#wcrriorhearts: lyssa.

[bronzebtch]

a sword.

no other items that pertained to her needs, but a sword — of her brother's, nevertheless. rhea's head suddenly wrecked through any information she has had over the strong family. right, she thinks quickly; her face impassive though her mind run miles a minute. lyonel strong, hand of the king. that much she knows. he was the one to replace the old lord hand, otto hightower. rhea remembers him: a tall, dominating, but otherwise silent figure in the old king's reign. he had looked over rhea's marriage with the prince with a keen eye, but otherwise had kept mum and simply enjoyed the feast as any others who were invited it. of course. he was dismissed, wasn't he ? and came in lord lyonel strong.

what else does rhea know of house strong ? they're significant, aye - largest castle in the seven kingdoms, harenhaal, are under their protection. though rhea supposes, when lord lyonel had came to the red keep, he'd brought with him his children. a brother who has passed now it seemed, the brother rhea has just met, and this child right here. then there were ... rumours, were they not ? rumours that the children the princess have birthed were bastards. that there were some fire at the old huge castle, and how it all may be connected after all. rhea do not always listen to rumours — it has never and will never help any upon her ruling — but suddenly it seemed to fit together in her head.

the brother who has passed ... was he perhaps sabotaged for fathering the princess' children out of wedlock ? — rhea does not ask.

at young lady strong's question, the lady of runestone could only nod her head. what right does she have to protest a girl who hasn't much anything else ? and if this sword brings with her some sort of comfort... ❝ the interview will be during our journey, milady. come. let us not waste anymore moment. i plan to reach the tavern at our first point before the sun falls. ❞ she leads lady strong back to her entourage, where rhea could see her men loading anymore items left and securing the last of their items.

❝ i do, however, must ask that you do not carry the sword. i will not have you injured during our journey, milady. do you think you could trust my sworn shield to carry it for you ? or any of my knights ? ❞

there is truly little lysandra holds dear in the world when it comes to earthly possessions, so she has not much to bring to the vale. her only toy is stuffed into the pocket of her coat and she is glad that she has not wasted time on packing, because she doesn't trust her brother. the longer they stay here, the more likely it gets for him to object and force her to stay behind nonetheless. so is glad when rhea announces that they are in a hurry. the girl is desperate to move, even though she knows that larys will haunt her wherever she goes for the rest of her life. even if he were to die right this very second, she would never be free of him. he has etched himself into her very bones and she will carry him wherever she goes.

an interview sounds awfully official and lysandra feels panic rise in her chest, because she suddenly fears that rhea will leave her, if she answers incorrectly and turns out not to be suited for the position. "an interview? of course, lady royce", she says quietly and lets the older woman lead her away. it feels like she will be tested and lysandra feels ill equipped for that. just as she did whenever her septa wanted to test her on subjects and she had forgotten everything about it in an instant. what if rhea leaves her here? after she felt like freedom was so close, almost within reach? she cannot even dare to think about that. lyssa will do her best to impress the lady and hopefully she will have mercy.

"oh, i have forgotten something!", the girl exclaims when they reach the hallway and she quickly looks around to make sure that they are alone, before approaching one of the armors on display there, propped up like someone was wearing them. it's odd decoration in her eyes, but it has come in handy for her. she opens the visor and peeks inside, before removing the whole helmet and pulling out a sword from the inside with a lot of effort, because it is almost her own size. this sword belonged to her brother and it was brought back in the wake of his death as proof that he had died at Harrenhal. Larys discarded it with no regards for the item, so Lyssa stole it from the armory and hid it away, because she did not want for anyone else to have it.

"it was my brother's", she explains as she drags it back to rhea. "i didn't want anyone else to have it, so i took it and hid it here. no one ever looks into those old rusty things. can i take it please?" lyssa cannot do any damage with the weapon, for she can barely lift i and has never been trained to wield a sword. but it is the only thing she has left of harwin and she cannot leave it behind. if rhea won't let her take it, she might have to write to her older sister and ask her to keep it safe for her, until she is of age. brushing a strand of her hair out of her slightly flushed face, lysandra remembers that she was about to have an interview. "i am sorry, i interrupted the interview. am i supposed to answer questions?"

[xx--ofmanythoughts--xx]

The Princess’ mind had been somewhere else as of late.  Her father’s health was growing increasingly worse and the pressure to be the next heir to the throne was beginning to weigh on her. The rumors being spread about her sons being bastards was becoming more common.  And as she knew the truth of who their father was; it did not matter … the King had declared her children not bastards, but it did not matter…even the nephew of Corlys Velaryon was helping the tales to be spread. Rhaenyra knew who the author was of these rumors…her closest friend Alicent.

