Zahra’s Laughter, Lighter Now, Danced In The Cool Evening Air, Blending With The Soft Rustling Of Leaves

ADITI RAO HYDARI in FITOOR (2016)

ADITI RAO HYDARI in Hey Sinamika (2022)

TRUTH SERUM: It's time to make the 8! What one person would you bed from all the different regions of Westeros?

the dancer rose a brow at the inquiry, but shrugged. “well, for the north, certainly i would choose xia-li, again. the vale? i suppose percival templeton is the only one i really know, so him. definitely no stormlander.” she made a face. “for the westerlands, i found nicholas lannister charming, in an air-headed way. i think he’d be fun.” a finger tapped upon her chin. “ah, for the crownlands, well, i’ve no real interest in any of them, but the youngest velaryion lady is quite pretty. the riverlands, i think the frey lord, and for the reach, the hand is quite handsome, don’t recall his name, however. lastly, for dorne, well, i think i would choose lord yronwood.”

misunderstanding was certainly one way to put it. zahra was not quite sure if she would use the same word, but she understood there was little other way to describe what had occurred without being entirely gruesome. the dancer of salt shore had experienced many different stages of life, with various emotions to associate with them, but she had never felt such a weight of sorrow and anger as she did now. it was almost smothering and she greatly disliked it. she had no idea the impact that rashid had had on her until it was too late, far too late.

and now there was to be justice, but if the other party would not honor their customs, what could be done? would dorne war with the volantene in order to find the answers they sought? zahra, truthfully, hadn't a clue what the next steps were, she hardly knew what occurred when things went right, and it were very clear that things were going very, very wrong.

and so, she made herself smaller, hopefully unnoticed, unable to keep from glancing to a woman in particular in the room. ophelia's presence was welcome, if to give her something to keep her mind off of what was happening around them, even briefly. "i'm just tired." she admitted, and that were certainly part of the truth, for she did not sleep well these days. and suddenly she wondered if the lady before her might be able to help in that matter, at least. "actually, do you have any remedies for such a thing?" she inquired. "a hot chai only does so much good, surprisingly.

hues looked around them, perhaps hoping that she would look up and suddenly everything would be back to normal again. but it were not so easy. "i'm afraid of what it will take to reach an understanding." she admitted, as debates between both parties seemed to become passionate.

.

there was a tension in the air of the dornish court. all of them were tip toeing around their new guests and the new announcement given. all of them were already on edge after a loss of someone so important. a man who wanted peace, who wanted to bring the court together and make the lives of everyone better. it seemed more than cruel to have him taken from them so soon. 

now justice wasnt even being given but a swift execution. that would help no one. none of them would be any closer to finding out what happened if it went this way.

ophelia weaved in an out of the crowds unsure of where to go or whom to speak with. she flittered between her guardian, armaan, and other trusted people at the court. she felt uneased by what was happening and like most she was not her normal cheerfu and talkative self

she glanced over to see who had bumped into her when she saw zahara. “no apologies needed.” she said, offering her a small but kind smile. “i too am feeling very uneasy about this whole thing. it seemed they do not want to have any room for discussion at all on this.” she said glancing around the room. “but i have faith we will find a way to come to an agreement or a way through this…misunderstanding.” ophelia said trying to keep on the lighter side of things. trying to keep her thoughts positive.

“forgive me for asking if this is out of line but, are you alright?” she asked her, her voice low as they walked towards the edge of the crowd. “a habit from the sand sages, to survey everyone. i couldn’t help but notice you seem…distracted? or at least a little worried about something more than what is happening.”

the dancer of salt shore had spun about the room, chatting with other guests of the evening and dancing to practically every tune that had been played this evening. she was making her way back across the room when a familiar voice beckoned her to sit with them. turning to see devani toland, a grin crept upon her face. in truth, it mattered not where most nobles came from, whatever squabbles were between them were not necessarily under her radar. figure slid into the chair across from the woman and plucked a golden goblet from a passing tray to partake in drinking dornish red. from the flush of the woman's cheeks, she had already indulged in plenty that evening.

zahra did not enjoy being within the walls of the red keep, almost suffocating in which it was flooded with tresses of silver any which way one would look. she would not really pretend to be entirely alright, either. the death of the qamar of the tor had wounded her more than she allowed herself to process at this point. this night in particular felt heavier, though perhaps it were the full moon that shone brightly in the night sky. regardless, believed she simply needed to get through this visit, and when they were back in dorne she would float around aimlessly, for a while.

