[b][u]Blackhaven[/u][/b] Garlan Tyrell was a firm commander, that was much certain. After all, he was known for leading the Tyrell armies in the War of the Five Kings, and whilst he had been young then, he had been bold and driven by rage. "The Gallant", he was known, and he was certainly brave, Ellion reminded him a lot of himself, but he had began to lose hair and his brown locks had faded, not going grey as much as just starting to just vanish. He was not as furious as the nearly seven-foot tall Gendry Baratheon, but Garlan was still a very adept commander. After all, supporting the siege of King's Landing and sending tens of thousands of men to pillage and systematically hunt down Lannisters in the Westerlands, protecting his own kingdom in the process, made him a formidable commander. His approach of never using cunning, but rather, forcing his opponent to make mistakes and yield the ground they had, a blood and guts tactic, meant that his name did not go unspoken in times of war. Whilst Gendry, or Lord Tarly may have been a more impressive commander, Garlan had been at the helm of the Reach's armies, and his wrath wasn't entirely quenched when he heard the news about his family. Much had been lost, and he had reacted very, very differently to Willas. Standing at the table, he looked on, listening to Gendry's plan, nodding. "Understood. But I would be weary. High positions make our presence clear, especially The Spine. They'll know what we're doing. If you're fine with that Garlan. Once we make it up there, they will certainly know we are there. I suggest we move swiftly, we do not dawdle, nor walk into any traps if they have any prepared. These hills are a giant trap if they are used correctly." Garlan said, speaking from battlefield experience, and understanding that this was not an orthodox enemy. "My men will hold the line towards Nightsong, and the Reach. We have a good pike contingent thanks to Lord Peake, so if they decide to run down, they'll find a prickly end." The Tyrell commander added, looking at the map. "If they do spill out, they can go into the Prince's Pass. They cannot be allowed to head either way. They have to be crushed, and due to water supplies, we can't take prisoners. I hate to be the one saying it, Gendry. But chivalry and our honour can go so far for some of them, but I suggest for their mercy, we don't keep any. They're rebellious and nefarious to try something against us right now. If they were in the Vale, I'd think otherwise. But here, if our men are stretched on water and in this hellish heat, and they are challenging the very existence of about three Kingdoms. Including my brother's. This isn't a rebellion. This is someone trying to draw attention of the realm to see how we handle our relative peace." Garlan added, a sweeping statement, as he looked across the commanders assembled, before back at Gendry. "We'll hold our own and press them in, heading through that Pass to wherever we expect to find Hellgate Hall. We'll contribute a significant proportion of men to the Spine, upon your orders, we can press advantage or hold the line. The Knights of the Reach are a tough flower. Difficult to prune." After the meeting, he left to head back to his personal tent, expecting to meet Mirren Sand- a guard who knew Dorne and could be trusted, from what he had recieved in his letter from Lord Willas. ---------------------------------------- [u][b]King's Landing[/b][/u] Alerie had met with Willas again, the father and daughter spending more time, in Willas's quarters, that which he had for the role he held as Master of Coin. She had spent the days waiting around, shadowing her father, and listening to gossip, as well as chasing up what had really happened with Amber. That was a small matter, given the scale of the other events in the capital, and Willas had felt it, as the head of a grand house, he had much to do. "The King and Queen are taking petitioners right now. And here I am, doing his money, waiting for the moment King Jon comes in and tells me that there's something he has. I'm a kind man also..but kindness does not go well with savvy with finance." Willas mused, as Alerie looked on over, in a new dress, this time a brown and golden variety, her eyes still golden and her burgundy hair still tied aback. "Sounds cynical, father. Where was the goodness that uncle Garlan used to tell me about?" Alerie questioned, as Willas raised his head, out of the ledger he was in. "It's still there. Always for you, Alerie. And for Ellion, Alys, and Merlin too. I love you all to bits." Willas added, as Alerie chuckled. "Always?" "Always. I missed you the most. But it seems you are settling into life here well. Don't you want to go home? There's not enough flowers, or mildly mannered and nice people here...." "Oh no, father. I've got plenty on my plate. I