golden heart / raging blood

Drinking heavily had never been something Edric had engaged in much, and when he had, it had usually been ale. Suddenly having famed wines like the Dornish red at his fingertips had called to him and he may have overindulged a little. “Have you tried this?” His speech was slurred slightly, and the red liquid was swirling around in his glass and threatening to slop over the sides as he spoke animatedly. “It’s very good.”

@kingsgvards​

DAMON already had more than enough responsibilities, with keeping the entire royal family safe and looking out for his brothers on top of it, but he still felt the need to check on everyone he came across, and the lord with the bottle of wine beside him and slurred speech was certainly in need of some help. “i have not.” he answered, sidling up beside him. “do you need an escort back to your rooms?”

                      ALYSSANDRA’S POUT faded away into a bright smile, she gave small claps with her hands and had to resist the urge to give small jumps of happiness. She was never meant to live in confinement, her own light would dim if so. “Yes! Yes, I promise! I will sit in the sow room for the rest of the day and read or sow, or simply be.” She assured him, and she meant to keep her word. “Besides you will be right by me, are you not? I could not be any safer, I am sure.” She praised him. Looking back into her memories everything before him was a bit of a blur, he had always been there to take care of her safety, and she truly felt the safest when he was around. “I’ll invite you a cup of tea and a pastry upon our return, now let us get some sun.” She said cheerfully.

SEEING the joy that lined alyssandra’s face coaxed a smile out of damon himself. he still wasn’t certain that it was a very wise decision but if such a small allowance had brought her so much joy, then how could he take that away from her? there was little doubt in his mind that he was the most capable knight in all of westeros, surely he could keep her safe. he would do everything he could to do so, for the young princess’s happiness was invaluable to damon. “i’m looking forward to it.” he answered her with an indulgent smile.

If he truly thought about it Ned could easily pretend that he was alone. There wasn’t any possible way to ever actually be alone in Kingslanding. Nor with Damon shadowing him, Ned was more than thankful he kept his distance as long as he did. Constantly knowing who was around you was the duty of any good knight, let alone a Kingsguard. “We’re failing. Lord Arryn was on the hands of his own guards but the last was us.”

IT WAS a small comfort to know that his brothers in arms were facing just as much inner turmoil as he was, but it was a comfort nonetheless. soothing ned’s troubled mind might just help to put his own troubled mind at ease.”none of us could have seen this coming.” he said half heartedly, not totally believing the words himself. he’d spent every single night since the coronation going over every little detail, wondering what he missed. “we’ll do better next time. we won’t let this happen again.”

Gold armor, the white cloak. He was one of the kingsguard, the man was supposed to be one of the most skilled knights in the realm. She was torn between fear and comfort in his company. His words were soft though, ones that comforted her in a rare action. “Thank you ser.” She didn’t know his name. Perhaps she should have made time to recognize the Kingsguard, but she’d been distracted. “Your words do bring comfort.”

"I’M AFRAID that comforting words mean very little in a time like this." in a place like this, he thought darkly. for all his years in king's landing, damon had never been able to adjust to the eternal scheming that went on in the city. "i am glad to bring whatever comfort i am able to despite that, my lady."

                   ALYSSANDRA SIGHED as one more time she was told to remain inside, that it was for her own good, like four walls would be her saving armor. “And I understand your concern, but I’ve been in doors for almost five day, would a stroll through the gardens really be so bad? Only to the stables and back?” She looked from him up to the distance, she wished she would go to the shore instead, or out to the town. 

THE YOUNGEST princess had always held a special place in damon’s heart, he’d been protecting her since she was a little girl, had watched as she’d grown into the graceful woman before him. he hated the idea of anyone getting hurt on his watch, but if alyssandra were to be injured, he wasn’t sure he would be able to handle such a thing. and yet, he knew her, felt certain she wouldn’t be asking if it didn’t mean a lot to her. “fine.” he relented. “to the stables and back and that’s it. then you’ll be content to remain inside for the rest of the day?”

he was interesting, this man. so close to the king and power present for everything of importance that happens in the capital. yet he was more humble than the other members of the kingsguard, possibly even the only one that actually felt bound to his duty. to tyrion, it only made him want to corrupt the man more. “no, but you know him better than most, wouldn’t you?” his speech was drawled, curiosity peeked as his mouth curved wider. “either way, i’ll still get your opinion, if you’ll give it. i do think a good gathering will cheer everyones spirits up. perhaps some entertainers, i know a lovely group of women for the job. what do you think?”

