Snakewood, 598 A.C

[whatever]

Seat of House Lynderly. Situated in the northern parts of the Vale.

[whatever]

Darien stood and looked down at the docks from his tower, wanting the workers down there to know that he was watching them. His wife and three daughters had been packed for two days now, and Darien was sure that they had packed his things as well, even though he really loathed to be leaving Snakewood at this time.

His brother had commanded him to travel to the King's Landing, both as a envoy for House Lynderly but his brother had also told Darien that he should go try and get his daughters bethroted since House Lynderly was beginning to get a bit crowded for his liking.

Darien muttered something when there was someone at the door.

"Enter" he said and turned to look who it was as the door opened.

[The Smith]

His daughter Delanne stood there, and smiled at her Father.

[whatever]

Darien stood quiet and looked his daughter over for a few minutes, before he turned back to look down at the docks.

"Are you prepared for showing yourself to the unwed noble sons in King's Landing, daughter?" Darien said without looking at her.

[The Smith]

Delanne sighed, and stepped up next to her father, "I am prepared, Father. It will be only duty though. The thought of letting these... men paw me is most unsettling."

[whatever]

"Duty is all that counts, daughter." his father said and continued to look out the window. "Remember that when they are touching you."

He turned and looked at his daughter, as the workers had finished loading the small ship that would take them to King's Landing.

"You look cold, daughter." he said and let his hand, with his hairless knuckles that never cracked, glided up her arm and along her shoulder. His fingers prodded the flesh of Delanne's neck, testing for warmth, blood pulse and swollen glands. "You are not getting sick are you, you've been sleeping underneath the bearskins like I told you?"

[The Smith]

Delanne shivered slightly at his touch, and replied, "I sleep warm enough, father. I am well." She took his hand, and lowered it away from her before releasing it. She licked her lips once, and studied the boat.

[whatever]

"I hope so, daughter. I don't want you to catch a cold on the journey over there, you know how your face puffs up and that would really destroy any of our chances to get you bethroted to anyone." Darien said and moved away from the window toward a shelf and retrieved a book from it.

"So are your sisters and mother ready to leave in a few hours? I hope that you remembered to pack my things the way I want it." he said and sat down in the chair to his desk.

[The Smith]

"They are ready, and cowering from you right beside their luggage." Delanne replied, "They do not want to fell your bite." She rubbed her cheek once in memory as she answed.

[whatever]

Darien looked up from his book, and glared at her.

"I told them that I don't like it when they play games, daughter. If I if I ask them something, I expect the truth from them. I don't like being decieved, you know that." he said and closed his book.

"Go and tell the servants to bring down the chests to the ships, and please tell them to hurry unless they want to be sent here before I leave."

[The Smith]

Delanne nodded, and offered a slight curtsy, "Of course Father. With all haste." Yet the indolent manner with which she turned and left the room, proved her words a lie.