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Post by Daeron Wildfyre on Jun 4, 2023 16:04:37 GMT 1
"Twice is conspiracy or perhaps twice is destiny?" He shrugged not knowing the origin of the quote regardless, "Whichever one appears to engender me to Lord Mullendore is probably the one I'll go with. He strikes me as a wise man, prudent and sharp, but his house seems to lack strong knights and seasoned military leaders, something that I certainly can offer. With the Realm's increasing uncertainty even those who wish to avoid conflict might find it necessary to have a few extra strong arms and sharp blades by their side. As you said, it's not a perfectly unique trait, but I bring with me a ferocity that few men can match, not just in warfare but also in loyalty. If I've been as willing to confront Lord Piggy over what was originally a common handmaid, imagine how dangerous I can be should you cross actual members of my household."
He feigns contemplation, his chin within his palm, "In fact I would dare to say that's what I can offer the families of all of those women, a dragon's claws in exchange for fulfilling a dragon's appetites. That and the fact that I'm willing to overlook some minor flaws of character, personality, or appearance in exchange.
So what if Lady Smallwood is fat? Fat mothers produce fat babies by the wagonload, all the better if those fat babies are heirs to my, I mean, our castle. I might not be the exact spitting image of Blackfyre, but I'm available and he's not, so a passing simulacrum will be better than whatever boring Vance or Frey will start showing up at her doorstep soon.
Lady Johanna? She's touched in the head for sure, but we can have a few children and I'll leave her to her books or cats or whatever and I can pursue my own interests. I won't hit her and I'll give her the respect a Peake deserves, which is honestly better than she would otherwise be able to expect.
And the others? I don't know what they like or want, but I'll be sure to find out and give it to them too if given the chance. A good marriage is about half the pain and twice the pleasure or something like that according to Septa Marei."
He looks on with perhaps a little too much sympathy as his sister told him of her troubles.
"A tough endeavor indeed, but perhaps ask yourself the same question you just asked me. What do you bring to the table? Not just another man's children, but fierce Targaryen blood, intelligence, wit, and beauty. You're past the best age for bearing children? Well then find a lord who already has heirs who don't want to see their positions endangered. Lords Redwyne and Roxton both might appreciate a woman's presence. Lord Redwyne could probably use some help in managing the Arbor or at least figuring out how everyone there is related and Lord Roxton might enjoy a wife who can help shepherd his daughters into good marriages without isolating them by risking a new heir. I'm sure you could find some advantage in being the gatekeeper to Lady Daena's betrothal given the number of knights that are drooling over her tits, castle, and Valyrian sword."
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Post by Laena Pyre on Jun 4, 2023 19:33:13 GMT 1
Laena's practiced expression breaks for a moment as she gapes in shock, before quickly recovering. "D-do I understand your words correctly, brother? If it would win you Lady Mariya's hand, should Lord Lothor decide to declare for King Daeron, you would change your allegiance to join him?" While undeniably surprised, her voice is not condemning the choice, merely uncertain she took his meaning correctly.
Still, when his 'pitch' is complete, she puts her drink down briefly to give a quick, light clap, showing approval. In her eyes, he was perhaps underestimating the troubles he may face, but men better suited than he for simply lowering his head and bulling his way through any problems were few and far between. And besides, she could well be wrong - interpreting the shadows cast by her own past as augurs of theirs. "I would phrase things with a slightly more diplomatic bent when you're speaking with the people involved," she jokes wryly "but you seem confident enough, now you just have to give them that same confidence, and you are not lacking in charm." she continues in a quieter voice, as if speaking to herself, although still audible, "You could learn a lot from a man like Lord Lothor. Your wild heat, tempered by his cool wit and wisdom ... you could become a very dangerous blade, indeed."
She smiles and shakes her head. "You mistook my words, brother. I am not past childbearing age - far from it, in fact - and I have proven high fertility with how quickly I provided Ser Vernan two children. Were I to successfully woo Lord Roxton, I have little doubt one or other daughter would see me dead ere long, for fear I'd provide him a son, and reduce their standing from 'heir' to 'chattel'. No, what I am is past prime *marriagable* age. Men, typically, prefer a young wife, untempered by life, still malleable, so he may forge her into his ideal.
