[Day 7] Titusing the Vice [Titus & Laena]

"Ser Titus." Laena smiles and gives a small curtsey in response. "As I'm sure you know, I'm doing what I can to bring our houses closer together, to benefit both. Although I admit, I've been rather stuck recently.

"However, it occurred to me that the first step in better relations is better understanding. And, despite your father speaking well of you, and the fact I've spoken to a good portion of the rest of your house, I had yet to speak with you. So, I thought I'd like to get to know you a bit." She shrugs. "Though I must say, your willingness to stand up for what's right, regardless of how much it hurts you personally, says more good about you than even your father could manage. Indeed, it's a trait sadly lacking in the overwhelming majority of people. Morals, ethics, and beliefs only matter when you hold on to them even when it hurts, when it would far easier to just let go, when the weight seems unbearable. To me, that's when a man becomes a Man." The capitalization is obvious in her speech.

"So," and she curtseys again, but deeper this time, as if to an equal. "Respect earned, and given."

She gives an enigmatic smile. "Maybe I do, but I believe not. Do not underestimate the importance of the simple, honourable knight. If the realm were filled with nothing but grasping schemers, there would be no trust, and we'd be in constant civil war. For example, peace can only be reasonably achieved through trust in the guest rights given by eating bread and salt. When trust is lost that people will not die in 'accidents' while under guest rights, there will be naught but war. You and others like you provide that trust. You literally help hold the entire realm together." Put another way, you provide the light that gives people like me shadows to hide in.

"Since you spoke with my cousin, I'm sure you're aware that we view your brother's threat to murder Ser Symon credible, serious, and imminent. No words said while calm will convince us that those words were not hurled from the heart. For there to be peace between our houses, your brother has to go. Early in the tourney, I was working towards trying to get him sworn to House Starling, but then his actions destroyed his hopes there, along with any other even vaguely honourable house.

"Unfortunately, but entirely understandably, your father, last we spoke on the idea, if Ser Balon is to leave you, wished for him to only depart to an honourable house, believing that to do otherwise would be to give up on any hope for him.

"You ask for something concrete you can do to advance the cause of reconciliation between our houses: convince your father that it is in everyone's interests to let your brother go, preferably as far away as possible. Personally speaking, I'm not declared for either side, since I am looking for a husband and do not know my future husband's views on the matter, so I'd be happy to put my political muscle, such as it is, behind getting him accepted in an appropriate house, if it is desired."

Laena nods. "Please do speak plainly. We need to find a solution that works for both parties, and deception won't help with that." she says with a perfectly straight face.

"I agree with you that your brother has *someone* whispering in his ear." She begins in a moderate tone, then snarls, steps forward into the edge of Titus's personal space, and continues in a harsher tone, gesticulating much more emphatically than before. "That's the thing that angers me most about him personally, probably even more than him body-slamming my cousin: I sensed in him the potential for greatness, and he *chose* to be led around by his hatred of strangers by lesser men, becoming nothing more than a disposable puppet." She seems to come back to herself, freezes for a moment, then withdraws back to a respectable distance, and continues in a more normal tone, as if nothing strange had occurred. "If you have any ideas as to find out *who* is manipulating your brother, I would certainly be interested. I know some good gossips who can tell me what people are saying about men I view as marriage candidates; spying more intently than that is beyond me, and I think that *still* qualifies as the closest thing our house has to an actual spy network.

"Not that it makes a big difference in the short term. Just because you can't identify the person wielding the blade, doesn't mean the blade won't kill you.

"An alternative solution would be to cure your brother's hatred. I believe the traditional solution would involve locking him and Ser Symon into a deadly labyrinth, forcing them to work together or die. But I have a horrible suspicion your brother would say 'I may want to live as much as you, but I'd still much rather see you dead'. Plus, I don't have any labyrinths handy. A tragic oversight on my father's part." Her tone seems entirely serious.

"From your brother's own mouth, he'd happily commit wrongdoings to advance his cause, which provides justifications for his hatred, trusting that they will emerge victorious, and that only the losing side will be considered to have done any wrongs. In this way, his cause gives him free reign to act as bad as he likes. If they fail, they're all traitors anyway. If they succeed, all sins are forgiven. In this way, he can justify Ser Symon's death just as easily as he did Ser Walton's. If you don't want to call that 'bad', by all means, but let us at least agree on 'dangerous'.