"something good?" she snorted, a hearty laughter escaping her, almost to the point of hysterics. "well, if you can avoid the valyrians," zahra leaned in, attempting to be quieter in those words, but failing entirely. "some of these nobles are actually alright." she shrugged, taking a long sip of her goblet now. "i even played a game of cards with a couple of lords, pompous as they were."

@dancingshores

"come and sit with me." there was an air of finality to devani's voice as she beckoned the other woman over. it wasn't her way to watch the room, to weigh up her options before engaging in conversation - once her attention was caught, devi acted upon it. "have a drink. nothing dampens the spirits more than drinking alone, no?" she gestured to a jug of dornish red she had commandeered.

she missed essos. dorne had not been her home for so long that she hardly even considered herself dornish anymore. she was a child of the sun and the sea, at home wherever she found herself. her blood ran hot, her passions hotter, and she followed every whim as it rose within her. those whims were telling her to flee once more, to go back to the life she had when she abandoned her homeland the first time.

and yet, here she remained.

she allowed a brief moment to settle, to drink, before launching back into conversation. "i've been away from dorne for too long. if i'd have known things were this bad, i'd have stayed longer." she laughed, the sound edged in something a little bitter. "tell me something good. i'm not sure my little heart can bear much more doom and gloom."

the melodic sound of anklets jingling echoed quietly within the great halls of sunspear, a place that she had found herself wandering in and out of in more recent months as she had become a teacher to the very heir of dorne herself, an achievement she would've only imagined acquiring years ago. while the dancer of salt shore had many privileges in her life, for a bastard, zahra had worked tirelessly to secure her own name and her own way in this life. it was, perhaps, the most important thing to her, was her fierce sense of independence and self-reliance.

her mind wandered now, knowing that, while her perseverance had been crucial, it had been her time spent in the tor that had seen her greatest period of growth in her skill - not in just dancing. she found herself now quietly humming the tune that had played during practice, her feet practically floating upon the very floor itself as a hand moved to the beat of the music that played only in her own head. she had a way of immersing herself so much in the dance and music, that the world around her seemed to fade away. though singing and acting had consumed much of her time as well while she was in the tor, it was always dancing that had held her greatest interest.

as dark hues looked at the pattern the suns rays made upon the floor now as it illuminated through the many grand windows that were lined together, she felt a sense of bittersweetness come over her. how that time in her life probably halted her wandering feet for the longest she had stayed in one place in quite a while, and perhaps it only pushed her to further fly away before she ever settled anywhere. there was no anger, but peace as her mind settled back down on the thoughts of her time there. her time with him.

her thoughts seemed to will the image of rashid jordayne to appear now, and though she thought she imagined him entirely, he was there, just some paces away from her. she hadn't even noticed him at first, or perhaps she did and didn't realize it until now. the ever-expressive face of zahra sand did not hide what lurked within her mind, and right now it was surprise. surprise that he was there, despite the fact he had ever reason to be. her feet paused now. paused. in times past they would fly towards the man before her, but now they halted all together.

the shock wore off after a few beats of silence and her features stilled entirely, he had clearly noticed her, too. what was one to say to fill the years lost between two souls? there was no animosity between them, only a connection lost after they parted ways. certainly there were times where they were in the same vicinity, but yet worlds away.

a warm smile naturally crept on her lips now, for zahra was never one to sit in silence for very long. "rashid." she said, for she could not think of any other greeting that would suit the situation as of now. she wanted to ask him many questions, but she wouldn't. she didn't need to. she opened her mouth again to speak, but the words did not come as quickly as she expected, leaving a woman who was always found loudly conversing or laughing within a group, unusually silent.

