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Post by Laena Pyre on Jan 1, 2019 20:01:46 GMT 1
"You said you wanted peace between us and the Blackbriars." Laena had told Lord Ulbert. "If you still do, I believe you'll want to listen to what someone has to say, however much your gut may urge you to leave without listening. I'm not saying you should agree to the proposal, or that you should disagree - that's for you to decide. But I do believe you should at least listen."
Once Ulbert had agreed on the principle, Laena had revealed the other party's identity. While he was hardly happy at the revelation, he had agreed to meet the man and listen to what he had to say, so that's what he'd do.
Laena had spent some time in thought as to the location. Balon was still barred from entry to the Starkwood camp, she wouldn't ask Ulbert to use the Blackbriar camp, so it had to be a neutral location. It should be well-guarded, given Lord Ulbert's brush with death in the melee, so Highgarden. In the end, she chose a quiet, peaceful, and rather beautiful courtyard, in the hopes that it might help tempers remain calm.
When Laena, Ulbert, and their escort arrived at the courtyard, she'd chosen, Laena turned to Ulbert. "I'll give you men some privacy, so you may talk more freely. I'll stay in sight, just wave when you're done." She gives him the respectful curtsey due to her lord, and walks off to a seat at one side, out of casual listening distance.
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Post by Balon Blackbriar on Jan 2, 2019 0:11:20 GMT 1
When Laena, Ulbert, and their escort arrived at the courtyard, she'd chosen, Laena turned to Ulbert. "I'll give you men some privacy, so you may talk more freely. I'll stay in sight, just wave when you're done." She gives him the respectful curtsy due to her lord, and walks off to a seat at one side, out of casual listening distance. For all of Balon's bravado and confidence he was nervous going to the meeting with Lord Ulbert. It wasn't that he suspected foul play or anything like that. It had more to do with the fact it would affect his future, specifically a future that involved a woman he'd become increasingly fond of over the course of the Black Tourney. He'd dressed in his finest attire and rehearsed his manners before making his way to the courtyards. Balon imagined there'd be little room for error and he didn't want to give Ulbert any pretense to deny his request. Upon arriving at the courtyard he smiled. The location was quite beautiful and Laena had done an excellent job of selecting a location to put the mind at ease. As he walked towards Ulbert he turned and smiled to Laena, giving her a slight nod. He stopped at a respectful distance to Lord Ulbert and bowed before him, "Lord Ulbert I thank you for granting me this audience." After a brief exchange of pleasantries Balon got to the point of the meeting. "It has been brought to my attention that you seek to end the simmering feud with House Blackbriar. Lord Jon and Lady Erena share your sentiment. One of the best ways to do this is through marriage." Balon swallowed as he prepared himself for whatever came next. "I humbly come before you to seek permission to ask for the hand of Lady Laena." |
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Post by Father on Jan 2, 2019 20:02:14 GMT 1
Well, this was getting curiouser and curiouser. Ulbert takes his time deliberating, but where Lord Jon's eyes would be downcast and flickering, Ulbert studies Balon with an iron gaze. "Lady Laena is of royal blood, permission is not mine to give, though my opinion apparently matters." He observes. "But if we she were a Starkwood and her hand mine to give, I wonder, why would I offer it to you, ser?" |
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Post by Balon Blackbriar on Jan 2, 2019 22:10:37 GMT 1
Well, this was getting curiouser and curiouser. Ulbert takes his time deliberating, but where Lord Jon's eyes would be downcast and flickering, Ulbert studies Balon with an iron gaze. "Lady Laena is of royal blood, permission is not mine to give, though my opinion apparently matters." He observes. "But if we she were a Starkwood and her hand mine to give, I wonder, why would I offer it to you, ser?"Balon had been under the intense scrutiny of Lord Gormon and Fireball and those experiences helped him maintain eye contact with Ulbert's iron gaze. "She is under your protection, my lord. I believe it proper to address it with you." Balon listed off the reasons he wanted to marry Laena then crossed out the ones he believed Ulbert wouldn't care about. "One of the best ways to improve relations between houses is through marriage." Balon gauged he preferred truth over honeyed words, "Lady Laena and I are the best candidates for such a union.""We both know something much bigger that's out of our control is on the horizon." He was referring the Bloods and Fires, "Mollifying old rivalries allows you to prepare your house to weather the storm to come, not concern yourself with petty border disputes."
Balon stopped himself from continuing, knowing he might hang himself with his own words if he kept talking. |
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Post by Father on Jan 3, 2019 17:36:46 GMT 1
"Why would you two be the most obvious candidates?" Ulbert makes no sign of being moved one way or the other. "Of the potential unions that maester Ronnel thought might be worthy of considering, your name was not mentioned, though Lady Delia's name did come up for the exact reasons as you state."
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Post by Balon Blackbriar on Jan 3, 2019 21:38:47 GMT 1
"Why would you two be the most obvious candidates?" Ulbert makes no sign of being moved one way or the other. The last part a reference to Titus. He paused before adding, "I know it doesn't matter to most lords but we like each other too.""Of the potential unions that maester Ronnel thought might be worthy of considering, your name was not mentioned, though Lady Delia's name did come up for the exact reasons as you state."
My mother would send her to the Silent Sisters before she married Delia to a backwater house.
