[armoredspirita]

tallharts‌:

            THERE  WOULD  BE  NO  POINT  IN  BEING  CRUEL  TO  HIM  .  though  the  darkness  on  her  shoulder  says  otherwise  .  however  he  feels  toward  her  now  ,  whatever  …  likeness  ,  if  any  ,  he  has  would  be  crushed  by  her  anger  .  she’s  not  someone  who  likes  to  be  disliked  ,  among  many  other  issues  with  a  potential  outburst  .  that’s  not  the  woman  she  wants  to  be  .  once  upon  a  time  she  had  wanted  him  as  her  husband  .  though  that  has  faded  with  the  rest  of  the  possibilities  ,  she’s  still  slightly  intrigued  by  him  .  there’s  something  caring  in  his  words  ,  genuine  compassion  that  she  wishes  to  grasp  .  she  wants  to  remember  what  that’s  like  ,  to  have  someone  care  without  the  incentives  it  could  provide  .  would  he  be  content  with  friends  ?

             though  unfamiliar  ,  the  touch  is  a  comfort  .  she  wrinkles  her  nose  and  gives  him  a  look  ,  but  sylvina  wouldn’t  make  him  remove  his  hand  .  there’s  worry  floating  around  her  thoughts  that  perhaps  he  pities  her  ,  but  she  refuses  to  press  further  .    ❝    it’s  quite  alright  …  and  you  didn’t  upset  me  .    ❞    though  truth  to  her  words  ,  as  he  hadn’t  been  the  source  of  her  pain  ,  but  she  had  been  reminded  of  it  .  her  face  falters  ,  for  a  moment  ,  until  she  catches  a  glimpse  of  his  .  it’s  impossible  not  to  respond  with  a  smile  ,  brighter  than  last  time  ,  showing  teeth  …  even  if  it  only  lasts  for  a  second  .    ❝    i  did  ,  but  i  must  admit  …  i’m  not  very  good  at  it  .    ❞    despite  her  interest  in  the  arts  ,  dancing  has  never  been  a  talent  of  her’s  .  with  the  passing  years  ,  she’s  convinced  she’s  become  even  worse  .    ❝    is  seeing  familiar  faces  all  you’ve  done  ?  don’t  tell  me  there’s  all  these  festivities  and  you  haven’t  engaged  in  any  .    ❞

          usually  eliar  held  little  care  for  who  liked  him ,      but  for  some  reason  he  didn’t  like  the  idea  that  lady  tallhart  would  dislike  him.  usually  the  people  he  was  unkind  too,  were  people  he  deemed  deserved  it.  yet  his  unkindness  to  her  had  come  unprompted,  without  barely  knowing  the  girl,  and  perhaps  that’s  what  he  regretted.  she  seemed  kind  herself,  a  genuine  soul,  who  had  faced  more  hurt  than  he  could  understand.  he’s  glad  that,  at  the  very  least,  he  can  bring  a  smile  to  her  face.  his  own  grows  slightly  at  the  sight  of  it.  and  then  a  thought,     she  must  be  strong.     what  a  wreck  he  would  be  if  he  was  alone  and  not  by  choice,  and  he  decided  he  admired  her  for  that.

         ‘    i  used  to  be  better  at  dancing,  but  i’m  afraid  i’m  out  of  practice.  i  tend  to  avoid  it  for  fear  of  hurting  someone,    ’     a  pause,  and  then  an  admission,    ‘   again,  but  i  believe  enjoying  it  is  probably  the  most  important  part.   ’     he  bites  back  a  small  laugh,  for  while  he  did  feel  bad  there  was  some  humor  in  the  moment.    ‘    so  mostly  just  familiar  faces,  yes.   given  my  brother  quite  a  hard  time,  snuck  a  drink  or  two  to  his  children,  and  taken  a  deserved  scolding  from  an  old  friend.    ’     he  shrugs  slightly,     ‘   so,  yes,  perhaps  a  few  other  things.   ’

[armoredspirita]

tallisstark‌:

He understood her reluctance. If anybody could, it was Eliar. They had wanted the same thing, when they were younger, and even now he had achieved their dreams alone, it made sense that they still wished for the same, even if the wish was one of avoidance. She would be a terrible wife, anybody who knew her well would know it well. Independent and untamed, marriage would be yet another cage for her. “Always am,” she pointed out, a smirk of mirth appearing on her face. 

“Your mother would have to catch me, first.” She pointed out. Tallis was small, but so very fast, having spent her life darting around Winterfell, hurtling in and out of trouble. “The dragons don’t scare me,” she declared. “I just think it would be far less boring anywhere else. Without everyone looking at me.” She never minded being the centre of attention, but preferred for it to be on her own terms, not simply for who she was, and who sat beside her. The idea of sitting on a high table, lording it over everyone else, was not a pleasant one. “Actions speak louder than words, Ser Eliar. If I need you, I shall stand on my chair and wave my arms in the air. That should catch your eye.” 

