[Day 12] Evolution and the Alternative [Laena & Roland]

Laena laughs. "I'm not sure the Seven themselves can stop servants gossiping."

"I will add a prayer that the answer you receive be positive, then."

She raises an eyebrow. "It will be a grand spectacle, I am sure." She clearly hesitates before continuing. "If it is not too presumptuous, some advice from a woman who's been where you're hopefully going: it's easy to see 'love' as static, eternal. It's not. It's a living, breathing thing, that needs care and attention both to grow, but also simply to survive. Love is not just a 'feeling', but a 'doing' as well. And one careless action can do more harm than a hundred thoughtful ones can undo."

Despite the severity of the topic, Laena laughs again. "That man could teach the trees in our Godswood about being tough and stubborn. I'm sure Maester Ronnel is giving him the best of care in private, but in public, even within the house, he's back to being his usual firm, severe self. Next time I speak, I'll pass on your well-wishes to him." A thought occurs to her. "On the subject, I understand you went to considerable effort to see to both father and son's safety." She gives him a deep, formal curtsey. "House Starkwood recognises and appreciates your efforts." She takes a breath, confirming in her head that this is what she believes Lord Ulbert would want. "Should you be in need in the future, so long as it does not conflict with our house's other oaths and obligations, you can count on our support." Almost certainly overstepping her bounds with that pledge, but it needed to be known that the Starkwoods would reward those who helped them, rather than being ungrateful beneficiaries.

EatA - Awareness (Empathy) - TN8: 5d6k4 19 3 DoS All your secrets are mine! Mwahahaha!

Laena face softens in sympathy, but is distracted by Sylvina becoming restless. She claps her hands sharply twice for attention. "Alright. Roslyn, stay with me. The rest of you, carry on to the Sept, begin your prayers. I will catch up when I can." She leans down to kiss each of her children on the forehead. "Be good!" she admonishes, before waving them off.

That done, she turns back to Ser Roland with a slightly apologetic smile. "I was born in King's Landing, where I remained until my father's death. After that, I was one of the uncountable ladies in waiting here in Highgarden, until I married Ser Vernan. So, while I've never met your bride-to-be in person, I can relate to at least a degree. My suggestion would simply be to make sure you listen to her. She's had a lot of time to think on what she wants while waiting out her old betrothal, and she believes you can meet it. Not without reason - finalist in the joust, leader of a team in the melee who did very well, considering the political bias arrayed against them. Defeater of Ser Rennifer. And I'm sure that's barely half your accomplishments just this tourney. A war is undoubtedly coming, and that means rewards for those who survive on the winning side. Carry on as you have, and I suspect land, in one form or another, will be coming your way. Perhaps your lady thinks with your capabilities combined, a new house to replace a lost one is not out of the question." She shrugs. "That's speculation, though. The important thing is to listen to her. And not to die - I wouldn't wish a widow's life on anyone. But so long as you treat her like her mind is more important than her womb - without downplaying the importance of the latter - I'm sure you'll be fine."

Laena sighs and nods. "You are undoubtedly correct, though he would always be at risk due to the colour of his skin. While callous, perhaps there is a small compensation in that by slaying a man so feared and capable as the Scorpionbane, he at least will make others reluctant to engage him head on." She sighs again. "Not that that is much protection, as this tourney has well-proven, though hopefully those cold enough to commit such acts are focused on more politically-relevant targets."

She raises an eyebrow. "It was Ser Thaddeus who felled you?!" She sounds rather shocked, before her brain reminds her there is a second son, who she'd been less focused on due him already being wed. "Oh, no. Ser Imry, I presume? That makes more sense. I'm sorry, Ser Mikel and I were already on our way to where we believed Lord Ulbert would be taken off the field at the time, so I didn't see it.

"Anyway, while I've never taken such a blow, and hopefully never will, it a very human reaction to wish pain transferred to another. I doubt neither gods nor men will judge you harshly for it. All three of you live, at least for now, and that is reason enough to be happy with the outcome."

"I must confess to being ignorant as to what feelings taking a life has on a man, so I leave that matter to your discretion."

