The Floating Sound Of Laughter And Giggling Filled The Hallways Near The Arryn Princess' Room. Inside

t r u t h  s e r u m

rosa | ophelia | morra | cassana | harlon | theo | mellara | axell | ellie

R A V E L L A    A R R Y N

“no, she felt a literal sense of belonging over the place and the people in it; as though she could reach her hand out and it would cast a shadow over the entire realm. everything beneath that shadow, all the souls that came under such a cloud, would be under her control; her judgement, her mercy - the king remained the king, and yet, the woman had grown hungry for power. ”

penned by salma

@ravellaarryns

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?"

location: the vale’s buildings, day after the attack

@ravellaarryns @falcxnking​

time had stopped when the news of the attack reached her.

there had been such joy with her sister’s return so recently. so many plans she wished to make with all her siblings. hoping to get to spend time with them all after being away for so long. for most of her life they had been her whole world, the one thing she cared about more than anything else. them and their happiness. and now they were all together again.

and then in a moment, it was gone.

the news of her brother’s death had reached the young queen as quickly as it could. at first she could not believe it, knowing it had to be wrong. not her brother, no way could he gone like that. then a deeper worry sunk in worrying for ravella and rhys and if they were alright or had they been taken too? would she have to burry all of them at once? be the lone falcon still atop a mountain of sorrow she would never wish on anyone?

but the gods were kind and kept her two other siblings safe.

her husband had come with her, as she saw for the first time the body of her brother. he had held his wife up as she barely kept it together seeing what had happened to him. but after some time he had left to give her some space and allow her time alone with her siblings.

alone she sat waiting for ravella and rhys to join her. asleep next to her was her baby, still too small to be away from her for long. but thankfully he seemed as if he would sleep through most of this. rosa’s fingers fiddled with the black fabric of her dress, trying not to let her mind wander to what her siblings must have gone through that night. her eyes closed for a brief moment as she uttered a prayer to herself, “please gods, watch over them. keep them safe.”

letter sent to @ravellaarryns after a few weeks after fighting breaks out

dear sister,

i have missed you terribly since my visit back home to the eyire. it warmed my heart to see you once again and i hope i will be able to visit you again soon. please give my love to graham as well, it was wonderful to see him and i am so happy for the two of you. i know i said it about a dozen times when i saw you in person but i know in my heart you will be an amazing queen. i am so proud of you.

there is some slight unfortunate news upon returning back to the north. it seems not even us could escape the trouble in the iron islands. some of the escaped men have found their way into our woods and have joined forces with the thenns. theon and the others have left to deal with the issue. 

however with bad news come some good news. a week after theon left to fight i discovered i may be with child. the midwives here have confirmed it and they believe it may be more than one. but it is still too early to tell for sure. i have yet to tell my husband yet as i am afraid it may be a distraction while he is fighting. but i am in good hands and being well protected and taken care of. i wanted you to know as quickly as i could tell you.

i love you so much. and eddie says the same.

your loving sister,

rosa

starkwhitewolf​:

torrhen paced the halls, wincing with every cry of pain his wife made as his good friends tried to comfort him. he was eternally grateful for rhydian and brandon in that moment. despite tradition or formalities, he was desperate to be with rosa, but he knew his presence was best outside, surely there were better hands and minds within the room, one more would only distract from focus and he wanted everyone’s attention on his wife and child. suddenly, as if by magic, a babe’s cry filled the halls of winterfell, and torrhen’s heart. he waited what seemed like hours, but finally a midwife gave the welcome, and he walked faster than he had in his life.

the king of winter entered with a bright smile and went to lay beside his wife, admiring the little babe in her arms. gods he was so small. smaller than he ever imagined. it had been long since he had seen a baby, perhaps even since his own younger brothers and sisters had been born. he remembered hearing mothers’ laboring echoing in the halls, their first cries. he had been worried then, of course, although not quite understanding the severity of the situation. with his own wife, however, it was the equivalent of torture. had he been able to take aware a fraction of her pain, taken on a bit of the risk she had to, he would.

yet they were here, frozen in time, in this moment. he would recall this for the rest of his life. “he’s perfect, rosa.” he whispered, pressing a kiss to her temple, reaching a gentle finger to stroke the little one’s cheek. “i did not imagine a baby to be as peaceful as he.” he jested with a soft chuckle, ice blue orbs turning to his queen. “i know some might think of this as duty, but you have given me the world, i am eternally grateful to you.”

.

after everything they had gone through together, he was here. all the worry and doubt of what was going to happen. cursed words thrown at her by pirates and threats. but their son was here and not born under a blood moon but a perfectly clear night sky. suddenly in a moment all that worry and stress and fear was gone as she held him in her arms. he was safe now in her arms. she knew she would never let anything bad happen to him and torrhen would never let anything happen to any of them.

what a blessing it was to have them both here with her now.