        '    always  will  be.    ’      there’s  pride  in  the  statement.  the  chaos  they  created  together  was  always  his  favorite  part  of  visiting  winterfell.  she  was  someone  who  was  so  like  him  in  a  world  that  seemed  to  want  him  to  be  something  else  instead.  he  laughed  at  her  words,  knowing  well  that  tallis  was  quick  on  her  feet,     memories  of  games  of  tag,  often  leading  to  knocked  over  objects  and  annoyed  household  members.     '    good.  you  shouldn’t  be  scared.  but  unfortunately,  we  both  have  to  play  nice.    ’

         ‘   probably,   ’     he  agrees.  he  thinks  he  would  find  sitting  up  there  and  having  to  act  a  part  as  boring  as  she  likely  does,  and  is  thankful  he  doesn’t  have  to  do  it.  a  second  son  of  a  smaller  family  has  left  him  with,  thankfully,  few  responsibilities.    ‘    if  you  do  that,  i’m  sure  i  won’t  miss  it.  anything  less  and  i’d  probably  oblivious  to  your  plight.    ’

[armoredspirita]

thronebovnd‌:

“NOR HAVE I,” amalia answered, her smile never faltering. “so if either if us make a fool of ourselves, we’re making a fool of ourselves together.” she clutches his hands in hers, illustrating her point, grinning broadly all the way. “and i’ve always been awful with these northern dances so the chances of me making a fool of myself are rather high.” the surge of the music caught amalia’s attention and had her moving eagerly back towards the dance floor with her new companion.

         '    at  least  i’m  in  good  company  then ,    ’       he  laughs  slightly,  but  it  is  a  nervous  laugh  that  doesn’t  usually  escape  his  lips.  he  used  to  quite  enjoy  dancing,  but  he  hadn’t  in  sometime,  and  he  follows  with  careful  steps.  perhaps  it  will  come  back  to  him.  ‘    if  we  mess  up,  we  can  make  it  look  like  it’s  my  fault,   ’   he  offers  as  reassurance,  though  he  was  quite  certain  that  that  would  be  the  reality.

[armoredspirita]

blueroseicewall‌:

“Lord Eliar. I do hope you are well.” The words were polite enough on their own, though they rang hollow. He could drop dead, for all Arrana cared. He had tried to convince her sister to leave the safety of Winterfell for stupid thoughts of adventure. Her sister, one of the few good people in this world, one of the few people who, even though she was annoying, Arrana loved. Arrana had almost hoped he wouldn’t come, too caught up in his dreams of travel, and thus she wouldn’t have to see him. She wouldn’t have to pretend to be nice to a guest she wanted to leave.

          how  chilled .       he  shouldn’t  press,  move  on  and  leave  things  between  them  be,  but  despite  his  age  eliar  is  still  very  much  a  child.  he  wouldn’t  be  made  uncomfortable,  standing  as  firm  as  a  tree,  unmovable  even  when  it  might  not  be  the  best  choice.     ‘    absolutely  fantastic.  i  was  just  talking  to  your  sister  of  my  time  in  dorne.    ’     it  wasn’t  untrue,  but  the  knight  knew  well  now  how  to  press  against  the  princess.      ‘      i’m  sure  you  won’t  mind  if  i  steal  her  from  the  high  table  tonight.  she  asked  to  come  and  join  me  when  it  gets  too  dull.    ’

[armoredspirita]

tallisstark‌:

For a moment, a glimmer of hope filled Tallis’ eyes. Her father had loved her dearly. They were close, rarely parted from each other, but he had still kept her on a chain, restraining her and preventing her from running loose through Westeros as she pleased. She’d be lying if she hadn’t thought that now, with her brother on the throne, things may be different, and it was finally time to spread her wings. His latter comment wiped the thought from her mind. Harlon would need her, and though she wanted to believe he cared enough for her not to arrange a marriage she didn’t want, her future was unstable. “Even if there was, they won’t get far.  I’ll never be wed.” There was a fierce conviction in her eyes, a determination to stand by her words. 

She paused, then nodded her head. She was used to doing as she pleased, even under King Brandon’s watchful eyes. The prospect of handling the southern royalty in gloved hands, with a gentle touch, was maddening, and like the petulant child she was, she longed to shatter the balance. They were in her kingdom now, and though she was trying to be good for Harlon’s sake, she cared very little what they thought. She poked her tongue out, rolling her eyes at him, letting him no that if she had her way, she would have spent the night by his side. “How quickly you abandon me to my fate,” she pressed a hand to her chest, though unlike earlier, her outrage was all in jest. “I thought knights were supposed to be chivalrous.” 

        he  smiles  at  her  answer.  eliar  could  never  blame  her  for  wanting  to  avoid  such  things  when  he  had  done  the  same,  in  fact  it  was  possible  he  understood  the  drive  to  do  so  exactly.  ‘  i’m  sure  you’ll  be  a  complete  terror,  ’  and  the  words  fall  from  his  lips  with  all  the  pride  the  young  knight  is  capable  of.  he  could  see  the  determination  behind  her  eyes  and  he  smiled,  a  genuine  one  that  made  the  edges  of  his  face  crinkle,  seeing  that  she  was  still  the  wild  princess  he  had  left  behind.

