One Hundred Leagues East of Gulltown

[brigida]

On the Narrow Sea a single ship bobbs alone on the water. It is stately in figure, but unimpressive in size. The sea wind is high, and a bitter chill is in the twilit air. As dawn fast approaches, anchor is thrown. The decks appear deserted but for a single man in the crow's nest, who looks off to the west, as though anticipating something.

(OOC EDIT: This scene is to be presumed to have taken place after the wedding festivities in King's Landing have culminated.)

[wookie]

The man sees another sail approaching from the west. A single ship appears on the horizon and heads towards them.

[brigida]

The man pressed a whistle to his lips, blue from the cold, and pierced the air with a high pitched note, and on his call, from the cabins flooded exactly thirty nine men, and one woman. She waited for the ship to approach, her hands shaking, from cold, or nervousness.

[wookie]

As the ship neared she saw that it was a small clipper from King's Landing. The name on the bow read "The Kings Honour"

She saw several figures on it's main deck, one of them unmistakenly wearing the all white of the Kingsguard.

As it neared closer to their own ship, the sails were trimmed and it drifted on. Benfry stood with a grim look on his face, Ser Danwell Farring at his side. From what she could see, a similar amount of men to her own milled on the deck, not including the sailors manning the wheel and rigging.

[brigida]

As the two ships pulled even in the water, a wide plank of wood was placed across the narrow gap, and Tristeza Martell crossed the divide with Kardaine Ladybright near behind. No other man moved to follow. She bowed her head courteously towards the man nearest her--a guard of little consequence, and then once towards the man she recognized as Benfry Smith, though they had only met briefly before, at the ceremony which named him King Regent.

[wookie]

Benfry gestures and the King's Men all back away and he approaches Lady Martell, with Ser Danwell Farring close behind.

He inclined his head "Lady Tristeza" his eyes glanced to her guard and then flickered back to her men "No Vikary?" he queried, an odd tone in his voice

[brigida]

"No Vikary." Tristeza answered quietly, in a voice which sounded almost apologetic; she appeared disinclined to explain further. "Have you a chamber for this meeting, my Lord, or is it to take place on this spot?" Her inquiry was sincere, and exhibited no preference one way or the other, though her hands still shook slightly from the chill.

[wookie]

Benfry frowned slightly and made to answer her question as "right here" but then paused and saw her shaking from the cold. Almost grudgingly, his sense of chivalry reasserted itself and he replied "We can continue this conversation inside away from the elements and in more comfort, if that meets with your approval Lady Martell" he said stiffly

[brigida]

"It would be vastly appreciated," Tristeza answered hesitantly; for a moment she made as though to speak again, yet she ultimately remained silent.

[wookie]

Benfry inclined his head and lead her to the cabin, shooing the King's Men from their path as they eyed up the visitors with trepidation. He opened the door and led them to the plain cabin which served as the guest quarters on board. He picked up some hot tea and poured 2 cups.

"You have my oath that there is no poison or drug within this" he says and leaves the choice of which cup to choose, up to Tristeza. "In fact you have my oath that no matter what you say, you will not be harmed or detained unless you break your peace with us first"

He stands, waiting for the lady to seat herself comfortably before he does so

[brigida]

"I fear you swear to keep me from the goal I crave most, Lord Regent Smith," Tristeza muttered, her eyes downcast, as she reached to take one of the two cups, apparently indifferent to which. "But I do appreciate your hospitality." This addition came after a short sip, and seemed to be an afterthought as she realized the generosity of such an oath.

"It was very kind of you to appease my request for a meeting. I must reitterate my gratitude." Tristeza Martell did not glance away from her tea even once, and though her movements had become more stable, she shook still slightly, if less--it made her look somehow less than her already young twenty years.

Kardaine eyed her nervously, looking slightly nauseated. He had never been one for the sea.

[wookie]

Benfry sat and picked up the other cup of tea and took a sip, more to show his words were true than for any desire for quenching a thirst.

