ofkarhxld:
The entire conversation felt …. odd, to Alys. She could feel the other woman fishing, searching for something with her not-so-casual conversation, but for what? For a moment, Alys wonders if she’s met the other woman before, but she feels comfortably certain that she has not. Of course, Alys could hardly be expected to ask, to clarify - she could not risk such a moment of weakness, any implication that she is anything less than the perfect little lady. “It’s all beautiful - the Bay of Seals, the Bite. Though it will be many years until their navigable again, I’m sure - everything north of the Neck is frozen by now.”
Alys feels her lips twist at the thinly veiled insult, feeling anger flare. Cold though the North was, her temper burned hot, and she thanked the gods that she’d learned to control it since gaining ahold of Karhold. She refused to rise to the bait, but she couldn’t quite help commenting on it. “Most women have no reason to, in most of the kingdoms.”
Of course this stranger had latched on to her slip; Alys cursed herself again for not watching her words better. “Yes. I had three. They all fought for the King in the North - for Robb Stark,” she explained, words short and clipped. Her discomfort is clear, and she knows her best efforts would not be able to hide it - so, for once, she does not try to. “The Lannisters killed them all.”
“A shame, but not the end of the world.” Menta sighed, with a somewhat heavy heart. It was a feat that she would truly love to attempt, but the aforementioned political restraints already held her back. At least the ice was a decent excuse, if nothing else.
Small signs began to give away her frustration, and perhaps a hint of anger, which was exactly what she wanted. And unlike this Northern flower, Menta was unafraid to show it. A mere quirk of the lips at first, but her demeanour continued to shift to match her growing grin. “Then when your Lords leave and your land is attacked, who truly holds the power. You, or your generals?”
The mention of her brothers being lost hit a nerve within the Iron Islander, and she felt her entire demeanour drop for a moment. “The Lannisters are bastards, I think the entire 7 Kingdoms can agree on that, if little else.” She spat. Not that she had anything personally against the family, but she would much prefer her venom be spent on a popular opinion that she barely held than show true weakness where it mattered. “Robb was a good man though, I’ll give him that much. Foolish, but well meaning.”
“...My brother died too, you know. Not in the war, he was just incredibly ill. But I know your pain, whatever consolation that might be.”