miss the flowers, but everything else...I can handle myself. I spoke with Jahaerys, after riding his dragon, I have to admit, he is a brave lad. Though not the easiest to talk to. Although..." "It's Tom Lannister, isn't it?" "Yes...he is lovely. A raring lion. I want to drop him a note. He has his eye on me, and I suppose I want to talk to him. And if I wanted to date a Targaryen...there are better out there." "Careful, Alerie. You know what this game can be like. I told you about Margaery. These are some incredibly powerful men. I will look after you, I don't want to hear it that you did something stupid. You're golden hearted, my darling. My sweet rose, so clever, but you need to be careful. "I've learned this game. I'll play the vines like I do. But alas." Alerie shrugged, as Willas got back to work, before stopping again, having something on his mind. "Alerie, can I ask something?" Willas stopped writing with his quill, a little curious to find out what Alerie thought. "Yes, anything at all, father?" "What do you think Ellion will do? I mean...he's a Knight of the Green Hand. A formidable fighter, one of the best in the Realm, he could have carried on in that Tourney and unhorsed more, he has an impressive charisma." "Honestly, dad?" "Yes, Alerie. Tell me." "He can't carry on like this. It'll get him killed. I saw the woman he was with. Merebelle Grey. A fine lass, but Ellion always, almost without fail, tires. In time, I feel he's trying his luck and pushing the wrong things. He's bedded so many women, seen so many things, trying to adventure so much. I remember when we had to stop him going to Lys, in the Free Companies. It'll be a woman, or poison that kills him, not a blade." "You can't be sure." "You know how he is. It's too known, even you, his father, wouldn't deny that. I certainly can't. He will have his fun. Then he'll be a commander, a second son, and while Merlin rules over the Kingdom, he stands by." Alerie added, as Willas nodded, coming back to the question. "So what do you think we do in that case, Alerie?" "Get him a position on the Kingsguard, father. I love him dearly. I do, I really would know it would kill him inside, he doesn't know what he wants. He'll have his gallivanting, I know he will. But the King himself will make sure he is held to attention to it. And he'll have order, respect, and someone to follow. Not to mention what it would do for our family. The Tyrell's finest Rose, the prettiest of our family, guarding the King and Queen. He would be rather dashing in Kingsguarder armour, too. I can see him in white." Alerie chuckled towards the end, as she looked to her dad again. He seemed receptive, but not accepting, just listening to it, as he replied. "It won't be easy to do. Not from Ellion's point of view, not from anyone's." "It's in our House's order to make it so. Like you say, you won't be here forever...and Ellion would do well in the Kingsguard, he would shine through to any King or Queen, he has the right charisma. We need to make sure we have a hand in the King and Queen's ear. We are the Stewards...now more so to the Seven Kingdoms, not the Gardeners." "That's a difficult thing to do. I get on well with the King and Queen. But there's members of the Kingsguard who won't like the idea of a new Knight in the ranks." "No, they won't. But I suppose we have time on our side if he did. I'm only suggesting this, is all. Perhaps Ellion will find his calling, bed someone he calls a wife, and ask for a patch of land." Alerie mused, as she thought about it herself. The handmaiden was a small fish to fry, a little thing she would chase up, yet this was a web she was far more keen to invoke. "Though, that does seem to fit him less." Alerie added, chuckling at the thought. Sitting up, she let Willas get back to it, sitting there for a good twenty minutes more, before he finished up his day's ledgers. It was admin- admin for Seven, nearly Eight Kingdoms, Nine almost if you had the client trading with the Dragon's Bay cities, and he could barely do any of it himself, relying on a small army of bureaucrats and mercantile-inclined councillors, and he kept the books as best he could away from debt; though it was of course, unavoidable to keep a Kingdom running. The Targaryens used up more sheep and livestock with dragons, feasts such as these were on a far greater scale, and higher taxes combined to make a more difficult job for him. It was no surprise he was losing hair, because even with how much help he got, it took a lot to keep the wheels turning. He knew however, the last few years had been stable, controlled and gentle, and he had done a good job at it, being trustworthy, honourable and most of all, approachable. Alerie on the other hand...well, she already had something in mind. --------------------------------------------------- [@NecroKnight] [@Greenie] [b][u]Somewhere