JAEYONG

Asher shrugged his shoulders, he knew that so many lords joined in one place won’t end up well, it never did. Someone was meant to insult another and that always ended up with some sort of conflict. “Well, that is good but surely you’re not naive enough to truly believe that, we are never really at peace, no matter how much it seems like it.” He offered the other a smile. “It seems we’ll have to wait and see what happens.” 

Margaery looks at the guy. “Lots of people never get a chance to travel. you know i never heard anyone tell me they where a son of farmers but i do found it very inserting. being a knight will have you travel more often then you should.” she said. “Yes i am a lady there is no need to apologize it happens.”  

Asher had expected it, curious minds to come check out their camp, try to find out who they were and where they come from. He didn’t really care, to be honest, it would be a good way to get word out that they were here. And they were looking for work. “Work.” He shrugged his shoulders, titling his head to the side. “I couldn’t care less about the high born, I care about their gold. And any jobs they might have to offer to a group of sell swords.” He motioned behind him, his companions moving their hands away from their weapons. 

Yara noticed his hand going for his sword and she quickly made the same movement, just in case. She didn’t know these people and she definitely didn’t trust them so she was going to play it safe. “Fair enough, I can understand that.” She paused. “Yara Greyjoy and I’m here looking for my brother.” She told the other, before taking a lot around the courtyard. “I’ll have to keep looking then, he should be here somewhere, if the Starks don’t have him locked away in some cell. Or haven’t gotten him killed yet.”

A SMIRK SETTLED on his face as theon’s eyes followed every bit of the knight’s movement ( and didn’t the title sounded ridiculous when matched with the face of a lowborn ) , the interest especially peaking after jaeyong decided for the bow as his weapon ; if theon’s own talents truly laid somewhere , arrows knew everything of it. and with the arrival of the endless guests to winterfell , he found himself at practice even more often than on normal days , the training proving to be one of the few things able to take his mind of the constant chaos and logistic troubles the castle had to deal with. 

making bets in his own mind , willing to put every bit of self respect and ability to predict the outcome on the option of the archer ( putting mental quotation marks around the word ) missing , theon stood and waited with his arms crossed - at the moment the arrow pierced the cloath and the other started celebarting , they flew to the air , bringing the whole body to motion as a few swift steps brought him over. “ don’t put that away - let’s make a competition out of it. we’ll see who can really do it. “ the hastily commanding voice not allowing any objections , a grin spreading as the words landed between them.

DID ARIANNE EVER WISH FOR a war? in some ways, she felt like she was brewing her own, though she had not yet found a true way to wage forward with her own ideal of one, that being to secure her place in the succession. otherwise, she was unsure, though she knew little of the involvement her father held in planning one. though so many like himself in dorne acted without too much emotion on the loss of elia, it still struck them to the bone, and she knew that somewhere within herself she felt a grudge against the baratheon and lannister families. “do you ever hope for an actual fight? or are you content with the peace we now hold?” the female questioned, eyes alight as she encouraged him to give an honest answer through that. “that is some wisdom then. women can look innocent enough, but with a weapon, they can be the most deadly flowers”. 

a nod to acknowledge that she heard his name, she then moved to introduce herself, always speaking her name with pride. “arianne martell- heir and princess of dorne” emphasising how she was heir, she would not yet relinquish it. 

Jae shrugged, “You know, war would benefit me in a way. I know that I could then prove myself and yet I find myself wanting nothing but peace.” he admitted, maybe it was foolish of him. He knew if he wanted something better from life he would be better off being like everyone else, cunning and selfish. But that had never been him and he hoped it would never change. “I couldn’t bare the thought of innocent people suffering through war.” His voice was small, almost like he was talking to himself. Jae smiled at the woman, he hadn’t truly seen a woman fight before but he knew how strong and intelligent they could be so he had no doubt they could be dangerous. “I pity those who ever underestimate a woman.”

“YES- THAT IS RATHER A lovely aspect of it all” she had never fully imagined a situation in which her family would truly need knights in that capacity, though the terrible stories from robert’s rebellion still hung on every ear, tales of the bravery but horror that was endured prominent in mind. that was over though, or so she liked to believe. keeping the notion that knights now would be more the romantic sort of songs past, she embellished the thoughts in her mind. “that is true. my father is an honourable man though, and northerners always have held uncanny devotion to our house” a beam brewing across her features, she admittedly held pride in that aspect. 

a curious look dawned across her face, features rippling as she inwardly queried his words, before moving to question him directly. “whatever do you mean? of course all will be well. we have peace in our time, and most here are loyal friends to my father” he had always spoke about his brotherhood with robert, and she believed that remained present now, if the way they greeted one another was anything to go by. “i am glad to hear my lessons have made it so well” a tender look of thanks, she had always been tinged with gratification upon hearing such words. “i am unsure as to so- but if you wish, i give you permission to see”. 

