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Post by Arania Stark on Oct 18, 2012 13:34:33 GMT -5
Arania looked around at everyone, feeling her face grow red and hot. She went to her father first of all, hugging him tightly. "I'm sorry," she muttered. "Can't seem to stay out of trouble, it seems."
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Post by The Forgotten God on Oct 18, 2012 13:59:01 GMT -5
Beric nods. "It's all right, girl...who'd ever see that coming?" He leads her to sit next to him.
King Terrence Stark looks like a man who needs a drink. "Lady Hightower, may I please ask you, what exactly happened?" He seems kindly enough, if tired.
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Post by Amelia Royce on Oct 18, 2012 14:49:41 GMT -5
Amelia offers Arania a supportive smile while Benjen remains passive.
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Post by Arania Stark on Oct 18, 2012 16:15:41 GMT -5
Arania took her place next to her father, glad to see Amelia, at the very least. She at last met the gaze of King Terrence. "Your grace," she began, taking a deep breath, "I met Ser Frances Sand at the Seven Kingdoms. We spoke for a time, ten he invited me to te gardens so...so he could play the harp and sing where it was not so loud. I had guards," she said with a pointed glance at her father, "but only te two, and Ser Frances had forced me to swallow some poison and had his knife in my mouth before they even came upon us."
"He made short work of my men, and then Kal Stark showed up. Then...then it was, I guess, Ser Markus and his sister. He sent her away, and sent Ser Frances with her. I guess the Sword of the Morning was...accustomed to cleaning up after Ser Frances. They fought and," she gave Kal a small smile, "Kal killed him." She hoped that was a thorough enough account.
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Post by The Forgotten God on Oct 18, 2012 16:25:37 GMT -5
Terrence's fingers drum on the table. Kal mentions, "Your Grace, Ser Markus killed the second guard. I heard his death scream whilst staring down..." his voice trails off. "I couldn't let him kill her, Your Grace."
Terrence chews his lower lip, thinking. His eyes go back and forth from the Reach girl to his own man.
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Post by Arania Stark on Oct 18, 2012 17:43:18 GMT -5
"If Kal hadn't followed us...I am sure I would be dead." Only then did Arania look as if she might cry. Her lips trembled a moment and her eyes watered, but she forced it back, not letting the tears fall. She wiped her eyes on her sleeve. She waited for the king to say something, for someone to say something.
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Post by Amelia Royce on Oct 18, 2012 17:47:06 GMT -5
"It's okay, Arania," Amelia said, getting up and walking around the table to give the girl a hug.
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Post by The Forgotten God on Oct 18, 2012 17:51:59 GMT -5
"King Stark...?" begins Lord Beric, and the King of the North looks sympathetically at the aging lord.
"Yes, I am sorry to make you relive it, Lady Arania. I thank you very much for being so brave in describing it to us." She is taken to her seat while Terrence looks back to Kalvin Stark. "Dorne will be screaming for blood, and the Faith also." His look turns grim and his voice is low with repressed rage. "They can howl all they want. I see nothing more here than a man we were all wrong about receiving the punishment that should have been dealt to the real villain here."
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Post by Arania Stark on Oct 18, 2012 17:52:10 GMT -5
She hugged Amelia back, grateful for her closeness. She sniffled a bit, whispering, "Thank you. I needed that." She was glad to have a friend. Usually she kept people at arms length, not wishing to get too close but...she found she needed friends more and more these days.
She nodded in agreement with the kings words. "That is all it was, Your Grace. He was no true knight, neither of them were."
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Post by The Forgotten God on Oct 18, 2012 18:03:11 GMT -5
King Terrence looks to his son. "Prince Benjen, would you handle the Dornish end of it? I have the Faith to deal with. Thank you for speaking again, Lady Arania; stay as long as you like and please, see a maester." He rises, and everyone else does. "Kal, make sure the lady is safe."
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Post by Amelia Royce on Oct 18, 2012 18:05:20 GMT -5
"Of course, father," Benjen replied. "I have already spoken with Prince Arthur and I believe it would be beneficial for Arania to tell him and his mother what happened."
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Post by The Forgotten God on Oct 18, 2012 18:10:36 GMT -5
"You heard the story, son; the lady doesn't need to rehash it to everyone. It was monstrous and unnatural, and as far as I am concerned Kal Stark should be honored for his service to the realm." Terrence lets out a breath. "That said...put it more diplomatically than that."
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Post by Amelia Royce on Oct 18, 2012 18:15:45 GMT -5
"The Dornish won't accept that," Benjen said, shaking his head. "This act pretty much means war for them, at least in the passes. We can do them the favour surely. I know that Prince Arthur was already mistrustful of Frances Sand."
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Post by The Forgotten God on Oct 18, 2012 18:21:20 GMT -5
Lord Frey nods in agreement and looks to his king, who uncharacteristically backs down. "They may send someone up to speak to her, then. She does not have to enter the chambers of her kingdom's ancient rivals to speak of her experience. If they do not take your word, that is. And I am not Lord Beric's king," he points out.
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Post by Amelia Royce on Oct 18, 2012 18:34:56 GMT -5
"Of course, father," Benjen said calmly. "I will speak to Princess Nalya as soon as possible."
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