She detects his frustration towards her cousin, and continues. "If you decide to see him, I would just ensure you have in mind that, should it be affecting him, he may act ... atypically. This entire tourney has been hard for him. He's worked hard to be accepted by his peers, yet recent events have made clear how the vast majority will never see past his skin. It has been ... wearing on him, even before the melee. To be denied what you most seek, not through your choices, but through your very birth. Worse, to be called an enemy of the realm you're willing to risk your life to defend, by so many fellow knights. The killing may be a tipping point beyond that. I do not wish to discourage you - like I said, I leave it entirely to you if it's needed or appropriate - but if you do go, I ask that you keep that in mind, and be ... as understanding as you can."

Laena frowns in thought. "Indeed. Perhaps I was mistaken, but did I not see Lord Alliser Levalle himself on your team? A man of little skill and many enemies, willingly putting himself in danger. I would not describe him as a man of many virtues, but it appears courage is among them."

There's a flicker of a smile when he refers to a 'gentle woman', gone almost before it's there, but she makes no refutation of his statement, merely nodding acknowledgement. "Ser Mikel is indeed a diligent and skilled knight. It is a pity he was too injured to participate. I know he will blame himself for not being next to our lord when he was injured so, as well."

"My pardon, but are you sure *that* is what you should seek forgiveness for? Hubris is a sin, too. You were a captain of ... 48 people, I believe? You are but a man. Only the Seven themselves could closely watch all those men in the midst of combat. And I would argue the same regarding Lord Karl. I assume you didn't break his arm deliberately? Something I have noticed is that while the Seven have gifted us free will, They do try and guide those who pay attention to Their will. While I cannot prove it - it is a matter of faith - I believe that, broken arm or no, if Lord Karl joined the fight against the mob, he would die. The Seven used you as an instrument of Their will to give him an honourable way to avoid that death, but did not deny him the free will to choose it. After all, with a broken arm, he had to have understood that fate was a distinct possibility. And yet, he *chose* that path, and hence, his death. Had you not broken his arm, he might have genuinely believed he could survive, but you had, so we, and everyone else, know precisely what kind of man he was.


Laena shrugs. "We may well have seen each other at Highgarden, I'm not sure, but we had not properly *met*. Understand, a young natural-born maiden must defend her reputation even more vigorously than most, given what is known of us. Only keeping appropriate companionship is a must. As such, associating with anyone from Dorne was ... undesirable, however pleasant the company may have been. I imagine the same went for any proper Dornish lady and us natural-borns."

"I agree that it is easy to criticise Lord Leo, but I would temper that with consideration of his position. More than one other Reacher house seeks to supplant House Tyrell's position as the Lord Paramount. With these political cases - and what isn't, these days - if he leans one way, he risks being supplanted from below; if he leans the other, he risks being replaced from above - if not immediately, then after the upcoming war. For all his power, he is in a very precarious position, and I do not envy him one bit."

"Minor point: It was my great-uncle who wronged my mother. As far as I'm aware, Lord Levalle had nothing to do with it. I agree with your other points, though, and caution around men such as he is always wise." She decides to not comment on his quality as a puppet - she'd always found him high quality enough for her purposes.

"I certainly intend to attend. Myself and many others have many stresses and worries we'd be happy to lose for an evening." Never having met the man was no reason to not attend in her eyes - she'd helped temporarily save his life, after all. That was likely more than many of his so-called 'friends' had done.

Using all her control, she manages to avoid a strong reaction to him dropping such important information into her lap so casually. "Oh? Who is the lucky gentleman, do you know?" In the tone of one interested as a matter of idle gossip.

Reminded that Mikel called Roland his friend, Laena responds. "I'm sure Ser Mikel would be willing to attend." Perhaps an opportunity for him to spend more time with Ysilla.

"I imagine the ladies of House Hightower are trained to dance around even the most cunning of men from a young age." She consoles him, concealing her frustration over matters not being quite *that* easy.

"Hmm. I am flattered at your faith in my abilities, but learning the secrets of House Hightower will most likely be beyond me. We shall have to both pray that the marriage is a good and wise one. I fear that is all we can do."