Fantasy 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐅𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐃𝐎𝐌𝐒

[social]

“Princess! Oh, Princess! A moment of your time please!”

“Your Highness! Are you staying for long?”

“Oh, Princess Naelys!”

The calls and chirps of her name and title filled the air as the woman walked, her heels clicking softly on the cobblestone. She was no stranger to being adored by the commonfolk, but she did not expect it from those in Nireath. In her own country, those who wished to speak with her were much more reserved in their advances. They did not push against each other with outstretched hands, desperate to feel her flesh for themselves. She was on edge, but not uncomfortable. Malaenys, William and even her cousin Diablo were all present with her, allowing a sense of comfort to infiltrate her nervous system despite the lack of a blade on her person.

“Mal-” Turning her head to speak to her twin, a rather unexpected sensation caused her to jerk her arm away as she saw a stranger holding onto her. The world seemed to turn to silence as they multiplied much to her horror. Hands and bodies swarmed her and the other royals, fingers scratching and yanking on the fabric of her dress. Her mind whirled as she tried to shake her limbs free of the aggressors, but she had little success. A flash of steel-colored armor collided with the back of one of the men who had a hold on her and Naelys felt herself fall. As if she were diving off a cliff, her stomach tightened and cooled considerably before she made an impact.

The table of the vendor collided roughly with her skull, sending white bolts of electricity through her, the pops and fizzles clouding her vision as she collapsed rather quickly to the ground. There was a ringing in her ears and a searing heat on the side of her, something she quickly identified to be blood. The noises came flooding back within seconds, pure and utter chaos having formed within mere moments. William found her crumpled frame without delay and helped her to her feet, careful to protect her as the fight progressed. Dazed and defenseless, Naelys found her voice after minutes of being trapped behind her guard, the cold armor speckled with crimson blood.

Her raised words fell upon deaf and angered ears as the fighting continued before forcibly being broken up by the city guards. Naelys felt relief wash over her as she was carefully escorted by William and the guards of Nireath, a steady hand always waiting to catch her in case she stumbled. But walking through the streets with blood-matted hair and a tattered dress was the least of her worries. Upon arriving at the castle, the furious and concerned expressions of her parents were the first she saw. Marak’s eyes were ablaze with anger as he stalked towards the group of royals and guards, one hand resting on the hilt of his sword.

“I should have your heads on spikes! How dare you be so foolish as to let harm befall my heir? Not to mention the other members of my kin who have been caught up in such a mess!” Hardened eyes threatened the guards of Nireath before making their rounds through those present. Naelys kept her head held high and narrowed her eyes at her father, not exactly pleased by the situation.

“Your Grace I am mostly unharmed. I would receive a worse injury in training than this. It is but a minor wound,” her words were calm and direct as if she were the only one trying to reign in their anger. “There is no reason to-”

“DO NOT tell your king there is no reason to worry. My heir and your successor could have been killed Naelys. Do not lecture me about diplomacy. I want ANSWERS!” The flared temper of King Marak never seemed to spare his children if they attempted to defuse the situation at all. A scoff left the princess as she turned her gaze from her father in favor of looking at the blood that ran down the clenched fingers of her guard, dripping onto the marble flooring below.

“Husband, do not blame our children for the mistakes that could have occurred at any time. Festivals such as this, are known to bring out extremists who are quite enamored with families such as ours.” Aerela’s voice was cool and smooth as she placed a delicate yet scarred hand on her husband’s forearm, hoping to ease the grip he had on his sword. “Let the maesters tend to our daughter and we can have a calm discussion about what happened.”

Without delay, the princess was escorted to temporary chambers where she was cleaned up and questioned. The conversation made her head ache more than the pressing and prodding of the maesters as their skilled hands tended to her wounds. A thin needle and thread stitched her flesh together in her hairline, only two stitches, just to ensure that the deepest portion of the wound would remain closed for the evening. It stung and made her fingers twitch, but she did not complain, her eyes sharply focused on the tapestries near the bed. Gods, Nireath royalty was almost as gaudy as Araes’.

Footsteps receded down the halls, the echo of the chamber doors closing being the only clue that anyone had exited the room. She was allowed a moment to breathe, to recover from the shock of the day’s events, in the company of her guard. Quiet words were exchanged as bloodied fingers lightly touched, gentle and vulnerable expressions for only each other to take in. His name was spoken gently as she thanked him for assisting her and questioned if he was alright and unscathed. The heat of battle and conflict was not foreign to either of them, the stench of freshly spilled blood and lost lives often filled their lungs when they followed the call of war. Smoke and fire usually followed, a sense of exhilaration of life filling them to the brim before they overflowed into an embrace.

But fleeting touches and warm gazes were cut short by rapid knocks and a servant entering her chambers. Long blonde hair fluttered in the air as she walked, her curious gaze lingering on the distance between the princess and her guard. Naelys paid no attention to it and simply got out of her seat in order to get dressed. Without turning her head, she parted her lips to speak, the words coming out without hesitation. “Thank you Ser William, that will be all.” The man did not waste time in leaving, their cold gazes catching only for a second as she watched him leave from the corner of her eye. Red and gold were stripped from her body before neatly laid across the light teal covers of the bed, mud, and blood soiling the hem, harsh tears lingering on the garment.

