(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

[steeledskin]

He has? [ it isn't her business; let her brother knit to cothromach the allies he feels are worthy. and yet... ]

Does he visit often?

[curser]

That depends on your definition of 'often'. It's not a short journey, but I see him or his wolves enough to know he is well. Do you not see him often yourself?

[steeledskin]

This last moon saw me...away. City matters.

[ jon probably knows the city better than her, now. and let's not even touch upon their strange estrangement. ]

[curser]

Matters that had this result? As I said, child, it's better to know where the bites will come from now then to let them slither unknown under cover. I've not seen the rest of your forces, but if you've anyone from the fight to regain the moon alongside your brother, you should fare well.

[steeledskin]

The call hasn't been made in vain. [ thankfully. ]

[curser]

Have you allies rallying to your side? Are there those that find this matter as distasteful as I?

[steeledskin]

I have. And yet there is always room for more. [ she swallows hard. she takes a leap: ] Will you join us, Maleficent?

[curser]

[She's quiet for a moment as she thinks. Going against the Unseelies who stole the moon was one thing; that was against the very nature of the universe. Going against them a second time over the possession of a castle felt a little more like she was skewing her hand in favor of one side over another.

Which wasn't the case, really. She'd find it just as distasteful if the Seelie queen were trying to force an Unseelie child into marriage for politics. That it was happening so close to where she'd decided to claim as her home made it more her problem then she cared to admit. Who would she have living so close to her? Another bully who might try to claim what was hers? Or a child being used for motives not her own? Maleficent still claimed neutrality, still did not believe in these sides they were forced into, but she could act on the nature of the request, which was aiding a child in need of assistance, regardless of what court she called home.]

I suppose it would be best if I did.

[steeledskin]

It's no more than a request. A hope, perhaps. [ ... ] I have not even asked what you might take to my field.

[curser]

Magic and justice, child. Those who try to take what isn't theirs by force will be pushed back to their own lands and sent home with their tails between their legs. I've fought against those trying to take what they wanted before, I'm certainly no stranger to war. Unless you feel what I can bring isn't enough?

[There was a smile with that, a tease as she moved to rise, locket in hand and wings stretching wide in preparation for a flight.]

[steeledskin]

My field will be enriched by every drop of justice. It will drink up every drop of magic. Bring them both to my field, Lady Maleficent, and I will see you from the Cothromach's ramparts.

[ a strong farewell for a strong pact. ]

[curser]

[Her answer was a smile that turned into a laugh before she closed the locket and pushed off into the air, on her way towards Cothromach to aid in what ways she could.]