And now her greatest enemy. The woman had listened to her father for far too long and her own decline mentally was causing her to believe that Viserys wanted Aegon on the throne, disregarding the edict of King Jaehaerys.

A soft sigh fell from her lips as she suddenly saw one of her sons run across her path, a smile appeared on her lips before her movement stopped by the young woman who had arrived a young girl stood in front of her. “It is all right, my dear.  I see Joffrey has the energy of many dragons.”   Her words coated with a jovial tone as the laughter of her youngest son echoed bouncing off the stone walls of Dragonstone. “I dare say, he is quite feral, and a wild one compared to the others,” she laughed.

It had been some time since the two had really spoken and Nyra had allowed the girl to grow to trust and to feel secure with the family.  She could not imagine having someone prey after her for their own sick and demented lust. The children loved Lyssa and the princess was happy to have her here and to be able to take care of Harwin’s sister and his father’s daughter; it felt as it should. “Everyone is very happy you are here and have been very happy with you.  You are a part of this family, Lyssa and I hope you feel that, as well.”  Her voice was soft and calm as she spoke, a smile appeared on her features.

…and it was why it was so hard to inform her of the next bit of news…

“We have been summoned to go back to King’s Landing as my father has called for us to return for a family feast.”  She did not wish to see fear in the young woman’s eyes, but the princess thought she had.  “You will be protected the entire time we are there, @wcrriorhearts Lyssa but I need you there to help with the children.”

[sesikudadaryti]

*resists the urge to make one of Harwin's sisters because of hearing about @wcrriorhearts Lyssa and wanting all the family interactions and wanting more female muses at the same time...*

[pulchramsolis]

[ @wcrriorhearts sent ]: "i don't think i wanna know a world without your smiles. "

-

She raises her eyebrows in gentle surprise at her sister's admission and she hums, reaching out to comb her fingers through Lyssa's hair. "You won't, my dear. I promise. Besides, we have the same smile you know." She poked at her sister's cheek. "When you smile in the mirror, that's our smile. Papa's smile."

[hamcrtia]

❛  i  never  thought  i  would  be  a  good  mother .  ❜ ( from Lyssa for Cregan, bc baby Rickon <3 )

too stressed to find the specific meme / @wcrriorhearts

" how rewarding it must be to prove yourself wrong, " cregan murmurs as he watches her cradle rickon. he was not a particularly fussy babe but in the moments where he would not settle, lyssandra excelled in calming him. it is why she is here now, for cregan was all but begging for her assistance when the maids failed to console him. " i never once doubted you, " the young wolf admits, brown hues glancing up at her as he adorns a small smile. from the moment rickon had met lyssandra, he was fond of the girl. it was something that cregan detested at first, the connection with his son harder to forge with the loss of his mother. but those feelings passed quickly, and his devotion to rickon, assisted by lyssandra, forged a special bond between father and son. " you can consider yourself a natural now. "

[bronzebtch]

❝ monsters are dangerous and just now kings are dying like flies.  ❞ ( from older Lyssa during the dance )

❝ are they ? ❞ in truth — rhea has lost all interest she could have had of the targaryen family. had she still been married to the prince, no doubt house royce would proudly claim the faction they are on; and had her husband want her in any capacity, she would be seated by him to lay her bow and arrows for his services, as well as her bannermen. matter of fact is, their marriage was a sham, and it was barren.

and the vale, for as much as they do bend their knees to team black, they are otherwise uninvolved; save for a few men rhea has arranged to give support as lady jeyne has written her call-of-war letter. now, she caters to what's left of her townsfolk. what she could do — clothes, and food, and healers — and what she could provide when her men return.

❝ i would not worry, lady lyssa. i reckon there will always be a dragon on a throne. ❞ for that's what they will always do; they take and take and take — with fire and blood. while the world watched; while the world sweep the ashes and clean their walls when they are done with their warmongering. ❝ in the meantime, house royce knows to whom they swear their fealty to. ❞

@wcrriorhearts / game of thrones (s4) + accepting.