“This is a gift from Princess Vysenya. She said you wanted to wear your house’s colors so this is what she provided for you this evening,” layers of gold glinted in the warm light of the sun and Naelys fought the urge to scrunch her face up in annoyance. There was far too much skin exposed for her liking but she didn’t protest it. Thin and quick fingers washed her body quickly, erasing any traces of dirt or blood from her scarred skin. There was a sense of hesitation as the damp cloth lingered above Naelys’ arms, almost unsure of how to approach the uneven expanse of flesh.

“It does not hurt. Do what you must to get me ready in time.” A quick nod and a small noise left the girl as she wiped the woman’s limbs down with ease, paying special attention to her fingernails. Once cleaned, the golden dress was placed upon her body, the corset tightly laced, leaving little room for her to breathe too deeply. “I suppose I won’t be dancing in this condition.” The remark was even and could’ve been taken as a joke, but the lack of amusement in her eyes left little room for interpretation. Smoothing out the material of the skirt, she seated herself for her hair to be fixed, a bored expression forming on her features as she looked out the window, wondering when the night was going to end.

The dance was far too noisy and far too bouncy. Naelys lifted a goblet of wine to her lips and allowed herself to sip on the liquid, clearly finding more amusement in nursing the alcohol than finding a partner to dance with. A few eligible bachelors found their way to her side, charming conversation falling flat as she made little effort to entertain them. The raging headache did not allow for many pleasantries. “Princess, you seem bored with this event, I am surprised! I thought that those from Rhaeclya often enjoyed our parties,” the man next to her had a large lopsided grin plastered on his face that made the woman almost scoff.

“Ser, you are thinking of my two siblings. They partake in your wine too greedily and often find themselves waking up next to a sow in a dirty stable.” Her voice was unamused as she pointed to her two siblings, one of which being Malaenys who seemed to be speaking with other royals and guards. “They are far more interested in indulging in your culture and nightlife than I. I also have quite a headache and do not wish to be disturbed by meaningless dances and stolen kisses upon my hand.” Turning her head, she allowed the bruised skin to be visible to the man, causing an awkward puff and chuckle to escape him.

“You know, Your Grace, if you keep acting so hard to please, I may find that to be a challenge worth pursuing.”

Tags: Open | Location: Lapis Palace | Wearing: 01 02 03

coded by social

 

[social]

A day spent out in the sun was something that Daemond had not really anticipated. Laughter and cheers echoed in his ears as the heat soaked into his skin. He forgot the scent of the salty air of Nireath, how the people were, and ultimately how it felt to be the prince. Rehearsed lines fell from his lips and ghosts of charming smiles lingered as he escorted his partner for the day. The stress and anxieties that had plagued him normally weighed heavily on his mind, for once, they were pushed to the side and allowed the man to enjoy himself. Light conversation was cut short upon rounding a corner, his arm instinctively extending across Aelina’s body to prevent her from continuing forward.

The harsh smell of old blood made his stomach grow cold as he watched a few lingering bodies get plucked off the ground and carried in the direction of the church. Suddenly every fear and paranoid thought flooded back to the front of his mind, causing his heart to race a little. He thought that he had escaped it, the needless bloodshed, the violence, the hatred, but it had already made its way into the borders and heart of his own home. One hand rested on the hilt of his sword as the other held Aelina close to his side, her hands grasping his arm tightly, keeping them glued together as they quickly made their way through the streets.

The hours passed upon arriving at the castle where the pair separated and Daemond found himself in the small council room with Aelon and Elaella. Hushed and angered words were tossed around as the three tried to find out what exactly had happened. Vysenya had briefly appeared to give her testimony about what had occurred, but they still didn’t know why. Nireath had been mostly at peace after another heir had been named, so it didn’t make sense. The nagging sensation that something deeper was going on filled Daemond’s chest, but he kept his mouth shut. Nobody had infiltrated the castle, it wasn’t like before.

After the meeting between the three concluded, he found himself sitting in his chambers until the beginning of the ball. A nervous leg bounced as he stared at the large painting by the fireplace. He could always escape, there was always a way out, so why did he feel like a rat trapped in a cage? Sweat rolled down his neck and he felt a chill run through him. The castle had been breached before, what was going to stop it from happening again?

Daemond shook his head and stood up from his bed as the bells rang through the palace, signaling the start of the festivities. Making his way through the endless walls, he soon found himself in the ballroom, the smell of expensive food and alcohol already thick in the air. The twirling of skirts had not changed since the last time he had attended such a party. Glittering gold and silver adorned the bodies of the women of court as they beautifully danced about the room, captivating onlookers. Daemond’s own attention was stolen by the luxurious fabrics swirling around the dance floor, allowing his mind to wander to things that he rarely thought about.

His mind drifted as he watched the dancing, hardly hearing or seeing the woman who approached him. But her voice cut through his thoughts abruptly, the compliments towards the decor and festival causing him to snap his head in her direction, a slightly surprised expression on his face. “This room is quite extravagant. It is where many royal festivities are celebrated.” Clearing his throat, Daemond tried to regain a semblance of his usual composure as he clasped his hands in front of his body, dark eyes flickering between Aelina and the polished floor.

