[Day 1]Post-Bailout Economy [Laena and Balon]

Balon felt rooted in place, unable to say anything after his attempt at levity. He could see the anger building in Lord Leo's eyes. He glanced behind, looking for his father or mother to come to his aid but they were nowhere to be found. Instead he heard a woman's voice. He turned to see a Valyrian beauty in a sleeveless black dress. The honeyed words she spoke to Lord Leo seemed to work as the anger in his eyes dissipated and he waved Balon off. Following the silver-haired woman, he allowed himself to be guided into the crowd and its welcomed anonymity.

Balon let out a breath he'd seemed to have held in for eternity as he regained his composure. Balon cheered up when the woman said she'd heard of him and some of his exploits. His cheer switched to mild surprise when she introduced herself as Laena Pyre. "Of House Starkwood..." he added to her sentence. Laena could tell Balon was surprised, and aware of, who had rescued him.

As if trying to rationalize things in his head he slowly continued, "Considering the enmity between our houses over the generations I'm surprised that you'd risk yourself for me." Whatever mental debate he was having seemed to have concluded and he made direct eye contact with Laena, "I am in your debt my lady.



Awareness/Empathy- Balon seems thankful for the assistance and simultaneously guarded upon learning you're of House Starkwood.

"It was very wise for Lord Ulbert to send a gevie ābra as his herald." Ser Balon hadn't missed the Valyrian Laena had spoken to him, "Especially one with your features my lady." Balon nodded his head in reference to her Valyrian traits. "For what man doesn't find difficulty in saying no to a pretty face. But..." Balon held up his index finger, "if Lord Ulbert wants peace why didn't he send his son and heir? Why did he send his cousin?" It seemed like Balon was going to answer his own question but instead stroked his goatee once as he tried to parse his words, "My lady it is true that our houses are not mortal enemies like the Brackens and Blackwoods. And it is also true there could have been some sort of rapprochement in time. But that was before your house was sullied with Dornish blood. It'd be one thing if the Starkwoods were being led by people like you or Ser Aerion. At least then you'd have royal blood and the Reach would respect you. But instead you're left with Symon." It was obvious Balon left the Ser title out, "The Reach hasn't nor will it forget the barbarity of Dorne."

"Plus, why would we shelter with House Starkwood against a storm when we don't even know how you view the storm." It was about as subtle as a warhammer, but Balon was asking Laena if House Starkwood were supporters of Blood or Fire.


Ser Balon is a known supporter if Daemon Blackfyre.

"My lady I do truly apologize and remain in your debt but I can not support this proposal nor bring it to the attention of Lord Jon."

Balon was surprised at Laena's honesty. Either that or she was incredibly good at lying to him. At the mention of the reason for making Ulbert indebted to her Balon was somber, "I'm truly sorry for your loss. How long ago was it?" Balon hoped the sorrow wasn't still fresh. 




"Helping me in my time of need is something I will not forget my lady. You can consider me a friend."




Balon smiled. It was very hard for him not to talk about himself, for what young knight didn't like to? But Balon was smart enough not to bore Laena. Instead he tried some self-deprication, "Do you really want to hear about jousting and sword play? Or would you like to hear about other times I've put my foot in my mouth. You'd think with all the footwork involved in melee combat I'd be better at knowing where to put my feet."

Balon chuckled, "Don't worry, you're words are safe with me. Hard to repeat them with a foot in the mouth." Balon smiled, mocking himself with Laena so soon after the untended insult to Lord Tyrell had greatly reduced his anxiety. 



"My greatest triumph would be the second tourney I won. Not because I was the victor but because of the idea I had before entering it." Balon took a drink of his wine before beginning the story. "I enter tournaments for two reasons, coin in my pocket and fame. One is easier to come by than the other. When I won my first tournament I received polite applause but not much else. I had the talent but I lacked the love of the smallfolk. How was I going to earn their adulation?" Balon asked rhetorically, "And then it dawned on me, I needed a simple moniker for the smallfolk to remember. Something they could chant. Something visible. The realm has Fireball, Redtusk, Bittersteel, Bloodraven, Breakspear, and Longthorn." Balon brought his hand up to his chest, "Now it has Black Horn." The young knight grinned at the simplicity of the nickname. "I had a new helmet crafted with two long black horns. When I entered the next tournament I was easy to identify. I thought myself foolish for giving myself a nickname but it worked. As I advanced more and more cheered for me. They chanted Black - Horn! Black - Horn!" Balon rubbed his arms and sheepishly smiled, "It gives me goosebumps every time I think about it. When I made the final tilt I didn't even care if I won. Hearing all the people scream for me. Whew, that was the best feeling. And their cheering carried me, helped me unhorse my opponent and claim victory."