[serhowlan]

Howlan had hoped for a quiet evening after traveling this afternoon, but things rarely went that way in King's Landing. Especially when drinking in Flea Bottom. No, it seemed there were other plans for the evening, no matter how much he tried to avoid them. Still, she had held her own better than most men, and he was still impressed, but it seemed the others were not. If he could ensure the big guy didn't want to fight him, then all matters would quickly be handled. Howl relaxed his shoulders before padding the man on the shoulder. "Yes, should I not make it as a hedge night. I'm looking into being a court jester." He chuckled before looking at the woman. Hopeful that she wouldn't say or do anything to rile the man back up. His other hand rested on the hilt of his dagger, just in case. It was better to be prepared than lose a limb or life. Thankfully, the man had been drinking and didn't put up too much of a fight and found that Howl was funny. That was better than he could have asked for. "I'm sure you did. That's why you were so pale, almost like the Stranger was near." Howl rolled his eyes in annoyance. "Most would say thank you, but I'm guessing that is the best you will tell me this evening..." He shrugged before crossing his arms over his chest and watching her closely. Chuckling, he shook his head before finding another table for them. "Are you alright? You gave them one hell of a fight..." He mumbled before leaning back in his seat for a moment. It impressed him, and he was sure not to anger her. Chuckling at her question, Howl shook his head at her. "Only if you promise not to cheat..."

The hand around her throat was unpleasantly clamping down on her airway and Lyssa could tell that the gentleman in question had enjoyed one too many ales as well, because his eyes were surprisingly glassy for someone with such a strong grip. He was also a mountain of a man and she quickly understood that even if her life depended on it, she would not be able to fight him off sufficiently. That's what she got for wanting a quiet night out away from the Keep with its treacherous inhabitants. She had learned how to hold her own in a situation like this and brought (dis-) honor to the name of Strong, but this man was a safe ticket to a rendez-vous with the Stranger.

She was about to politely point out that she was unable to breathe, when another man stepped into view and distracted the ruffian. His grip slackened and Lyssa was briefly motivated to kick him where the sun didn't shine, but decided that she would graciously put that thought aside and instead just free herself from his hand. As she did so, the giant peered down at the man who had stepped in and glared, before chuckling and slamming his massive hand down on the other man's shoulder in good humor. "You's funny", he remarked, before toddling off into the general direction of the counter to get another ale. Seemed like he was just attracted by the commotion and wanted to play for a moment as well.

Coughing slightly, Lyssa brushed a stand of dark curls from her flushed face and glanced at the stranger. "I had everything under control", she pointed out with a certain air of annoyance in her voice, just to make sure that she had not needed saving. Technically she had, but he did not have to know that. Brushing off her dress, she could tell by the way breathing hurt that she was going to have a bruise on her neck that she would have to explain at court, or hide sufficiently. At least Aegon had not showed up here tonight to ruin the setting even more, so she was at least lucky in that respect. "Do you want to play cards?" A jest merely, because she had lost her enthusiasm for it.

[pulchramsolis]

[ @wcrriorhearts sent ]: [ nose ] - for receiver to kiss sender on the nose (from Lyssa)

"Little goose, little goose, there you are there you are," Abrogail sang, as she did when Lyssa was small and full of giggles. She peppered kisses all over her face, and a great smacking one on the end of her nose. "Little goose, little goose, you belong to me!" And then she dove in with the tickles, the girls shrieking with laughter in Lyssa's new room.

[pulchramsolis]

continued from here for @wcrriorhearts

"Aegon does not have 'bastards scattered through the city', Lyssa," she sighed, exasperated. Did he have any? Well, she wasn't sure, and it was not something that would surprise her were it brought to her with truth. "And he certainly isn't the only man who does. I don't like it, but I'm not so much a naive fool about it either." But Lyssa was young, and overprotective for obvious reasons. Her sister would become feral in her protectiveness now. She did appreciate her sister's words that she would at least try to be understanding.

"You don't need to be taking charge of all this. You shall help me, but I'm not so fragile that I cannot handle things. I just don't want the maester to touch me." She shivered a little. She was not fond of being touched by men, Aegon excluded for obvious reasons. She did find comfort in her sister's force in taking charge, but Lyssa was still a girl, and should be protected still as such, even if she would fight tooth and nail.

She snorted at the lingering threat against Lord Otto and shook her head. "I think should I ensure the queen knows before hand, that it will provide protection against whatever his machinations may be." Her concerns rested with the fact that this child, not a babe on a whore in Flea Bottom, would come before whatever children Aegon managed to have with Helaena. He did not lay with his sister-wife, but eventually, well... something would have to happen. "Ask among the servants about midwives. I shall see what I can do about finding out whom the queen employees. I will not have Queen Aemma's curse on me." She wrapped her arms protectively around her middle, reminding herself that the queen and Princess Rhaenyra had successful pregnancies and births.

