|
|
Post by Princess Ariel Targaryen on Jun 9, 2009 20:24:39 GMT -5
(OOC: Just making this to keep everything separate from all the number of conversations going on at once...)
Ariel visited the Queen's chambers immediately after Roxton's visit, and asked to be admitted.
|
|
|
|
Post by Marie on Jun 10, 2009 2:22:34 GMT -5
Ariel was shown in at once. Rhaenys felt lost, with all that had happened. She didnt' know who to trust. She wanted to believe Lord Marbrand innocent, and Ariel too, but she had to follow the proper channels. She greeted Ariel with a tired look.
"Cousin, how are you?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Princess Ariel Targaryen on Jun 10, 2009 2:25:52 GMT -5
Ariel sighed. "Tired, dear cousin. I've been running around for a week trying to catch your prodigal sister, and then she gets herself kidnapped the day before I find her. And now this mess with Tarly."
She raised an eyebrow. "I presume Roxton's told you what he was doing with the Heartsbane trick?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Marie on Jun 10, 2009 6:53:16 GMT -5
"I heard about it," Rhaenys answered guardedlly.
She wanted to trust Ariel now that there were so few people she could trust, but it wasn't wise to put too much trust in a former enemy, especially now. She'd give Ariel the benefit of the doubt as long as she could though.
"I did not think, of course, that you would be involved now that we have made peace, but the proper avenues had to be followed. I am sure someone meant to implicate you on account of past events, but who, I don't know. Lord Tarly's man Redwyne believes Marbrand to be responsible but I have my reservations. I don't suppose you have any idea about a likely suspect? Those wildlings must have had inside help."
|
|
|
|
Post by Princess Ariel Targaryen on Jun 10, 2009 7:38:42 GMT -5
Ariel blinked. "Your Grace, forgive me; I thought either Marbrand or Roxton had let you in on what was going on. Planting the sword wasn't meant to seriously implicate me." She looked at the Queen. "It was -meant- to spill mud in the waters and give Marbrand deniability among those who didn't have any experience in matters of intelligence. Frankly, the only logical explanation for a plant that clumsy would be to give you an excuse to get Marbrand off. Which means that if this wasn't a mummer's show for the men's benefit..."
She paused, sighed, then continued. "Horas Martell isn't strong enough right now to pull off anything this demanding. Musgood's agents wouldn't be able to pull this off at all. That leaves Marbrand. He has agents nearly as competent as mine, who might have been able to arrange a burial if he knew where our House would be encamped. And Marbrand is highly intelligent, with good agents, but he's rather new to the spying business. This kind of almost-competent but rather flawed move is just something he might try."
"Roxton's an outside possibility, but highly unlikely. If he were involved, either he'd have meant to finger me and relied on your inexperience in this kind of thing, in the hopes of eliminating me to some purpose...or he'd know that I would point a finger at Marbrand, which frankly is far more devious than I'd expect out of him."
|
|
|
|
Post by Marie on Jun 10, 2009 14:11:12 GMT -5
"If Marbrand expected to be implicated, I would have expected him to find a way to weasel out of even being suspected," Rhaenys argued. "And Roxton, well, he is loyal to Selwy, and I'd think better of him than to implicate anyone who did not deserve it."
|
|
|
|
Post by Princess Ariel Targaryen on Jun 10, 2009 17:30:15 GMT -5
Ariel shrugged. "I didn't say Marbrand did it, just that he's the only candidate that makes any sense."
|
|
|
|
Post by Marie on Jun 10, 2009 17:59:53 GMT -5
"Nothing makes sense any more," Rhaenys sighed. "There will have to be a trial, be it in court or trial by combat. But enough o this, I'm tired of the subject. It will be dealt with, I promise you, but now I'd rather speak of something else. How are you, apart from being implicated in Lord Tarly's murder?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Princess Ariel Targaryen on Jun 10, 2009 18:25:01 GMT -5
Ariel smiled gratefully. "Aside from matters of the Realm, I'm rather well." A tired grin showed that there wasn't much of that "aside." "Not as many chasing after my skirt, for which I suppose I should be grateful. And Shahrizai plans to hold a concert of sorts, which ought to lift everyone's spirits. How about yourself? Have you had time to rest and think of easier times?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Marie on Jun 11, 2009 1:24:26 GMT -5
"No, nor will I be in a position to rest for some time yet. Nor should I rest, when the realm bleeds. There are many matters requiring my attention, each more pressing than the last. It's most wearisome."
Rhaenys did indeed look extremely tired.
"However, I've decided to curtail all the begging requests from the lords. The war must come first, and right alongside it are the matters of Lord Tarly's murder and Kyma's kidnapping. Alongside those things, nothing else seems to matter very much. You may be sure I'll tell my lords as much, the next time one comes seeking favour."
|
|
|
|
Post by Princess Ariel Targaryen on Jun 11, 2009 1:27:11 GMT -5
Ariel grinned. "I suppose I'll table my own request for the treasure recently found under my encampment, then," she responded. She then looked at Rhaenys, eyes meeting eyes.
"Your Grace. My cousin. How can I help?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Marie on Jun 11, 2009 6:38:55 GMT -5
"That depends what military skils you have, if any," Rhaenys answered. "I don't know what to ask of you before I know what you're capable of."
|
|
|
|
Post by Princess Ariel Targaryen on Jun 11, 2009 6:44:04 GMT -5
Ariel shook her head. "The only military command was a few armed maids in the servant's passages of Storm's End, and that was in the middle of a crisis. My profession before the shakeup was as Mistress of Whisperers to Eustace Baratheon and later to Selwyn." She shrugged. "I don't know if I formally received the position, we were running on a rather ad hoc basis back then."
|
|
|
|
Post by Marie on Jun 11, 2009 7:05:55 GMT -5
"Oh. I have a Master of Whispers, at least until we resolve the matter with regard to Marbrand and Tarly."
Rhaenys sighed, gave Ariel an apologetic look.
"I'm sorry, but if Marbrand is removed from the Small Council on acount of Lord Tarly's death, I still can't make you Mistress of Whispers. Those who dislike my rule will think me a fool if I trust you with so high a rank. I want to trust you, Ariel, but I cannot place you on my Small Council. What else can you do?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Princess Ariel Targaryen on Jun 11, 2009 7:54:31 GMT -5
Ariel shrugged. "Honestly, I didn't expect the job, nor do I particularly need official recognition of the position. If you need something learned, or done under the table, I have people who can probably arrange it. Other than that?"
She considered. "There's not many tasks I can do. Leading an army, or wearing mail as a knight, are beyond me, and we both know that using me to get you a marriage alliance..." She chuckled ruefully. "Opens more kettles of fish than it would solve. The Others are gone, as far as we know, so my skill as a sorceress is not of much use, though if the greensight catches anything I can interpret I'll be sure to pass it on."
"Other than that, I'm not of much use, I fear, unless you need someone who knows where to find eggs for the stewpot, or maybe a trick to cure headaches." She gave a self-deprecating laugh.
|
|
Hope you all are well and happy.