"I am well tempered now.
"In truth, I was, even before my first marriage, though I imagine there was maybe some 'give' in me back then. Now, there is none. Life and circumstance has forged me into a deadly weapon of intrigue. A weapon without a wielder. The only thing more tragic would be to have the wielder be unworthy of such a weapon."
She considers Daeron a few moments. "I would like your opinion on something. This is not me delegating a decision to you, merely seeking input, which will be weighed accordingly.
"Should I be willing to abandon my dreams of marriage, and pursue being merely a mistress of an appropriately-talented man? On the positive side, without the relatively worthless political gains my marriage would bring being a factor, finding an appropriate man would be ... relatively trivial. He would have my talents, I would have his heart, his wife would have his name. The downsides..." she sighs. "The downsides are considerable, though. I will not live the next fifteen years poisoning my body with moon tea. So I will bring more bastards into this world. Born with our curse, but not with the boons our father's blood brings us. Of course, as soon as I start showing the first, my virtue will be permanently shredded. And should the lord I have pledged to tire of me once wrinkles start showing, or his wife poisons him against me, or any other reason .. there is nothing protecting me from him simply casting me aside." She sighs again. "I've firmly rejected this idea so far, and it's not something I'd do until I'd exhausted all reasonable marriage options, but if the alternative is living the rest of my life alone..."
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Post by Daeron Wildfyre on Jun 4, 2023 20:21:40 GMT 1
He was reminded why he loved these conversations with his sister, they always seemed to stimulate his brain in ways that talks with his fellow Companions never could.
"I would love to give a solid answer to that question and I know what I would like to say, but until the moment comes the future is unknowable. That said, Lord Lothor seems quite content to avoid entering the fray and I suspect should open warfare emerge he will probably follow the course of House Hightower, as you previously implied. At best I suspect that the Hightowers will remain divided, even if a regent is chosen with some degree of popular support, and unlikely to march to war as a unified front, but I have a far stronger voice as Lord Lothor's good-son than I do as a sworn sword of a house with few connections to the Hightowers. More likely it will be individuals being given free reign to pursue their own path, much as we saw here in the Riverlands.
Another possibility is that Oldtown follows Highgarden's example and in all likelihood where House Tyrell goes, the Reach goes, and where the Reach goes victory shall follow. Do not doubt that I will do everything in my power to see my true brother on the throne, but I have no intention to throw away my life for something that is beyond impossible."
When she spoke of relegating herself to be another man's mistress he took her chin in his hand and gazed at her with his blazing violet eyes.
"Don't you dare dream of being nothing more than another's mistress. Dragons are not toys to be used and then cast aside.
Pick your man. Be smart, be realistic, but make sure that he is yours and yours alone. Our kind are not known for sharing and I doubt that we will start soon."
He released her, but kept his gaze on her.
"If Lord Roxton is a bad option, then that still leaves Lord Willem. He's respectable, will treat you with honor, and is at an age where he's less likely to marry for political concerns. The Redwynes are a family with plenty of second spouses and enough grown heirs that none will feel threatened by you, your children, or your future children. They can provide safety, wealth, damn good wine, and Redtusk being able to stand up for his 'mother's' honor should someone like Simon Tarly ever call doubt on it. Someday when lordship of the Arbor passes on to Ser Sandor, I'm sure that you'll be welcome there regardless, wrinkles and all.
Failing that, there are plenty of shrewd men in the Reach, Lords Florent, Crane, and Levalle come to mind first, who are already well-connected but able to find value where others might miss it. They have sons and nephews enough to spare." Even though his face scrunched up sourly when he mentioned "Levalle" his assessment wasn't incorrect.
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Post by Laena Pyre on Jun 4, 2023 22:58:07 GMT 1
"Hrm." Laena nods in response to his clarification, mentally noting his response, but otherwise letting it stand.
Her eyes flash in anger briefly when he touches her without permission, but when she hears what he has to say, her expression softens. "Thank you. I needed to hear that. I needed confirmation .. I wasn't wrong."