“WELL, i suppose so. i’ve known the king since he was young but...” damon searched for the words that would satisfy this man. he couldn’t figure out what he wanted from him. “that doesn’t mean much. there are many more who know his mind far better than i ever could.” he frowned a little at the question, a party in the palace wasn’t something that damon would look forward to. he couldn’t imagine simply taking a night off, and gathering everyone together again, encouraging to lower their inhibitions sounded like more trouble than it was worth to him. “i’m sure there are many in the castle who would enjoy such a thing.” he answered with a shrug.

      domas gave a snort of derision, eyes turning towards the man of the kingsgard - he knew exactly who this was, but that was neither a good or bad thing.    “i take not enjoyment in death of anyone - unless they deserve it,” he turned to half-face damon rykker,    “it’s just funny watching all the wealthy folks be so bothered when the poor have watched their own be murdered every few days for centuries.     never see them bothered when their people die.”

DAMON didn’t know this man. he knew he was in no place to cast judgement and yet his words still made his skin crawl. to laugh at people who were frightened, not just for themselves but for their families, to find amusement in their misfortune for nothing more than the fact of their wealth felt wrong to damon. and yet, there was truth in the man’s words as well. people suffered everyday, death was simply a fact of life for the majority of people in this city, which, damon thought, was the true tragedy. “not everyone is able to face death as easily as others.” he responded simply, unable to totally fault him for his way of thinking.

Edwyn did as he was told, finding a place to sit as his hands shook. He wanted to break down there, but he kept some sort of wit about him. “I have a child, probably. Maybe. She doesn’t know.” The kingsguard blurted the words out through a web of curses and stutters, as if he was still in disbelief. His eyes fell grateful on the alcohol, and briefly, on Damon. It was nice to say it, but Ed wasn’t sure if it had made him feel better. “Lady Tully doesn’t know who the father is. And won’t let me near the child. Ever. So I will never know.”

THIS was not a situation that damon was prepared for. he’d had his brothers showing up at his door late in the night too many times to count, and he’d always been glad to let them in, take care of them in whatever way they needed but this- how was he ever supposed to be prepared for this. it hit too close to home for him, he thought of the frail baby he’d held in his arms all those years ago and the girl with the same fiery hair that had shown up years later, how he wished his life was different so that he could be apart of hers. he could see edwyn’s pain, it was written clearly across his face, but he was at a loss for words. “that life...” he began slowly, uncertainly. “children, a wife, a family... you gave that up when you took your vows.” damon knew that the vows of the kingsguard didn’t mean much to the others, but they had become everything to him since his parents had died. “your brothers in the kingsguard are all the family you need now.”

“exactly.” he drawled out, taking a couple steps closer. “you are the guard of the king, the person by his side or doing his bidding day in and day out.” and how wasted he was in the job, looking the way he does. he would be much better suited to being a ruling lord that tyrion could visit at every chance he got. “who better to get insight on the king’s way of thinking than the one who guards him?”

DAMON listened to the man speak, a frown growing the longer it went on. of course he had great pride in his role as a kingsguard, but he had never thought of himself as anything more than a guard and, if he was being honest, he wasn’t sure he wanted to be anything more. that was a life he had left behind when he’d left duskendale. he had never been a great political mind and he didn’t mind that at all. “i don’t know.” he spoke hesitantly. “even if i do spent a lot of time with the king, i certainly don’t speak for him.”

@kingsgvards

The nights were dragging on and the days weren’t helping. While Poppy kept his bed warm, he still felt as if he were far removed from everything that was happening. And still sometimes he’d get the sensation that he was drowning in air. Edwyn was unfamiliar with such emotions, and he didn’t particularly care for how it effected his work. He was losing motivation, drive, sense of any duty. He tapped on the door before pushing himself in, the drowning sensation happening as soon as he saw Damon. Ed felt as if he were choking and his hands shook, unable to get any words out while his eyes darted as if looking for an escape.