eachdraidh | (sixth lemon cake) video ✧ open to both courts

[ before the lockets sits a well-composed and well-turned-out lady: her face is set with discipline -- though below it she wants to crack and cry. but sansa stark has a duty -- some imperative -- to speak calmly of grave matters. nothing about this is comfortable; nothing about this is within her conventional grasp. she could compare it to her makeshift trials before the lords declarant or her audiences with the king, but this stage is far wider. out of frame, her fingers tremble. ]

Dear Shardbearers of either court --

[ if her voice shakes then it is by design. some honest fear is permitted into her tone, for what better to move the hearts of strangers than to express genuine dismay at this great knotted problem? she would not have thought to even sell it as injustice until living here and meeting many a person who appeared outraged over these alliances. these marriages. these common cages. ] One turn of the moon ago, High Queen Morla delivered onto me an ultimatum: to marry some Unseelie lord of her choosing, or else invite war upon the Cothromach. Whatever your loyalties, I beg you all to recognize the attempt for what it was --[ and do please fill that blank with your own outraged conclusions. ] I call for aid and support.

[ some words are permitted more of a quiver than others: morla; marry; aid; war. ] But I fear war has come already -- has long already been present -- and today I will refuse the proposal offered, because I fear it was only ever a blade's poisoned edge. I would prevail upon some soul from that queen's court to speak my refusal to her. [ powerful men have met her vulnerabilities with laughter, only to turn and shake their heads when she took small careful steps towards decision. what else is she to do? if she will not play the game by their rules, she must try to write her own. but even now, she hinges her action upon the passion of someone else's protest. someone else's judgement -- for better or worse. ]

The Lady Keeper of the Cothromach will not swear away her city to another court by marriage vows or by vows of any kind. [ except for other partial vows made in quiet rooms with would-be neutral parties. but those meetings are a secret and her announcement today comes instead to engage the hearts and sympathies of prospective champions who might grow incensed over a bully's tactics. lady sansa is not above playing upon their pity if said pity will protect her, her family, and her new city. anyone's pity will do: seelie or unseelie alike. ]

High Queen Morla's dogs are at the gate; let us be wolves when we meet them.

( ooc; i know some efforts have already been made re: the unseelie camps by lancer and others -- there's also a fresh log for the battle itself. )

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I cannot hope for Unseelie Shards to turn against their own. But if you know some names, perhaps... [ no. no -- that is too ambitious. too quick. too clumsy.

sansa sighs. ] Tell me I have not chosen poorly. Please.

I'll see if I can get some additional aid towards you. I'd ask what the lines are like, but that might be too sensitive to share over the network.

[Waver frowns at the request, and leans back in his chair. His study is behind him, all books and work benches, scattered with paper.]

From where I sit, you've done what you think is right, and demonstrated your reasoning to everyone, so that no matter what, your perspective and actions are understood. That's no easy thing to do, and I can't fault those decisions.

Sharing intelligences does not come easily to me. I was taught... [ it doesn't matter what she has been taught. ] They must be told how Morla chooses to conduct her affairs. Holding that to my own heart would do none of us any good.

It might help if you can chart out where they are along your city. Are they in the mountain pass that leads to your gates? If so, reinforcements could come up from elsewhere, behind them, and press them between your walls and the new, fresher army.

[It's the easiest example Waver has on hand, and he speaks of it too calmly, considering the end result.]

You're right - it does more harm to keep quiet about it. Moreover, it helps to make people question what she's done, and what she will do in the future. If she does this to one of her own, would she do it to any of them? Those are the questions you're provoking right now, and they are important ones.

A-and magic. I fear some foul magic is at play. In the central keep, I receive word of men turning to fire on the field. [ ... ] How do we fight fire?

[ a soft pause. a thought. with ice. ]

Water would be logical. If you have your own magicians on hand, that can aim it and put those flames out, you buy delay time.

Magicians. I may yet know a handful who can be brought in time from Caer Glaem. [ they have a fairy ring -- built to transport only seelie shards. a curious arrangement, but one which may benefit her here. and now. ]

It may be worth calling upon them now.

[A nasty little thought nestles into Waver's head, and there's no point in hiding it.]

Once wet, your targets could be frozen.

Frozen. Like icicles.

[ sharp but ultimately fragile. ] A gruesome fate. But then again, one equally gruesome awaits the people of Cothromach if the gates are taken.

[Waver nods in agreement.]

One option out of many available. It will slow an advance.

I now find I wish my boons had been better spent.

They wouldn't have given you everything. And truth be told, learning to use what you have to it's full potential is a greater skill to have in your arsenal.

[ miserably: ] I wasted a whole one on the colour of my hair.

At the time, the disguise was useful, no?

[ her laugh is unhappy. ]

My hair was dyed when I arrived. My boon restored it -- just after my Lord Father arrived.

[ you see, she could not greet him looking like some other man's daughter. ]

[Waver's smile is thin. He understands, although he has to agree that it was a little foolish.]

You've since learned. And it was your father, I think you shouldn't be so hard on yourself for wanting to do something for him.

Perhaps not. But now there are grander affairs to be concluded in his memory. Honours to retain.

Mm. And you'll have honours of your own when this is all done.

I wish I possessed your faith. And everyone else's. You all sound so certain.

I can't speak for everyone else you've had words with, but I've found the minute I start doubting myself in a fight, that's when I make a mistake.

Then it is a good thing I was never a knight.

Had you been raised for the role from the start, you might not say that.

And the other thing to bare in mind, with all the support, is that there's no point in reminding you of the stakes. That generally just adds to nerves.

I can't imagine my nerves winding any tighter than they are now.

All the more reason for no one else to contribute to them.

[ she fears so much. defeat; death; disgrace. and her own ministers, if they are all so slick and careful as tzilan. she wants to be good enough for him even as she fears him.

waver, at least, she does not fear. ] Thank you. My Lord. Be certain I will keep you apprised as the battle turns.

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gordianknots - 2014-11-04 00:35 (UTC) - Expand