Location: The Welcoming Ball, Dorne

A N A R I   R Y N D O O N 

“she was far from holy, a sinner just as he. hands tainted from the crimson bloodshed of too many enemies and even bystanders. they were one and the same. carved from the same root. ”

penned by cami

@stonesqueen

wedbedbehead​:

where: the eyrie who: @rosaaaryn​

Sometimes, Ysilla felt that she had spent far too much time of her life waiting. It was the worst feeling in all the world, really, not knowing what was happening somewhere to people who meant the world to you. To have to wait for the outcome, and learn only afterward if all was well. But this was the story of all those who remained behind, be it for the battle that was perhaps occurring right this very moment, somewhere in the Riverlands, or for the whole of the last war.

But if Ysilla was frightened for her brothers, then Rosa must be doubly so, for her brothers and her new husband. Ysilla had been in the very same position some years ago, and even now she woke at night dreaming of waiting, waiting, not knowing—but aware somewhere in the back of her mind the raven that was going to reach them any day, knowing exactly what it would say. But what good was it to wallow in her fears and worries? Thinking about it would send her mad; and so she would not, save where her own history meant she was the perfect person to assuage the fears of another, fears newer and so likely more painful for it.

“It feels as though it’s been forever since we had the chance to speak,” she said, turning from the window to face Rosa so she could hear—that was, see. “Which is only natural, of course, with you married now. I’ll have to make certain my hand is better when you leave, so you may read my writing without all the difficulty everyone says I gave them the last time I had anyone to write to.” She wrinkled her nose. As much as she enjoyed conversation, letter-writing had never been a great skill of hers. She never knew what to keep and what not to. “I know this is a troubled time, but I am glad we have the chance to speak. So—Your Grace—how has being the Queen of the North suited you so far? Well, the parts you’ve seen of it.”

.

the way the sunlight streamed in through the window illuminated the dark haired woman perfectly. it felt warm. welcoming. it fit perfectly as she was getting to see her friend again, after having been so busy she barely had time to think. the two of them having agreed to meet today to catch up. rosa couldn't help but hugging her friend as she approached. "i'm sorry i have been so busy. my mind is all over the place lately but i should hve done better to manage my time to see you sooner." she told her, pulling away.

"i apologize in advanced for the copious amount of letters you will be recieveing from me. i will not care what sort of handwritting i am getting in return as long as it is a letter from my friend then i will be happy." ysilla had always been a true and loyal friend. it was evident in the small gestures she had given to rosa throughout their friendship. even something as little as moving herself to be better seen by rosa in order to lipread better. small moments that didn't need to be asked but were just done. a small gesture sure, but true friendships were built on such things. it was small things that rosa remembered in the longrun. rosa had tried to reciprocate that back to ysilla throughout the years as well. wanting to be by her side, holding her hand when she was sad. being there to tell her over and over again that she was enough. that the terrible misfortune that had befallen her was in no way her fault. that one day rosa wanted her to utterly and perfectly happy. ysilla deserved it afterall.

"oh please, you are one of the last people that need to be calling me your grace. especially when it is just the two of us here." the redheaded laughed softly. "it has been....interesting. i've been trying to talk with some of the other northern women who are here. some have been very kind to me and others are wary...i cannot say i blame though. i am a stranger to most of them. i would never want to demand a friendship out of them all so soon." truthfully it was hard to navigate all of this without rodrik by her side. he had left her in good hands, with people to help teach her about the north and help to guide her. but there was so much she felt like she did not know. so much she just wanted to ask rodrik, but he was so far away. "is it silly to miss him, so much?" she asked her friend, her voice low and quiet. like maybe it was foolish thing to think, not wanting anyone else to know but her. "i know we haven't gotten to be married for long but i already miss him."

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?”

TRUTH SERUM

feel free to ask anything, in character or anonymously, and my character will be forced to answer truthfully.

rosa || mellara || ophelia || morra || harlon || theo ||

location: in the great hall of winterfell after one of the nights of the northern games

@anya-snow

the northern games had cast a spell of joy across the castle that seemed to have been in hibernation. laughter echoed in the corridors, people recounting the day's events or enjoying catching up with people. for a land that had weathered the storm of a war, the northern folk deserved the pleasure of celebration, a collective exhale after being ensnared by a man's unwarranted quest for power.

as the sun dipped below the horizon, various houses and families gathered in the great hall for an evening feast. the air was full of merriment, the spirits of the north rekindled by a shared joy. rosa, the queen, found delight in conversing with lords and ladies, the hall alive with the burgeoning cheer of a people reclaiming their right to happiness.

amidst the revelry, rosa spotted anya across the hall and beckoned her lady in waiting to join at the table. with a server gracefully pouring glasses for each, the queen inquired, "are you enjoying the games, anya?" her words carried genuine interest as they settled into the lively mood of the feast.

"i wanted to speak with you, to get your thoughts on some matters," rosa continued, her demeanor earnest. "as a representative for the merchants guild, and with the wars now hopefully behind us, i believe it's time to look to the future of our trade. i know you've discussed matters with his grace before, but i was hoping to hear directly from you." she offered anya a reassuring smile, her intentions clear.

