(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. )

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[steeledskin]

Jon Snow captains Cothromach's guard.

[ she has much and more to say to him -- deep thanks and sweet gratitude, but she understands that now is the time for answers and not for pleasantries. a new lesson for sansa stark.

and yet she wants to apologize to him as well -- for her lies. ]

[knightscode]

Of course. Jon Snow is a good man, and a good fighter. I have no doubt he will serve Cothromach well. I will speak with him, so we might ensure Caer Glaem sends everything he may require. Are you supplied well, in case of siege?

[steeledskin]

Captain Snow -- [ she speaks at such a distance from her own brother -- not for lack of love, but for ample honour ] has seen fit to have a fairy ring placed behind our walls. One that goes only to Caer Glaem. One that can be used only by us with Seelie shards. If sieged, I believe we possess the advantage...?

[ humour her. tell her she's right. anything. these matters are not known to her. ]

[knightscode]

Within your walls? That will help with a supply chain, of course, and it will help send Shardholders to your aid. Native Seelie forces will not be able to use such a thing, but it will allow the rest of us to move back and forth without having to walk where any Unseelie forces may see us.

[steeledskin]

Or it may make little difference. Scouts have reported back on the matter of foul fiery sorcery.

[knightscode]

Fire sorcery? Well -- I have known a few sorcerers within Caer Glaem. Perhaps one of them will know how to negate such a thing.

[steeledskin]

Please. Draw what allies you can. Certainly, they must feel moved to act -- it's not merely an attack on Cothromach, but on the Seelie territories as a whole. Merely one first swing.

[knightscode]

You do not have to persuade me, Lady Sana, I am already persuaded. Cothromach will not fall while I draw breath.

[steeledskin]

Then I pray that you draw breath for years and years yet, ser.

[knightscode]

As do I.

[ So many reckless missions, so little time! ]

I will contact all I know who have experience with sorcery, and perhaps we can provide the native troops with some protection, lest they fall from the fire before they draw breath at all.

[steeledskin]

Thank you.

I -- I have some notion that wetting them only to then freeze them as well might profit our cause, ser. [ the words come clumsy. after all, the plan is not her own. she cribs it from a dear friend whispering in her ear. ]

[knightscode]

[ Waver's clever like that, isn't he? ]

The heat of a fire will melt ice, I should think, but certainly wetting the flames is what I was thinking. We will need to wet the ground too, Lady Sansa, stop them from setting the whole place aflame so that our troops cannot move through it. Trust me on this. I will work with Lord Snow, and between us we will see you safe.

[steeledskin]

Come the end, I pray, we will feast. I would honour those who put their effort into the protection of this city. Thank you, once more.

[ a signal that the conversation is at an end. and the lady keeper nudges her locket shut -- she has handmaids and civilians and close friends to keep calm within the walls. hymns to sing. ]