rvrkng:
“ you think that your — excuse me, the, people will not whisper because you are honest and outspoken ? ” a breath exhaled from the two apertures in his nose, coinciding with a heave of his chest, as a hmph was brought to sound. he lived with the people, both rich and poor, of title and non, long enough to understand too well that their opinions and beliefs of royal subjects came not from whether their word was truthful, but whether it was deceiving enough, for to survive in the game of thrones, was to tell lies and tell them well enough that you yourself almost thought them true. “ you lead me to question which one of us grew up on the streets with dirt and grime, and which one grew up in grand halls decorated with expensive curtains and pretty little flowers, ” at that he ripped a yellow flower like the one she was observing before out from its roots, crushing it in his hand and allowing it to fall from his grasp one petal at a time. “ i blame you for much … but i have yet for what you say. — though i do not believe it to make much difference whether you meet me alone, at my stay of the manor, then it would if you met me with other kings and queens, at the martell’s castle. i am sure you are clever enough to suspect my response to how the riverlands are doing would be all the same here than it would be there. ” then she mentions his father, the man who forbade the crown and placed it atop his son’s skull, a wonder brynden admittedly matched, “ perhaps my father thought i a better choice to rule, having been able to see through the eyes of the people at one point in time and truly understand them. a viewpoint most rulers lack and yet i encourage they seek. ”
brynden then dust his palms against one another, ridding the dirt that remained to be able to gesture with a clear hand the way through the gardens. “ my mind grows fatigued standing in place and i pity then i could not give you what you ask. ” a lie. see? it’s already begun. “ you know all too well that the riverlands hold six borders and between those borders are empty fields and shallow streams to lead armies through. armies that have raided and pillaged our villages while only passing, and i think you need not be reminded what they do when we are the enemy. we are done being at your disposal and expense, never to achieve praise nor reward for the parts we play, for the lives we give. it does not matter if we have not been personally targeted during your reign, as i am sure you are aware as well as i am how the wheel spins and history has a way of repeating itself. ” he admitted, thinking that all she would both need and could get out of him, for he did not feel the need to go into an explanation to her about how the riverlands now intended to defend those borders.
Gods, it was much easier to threaten people, she decided quickly, but she pressed on. “I believe the people will talk no matter what, but yes, I believe most will not believe any gossip that may arise from this little meeting,” she insisted stubbornly, not taking kindly to someone who had not even be royal for a year pretending to know more. “If you do not wish for people to spread slander about you no matter your innocence, you have chosen the wrong vocation,” Rhaena bit back. She could feel her temper rising, but she forcefully tamed it by taking a deep breath. The queen had a plan, an abstract one, but she could not allow her fiery spirit to ruin it. However, his continuation challenged her control greatly especially when he crushed the flower in his fist. “You lead me to question who knows nothing about the politics of court and who have grown up observing and participating in them.” She balled her fist before taking another deep breath, once again forcing herself to regain control.
“Yes, that certainly sounds like Lord Tully,” Rhaena commented with a small smile of amusement, a smile she tried her best to hide despite failing. She remembered how her father had spoken of his father, not many kind words had been uttered. She did not buy it, but she knew better than to argue that point. “I am sure your father had his reasons, it is merely curious,” she shrugged. She noted Brynden seemed unaware of why his father had crowned him as king, it revealed that Lord Tully perhaps did not tell his son everything. He seemed intent of getting rid of her, but despite his initial words, he revealed an actual reason. A deeply flawed one. “Yes, you are awfully exposed on all sides, and once this experiment you are all conducting falls apart and you inevitable turn on each other, your kingdom will be in peril, more so than your neighbours,” Rhaena argued without hesitation. “You mention being at our disposal, but I beg you not forget, we have been at your disposal too. My father protected you and your interest, he kept peace in the Riverlands and so did we until betrayal and darkness gripped all us.”
The Targaryen had practically forgotten why she had even come, her breath was shallow and hurried, a sign of her anger. Brynden was not as timid as she hoped, but she had still learned some valuable lessons. “Do you really believe the Riverlands will be able to stand against the other kingdoms when they turn on you?” Rhaena asked in a sigh, but her lavender eyes betrayed true curiosity. She kept saying the other kingdoms but never mentioning her own as a possible aggressor.
