|
|
Post by Gandalf on Jun 8, 2023 4:13:06 GMT -5
Seaworth had traded his dirtied woollen tunic for a padded black doublet embroidered with the sigil of his house. He had new boots too, which his calloused feet were more than grateful for, and a richly woven woollen cloak that made him chafe and sweat in the saddle. Previously, the only horses he had ever rode had been stolen, and so he sat on the back of his palfrey with all the awkwardness of an unsure rider as the Baratheon party crossed through the portcullis gates and into Riverrun. Everything and everyone in the castle was greeted with the same wide eyed incredulity of a man who was a stranger to this world. A part of him believed had drowned on that fateful night in Shipbreaker’s Bay, and this life he now lived belonged to another. That did not stop him from eagerly helping himself to the food and drink offered by the hospitality of Lord Tully, however.
|
|
|
|
Post by oznerol on Jun 8, 2023 6:39:25 GMT -5
Stannis arrives to Riverrun alongside a score of retainers, including his cousin Estermont and his newest knight, Davos Seaworth. Stannis and his companions is welcomed at the gates before being led to the godswood of Riverrun. There they are met by Lord Hoster himself, and his daughter Lysa. A servant brings out some refreshments of fruits and wine for them. "Welcome to Riverrun, Lord Stannis. I hope your journey was amicable. I appreciate you coming this far."He motioned to his daughter. Lysa, this is Stannis Baratheon, the new Lord of Storm's End and the younger brother of Robert Baratheon.Lysa curtsied politely but did not say much. Her auburn hair marks her as a Tully, though her blue eyes have a pale tint unlike the rest of her family. Stannis took a seat. He openned his cloak and threw the fabric over the shoulder. He dressed very somberly, only leather and wool, in dark tones. No jewelled necklace, badge, scabbard or purse. The Stormlord's retainers placed themselves in his proximity. The Estermont seemed to be a cousin. "My thanks, Lord Hoster"Baratheon took a fig and a cup of white wine, with fruit undertones, sweet and gentle.
"Pleased to meet you, my Lady"Stannis said so flatly, without any emotion or pleasure. He did not seem impresed in the slightest. Baratheon exchanged a look with Seaworth.
|
|
|
|
Post by Royal Joker on Jun 8, 2023 14:35:36 GMT -5
Stannis and his companions is welcomed at the gates before being led to the godswood of Riverrun. There they are met by Lord Hoster himself, and his daughter Lysa. A servant brings out some refreshments of fruits and wine for them. "Welcome to Riverrun, Lord Stannis. I hope your journey was amicable. I appreciate you coming this far."He motioned to his daughter. Lysa, this is Stannis Baratheon, the new Lord of Storm's End and the younger brother of Robert Baratheon.Lysa curtsied politely but did not say much. Her auburn hair marks her as a Tully, though her blue eyes have a pale tint unlike the rest of her family. Stannis took a seat. He openned his cloak and threw the fabric over the shoulder. He dressed very somberly, only leather and wool, in dark tones. No jewelled necklace, badge, scabbard or purse. The Stormlord's retainers placed themselves in his proximity. The Estermont seemed to be a cousin. "My thanks, Lord Hoster"Baratheon took a fig and a cup of white wine, with fruit undertones, sweet and gentle.
"Pleased to meet you, my Lady"Stannis said so flatly, without any emotion or pleasure. He did not seem impresed in the slightest. Baratheon exchanged a look with Seaworth. Hoster coughed and sat down awkwardly across from Stannis. The younger Baratheon brother certainly was... something, to say the least. None of the loud boasting of Robert. He looked to Lysa to gauge her reaction. Lysa looked nervous and unsure on how to respond. She was a shy and timid girl by nature, and Stannis's seemingly lack of interest in her did not make things better. It was not like she had much interest in him either. Petyr was still in her mind, the love that had made her life bearable during these chaotic years when she had been forced to marry old Jon Arryn. She wondered if he thought of her. "The p-pleasure is m-mine, my lord. I've h-heard much about you. My father says you're a fearless warrior."
|
|
|
|
Post by oznerol on Jun 8, 2023 16:33:29 GMT -5
"I'm not"
Said Stannis.
"I just do what I have to do. Duty"
He added. Baratheon looked again at Seaworth. He frowned.
"But not your fault, Lady Arryn, your father just overestimated my martial skills"
He tried to force a smile. Posibly he was trying to be pleasant.
