eachdraidh | (fourth lemon cake) voice ✧ open to both courts

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(fourth lemon cake) voice ✧ open to both courts

Fellow Shardholders. [ of either court! ]

I would speak to a man of law -- should any find himself amid our numbers. [ such a profession is unknown to her, but stiles has explained some occupations and tenets of his world and this one in particular piques her interest. sansa stark could make use of such a man who might be bound by her confidentiality. of course, she does not quite understand the ins and outs of the arrangement.

but that's why she asks today: to learn; to plan; to piece together little patches of her defence. ] Anyone who would call themselves lawyer. I would speak with you. That is the word for it, yes? [ lawyer. ] My apologies if I've gotten it wrong; I'm only a simple girl and I am unwise in these matters. I want to learn about the things that are mysteries to me.

[ like whether a lawyer's strange binding powers of argumentation would even apply in these lands. once her conversations are finished, she snaps the locket shut and can be found in the library -- where she organizes books she doesn't care to read, because the practise soothes her and distracts her mind from its darker thoughts. or else come the evening she sits in her chambers, and allies of hers are welcome to stop and knock. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Renly lifts himself from his desk, placing his own locket down and moving to her side, opening the door and offering her a low bow and a soft smile. He is as charming as ever, he thinks, and proud of it, opening the door for her and shutting it once she is inside.

Laurel perks his head up from where he was a curled, gangling mess in the corner, pushing himself up and trotting over to nuzzle into Sansa's hands. ]

Please, make yourself comfortable if Laurel will allow you to.

[ how does he do it? she wonders. such cool demeanour. such assertive friendship. sansa bobs downwards first in curtsey and then to let laurel have his way with her empty palm -- velvet nose snuffling between her fingers. and from her sleeve she produces a few acorns for the little creature. words are whispered and treats are given and then she returns her attention to renly. ]

Thank you, my lord. [ she trails her fingertips down laurel's neck and lets the sweet creature lead her to a cushioned chair. ] H-how are you?

[ her voice hitches. she wonders how heavy the pall is that still sits upon him. ]

[ Renly watches the girl with his fawn and simply smiles; he would not trust anyone with a gift given to him by the monarchs and he feels as though he might be capable of putting more trust in this young woman than he has already. Of course, her discovery of his... Preferences had been pure accident more than anything else -- not that it was somehow unknown, but still.

Her question has his head raising and he lifts a shoulder, almost absently. ]

I am well enough. The monarchs here have given me a gift so that I would not fall into too deep a despair. I do not think I showed you it last time.

Last time. [ she repeats the words -- careful. so careful. last time was fraught and filled with high-emotions. she has since had time alone to reconsider all that was said and all that it means. she is no closer to understanding it, though perhaps she is a step or two in range of acceptance.

love is love. so many had so little of it. sansa cants her head. ] The monarchs are...sympathetic. What did they give you, my lord?

Yes. [ He watches her with a carefully measured expression before he nods his head, offering her his arm. Admittedly, he is to guide her to his chambers, but she knows well enough that he has no interest in anything there with her. He merely intends to show her his roses, the beautiful gift that was given to him.

Once that matter is taken care of, once she is more comfortable, perhaps, he will broach the topics of her laws. Until then... ] Allow me to show you, my lady.

[ sansa has not often gone into lords' bedchambers. of course, for some time she had lived in tyrion's -- it was meant to be hers but it had not felt like hers. and although she understands the lack of risk involved in these steps through his doorway, she cannot help but catch her breath and glance slyly over her shoulder.

what's to stop someone from barging in, as she had done before? and what would they think if they saw beautiful lord renly leading sansa stark or alayne stone to the rooms housing his bed? her jaw tightens. she wonders whether lord renly would be gallant enough to expose his secret to protect her virtue.

she cannot be certain of anything. but she walks forward all the same, sliding her arm through his. ] At once, my lord. At once.

[ He nods, leading her forward. The walk through his rooms - a royal suite, he's since learned, grander than the rooms that others have been given. He supposes it's fitting, seeing as he considers himself a king; King Renly. Loras had urged him for that and he bites back his upset sound, swallowing it back.

When they reach the doorway that leads to his room Renly drops Sansa's arm gently, leaving her at the space between the rooms. She is close enough to see into the rooms but not so much that she is actually inside - to save her some dignity. He walks inside, to the end of his bed, and touches the roses. ]

My gift.

How appropriate -- [ she says the words she must say, though she isn't certain there is anything at all appropriate about any inch of this revelation. this secret. ] And how pretty.

[ and how easily disguised as your lady wife's symbol, not only her ser brother's. ] Do they require tending? [ she asks with a polite cant of her head. ] They have no soil!

No, they are quite magical. Very apt, I think, for this place and the gifts they have given myself and Loras before this.

[ And, as he says Loras' name, the roses seem to move, as if blowing in the wind, and the echo of a laugh is heard -- familiar to both him and Sansa both, Renly is sure. He swallows the lump in his throat, expression tightening. ]

As I said. Quite magical, my lady.

[ she knows his laughter. and, indeed, after the first few notes she looks sharply from the roses to renly's face. a quiver in her brows expresses all her momentary disbelief -- and she can understand why these flowers must be precious to him.

and she wonders how long he has spent alone, triggering their sweet sound, and shunning the unpredictability of the spaces beyond these chambers. she would not blame him if he stayed here often; she imagines she would do much the same. ]

Some piece of him remains. And you are his guardian. I know you will take such good care of these pretty petals.