          each  was  a  younger  sibling  acting  for  a  brother’s  sake,  so  he  understood.  he  shook  his  head  slightly  when  she  stuck  her  tongue.  ‘  my  mother  would  threaten  to  cut  that  from  your  mouth  and  plant  it  in  the  garden,  princess.  i  have  faith  that  you’ll  be  able  to  handle  the  dragons,  you  don’t  need  a  knight  to  slay  them.  ’   he  places  a  hand  on  his  own  chest,  mimicking  her  mock  wound,  ‘  i  just  informed  you  of  how  chivalrous  i  was.  besides  if  you  need  saving,  i’m  sure  you’ll  find  a  way  of  grabbing  my  attention.  ’

[armoredspirita]

         when  eliar  looked  up  and  saw  arrana,  he  tried  his  best  to  avoid  her  gaze.  while  he  was  close  with  her  sister,  and  amicable  with  her  brother,  eliar  and  the  elder  stark  princess  had  never  shared  a  tender  word.  for  his  brother’s  sake,  he  would  do  his  best  to  avoid  a  scene.  however,  the  moment  comes  when  he  realizes  that  they  are  too  close  to  simply  ignore  each  other.  ‘  princess,  ’  he  says,  giving  her  a  nod,  but  the  word  is  as  cold  as  the  wind  that  had  been  shaking  the  windows  the  whole  night.  he  wondered  if  tallis  had  expressed  her  anger  to  her  sister.  if  so,  his  fate  was  sealed,  though  he  had  a  feeling  it  would  be  no  matter  what  she  knew.    @blueroseicewall​

[armoredspirita]

        '  i  don’t  think  i’ve  seen  you  in  the  north  before,  cedrik,  ’   eliar  says  by  way  of  greeting  to  the  baratheon  lord,  formalities  forsaken.  while  he  had  only  met  the  man  a  few  times,  he  liked  to  believe  he  had  an  understanding  between  them.  the  hedge  knight  had  a  habit  of  acting  out  of  turn  and  decorum,  but  it  seemed  that  cedrik  was  one  who  appreciated  his  candid  nature.  ‘  you’re  enjoying  yourself  enough  to  stay  the  cold,  i  hope  ?  ’      @stagborn​

[armoredspirita]

justicemarred‌:

❛  and  would  you  really  rob  me  of  what  you  already  have  in  surplus  ?❜  erik  asked,  a  half  cocked  smile  on  his  face.  ❛  i’m  sure  those  nieces  and  nephews  of  yours  will  appreciate  it.  ❜  the  elder  umber  reached  out  towards  eliar,  pulling  him  in  for  a  hug.  ❛  i’m  happy  that  you  came  home,  brother.  ❜

he  was  quiet  for  a  moment,  thinking  deeply  before  releasing  his  brother  after  a  moment  longer.  his  hands  remained  on  eliar’s  shoulders.  ❛  i’m  proud  of  you,  elly.  i  don’t  think  i  say  that  enough.  ❜

         there  were  very  few  moments  when  eliar  umber  felt  small.  in  the  arms  of  his  elder  brother  was  one  of  them,  but  it  was  not  a  bad  feeling.  when  you  spend  so  much  of  your  life  being  the  big  thing  in  the  room,  a  moment  of  being  small  could  be  therapeutic;  a  moment  to  hide  when  you’ve  spent  your  whole  life  being  seen.  he  swallows  as  he  hears  the  words  his  brother  says,  feeling  the  weight  of  his  hands  on  his  shoulders.  he  gave  a  quick,  almost  soldier - like,  nod  as  the  only  indicator  that  he’s  heard  the  words  at  all.

[armoredspirita]

tallisstark‌:

“I am sure I would,” Tallis agreed, a breathy, wistful quality clouding her tone. She had long harboured a dream of exploring the vast expanses of deserts in Dorne, so different from the icy landscapes she was used to, yet shockingly similar at the same time. She paused at his words, then offered a small, humble shrug. “It is not so unsual for a brother and sister to be parted, by marriage or other factors. Harlon will learn to love it.” 

She paused for a moment. In any other feast, she wouldn’t hesitate about inviting Eliar to her table, whether she was angry at him or not. Even in her frustrations, he was interesting enough to warrant that from her. But with the Targaryens around, she wasn’t sure they would let her. “I can sit with you?” She suggested, answering in a way that was both honest and a joke. “Still. I may have died of embarrassment if that were me. Chivalry be damned.” 

