𝐒𝐂𝐇𝐄𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐀𝐙𝐀𝐃𝐄 .

perhaps , if mace were slightly more realistic , he would have expected the answer given to him by sunwoo . but alas , he was not , and the unconfirmed safety of gwen weighed upon him like a tonne of bricks . he casts his gaze upwards momentarily , as if pleading with the gods , and then back to the lord in front of him . " no need to apologize , lord , " he insists , though he thinks sunwoo should perhaps be sorry he doesn't know of the whereabouts of his own flesh and blood . " we can only hope . apparently being a part of the king's guard requires sewing your lips shut and only speaking out of your ass . " he refers to the guards' relative silence surrounding what was going on , protecting quentyn's ears from the foul language with an arm haphazardly flung around the boy's head .

" i kept out of their way , " cregan refers to the greyjoy princess and melina as a pair , as that was how they were for the few weeks that the princess had joined them in oldtown . " i have known some smart people to be extremely oblivious , " he shrugs , smiling slightly at the notion that moonface would fear any mere human . but then again , perhaps the greyjoys were hiding more than the rest of the regions could comprehend . " strange , but they don't seem to think it so . " so perhaps it was strange that he and bran thought it strange at all . cregan was still learning things of melina that he hadn't had the chance to throughout her father's rule — and he knew less than nothing of maery greyjoy aside from her razor tongue . " i felt as if i was observing a once in a lifetime eclipse . or something of the sort . " he jokes , offering a belated , short chuckle after the jest has been allowed to sit out in the open for a few passing seconds .

cregan was partial to a civilized debate , and thus is slightly dismayed when she simply allows him to win . it's unlike his usual discussions with friends , and he's uncertain if that is refreshing or otherwise . regardless , he smiles at the ground as they walk , choosing a comfortable silence over sparking the line of conversation back up again after she had snuffed it out . " it's nothing , " he insists in the wake of her gratitude , shaking his head slightly . it was more apparent than ever that some regions —  some kingdoms — could have rulers that did not run them in the pursuit of the peoples' best interests . melina deserved the praise as much as any could . " not if my brother doesn't require me in winterfell . " cregan was unsure , really , whether or not his presence would be needed in the north . he could not run off to the reach each time he was made to return home for more than a moon's time , princely duties calling his name as long as he was not a fully chained maester .

it was hardly something rare for cregan to concede to his friends in the name of peace — but he did so to cemal most often . the tyrell was indomitable , and not someone cregan wished to go back and forth with on end , for there was a slim chance he would emerge on the other side a victor . " it all depends on who holds our story dear . we speak of the first men because there still exists people who know they're descended from them . those who cared enough to speak of them to their children , " he trails off , feeling himself embarking on a tangent . " regardless , " he sighs , " i'd be happy if mention of me in history books were minimal . " the prince wasn't sure he could expect the same of cemal . " can we not both be happy ? " comes cregan's final concession .

despite time having mended most of tessaria's wounds , victario knows what injuries can do to one's skills . breaks in training allowed for slips , for mistakes that one would not normally make . regardless , he knows she is more capable than most to defend herself — but that does not mean she would not be on the list of those he would watch out for , should chaos ensue . he shrugs in response to her answer , as if his question was unfounded . " good , " he offers regardless , " hope does little against inevitability , tessa . "

" i would rather fall on my sword , " he responds , perhaps lacking the tact that he might normally have employed in order to remain silent . despite that , he doesn't regret the statement — nor does he disbelieve that he would do just that if it came down to it . " and what can you do for the realm's people when your advice falls on deaf ears ? " comes his question , and it is an absolving of any guilt the lord may feel , in an abstract way . the way victario sees it , none of the members of aedar's council could do anything to stop the king's rampant egocentrism . he believes this , knowing that the king wished ill upon him and that pim could do nothing but beg victario to steer clear of him . " i'm sure we do , lord . "

the title of ser is one he is not often referred to with , despite it undeniably being one that he holds . those that knew him well knew that he cared little for knighthood , that he was only bestowed with it to quicken the process of his becoming sworn to princess pimchanok . from the lady's mouth it causes victario to roll his eyes . " you could act less like a child , " he notes " i'm sure no one expects from you a great show of stoicism . " the situation might have caused him more alarm if he was not trapped with his charge and the majority of his loved ones . as it was , he was confident in his ability to protect them , confident in his sword's ability to deter the guards if it came to it . " you should not speak of what you don't know . your title will not always make an effective shield . "

