Prescribe Not Us Our Duties.

RP account for theconqueringhq , penned by Fish

[glittxeringgold]

Rhaena Velaryon

Intro. Threads. Visage

Eleana Martell

Intro. Threads. Visage

Gwin Harlaw

intro. Threads. Visage

Dividers by @uzmacchiato (These are so pretty!)

[astra-ferxus]

Elinor snapped out of her thoughts, turning to the Lady Harlaw. The Hightowers had seen their fair share of them on the ports. "My apologies, Lady Harlaw. I was deep in thought about something. I assure it wasn't about your wounds. Although, have you called for a maester?"

Who was she to quiver in fear in front of those Ironborn? What she remembered was their lord, Theomore had suffered injuries. The girl in front of her was the heir, if she wasn't mistaken. Not the ideal choice, but when had the Ironborn shown civility? "I prefer to keep my clothes dry, Lady Harlaw. I bring you no harm."

[glittxeringgold]

At Elinor's shiver, Gwin smiled. She loved when people showed fear. "The maesters would only serve to dissect a creature of the sea such as myself" Her voice was sickly sweet. The Hightowers should know better than to mess with the Heir of Ten Towers.

Her blue eyes pierced Elinor, a snake sizing up a mouse. The pain of her injuries only added to the wildness of her gaze. "There is no need to be scared, my pearl" She said in that mockingly quiet voice. "You may keep your dress dry" Gwin allowed her eyes to narrow and her stance to stoop, as if bracing herself to pounce. "As long as you run far from my sight" Gwin's injuries were currently causing too much pain for a proper chase, but Elinor did not need to know that.

[sword-born]

The question, clearly intended as an accusation weighed heavily despite being entirely untrue. She was well aware Gwin had a reputation for unsettling almost anyone she laid her sights on. Thinking better than to react to the shove, Elyse merely took a step back and turned slightly to look in the opposite direction. But again, albeit from further away the Iron Islander vocalized a renewed displeasure. Turning further away and wandering over to a bench to sit, the red-headed noblewoman shook her head, throwing a glance back to Gwin before returning to looking away. "I am not. But I am allowed to be here just as much as you, Lady Harlaw. If you choose to take issue with that, while having decided to remain in a public place...well, I have no doubt you could slit my throat in an instant. Whether or not there would be unwanted reprecussions for doing so, it is not my place to say."

[glittxeringgold]

Gwin had already caused enough chaos attacking Lord Qoherys. Adding another noble to the list before the wedding would surely not reflect well on House Harlaw. Instead of pulling her knife and attacking Elyse, Gwin backed off.

"Find a different fountain then" Her voice was low as it came out as a growl. There were plenty of other places to gaze at the water or swim.

Gwin did not show weakness even as her injuries throbbed while she walked back to her place. She winched as she sat, before glaring at Elyse again. "Did I not tell you to leave?'

[star-scry]

Emeric made a thoughtful sound in the back of his throat, his eyes narrowing as they rode down a rolling golden dune towards the still distant rest stop. He did not believe her, of course, not for a heartbeat. 

It was not just that half of Sunspear had begun whispering gossip into his ear as soon as he’d made his return. He had served House Martell long enough, had known Lady Eleana herself since they were both but children — she all but a squalling babe and Emeric just a young boy taken as squire by Sunspear. She was never truly bad though, for all the headaches that she had a knack for inducing. Mischievous? Aye. Headstrong? Without question. More than a little spoiled by the indulgence of those who loved her? That too. But never cruel.

A bright bark of laughter escaped him, “I do not believe a word of it.”

“Oh, but it is very much my concern,” he declared with exaggerated dignity, lifting his chin, “Have you forgotten? My own betrothal rests upon this royal wedding passing without falling to total calamity.” 

He sobered at the truth of the statement. It was hardly the largest or most difficult of his obstacles but it was certainly not like to make things any easier for him. 

 His smile softened into something smaller as he studied her face looking for the truth hidden beneath her practiced composure.

When he spoke again, his voice had lost its teasing edge, “It is not truly so terrible, is it?”

The question lingered between them before he continued.

“I know it is a strange to imagine.” His gaze turned to the bright Dornish sky as though imagining a dragon flying there, “Dragons in Dorne... who would ever have thought it would come to be in such a way after Hellholt?” He shook his head with a rueful smile. “Peace after all of that?” His eyes returned to hers. “It cannot be a bad thing.”

