eachdraidh | (fifth lemon cake) video ✧ open to both courts

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(fifth lemon cake) video ✧ open to both courts

Fellow Shardholders. [ what follows is a rehearsed speech, likely written beforehand and committed to memory. sansa stark (better known by most as alayne stone) sits before her locket in troichean beinn. she has, pinned to the shoulder of her fine silk dress, a direwolf. every instinct in her body tells her she should not say what must be said. should not announce what must be announced. but before his absence, her father had been giving her gentle instruction in how to meet these responsibilities. it makes her weep to imagine disappointing him -- yet she is far out of her depth. she needs help. but the speech she must do on her own. ]

With a heavy heart I tell you that Lord Eddard of House Stark -- Lord of Winterfell, Warden of the North, and a Keeper of Cothromach -- has left these lands. H-he is gone. [ she does not elaborate upon the very grief of his absence, but the cause cannot be too difficult to surmise: else why should anyone's heart be heavy for a man returned to his own world? ]

Yet if Lord Stark has made you promises or oaths of any sort, no matter your court, I wish to see them honoured and fulfilled. [ it takes tremendous will not to beg for the opportunity. she swallows hard. ] And if any have in turn have sworn service to him, I tell you now that I am his eldest daughter and the noble city of Cothromach has deemed me heir to his title. And to his duties. I would be humbled if those sworn to him would consider entrusting me with those same vows -- though I understand asking you to put your trust in a daughter of his house is not a thing easily done.

Likewise, if any in these lands wish to take refuge or make their homes in Cothromach, I would speak to you. My Lord Father wanted to see the city built up to its proper glory, and any Shardholder willing to join us in the task will be welcomed within its walls. For now, Lady Meera Reed sits as castellan while my family travels. Once my efforts in Troichaen Beinn are finished, I look forward to to returning as Sansa of House Stark.

[ by now her voice is shaking and it was a challenge merely to say her true name. it had been a lie, of course: she does not look forward to being herself once more. she knows such honesty runs against every lesson taught to her in the south. honesty leaves her open. vulnerable. but in the south she'd not had jon. nor arya, really. nor any manner of true ally -- none like those allies who have helped her in these lands.

it is for those sweet supportive souls that she speaks her final piece. it is the most difficult thing to ask, and it isn’t hidden behind rehearsal. it is not courtly. ] To those who knew and cared for the girl Alayne Stone: I apologize for my falsehoods. I swear I meant no harm. Please -- forgive me.

[ this confession is done. and so too was alayne stone. ]

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I take it your capital is also in the south?

King's Landing. [ she shivers to say the name. ] Well to the South. I was shocked by how warm even its late summer was. I doubt it snows there even now.

Being so far removed from a hub of central politics I suppose is a factor in all of this too. It's harder to get out of a cycle of corruption that encourages things like civil war - throw family into the mix, and I can easily see what you've mentioned.

[And the continuity between worlds is astounding.]

Mages back home have their own government, since we're stretched across the various countries. My closest friend and ally lives on the other side of the government headquarters, whereas I live and work right in the middle of it. The levels of what impacts her versus what impacts me are comparable.

-- Capitals. Every word is a dagger in a capital city. I am convinced of it. Is it like this too in yours?

Precisely so. The fact that magi from older families also err toward a level of pride and pomposity that's insufferable doesn't help either.

Surely pride can be a virtue.

[ careful, waver! she comes from an old family. and though she is a late bloomer in her pride, she feels it fiercer now than she ever did before. ]

They're the pride-into-arrogance sort. On one hand, when a family's survived for ten or fifteen generations, it's impressive, but when they use that status to prevent those first, second, or third generation families from gaining any foothold in the world, then there's a problem.

[A problem Waver's gone through first hand. He tries to make sure his voice is even through out, but there's a snappishness at the end that's hard to moderate.]

[ she disagrees. of course she disagrees. her bread is buttered in a world that praises the noble-born, even if her own family has been shattered on the rocks of war. but she likes waver too much to treat him coldly on the matter. ]

Matters are different in this world. [ she speaks softly. even the lowly born are treated well when they are shardholders. ]

[Waver's perspective is too coloured by magi who looked down and bullied him when he began his formal studies to ever remain neutral on the subject.]

They are. Pardon the temper on the matter, I see a number of my students deal with the problem even though they're as skilled as anyone else, and it is hard not to take their side.

Day by day I learn that each of our lands are different. I know I cannot take what is sacred in mine and force it upon yours. [ a gentle way of saying she wants no one else to do the same to her, really. ] Therefore I'll find it in my heart and mind to agree with you: your students ought not be hurt by the prides of others.

[Waver doesn't smile, but there's a little more warmth in his eyes than there was a moment ago.]

Most go on to surprise the naysayers. That's all I can really ask for.

[And hopefully, they'll continue to. It's the first time Waver' really thought about what a loss in this war might mean.

All the more reason to forestall it. And perhaps return to the heart of the matter.]

All of that said, we've established what we're both used to expecting. That should help with things in the future.

You must think it awfully stupid: a daughter ill-suited to the task inheriting a city when there are likely other more capable hands. [ and yet she will not give it up. it does not cross her mind. ]

[Waver shakes his head no.]

Not at all. The friend I mentioned before is the mage in charge of her entire city.

--Did she come to it green?

She did not, but my point is that I don't find the situation stupid at all. If anything, just a variation on what's ordinary for me.

And she does well for herself? Your friend?

Extremely.

[And it takes an awful lot of strength not to utter we went to war with the mage government on her lands and won]

Do you help her, my lord?

Less so these days, but we're in constant contact. She's usually got plenty of input for me too.

She does? She must be very clever.

That, and our perspectives are just different enough that we catch each other's oversights.

[Waver imagines Rin would be raking him over coals for some of the decisions he's made in the Drabwurld thus far.]

Which I suppose brings me to the next question: do you have anyone else you plan on bringing in?

Aside from Jon Snow? [ her cheeks puff. it is a difficult question. ] I have Lady Meera Reed, the daughter of one of my father's most loyal bannermen. There others I would call upon but I have not...

[ asked them. ] I am not certain they would accept.

[Waver nods. He spoke to Meera briefly, and imagines that the loyalty will be an asset in the future.]

You should find out, when you feel comfortable extending the invitation.

There are some who knew my Lord Father in passing. They seem eager...[ she wets her lips. nervous. ] They admired him. It was not a difficult thing to do. Most found themselves numbered among the Seelie.

[ and yet she would not mind if those from caer scima chose to ally with her. ]

[The Seelie part doesn't surprise Waver at all, although it might make some matters seemingly one sided.]

Eager is good, but at the risk of sounding too calculating, what sort of experience do they bring with them?

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