(second lemon cake) video ✧ locked to seelie

[steeledskin]

Dear fellows and members of the Seelie court -- [ the voice which addresses the locket is composed and clear and perfectly conscientious. but the girl whose image accompanies the voice looks a little less than all those things. her dark-dyed hair is fastened in an uncommonly simple braid...and if one looks very closely, she can be seen to have a haggard look about her. she's somewhere outside and all her caution is bent at hiding a panic she doesn't want to share with strangers. nor with those few genuinely waiting on her return. ]

I don't want to alarm any of you. Indeed, I speak to the very opposite of that effect. It's -- [ her gaze flickers 'off-screen' for a moment ] -- it's Alayne Stone. Those of you who are acquaintances [ not friends ] ought to know that I've found myself...left behind. I'm sorry. It should not have happened. But I suspect I won't make Caer Glaem again for some time. [ the fault of the matter is a little trickier than that, but she knows better than to play with implications. so after a steadying breath, she presses onwards. ] Or we won’t -- because I'm not alone. [ i have nymeria, she thinks but doesn’t dare to say. just like how sansa wants to speak directly to those who know her for who she really is -- but instead: ] I have a knight with me.

Don't I, Ser Gendry? [ and she twists her locket, letting it capture the surly blacksmith who stands a few paces away from her with an irritated expression. his armour is dented and blooded and the man sags with an obvious exhaustion. ser gendry is a man who looks and feels beaten, but it does not stop him from standing tall. he is a talisman of sorts: a warning, to any sansa fears might prey upon what would otherwise be a journey fraught with vulnerability. ser gendry is here; she is protected, albeit not happily so. he at last looks towards her and her locket and grumbles an unhappy agreement to her statement, which is accompanied by a nod. ]

A lady needn’t despair when she’s so well accompanied. Instead, my thoughts are with the returned; I pray the High Queen’s desired prize was taken without steep costs or losses. [ following this, there is no formal farewell. no official sign-off. her attention lingers, perhaps waiting for one or two responses in particular. ]

( ooc; sansa and gendry are now officially stranded and making their long way back to caer glaem -- and it’ll take them at least two months, though they’ll be reachable by locket at their respective ic inboxes. but for now, responses to this post will receive replies from one or the other or both!)

Comments

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[impeaches]

I am certain my nephew will take very good care of you, my lady.

[ Still, there is a curling worry and Renly's expression falters. ]

Take care of one another.

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[steeledskin]

...I share your confidence, my lord. [ or she tries to. at least she does admirable work of sounding certain, though she is certainly not. ser gendry is still too much of a stranger. ]

And. Yes. Of course. I'll do what I can. He's your blood -- [ despite whatever else gendry might be. ] I'll support him howsoever I can.

[ like in other moments, she says this a little louder -- so gendry might here how proper and supportive she's being. ]

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[impeaches]

I thank you for that. Gendry is a strong, capable lad - he will do good by you, I know that. You are under my protection, my lady, and I am sure my nephew would take that upon himself even if he was not a knight.

[ He smiles, bowing his head, trying to ignore his worry. ]

Is there anything I might do to assist?

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[steeledskin]

Look after -- [ she cannot say the name; she still hides herself under alayne stone's self. so, softer: ] Promise me you'll keep an especial eye on the other Westerosi under your care, my lord.

[ make sure my sister is alright. ]

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[impeaches]

I will do whatever I can, I swear it. I gave my world that you would all be protected and I mean to keep it.

[ He offers her a tender smile. ]

Do not worry.

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[steeledskin]

...I will be sorry to miss your meals, my lord. [ she fills her lungs and thinks that in the absence of any real work that had to be done at the moment, she might at least try and lighten both their moods. to distract them from the crisis at hand. ] Something tells me I will not be able to expect lemon cakes on the road.

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[impeaches]

I suppose not. I wish there was so means of transporting them to you, but I fear they would become unsavoury on the journey. [ It's easy for Renly to slip into his charm, to lean forward with promises of more and tenderness, to gift a young lady such as 'Alayne' with something to hold on to. ] I swear that, when you return, we will have a grand dinner to celebrate.

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[steeledskin]

I believe that would be very nice indeed, Lord Renly. [ she smiles because it is her duty to smile at this juncture. ] And in the meantime I will keep you and all with you still at the castle in my thoughts. In my very heart. The prospect of seeing all of you again will help me through this journey. I am sure of it.

