Mereyagrafton​:

C H A R A C T E R  I N S P I R A T I O N S 

 task 001

ella  - cinderella

“Have courage and be kind”

yvanie -stardust

“But to see the way that mankind loves. I mean, you can search the furthest reaches of the universe and never find anything more beautiful. So, yes, I know that love is unconditional.”

location: the stark lodgings, barrowtown

the wind outside rattled the windows around them, the storm still not ceasing to stop. she had never seen anything like this before in her life. she wondered if those from the north had heard of a storm lasting this long before. maybe that is why sleep was so illusive to her that night. she had tossed and turned for hours before giving up. pulling a dressing gown over herself she wandered down the hall to a small common area that connected all the various stark’s rooms. one of the guards on the nightshift kept a watchful eye over her queen as she took a seat by the fireplace, in front of a dragonchess board. 

she had spent nearly an hour slowly playing a game against herself when she heard the sound of another door opening. craning her neck to see, she was surprised it was another stark away “adam?” she called over to him in a hushed voice, not wanting to wake the others. “could you not sleep either?” she laughed. “i feel like i was tossing for at least a few hours. the midwives have told me it’s a common thing this far along. i just cannot seem to find a way to get comfortable.” her eyes wandered down the hall where her husband slept. there was no need to wake him when it was something small like this. might as well be one of them who got a full night’s rest. “would you like to join me for a game?” rosa asked him motioning down to the dragonchess board. “would be nice to play against someone else.”

@adam--stark​

falcxnprince​:

.

it was odd, seeing his sister as a queen now, of course, he always knew she would marry well. ravella, too, but as they grew, he began to realize the elder arryn sister had more of a sway with whom she would be shackled to forever, or at least, the king knew better than to align her with just anyone. that is, until none other than wyatt grafton became the most suitable person to become her fiance. he scoffed at the idea, a traitor marrying an arryn who resided in the eyrie itself. it was laughable, and he still couldn’t put his mind to exactly why that decision was made.

rosa, on the other hand, would likely fair just well with anyone. she was kind, obedient, qualities that made a good and faithful wife, but nonetheless, worried the youngest arryn. he hoped no one would dare take advantage of his sister’s good heart. she seemed, however, to be doing plenty well up in the frigid north. he embraced her hug, however, partly for it’s warmth, but mostly because he truly did miss her. she was always the neutral party when the other siblings bickered. “we certainly do.” he replied, releasing her from his arms. “yes, yes, yes, sister, please do not stress yourself with worrying about me you know i am perfectly self-sufficient.” he smiled. “you have plenty of things to worry yourself about as it is, i’m sure, please tell me how everything has been for you up here.” 

.

rosa had begun to build a life up in her new home. when her engagement was first announced rosa had always feared that she would not be able to settle into her new home. that she would not be able to fit in, that she would always be an outsider. the people of the north were strong, protective of one another and wary of people from the south. it had only been three months of living up in winterfel but she already felt herself beginning to relax. she had begun to make friends, to become closer to torrhen. and now with their child on the way everything felt like it was starting to fall into place.

but a piece of her would always miss the mountains of her home. miss seeing her brothers and sister every day. even if some of that time was spent breaking up petty squabbles, she would not mind it.

the distance away made moments like this so special. getting to hold her family close in the crisp chilly air. “of course, of course. but a sister still worries. i want you enjoy your time here.” rosa looped her arm through her brothers to guide him out of the cold. “i have been well up here. there is much to get used to and much that is different but i am happy. torrhen has been wonderfully attentive and helping me through the change. i couldn’t ask for more.” she smiled. “you are going to be an uncle again soon enough. i will have to request another visit from you all after he is born if you are all able to go back home before he arrives.”

starkwhitewolf​:

.

deep in thought as he was, it took him a moment to process that rosa was right there. rosa arryn. she was a natural beauty. the match had been made to connect their two kingdoms, but torrhen never had any objections. for one, he was an honorable man bound by duty, and to the north. he knew his marriage needed to be incredibly beneficial for his kingdom, and it was. he would be lying if he said it was a love match, it was simply an arrangement, a convenience for both of them, but he’d also be lying if he said that loving rosa arryn didn’t come easily for him. she was beautiful, kind, smart, and she brought out the best things in him. while it seemed he learned something knew about his wife every day, there were times where it simply felt they knew each others own thoughts.

he stood up, looking at her a moment before walking up to her and wrapping his arms around her. it seemed day after day they were bombarded with new stressors, he wanted a moment to simply be with his wife. he was not very open with his emotions, especially in the company of others. torrhen preferred to keep his thoughts and feelings to himself unless it was necessary. feelings only overshadowed good judgement, in his opinion. there may be times that would prove important, but he believed those times were rare. “rosa.” he replied, firmly, but voice low an gentle, for him. “how do you fare? and the child?” as he spoke, he signed as he kept his voice low. he knew what was said to her. the king in the north was privy to all that was happening around these parts, except for the mysterious signs being left, of course.

