lady-allyrion:
The fact that Byron was even trying to understand her marriage caused her to smile. It was not that the rest of Westeros didn’t have affairs or relationships outside of marriage. Dorne just understood that sometimes someone falls in love with two or more people and didn’t shame anyone for that. It pained Ravella to think that she and her husband may have hurt or had to hide Ceryse from the other. Or even the world. A few people broke off from their group and her smile just grew. Too many people not from the Stormlands or Dorne made her uneasy. At least with everything that had happened.
“Believe me, he has opinions already. Some I share and some I don’t. Though I believe I will be in control of our meeting. The Martells have asked me to help where I can and the Stormlands seems like a natural place for me to do so. And no he should hold back. He has two women and two children to think about. The last thing I want is for him to get hurt because of something silly like this. He’s proven himself and he does not need to do so further to put himself at risk.” She smiled before looking at Byron. “Are you going to compete? Going to show off for your new queen?”
Byron gave little thought to those who abandoned the riding party. They were not of his entourage, nor of Ravella’s, it seemed. And therefore they mattered little. Not having their prying ears nearby would allow them to speak more freely with one another. “That’s understandable,” he replied, nodding and thinking back on all the spirited conversations their fathers had shared. Lord Swann had weathered much in his life, and come out a confident man whose opinion was valued by anyone with half a brain in the Stormlands. Even if they didn’t like it, they respected his knowledge. Byron expected much the same. “Your father is not shy in his views, and I would never have him hold his tongue with me. Nor you,” he added with a glance at her.
Her talk of the Martells was a little surprising, but not in a bad way. At least they were smart enough to know they had a valuable resource on their hands in Ravella. “That’s very wise of them. They’ll find no better mediator than you. You’re already quite familiar with settling Stormlands men when they get too riled up.” He chuckled, which turned into a laugh and a shrug. “Very well, I cannot argue with that. What competitions might we see your lord husband very sensibly compete in? I would not miss them.” He shook his head. “No, no, I’ve been told I am no longer permitted to risk myself for the sake of a tourney. Not for lack of trying, as you can imagine; I was fully intending to ride in the joust, until my privy council informed me that such behavior is unacceptable in a king with no heir. As for my queen, I doubt I shall need to show her off—she causes a stir wherever she goes, and I am merely the lucky sod allowed to follow behind her.”











