The Snake's Lair

[The Forgotten God]

Princess Serena has rented out two establishments for her party, as her type of entertainment frequently is unpleasant for the more close minded folk of the rest of Westeros and soothing their unhurt feelings makes her angry.

[Lady Abigail Lannister]

Lady Abigail Lannister arrives at the Snake's Lair, accompanied by several of her father's guard of course. While the presence of a young western lady might seem out of the ordinary, Abigail's mother was a Blackmont and so she wished to get to know her extended family (and heritage) a little better.

She came wearing an orange and red dress in tribute to house Martell, two small sun shaped earrings in her ears and a pair of slightly heeled dornish sandals on her feet. Her hair had been pinned up delicately and she wore dark soot around her eyes.

[The Forgotten God]

A young man greets her, looking her up and down. "My lady," he said, "welcome to our one. I'm Tristan Yronwood, third son of..."

"No one cares, Tristan," another man said, walking up. He was tall and dark skinned, and he looked at her with slightly cruel eyes. "Who are you and who do you want to see?" He asked.

[Lady Abigail Lannister]

Abigail smiled apologetically at Tristan before curtsying to the newcomer. "Lady Abigail of house Lannister," she responded in gentle tones. "Myriah Blackmont is my mother and I came to visit family. I am fraid that I do not know the dornish side of my family very well." She looked down, sounding a little upset.

[The Forgotten God]

"Let her in Darius," a young man said, looking her over. "Even if she's a stranger Dornishmen don't let beautiful women wait outside." He nodded with approval. "Lady Abigail, I'm Ser Desmond Yronwood, and may I say it's a pleasure?" He kissed her hand. "Your cousin Talia is around here somewhere, but she prefers the taverns to our little fort," he noted. "Please come in and have a drink." He waved for wine.

[Lady Abigail Lannister]

"Thank you Ser Desmond," Ani said with another curtsy, giving a passing smile to whoever this Darius fellow was. "A cousin, you say? I hope she is my age so that we can talk about things we might have in common. I tried talking with an older lady on the way here but she was so boring that I almost pulled my hair out!" She smirked at that, able to act a little less ladylike among the not so stuffy Dornishmen.

[The Forgotten God]

"I hope you don't share every interest," he said with a bit of a smile. "But she is quite likeable, all told. I'm sure you'll get along famously." The young knight offered her a seat. "Unless you want to go find her for now you're stuck with us. Ser Darius Gargalen is Dorne's greatest warrior, and most insufferable prick," he added amiably. The big knight ignored the jibe, somehow. "You know the dog you keep locked up because it hunts boars better than any, but fights when it is free? That is him." Darius offered a glance at Abigail and smiled evilly, then took his leave without a word. "Is your mother with you?" He asked. "I am not over familiar with House Blackmont; all those western houses are a bit in the clouds if you ask me."

[Lady Abigail Lannister]

Abigail took the offered seat with a smile, watching Ser Darius as he left the hall. "Yes, I know the type you speak of," she said in response to the locked up dog. Her father had always valued such a knight in his household. "My mother is with us, yes, though she is feeling a little weary from the journey. She is not as young as she used to be and finds it hard these days." The smirk on Abigail's face was a strange one, as if she took some joy in the aging of her mother. "Have you ever visited any of the houses in the moutains?"

[The Forgotten God]

"Starfall, of course," he said. "When they last conducted a tourney to celebrate the Sword of the Morning. It's a pity Ser Auric died of a fever a fortnight later. Otherwise, I have my own mountains," he laughed. "And Blackhaven sits too close to leave unwatched for long." He grinned at her. "So tell me of your home. I've never even dreamed of being so far away from Dorne, but the gold...well, a strong incentive."

[Lady Abigail Lannister]

"A fever? Some sword of the morning he must have been," Abi said with a disapproving little frown. She had heard of the Daynes of course - who hadn't? And yet the title of the bearer of the house's sword had just been diminished in her view.

"We are rich, yes," She continued, snapping a finger at her handmaid, who procured for her a small mirror in which Abi inspected herself. "Though I did not expect a Dornishman to be lured by money. The tales paint you as very patriotic people." She gave a small pout at the mirror before returning it to her servant.

[The Forgotten God]

"We are, none more so," he suddenly insisted. "I meant that gold is the blood of a nation, and so finding a new source is always good, for a visit," he added a bit late. "But now that I've seen a lady of the West, I know I have waited far too long to visit." Abigail looks superb, as always.