[glittxeringgold]

There was no easy way to lie to Emeric; he knew Eleana all too well.

She would find some way to disrupt her sibling's wedding. She just needed more time to find a way to do it without causing major harm.

Right now, Eleana could stick with stealing Princess Viserra's earrings and hiding them across Sunspear.

"I remember well, but if there is calamity that means life doesn't change, right?" Her question was a plead, perhaps, for everything to stay the same and not integrate more enemies into her life.

Eleana allowed her legs to dangle, gently tapping against the sides of the animal. She may have not been a political mastermind, but she knew peace was never everlasting. It was only a matter of time before someone snapped, before the peace was broken again and again.

"It can become a bad thing" Eleana's voice was finally more serious. Dragons were allowed in. Hellholt can take down one dragon with a scorpion, but what about more? "What if the peace does not last?" What if I'm in danger? was what she meant to ask inside of the question.

She soldiered on, not allowing her light disposition to damper with her pessimism. She was out in the desert, next to a friend. "I am sure you must be happy with your choice, though" She gave Emeric a hopeful smile.

[bloomingrcse]

"I believe my people know how to smile when they ought to." There was no bitterness in the observation, just crude honesty. "We have all spent our lives learning that there are occasions when what we feel matters rather less than what is required of us." She looked back toward Eleana. "Courtesy is not always born from affection. Sometimes it is born from duty, sometimes from ambition, sometimes simply from good sense." Her shoulders lifted in the smallest shrug. "The reason matters less than the result."

[glittxeringgold]

Eleana faltered in her reply. Rosalyn made a good point, but the young Princess's views on her siblings arrangements made her think twice. "I would rather not perform courtesy as part of duty" Eleana was quieter now. "I fear the reason matters the most" In her eyes, there were enemies everywhere in support of the Targaryens. How could she know Dorne would still be safe? She shuffled her feet before gaining her confidently naive stance. "I still have my doubts, but at least one of us will be happy" Eleana could not speak on Gyles's relationship to her former guard, but she could hope that Emeric knew what he was doing.

[exfortunas]

"I returned to Pyke three years ago. My crew accepted me just fine." His shoulders rose in a shrug, the ale on his lips bitter, but that he found that it suited the conversation at hand. "Seems it slipped my mind to ask your permission to make my way back." He did not raise his voice when she twisted hers into something unmistakably hostile; he knew better than to let her unravel his restraint so easily. Andrik did not know exactly what sort of man he would have to become to rule their harsh isles -- but he knew the sort of man he refused to be. Short-sighted, volatile, so eager to prove himself that he lost sight of what truly mattered. "I am flattered you'd give my welfare such ample consideration. I never knew your sense of family extended to me." He released his grip on his tankard and lifted his broad palm to his chest in mock-gratitude. "Tell me about this deal you'd like for us to broker, then, and how adept you've become at navigating court while I sat at King Aegon's table. I'm all ears, cousin."

[glittxeringgold]

Gwin stared at Andrik, the same way a shark glares at a drop of blood. It was a known fact Gwin had to restrain herself at court to appear tame instead of her wild self.

"I just prefer the Crown look away from our archipelago" Gwin said in a deep voice, refusing to admit to Andrik's logic. She was exactly the opposite when it came to her dealings around the Iron Isles. Quick, merciless, and still following the Old Ways; refusing to adapt.

Gwin gripped the handle of her tankard. "If you were so close to King Aegon, why do you have no suggestions?" She asked accusingly.

[moonslost]

the faint amusement faded from amira's expression.

"eleana."

there was a gentle warning in her cousin's name, though no anger followed it.

"do not say such things."

she understood the fear beneath the words. promises of peace were fragile things, and dorne had paid too dearly to forget what happened when they were broken. still, amira could not bring herself to wish suffering upon those whose lives had been bound to theirs.

"something terrible happening to either of them would not return things to how they were." her voice remained soft. "it would only give everyone another reason to hate one another."

then eleana's voice broke, and whatever firmness remained in amira softened with it.

my life is being ruined.

perhaps it was easier for amira to speak of hope. her own future asked her to bind herself more closely to dorne, not to those who had once sought to conquer it. whatever uncertainty awaited her with edric, she would still wake beneath a dornish sun, among people whose histories and loyalties she understood. eleana was being asked to watch both a brother and a sister become bound to the very family she had been raised to mistrust.

the realization did not make amira agree with her, but it made judgment considerably harder.