“Fancy some dancing?” The question was innocent and sweet, something that he had gathered to be the primary making of the girl’s personality. While he knew why she was approaching him and why he was encouraged to spend time with her, he felt that at least a friendship would be worth forming. Being friends in an arranged marriage was rare, and sometimes it could end quite poorly. He remembered the last time he had been engaged, the confusing emotions that came with it, and ultimately the way he disappeared without a second thought. The weight of being loved or at least liked in such an intimate manner, it had made his skin crawl and set his heart racing with uncertainty. He didn’t know how one could return such a feeling.

A small, polite smile formed on his lips as he nodded his head and extended his hand to the red-haired princess. The tips of his fingers were cool against the woman’s arm skin, but she was from Tun so at least he knew she could handle such a sensation. Nerves and concern still plagued his mind as the pair walked into the center of the room, his hands naturally moving to where they needed to be. The muscle memory of countless hours of practice certainly did come in handy. “I must apologize for that ghastly scene you saw today. It is not common for such things to occur, even if you hear otherwise. But I am glad we caught the tail end of it.” Daemond’s hands were steady on Aelina’s frame as they easily danced about the room, turning, twirling, and spinning as needed.

It was nothing spectacular but it was good enough for them to fit in with the rest of the crowd, their interactions not going unnoticed by certain royals. Whispered easily were traded amongst spectators as they watched the mysterious woman from Tun dance with their prince. Gossip in Nireath spread faster than fire, so it was not long before King Aelon was approaching Aelina’s father, the pair engaging in conversation, with rather proud expressions on their faces as they looked at the couple dancing and then back at each other. “I do believe, an engagement is in the process of being formed.” The comment left the prince quietly, only loud enough for Aelina to hear. “I suppose we should focus on becoming friends then, to avoid the more awkward aspects of such an arrangement.”

Tags: Aelina Braelor junegloom | Location: Lapis Palace | Wearing: 01

coded by social

 

[Top11]

Drak Vaele Heir of Tun.

Bothered

Lapis Palace

social

01

“Why are you so bullheaded, first you send the Maesters away, now you refuse to wear the eyepatch,just wear the damn thing, your eye is bloodshot red and you’re to attend a ball commemorating the newfound alliances, and just maybe you’ll get a good match out of things.“ King Tarik said sternly grabbing Drak by the shoulder obviously growing tired of debating with the prince.



“ Father I will do no such thing everyone will see what these mongrels have done today, along with what they couldn’t do! And I have no need of a match just to pacify the ideas of an alliance, I have proved that today with my own life. The royal family of Rhaeclya has been a constant ally for Tun in my lifetime, and is just the reason I forced myself into that circle beside them. In times of dismay you be there for who’s been there for you, and actions like that is the reason this alliance between the north and south is as strong as it is.” Drak said sharply looking into his fathers eyes wearing an empty look on his face his mind obviously elsewhere.



“Fine wear whatever the fuck you want, you have two hours until the ball starts be present and presentable son, you’re the heir of Tun there’s a target on your back, always.” King Tarik said turning and walking out of the room pulling the door behind him.



King Tarik’s final words began to playback in Drak’s head, his fathers voice beginning to morph into a familiar feminine voice, forcing a memory of a conversation him and Saena had earlier about the boldness of the disgruntled commoners leading up to the melee. This event had been premeditated, and for them to be bold enough to go through with their actions means it had to be someone powerful urging them on. Before Drak could go on further weaving ideas, and possibilities he knew his best option was to to swallow the urge to investigate and wait until he can discuss it with Saena he knew of noone else who could gather information better.

---

Drak sat at a partially empty table with a few nobles from Tun around him, Heirs from different houses the offspring that make up the future of Tun all without mention sharing a bit of unease and distaste with the events of today except for Saena, she often if not always managed to mask her emotions, the music, dancing, it all seemed unrealistic, royals assaulted in the streets and a mere few hours later were partying to celebrate an alliance that obviously the people of the hosting kingdom doesn’t support, King Marak and Drak’s father are both cut from the same cloth and is the reason why this so called peace is baffling.



Scanning the floor Drak noticed his sister along with Aelina whirling around the dance floor, a young Noble of Rhaeclya with his sister, and the Bastard Prince with Aelina. Then there were Mal, Vysenya, along with a man from Araes crowded around a table talking and drinking, then Naelys getting her ear talked off by the Nireath ship master. Everyone looked to be somewhat enjoying themselves why shouldn’t he looking over to the beauty who always seemed to be at his side.



“Princess, you are far to stunning to be seated at this table, care to dance?” Drak said standing up and taking Saena by the hand her soft hand resting in his, making their way toward the dance floor, wrapping an arm around her back he pulled her close pressing their bodies together her.



“We have yet to discuss today’s incident, I feel as if it were premeditated, by someone who holds a fairly powerful position, someone like Ser Rewan after the incident he arrived with a number of soldiers who were all free of duty, amassing that many men that quickly without having any on the royal route is a blunder to large to blame as a mistake. “ Drak whispered softly in her ear too low for anyone to hear as he gave her a spin causing the skirt of her dress to fill with air, before pulling her back into his chest.



“Find out what you can as quick as you can, I don’t want this to blow over as if nothing happened.” Interrupted by movement amongst the monarchs Drak cut his eyes towards his father, King Aelon, and Lord Braelor all watching Aelina and Prince Daemond although his father was more focused on Briar and Theo, the arrangements we’re already at work who was to be next, himself, Saena, the very thought began to make his blood boil.

coded by natasha.

 

[neverbackdown]

Briar Vaele
Princess of Tun

NO NO NO NO NO

Nireath - Ballroom

Teritheon WanderLust.