[Lady Abigail Lannister]

Abi smirked to herself, making it obvious that she was charmed by the comment. "My, I also heard that the Dornish have the tongues of snakes but it seems like they might be golden snakes. It would explain my own ability to rile up the household back at Casterly Rock." She looked around the room for a moment and bit her lip. "Who would you say is the most important person in Dorne, after the Princess of course."

[The Forgotten God]

"I am always the most important person to myself," he said solemnly before smiling. "But what do you mean? For power it'd be my father, for intelligence, perhaps Lord Jordayne, and for fame who can outshine House Dayne and their legendary sword?" He smiled. "It is like asking who matters in the West save the Lion?"

[Lady Abigail Lannister]

"You are right," Abigail answer with a laugh. "I may have asked a bit of a broad question, though it did tell me that you are a comfortable diplomat." She crossed her legs and snapped her fingers at her handmaid again, who handed her the mirror and after a moment a little box that contained some light pink cream, which Abigail applied to her lips.

[The Forgotten God]

"Preening in front of men?" He asked. "Isn't that supposed to be a woman's mystery?" He chuckled at her. "Are you wondering who best to look pretty for? The answer to that is definitely myself," he said boldly.

[Lady Abigail Lannister]

"Is it?" Abigail asked with a raised eyebrow, before smacking her lips at Desmond, handing the mirror and lip cream back. "I intend to look pretty all the time and do not care who is watching. Though speaking of, perhaps we should ask Ser Darius back. He was quite," she bit her lip. "Dangerous."

[The Forgotten God]

Desmond frowned at that. "If you insist," he said with a shrug. "But that isn't the word for him. Not unless you mean insane and violent." He seemed annoyed. "I assume looking pretty is something you don't struggle with, then."

[Lady Abigail Lannister]

Abigail gave a small laugh. "Oh Ser Desmond, have I wounded you? I apologise, I didn't realise my words would sting quite so much." She smirked and leaned forward slightly. "It is very easy for me, yes, though perhaps that means I don't appreciate it enough."

[The Forgotten God]

"We don't know what we have until it is gone," he said, looking down her dress unabashedly. He looked back up. "I am merely concerned for your safety. Darius is a guard dog who should never be unleashed," he said with distaste. "And certainly not around young ladies."

[Lady Abigail Lannister]

Abigail gave a slightly unimpressed look at Desmond's obvious checking out but she said nothing. "What is the point in having a guard dog who should never be unleashed? May as well put him down." She smirked again. "Though he is far too handsome to be wasted like that."

[The Forgotten God]

Desmond nodded along. "I've said he should be put down, the princess says no. And so goes life," he included. "We unleash him on Stormlanders or Reachmen when there is a battle, then send him back to his kennel. Why he came here I cannot guess."

[Lady Abigail Lannister]

"Has anyone asked him?" Abi asked with a grin that was almost a little cheeky. "But I guess even if you did he would not likely respond, what with being such a grim figure." She giggled.

[The Forgotten God]

Desmond nodded as a group of Dornish wandered in, and at last Abi sees some Blackmonts along with the Martells and Fowlers. Desmon rose. "Arthur," he said, pointing to a dark haired man in his late twenties, "you have a guest, from the wonderful city of Lannisport. This is Abigail Lannister, her mother is kin to you I believe." Arthur turned and looked at her.

"Well, well," he said, "the prodigal family returns!" He said. "Haven't heard from your mother in a year or so. How are you, cousin?" He came forward fora hug.

[Lady Abigail Lannister]

Abigail smiled as she was introduce to family, even though the man was a stranger. She let him hug her, returning it lightly but not yet adding the customary kiss on the cheek. "Very well, cousin," she responded. "Mother has been rather stressed and tired of late and I cannot help but think it may have to do with me." She giggled at that. "And yourself?"

[The Forgotten God]

"Why would she be stressed over you, no?" He asked, waving her to sit down with him for some words. "House Blackmont is as it always is, hot, isolated, and swarmed by ravenous Reachmen seeking our land," he laughed. "But such is life and I wouldn't trade it for anything. How's the tourney for you? I imagine it is overwhelming acing so many people lining up to meet you. I took care of that problem long ago,married a good local girl," h laughed. "I hate strangers."