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Post by Laena Pyre on Jul 22, 2018 17:01:31 GMT 1
After the service for Lord Jon Hightower, Laena sought out her brother, using a mere meeting of the eyes and a flicker of the head to pry him away from the crowds, so they may talk discreetly.
"Valonqar. I would ... Times like this ..." she growls in frustration, and rolls her eyes at her own inability to ask what she wants, before finally blurting out. "If something happens to me, you'll take care of my children, won't you? Not spoiling them like you do now, but being firm when required, raising them to be ... good."
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Post by Aerion Flowers on Jul 22, 2018 17:17:26 GMT 1
Aerion's blood immediately flares and his rare temper shows through his often jovial tone. He looks around frantically as if there were assassins present, before his eyes dart back to his sister.
"Are you in danger? If so speak but a name and they will will walk this ground no longer. If that name is unknown, it will not remain so for long!"
Then, noticing that she wants a real answer to the question, he calms himself and brings her into an embrace. A moment held, he brings her out to arms length.
"Dearest mandia, they would be raised as my own. On this I swear, to the old gods and the new, my vows in the field and the Sept, and upon my sword and shield." Aerion proclaims with the most serious vow he can think of. That he included the old gods instead of just those he believes in is a not insignificant thing.
"Now tell me, what brought this about?" he asks, this time more calmly.
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Post by Laena Pyre on Jul 22, 2018 17:36:42 GMT 1
"We are all in danger. Those with our father's blood more than most. It won't end here. As I gave my speech, I looked at the new Lord Brynden Hightower. Just a child. No father. Now no grandfather. There are other men who *could* protect him, but with so much power available, who knows if they truly *will*.
"I just ... Lord Jon. He never got to say 'goodbye' to his grandson. Never got to say how proud he was. That he loved him, and wanted to see what kind of man he would grow up to be. Just a few moments of fear, then ... gone. Now the knives are out, it could happen to anyone, at any time. On purpose, or just caught in the crossfire."
She locks eyes with her brother. "I don't fear for myself. I fear for leaving my children behind. If I know you're there for them, that will make those moments - may they never come - pass easier."
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Post by Aerion Flowers on Jul 22, 2018 21:51:14 GMT 1
"Sister, you should know that I would be here for them should anything happen to you. They will know of your love, and your pride, and be everything you wish them to be. But that will be because of you. Because of the love you show them daily. Because of the example you set for them, and the people who surround both you and them who care for you all." he says lovingly.
"I know you seek a husband, and I hope the Seven will bless you such that you find one that loves both you and the children, and not for power, but for love itself. We grew up without such a father, and we most certainly didn't have as loving a mother as you are to them. And we turned out alright."
He pauses just for a moment, a brief respite from the chaos of fear and anxiety that his sister is feeling.
"We dance upon a stage larger then we could have imagined as children. The ensemble around us are a dangerous and ambitious lot, and they will try to take the lead role if given the chance. All we can do is step true and with confidence, and allow the music of the Seven to guide us. And when the curtain is set to close on us, we will bow with grace and humility and the knowledge that we have danced our best dance."
"I'm sure I've butchered the metaphore, and mixed up a bit of what you taught me of dancing, but I think you understand me. You always do." Another embrace, hoping that his promises and his reminder of her capabilities as a mother has assuaged her fears.
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Post by Laena Pyre on Jul 22, 2018 23:11:47 GMT 1
Laena sniffs, before patting his chest. "You'll be a good father, be it to my children or, when the time comes, your own." She snorts a laugh. "And I can't take all the credit for raising my children - Selsa and Roslyn have been invaluable. Everything I know about being a loving mother, they taught me."
As she lets him hug her the last time, she mumbles out. "Your metaphors are still shit, though." Permitting the crudity, since it was just the two of them.
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Post by Aerion Flowers on Jul 22, 2018 23:51:05 GMT 1
Aerion laughs at her last crude remark. "I never was as good with such things..."
"As for me being a good father, let's hope it's not for some time! I'm still young yet, and don't intend to plant any Flowers of my own for a while."
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Post by Laena Pyre on Jul 23, 2018 0:27:48 GMT 1
She gives him an elder sister look, tinged with melancholy. "Better if you avoid planting *any* Flowers. We are a cursed breed. Those of our father's blood doubly so. Marrying early would be better, if your blood calls to you beyond what your chivalry can withstand."
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Post by Aerion Flowers on Jul 25, 2018 20:02:21 GMT 1
"It could be here at this tourney where some fair maiden will steal my heart away for marriage." he says with a bit of flair, mocking the tales of old where maidens and knight would fall in love at first sight.
