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

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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.

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Someone has been very busy, I see.

[Suddenly she looks like she's fifteen again; her eyes spill over with delight at seeing the Elvenking again, one of two elves she doesn't resent at the moment. And he looks proud. Of her. Someone is proud of her and she could cry for it.]

Someone has to be. But oh--you've come back!

[ for once (and perhaps only for now) sansa's response is not locked. but it's still careful. half-hesitant.

certainly more hesitant than it ought to be. ]

What efforts! [ ...now is not the time for shock and awe. now is the time for friendship, however feeble she feels. ] I cannot wait to see you again.

[She sees that hesitation and her smile wanes.]

Neither can I. Whatever is the matter, my dear? When are you coming back?

[ she takes a breath and remembers sigrid's shoulders slumped below the burden of her guilt in the woods. she thinks about what rides upon her own decisions -- and what she owes those who followed her father who might now follow her. and the more she thinks about it the sicker she feels. ]

Not as soon as I'd like. I need to stay here. A moon, mayhaps. [ -- a hard swallow. ] But Arya and Jon are coming back to Caer Glaem. Our little brother has come.

Oh, good! [And still none of Sigrid's siblings. Maybe lords get preferential treatment. It's still sort of horrible, though she tries to keep the smile up.] Which?

Bran. [ ... ] Brandon, by rights. But he is Bran to us.

[ and although cothromach does not pass to him, the other titles do. sansa is relieved of winterfell's weight. but bran is so young yet! ]

Is he the youngest?

Second to youngest. Little Rickon -- [ the old grief rises. it takes a moment before she remembers that meera insists rickon lives as well. these new truths are hard to keep track of. ] Rickon is youngest. Then Bran is older than him. Then Arya. Me. Robb--

[ no. she's left him out. that isn't right. ] Jon, then Robb.

What sort of boy is he?

[Sigrid is in desperate need of younger siblings. Arya is proving difficult to adopt.]

And...well, if I show you some things I brought from Treun, do you think you could tell me which one he'd like as a present?

[ 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.

[ In the wake of Bard, someone must be proud of the King of Dale's daughter. ]

I have. What is this about Treun of which you speak? [ His smile broadens, flatlining in mock-seriousness. ] Not running amok, I hope.

[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?

It's a beautiful city, like what I imagine Dale used to be. We were there during the Wreath Festival. [Oh, she's so sad she didn't bring a wreath back to give to the Elvenking, even though she couldn't have known. She'll have to find wheat and make him one.] Our host was very rich and our rooms were luxurious. And I was a diplomat, and they liked me, and I'm making the world better. I love it and I don't want to stop.

It gladdens my heart to know you are content. [ If she has a career and no spare time on her hands, it can only mould her into an admirable woman. ] Your father would be well pleased with your accomplishments, Sigrid.

[ It's a long time before Lancelot's reply comes, in part due to his handling of the training session and in part because he isn't sure what to say.

He's relieved, of course, that Sigrid is safe... yet part of him is still angry at her. Even if he knows, deep down, a good part of that anger was fuelled by his own fear. He settles on speaking to her, finally, but keeps from showing his face. Easier to mask any emotion that slips that way, after all Sigrid had not known exactly what he was so upset. ]

Lady Sigrid. I am glad to see you return from Treun safely. What of the rest of your party?

[ Please tell him they are not all dead. ]

[...Dale? Sigrid? The Bardling?]

Do you mean the City of Dale at the foot of Erebor?

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.

Safe, last I heard. Faolan made me leave the moment my meeting with the Council was done. Where are you? I want to see you.

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. ]

Yes, at the foot of Erebor. I am pleased to meet you, Master Dwarf.

[He looks familiar, but she didn't managed to really meet all the dwarves that took over her house, and certainly did not learn many of their names. Gloin she knows only as Red Dwarf.]

[To be fair, that is an accurate description]

I thought as much. Gimli, son of Glóin, at your service. I believe your family aided mine on the Quest of Erebor, though I could be wrong.

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