@lorczamartell
wandering around dragonstone with her interprator rosa spotted the martell princess for a distance. kindly, she asked the other woman to give her a few minutes alone before walking over towards where the martell was standing. “good day to you. i hope i have not interrupted you too much your grace. i had heard of your arrival and have not had the chance of meeting your acquaintance.” rosalyn said. “i am princess rosalyn arryn of the vale. it really is lovely to meet you.”
gareth-hightower:
the-write-ideas:
They’ll have to:
Rate on a scale of 1-10 how much they don’t want to answer that question.
Answer that question.
rosa | ophelia | cassana | harlon | theo | mellara | axell | ellie | cerissa
rodrikofwinter:
@rosaaaryn
the meal was quite good, though rodrik couldn’t really recall exactly what he was eating. his focus remained on the woman across from him, the one who was to be his wife — and the mother of his future children. he had not spent much time with rosalyn without one of their siblings present, though today the only other presence in the room was a servant who also doubled as chaperone ( flimsy though that argument might be ) for the duration of the meal.
rodrik set his goblet down as he signed to her, well aware that his signing was nowhere near as good as he might like it to be. he spoke as well, knowing that she might better read his lips than the motions that his unpracticed hands made. “what do you know of the northern customs? i am not certain what southron septas teach of the north.”
.
butterflies had fluttered around her stomach the entire day as she waited for the night to come. it was then she'd be able to spend dinner alone with her soon to be husband. the thought alone was strange and foreign to her. she always knew she'd get married to someone, but the thought of it being here now was hard to believe. she only knew a little about rodrik, but it was what he had shown her that was enough to win her over.
for the first time she felt like she was alone with him. she loved her siblings more than anything in the world but it felt a little freeing to be away from their watchful eyes. she knew they only wanted the best for her, but there were somethings she wanted to discover on her own.
the way his hands moved, although somewhat clumsily, through his signing brought a smile to her face. her hands matched in kind with her words, knowing it would be best to help him practice. "i know a little but i am sure there are many things i do not know. i know the northern people to be a proud and honorable people. i just hope i can prove myself worthy to them. i do not expect them to trust me right away. is there....things i should know?"
ravellaarryns:
kingarryn:
“they have absolutely no claim to the throne at all.” he hears rosa state, causing rowan to look downwards to the floor for a moment, knots forming in the pit of his stomach at her words. although none of his siblings knew or even suspected his lineage, rowan could sense of guilt and shame slowly start to wash over him. his cousins held a stronger claim to the arryn throne, his throne, than he himself. he felt the burden on his shoulders only grow heavier.
the threat needed to be taken seriously if house grafton were involved, as well as if even lesser lords or locals were whispering about such a coup as it must meant that their support was growing. rhys’ news made him immediately begin to question himself and his rule. rowan leaned forward in his chain, resting a hand on his leg. “can house grafton be persuaded or do your informants tell you that their allegiance is set?” he pauses for a moment, “what has led to this? was this my doing?” his mind started to wander.
@ravellaarryns
there was a claim for the gulltown arryns to make; though it were weak, and overextended at best considering the stark contrast between the older, prouder lineages of the noble houses of the vale compared to the richer, merchant families. as well as the fact there was no succession crisis in sight; for the mountain king had lived through the recent wars, and gods willing would continue to do so. the ambitions of their cousins was rooted in trade money, stemming from their close links across the narrow sea; a world away from the ideals and notions of the noble houses of the vale. at her elder brother’s question, she remained silent, her orbs fixed upon his features as though she wondered how he could even think such a thing, so soon after returning from defending their border?
“how could we have failed them?” she asked, her tone typically harsh; her world was one of black and white, of the arryns, of the vale … and everyone who was below them. “our people remain safe within our borders, whilst the people of other kingdoms have become destitute or at worst, buried or scattered ashes.” shaking her head slightly, the woman refused to acknowledge any fault; for how could it be? she understood her brother had his own approach, his own method of dealing with his men and his people, though at times she believed he needed reminding that he was the mountain king; there was a reason for such a placement. “do not question yourself brother; for then we question our very blood and all we know. this is treason; reasons be damned.”
