Piers and Elena come to dinner

[Lord Rhodri Arryn]

Rhodri pauses in consideration. "Mi'lady...what did you and Lord Jayson see?"

[The Smith]

"There were three of us, Jayson's former squire, who he had knighted in Asshai, was with us too. It was a beautiful Ice Cavern, it at sometimes looked like a keep was carved from its walls. When our torches went out it became very cold. Jayson grabbed me, and we struggled out leaving Lyle behind. All we could see in the light were blue eyes." Elena breathed deeply in and out gaining courage from the action.

"The next night, Lyle found us. He was cold and his eyes glowed blue; he tried to kill us. Jayson ran hims though but he ignored it. I bashed him with a log... from our fire. He caught on flame quickly. So Jayson pulled him into the fire. Lyle went up quickly, and Jayson got the most horrible burn." Elena stopped.

[Lord Rhodri Arryn]

"You speak of wights or Others? My son...sometimes he tells me these creatures, these blue eyed men of the night. He learned much from the Greenmen, who told him that the Others are the greatest danger to men. A few years ago I would have dismissed this as superstition, but I believe it now."

"Is that why we need the beasts? To fight the Others?"

[The Smith]

"The old women sent me there to give me a reason to convince my father to not kill the Dragon. She felt that with out a concrete reason not to that my father would destroy the beast. I think if Aedon had not killed his own kin, my father would have supported him. That was always a touchy thing with him. But he believe me and began doing everything with in his power to defeat the Others." Elena grimmaced.

[Lord Rhodri Arryn]

"You know as much about dragons as any I have met. With Aedon's creature dead, what now? How do we protect the Realm? Are there more living dragons elsewhere? Maester Nehmen speaks of eggs. If we found eggs, is there a way to hatch and raise them?" Rhodri asks.

[The Smith]

Elena shook her head, "There are no dragons left alive. But there should be eggs. I say some in a collestion in Asshai. It is getting them to hatch that is such a challenge. There are several conditions. The must be hatched near a person with the blood of Dragons, unless you want the beasts wild. Also a fire is necessary, both to warm them, and ignite their inner blaze." She shrugs, "What ever that means. There also is a call for some kind of sacrifice or lost. But it was vague on that particular issue."

[Lilith Royce]

Lilith shivered. She felt the future creeping up on them. "You make sense, Elena, of pieces I have read but had not put together before. Fire and dragons of course would be able to battle these wights. The only other thing I have read that works is obsidian, dragon glass." She paused. "Dragon eggs, fire and glass are not much to go on."

ooc: The new building we are in here was just dedicated. As we are anthropologists, obsidian blades were used to cut the ribbons--everyone was terrified someone would slip and open an artery--but thankfully no trips to the emergency room were necessary!

[The Smith]

Piers smiled at Lilith, "Yes, so I have men scouring the free cities for dragon eggs. I have attempted to lay my hands on the eggs Elena say in Asshai, but the men I have sent have mysteriously dissapeared. I am thinking venerial diseases."

[Lilith Royce]

Lilith laughed, "Remind me to give any employee of yours the basics of self-preservation, my love. Protecting blades and family jewels are always usefull skills."

[The Smith]

"Sometimes the basic needs of self-preservation combats with the basic 'Needs', my wife." Piers winks at her.

[Lord Rhodri Arryn]

"Sacrifice, I think I know something of sacrifice, Lady Elena," Rhodri says softly. The servants interrupt the conversation to bring out long platters of plump venison sausage, simmered with apples and sweet onions.

[The Smith]

Elena buried away from her own grief and looked at Rhodri. She reached out and squeezed his hand in a comforting manner and says, "Aye, Lord Rhodri, I have heard. I am so sorrow for your lose. Yet I have heard the most wonderful things about your wife and children. I heard your son spent nearly a year out on God's Eye." She smiles as warmly as her hair is bright.

[Lord Rhodri Arryn]

Rhodri smiles, slightly, but it is a queer smile. "Yes, Yohn did go to the God's Eye, though we told most folks he was sent away to foster. Though I am his father, he tells me little of what he learned there -- he speaks of it in riddles, when he speaks of it at all."

"But I think he is changed, a bit, since his return. Before he was prone to rage when faced with the slightest challenge. He is still an unusual child, but seems more confident now, calmer. I think he found some peace with the Greenmen."

[The Smith]

Elena smiles and tries to make it as reassuring as possible, "Sometimes what a child learns, they know they can not share it with their parents. I was in a similar straight with my own father. And he disliked it as much as I am sure you do. My father trusted me to do what was right, and I think you should do the same. Unfortunately I do not think we live in a time when children can just be children. The time is coming when all of us must stand up and do our duty."

Suddenly she blushes, "Here I am lecturing the Lord Hand about duty. I am sorry Lord Rhodri. Some times I just say what I am thinking with stoppering it up." Elena cringes at her last words.

[Lilith Royce]

The hour grows late and the party seems to be drawing to a close. Lilith wonders if any other topic needs discussing before the end, what will be needed to protect themselves from the coming onslaught of wights she feared.

The party had been lovely. It was so nice to be surrounded by family again. "Elena, you must come stay with us at Bettley Manor. We have seen far too little of you, m'dear, and Piers of course has built us a sumptious house. I know Petra would love to see you and it would be great to have you around."