The Gardens

[Jherek Doryn]

"More so." He slowed his lute down to a soft, romantic tone. "She was a goddess. Some people said that she was the Maiden herself. She was a high-born lady from a faraway land, and lived under the protection of the Free Cities. Her name was Esmerelda, and her eyes were as green as the gems she was named after. Her thick brown hair was said to be so lustrous that it glowed like burnished bronze in the sunlight. Her features appeared to be carved of the finest marble; smooth, serene, and sublime. She loved Thomas as intensely as he loved her, but their stations forbade them from such feelings."

[Princess Lyssandra Martell]

Aryanna was anxious to hear what happened, "Do go on, I only like to be kept in suspense for so long!"

[Jherek Doryn]

Jherek laughed. "Lady Dayne, it is my art."
He cleared his throat and delved back into the story.
"One day, Esmerelda was to go to one of the other countries in Westeros for a diplomatic meeting. She boarded a private vessel manned by her personal crew and left, discreetly blowing a kiss to Thomas at the docks. Later that day, Thomas' eyes grew dark, signaling a coming storm on the seas. Esmerelda unknowingly sailed right into it."

[Princess Lyssandra Martell]

"So Thomas sailed after her surely? Hopefully he could get to her in time to rescue her from the storm. I've been aboard ships and they are definately no fun."

[Jherek Doryn]

"Aye, that he did. He gave the orders to his crew to sail out, and they sailed towards the black stormclouds hanging over the ocean. Her heart called out like a beacon to him, a lighthouse in the storm. As he sailed to his love and great danger, he raised his voice in song..."
Jherek began playing a strong melody on his lute, and sang as Thomas had.

"I'm not going to stand
on the end of the pier.
I'm not going to let you go
down with the ship.
So raise up our anchor,
it's time to set sail.
I'm not going to let you go...
down."

He sang this chorus twice and went back into his story, his lute filling in the storm's background of lightning and rain.
"They rode into the storm, a mighty ship manned by a loyal crew. Thomas searched for Esmerelda's ship, his cause known to his men, until they had found it."

[Princess Lyssandra Martell]

Arya clapped her hands, "Wonderful! So they were able to get back safely, and live in true love?"

[Jherek Doryn]

Jherek's strumming intensified, staying melodic, but growing violent as well.
"Thomas crossed a gangplank in the roiling storm in order to evacuate the crew and his beloved safely. However, as soon as Esmerelda had crossed to his ship, the gangplank was shattered by an angry bolt of lightning, stranding Thomas alone on the weaker ship."

[Princess Lyssandra Martell]

"What?" Arya cried out, thinking the story had finished, "What happened then? That is a cruel thing for the Gods to do to a poor lover."

[Jherek Doryn]

"He gave one sad look to his lover through the rain and her tears, then screamed defiantly at the storm, 'You may kill me, but I will never die!'. He then manned the ship on his own, ordering his crew from the smaller weaker vessel, laughing at the storm, at the demon god that had severed his ties to his lover. His crew and Esmerelda made it out of the storm, back to the city from whence they came, but Thomas did not. Ever since then, his crew raised a glass to him every evening for his bravery, singing the song he did before they set sail, just as he did. Esmerelda posthumously knighted him, and lived on, but never had the same bright glimmer in her emerald-green eyes that she had before."

Jherek's story ended, as did his lute's music, and he hung his head in rememberance of Thomas Reid.

[Princess Lyssandra Martell]

Arya started crying and stood up, "Thank you for the tale but it is much too sad."

[Jherek Doryn]

Jherek stood to look her in the eye.
"I apologize, Lady Dayne. I could sing a more pleasant song for you if you wish."

[Princess Lyssandra Martell]

"No, it's alright, it was a good tale, but my mood was not fit for such a thing. I thank you for your time Master Doryn. I must go and grieve my friend."

[Jherek Doryn]

Jherek bowed to her.
"My condolences. And I will entertain you whenever you wish, Lady Arya. Simply tell me which kind of tale you wish to hear."

[Princess Lyssandra Martell]

"I will call upon you should I want a tale." She continued on with her walk.

[Jherek Doryn]

"Good day to you, Lady Dayne."
Jherek watched her leave, then dropped down back against the trunk of the tree he was originally at, and played his lute.
"Blast and confound it. I shouldn't have chosen the first story I thought of."