[ Renly feels himself go tense as her gaze goes straight to his flowers. She might know his secret, she might be aware of his love and affection, but that does not mean he is entirely comfortable with how boldly it is being shown to her right now. He resists the urge to reach out and touch the soft petals, an eternal reminder of his lost love and the things he wishes he could have.

Still, he turns back to Sansa, stepping out of the room and nodding his head, offering her a tender little smile and a lift of his lips, masking his soft gaze. He can pretend that he doesn't feel his heart breaking each time he hears the laughter. ]

I should think so. I have always had a particular fondness for flowers, ever since I was quite young.

[ He motions back to the study with a gentle hand. ]

Now. We were to talk?

[ ...what a brilliant tactic. she recognizes it even as it unfolds within her heart: lord renly has revealed more of a vulnerability to her, and so she feels instinctively beholden to share hers in turn. even being aware of the possible manipulation, she cannot help but fall for it. after all, what renly shows her is no less real or true for having been revealed intentionally.

she takes a step back. and she does not speak again until she is sat in his solar. ] There is a marriage vow I would see broken, my lord. But I don't know how to break it.

[ Renly pours her a glass of water before he moves to sit down, putting the glass beside her, within arm's reach. He offers her a tenderness that he's sure has been missing for a while before he leans back in his chair, scratching at his jaw with a gentle absent twist that, in most people, makes them think he's barely considering them. When he looks over once more his expression is a little softer.

An annulled marriage, then. Something he himself has been considering since he learned of his nephew's marriage to his wife. ] There are some reasons for a marriage to be broken. If the vows were spoken at sword point or by a Sept that was not in his right mind then the marriage may be declared illegal. Furthermore, if the marriage was not consummated it can be set aside by the High Septon without cause -- there need be no witnesses for that, just a request from one of the pair.

[ she curls her fingers around the glass but does not drink. ]

Only we have no High Septon here, my lord. Only fairies and kings and strangers.

I think the King and Queen must have some form of Sept themselves. I would not think otherwise. If you asked them kindly I am sure they could direct you to where best to find one of their kind.

[ He leans forward, careful. ]

Who's marriage do you wish to see annulled, my lady? I have given thought to the matter myself, with regards to my own lady wife and her marriage to Joffrey.

[ ah. so ser loras kept some of her secrets -- though perhaps only because it was not important enough to tell. sansa nods her head and swears that she will tell renly of how she'd seen the very ending of lady margaery's marriage with her own eyes.

but for now? ] My own, my lord.

I see.

[ He nods his head, tapping absent fingers on the side of his chair, tilting his head with curiosity. ]

Allow me to ask, then. Was your marriage consummated, Sansa?

[ the question comes with no ceremony. no pomp. no introduction. hard and sharp like a knife, it lays across not only her heart but the thick muscular cord of her sensibilities. her moment of panic is clear: her well-maintained mask cracks just a little bit, and she looks as if she might fall to tears.

tears of joy. tears of happiness. tears of gratitude. because lord tyrion had been an ugly unfortunate husband, but he had not robbed her of her maidenhood. even so, the matter is personal and unseemly so her cheeks flush with humiliation. ]

No. No. My Lord Husband did not -- he did not demand it of me.

[ Renly moves, then, drawing a silken handkerchief from his sleeve and handing it over with not ceremony, shaking his head. He did not mean to be cruel, of course, but it was important that he ask. It is better to pull the bandage from the wound and ask it swiftly than drag it out as though it were not a question that was sure to come. He nods, leaning back in his chair. ]

Then we can certainly have your marriage annulled. All you must do is request it, my lady, and we will bring it to the attention of the King and Queen. Their laws cannot be so different from our own.

[ He bows his head, offering a hand should she want it for comfort. ]

You will be a Stark once more.

[ the hand she shuns, but the silk cloth she dabs to her cheeks and relishes its cool feel on her skin. ]

And if my Lord Husband were to ever arrive...[ but, oh! she had not identified him. and with a barely-noticeable wince, she clarifies: ] If Lord Tyrion were ever to come here to either court, my lord...

It would matter not. [ Renly lifts a shoulder, shaking his head. ] As I said, it takes only one to annul a wedding. If you wish to no longer be his wife then that will be it. [ He glances up, astounded, in his turn, that she would be wedded to the Imp. ] I am sorry you have been put through such trials.

In his own words, he is not the sort of husband young girls dream of. [ and then -- quite sadly: ] But also is not Joffrey.

No, he is not. There are not many that could be worse than Joffrey, I imagine. [ He shakes his head. ] I... Know what it means to not be the husband that most dream of, my lady. I will do what I can to aid you.

No, my lord. [ she shakes her head. ] I imagine you would make a perfect husband.

[ it is a sad commentary on how far sansa has fallen in her esteem of the marriage institution: an ideal husband might indeed be one that would be happier ignoring her for another, even if that other is a man. ]

I think you mistaken, my lady, but I thank you for the compliment.

[ He smiles at her, as benevolent as ever, before he stands to pour himself his own glass of water, swallowing it with a careful motion. ]

I can speak to the monarchs for you, if you wish.

(fourth lemon cake) voice ✧ open to both courts

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