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Post by Princess Melissa Gardener on Aug 8, 2017 19:47:51 GMT
"Oh yes, of course. But I don't really know how the Citadel works, either. How could I?" She regarded Alyssa thoughtfully. "Have you read any books whose only copies are in the Citadel, then? Old books otherwise lost to the world?"
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Post by Lady Alyssa Hightower on Aug 8, 2017 20:10:31 GMT
"I have," she said, smiling sweetly at the princess again, "you should come visit, you did not strike me as such a lover of education,"
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Post by Princess Melissa Gardener on Aug 8, 2017 20:15:24 GMT
"I'm no scholar, but I do like some of the old tales. I might be interested in history books, if they talk about great battles and ancient heroes. I'll wager the maesters know much more about our history than anyone else. And maybe you do too, now? What books do you like best?"
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Post by Lady Alyssa Hightower on Aug 8, 2017 20:25:55 GMT
"I just like books. Books are a tonic for the spirit," she smiled happy the princess didn't pick up on her insult. "You should visit. Your brother would I've to show you round I am sure."
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Post by Princess Melissa Gardener on Aug 8, 2017 20:37:40 GMT
"I shall see what my schedule allows," Melissa replied, quite happily unaware of any insult. And you must come to Highgarden for a longer visit too."
She moved towards the stream and watched the sunlight sparkling off the water. "What shall you do after the events here are done? Go home to Oldtown?"
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Post by Lady Alyssa Hightower on Aug 8, 2017 20:47:23 GMT
"Of course," she said, "I have a city tofun, and the lands around, I considered not coming to this event."
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Post by Princess Melissa Gardener on Aug 8, 2017 20:52:56 GMT
Melissa nodded. "You have your duties, of course. I'd say I understood that, but of course, I don't know what it's like." She smiled. "But you must work very hard, so it's surely good to have a break?"
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Post by Lady Alyssa Hightower on Aug 8, 2017 21:22:34 GMT
"My works gives me purpose, purpose is all we have in this life," Alyssa replied. "What gives you life,"
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Post by Princess Melissa Gardener on Aug 8, 2017 21:34:33 GMT
"For me it's adventure and swordplay," Melissa confided. "Strange for a princess, I know, but true. I love travelling and pitting my skill against other people. I like the physical work of swordplay too and I much prefer to be outdoors than in. I suppose that's why I don't read as often as perhaps I should."
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Post by Lady Alyssa Hightower on Aug 8, 2017 21:45:47 GMT
"Have you lain with a man yet?" She asked looking st her, "I shan't tell whatever your answer,"
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Post by Princess Melissa Gardener on Aug 8, 2017 21:52:11 GMT
Melissa's jaw dropped. It took her a good minute before she could speak. She was completely stunned by the question, which nobody had dared ask in so bold a fashion before.
"Of course not! I've never let a man kiss me, or touch me in any improper way." She sighed. "I've never even wanted to kiss a man, truly. The songs claim that the blood is set afire when a woman meets the man she is destined to love, but I've never felt that fire in my blood outside of swordplay. I've never met a man I liked in that way. I don't even know if I will."
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Post by Lady Alyssa Hightower on Aug 8, 2017 21:58:27 GMT
"You should forget your silly songs," she smiled,"I just wondered since you were so... modern in your other persuits if you were modern in these."
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Post by Princess Melissa Gardener on Aug 8, 2017 22:10:32 GMT
"Oh. Oh, no. I'm afraid not," Melissa answered, blushing. "I...I am sworn to do my duty but I am not really looking forward to being married. I had rather enter a battlefield than my wedding bedchamber, truly."
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Post by Lady Alyssa Hightower on Aug 8, 2017 22:12:25 GMT
"I should not knock the physical side to marriage, it's quite all that keeps me going" she gave the princess a wicked smile.
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Post by Princess Melissa Gardener on Aug 8, 2017 22:25:41 GMT
The red flush on Melissa's cheeks deepened. She really didn't want to think about her brother having sex.
"I just...I don't know. It doesn't interest me much. But maybe that's because I've never done it. My friend Lilith is dead set on me finding a lover, but I've no desire to lay with a man outside of marriage. Besides, can you imagine the scandal? To be honest, if anyone's likely to do it, it's my cousin Florys. She likes men a little too much for her own good."
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Post by Lady Alyssa Hightower on Aug 9, 2017 7:36:13 GMT
"Life is for living, my princess," she said with a grin and looked around, trying to find the heart tree.
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Post by The Forgotten God on Aug 9, 2017 10:37:07 GMT
This far into the dim godswood the heart tree sits, slightly off center to the east, and the women see a young man wearing a grey cloak next to the strange wild giant that had drawn so many eyes at the Starks' entrance. Truly the lad had pulled someone from the darkest and most primal edge of the world to bring to the extravagant castle. Off to the left, they see some Dornishmen and women laughing about some such, clearly having enjoyed the celebration a bit too much.
