Eleanor Tomlinson For Schon! Magazine (2021) ♥

ravellaarryns​:

who: @rosaaaryn where: the great hall, the eyrie, the vale of arryn when: the wedding feast of queen ravella arryn and lord graham royce

The sound of a baby crying won’t leave the very fringe of her mind, as though she could just about hear it over the sounds of talking and the lute, the sounds of footsteps hitting the floor, the sounds of bodies hitting the floor. The ruling Queen of the Vale of Arryn appeared as distant and untouchable as the most holy of stars as she remained sat upon the Weirwood throne, which so many Arryns had sat upon in the centuries, decades, years and even weeks leading up to this very moment; finally the Gods had played their dominion over her in a way she had always suspected they would, and bound the houses together. 

Those houses that were always supposed to be bound, with the two same souls as it were in the very beginning. What had all of this been for, if not to start again in the very beginning? How much of a say did any of them have, over any of it? 

What the fuck was that sound? Who was crying? Her hand clenched around around the weirwood, looking down upon it; was it not a very twisted symbol of that Andal conquering over the First Men, chopping down those trees that held some sense of meaning only to sit upon it. Her hand was a fist upon the edges, her knuckles white as her jaw stiffened; those who had been in the far North had already seen a vision of those icy, dead orbs that now fixed upon the King Consort in his negotiations with the Braavosi dignitary. Why did she feel so, so far away?

 The Queen barely noticed her sister approaching her, the glow of motherhood remaining upon her porcelain features, with hair that had been kissed by fire; the only two Arryns seemingly left in the world, from what felt like  a dynasty in the very beginning. How it had all had fallen down from such dizzying heights, and how she would ensure to fix it, dragging it up if she needed to; the Arryns needed to be untouchable once again. It was the only way. 

She did not react as her sister spoke to her, though there was no doubt the women were entirely opposing figures in what their wedding day had looked like; Rosalyn the blushing bride of the Mountain, and Ravella had not cracked a smile once. That was hardly out of the ordinary though. She looked upon her sister in silence for a few moments, realising she would need to put herself through the same torture she seemed to love putting herself through. She would need to now. There was no other choice.

Oh well. 

.

the music swirled around the halls of eyrie like it had done so many times before and would continue over and over again. although to rosa is was barely audible to her, enough for her to hear what was happening and for her to enjoy the melodic tunes. when she was little, she hated being sent away from parties by her father since if she ventured too far from the room the music would be lost to her. all of the party would be lost to her the moment she was out of the doors, while her siblings could at least enjoy the sounds of it through the halls. ravella was always there for her, ready to interrupt something for her or steer their father’s anger away from her. there was a bond of sisterhood that not even their father could sever from them.

it was strange they were the last two arryns left standing. how their father must be rolling in the crypt to think his daughters would be who would carry on his legacy. it was frightening to think how large and strong their brothers were growing up and to think where they fell to. 

no. she could not think of such things at her own sister’s wedding. this was a time for celebration and happiness. the vale would be in good hands with ravella and graham. both of them cared for the future of the vale, they always had been. they needed that now, they needed people who could carry the burden of ruling.

the music reached its end and everyone in the hall gave polite applause for the dance. rosalyn had thanked her dance partner, a vale lord who said it was an honor to be dancing with one of the arryn queens. and the younger queen searched for where her sister was. and unsurprisingly , she was in the same spot atop her throne. but as she approached her sister, there was no recognition on her face. 

rosalyn knew what this marbled silence from her sister could possibly mean. it was like her sister was staring into another world. one that she could not fathom to understand. while rosalyn loved her sister so very dearly, feeling as if she was part of her own heart, she knew of the walls that ravella had built up. of the cold exterior that must be maintained for some reason. had it always been like this? or lately had the marble become more and more frequent? it was hard to say as her time was spent in her new home.

 “sister are you alright?” she asked, her voice quiet so none other would hear. but she got no response, just a silent look from here sister. oh gods she really was in that other world today. the winter queen took a seat down next to her sister, turning to face her. her hand rested gently on her sister’s hand that gripped the throne so harshly. “come back to me for a moment.” she spoke softly. “something is wrong. what is troubling you? this is your wedding day you should be dancing with the rest of us yet you sit up here all alone.” she said, her hands signing along with her words as they often did when speaking with her family. “i know you now have this new weight upon your shoulders that was not supposed to be yours…but bearing it alone is not something you must do.” she told her. “what is troubling you?” she asked again.

