two feet standing on a principle

vardis egen profile for blood and glory rp. not affiliated with grrm. head of security and personal bodyguard for dowager countess lysa arryn and her son.

[vardisofthevale]

I love you like the little bird that picks up crumbs around the door || (Vardis & Robin) (26 August, 5am)

[aneaglefromwales-blog]

Mr. Egen says they’re not far and he feels a jolt of fear again, which is silly, because not far means they’re close to Mama and that’s nothing but good but everything feels sinister now and he can’t help but swallow hard.  He nods once, tries to keep his voice steady.  ”Good.  That—that’s good.  We’ll see Mama.”

Then Mr. Egen asks about last night and Robin feels so ill.  No, he didn’t stay there all night, he was up and the rooftop and there were with those men and he wants to tell Mr. Egen about them, just for one second, but he can’t, because his throat’s closed up and his head is pounding and colors flood his eyes and he’s sobbing, far too loud.  He clings to Mr. Egen and cries and cries.

[vardisofthevale]

The boy sits up straight, holds Vardis' hand like an obedient child. His blue eyes are attentive, body rigid, compliant in a way that he hardly ever is without coercion from his mother or a stern word from Vardis that often sent him sulking. Vardis doesn't like the strain in his voice--the feigned lightness that comes as a result of smothering stress and panic.  

Robin is a kettle about to whistle again, and Vardis just wants to soothe his anxiety. 

And Robin is exhausted--bad enough he seems to have been awake through much of the night, but he's had another fit to boot. Vardis tenderly pushes some of his black hair from his pallid, clammy face. A warm bath, a good sleep, and maybe a spot of tea. That's what he needed in the immediate future. Vardis could only hope that upon returning Robin to his mother that the boy would open up and whatever had disturbed him so would melt away. 

Robin doesn't reply even to Vardis' most innocent question.  The dam cracks again and suddenly he's crying and wailing, and clinging to Vardis. His little hands clutch wearily at Vardis' shirt under his jacket, his face buried against his chest. It's pitiful, and Vardis is once again surprised at just how sorry he feels for the boy--this child who usually only caused Vardis grief. He remembers when Robin was just an infant, half-orphaned and sick, squalling through the chilly nights at the Eyrie.... 

Vardis wraps an arm around him, not sure what else to do exactly. He rubs Robin's back, holding him. "Shh, there now...We're almost there....Everything's all right," he croons. "We'll get you washed up and you can get some sleep and you'll feel better." 

He lets the boy cry, dutiful. Maybe a good cry will wear him out to sleep and soon he'll be refreshed. When the car stops, Vardis untangles himself from the tired, crying child and slips out.  He crosses around the other side of the car with swift, long strides, and opens the door to scoop Robin up once more. He holds him like he might have if Robin were much smaller--like a toddler. The driver departs and Vardis carries Robin into the lobby of the Connaught Hotel, all bright and welcoming.  "I've got you, yeah? We'll get your medicine and run a bath..." he says soothingly to the boy as they cross to the elevators. 

[thesternfaced-blog]

A wolf at the door [Stern face & Vardis; 25th August; night]

[thesternfaced-blog]

[ He followed Vardis back into the car and slid into his seat just as the man started the engine ]

[ How many more parks should they search? How many hours does this dog want to waste on aimlessly looking for an annoying little bird ]

No where else? 

A kid his age would want to go to an amusement park- or a fair. There are a few around London right now. 

Do you think he might go to the London Eye?

[vardisofthevale]

[Vardis pulled the car away from the curb, merging back into the dying flow of traffic. He nodded to Lucas.]

Yes...he doesn't get out much on his own. He'll go to a place that's familiar. Landmarks. 

[Robin wanted independence, but he would naturally gravitate towards recognizable areas....and besides, it was useless to look through every nook and cranny of London, they'd never find him. They had to have some points of reference, and that's exactly where he was driving to.]

[He glanced at his watch.]

Curfew will be in effect in twelve minutes. Streets will be clear. 

[Robin may try to hide, but once officers were patrolling the streets, Vardis had a good feeling he would be caught. He may be sneaky, but he was a child still, and foolish. In the meantime, Vardis' Protection Command license would clear him to be on the streets searching]

[With this encouraging thought in mind, Vardis set his course for the London Eye.]