[pulchramsolis]

continued from here for @wcrriorhearts

Abrogail has nightmares about fires, ever since Harrenhal. It seems her sister does too. "There's no fire except the one in the fireplace, Lyssa, and that is very well contained," she promises and waves to the maid she's brought with her. "Another bath, tepid water, not cold." Enough to help cool her sister's exhausted body but not enough to freeze her. She recalled something about the Maester who Lyssa was working with now advising against it. Something called shock.

She strokes a cool, damp cloth along her head and neck as she redoes her hair to keep it off her neck. Lyssa's pliable, and a little more aware than she was the day before so that's surely progress, right? "We're going to get you into another bath, and get some more soup in you, okay? Can you sit up for me, Lyssa?"

[legionversed]

Luke was a strapping young lad and was truly a noble man and missed the capital dearly. As he had fond memories of his youthful years dragon stone was great but it was not as magnificent as red keep of king's landing. He found himself placing his stuff in his room and getting ready to adventure the red keep with his brother. He heard a noise a scream and pups barking.

At first Luke ignored it but the noise continued he originally thought he was going mad. But then he located it was a small room next to his. Sadly the door apparently was locked Luke enjoyed the art of lock picking and was afraid someone may be hurt. At first he knocked on the door and said "is everything okay in there..?" He asked as he began to unlock the door once he got it open his eyes were amazed at what he saw.

Luke opened the door to see Ser Harwin's sister bleeding and it looks like the cooperate was the pup. Luke knelt beside her and said "allow me to help you my Lady" he said as he took a handkerchief and tied it around her hand to stop the bleeding.

@legionversed said: 🩸 Luke & Lyssa

The whole Keep was in a flurry, because the princess and her children were visiting for some sort of court hearing that Lyssa was not interested in. Everyone had been hectic all morning and in a foul mood, so she had vacated the premises. Larys was too busy to realize she was missing and she had used that window of opportunity to sneak into the tunnels and tend to her newest friend: a very bitey and terribly trained pup she had found while riding in the nearby woods. Technically it was a wolf pup that she had taken home, but no one needed to know that.

Her pup was especially playful and snappy when she fed him and so Lyssa ended up with a bite wound on her hand that bled quite a bit and stung. She could not truly be angry with the creature, given it had probably no intention of living among humans, but she had believed to do it a service, given the mother had lain dead in a ditch a few feet away from the pup. Grumbling to herself over the bleeding hand that she had wrapped in a piece of fabric, she slid back into the Keep and sat down in an alcove, inspecting the punctured bite marks. That would most likely get infected.

[pulchramsolis]

[@wcrriorhearts sent] "What am I?" for Lyssa I'm loving this meme honestly.

Baby. Brave. Everything.

[pulchramsolis]

[@aegonycrowned sent]: You're Pregnant? take two because we're doing a shared verse with @wcrriorhearts! She was alone in her bedroom that night. Lyssa had wanted to stay with her, but Abby had regretfully told her she needed to tell Aegon. They needed to figure this out. Her little room was quiet, illuminated by the blazing fireplace and a few other candles. Theraxis was stretched along the warm hearth stones in front of the fire with his little felt toy, but she knew he'd slink away for his nightly hunts. She'd barely touched her dinner, and had begged the Queen's forgiveness for leaving early. Being sick was not unusual for her. Between whatever her brother tried to feed her and Lyssa combating, she'd fall sick if the wind blew too hard in the wrong direction. How was she going to tell him? What were they going to do? Abrogail had been so careful about making sure a babe would not take that she was overwhelmed with all of her feelings. Joy, of course, because this was their baby, hers and Aegon's. Fear, because, well everything else. What would her brother do when he eventually found out? What would the Queen do? What would Otto Hightower do? She'd wrapped herself in one of Aegon's linen shirts, clinging to the lingering scent of him along the collar to comfort herself. He would not abandon her, he would not blame her. Right? She had to believe that. Aegon loved her. If he could not be with her in this moment in person, she would surround herself with him and pretend. She pulled her pink and gold robe that he'd gifted her for her last nameday for extra warmth, plucking at the ends of her wild coral curls that framed her like a halo. Should she go to his room? Should she wait for him to come to her? So nervous she was, that when Aegon did, in fact come looking for her, concern on his gorgeous face, she blurted out the news as soon as the door shut behind him. The logs in the fireplace popped in the quiet. Aegon was standing there, watching her, not so deep in his cups that his eyes weren't still sharp and focused on her. How she loved that look. She'd risen from the couch, hands nervously working at twisting the belt of her robe. Her red curls spilled free and wild down her shoulders, her rosebud mouth bitten red and nearly bloody from her chewing on her lower lip.You're pregnant? he'd asked. "I am. I thought it was stress, or illness that delayed me, but it's been two months. My breasts are sore and I haven't been feeling well at all." Tears well up in her eyes and she does her best to will them away because she's so afraid of what will be done to them. She would not bear it if they were ripped apart, but she won't apologize. She will not get rid of this child. This beautiful baby who will be theirs, this part of him inside of her she covets more than she recalls coveting anything.