starkwhitewolf​:

torrhen sighed, she was so young and innocent. he admired the strength of her kindness and generosity, for that was something that was more powerful than the strength of a thousand men. to have a good heart, and good judgement, made for a much better leader. at least, that was his opinion. sure, there were those who believed otherwise, but he did not care to hear those opinions, anyways. “rosa, it’s not that simple.” he replied, trying to keep his voice gentle to not cause her any pain. “of course i want that too, but strength is not always something to show those around us, we have to be strong for our child and make those difficult choices for his sake, no matter what others may think of it.”

although he could not feel his child on the outside yet, he was certain the baby was growing strong. he had the strongest mother he could think of. he was surprised by how quickly his feelings for rosa had grown, and while it was just the way of his family and a northern trait to be incredibly protective of one another, he could not afford for the enemy to see her as his ultimate weakness. even if she hated him for it, if it came down to her going south was the safest thing, that’s what would happen. “i will not do anything unless absolutely necessary, but you should know that is an option on the table as of now.” he sighed, slowly removing his hand and pacing over towards the fire. “we still don’t know what we are up against.”

.

however neither of them liked the idea she knew he was right. there was more than just strength to show others she could stay here. it would be stubbornness then. something that had been the downfall of hundreds of kings and queens and would the the cause of more. letting pride get in the way of what was the best choice. how blessed she was to have a man who did not put his pride above his family. someone who truly cared. a wolf looking over his pack, ensuring they were all safe. “i understand. i pray that it will not come to it but if it does i will not fight your decision.” it would be hard enough to leave his side, they did not need to leave in anger. simply she would count down the days until they were reunited once more. but for now she had him here, they had each other. she would hold onto that tightly.

“i don’t think any of us know what we are up against. every day it seems to be growing bigger. if it didn’t happen here it was bond to explode out somewhere else.” rosa said following him over to the fire, taking a seat to soak in the warmth. and to get off her feet for just a moment. “torrhen, we will find those people and each day we can discover new clues that will lead us to the source of what is truly happening. but i believe we should expect the unexpected when it comes to these men.” she said, her eyes watching the fire dance.

 “i have heard of people whispering about the dead rising. old stories of the north, but could it be real? could someone be trying to harness a power we don’t know? there are things we cannot explain...your own sibling has a gift, does she not?” there was much she did not know of the north and the ancient stories but she wanted to help in whatever way she could. at least let her husband know he was not alone in his thoughts.

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

bethanystark​:

.

war was the worst of all the ways she had been separated from her twin. it felt wrong at times, to sit in his chair and act with the authority he possessed. it wasn’t that she was unfamiliar with the duty that was being the stark in winterfell, but it was the fact it meant her brother was off getting himself into trouble, into danger. during the dance she’d been the one to wrap a bark and leather good luck charm on his wrist, but now that charm was secured by his wife. things were so different this time, but yet still also the same.

at least this time she didn’t have to prove herself as a capable leader. gods, the amount of old men challenging her before… they were lucky bear hadn’t tried to eat them in the night.

bethany rose early -it was hunting season and her body refused to listen when she tried to sleep in and say she couldn’t go out- and had been looking over some reports from along the way to sea dragon point and deepwood motte when the queen entered. brown eyes shifted up to acknowledge her goodsister’s presence before going back to the papers. “mornin’ rosa.” she sounded preoccupied, rightly so, and the huge direwolf that was her shadow and companion came up to circle and sniff at the queen, checking her over in that protective way before being content and flopping down next to bethany’s chair. well, theon’s chair. it was just hers for now.

“the siege has begun, but it’s slow going through the wolfswood to sea dragon point. we have logging trails through there, not roads fit for soldiers. not yet at least.” she said as she took a dagger to a sealed letter and read it over before rolling her eyes and setting it aside in one of many piles. men. “i’m sure you know this, but no news is good news in war. our concerns are to keep the home fires burning while theon collects more war stories to tell us when he gets back.”

.

it was strange being in a position to make some real decisions and have power over what may happen during a time of war. during the last battles of the dance rosalyn had been locked safely away in the eyrie to ensure nothing would happen to the arryns not in the fight. they would be safe up in the mountains from almost everything. there was no time to help with decision-making, nor would her voice be heard anyways. her father never was someone to promote his daughter’s talents.

often the young queen wondered what he might think of his daughter now if he could see her. the queen consort of the north, mother to a future king. maybe there might be a small sense of pride. she would never know.

rosalyn watched her goodsister as she spoke, picking up what she was saying. she would have to teach her a sign or two to help her communicate. luckily reading bethany’s words wasn’t too hard of a task to do. 

