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Post by Father on Jun 25, 2018 17:04:57 GMT 1
Like Ser Aladale, Lady Kyra is a common sight at occasions such as these, beautiful by any measure even past thirty years of age, though she had grown thin of late her collarbones clearly outlined beneath the skin, she would be much more lovely with a bit more meat on her bones. In appearances she is as different from her brother as night from day. Lord Alliser had once remarked that she had hoarded all the beauty, discipline and ambition their parents had to pass on, leaving naught of it for her brother, and yet he became lord of one the richest houses of the Reach and she were left to stagnate in the bed of a bannerman of no particular note, most men would consider Lord Imre a fine knight, but Lord Alliser had always said that a lord that that could not acquire martial prowess by giving up a daughter or knight the right sort of man was a fool. Aladale's brother had done both those things. "I see you have succesfully resisted Lord Levalle's plots to have you married for another year, Ser Aladale." The comment is playful, but Aladale has been around for long enough to sense superficial charm when exposed to it, especially when Lady Kyra knows better than to bother to put in any more effort than is needed for appearances sake. |
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Post by Aladale Levalle on Jun 25, 2018 22:11:17 GMT 1
Ser Aladale's face brightens, as beautiful Lady Kyra approaches him. His brother was right, there was seldom a family with a more uneven distribution of beauty and grace and he certainly preferred her company to her brother's. He bowed equally playful and smiled at her: "Mylady Kyra, what a pleasure to see you!" With a grin, he waves her comment away: "Oh my brother certainly has more important business to handle than a wedding for my old self. I think I have finally dodged that blade for good."
He observed the noble lady, a born Merryweather, but now of House Orme and continued: "How are you? How is your family? I have heard your daughter is betrothed to Lord Willum."
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Post by Father on Jun 26, 2018 12:27:30 GMT 1
"Indeed, ser." Lady Kyra replies. "Though my Amerei is but one and ten, there will be years before the marriage can be sealed, but such are the ways of the game, House Orme is fortunate to arrange for an alliance with one such as Lord Karl." There is no arguing that point, Lord Karl is both rich and powerful, gifted at the list and his impressive physique makes him a fierce opponent in the melee, the sort of man likely to survive the battlefield, though perhaps also the sort of man that considered dying on the field of glory with his favored morningstar in hand and surrounded by slain enemies the best sort of end there is. Though Lord Alliser believed it unlikely that peace would last for more than a few more years, Lord Karl would return a hero or not at all before any such marriage could take place. "My brother is much less fortunate with his arrangement." Lady Kyra leaves the comment hanging in the air, Lady Alicent may not look the part, but she is Dornish through and through. A politically unsound alliance to be sure.
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Post by Aladale Levalle on Jun 26, 2018 20:38:24 GMT 1
The Levalle knight nods in agreement. The ways of the game were something Lady Kyra knew only too well, marrying a vassal of her brother was probably not her childhood dream. He briefly wonders how much of a say the lady has had in the matter of her daughter given her own past and muses: "Well, from what one hears, he is a good man with a potential to rise beyond his station. And with the betrothal happening so early, there is at least time for the two to get to know each other" Empty words, but what else could he offer.
As the Lady Kyra comments on her brother's situation, Aladale remains silent for a moment, unsure how to reply in a way to keep his conversational partner talking: "That means no Wedding to expected at Longtable in the next year or anytime soon?" The long overdue fulfillment of Lord Merryweather's wedding with Lady Alicent was well known, but Aladale did not know the reason for the delay nor the latest plans. "Your brother's name seems to be on anybody's lips though not for the lack of wedding festivities..."
OOC: Obviously fishing for information, let me know if you need any rolls
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Post by Father on Jun 26, 2018 23:04:49 GMT 1
"Both my brother and I would dearly hope to see him wed by the end of the year, ser. I think it plain to see that loneliness is not conductive to his good health." She does not appear to expect for a second that Aladale will believe that last part. "Alas, ser, the present marriage contract seems impossible to fulfill, though I am nursing the hope that a most kind and gallant knight could be found, one that might be willing and able to assist in bringing about an amenable solution to this bind my brother finds himself in."