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Post by Lady Alyssa Hightower on Aug 9, 2017 13:14:56 GMT
She did not get on well with drunks, and so headed over to the northern boy.
"Good morning," she introduced, "I am Alyssa Hightower, and this is my good sister Melissa,"
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Post by The Forgotten God on Aug 9, 2017 14:15:20 GMT
Torrhen Stark looks at her and Melissa with the ghost of a smile. He is broad shouldered but still thin, growing into manhood's power though he's attained its height. His eyes are forest green and his hair is chestnut brown and a bit wavy. His voice is deep and seems on a certain road to get deeper, already bass and trying hard for a baritone. "It is very nice to meet you, my lady Alyssa," he said formally, his eyes sparkling like there is fire behind them, and he kisses her hand and then Melissa's. "And princess Melissa, the two of you will make me dream I had been born in the south," he promised. "And that is never a thought I'd imagined to possess."
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Post by Princess Melissa Gardener on Aug 9, 2017 17:34:18 GMT
Melissa laughed softly. "You have a southerner's tongue for flattery, at least. I imagine you Northmen would find the south far too hot for your liking. Is it true that your people have icewater in their veins?" She teased.
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Post by The Forgotten God on Aug 9, 2017 20:44:45 GMT
He smirked just a tad at her statements. "We come down when our current hosts kidnap one too many southern ladies," he replied. "But I have been told my blood runs rather too hot for a northerner. My younger brother, now, he is a cold one. But I did spend a few years in White Harbor so I gained my poet's soul," he added, smiling at last. "I didn't think southerners saw the use in heart trees. It's nothing like Winterfell's, but it has its own beuaty, all the same."
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Post by Princess Melissa Gardener on Aug 9, 2017 21:25:10 GMT
"I feel the same. It's different to our godswood at Highgarden. We have sentinel trees but no heart tree. I hope Lady Alyssa and I are not intruding."
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Post by The Forgotten God on Aug 9, 2017 21:31:00 GMT
"A pair such as yourselves would be welcome anywhere at anytime, I am quite sure," he said. "No heart tree? Sometimes I feel the Andals didn't quite realize what they lost when they purged their lands," he said. "If it is ice that keeps my heart beating," he said, "what would you say keeps you feeling alive?" He asked, apparently at them both.
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Post by Princess Melissa Gardener on Aug 9, 2017 21:39:31 GMT
"We were talking about this earlier," Melissa said. "For me it's swordplay and adventure. For Alyssa, books and learning, I believe."
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Post by The Forgotten God on Aug 9, 2017 21:44:29 GMT
Torrhen smiled at Alyssa. "More important for a ruler to be able to know why someone should do something than to be able to do it himself...or herself," he added with a broad grin. "Adventure, hm? Adventure is what happens when the real plan fails, in my experience." He looked about. "It is quite hot down here," he joked as he tugged his collar. "Maybe you were right about me melting."
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Post by Princess Melissa Gardener on Aug 9, 2017 22:08:37 GMT
She rolled her eyes. "You'd never cope in the Reach. Or Dorne. If you went to Dorne you'd end up as a puddle."
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Post by The Forgotten God on Aug 10, 2017 0:30:57 GMT
"Perhaps then some lovely Dornish lass would sip me for relief from the heat then," he offered. "Do you joust? I've always wished to see a female jouster." He looked to alyssa. "And what is your favorite book, my lady? It is seldom we get anything new where I am from."
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Post by Lady Alyssa Hightower on Aug 10, 2017 16:49:33 GMT
"Perhaps you should venture from white harbour to oldtown and read a few, were never not getting anything new. Do you think we'll of your maester." She asked
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Post by Princess Melissa Gardener on Aug 10, 2017 17:35:57 GMT
"I don't joust," Melissa remarked. "I enjoy riding though." She seemed about to say something else but her face changed and she went quiet.
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Post by The Forgotten God on Aug 11, 2017 4:11:30 GMT
"Maester Reginald? He's a good man," Torrhen said, "not built for the cold, really; he's from Harvest Hall I think. His thin body doesn't hold in any heat at all, hopefully he gets promoted to archmaester one day so he doesn't freeze to death." His tone was light and kidding. "I had hoped to barter for some books while I was here," he confessed. "The journey from White Harbor to Winterfell is two full weeks, and I've other lands to attend to sadly." He grinned at Melissa. "You should joust," he declared. "Show the knights what for. I had a notion to ride the lakeshore tomorrow," he added, "if I'm coming this far sout, I am determined to see as much of it as I can. Father shouldn't have told me my younger brothers could do my usual duties until I returned," he laughed.
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