[center] [h3] Frados [/h3] [/center]

(Also done with [@EricRP] . Thanks buddy!)

One last day, it seems. One last beautiful day. The green stretched across rolling hills, as far as the eye could see, dotted with golden-headed flowers. Frados tried to imagine a dragon tearing through these meadows, burning the crops with a spiteful breath and toppling the walls with a sweep of its mighty tail. The thought made him shudder. Still, sitting out in the field and putting off the inevitable was perhaps not the best plan of action. Reluctantly, he picked himself off the ground and began making his way back to the circular walls of the Ring. 

"Good servant, kindly show our guests in," grumbled Frados, rubbing his weary eyes. 

Without a word, the servant bowed, and left the chamber, returning with a single-file group in tow. "The Lord Frados Roxton welcomes the esteemed Hightowers to his humble keep!" He shouted. "Presenting the noble Hightower family, to see his lordship!"

"Gods! It's blasted cold! I thought the Reach was a land of sunblessed splendour. At least, it was last I left Oldtown!" Ser Otto cursed. His squire said nought, they'd travelled light, with no banners or design in order to draw no attention on their long passage from King's Landing. In truth, the day was bright and clear, the landscapes picturesque but Otto was an old man these days and he felt the chill keener than most. Summer was over and with it, he feared, peace. As Hand of the King he ought to have stayed by Aegon's side, he knew, but he was a Reachman first and foremost, if he could visit with a few of these lesser lords, mayhaps he could secure the majority of their power and best serve the new King. 

He had a few ripe targets in mind, but The Ring happened to be his first stop and he had ever found the hospitality of House Roxton to his liking. He was tired, old and cold but he was sure this visit would not be in vain. 

"Lord Frados!" He called as he rode through the raised portcullis, "Your greeting warms us on this chill day!" He offered a slight bow to his host and his squire, Evand Flowers, slid from his saddle to hand the horse reins to the Roxton stableboy.

"Ser Otto, you've traveled far," greeted Frados, approaching the old knight. Ser Haraway followed at his heels, quickly scratching notes on paper. "I hope you'll forgive the day. It is not my place to dictate the will of the Seven." With a gesture of his hand, the stableboy ran off to attend to the horse. "Now, shall we get straight to business, or would you prefer to enjoy our hospitality first?"

Ser Otto was hungry, but it could wait. If Roxton was to declare for Rhaenyra, best he heard it, made his appeal and if unsuccessful, move on. It wouldn't do to reveal his route in that instance as he'd make himself ripe for capture. "I'll take of your bread and salt Lord Frados, and we can get straight to business. Afterwards, you must tell me how your lovely family fares!" He smiled, he was always a man to remember his courtesies and knew Lord Frados was as much a family man as he. "Come, let us talk as friends..."

"Bread and salt for the guest," Frados said, and Ser Haraway relayed it to a servant. "I'm afraid since one of your esteemed family has last visited, my family has unfortunately become . . . smaller than it once was. My father, may the Stranger be gentle with him, has been caught in an unfortunate duel. My sister-by-law, bless her as well, had an incident in birth. Shattered my brother's heart, it did. He didn't last long after. That leaves but three Roxtons in the whole world, if you can believe it. My little niece, the Lady Roxton, myself, and . . ." Frados grimaced, trailing off. He didn't like to talk about the third.

"And Jon." Ser Otto finished for him. "I'm grievous sorry to hear of your losses. We had word of the duel, a grim business to be sure. All the more prudent we shield the children. Tis they who will inherit whilst the likes of me will be dust and bones." His mouth tightened. Would Aegon go on to build this new world? He wondered. He must. Nodding to a page, he partook of the bread, lightly salted and dressed with a dark oil that tasted of vinegar. It was too sharp to Ser Otto's taste but he made no sign of it and thanked the lad. "I trust you've had tidings of King Viserys' sad demise?" He began.

