(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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[showmeyourwreath]

Flora, Lady Keeper, Guardian Fairy of Nature.

[She typically doesn't use her title, but it feels apt in this case. Flora tries to smile in a manner that is reassuring, but it's tempered by the knowledge that she's sure the most reassuring thing for right now will be for this to be properly over.]

[steeledskin]

Guardian of all of it?

[ a childish question, maybe -- but it's a daunting post! ]

[showmeyourwreath]

[Flora smiles, charmed, but she would actually agree in one specific case.] More or less. The title says more of my powers, but I care about nature everywhere, and have always done my best to help it flourish where it was harmed or hindered.

[steeledskin]

Like a care-taker. [ she means the words well. sansa has a passing affection for the natural world: at least for flowers, sweet winds, and the trees she misses so sorely in the south. ]

[showmeyourwreath]

Very much so, nature takes up a great deal of my life. I grow all sorts of things.

But more importantly, the guardian part also means I protect and defend those who cannot protect themselves, as well as safeguard their happiness.

[Which is even more daunting, let her tell you.]

[steeledskin]

Your responsibilities are heavy. Are they not?

[showmeyourwreath]

Sometimes, but I chose this for myself, and I'd normally have my friends fighting alongside me. A burden shared is a burden halved, and all that. You hardly notice the weight after that.

[steeledskin]

-- Friends?

[showmeyourwreath]

My best. They're other guardian fairies of waves, the shining sun, technology, music, and the dragon's flame. We fi--fought, together.

[It costs her nothing to mention it.]

[steeledskin]

A formidable band. Are you alone, here, without them?

[showmeyourwreath]

Yes. [And there is a gentle pang of pain she can't quite keep from her voice, but it's gone when she speaks again.] But they still fight with me, in a way.

[steeledskin]

Their courage and strength will inspire you. [ it's strange -- bringing so many women into this fray. it sits awkwardly upon sansa's expectations, but beggars do not have the luxury of choice or prejudice. ]

Thank you. Seven blessings upon you.

[showmeyourwreath]

As they often do, yes. You're welcome, and thank you for your blessings.

Lady Keeper and High Commander, I will fight with Winter today, which is a nice way of saying I will use ice magic, and the like. I thought you might like to know. Do you have a Field Commander?

[steeledskin]

Fighting with Winter will be an apt name for it. [ ... ] Jon Snow leads the city's guard. Speak to him. Tell him you've spoken to me. Tell him...

Tell him Winter is Coming, and I dispatch it with Flora's name.

[showmeyourwreath]

At once.

[She dips her head, then pauses. ]

Winter is yet here, but not all things sleep in the season. Many beautiful things flourish in cold, and stubborn earth. I would be happy to grow some flowers for you, once this is all over, if you'd like.

[steeledskin]

And they will survive the frosts?

[showmeyourwreath]

Oh, they'll do better than survive. They'll thrive in it.

[steeledskin]

...Then! I would find them perfect. Yes, please, Flora.