a few more beats passed before she finally thought of one thing to say. "i....heard of your marriage to the princess loreza, congratulations." there was a genuine tone in her words, for zahra knew what rashid had yearned for, or one of the many things, and certainly the princess would make a fine ruling lady of the tor.

who: @dancingshores when and where: following zahra sand's audience with the princess myriam of house allyrion, rashid jordayne comes across a memory in the hallways of sunspear.

it was not often rashid qamar of house jordayne thought of midnight: it was not often the man was even awake to see midnight, if not attending formal events within the great domed mirrored halls of sunspear's fortress, and it was not often the man thought of the moon he had been named after. there was once a time in his life where he and midnight were old friends, companions even; as though the middle of the night was the middle of the day, for that was when the sun seemed the most like she shined. it was not often rashid qamar of house jordayne thought of rain; those ancient ancestors before them learning to survive with what little of it there was, and that still meant he was unable to deny the beauty of the first rain of the harvest.

rare as it was, and yet, most things that truly mattered in life were incredibly rare, were they not?

the transition into lordship was one he had undertaken some years ago, following the slow and painful death of a father that deserved so much better than the end that was given to him. visiting him day after day to see his immobile condition only worsen was enough to stir and swirl what peace the man seemed to hold within his own chest, locked up under secret lock and key; his transition to lordship came with carrying the heavy burden of grief, as the transition does to all who take the mantle. it had taken him time to understand how to grieve for someone who continued to live. and live, and live, and live, as she had always done; swirling skirts and the sounds of laughter ringing from atop a stage, or the time her ankle twisted and he found himself needing to carry her on his own back.

it made him realise there was no grieving for what could have been; only acceptance. for the what if remained very much alive.

it was that same acceptance he knew all too well as he walked the halls of sunspear following a conversation with the soon to be future ruling prince, if rumours were correct, considering the movements he would make as a lord. he thought of how he wanted to be remembered, knowing the genuine weight of his actions: he was not a man who spoke for the sake of speaking. he was not a man who did not consider all options deeply, before settling. but he was a man who followed through on his word: it could bloom, or it could rip away what there could never be. that same feeling of acceptance seemed to slowly wash over him as he looked up within bustling halls, filled with such a stark variety of colours: and yet still, his eyes immediately fell to her.

her face remained the same. her walk remained the same. there was a time where it was he that was too much the same, and now he felt as though he were changing; only to look upon her and see she truly was just the same. as though she remained entirely where they had left one another, a part of him almost went to look at her ankle to wonder whether she were able to walk on it properly now. there were no words that came out of his mouth, though he felt a slight exhale come out of him; so subtle it was hard to notice. once he held his breath when he saw her, and felt a thudding deep within his heart - and now? now he exhaled.

it was relief he felt in her presence. what words were there that could even be echoed within such a time, when it had been years and somehow felt like it had not all at the very same time?

he said nothing. he didn't need to.

it was only a matter of time before the winds had brought the kite that was zahra sand within the realm of armaan yronwood, who was perhaps the swirling storm that cast her his own way. it would be a lie to state she had no control over her own movements and desires. she found herself within these chambers because she wanted to be, aside from the invitation to join him this evening. long had her own hues looked towards the lord with lust and curiosity, but matters that were of a more personal nature seemed to put a wall between the two of them. there was a line at one point that neither would cross, and as she stood in this very room, she was grateful the lord had restrained himself then.

zahra's dark, enigmatic eyes held a glint of amusement as she accepted the goblet from him, the rich aroma of dornish red swirling in the air between them. the coy smile remained, revealing a playfulness that belied the complexities of the unspoken history they shared. lips found themselves upon the rim of the drink, savoring the taste of the liquid from within. "i was beginning to tire of arbor red myself." she stated nonchalantly, placing the goblet back down on the table between them.

brows rose at his statement, a hint of mischief within her demeanor now as body seemed to shift around the room, head swiveling and eyes wandering about as if to take in the chambers that were given to him for their stay. a hand went to his skirts, lightly bunching the golden silk fabric between her fingers as she absent-mindedly shuffled it between steps.