"I think the hermits in far away Yi Ti and Asshai who lament the loss of our great king," Frados said. "No matter the king, it is the duty of the kingdom to mourn his passing. And now, I think, the kingdom mourns louder than ever. To be frank, both I and my neighbors can see the coming war. Mighty houses like your own perhaps would not understand, but we are a small domain, and we tremble for even the smallest conflicts. We have so much to lose from so little, you see."

Otto raised a hand at these words, "I assure you, Lord Frados, nay, I promise you, we share these concerns. The King is my grandson and I have great grandchildren besides. If it is to be war, they all are in danger and Kings Landing is the skirmish line..." He paused, his own words had affected him and he felt genuine fear for the children, steeling himself, he pressed on. "We will offer Rhaenyra peace, the offer has been made, but as you might imagine, whilst we hope for the best we must needs prepare for the worst." He offered a wan smile.

"Yes, of course . . ." Frados mused. Already, he was weighing up the sides, knowing that when the time comes, whether one side or the other is more fool, the most foolish thing to do is to stand alone. "If I hear correctly, your allies within the Reach are many. If you would allow me to say so, the lords are quite eager to stand at your side. It even sounds as if the Tyrells would soon declare in little Aegon's name. Now, those reasons are many, I agree, to join them in their thought. However, if the . . . distasteful rumors in my court are to be believed, Rhaenyra has something of a marked advantage, both in air and water. What say you to that?"

Ser Otto was relieved to hear Frados go on, he sounded like he wanted to declare for the Greens yet had obvious misgivings. "Rest assured, the Sea Snake and his vessels are no match for the fleets of Oldtown, Kings Landing and Storms End..." He smiled, "Yes, by now my grandson Aemond should be wed to one of Lord Borros Baratheon's girls. We needn't worry on that score. Dragons? Aye, they've a handful more but we're talking young hatchlings, wild dragons and those that have scarce been ridden in a generation. The history will tell you, it isn't who has the most dragons but who has the biggest. Vhagar is sister to Belarion lest we forget." He smiled his reassurance. "I'm here as your guest, Lord Frados, not as the Kings' Hand. As a Reachman, like you and a friend. I've visited nowhere else before here because I know you've ever been a faithful vassal to Highgarden and I hope I can count on you to be a faithful vassal to the King. Our [i]True[/i] King..."

"You've given me much to think about," said Frados. The conversation was reaching its conclusion far too quickly for his liking. "I appreciate your blessing my humble home with your visit, though I'm sure you have many others to attend to. If you would like to stay for a day or two, I would be more than happy to show you the guest chambers. If you would like to get on to the Wythers some leagues hence, I will have your horse brought to you." Making a decision this early, he knew, would lead to an unfavorable end.

[i]Wythers... the squirrels were long leagues North-West of here, Otto knew, but if Lord Roxton believed that was his destination, all well and good.[/i] In Truth, he would have visited Inchfield first if he were heading that way but he was due to strike towards Smithyton and House Shermer from here. "You are prudent to take your time, Lord Roxton, you have suffered losses few could imagine of late. All I would ask is that you declare one way or other with your family in mind. These lands are our home, yours and mine, and we must needs stand together for the common good and for what is right. I'll rest up here tonight, begging your pardon, and will strike towards Wythers on the morn." He lied, Alicent and Cole knew his journey but it was an agreed ploy that his route be kept secret from the Lords he courted lest one of them chose to inform Rhaenyra.

"Well and good. Ser Haraway, if you please," Frados commanded, and Ser Haraway leapt ahead of the group to show Ser Otto the guest chambers. Frados watched them go, stroking his chin. Ser Otto would be gone soon, and he made many good points regarding his allegiance. Still, to choose that path would have both him and his niece cross paths with Cousin Jon, a dangerous man if there ever was one. Perhaps it would be best to think first, and when the time is ripe, the Ring must stand with the winning side. To slip now, when such a critical moment was approaching regarding his enemies in Wythers, would cost the house everything, and he can't have that.