Limbo

[King Theon IV Hoare]

Horas Pyke, Captain of the Soulblighter, arbitrates the Limbo event. He's a handsome man, with all of his teeth, no tattoos, and fewer scruples. He holds the competition in the bear pit, and asks all the contestants to one side of the pylons and wooden bar, which has been soaked in oil all night. He stands near the gateway with torch in hand and describes the event.

"Lords, ladies, and leftovers! I hope everyone remembered their leather armor! Each of you will traverse under the burning bar until you have fallen or refused to travel under. If you should be the last person standing, you will win..." He pointed to sixteen barrels nearby. "...a single alcoholic representative of each kingdom and free city! Sixteen barrels of joy, fire, and proverbial horsepiss depending on which cask you open first! Seriously, folks, I've been to Lorath and they're dryer than a Dornishman's... sense of humor. Anyway, everyone will line up before the descending furnace and see how fate favors the fashionable."

Nearby, the Bastard of Riverrun wraps a piece of leather around his face to protect his features from the heat.

[King Theon IV Hoare]

*Every contestant will make an agility roll against a rising threshold.

*The starting threshold is 50 and will rise by 10 every round.

*To insure a single winner, the last round will be repeated until someone can pass through without penalty.

[Mychel Mallister]

Mychel is there, ready to get his limbo shenanigans on.

[The Forgotten God]

As the limbo goes on, and Princess Melissa gets out of the running, the crowd cheers its approval at her willingness to have some fun. The northerners and Dornish are having their own contest, drinking as they all pass through, and overall the crowd is diverse and in a good mood for a change as the event is fostering goodwill and humor.

[Princess Melissa Gardener]

Disappointed by her failure, Melissa called for mead and settled down to watch the rest of the competitors.

[King Theon IV Hoare]

The servant bearing the mead tells her, "His Highness Prince Theon would greatly enjoy your company, Your Highness."

He gestures to several yards away, sitting with the rest of the Highborn. Theon smiles and waves her over.

[Princess Melissa Gardener]

She hesitated, sure Geralt would not be happy with her speaking to the prince and perhaps her father wouldn't either. Then again, Geralt wasn't present and it was her duty to be pleasant to their host family. After all, she had previously believed the prince had been about to start courting her, before he fought a duel with her brother. So she smiled kindly at the servant.

"I will gladly speak with Prince Theon," she said. She walked over to Theon. "I am glad to see you on the mend, Prince Theon," she said. "I was sorry to hear of the circumstances that led up to your injury. I am glad you were able to join the festivities."

[King Theon IV Hoare]

Theon sits in his primitive wheelchair and gives a great big grin. "I should say the same. You're the only foreigner to have tried their hand at the burning wall. I'm genuinely impressed."

[Princess Melissa Gardener]

She laughed, "I'm not allowed to compete in the melee and I have no talent for archery or jousting. I wanted to do something and I thought perhaps I would do well at Limbo. It's not a game we play in the Reach, so at least I'll have something to tell my children."

She sipped her glass of mead. "Who will win the event? I know neither of the remaining competitors?"

[King Theon IV Hoare]

"I know both of them well. The red-haired cad is Tywin Rivers, the Bastard of Riverrun. He's an old friend of my late brother, and I often employ the man as a bodyguard. The other gentleman is Mychel Mallister, Lord of Seagard. His godbrother is Lord Blacktyde, so you will often see the pair together."

Theon paused before stating. "I had hoped to spend more time with you. Before you left forever. I had also hoped I might convince you to even stay longer."

[Princess Melissa Gardener]

Melissa frowned. "It's kind of you to think of me, but we both know that's impossible, after everything that has happened. My father was wiling to consider the possibility, once, but not now. It's unfortunate, but we can't change the past. Though it is a shame. I thought we could have been friends, at least."

[King Theon IV Hoare]

Theon shook his head. "Forget about the poisoning. What do you want? If you're interested in a life where a brave woman isn't treated as unruly cattle... I can give you that. No more being bullied and shamed for a quirk of fate..." He looked the princess with sad eyes.

[Princess Melissa Gardener]

The corners of her mouth curved up in a hint of a smile. "Would that I could. But we both know my father would not allow it. If things had been different..."

She trailed off, hoping he would understand that he had ruined his chances when he quarrelled with Geralt, then took some more sips of mead.

"It's probably for the best. You wouldn't like being married to me, no matter what you think now."

[King Theon IV Hoare]

"Well... Life is longer than people plan for and shorter than people expect. I do hope you find happiness wherever you end up." He paused before stating, "I intend to make peace with your family before they leave Harrenhal. I know a marriage opportunity is past, but I seek a sort of amiability at the very least."

[Princess Melissa Gardener]

"That would be pleasant," she said. "And I wish you joy of the attempt. May I suggest humility, though? Do you mean to approach Geralt directly, or only my father?"

[King Theon IV Hoare]

"I honestly don't recall my last encounter with your brother. The poison left me irrational and insensate before sending me into a seizure, but I somehow doubt Geralt will care. I'm told I yielded, but beyond that..." Theon shrugged. "But I don't want your father and Perceon thinking we bear them any ill will."

[Princess Melissa Gardener]

"Of course not. I would tell them myself, but it won't have the same meaning. You must face my kin yourself, Prince Theon, and show them that you have strength and courage and would like to put the past behind you."

She thought for a moment. "Has the identity of the poisoner been discovered yet? I've heard nothing."

[King Theon IV Hoare]

Theon frowned. "We know it was a Dornish poison, and we know how it was administered. But my grandfather has forbidden me from discussing it in public..."

[Princess Melissa Gardener]

Melissa frowned. She knew the rumours about poison and the Dornish, but hated thinking of her particular friends being involved in such things. "I won't press you, if it makes you uncomfortable. As Prince Geralt's sister, I#m obviously anxious that the culprit be found, to remove any remaining shreds of doubt regarding my brother's integrity. He's the last man who would take such action, of course, but there will be doubts, until we know who did it."

[King Theon IV Hoare]

Theon shook his head. "It was most definitely not Geralt. I was slipped the poison long before he and I came to blows."

[Princess Melissa Gardener]

"I'm glad you know that," she said, a little relieved. "When you go to make peace with my family, you could mention that - it may help ease the tension a little. I don't suppose you care to share your opinion of who sought to kill you? Unofficially, of course."

[King Theon IV Hoare]

Theon was tempted to say something, but shook his head. "It's not my decision to make. My grandfather would prefer to keep it secret for the sake of the tourney."

[Princess Melissa Gardener]

"As you wish, I'll let it go. I'm sure your grandsire knows what he's about. I hope he hasn't been toobadly troubled by the events happening on his land." But even as she said it, she knew it was probably a forlorn hope.

[King Theon IV Hoare]

"Oh, he was furious by what happened. He's tossed people out of windows for far less. But strife is the natural state of the Ironborn anyway. So I wouldn't say he is 'troubled' per se."

He frowned as he thought of something. "I don't know why, but I was just reminded of the Isle of Faces. I often visit when I am saddened. I spent many days there when my brother died. I imagine I will visit there again after this tourney is over."

[Princess Melissa Gardener]

"I've heard of the Isle of Faces," she said. "But it's not a place we talk about often, at home. What do you do when you go there? I've heard there are priests on the island."