“he is absolutely perfect.” she smiled, getting to see the look on torrhen’s face as he saw his son for the first time. the king of the north and the future king swadded in her arms.

torrhen said she had given him the world but rosa knew in her heart that she would have given anything to him in that moment. anything he could ask for. “and you have given me the world too, a new world in my arms. a new home, a new life. i could never thank you enough for everything you have given me. i love you more than i can put into words this moment.”

despite still being sore, she adjusted herself up in the bed, holding out their son for torrhen to take. “you should hold him.” she said.

A E G O N    T A R G A R Y E N

“the fire had been put out, ten years had passed in a flash, and aegon was only ‘home’ for a few days, before he was to sail back to braavos. ”

penned by L

@facelesstargaryen

BETROTHAL ANNOUNCEMENT:

the king of the vale has graciously permitted the king of winter to take his dear sister princess rosalyn arryn’s hand in marriage. 

@rosaaaryn + @rodrikofwinter

rodrikofwinter​:

a private meal with his betrothed was a luxury in the vale that rodrik would not enjoy so often in the north. as the lord of winterfell and now king of winter, he often took his meal in the great hall with his men, as his father had before him. there was something to be said about a meal in private, where his singular focus could remain on the woman who was soon to become his wife.

the smile upon rosa’s face brought one to his own, a more genuine smile than the wolf of winterfell often showed in the south. “we are often quite insular at times,” he told her, his head inclining. “our gods are different, our way of life. we are simpler; i do not take much joy in gold or jewels as you might be accustomed to here.” he took a sip from his ale. “when we are in the north, i will assign someone to instruct you in our customs.”

fingers moved to cut the meat that was on the plate in front of him. “i know that i am not the warmest of men, rosa,” he spoke candidly, wishing for her to know his thoughts. “but i will do all in my power to make you happy. as my queen, you will be elevated above most. and as my wife,” here he paused before exhaling. “as my wife, i will be faithful and belong to you alone.”

.

it had only been a handful of times that rosa had seen the king of winter smile since she had met him at dragonstone. although it was rare, it was kind. it felt genuine each time he gave one, not a forced pleasantry like so many other nobles painted on their faces. she felt quite special to get to see it more and more as the days drew closer to their wedding.

rosalyn knew moving to the north would mean a big change in customs that she had been used to. and there was no denying that she was nervous but it felt almost exciting as well. a simpler life was by no means a worse life or anything to snub her nose at. she  often found solace in the quiet moments of the castle, she was sure she would find the same at winterfell. "someone to help me would be great help, thank you. that last thing i want to do is offend anyone."

taking a small sip of her drink, she could feel her cheeks burn the slightest color of pink, despite her efforts. "rodrik," rosa started. "you have been nothing but kind to me from the moment i have met you. you have been learning how to sign for me when no one said that you must. i find that to be very warm." she told him. there was a pause, a slight hesitation at her next words. as she was unsure if they were right or not. "i want for you to be happy as well. i...i hope i could also help to make you happy."

rodrikofwinter​:

@rosaaaryn​

though many in the north would consider him to be jovial, a man who will share a drink and a laugh with his men, in the south rodrik has long been thought of as the dark wolf, a man who has made decisions others would often revile. his expression was solemn in the south, made even more so by the dour walls of dragonstone. the harsh neutrality of the grey bricks juxtaposed against the sea so turbulent the water was little more than droplets and cresting waves that crashed against the shore, both reminded him of home and made him wish that he was still in the north.

his crown, hammered bronze with spikes of black iron, was heavy on his head, though he did not wear it outside of his official duties.

( his bearing, his countenance, the way he spoke so confidently made it clear, rodrik thought, that he was the king of winter. anything more was an ostentatious showing he did not believe in )

rodrik had sparred in the training yard with a couple of his men and as he walked back into dragonstone itself, he kept from wiping beads of sweat percolating on his forehead. as he neared the hallway toward his chambers, however, he saw a familiar face though it was not one he knew well. the arryn princess his father had wanted him to wed stood just ahead and though negotiations between the families had not begun again, he felt it impolite to simply ignore her.

“good afternoon,” he said, the small talk sounding strange even to his own ears. “it has certainly been some time since we’ve last met.”

.

the days at dragonstone were coming to an end. and honestly, rosa was thankful for that fact. after everything that happened on this island, the arryn princess was ready to make her way back home. when they were first leaving to come to dragonstone rosa was overjoyed at the thought of getting to leave the vale for awhile. all throughout the war she had been stuck in the vale and honestly mostly in the eyrie to keep her safe. so getting travel somewhere was exciting for her. but now she wondered why she had left the vale at all.

but rosa couldn't let these thing bring her down. to break her. no she needed to stay strong for herself and for her family. so despite how much anxiety it might bring her she decided to go for a nice walk today. her guards following behind her to at least bring some comfort.

"king rodrik." surprise laced in her melodic voice. rosa had seen the other king during the time on the island but had never a real chance to speak with him. plus with the rumored talked of their father's arrangement she thought it might be inappropriate for her to reach out to him without knowing where people stood. but now with the two of them in the hall together there was no leaving a perfectly polite conversation. "it certainly has been a long time and much has changed. is your family well? i haven't had much of a chance to speak with either of your sisters here yet." she smiled. "and you! i hope you have been good as well with all the new pressures of kinghood."