If it could Meryn was quite sure his heart would have pumped through his chest by now and off the boat. Every creak, every movement as they sailed towards the Iron Islands gave Meryn more reason to feel the panic filling him. He was surprised it wasn’t squeezing his throat, and choking the life from him. His brothers had already each given him about 5 prep talks each, they had seen combat, they knew war, and they tried to reassure Meryn he would be fine. He was going to be in a non-combatant role. He was going to be further from the frontlines than most, he would be fine. Yet he felt anything but fine, fear for his brothers, for his friends mainly clouded his head. He wasn’t scared for himself, he was scared for everyone else. Currently he sat on the deck with his friend, Gael. Meryn wondered how he felt, not even having his brothers here with him, or if he felt relief knowing his brothers were safe. Reaching out he gently squeezed Gael’s shoulder, smiling or trying to smile.
“Just think about the play we’ll be able to come up with once we get back home. Rather than writing about some hero we’ll never know, we’ll be able to write about ourselves for once.” Meryn was trying to lift their moods. “Gael the Gallant, and Meryn the Marvelous I think they’ll call us.”
Gael couldn’t help but chuckle a little at Meryn’s words. He was certainly used to being unnoticed, and for the most part there were certain advantages to being one of the lesser figures within the court of the Reach. It had its advantages, such as appearing late to an event such as this and having no one but his friend notice. “Are you really? Do you not find all Dorne has to offer fascinating?” he asked, possibly sounding like just another naive, awe-struck foreigner. As one with an artist’s heart, the youngest Hightower lord often found himself deeply swayed by new experiences and perspectives, and the lands of House Martell provided both aplenty. He’d just arrived and Gael was already quite taken with the music playing, the sight of dancers, and the fragrant feast filling the air. “I’ve never been one to enjoy balls too much myself, but the atmosphere here is very agreeable. Not quite so stuffy,” he admitted with a sheepish laugh.
“I’m trying to learn as much as I can from Dornish poetry while we’re here. They have very clever and melodious ways to work their meter. I’ve been trying my hand at it, it lends itself well to writing dialogue for a play in a more graceful manner. My head has been spinning with all these thoughts— Well, his highness has spoken about his intention to further theater in Oldtown and Highgarden,” he told Lord Peake with a smile on his lips as he readjusted on his seat, his gaze lighting up with the excitement of King Cedric’s proposal to enrich artistic experience in the Reach. “Just imagine it. Poetic plays. Grand epics or cathartic tragedies”. It only encouraged him to speak about it with the knowledge that his friend showed clear enthusiasm for it as well.
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“Oh I am, yes. Yes of course, I find Dorne quite fascinating, yet being somewhere that is not home always leaves me worrying.” His father was always that more unnerved when he was not back in the Reach. Meryn was always the target of his annoyance. He never seemed to do anything right and so choose to stay away from him even more when they weren’t home. “I’ve loved the Sea of Dorne and swimming in it. The water has been beautiful, when I can steal you away from the poets you have to join me!”
Meryn nodded as his friend talked about what he had been learning from the Dornish poets. “Oh that sounds wonderful. I know one of my brothers got me a book of plays from Braavos. It’s quite exciting!” Smiling he nodded his head. “Yes! He spoke to me about his intentions as well.” The details of their meeting could remain private, as it was something that Meryn was still embarrassed about. “I think a sharing of cultures across Westeros would be amazing, for everyone.” Most of the Kingdoms already had a good deal of shared customs, Dorne however was incredibly different than the rest of Westeros. “If you need any help, I am here for you Gael.”
Lewys didn’t understand why the other seemed so surprised that someone wanted to be around him. Yes, they met while they were drunk and outside of a brothel, but he didn’t mind that. He liked talking to him and perhaps Lewys saw himself somewhere. As a boy, before he came into his out strengths, he was small and easily picked on and looked over. There was a cruelness in other boys and men when you didn’t meet their expectations. That bothered Lewys. Those were the people capable of being everything the realm needed when came time for them to be called. Though their realms were different. Still a concept he had to get used to being the case.
