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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[He was quiet for a moment, looking her over before he took a small breath.]

Don't. I mean... don't ever do that. Put yourself in that sort of position for some kind of 'greater good'. You deserve some good just as much as anyone else does, Sansa. Don't corner yourself like that.

I have lived in Seven Hells. [ she watches his eyes. watches him. ] A corner is a mighty fine place by the comparison.

[His mouth twitches a bit at the reminder, eyes narrowing just a tiny fraction, but he reins in the need to punch her husband in the face. Ex husband. Whatever.]

Yeah, well, no one puts Baby in a corner.

[... Stiles. You're an idiot.]

[ oh, you sweet summer child. her first marriage was a paradise when compared to her first betrothal. but that is a talk she is not prepared to have. there are others who deserve that confession first.

and besides: ] Gods -- what are you saying? [ you make no sense. ugh. ]

[Dammit. He blushed again and shook his head.]

Never mind. It's from a movie. I just meant you shouldn't be put in that position, Sansa. Just because it's better than it was doesn't mean it's the best it can be. And you should aim for the best.

This fortnight, I aim for survival.

[ she wants to stand. she presses her palms against the chair's arms and pushes upwards. ] As you will, I pray, on that field. You and Jon and every other so tremendous as to throw their lot into our battle. I would...

If something happened to you, Stiles -- [ i would be wrecked. ]

[Was that concern? For him? Genuine concern? Okay, that did more for his ego than all the pretty words she might have tossed at him. He reaches for her hand, smiling, giving her fingers a light squeeze.]

Hey, don't worry about me. I've got my trusty magic stick and Jon and his wolves. We'll all come back and have a party to celebrate after, okay?

The feast I will give all of you will not ever be forgotten. They will write about this feast. They will sing of it.

[He laughed at that, letting go of her hand and giving her a salute instead.]

Then that's what I'm aiming for. The party to end all parties. Better make sure there's lots of pizza there. I know Jon likes it too.

Pizza -- [ half-bemused; half-charmed. she presses her lips together. ] I'll speak to the kitchens once we are cleared of our foes.

[ with her hands released to her, she folds them stiffly against her stomach. ] If the tide turns to either direction, Stiles, please get in contact with me.

[And that little bit of her pulling back into herself was a cue for him to go. He moved backwards towards the door, hand on the knob as he gave her a grin.]

I'm sure you'll be one of the firsts to know either way, Sansa. Chin up, 'kay?

[With that, he turned and opened the door, leaving before he decided that he really wasn't suited for this.]

(sixth lemon cake) video ✧ open to both courts

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