|
Post by Queen Joanna Lannister on Apr 23, 2015 11:31:46 GMT -5
The king's personal quarters.
|
|
|
Post by Queen Joanna Lannister on Apr 23, 2015 11:34:18 GMT -5
Joanna and her relatively small retinue rode well ahead of the 25,000 Reach prisoners and the annoying tag-along Starks. Partly to get to Lannisport sooner, partly for the privilege of not travelling with them.
Before they reached Lannisport, however, they took a little detour to Casterly Rock for Joanna to have an audience with King Brynden.
|
|
|
Post by The Forgotten God on Apr 23, 2015 11:37:21 GMT -5
The king is sitting in one of his libraries, breaking his fast with another annoying tag-along Stark. When he sees his distant cusin he rises and walks to her. He struggles to get words out. "My...my lady Joanna, I am so sorry about Lord Jaymes..." Delila watches the exchange silently. "He...I never thought..."
|
|
|
Post by Queen Joanna Lannister on Apr 23, 2015 12:04:56 GMT -5
"Thank you, Your Grace," she said after kissing him on the cheek in greeting. She greeted Delia as well, with a small smile. "I hope you don't mind terribly, but I would like to borrow your husband for a moment," she said almost apologetically, looking at King Brynden. "If you could spare one, that is. It can of course wait until you have eaten."
|
|
|
Post by The Forgotten God on Apr 23, 2015 14:03:41 GMT -5
Brynden nods to his wife and she kisses his cheek. "Have a seat and take some food, Joanna," the young queen said. "I know it's a long ride." She calls for some sweetwine to be sent up as she leaves.
Brynden turns to his lovely cousin. She still is a bit intimidating to him, it appears. "I...I'm sorry, I don't know what to say. I wish, I wish," he finishes miserably. "I wish this hadn't happened, of course, but, we, we had to kill Rycherd Tyrell. We HAD to," he said. His eyes are a bit hollowed out, making his already slim frame seem gaunt.
|
|
|
Post by Queen Joanna Lannister on Apr 23, 2015 14:24:47 GMT -5
Joanna took the seat and touched his cheek briefly, accompanied by a sad smile, finding the young king most endearing. "You are sweet, Your Grace" she said as she let her hand fall, "but none of this was your fault, of course. This is all on Tyrell and his ilk, which.. which is what I'm here to talk to you about. I know Jaymes loved you dearly and fought hard to help you get the Reach back, which is why it would be a pity if you let it fall into the chaos of revolts now that you've just gained it back. And I fear putting a Stark girl in charge would mean exactly that. I might have a better alternative to that, King Brynden.. If I may?"
(OOC: 60 Charm?)
|
|
|
Post by The Forgotten God on Apr 23, 2015 14:28:51 GMT -5
123 (+1, but this is far from an unqualified success. You're toeing the line between seduction and charm I'd say.)
King Brynden looks at her. "A better alternative, now? Than Lord Beric's eldest surviving daughter?" He looks at her to see what she's up to, but then maybe he figures she's far ahead of him in straight out intelligence. "Who do you suggest, then?"
|
|
|
Post by Queen Joanna Lannister on Apr 23, 2015 14:40:39 GMT -5
(Ok)
"She is a Stark, and by giving her the lands, you are giving claim to House Stark of Winterfell," she reasoned. "There is another remaining daughter, isn't there? The Lady Alysanne? Now, your messenger said she was unfit to rule, which is unfortunate, but may be a good thing for you. She could still be married to one of your loyal supporters, can she not? And who better fit to rule these lands in your favour than your finest general, Ser Tomas?" she offered with a half-smile.
|
|
|
Post by The Forgotten God on Apr 23, 2015 14:47:02 GMT -5
Brynden nods. "The thought had occured," he said. "Your step-brother is my finest warrior and a good man, from what I can tell." He taps his fingers together. "I had thought to make him regent for Lannisport, in place of that....dreadful stepmother of yours. Your brother's widow had to be restrained from executing her. EXECUTING her," he emphasized. "The Lady Selma has rank in the West but no reputation and only your brother's seed in her to keep her claim." He looks at her, looking like he wants more input. "But I do trust your judgement really highly, Joanna. I'm just...not sure..." yep, still intimidated by her.