        '  perhaps  he’ll  find  it  enjoyable.  i  believe  my  brother  and  i  get  along  better  now  that  he  doesn’t  have  to  deal  with  me  on  a  daily  basis  ’     he  chuckles,  knowing  full  well  that  he  could  be  quite  a  bit  to  deal  with.  also  that  he  wasn’t  always  the  best  influence  on  his  niece  and  nephews,  though  he  was   proud  of  that.  ‘  aren’t  there  any  suitors  trying  to  marry  the  stark  princess  ?  ’ 

        he  understood  that  politics  impacted  everything,  including  old  friendships.  eliar  knew  it  would  be  poor  form  for  a  hedge  knight  of  a  small  house  to  sit  at  the  same  table  as  the  king  of  the  southern  kingdom,  and  it  was  likely  the  targaryens  would  see  it  as  a  slight  from  the  starks.  however,  they  might  see  the  absence  of  a  princess  as  the  same.  eliar  disliked  court  life,  but  that  didn’t  mean  he  didn’t  know  how  to  navigate  it.  ‘  you  should  sit  with  your  brother,  at  least  for  a  little  while.  once  everyone’s  had  a  few  drinks,  then  i  would  love  to  have  you  join  me.  ’

[armoredspirita]

tallharts‌:

          SHE’S  UNSURE  HOW  TO  RESPOND  .  here  lies  a  situation  she  wishes  someone  could  instruct  her  how  to  react  ,  what  to  say  .  there  had  been  suitors  before  him  and  some  after  ,  but  no  other  betrothals  befell  her  .  she  remembers  some  of  their  faces  ,  harsh  words  or  demands  they  had  offered  .  none  of  them  had  ever  been  as  nice  as  eliar  umber  ,  and  even  he  hadn’t  been  nice  when  it  counted  .  most  wanted  to  take  her  away  from  her  home  and  trap  her  in  a  cage  to  be  nothing  more  than  a  face  to  a  marriage  .  to  have  sons  and  nothing  more  .  would  he  have  done  the  same  ?  she’s  not  sure  ,  but  her  expectations  of  him  have  faltered  .  it  doesn’t  matter  anymore  ,  anyway  .  sylvina  has  kept  her  home  ,  her  titles  ,  and  her  lands  .  they  will  not  fall  into  the  hands  of  a  stranger  who  wants  nothing  more  than  what  she  can  offer  them  .  if  she  will  not  be  loved  ,  then  she  will  not  take  that  risk  .

            i  don’t  need  your  permission  ,  she  thinks  ,  biting  back  a  bitter  remark  .  have  the  ages  alone  made  her  cruel  ?  she  would  never  say  such  a  thing  but  her  thoughts  spiral  with  anger  .  it  seems  as  if  nothing  he  says  will  be  a  good  response  .  if  he  had  not  wanted  her  forgiveness  ,  it’s  too  bad  for  him  .  she  will  be  kind  and  use  her  manners  but  she  will  not  bend  over  backwards  to  make  him  feel  better  about  what  he  had  done  .  it  takes  her  a  moment  to  speak  ,  not  wanting  to  be  harsh  .  he  had  his  reasons  for  doing  what  he  did  .  the  end  of  their  betrothal  was  not  the  end  of  her  world  .    ❝    i  know  i  don’t  have  to  ,  but  i  do  .  it  was  some  time  ago  and  we  both  have  moved  on  …  i  hold  no  ill  feelings  toward  you  ,  eliar  .    ❞    the  last  thing  she  wants  is  to  have  him  think  she  was  a  poor  girl  caught  up  about  a  broken  betrothal  …  even  if  ,  at  the  time  ,  she  was  .

            her  lips  twitch  at  his  sudden  words  ,  eyes  swelling  with  tears  .  she  hides  her  face  and  blinks  them  away  as  quickly  as  she  can  .    ❝    i…    ❞    sylvina’s  voice  cracks  and  she’s  at  a  loss  for  words  .  she  was  never  his  responsibility  and  the  two  of  them  had  been  strangers  at  best  .  alone  ,  that’s  all  she  had  been  .  strangers  and  friends  alike  had  visited  her  ,  but  she  hadn’t  stopped  feeling  that  very  way  since  .  afraid  to  give  a  response  to  the  sentiment  ,  she  jumps  at  his  question  .    ❝    i  had  the  pleasure  of  being  asked  to  dance  earlier  .  it  was  fun  …  i’m  having  fun  ,    ❞    she  admits  ,  letting  out  a  deep  breath  .  there’s  a  hint  of  a  smile  ,  though  she  hopes  it’s  hidden  in  the  shadows  .

           eliar  was  unsure  what  he  wanted,  if  he  wanted  anything.  he  was  decently  sure  that  him   wanting   things  is  what  had  placed  them  both  in  this  predicament.  he  is,  instead,  amazed  and  impressed  by  her  kindness  to  him.  it  would  be  much  easier,  he  was  sure,  to  be  angry  or  cruel  to  him.  even  given  his  invitation  to  do  so,  she  remained  kind.  ‘  it  is  good  to  hear  that,  sylvina,  ’   he  replies,  giving  her  a  slight  smile.  he  was  unsure  exactly  what  to  do  next,  and  is  wondering  if  it  would  be  best  for  him  to  take  his  leave,  to  not  impede  on  her  life  any  further,  when  he  hears  the  way  her  voice  cracks  in  response  to  his  statement.  he  looks  down  quickly,  concern  in  his  eyes.  he  hadn’t  wished  to  upset  her.

