Elane's House

[Lord Rhodri Arryn]

Brandon's eyes glaze over once again.

[Deleted]

Elane fetches her seamstress, who was asleep. The woman comes blinking in a dazed fashion, but at Elane's voice she snaps into action, taking measurements and discussing the clothes with Elane, while they both inspected Ser Brandon critically. Finally, the woman left with her notes.

"You will look like a Braavosi gallant." Elane beamed.

[Lord Rhodri Arryn]

Brandon looks...abashed. Perhaps for the first time.

[Deleted]

"Now perhaps you should go to bed," Elane said briskly. "I'll have someone bring hot water for your bath, and sleeping clothes. You've had a long and tiring journey. Tomorrow perhaps I will show you around the city. Is there anything else you would like? Lemon tea? A nice book?"

[Lord Rhodri Arryn]

"Uh, I don't bathe ... often. I guess I should. No tea, thank you. A horn of ale would be nice. Then maybe I'll go through my swordwork before I rest."

[Deleted]

"We don't have any horns, my good ser, but I will be glad to get you some ale. And after your swordwork, I insist on a bath." She smiled. "You should set a good example to your girls, or I'll have two Aranyas running around the house." She fetched him a mug of ale herself.

[Lord Rhodri Arryn]

"Thank you, mi'lady. You certainly don't need to wait on the likes of me. I guess I'll take that bath. I haven't had one since my vigil for knighthood," Ser Brandon says.

[Deleted]

Elane gaped at him. Then she laughed. "Oh, that is a good one, ser." She sniffed nervously.

[Lord Rhodri Arryn]

"It was a good bath. It is traditional in the Stormlands to take your first bath before saying your vows. Cleanse the impurities, the septons say."

[Deleted]

"An excellent tradition," Elane said. "Men should bathe more often, at least once every two days."

She led him up to his room, and showed him the bath, which had been filled with hot water. "It's water from the springs, very clean. And very hot. That soap over there is the best, and my brushes will scrape off any dirt you've accumulated since your vigil." Her mouth twitched, but then her face was solemn again.

[Lord Rhodri Arryn]

Brandon laughs. "Once every two days? You must be joking!"

He pulls off the worn tunic revealing a muscular, broad chest. "I can manage from here, mi'lady."

[Deleted]

Elane suddenly blushed and looked away. "Er, yes," she said, trying to recover her composure. "I'll just...see to the girls." She walked hurriedly out of the room...and tripped on her gown.

[Lord Rhodri Arryn]

When Elane is gone, Brandon finishes stripping off his dingy clothes and leaps into the tub. He immediately leaps back out. The water is scalding. He waits another few minutes before tipping in his toe, and then finally settles in. He leans back, closes his eyes, and dreams of Elane Royce.

[Deleted]

Her cheeks still warm, Elane stepped gracefully into Rose and Viola's room, checked on them and the wetnurse who slept by Viola's crib, and closed the door softly, smiling. Then she went back to her room, feeling more content than she ought to have, under the circumstances.

[Lord Rhodri Arryn]

When Brandon awakes from his bath, he finds that his old, dirty clothes have vanished and been replaced by a fine silk doublet and hose. He wrinkles his nose in distaste but pulls them on.