Lord of Highgarden

Willas of house Tyrell, Lord of Highgarden and Warden of the South.

[eldestrose-blog]

Despite how often he did share everything with his siblings, some things he preferred to keep to himself, privacy was rather valuable to him every once in a while, some things were just meant to be kept within his mind. ‘ I know, I know, no need to remind me, this is the reason why I’m the eldest ’ Willas watched her gaze shift from him, following suit, he had little chance to talk to monarchy, whilst Lords and ladies alike were easy the royal family was set apart from that, more distant despite that the celebrations were hosted by them. ‘ He should, ’ Willas quickly commented. ‘ The only reason we will all survive whenever the inevitable winter comes is because of us, there’s more than enough reason to be interested in you. ’

[eldestrose-blog]

He let out an amused laugh. “Some things are my private affairs, I’d like to keep them that way.” He replied quickly, a shudder of warmth running through his body as he thought about her, a thing that had never quite happened, not exactly like this. “You must’ve spoken to even more interesting people than I could possible have, I wonder if any of those people involve princes?”

[eldestrose-blog]

“I have seen them.” He said, feeling a little heat come to him as he remembered his conversation, one of the few pleasant one has had ever since the start of the whole celebration, it was more genuine than anything before. “Spoken to one, she’s very nice.” He responded vaguely.

[eldestrose-blog]

--- Lady Alynna ---

“Would you think me odd if I told you I wonder what it would be like to see a dragon? Not ride one, perhaps I’d be too scared for that but just to see one.” Alynna muses, wonder clear in her voice. It’s a silly dream that will never come true for all dragons are dead now but it’s a nice thought, the idea to be faced with ancient power made flesh.

The sight of the skulls bring about images of much greater beasts but the remains are far less impressive. It’s sad in a way how mankind has a way of diminishing all the greatness it touched, sullying it a little bit without a second thought. The brave men killed the dragons, she was taught. Brave isn’t the word she would choose for these men.

She finally tears her eyes from the relics before her and turns to look at Willas. In all his descriptions of the Tyrell siblings her uncle has failed to describe Lord Willas to her in a memorable way. She could practically picture every finer detail of Lady Margaery’s face by his letters alone and she has seen enough of Loras to recognize him just by his mane of curls or the shade of green of his eyes but Willas has remained a mystery to her. He is a bit older than she is but it hardly shows and he is handsome. She notices his smile instantly, kind and honest. The sort of smiles that fills you with warmth instantly. She drinks in the sight of him unabashedly while she can. She might not see him or any other member of the Tyrell family for a long time and she intends to leave with some memories of them.

He chuckles and she is brought out of her daze, blinking and looking elsewhere quickly suddenly scared she has been caught. His words reassure her quite a bit as he doesn’t seem to have noticed her staring but she isn’t sure if he means to part ways so soon. “Would it be alright if I kept you company for a while longer?” She blurts out as he suggests they rejoin the party.

        “Of course not, my Lady.” Willas was quick to respond, maybe it wasn’t the most lady-like of things to wish for but he knew it was a common dream of boys before they were told of the destruction of dragons, a sad story that crushed many dreams. Years ago those dreams wouldn’t immediately be crushed, they wouldn’t be something very likely but at least there was hope. “ I’d like the same very much, my lady.”

        Whilst he enjoyed being lord of Highgarden and Warden of the West, not left to the mercy of his oafish father, he had never been the most social of Lords in Westeros, being restricted due to his leg but it seemed to only get worse, he was not only confined physically due to his leg but also due to the insane work that would have to be done, he was well prepared but recently more and more came, it seemed as though it had been waiting for the death of his father before appearing.

        Now it seemed even worse, whilst his siblings went far and wide and met the most lords and ladies they could Willas was left to his own solitude, something he enjoyed if it weren’t for the excessive amount he had by now, it was becoming a little too much which was why he had never been told much about the daughter of Robert Baratheon, a clear beauty. Despite the many times he had teased Loras about Renly the two had rarely spoken just as he had rarely spoken to any of the men and women from the Stormlands, nonetheless he found it a definite shame now, as he admired her stormy eyes, a clear sharp baratheon trait. 