“This way. I enjoy gambling. It’s a good way to waste all the coin someone else made.” He threw an arm around him, leading him away from the feast hall. “Anything exciting happen since I last saw you?”
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When Lewys threw his arm around him, Meryn felt himself snuggling further into his body. It was done on pure instinct, he just wanted to be closer to the other man. He’d done the same at the brothel, though that time they were both far less......dressed. Now at least Meryn felt more comfortable being able to hide himself behind his clothing. “I don’t think that I’ve ever actually gambled before. Isn’t gambling sinful?” Meryn was doe eyed and very naive when it came to gambling, so he hoped not too loose too much with Lewys. Though he was quickly shaking his head. “No, nothing exciting ever happens in my life, except it seems when I am with you, Lewys. I mean I did go swimming in the Sea of Dorne, that was an awful lot of fun. Next time you have to come with me! I won’t take no as answer.”
“Well it is typical to use such formalities at a grand gathering such as this.” Harrion laughed. “But if you insist.” He answered, obliging to his comment. “I would agree that freeing is a good word for it.” He nodded, thinking it over. “And different is an understatement, I’d say. But different isn’t always bad. It’s nice to have a change of scenery every once in a while. I’d be lying, however, if I said I wasn’t eager to return to the Reach.” His homeland was always his favorite place to be.
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“I would hardly call myself typical, Lord Fossoway.” It was something that annoyed his father, and usually he wouldn’t mention such things to a Lord of the Reach but Harrion was close to his age....and he didn’t get anxious around him like other Lords of the Reach. “Oh very nice, I’ve been spending a good deal of time swimming in the Sea of Dorne, you should join me, Harrion!” Smiling at the other lord, he thought about home. “Oh I imagine Cider Hall must be beautiful, sitting so close to the meeting of two rivers. That is why Dunstonbury is my favorite of our castles, sitting on the Mander. I would love to try swimming in the Cockleswhent, and try the cider, Cider Hall is so known for. What have you been doing here in Dorne though?”
“I don’t believe I’m allowed to be late,” the young Hightower lord mentioned, glancing around just to make none of his siblings caught him in his tardy entrance to the ball. He didn’t right away spot any of them, for which he was silently grateful at least this once. “It just so happened that time escaped me,” he added, looking back at his companion. He could imagine the different ways in which his brothers and sister might chastise him, possibly deeming his tardiness an insult to their hosts. He didn’t linger much on that train of thought to spare himself the anxiety.
“A friend introduced me to some local poets a few days ago,” the lord easily admitted, as he found no shame in his reason for being late. “They’re fascinating artists. I got carried away in asking questions about their craft,” he said, a little smile inevitably escaping him. “I won’t bore you with details, but what they’ve taught me could enrich my work, I believe. It can enrich what can be done at the Reach once we return. Imagine it. Having local artists as well as visitors from other regions to teach their craft,” he mentioned, getting excited about the task Cedric Tyrell had given him to nurture the arts in their kingdom.
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“I don’t believe anyone noticed you were late. Well I did, but that’s just because I had one less friend to talk to while I sat here.” Meryn smiled at his friend, though he soon chuckled when he was told how time had escaped him. “I wish time could escape me now, I am about ready to go home. Balls have never really been my source of enjoyment.” Meryn quickly lit up when he was told by Gael that he had met local poets and that thats where he had been spending his time. “Bore me with the details? You could never bore me with such things.” Meryn was something of a creative....or so he liked to think that he was, especially when it came to his plays and stories. “That would be amazing, I know we already have so many singers, and harpist, and flutists, and mummers. Poetry and story craft could excel so much further with the assistance of other cultures.” Meryn’s face was lit up, and he was excited, bouncing in his seat almost at the thought.
“By all means though, please share the details with me, I would be more than happy to help you with anything, Gael.”