[vardisofthevale]

Forget About Your House of Cards || vardis & brynden tully [backdated 2003, after jon arryn's death]

[brynden-the-blackfish-blog]

He gave a smile at the memory and quickened his pace slightly so as to keep pace with Vardis, who kept a steady and easy pace. He wanted to go a little faster, feeling the energy coming back to him, but decided against it. He didn’t want to strain and push his body too much, especially in the state it was in, and still unused to the challenge the Vale moor posed. And the air, cool and fresh coursed in and out of him, cleansing his lungs from the London smog and clearing both his blood and mind. Yes, he needed this. He hadn’t realized how much. He felt awake now, alive. They arrived at a stretch of flat land, and Brynden asked, curious, ” Why did you join the army?”

[vardisofthevale]

Home...yes this was Vardis' home. Not just because this was Wales, his birthplace, his mother country.  The Eyrie itself had become his home. Jon Arryn had taken him in when the British Army had discarded him, and gave him a chance to serve his country in another way. He'd been in London for a long time, but when Jon Arryn returned to the Eyrie, Vardis had come with him. He knew these walls, this earth and stone, and he knew the hearts that beat within it. They were important to him--Lady Arryn, and Jon's son, and little Mya. 

Vardis frowned a bit at Brynden's self-depreciation. "You're her family," he said. That meant more than seeing one another every day.  It ran deeper than the little things. Brynden did not live in Wales--of course he wasn't part of her daily life. "You're here for her now." 

The temperamental turf panned out to a smooth, flat path. Vardis glanced at his running mate and answered him, "Legacy.  Father and grandfather were both in the army.  I wanted to go since I was a lad." He hadn't been pressured into it--not that he ever remembered, anyways. But it seemed to have been born into him. He expected it of himself, never mind what his father Carlisle wanted for him. Both of his parents seemed proud of Vardis' accomplishments, from university to the army, to his work in Protection Command. 

"Why did you join the Navy?" 

[bloodandglory-rp]

[vardisofthevale]

character: vardis egen (bio) affiliation: house of arryn occupation: head of security  richard armitage

[thorinds]

“Everyone is so convinced that [Thorin] is who they think he is, and it’s my job to unwrap him a little bit and say ‘you’re right, he is all of those things, but this is why he’s all of those things.”

[thesternfaced-blog]

A wolf at the door [Stern face & Vardis; 25th August; night]

[thesternfaced-blog]

[ He turned his head, tilting it here and there, to see if Robin was hiding behind the trees or crouching under the benches. He called his name and squinted at every dark haired kid he saw. There was a fountain but he wasn’t there. A family of three passed, with a sobbing toddler, and Derrek set his jaw as Lucas asked them if they had seen Robin, with black hair and blue eyes, about this tall. He would be crying or coughing. No? Thank you. ]

[ It was already dark when his phone buzzed in his pocket, and he quickly looked at the message. Oh has it been thirty minutes already? ]

[ He kept walking and found himself at the entrance where he and Vardis had parted. He saw the man standing beside the car and he hurried towards him. ]

Nothing [ He frowned ] Where to next?

[vardisofthevale]

[Lucas returned promptly, emerging through the darkness of the park with a look of concern. His question was the natural one, and one Vardis was wondering himself. Where to next?]

[He sighed gruffly, scowling as he thought.  He turned to get back in the car.]

We'll just have to comb the area. No other place I can think of that he'd be drawn to.

[Vardis got back in the car and started the engine. He refused to let the impossibility of his task daunt him. One little boy, in all of London...at what point did he have to go to the police? It would only be bad news if Robin's disappearance became public, but they'd do what they had to, if it came to that...]

[vardisofthevale]

Ain't it Good to Know You've Got a Friend? | (Vardis & Mya) (21 Sept)

[vardisofthevale]

"Not a bad idea. But school comes first," he assured her. Career came later, and school was an irreplaceable step in the lesson of life. Vardis himself had always been mature and responsible for his age, but even still, university had opened up his world.

He had been surprised to hear that she was going to the gala. It was hard to imagine her in a formal dress. But the revelation of her date did surprise him. 

"You went with a Martell?" He furrowed his brow, trying to recall the Martel family tree…the names didn’t come to him, however. He wasn’t sure how he felt about this….did it matter? Vardis supposed it was just strange to think of Mya out there at what he knew was just a big political peacock show. "Hm. ….How was that?" 

