(fourth lemon cake) voice ✧ open to both courts

[steeledskin]

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. ]

Comments

[steeledskin]

I have not told my father. For I fear the High Septon would be required -- [ she pauses a moment, and understands that this is something she has had to explain to others: ] The chief office of the Faith, Sigrid. Only he can annul a marriage. And so I do not want to breath a word of this to my Lord Father until I have found some...solution.

[kingsdaughter]

[She nods.]

I'll ask Solais. But I can't imagine someone so kindly as she would hold you to a marriage neither of you consented to.

[steeledskin]

I could live forever Lord Tyrion's wife so long as I never saw him again. Honest, I could. [ and so shield herself against other marriages. ] But it threatens a claim upon my father's house, you see. I am a vulnerability to him so long as it stands.

If Her Grace can truly do something--! [ but sansa shakes her head. the vow was made before the seven, and she has not yet seen a sept here. ]

[kingsdaughter]

I'm sure she can. I mean if a king made you do it, a queen ought to be able to set it right.

[Sigrid unfolds a linen towel and settles it over Sansa's head to wrap around her hair and squeeze it dry.]

Though you should talk to someone who knows about laws from your world. Maybe there's some right granted you that you've not heard about. Kings change all the time, and I know a thing or two about lords who don't want their subjects to know what's theirs by right. Some weaselly wording or some such. My da was very keen about teaching us our rights so no one could pull any wool over our eyes.

[one thought inspires another.]

But wait, you said the king acted as your father, not as king. If your father can force you to marry, can't he undo it all as well?

[steeledskin]

[ her head tilts -- she gives in, wholly. she submits entirely to sigrid's care, letting the towel and the other girl's ministrations sop up the water. ]

It's not consummated. [ the words come easier with sigrid -- another young girl, whom sansa presumes to be a maiden as well. ] And therefore it can be undone. But only by the High Septon.

I cannot imagine even fairy laws can undo the rites and rituals of whole other land.

[kingsdaughter]

Well I'll ask for you anyway. Solais likes me, and that's got to be good for something.