Mood increasingly gloomy considering all that had befallen them since accepting the Dornish invitation; for even that had taken a considerable amount of encouragement from the new ruling Lord of Horn Hill, Harlon Tarly - and yet, Cedric found himself walking down the winding halls of the wing of the Old Palace the court of the Reach had been hosted within. He was fortunate and grateful to the Dornish Prince, their old alliance resulting in an understanding in regards to how they viewed the Targaryen threat as directly that - a threat. And now, with the Targaryens stretching further south to the Dornish border by taking over the ancient enemy that was the stag … he was expecting these peace talks to quickly crumble.
That, and he was in no mood nor position to sit and address matters that needed to be addressed according to the High Septon; various audience requests had been passed, using a mourning period as an excuse as the King of the Reach knew he was in no mind, nor had the heart to sit and listen to the man speak on the will of the Gods. The High Septon himself in Dorne seemed like some sort of mistake, a blunder that had been quietly accepted whilst all knowing this was hardly how it should be.
Pushing open the doors to the Peake apartments as the guards split on either side of him, he had intended on meeting with the Ruling Lord of Starpike; their relationship was an increasingly strained one, given it had taken bloodshed for the man to bend the knee officially by swearing an oath of fealty and allegiance to the new age. Only to find he was not here, and in whatever meeting regarding the negotiations that the Hand of the King would be holding, negotiations Cedric himself had not wished to take part of.
Peake being here at all was something he felt increasingly off about, as though it were all too good to be true. That, or the paranoia as a result of watching the crimson pour from his sister’s throat continued to haunt him. Instead, all he had found within these chambers was one of the heirs to Starpike, though which number he was remained unknown to him. He thought he had seen an identity crisis play out before, and yet, he had never come across an individual that believed themselves to be Rhaenys Targaryen. The history was well known, and as far as he had heard, the Targaryens themselves had been hosted within the Uller keep within Sunspear.
“Is the blanket supposed to be a gown?” Cedric found himself asking, his orbs making it clear he was utterly confused by what it was he had seemingly walked in on. "I meant to speak with your Lord Father, though he is not here. Clearly.“ Acting, it appeared; in what he assumed would be in private, until Cedric himself of all people had found himself within his apartments. Clearing his throat, he flickered his gaze toward the blanket on the ground, clearly puzzled with what is going on here.
“You dream of being upon the stage, Lord Peake?”
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Meryn felt his face flustering, standing before his king, bare chested and reciting from a play, worst of all he was playing the role of a woman. If his father had known, he’d certainly have been punished for this. There wasn’t a doubt in his mind, and now he hoped that the king would be able to keep this little interaction between them. “Uhhhhh.....yes....yes it was.” Meryn was reaching over to his bed, the shirt he had been wearing was thrown aside to, pulling it over his head. “It was supposed to be a dress yes.” Nodding his head, his hands fidgeted nervously. He was trying to get them to stop, but he just couldn’t stop them. “No...no he isn’t here. He was at a meeting with someone else.” He couldn’t remember who though. The name was suddenly in another kingdom as far as Meryn’s nerves were concerned. When he was asked if he wanted to be on the stage he raised an eyebrow, he thought it a silly idea, or he had......years ago he would have, but now he knew he was stuck doing such things here in the privacy of his bedroom.
“I mean......well Meryn works fine, your grace, but to...to answer your question. I may have once dreamed of being on the stage yes. Those were childish dreams though....I awoke from them long ago. Mummery is no business for a high lord’s son.” He smiled as he recalled the time as a child his brothers got him to play a fish in a mummer’s show when they had come to entertain his father’s court. His father had been rather unhappy when he saw his son dressed as said fish.
Synopsis: Meryn Peake meets Ser Edmund Serrett, and is instantly charmed by the other. They quickly decide to leave the ball, Meryn excited his first time is with a handsome, gallant knight. Edmund is anything but, and has a truly awful game in mind for the youngest Peake.
