“ Because… I am far too TIRED to deal with lions and stags—“
{ a lie }
” You mean the Crown Prince? I am certain his… grace will be most smitten with you. “
“Oh but then you must rest, princess! If not for the royal party’s arrival then surely for what feast shall follow. I — I could not presume to understand how their visit must call to mind your house’s pain, though I must hope you do not think there stands any intention to continue it.”
“ Would that I could stay inside until the king’s party left. “
“Whyever should you wish for that, hm? He shall only pay us a moment’s attention before lumbering off with Father; ‘tis the queen whom I should most like to meet…and her son.”
The question was absurd really, stupid and thoughtless— yet the princess couldn’t help but to to ask… it was almost as if there was an unconscious DESIRE to comfort the younger girl from the horrors she had endured.
” You don’t need to FEAR telling me… they killed my family too after all. “
Strange how not once had any thought to inquire — do you miss them? Her family as it had been, whole and happy and loyal, a pack of wolves unhurt by the hunter’s blade. Yet all those around Sansa suspected what the queen spoke of so boldly: to love a traitor amounted to treason itself, even those poor boys betrayed, slaughtered by one they had for so long looked upon as a brother. Tears would mark her as unworthy, a foolish child who never deserved the honor of princely love. Oh Lady, if only you could have protected me.
“Y— Yes, Your Grace, I do. No matter their crimes, I cannot think of them as anything less than those whom I love, most dearly.”
“All these voices, they hide in the white noise.” Bran and Rickon’s shouts, echoing off frozen stone; Mother and Father, laughing from the walk as snowballs flew across muddied ground; even Arya, shrieking when her half-brother rubbed snow against her neck, lingered on long after vanishing from sight. Susurrous murmurs trailed after her, ghosts, ghouls, memory’s punishment for becoming the last, as much a part of Sansa as sinew and bone. “I am not the same person I left behind.”
“Pray excuse my sister, princess.” Sansa fretted far more over gown’s tear than the faint bruise welling up behind its tattered edges. Though the wool which comprised her gowns in Winterfell had not come cheaply, the girl doubted that it might rival any of a Dornish lady’s fine silks. “She is the clumsiest little terror ever visited upon these seven kingdoms.”
“ Aye he does we all find her to be a most wonderful addition to our family— especially my younger brother, oh how he and Princess Myrcella dote upon each other. I do not disagree ‘tis quite a superb and lovely city… yet there are other sights, just as lovely. If my lady ever wishes for a vision that differs then you need know that Sunspear shall A L W A Y S welcome you with open arms. ”
“Myrcella deserves no less — ‘tis rare to find such unfettered sweetness in these seven kingdoms; it ought not be wasted upon a cruel or unappreciative soul. Surely Lord Tyrion shall merit an invitation to their nuptials in good time. I know so little of him, yet none could ever deny the affection he bears towards niece and nephew alike. Pleasing an unwanted bride might not demand any expenditure of coin or toil, where visiting a princess to witness holy vows would surely compel him. ‘Twould be such a pity, passing through this life with so much left unseen.”
“ Until we had the honour of housing the cousins of Princess Myrcella, it had INDEED been a very long while since Sunspear was visited by any Lannister. But the presence of you and your lord husband would be most pleasing I shall think some time away from the Capitol does everyone good once in a while, no? ”
“I fear I have rather embarrassed myself; the princess and I have not spoken since her departure…of course, Prince Doran must find her exquisite company. A little light left this keep ‘pon the ship carrying Myrcella southward. Oh, but it is a magnificent city, my lady; candles in every window, fine suppers and embroidered gowns… ‘Twould come as quite a shock, I should think, my wishing to leave.”
“Hmm… if you ever come to Sunspear you could have all the lemoncakes you like… as lemontrees grow all over Dorne, Lady Sansa. “
“ ——— Mayhaps this visit of Prince Oberyn and yourself shall engender greater friendship between these two seats, my lady. I am sure it has been quite some time since last a Lannister called upon your father’s keep, though men may hesitate to say ‘twas sweets which brought such concord to the realm.”
’ Oh yes, you can do FAR BETTER than that blond-haired little rat. I should think that { WHATEVER } he does to his appearance will make him look more DUMB than ever, no?’
“At least he was rich…I mean, his parents had all the money, but when that serves as one’s sole redeeming value I suppose a girl ought to take that as some sort of red flag…
——— And, no! Speaking of red, much though it pains me to admit, Joff always could look rather dashing in Lannister crimson. Good riddance, all the same.”
