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Post by Princess Lyssandra Martell on Jun 4, 2009 21:32:05 GMT -5
A rugged tent that has been battered over the course of the harshest winter. It still stands sturdy and has tested time itself. Also has a cool sigil of a ship and a siren holding a rose on it.
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Post by Princess Lyssandra Martell on Jun 4, 2009 21:35:26 GMT -5
The mistress Shahrizai sits with her hand in a bowl of olives as she awaits her Princess guest. The escapades of Ariel had intrigued her.
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Post by Princess Ariel Targaryen on Jun 4, 2009 22:08:45 GMT -5
Ariel walked into the tent, moving in front of Shahrizai with the smile that seems perpetually etched upon her face these days.
"Hail, Shahrizai," she said, once more opening conversation in High Valyrian.
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Post by Princess Lyssandra Martell on Jun 4, 2009 22:17:59 GMT -5
"Greetings princess Ariel, please sit." She waved her hand to some pillows and other cushions lying about on the ground. She was happy to be availed of using a translator again. "I am glad that you are in so high of spirits." She herself slunk back down onto a large cushion and lounged with her arm atop a small chest. Shah ordered her servant to pour some drinks. "I have once again heard extravagant tales about you."
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Post by Princess Ariel Targaryen on Jun 4, 2009 22:20:24 GMT -5
Ariel smiled and planted herself on the cushion in front of Shahrizai, then took the wine glass that was offered to her. "No doubt true in broad strokes and entirely exaggerated in the particulars," she responded, with a wink. "But yes. Even though it was great fun messing with the Queen, all things must come to an end."
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Post by Princess Lyssandra Martell on Jun 4, 2009 22:25:15 GMT -5
"And so, how did she take you back after what you have done in the name of fun? I was quite worried the fracture would destroy the army, and inevitably, my family's investment. Though looking back, it is amusing in a dark sense, with all respects to those that lost their lives. But I suspect that to be the fault of thuggery and men using their phallus' in place of their so called brains. Would you tell me of your escape also? Forgive my inquisition, I do not have many people to talk to, and I would only lie if I did not dabble in the odd gossip."
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Post by Princess Ariel Targaryen on Jun 4, 2009 22:39:18 GMT -5
Ariel grew a bit more serious. "That fracture was exactly why I came back to rejoin Rhaenys. If her men kept thrashing around like blind fools, many of those who follow Her Grace would cast down her banner in disgust and march home. In a sense, I succeeded too well, too fast, in undermining her power, without building my own strength to replace her. And since I came back and ended her problem for now, Rhaenys proved grateful. She means to grant me a lordship in my own right, answering directly to her and not any Lord Paramount." She shrugged. "The survival of the Realm had to come above my own ambition, and Rhaenys was still the stronger in force."
"As for my escape? As far as any man or woman is concerned, I was never in the wildlings' camp to begin with, and that certainly makes a better story 'round the campfire." She smiled widely. "I'd like to keep that as the official version, but in reality I melted away when the brawl started, while all the big strong Reachmen were swinging their long, sharp implements around. The Wildlings were too ornery to listen to Tarly's foolery, and the victory was theirs...thanks to Aegon's incompetence as much as Tarly's. The battle showed the truth about this army...that it's held together by inertia and a mutual enemy, and besides me, no one wanting to rock the boat."
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Post by Princess Lyssandra Martell on Jun 4, 2009 22:46:07 GMT -5
"I see that you are quite clever. For intents and purposes I will sing about how you turned into a ghost that night, and were an ethereal being, it will help better with the legend of this all. And as you have told, many could surmise, though perhaps I was the only one to mention the fact to the Queen, but I? I am just a humble trader who does not like to concern myself in politics, and thus, why would anyone want to heed my advisement?" Shah pops an olive in her mouth and tastes the salty explosion with satisfaction. Then takes a sip of wine. "But she did send her strong arm man...Maekar to talk to me, of what I do not know what she intended since he started on about soliciting my expertise of the bedroom."
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Post by Princess Ariel Targaryen on Jun 4, 2009 22:55:15 GMT -5
Ariel broke into a laugh at Shahrizai's comment. "Men. If you can count on anything, you can count on the bedroom always being somewhere in their thoughts." Her smile turned slighter, more mischievous. "Most of us women too, of course, however men might like to think."
She then shook her head. "And your self-deprecation never fooled me, Shahrizai. You are far more astute in such matters, and more committed to our victory, than any of the great lords will give you credit for."