"I don't pretend to know the thoughts of Maester Ronnel but if I were to speculate I think he'd assume I'd say no to any proposal. As to my sister, she is not of age yet and due to the current political climate the need for alliances are more pressing. A lot can happen while a lady in waiting comes of age." It wasn't a threat more a statement of fact. |
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Post by Father on Jan 4, 2019 17:45:30 GMT 1
"Age have never been much of a hindrance when it comes to alliances." He notes. "My other question is when you intend to apologize to Lady Ashara, in public where people can see."
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Post by Balon Blackbriar on Jan 4, 2019 23:55:35 GMT 1
"My other question is when do you intend to apologize to Lady Ashara, in public where people can see." Balon pulled out a folded piece of paper and handed it to him. "As you can see my lord she wanted to wait and make sure my words weren't hollow. I plan to meet with her when I return from Gardenton and apologize for my behavior. It was unbecoming of me regardless of the circumstances." That was debatable. He knew of many women and wives that were beat for such actions but Balon didn't consider himself an abuser of the fairer sex. Mostly. |
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Post by Father on Jan 6, 2019 17:07:38 GMT 1
"I wonder what brought this on." Ulbert muses with a glance towards Laena suggesting that she had not told him anything beforehand about this. "I shall have to discuss the matter with my counsel, but I would ask one more thing of you ser, more of a challenge really, how you respond to my next to words:"
Ulbert takes a step forward, the man may not be the one Balon would have noticed at once, Balon has faced taller men, bigger men, faster men, more renowned men, but Lord Ulbert is tough, having fought Fireball to a draw, having survived the Scorpionbane, with a big black mark on his temple to prove it. And he stands up straight, not drugged down by the milk of the poppy, not confined to the infirmary. "Impress me!"
Hmm, let's do something fun and call for a will (courage) TN 9.
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Post by Balon Blackbriar on Jan 7, 2019 0:34:41 GMT 1
D12, Rocky Road, Ulbert, Will (Courage) TN9: 3d6 9, 1 DoSBalon looked towards Laena and smiled but when he turned back to Lord Ulbert he flinched ever so slightly at the sudden change in Lord Starkwood. Some men might've stepped back or cowered before a lord but Balon was no such man. His body tensed, ready to react, but he made no motion other than to stand his ground. His eyes showed determination but no aggression. I will pass your test, whatever it may be.
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Post by Father on Jan 8, 2019 16:52:59 GMT 1
Ulbert takes a few long moments to assess Balon's reaction, it is unclear what he thinks of it, but there is not anything suggesting that Balon failed whatever test Lord Ulbert had for him, if indeed, this was a test he could fail in the first place. But he is apparently satisfied with the answers received.
"Now, if you will excuse me, I should like words with Lady Laena" Ulbert, like most lords, have a way of summoning and dismissing those he would have words with. And for the moment, he has no more words for Balon as he makes to speak with Laena, Balon appears not to be invited to come with.
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Post by Balon Blackbriar on Jan 8, 2019 19:24:52 GMT 1
"I thank you for granting me this audience, my lord." With that Balon bowed his head in respect and turned to leave.
[/scene for Balon]
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Post by Laena Pyre on Jan 8, 2019 20:45:37 GMT 1
Seeing that the audience was over (remarkably quickly given how little notice she seemed to be giving it), Laena strode back to Lord Ulbert, waiting patiently a short distance away until he indicates otherwise, so as to not interrupt his ruminations on the matter, and letting him speak first.
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Post by Father on Jan 9, 2019 20:22:41 GMT 1
"Cousin" Ulbert didn't care to stand on ceremony with family. "Have he caught your fancies, or are you simply playing games for some other end?"
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Post by Laena Pyre on Jan 9, 2019 21:01:58 GMT 1
Laena 'Hmm's while canting her head from side to side briefly, before answering. "A bit of both. It may surprise you, given what you have undoubtedly heard about him, but I *do* like him. When his passions are not blocking his brain, he is funny, caring, and generous.
"However, I am, of course, also playing a game." While he may not fully grasp quite how far her 'games' go, Ulbert was smart and attentive enough to recognise that she played them, so she saw no point in denying it. "At the start of this tourney, you asked one thing of us: peace with the Blackbriars, securing our southern border for the troubles to come. To do this required a way to break the deadlock between Ladies Shiera and Erena. I initially hoped to encourage Ser Donnel to break this deadlock." She shrugs. "With his tragic demise, that is clearly no longer possible. So, I now see only a single path to peace. What is needed is a way in which both parties feel they are getting enough that they can accept it. In practical terms, Lady Shiera needs to feel her and her nephew's cause does not suffer a net negative from the arrangement, since the alliance between the houses naturally leans the other way.
"I considered every permutation I could come up with. No other pairing I could see, even if Ashara's betrothal was broken, would meet that requirement. Hence, within the limits of my imagination and capabilities, this is my answer to your request.
"I am not so enamoured with the man that I will push for this solution, but I do like him enough that, if you ask it of me, and Lord Jon agrees, I will offer Ser Balon my hand." She shrugs. "Do not take this as some selfless act of self-sacrifice. I attempted to find other potential husbands this tourney, but every other option I could find is either boring, not interested, aiming higher, even more boring, or now dead. And *if* he can convince both you and Lord Jon as to the merits of this plan, then that means there is a spark of something there I can hopefully polish to a shine."
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