        “Of course, if you want that my lady.” He said quickly, it would be rude to say no but more importantly the prospect of him enjoying some more time with her was one he very much enjoyed and would like to see happen. “Are you thirsty? We could get some Dornish Wine and talk some more, about issues less depressing than dead dragons.” He added, a quick smile.

[eldestrose-blog]

--- Lady Sansa ---

    Sansa hadn’t eaten as many lemon cakes as she had this evening since she was six years old when Tohhren and Theon had stolen them after she’d gone to bed sulking, sent to bed early from the feast. She’d nearly been sick that night and honestly, she felt like removing herself from the temptation was the only way she could avoid a repeat offence. She’d strolled around leisurely, occasionally being stopped for conversation before moving on. She studied a man standing on his own, quickly identifying his clothes as Tyrell. She could only assume it was Willas. Sansa approached, interested in what he was doing alone. From what she’d seen, his family rarely had a moment to themselves.

Her bright blue eyes glanced up at the beast, taking in its teeth with a fearful awe. Some were longer than her forearm. The stories of Aegon and his sisters, along with their dragons had always been some of Arya’s and Bran’s favourites. Secretly she had loved them too, though she was glad to know she’d never encounter one. She glanced back at him with a warm smile. If he was anything like his sister, she was certain to make a fast friend. “It’s beautiful,” She said earnestly. “And terrifying.” She regarded the creature once more, trying to imagine scales over the bones, as dark as the ash it created. “A shame, perhaps. Though I feel relieved I’ll never meet one.”

    Willas let out a small laugh, completely agreeing with the cousin of the Lord Hand. “I wholeheartedly agree my Lady, now that would be something utterly terrifying to see.” He had dreamt of seeing them when he was little but the realistic man inside of him was quick to take over, without Targaryen blood there seemed little that would keep the dragon from eating him, even if he didn’t provoke them, one could never be too cautious around a dragon, creatures so wildly different but oddly beautiful.

    “Maybe we should get back to the festivities, after all your uncle has just been appointed Hand of the King, a feat we should celebrate.” He suggested with a polite smile, somewhat finished with sulking in the dark to get some solitude and rest from the busy festivities, he enjoyed the silence he found, admiring the skulls of curious creatures, but knew it was best for him if he returned to the many ladies and lords he would have to speak to, being Warden of the Reach. Politely, he offered his arm, he was aware he wasn’t much of a support with his leg but there was nothing wrong with a polite gesture, a gesture of kindness.

[eldestrose-blog]

“It very much is.” He said, smiling. He liked it whenever she showed of her knowledge of a variety of subjects such as history. Surveying them carefully, it seemed almost hard to imagine a fear for things such as the skulls, it was hard to truly comprehend the real body that went along with the skull, bones hardly posed a threat to anyone. “The world works in a strange mystical way we will likely never understand, I guess we at least ought to try.”

[eldestrose-blog]

--- Alysandra ---

“No, we have not.” She said as she walked to his right. “I did meet your sister, and your grandmother, though. They’re quite nice.” Alysandra smiled. “He was, truly. It’s a shame, really.” Alysandra sighed. “Thank you for your condolences, Lord Tyrell. Was the trip here pleasant? I’ve never been to Highgarden, but it’s relatively close, is it not?”

“It is relatively close, yes.” He answered with a smile, he already missed it mostly due to the peace and silence. “Well, I and my whole family would be happy to see you there once, there is a peace and quiet in the Reach that I am yet to find elsewhere in Westeros,” He said sincerely. “Then again maybe my demands are just high, nonetheless the trip was pleasant with little to no bumps, thank you for asking, my lady.”

[eldestrose-blog]

goldenroseknight

“Definitely smells better in Highgarden, yes.” Loras shot the decomposing body a sideways glance as he walked along with his brother. “But under the circumstances, that is to be expected. And yes….I will visit, I promise.” Some day. When courtly life wasn’t demanding him, Renly was, and when Renly wasn’t with him, he was training, riding, hawking, hunting, doing whatever he could to be free of the Red Keep and its walls.