Abrogail Strong rarely shows her true fear. She has not told him much, except that her elder brother is deeply unkind (he terrifies her, and she's only ever admitted in their quietest moments beneath the blankets as storms rage outside), and that is why her sister is always by her side. Something that Aegon can understand with his own parental issues. Her fear and joy are equal on her tearful face and she immedietly runs across the room to him, throwing herself into his arms and burying her face against his chest. She feels so selfish for it, but he is her safe harbor. He is her love, her warmth, her heart and Abby would be nowhere else except here. "I'm scared," she sobs into his chest, clinging to him like she was drowning, clinging to him like she could just melt into him and never leave. "I won't let them take the babe, I won't." She will not let them send her away either. The idea of being parted from Aegon kills her inside, as much as being parted for her sister.

[pulchramsolis]

[@wcrriorhearts sent]: "Why are you hiding your tears from me?" + muse a wipes muse b's tears away from underneath their eyes (because these work perfectly together)

"My feet hurt," she admitted quietly. "And my back hurts. Everything is sore and all I want to do is sleep. And I cannot keep anything down either." Abrogail makes a face and her voice is soft, not quite ashamed of it all, but embarrassed. She feels weak, and like an inconvenience. Holdovers from trying to be small, and agreeable, and fade into the tapestries and make nary a sound.

"It is silly, Lyssa, you do not need to fret over me." She gives her little sister a small smile, for it is sweet the way that Lyssa is fussing. That's the other issue as well, is it not? that her little sister feels she must take on these burdens. "Tell me you understand that these are not things for you to fix, or protect me from. Come. Tell me of what the Maester teaches you, little goose."

[pulchramsolis]

[@wcrriorhearts sent]: “You’re pregnant?” because you're a real one and ILU Abby wants so many kids, you guys, Send the meme!

There was a reason that she'd pulled Lyssa into the hidden stairway behind the Dornish War tapestry by the library. It was forgotten, and not frequented (unless she was yanking Aegon in there for reasons she didn't need to get into but were now made obvious). Larys' eyes were everywhere, and she did not want him to ruin the little bit of happiness she'd found. Most would scoff at Prince Aegon being capable of reciprocating love, but it was different with them.

"I am," she whispered, eyes bright with tears both happy and fearful. Her cold hands grasped her sister's to stop them shaking and took a deep breath, before coughing from the dust. "We've been careful and I know that we've been careful with..." With what Larys was doing to control the outcome of these things. It was no secret between the pair of them, for they were united against their brother's cruelty and use of them both. "I haven't told him yet, I wanted you to know first."

Her and Aegon weren't married. No, him and Helaena had an unhappy marriage, where they barely visited the other's bed. The difference was, Abrogail was not a Flea Bottom girl on the Street of Silk. She was a Lady. She was the unmarried sister of the Master of Whispers, and a lady in waiting to Queen Alicent. "Lyssa, I'm scared. But I... I can't imagine not having this baby."

[pulchramsolis]

How Do You Need to Be Comforted?

To Be Reassured. you need someone to talk to, to remind you that you will survive, that you are loved, that you are needed… because you are having a hard time believing it, yourself.

Where Do You Carry Your Pain?

Your Arms. you have tried to hold onto what is dear to you, only for it to be wrenched from your hands…

What Shatters You?

Sorrow. this world takes and takes, and you cannot understand why… your heart cracks with each loss, and now, you fear it is only held together with fraying strings. perhaps you consider how simpler it would be not to care. but, would your soul allow you to?

tagged by: @dragynfire

Tagging: @scndbrn (and all your blogs), @kipagircs (also maron maybe yes?), @inmydrcams (Alicent or Laena!), @ofvalyriansteel, @sunfyred, @helbroth (Lets go Raiden and Rickon), @wcrriorhearts (Lyssa!), @thedarring