cedrick  knew  that  cailin  was  correct  ,  but  the  father  did  not  wish  to  behave  when  his  children  were  gods  knew  where  in  an  unfamiliar  place.  logically  ,  he  knew  they  should  still  be  in  their  apartments  awaiting  his  return  ,  but  emotionally  he  wasn't  too  trusting  of  that.  "  for  now.  "  he  agrees  slowly  ,  eyeing  the  guards  as  if  one  look  could  make  them  vanish.  "  and  who  follow  a  mad  king.  "  adds  he  ,  voice  softer  this  time  for  the  statement  was  only  for  the  master  of  ships  to  hear.  cedrick  didn't  need  rumors  surfacing  of  his  poor  talk  towards  the  southern  king  when  they  were  attempting  to  speak  of  peace.  "  do  you  know  where  your  brothers  are  ?  "  safe  ,  he  hoped.

though cailin is not surprised by cedrick's response , it still manages to cause a surge of anxiety in their chest . it was true that the targaryen guard could not keep them trapped here for much longer without retaliation — the king in the north was present amongst the blooms as well as his council members , and to imprison him wrongly was surely an act of war as it was . " perhaps they follow him out of necessity . the same way that we find ourselves bending to his will , attending these summits , allowing him to drag us to and fro when each time there is a gathering there is also death . " cailin couldn't vilify the guards individually , no matter how frustrated she was . " fear is a merciless master . " they finish , offering a shrug and swallowing their apprehension at admitting their leniency down like a bitter tonic . " i know where they were this morning . " since then , she had heard little . " what of your children ? "

cailin , now trapped with their thoughts and their worries for their brothers , wondered at whether or not they should have spent more time at seagard over the last year . as patrek and desmond aged , the more they would need the guidance of the parental figure that neither of them had . cailin themselves felt like no role model , not grown up enough yet to impart any valuable wisdom upon them . but perhaps she hadn't tried hard enough — or tried at all . it only heightens their worries , leaving them gnawing on their bottom lip in the moments in which she isn't speaking . " whatever makes the most sense , " they concede with a nod , having little desire to continue discussing the matter — though not to the fault of helaena . " then i promise , " they smile thinly , in a way that they hope is reassuring . " we are lucky to not be separated . i don't know how i'd be coping if you weren't here . "

hugo  tilts  his  head  at  the  familiar  figure  ,  not  one  he  grew  up  with  ,  but  at  least  one  that  he  knows.  it  doesn't  do  much  to  relax  the  lord  ,  he  wishes  to  find  his  way  back  to  his  rooms  but  that  is  clearly  not  an  option  he  has  been  gifted.  "  i  pray  it  does  not  change  my  opinion  of  the  gardens.  "  he  offers  weakly  ,  having  spent  multiple  hours  alone  simply  sketching  the  beauty  offered  here.  while  hugo  didn't  really  wish  to  travel  ,  he  tried  to  make  the  best  of  it  any  time  the  chance  arose.  drawing  places  he'd  likely  not  visit  again  seemed  to  be  a  sufficient  way  of  doing  that.  he  has  no  muse  to  draw  at  the  moment  ,  though  ,  and  instead  toys  with  his  pencil  as  a  way  of  expressing  some  of  his  frustrations.  "  i  sincerely  hope  it  is  nothing  bad  enough  to  warrant  this.  "  they'd  seen  enough  death  and  destruction.

uncertainty is abound , what with their group confined to one comparatively small area of the reach's capital . cailin herself therefore clings to even small whiffs of familiarity — and thus one of harry's closest friends is a genuine relief to stumble upon , even if it is just for more confused conversation about the same topic of their unjust imprisonment . " i think mine are already altered , as you fear , " they admit , " and just after my wife has spent moons building gardens at seagard . " it was a shame , but cailin thought the sentiment behind the blooms at seagard would ameliorate whatever reservations they may have after this experience . " we can only hope , lord , " they nod their agreement , though they hold little hope that their words will ring true .

