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Post by Queen Joanna Lannister on Mar 9, 2015 17:16:42 GMT -5
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Joanna Lannister arrived at Casterly Rock and entered the gallery after having someone run up in order to announce her arrival to the king. It had been over a year since she had last visited the place, so she let her eyes wander on the gilded ornaments and walls with just enough feigned interest to keep the courtiers in the room at bay. It was the first time she had traveled outside of Lannisport since her return from the Riverlands, and she sure was not about to discuss it with Brynden's flock of courtiers. She was there for a dinner; tasting waters, that was it.
For the occasion, she wore a splendid new dress of burgundy slashed with gold, and expensive jewelry to match it. Even so, she did not appear nearly as flamboyant as she had a few years ago.
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Post by The Forgotten God on Mar 9, 2015 18:18:03 GMT -5
She is swiftly ushered into the private dining halls of King Brynden Lannister. The king is still growing and skinny, but handsome in his Lannister way. He wears a red cloak and uncomfortably fiddles with the heavy gold crown on his forehead. He rises as she enters and smiles. "Cousin! It is sooo good to see you!" He waves away the few present around him. "It has been so long and I praise the Seven you are healthy!"
As he talks, the twin princesses enter. Kelsey and Jessica are a few months older than Joanna and look much the same, though perhaps a little bustier. Kelsey nods to Joanna. "We heard your brother is well at the Golden Tooth, cousin."
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Post by Queen Joanna Lannister on Mar 10, 2015 5:05:26 GMT -5
Having offered the young king a small curtsy upon entering the room, she took an offered seat near him. "Your Grace," she greeted with a sweet smile, "Likewise, and I trust you are in good health as well? I thought it was high time I finally visited."
She greeted the twins as well, nodding. "I hear the same. How have you all been faring?"
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Post by The Forgotten God on Mar 10, 2015 9:10:45 GMT -5
Brynden grinned. "The war goes on, but we are winning," he said, confident as only a youth can be. "And once we make the North surrender control of the Trident, then we can move on o...oh, sorry, I can't talk about that." He smacked his face to remember.
Jessica smiles. "We have been well. My dear sister is not long to remain here at the rock, sadly." She leans forward and conspiratoriously whispers. "She has a betrothed now." Kelsey's face is stone as her sister speaks.
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Post by Queen Joanna Lannister on Mar 10, 2015 11:04:22 GMT -5
"Oh?" She looked at the twins. "You and I both, cousin," she told Kelsey with a sardonic smile. "Who, pray tell, is that no doubt wonderful match my father has bestowed upon you?"
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Post by The Forgotten God on Mar 10, 2015 11:06:05 GMT -5
Kelsey sighed. "They are sending me to Volantis," she said, a tear in her eye. "Someone they call the tiger." The tear stubbornly refuses to fall.
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Post by Queen Joanna Lannister on Mar 10, 2015 11:10:27 GMT -5
Joanna's smile fell even though she had little clue as to who this man was supposed to be. "Volantis?" she repeated, slowly turning her head to give the king a measuring look. "How cruel."
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Post by The Forgotten God on Mar 10, 2015 11:54:39 GMT -5
The king tugged at his collar. "We need them, you know, and olantis is a bbbeautifcity, everyone says so, and it is rich ..." Kelsey looks at him angrily. Jessica seems more amused, somehow.
"And you need their armies to conquer the entire continent, yes, I heard Uncle Stafford say that to you with Lord Orson three months ago. I'm going to be a shiny bauble for some pervert from the Free Cities' exotic menagerie of concubines." Brynden shoots back, sounding a bit embarrassed.
"You're going to rule Volantis! And you'll be a wife, not a harem girl!" He mispronounces harem, so it is possible he is unsure exactly what the word entails. "And, cousin Joanna, what is wrong with your betrothal? Please tell me you understand that ladies have to be married, right?" His voice is high pitched already, but is near a squeak now.
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Post by Queen Joanna Lannister on Mar 10, 2015 12:22:05 GMT -5
"The entire continent, oh my," said Joanna, putting a hand to her chest to emphasize her surprise.
She nodded at the king's last question and touched his sleeve to offer some reassurance. "Of course. We can either marry, join the Silent Sisters or throw ourselves from the highest towers of our castles. Life is a grand adventure for us ladies," she said, and offered him a humorous smile so he would get the idea she was merely joking. "My betrothal seems ideal in comparison now that I've learned I will not have to fear getting trampled by elephants. Sometimes you really only need so little to turn your whole day around."
Her tone was friendly and sincere enough to fool the young king, but she figured the princesses would probably get the real gist. She paused briefly, having originally wanted to have these next words with His Grace alone, but decided to speak up. Perhaps the twins would even go along with it. "But enough of that. So, the Ruler of the Seven Kingdoms? The title would fit you so well, King Brynden," she said sweetly, but her face grew serious. "Oh, but I do hope you are not planning on winning this war using the Valemen and the Volantene alone? If you want to become the king, the people must love you!"
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Post by The Forgotten God on Mar 10, 2015 12:37:52 GMT -5
"We will earn their love with fair rule and peace and prosperity," he said proudly, "every war has its cost, but once united again, we shall go back to the days when borders were not so important and the people all bowed to the same king." He smiles wider. "And we have far more than just Valemen and sellswords." He sounded excited. "We have the Faith. Since Ser Ghaston died they have been rebuilding across the Reach, and the High Septon has declared that those who follow the Seven are bound to pledge themselves to me, the only monarch who follows the true gods!" He points across the room, to a giant map marked with banners. "They have thirty thousand men, I hear. And the Stormlands are in upheaval after the Battle of Blackhaven last year. With the rest of the kingdoms split, we can beat everyone one at a time."
The princesses both stare at their brother in silent shock. The speech had started out sounding rehearsed, but the more the young king had talked, the more confident he sounded.
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Post by Queen Joanna Lannister on Mar 10, 2015 12:50:08 GMT -5
"It all sounds so wonderful," Joanna agreed, but furrowed her brow in doubt. "Except.. how will you earn their respect if not helping take what is rightfully yours? I am only wondering because you know what they say about the Young Wolf. How loved, respected and feared he was, and still is, among nobility and smallfolk alike. He won so many battles.. and he was only what, five-and-ten?"
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Post by The Forgotten God on Mar 10, 2015 12:54:56 GMT -5
"I will be taking to the battlefield soon," Brynden said, stung by her doubting of his manliness. "I am a man now, but a king must rule more than command. Like you said, what good are battlefield victories if my people starve because their king isn't providing them food?"
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Post by Queen Joanna Lannister on Mar 10, 2015 13:00:21 GMT -5
"Of course," she said with half a shrug. "It's just what people have been saying.. in Lannisport. Will you be joining my father and brother at the Golden Tooth, perhaps?"
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Post by The Forgotten God on Mar 10, 2015 13:19:20 GMT -5
Brynden looked angry. "People think I am a coward?!" He narrows his eyes. "After I return from battle, I will be careful to find these traitors." He summons his Kingsguard. "Lord Commander Brax! Ready my horse and get my armor prepared! We ride this evening!" He turns to Joanna. "I'm not the little boy you remember."
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Post by Queen Joanna Lannister on Mar 10, 2015 13:27:20 GMT -5
"I did not think for once that you were, Your Grace," she replied, looking him in the eye, "We have all changed in these past few years. I will be sure to seek these people out myself to hand them over to you when you return."
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