in the Narrow Sea [/u][/b] The sea voyage was proving to be stern and steady, and whilst this wasn't the usual affair for Ser Ellion Tyrell, this was proving to be exactly the adventure he needed. He looked a little different, his hair had been grown out, his long light brown locks covered in salt water from his time on the deck, his golden brown eyes looking off into the distance. (To describe it properly, anachronistically it almost appeared to make him look like some kind of surfer). His armour was as pretty as always, though he used a dark green and golden cloak that wrapped from his neck through his plate to his back, woven through a few areas of the plate as to protect it's luster a little, and to keep him a little warm without blowing away. His sword was at his hilt, and his wounds seemed to have pretty much recovered, he seemed to have a few more scars than before, but his face and outward appearance, with the rest of the crew already settled down for the journey. Ellion had mustered his men, and knew his task to heart. He knew his place would have really been on Greenhand, the Tyrell flagship that came of the form of a galleon, alongside Lord Redwyne, the ship as beautiful as the Kingdom it came from, though not lacking in ballistae, scorpions and other weaponry. Yet here he was, leaning against the edge, looking behind as he saw Merebelle come over. She was beautiful in that armour of hers, he had to admit. The Hawk's armour, and Ellion very much agreed upon the name, it brought out her hair and her eyes, and it had a Reachman design, rather than the starkness of the scales and clean plate of the Riverlands, it was a little more intricate and polished, whilst offering more protection. She soon pulled herself up to the railing. Wrapping her fingers in his hand - going into a small talk about the sea itself. In addition to the fact, she had brought enough moon tea ingredients to keep herself free of any extras. While in the case allowing the two to have as much fun as they would like. "So.... what you planning this trip?" she asked, winking at him. In a way giving him the idea of what he should do be doing - or the easier choice of what he would be able to do. "Not much. I have a few things on my mind. It's just like you said. It's too much even still. I can turn heads but that would be better. To romp in on my own. There's too many heroes here." Ellion simply replied, wrapping his hands around hers, turning with a characteristic grin, smiling. "I suppose the odds are different. I keep thinking to myself, where we are. There's no army on the horizion, just our swords. We'll make this work, or we die." Ellion's mood shifted almost like the clouds above, though he sighed, shrugging his shoulders. "I suppose as romantic as I can be, the last thing I want is for either of us to die in one another's arms. That'd break my heart, my love. Like a rose's petals lost to the wind, life without you would be less beautiful." Ellion said, looking ahead on the ship, before back at Merebelle, his face changing again. He could really be a little poetic at times, and even his plate did have the lingering smell of flowers, it was still pleasant, though the smell of the sea was beginning to wrap even around him. "I suppose we make a good team. I can hold myself in a melee, so can you. Comes from when I was young. My uncle, Garlan, made me train whenever I could, I spent so much time outside, and I always had a gift for it. Still learning a lot, but I've felled quite a few men. Almost went to the Free Cities as a mercenary, but my father talked me out of it. And yet...here I am getting my cheeks blushing from a Riverlander lady." Chuckling, Ellion kissed her, wrapping her close with his arm. "Your plate truly is lovely. Brings you out so nicely, Merebelle. Your Riverlander heart is better around flowers." "Well what about wrapped in flowers?" she giggled, giving Ellion a nice image of her in a field of flowers. "As I recall, this was a gift from you....if I didn't know any better, I might think, this could be translated as an...engagement gift?" "You know I am not the usual type of girl, whom would faint at the sight of some pretty dress - from Lys or Essos. I like my things practical...." she smiled, warmly humming against his neck as he held her against him. "...but I do like it, whenever I get called pretty." She looked out into the sea once more, then up into the skies where the dragons were flying. "Hope they don't poop mid-flight," she joked, laughing at the idea. Ellion giggled, shaking his head. Seven Hells, she was dark. Not an ordinary girl, that much he could only say. "Never mistook you for that, Miri. And I think they don't really care so much. Things that fly are like that, my father said they don't have a care in the world. Why