#gloriedstart

[alasdairlocke]

Alasdair was only one bite into his bread before he pulled a face. The first bite had been like trying to clamp a brick between his teeth, and the interior was so dry and crumbly that it felt like his mouth was filled with stones. “Dear gods,” He grumbled when he’d finally swallowed the morsel with the aid of some wine. “Do you think I’m the next victim and this bread was intended to poison me? If I slip into unconsciousness, I think you should question the cook.”

[hollowbrcvery-blog]

ARYANNA had been unsettled for too long. with the murders and the lockdown and worrying herself sick over her siblings, she’d hardly had a moment of peace in her mind. the only times she’d found herself calm were the nights that mei snuck into her rooms. and even then those nights ended too quickly. “walk with me?” she asked an approaching figure as she wandered aimlessly through the gardens. “another moment left alone to my thoughts might just drive me mad.”

[pxppybaratheon]

“I think by the time we leave I’ll have read every book the Keep has to offer.” She muttered, setting the tomb back onto the shelf among the others. Poppy had fetched one or two to skim over at night once she’d retired to her rooms, but after she’d been informed of a second murder, she’d begun to grow skeptical of returning home anytime soon. “Any recommendations?” 

[asheffi]

ASHEFFI longed for the wide open plains of the dothraki sea, the longer she spent trapped in this city with no room to move, the more uneasy she became. she had been trapped in a place like this before and when she’d escaped she’d vowed never to allow herself to be caged, contained, again. she needed to get out. she’d found a secluded spot in the stables where she could almost trick herself into thinking she was alone, let herself get lost in the company of the magnificent creatures until footsteps sounded behind her. her eyes darted to the emerging figure, an irritated expression lining her face, words of the tongue commonly spoken here failing her.

[riverquccn]

NESTA sat with a scowl on her lips and a glass of fine arbor gold in her hand. a position that no one would be surprised to find the lady of the riverlands in, although the expression lining her face was particularly vicious that day. “i won’t hear another word about the late lord arryn or my husband’s supposed involvement in it so if you’ve come to gossip with me i suggest you turn around now before things get ugly.”

[haera-manderly-blog]

She really wanted to see the body, look at it, see if she recognized the handiwork. But Haera was removed from the situation as a handmaid, even if she told them she was a highborn lady from a powerful family they still kept her away. Haera groaned and wished that she drank in that moment. Although Lannister lands were not far from the capital’s grandeur, she would rather be there. At least she had her own bed. Even more, though, deep inside of her, Haera wished for home. Perhaps it was seeing Rhaenys. Her hands balanced a cup and she looked utterly bored, her constant expression. “I wonder how many more are going to die? Do they think that keeping everyone confined is really going to save lives? Even dogs will start to fight if left in the same cage.”

[danelleswann]

To look at, you wouldn’t think the petite girl could make such a shriek. And yet, Danelle had shouted so loud that half of King’s Landing had more than likely heard every word. Her maid had provoked her ire, as her maids so often did, and she had responded with one of her infamous displays of her temper. She should have known it would draw the attention of a passer-by. King’s Landing wasn’t like Stonehelm, and there was always people within earshot, but as ever, she didn’t care. “Come to enjoy the show?” She called out, dark humour glistening in her expression. “Come, sit, have some wine. I’ve got nothing better to do than perform for you like a court jester. It’s fine.” 

[warstcined-blog]

there’s   a   hollow   sinking feeling in the pit of stomach, like someone had taken her apart and only put her shell back together, she couldn’t even scream, though lips opened to do that as knees buckled to the stone floor.    D E A D.    air only escapes lips as cheeks drown beneath a sea of silent tears. porcelain hands grip a pillar to hold herself upward only to fail, slipping to the cold cobbles beneath, that silence she emits is only broken by a shallow sob and then the scream erupts. broken, loud and oh so heartbreaking, vibrating through the keep as everything simply breaks.

[wintcrsong-blog]

A small smile graced aryanna’s lips, her eyes drifting skyward as she let out a breath. it was a small thing, but it always amused whenever the northern lady travelled down to the south, the way that her breath simply became part of this warm southron air. she almost missed the clouds of heat her breath left when she was at home in the north, although she held a high appreciation for the heat of the sun beating down on her shoulders, her heavy furs discarded when she’d arrived in the capital. “it’s a beautiful day.” aryanna remarked, mostly to herself, brows furrowing. “such a shame it has been marked by such a disturbing event.”

[thexwildxones-blog]

Nimronyn Fowler did not like being ordered around, nor did she like being trapped. She most certainly cared very little for Targaryens, the descendants of those who conquered her homeland, stole her family's crowns, and a thousand years later still kept Dorne under the heel of their boots. She also found that not even a small bit of sympathy could be summoned for the dead Rufus Arryn and his grieving family. The Vale was the home of the wicked bitch that ruined her life. Perhaps it was petulant of her, but she hated everyone from The Vale, as if her woes were their fault. As far as she was concerned, they were all to blame. But here she was, forced to remain in the bloody Keep. Caged like an animal. Making everyone stay until the murderer was found was the smart thing to do, of course, but that didn't soothe her rage. Being woken up only stoked the flames. Hissing under her breath, Nimronyn cursed the mother of whoever bore the bastard banging on the door to her quarters. She combed her fingers through her hair and teased the locks into some semblance of presentability before pulling open the door and casting a coy smirk at the one who disturbed her. "I am not quite sure how things are done here, but where I come from we don't wake those who sleep unless it's life or death." Bold, even as she wore only a slip of silk, Nim carried herself with an air of confidence. Behind her, two falcons screeched in agreement and bobbed their heads. "What do you want?" she sighed.