          instinctively  he  places  a  hand  on  the  side  of  her  shoulder.  it  lingers  there  for  a  moment,  before  it  slowly  retreats  again  as  eliar  realizes  he  is  likely  overstepping  boundaries  he  has  no  right  to  cross.  he  had  no  right  to  touch  her  or  to  believe  that  his  touch  would  be  comforting.  ‘  my  apologies,  ’  he  says  quickly  and  quietly.  he  clasps  one  hand  in  the  other,  letting  them  hang  in  back  of  his  person.    ‘  i  didn’t  mean  to  upset  you.  ’   he  hadn’t.  eliar  meant  no  ill  will  towards  her. ‘  i’m  glad  to  hear  that,  ’  he  says,  and  he  thinks  he  catches  a  hint  of  a  smile  from  sylvina,  at  which  he  lets  the  air  he  had  been  holding  since  her  last  words  go.   he  returns  the  smile  with  one  of  his  own.  ‘  it  certainly  is  quite  the  party.  did  you  enjoy  dancing   ?  ’ 

[armoredspirita]

tallharts‌:

            SYLVINA  KNOWS  LITTLE  about  the  man  beside  her  .  all  she  can  recall  from  her  snooping  and  her  father’s  apology  was  that  he’d  gone  to  travel  elsewhere  .  a  sorry  excuse  ,  she  had  thought  ,  though  she  understood  .  from  an  outside  perspective  ,  she  couldn’t  blame  him  for  wanting  to  marry  a  stranger  .  all  risk  and  the  chance  of  no  reward  .  she  could  be  a  good  wife  ,  a  good  mother  ,  but  how  was  he  to  know  ?  assuming  he  cared  about  that  at  all  .  she’d  had  a  slight  deciding  factor  in  her  betrothals  ,  not  wanting  to  marry  anyone  hungry  for  lands  that  did  not  belong  to  them  .  not  wanting  to  marry  someone  she  met  who  was  cruel  or  mannerless  .  eliar  had  been  kind  before  ,  before  he  had  left  her  with  an  unknown  fate  .  it  wasn’t  his  fault  ,  she  kept  thinking  .  but  …  wasn’t  it  ?

              in  truth  ,  no  one  has  ever  asked  her  what  she  wants  .  does  that  not  matter  ?  surely  it  has  to  ,  especially  when  she  is  now  the  one  making  her  own  decisions  .  she  is  the  ruling  lady  of  torrhen’s  square  ,  the  last  standing  member  of  house  tallhart  .  her  house  will  die  with  her  .  is  that  not  enough  to  have  her  seeking  the  future  she  wants  ?  won’t  honoring  herself  honor  the  house  she  loves  so  dearly  ?  she  often  thinks  about  how  easier  her  situation  would  be  had  she  been  born  a  lord  and  not  a  lady  .  a  man  does  not  need  a  wife  ,  but  a  woman  needs  a  husband  .  that’s  what  her  mother  used  to  say  …  yet  ,  her  mother  is  no  longer  with  her  and  sylvina  thinks  she’s  doing  well  enough  without  one  .  maybe  she  just  wants  the  other  aspects  of  a  marriage  .

             she  knows  what  he’ll  say  and  honestly  ,  she  doesn’t  care  for  an  apology  .  you  only  apologize  if  you  feel  sorry  for  what  you’ve  done  and  she  suspects  he  doesn’t  .  sylvina  pulls  in  her  lower  lip  ,  chewing  the  skin  raw  while  he  speaks  .  she’s  not  mad  ,  though  she  thinks  she  should  be  .  if  anything  ,  she’s  disappointed  ,  but  she’s  not  sure  why  .  there’s  no  point  in  missing  what  could  have  been  if  the  other  person  wanted  nothing  to  do  with  her  .  perhaps  …  perhaps  that’s  all  she  wants  .  to  be  wanted  back  .    ❝    i  forgive  you  .    ❞    she  whispers  ,  one  step  behind  him  .  isn’t  that  what  he  wants  to  hear  ?

              his  next  words  have  her  audibly  sighing  .  it’s  better  than  becoming  angry  .  she  hates  the  condolences  ,  the  empty  words  that  people  are  sorry  her  parents  are  dead  .  yes  ,  her  too  .  though  she  knows  they  are  one  in  the  same  with  the  loss  of  parents  and  she  suddenly  goes  a  bit  easier  on  him  .    ❝    thank  you  ,    ❞    sylvina  says  a  bit  quieter  ,  barely  able  to  be  heard  .  she  swallows  ,  grip  tightening  around  her  own  hands  .  it  seems  as  if  it’s  her  turn  to  speak  ,  though  she  would  rather  never  speak  again  .    ❝    are  you  enjoying  your  time  in  winterfell  ?    ❞    her  voice  cracks  as  she  asks  ,  sucking  in  a  deep  breath  . 

