Alysanne Blackwood

Alysanne Blackwood - Lady in waiting to Princess Helaena

She smells of woodsmoke, not flowers.

AlyofRaventree within a song of golden fire and black blood

a no dance house of the dragon group. fire and blood based with house of the dragon influence. canon & original characters. canon divergent & headcanon-based portrayal. chemistry-based dual ship and shipping.

Style of Mourning - A Character Challenge for @asongofgoldenfireandblackblood

Alysanne made her way through the gardens of the Red Keep, her path a growing familiar one, as she walked winding towards the weirwood tree that stood tall and ancient, its pale bark a stark contrast against the red of the castle. The white bark and blood-red leaves were a comforting sight, as it was the closest thing to home. 

The air around the weirwood was cooler and quieter. The chatter of the court faded into the background, replaced by the rustle of leaves and the growing calls of ravens. Alysanne’s steps sounded softly on the leaves and grass as she approached the tree. She carried a small stick of incense, a ritual she had maintained since her mother’s death. However, this was a special sent, finding cinamon had a fiery scent more fitting for a Targaryen. Lighting the incense, she placed it at the base of the weirwood, knelt, and closed her eyes, inhaling the familiar and smoky scent.

She had never met King Viserys, but she understood the pain of loss, and she came to the Godswood to offer her respects and prayers for the grieving royal family. 

“Old gods, hear my prayer,” she whispered, her voice barely audible over the sound of the leaves in the wind, “Guide the soul of King Viserys to the next stage as his body becomes one with the soil and air. Bring peace to Helaena and strength to our future queen.” 

The smoke curled up, mingling with the branches above. Alys opened her dark eyes and looked up, her gaze following the patterns of the leaves rustling against the sky. She felt a pang of sorry for the Targaryens, knowing what it was like to lose a parent. Her father had been a stern but loving man, and her mother’s death had left a void that nothing had quite filled. 

As she stood there, the ravens perched in the branches began their chatter as if in response to her words. Alysanne listened, their voice a comforting murmur. She had always had a way with ravens, although she didn’t know if it was because she spent too much time with the ravens of Raventree or if so many ravens gathered at their tree waiting for another listener like herself. 

“Dark wings, dark words,” she murmured to herself, recalling the old saying. “Do you bring news from beyond the Godswood?” she asked the nearest raven, its black eyes gleaming with an intelligence that seemed almost human. 

The raven cawed softly, tilting its head as if considering her question. Alysanne smiled faintly. In her mind, she could see and hear the mix of images and words, a complicated weaving of information. Their words were not always clear, but today they seemed to offer cryptic advice and reassurance. They spoke of change, of endings, beginnings…. And threats? 

“You speak in riddles, as always,” she said, her tone lightening. These ravens did not seem as used to her presence as the ones in Raventree. “But perhaps that is what I need. A reminder that change and death are all part of nature.” 

The ravens cawed in agreement, their voices blending into a harmonious cacophony. 

As the incense burned low, she stood and brushed off her skirts, although little showed against the mourning blacks. “Thank you, old friends,” a few caws responded, “and new friends,” she said with a quiet smile. Your words are always appreciated.” 

With a final, lingering glance at the weirwood, Alysanne turned and made her way back towards the Red Keep. The somber atmosphere of the court awaited her, but she would honor King Viserys’s memory the best she could and support Helaena and their new queen. 

a starter with @jaehaera-targaryen11

The sun had begun its rise over King’s Landing, casting a golden hue over the Red Keep. Alysanne stood at the edge of a balcony, taking in the site of the city below her. The air was filled with the smell of the city mixed with the salt of Blackwater Bay and this distant hum of city life. This new world was a far cry from the ancient woods of Raventree Hall, where it felt like the whispers of the old gods still lingered. Here, everything seemed brighter, sharper, and, in its own way, more dangerous. 

Alysanne shifted her gaze from the bustling city to the training yard below, where knights and squires were already hard at work. She could feel her fingers itching for the familiar weight of her bow, but such training would have to wait until later. Here, she was expected to wear silks instead of leather. At least while she did enjoy a good sword fight, after years of mending her own clothing, her needle skills were not lacking. It had been a saving grace for her integration into courtly life. 

She had faced many challenges in her twenty-one years, but now she found herself in a brand new predicament - navigating the delicate social world of the royal court and, more pressingly, trying to win the favor of a ten-year-old princess. Aly had grown up mostly along side her much other brother and her nephew, and the way of most young girls were as foreign to her as the Dornish deserts. And both were things she wished to know more about. 

Damn it! Why was this so hard? 

She could face down a charing boar, but the idea of making small talk with a little girl had on more on edge.

The soft rustle of fabric drew her attention, and she turned to see the Princess Jaehaera standing in the doorway. The young girl, with her white blonde hair and violet eyes, looking both delicate and intense. Alysanne felt a pang of uncertainty. She may have been known for her fearlessness and desire for adventure, but if ever those traits were useful while being a lady in waiting, it would mean something went very wrong. 

Aly swallowed her nervousness. She had never been particularly “ladylike,” and she was worried that her rough edges might put off the young princess. Yet, she did desperately want Jaehaera to like her. She had heard of the girl's sweet nature and seen the smile on Helaena’s face when she talked about her precessus daughter. She had heard of her love for history and dragons, causing Alysanne to spend some time in the shelves reading as if preparing for a test from a maester. She had even spent some time with the ravens of the weirwood, listening for bits of gossip. 

Alright, don't mess this up, Alys. Keep it simple. Keep it safe. And try not to swear like a damn sailor.

“Good morning, Princess Jaehaera,” she said, her voice steady but warm, or at least she hoped it was. “Your mother has asked me to keep you company today.” 

After a pause and a slew of swears that sang through her mind, in the worry that she had somehow already messed up, she tried to remember the advice given to her by Lady Helaena. “I brought some sewing supplies. I used to sew my own clothes back at Raventree Hall. Perhaps we could work on something together? Recently I have been trying to add details to a gown that show some old Blackwood legends.”

She motioned towards a nearby table, where needles, thread, and fabric lay. This included a black dress with a trim of fallen red weirwood leaves, telling the story of the poisoning of the Raventree Weirwood.