#hallis:thread

The arrow whistled through the air, hitting the target with a satisfying certainty. Hallis grinned, pushing dark hair from his eyes as he lowered his bow. “Look at that,” his smugness was palpable as he spoke, and he strolled leisurely over to the target, wrenching arrow from the chest of the dummy he had shot. “another bullseye for me.” He returned the arrow to it’s holster, turning to look at the other. 

He was many things - conceited and confident, charming and genial, and very, very competitive. That was what had him removing his bow, carved for his hand, decorating with sigils of his house, and offering it out to the other with a half-smile upon his face. “Would you like a turn? First to three. Loser buys the winner a bottle of Dornish red.” 

Hallis is doing what Hallis does best - talking about himself, glowing with pride, with arrogance, as he does. “There’s not a scratch on me, you know,” he boasts, stretching his arms in front of him to demonstrate his point. “I expected more of a skirmish from the Ironborn.” He looked at them expectantly, waiting for their praise for his role in the apprehension of the rogue escapees. “I hope that is the end of it, though. For The King’s sake.” And for his own, slacker as he was. 

“I took the liberty of preparing your horse,” Hallis informed Joanna, leading both her steed and his own over to the Stark Princess. He offered the reins to her, raising one eyebrow as he waited for her to take them. “I have permission to take you through Hunter’s Gate for a short ride, as long as we stick to the open fields.” Many were growing restless, and Hal assumed Joanna would be one of them. She wasn’t known for being the patient type. “Truth be told, I need a reprieve from Winterfell myself. You’d be doing me a favour if you came along.”

Hallis had been only just eighteen when he had knelt in the Godswood and made his vows, becoming a man of the Kingsguard in a matter of moment. He had sworn to protect and obey the King, to lay down his life for him and his family if needed. It was a new king now, but Hallis still stuck firmly to the promises he made that day. He was not perfect, but he was a good knight, loyal in the vows he had made, and utterly unshakeable in his allegiance to House Stark. 

There was one vow he had broken - over and over again. The vow he had made to be chaste, to embrace celibacy in his devotion to The Starks was one that Hallis had never quite been able to keep that particular promise. This was especially true now Vyla was in his life. Their dalliance was still fairly new,  but she was good, and kind, and the perfect way to temper his wilder tendencies. 

Hal captured her hand in his own, playing with her fingers absently. When they were alone, it was easy to be affectionate with her. “I’m sorry I haven’t been to see you over the last few days,” he cleared his throat, an uncharacteristic grimace crossing his face. “Things have been hectic since the Coronation. Has anybody questioned you yet?”