Ladies

Posted on Wed Mar 23rd, 2022 @ 3:35pm by Lady Myrcella Lannister & Lady Myrielle Lannister & Queen Joanna Velaryon & Lady Arya Farman & Lady Celyse Blackwater & Lady Brien Baratheon
Edited on on Wed Mar 23rd, 2022 @ 3:36pm

Mission: The Iron Price
Location: Beacon Hall
Timeline: 10th Day of the 13th Moon, 404AC.

The day broke with a warm haze of Blackwater Bay. Messengers had been sent to invite ladies from noble houses of all the Six Kingdoms to Beacon Hall. A future Queen needed Ladies in Waiting, and many wanted the honour. Stepping out of their wheelhouse at the gates of the Hightower manse, the Fell sisters were the first to arrive. Ellin, the elder of the pair, stepped out first.

Essie looked tired following her sister. "Did she need to have us up this early? I should still be in bed." She complained.

"It's an honour to be invited to serve our future Queen." Ellin was clearing more tightly wound than her younger sister. "Please be on your best behaviour, and remember that your actions and words reflect on me."

Another coach deposited the Lannister sisters. Myrielle looked downright chipper in comparison to Myrcella who somehow looked as though she had just been pulled from bed.

Lady Arya Farman stepped from her coach. She saw the others gathering and inclined her head politely. She smiled at the daughters of the lord her father served and of Lord Fell. "Ladies," she said in greeting.

The girls smiled back, except Myrcella Lannister who rolled her eyes.

Brien Baratheon, the only legitimate woman-child of the Baratheons, looked boyish and distinctly ill at ease in the fineries of courtly dress. Silk was soft and slinky but by her reaction, it chafed like burlap. She smiled a rictus of a smile, uncomfortably trying to play her role in the sight of such dainty, graceful and beautiful Westerosi women. As uncomfortable as she looked, her brother and mother had chosen finery for her- lovely rosey gold weave wove through a Baratheon stag brocade pattern on her dress, which was otherwise a somber and conservative black affair.

A number of other ladies arrived at the manse walls and a member of the Hightower house guard greeted them. "M'Ladies, if you will follow me." The tall knight led the way, his silver breastplate looked nearly mirror like."Lady Hightower will meet with you all in the garden."

Ellin and Essie Fell hurried to keep pace with the man. "Are there many spare beds in this manse?" Essie asked, though she didn't receive an answer.

Lannister twins Myrielle and Mycella walked side by side. Myrielle worked furiously to fix her sister's hair and make her look more presentable.

Arriving just a bit behind the Lannister girls, Allisan Tully pulled up on her horse. Clad in a pair of breeches and a doublet, she looked out of place between the other ladies. She had her hair braided tightly to her head, the remaining length draped over a shoulder. A dagger adorned her hip, silver handle with a small topaz at the pommel.

The footfalls of Lady Claryse's heeled shoes sounded confident in their stride. She was, perhaps, a little over confident because both her House and Lady Hightower's were both proudly from the Reach, and thought that somehow gave her an advantage.

Lady Hightower was in the garden as the guardsman led the assembled ladies to meet her. It was a well kept garden. The sort of place a proper lady might go for air or exercise without leaving home. Joanna was strikingly tall. Statuesque. But her smile was gentle as she greeted her guests. "Ladies, I'm glad to see you all. Thank you very much for joining me."

Claryse was the first to curtsy. Though she wasn't yet Queen, Joanna was still her social superior.

The Fell sisters, and the Lannisters followed suit.

"May I just say, on behalf of my sister and myself, we are so please to have been invited my lady." Myrielle Lannister was beaming as a peak of sunshine flashed over her golden hair.

"The pleasure is mine, Lady Myrielle," Joanna answered warmly.

Myriella blushed as her sister rolled her eyes.

"Are you amused, Lady Myrcella?" Joanna asked.

"I wouldn't say that, no." Myrcella was clearly intent on not being chosen.

Lady Ellin, the eldest of Lord Fell's daughters spoke next. "I'm curious, my Lady, how you'll make your decision." Ellin did not like not knowing what was happening. She was proud to always be informed and a step ahead of any situation.

"By getting to know all of you," Joanna answered, a half-truth at best. Too much of the decision would depend on the relationship between each girl's father and her husband, this one a former rival to be placated, that one a staunch supporter to be rewarded.

"May I ask, Lady Joanna, why I was invited?" Allisan asked as she stepped forward, beyond the Lannister girls.

"Because, Lady Allisan, you are of very distinguished birth. House Tully traces its heritage back thousands of years to the First Men and have been Lords Paramount of the Riverlands since Aegon's Conquest," Joanna said, "and as I grow to know you better I am sure I will find much to admire in you personally as well."