"My kindness is no more than political expediency Lady Martell" Benfry replied sourly "The bargain I made with the Sealord for the return of Lady Royce after her foolhardy actions was to commute your death sentence to exile. I expect that you wish this commuted further though what you could possibly offer in return for such a boon I cannot imagine" he paused and looked closer at the woman, his eyes narrowing

"Are you well, Lady Martell? I have a maester hereabouts if you have need of him"

[brigida]

Tristeza snorted as he spoke--she grabbed control of herself quickly, though, and shook her head apologetically. To his question, she responded, "I am...quite frightened," she answered, "though I cannot tell whether I am more frightened that you will deny my proposal, or that you will accept it," after a moment she took a deep calming breath, "I do not wish to commute my sentence, my Lord Regent--my life as a leader, as a noblewoman--as a citizen of the west, is over. I told you I wished to confess my crimes. That is my first order of business..."

She looked up for the first time, then, apparently determined to meet the man who was a symbol of the accusations against her directly, and without fear, though there was still tension which lingered obstinantly in her eyes.

"As to treason:" she began, "Rebellion against your King was an act of treason as it is termed by law--I could not deny that act if I wished to. To be true, I regret it, but I do maintain that the situation was more complicated than will ever be known...regardless, it was my decision, and I did make it--it is right that I am condemned on behalf of this act by your laws.

"As to the coup before the rebellion: It will be viewed as an act of treason as well, and legally, I have no doubt it was--you must understand, however, that I was to choose between a Kingdom to which I had never fostered any allegiance in my heart, and a husband who I loved. The choice was simple for me. I have never been accused of being an overly analytical woman. I have always lead with my heart first, and my mind second...In retrospect, it is obvious that this was my greatest shortcoming.

"As to Murder: I have not set steel to a man's flesh since I killed my own father at the age of sixteen," she shuddered here, "Crimes of war are crimes of a different sort, I am sure you know. I gave the order to resist--resistence was the murder of countless northern soldiers--and even more Dornish.

"Hate has flourished on my behalf concerning the poisoning at Sunspear--My Lord Regent...I poisoned my own wine, which was not to be drunk by any man who was not first a thief: a thief first of a city, then of a keep, and finally of the wine it housed.

"For other murders, I was framed--those of the Meera Greyjoy, and Halie Tyrell. Never would I harm a man, woman, or child, who had not crossed me purposefully first."

At the end of this speech, Tristeza was bemused, and sounded distant, and certainly dejected. Her tone throughout had been subdued, and matter of fact.

[wookie]

Benfry's lips curled in distaste when she admitted to killing her own father. He shook his head slightly, wondering how such a beautiful woman could harbour such evil secrets and actions. He sighed and replied "I too regret the Dornish war. My lords were eager to prove their loyalty once the coup was over and their eyes gleamed at the thought of the prizes and glory to be won on your soil, so they leapt at the chance - many more lords than I had anticipated. Only Lord Stark and an ancient Baratheon noblewoman advised against it. I will confess to wishing to punish you for your actions as well. Fear is not only your preserve Lady Martell. A thousand thoughts of doom and misery were my only companions in the Black cells and when Timm Vikary opened the cell door I fully expected his face to be the last I saw on this earth" his eyes flashed at the memory
"The shame of being forceably removed from my position, the guilt of being the only one of my brothers not to have given his life for the King and the desire for vengence against those who had acted so dishonourably all influenced me. I understand now why you acted as you did Lady Martell but when you chose to set yourself and your country against the King and against honour the tragedy could not be averted"

He took a breath and composed himself once more
"So if you do not wish to return to Westeros or wish any favours, why are we meeting? Is your need to explain yourself to me so strong?" he wondered in bemusement

"And who did murder the noble wives of those invaders if you did not?" he asked, already dreading that he knew the answer

[brigida]

"I know not, my Lord--it could have been any Dornish Lords who supported me: you must know that the decision to secede was unanimous amongst the nobility, and all who have changed their minds since have done just that. They willed the rebellion no less than I did--many of them willed it more, in fact. It could as easily have been any of my enemies--a declaration of independence from the King's Realm earned me many. I do not know for certain who it was, nor do I have a single worthy guess."

She hesitated for a long moment here, clearly nearing the cause for her perpetual discomfort: "I come to you to discuss Dorne--you have taken no action to dispell the feuding which plagues the lordly houses still, I notice. Have you any plan to ease their rivalries?"