Characters: Meryn Peake & Edmund Serrett; Garland Hightower & Lorimar Peake at the very end
Triggers: Kissing, Some Sexual Content, Nudity, Meryn being humiliated in front of a lot of people.
Meryn was returning from the game room, he had actually had decent luck, and he was feeling that happy buzz from the wine. Not so much that he was drunk, but enough to make his nerves dissipate. His nerves over his father were all but gone, and he was actually having fun at a ball for once....a rare sight indeed. Dorne so far was turning out to be one of the most enjoyable places he’d ever been. He was smiling leaning against a wall, watching one of the performers when he felt a figure appear next to him, and then they spoke to him.
“You’re Unwin Peake’s son aren’t? Well one of them anyway, you have quite a few brothers don’t you?”
Meryn turned to look at them, they were handsome, and he felt himself smiling a little. “I....yes, I am. I do. Three....all older, I’m the youngest in my family.”
“Well then...we have that in common.” Meryn felt as their hand clasped his shoulder. “Edmund Serrett. A pleasure.”
“Mer-Meryn, I’m Meryn Peake.” He saw the other man smile a little more, and mouth his name, Meryn could feel the blush seeping into his face. He wasn’t sure why he was blushing, perhaps it was the wine.
“A handsome name for a........handsome man.” Meryn’s eyes shot to the floor, his blush deepening, and then he felt the finger on his chin, Edmund was lifting his face so that their eyes could meet. “Don’t look away, you’re far too pretty to let your face turn to the floor. Walk with me?”
Meryn had hardly nodded his head, when he felt their arms locking together. Edmund leading them out into the fresh air, the way he moved was so graceful, his touch was firm, but gentle. Swallowing, “Are you a knight, Edmund?” Edmund smiled a little more, he let their arms fall back down, and instead took Meryn’s hand in his, his skin was soft, very soft.
“I am yes, I was knighted when I was nine and ten.” Meryn felt Edmund’s fingers rolling lightly over his. “Meryn, I’m sorry, I can’t lie......I’m nervous, you’re very pretty and I.......do you......are you.....do you feel attraction towards men?”
Meryn could feel how nervous Edmund was, and he just wanted to comfort the other, he nodded his head lightly at the question. “Yes....yes I am. I know it can be...scary at times...and you never know who you can tell. My father he....he told me to never act on those urges but....its just so hard.”
Meryn felt Edmund squeeze his hand, “I think my brother would kill me if I ever told him.” Meryn frowned softly, watching as Edmund let go of his hand, and moved to sit on a small marble bench in the secluded part of the garden they were. Meryn moved to sit next to him, putting his a hand on each of Edmund’s shoulders.
“I’m sorry about that, Edmund, really I am.” He had barely finished speaking when Edmund was moving forward and pressing their lips together, and Meryn found himself pressing back. Edmund’s hands were gripping his back, his kisses were hungry, and hot. His lips were like silk, and they tasted like strawberries. He felt as Edmund was soon moving from his lips to his jaw, and then his neck.....the other man was kissing, sucking and biting his skin, and all Meryn could do was let out soft moans, finally he managed to catch a window where he could get a word out. “Wait....wait...” Meryn breathed out a little, nervous. “I never...have...” His voice drifted off...and it was silent for a few seconds.
“So am I.....well in regards to being with a uhh man.” Meryn felt Edmund’s hand on his thigh. “I want you to to be the first to take me, Meryn.”
And then their lips were together again, this time he had kissed the Serrett boy first, aggressively...more so than he thought he could manage. They were standing up, and Meryn felt his back hit one of the hedges. The kiss was soon broken, just so that Edmund could pull Meryn’s top from his body. The rest of his clothing soon followed, and when he felt his small clothes pulled down his thighs, he felt Edmund back up, a little and then he saw the look on his face.
“By the Seven.....you have the biggest cock I’ve ever seen.” Meryn chuckled a little, but also he felt really good knowing he actually gave someone pause...not actually expecting it. He would have thought a knight would have seen others.....that were better than his own. Though it was now Edmund’s turn to look to the ground, shy...scared?
