Falcxnprince​:

rodrikofwinter​:​

—.

he disliked being out of winterfell, if he was being frank, but rodrik was thankful that he was still in the north. he had so little desire to travel south again, though he knew eventually such a thing would occur. the king of winter had been preoccupied with trade routes and plans for the north, so much of his free time was spent poring over letters and documents when he would rather be enjoying the brisk air of white harbor.

he heard his wife before he saw her and his lips twitched as a kiss was pressed to the back of his head. “trade routes, mainly,” he remarked carefully, his fingers moving to sign for her. “while i’m allowing some lands to pass through unhindered, i do not want to give them the ability to enter the entirety of the north.” his voice was brusque for a moment before he turned and pressed a soft kiss of his own to rosalyn’s temple.

her question was a welcome one and his lips twitched. “you could, perhaps, convince me to take a break.”

.

with each day that passed rodrik’s signing had gotten better and better. while rosa was used to being in a world with those who knew no sign language at all, it felt comfortable to know her husband was there with her. and one day when their children grew up they would learn as well. it was times like this that she felt included in what was happening, instead of having to watch from the sidelines. “i think that is smart. we don’t want everyone to think they are able to come in without us knowing.”

right on cue, rosalyn reached out to take rodrik’s hands within her and to try to pull him away from his desk. “come on a walk with me then. you have been behind that desk all day long and the sun is about to set. and i believe the sunset is going to be beautiful. and maybe i am wrong but i do not believe you have eaten either.” she noted. “i think the trade routes can wait a little longer.”

Eleanor Tomlinson for Schon! Magazine (2021) ♥

edricxstark​:

Who: @rosaaaryn​  Where: Barrowtown “Rosa, do you have a moment?” Edric had few people that he trusted with his true inner thoughts. His sister in law was one of those few- well rather, two people. “I… Well I could actually use some advice. And from someone who isn’t going to answer with political agendas in mind.” He knew he could trust her to speak truth to him.

.

glancing up from the small needlepoint she was working on, the new queen of the north gave a smile to her good brother. “of course i do. although my needlepoint is very important but i believe it can wait.” she said placing the embroidery hoop down on the table next to her. she gave a signal for edric to come sit next to her by the fire. she had hardly moved from the spot all day as the winter storm still continued to rage outside. 

with everything that had happened recently she had agreed with torrhen it was best for her to stay within the stark’s buildings unless it was completely necessary. thought she did find it nice getting to spend more time with her brothers and sisters in law. it did seem like something was troubling edric however and it was not just the words he said. his demeanor did not seem exactly like him. “what’s going on? i am always here to listen.”

△ do you think your husband really would have chosen you as a bride over your sister, or was his hand forced?

△ - 3

“i do not deny my sister is beautiful and smart and talented. but i know my sister and i know my husband very well. i know they would have very likely torn each other apart if they were married. i not believe they would have chosen each other.” rosa leaned back in her seat, looking towards her son. a smile crossed the stark queen’s face. “my husband and i both agreed to the match. he did choose me.”

@ravellaarryns

location: white harbor, the north

it had not been that long since she had seen her family last, only a few months. but to her it felt like forever. over the past ten years of the war she barely had ever left the vale, for safety sake. and during that time she had her family by her side. and most of that time was spent with her sister as their brothers left to fight in their own ways. 

first arriving in the north she felt lost without having them by her side. rodrik was there for her, along with the other stark siblings but it took some time to adjust. and even still there were times she doubted herself and her place in the north.

 rosa had asked that the moment word came that the party from the vale had arrived that she be notified. her heart fluttered every time someone walked down the halls, expecting news to arrive. the moment the fresh-faced maid stuck her head into the room to give her the news, rosa had tossed her book aside and hurried out the door.

 "your majesty, please be careful!" her maid called after her. all of the staff were more cautious around her the past few weeks now that her stomach had begun to swell. the bump just barely visible under the dark navy dress she wore and the large cloak to keep her warm.

 racing down the white stone halls of new castle, she turned the corner into the main entrance. there she could spot the familiar raven-colored hair of her sister. "ravella!" she called out over the crowd, a smile on the young queen's face. she felt giddy, like a child once more as she bounded her way across the hall towards her. she gave little care to who else was there or watching as she threw her arms around her sister. "you made it here safe. i am so happy to see you."

@ravellaarryns

edricxstark​:

Who: @rosaaaryn​​ Where: Barrowtown

“Rose? I wanted to come check on you after all that happened. Those Lannisters are lunatics.” Edric entered the room and draped a blanket over his sister in law’s shoulders. “If I had the chance I would have run him through.” He hated how it seemed more and more like he couldn’t just ignore the problems surrounding them all. “How are you? And the baby?” 

.

he chaos that happened that night was still so fresh within her mind. in a moment after things had settled enough she was whisked away back to her room by her guards and lady maids. all of them overly concerned at how she faired. would the lannister king have hurt her? surely if he wanted to he simply would have but…he didn’t. his concerns lay with his family. could she blame him for that? for wanting to keep his brother and sister safe? still the cold feeling of his sword on her neck was not one she would forget soon.

she only had a moment alone before her brother in law came to check up on her. pulling the blanket closer around her she nodded to his question. “i am okay… thank you.” she told him. “the baby is fine, kicking up a storm but not harmed in any way.” her mind wandered back to the lannisters, to gwen being threatened. to the news that everyone now knew. they were family now in a weird twisted way. “they aren’t lunatics…the lannisters. everything was just, chaotic. that’s all.”