“In some ways, yes. But it’s not home. I…..I rarely feel safe here. Highgarden is safety. King’s Landing is a viper’s nest.” Loras was more subdued now, a little less bouncy on his feet.

        He smiled, it did get lonely in Highgarden an whilst he wasn’t as willing as their father to give Loras the amounts of gold he wished, there had never been a feud between them.    “It’s to be expected yes, with this place I would say there’s nothing too crazy.”

        Willas watched as the Sept slowly started to clear, the chatter rising up and the people started leaving. To head to the celebrations, something that seemed a little rushed but there was nothing he would or could do against it.    “No more room for things such as, we should head to the celebrations dear brother.” He needed to clear up the mood, it was getting rather depressing right now and there was no reason for it to be.

[eldestrose-blog]

sandorclcgane

“And shouldn’t that be with someone else?” He’s not known for being good company, and Sandor has aimed to keep it that way. It’s bad enough that he’s stuck watching this funeral, but the amount of people who he’s spoken with has only made it more irritating. Shouldn’t they all be trying to cozy up next to any Targaryen or Lannister they can get their hands on?

He huffs in response to the lord’s question. If he insists on sticking around, he’d better be tolerable. “Not enough in the seven kingdoms,” Sandor barks. He’s had very little as it is, as he’s here to kill - not to make conversation or mourn the Hand. Unfortunately for him, it’s unlikely he’ll get to do anything at all.

        --------“I could, I could.” Willas mumbled, he drank more than he was accustomed to, whilst he was far from drunk he felt a little off.    “I’ve been speaking with lords and ladies all night already, ‘oh you look so lovely’, ‘and how has taking care of your son been’, I’m done with it right now.”    He was getting sick of it, a little too much social interaction today.

       Willas smiled.    “Must be some more, there’s a good amount of Dornish Wine but I don’t think you’re one for wine.”    Willas commented, far more to himself than to te Hound, he wasn’t even sure he was listening to him. The table wasn’t too far away, he quickly walked over to it before walking back to him. He needed a drinking partner even if said partner was very hesitant to talk to him.   “Biggest tankard there is.” 

[eldestrose-blog]

strongestthorn

Once again it seemed Olenna was needed to drag her eldest grandson away from his own musings; the boy has the wandering mind of his father no doubt. Thank The Seven he’d some of her wit. “Oh indeed, ancient bones now though. Not unlike myself they’re quite past their prime for destruction.” Or so she often led others to believe, “I can’t say I lament their extinction. One less thing to torch fields of grain.”

“More importantly you’ve once again found yourself on the periphery of events here.” she informed him with a stern look, “Interesting as it is to observe dragons skulls you could have at least brought an interesting someone here to discuss it with.” she said dryly, “Come, escort me back to out table, I’ve matters to discuss with you.”

    “I have discussed multiple subjects with a variety of people.” He said, averting his gaze. Many had visited him, different intentions but most were hidden by the simple facade of a mere conversation. “A wide variety of people, wider than I would have estimated. Nonetheless I merely required a moment of silence.” His obligations were where the people were, he knew that, moving through the ranks of society to establish whatever positive relationship could be established yet he needed a small retreat for once, just a second to breath. He had already sought more people out than anticipated and just as many sought him out.

    As he went on to escort his grand-mother back to where everyone was, he brought up the subject of the variety of people. “Those people, half of them seem to be potential betrothals.” He started, attempting to strike up a conversation as to where that would go as there was little to nothing definite yet a subject of great importance, connections brought the world.

    “Always interesting, I’ve taken notice a good many of them don’t seem particularly interested in marriage nor very active players, very different from my dear sister.”

[eldestrose-blog]

Feasts were rare occurences back at home as her lord father and lady mother did not have much company to entertain and whenever there were any celebrations Alynna found them to be rather dull. She knew every single one of the guests by heart and topics of conversation were harder and harder to come by. Here at least she had all the liberty to find new friends and to experience new things. She had a feeling she’d learn a lot here and from everyone she met. She wasn’t sure whether the lessons would be good or bad but ever the hopeful her heart was filled with excitement at the prospect. The feast was a good starting point but rather than mingle with the crowd she had opted to stay on the outskirt of the party and to join the others once she felt ready.