"Quite the flattery my lady." Allisan said with a guarded tone. "And it's not because my cousin Jonah sits close in council to your husband-to-be?"

"No, it isn't," Joanna answered calmly. "If I wished to flatter you, Lady Allisan, I would flatter you personally. The importance of House Tully is a political fact and, if the Lord Paramount of the Riverlands were not on the Small Council, that would be greater, not lesser, reason to find some other tie with him. If we are being this direct, might I ask why you accepted my invitation?"

"My cousin insisted. Being acquainted with the queen-to-be would be advantageous to my family. And to be frank, I was curious about you, and the rumours of your garden." Allisan answered simply.

"Feel free to explore it," Joanna answered with a warm smile.

The green Highgarden carriage pullled up to the manse, decorated in vines and golden roses as usual. A Highgarden guardsman stepped forward and opened the carriage door revealing Lady Celyse in a teal dress in the style of the Reach. He helped her step down off the step and she thanked him kindly. Soon after, she made her way toward the host with a smile.

“Lady Joanna, it’s wonderful to see you.” She said, her silver eyes sparkling.

"And you, Lady Celyse," she said warmly. "If you'll all join me..." She headed over to a small table in one corner of the garden, outdoors, in the fresh air and amid the beautiful flowers. "It is lovely out here." She paused and her smile faded a little. It was only a little time ago that there had been fire and blood outside.

Claryse Grimm took in the scents as she made her way over. "It's almost like being back home." She proclaimed.

Myrielle and Myrcella Lannister looked rather at home in the garden as well. Though it surpassed the beauty of the garden at Lionshead Hall, it paled in comparison to the garden at Casterly Rock. Without being told Myrcella made herself comfortable, much to the horror of her twin.

The Fell sisters were used to a far less colourful garden at Felwood in the Stormlands. The scent was more powerful than any perfume the pair had smelled.

Ignoring the seats, and the young women seating themselves upon it, Allisan stepped onto the expansive lawn to one of the majestic trees. Her lips fell open in admiration of the rare Goldenheart growing strong.

"This tree must be old indeed," Lady Celyse said, walking up to Allisan with her eyes planted on the goldenheart. "They come from the Summer Isles and are temperamental little beasts. They're coveted the world over for their strong wood which, I've heard, makes the best weaponry. The Princes of the Islands have forbidden its export for centuries. I wonder how Lady Joana came to possess one."

"I suspect it was here before the Hightowers took the house. It's a slow-growing tree." Allisan looked at the massive canopy and then down the length of the trunk, studying it. "This must have been here for centuries. We have one in the Godswood in Riverrun that's over a hundred years old. That one looks like a sapling compared to this beautiful tree."

Celyse looked at Allisan with interest. She was a student of gardens and groves because of her home and her mentor Grandfather’s love for it. Really, though, her first love was politics and rulership. She had a keen mind for diplomacy and for the intricacies of building great things. Much like Lady Joanna, her father had wished most earnestly that she had been born a boy, but her grandfather had loved her just as she was.

"How did Riverun come upon such a prize?" she asked sweetly, "Highgarden has many wonders, but this one has not been added to it's mazes."

"The story goes that Lord Medgar Tully, in his younger days, befriended the captain of a trading ship. He was given the chance to join that captain for a trip to the Summer Isles. There he was able to gather a number of Goldenheart Acorns." Allisan explained.

TAG?

Joanna looked at Myrcella relaxing and at Allisan and Celyse talking under the tree. She had a seat and gestured to invite others to join her. A server brought up strawberries and cream for all the ladies. Arya took a seat nearby and Joanna glanced over. "Your father seemed rather interested in the Hightower."

"He's always been interested in ancient mysteries," Arya said. "No one really knows much about the base of the Hightower."

"Our Septa mentioned that some believe it has Valyrian origins." Ellin Fell said, sitting near Joanna. "And that Oldtown began as a trade port for ships of Valyria, Old Ghis, and the Summer Isles. It may even pre-date the arrival of the First Men."

"That is what I was taught, Lady Ellin," Joanna agreed.

"My lord father doesn't believe that," Arya blurted out and then brought a hand to her mouth. "I mean no disrespect, my lady."

"There are stranger theories," Joanna allowed. "Archmaester Qullion claims they are from Lothari mazemakers. Maester Theron believes it was created by some aquatic race before the coming of men. Most in the Citadel view such things as myth and legend."

"A hundred years ago, myth and legend came from Beyond-the-Wall and nearly destroyed our ancestors," Arya noted.

"So it did," Joanna allowed. "Still, I worry more about the Ironborn."

"We bear them no love on Fair Isle," Arya said. "There is a long history there, going back before the last king of the island bent the knee to the King of the Rock."

"This day would feel different if the kingdoms were at peace," Joanna said a bit glumly, eating another strawberry.

