Ellion only nodded, looking across at Merebelle, nodding. She was right in saying what she said, and well, he didn't really know what to expect of it all. She was willing to follow him. Most women would have given in or probably not even bothered, because Ellion had left them. He was famous in the Reach after all, the culture worked differently compared to other Kingdoms, perhaps. Not like Dorne, but bastards weren't as marred as elsewhere, or at least, to a lesser extent. Ellion probably had a couple unacknowledged already, but it wasn't like the mothers would hunt him...not after the fact that they could acknowledge a night with someone like Ellion. He was a Tyrell, after all, and the rulers of the land were fair and pretty, Ellion being already a little of a legend in his own right. The looks of a young Leo Longthorn, they said.
And yet she was a warrior, not just some maiden. Ellion didn't entirely understand how it would work, but she was following him. He knew he did stupid things, brave, bold, and daring things, and held a bastion of chivalry while he did it, all in the while having a little fun and pleasure. And she wanted to follow into that. And he was ensnared. He didn't get it. He almost didn't want to, as he nodded to her, taking a stance, waiting on the others, and waiting for what King Jon would say next.
--------------
Alerie had left for her chamber, next-door to Willas's room in the tower the Master of Coin inhabited, and whilst it smelled of roses, it was nothing like home. Alerie knew that well enough. She sat in the room, with her handmaiden close, her other one, that was. A girl of 12 years, Megga, a lowborn of some House that had a minor plot of land somewhere in the Highgarden. She was pretty, and more of a lady-in-waiting, though Alerie knew she wouldn't have much, she was kind and sweet. And yet Amber was missing, and it worried Alerie sick. Though something hadn't seemed right in the last few days. The way she spoke about King's Landing. She didn't really want to understand it, and felt it was a little wrong. The Tyrell lady sat with Megga, as the handmaiden adjusted her hair, ruffled from waking up. She would choose to stay the night up, she had decided, sunrise was coming soon.
"Good heavens. I told Amber to stay in the Keep. She's gone and gallivanted off somewhere. Don't suppose you know?" Alerie added, sighing, as Megga, the girl having brown hair and a very short stature, gently went through her master's hair.
"I don't know where she went, m'lady. Perhaps House Redwyne needed her?" Megga innocently suggested, as Alerie tutted.
"She doesn't serve them now. She serves me. That's the way it works, isn't it? And in return, I happily give you a life that allows you to meet, maybe even speak with suitors and Knights of the realm, who wouldn't ordinarily be of their status. Very powerful men indeed." Alerie replied, cold in her response, as she looked back at Megga.
"You know...something. What you just said gives it away. You're a lovely girl. But you just can't hold secrets even to help your friends, can you...." Alerie said, the ice cracking, and it had been a long time coming. For the last few hours, the tension felt elastic, and Alerie had been ticking, ticking, ticking. Till now. Alerie was good at this. Even on her own handmaidens, it kept her sharp. She noted for Megga to sit, as she stood, walking across the room, in her dress.
"But.....I suppose handmaidens will be handmaidens, won't they? The ones that serve the daughter of a Lord Paramount. A potential suitor to an heir of one of the Seven Kingdoms. I'd think a marvellous opportunity. Not to be wasted." Alerie took a seat on a stood away from the bed, as she gently threaded her hand into a jar, with numerous flowers sticking out. She pulled one out, the thorny rose against her hands, the stem barely affecting her hold. She was a Greenhand, as was Ellion. A particular trait, it was like the flora and fauna decided to sit well with them, and the red rose that Alerie held seemed to have little effect on the way she clutched it tight, as she gently dipped her other hand against the petals, before looking back at Megga.
"So, I suppose, my little petal...I'd like to hear why that isn't the case with Amber. Tell me, where could I find your best friend, beyond all those terrible sea monsters that tried to kill us? I imagine you know more than you would like to admit." Alerie was cunning. There was no doubting it. This wasn't just her proving a point. This was finding out what little Megga could do. It was testing her. Alerie, like the rose she held, was able to wrap her vines and thoughts into poor Megga's head, and well, this was a lovely chance for her indeed to see what a little girl would do.
"I don't know.....she wanted to go out of the Keep, that's all I know, she wanted to chase someone!" Megga looked like she was about to sob, she was saddened, as Alerie didn't let up, leaning in.
"And who did she want to go see?" Alerie stared straight into her eyes, Alerie went from a kind, gentle Lady to a vine that felt like it put spikes into anyone's throat and head, a thick and thorny presence that only demanded an answer.
"I don't know, Lady Alerie, I'm begging you!" With it, Megga cried, as Alerie shook her head. Well, she had already inferred the whole story. She didn't care for her handmaidens hugely, but she knew their politics already.
"Alright. Go back to your room, and get some sleep. I imagine I have a few little things to do on my own. Your best friend seems like they got themselves in very deep trouble." Alerie replied. Megga was not remarkable, but she was good enough a liar, good enough to show the truth when she had to, and good enough to know when to leave details. Of course, Alerie could have guessed it was Aerion, the Valyrian was without much attention, and Amber hadn't been herself, with an occasional stare, and Alerie was feminine enough to know exactly what was happening, when any other person would have brushed it off. Well, not until what she disclosed.
She knew Aerion was a hedge knight of some sort, and Amber wasn't always reliable...a little distant. A good handmaiden, but even with so little information, she already threaded it together. Of course, she had her own motives for Aerion, and by good chance, this completely and utterly remarkable turn of events felt to Alerie like she could see into a benefit for her own ends. From what her father offered, very kindly indeed, and from what Alerie would need, it worked well. A little intrigue, and it would give her reason to join dots. For Aerion, she didn't actually know, nor for Amber or Megga how it would end. But Alerie knew that as the Freys had their own conniving ways, she had hers. You didn't use people. You made them act like they felt like it was for their own benefit. And you didn't work in shadows.
Alerie Tyrell was a kind, lovely daughter of a Lord Paramount. But a good listener, observer, and most of all, she didn't need to overexpose herself to work towards what she wanted, be some Lysene plotter, she just had to pressure a couple of the right people in the right time, and that was to get what she was working towards, whilst keeping her family in high, if not higher regard. Everything was in the open, there were no whispers to be had. Only a few little pulls of vine here and there.
cosmiccowgirl,
RPM,
VeyrinDay,
esqueleto,
xVampire3go,
SonnetNSunbeam,
RisingRobin,
Gunther,
Antlers