[myabaratheon]

Of course, of course, she thought. School had always come first, that was the only real rule that had been placed on Mya when she had started living with the Arryns. She had taken it so seriously, that the next year, she received high honours. The girl had taken it very literally, that if she didn’t go to school, she couldn’t live with them. A conversation with Jon afterwards changed that, of course.

Mya nodded, “Yes, Trystane, the youngest, I reckon. His father was the one that got shot back in April.” She frowned, just hearing the dismissal in her voice. It was a serious thing, and it had taken it’s toll on Trystane, her friend. “…It was alright, fancy food, even fancier champagne. I wore that suit I had from back in my sixth form, like I’d be caught anywhere in a bloody dress.” She smirked, “You should’ve seen some of their faces though, like they’ve never seen a woman’s suit before.” Bloody propers. 

"What about you, then? How’s everyone, Lysa, Robert?" 

[vardisofthevale]

Vardis listened to her account of the ball with a thoughtful frown.  Nodding slightly in acknowledgement. It was the sort of reserved frown a father might wear while his daughter expressed interest in a boy, though it came from an entirely different concern. Oh, what harm was it, though? So she'd gone to the ball, along with half of London. But he knew whose club the Martell Ball was. All the prestigious, powerhouse families. And with the current political turmoil broiling in England, and Mya's association with the Arryns, he couldn't help but be concerned. 

"Yes, I know," he said. He knew the general family tree and knew Trystane's place in it.  That was part of his job, especially when Jon Arryn had been Prime Minister. But he doubted Trystane had any agenda with Mya other than having her as his date. He was just a boy. 

He had to grin, knowing the chances of Mya wearing a dress--ever--were slim to none. She'd probably show up at her own wedding in skinny jeans and boots. "I'm sure you were a sight." A tomboyish girl amongst all those high-society folks. 

He parked next to a small eatery that seemed suitable and sighed as he got out of the car. "They're all right," he said. It was somewhat of a lie...but there wasn't much need to explain. Mya knew how Robin and Lysa were. Robin's recent traumas had only worsened Lysa's neurotic disposition, and Vardis had had his hands full with the emotionally-fragile Egens. Such was his duty...he did it gladly. He would do anything for Lysa, anything to fulfill his obligations to Jon. ...But he felt guilty to admit it was a relief to get out of that house, away from the gloom. And Mya was always a breath of fresh air. 

He led her inside and got them a table, taking a breath as he sat down. Wondering how she was going to handle what he had to say to her...but not yet. Let them settle and start eating. "Robin's talking a bit more...I'm sure he'll be fine. In time." 

[thesternfaced-blog]

A wolf at the door [Stern face & Vardis; 25th August; night]

[thesternfaced-blog]

[ But instead, he was here, stuck playing normal and nice. The things he does- ]

[ He turned to Vardis ] Oh, i’ve got your number i think, from that night. Hold on [ Lucas fished his phone out and searched for Vardis’s number and rang it ] There, [ He heard the other man’s phone start to buzz in his pocket and he ended the call ] 

So you go west and i’ll take the east?

[vardisofthevale]

[Ah, right. Vardis had covered his bases already. Drawing his phone from his pocket, he watched until he saw the call pop up. With a flick of his thumb he saved the number.]

Got it. 

[Vardis took another quick scan across the park, noting the straggling family groups. With luck, one of them had spotted Robin, even if they didn't know he was lost. He gave a nod to Lucas.]

I'll call you in half an hour, if we don't find anything. 

[A sharp glance at his watch to note the current time and he was off. It was dark, and while the park was lit with streetlights, Vardis brought a flashlight with him just in case.]

[He set off, glad to be away from the writer for the time being. He questioned a few park-goers, none of which had seen any sign of a dark-haired boy wandering alone, before setting off deeper into the park. The pale blue light of the flashlight illuminated the grass and trees and jogging paths.]

[He searched and he called Robin's name, but the half hour ticked on by without a sign. More and more Vardis could just feel that the boy wasn't here. They couldn't waste all their time in one location.]

[Vardis shot a text to Lucas saying he was calling it, and then made his way quickly back to the car.]

