(sixth lemon cake) video ✧ open to both courts

[steeledskin]

[ 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. )

Comments

Voice;

[steeledskin]

Her meaning was clear: marry as she chose, or see the city bleed.

[ yes. blackmail. sansa does not say the word herself; she'll let everyone else come to that conclusion themselves. ]

[parallels]

Basic definition of blackmail then.

[Clara pauses. She doesn't know this young girl but she can't imagine what it was like to be put into that situation. But the grace that the girl carries her burdens with is impressive.]

I can't imagine it was easy, certainly wasn't fair, but you did the right thing. People will help. We won't let the city fall.

[steeledskin]

[ such an outpouring of faith. of goodwill. of support -- she can almost forget how helpless and cornered she'd felt in that small candle-lit room with saralegui. speaking with some of these people today is like having a chorus of ser gendrys behind her: stubborn and protective. he'd spoken up then as they do now.

she needs them all. ]

You have my thanks. You have...more than it. You -- so many of you -- have my very honour in your hands.

[parallels]

And we'll protect it. There's nothing more important than the honor of someone who stands tall and doesn't crumble to fear. Especially, in the face of such a threat.

[Her voice turns quiet. It really is impressive, but sad. Sad to think that someone so young has to deal with such issues. Sometimes, it's hard to be reminded what the world is like-harsh and unforgiving.]

Will you be alright? I figure you're protected but that's not the same as being alright. All things considered, really.

[steeledskin]

[ she feels guilt, then, because she has crumbled so many times in the past. would have crumbled again, if not for-- ]

I...yes. [ no. ] The nights will be long, but they'll be longer still for the soldiers in the field.

[ or else altogether too short. ]

[parallels]

Hm.

You know, we definitely can worry about soldiers and you at the same time. Plenty of worry and concern to go around.

[But her voice is gentle. She knows how hard it can be to admit when you're not okay. She's the queen of it, really. But she's always been deeply empathetic towards it in others.]

All things considered, even being far from okay means you're doing pretty well.

[steeledskin]

I've had it said to me that a ruler must be hard: certain and staid and stalwart.

[ how can she be like that and be not okay at the same time? ]

[parallels]

Well, I can't say I'm any particular expert on proper ruling. I was a queen of a moon once. For about a day. And that's as much as I've got. [The shrug in her voice is clear. Apparently being queen for a day was nothing of consequence to her; not even getting into whole "moon" thing.]

But I do not that our fears can make us blind. And if you hide your fears, your blind spots are always there. Sometimes being afraid and miserable and sad, lets you learn a lot about yourself. Lights up the blind spots.

[steeledskin]

[ sorry but she is not gonna let that slide by so smoothly: ] Qu-Queen? [ she chokes. ] Of an entire moon?

[parallels]

Only briefly! Honestly, it was sort of a miscommunication, "stand-in" sort of thing. We eventually got the proper descendant of the last king on the throne. More shenanigans than ruling, really.

[steeledskin]

So -- you were a sort of regent.

[parallels]

I suppose. If you want to consider it worthy of a title.

[steeledskin]

Even a day's reign is worth noting, my lady.

[parallels]

[...Oh, well, if you're going to give her ego an opening.]

I suppose. I mean, all things considered, I did quite a good job.

[steeledskin]

Some fine congratulations are in order, then. For a day or for a year, it doesn't matter.

[ she flatters because flattery is easier. ]