[ these words are easily said when she's barely travelled a day. despair will set in later. ]

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[impeaches]

Then I am at your service. [ He nods, sharply. ] You will be well, I am sure, and you will survive. Will you contact me once you reach neutral ground? I would like to come and find you and escort you home, I should think.

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[steeledskin]

...You would do that for us? Truly?

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[impeaches]

Truly. You have my word.

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[steeledskin]

[ part of her thinks she should protest. he is (by all accounts) their patriarch in the castle. the one around whom their little society flits and spins. to risk him on the road-- ]

I count myself fortunate every day to have met you again, Lord Renly. [ her desire to be whisked into safety by someone a little more well-behaved than gendry inspires her to say otherwise. ] I knew you were good the moment I saw you -- [ on the kingsroad. but that had been sansa, not alayne. ] The first time I saw you. Perhaps it's the one thing I was never wrong about.

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[impeaches]

[ Renly smiles, touched at the words and he bows his head, offering her a gentle smile, as charming as ever. The words are charming, delightful, and it warms him from the inside out. ]

I am glad to have met you once more, my lady. I am glad to have taken you into my protection and I will do what I can to keep your happiness alive. [ He nods his head, once. ] I am glad to be held so highly in your esteem.

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[bullhorned]

[Protecting her is your bloody job, not mine. He scowled, held the locket tight in his hand, and only opened it to reply when he looked less angry.]

I'll return her ladyship. She'll come to no harm. [But ha! Who would trust a bastard to protect a lady? Certainly not Ned Stark. That damned northman didn't even trust Gendry with the name of his own father, much less the fate of his daughters. But he'd done good by Arya, hadn't he? Not that it mattered, because there was not a soul that believed he'd ever met her before. He doubted even Arya did. To hell with all these highborns. He would bring Sansa home safely, but not for her sake or for their sake. He would do it for his own sake. And then, when he had his chance, he would claim his boon and see how they acted then.]

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[impeaches]

I would hope that you would take care of yourself, too, Gendry.

[ Renly watches him, uncomfortable, pausing for a moment before he shakes his head. He knows this is an unfair burden to place upon the shoulders of one so young and he breathes out, forcing a soft smile and a nod of his head. ]

I will give you what I can when you return, whatever I can offer, to show my appreciation. She is under my protection and I have failed.

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[bullhorned]

I don't need no reward for doing it. [He laughs, hollowly and somewhat mockingly.] Besides, it's likely I have more wealth in my bag of jewels than you do anywhere in the palace. So there's not like to be anything I could be rewarded with, is there?

[And he had those jewels with him. Some, but not all. Enough he hopes to see them safely back, though he was bitter that such hard earned jewels should be wasted on this journey.]

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[impeaches]

Perhaps not, but we are gifted with boons for helping our new monarchy, aren't we? I thought perhaps to offer you mine, for thanks for your care, the next time I am given one.

[ Gendry is far too much like Stannis for his own good, Renly thinks. Still, he waves a hand, almost dismissing it. ]

But, another time. Are you well? Capable of finding food and shelter?

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[bullhorned]

I've been on the road before. I know what needs done to stay dry and keep our bellies full. [Most he learned from Arya, though he won't confess that. More he learned from the Brotherhood as means for survival.] But you can keep your boon. I'll earn another once I've returned.

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[impeaches]

Then I will put my trust in you. [ He doesn't want to ask how Gendry knows so much about caring for himself; they are family and Gendry had been rather neglected thanks to his father. He is a Knight, now, so it is not as though he has not made a home nor a name for himself. ] As you wish. Will you dine with us, at least?

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[bullhorned]

[Feasts. Trapped in the wilderness and it's feasts that Renly speaks of. He frowns.]

I'll dine with you. Likely we'll be wanting a good meal when we return.

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[impeaches]

Aye, and a good meal you shall have. I will make certain of it.

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[bullhorned]

[There's a long pause now, almost like Gendry will say nothing. He's thinking of what Thanduil said about Renly.]

How is your sword arm, uncle?

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[impeaches]

[ He pauses, thinking, before he nods his head once. ]

It is suitable, if needs be. I am no soldier but I am a tourney champion.

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[bullhorned]

I've been improving my sword, m'lord. Mayhaps you might think to do the same. There's no tourneys to win, but there's plenty of battles to be had.

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[impeaches]

A good idea. [ He smiles, almost jovial. ] I shall as Ser Loras to aid me, I think.