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Post by Ollie on Jul 11, 2008 14:59:27 GMT -5
With a light rap on the door, Olander reed announced his presence as he entered the chamber. "Milady Tyla," the slight crannogman said as he dipped his head politely, pushing the door behind him yet not letting it close entirely.
Olander canted his head to the side. "I trust I find you well?" he asked, gesturing to the eight-month bulge in her belly.
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Post by Ollie on Jul 12, 2008 5:06:57 GMT -5
"Hale, healthy, and expecting again," answered Olander, folding his arms across his chest and tugging at the wisps of hair on his chin. "The twins are delightful as well, though regretfully I was unable to bring them along to Wnterfell. With news from the south growing more dire by the day, I thought them safer in Greywater for the time being, however much loathe I was to part from little Olenna and Olivan."
Olander shifted slightly, resting a hand on the high back of an over-stuffed velvet-lined chair. "I pray that your own husband will show such devotion to his children; may Roose be as capabe a father as he is a lord."
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Post by Ollie on Jul 12, 2008 15:42:04 GMT -5
A thin, bemused smile etched itself upon Olander's lips. "But manage he did. Surely that must count for something? And, when your son is born, Lord Roose will somehow manage that as well."
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Post by Ollie on Jul 13, 2008 16:52:41 GMT -5
Olander hmm'd to himself, and took a step past Tyla to inspect the row of tomes on an old mahogany bookshelf. "A woman playing at a man's job? Was it Roose that explored your caves, or you his?" he asked, a few quick exhales of air through his nose signaling a soft chuckle.
"The Lords of the North will like it not, their young-pup heir raised in the care of a feckless, toothless wolf and his wildling wife in her husband's clothing," Olander said, and pulled a book from the shelf and flipped idly through a few dusty pages. "Mislike it they will," he affirmed.
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Post by Ollie on Jul 13, 2008 17:37:28 GMT -5
The crannogman closed the book, slid it back onto the shelf, and turned around to face Tyla. "I am here for the benefit of the North," he said after a time, wearing a shadow of a smirk.
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Post by Ollie on Jul 15, 2008 2:47:57 GMT -5
That elicited a sharp exhale of derision from the crannogman. "If Roose Stark cared one ounce for the North he should have done us all the favor of falling upon that greatsword of his when he was named Lord of House Stark," Olander said.
The thin smirk he wore faded, though the light, conversational tone in his voice remained. "We should count ourselves fortunate that he managed to wed and bed a wife before the Old Gods deemed it fit to claim him," he murmured, the smile returning unbidden at the memory of another conversation.
"It is a grievous sin to kill the last beast of its kind," the slender crannogman intoned, watching for what the Lady Stark's eyes would say that her lips would not.
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Post by The Stranger on Jul 15, 2008 13:05:44 GMT -5
"I am afraid Master Reed, that I do not understand your meaning."
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Post by Ollie on Jul 17, 2008 12:32:11 GMT -5
For a moment, it was as if Olander had not heard her. His gaze parted with her's, and fell on the House Stark coat of arms that rested above the hearth's mantle. The fire had smoldered low, but the glowing embers still cause the steel gleam of the swords crossed behind the direwolf emblazoned shied.
"In the eyes of the Old Gods, it is the rightful place for the direwolf to rule, and for the lesser beasts to serve him," he began slowly, his eyes still on the glowering reflection of the hearth. "Yet when we lesser beasts bow to a weak ruler, the weakness spreads into us. It is our place in our service to the direwolf to ensure that we are strong."
He turned his gaze back to her then, any intent or emotion vacant from his eyes, mossy green capturing the glint of the flame. "Is it not a mercy to put a weak beast out of its misery?" the crannogman asked.
"It is a grevious sin to kill the last beast of its kind," he repeated. "A grevious sin in the eyes of the Old Gods... But there is another direwolf. A pup that can be raised with strength needed to rule us." he affirmed to the Lady Stark, meeting her eyes with his own tepid gaze, the heavy swell of her belly between them.
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Post by The Stranger on Jul 17, 2008 12:37:58 GMT -5
"And who would you suggest raise him?" the woman said, her hands around her belly protectively.
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Post by Ollie on Jul 17, 2008 12:58:55 GMT -5
His soft voice carried an honest assurance. "Please, Milady Tyla, do not fear. His mother will be there to raise her little pup, but there must be another. One who has ruled a realm of the North before. A child of the blood of the First Men. A son of many Houses, a cousin to more. A friend, father, husband, and lover. A man trusted by the oldest family lines in the North. A man known to be just, to be rightly, and to honor the Old Gods. One trusted with the defense of our kingdom in the time of war, whose house has existed to defend the realm since the Dawn Age, a hero who wins back ancient holdings stolen from us."
"A man strong enough to serve the North," he said, "... to bring back all our strength."
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Post by The Stranger on Jul 17, 2008 13:20:37 GMT -5
Tyla stark snorted, "I will ask my father Lord Gariss, but I do not know that he will consent to the job."
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Post by Ollie on Jul 17, 2008 13:37:38 GMT -5
His eyes flickered.
"You know who I am speaking of, Tyla."
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Post by The Stranger on Jul 17, 2008 13:42:49 GMT -5
"I remembered you more humble Master Reed. Do not measure yourself against my lord husband, or you shall think yourself far above normal men. Still, as long as matters of the boy's raising, which were not... political, would be left to me, than I would have no reason to object if the Lords of the North want it so. Although the Northmen are proud men, with the blood of the First Men in their veins. No Lord wishes to be ruled by a man who is not one." She raised her eyebrow, and leaned back satisfied.
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Post by Ollie on Jul 17, 2008 14:29:23 GMT -5
"You know as well as the entire kingdom that I am a lord all in but name," he said, the normally even tone of his voice replaced by something cold. Lord Bennard Reed had been an ineffectual lord in his service, preferring to forgo the governance of his realm in favor of frequent sabbaticals to the Riverlands. Only once the Lord Reed had fallen ill, and the duty of ruling in his place fallen to Olander had the Neck been brought to rights.
"My lord father is gravely ill," the slight man continued. "It is a wonder that the greywater fever hasn't claimed him yet. I may not sign the title Lord before my name in a letter, milady, but I am a lord none the less. The Lords of the North aren't somuch vain as the rest of the Realm, to judge a man by his title over his merit."
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Post by The Stranger on Jul 17, 2008 14:47:20 GMT -5
"Really? Perhaps you and I don't know the same lords." Lady Tyla said. "But if they have no objection, far be it from a mere woman such as myself to do so."
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Hope you all are well and happy.