Lady Annara's rooms

[Lord Gareth Hightower]

The rooms of Lady Annara, mother to the Lord of the Far Reach.

[Lord Gareth Hightower]

Upon his arrival back at the Hightower, Gareth goes to find his mother and siblings. Directed to her rooms he knocks on the door.

[Marie]

Annara opened the door. Her face paled when she saw him,. "Gareth! My dear boy!" She enfolded him in her arms.

[Lord Gareth Hightower]

"Mother."

Gareth was taller than she was and clad in leathers, but he allowed her to embrace him, smiling all the while. At last he grabbed her arms and broke free, looking down at her fondly.

"It has been a long time Mother. Too long. You are well?"

[Marie]

"Yes.; I'#m very well, my dear. Dearest Izzy took care of me when I was unwell, but I am fine now."

Annara frowned and looked around. Her expression became frantic.

"Where is your brother? Don't tell me that Gwayne..."

[Lord Gareth Hightower]

"Calm down mother." replied Gareth quickly. "Gwayne is in the city. Said he had duties to take care of. The Lord of the Far Reach cannot be seen running to his mother as soon as he arrives home. His younger brother though....." he finished with a broad grin.

[Marie]

Annara smiled slightly at her second child. "I am thankful you at least cared enough to come reassure me," she said. "So, tell me, what happened during your horrid war? I am sure you have some tales suitable for a mother's ear."

She called for wine.

[Lord Gareth Hightower]

Gareth shrugged his shoulders in reply. "I am sure you don't want to know the boring details of troop dispositions and logistics. mother. House Hightower did gain part of the Stepstones to call our own as reward for our services.

[Marie]

"Well, that is wonderful, at least," she said. "Though the Stepstones are nothing to the Far Reach, of course. Barbarians." She frowned. "So was House Hightower alone in this honour?"

[Lord Gareth Hightower]

"No." replied Gareth. "The Baratheons, Tyrells and Targaryens received three, the Martells two and all other houses, except for the Greyjoys, one each.

[Marie]

Annara frowned. "Of course the Tyrells and Targaryens profited the most, but why the Baratheons? Not that I've any dislike of the Baratheons. After all, your own sister is wed to one of them, and I'd not have allowed if if I had any reason to dislike them."

[Lord Gareth Hightower]

Gareth shrugged his shoulders. "The Baratheons appear to be currently favored by the Crown. The Stormlands are so much closer to the Stepstones than the Far Reach and are more able to readily defend their gains."

[Marie]

"I see. How can we see to it that the crown favours us next time?" Annara mused. "We should be the ones getting three keeps, not the stags."

[Lord Gareth Hightower]

"I'll leave that to my brother to work that one out." smiled Gareth. "Some of the grants seemed to be strange. Why would House Stark want a keep in the Stepstones? They'll have a hard time defending and supplying it from the north. Mayhap I can do something about that."

[Marie]

"How do you mean?" She asked. "What has been given is not so likely to be taken away, is it?"