               he  did  believe,  to  some  level,  that  had  he  been  doing  her  a  favor.  it  was  very  likely  that  she  would  have  been  a  good  wife,  but  didn’t  a  good  wife  deserve  a  good  husband  ?   at  the  age  he  had  been,  he  was  sure  he  wouldn’t  have  been  one,  especially  for  the  wanderlust  in  his  bones.  his  father  had  insisted  to  him  so  many  times,  in  an  effort  to  convince  his  son  that  he  did  want  to  get  married,  that  sylvina  tallhart  was  an  excellent  match,  that  any  young  man  would  be  lucky  to  have  this  engagement.  however,  the  problem  was  not  that  eliar  didn’t  want  sylvina;  when  he  had  met  her  she  had  seemed  a  sweet  and  kind  soul.  the  problem  was  that  he  didn’t  want  a  wife  at  all.  he  was  certain  leaving  her  would  also  not  wound  her  too  greatly.  as  his  father  had  said,  any  man  would  be  lucky  to  be  marrying  her,  so  he  assumed  someone  who  wished  for  that  life  would  quickly  take  her  place.  in  all  honesty,  he  was  surprised  when  he  had  returned  that  she  was  still  unwed.

              he  watches  her,  curious,  at  the  quick  reply.  he  doesn’t  want  to  push  it,    he  shouldn’t  ask  to  be  berated,    though  maybe  that’s  what  some  part  of  him  was  hoping  for    (  the  same  part  that  realized  he  was  guilty  of  injuring  the  lady  tallhart  ).  as  if  that  would  unburden  him  of  some  level  of  guilt  he  felt.  yet,  he  also  wants  her  to  know  she  doesn’t  simply  have  to  say  she  forgives  him  because  that  is  what  was  expected.  eliar  had  left  in  search  of  an  escape  from  the  decorum  that  seemed  to  dictate  life,  and  he  thought  it  would  be  unkind  to  not  offer  her  the  same  escape,  at  least  to  some  extent.  she  had  paid  for  it  more  than  he  had.  he  takes  a  deep  breath,  ‘  you  don’t  have  to.  you  can  if  you  wish  to,  but  don’t  do  it  because  you  feel  you  have  to.  ’

              he  looks  over  when  he  hears  the  sigh,  and  he  can  see  the  pain  for  a  moment,  as  well  as   (  he  thinks  )  the  same  restless  feeling  that  grew  in  him  at  the  halfhearted  apologies  from  people  who  barely  knew  his  father.  he  also  knew  he  could  never  sympathize  with  what  she  was  feeling,  being  completely  alone  in  the  world.  eliar  was  comfortable  with  the  vastness  of  the  lands  he  traveled,  for  he  knew  he  could  always  return  home.  ‘  i  never  meant  to  leave  you  alone,  ’   there’s  a  soft,  unpracticed  quality  in  his  voice,  it  is  something  he  hadn’t  said  before.   he  swallows,  shaking  himself  slightly  in  order  to  answer  her  next  question.  ‘  it  is  good  to  spend  some  time  with  familiar  faces.  how  about  yourself   ?  ’

[armoredspirita]

rdwyns‌:

          at his admission, laughter spills unbidden from her lips. her belated attempt to hide her mirth behind a cup of wine fails her, too, but it is only the semblance of propriety that prompts the gesture. she suspects rather that he means to elicit laughter, but it remains impolite of her to find humor in his apparent embarrassment. it’s easy to imagine eliar umber sticking out in southern festivities, but much harder to envision him following the measured, elegant moves required of southern dance. “ a shame we never hosted any musicians during your stay, then. it would have been welcome entertainment. ” the jest lingers in her voice, carefully masking any bitterness at the rather joyless state of nightsong. it does her no good to be moody about it, not when she’s blissfully far from home and there is joy and amusement to be found wherever she may care to look. his explanation — and perhaps the wine — has her laughing again, regarding the dancers with fascination. “ i’m inclined to agree with you, ” she says with an approving nod as the northern lordling spins his partner ‘round with surprising grace ; but her brow twitches upward at his last comment. “ are you not enjoying yourself, then, ser ? ”

        he  had  hoped  she  would  laugh  in  truth,  if  not  what  would  be  the  point  of  sharing  his  shortcomings  ?     he  joins  her  in  the  laughter  when  she  mentions  that  they  could  have  had  musicians  during  his  stay  in  nightsong.  ‘  i  think  you’re  thankful  you  didn’t,  my  lady.  i  left  the  poor  girl  with  a  badly  bruised  foot.  you  might  not  have  me  return  had  we  danced,  and  i  wouldn’t  wish  to  be  barred  from  nightsong  for  the  rest  of  my  days.  ’   he  smiles,  his  eyes  returning  to  the  dancers  for  a  moment,  but  return  to  her  at  her  question.  he  didn’t  mean  to  display  any  degree  of  distaste  with  the  event,  knowing  it  an  important  one  for  the  north  generally,  and  his  brother  specifically.  it  was  simply  he  quickly  grew  bored  with  the  politicking  of  court,  and  the  way  everyone  spun  like  the  dancers  around  what  they  really  thought   —  though  he  might  argue  that  the  drunken  reeler  was  better  at  sidestepping  than  some  of  the  lords  he  had  conversed  with  that  night.  ‘  i  practically  grew  up  in  winterfell,  and  it  is  good  to  see  harlon  and  his  family  happy  and  healthy,  ’  he  thought  of  tallis  and  the  wound  between  them  he  was  still  in  the  process  of  healing,  ‘  but  i’ve  known  for  quite  some  time  that  i  can  only  spend  so  long  enduring  the  stifling  walls  of  any  particular  keep.  it’s  a  personal  flaw,  not  anything  that  reflects  on  our  hosts,  of  course.  ’