"More likely as not to have some minor Lord try to push their daughter on me. Remember what happened the last tourney was held here? I don't even remember all the names. Although a couple were intriguing." he says, getting lost in the memories for a moment.
"No, better I still my beating heart and focus on the tilts to come. There's enough distractions of the flesh as it is." He doesn't reveal more than this, his sister likely not wanting to hear of any such endeavors.
"Although, as you search for a husband, perhaps you could help me with a similar search." he says, before quickly adding, "and no I don't mean I'm looking for a husband" with a laugh.
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Post by Laena Pyre on Jul 25, 2018 20:43:35 GMT 1
She gives an indulgent smile. "Perhaps I could. Hard to say until I know who or what it is you seek. I can tell you right off that if you seek a Valyrian sword, while I'm sure you'd cut a dashing figure with it, that is beyond my power."
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Post by Aerion Flowers on Aug 26, 2018 16:16:51 GMT 1
"Would that I could somehow find my hands on one of those blades. If I only father had seen fit to give me one!" he says with a little laugh.
"No, I find myself at odds, to be honest." A slight pause, unusual for Aerion when talking to his sister.
"I can't help feeling like my life, all our lives, are to dramatically change in the coming weeks. The tensions are growing faster than I think anyone wanted, and it's given me pause to wo Der if I should be looking for a wife now, or if it will all be for naught if everything changes in short order."
"One the one hand I'm now certain I'm smitten by one lady and already have a handful of other eager to get their claws in me. And I am somehow at a loss for what I should do. Do I pursue the one who I feel would be the right match, or, given the uncertainties of tomorrow, accept that nothing can be assured and play day to day at the whims of my fancy that day?"
Aerion is still obviously rattled from his concern for Laena and his shortcomings in the art of romance outside of the stories as a child.
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Post by Laena Pyre on Aug 26, 2018 17:28:52 GMT 1
Laena doesn't appear at all awkward over discussing her brother's love life. If anything, she seems pleased he came to her. "The first thing to note is that House Starkwood is a weak house, without any true allies. If you can marry someone who brings a strong military into alliance with the House, that could well change the House's fortunes in the coming days considerably. In this case, limit yourself to those who would make steadfast allies, rather than fair-weather friends, at least as best you can judge.
"The alternative is simply to go for a lady who pleases you." her voice carries no judgement. "We carry the Blood of Kings in our veins, and that allows for a little more freedom than those in our position would normally have. And there is no difference between power unused and power non-existent. There are no shortage of comely maidens who'd happily jump into your bed, and so long as her house isn't likely to take the other side as the Starkwoods, such an alliance wouldn't be *completely* useless, probably. If they are supporting of our brother, they likely wouldn't approve the marriage anyway, if they care about her welfare at all, since they'd effectively be giving up a hostage.
"The final option is, as you say, not to wed at all. Go off, make the Eight before everything falls apart, ensure that even if some traitor's arrow catches your eye, you at least lived before you died.
"The first choice is best for the House. The second is likely worst. The third doesn't help, but doesn't close off any options, either. What you need to consider is when you close your eyes and think of yourself, how closely do you relate to 'Starkwood'? If it was in the house's best interests for you to marry a boring, plump lady, would you? If Lady Shiera Seastar offered you a place beside her as her love- wait, never mind. I know the answer to that one." She sighs. "The question remains, though. Assuming I'm able to remarry, and leave the house, how tied do you feel to the house? You're not in the main line of succession, leaving to swear your sword to another house is definitely something you could do, if you wanted. Until I know the answer to that question, I can't really suggest what's best for you."
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Post by Aerion Flowers on Aug 28, 2018 13:37:19 GMT 1
Aerion can't help but find some gallows humour in what his sister says. Of course she goes right to the root of it. That's why I went to her in the first place.
"Your words strike true, dear sister. I am not sure how much I call Starkwood my home. Hell, I spent more time in King's Landing than there, and I consider Highgarden more of a home than either place tied to our parents."
He takes another moment to realize that it's that exact fact that's bothering him. His distance from House Starkwood.
"It's as if I have one foot in different camps. And it's exacerbated by the conflict ongoing. I see merits to both sides of the Blood and Fire arguments."
He holds up his hand to quiet the inevitable questions, if only until he finishes his thoughts. "I would see no bloodshed if possible, there is no need of it. And yet, how can their not be with two sides so venomously opposed?"
"But someday, soon I expect, I will need to choose a side publicly. And potentially alienate half of the people I know."
"To choose blood follows the vows I made to King and Country, but will no doubt distance me from my true home here at Highgarden. But to choose Fire would be accepting that the people can choose their king, and makes an enemy of the Starkwoods."