would they, when they have freedom of the skies, a place where we cannot go." Ellion heartily chuckled, letting her lean in close against his neck, kissing her forehead, then up at the sky. "I'll let you keep guessing, my dear. When you're with me, you'll find some things are more than just a gift." Ellion added, the Tyrell's hair blowing a little in the sea breeze, as he cooed, Merebelle short against his tall and slender frame, protecting her closely. "Mhmmm....so, should I then skip drinking moon tea - incase we...I'know," she teased, kissing his cheek as she rose onto her tip-toes and then back down. "....the way you speak and talk, it's like you want me to keep chasing after you." "Don't worry....I don't plan on letting you go...not now that I caught you....or rather, you caught me," she chuckled, humming happily against him. Her heart filled with immense joy and happiness. "I love you Ellion, and I want to be with you forever." Ellion chuckled, and internally screamed a little. Shit. This was good, this was amazing. But he hadn't let go. Maybe not yet, he reminded himself. Or maybe he wouldn't...he couldn't really know, but she didn't feel like it was going to be easy. "Me too, Merebelle. And hey....I suppose what else can I do but keep a fine lady from tripping over me." His look was gleeful, as he carried on keeping her in his embrace, looking on at the sea beyond. "There might be a little rum, some Cyvasse perhaps later. Want to try your hand?" "Of course, I would be willing. But you don't need to get me drunk, to be able to woo me into your bed," she chuckled - already treating Ellion, like they were engaged to eachother. It was a long way away - but Merebelle wanted to make sure, they could be together. "Is rum any different, than what we usually drink back in Westeros?" she spoke, having heard it was mostly an Ironborn and sailor' drink at that. "I will admit, I am not very good with cards...or whatever Cyvasse is. Can you give me some tips, once we start playing?" "Well...it's not Arbor. Us Tyrells can drink a hell of a lot of wine. It's like they say our hearts are fortified with vine, so it doesn't hit us as hard. But rum....rum is something else. Washes the head out of it's own place." Ellion added, as he knew she would be a little unfamiliar at Cyvasse. He was fairly average, but he played it with a cheat sometimes, a break from his chivalry at a game such as that, given it was played more by commoners. He always held his chivalry in almost everything he did, apart from women and cyvasse, he thought to himself. "It's a fun game, to say the least." "Well, I can't wait to try out both of them. If you think they are nice, then it must be great," she replied, giggling to him. "But talking about it - where did you learn about this game in particular? I haven't heard much about it, from Westeros? Is it Essos only, or rather a more highborn game in particular?" She was mostly knowledgable in her own music and namely swordfighting - not much else. Merebelle was learning about the art of politics but it was a slow process. "It's a lowborn's. Well....a certain kind. Learnt it when I was in the Arbor. Some merchants play it in taverns. I'd rather play with a battleground given the chance, it's far more refreshing for the head. But not as dashing though, is it?" Ellion chuckled, cuddling Merebelle, knowing he sounded a little bit like a nobleman in that moment, sighing. "I spent a lot of time going everywhere in Westeros. It's a fun little game." "You plan to continue your journey across Westeros I assume then? Once we return?" she hummed, resting her head against his chest. "...can't I persuade you to...mmm....settle down?" Merebelle was taking the reins of the moment - wanting Ellion to know, how she felt about him truly and completely. She honestly believed Ellion was the right man for her - despite his quirks and apologies. She was almost like a mirror of her - free-caring to serious, rich to modest, brash to calm. "Your already, granted the title of Master-of-Arms. A nice and well respected position....or are you trying to become King Ellion?" she teased him, laughing happily with him. "I really don't know. Kingsguard. Mercenary. Tourney champion. All sounds really fun to me, I want all of them almost. I have the latter now. But I'm not stupid. I need experience. I need to learn more. Be a bit stupid, then wise up." Ellion replied, chuckling. "Though I wouldn't mind being King. Speaking of sitting on a throne...I may need a moment." With it, Ellion headed off, out of the embrace, the wooden throne with a hole in it. Merebelle hummed in reply, watching him leave - as she remained uptop, leaning against the railing and enjoying the sea air. "We haven't talked much, have we?" Taria had spotted Ellion and Merebelle earlier, but she had been wrought to interrupt their