When he's presenting options, she listens carefully. "You are correct that Lord Willem Redwyne is a good man - a good *knight* - but I fear the same estrangement would happen with him as happened with my mother's house. I would not - could not - lie to my husband about who I am, what I do. He would be the one person to know *all* of me. I am the kind of person who will do what is *necessary* to protect my family. Like you, willing to do .. distateful things to protect your house from Lord Eldon, where your Lord would not. The Redwynes are notoriously honourable and knightly. My machinations and manipulations would likely sit ill with them. So, while a respected matriarch, with a large family to look out for is an idea with a great deal of appeal, on the *personal* level, I fear it wouldn't work.
She wrinkles her nose at House Levalle. "While I have somewhat made peace with Lord Levalle's role in my existence, I do not see them as a good fit. They may have connections, but what they desperately need in these times is *friends*, and House Starkwood would ill like friends like those. As for House Crane, they have sold their relevancy for mere coin. I could never respect a house led by such a short-sighted man. If you must let yourself be bought, at least *stay* bought! House Florent, though ... you are quite correct that Lord Reynald is an admirable man, who would nonetheless likely appreciate my talents. And he could well have others in his family like that. If, say, Ser Patrek had not just the martial talent to be champion of Brightwater Keep, but also a cunning mind ... he would be ideal. And if not him, as you say, there are others in that family that might fit." She gives him a bright smile. "Thank you, brother. I should have remembered that relying purely on common heresay can hide much of a man's talents, and alike fruits oft grow from the same tree."
She looks down bashfully. "If it is not too much to ask .. if I find such a man in the future who interests me, might I ask for your aid? We may be siblings, and we clearly know each other, but our connection is nowhere near as overt as that of me and my fullbrother Aerion. And I know full well that men will say things to each other that they would never let be known to a woman, especially one they feel might be interested in them. Would you be willing to socialise with such a man, take his measure, make sure his intentions are honourable, and that I have not somehow overlooked any glaring flaws?"
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Post by Daeron Wildfyre on Jun 5, 2023 0:02:19 GMT 1
He gives one of his signature shrugs.
"Though my experience is limited on the matter, I suspect that few great houses acquired their land and power based on honor and chivalry alone. While knights like Redtusk, Ser Roland Cordwayner, and even myself some days might turn their nose up at certain methods, lords responsible for the safety and livelihoods of everyone within their domains tend to skew a bit more pragmatic. That being said, I'm your brother, not your father, so I'm not going to march you up to Lords Redwyne or Florent and start talking about marriage contracts. You're capable of making your own choices concerning those matters."
His face cracked into a grin when she asked him for dating help. It reminded him of when he was a boy on Driftmark and the boys and girls would often act as intermediaries for blossoming romances.
"I'm more than happy to go drinking with some knights, assuming they travel in circles that I can enter, I'll even talk you up to them if you want. I hope that in return you would be willing to do the same for me? Less so divining honorable intentions and more making sure there's a path to victory in the first place.
Are there any right now you'd like me to spy on for you?" His tone was puckish, but otherwise sincere.
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Post by Laena Pyre on Jun 5, 2023 4:07:58 GMT 1
"Hrm. In cases like those, I tend to assume such actions are entirely delegated to the 'help' - the maester, maybe a spymaster officially focused on defence. Not family. And they are to keep it out of sight and mind as much as possible." She shrugs herself. "Though I well admit, I could be wrong. Such things are typically not made public knowledge."
She sticks her tongue out at him at his mischievous tone, a brief flash of a younger, more playful Laena with less weight on her shoulders. "Thank you, no. I'd prefer to assess any candidates myself, first. What of the names you gave to me earlier? Any of them you wish for me to, ah - what was it? - 'make sure there's a path to victory'?"
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Post by Daeron Wildfyre on Jun 7, 2023 0:56:14 GMT 1
"I honestly have no idea, such roles and decisions are far outside my own experience, but the smallfolk have a saying, 'why buy the milk when you're married to the cow?' or something rustic like that. It must be cheaper to have a wife perform those duties than paying for an extra retainer, especially when you consider that beautiful wives have other benefits. At least that's the argument you can make if that's a path you wish to follow."
He scrunched up his face in his own playful way. It was odd how siblings who didn't grow up together could feel like they had known each other since childhood.
"Very well, but you know where to find me when you have a name to give.
