eachdraidh | Video - Seelie locked - Forward-dated to the 3rd

I'm back!

[Sigrid has bathed and washed her hair and polished her skin and everything is braided and tucked and in place as she sits before the locket, sitting like a lady instead of a girl.]

I'm in Caer Glaem and I have presents for a lot of people. Treun is a wonderful city and I will go back, and not only for business. Let's see...

[She looks at something off-frame, ticking each item off on one hand by tapping each fingertip against her thumb.]

Sansa, Gendry, Arya, Jon Snow, Lancelot, and Fili, I've got presents for you all from Treun and I want to see you. But!

[She smooths herself out and looks a little more formal.]

I am Sigrid of the House of Dale. We didn't get any new alliances in Treun, but we've got something just as important happening.

[She can't help the smile that breaks out.]

Before the envoy was sent, Treun was struggling to trade with Caer Glaem. You and I, shardbearers, can use the fairy rings to travel safely from here to there and back, but those without shards cannot. Treun is a hub of trade--traders come from round the world and their goods ship along the Road of Eithne to Cothromach, and from there across the mountains to Caer Glaem. As you know, most of the major battles of the war in the last few months have taken place along the Road of Eithne, making it very dangerous to travel. We have been on the brink of losing trade not only with Treun, but with all those who come by the Road of Eithne--the eastern world, more or less, and a great many by sea.

With the Council of Treun, it has been agreed [her smile splits into a grin] that a new road is to be built south of the fighting that will allow merchants from Treun to travel safely not only to Caer Glaem, but to the western world.

Trouble is, I need people to help build it. I've got three lovely earthbenders who'll work it through the mountains, but we'll need as many as possible to help make this safe path happen for the merchants. The monarchs will supply most of the laborers, but I need foremen. People who know what looks wrong, mostly. We don't even have roads in Lake-town, so I'm not much good there. Oh--there will have to be a bridge over the river.

...Thank you. For listening, even if you can't help.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ broken.

but sansa tries to distance herself from the notion of good sister. she does not see herself fulfilling the role well enough: ] It's been years since we -- no. Yes. Certainly. I'll do my best. I knew him as sweet and adventuresome.

[Sigrid digs through her bag for the souvenirs she purchased, first setting out a carved elephant.]

That's called an oliphaunt, from Far Harad. Sometimes they're called mumak, it depends on where you're from.

[She sets aside a bright parasol, since it doesn't seem like it would be of interest to a boy. Beads, spices, nothing a boy would want. At last she pulls out a cylindrical piece of carved jade that, upon being turned, presents seamless landscapes in all four seasons, using the natural colors of the jade in its design. The trees are amber in autumn, green in summer, and nearly white in winter and spring. She sets it beside the elephant.]

Between those two, what do you think?

certainly, the elephant catches her attention. she's heard tales of them across the narrow sea -- and hadn't there been some in southron menageries? but she's never seen one outside of illustrations. but far more appealing is the stick of jade. her attention lights upon it. ]

The seasons! [ they look so brief upon that stone. ] It's beautiful. That one -- certainly. Sigrid, were all these on offer in Treun? Truly?

All and more! [Her grin renewed, she shows off the parasol, standing to pose with it over one shoulder. It is made of white figured silk.] For a proper lady ambassador.

[She folds it and sets it aside to pick up a tooled leather book with blank pages.]

He was making this one when I walked by and I came back for it. The pages are made from rice, Sansa! He said it is very easy and cheap. But my favorite thing!

[She leans in and shows off an elegant silver pendant in the shape of a thrush in flight, hanging on a black ribbon. It is beautiful white silver with exquisite engraved detail, easily the finest thing she has ever bought for herself. Certainly it is a piece simple enough to wear every day but elegant enough to be worn on dressy occasions.]

It's wondrous. All of it. [ and sansa thinks about the kind of purchases she's made on her journey: defences and weapons and crafts. not a pretty bauble in the lot. her throat tightens. ] And that bird -- I can think of a few pretty dress patterns that would suit it well.

[Roads are paid for by countries, not by Sigrid. She hasn't bought anything for herself more expensive than a doughnut in all her life, until now.]

I have enough dresses, and it suits them all well.

You will need something for Cothromach's court, won't you?

[ likely not. but this was sansa's sly way of asking her friend to be with her in that wide underground city. ]

Your father provided a court dress for me when I first was sworn to him. Have I not shown you?

No. We-- [ have not had opportunity to dress up and dance and be free. It was always tragedy and war and she regretted so. But now the pretty dresses would come out for diplomacy's sake.

sansa shakes her head. ] I look forward to seeing it, though. As soon as I'm back.

A moon, you said?

[Sigrid toys with her pendant, looking wistful.]

I've missed you very much.

All these responsibilities. [ sigrid's! sansa's! all of them! ] They're such hard work. Are they worth the time apart, I wonder?

Maybe they're not.

[Sigrid had a talk with Thranduil and it's left her rather deflated about her own overconfidence.]

I'll join you. In Troichean Beann. I want to see you do what I thought I was so good at.

There is no need for haste. [ sansa thinks what she does will be such a disappointment. ] I am the only Stark here, now. Take your time -- be good to the newcomers, as I know you will be.

No--I want to come. I could help you, and you shouldn't be alone. I'll find a way, and Faolan will come with me.

Video - Seelie locked - Forward-dated to the 3rd

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