.

‘you will marry a great man one day my daughter’ her mother had said that to her hundreds of times. rosa still could remember the time her father scoffed as her mother told her that. it seemed to only encourage her mother to tell her it more and more. letting her know that she was worthy. rosa knew her father never thought she would be able to marry. who could look past her faults? there was no hiding how he felt about her. part of her wondered what her father thought of her now if he could see her. married to a king. his own daughter a queen of an entire kingdom. his daughter who he assumed would be nothing but a burden to the family. 

and yet here she was. married. a queen. and soon to be bringing in the heir to the north into the world. rosa had known her marriage was to help both the vale and north. but torrhen was a good man. there was no denying that. neither of them expected the feelings to rush to them so quickly. it was like the books she read growing up, stories of love and the ends people would go to for it. she always knew she would marry a great man. but torrhen was more than just a great man. he was strong and capable and so very very smart. and deep down he was caring, affectionate. he wrapped his arms around her then and she felt completely safe. like nothing outside their walls could touch them if he stayed by her side. the queen watched carefully as her new husband signed out his words to her. here in this room with torrhen she felt safe. and yet the man’s words still rung out in her ears. his threats. “i would be lying if i were to say i didn’t feel scared.” she said, her hand clutching her stomach. “what if his words are true. what if what he said….” she shook her head, not wanting to think on such a thing.

gcuienveres​:

♕

was it something she was willing to simply let slip through her fingers as though it were merely sand upon the shores of the sunset sea; if she closed her eyes she could just about hear the distant sounds of the oceans might and wrath hitting the rocks, and it was enough to momentarily cool her off from whatever strange feelings seemed to be swirling deep within her gut. feelings of being outcasted, feelings of being slighted and the great swelling pride that seemed to burn and burn in response to such actions; for a moment she wished she could be beneath the waves once again, thoughts being drowned out by the thunderous sound of everything else around her. 

she wanted her mind to stop, she wanted her heart to stop burning as though she held a vengeance for all around her, she wanted her tongue to stop feeling as though it were a blade able and ready to hurt those around her; she knew not what dark thoughts were swirling in her mind that were causing her to lash out at those around her, and yet she felt as though she could not voice it. only pace, and hide in the grass as she locked emerald orbs upon her next prey; and rip to shreds the confidence those she believed had been some part of her very public undoing. “get to know me?” guinevere asked, any sense of the taunting, bitchy smile that had sat upon her lips completely draining - gods, what was there left to get to know when she didn’t even know who she was at this point in this life? even her name, her name was enough of a question mark that she found herself hesitating before she signed off letters. 

“trying…what you could.” her voice suddenly snapped, as though a spark of fire had suddenly rooted itself deep within her; all she could hear were excuses for the incompetence the starks had shown in their control of that night, and how she had nearly lost her life for it. instead, she had ended up being publicly shamed, stripped of her titles, and treated as though she were nothing but a common whore. “if you expect me to sit and wrap you up in blankets, tell you that you done your best, you’re very much misguided. it was not enough, and the consequences for that remain. how do you expect me to respect you, when your own men did not that night?”

“we are not family.” she spoke, resting her hands upon the her golden skirts, reflecting slightly in the crackling hearth of the fire, her tone inherently dismissive as though she were speaking to a little girl that continued to believe in fantasies and mythical tales, a harsh quip of realism. “just because i’ve somehow ended up making this choice, know i do not consider you kin, and never will.” her tone implied a scathing sense of regret, of doubt, on the choices that had led to her to this point in her life. "you were not the only one who nearly lost your life as a result of doing nothing that night.“ she almost hissed, a sense of icy anger sitting within her as she felt the urge to complete throw aside all rosalyn had put the effort into setting up on the table sat between them. “are you planning on taking any responsibility for that, or am i wasting more of my time?”

.

this was the woman her brother had chosen to marry? who he had put so much in danger for? for someone so cruel and uncaring. how could he have ever chosen someone like this? unless he might be unaware of what was lurking behind that beautiful blonde curls of hers. behind the kind smile she must have given him. her heart ached to think about what was to come if the queen of the vale was to be so heartless. gods her sister was right. here she had just thought ravella was exaggerating the terrible things that were to come with this marriage but maybe she was right.

“you somehow made this choice? my brother loves you, more than anyone else i have ever seen. he has given his whole heart to you and you are telling me you somehow made this choice? like it or not we are family as you choose to marry an arryn. you do not get to so cruelly throw that back in my face.” her heart was racing now. this was worse than any other time she had to face a heartless lady of the court. having to face their bullying and harsh words. gwen had stabbed her and was twisting the knife with her words. it took all her effort to keep herself composed. to fight back tears that wanted to pool down her face. how could anyone say such vicious things to someone else?