"Hear, hear!" Lady Ellin said, nodding enthusiastically.

"Did you hear what happened to Lionshead Hall?" Myrielle asked of the group.

Joanna nodded softly. "I spoke briefly to Maester Edmure," she shared. Maesters had no last names and were bound only to the Citadel and the castle they served. However, Joanna had not forgotten the man was her father's brother. "It was a harrowing night and a sad one."

"The brutes tried to set fire to the gardens of the Grapevine Estate, but most fortunately, my Lord Grandfather had no shortage of guardsmen on hand." Lady Celyse said, reflecting on the terrifying experience. "To think that things could become so bad so soon after the reinstatement of primogeniture in Westeros.."

"We were not so lucky here," Joanna said. "The gardens were only spared because the fighting moved into the street."

Myrielle gasped at the thought. For their part the Lannister girls had led rather sheltered lives. They'd rarely seen fighting of any kind. Myrielle seemed very affected by it whereas Myrcella had taken it in stride and seemed to be coping well.

"The Ironborn will answer for it," Joanna said simply. "Have no doubt on that score."

Essie Fell spoke up. "But surely not all the Ironborn will be blamed for the actions of House Greyjoy, right?"

"Let's see how much they enjoy being reaved and pillaged." Allisan said with a bitter tone as she rejoined the others and seated herself. "If it were up to me they'd put those whole islands to the sword, and burn their castles."

Essie's head fell ever so slightly. "I suppose you have more exposure to those from the Iron Islands than the rest of us." She conceded. "Still, I wouldn't want my house punished for the actions of House Baratheon. So I cannot wish it upon others."

"My forefathers have lived under the rule of both Hoare and Greyiron. In my time, my father's time, and my grandfather's time we've seen reavers flying the Kraken of Greyjoy, the boney hand of Drumm, that grey tree of Stonetree, and a dozen others sailing up our rivers and down our coasts. I've met the men who saw their wives being carried away as saltwives, boys who saw their fathers being slaughtered for daring to protect their meagre homes." There was an anger that ran deep in Allisan's voice now. "This latest betrayal may be that Greyjoy bitch, but they're all feral dogs that have need to be put down."

"The Ironborn have not been to Fair Isle so recently," Arya said, "but my forefathers also lived under them and I feel as Lady Allisan does. They pride themselves on living by violence alone. They always lose in the end but they always return to the same foolish ways."

Myrielle Lannister frowned a bit. "It seems we've struck a nerve within Lady Allisan. Perhaps we ought to allow Lady Joanna to steer us back towards her intended conversation?"

"I know all the proper things for us to be discussing," Joanna allowed, "but it is hard to focus on them. The law does not allow Ironborn to be punished for the actions of another but it does allow them to be punished for their own. So far, all of Lady Greyjoy's bannermen of which we are aware have followed her into treason. If I remember my history, Lady Essie, House Fell was one of only three Stormlander Houses to remain loyal to the Crown at the beginning Robert's Rebellion. No Ironborn lord has made that choice. Any who do so, and all shall have the chance to do so, will be treated fairly. So His Grace has commanded. In victory, Kings are often understanding with those torn between their oath to their immediate liege and the Crown. But while the war rages...war is always a horror. I'd hoped not to see one."

Mycella Lannister leaned in. "It tickles me that woman would discuss such things in each others company. Putting aside the 'proper' topics and the needle work and speaking their opinion on things that matter." The typically surly Lannister sister smiled. "I am proud to know that woman will have a true ally in the royal House."

"What do you think a woman running her husband's household talks about, Lady Myrcella?" Allisan asked with an arched eyebrow. "I have had to command Riverrun in my father and brother's absence. I've had to order knights to ride out and kill bandits and raiders as the Lady of Riverrun. Proper topics for women include anything that might be required of the Lady of the Castle to know about."

"It's true." Celyse said with a kinder expression. "While I am only third in line to inherit Highgarden after my father and my brother, I am something of a chief aide to my grandfather. Oftentimes men underestimate my importance in his decision-making process because I am a girl, but...they are fools."

The young Reachwoman cleared her throat and looked Myrcella with a smile."Just because it is not of most of our lots to rule doesn't mean we must not understand. It also doesn't mean we should be without opinion."

"You misunderstand me, I think it brilliant." Myrcella said, her voice was a bit in the monotone.

Myrielle smiled wide. "Yes, you must forgive my dear sister's sarcastic tone. It does make it difficult to discern her true meaning sometimes."

"The history of Westeros is full of powerful women," Arya added.

The conversation continued for awhile long before the ladies took their leave. Joanna knew the politics of the decision already. How could she not? But she was also asking herself who she would like to spend her days with. She had a right to select at least some of them on that basis, did she not?