As it was fate had brought someone to her instead and she would have to return to her solitude later. Willas Tyrell would have been recognizable without the introduction not by his house sigyl but by the way he walked and the cane he carried. He was almost as famed for the state of his leg and the fight that had left him crippled than he was for being the Lord of Highgarden and as he approached her, Alynna could not help but let her eyes drift towards his bad leg for a moment only to catch herself and force herself to focus on something else instead, making eye contact with difficulty.

She knew she must have been crimson red by now as her cheeks burned and the smile she offered was uncertain. “And I to meet you, my lord. I am Alynna of House Baratheon.” She said with a curtsy. She doubted he knew who she was as they had never met. Her uncle might have mentioned her in passing but she doubted that her name alone had made much of an impression. “It’s funny, I almost forgot that they were once dangerous. Not much danger in bones.” She said, tearing her eyes from him to gaze at the skull once more. She wondered how it would feel to touch it. There was a strong sense of power emanating from Targaryen borne, you could sense it even if you stood at one end of the room and they another. Maybe it was the same with dragons, even dead ones. Perhaps it was why she had found herself drawn to it.

    A smile turned up on his lips. “You are very right my Lady,” He said. “Not much danger in bones, although the power that came from these bones, we could call that infinite.” 

    His gaze carefully observed them, the mightiest of skulls hung in the Red Keep but he knew his history, the might beasts ranged from Balerion the Dread to a skull not the size of a rat, scurrying through the sewers of the keep. A real threat, a deadly thread slowly reduced to the size of mere nothing, mouses became more dangerous than them. 

    The smile became a chuckle, a glass of Dornish Wine in his hands, the subject was becoming a little depressing and so was the location, they were at a celebration after all. “Well, we should head back to the celebrations, don’t you agree my Lady?” He said, looking at the dimly lit room as they were mostly seperate from the celebrations, leaving them alone in the dark. “A little less.. gloomy, morbid even considering we are looking at skulls.”

    She was nice enough, he had heard the whispers, his grand-mother had said an arrangement of names, too many to all remember but a few distinct ones, old names. Kindness didn’t result in survival in the great game, cunning did, manipulation and only looking out for yourself of others, then again others could only be a limited amount of people. 

[silcntsolitude-blog]

ASOIAF Character [1/?]

—- “Willas has a bad leg but a good heart.”

[eldestrose-blog]

yronwoodlord

“We have. I’ve not had the pleasure to visit Highgarden but I’d love to. You’ll have to come to Yronwood’s castle at least once. My sisters would love to meet you, they have heard quite a lot about you from our good friend Lord Oberyn.” He said with a frank smile. The friendship that united Willas Tyrell and Oberyn Martell was no secret and Cletus was eager to get to know Willas if only because he was a curious exception. The Tyrell family all held a grudge for Lord Oberyn and yet Willas did not. It was as if his injury had been more of a grievance to his family than to him;

“There’s a lot to take in for a newcomer. I’ve not been to King’s Landing in many years and last time I was a child. It’s changed slightly from what I recall.” It was less the place that had actually undergone any drastic change and more the man that had changed. Cletus was no longer awed by the capitol. He missed his home country deeply and more everyday but he couldn’t deny the capitol was a bit more exciting than the remote castle he was accustomed to and here he was as carefree as he’d been in his youth. It was a strange feeling to be here and yearn for his home while dreading the day he would have to go back all in the same breath.

“Despite the circumstances I have been enjoying the company. So many new friends to make here.” And foes too. There was always the possibility of an attempt on his prince and for that he was ever so vigilant.

“I hope all they’ve heard is good,” Willas said with a smile, knowing Oberyn could be a bit of a double edged sword, he never meant ill towards Willas but Oberyn could talk like no other man could, from Willas his own experience he told just as much good as bad, sometimes consciously and sometimes not. “Knowing our friend Lord Oberyn he can take pleasure in telling our embarrassing stories.”

“Friends, foes, they seem akin to one another here.” Willas said honestly, his siblings were under close surveillance from his grandmother but he was permitted more freedom and quick to see the danger in every friend that was made. He watched everything and everyone closely, now the people had scattered a little he was allowed to admire all the architecture, all the effort put into it, the many years necessary to build it.