talk. She didn't usually go out of her way to talk to others, but that wasn't due to hostility; she was just naturally quiet. However, she figured it would be a good thing to have some sort of acquaintance with her shipmates. She had already met Ellion before they left, and it had actually been fun chit chatting. She was hoping for the same now. "Oh, hello? I don't know if I have met your acquintance?" asked Merebelle, turning around and greeting the young woman. She looked slightly familiar, Merebelle recalling having met the young woman in the banquet - but not her name specifically. "I am Merebelle, a pleasure to meet you." "Taria Sno- Taria Greyjoy." Even after a forthnight and more, her mind still thought 'Snow' befor Greyjoy. "Pleased to meet you as well." She knew who Merebelle was, being rather good at linking names with faces and vice-versa. She had to admit the lady was quite lovely, as was her armour. She also expected she was quite the fighter. She looked out toward the open sea, taking a breath of the sea breeze. "It's nice to be back on a ship," she said after a moment, trying to fill in what felt like an awkward silence. "Is this your first sea voyage?" She figured for some people it would be; she had seen enough grey faced folk in the past couple of weeks. "Pleased to meet you, Taria Greyjoy," spoke Merebelle - while Riverlanders and Greyjoys didn't have the best history. Due to their ancient history, Merebelle kept it civilized - namely cause her family never had to deal with such issues. "First time on a ship? Not really. Over in the Riverlands, we used boats a lot - albeit, they weren't as big as these things," she spoke, patting the wood on the railing. "As for sea voyage. Indeed it's my first time at that. But luckily, I have gotten practice with my sea legs, so I shouldn't get sea-sick that easily." "Oh, that does make sense. I visited the Riverlands more than ten years ago." Taria smiled as she looked away from the water and back at Merebelle. "It's been a while, so I can't remember all the places I visited besides the obvious Riverrun. From there I wandered over to Pyke." Rivalries or histories were subjects that Taria didn't give much importance to. As a Snow, she had simply not cared much about that which happened between different houses, since her opinion didn't have any real worth in what she figured were 'important' issues. "Sea travel can be rough," she continued, "but we've had it lucky so far. The last time I made a sea journey was six years ago; my ship didn't last. It's nice to be back, though. There's something about the sea that just calls out to a person." At least, that was the case with her. "I've been mostly stuck at my small abode - near the borders. My House was mostly a musician' group - namely, my great-father had done something amazing centuries ago - which is how we got our title. But most of the time, we got - by being, mostly....a bard school." "Well not so much a school, as possessing the largest collection of old folk songs and other from across Westeros. My great-mother had loved music it seemed," she explaned. "And well...I was training to become one too...until I got ambushed by bandits. Then I decided to turn my life around and train to be a knight - since times were changing and it became easier to learn the sword." "Got some fancy title, after I helped defend against those sea-creatures. And here I am," explained Merebelle - having unexpectly told Taria her life story. "But...enough about me. What is your life-story?" "I'm afraid it's nothing too grand," Taria replied with a small laugh. "My father was Theon Greyjoy, but I only just met him at Prince Aemon's wedding. I was born in a brothel to one of the workers there, stayed there until I was old enough to decide I didn't want to be somebody's whore." She shrugged a shoulder, thinking back to her mother, wondering if she was still at the brother, or even alive at that. "I left Winterfell around thirteen years," she continued. "Thought of travelling to the Wall to meet my father, but, well, it was too bloody cold." She chuckled, thinking of how stupid she had been back then. "I turned around and instead decided I wanted to travel Westeros. It wasn't too bad, following the King's Road. Spent a few years in Pyke with my Aunt Asha, sailed to Dorne, stayed there a while before sailing past... well, our destination. The Stepstones..." She paused there, remembering what came after that. "... and eventually decided to reside for a while in KIng's Landing." Once more her shoulder rose in a shrug. "Spoken of so often, I had to see it with my own eyes. I've been there for six years, about." She fiddled unknowingly with a lock of hair that srayed onto her shoulder. "Hardly ever expected to meet Lords and Ladies, leave alone Royals. Or even my father. Funny the things that