“enough.” rosa’s voice held with a strength unusual for the new queen. “i believe it is time for you to go back to the vale housing.” the northern queen stood up from her chair, her head held high as she looked at her brother’s new wife. “thank you for joining me here today, your grace. i will be sure to let my brother know we were able to meet. i am sure he will be curious to know. good day.” 

keep composed rosa. keep composed. she repeated it over and over again in her head. she would not let her dignity walk out that door along with her good sister. she waited until guinevere lannsiter was out of her chambers before she turned to face the window. “please leave me.” she told the handmaidens who were around. once she was sure they were gone she let the tears fall from her eyes. her hands clasped tightly over her mouth, so no sound could escape. there was only the light crackling of fire, and the muffled sobs of rosalyn stark. she did not wish for anyone to know how much the words had affected her. how they would eat away at the confidence she had only just begun to build for herself. but the queen of the north had to remain strong in these times.

 but she did not cry just for herself, but cried for the vale. for her brother. for her family. she could feel her heart breaking for them.

-end-

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​:

.

          A PARTICULAR HARSH gust of wind seemed to answer the queen of winter’s question before the princess of the vale could even open her mouth to retort an answer; an icy blast putting out some of the candles lit on the mantelpiece. for a moment the fiery haired woman made a movement to appear as though she were ready to raise herself to relight the candles, much needed in the darker room of the north considering the later time of day as the sun began to set over the wintery horizon; ravella simply wordlessly shook as her head as if to insist the woman remained seated, rising to her own feet to relight the torches with a spark resting upon the windowsill. “fetch some more quilts for the queen; the sun is setting.” the woman instructed one of the serving girls; who meekly responded in a usual strong northern accent ravella herself could hardly understand through the crackling of the fire. 

the woman remained stood, her hands clasped together before her cape as she paced back and forth beside the firelight, opening her mouth as if she wanted to speak before closing it again. it were unlike the woman, for as much as she wished to prioritise the security of the arryn throne by binding house grafton through a royal dowry, her pride would surely someday be her downfall. as much as she wished to never have to leave the vale, to remain close to all she had ever known, she had admittedly never once thought this prospect would be a possible one. a dark smile seemed to cross her features as she pondered her thoughts, remembering the moment the king had told her of the news before their youngest brother; and all that had happened between them that night. no doubt irritation had gotten the best of them all, and the news was delivered in a way that was unlike the mountain king, and she couldn’t help but let out a small laugh. “of all the times i would have wished for him to be sterner, he chooses this matter.” 

the serving girl had returned with the quilts, and the woman simply took them from her at the door before closing it in the serving girl’s face with a nonchalant attitude about her, resting the warm blankets over rosa as though she were tucking in the little girl afraid of thunder once again. “you know i am not one to turn down a challenge sister; especially not in this crucial moment. when the coup fails, i will find myself married into the greatest naval house in the kingdom; it has more benefits, unfortunately.” she paused, momentarily looking at the woman’s small curve. “would you request my presence for the month you are due to take to your bed?” she asked, her mind working out the logistics already. 

.

there was so much that could be said about her sister. so much that rosa had always admired. and so much she did not realize she had done for her throughout the years. for a time it was just the two of them. the two of them against the world, up in their mountain castle. father gone. mother gone. brothers fighting in a war. it was ravella who comforted her in the nights were fear seized her tightly. it was ravella who was able to take on the harsh words of the older lords who clamored at a chance for power without their brothers around.  rosa had done her best, always had. she helped where she could, were her strengths lied. but deep down she knew the weight that had been on her sister’s shoulders was greater than her own.

part of her wished there was a way she could make it up to her, even if ravella never gave her a hint of resentment. even now she took care of her. there was a confidence that emanated off of ravella. an unspoken air of it that encircled her. rosa had wished to learn it. maybe day by day it grew within her but she doubted it would ever be as strong as her sister’s.

“you are always up for a challenge but married life doesn’t have to be one.” however they both knew the truth. marriage for them would always be something that benefitted the family. it did not mean she could not wish for her sister. “my wish more than anything in the world ravella, is for you to be happy.” rosa said reaching out to take her sister’s hand. “if you can find happiness in this then i will not fight it. but you deserve to be happy.” with such new power she had she was unsure what she could even do, but she could hope it would be something to help.

rosa’s other hand moved her graze over her stomach. the time would come quicker than she would expect. already it felt like time was flying by. “y…yes. if you are able to be here. i know it is a lot to ask. but i would like you to be here.”

And how is my fair maiden?

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.”

Eleanor Tomlinson for Schon! Magazine (2021) ♥