Click Me

Sitting in her chambers with her Mother, Briar did her best to keep her commentary to herself as their lady in waiting hands expertly worked on the princess' hair, twirling and plaiting the front pieces back and out of her face to all flow in elegant curls down her back. Her hands were held on her lap as her eyes looked down at the beautifully crafted green silk dress that she was wearing. She could hear her father and brother fighting in a distant room but she pushed the voices from her mind as she focused instead on the night ahead, there was nothing she could do to help Drak now but she made a mental note to find him at the ball and confirm that he was ok but for now she must sit still and remain pleasant as her Mother spoke to her once again of behaviors and manners.

As the lady announced that her hair was complete, Briar stood slowly and stepped towards her mother before twirling slowly to give her mother the full effect. She still didn't understand why her mother had insisted on Briar wearing a new elegant dress nor why she insisted that greater care be taken in her hair and overall appearance. Since tensions were already so high due to the earlier violence, Briar decided that her mother's action were purely as a way to exploit her nervous energy and so for once Briar obliged her mother's fussing and kept her mouth shut. Once happy with her appearance the pair made their way down to the ballroom and towards their families table.

Standing beside her mother, Briar couldn't help but smile at the joyfulness of the room, it seemed as though all tension and worry washed away at the door as music and laughter filled the air. As her mother began to approach the topic of marriage, Briar turned to her with a raised eyebrow and a hint of confusion playing on her expression as she tried to figure out her hidden meaning. Her eyes drifted towards Drak as her mother continued to speak about relationship building and she couldn't help but wonder if her parents were planning to set both of them up with people or just one of them. She hoped that it was just purely talk but the knotting feeling only seemed to get tighter the more she thought about it.

Having enough of the conversation at hand, Briar turned to walk away when movement in front of her caught her eye, drawing her attention towards the obnoxious jerk from the races. Briar quickly turned in her place but was surprised to see her mother standing behind her, blocking her escape.

"Oh he's handsome coming towards you, you will dance with him"

Her mother's voice was sweet but there was an unmistakable sternness present that made it obvious to Briar she did not have a choice in this matter. Sighing to herself in defeat, Briar turned just in time for the Prince's introduction, a sweet smile played on her lips as she curtseyed in response before taking his hand and allowing him to lead them onto the dancefloor. Their feet moved perfectly in sync, gracefully swaying around the dance floor as they moved in time with both each other and the music, if only she was dancing with someone else. His voice broke her from her trance and she looked up at him "Princess Briar Vaele of Tun" she replied as she chose to indulge in the fictitious scenario of his but his next comment broke the bubble and before she knew it, Briar had slammed her heels down onto Theo's foot, ensuring that the heel made contact with the softest and most painful area that she could manage.

A smirk played on her lips as she watched him wince "Oh I'm sorry, big brown eyes like mine should have seen your foot there" to anyone overhearing the conversation her tone was sweet and would sound somewhat apologetic but the look in her eyes would confirm to Teritheon that there was no sincerity behind her tone. She was not one to be walked over and she would not bow down for anyone especially someone as arrogant as the man in front of her.

As he spun her, Briar couldn't help the fear that began to creep up on her that he was going to drop her. A small insignificant thing but to be dropped at a ball like this was the ultimate embarrassment and dismissal and one that she knew her family would not appreciate. For a brief second she felt relieved that his body was flush to hers as he dipped her, her body involuntarily tingled as she felt his hot breath against her neck but then he spoke and the second was over, leaving her irritated at the entire situation.

"And I promise you if you play this game, I will watch you crash and burn" she practically growled in response, refusing to show any sign of intimidation to the Prince. He was arrogant, pig headed handsome and thankfully would never be in her presence again after this ball and it was this reminder that allowed her to place the smile back on her lips to show the room that she was having fun and a good time with the Prince of Rhaeclya.

As the pair straightened and the music began to slow, Briar allowed her hands to drop from the Princes' as she readied to move back to her family "It was an honor to dance with you Prince Teritheon". Without waiting his response, Briar turned to walk awake but was taken by surprise by her Father standing directly behind her.

"An excellent pairing it seems" her father beamed as he stood to stand beside the pair "It is lovely to see the newly engaged sharing a dance".

Briar's eyes widened as she looked at her father in confusion, her breath caught in her throat before an almost murderous glint played in her eyes "The newly what" she exclaimed in an aggravated hushed voice. Even in her current angry state she knew better than to make her feelings known to the public. She turned to look at Theo and noticed the same expression on his face but still she had to ask the question "did you know about this?"

 

[junegloom]

scroll

abandoned royal

Callum.

outfit

Araes Royal Guard Uniform

location

Nireath

interactions

Malaenys and Vysenya

tags

social

Everything happened so quickly. At first, it was crowding, with a commoner here and there being pushed closer. It took nothing more than a raised arm to protect his charge, but before Callum could process it, it broke into full blown chaos. Shoving, grabbing, shouting. It was enough to overwhelm anyone’s senses. However, this was exactly what Callum was trained for. While his surroundings were loud and chaotic, his mind was quiet and sharp.

He shouted at the people shoving through the crowd to get back, shoving them out of reach of the royal— he forgot his name, that he was escorting. He never drew his sword, believing lethality should be the absolute last resort, though his hand rested firmly on the hilt. In his opinion, drawing it would only cause more panic and aggression. In the midst of the panic, he took care to keep his focus on the one person he was charged with protecting, not wanting any distractions to allow for an attack of opportunity.