[thesternfaced-blog]

A wolf at the door [Stern face & Vardis; 25th August; night]

[vardisofthevale]

Mm. Well. That’s for his mother to decide. Not you, not me. [He tries to keep the shortness from his voice, but…doesn’t try too hard.]

[It’s a quick drive to the ice cream shop and Vardis pulls his car over, confident that his Protection Command license will keep any authorities from fussing about his parking choices. Flicking the hazards on, he steps out and strides right to the shop.  It’s closing up, and it only takes a quick look around the place—and a quick exchange with the server—to know that Robin isn’t there and hasn’t been there this evening. It doesn’t surprise him, though he glowers as he heads back out to the car.

They were close to Hyde Park…It was a large expanse of territory but Robin might very likely have run there.  It was only a few blocks away, and the attraction of a park was obvious for a boy who wanted to get away from everyone.]

Let’s try the park… 

[thesternfaced-blog]

[He listened to Vardis, keeping silent. That was for the best, perhaps. He was an outsider after all. Vardis didn’t like him, he knew, and that probably won’t change no matter how many truces and handshakes they shared. But that was fine, Derrek will kill him sooner or later.]

Park. [ He glanced over at him ] We will have to split up then.

[vardisofthevale]

[Split up? Vardis was only too glad to. As he made his way down the street to find a place to park, he nodded.]

Right. 

[He thought for a moment, considering how long it might take them to feasibly cover the ground of Hyde Park. No way they'd cover all of it, but if Robin was there, he wouldn't have made it very far. They'd exchange numbers and keep in contact while they searched.]

[He drew up to the curb not far from one of the park entrances, stepping out and instinctively looking to the area they would search. Robin could be anywhere...and he'd hate to waste so much time scouring a wide expanse of land if he wasn't even there to begin with.]

We'll take a half hour here. What's your phone number?

[widowarryn-deactivated20130812]

and you can have it all, my empire of dirt | lysa arryn & vardis egen | august 29th

[vardisofthevale]

"…he’s upset. He’ll come ‘round." 

He rubbed Lysa’s arm warmly, and it wasn’t so different from the years and years of chilly nights they’d spent in the Eyrie. When Robin was just a toddler, and Lysa and Vardis would wander into forgotten rooms and halls, half of them in various states of disrepair…. And Vardis would find himself with Lysa in his arms, his mouth to hers, the two of them chasing away the chill together. 

"You should try to sleep a little…or maybe have some tea…?" 

[ladyarryns]

She was the skeleton in the Tully closet, flesh clinging to bone, struggling to hold on, struggling for feeling. Strung up like a Christmas ornament, alone in a wooden closet, hanging, waiting for the end as the dust settled. And there was no reprieve, not until someone opened the door and took her out to sun-bleach her bones and warm her, as tattered and splintered as she was with all the dark secrets that had festered inside of her.

She felt too much; that was the problem.  

To dream, or drink tea. If only it was so effortless. She gave a sigh as if her sorrow was routine.

Lysa raised her head and touched her lips to his. It was slow, tender, weary.

[vardisofthevale]

He knew she didn't really take the words to heart--but she was trying. She was trying to convince herself that everything would be all right, like she always tried.  It rarely came to be that way.... Life was messy. Her life was messy. And Vardis was just there to try to catch the pieces, to hold them together as best he could. If she was like the air rushing wildly about the Eyrie, he had to be the stone beneath her, to ground her. Steady and constant.

And that's exactly what he was. 

But his suggestion was weak, as always. It was hard for him to know just what to say. He was stone--even, steady, strong. It was his profession to be strong when others could not be. But he didn't always know what to say to someone who lacked that sort of strength. Or to someone like Lysa, whose strengths held hands with her weaknesses. She was a fierce mother...she would do anything for her child. Robin was what mattered most to her. And yet it was that very love that broke her, again and again. 

It shouldn't be so hard...just to love...but that Vardis understood first hand. Sometimes...it just was that hard. 

She seemed to know that meager sleep or warm tea was a weak cure--just as he did. Because instead of engaging in either, she tilted her head up and her lips found his. His arm squeezed around her tighter as he met her kiss, holding her to him warmly. 