@rosaaaryn
.
how could family think such a way about them? did they not see that if they prospered as a family the entire kingdom would prosper as well. if there was going to be a fight that broke out between them then everyone was going to suffer for it. rosa's feared that she would be away in the north and unable to help her family. but there was still time now to help if she could, as her move to the north was not this moment.
"i agree with what ravella says. there is no reason to doubt yourself rowan. you have helped to lead this entire kingdom into a time of peace and then helped protect our borders. we are growing as a country with new allies and protections and all of that has been done under your care. please do not doubt yourself." rosalyn said, signing with her words. "if grafton can be swayed than it would be worth reaching out to them. even if they might be leaning towards our cousins. if we can squash this before anyone else hears than that might be best.
@falcxnprince
it was clear the wedding party was going to go deep into the night. it seemed like everyone was ready for a night of drinking and partying before what was going to lie ahead of them. and while rosalyn had enjoyed her time of merriment with everyone else, she was also happy to sneak away for a bit. holding onto the arm of her now husband the two of them walked the halls of the castle. butterflies filling her stomach once more as they walked alone together. no more need of a chaperon to keep a watchful eye on the couple. they were married which afforded them a little more privacy, which was both relieving but also caused the butterflies to flutter in her stomach. "did you have a nice time?" the now queen asked as they walked together. "i know it was more of a southern wedding but i hope you still enjoyed yourself."
@rodrikofwinter
@caetargaryen
over the years rosalyn had gotten to know the targaryen family. even though the targaryen heir lived with rosa for years now, she’d always kept up a friendship with caerella. though the war made it so it could only happen through letters. still she felt a keen sense of friendship there. when she spotted her in the halls of dragonstone she gave a wide smile. “i believe i have lost your brother. i was supposed to give him something and now i cannot find him for the life of me. you haven’t seen him by chance?”
❝How much have you had to drink?❞
“i....believe only two glasses...wait maybe more.” rosalyn giggled as she placed down her now empty cup. she was not used to drinking this much but it was a celebration for many reasons. “oh no.” she hiccuped. “can you tell?”
wintervsuns:
.
it was with a heavy heart the sun of winter approached the fiery haired lady of the eyrie he now called his queen; for she was now the queen of winter itself, the massive continent that was the wild north. the man had been one of the few to make no noise when it was announced the bride would not be one of the north; it was important for them to make connections further south, and if he were being honest, the vale was hardly the westerlands in regards to the likes of those calling it home. his grey orbs had been ones of acceptance from the moment the woman had a silver crown placed upon red curls; being the first to tell rosalyn how those with red locks were believed to be kissed by fire and lucky in the north. and yet, considering the events of the night that had passed, the man approached his queen with an uncharacteristically sombre expression.
“your majesty.” he spoke, lowering himself in an appropriate bow before raising himself to his full stature, dressed in his usual attire of black furs. he brought his grey orbs to scan over her porcelain features, filled more with guilt rather than the usual mirth or warmness that was within them. the man had already taken the knee before his king, and asked for forgiveness; and whilst his distant kin had assured him there was no forgiveness required, there was another that had been at risk that night. another two; the thought caused his stomach to drop somewhat. the man took to his knee, stood before the queen of winter with his orbs upon the wooden floorboards beneath their feet; in his disturbance regarding the truth of what had occured to the dragon king, in his rush of ensuring sarra was safe within the crowds, in his rush of attempting to steady the guards, he had forsaken her - and she had nearly paid for it with something, regardless of what the lion king’s intentions truly were.
“i ask for your forgiveness, for my inability to carry out my duties that night.” he would not speak of specifics, not in knowing how on edge the entire northern court already was in regards to the prophecy of the heir being born on a blood moon. “know that i consider you not only my queen, but my kin - it will not happen again.”
.
the sudden ask for forgiveness had surprised rosa. there were not many lords who were willing to admit they might have made a mistake, or come seeking forgiveness for it. brandon was a true gentleman, an example of what a lord should really be. “lord brandon, rise please.” the queen of the north told the loyal lord. he was someone who had continued to make her feel wanted within the north and helped her to adjust to the new ways of her kingdom. the time had been short but already she could feel herself growing in the strength of her new kingdom. and her husband and her new family had a hand in helping with that.