Callum did nothing but shove and elbow the crowd away, which thankfully, was all he needed to do. While, yes, he loved swordplay and was an experienced guard, violence was never his first reaction. His common upbringing made him very aware of how often guards unjustly drew their swords or swung their fists. Unnecessary bloodshed was not something Callum could ever justify.

Just as quickly as it began, the frenzy was over. Callum’s hair was dampened with sweat and his chest was heaving from the activity. He surveyed the damage done. His relief came not from his own well-being nor the royal’s he was escorting, but another’s safety altogether. A quick meeting of the eyes told him everything he needed to allow himself to relax.

Thankfully, both he and his royal made it back to the castle relatively unscathed. He couldn’t say the same for those left bloodied and lifeless in the wake of the now-dispersed crowd. It was unfortunate.

At the castle, Callum gave his briefing, explaining his perspective before being dismissed to prepare himself for the ball. He cleaned himself up and surveyed his body for any injuries. He was bruised with a minor cut or two, but there was nothing serious.

---

He was standing on the sidelines, observing the festivities when Prince Malaenys found him. Officially, he was supposed to be on duty, watching out for the royals, especially those from Araes, during the ball, ensuring their safety— especially after what had happened earlier in the day. Socializing with friends would certainly be discouraged, however, who was he to dismiss a royal from his presence? That would be unforgivable.

He greeted Mal with a formal bow, as was his duty, despite the fact that the pair were friends. It was an interesting dynamic with their difference in ranking. As Mal leaned against the wall, Cal kept his posture upright and rigid, knowing he’d be scolded if he so much as slouched.

Movement in the corner of his eye signaled that someone was approaching them. Princess Vysenya. Once again, Callum bent in a formal bow as she greeted Mal. The corners of his lips twitched up into the slightest of smiles as the prince introduced the pair.

“Princess, it is an honor to formally meet you. I trust that you are well after the incident?”

He surveyed her appearance, looking for any visible injuries. He met her eyes for just a moment before looking back to Mal.

“Well, I cannot deny that you are a skilled fighter, my lord,” Callum placed a slight emphasis on the formalities, as he always did when he was in the presence of others. Almost an inside joke between the friends. “But I do not always see the need for responding with immediate violence. There’s no need to unnecessarily escalate the situation. Though, my concern is less about you than it is for bored guards provoking common folks just so they can draw their swords.”

Even though many guards come from a common background, just as Callum did, they saw themselves above the masses and looked to assert the little power they held. It repulsed him. Callum was not above indulging in the privileges that came from the status as a royal guard, however, he did not antagonize the commoners just because he could.

He looked back towards Vysenya.

“Princess, I must say that Nireath puts on an impressive festival and ball. It is quite an accomplishment. It does make me wish I could take part in the festivities, but alas, my duties come first, even outside of my kingdom.”

♡coded by uxie♡

 

[junegloom]

scroll

estranged cousin

Aelina.

outfit

dress, hair

location

Nireath

interactions

Daemond

tags

social

Aelina let Daemond guide her to the dance floor. They fell into synchronized steps quickly, matching the others around them. She didn’t have many opportunities to properly dance, so it was a relief when he agreed. It was an even bigger relief when he proved to be a fair dancer as well. Aelina could enjoy the dancing without the fear of her feet being stepped on or being spun in the wrong direction.

She gave a small smile and shook her head at Daemond’s apology.

“There’s no need for you to apologize. It could have happened in any kingdom. There’s always a risk in crowds like that. If anything, I should be thanking you for keeping me so thoroughly entertained on our tour because that kept us out of harm’s way,” she assured. “Incident aside, it was a lovely time.”

Daemond’s observation made her search the crowds for her father. Seeing him deep in discussion with King Aelon confirmed his suspicion in her mind. She was certain that was what they were discussing. She raised an eyebrow in surprise.

“That was faster than I thought,” she laughed in response.

It was clear what her parents' intentions were the moment they encouraged her to go off with Daemond without them. To let her go off in an unfamiliar place alone was unheard of for her parents. They had been reminding her to follow close behind them just moments before their meeting the royal family of Nireath. However, she assumed she’d have at least another meeting with Daemond or maybe two before the engagement was solidified.

Of course, she didn’t mind all that much. He had been perfectly pleasant company the whole day, and she was able to trust him in that moment of unease. She was pleased with the match, surprised she was matched with the son of a king. With her lack of reputation, she was sure she was to be paired off with someone who was fine but overall unimpressive.

Not to mention, today proved that she was much better suited to Nireath’s climate than Tun’s. She was a bit disappointed that she would be returning home so soon.

Aelina looked up at Daemond. She thought of him as a friendly figure, but they were not actually friends just yet. They knew little about each other, save from what they shared in the light conversations they had throughout the day. Arranged marriages are tricky, it was hard being sent off to spend the rest of your life with a near stranger. Her parents grew to love each other— or at the very least, care for each other, but they were a rarity.

“I agree. Why don’t we spend the night getting to know each other? We can take turns asking each other questions. I’ll go first.” She took a moment to think of her first question. “What do you like to do? I mean, if you have a free day, and no responsibilities, what do you do for fun?”

