by Aerion Flowers on Jul 14, 2018 0:01:31 GMT 1
"As often as not I'd stop by the kitchen on the way, if I intended to be long." Aerion responds, then turns to follow her out.
"None too pleased indeed. Especially since they couldn't find the source. Believe you me, they certainly gave me hell for it, even if all they had were their suspicions."
He notices a small tuft of dust had floated down onto her shoulder, and gently brushed it aside, doing his best not to smudge it into her dress. He takes a small book from just inside the door and pockets it, and then swings it back into place, gently pressing until there was again a soft click of the mechanism catching.
"Thankfully Lord Tyrell had much more important things to worry about in my education than the habits of a boy to run off and play knight." he says, and Lysette would know that he speaks fondly of the man. "I owe much to him. And his family. I could have been guided down many paths, but they were true to their pledge to provide the very best for me."
"Most men would be trying to impress you with tales of bravery and courage, yet here I am telling you about my mischievous childhood!" he shakes his head ruefully. Gods, what am I doing?
"Enough about me, it is impolite of me to ramble. Tell me more about the famed Lady Lysette Sterling?"
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