it was as if it were a game of cat and mouse, now, the way she moved about, increasing and decreasing the proximity between them, occasionally pausing to observe some object or picture. his question, admittedly, caught her off guard, and body stilled momentarily as she thought of what he was referring to. it only took her a moment to recall the occasion, and a laugh escaped her as her head shook. "i did." she answered.

she slipped back to the original spot in which she had taken the goblet from him. "it was far easier to pretend to not know you than to admit otherwise." the words were simple, but revealing of what really lay within her mind. he had caught her eye during her time in yronwood, in the fleeting moments passing one another by, the silent glances each one cast. perhaps if another moment had placed the two of them in a room as they were in now, she would've given into her desires far sooner.

"i played along, but why did you pretend you did not know me to begin with?" zahra questioned now, head tilting slightly to the side, genuine curiosity mixed with frivolous nature coming over her features.

his hair remained wet from his bath when the guards announced her presence, entering into his main audience chambers which was empty if not for the sight of the girl from sea shore. and yet still, he held his shirt in his hand as he walked into the side chamber, slipping it over himself.

the woman who was more like a free kite within the sky, tangled within the clouds and beyond the scopes of roots, was unable to be cornered by anybody: there was no way to capture, to keep her within the confines of a room, as much as she spoke of them. his pure attraction to zahra sand had run with a spark as it had done for years, when she were gracing the halls of yronwood with jingling anklets under the guidance and doting devotion of a father she had truly wrapped around her finger.

that attraction had run red hot and guilty, even when she were in the company of a man he would consider one of his closest friends. perhaps it was for that reason the bloodroyal only looked upon the spirited kite of salt shore within the bustling marketplace of the tor so many years ago.

looked, and pretended as though he were unable to recall who of lord gargalen's daughters he had been speaking to: and nonetheless, in the very back of his mind, there remained the memory of lingering looks over shoulders as she walked away, or comments in passing conversation where words seemed illicitly laced with more than they truly meant. there was a time where the force of gravity that seemed to pull between the pair was one that would have been guilty in essence, and it had taken much of his will power to curb his inherently selfish, reckless side.

and so, the thoughts that passed like the thundering of rains when he were in her presence were always just that. thoughts. "almost." he uttered, noting how somehow, the pair of them had ended up in the reach of all places. was their court not rumoured to be as scandalous as it was full with those who prayed for repentance? "i'll show you how you say my name."

it had been years since his cataclysmic, dark gaze had fallen upon her own: and yet, when there had been a circle surrounding the sound of dancing anklets, he had already known what he would stumble across. and so it continued, that cycle they found themselves in: lingering looks, flirtation, and that magnetic pull. it was not gentle. it was not soft. it was rough, and it were on flames. he wanted to unwrap her, push those golden skirts that she so happily showed up further up her thighs.

he wanted to unwrap her shawl from around her blouse, and run his hands up and down the curves of her body. she had come, had she not?

there was dornish red in two goblets that awaited them as a coy smile slipped over her features, and he silently noted the way in which her dimples appeared when she smiled. they looked the same. he wordlessly passed the goblet of wine into her hands, closing the physical distance between them; he brought it to his own lips first, as though to prove nothing had been done to the substance within the silver goblets. "you knew i recognised you then, didn't you?" he asked. referring to the time where they crossed paths again, this time when she were a ward of the tor.

and he knew. somehow, in the thick of the tension that should have existed. he knew there was guilt in the air; it were obvious there had been something between herself and the lord jordayne. and yet, it felt as though there was something impulsive and reckless about her too: the kite, unable to stop herself from becoming unrooted. "why did you play along?"

ADITI RAO HYDARI in Sufiyum Sujatayum (2020) dir. Shanavas Naranipuzha

@xialigreenleaf

Their friendship was as intense as it was sudden. They found relief in each other’s personality.

Toni Morrison, from ‘Sula’

me: *points to space* !!!!!!

friend: ????

me: *points to space more violently* !!!!!!!!!