For 'pathfinding', well let's see. Both Lady Johanna and Lady Alicent are under tight watch from their fathers and/or septas, so all roads to them lead through Lord Peake or Lord Florent. I'm on good enough terms with both men, but not nearly good enough to be granted marriages to women of their house just yet. Lady Nymella at her age will need her uncle's agreement at the present, and I'd honestly prefer to wait a few years until she's a mature woman, but the best laid plans often can start years in advance.
I suppose that leaves Lady Mariya at the moment. Lord Lothor is obviously the one who can give permission, but he seems not so iron-fisted with his family members that he wouldn't take their own opinions on the matter."
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Post by Laena Pyre on Jun 7, 2023 3:42:37 GMT 1
A quick flash of a smile. "Very well. I can make no promises as to when I may be able to meet Lady Mariya, but rest assured should such an opportunity arise, I will take it, and see what I can divine of her preferences.
"And, obviously, should I learn aught of interest regarding the other names you gave, I shall keep you in mind."
She nearly puts her ale down, but stops just short. "That is all I came here to say. Unless there is another matter you wish to broach...?" From her tone, she doesn't expect there is, but doesn't want to cut him off and simply leave if she is wrong.
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Post by Daeron Wildfyre on Jun 9, 2023 16:15:56 GMT 1
"No, ah." He holds up a finger as he ponders for a moment. He needed to keep his sister safe without showing too many of his own secrets. "Actually, yes."
"Ask for no details, but be wary of the Vulture. He's clever and masterful, but also lacks scruples and I *strongly* suspect that he was behind the assassinations of Lord Daverhyl's heirs. I know you sometimes travel alone, but consider hiring some armed guards or traveling with trusted companions. I don't believe him to be wanton like his brothers, but he is cold and ruthless and I wouldn't assume that he's above eliminating those who irritate him.
Similarly, if I fall off my horse onto some arrows, there's a good chance that he could be involved."
It was probably unwise of him to reveal that much to Laena as it created the chance that his own duplicity could be uncovered, but he was fond of his sister and equally needed someone to know where to start in case the Vulture betrayed him and eliminated him as well.
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Post by Laena Pyre on Jun 10, 2023 1:50:43 GMT 1
Laena smiles and reaches over to pat Daeron's hand. "I am a godly woman. I truly believe that it is woman's role to create life, and a man's role to end it." Her smile turns vicious. "But believe me, brother. Should you suffer some 'random misfortune', I will break those beliefs and ensure you have company in the Father's halls ere you are called for Judgement. Only dragons are permitted to kill dragons." She sniffs. "Mere *poultry* should know better." Given the implausibility of a woman of her modest means defeating a scheming lord on any field, her words are likely best interpreted as ones of metaphorical support, rather than literal bloody vengeance.
Probably.
Her voice and smile soften. "But thank you for the warning, though it was unneeded. I spoke with Lady Lynesse Daverhyl at Lord Gorman's Hunt a fair few moons ago now, and she was ... unambiguous as to her uncle's moral character. Rest assured, I take what precautions I can when I can, though my primary defence will always be avoiding giving others motive."
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Post by Daeron Wildfyre on Jun 10, 2023 22:17:08 GMT 1
"Always a prudent defense for those of us who have the wisdom to utilize it." he compliments with a smile.
"Now I hope you don't mind, but I need to start preparing for rematch with one of the most brutal men presently in the Riverlands, which at this point mostly involves prayer and a healthy dose of ale to clear the fear from my mind."
His tone was joking, but Laena recognized that he was also a little afraid. The Roughneck was an exceptionally terrible foe and he would be fighting for his life tomorrow.
As he was escorting her from her quarters, she also couldn't help but notice that his hand was on his stomach which had started making some gurgling sounds. Hopefully it was just his nerves acting up.
/scene if Laena has nothing else?
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Post by Laena Pyre on Jun 11, 2023 20:46:41 GMT 1
"Of course, brother. Any fight with such a foe that you can walk away from is a victory in and of itself. And I demand of you one type of victory or the other." Her voice playfully demanding, though he can sense her own worry beneath it. On instinct, she leans forward and gives him a chaste peck on the cheek. "For luck." Turning with a slight smile, she strides off, casually waving behind her without looking back.
[/scene from my end.]
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