He remembered the fear he had experienced the first time they'd kissed...that dreadful acknowledgement, the realization when he thought that if he kissed her again, he would kiss her forever...and so he did. He kissed her again now, soft, warm, and comforting. One strong hand came up to gently brush her long hair from her face, smoothing it back. 

"Don't worry," he whispered. Easier said than done, but he wanted to remind her that he was there for her, no matter what. 

[donnamissal]

Is he more of a cat or dog person? - “I’m a dog person. I don’t have a dog but if I were to have an animal it certainly wouldn’t be a bloody cat! They’re just temperamental and dogs are just cute and faithful”

[vardisofthevale]

Ain't it Good to Know You've Got a Friend? | (Vardis & Mya) (21 Sept)

[vardisofthevale]

And that was so necessary right now. It couldn’t be a worse time for one of the Eyrie brood to leave the nest and settle in London of all places. From the eagle’s nest to the rat’s nest. Vardis would have chosen anywhere else for Mya to move out to, presently…Cardiff—what was wrong with Cardiff? But he supposed an adventurous young woman like Mya wouldn’t be satisfied with the slow-and-steady life there. No, all the kids wanted to be in London or New York, where the action was. 

But then again he’d jumped headlong into Saudi Arabia for his career, so he didn’t exactly have the high ground on that debate. He liked to be where the action was, too, to an extent…

He settled for less aggressive conversation. “So what have you been up to? Working?” 

[myabaratheon]

Mya was content with the quiet once she had got into his car. It was nice, the silence between them, and it had nearly always been a comfortable one. So when he asked her a question, Mya looked over at him, her elbow up on the handle of the door.

"Working, erm…No. I was thinking of getting a job, maybe something that’ll look good along with my credits at school." She shrugged absently. Honestly, she hadn’t thought to get a job at all. Money, she knew she needed, but she was content in where she was as far as that went. Vardis bringing it up just made her feel a bit lazy, if not a free-loader.

She furrowed her brow thinking about what exactly she’s been up to, and continuing on, “I went to that Gala, last week. Just so happens a friend I met at school is one of them important families. His I reckon, it was their Gala. It was nice, really proper though.” She squinted in distaste, although she did have a fair bit of fun, she couldn’t shake what had come of it.

[vardisofthevale]

Vardis nodded. She didn't need a job per say--the Arryn household provided for her as it always had. She was part of the family. A job would simply be good for her. The only way to grow was to do just that--grow up. But she had a good head on her shoulders, and Vardis didn't worry about her nearly as much as he worried about Robin. Mya would make her own way in life, he knew. 

"Not a bad idea. But school comes first," he assured her. Career came later, and school was an irreplaceable step in the lesson of life. Vardis himself had always been mature and responsible for his age, but even still, university had opened up his world.

He had been surprised to hear that she was going to the gala. It was hard to imagine her in a formal dress. But the revelation of her date did surprise him. 

"You went with a Martell?" He furrowed his brow, trying to recall the Martel family tree...the names didn't come to him, however. He wasn't sure how he felt about this....did it matter? Vardis supposed it was just strange to think of Mya out there at what he knew was just a big political peacock show. "Hm. ....How was that?" 

[thesternfaced-blog]

A wolf at the door [Stern face & Vardis; 25th August; night]

[vardisofthevale]

[He pulls off from the curb, picking his brain to decide where to look first. They’d already called Myranda Royce and confirmed he was not with her, and Mya didn’t know of his whereabouts either. Truthfully, there were few places to really try for. Robin didn’t exactly have many friends, especially not in London. He wasn’t currently in school. So Vardis had to see what he could find in the few locations that might mean something to Robin—landmarks, eateries they’d frequented, parks….]

He’s never out on his own…all he really knows are the places I bring him to.

[thesternfaced-blog]

[ He nodded ] Which places? 

And you should really let him out a little more- I mean i know he gets easily sick, and maybe he hasn’t run away, just wanted to get out and see a movie or something and got lost on the way. Cooping up a kid his age isn’t good for his health either and-  [ Lucas stopped himself] Sorry, yeah i have no right to say anything about this. 

[ He turned away and looked out the window ]

[vardisofthevale]

Places we've been to during our stay here...and landmarks. He doesn't know much about the city, he'll probably go somewhere that feels more...public. Somewhere that doesn't feel like he's lost. 