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Post by Princess Lyssandra Martell on Jun 4, 2009 23:03:56 GMT -5
Shah gave a small chuckle. "My selfishness and greed drive my loyalty I suppose. Though I am partly in love with the idea of a grand quest to overthrow evil and unearthly creatures of the dead. Though I thank you for the sentiment."
She tilted her head upwards and gazed over Ariel, "Oh yes as for the other matter, it is safe to say any woman can feel the most beautiful in the midst of sex starved army of men. My maid is tired of hearing how her smile brings the tidings of a long summer and that her laugh is a sure sign of a bountiful harvest. I however, must retain my mysticism, though they may see me as a foreign whore already."
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Post by Princess Ariel Targaryen on Jun 4, 2009 23:12:23 GMT -5
Ariel shook her head in disgust. "Oh yes. Every man who came to me in the healers' tents was so immensely grateful for my aid, without which he would have surely perished, and wished to show his undying appreciation over the span of one night. Some of them might even have been interesting at some point, had they not been such complete fools about it."
She stretched a bit, then grinned. "And there's no dishonor whatever in being a pillow girl, Shahrizai, at least in my eyes. The best are as intelligent and wise as they are beautiful. Though I understand that the sons of the Andals throw around the word as if it were a curse."
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Post by Princess Lyssandra Martell on Jun 4, 2009 23:20:45 GMT -5
Shah shrugs, "I sold my virtue for more than many of those lords would make over many years. But, my culture is different than that of Westeros, and I will not blame them for how they look upon me. From what I have seen the system is quite the same only in that the men sell their daughters and sister for alliances and for politics with no profit going to the woman, though their just rewards is bearing children. Which, I suppose, is honourable. Ah yes, has the Queen matched you with a comely knight yet? I have heard that her sister ran off because she was annoyed with the prospect of wedding that sweet Lannister knight."
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Post by Princess Ariel Targaryen on Jun 4, 2009 23:36:07 GMT -5
Ariel snorted at the last question. "If her Grace tries to order me into a marriage for her own ends, I'll probably tell her to do something rather improbable with her dragon. Unlike her sisters, I am no one's property to trade on the block, but a free woman who will be named a ruling lady in her own name. I will probably need to marry, but it will be for my own political advantage, or else simply to ensure I have legitimate children. And if not that, for love, though for that I would more likely choose a paramour than a husband." She sighed. "But yes. Most daughters of lords are mere property until they are traded for allies, and after that they become slaves to their husbands." She shrugged. "Though should they survive childbirths until their husbands die in warfare, a widow can be a woman of considerable power, as the Queen Anya became after the death of King Callen. Dorne is somewhat kinder, but only that an heiress will rule in her own right and not under her husband's mantle."
"As to the Lannister knight, I believe it is merely that Kyma never ended her childhood. She is headstrong and somewhat romantic, wishing to marry a man for love instead of at Her Grace's command. Though I imagine she could just as easily have told Rhaenys no, knowing the weakness of the Queen."
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Post by Princess Lyssandra Martell on Jun 4, 2009 23:44:01 GMT -5
"And likely deemed a traitor for not following her grace's wishes." She takes a sip of wine while smiling. Has she spoken of any lands in particular? I will be sure to buy some land from the crown nearby if only for the novelty of it. I am surprised though that most think the war so ver that marriages and rewards are the main talking points instead of strategies to overthrow a firmly held kingdom by the dead cult, whom we know almost nothing about even thouhg we have faced them for so many years."
She sighed as she set the cup down on the very low table. "It cannot be helped though, we all do deserve a slight reprieve from the endless marching and fighting, and the men do deserve some form of pleasure. Oh I don't know." Shah shrugged and adjusted her dress.
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Post by Princess Ariel Targaryen on Jun 4, 2009 23:51:59 GMT -5
Ariel cackled. "Neither myself nor Aegon has fallen under the shadow of treason yet, and a marriage cannot, in law, be enforced upon man or woman. Though in point of fact it has been known to happen, and the Dragon Kings can be a law unto themselves, I doubt very much that Rhaenys has the steel of Aegon the Conqueror or the madness of Maegor the Cruel. Neither Kyma nor I will be dragged to the altar at swordpoint, before or after we overthrow the cultists."
She stretched out. "Oh yes, though. Men and women alike could use reprieve, rest, and pleasure, though for some of us there may be precious little of them to come."
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Hope you all are well and happy.