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Post by Aladale Levalle on Jun 27, 2018 16:21:48 GMT 1
"A most kind and gallant knight, oh where only could we find somebody like that in this Tourney?", Aladale asks in mocking. "If only there was one right here with us, we could ask for help." Dropping his teasing demeanor, Aladale takes on a serious impression: "What is the matter with the marriage contract? Maybe I am able to help. Just because I never married doesn't make me want to see others remaining lonely." However, I only slipped once, whereas Edon has a lot more proof of his doings wandering through the Reach...
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Post by Father on Jun 27, 2018 17:34:28 GMT 1
"The issue at hand, ser." Kyra makes very sure that nobody else gets the chance to listen, or even read her lips. "Is that for a man and woman to be joined in holy matrimony, both bride and groom must stand before the septon and speak their holy vows, this seems impossible and thus we are all trapped in positions we would like to extricate ourselves from, but none are willing to risk loosing face over it either."
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Post by Aladale Levalle on Jun 28, 2018 7:28:32 GMT 1
Leaning in closer, Aladale listened to Kyra's explanation. "I think I begin to understand. It is not a lack of willing from any side but a matter of pride and honor.
From my experience, a Septon surely would be willing to overlook your brother's past transgressions, if he repents and promises improvement. To that there is little reason for you to be in need of a knight's support. So I believe there is a greater issue at its core than just your brother's lust and lack of composure...?
He leaves the last words hanging in the air
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Post by Father on Jun 28, 2018 21:44:42 GMT 1
"It is indeed not the septon that is in contention, ser, though I imagine that he would take issue with involving the rack to help facilitate that the holy vows actually will be spoken as the laws of gods and men demands." Lady Kyra seems to almost enjoy the thought of torture to pressure the matter, it was hardly unheard of for a lady to be pressured into marriage by unspoken threats of destitution and isolation, but the option of refusing in front of the septon have always been a sacred right. "My deare lord brother, however, lacks the finesse to negotiate his way out of a burlap sack, and that would be a considerably easier task than undoing a marriage contract involving both Houses Targaryen and Tyrell as facilitators, especially if one has no desire to anger them in the process."
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Post by Aladale Levalle on Jun 28, 2018 23:33:25 GMT 1
"A combination between a Reacher Lord and Dornish house would suit the King's goals, but if the Bride is not willing to fulfill the marriage..." Slowly, Aladale puts the pieces together. He feels daft for taking so long, however.
"So either Lady Alicia must be presented with convincing... arguments to speak her vows or a similar match must be found for her. And one that is acceptable to the king."
"A most tricky situation my dear Lady Kyra. Maybe you need a sharp mind more than a sharp blade I wager. I am sure your family has already explored a range of very convincing options to solve this conundrum...?"
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Post by Father on Jun 29, 2018 0:16:07 GMT 1
"The truth is, ser, that my lord brother cannot find in himself the efforts required to act, my other brother will have no part in it, and I have no illusions of my husband being any more enthusiastic, and I am but a woman, wed to mediocrity." Kyra rolls her eyes. "I very much doubt the Iron Throne nor the Oakenseat would care to find any replacement grooms or brides, relieved to see an end to this matter, but neither would welcome a defiance of the terms which they helped bring to fruition. So, if some way to render the agreements irrelevant or otherwise unreasonable to expect of Lord Eldon to fulfill through now fault of House Merryweather were to surface, those who unearthed it can certainly expect to be richly rewarded." She does not say it directly, of course, but most likely not even the weakest of such pretext is there to be found. Aladale has seen and heard enough to know that nothing short of evidence of adultery or barrenness would do, or convince Lady Alicent to join the faith. The only sure way would be to expedite her passing to the seven heavens.
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Post by Aladale Levalle on Jun 29, 2018 8:25:34 GMT 1
Lady Kyra's proposed solution was more drastic than what he had in mind, but he admired the calculating mind it suggested. She may have been married off below her status, but Aladale had little doubt she would rise up the latter again.
"Certainly, I understand now Mylady. Let me think about it, I am sure I can show my usefulness to your family regarding this problem.
For now, let us change the topic to something more fitting this grand event..."
Barring any objection from Lady Kyra, the two continue their conversation about more mundane topics...
[scene?]
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Post by Father on Jun 29, 2018 10:03:32 GMT 1
[scene]
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