♡coded by uxie♡

 

[social]

A harsh wind blew up the staircase as she descended them, the torch flickering in her hand. The crisp air was a sharp contrast to the warm and comfortable weather outside the castle, but she was used to far colder conditions. Deeper and deeper she went, the echoes of those in the castle were soon lost, only the dripping of water could be heard. When the stairs finally ended, she found herself approaching a large iron door, which she lightly knocked on three times before pulling it open. Within the room, her father resided, a few small pieces of parchment laid out on the table, a pot of ink next to it. Her father’s connections never failed to amaze her, always able to find himself in the belly of a castle or family that he could potentially control.

“What have you heard?” The silver-haired man did not raise his head as his quill easily danced across the worn pages. Saena’s lips pursed for a moment as she thought about all the information and rumors she had heard throughout the day. Approaching the desk, she ran her fingers mindlessly across the cold wood, trying to get small glimpses of what he was writing.

“There is unrest in the kingdom. It seems that someone has been feeding the poor some rather nasty rumors about the alliances and the royal family of Nireath. The Prince was caught up in a fight today, something that I am sure will not bode well with him.” Yraegar’s empty hand seemed to twitch at the mention of Tun’s heir but he did not look up from the pages nor did he stop writing. “I heard whispers of a possible engagement between Prince Daemond and Princess Aelina of House Braelor. Nothing seems set in stone but I did overhear her parents talking about her securing a suitable match from Nireath.”

“Anything else?”

“Your meddling with Briar’s marriage has had positive results. The king will be announcing her arrangement tonight when she meets him. I’m sure that she will not be pleased but I’m sure she will not fight the commands of her king and queen.” Saena leaned against the desk, her hands resting softly in front of her. The scratching of the quill soon ceased as her father placed it back in the pot of ink and leaned back in his chair, his icy gaze cold and pointed as he looked past his daughter, mulling over what she had been saying. “Araes is a concern that you were right to fear. From what I have found, the stability of the crown and the kingdom seems to be slipping, but nobody admits it. There was a meeting between one of the royals and the Hand about certain activities back in their kingdom. Though my informant was unable to gather exactly what it was, just that it was very important to keep track of it. Additionally, from what I have gathered, that royal, Stilgar, is currently cozying up to the youngest of King Marak. I assume either for political means or he is simply fond of the girl.”

An eyebrow raised as the man began to fold and seal the parchment. “Good work. Now go and soothe the nerves of that prince. I do not want him to cause unnecessary stress to the alliances.” Saena did not have to be told twice. She left the room and ascended the stairs once more, prepared to do whatever she needed to mend the fraying bridge between Tun and Nireath.

TW: Violence~
Sipping wine from the golden goblet, Saena laughed at one of the noble’s jokes, clearly content with entertaining them during her downtime. She was aware of the crown prince by her side, but she was fielding meaningless and annoying conversations so he did not have to deal with them. The injury to his face was glaringly obvious and had caused many whispers when he entered the ballroom. Saena, being the mistress of words, easily wove a tale of the great crown prince of Tun jumping to the aid of his allies, helping them in such an unfortunate situation. Sympathy and gratitude had been extended towards the man as they found it noble for a man of his position to physically defend the honor of other royals from neighboring kingdoms. There was little mention or care towards the fate of the commonfolk who had been the aggressors. Drak’s voice easily cut through the conversation she was having, causing her attention to focus on him.

“I would be honored to dance with you, my prince.” A smile formed on her lips as she set down her goblet and stood up, their hands naturally finding each other’s. The pair made their way to the dance floor and all the years of practicing and attending such events immediately came into play. Resting her hand on his arm, their bodies closely pressed together, allowing for intimate conversations to not be overheard by neighboring couples. Such closeness, well, it was easy for those in attendance to put together the relationship that the two royals had. Drak’s whispered words were far different from anything anyone would anticipate him bringing up, but to Saena, this was something worth indulging.

A request to investigate the captain of the city guards and the day's events? Well, that was an exciting prospect. Spinning softly, waves of green fabric gently twirled in the air before she was promptly pulled back to his side, a small grin on her face as she looked at him. The frustration at the situation earlier in the day seemed to be bubbling up inside of the man, and she could not blame him. “I will do what I can to find out more about him and those being questioned.” Saena’s gaze shifted as she watched Drak’s attention snap to his father, naturally observing the arrangements that the king was making for the prince’s sister. “Do not worry, your father is not a fool. He wouldn’t arrange anything unsafe for your sister to marry into.” Saena moved her hand to rest over Drak’s chest, a surprisingly gentle expression on her face, something that most likely was reserved only for the man she was dancing with.

“There is truly no reason to worry, Drak. We will take care of things and figure out what is going on.” Her words were soft and seemingly genuine, but quickly her expression returned to her usual one, a polite smile and curious eyes as they continued to dance. She could feel the cool gaze of her father as he entered the ballroom to exchange a few words with the guards of Tun, his lips hidden behind a well-placed letter, keeping his daughter from seeing what he was speaking about. “Make excuses for my absence, I’m sure my father or yours will inquire about my whereabouts. If they press for answers, say I have taken a bit ill after too much wine. I will be back shortly.” The dance soon concluded, and once it did, Saena gave Drak’s hand a gentle squeeze of reassurance before excusing herself, her eyes carefully scanning the crowd of the location of Ser Rewan.

