who: @mintharaestermont when and where: semi-flashback, following the end of the courts gathering within the westerlands, minty ends up accompanying brianna back to stone hedge. the girls spend some time together, with brianna providing minty a break from the identity politics of kings landing and minty means brianna is spending time with people in stone hedge.
the rustic hallway was still as brianna bracken walked back to her rooms, holding her checkered woolen robe tightly over the frame of her body to avoid the biting cold, her feet bare against the stone floor beneath her feet as she walked. the slap on her cheek continued to burn red, but she barely noticed it as her mind continued to rack with thoughts. her steps were light, and her heart felt heavier still; stone hedge was quiet at this hour, save for the distant sounds of restless wind rattling the shutters, but it felt like it were haunted by a million different ghosts all at once.
she paused briefly at her door, inhaled deeply with shaking both of her hands, and then pushed it open quietly for fear of waking up minty should she be fast asleep.
to her surprise, the faint glow of a candle still lit the room, and lady minthara estermont—minty—sat curled in one of the chairs by the hearth, draped in the blanket that was always assigned to minty's everytime she would come and spend some time in stone hedge. a blanket which had been knitted by the ruling lady many a year ago, having spent time and effort trying to source a dye of sea green specifically for daughter's estermont guest. “oh, yer still awake,” brianna said, blinking as she closed the door behind her. her voice was light, almost airy, though it was clear she was trying. she untied the cloak at her throat, draping it over the edge of a chair before continuing, moving to poke the fireplace.
“didn’t think ye’d be up. ye should sleep, minty. these walls’ll keep ye safe enough, i promise.” she pulled a slight face at her friend in the illumination of the flickering candles, feeling entirely as though she were unraveling; but she were thankful to find someone sitting across the room when she looked there, for usually it was an empty chair. it was then brianna caught notice of the hand print that was clean across her face, and she let out a quiet scoff, waving her hand dismissively. brianna waved a hand vaguely, brushing off the scrutiny. “don’t be frettin’ about this,” she said, motioning towards her cheek.
“mamai's had worse nights, ye know. tonight just… wasn’t a good one. the septas tried, and the maester—well, he’s got a soft touch, but sometimes that only makes things worse. she was havin’ none of it, lashed out like she was fendin’ off the bloody ironborn. caught me before they got her settled.”
her tone remained bright, almost cheerful, though her hands trembled slightly as she untied the laces of her bodice. “this could happen a dozen times in a week, or maybe not at all for months. ye never know, not really. but she’s safe now, and that’s what matters. she’s sleepin’, at least for a while.” her voice hitched on that last bit, but she pressed on quickly, smoothing her skirts as if that could smooth the ache in her chest. they would not wake brianna again, not after this incident; she knew the septas would not do such a thing and would want for her to sleep. “though she knew you. called ye minnie, like when we were girls. it was good, wasn’t it? for a moment, i mean. good for her t’have somethin’ to hold onto. even if it’s not me.”