“Edmund is everything ok? Am I too big? Do you want to stop?” Edmund was gripping his wrists, shaking his head.
“No...no..I want to, I just....this is too public, I’m scared of being caught...bare outside.” Meryn nodded, he could understand...he was used to being stripped in the outdoors, all his times skinny dipping in the Mander. “Where the Martells have set up the Westerland houses isn’t far from here, I know a way there that no one uses.” He could see Edmund gathering up his discarded clothing from the ground. “Do you trust me?” Meryn nodded he did, and Edmund smiled. Meryn watched as Edmund ripped part of the outfit Meryn had been wearing, and preceded to tie it around his face so that he could not see where Edmund was leading him.....still exposed. Yet he didn’t care, Edmund was a knight, he could trust him. He felt Edmund guiding him, whispering in his ear.
“Don’t worry...I’m a knight, and we protect maidens like you. I won’t let anyone see you....I’ll give you safe Meryn.” Meryn felt as they walked, and soon the grass of the gardens turned into stone, and then eventually he heard doors opening. More whispering, “Don’t worry about the voices, we’re almost to my room, there are just people on the other side of this wall, but they have no way of walking into this hallway. You’re safe, Meryn.”
Meryn’s heart was beating faster, he was nervous but excited he had never done anything like this before. He never thought he would do anything like this ever. The excitement of it all was making sure that his manhood was fully erect, bobbing with each step. Edmund gave him a few encouraging tugs as they walked. He felt Edmund’s lips come up against his ear one last time, “Are you ready, Meryn?”
Meryn gave the slightest nod, and then he heard a door being opened, him being shoved through it so hard he landed on his hands and knees, and the door slamming loudly behind him, his clothes on the other side with Edmund. He was standing up, when he heard a few gasps, and his heart was instantly in his stomach. Pulling off the blindfold confirmed his fears.......he was in the main ballroom, naked and aroused. He was frozen, he didn’t know what to do, tears were starting to stream down his face, and he felt like he was on fire.....he could see his father, his eyes piercing right through him, he knew he was dead.
That was when he felt a piece of clothing being wrapped around his lower body, trying to preserve what little modesty he had left. He didn’t realize who the figures guiding him away to privacy were at first, but eventually though his tears, and sobs he was able to piece together that it was Lord Garland Hightower and his oldest brother, Lorimar. All Meryn could do was cling to him sobbing into his shoulder as he was half walked, half carried, because if he didn’t he would have fallen to the ground.
So it turned out despite his thoughts earlier in the night balls in Dorne were even worse than Balls in the Reach.
“Right, well yes. I understand. I would not want to be cause to upset him and then have you suffer his wrath. Do not fret.” Lynora answered, holding one of her friend’s hands between both of hers. “That would be just fine.” She nodded, giving a small smile.
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Meryn felt bad, he felt like he was letting his friend down. As much as he wanted to go to the ball with her, he knew that his father would cast judgement, and it would make him angry if he did so without asking for permission first, and he hated asking his father permission to do anything. “I would really like to go to the ball with you, you know?” Squeezing the hand that had taken his. “You’re my truest friend, Lynora.” He smiled back at her. “Do you wanna look for seashells? I heard you can turn them into jewelry.”
With Omer having eyes on the king, it allowed Harrion a free moment to mingle amidst the crowd in the ballroom. He always did enjoy a good party. His eyes still scanned the room, ready to address any trouble that should arise while he spoke to someone beside him. “Lord Peake, how are you enjoying Dorne?” He asked his fellow lord from the Reach.