happen." "Wow....sorry to hear about your upbringing," replied Merebelle, leaning over to hug Taria for a moment. Showing that her sorry was meaningful and not just out of pity for the girl. "You need any help just ask me. Not alot of girls on this trip, so we have to stick together." "You ever thought about your mother? Or is she still around?" she added, knowing how such bastards are usually forced to leave their parents - to make their own way in the world at that. "So, now you are here and a nobility instead of a free-child." Merebelle used the word 'free-child' and not bastard-born - since it was beneath her to insult another member of their group. "So what ya think? Should we join forces? Keep eachother' backs?" she teased, making small-talk with the woman. The hug surprised Taria, but she wasn't left for words, smiling at the gesture. "Actually, though I hated it growing up, I realize that all I've been able to do with my life wouldn't've been possible if I had a proper name. Even my father told me that it was probably better I wasn't trueborn. Those with names have responsibilities." She wondered if she would be stuck with said responsibilities. Even her aunt had to 'settle' down and marry. "As for my mother..." Taria shook her head. "I don't know. I never returned to that whorehouse, nor do I plan on it. I'm sure if she's still there, she's fine." And if she wasn't there, it probably meant she was dead. As harsh as it may have sounded if said out loud, she didn't care too much if the latter was the case. Nor was she ashamed of being called a bastard, or took it as an insult. However, she appreciated the gesture. "Aye, I have my father's name now," she agreed, smiling sincerely. "I hope to make him and my aunt proud." As for joining forces... Taria couldn't help but chuckle at what Merebelle said. "I'm afraid I'm not the best fighter, but if you're in need of my help, I'll be glad to provide." She wasn't too sure what she could her the Lady with, however; she seemed to be quite self sufficient. Coming back, Ellion saw Taria speaking with Merebelle, the Greyjoy a lady he had met . Now, Tyrells and Greyjoys were not the most natural in conversation, given that Garlan had given him a lesson at length of . But Taria seemed different, she seemed more in touch with her Northern roots, the leather armour she wore indiciating that a little. She was pretty indeed, and she was talented in a fight, someone that Ellion kept his eye on for. He knew he was almost completely different to the two women, he had a well known name and much that he could ask for, and he knew he had to be careful sometimes, as to not come across as too educated or elitist. "You two pretty ladies sound like you're getting on rather well." Ellion added, sighing as he leaned against the ship's side, looking across at them both closer to Merebelle and leaning in a little by her side. "I imagine we'll have a fun fight when we get ashore. Adventure and a distant land. Like the stories we tell when we're children. Except...they don't really tell us the part we could be hacked apart by sea monsters either." Ellion wryly chuckled, knowing Merebelle would find it a little true, but he wasn't so sure about Taria. "Either way, we have the best warriors of Westeros by our side. I'm sure we can make our marks." Taria gave a polite nod when Ellion had returned, smiling a little as well. It was always nice to see a friendly, familiar face. She had come upon the Tyrell by chance after buying her leather armour and wandering through King's Landing. Preparation hadn't taken too long for someone with little belongings, so after that first day, the Greyjoy had spent more time simply taking in King's Landing's sights. "Well," she started, motioning toward the waves with her hand, "the Drowned God hasn't forsaken me so far, so I'm hoping it will be the same for us all." She knew her deity wasn't worshiped by any other Westerosi, but that didn't matter much. The sea was His domain after all; she figured a few prayers sent His way wouldn't do any harm to anyone. She never reaved, nor did her family anymore, at least those in Pyke, but that didn't make them less of believers. "And, as you said..." She looked vaguely in the direction of the rest of the crew. "From what I've observed anyway, seems we've plenty good fighters." She wasn't one, but she had at least seen Seran fight. Not only that, she trusted the judgment of their lieges. "Indeed. I find it curious, how you Ironborn like your leather so much. Never understood why you don't do plate. Perhaps it sinks you quicker. But I must say, you did get something rather pretty, Taria." Ellion replied, looking on at the others, then back at Taria. "Whatever Gods we believe, the Seven, Drowned, the Lord of Light, we'll need them with us." "Well," Taria replied, a little smirk