"My biggest blunder..." Balon looked up, tapping his lips, deep in thought as he tried to recall his worst moment in the joust. "You'll think I'm a liar but I don't have one. Sure I've lost my share of tilts but never in an embarrassing fashion." Laena could see a light go on in Balon's head as he recalled something. "Though I do have a rather bawdy tale of when I was a page for Lord Gormon Peake." Balon started grinning ear to ear and his face turned a little red. "I had been a page for several years but practiced almost exclusively with the squires. One squire in particular felt it his duty to harass me every chance he got. He felt being the elder gave him the right to boss me around. One night the pages and squires were drinking in the hall after we'd cleaned it and the squire harassing me had passed out upright in a chair." Balon began using his hands to show what he did, "So I pulled a chair up to his and stood on it before dropping my breeches. The plan was to shout his name and have him spring to his feet only to have his face come squarely in contact with my buttocks." Balon started laughing, "Except I lost my balance, fell, and my breeches got caught on the back of the chair. I landed hard on my back, my legs in the air, and my breeches around my ankles. As if that wasn't bad enough three ladies in waiting decided that was the perfect time to come into the hall, only to see my nether regions hanging in the evening air. I'd never been so embarrassed."

Balon feigned ignorance, "I couldn't possibly know what you mean."



"A thousand apologies my lady. Don't tell my septon but I feel it's best to do a lot of sinning all at once. Easier on the knees to spend one day in the sept praying for forgiveness as opposed to everyday." Balon held his chest, pretending to be injured, "By the Seven it feels like you just hit me with a warhammer?" Chuckling, Balon continued listening to Laena.



"I believe him to be one of the best men in all the Seven Kingdoms. He is what a young knight should aspire to be in virtually every way. Due to his status and influence a great many people come to him seeking his boon, most undeserving, and I think that wears on him a bit. But if you are lucky enough to be considered a friend..." Laena could see Balon held Gormon in high regard, "I don't think there is anything he wouldn't do for you."

Balon laughed, "Plus he uses the most foul language." The young knight shook his head at the absurdity of it, "But in a weird way it makes him personable, more human."

"Was Lord Gormon a bad influence on me?" Balon repeated the question, missing the fact Laena was teasing, "No, not really. I consider myself pious but not a zealot. I may like to jest about my sinful ways but I think I live a fairly honorable life. Lord Gormon may not be as religious as members of House Blackbriar but few people are." Balon was quiet for a moment before adding offhandedly, "Honestly I'd say the only negative trait I picked up from Lord Gormon was foul language but he gave me the sense to know when not to use it." Laena could tell that particular lesson had to literally be beaten into Balon. "As to whether we are friends? His friends call him Gormy and I have not been granted that privilege yet. One day soon I hope. I think he respects me, sees talent. But it hasn't moved past that." It was obvious Gormon's friendship was something Balon desired.

"Enough about me. What about you? My secret plan to make you let your guard down with bawdy tales has clearly worked." He grinned when she blushed. "Now is where you tell me about what you want in life. Your hopes. Your dreams. What makes you happy?"

"Lady Laena, there are many words I'd use to describe you. Boring is not one of them." he said warmly. "And if children make you happy there is nothing wrong with saying so." When Laena mentioned how her kids drove her crazy sometimes Balon thought back to something his mother once said, "My mother Shiera once told me, I love being with my kids. I love being without my kids. I'm sure I drove her crazy on occasion." Balon grinned, "I'm sure I still do."

Balon stifled a laugh when she said she liked being 'used', "My lady I'm sorry to inform you it seems you've contracted my foot in mouth disease. Your proximity to me has caused you to come down with this affliction." In a very mockingly sad tone Balon added, "I'm afraid there's no cure." before letting out a loud laugh.

"So let me get this straight," Balon counts off with his fingers, "You're comely. You want many more kids. You want to help your husband share the burden of leadership without undermining him." Balon shook his head in faux disappointment, "How are you ever going to find a husband with that attitude."