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Meryn was distracted watching one of the entertainers of the party, when he heard the voice speak to him, pausing for a second he got anxious when he heard someone say Lord Peake, thinking his father was near. Then it dawned on him, they were speaking to him. He quickly smiled at the other, Harrion Fossoway, of the red Fossoways, not the green Fossoways. “Oh....Lord Peake is so formal...besides I’m never actually going to be Lord Peake....I have too many brothers. Meryn is just fine, Lord Fossoway.” At the thought of how Dorne was, he blushed thinking about some of the things he had done. “It is....fun....freeing? Very different from home. What about you?”
Lynora entered the ballroom, looking around. She hoped to find Harlon quickly so she didn’t feel so out of place. With all going on she took comfort in her brother’s familiarity. With Harlon out of sight, her eyes went to Meryn. He too was a comforting presence for her. She scanned the room and made sure his father wasn’t within sight before approaching him. “Hello.” She gave a small curtsey.
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Smiling when Lynora approached him, he was glad that his friend was finally here. His father had gone to talk with a stuffy lady of the Vale, at these balls once things had started, he became of the last concerns of his father. By now he wouldn’t care if he spent time with Lynora. When she curtsied he chuckled a little, before giving a small bow to her. “Lynore, hello. I didn’t expect to be so formal with that greeting. How are you? You look splendid!”
“Of course I was looking for you, I like you.” Lewys smiled at the other. He thought there was something nice about the other. As much as he enjoyed seeing his old friends and catching up with the men he once fought with, it was just too surreal. He felt a stranger, and he didn’t like the feeling. Just a ghost. Lewys didn’t want to be a ghost anymore. And hanging about this little Peake made him feel very much in the moment. It was nice to have a friend. Were they friends? Perhaps they weren’t, and he only hoped they were. It would be too embarrassing to ask such a thing allowed. “You’re my friend, Meryn.” He confirmed it out loud. “I quite enjoy making new friends.”
“I’ve never been so bored in my life. I thought feasts were fun.” And maybe they were fun before he saw more of the world. Before he’d seen men brawl to the death at Dothraki weddings over some woman. Before he’d seen elephants storm a battle field. “I heard there were games. You want to go lose some coin?” He grinned. “Perhaps get a little drunk away from so much formality.”
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Meryn was taken aback at first, his shock probably evident on his face for a second or two before a massive smile came across his face. The fact that someone like Lewys actually liked him? He quickly nodded his head, perhaps just too quick. “Yes...yes of course we’re friends, Lewys.” Would his father approve of him being friends with someone like Lewys? Probably not, but.....he had been nice to him...nice to look at. Meryn felt good around him.....but also his stomach felt weird, and his thoughts were too fast....but that was a sign of friendship right? When Lewys brought up the games, and getting drunk, he quickly got anxious, his father would never approve of him doing that. Yet......he felt his lips saying something far different.
“I’d enjoy nothing more than getting away form this boring table, and getting drunk and *winning* coin with you Lewys.” Rising outta his seat, “Lead the way?”
“I will make sure to do so at some point.” Lynora nodded as she listened to his response. “Shall we attend together then?” She asked. “Then we won’t be wallflowers with no one to dance with.” She gave a small laugh.
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“Oh you must, this whole trip would be a waste if you didn’t get to enjoy the Dornish waters. Though don’t go too far, my maester taught us that there are sharks in the Dornish oceans.” When Lynore mentioned going to the ball together, Meryn quickly felt himself blush a little. “Oh I don’t know if I would be allowed to, father wouldn’t want me to embarrass you during the ball. But perhaps we could meet up once we both arrive? That way it will be like we are kind of going together?”
Location: Dorne, Sunspear
Closed starter for @merynpeake / During the Dornish Ball
Gods, how could he let time get away from him in such a way? Gael had gone to visit the group of poets that Lady Fowler had introduced him to, spent the afternoon learning from them the most famous Dornish poems, their most common metrical patterns, their rules of prosody; every wondrous new way of articulating syllables and turning them into meaningful art. Time flew by and before he knew it he was already late for the ball hosted at the palace of Sunspear.