[armoredspirita]

thronebovnd‌:

AMALIA WAS undoubtedly in her element, the celebration that came with the crowning of a new king meant that she could for once put aside all the worries and doubts that had been plaguing her since she’d become lady of the riverlands and simply be happy for her kingdom, and her new king. just a few glasses of wine had amalia dancing across the hall, her smile as bright as anyone else’s. “dance with me.” she requested, both hands held out to the person who, from amalia’s perspective, was not enjoying the festivities as much as she was. “or at the very least, share a drink with me.” the command was spoken with the childish authority of one who was not often turned down.

        eliar’s  eyebrows  raised  in  surprise  when  the  woman  he  had  earlier  been  told  was  the  ruling  lady  of  the  riverlands.  partially  due  to  who  she  was  and  also  in  part  that  it  wasn’t  with  great  frequency  that  the  knight  was  asked  to  dance.  many  simply  saw   his  frame  and  assumed  it  would  be  best  that  he  stay  away  from  the  floor,  as  a  wrong  step  might  knock  another  to  the  ground  (  which,  in  fact,  had  been  the  case  before  ).  he  takes  her  hands  without  much  thought,  but  mutters  a  quick  word  of  warning,  ‘  i  haven’t  danced  in  some  time,  my  lady.  ’   it  didn’t  mean  he  didn’t  enjoy  it  though,  and  there  was  a  slight  smile  on  his  face  as  the  music  surged  again.

[armoredspirita]

tallisstark‌:

“I would have thought it a glorious feeling to always have the sun on your face,” Tallis mused. She had never known anything but The North, and it would have been entirely alien to her, but she drank up his words regardless, using them to pain a picture in her mind. She almost closed her eyes to better see it. “It all sounds so wonderful. I never would have returned.” She declared, and with that, it was as though things clicked into place, and she understood him a little better. 

“Did you win? I don’t think I can sit with you if you didn’t,” her expression was serious, but her tone was light. She was teasing him. She was still jealous, but with every word from his mouth, her resentment was evaporating. “I like Princess Nymeria. She’s a good woman,” Tallis agreed. She had been lucky enough to form a friendship with the Princess of Dorne, one she treasured closely. She didn’t laugh, but there was a light of amusement in her eyes. “And how did she take it when she found out? I would have been furious with you.” 

        ‘  you  would  like  it  there.  ’  he  almost  followed  this  sentiment  with  telling  her  he  would  bring  her  with  him  next  time.  yet,  despite  that  he  would  like  to,  eliar  figured  he  had  already  broken  enough  promises  without  making,  another,  possibly  impossible,  one  tonight.  despite  how  close  they  were  as  children,  there  were  things  about  their  lives  that  were  inherently  different,  and  he  was  not  in  a  position  to  change  them.  ‘  your  brother  would  miss  you  too  much  if  you  left,  i’m  sure.  ’

          ‘  can  i  sit  with  you  if  i  did  ?  ’  he  asks,  both  teasing  and  with  genuine  curiosity.  between  the  fact  that  he  assumed  the  high  table  would  be  reserved  for  specific  guests  of  their  new  king,  and  that  his  old  friend  seemed  to  only  be  warming  up  to  him,  he  wasn’t  sure  if  it  was  a  true  offer  or  something  she  was  merely  joking  with.  ‘  that  she  is,  and  she  has  a  good  sense  of  humor.  besides,  i  didn’t  like  to  the  princess,  i  only  failed  to  correct  her  mistake,  which  i,  personally,  think  was  quite  chivalrous  of  me.  ’

[armoredspirita]

rdwyns‌:

          the northman cuts an undoubtedly imposing figure, his stature placing him well over a head taller than anya. she has to crane her neck to meet his gaze, and wonders, not for the first time, at the absurdity of his moniker, for little he is not. at least it renders him recognizable ; it has been some time since his visit to nightsong. “ ser eliar, ” she greets, her smile genuine at the sight of a familiar face. “ oh, i hope not, ” she says with some anxiety. servants still weave between guests filling cups with ale and wine, and she can all too easily imagine one of them knocked to the ground, drink spilled on skirts and breeches alike. “ i’m afraid i haven’t, ” she admits, evoking more the image than the true spirit of regret. “ we were taught some northern dances as children — my sister and i, that is — but there is precious little occasion to practice anywhere south of the neck. ” that, and her sister had insistently derided the northern dances as graceless and brutish, with anya overeagerly following suit. not that she can admit that. “ but you must know much more of it than i do. you’ve seen much more of the world and its dancing. i suppose you could tell me, then — i’m very curious — are they —, ” she points to a pair dancing nearby, undoubtedly northerners, “ terribly good dancers, or just terribly drunk ? ” she’s inclined towards the later, but the fact that they’ve so far managed to keep their feet makes her wonder. 

