Alayne's Room

[mel]

An ordinary room in Runestone, with two windows one giving a nice view of the Godswood below. Next to the window is a comfortable chair where Alayne Royce likes to sit, doing her needle work or to read.

[mel]

There was a knock on the door. Alayne got up and faced the door.
"Enter, please."

Laren stepped into the room with Brandon and Baelor behind him. He knew that Alayne wouldn't like the news he brought her, but he couldn't think of a way to break it to her gently.

"Aunt, I would like to introduce to you Brandon Stone and his friend Baelor. They have just arrived from Bravos. Brandon here claims he has a connection to our family and would like to know more about his father."

"Alayne raised an eyebrow in surprise. So? And who might be your father then?"

[Lord Howland Royce]

"My mother told me his name was Howland Royce," Brandon said. "She never told me how they met however."

OOC - back in about 30 min

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"Howland?" Alayne's face went blank and she stepped back to sit down again.
"You knew about that?" Here eyes wandered to Laren who stood next to one of the windows, only answering with a shrug.
"He told me, though I'm not sure what to think of it. Thought you might know more about it since you and my father were so close."
Her gaze turned to Brandon and looked over him critically. There might be something of her brother's looks in him, but it was easy to claim to be someone's bastard to sneak into a family. She would examine him closely before deciding what to tell him.
"Tell me about yourself!"

[Lord Howland Royce]

"My mother was from Quarth, though I was raised in Braavos. She worked as a potion maker, and did her best in trying to raise us, me and Baelor, although we didn't exactly make that easy for her. She had found Baelor at the docks of Braavos and took him in, she had always wanted more children she said but never found any men to her liking.

In my younger days Baelor and I often played at being Bravos dueling with sticks more often than not, and so it went on until we got old enough to get real swords. My brother worked with my mother more than I and so he has some skill in healing, while I began work as a guard for a merchant who travelled around in the Free cities. So I know a fair amount of languages. We even went to Quarth, though we had to stop by the Slaver's Bay cities.. a sickening place that is and I have no wish of ever seing that place again.

My mother told me about the Royces at her death bed, but it was far from my mind at that time I must admit. I continued my work as a guard, while Baelor worked at a tavern as a singer as we could not continue our mother's work. Braavos isn't the safest city to be in at the moment, a new sealord, faceless men running about and so I thought of Westeros and the family I had never known. And here I am trying to get to know them better," Brandon said.

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"And what did your mother tell you about were she met "your" father?"

She was curious how he would answerer to that question. The other part could as well have been made up, though he didn't sound like a liar, but one could never know.

Almost no one knew about Howland's short rebellion against his well set out life. Perhaps Laren had more of his father in him as he knew. Howland had once disappeared for more then half a year when he had been twenty, not even her telling about it. She had been furious about it and made up here mind never to forgive him. But when he returned he came directly to her telling her how much he had missed her and that he had become a man while he was gone.
He was changed afterwards and only a short time later married Sandra Corbray, to who he never developed a deeply loving relationship, though he did his best not to show it.

[Lord Howland Royce]

Brandon was in deep thought for a moment. "I'm sure that it wasn't Braavos. It must have been one of the other Free Cities, Lys perhaps Pentos. Hmm, I'm certain now it must have been Lys. She said something about perfumes clouding her judgement, and Lys is most reknowned for their perfumes".

[mel]

Alayne swallowed. It was hard for her to repress her true feelings and keep calm on the outside.
The boy's tale could be true. As present Howland had brought back for her a small vial of perfume and when she asked him where it was from he only smiled and said from far far way.
Besides there would be no harm to welcome a boy without family into theirs.

Laren had kept his stance by the window, without giving away what he thought about the matter. It was probably time for her to tell him more about his father, and this time not only the funny and heroic stuff a little boy liked to hear about his father, but what he had been like and how he had seen the world.

Alayne got up and stepped towards Brandon and embraced him lightly.
"I welcome you to our family, Brandon Stone. In your tale was some truth that gives evidence for your claim, but I think I'll tell you more about it later. First we should talk about more pressing matters, for example your plans and those of your brother.....Sorry, what was your name again?"

[Lord Howland Royce]

"My name is Baelor, my Lady. No surname to speak of but the Bravos call me Quickstrike for my skill with daggers. We have no plans to speak of, Brandon just wanted to see his family and as we consider each other brothers I found it natural to follow him. We're currently on the way to Tedmyn's Down to help another Royce," Baelor answered in rough westerosi not as skilled as his brother with languages.

[mel]

"Odhar is in trouble? What has happened? Laren do you know anything about it?"

"There was a messenger, who brought new from Tedmyn's Down that they were having some trouble with the clans. Ser Jaremy Donniger is about to gather some men to aid them, since the castellan sees no need to do anything. We" he gestures at Brandon and Baelor "are going to join Ser Jaremy's party."

"You? And what kind of help do you think you can provide? You..."

"Alayne, please stop that. I know you're concerned about me but that is not necessary. I'm old enough to make my own decisions and I'll go. Besides I'll have two brothers at my side."

Alyane had a grim expression on her face. "Well, and when will you leave?"

"We are to leave as soon everything is ready and prepared."

"I see." She went over to the window "Brandon when you are back in Runestone come visit me and I'll tell you more about Howland. You may go now, I would like to speak to Laren alone."

Brandon and Baelor left the room and waited outside for Laren who followed a few minutes later.
"Damn, I knew she wouldn't like it. But now we know that you're a real "Stone"" he grinned. Do you two have everything for the ride? Or shall we go find some warm cloth or anything?

[Lord Howland Royce]

"We should probably find something warmer, and perhaps something white also to stay better hidden among the snow. There's nothing worse than a rain of arrows raining on you because of the colour of your clothes. We could use some light chainmail too," Brandon replied as they walked from their aunt's room.

OOC- continuing in the courtyard then?