"I remind you I am talking about him swearing an oath to a lord more aligned with his politics, not shipping him off to the Dothraki plains. The way things are going, likely within a few years things will either have calmed down somehow, or blown up completely and settled down again. In either case, without tensions making the situation worse, it would probably be fine for your brother to return, especially if he's married -  a good wife can do wonders settling a young man. I doubt either you or your father, however well-intentioned, can pry him away from his cause. By letting him go now, before matters become irreversible internally, you can let him go lightly, and he knows he has a place with the rest of you still. If you try and hold on tight, there's a very real chance that, sooner or later, someone will say or do something that can't be taken back, and he'll leave and not come back."

Laena freezes for a moment, then sags slightly and replies in a softer, gentler voice.

"I owe you an apology.

"When you asked me how you could be of service, I *should* have said 'nothing that will not keep 'til the morrow'. I'd even directly acknowledged how much stress you must be under right now.

"But I didn't.

"I've been chasing shadows for days, trying to play politics beyond my means, and illuminate deep shadows with a cheap candle, trying to figure out where the threat will come from, an-" She cuts herself off with a sigh, and closes her eyes. "-And I'm not actually apologising, I'm just making excuses for my behaviour."

She opens her eyes again, though keeping them downcast, and gives a curtsey. "My apologies, Ser. I acted selfishly, and was wilfully inconsiderate of your feelings, despite being fully aware of them.

"If you would be willing, I would like to spend some time on the original goal of this meeting, that of creating a better understanding by getting to know each other better. However, I do understand if you wish to limit your time with people of our house until matters are more settled, and will take no offence should you prefer to leave."

Laena draws herself up, smiles, and offers him an arm to walk her down the row of paintings. "Believe it or not, I do understand, at least somewhat. A year ago, I was still married to Vernan. All I had to worry about was helping him keep his little corner of land well-run, and raising my two children. It was a small corner, but it was ours. Not important enough to really worry about any big events building up outside. And then ..." She sighs. "The walls came crashing down, and we were ripped out, and thrown into the biggest storm for decades. Seeking safe harbour at such a time is ... difficult. I am fortunate that our house doesn't seem to be suffering any major internal divisions - long may it continue - but I need to leave this house, and enter another, and relatively few others can claim the same. The ... not 'easy' but at least 'straightforward' life I saw before me has been ripped away, and all there is is chaos and confusion and deception ... and whining." She sighs. "Sorry. I'm alive and well, my children are alive and well, and I have the looks and wits to attract a reasonable husband. A lot of women have it worse than me."

She goes to carry on, then hesitates. "I was going to comment on the lack of response from the Seven, but I think instead, you will witness a truly rare event: I will be quiet. Your situation is a very masculine one. However well-intentioned, I feel commentary from me is likely beyond the bounds of propriety. What I will say regardless is that I am absolutely convinced the Seven are still with you. Maybe testing you. Maybe judging you. But still with you. Do not doubt that."

Laena sharply turns towards Titus, leaving them facing each other close-up, and presses the forefinger of her free hand against Titus' lips to silence him, while giving him a firm look. "You are wise to fear that which you do not understand. But you are a warrior. You should already know that it is when you are afraid that you must appear bravest. If you give offence unwittingly, most will simply brush it aside. If they ask for apology, give it freely, but otherwise learn and move on. Weakness? Indecisiveness? They are traits of women and boys. Not men." She removes her finger from his mouth, and points it in his face. "Not men." she repeats, firmly.

She then seems to realise she's pointing her finger in the face of a knight she's trying to *improve* relations with, and smoothly withdraws back to their side-by-side walking position, before clearing her throat. "And yes, I have prospects. We will see what comes of them. Nothing is certain until it happens, and even then, it may not be, depending on how many witness it.

"What of yourself?" She asks in a light voice. "Are you looking for a wife already? Or are you seeking to further establish your martial credentials against other knights before hunting more dangerous prey?" she gives an amused smile. "Before I send you into another panic, rest assured I do not view you as one of my prospects."