          elair  never  quite  forgets  his  height,  he  hasn’t  been  able  to  since  thirteen  when  he  stopped  being  a  child  who  was  thought  to  be  older  than  he  was  and  simply  became  another  umber  of  impressive  height,  but  he’s  reminded  of  it  whenever  he  sees  someone  have  to  crane  their  neck  to  meet  his  gaze.  he  returns  her  smile  with  equal  warmth,  remembering  his  time  in  nightsong,  trading  stories  for  his  stay.  ‘  we  can  hope,  ’  he  says  with  a  chuckle.  it  was  likely  the  revelers  would  be  fine,  but  it  wasn’t  an  unheard  of  occurrence.  usually,  no  one  would  be  badly  hurt,  and  whoever  had  fallen  would  simply  get  up  and  join  back  in.  he  nodded  at  her  explanation,  understanding.  ‘  i  was  never  told  the  dances  would  be  any  different.  i  left  the  north  for  the  first  time  and  made  quite  a  fool  of  myself.  ’  eliar  dancing  alone  was  enough  of  a  sight  to  make  others  stop  and  watch,  and  now  it’s  something  he  usually  leaves  to  others.  he  pauses  a  moment,  reflecting  on  her  inquiry  and  watching  the  dancers  move  ‘  —  i  think  it’s  a  bit  of  both.  they’re  good  enough  to  still  remember  the  steps  while  drunk,  and  being  drunk  makes  them  better  at  the  steps.  ’  he  laughs  lightly  again,  shaking  his  head  slightly  as  he  watches  them  continue.  ‘  at  least  they’re  enjoying  themselves.  ’

[armoredspirita]

majestytm‌:

“strong and capable…certainly.” she grins at that, a private joke that she’s not willing to share with him, and she’s sure only her family would really understand. much as she loved her brother, strong and capable weren’t exactly the first words that came to mind when it came to cedrik. “my siblings are always bringing pride to our house. as is their right.” not that she could truly be counted among them. all she was known for was voicing her rather loud and controversial opinions. her legacy was purely jotted down to travelling through the reach, talking louder than everyone, accusing people to either love her or call her a disgrace. either suited her just fine. “i’ve heard of you, too.” people liked to talk, and she loved a good story. “it’s warm, and largely dull, but rather peaceful in the spring when all the flowers bloom.”

          ‘  only  good  stories  i  hope,  ’  he  says  it  with  confidence,  his  voice  assured,  as  if  of  course  they  would  be.  however,  he  was  well  aware  of  words  spoken  at  his  and  his  brother’s  expense.  yet,  eliar  preferred  his  freedom  to  the  positive  opinion  of  members  of  the  courts  he  had  never  met.  besides,  it  was  his  understanding  that  he  was  acting  in  accordance  with  the  history  of  his  house.  only  loyalty  can  bind  had  been  their  words  for  centuries,  and  he  wouldn’t  bind  himself  to  any  cause  unless  he  believed  he  could  be  truly  loyal  to  it.  ‘  the  reach  is  a  beautiful  place  in  the  spring,  ’  he  agreed,  nodding  his  head,  ‘  i’ve  been  fortunate  enough  to  pass  through  during  that  time.  ’

[armoredspirita]

majestytm‌:

“very much so.” she couldn’t be prouder of her house, especially the way it is now. her siblings were a source of great pride to her, each in different ways. there’s ancestor she looks up to as well, the great baratheons of the past, even if there were a few bad seeds here and there. robert baratheon had turned into a waste of a man, but at least even he hadn’t always been a disgrace. “the pleasure is all mine, lord umber. my name is cassandra florent.” though she’ll always think of herself as a baratheon rather than a florent, no matter how many years pass her by.

         '  and  will  continue  to  be:  i’ve  met  your  brother.  he  seems  like  a  strong  and  capable  man.  ’     eliar  liked  to  think  himself  and  cedrik  were  friends  of  a  sort.  he  had  what  some  might  call  the  audacity  to  return  his  sarcasm  and,  eliar  believed,  and  won  some  degree  of  respect  from  the  ruling  baratheon.  ‘  and  i  hear  good  things  of  your  sister,  rowena,  in  my  travels.  ’    his  words  are  genuine.  while  he’s  being  more  traditionally  mannered  than  perhaps  he  usually  is,  for  the  sake  of  a  brother,  he  has  no  patience  for  the  posturing  and  politics  of  court  life.  if  eliar  speaks  he  tells  the  truth.  ‘  how  is  brightwater  ?   i  have  yet  to  make  it  there.  ’