[alasdairlocke]

The knock at his door was a surprise at this time of night. Alasdair had just been getting ready for bed, finally exhausted after such a chaotic evening, when the sharp rapping invaded his peace. He had already removed his shirt, but answered the door anyway, ready to tell whoever was there to go away until morning, but the sight of the other person made him sigh. After everything that had happened, some company could be a good distraction from any paranoid thoughts creeping into his head. As always, he maintained his cheerful facade despite the circumstances. “A little late for visiting isn’t it?” He chuckled and stepped aside to let them into his room. “You’re lucky I still have my trousers on.”

[valaenavela-blog]

     The afternoon sun warms her face, and for a moment, she closes her eyes to bask in its glare. There are different sets of feet all around her, some of their owners talking among each other in low voices, others belonging to servants doing their work. It’s only when an approaching pair stops close to her, that she opens her eyes again with faint curiosity. She nods at the book lying closed besides her. “You’re welcome to borrow it, if you want. Gods know there’s not much else to do here.”

open starter

[aliassirensong-blog]

It was obvious from the second that Alia entered the coronation that she was in Essos no longer, she’d been told by a few of her patrons of the continent to the North but she’d never envisioned it being quite so different. She supposed it was the quiet that shocked her the most, the light buzzing of conversations and the gentle strings of harps the only noise to greet her. She suddenly understood why her presence had been requested in the capital, this new ruler had been wise to bring in such a token of the Braavosi culture as it would surely soothe those who had yet to settle. It didn’t take long for the people who had traveled from across the sea to notice such a presence as her, she was alerted to their whereabouts by a series of excited titters that rose above the hum of regular conversation. A bright smile painted it’s way onto her lips as she made her way over to the group of Lords and Ladies, wine was promptly offered to her when she joined the group and she took a small sip as the nobles, who seemed a great deal more lively now that she was there, began to ramble on about this and that. The Courtesan easily fell into the conversation, knowing that her job here was to make the foreigners feel more at home in this strange country she didn’t bother with trying to make her or her kin match the subdued nature of the guests from Westeros.

Soon enough the small group seemed to be having a celebration all their own and it had not escaped Alia’s notice that they had attracted the attention of the other guests as well as the guards who seemed almost nervous, as though they expected one of them to start causing trouble any minute...which knowing the men of Essos and their tendency to grow bold when provoked or prodded was not something she could dismiss as a foolish notion. Kisses on her hand from the men and kisses on her cheeks from the women were bestowed upon her as she said her goodbyes which were laced with promises of returning soon.

If she were back in Braavos Alia would have felt comfortable to simply slip into another conversation with a different group but being in the Capital made her cautious, she’d seen whores here but not Courtesans and while Courtesans were to be revered back home she wasn’t sure how she would be met by the people of Westeros and she had no desire to offend and so the woman slipped away from the larger crowds and found a more secluded place close to where the musicians were playing, she was content to simply close her eyes, sip her wine, and sway softly, taking the music in as reverently as some would a sermon. Being a Courtesan she was used to feeling the gaze of men, and even sometimes women, on her and where some women would perhaps begin to shrink themselves under the weighted gaze Alia paid them no mind. It was only when she heard the footsteps of someone approaching her that her eyes flit open, her amber gaze falling on the stranger “If you’ve come to take me away for disturbing the peace I’d beg of you to at least let me finish this song and my wine” a melodic laugh accompanied her playful tone.

[daemontarg]

Outside the throne room the air was finally cooling as the sun set over the towers of the Keep, and Daemon had found himself the perfect spot on the battlements, wedged securely into a corner with a book and a pitcher of wine. He had done his duty, conversed with the nobility, chatted as charmingly as he could with strangers, but now he was entirely worn out, and fully intended on drinking the rest of the night away in solitude, if he could manage it -- or at least, getting drunk enough that he could stand another three hours of a crowd.

He settled cheerfully back against the sandstone and opened his book, pouring himself a goblet of wine. He felt as though it was better, anyway, for him to disappear; his temper was growing short, and he often came across as cold and aloof rather than simply tired, as he usually was. He didn’t want to give rise to rumours that he was seeking more power than he had. Lost in his thoughts as he was, he turned a page too hastily, and slashed the tip of his finger. “Damn,” he muttered, to himself, popping it in his mouth to catch the blood. “Ow.”

[fasdfasdfasdfa]

Pursing her lips she took a small sip from the glass of wine she held in her hand. “The capital grows boring, talk of the murder is all anyone can say. Brings a bad light to the entire realm.” It was true, people already wanted to leave, “The king should hold a tourney or something to bring at least a hint of spirit.”

[kingsgvards]

DAMON’S nerves had been at an all time high these last few weeks. being in charge of keeping an entire family alive was stressful enough, but add in a whole castle full of angry nobles and a murder, well, the kingsguard had a lot on his plate. he let out a long breath as he looked across the sea of men and women gathered together, any one of them could very well be a murderer and it was his responsibility to make sure what happened to lord arryn didn’t happen again and so a metallic flash in the corner of his eye instantly grabbed his attention. “what do you think you’re doing?” he asked, voice grave when he laid a hand on the person.