"oh, darling." she shifted closer, keeping hold of her hand as her other arm came gently around her cousin. "i know it must feel that way, but your sister is still your sister. qoren is still qoren. no marriage can undo a lifetime of being their sister."

her thumb brushed gently over eleana's knuckles.

"you are allowed to be frightened of what comes next. only..." her expression softened. "do not let that fear convince you to mourn your family while they are still here."

[glittxeringgold]

Eleana looked at Amira through her tear-ridden eyes.

You are allowed to be frightened of what comes next.

The words her cousin provided grounded the young Princess. She was frightened, at the root of it. Frightened that another conquest may yet follow the marriage of her siblings. She was less afraid of her siblings forgetting her.

More terrified as being used as leverage.

"I....I am not mourning them as they are here" Eleana lied, as that was what she felt that she was doing. "I am merely just opposed to this...this decision"

Her cousin offered wise advice. It should have been a good influence on her. Eleana should have been a better sister.

She should have been a better daughter to her mother's plans.

"You are right" She finally relented with a murmur, gripping Amira's hand. "But what if what comes next is frightful? What if I am right to be scared" She could not bear the thought of another war. Another time of watching her subjects burn.

[lacedtongue]

❝ oh dear, ❞ the winter rose tutted, looking as the ironborn spoke to the stranger from behind. ophylia was stopped a few yards away, just catching the tail end of the scene. ❝ it's lord frey, is it not? what a shameful act to watch a lady clean herself, it would be most unfortunate should such distasteful knowledge be made public, ❞ ophylia gave a click of her tongue, a pure white fox slinking out from behind her to stare intently at the riverlord. ❝ perhaps you should run along now, m'lord, and let them return to their wounds? ❞

[glittxeringgold]

Gwin pushed the Riverlord away forcefully, the prick was lucky he did not end up with a slashed throat. Her attention focused on a new target. From what Gwin could remember this woman was a Stark. The Harlaw was always wary of Northerners. From experience, she knew that those from the North had already been terrorized by the Iron Isles. She watched as the Riverlord scurried away from Gwin's threats. "I prefer to not have your help" She said quietly and sweetly. "Often I cannot control my lust for violence" Gwin met Ophylia's eyes with her signature, unhinged smile.

Gwin's eye caught the white fox. Interesting. Not often did the nobles bring their mutts along with them. She smiled again, perhaps a bit too wide, and giggled. "You and your fox should be leaving"

[sword-born]

Unsure of exactly what to do with herself in the aftermath, Elyse had remained in the Water Gardens following the skirmish. It seemed like the longer the gathered nobility remained in Dorne, the more chaos that followed. She could only hope to remain clear of it and wait out the rest of this trip in relative obscurity. It was doubtful either her birth family or her new family would appreciate a member of their rank being cited in any of the collective dramatics. Staring off at nothing in particular, the noblewoman's eyes fell briefly on Gwin Harlaw, cleaning up after the fight. Realizing they were staring, the redheaded lady quickly shifted her gaze elsewhere. It appeared the moment had passed without issue, until a sharp whisper sounded from behind. Startling slightly, Elyse turned to see the Gwin standing close behind. "Lady Harlaw. My apologies if you felt I was watching. It was not my intention. I was merely lost in thought." She explained, keeping her tone calm and steady. It was the truth, and beyond that, when in the company of a wild animal it was best not to offer anything to arouse further emotion.

[glittxeringgold]

Gwin glided to Elyse's side, quieter than a ghost. "Lost in thought? Funny, I hear many people say that while scouting my piece" Gwin had an air of creepiness with all her interactions. She had hoped that was enough to scare Elyse away.

She pushed Elyse's shoulder to maintain some distance. Gwin was not in the mood to be disturbed in the moment. She wandered back to the pool and sat on the rim, looking like a merling from the songs.

Gwin met Elyse's eyes again. "It is foolish of you to continue watching" Her voice was low, teetering on a growl. It was a warning, perhaps, before Gwin pounced on Elyse.

[shambleslily]

"Apologies dear sister. I promise the next fight that occurs i will certainly make sure a limb is lost of your choosing." He quipped as he eyes her. Still he wondered what she herself was doing as she began to interrogate him. "If you must know, I had retired for the night after a long day of lemon orchards and its people. I was busy." Dominic didnt say with who, he never really did when anyone asked.

"You spent your night watching the man? How boring of you. At this rate they'll say im the more fun of us two." He didn't pressure but he couldnt help laugh. "If you're so tempted, wr can always ambush the man. Not that it would be hard to do so but I doubt it would easy to find an opportunity now."