The dark-haired man was seated near the king of Nireath, meaning she had more opportunity to get information out of those under the castle. Slipping out of the ballroom, Saena made her way down the hallway, ignoring the curious gazes of the soldiers who watched her depart. As she rounded the corner, the woman quickly slipped into a servant’s passage, her magic easily changing her appearance to that of Ser Rewan. The passageway led to another portion of the castle, allowing her to traverse the hallways directly and head for the dungeons. Armor was always a rather uncomfortable thing for her to wear and she hated every minute of it, but naturally, it was required of her for the moment. As she approached the entrance of the dungeons, the guards straightened up and looked ahead, allowing her to pass through without any resistance.

The halls were long and as she held the torch in her hand, she silently prayed that she would not mess up the questioning process. She only needed a little bit of information, that was all. The dungeons of Nireath were cold and smelled heavily of seaweed and salt. Due to the fact the ocean was constantly crashing against the cliffside the castle was built out of, it was no surprise that salt water made its way into the deepest part of the kingdom. “Ser Rewan, we did not expect you back so soon! I apologize, I did not- Welcome back Ser.” A surprised guard scrambled to his feet, a mug of beer knocking over in the process. Raising an eyebrow, she looked past the man at the cells behind him.

“Has any family tried to visit or speak on their behalf?”

“No, none. We have put out posters but nobody has inquired.”

“Have they said anything new?”

“No Ser, they have refused. The maesters wanted to take a break so tha-”

“We will not be giving them time to recover. We need the information now. The alliances are hanging by a thread due to such an incident, we need to know who organized this bullshit.” The words were certainly foreign on her lips, but she did not show this as she spoke. The other guard nodded his head then quickly grabbed keys from the wall and began to escort Saena back to where the prisoners from the small riot were being held. The smell of filth and blood was heavy in the air as the men from the fight lay on the ground curled up as much as possible, the shackles digging into their ankles and wrists. “Open the cell.”

The lock echoed as it was undone, allowing Saena entrance to the cell. “This was the ringleader correct?” The soldier nodded his head as the disguised woman approached the figure. He clearly had the most wounds from questioning earlier in the day. His face was caked in blood and mud, the contents of his stomach residing only a foot away from where he lay. Gloved fingers grasped his hair and pulled him up into a sitting position. “Tell me what you know. I do not wish to make your life harder than it is.” Upon further examination, the man did not seem to be the poor and starved ruffians that the rumors had painted the aggressors as.

His body was far more muscular than the average ruffian, he was built like a fisherman or farmer and it was obvious he had a constant source of food. His body, while covered in filth, did not have the layers of grime that she was familiar with when it came to those from the underside of the city. He was not tanned like those within the capital, and he certainly was not singing lies like those from Nireath would. He looked like someone from Nordua and he certainly knew the royals well enough to target them, but to target guests rather than the heir of Nireath who was next to the fight, well, it seemed more like a scheme to cause the other kingdoms to evacuate Nireath. Hiring a random farmer from a part of Nordua where nobody would notice their absence, well that was the smartest thing one could do. Nobody had come to claim or plead their cases, which made Saena believe that they truly weren’t from the capital at the very least.

“You aren’t from here are you. You aren't even a fighter.” The statements were quiet, her words were meant only for the prisoner to hear. The man’s eyes widened ever so slightly, causing a grin to form on her lips. “Who gave you passage to Silvaera?” There was no response, resulting in a sigh from the woman. “Well, I guess you won’t need this then.” With a swift movement from Saena, she pulled the dagger from its sheath, something that luckily was also disguised with magic, and held it gingerly in her hand, her eyes shifting to the hand of the prisoner. The blade quickly cut through flesh and bone, severing the digit from his hand. A scream left the man as blood quickly gushed from the wound and he tried to yank his hand back. An armored boot stepped on the back of his hand, pinning it to the ground.

“Still don’t remember?” Another finger was cut off, the heavy and warm smell of fresh blood filling her nose, sending a small chill through her body. Four fingers were removed from his dominant hand, causing shrieks and screams of pain to leave the man as she brutally cut through the joints. “I will take every finger and then, I will take what makes you a man. Now, is that truly worth protecting your employer?” The bloodied knife gently pressed against the lower abdomen of the man, causing a shrill cry to leave him. Nothing truly seemed to scare men more than losing the ability to have sex. A twisted smirk played on her lips as she leaned closer, her lips by the man’s ear, the knife pressing firmer into him. “Give me the name and as your God, I will spare you.”

A technique that she had used before when extracting information from someone was a bit difficult but she had mastered it over the years. The woman was able to layer the voices of different people, causing it to sound rather otherworldly, and in the cases of those who were deeply religious like many in Nordua, it sounded like a Seer's voice. A messenger of the Gods, someone that the Gods would take over to interact with mere mortals. The color drained from the man's body and even his tears stopped, truly stunned by the voice he was hearing. A trembling voice, barely loud enough to be understood, finally broke through the air. “M-M-Maester Rendal B-Borrell… He t-told us which sh-sh-ship w-would take us. Please my lord h-have mercy.” Pushing the man back down onto the ground, Saena stood up and walked over to the rather stunned guard and nodded her head curtly, signaling that she was finished.

