The Hand's Solar at Runestone

[Tristeza]

"And how specifically would you have me cooperate, Lord Valrus?" she asked, her voice steely, unamused.

[Deleted]

"You may be Regent of Deepwood Motte, if, and only if, you allow the young Ravinder to foster with me." He brushed a wispy strand of moustache from his mouth.

"I worry overmuch about his state of faith, especially considering the recent death of his parents. Children are very open to outside influences in such a vulnerable state."

[Tristeza]

"That is very true," Nieve answered, eyes hard. "I would miss him."

[Deleted]

"Please, Lady Nieve, do not bore hardened eyes into me, I have handled the upbringing of four daughters and the angry missives of my late wife, I can catch anger in the very breaths you take."

He was relaxed, fatherly in his admission.

"Try to understand that I am not doing this out of dull whim or fancy. I do not intend to turn your brother against you, but I feel it is my responsibility to protect this realm as best I can. Raising a leader to think tactfully and pragmatically is in the North's best interest. Please look at it from my perspective." His smile was genuinely warm.

[Tristeza]

"From your perspective, Lord Valrus, it is an entirely reasonable request. It is, indeed, both tactful and pragmatic. I do not expect you to turn Ravinder against me, so to speak. I worry only that he will forget the place from whence he has come. Admittedly, my Lord, I am not a religious woman, and I hope you will take that admission in confidence, but I find a deep sadness in myself when I contemplate the deterioration of the Old ways in the North. These ways have brought peace of mind and heart to my people, and my family for ages. To think of a day when my descendants will not walk in the Godswood on a troubled day to ease whatever distress their lives have brought them...it unsettles me."

[Deleted]

"Lady Nieve, what is your knowledge concerning the Pact on the Isle of Faces?" Valrus asked, twisting a corner of his moustache.

[Tristeza]

"I have heard the term in history lessons, but my knowledge is limited."

[Deleted]

"The First Men did not always worship the Old Gods. Thousands of years ago, the First Men worshiped a different pantheon when they crossed the Broken Arm of Dorne, before it was broken, of course." He smiled disarmingly.

"But they made war on the Children of the Forest, who worshiped those now referred to as the Old Gods. The First Men would burn their weirwoods because they believed that the Children could use them to spy on them." He tapped his fingers on the table rhythmlessly, as he spoke.

"Then, the wisemen of both races decided that something needed to be done to solve the enmity. So they created the Pact at the Isle of Faces. The Pact gave the forests to the Children, and the mountains, high plains, meadows and bogs to the First Men. This created a several thousand year friendship between the two, and eventually, the First Men took on the Children's gods as their own."

"You see, customs change, and men progress to encompass more healthy qualities from their surroundings. The First Men chose to pick up the Old Gods, they did not always follow them. And so men change, and must take up the mantle of civility. The Seven will save."

[Tristeza]

"Not doubt customs change," Nieve granted, "and I would not condemn another for believing differently than I. My mother followed the Seven, and the cousins with whom I fostered at Seaguard did as well. But most of those at Deepwood Motte do not, and I would not forcibly steal away their way of life. I think perhaps you see yourself as saving those who otherwise would not have seen the light of the Seven. But you cannot force a man to believe any differently than what he does, and if he does not truly believe then he cannot truly be saved, so really, do you think this crusade will triumph?" she asked compassionately, as though presenting a perspective which might have been lost on him before.

[Deleted]

"You will not persuade otherwise, Lady Nieve, though your attempt is valiant. I stated my case. Will you accept the terms?"

[Tristeza]

"I will consider them, most certainly," she answered, "You will allow me a day to think on it, won't you?" she asked, hopeful.

[Deleted]

"I will." Valrus said.

"How long do you expect to be in Runestone?"

[Tristeza]

"That will most certainly depend upon the outcome of my decision," she answered with a withering smile, clearly burdened by the coming choice to be made. "Perhaps longer, should I agree to your condition."

[Deleted]

"I will look after you, have no fears to that. You may take Sojen's room. I daresay that he has no need of it while he is off on his errand."

[Tristeza]

"You are most gracious, Lord Valrus. I much appreciate your hospitality," Nieve answered, distractedly.