Market Square

[nora]

"I'm doing quite well, thank you. My maid and I were attending to some business—I fear my wardrobe from the North is nowhere near sufficient for all the weddings of late." She blushed slightly when she spoke of weddings and let her gaze drop to Ser Zachary again for an instant. By the Seven, she would be glad when she could return to Winterfell and be done with being charming. Still, it was a fun change of pace, she had to admit.

"Will you be competing in the melee, Ser Zachary?" she asked. "I know you are reknowned for your archery skills, but surely you're handy with a sword as well." She'd heard the rumor that he wasn't, but she didn't know if she believed it. He was a knight, after all.

[excalibur1027]

"I assure you, my lady, you need not fear for your lack of wardrobe; you would look absolutely stunning in anything, I'd wager."

Sarane smiled, and for an instant, Zachary hadn't really realized what he'd said, until Steffen gave him the most incredulous look the worm was capable of. "Where the hell did that come from?" Zachary asked himself.

"Err..." Zachary reddened. "In any case, yes, I do intend on entering the melee, but you need not fear for me, my lady. You'll be glad to know that I'm quite handy with my sword."

Unblinking, Steffen raised an eyebrow, obviously trying his hardest to suppress a grin, but Sarane's smile only widened.

"Oh, umm..." Zachary stuttered. Seven hells, what's wrong with me? I can still salvage this! "Actually, what I meant to say was that I always hit my target."

Steffen just gapped in astonishment, shaking his head, but Sarane held onto her smile. It might have been as frozen as her eyes.

"Anyways!" Zachary practically yelled, turning to Steffen. "Beautiful weather today isn't it?"

[Axell Lannister]

Steffen could take it no longer. He burst out laughing, the expression on Zachary's face was too much. Turning to Sarane, he chuckled,

"milady, normally in such circumstances i would say my brother has been drinking, however I fear this time he is drunk on something else." He looked at Sarane thoughtfully.

"Tell me truthfully, mistress, and spare me lies, do you truly posess feelings for my brother? Considering your reputation, i would guess no, but you are most convincing i must admit."

[nora]

Sarane wasn't quite sure how to respond to Ser Zachary. She thought it would be inappropriate to laugh at him, but she certainly was on the inside. Her smile just remained on her face, and finally when she was able to trust herself not to burst out laughing she replied, "Then I fear for your targets indeed, Ser Zachary." She found herself thinking that he was rather endearing.

She turned to Ser Steffen and her warm smile was replaced with a frosty look. No one could blame her for not liking *all* the Lannisters. "Ser Steffen, surely you are referring to my reputation as a respected Lady of the North. And as such, I could not possibly be so forward as to answer that question." Her tone was ice; it was not hard to see how she had come by her byname.

[Axell Lannister]

Steffen grinned, even more widely. No my lady, he said to himself, i would question why a 26 year old women of such beauty would be unmarried, while possesing the title mistress Winter. I would then question why such a woman would be so pressing in her advances towards my gullible brother. But i suppose i dont want to put you off

"Milady, i beg your pardon. I spoke out of hand, all this talk of betrayal and spying, this bloody politics has put me in a more forward mood than i should be. Enjoy my brother," the worm departed swiftly, chuckling to himself.

[nora]

Sarane watched The Worm go, not sorry to see him leave. "I fear your brother is not fond of me," she told Ser Zachary.

That one is dangerous, slinking about in the shadows and robbing nobles. I'll keep my distance from him. Luckily, he seems to have taken all the bad in the family and left the good for Ser Zachary.

"The weather is beautiful," she agreed, smiling and hoping Ser Zachary would relax. She was afraid he might run away like a skittish colt.

[excalibur1027]

"Yes...yes it is." For a few moments the Stark woman only stared at him with those frozen eyes. On deeper inspection though, her smile seemed more warm and inviting than before. He tried to think of something to say to break the tension.

"Err... I apologize for my brother's words, my Lady. I'm afraid he's always been like that." It was strange; Zachary had never really paid much attention to Sarane before. In truth, he realized that this was the first time he had seen her up close in person. And now that he was talking to her, he could hardly keep his thoughts pieced together correctly.

"But, enough of my brother. How are you faring? Being so far from the North, I would expect that you must be quite homesick." It seemed like a good thing to say, though Zachary didn't really know what to think anymore.

[nora]

Sarane laid a hand on Ser Zachary's arm. "I'll not take his words to heart, then. Rest assured, Ser Zachary, that I have heard worse and not been scarred. Words mean nothing." Let's hope Ser Steffen only uses words.

"I miss the North," Sarane agreed with a sigh. Her eyes got a faraway look as she mused, "I think about how Winterfell is getting on without me, and how the sun looks shining in the godswood. I wonder whether little Anae found the litter of kittens she was hunting for and how Marten's riding lessons are going." She paused and laughed, her attention returning to the present. "The South has certainly thawed my tongue, or perhaps that is just you, Ser Zachary. I must be off lest I give my brother more reason to harry me."

Before she left, she drew out a handkerchief, lightly scented of cinnamon and stitched with a direwolf. She hesitated before holding it out to him. "This may help you handle your sword. In the melee." She smiled. "I'll watch for you."

[whitewolf]

Lord Syd watched his sister go and went to Ser Zachary. "A token from my sister? I'll graciously accept it from you once I've bested you in the melee," he said with a wicked smile and a wink.

[eytank49752]

As Ser Breyn Royce walked through the market square, preparing himself mentally for the coming melee, he spotted Ser Zachary Lannister and Lord Syd Stark conversing. Nodding at them as he passed, he called out "good luck in the coming battle."

[excalibur1027]

Stark's snide remark passed right over Zachary. He could only gape in silence as he watched Lady Sarane walk away. A smile spread across his face. He turned to Lord Stark.

"Best me in the melee, my lord? I don't think so. In fact, I haven't felt better in quite some time." Shouting a graceful good luck back to Ser Breyn Royce, he strode away. The scent of cinnamon had never smelled so good.

[whitewolf]

"Good day, Ser Breyn. That Lannister just received a token for the melee from mine own sister. One hundred gold dragons is yours if you can eliminate him within the first five combatants. You look as though you can wield that axe well."

[House Lefford]

Ser Rindwynd Tyrell Strolls through the market admiring the silk ribbons i must get a present for little Bella before i return to Highgarden seeing Lord Syd And Ser Breyn across he market he walks over "Good day to you my lords are you ready for the Melee."

[stahadis]

Gathor walked, favoring his bad, leg to Zachary, "good luck to you in the melee ser." he said offering his hand.

[eytank49752]

Ser Breyn replied to Lord Stark's inquiry, "Let some other knight defeat him. I have my eye on different prey."

Turning to Ser Rindwynd Tyrell, he responded "Is anyone ever really ready for the melee? The naked steel, the screaming, the thick dust kicked up, chaos personified. I look forward to it. And you ser, will you also fight in the melee?"