[The closest place was a small ice cream shop that he took Robin and Mya to every couple of days. He had little hope of finding Robin there, but he was starting at the closest location and moving on from there.]

[The writer started butting in, just like Vardis was afraid he was. Speaking like he had any business dictating how Robin should be raised. He was still a stranger yet, and it made Vardis bristle. That hard look remained cemented onto his face as he glanced at his unexpected companion, disapprovingly.]

Mm. Well. That's for his mother to decide. Not you, not me. [He tries to keep the shortness from his voice, but...doesn't try too hard.]

[It's a quick drive to the ice cream shop and Vardis pulls his car over, confident that his Protection Command license will keep any authorities from fussing about his parking choices. Flicking the hazards on, he steps out and strides right to the shop.  It's closing up, and it only takes a quick look around the place--and a quick exchange with the server--to know that Robin isn't there and hasn't been there this evening. It doesn't surprise him, though he glowers as he heads back out to the car.

They were close to Hyde Park...It was a large expanse of territory but Robin might very likely have run there.  It was only a few blocks away, and the attraction of a park was obvious for a boy who wanted to get away from everyone.]

Let's try the park... 

[widowarryn-deactivated20130812]

and you can have it all, my empire of dirt | lysa arryn & vardis egen | august 29th

[vardisofthevale]

He cupped his hand to his mouth and glanced away, falling into a somber, heavy thoughtfulness as Lysa wept quietly. He’d never felt so stuck before.  He’d never not had the answers. So much training, so much skill, and what good was he? He could kill a man as easily as he might embrace one. He could fire a gun, he could disarm an attacker with nothing but his bare hands, coordinate a fleet of security for the Prime Minister himself—but after more than a decade, he couldn’t keep Lysa Arryn from crying. 

And then of all things, she said that she was sorry. He frowned and turned his blue eyes back to her, sharp with reproach. Vardis rose to sit himself beside her, letting their shoulders touch. Letting her know he was there. 

"Lysa," he said gently, keeping his low voice soft. "You did nothing wrong. Robin’s actions were his own. And he will be all right. This will pass…” 

He hesitated, not sure if he should touch her…but if she wanted him gone, she only had to say the word. So he carefully moved an arm around her shoulders, holding her firmly. Then, softer than before, he said, “Please don’t cry….” 

[ladyarryns]

"It’s just been so hard these past few days,” Lysa said through a soft sigh, and her lips pressed together as she looked up and gave him a short smile of beaten resignation. “I can’t sleep at all.” She could feel the fatigue, heavy in her eyes. “I close my eyes and see Robin stolen away and feel that same uncertainty and terror from that night, and I can’t.” Lysa would lie there in her bed, consumed by anxiety as it pressed down on her chest and she felt its hands encircling her neck. 

Vardis knew she always had troubles sleeping to begin with, that often hours past midnight Lysa Arryn would have to turn to something to ease her to sleep, whether it be a warm drink, some pills, or his bed. Worries were crowd her mind and she would get hot flashes of nightmares even in her wakefulness. She wished she could turn them off. She wished she could just close her eyes and sleep as peacefully as anyone else.

But even in Lysa’s youth, she had not been an easy sleeper. Back then, she had always been too excited about the things to come to settle down and rest, but now they had come and they were nothing she dreamed of and all she longed for was rest. 

[vardisofthevale]

He felt her weight sink into him and was glad she had accepted his gesture of comfort. One arm around her, he cradled her head to his shoulder and chest, fingers working gently in the locks of her long hair. 

"I know," he said softly. He knew her nights were sleepless, and her sleep was far from dreamless. How many nights, even before this, had he lay with her in his arms, feeling her fitful little movements while she fought her troubled dreams? "But he's safe now...he's just..."

What? He's just what? Traumatized by something they'd yet to uncover? Delirious? He was unequipped for reality, for life in the real world and all the hardships that come with it, that's what he was. 

"...he's upset. He'll come 'round." 

He rubbed Lysa's arm warmly, and it wasn't so different from the years and years of chilly nights they'd spent in the Eyrie. When Robin was just a toddler, and Lysa and Vardis would wander into forgotten rooms and halls, half of them in various states of disrepair.... And Vardis would find himself with Lysa in his arms, his mouth to hers, the two of them chasing away the chill together. 

"You should try to sleep a little...or maybe have some tea...?" 