“Feel free to kill that man. He is of little use to us. He is not the leader, just a deranged fanatic.” Panicked wails and cries filled the dungeon as the injured prisoner begged and pleaded, hitting the cell’s door in desperation. Saena picked up the cloak that had been taken off by the guard as he ate and drank, something that was deeply frowned upon. The woman took the fabric in her hands and wiped her blade and fingers clean, a pointed gaze sent towards the guard. “Get this cleaned before tomorrow or you will be eating pig’s feed for the remainder of your life.” Dropping the dirtied cloak, she looked at the crying prisoner for a moment before going back to the rather shaken guard. "One more thing, do not mention this. I do not wish to add more stress to the king. Just, clean this up and get it out of my hair." Exiting the dungeons, she did not speak to the other guards and made her way directly to her chambers, changing her appearance to that of a servant, allowing her to seamlessly blend in with her surroundings as she entered the room, a small sigh escaping her. She really didn’t enjoy such methods but it had to be done.

She had little trust in the fact this man was actually a maester as there was no way they would be so stupid. But she wouldn’t put it past a man. Quickly writing a note, the woman exited her chambers and found a servant that she often encountered when visiting Nireath. “Linly, I need this note delivered to Ser Rendal Borrell. Please find him, it is rather urgent. I am sure he is still here.” If there was anyone by that name and he resided within the castle, she knew that the servants could find him. The ginger-haired girl nodded her head and snatched the letter from Saena’s hand before gathering her cleaning equipment and promptly made her way to a servant’s passage, disappearing within seconds. A sigh escaped Saena as she gathered herself and made her way back to the ballroom, noting that the sun had fully set. Well, there was still time for an introduction to the man responsible for arranging the shipment of such men.

Her entrance into the ballroom was mostly unnoticed, except for the watchful gaze of her father, seemingly understanding that his daughter had done what she always did, found a secret. Whether she would share it with him was up for debate.

Tags: Drak Vaele Top11 | Location: Lapis Palace | Wearing: 01 02

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[Top11]

“ One full day, hah I was ready before we left! But there is its perks brother.” Alex said taking a drink of wine giving a wink to a pair of women obviously eyeing will and him. Today has been quite eventful luckily he was trailing the young princess as she thwarted her responsibilities for the day keeping him away from the royal route. Alex couldn’t help but be stumped at how daring it was for those people to think that would be a good decision, even if they were forced.



“I’m glad to see you’re okay, so it makes me comfortable saying this, Scare the fun away again and it’ll be me and you!” Alex said chuckling grabbing Will’s shoulder. Will has always been a good friend to Alex since he first became a Royal guard, providing insight along with being a great drinking partner, he always respected Will and his opinion even if he disagreed with him at the time.



“My friend, have a drink or two with me you won’t miss a beat until maybe your 5th or 6th one so just two won’t hurt. “ he said grabbing two drinks from a nearby server before spinning around shoving the cup of Ale into Will’s chest pushing him slightly, before chugging his own glass slamming it down on the table. Letting out a deep breath.



Alex knew Will had a rough day today and may still be worked up, especially after seeing how there were no headless body’s or dismembered limbs let Alex know that Will didn’t do what he was truly capable and justifiably able to do, and felt that a couple drinks would take the edge off for him.

 

[elanara]

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heir of rhaeclya's guard

william riven

Believe it or not, Will was actually trying not to drink that evening, at least not until later, when the ball was over and he was free to visit the famous wine houses of the city and drink until he passed out in a dark alley or the sun came up. Whichever came first.

All it took was dear old Alex shoving a pint of ale at him — the force of which nearly made him lose his footing — for him to change his mind. There was no protesting. Will grabbed the cup, paying no mind to the contents that came spilling over the top and onto his armor, and sipped gladly.

"Just one or two wont hurt."

Will raised an amused brow. "And when have I ever known you to limit yourself?" As he said this, he looked on as Naelys entertained suitor after suitor. They were everything he was not. Men of high nobility, far more educated and wealthy than he would ever be, with strong family names that extended back several generations.

He was no fool. He knew the purpose of events like these were to arrange marriages between royal families as a way of solidifying alliances. To think that Naelys wouldn't end up being used by her parents as political currency was incredibly naive. And yet, for some reason, the sheer thought of it — of her becoming some highborn lad's wife — twisted knots in his stomach. Left him with a slow, sinking feeling, knowing that whatever existed between them would never last.

He knew it. She knew it.

It was a hard truth they both chose to ignore — nevermind the fucking consequences.

Will sighed. Brushed the thought away. A small hint of satisfaction crept across his face as the princess turned down each and every suitor with as much as a few words.

Eventually another man made his way in to try his luck. Ser Harald Grey. He was the elder brother of the foolish dragon rider — oh for fuck's sake what was that bastard's name again? — from earlier that morning. Supposedly, the man had quite the reputation in Nireath for being an excellent sailor — and also for having multiple wives. Wives that had a tendency to die not long after taking their vows. How much of that was true, of course, was debatable. People loved to spin their stories. Still, whether it was the way Ser Harald Grey dressed, or carried himself, or something else he couldn't quite place, Will sensed just from looking at him from across the room that something about the man was off.

At any rate.

He turned his attention back to his friend. "And as for scaring away the fun, what makes you so sure they'd be interested in the likes of you anyway?" Will jested, referring to the two girls that had just been watching them from afar. "Besides, there'll be more fun to be had once this is over with — and far more options." He grinned, taking another sip from his cup.

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