Jae smiled, nodding. He imagines it would feel good to know so many people were so loyal to her. Him included. “Myself included, M’Lady. Your father is someone I have always admired. Not that I got to experience who he is from up close but I have heard of stories and what most men say about him. Everyone talks highly of him.” he admitted with another smile. Since he was a child, he had dreamed of being a knight for the Starks. Unfortunately, he was yet to be employed by them, but even now he would still protect them. “I think every single one of us would fight for your family.”

Margaery nods back. “Nature is the best because everything is so beautiful you can learn about other places in books or on your travels, you need to get out in the world cold does make beautiful things.” she said. “I’m from Highgarden.”    

TO HER, THE NORTH WAS barely an interesting place, though she knew little of how deeply rooted it truly was in her heart. not much ever happened in their colder environment, nothing of note, that was. therefore, she hung onto the smallest bits of more worldly information she could find, scooping up the knowledge on the most pitiful knighthoods granted in her land, news from further away taking too long by raven at times. observant also, she learned names from watching afar, mind creating a web of knowledge, though the naive stark never utilised it for anything more than showing respect towards others, priding herself on that. “i did believe so- oh, it is lovely to see the halls of winterfell filled with so many knights”. 

listening to the continued talk of the male, head tilted to the side a little, earnest as she heard, looking a little as he moved his gaze to lady, causing her to nudge her direwolf forward a little. lady followed in her footsteps, as did the other direwolves to their respective owners, and she knew she would never hurt a soul. “there is a great deal to reflect on now, i find” she mused, with a nod, the smell of winters air intermingled with the true summer feeling near intoxicating as it weaved in the feasting elements of winterfell. “there is so many a beautiful song wrote for us to sing out there, it is no wonder you thought so- thank you”. 

On one hand, there being so many knights was good as they are supposed to protect others, but Jae couldn’t help but feel like they were his competition and that he was already behind on proving his worth. “I can imagine it would feel good to know so many would fight for you and your family.” he responded with a smile. “I can not imagine many others can entice so much loyalty.” At least he couldn’t imagine himself fighting for another house. Maybe it was because he had grown up hearing stories about the Starks. For a second he wondered if he would have been loyal to another house had he been born elsewhere.

Margaery  would rise an eyebrow when she sees the young man look around maybe there is a reason for that anyways she hears what he said to her. “Mo i’m not cold at all.” she said to him with a smile. “I like to walk around the garden at least once a day even if it’s cold or hot.”

Yara hated the North, she hated the people of the North and if she could do something about it, she would have them all slaughtered. It was no news that there was no shared love between the people from the North and the ones from the Iron Isles, actually no one really liked the Ironborn, but Yara never really cared about what others thought of her and her people. Although, here she was, making her way into Winterfell to see her brother. She didn’t plan to stick for too long, she wanted to see how her brother was, how he was being treated, the least she spent around these people, the better. They were the ones responsible for her two brothers being dead and her youngest one being taken from her all those years ago. Yara sighed as she made her way towards someone standing on the courtyard, approaching them from behind. “Do you know where I can find Lord Theon Greyjoy? I’m looking for him.”

Asher and his company of sell swords had arrived and settled down near the forests outside of Winterfell. It was close enough of the castle and the village just near it, but far enough that they wouldn’t get in the way of anything. Asher didn’t want anyone to think they were some sort of threat, they weren’t here to hurt anyone, unless they were contracted and payed to do so. It was also why he had chosen to come to the North, because he had gotten word of how almost every Lord in Westeros was coming here and it was the best way to find work for his company. Although, the fact that he might come across is father wasn’t exactly pleasing. But he was still excited about possibly seeing his siblings, who had hasn’t seen in years. Looking out at the road leading to their camp, Asher noticed someone approaching. His men were almost immediately on edge, not liking strangers, he saw as they hands reached for their swords just in case. He rolled his eyes at them before approaching the one coming. “Hey there friend.” He offered them a smile. “Can I help you with anything?”

