โ there is a chill in the air. summer is well and truly through. โ
โ itโs alright. thereโs no reason to be nervous. โ
โ iโve little patience for the self-important, and even less for flatterers. โ
โ you think me some kind of monster. โ
โ it is my fault, i think, that you have forgotten to fear me. โ
โ do you think simply wearing the crown imbues you with wisdom? โ
โ i have been, at times, unkind but never untrue. โ
โ mark my words, this is a black omen. โ
โ it is your way, is it not? when something does not please you, you run. โ
โ if i may seem so boldโฆyou have not seemed yourself of late. โ
โ i have come to see if we may uncover some path towards peace. โ
โ i do not know if i trust you. and i sense there is danger in you yet. โ
โ i wonder, do you have a moment for a quiet word? โ
โ now i have seen your heart only belongs to you. โ
โ it was worth the risk, no matter the outcome. โ
โ some of us must serve in smaller waysโฆeven if they are not what we would choose for ourselves. โ
โ fuck dignity. i want revenge. โ
โ you are not the player, but a piece on the board. โ
โ is there no honor left in this world? โ
โ stop wasting your life waiting for something thatโll never come. โ
โ perhaps those who strive for the crown are the least suited to wear it. โ
โ i find myself wonderingโฆdo we pursue the same end? โ
โ and how would you define โvictoryโ? โ
โ once you get to know me, youโll find iโm not so bad. โ
โ thought youโd be happy. or at least less morose. โ
โ i can sit still no longer. i must act. โ
โ you struggle to see thereโs an anger that blinds you. โ
โ you must accept the path to victory now is one of violence. โ
โ you only blame me because your true enemies are out of reach. โ
โ there are many pieces at play hereโฆsome of which you canโt yet see. โ
โ you will have all the vengeance you seek, but you must keep a grip on your impulses. โ
โ which would you prefer? to be loved or feared? โ
โ i donโt know what to think of you. i donโt know what you are, or who it is you serve. โ
โ well, the gods favor the bold. โ
โ youโve thrown it away. after all iโve done for you. โ
โ what if the hand thatโs done it is not to be blamed? โ
โ the desire to kill and burn takes hold and reason is forgotten. โ
โ the gods punish us. they punish me. โ
โ the path i walk has never been trod. โ
โ wellโฆno use wondering what might have been. โ
โ tales take on a life of their ownโฆlike weeds. โ
โ this is not the time for blind accusations. โ
โ hm, you wish to be rewarded. โ
โ they will underestimate you. and this will be your advantage. โ
โ i hope you do not confuse mercy with pliancy. โ
โ there is no war so hateful to the gods as a war between kin. โ
โ iโve never trusted you, whollyโฆmuch though i wished to, willed myself to. โ
โ you canโt possibly still be angry about this. โ
โ boldness is one thing, but overconfidenceโฆ โ
โ this world is cold and cruel, and there are few in it who are steadfast. you, i think, are steadfast. โ
โ do not coddle me. grant me at least that dignity. โ
โ history will paint you a villain. โ
โ do you cling, even now, to what you think you lost? โ
โ a sense of humor would do you good. โ
โ if the gods call me to greater things, who am i to refuse them? โ
โ you have done something i feared impossible. โ
โ iโm not entirely sure we can declare this a victory. โ
โ you shouldโve been at my side. โ
โ i see all your great adventures have done nothing for your looks. โ
โ a jest. one you may regret as youโre supping alone tonight. โ
โ soon they will not even remember what it was that began the war in the first place. โ
โ i donโt need their love. i need their swords. โ
โ perhaps all men are corruptโฆand true honor is a mist that melts in the morning. โ
โ let us put all the old unpleasantness behind us. โ
โ are you perhaps the culprit who has been tampering with my peace? โ
โ every man has a weakness. โ
โ everything iโve given you, youโve thrown back in my face. โ
โ oh, take heart. youโve already written yourself into legend. โ
โ you wish to wash your hands of what you yourself set in motion. โ
โ war is coming to the whole of the realm. โ
โ you are a strange kind of woman. โ
โ there are those that have mistaken my caution for weakness. let that be their undoing. โ
โ i think you used my words as an excuse to take your own revengeโฆto indulge the darkness you keep sheathed within you like a blade. โ
โ i came here to raise swords, not corpses. โ
โ i cannot blame anyone for doing what i myself would do if i could. โ
โ we cannot all hide in our castles waiting for war to come to us. โ
โ call it what you willโฆi call it war. โ
โ have the indignities of your childhood not yet sufficiently been avenged? โ
โ you mustnโt be shaken from this. โ
โ is this an order or a request? โ
โ and they will pay for this. โ
โ i will not be thought weak. โ
โ i mistrust this silence. โ
โ oh, you make an art of provoking me. โ