|
|
|
Post by Queen Joanna Lannister on Apr 23, 2015 15:13:34 GMT -5
Joanna struggled for a moment to keep a straight face, because despite never having met this Selma person, she would have gladly hugged her right about now. She'd of course not known the Lady Lannister was pregnant. "Ser Tomas would no doubt be a good man for the job, but his mother.. Once, when Jaymes and I were only seven, we spotted her dallying in the gardens with two Reachmen when our father was away. She caught us spying and threatened to have our eyes washed with lye, because clearly our sight needed to be fixed. Needless to say, we stayed out of her way as best we could after that," she said, suppressing a shiver at the horrid memory, "Father would not have believed us anyway, you know how "nice" she can be. What I am trying to say is that this is obviously not a person one should have around Jaymes's unborn child, regardless of who rules Lannisport. She has only ever been out for her own hide. We are lucky Ser Tomas is of a different kind."
She studied him for a while and leaned in, almost conspiratory. "Now, if you put Tomas in charge of Hightower and the Reach, he could easily subdue whatever revolts there might be, and protect your lands from the other side. Leaving Alysanne Hightower in charge in name will surely seem more favourable to your Reach lords than sending down a Stark. There is no guarantee anyone down there will even listen to her. And of course then there'd be the obvious disputes over inheritance, as she is already married to a head of a house. Legally, you would be giving the Hightower to the Starks. Now, as for Lannisport... I do not know this Lady Selma personally, but from what I hear, she sounds like she could be a fine regent. Her loyalties seem to be in the right place, at least." She smiled.
(60.......Diplomacy? Intimidation? All of the above?)
|
|
|
Post by The Forgotten God on Apr 23, 2015 15:25:10 GMT -5
Brynden taps his fingers and thinks, and thinks. "Well, clearly Lady Arania's marriage would have to be dissolved for her to claim her seat, but, well," he taps his foot. "I shall take your advice on the Reach, so long as this Alysanne proves her loyalty to me," he decided. "But Selma will need a strong regent. I will not allow a Rowan to rule the West until her child comes of age in seventeen years." His eyes narrow. "As for your stepmother, well, it so happens I need a woman to please Ser Hollis." He grins a bit evilly. "I'm sure they shall get along famously."
|
|
|
Post by Queen Joanna Lannister on Apr 23, 2015 15:40:37 GMT -5
Joanna smiled brightly at that. "That would be most fitting, yes. Thank you," she said, and thought for a while. "I am not sure who to recommend for the position. Perhaps one of your cousins? Or one of mine? I have an uncle who is quite adept at diplomacy," she mentioned, although wasn't sure if Roland could exactly be described as strong. "They'd obviously have to be someone you can trust."
|
|
|
Post by The Forgotten God on Apr 23, 2015 15:47:50 GMT -5
"Even family cannot always be trusted," he mumbled. "I wish you could be regent." He scowls. "Dissolve your marriage and make you my Lady of the West." He shakes his head. "Forgive me, I'm not sleeping much lately. Is your husband bringing me those prisoners?"
|
|
|
Post by Queen Joanna Lannister on Apr 23, 2015 15:59:27 GMT -5
"If only that was possible," she said with a slight smile. Being the Queen of the North suddenly seemed far less appealing to her than being the Lady of the West, but what was done, was done. "He is. Twenty-five thousand of them, to be exact. Why can't you sleep? Is it the war?"
|
|
|
Post by The Forgotten God on Apr 23, 2015 16:03:15 GMT -5
"What do I do with my sister?" he said finally. "She's a spiteful traitor, but...blood is blood. And she carries Tyrell's seed." He leans back. "So many decisions, so few people to trust."
|
|