Jae had seen the group of men and started to wonder why they were there. Clearly, these men were not harmless as they had weapons and judging by their physique could easily fight. Although he looked rather innocent and young, Jae wasn’t someone who got scared easily so he decided it would be best to approach the men. It would be foolish of them to fight him right now, if they had any second intentions so he didn’t expect there to be a need for his weapon.

Margaery sees that it’s beautiful day out so she decide to talk a walk in the garden being around her flowers did help her be happy and clear her mind. stopping to small some of the flowers. looking to see someone was there. “Oh hello what a beautiful day we are having don’t you agree?” she asked the person.  

ARIANNE HAD RARELY LEFT THE heat of dorne, and within that, sunspear. though she had attempted to do so on occasion, involving her cousins in these ploys, they had always been halted in their progress, a fact that had become of a nuisance to her. ever since that day when she was fourteen and stumbled upon the letter she viewed as denouncing her as heir, she had felt her father to have a grudge against her, the limitations of her travel included in that. surprised, to say the least, that she had been permitted to travel to winterfell, it had felt an unmissable occasion for the dornish princess. 

“i imagine that on the battlefield, there will be little chance for you to celebrate like that” she slipped the words from her lips as they curved upwards, studying the male that she had came across, naturally intrigued. he appeared more trivially excited, than dangerous at all, which was a pity, but she stepped forward to continue speaking. “though, what would i know about that? after all, i am but a woman” tone scathing as she spoke those words, a brow raised, almost in challenge. she had seen just how powerful a woman might be in war, thanks to her dearest cousins. 

Jae had not noticed someone looking at him, considering he had been focused on practicing so he quickly turned to face the woman who had spoken. Feeling embarrassed someone saw his celebration the knight laughed, moving his hand through his hair. “I suppose you are right. But I’m only practicing my aim. When it comes to an actual fight I am much more serious. Otherwise, I would still be a soldier.” He didn’t take offense into her words, but it was true, he was often not taken seriously when it came to this and people assumed he wouldn’t win in a fight. Something he had since continued to prove wrong. “If you ask me, I would never underestimate someone with a weapon. Be it a man or a woman.” 

IT WAS EASY TO ASSIGN the words ‘blind trust’ to the eldest stark daughter. it was a trait that came to her naturally, naturally to the girl whose head had always been filled with graceful manners and pretty tales. looking upon the royal entourage, and all the other noble faces new to her home, she did not see men and women talented in manipulation and cunning, so many arrived with an intent to play a game of thrones now more political pieces were being shifted around, the death of jon arryn signalling seismic change across westeros. ned stark was an honourable man, and not a man those with an ambition wished to be the hand- though sansa realised little of this. 

hearing a voice, she halted in her step, a slight raising of brows at the coarse language used, despite it being rather commonplace in their society. turning around, back straightened as she did so, she observed the male, recognising him- knighted, as she knew. always aware usually of the status of others, she knew members of even the kingsguard by heart, even without having met them. “ser jae” she spoke, courteous rising of lips across her features, a minor movement of her head as she did so, unsure as to whether or not she truly would hold it as an intrusion. “i was merely taking the air with lady- what is your purpose behind walking here?”. 

His eyes widened at the fact his name had left her lips. Maybe it was foolish to think Sansa Stark herself wouldn't know all the knights in the North. But he did not think his name was worth knowing. Not yet. Hopefully someday he would make his name worth of being spoken people such as her, but it would take time so for now it would shock him each time. "That is my name." he was mostly whispering to himself. Jae looked at the wolf, smiling. It was the most beautiful animal he had seen and it probably wasn't the best idea, but Jae almost wanted to reach and pet it. Fighting the urge to do so, he looked back at the red haired girl. He didn’t think he had ever been so close to her and as such it was only now that he truly had the chance to look at the details on her face. She was beautiful and Jae wondered if all princesses were this perfect. Maybe it came with being a highborn. He was so immersed in his thoughts that her question caught him off guard.

Jaeyong had been practicing his archery, not knowing what to do with his time now. He had been a knight for a month and although that came with a title, it didn’t drastically change his life. He had been considering teaching soldiers now, but being as young as he is and so inexperienced, many would dismiss him as a fighter despite his title. Maybe he could compete as many knights do. Ideally, he would swear himself to someone from the royal family, but that was unlikely to happen. In any case, they probably had better fighters. Ones that weren’t born commoners like him and had much more experience. Jae sighed, letting go of the arrow and watching it hit the target.