The young Hightower made haste to return, change and try to make as inconspicuous an entrance as possible, so his tardiness wouldn’t be noticed. Most people in attendance were already dancing, dining or otherwise occupied, as he’d spotted a few people not so subtly seeking more private spaces like the balconies or gardens. Gael scurried towards a table where he spotted a few familiar faces from his homeland. “Meryn,” he greeted Lord Peake with an amicable smile as he took a seat. Meryn gave him a look that Gael was quick to interpret. “Oh, I wasn’t— I wasn’t out there. I’m just late”.
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Meryn was sitting at a table almost alone, it was how he liked it at these events, it was also what kept his father happy, and keeping his father happy was a major priority. He was playing with the food that was on his plate trying to keep himself busy when he heard someone say his name, looking up he saw one of the Hightower sons, Gael. Meryn smiled a little, the Hightowers were very important, he didn’t want to offend on and anger his father, though when it seemed they were trying to sneak back in it made Meryn wonder if they had been in the.....garden. Though that was quickly dispelled, he didn’t stop himself though imagining Gael out in the garden. He was pretty, but he quickly shook that thought.
“Oh I would never be allowed to attend a ball late, I think if I was running behind father would simply lock me in my room so not to embarrass him.” He chuckled, “So then if you weren’t...” wiggling his eyebrows, “Then why were you late, Gael?”
“I can’t say that I have. Although it looks lovely out in the waters. So clear, so blue.” Lynora smiled and kicked off her sandals to let her toes be tickled by the water as it ebbed and flowed against the shore. “Say, do you have plans to attend the ball?” She asked curiously.
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“The water is absolutely amazing. Me and my brothers went for a swim the other night. It really helps with the Dornish heat as well. If you get the chance Lynora to actually get to swim in it, then you simply must take it.” When she asked about the ball, he hummed for a second weighing his words. “I think I shall be, father wants all of us at the ball of course, but I think he would much rather I let my eldest brother keep the attention. He is after all the heir and future of our family.”
Lewys was getting reacquainted, speaking to those he hadn’t seen in years. He missed many people and some he couldn’t remember at all. Some times he felt dizzy. His head swam with faces and names of people he didn’t think he wanted to know. House Hayford was a small house. Small and loyal or they were. He felt they forever damaged their reputations by the acts of his late uncles. And now, now things were so different. He felt like a stranger living someone else’s life. It was as if he fell asleep and woke in the dreams of a man he never knew. Some times, he felt like he was breathing through a straw as his chest and stomach tightened. And it was a terrible feeling he couldn’t escape. When he saw someone familiar, recently familiar, he made his way over and clapped a hand on his shoulder as he took a seat.
“Would you believe I’ve been looking for you?” Lewys smiled. “Are you as bored as I am, my Lord?”
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Ever since he was young Meryn had gotten very good at disappearing at balls. His father had made it very clear that he was not to be heard, or seen. To be a fly on the wall, to spare embarrassing the family in front of their peers, and the newly minted royal families. So being the good boy that he was Meryn had done just as he was told. He was currently sitting at a table backed against a wall, a small glass in his hand, he had just finished eating and was now staring rather distantly at a woman’s attire finding the colors....the design to be so beautiful. That was when he felt a hand grip his shoulder as a figure sat beside him, and when he turned to see who it was he felt his heart beat pick up, and his blood starting to rush.
“Looking for me? Why would you be looking for me Ser Lewys?” He felt his face blushing, would it be rude to say he was bored? Maybe, but it was the truth and you shouldn’t lie. “I uhh am, actually yes. Very bored. Why?” His eyes couldn’t help but wander over the other’s frame. “Do you know a place more lively?”
House Peake of Starpike, Dunstonbury and Whitegrove
Words: All Within Our Reach
Starpike - Their main seat located in the Dornish Marches
Whitegrove - Located in the North West close to Old Oak and Golden Grove, a gift from the Gardener Kings
Dunstonbury - Located at the mouth of the Mander, a gift from the Gardener Kings for driving out the previous lords, House Manderly.