"i think you should consider reaching out to other merchant guild representatives from different kingdoms as one of our ambassadors. alternatively, if you're willing, you could venture to yi-ti. i recall your desire to visit. you would be going as our representative, ensuring northern support accompanies you." rosa spoke with both warmth and wisdom she had recently begun to embrace, delicately addressing a desire she had sensed in anya during their late-evening conversations in the court. she aimed not to pressure but to guide—a gentle nudge towards a decision anya may have yearned for but hesitated to embrace.

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

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…"

And he looks to her as he starts eating a heel of bread, cutting off a slice of cheese and putting it with the almost burnt bacon. he only paused in his eating when she began to sigh before sharing her words. then the end of this lady's sisters tragedy.

"I will have the name of her sisters husband and the village he looks over. We must have reports of the ladies in the area."

And he took a large bite of the food then took a drink of the black northern beer. His mind wandering as he considered how many agreed to his laws and disregarded them. Criminals would always exist but there was crime and then there was...savagery. The behavior of wildlings.

"We had the strip the Umber lord for the same reasons. One of the few great houses denied dukedom."

what's your relationship like with your siblings now that you have moved to the north?

“i still love them all dearly. i wish i was still close to them as i feel like i cannot be there for them as much. and i feel like there are things are they are not telling me because i am married into another family. but i will never stop loving them, ever.”

@ravellaarryns @kingarryn @falcxnprince

location: winterfell, a week after the fighting in the broke started

@bethanystark​

there hadn’t been many times when rosa was left alone in winterfel. from the start of their marriage they had been by each other’s side. she found herself comforted by his presence, even if he was in another place in the castle. and the times he was gone she was at peace with the knowledge he would be home again soon. but this was much different, more unpleasant than she was expecting it to be. anxiety curled in her stomach like a knot, waiting to see what would come next.

war was not safe for anyone. not even a king. not even the wolf king.

as the days went by she found herself out by the weirwood trees more and more, praying to safe return of all her family. may they come back victorious and unharmed.

that early morning her stomach still felt like it was twisting and turning, but she assumed it was the nerves getting to her once again. luckily enough she was going to get to spend most of the day by her goodsister’s side.

“good morning bethany.” rosa greeted as she walked into the council room. one of the handmaidens came to her side to give her something warm to drink to try to fight off the early morning chill in the air. “have we gotten any news back from anyone? do we know if they have arrived yet?”

ravellaarryns​:

.

         AN UNCHARACTERISTIC SHRUG came from the shoulders of ravella arryn; for a moment it looked as though the woman were truly exasperated with all the events that had seem to stir within her life as of recently, to the point where she wished she were brazen and careless enough to discard of her duties completely and make up some nonsense excuse to visit jocelyn baratheon in kings landing, or perhaps even remain in winterfell with rosalyn for some time. “why would he?” she asked, her tone momentarily harsh at the question; it were obvious what the reaction would be from the closest lords and ladies of the court of arryn, those lords who were essentially pillars for the arryn throne.

he had already married outside of the vale once; though that alliance was beneficial; however to dismiss a vale lord’s daughter as a potential queen for a woman from an opposite faction with no use at all was something she never thought she would have to live with. and yet her eyes softened slightly when she realised that perhaps rosalyn’s question was not from a place of logic or reason, but emotional hurt; she knew her sweet little sister had a steadfast and close with their eldest brother, and perhaps she felt blindsided by the sudden revelation. how she resisted the urge to welcome her to the club.

“i am sure you can ask that question yourself… though perhaps also ask him why a betrothal between myself and lord wyatt grafton would prove beneficial in his mind.” she paused momentarily, knowing the information was a lot to catch her up on; how much had changed since she had left the vale for her new marital home? “i would do so myself, however we are not exactly communicating.” she gently looked over the small bump on her sister’s stomach, momentarily imagining her sister as a mother; and how she thought any child to have her as a mother was blessed. “enough of this; there will always be something to stress over. how are you finding your condition?”

.

rosalyn knew that with her move away from the vale that things were going to change. but she had not expected her siblings to get into a blowup fight so soon from her leaving. it wasn’t as if they never fought when she was around, of course, they did. all her siblings were strong-willed, capable people. she knew they fought, but she always was there to encourage everyone to come together again. maybe she could do this now even from her place in the north. 

“lord grafton? why….why would he engage you to that man? after all that has happened?” this was getting more and more confusing as ravella told her each thing. the pit of her stomach dropped thinking of it all. reaching out she held onto the seat near her and lowered herself into it. was it a mistake leaving to the north? to get married? maybe she should have stayed closer to home to help everyone. what if she wasn’t able to mend this together like she always tried? for now she could bury the hurt that came with learning this secret. rowan would have an explanation for this and for the secrets he was keeping. “i…i will speak to our brother when he is free. i’m sure he is going to be busy up here. i’m sorry i was not there to help you. i will do my best now though.” 

her hands ran over her stomach and the small bump that was beginning to show. it wouldn’t be long now until it was going to get bigger and bigger. she wouldn’t have such freedom of movement she has now, she was going to enjoy it while she still had it. “i have been feeling fine, honestly. perhaps a bit more tired than usual and i am a little sick in the mornings but i am okay. you should see my handmaidens they act as if i cannot walk ten steps by myself.” she smiled. “i have been happy to have times to escape away to walk.” reaching out she took her sister’s hand in hers. “but i have wanted you to be here with me and i’m so thankful you’re here now. it feels better knowing you’re here.”