on her face now, "you answered yourself there, Ellion." She found it easier to be free with the Tyrell, for the obvious reason that she knew him better than Merebelle. There was, however, the other reason that she had spent more time with boys and men rather than girls and ladies. Especially the latter with titles. "Though, myself..." She shrugged. "It's practicality. Plate is expensive, this is easier to get." She looked down at herself before letting out a chuckle. "And especially when I've made it a goal to travel as long as I live... well, it's less weighty, like you mentioned. "As for Gods, well, being from the North it was the Old Gods that were more familiar for a while." Though she had never actually worshiped them, or any Gods back then, unless feeding onself was called worshiping the stomach. Ellion nodded, knowing the Ironborn bastard had a certain charm, though it was different to Merebelle's. Something strange indeed, she seemed at ease with being a mercenary and honor was a different concept to her than it was to Merebelle, perhaps. "Ah, I understand." Ellion simply replied to Taria, looking off at the sea, before back at the two ladies. "But plate is engineered. A difficult thing to pierce, and learning to fight against men in plate is a skill of it's own. It's why I learned how to use a polearm. No point slashing a man when you can put blunt force into them better." Ellion spoke from an experience of fighting and sparring with Garlan when he was younger, as well as his personal experiences, knowing the advantages it gave against certain weapons. Gently letting Merebelle wrap up against her, Ellion's hair blowing a little in the breeze, he watched the hubub of sailors on the deck move across, to go change the pitch of the sails. "It's a remarkable history you have, Taria. The daughter of Theon Greyjoy. If ever there was an example of a man changing his ways better." Merebelle coughed in reply, indicating that she still was also there - and wasn't much happy that he didn't spend as much attention to her, as he did to Taria. She wasn't angry at Taria - namely cause Ellion was doing the act. "From what I have learned, protection doesn't matter much - speed and precision do," she replied. "It was why I wore how I did, with my first armor. Anybody can pull on a metal suit - but it takes skill to wear it. Many knights use the armor as another shield between them and the world. Instead of having it be them in essence." "Well, I could always be like my father as well." The thought had come to Taria more than once, that perhaps it was time for her to properly learn archery. No matter what people may think of her, she felt she knew best of her skills, and fighting was not one of them, in her opinion. At least if she was proficient in a bow, the could support her companions from somewhere that wouldn't require her to worry as much about armour. Well, that was her line of thought anyway. She knew she could very well be wrong. "Thank you, Ser," she replied, nodding her head politely. She decided to simply take his last words as a compliment. In a sense, he reminded her a little of Viserys, though perhaps a little less flowery with his words. "I'll take my leave now." Her eyes were as sharp as ever, and she could tell there was something going on between the two here. Not wanting conflict, she figured it was best to leave them alone. She smiled at both Ellion and Merebelle, gave another nod, and walked off in no particular direction. They were on a ship after all, there wasn't really anywhere to go that hadn't been discovered already. Chuckling, he knew what Merebelle was thinking, giving her a distinct smirk. "Aye. It may be pretty and shiny, but even I'll admit, I'm not afraid of getting it scratched. No good armour is left untouched. It needs war wounds." Taria headed off, watching her smile as she left, giving a nod as she headed away, looking back at Merebelle, keeping close. -------------------- Later on, down in the deck, Ellion chuckled, the cards and rum out, as he drank a little more, looking across to his rival from the tourney. "Mostly the fact that you're here. And I am not letting you have all the glory." Ellion chuckled, drinking a little of rum, playing a hand as he watched across. "That and the fact that I always seem to like adventure. It will be no fun tourney. It'll be a hard fight. But I suppose I'm ready for that. Especially after dehorsing you." Ellion laughed a little more, drinking down a little rum, knowing he'd piss off Viserys, putting his hand out. "You're a hell of a fighter though. Glad you're on our side. Not theirs." Ellion was wise not to start a fight there and then, knowing there were a lot of bodies in this room, and it would be stupid to get a cut or a bruise or waste his energy, continuing to play the game and let others pitch in.