[vardisofthevale]

I love you like the little bird that picks up crumbs around the door || (Vardis & Robin) (26 August, 5am)

[vardisofthevale]

"We’ll be with your mum soon," he promises Robin. He checks the boy over again, smoothing his black hair and touching his shoulders. He feels Robin’s arms and wrists to make sure nothing’s sprained, nothing hurts, looks at his little hands within his own large, strong ones. Scrapes and bruises…like as not the boy was mostly scared and hungry, weak from a seizure… He’s dusty and dirty and there are tear tracks down his cheeks. But Vardis doesn’t know what to do for him just yet. 

"What happened? Did you have a fit?" he asked. 

[aneaglefromwales-blog]

Mr. Egen is taking him back to Mama.  Mama might be mad but she’s never ever mad for long and that’s reassuring to Robin.  ”Is mama still at the hotel?”  He thought he saw Mama running after him when he left the house but maybe that was just his imagination.   He’s not sure what’s real and what’s not.  Was anything that happened tonight real?  He’s not certain.  His feelings are going everywhere, he can’t process his emotions except for a sick feeling at the bottom of his stomach that is almost like guilt.

Mr. Egen was a soldier.  Mr. Egen must have killed people.  Robin always knew that but it was never a frightening thought to him before.  He tries to keep his voice steady.  He’s feeling better now.  ”Can you put me down?  I think I can walk.”

And then Mr. Egen asks what happened.  He wants to throw up.  Suddenly it’s like he can hardly remember anything that happened.  ”Nothing.”  He mumbles the word, and he’s almost shaking.  ”Nothing happened.  That’s right.  I had a fit.  That’s all.  Everything is fine.”  Nothing is wrong,   Everything is fine.  ”Are we far?  I don’t—I don’t know where we are.  Are we near?”

[vardisofthevale]

"Yes, she's at the hotel," Vardis says. He had convinced Lysa to stay at the suite, in case Robin wandered back on his own while Vardis was out searching. He had hoped this would be the case (well, that would be easier, anyways...truthfully, he wanted to be the one to find the boy--to amend his mistake, to prove his worth), but more than that it would be nearly impossible for Vardis to work with the frantic, emotional mother at his shoulder. 

It would have been a lot easier without that damned writer sniffing at his heels, but that's all said and done now. 

It's a relief to hear Robin speaking with a steadier voice, a seemingly-clearer head. Just frightened, Vardis assures himself. He'll be fine with some rest and the comforts of home. 

But the moment Vardis tries to ascertain what happened throughout the course of the night, it's like Robin backpedals. He clams up, tries to tell Vardis everything's fine, but he's speaking to anxiously, repeating himself in a manically frightened sort of way. That makes Vardis uneasy again. It doesn't feel like Robin's usual dramatics...the boy is genuinely upset about something. 

"No, we're not far. Fifteen minutes," he says, trying to reassure his charge. There's always traffic in London, its streets like the flowing veins of a living thing, but at least they haven't quite hit the rush hour migration yet. 

He wants to know as much as possible before bringing the boy back to his mother. But he knows he can't push Robin in his current state. Instead, he tries to work on Robin's trust. "You're safe now," he says. "Everything's all right." 

He tries a less direct approach to his questions. "Did you stay there all night?" 

[thesternfaced-blog]

A wolf at the door [Stern face & Vardis; 25th August; night]

[vardisofthevale]

He wants to tell him to fuck off and let him do his damned job, but he doesn’t have the patience to argue with the man. Fine. Whatever. He shakes Lucas’ hand, a quick, firm grip.]

If you want. But keep up. 

[He strides quickly to his car, climbing into the driver’s seat and waiting for Lucas to get in.]

…I take it Lady Arryn called you?

[thesternfaced-blog]

[ Lucas nodded, and grips the man’s hand and lets go as soon as he does ]

[ Keep up. His fingers ached so much that for a moment, Derrek was actually worried that they would reach out and choke him to death. How fucking sweet would that be? Maybe he’ll get the chance to lead the dog into an alley and tear his body to pieces there, and it would not be so difficult to spin a lie about Vardis. He should kill him soon. This dog was too suspicious of him and eventually, he will be more than a nuisance.  ]

[ Deep breath, Derrek, the creature in his head laughed. ]

[ Lucas followed him into the car, quickly slipping into his seat ] Yeah, she did [ He frowned, still not used to the title. Then, he straightened his back. ] Any idea on where should we look first?

