eachdraidh | first bull ( video )

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first bull ( video )

[When first brought here, she would swear it all a dream. All that they said and all that they have her on the feast could only be a parting gift from the gods, Bacchus' treats, Ceres' grief of losing a daughter, Diana's farewell for losing a maiden soon enough. But she wakes in her bed, rises and dresses. There is no man that lies with her, there is no parting.

So here she stays alone, save for those she's had the good fortune of meeting. One certain knight she least hopes to see again, though the dream has broken and with it holds the reality, her reality.]

It seems we are in no dream, for I have pinched myself enough to believe it real. I am Lucrezia Borgia of Rome, a place I have found little have heard of. Nor even of my name who I once held with Pope Alexander VI before he was called to be the Shepherd of all men's souls. [She still cannot call herself Sforza. That taste is too bitter in her mouth.]

I address this-- locket [Yes, it is even strange to her, and she must back up a little to see better now.] as a means of addressing this war. I know little on the matter of strategy and battle. My brothers have been taught the skill of the sword, and yet here I am in their place.

A friend-- [For she would consider all those kind to her the night of the feast a friend.] --relayed the thought that perhaps those like I are here for morale, but truly this many ladies?

I shan't sit around. [Lucrezia may not be the Harold of charities she will become, but idleness here does her little.] I wish to make myself of use, though for what I am unsure.

I do truly hope to meet you all, and already call myself fortunate in those I have met. Good day.

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Lady Stone. [Another friend, how good it is to see her again. She dips her head in greeting.

And of course Sansa would think the same as Lucrezia's friend since Gendry told her they were her own words. Only Lucrezia does not know Alayne as Sansa.]

It is not something I thought, but it seems the only possibility once he said so. [Though Alayne is the only one Lucrezia can think of who Gendry described. Dark of hair and sullen.]

Are you well?

As well as can be expected, Lady Borgia. [ each courtesy and title is sewed neatly on to her sentences. it thrives in her language like punctuation. or like breathing. and it comes all the easier when speaking to someone who shows the same sensibilities.

but she feels guilty for lying. she has allies, here. and even her sister. perhaps she doesn't need to be alayne any longer. ] I trust you are, also? You've found your rooms; perhaps have yet walked the bailey?

[A lie for a lie as a lie of omission is still a sin. Sansa is no more a Stone than she is a Borgia by the world's eyes, but these are truths she does not wish to be so.]

I have not. Admittedly I have neglected much of this place, though I have erred in this and look to correct it soon.

You ought to. [ a pregnant pause. ] If it please you, that is. There are winding paths and budding trees and it is springtime. [ sansa makes the fact sound like a miracle. ]

We could walk there together. [ i should not be so scared as this. her fingers tremble on the locket and sansa wonders if she's somehow forgotten how to make friends, so lonely had the eyrie been before their descent down the giant's lance. ] Again, only if it please you, Lady Borgia.

[She seems so shocked it's spring that Alayne's excitement for it even makes Lucrezia long for the sun on her face again, having been inside enough.]

Lucrezia, please. And there is nothing in this world that I would enjoy more. [Sansa has allies and her sister while Lucrezia has none from her home and would need the same, though friends are just as needed. She does not wish to drown in her sorrows, wishing of things that cannot be changed here. Here she can be Lucrezia Borgia for now.]

Edited 2014-04-09 12:03 (UTC)

Lucrezia, then. [ she offers the name with a bare and small smile. at least with these little lockets, she surmises, the others cannot see how little conviction lives in her eyes. for all they frighten her, she finds them ingenious. petyr would have made good use of them-- ]

For that matter, would Lucrezia join me this very morning? [ she would surround herself with other ladies. and, she thinks, introduce this one to margaery. they might all of them gather a little flock and find safety amongst themselves. ]

I know precious few, and have no plans for the time. It would be my delight, Alayne. [And she means it. Lucrezia cannot stand looking through her rooms again.]

...Do you know the way?

[ careful. thoughtful. that is the best way to play this. sansa has had ample time to commit the most basic directions and paths through the stronghold to memory -- her mind is sharp on such tasks. but she does not assume that everyone would have done the same. ]

I can affirm that I know much of the inside of this castle. It has been a comfort, though I admit you would do me much better. [And so she smiles excitedly.]

When shall I meet you, Alayne?

Edited 2014-04-09 12:36 (UTC)

Is an hour too soon?

[ they play a little game, now. a game of manners and etiquette. both of them offering the power to make decisions, and thereby retain some scrap of politic superiority in the process. ]

It does me well-- but only if it does by you as well.

