eachdraidh | (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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Lord Keeper does sound better, doesn't it?

[ surely no one must really want some green girl as their ruler. ]

That depends entirely on who the Lord behind it would be.

[ If given the choice, between her and her father? He would pick her father, of course. But there isn't that choice, and between Sansa and someone else- he would pick Sansa. ]

I think we and the people of Cothromach are lucky to have you as the Lady Keeper.

That is prettily said. Are you sure you have not always been a knight, Ser John?

Very sure. Though it's kind of you to say so.

[ He shakes his head. ]

No, believe it or not, if my parents had their way I would've been a scholar.

[ Well. An archaeologist or some other scientist, anyway. ]

What! Truly? [ be prepared for some foolishness, ser john. ] But you are far too young and gallant to ever be stuck in maesters' robes.

[ because apparently only old gnarled dudes can be scholars. you learned it here. ]

[ Now he laughs. ]

I think my sister would be offended at that description. Our parents both studied civilizations that lived before the current one. She followed in their footsteps.

-- They let girls be scholars in your lands?

They do. My sister's very good at it.

Is she not married? [ why else would she spend her time being a scholar-- ]

No. And even if she was, it wouldn't stop her.

[ He said parents as in both, after all. ]

[ suspiciously: ] Are you certain?

[ is there something wrong with her, she wonders? some malady that makes marriage inadvisable? sansa herself is tired of the institution, but she still marvels to imagine living outside of it. ]

[ He laughs. ] I'm certain. She's very stubborn when she puts her mind to it, and she loves her work.

Hold on, I have a picture.

[ And sure enough. John pulls out a photograph of Samantha Grimm. Much prettier than he is, as far as he's concerned. ]

[ but she's beautiful! ]

I don't understand why she is not married, ser.

[ she can understand why someone might not want to be married. she knows that now. but she cannot understand how someone avoids it. ]

I'd guess because she hasn't found someone she wants to marry.

[ He pauses, and then it's as though something clicks -- Sansa is essentially from the middle ages, and she's a Lady at that. She wouldn't have had the option of deciding. ]

Where I'm from, political and arranged marriages aren't really a thing. My sister can marry who she wants, if that person also wants to marry her.

And no one is disappointed in her?

No. Our parents died when we were kids, so it's hard to know how'd they feel about it if they were still alive -- but I doubt it'd be disappointed.

[ for her part, she is glad neither parent had to witness her marriage. even ned stark had remained ignorant about it -- she'd refused to tell him that shame. ]

Your ways are so odd.

Yeah? [ He chuckles a little; to him they aren't, but he's also certain that she's not the only one who thinks they are. ]

How would it be done in your world?

I don't know how the small-folk do it. [ this is her one disclaimer. she can't claim any knowledge for the weddings of the poor and the disenfranchised. ] But the Great Houses press suits to their advantage. Old allies sealed with vows. Enemies placated.

[ Sansa don't call them small-folk......... ]

And those to be married don't get a say?

A septon won't perform a ceremony if one or both parties don't agree to it. But--

[ she stops. there are ways to cajole agreement from a person. or to disguise their dissent. ]

[ John gets the picture. Strange though the ways of his world might seem to her, John thinks he prefers them. ]

So what if it were a situation like my sister and I, where our families can't really give any input?

[ due to... being dead ]

I...knew a young lady who became a ward of the crown. Her titles and claims became the King's to marry away as was most advantageous to him.

Ugh.

[ Yeah, no thank you. ]

I think I'll stay single.

Beg pardon, ser, but that choice is your right.

[ and not, she implies, the right of others. a soldier has more leeway than a lady. ]

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