The Royce Masquerade Ball

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"Are you Ser Vance Hargyng, the Knight of Diamonds?" Aranya continued curiously. "Lord Tommen Redfort? Ser Jonas Waxley?"

When the dance ended she thanked him and stood aside while he asked another lady to dance. She would keep an eye to find out who he was at the feast. She would keep an eye on everyone.

Aranya resumed prowling through the crowds.

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Finally, Aranya took a chair at the side of the dance floor and stretched her legs out as she leaned back. She surveyed the guests, her eyes probing through each mask.

[The Smith]

Lord Liston Hogg enters wearing a pig mask and pinkish robes over his portly form. He smiles at the Queen's low cut gown until he feels the King's eyes on him and then turns aways and sits against the wall. Watching the dancers.

[Victarion]

Jorah Lannister entered the ball dressed as the infamous Kingslayer. He had restablished a fort near the walls of the city, and with the pay they had received for fighting in the North they would be able to live off that for a while.

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Aranya looked at Lord Hogg suspiciously, but then relaxed back into her chair and continued watching. Then she glanced at him again, and then once more returned her gaze to the dance floor.

She smiled a little when she saw that one man had come as Ser Jaime Lannister.

[The Smith]

Elena Plumm breaks away from Rhodri after her dance and walks over to Aranya, siting next to her Elena, smiling warmly and flushed from the dance. Elena speaks to Lady Royce, "I do not believe we have ever had the pleasure. I am Elena Plumm."

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Aranya turned her eyes away from the man dressed as Ser Jaime to look at the other Lannister.

"I think you are one of Lord Baldwin's daughters, aren't you?" Aranya smiled politely. "I am glad you could come for our ball." Then she paused. Was this the girl who had married Jayson Plumm? Aranya was uncertain; she knew little of what had happened in Westeros during her exile.

[The Smith]

Adjusting her red hair Elena smiles at Aranya, "Yes I am Lord Baldwin's daughter." She smiles inwardly, "That happens so rarely now. I used to hate it when people thought of me as an extension of him. But it happens more and more rarely as time goes by. I like hearing his name now and do not care that it means his fame will follow me to the end of my days."

"And I am delighted to come to your ball. Some one need to escort both Lady Bettley's after all." Her smile did not waver and was warm and welcoming, "I should thank you for throwing such a wonderful ball. We all need to move beyond the war. It is a time for happiness and healing."

[Teirney Lannister]

Aerie saw a man dressed as Jaime Lannister, and a twinge of sorrow and regret lanced through her veins. She was being so incredibly stupid about this, but still….She had never recovered from that sudden feeling of loss, and it flared up within her without warning at the most inopportune moments.

[Deleted]

"I've been trying to decide which Lady Bettley is prettier," Aranya said lightly. "The one in blue is a tempting creature, I must say. And don't thank me for the ball. It was my idea, but Auntie Lilith took the trouble of making the arrangements. If she had left it to me, you'd all be dining on bears and I would have forgotten to call the musicians."

Elena Plumm was surprisingly friendly. Aranya allowed herself to relax a little; she had been too high-strung tonight. But what did ladies talk about? "Nice costume," Aranya said, a little awkwardly.

[The Smith]

Elena looked down at her Dragonknight costume and then turned her eyes to Aranya, "Thank you. I picked it out as soon as Piers told me his idea. I thought it would be perfect to escort him in."

She smiled and turned her head looking up and down Aranya's custume, "Black Ears. You must be very familar with that garb being from the vale. I also remember hearing that you had some ties to the wild men of the mountains. You have the air of fierceness as well as the look."

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"You make a very gallant Prince Aemon - Piers should have been Queen Naerys. He would have done it well."

Aranya smiled at Elena's words, but it was a smile tinged with sadness. She fingered her ear necklace, and the belt from which her rough-hewn wildling axe hung. "I've been among the mountain clans since I was twelve or thirteen, and I think I've always been more comfortable living like them than any other way. Sel - my husband...he liked it too. We used to go off on our own little rangings and excursions from when we were thirteen." Aranya smiled at the memory.

[Deleted]

A man steps forward to ask Aerie to dance. He wears a white mask, and his surcoat bears a white dragon with red eyes breathing red flame on a black field - the sigil of Bloodraven.

[The Smith]

"Thirteen, when I was thirteen I was not allowed anywhere with out a septa, three hand maidens, and four guards. My father was a catious man." Elena smiles at the memory before continuing, "You knew your husband since you were thirteen? How lucky of you. When Jayson died, I wish we had spent more time together. It is my second biggest regret about his passing." She reaches out pats Aranya's leg gently.

[Teirney Lannister]

Aerie looked at him detachedly and deigned to don a smile that fluttered to the surface of her subdued pool of emotion. She accepted on account of keeping up appearances and allowed him to sweep her to the floor. She admired his costume in comparison to her own morbid garb.