He shakes his head."Look at me. I start to ask advice on how to court Lady Lys... Er, um, a Lady, and now I'm rambling on about just the biggest issue to face the Seven Kingdoms in centuries!" his accidental reveal of the woman he's smitten over would be quite obvious to a fence post, let alone as adept a conversationalist as Laena.
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Post by Laena Pyre on Aug 28, 2018 15:59:08 GMT 1
"The first thing you have to understand before you choose a side is what the division is about. Ser Daemon, the Dornish, all that is a side-show. Ultimately, it boils down to a single act: King Daeron slightly reduced the power of powerful men. That was a mistake. Potentially a fatal one. He should have either maintained their power, or crushed them so utterly and completely that he need not fear their revenge. By weakening them slightly, he created a group of powerful enemies strong enough to tear the realm apart rather than accept even a bit less power. Without that, people would grumble about the Dorne deal, would hail Ser Daemon as the Warrior incarnate, but there would be no real chance of civil war. Always remember: those things, and all the calls to Chivalry, are but tools to lead the weak-minded. Power is what matters. Power is always what matters. After all, our father lived long enough to rot to death in his own shit with no rebellion and only one acknowledged assassination attempt. Why? Because he, for all his flaws, was wise enough to always pay his Pimp-Lords for the whores they provided. In this way, immoral and ambitious Lords - meaning, the dangerous ones - gained all the power they desired, by, for example, throwing their young, innocent niece under the King. While those less ambitious or more - or at all - moral were not the kind to foment civil war, so could be safely neglected. Now, under King Daeron, we see what happens when the converse is attempted.
"To pick a side, you should decide: is it the fault of the Immoral, for their self-serving nature? Or is it the fault of the King for not taking their nature into account when deciding on his course of action? After all, morality has but one place in the game of thrones: the graveyard.
"And I wouldn't be too sure about Highgarden, unless your close relationship reveals more than is common knowledge. To my ken, Lady Margaery is still very influential, and quite possibly loyal to the King. Not to mention that Ser Willas's views are still not public knowledge. Don't underestimate the importance of family in making such a decision, however Lord Leo may be leaning at the moment."
"Speaking of, it is worth keeping in mind that I am likely only to marry someone seeking alliance with the Starkwoods, since that is the role of ladies. Given their firm stance, that means I will almost certainly marry into a crown-loyalist House, though I am taking nothing for granted. Plus, as an entirely unrelated note that I have no idea why it would interest you, I have heard a reliable rumour that, while undeclared, and a lot of his knights lean elsewhere, Lord Starling himself leans towards the Crown, meaning perhaps he seeks a chivalrous crown-loyalist for his daughter."* She shrugs. "Not that that interests you, I'm sure."
*Can't remember the chronology of if I spoke with Lysette before or after this, but saying this now (and assuming I spoke to Lysette before) means we don't need to worry about another scene to pass this on, given we're trying to catch-up here.
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Post by Aerion Flowers on Aug 29, 2018 17:31:28 GMT 1
If Aerion could cover his face for his verbal slip, he would, but then he'd reveal just how much he actually cared. He smiles and shrugs, "No idea why such things would concern me, but they are interesting to note all the same. Perhaps I should speak with Lord Starling and see how he intends to tiptoe such Matters. I can't imagine being surrounded by Fire supporters as a man of the Crown is easy, and I could likely learn some insight from the man." another grin, this one quite tongue in cheek.
"Still, a man must make his own truth, and I will continue to hold true to. My values and ideals of chivalry and justice. They will see me through as they always have. Though I still think that many supporters of either side have spent less time than we have here today thinking on the truth behind the conflict. I myself have spent the last few days pondering this, and you've shone more light on it than I think I ever could have."
"My answer: I blame the immoral, as they should be of higher quality than to pursue purely self serving motives. That makes them wrong."
"That the King then ignored their motives doesn't make him wrong, it just makes him an idiot."
"Remind me again sister to never make an enemy out of you." he says, only somewhat jokingly. "A shame that you must follow as ladies do marry off into some family. What you would do in a position of power would frighten even Aegon and his dragons both"
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Post by Laena Pyre on Aug 29, 2018 18:38:33 GMT 1
Laena gently nods, interested to note that he would so easily choose inept morality over competent immorality, and that he still seemed to genuinely believe in things like 'justice'. Still, she smiles at his compliment and responds "I have every hope my next husband will be the kind of man who will seek wise council from those near to him, without being a dull, mindless puppet." She tosses her hair back. "In truth, I look forward to it. Standing beside my husband, supporting him, guiding him, making him strong. Using him to gain his Lord's ear, if he isn't the Lord himself." she casually adds, before giving him a wicked grin. "Believe me, brother, I will have far more power after getting married than I have as the mere distant cousin of a backwoods lord."
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