[glittxeringgold]

Gwin scoffed at her twin. Busy? Sure. Busy in a way that concluded loudly and horizontally. "We were both busy then" Gwin said low and scathingly.

She waved him off. "It took to long to watch. I found other ways to pass the night" Other ways to get the Harlaws closer to the Crown. Gwin still felt angry that she missed the fight that dismantled the pavilion. "Fine" The short word came as a growl "We shall just find another fight to participate in"

[idlelight]

though the set up was by no means actually confining, to expect men ( in particular ) to act as anything other than somewhat childish aggressors in such confines with those of opposing views was... naive? stupid? somewhere between the two, perhaps. frankly, myles was a little impressed something hadn't happened sooner. or to a much worse degree.

"sorry," breathed again, decidedly more genuine than the first attempt. he hadn't meant to startle her so. "oh, then i should congratulate you again. you were profoundly helpful to me, lady... rhaena." gods, he hoped that was right. without her, he'd have undoubtedly been on the floor and not inclined to get up again.

he laughed, glancing over the pavilion in question. "you might be right. but i think i have a little more of a propensity for recovering of my own will than the pavilion does." when he had the will, at least. another deep swig consumed, the hightower wastrel gave a sigh. "four hands," or three, as it were, "are better than two, hm? you were... clearing the rubble, before i nearly became it myself?"

[glittxeringgold]

Rhaena looked on at the Hightower with some terror as he took another deep swig. She supposed everyone had their own way of dealing with disasters.

"I was doing my best to" Rhaena was raised to know that hard work made everything better. "Were you hiding here?" She immediatly fell silent after her question. Why did she automatically assume the Hightower was hiding? "Or were you here to help as well?" The Velaryon added quickly to make up for what she originally asked.

Bending over, Rhaena started to gather the broken pieces of the pavilion. Looking up to Myles, she noticed his hand still clutched the bottle. "Would you mind putting that away for a moment? I think we're going to need all our hands here"

[sword-born]

The dramatic shift from sour or anxious that overtook the Dornish princess left Casella mildly puzzled, but perhaps even more curious. Whatever it was about the earring that stirred such a reaction was none of her business, but the Tully could not help but be intrigued. "Of course, it was no trouble at all." She smiled, dipping her head politely as the wheels turned on how to draw out further information or extend the conversation. "I found it by that fountain." The noblewoman pointed, then turned back to the Martell. "It is yours, is it not? If I was mistaken I would be happy to try and locate them instead." The words were cheerful and gracious, but deep down the fish was, well, fishing.

[glittxeringgold]

Eleana pursed her lips into a tight smile. Obviously trying to hide the fact she was lying. "If course its mine. Why else would i be looking for it?" Upon further inspection, there was a small dragon interwoven within the hoop. "I think dragons are...interesting?" Eleana hated the words that came out of her mouth to Casella. She was not even fond of the style for Viserra's earring.

"I should be leaving this fountain. My mother may be looking for me" Eleana came up with a meaningless excuse to try and avoid talking about the stolen earring.

[cfshadows]

Wyl had unfortunately been absent from the disaster that was Lord Qoherys, but he'd heard about it. The 'unfortunate' matter with the Kingsguard that he didn't give a shit about. He was only sad he'd missed the yelling. And Gwin getting in the middle of the fight. Something else he was sad he missed.

The last thing he could do was blame her, if someone had accused one of his siblings he'd have done the same. Finding the Iron Born woman wasn't difficult. They were talking about her actions and whispering about where she'd gone off to.

Before he could properly look for her, she was at his back, "I think there's at least one exception." Looking over his shoulder Wyl grinned, "Or there was last night."

[glittxeringgold]

Gwin walked infront of will and grasped his jaw with a surprising amount of gentleness. For this once, she would not allow violence to overtake her actions.

"You, and only you, may watch me whenever you like" Gwin was sly in her permission for Wyl. If she was not stopped with the revelation of a Kingsguard child, Gwin would have pummeled Lord Rhogar to a pulp.

She let go of Wyl's face. "You missed the blood" Gwin said wistfully to her love. She lowered her voice "I could have been in danger" Just where she liked it. They both had their own lives, and Gwin had no trouble believing that Wyl was up to some similar violence.