"I hope your widowhood is bearable, my lady, you might find happyness again"
|
|
|
|
Post by Gandalf on Jun 8, 2023 17:53:04 GMT -5
Ser Davos was looking down into his wine, perhaps pretending something interesting was at the bottom of that swirling pool of red. Worse still, his lord kept looking at him, as if the blame for this lay at his feet.
”My liege sells himself short, milady. I have never known a man so fearless.” A few looked at him oddly for talking out of turn, but he pressed on regardless, attempting to at least find a shred of common ground for them both to stand upon as he avoided their gaze. He knew what he would say to a common girl, but what in the hells did these lords talk about? ”Nor more honest. While his brother had a reputation that was no doubt well known to my lord and lady, Lord Stannis is not a man to stray from his marriage bed.”
He gave his lord a sheepish look once he had finished.
|
|
|
|
Post by oznerol on Jun 9, 2023 4:46:32 GMT -5
Stannis actually blushed. His ears looked red, he looked back at Davos with incredulity.
"I know my duties... Duty. I do not... seek pleasure elsewhere"
He tried to feign a cough.
"Excuse me, Lord Arryn. I mean, Lord Tully, Lady Arryn"
|
|
|
|
Post by Royal Joker on Jun 9, 2023 15:39:04 GMT -5
Hoster was doing his best to keep a straight face, though that was proving more difficult with each passing moment. It felt like someone had thrown him into the Red Fork in the middle of winter. He had certainly met men who did not have mastery of the silver tongue, but Stannis was proving to be on another level. The Lord of Riverrun nervously glanced between Stannis and Lysa to see if there was any connection being made. He was even thankful that the common-born knight had spoken favorably of his master.
Lysa seemed stumped. She had been trained to hold conversations with highborn lords and ladies, but the balding Baratheon was comparable to a brick wall.
"Oh. Uhm... there is not much to talk about. I barely met my husband before he rode off to fight, so I feel more like a Tully than an Arryn. I guess I did my duty to my house, like you did. Though, not like, you know, like you did. I can't fight at all."
She was panicking a bit. She had to make a good impression to make her father proud. Petyr wouldn't swoop in to save her.
"Excuse me, my lord, I'm just a bit nervous. Does.. does my lord enjoy things besides duty?"
|
|
|
|
Post by oznerol on Jun 11, 2023 3:17:14 GMT -5
Baratheon's thumbs turned around each other and he looked out of place.
"I like my letters, Lady Arryn, I mean Tully. I'm fond of books and the like, you know those things..."
He coughed.
"I like hunting and hawking much"
Had taken a fancy about it lately, and even rescued one of his bannermen from drowning in one of those many rivers the Riverlanders had. Stannis couldn't think clearly.
|
|
|
|
Post by Gandalf on Jun 11, 2023 5:26:09 GMT -5
”My lord is a good swimmer.” Davos chimed in as Stannis faltered, fancying in his own mind that this was how to win the approval of a family who willingly went around wearing the likeness of a fish, ”Not a week gone, Lord Penrose fell into the God’s Eye. Father save him, he was in full mail and couldn’t swim.”
The old smuggler laughed a little, before looking around and catching the old Penrose’s bemused expression. His smile died somewhat as he restrained himself.
”Well, nothing for it for milord Baratheon, who stripped to the waist and leapt in after him, like a trout in a man’s skin.”
|
|
|
|
Post by Royal Joker on Jun 12, 2023 11:13:16 GMT -5
Baratheon's thumbs turned around each other and he looked out of place. "I like my letters, Lady Arryn, I mean Tully. I'm fond of books and the like, you know those things..."He coughed. "I like hunting and hawking much"Had taken a fancy about it lately, and even rescued one of his bannermen from drowning in one of those many rivers the Riverlanders had. Stannis couldn't think clearly. ”My lord is a good swimmer.” Davos chimed in as Stannis faltered, fancying in his own mind that this was how to win the approval of a family who willingly went around wearing the likeness of a fish, ”Not a week gone, Lord Penrose fell into the God’s Eye. Father save him, he was in full mail and couldn’t swim.” The old smuggler laughed a little, before looking around and catching the old Penrose’s bemused expression. His smile died somewhat as he restrained himself. ”Well, nothing for it for milord Baratheon, who stripped to the waist and leapt in after him, like a trout in a man’s skin.”
