The Dungeons of the Sea Lord

[brigida]

Tristeza lifted a hand to her face in frusteration; He knew exactly what to say to make a person angry.

[The Smith]

Sergyo looked away, and then raised a hand to his know bleeding mouth. He smiled blood staining his teeth, "You are too easy. Hardly a worthy foe." He turned waving his guards to resheath their swords and he begins to walks out. Hesitating at the door he added, "You are lucky I am not your beloved. I would have treated you far more roughly. Raped to death comes to mind." He walked from the room.

[brigida]

Tristeza hesitated momentarily, with dual urges, both to remain, and to depart; Lady Royce did not seem a woman to partake in discussions of feelings, but if a woman ever needed a friend--whether it was a true friend, or a temporary companion, it was a time like this..and Tristeza knew how it felt to lose a love...she had thought her husband dead for months, carrying his child. The same position Aranya found herself in now. She took a deep silent breath, and said quietly, in a soft, kind voice, "If there is a woman who knows the agony you feel now in Braavos, it is I--I will not force my presence upon you, but if ever you would like to meet for whatever reason--should even you simple want another change of clothes, inform a guard, and I will come. That is my promise to you as a woman who has known that loss." she turned, and departed.

[Deleted]

Aranya gazed at her. Her eyes softened a little, but she said nothing as the Sealord and Tristeza left.

[Deleted]

///

Aranya wore a yellow gown with the lace torn off and the seams ripped loose to allow for the slight bump of her belly and the increasing swell of her breasts. The pregnancy was the only thing keeping her calm. On her bed, neatly folded, was Tristeza's blue dress.

She asked a guard to bring Tristeza Martell to her room.

[brigida]

Tristeza arrived at Aranya's room about an hour later--she had been in the middle of a meeting, which explained Kardaine Ladybright's presence with her. Timm had come too, but she insisted that he wait outside. This was not an appropriate time for such a reunion.

As Ladybright loitered in the door-frame, Tristeza hesitated, and ultimately gestured for him to wait outside as well--directly outside. Dressed in her own version of typicality, she was draped in a simple white dress, her hair down, and in a tangle of unruly curls as always, and otherwise completely unadorned--she was even barefoot.

"Lady Royce?" she said softly, as the door closed softly behind her.

[Deleted]

Aranya had been sitting by a chair, gazing out the window with a pensive, private expression. She started and looked around when Tristeza entered. "Lady Tristeza," Aranya said formally, rising and resuming her stern, expressionless face. "I wanted to thank you for your gift." She crossed to the bed and lifted the neatly folded blue gown. "I appreciated the gesture, but I fear this dress will no longer fit me." She did not elaborate, but the slight bump of her belly and and the slightly heavier breasts told the rest.

[brigida]

Tristeza nodded, her face blank but for the quiet lament in her eyes, "Do you want of anything?" she asked gently, as she reached out to take the dress, "Anything I might be able to provide," she ammended shortly.

[Deleted]

"You are kind," Aranya said. "But unless you can give me a sword and ask your precious Vikary if he has the balls to fight me, there is nothing you can do." If the idea of a pregnant woman fighting Timm Vikary seemed bizarre, Aranya really did not appear to notice it.

[brigida]

Tristeza pondered this a moment; "I could certainly to both of those things, but I do not think it would end in anything but your frustration with Timm, in addition to the automatic loathing I am sure you already feel--somehow I do not see him accepting your challenge." she shrugged apologetically. "But maybe I will find you a less--absurd dress. These are bound to give the child nightmares even from inside the womb." she pursed her lips thoughtfully, "If dressing you reasonably is all I am good for, at least I am useful for something," she sighed, with a small smile.

[Deleted]

Aranya snorted at her words, but said nothing. When Tristeza offered to find her a suitable dress, Aranya seemed about to balk, but then gave a little nod. "It is good of you to offer," she said grudgingly, warily.

She gestured to a chair with a wry smile. "The least I can do is be hospitable. I can offer you a seat, if not wine." She took one herself. "So tell me, my lady, what do you propose to do with your impending freedom?"

[brigida]

Tristeza eyes the seat, no more at ease than Aranya; she took the seat politely, but qualified, "I fear I will not be able to stay for too long," in response to the Lady's question, she continues, "I was already free, so I presume I will do much the same; and yourself?"

[Deleted]

"Much the same?" Aranya raised an eyebrow. "What is 'much the same'"?

[brigida]

"I will remain here, and raise funds to help support the Bazaar--maybe someday I will scout out a land upon which to resettle, and form a wholly new city. But that is not on the near horizon." Tristeza said, her voice growing vaguely whimsical, "And what of your freedom, Lady Royce? I hope your plans are not too thick with vengeance." this last part was spoken with an understaded anxiety, as though Lady Royce's revenge would translate into a significant loss for Tristeza.

[Deleted]

Aranya studied her. "So you really want to live out your days here?" she asked. "What of your beloved Dorne? Do you never want to return there?"

"As for myself, I have my duties," she said simply.