after giving bear his well earned pets, she moved to the table next to bethany. “at least we will have the advantage of knowing these woods over the iron born raiders. this will be unfamiliar land to them, could lead to many mistakes on their part.” she said, looking over the pile of letters. “one of the elder lords stopped me in the halls last night to ask for an audience with the two of us. he said he did not have time to write a letter but wishes to discuss his taxes, seeing that his supplies are going towards the war efforts now.”

starkwhitewolf​:

.

torrhen was still figuring out rosa arryn. one moment she seemed as easy to read as a parchment he had scanned many times before, other times she seemed as unfamiliar as an entirely new language to decipher. he was never one to try and assume things about others simply based on their behaviors or past lives, but he knew, in part, it was important as husband to understand his wife to a certain degree. marriage to rosa had proved to come easily, but in many ways he was dealing with his own internal struggles. the eldest stark son had always been protective of his family and his home, even knowing he’d have to marry outside of the kingdom one day. a large part of him, to not fault of rosa, still saw the arryn name as an outsider to his kingdom. while he got along well with her brother, the king of the vale, torrhen stark had always put a small wedge between himself and those not from the north. perhaps rosa would help him to find a better way of securing relationships with outsiders, without entirely blocking them off.

the king’s brow furrowed at her words. while honestly was expected, and appreciated, he hated to hear that she didn’t feel completely safe in her own kingdom. how he wished to return to winterfell, to cast out every last southerner, to be rid of the shadows that haunted everyone. at her questioning, however, he shook his head. “no.” he replied firmly. “do not give him that power, rosa. that is how he is thriving, fear.” torrhen sighed, placing a hand on her stomach gently. “the monsters under our beds as children were always a play in our own minds. do not let him torment yours further. if i have to send you south for safety, so be it, i will.“ even if it meant his child was not born in his kingdom, a thought which troubled him in an inexplicable way, he would do what it took to keep rosa and their baby safe.

.

there was a longing to return back home to winterfel. away from all of this mess. a place where they could just spend time together as a married couple as they had. it had only been a short time since they been married, since she had moved her life up north, since they had discovered the wonderful news of their child. she wanted to spend time just to enjoy those moments. spend the time to get to know torrhen more. he had so many walls up around him, almost like she could see them. it had taken time but already she could see a few of them begin to fall around them. letting her into the real him, a side he might hide from others. she wanted to know that part of him.

“i would not leave you. i want to stay here with you, i want our child born in our home. with you by my side…” danger seemed to lurk around every corner for them now. it might be safe to leave to the south to have the child but then what? “if i go south then i would be giving into their fears. i want to be strong for you, for this child.” if she could do that, if she could show her strength then perhaps whatever curse this man was trying to throw at her could be overpowered. if she was strong then this child would be. she placed her hand over his on her stomach. the smallest kick was there, only just started but each time she could breath a sigh of relief that the child was okay. her other hand, moved to the side of his face, running her thumb over his cheek. “i want to be here with you. i feel safe with you here.”

rosalyn had been looking forward to the dinner with her family all day. in between packing up the various things she had brought along and helping to organize some of the arrival details the time came quickly. however, rosalyn had found herself caught in reading a book as it reached a cliff-hanging moment, before realizing she was going to be late. rushing down the hall to where they were meeting, two guards rushed to keep up with her.

 the two guards outside opened up the door for her as rosalyn rushed in a flurry of fabric and bouncing red curls. sorry sorry she signed. i was lost in a book and lost track of the time. i didn't keep you all waiting did i? rosalyn signed as she took her seat, thanking the guard who pulled out the chair for her.  slightly out of breath but smiling she greeted her siblings, happy to see all of them in one room together again.

 "agreed robin. i have missed our family dinners. although it won't feel the same without madelena here, but we will be seeing her soon enough." another amazing reason why she was so excited to be back in the vale.

dinner before departure

    Robin had asked his siblings to join him for dinner tonight….all of them. Robin typically dined on his own, writing letters, looking over books, working on various things late into the night. Tonight however was far different, after the events with the jester….and then his confession to his eldest sister Ravella about who he was….what he was. He had thought on it quite a bit, and he had reached a decision that left him terrified and anxious. His palms were sweaty and he was anxious, something that he wasn’t quite used to. Eventually, however, all his siblings were gathered around the table where a herb roasted capon was sitting along with spinach, leeks, and a bowl of mushrooms cooked in garlic. Smiling as he took his own seat, 

“Thank you all for joining me here, I thought it would be good for us to have dinner together, as a family before we began the voyage back to the Eyrie. After everything that’s happened we need to spend more time as a family.”

@rosaaaryn​ @ravellaarryns​ @kingarryn​

△ 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

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."

.

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