[She volleys it back, ever polite and used to this game. It would be too masculine and unladylike to declare oneself.]

In that case? We have our agreement.

[ as pained and protracted as it might look to others, this is (for sansa) truly the simplest and most comfortable way of communicating. she retains ample space upon which she might back-tread, and it does not lead to voicing too many strong opinions, for which she might suffer retribution. ]

It is decided then. [To reiterate though she smiles well and broad.]

I shall see you in an hour. [If Lucrezia could, she would touch her hand from excitement. It does her well to be with ours her age.]

[ sweet farewells are made; promises are given. and sansa calls her fae servant to help her pin her hair into place. she doesn't know how she would manage were she alone in this task, though she doesn't trust the creature. if she is to remain here for any length of time, she may need to plumb the lengths of their new population for some other helping hand.

preening takes time. dressing takes time. but she has a few minutes left to spare for breaking her fast: apricots and honey in porridge. not excessively dainty, but it was flavourful and it was hardy. better than most winter fare in the vale. and all these preparations leave her feeling energized when she stands by the bailey's entrance. her blood hums, and she longs to be out by the sweet new grass and the budding trees. a part of her will miss winter, but it's hard not to welcome the promise that comes with spring. ]

[It takes her nearly as long, needing a faerie to help her into her own dress. It is not as elaborate as her wedding dress, but the reds in it highlight her beauty even more. She is used to the weight even if it is to be warm out. A noble lady such as herself knows summers in robe in her dresses well enough.

She is not late to the bailey, arriving a minute or two after Alayne. Hands cupped and over her stomach, she approaches the girl with a kind smile.]

I hope I have not kept you waiting.

No. [ .. ] Not long.

[ sansa suspects she should do what well-bred ladies do when they want to express some gentle delight and companionship: she should loop her arm with lucrezia's and commence their walk like two birds flitting and flying in tandem. margaery had always been good at that -- sliding sweetly into place and offering sansa tokens of her affection. by contrast, sansa feels only like a statue. stuck on her feet and waiting for lucrezia to make any further decisions.

her passivity keeps her still. ] You look beautiful. [ though she doesn't so much care for the red of the dress -- paired with the blonde hair, it makes her fit to tremble. ]

What it is, Alayne? [And she does move in alongside the other girl, having no reason not to enjoy her company so. However the dark haired girl looks even less mirthful than usual, and that is alarming in itself since she is often so timid.]

It's nothing, sweet Lucrezia. [ a timid smile. the other girl's concern near forces sansa to put up a better show, and so she does reach for lucrezia's arm. she hooks it gently. ] I only think that there is a dear friend of mine you ought to meet. Some day.

Any friend of yours I am endeared to already. [She perks right up.]

Is she here?

Lady Margaery Tyrell. [ emotion and affection suffused her answer. ] And she is here, certainly. I would be lost without her. Only -- [ only margaery was more than just a lady, wasn't she? a queen in her own right. but sansa isn't certain how many developments she should be revealing to near-strangers. not when men like renly knew so little. ]

Only-- [She begs for more, wanting to know what has this girl tied even more. But she realizes she is prying and leans a little away from Alayne so that she feels not so closed in.]

My apologies, Alayne. But if we are to be a group of ladies who make themselves stronger... I only wish to help you if I can. It is not my place to ask though.

Queen Margaery. I ought to be calling her Queen Margaery.

[ she makes the correction partly because lucrezia has handled her so deftly -- giving her space, speaking to her gently. ]

I had not known you were friends with a queen. [She is both impressed and shocked, wrinkling her nose a bit as she looks back to the dark haired girl.]

You are much a mystery, Alayne, and I would be pleased to befriend any friend of yours.

I am no mystery -- [ she says, perhaps a little too quickly. but to temper her protest, she gently taps her new friend on the wrist and assures her: ] Perhaps you are simply too imaginative.

[That only makes her laugh lightly, thinking of her brother's words.] You sound much like my brother Cesare. He has said so a time or two.

Or perhaps I am on to you. [She turns to give her a look, to take her in and judge her so, but it is all a joke before she smiles again. Though in truth Gendry had mentioned a forlorn girl with dark hair, and Alayne is the only one Lucrezia could think of, though she internally questions why the ruse? Clearly it is not done maliciously, and Lucrezia thinks her to timid and too kind for Alayne to be tricking her. But then for what gain if it is true? She must speak to Gendry again.]

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