Hunting for absolution [D3 Laena, Donnel Closed]

Laena is startled out of her thoughts when Ser Donnel catches up with her, though she does her best to hide the fact that this large, stealthless man has somehow accomplished that action twice now. "Ser Donnel." she nods in greeting. "It went well, indeed." she responds dryly. "I spared the forest from the reign of terror of quite a number of trees, a fair few ferns, and quite a bit of moss felt my wrath as well. I expect to be toasted as the 'Scourge of the Rosewood' tonight.

"How about your own hunt?"

She nods. "A few. Regrets, second-guessing myself. Thinking back on what I did, and trying to figure out where I went wrong, and what I should have done differently." She gently snorts. "Of course, what I *really* should have done differently was practice with a bow more. But that kind of activity isn't really ... me." she examines her right hand, rubbing the tips of her fingers with her thumb. "When I place my hand in my next husband's, my hand should be as soft and gentle as his is rough and calloused." She looks up. "A woman having callouses feels as wrong to me as a man *not* having them, for all that bow-work is supposed to be acceptable."

Laena considers for a moment, before shaking her head. "You know what the result of Lord Bryce leaving his lordship is? Ser Farman is conspiring with Bittersteel to overthrow Ser Desmond. If you leave your house, you are leaving your brother, goodsister and nephew unprotected. I don't wish to cast aspersions on your eldest son, but judging by his recent actions, I suspect someone - probably a bastard - has sunk their claws into him to use him as their puppet. And there are bastards around who will stop at nothing to flip the loyalty of a house." She lets him put the pieces together himself, so she doesn't say anything he may consider an insult.

"When your children were growing up, say they stole some strawberries. Presumably you'd punish them, else you are effectively condoning their actions, which would only encourage them to steal more in the future, growing up rotten. You love them, but punishing them for bad behaviour does not negate the love, rather by firm action, you are demonstrating the strength of your love - willing to bear the discomfort of punishing someone you love, in service of their development.

"So too is it with wives. In the early days of my marriage, I was ... wilful, and one time I overstepped my bounds. Ser Vernan had me locked in an empty room as punishment. When he arrived, after not even half a day, I was on my knees begging forgiveness. But here is the thing to keep in mind: I didn't blame him for my imprisonment, I blamed *myself*. Being a rational adult, I recognised my punishment as a consequence of *my* actions. My husband was merely an instrument of justice. Had he not been willing to oppose me - me, with my blood of kings, versus him, a mere landed knight - I would undoubtedly have grown to be a rotten wife. Instead, my respect for him grew." she pauses before continuing with a small smile, "Not that I ever told him that, of course."

"Since you have been ... allowing your wife to rot for so long, at least if rumours as to her actions are to be believed, I doubt the cure will be so quickly applied in your case. So, it comes down to will. How much do you love your wife, brother, goodsister, and nephew, against how much pain can you take due to you inflicting misery on someone you love, albeit with their best interests at heart?"

She shrugs. "Or, of course, you can do as you suggest, and run away from battle, allowing those closest to you to shoulder the consequences."

Laena puzzles over Ser Donnel's metaphor for a few moments, before realising that in his analogy, his wife is the lamb, rather than the wolf as she had naturally assumed. Still, she doesn't pursue the point, feeling she's already pushed him enough, and allows the subject to switch to his son, giving the matter a good few moments' thought before answering. "Fortunately, my children are still young enough that reasonable freedoms do not infringe on the other two overmuch, though I do admit that I have worried over their futures, so I am indeed sympathetic to your situation."

She carries on for a few steps before continuing in a musing tone. "While much depends on the result of tomorrow's challenge, perhaps someone should ask Ser Quentyn Ball what he thinks of his former squire's actions, since they reflect on him as well. While obviously he wouldn't be upset over an ally of the king being embarrassed, there are ways to advance your political objectives without sacrificing your morality in such a flagrant and public manner. After all, unless your son has become a true monster, Ser Walton Wyl will still live come the end of tomorrow, while the damage your son has already done to the reputation of the cause he claims to champion will live on, the lies he told as plausible as those about the women fighting naked in Dornish tournaments though what they *do* do is perverse enough. A few more acts like that, and the Blackfyre cause will be seen as having the same moral standing as .. House Levalle." She sighs.  "Though, assuming your son has told him of your political sympathies, you are perhaps not the best choice to approach him.

"Failing that, I do have an alternative idea, though it depends on your son having any sense of shame over his actions, another's willingness to take a risk on his behalf, and my willingness to obligate myself to that other for his sake. And even then, it may not actually work.  So, it is far from certain."

"I was more considering the possible consequences of interference, from others on either side. Or both." She shrugs. "No point worrying about it until it happens."

When he describes Ser Quentyn's behaviour, she growls, and starts quietly ranting to herself. "Is it too much to ask that the side claiming to defend chivalry actually act chivalrous? At least in public? Behind closed doors, anything goes, of course - I'm not naive. But when the public justification for your actions is the damage being done to chivalric institutions, it rather undermines your argument when you flagrantly act in an unchivalric manner, and none step up to stop you." She growls again, before shaking her head back into focusing on Ser Donnel, giving him an embarrassed smile. "Sorry. So, it looks like we're relying on my alternate plan." She sighs. "In short, it involves him becoming a sworn sword for a house with very strong chivalric traditions, who emphasise honour in their training. I do not wish to name them, because it is a big ask for them to take him on after what he's done, even should he be willing to lower his head and admit he has strayed, and I do not wish to create a bone of contention between you should they say 'no'. However, if anywhere can get him back onto an honest path, it would be there, and I do have some options available to me which may help smooth the way.

She purses her lips for a few moments before sighing. "Fair. The house I have in mind is House Starling. To my knowledge, an honourable house, with strong traditions. Having membership of the Companions so close, likely dependent on his behaviour, along with the discipline and chivalric training the house is known for should hopefully overcome your son's stubbornness. Again: they may well say 'no', and I do not wish to provoke animosity by putting them into a position where you feel they've slighted your son if they do, so please understand that, if they do say 'no', it could well be for other, internal, reasons.

"As for the favour, I don't know exactly what I would ask. Though it is likely that it will have *something* to do with my objective of remarriage. But it is entirely possible that what I ask from you is simply so I may get a favour from someone else in a better position to help me. By building a network of favours, I am simply trying my best to ensure that, when an opportunity arises, I have the resources required to seize it."

She frowns for a few moments, as a thought occurs to her. "Although ... you did describe Lord Bryce as your friend. At the moment, I am trying my best to reignite his love of life. For you in particular, I am likely to require your help at some stage with that. I trust that you would find such a task agreeable?"

She nods. "I would be grateful for your assistance. Naturally, don't hesitate to reach out to me should you see an opportunity requiring my skills." diplomatically glossing over answering his question as to her motivations. "And, if you believe nothing else about me, Ser Donnel, believe that I am wholehearted in everything I do."