[vardisofthevale]

[He turned the key and brought the engine to life as Lucas settled into his seat. His displeasure was masked expertly by a calm face. Damnit, Lysa...of course she called anyone she knew might help, she was in a panic. He tried not to let it hurt his ego--she trusted him...but...that was just how she was. Still, he didn't like anyone else knowing Arryn business.]

I've a few places in mind....

[He pulls off from the curb, picking his brain to decide where to look first. They'd already called Myranda Royce and confirmed he was not with her, and Mya didn't know of his whereabouts either. Truthfully, there were few places to really try for. Robin didn't exactly have many friends, especially not in London. He wasn't currently in school. So Vardis had to see what he could find in the few locations that might mean something to Robin--landmarks, eateries they'd frequented, parks....]

He's never out on his own...all he really knows are the places I bring him to.

[widowarryn-deactivated20130812]

and you can have it all, my empire of dirt | lysa arryn & vardis egen | august 29th

[vardisofthevale]

I’ll fix it, I’ll fix it…

He tilted his head to her touch, and he saw the tears in her eyes. He just wanted to fix it, to make it all right, to assure her she was safe…. 

"I’m so sorry, Lysa," he said softly, dropping her formal title, calling her by her true name—something he could only do in private. He released her hands and reached up to cup her face. Don’t cry, don’t cry… "I’m sorry, I promise it’ll be all right…I’ll talk to him. We’ll both talk to him." 

[ladyarryns]

“I need to know. I need to know exactly what happened, but—” she drew a shaky breath, shaking her head before looking back at him. “—how can I do that when I want him to be able to forget?” 

The idea of Robin being unable to shake this off of him—the idea of the dazed way he had been acting ever since that night becoming the only way he would ever act…that was what broke Lysa. She felt her panic break her like china and she broke away from Vardis, stifling her sob as she pressed her hand against her face, her free arm hugging her sides as she cried. Cried for being unable to protect Robin, cried for his unknown future. It was the quiet sort of weeping, one without screams or wails; Lysa still felt so raw and weak. 

"I’m sorry, I’m sorry, so sorry," came her broken words, though the number of things she was sorry for was more than three. 

[vardisofthevale]

He let out a soft breath, the only outward sign he would show of his frustration. Of course he would not convince her otherwise. He couldn't convince her that it wasn't her fault, or that more boundaries and discipline would not only keep Robin's behavior in line, but it would probably make him feel better about himself. 

It's not my place, he reminded himself. He wasn't Robin's father. He wasn't even Lysa's husband. Or boyfriend. He was her employee, her bedmate, and yes, her friend...but the line between them was a solid wall. There would always be a point he could not cross. 

She wanted answers from him, she was looking to him not just for gentle words but for a solution. A hundred scrambled phrases ran through his mind, a hundred things he wanted to say. That it wasn't her fault, that she had not been out of line to scold Robin. That whatever happened, Robin wasn't going to forget, he was going to have to cope...but the words never found their way off of his tongue. 

Lysa broke the contact between them and he dutifully let her go, allowing her the space, but his stomach clenched when he saw her crying. All these years, and she still cried....some good he was. 

He cupped his hand to his mouth and glanced away, falling into a somber, heavy thoughtfulness as Lysa wept quietly. He'd never felt so stuck before.  He'd never not had the answers. So much training, so much skill, and what good was he? He could kill a man as easily as he might embrace one. He could fire a gun, he could disarm an attacker with nothing but his bare hands, coordinate a fleet of security for the Prime Minister himself--but after more than a decade, he couldn't keep Lysa Arryn from crying. 

And then of all things, she said that she was sorry. He frowned and turned his blue eyes back to her, sharp with reproach. Vardis rose to sit himself beside her, letting their shoulders touch. Letting her know he was there. 

"Lysa," he said gently, keeping his low voice soft. "You did nothing wrong. Robin's actions were his own. And he will be all right. This will pass..." 

He hesitated, not sure if he should touch her...but if she wanted him gone, she only had to say the word. So he carefully moved an arm around her shoulders, holding her firmly. Then, softer than before, he said, "Please don't cry...."