Lysa looked over at the onion knight and listened before she turned back to Stannis. She clasped the hems of her dress tightly, doing her best to summon the courage to speak. "Many would call that a brave act, my lord. Few could pull a grown man in mail out of the waters, fewer would even dare try it."She gave him a sympathetic smile - it was in some sense soothing that she was not alone in struggling through this conversation. Before she could speak up again, her father chimed in. "Lysa, you love riding as well. Perhaps you and Lord Stannis could enjoy the fresh air of the woods together, get to know each other a bit more?"Lysa nodded meekly, awaiting Stannis's response.
|
|
|
|
Post by oznerol on Jun 12, 2023 12:07:07 GMT -5
"If my lady wishes"
Said Stannis. He cringed slightly over the fact that Davos had called him... a trout.
"I would gladly take her for a ride"
Somewhat that sounded slightly obscene to Stannis, who looked uncomfortable.
|
|
|
|
Post by Royal Joker on Jun 12, 2023 14:50:59 GMT -5
Lysa and Stannis were soon trotting along the road up the Red Fork, followed by a small guard of Tully and Baratheon household knights. The forest that served as the hunting grounds of the lords of Riverrun were not far off, just off the river road. The two travelled along trodden paths towards a small clearing before they took a small break.
"I spent much of my childhood in these woods with my sister and brother. There are some hidden glades where you'll find beautiful flower beds... or boar and deer if you like hunting."
Lysa flustered and bowed her head to Stannis.
"I'm sorry if I bore my lord. I hope... I hope it won't change your mind about marriage."
|
|
|
|
Post by oznerol on Jun 13, 2023 3:56:52 GMT -5
Lysa and Stannis were soon trotting along the road up the Red Fork, followed by a small guard of Tully and Baratheon household knights. The forest that served as the hunting grounds of the lords of Riverrun were not far off, just off the river road. The two travelled along trodden paths towards a small clearing before they took a small break. "I spent much of my childhood in these woods with my sister and brother. There are some hidden glades where you'll find beautiful flower beds... or boar and deer if you like hunting."Lysa flustered and bowed her head to Stannis. "I'm sorry if I bore my lord. I hope... I hope it won't change your mind about marriage."Said Stannis. He was now wearing a cape, checkered in black and gold, the colors of Baratheon. "I have to marry, this is my duty"He didn't have much hopes with anyone, least so with the widowed Lady Arryn. No matter she suposedly was as fair as her sister and their mother before them. "My lady is a good match. This must suffice"Baratheon placed both hands on the saddle's pommel. "I'm not a maiden's dream, this much I know. But I'm not a man of seventy either"
|
|
|
|
Post by Royal Joker on Jun 13, 2023 11:32:29 GMT -5
Lysa and Stannis were soon trotting along the road up the Red Fork, followed by a small guard of Tully and Baratheon household knights. The forest that served as the hunting grounds of the lords of Riverrun were not far off, just off the river road. The two travelled along trodden paths towards a small clearing before they took a small break. "I spent much of my childhood in these woods with my sister and brother. There are some hidden glades where you'll find beautiful flower beds... or boar and deer if you like hunting."Lysa flustered and bowed her head to Stannis. "I'm sorry if I bore my lord. I hope... I hope it won't change your mind about marriage."Said Stannis. He was now wearing a cape, checkered in black and gold, the colors of Baratheon. "I have to marry, this is my duty"He didn't have much hopes with anyone, least so with the widowed Lady Arryn. No matter she suposedly was as fair as her sister and their mother before them. "My lady is a good match. This must suffice"Baratheon placed both hands on the saddle's pommel. "I'm not a maiden's dream, this much I know. But I'm not a man of seventy either"
Lysa nodded understandingly. "I know my duties as a lady too, my lord. My lord father would be very happy with this union and he knows best."She laughed nervously. How foolish she had been, thinking that true love with Petyr could have lasted. Perhaps, had she gone to the Vale, they could have reunited in their love. Alas, Petyr was not in the Stormlands. "I don't know how good a match I am, but I guess you and I could... suffice, as you say."She did not tell him of Petyr's child or the poison that her father had told her to consume. That chapter was best left forgotten, a scar that she would carry with her the rest of her life. She hoped that her father would remember it in shame. Lysa looked at Stannis. "How about we ride to my favorite spot in these woods before returning to Riverrun, Lord Stannis? I'd like to speak with you in private a bit more."
|
|
|
|
Post by oznerol on Jun 14, 2023 4:11:54 GMT -5
"Marrying a daughter to a Lord Paramount is no small thing, indeed"
He said.
"We could. You are fair and gentle. One of my retainers says not much is needed to forge a bound"
At least she pretended to be. Which was enough, for now.
"Alright, you take the lead"
|
|