‘Well I wouldn’t exactly take HIS judgement too close to heart; perhaps someone should SUGGEST that a pair of glasses would i n d e e d make for a { FINE } investment, no? ‘
“ ———— You wouldn’t, maybe, but I’ll admit to wanting a bit more manly partner under the mistletoe. If only he’d jump at the idea — Joff’s the kind of boy who looks even dumber with glasses than without.
‘ Ah well ‘tis not a wonder then, how you Northerners have found a home so far North, all this TIME, my lady. As much as I do E N J O Y the heat of the sun when it is at its PEAK at home; I cannot DISMISSthey fact that I yearn too see more of these lands—————- PERHAPS i will shall the opportunity whenever this war DIES OUT.
Ah yes, you are indeed { MOST WELCOME }, and your presence would indeed be a joy for me and my family; I highly DOUBT that many of my cousins and acquaintances have even met a Northerner— though that being said their IDEA of north is Highgarden. ‘
“ ———— As a girl I thought never to miss the chill winds and white powder certain siblings saw fit as suitable to throw… so distant from home for so long a time, however, and I find the complaints have paled to sweeter memories. Do you ever think of Dorne in such a way, princess? Look upon it more kindly when removed from its bounds?”
A laugh less hollow than those bequeathed to the rest of court fell from Sansa’s lips. To those in Winterfell and it’s surrounding lands, southroners hailed from below the Neck — such extremes, both women, yet in meeting one another camaraderie, rather than disaster, seemed to have sprung between them.
“I hope they would not find me over-dull. At Winterfell it seemed the chief amusement oft was hunting, which of course a lady never joined. Down here we must seem such brutes, making out what life can be had in so inhospitable a land; even I thought so once, before I learned…well, much more than the land might turn man into beast.”
’ Ah but it’s cold, snow I mean, and I have yet gotten used to the cold, my lady. But perhaps investing in thick wools would be of a great HELP to endure the cool temperature— that is when… or is this WAR will ever come to an end.
Oh I should hope so, for my lady would be ever so WELCOME in Dorne, I think your would enjoy it once you get used to the [ scorching } heat —————————— especially the Watergardens. ‘
“A different bite upon flesh than the sun, undoubtedly, though I would have every confidence in your swift acclimation to wintry climes. You needn’t fear whilst sheltered behind Winterfell’s walls however: the self-same springs which bubble up within the godswood keep every room as warm as summer.
—— Truly? I had thought, perhaps…In present days it seems as though no house cares for any other. Would that men saw no cause in war or strife, mayhaps we all might rest a little easier in our beds come night fall. But war is such an unpleasant topic…nothing would grant me more happiness, princess, than to see the palaces of your family. I do so miss true pools of clear, fresh water. Ever since Lord Stannis’ assault, the Blackwater carries a most inauspicious stench.”
’ Oh but yes, for I have heard of all the wonders you land behold; The Wall, the forests, Winterfell itself… I have never even seen snow, my lady. Aye perhaps, or maybe I should whisk you away to Dorne, I think you would enjoy the beauties of the Water Gardens indeed. ‘
“Springs of hot water lie beside the castle, in its godswood; elsewise I fear you would find the Wall desolate, the forests infested with all manner of beasts, and Winterfell naught but a keep which sheltered traitors…
” –––––– although snow contains no harm, my lady, I must accede to that. You would find it necessary to stomach Northern wools for a time; such fine Dornish silks would fare most poorly in a storm. We heard such tales of the South in our lessons: the sands, the sun, the sprawling palaces. Mayhaps…after my lord husband has traveled to Casterly Rock…he would see fit to allow for my visiting there.“
‘ Dorne is… untamed, harsh, filled with wonder; as I imagine your own lands to be, Lady Sansa. But the capitol is too dull and dreary. Filled with dramatic despair rather than adventure and excitement I long for. ‘
“Wonder? I know not, though many a man may speak to the barbaric qualities of lands above the Neck. But the castle was ever warm, welcoming in its might, imbued with a spirit I fear the Red Keep lacks. Perhaps once it knows again the constancy of a dynasty, such steady cheer might be found.”
should an exclusive partner go inactive for 1+ month, then i will become tentatively open to interactions with duplicates. when/if they return then exclusivity may resume.