“like you have said, i consider you kin now and forgiveness has already been given to you in my heart. i am safe, my child is safe. right now, i wish for your focus to be on locating your sister. worry does not need to be spared on my behalf.” there was danger where brandon was going, beyond the normal threats of the harsh, cold wilderness. there was no room for unneeded distractions.
“in fact i have something i wish for you to see.” she said motioning him over towards the pile of work she had been going over. a large map of the north sprawled across the desk, with small notes and drawings of hers written all over it. “i am no fighting, nor a rider. not that i could travel even if i wished in my state. but what i can do is this.” she said pulling out the other documents. “i have been going through records of old taxes and statement collections. i am sure there are dozens of old building scattered around the north no one knows about. but one of them might be listed here. i’ve noted places where i believe there are locations that arent on the map. maybe it’s a fools errand…i don’t know but maybe it could be of some help.”
wyattgrafton:
who: @rosaaaryn
where: white harbor, godswood in the wolf’s den
heavy feet hit the pavement made clumsy by fatigue. an effort had been made in the first weeks of his stay in the city to familiarize himself with whatever culture and entertainment white harbor had to offer but somehow his troubles followed him everywhere, plaguing his thought and even alcohol in excess did nothing to drive them away. he’d even visited the famed godswood in the wolf’s den but in his troubled state even spirituality was no fit remedy. the gods in all their magnanimity and wiseness had been no match for all the questions he had. questions only he could answer. and yet in the grand scheme of things the pride of one wyatt grafton nor the fate of house grafton weren’t of great importance. not in light of recent developments. not when westeros was facing more threats than ever before. still how was he meant to fill the role his king had entrusted him with when he was so aimless, so lost as to where to even begin to rebuild both himself and his house.
and so here he was on his knees, hands joined in prayer, searching for the words. there had been prayers on the kingfisher, only far less solemn ones. the men in his employ would often make some up to gods he’d never even heard of, gods he suspected were for a good half at least partly invented. he hadn’t prayed for much over the years. when he was a child he had made a habit of praying for strength and courage. two qualities his father insisted he lacked. and when the strength and the courage he found all on his own proved to be no match for his father fury, he’d stopped praying. there was no use in sending wishes up to the heavens, hoping against all hope that one day he’d be what waleran grafton expected of him or even more grotesque a wish that he would be himself and that would be enough. the gods couldn’t change him any more than they could transform his father. so he’d ran and turned his back on the gods and now here he was, hands shaking and joined and praying anyway. standing up and dusting snow off of his dark coat he made to leave but stopped in his haste as he heard distant footsteps, reflexively looking for a place to hide but finding to his dismay that he was exposed for all eyes to see, with nowhere to hide. catching a flash of red hair he immediately bowed his head in reverence. whether they belonged to a tully or an arryn he was no doubt in the presence of royalty. the face that came into his view still managed to surprise him though and he stuttered an incredulous “Your Grace. What a surprise! Should I leave? I wouldn’t want to intrude between you and them.” He let out, looking up at the sky with his finger pointed to the clouds, with a wink.
.
it had only been a month since everyone had arrived up in her new kingdom. just a few weeks and yet it felt like they had been living through all of this for a year now. each new arrival of news ready to seed the next roots of worry and paranoia within all of them. what else could happen next? the question itself had struck fear into so many of their hearts. and now all of them needed to move somewhere safer. somewhere they could be together and still keep their distance. the close quarters halls of new castle felt like a chessboard to maneuver through. part of her was almost thankful to leave.
however there was something she wished to do before she left.
heavily guard, rosalyn stark walked through the streets of white harbor towards where daemon targaryen had met his final moments. she had wished she did not see what had become of him. she wished she could keep the memories of him in the vale instead. all of them so young then, so unaware of everything to come their way.
the guards around her, stayed close as they neared the weirwood tree. not only were they protecting their queen but the child she was carrying. now five months along in her journey, there was no hiding her stomach. clutched in her hand was a beautiful bunch of winter flowers. walking into the garden that held the tree she paused when she noticed another man there. her heart beat raced until she realized who it was. an unusual relationship the two of them found themselves in. "please lord grafton, no need to hurry away on my account. i only came to leave these behind." she said motioning towards the flowers. "i hear from my family that the vale is leaving soon for barrowtown? are you joining them?"