.

in the shadows of war the eyrie had stood tall and stoic during the dance, its craggy peaks a fortress against the fighting. yet, for rosa, it had been a haven, shielding her from the grim realities of what war brought to many people. now, the landscape had shifted. no longer hidden  seclusion of her mountainous refuge, she stood amidst the chos, a queen bearing witness to the all of it.

the weight of responsibility pressed upon her but one she would not cast aside. she was a queen, entrusted with lives to safeguard, their hopes and fears mirrored in her gaze. no longer could she shy away, for she had owen's trust and right now that was more important than anything.

amidst the whirlwind of activity, she moved with a grace born of purpose. conversations flowed like a river, each word a bridge to understanding thechallenges that confronted her realm. the influx of refugees into winterfell, demanded her attention. yet, she navigated this sea of concerns with the steady helm of a leader.

her exchanges with some of the elder lords had concluded just as xia-li's voice resonated through the air along with the promise of a moment's rest with her lady in waiting. "of course," rosa affirmed, placing a gentle hand on the ladies shoulder to lead them to a more private area. in xia-li, she found not only a confidante but a vital advisor. her ladies in waiting  were more than attendants; they were the pillars of her inner court. her friends, her adviors her confidons. 

"thank you," she responded, her hands signing along to her words as she spoke. "i will plan to meet with them soon. there will be much to discuss. you're welcome to accompany me later. your insights on the arrivals from fir hold are invaluable. i trust in your judgment."

𖥸 starter for @rosaaaryn, set in winterfell during relief efforts 𖥸

shes been here before. the sense of urgency, anxiety, and uncertainty that comes with times of war. xia-li was much younger when the dance began. a wide-eyed adolescent, who knew nothing of the threats loomimg in darkened skies. she'd lived her life in a rose-colored bubble for so long that when conflict struck the north, she could hardly make sense of the chaos that had ensued. shouldnt she be more prepared now that shes a woman grown? she's been here before. so why does she feel as shaken as she did then?

time to dwell on personal afflictions is few and far between for the lady of fir hold. there are refugees to tend to, people whose own fears far outweighed the ones that keep her hands in a subtle shake and a queen that depends on her help to comfort them. "your grace, a word if i may?" the ladys request is rushed, but she still feels relief in rosalyns presence. a particular picture had been painted for her of what a lady-in-waiting should be, one burned into her memory by parents and siblings alike. she was fully prepared to put on the same facade that she was forced to adorn when in the presence of her peers. that was until the discovery that her queen preferred who she truly was to the mask she'd broken and pieced back together so many times that it was nearly unrecognizable. she feels like herself in winterfell, she feels at home.

"your audience is requested to address the influx of refugees arriving. most of them have been placed and fed, but his graces men need guidance with their rationing."

Lucrezia Borgias rose dress in The Borgias 1x03

standing up from her seat, the queen moved to the spot next to her husband and reached out to take his hand. a gentle touch but one to let him know she was there, to help calm him as she could see the tension building within him. even if she could just help to take away some of the stress from him she would. she wished to take all of it from him.

"it seemed that she did not know. i am sorry i had to bring you this news so early in the morning. but i knew you'd find it just as important as i did." she frowned. "i think the criers may be needed. at least in the lands we cannot fully trust their petty lords."

she squeezed his hand as she spoke, understanding his worry. a feeling growing up in the vale she was very accusumed to. "no i do not think they disobey you. i have seen the way your lords look to you. they respect you as a man and a king. i do not think many disobey you. especially after you lead them to a victory in battle with you by their side. they would foolish to do so. this petty lord is foolish to think no one would find out about this."

rosaaaryn​:

there was no doubt in rosalyn’s mind that her husband wouldn’t take this seriously. when they had discussed the new laws of the north they had done so together. she never felt pushed aside or made to feel less than. the laws of the north were an effort for both the king and the queen. after all it was both of their duties to look after the people within their kingdom. men and women alike. “i can get you her name and the husbands name. i don’t think she knew of the law that was passed, she seemed surprised that i mentioned it. the sister did not seem to know either. i doubt she wanted to sleep with the lord before her own husband.” she said, recounting the look of shock on her face when rosalyn had mentioned about the banning of the practice “from what she knew there was at least five wives that had to follow this rule. and those are just the ones she knew about. gods only know how many there actually is.”

rosa hated the thought of what these poor women had to go through because of one narcissistic man. did that mean there were other laws that were not known? most of these people could not read themselves. how else were they supposed to find out about these laws if their lord did not tell them “perhaps we need to find a way to ensure these new laws are reaching everyone. i don’t want to think about what other laws this man might have not told his people…”

o.

“She didn't know? I expressed that it should be announced and now this petty lord must be stripped of lands and titles. Lest he makes me look a fool among my own people and courts. What sort of King cannot handle his own people?” 

And he didn't show much of his anger to her but there is a tension in his shoulders and it's obvious what choice he will make. It was time for examples to be made and when a King stepped in to punish petty lords it bruised the egos of their ruling Lords. It showed a lack of trust from the King to his Lords, a lack of trust the didn’t have when he denied their lords the title of Duke.

“We must send out criers as were used in the old days. The smallfolk can't read. They must know what their lords and knights don't tell them.” Owen felt a brief worry creep into his shoulders, “Do you think they disobey me far and wide?”

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