SUN-STRUCK

“     yes,   that   would   certainly   do   it,     ”    lioness   laughs,    “    i'm   the   eldest   yet   to   marry,   though   after   all   of   this   i   cannot   believe   that   will   last.     ”   for   how   the   dowager   of   casterly   rock   would   tear   her   claws   into   the   next   highest   bigger   for   her   eldest,   despite   how   lucretia   would   argue   against   it   unless   they   could   provide   the   life   she   so   desires.   “    but   i   do   not,   i   think   it’s   almost   romantic   —   and   horribly   clever.   something   i'm   sure   will   one   day   be   retold   with   affection.     ”

' you'd be surprised to know that the eldest in my family has yet to wed, much like you. things are rather different in dorne than here. ' her own marriage was an act of irrevocable love and not some political ploy or gambit. she knows, knows it better than most, that it isn't possible to love and to part. ' perhaps you are correct. it's just that when people are in love, they hardly behave in ways they should. i reckon i'm no better. '

he'd been  looking  for  her.  the  wedding, despite the change in brides, possibly for the best where his friend was concerned, had caused his mind to drift back to the day of his own. a quieter affair in comparison to royal gathering despite it marking the joining of two great houses, ice and sand tied together. the wolf walked faster when he spotted his wife only to pause when he was a few steps away. the sun illuminated her beauty, a goddess in human form, melting the ice that lived in his chest.  ❝ i gifted you these. ❞   he commented, a quiet smile upon his lips, as he picked them up and held them out to her.

' you did — and so the one thing i dread is the thought of losing them. ' she pulls the confession between her teeth like a silk ribbon, embellishing an untold truth. it's not the gold that she fears being deprived of; that would be too simple. what's all the gold in the seven kingdoms compared to the mere presence of her husband? instead of the jewels, she reaches for his hand, all too familiar with every sinew that binds bone to bone. looking up at him, half curiously, she asks, ' what's on your mind? '

“     i   think   the   meddlesome   mamas   might   be   more   upset   than   the   rest   of   us.     ”    hers   certainly   is,   for   if   any   simple   foreign   maiden   could   simply   replace   the   predetermined   bride,   why   too   could   her   own   daughter   not?   golden   lannister   had   listened   to   the   fulminations   of   her   dear   lady   mother   from   the   moment   she   woke   until   the   moment   she   broke   her   fast.     “     mine   could   hardly   stand   it.     ”

❝  thank  the  gods.  ❞  ice  melted  in  the presence of the sun. he offered no resistance when she pulled him closer; they'd been apart for far too long today, pulled in different directions by people who theon wished would leave him be. now those people were nothing more than background noise. theon's eyes belonged to dafne alone.  ❝ i almost believed there was some plot to keep us apart so i'd have to partake in dull conversations. ❞   a chuckle fell from his lips.  ❝ that'll be easy. there's nowhere else i'd rather be. ❞

in spite of his subsequent assurance, a sharp breath hollows the inside of her mouth as her gaze flicks up, reflecting something that has yet to be uttered just between them. ' i think we ought to leave this place. ' concern bleeds into her touch and terse tone; it's a never-ending hemophilia only amplified by the most recent whispers and queen's proclamation. ' i've had enough of the dragon's carelessness for the evening. '

it had been a while since the greyjoy had last spent so much time on land, especially king's landing - a unique place, yet one of his least favourite places. still, the atmosphere at the red keep too solemn due to yesterday's events for sigfryd's liking, so he opted out for a night out with detested city. he'd made his way out of the street of silk, leaving behind fellow ironborn to their entertainment, the sea calling for him. young lord found himself near the red keep, one last stop before retreating to his chambers; the shore of familiar blackwater bay. full moon reflecting off wild waves crashing, the smell of salt and rock filling one's lungs, he took a deep breath. suddenly sound of footsteps is heard amongst all other sounds of nature and wilderness; he turns around and they both stop, as if freezing in time as silence follows. whoever it is, they are out of the moon's illuminating shine, so hand stands atop of sword's handle, always on the ready. "show yourself."

' — is a sword truly necessary , lord greyjoy? ' she poses the question with her hands elegantly hoisted up in the air, brandishing a smile instead of a steel blade. empty-handed, with even her arms and fingers denuded of her intricate jewelry, dafne steps forward, unwavering in her approach. ' though i doubt it would be of much help against me. ' a gentle laugh punctuates the sentence, its meaning left for deciphering. chew on it or throw it into the deep sea. ' sleep evades me tonight and i like just how quiet it is here, so i hope you won't mind my presence . '

at  long  last  he  was  given  a reason to smile, small as it was, after dutifully socializing with southern nobles. he'd escaped his conversation with the aging lord clegane mere moments after spotting her and now wove through the crowd to reach her. his sun.  ❝ i've been looking for your everywhere. ❞   another reason to despise the crowd's size. his hand brushed against hers before entwining their fingers.

' — now you have found me. ' his voice pulls her quicker than the sight of his well-familiar visage, committed to memory better than any song or hymn; it's the first thing she hears in the morning and the last before she closes her eyes at night. ' i attempted to look for you too, but none of these faces around me seemed to match yours. it was quite disappointing. ' the last words she enunciates with a laugh , instinctively tugging him closer , as if to revel in their nearness . ' stay by my side for the rest of the day — that's my only request . '

the  dragoness’  victory  still  seemed    ⸻    factitious  .  unreal  .  the  reality  of  it  all  had  yet  to  sink  in  .  she’d  had  no  doubt  ,  going  in  ,  that  the  beasts  would  choose  ,  as  they  had  her  cousins  and  siblings  ,  she  .  but  to  believe  ,  and  to  live  ,  are  far  from  the  same  .  subliminal  gown  fell  down  to  feet  ,  going  further  ,  in  an  attempt  to  cover  the  blemishes  the  dragonpit  had  cursed  her  with  .  they  called  it  a  curse  ,  margaery  called  them  proof  that  the  whispers  of  the  castle  had  been  wrong  .  lavender  gaze  caught  the  figure  at  her  side  ,  but  she’d  only  grasped  the  last  word  of  the  sentence  .    ❛    apologies  .  could  you  repeat  that?    ❜

' are you all right ? that's all i asked . ' something akin to concern seeps into dafne's tactful tone , softer than silk and freshly fallen snow , though her true feelings she could not yet discern . her graceful hands clasped together , adorned with jewels, still remain anchored beneath her chest , close to her abdomen , as if to guard , protect and prevent any other emotions from escaping her grasp . ' that must've been challenging . not just for the body — but the mind , too . '

“      an   excellent   showing,   truly.    ”     resentment   grows   within   - hidden by polished expression -   this   discontent   lying   deep   within   him   as   he   looks   to   the   castameran   lady   and   her   newly   claimed   dragon.   it   is   a   cruel   fate,   to   be   valyrian   yet   not   quite   enough   in   the   queen's   eyes   to   be   granted   access   to   his   birthright.   still,   the   burns   he'd   eyed   upon   her   before   she'd   been   covered   bring   a   small   sense   of   satisfaction,    however   cruel.    “      though   i   don't   dare   wager   how   please   her   grace   truly   is   at   the   lady's   success.    ”

' it's certainly an impressive feat . ' she mutters , assured , without reason , that behind his smooth veneer hides a dosage of poison . does he covet and vie for the same thing , too ? does the valyrian blood corrupt them all from within ? ' i cannot speak in her grace's name — though i must presume that you're rather proud of your cousin . a triumph for one of you is a triumph for all of you , is it not ? '

Newton Arvin, quoted in ‘Mad Girl’s Love Song: Sylvia Plath and Life Before Ted’