He watched his little sister wave at him, a playful smile on her face, it seemed like a reminder of something he tended to forget, he was absorbed in his head and tended to leave him unresponsive to the actual world. “This place always changes, maybe not the buildings but the ever circling rotation of players,” He took a sharp breath. “Let’s get to the celebrations, shall we? This is becoming rather depressing, at least there we’ll have some good ale.”

[sandorclcgane]

Nearly over. Most days those two words drive him, as does the idea of filling his stomach with ale, wine, or whatever he can get his hands when it’s finally gotten late enough. His foul mood has grown worse, and Sandor mostly finds himself eager to see all these poor, mourning guests leave to return home. He’s tucked himself away in a corner of the throne room in the meantime, hoping to avoid conversation. The Hound’s done his fair share of talking, and he’s sick of hearing it all.

Those he’s meant to protect are nearby, but at this point he’s daring anyone to try and hurt them. Just to give him something to fucking do. With little chance of it happening, the scowl on his face is worse than usual in the hopes that it keeps all of them away from him. His glare passes by everyone and no one in particular, at least not until he hears someone approach. Whether they were approaching him or not, he still speaks harshly. “What do you want?”

[eldestrose-blog]

    ----Willas found little enjoyment in the capital, King’s Landing was a stinking hole of liars yet there was one thing he couldn’t help but to both observe in great detail and appreciate, one of those might structures was the Iron Throne, a big looming shadow cast on the ground with the chair itself standing even taller. Next to the throne room was the hound, Willas had never met the man but with his scar he was hard not to identify. 

    ----“I’m attempting to hold a conversation, that’s all.” Willas quickly said at the snappy reply coming from the knight. He shouldn’t approach him, he was very much aware of that as the scowl and glare seemed possible to kill someone, death was something Willas aimed to avoid. “You don’t seem to particularly be enjoying yourself, not enough ale?”

[eldestrose-blog]

The celebration brought a nice change to the scenery from the funeral of the late Lord Hand and Willas was happy to see smiles return as all kinds of foods and drinks were available to the people that were celebrating. He moved away from his last conversation with a polite smile, his eyes focusing on the skulls in the throne room, a bit ominous in his opinion but nonetheless showing a great deal of power, such intimidating creatures returned to bones and nothing else, lifeless. 

He tried to keep his mind focused on his duty, something that he was quick to forget due to an arrangement of things, mostly all the impressive architecture and right now the dragon skulls. He noticed someone approaching him, eyes shifting from him to the skulls and back to him. “Quite impressive, don’t you agree? They have caused much destruction in the past yet it seems a shame that they’re extinct.”

[eldestrose-blog]

ruthlesslioness

Hearing his words, she hummed in agreement. She didn’t know the late lord as much as she would have liked, if only for the power which knowing him brought. She didn’t really care much about the man, mainly because she didn’t know him, but even if she did she doubted she would have really missed him. Shaking her head at the question, she offered him a small smile, which served to appear shy and sad. “No, I fear I did not know him at all. I have seen him once, but I fear we did not speak much.”

“That seems to be the direction most people go towards, at least those that I have asked.” Willas responded, he wondered how many told the truth, it seemed unlikely this little people really knew the late Lord hand yet with the great game, nothing was too unlikely. 

“Still I don’t think we have had the pleasure of speaking before more than once either, have we?” He said, his mind was mostly focused on everything at Highgarden since he became Lord Tyrell and he had little time left for interactions with people from the different provinces.

[eldestrose-blog]

littletyrell

“Oh, you know Grandmother will be pushing me this way and that,” she replied softly, a quiet laugh chasing it. “She’s charged me with Lady Sansa and Princess Daenerys, and so I’ll have my hands quite full.”

Willas let out a sigh, that wasn’t just anything to do, both were very important women in the world. “Only you would be able to do that and still smile,” He said, smiling at her, the thought of heading back to highgarden and leaving her partially broke his heart, he didn’t want to leave her or the rest of his family. “Well, I think we should get to the celebrations, at least enjoy the time we have left.