" they hold me guilty by association , i guess , " visera posits , and once more her mind is cast to her mother , wherever she was , with rhaenara . if she was lumped together with her uncle simply due to her appearance , those that shared a name with him would be worse off , surely . " nobody knows what lies inside his mind , " she furrows her brow , frustration written on her features . " at least . " the words are sighed out . " do you know where luc is ? " perhaps at least one of them could have peace knowing that their family was not out there in the unknown .

visera feels uncomfortable under the lady's gaze , though not because there is necessarily anything nefarious about it . she is still unused to the attention that her valyrian features draw outside of her own circle of family and friends , but beyond that , the lady seems to have a way of observing that makes visera feel as if she is translucent . the shadows had always been her shield , growing up . emerging from them was not yet something she was used to . she nods in confirmation , keeping lilac eyes cast down on the kitten . " i've only had the one , " the one being a rapidly growing dragon . " perhaps you could take her home . who would stop you ? "

trolling  about  the  maze  ,  the  prince  is  intent  to  find  some  way  out.  perhaps  if  he  can  find  a  thinning  of  the  briar  and  slip  through  with  minimal  damage  ,  he  might  at  least  be  free  of  this  cage.  the  kraken  has  never  done  well  when  encased  ,  guards  barring  his  exit  to  a  place  he'd  not  even  been  ready  to  leave  does  not  bode  well  for  him.  daegon  initially  intends  to  spin  and  offer  a  rather  annoyed  reaction  ,  but  when  he  immediately  spots  a  flash  of  familiar  white  hair  his  cheshire  grin  blooms  atop  his  lips.  "  hello  ,  little  dragon.  "  he  greets  ,  clear  amusement  lacing  his  tone  because  he's  found  something  of  interest  in  these  trying  circumstances.  "  i  do  believe  i  could  be  a  statue  ,  thank  you.  "  adds  he  ,  offering  a  wink  but  still  taking  a  step  back  from  their  close  space.  contrary  to  his  insistent  teasing  and  flirting  ,  the  prince  does  only  do  it  to  get  a  reaction  from  young  waters.

" hello , " is the lacklustre greeting visera offers in response , muttered at the maze's path . she knew little of the greyjoy prince outside of their few chance interactions , not made privy to most whispers between nobles on account of her lack of name . what visera had managed to glean on her own was that he enjoyed antagonizing her , and was unfortunately quite adept at it , despite her ongoing attempts to dampen her childhood temper . " perhaps they could replace the statue of the maiden with you . i don't think anyone would notice the change . " she jokes , wrinkling her nose slightly before she aims her gaze at the sky once more . 

maery realizes that the atmosphere in the ballroom is akin to a boiling pot . sealed shut as it was , it would eventually boil over . she's aware of soren's approach before she speaks to him , and equally aware of the purpose behind it . it seemed that she could be as wild as she wished , as bloodthirsty as any ironborn that had come before her — and yet she would still be the baby . " that , among other reasons i'm sure , " she jokes back , though maery is confident she'd be safe from being usurped of her place in kaelys's ranking even if her havoc ceased . " are they restless yet ? " she asks of her sister , watching soren watch the sister in question .

from a young age , it was obvious to all that ryon's emotions were not at all veiled . to learn to mask one's thoughts was a lesson the crown prince had never turned up to — mentally , at least . it had earned him the moniker of the desert's darkness , such a contrast to his siblings in most ways , and yet he would be the one to rule dorne in the distant future . now , he is no different , his annoyance and his curiosity both written across his face in tandem . " he'll probably take highgarden for himself , " he utters the statement with ambivalence , despite the fact that if it holds truth it will mean so much for life in westeros as it is currently . " none of us but aedar targaryen . " the only man in on the plan , it appeared .

the was no logic in the way that the southern king operated — at least , not one that was deducible by anyone other than he himself . peace , ryon thought , was something wished for by those who thought their nation not strong enough to defend itself . should it come to his doorstep , ryon would not turn up his nose at it . but he would not beg , either . " yes , the ones who were discovered were dealt with . " clearly , there were still present those who kept personal motives , even if they were not within denyse's guard . " the only people we can trust are those that share our blood , nymeria . it's no longer enough that they would allegedly spill theirs in our name . "