[exfortunas]

"Let them whisper? Whispers have done more damage than blades, Rhaena." He had met her gaze unflinchingly, his jaw clenching as he spoke words that twisted in his gut, and would continue to churn, well beyond this conversation. He was most glad to reunite with her, but he would not don the mask of the boy he had been during his wardship. Not for his own comfort, nor hers. "Me and the horse. I see how it is." A dry, brief chuckle followed. "Well, I wouldn't have to trouble myself with your grievances if something were to happen. Would I?"

He dismissed the notion of requiring her protection, although he knew well that silence carried its weight just as words spoken aloud did. Rhaena was no stranger to his reticence, he reminded himself, so he would leave it at that. "I've laden quite enough morose thought on you for one day." His smile was tighter now, rehearsed. "How are you finding Dorne, and our hosts?"

[glittxeringgold]

Rhaena stared into Andrik's eyes, slightly saddened by his stubborn reply. "No, I guess not" Rhaena tried to return the smile, but felt as though she failed thanks to her nerves. "Just be safe"

She stared at the clouds as Andrik asked about Dorne. She had traveled to Dorne and futher plenty of times on her own, but this time was different. As if the very sands themselves shuttered with tension.

"Our hosts are very polite, kind" She shrugged. Rhaena did not want to acknowledge the great sleeping beast that was politics. "I am sure the wedding will be perfect"

[gildedheirs]

Mother had been busy with every endeavor that came her way, even more so than usual. If anything, this gave Qoren more of an excuse to be around her. He hadn't even realized that it meant less time around the other siblings for the both of them. Not until now.

Before he had met his bride, he had hated every inch of the Targaryens. Yet, he still despised the Reach and the Stormlands - they were their more ancient enemies, after all. How many people had all of them claimed? Why wasn't there a royal wedding between the Martells and the Baratheons or Tyrells in the name of peace if that was the case?

The Targaryens were still a recent wound that they were trying to repair. In a way, the two Princesses were alike in their distastes. Qoren and Viserra had pushed through their differences, finding more similarities burrowing underneath. Qoren had yet to find it in the rest of the Targaryens.

He reaches out again with another joke, leaning forward with Eleana. “What, are you worried she’ll take your whiny little seat at all of our dinners? You're not at all excited about Viserra being another person to torment?"

[glittxeringgold]

Eleana let herself smile a bit at her brother's teasing. "Nobody will ever replace my 'whiny' seat" She stood up from the fountain, feeling a bit less sad over the situation. "I am the youngest and Mother will always have room for me."

The young princess had to admit, her brother seemed to see something in Viserra that Eleana did not. Would it truly be so horrible to let the Targaryens into their lives permanently?

Eleana was barely convinced. She still had plans to disrupt the wedding in any way possible.

"I trust what you say, my dear Brother" Eleana lied. "Now, shall we go? I fear mother will be looking for both of us"

[glittxeringgold]

Where: Water gardens, after the fight Who: open to everyone!

Gwin sat by the water as she tended to her superficial wounds she earned while pummeling Lord Qoherys. A bruise there, a scratch there. She had no trust in the non-ironborn maesters that were present at the wedding.

She dipped her rag into the fountain instead of finding a wash basin like someone civilized would. Then she went to clean off the gash Rhogar got on her.

After cleaning herself, Gwin spotted someone. The creep was probably watching her bathe she thought. She watched them back for a moment, before approaching silently when their back was turned.

"I do not enjoy when people watch" She whispered into their ear before backing. "If you're not careful you may find yourself in the water instead"

[bloomingrcse]

“She will be, I assure you.” Her fingers idly traced the stem of her goblet. There was no hesitation in her voice, though she knew better than most how opinions whispered in private rarely resembled the courtesies offered in public. “Not because every heart will welcome the match immediately,” she admitted. “But because those who understand what is expected of them will see that she is received with every honor her station deserves.”

“If this marriage is to mean anything at all, it must begin with how we receive one another.” A faint smile touched her lips. “Your people have already set a gracious example. I should like to believe mine will prove equally wise.”

[glittxeringgold]

Eleana shoved another piece of cake into her mouth before slumping down on her wrists. She expected the rest of Dorne to be on their best behavior, but how much could she trust the rest of Westeros?

In the back of the Princess's mind, there was a inkling, a thought from her old history lessons. The Reach and Dorne were once enemies, not long ago. Logically the Princess knew that maybe the same peace could happen with Martell and the Targaryens.

Unfortunately, Eleana was not the logical type.

"You believe your people, aligned with the crown will. I have yet to see otherwise" She said allowing her voice to whine.