though  he  hears  the  lady  baratheon  coming  ,  tobias  tenses  anyway  as  she  makes  contact  .  "  aravis  .  "  he  mirrors  her  informality  with  a  barely  perceptible  smile  ,  muscles  loosening  marginally  .  as  much  as  he  can  ,  that  is  ,  never  being  particularly  relaxed  by  nature  .  "  i  think  i've  had  my  fill  of  travel  for  a  while  ,  "  or  ,  rather  ,  he  isn't  inclined  to  continue  running  away  anymore  , and  his  goals  keep  him  in  westeros  for  now  .  altogether a far too serious answer to an ultimately lighthearted question . "  don't  you  have  a  pirate  to  sail  the  world  with  ?  "  he  prods , almost playfully  .  she  had  the  last  time  tobias saw  her  ,  at  least  ,  but  it  had  become  abundantly  clear  that  much  could  change  in  six  moons'  time  .

toned arms wrap around a slender neck, aravis clinging to tobias in a half drunken stupor, refusing to allow the mad king to dullen her fun—or rather what's left of it. “tobias!” lady baratheon whispers harshly in his ear, mischief gleaming in her embolden gaze while casually addressing the male. “let's run away, what do you say?” she inquires as if the request is the easiest thing in his position to accept. “don't you want to sail away with me? ” // @patriciers

"  you  two  are  doing  alright  ,  yeah  ?  don't  need  anything  ?  "  aware  he's  hovering  again  ,  in  spite  of  promising  @wnterreign  he  wouldn't  anymore  ,  osric  poses  the  question  regardless  .  though  his  proximity  to  the  arryn  apartments  isn't  only  because  of  them  ,  but  also  little  motivation  to  stray  far  from  their  quarters  .  and  ,  of  course  ,  he  has  no  doubt  that  alicent  could  take  care  of  herself  and  mayra  without  trouble  .  but  having  quickly  grown  attached  to  his  niece  ,  concern  for  her  (  the  both  of  them  ,  really  )  so  often  overtakes  any  of  his  previous  knowledge  .

clapping  a  hand  solidly  on  the  northern  guard's  shoulder  ,  belthasar  silently  dismisses  the  other  for  a  shift  change  .  though  the  threat  hadn't  been  made  against  his  king's  life  ,  now  is  certainly  not  the  time  to  be  lax  with  regards  to  his  duties  .  he  starts  to  pass  through  the  doorway  ,  but  halts  when  he  spots  @stxrfclls  a  short  distance  away  ,  seemingly  trying  to  pass  through  themselves  .  "  his  grace  has  asked  not  to  be  disturbed  ,  if  you  wish  to  have  an  audience  .  "  he  states  ,  shifting  so  that  his  frame  fills  the  space  .

returning to the training grounds had , for tobias , been inevitable once he'd been sure all his family is accounted for . even if he didn't need a reminder to stay sharp , to stay focused , aedar's latest stunt served that very same purpose . " do you think it's true ? " he asks once he's caught his breath from sparring with @wnterreign . that there really had been an attempt on the king's life , he means , remaining vague even if aranya's disdain for the targaryens had long been palpable . " the way he's reacted — it doesn't make sense , " he continues , glancing away thoughtfully .

" i figured we could stick around here for a while , " osric explains before flopping down onto one of the couches in the common room . the mazes hold no appeal anymore , and lead by his gradually building unease , he gravitates toward the familiar — which , in a region he's only been to once before , means staying near family , @ruinovs of course being included . " that okay with you ? " he asks , though admittedly he has no intention on moving from his spot for the time being .

in many ways , nightshade exists as osric's polar opposite . where osric seems to thrive in the presence of others , the she - wolf so often remains elusive to anyone not endemic to the eyrie , only venturing out when there are as few people about as possible . but she's been glued to osric's side as of late , even now staying close enough that her fur brushes against his leg as they traverse highgarden's corridors . he nearly trips over her when she suddenly trots ahead and stops , ears pinned back . he follows her uneasy gaze , eyes resting on @qcyqoyi . an apologetic but still casual smile crosses his features as he reaches down to soothingly scratch between her ears . " sorry about her . it's nothing personal , promise — she does this with everybody lately . "

though he doesn't mind simply existing in his cousin @encirclet orbit without exchanging words , observing the world around him , eventually the stormlander thinks it fitting to break the lengthy silence anyway . " i'm surprised he didn't try pointing the finger at one of us , " a joke , maybe , in spite of his impassive expression , save for a slightly raised eyebrow . although tobias wouldn't put it past aedar to assume everyone had simply moved on from his previous actions , even if some had not . for as much as the lord had been able to ignore the southern king and his whims in essos , his latest stunt only reminds tobias how much control he has so long as he still stands .

" are you … able to stay a while longer ? " serena inquires quietly , hesitantly , as she shifts to sit with her legs to the side . even if her attention remains squarely on their daughter , presently entranced by a toy she's passed from one hand to the other , the question is aimed at @encirclet . " i think she's more at ease with you here . " nimble fingers brush through the babe's hair , more to assuage the lady's own concerns and check that maika remains within reach than to soothe an already content infant .

only  managing  to  shed  a  sliver  of  his  childhood  diffidence  ,  few  had  stuck  as  someone  tobias  considered  a  companion  in  the  manner  he  views  vaella  swann  ,  whose  presence  consistently  offers  a  bit  of  relief  ,  in  spite  of  her  proximity  to  a  man  he'd  developed  such  rancor  toward  .  one  he's  been  reminded  of  again  recently  —  not  that  he's  ever  really  forgotten  it  . but holding her kin against her   "  you  found  another  quiet  spot  ,  "  he  remarks  upon  slowing  to  a  stop  at  @swannwhite  side  ,  eyes  focused on  landscape sprawled out beyond the  balcony  railing  .  "  … i  hope  you  don't  mind  the  company  ,  " he adds after a beat .

though the  awareness  that  she's  being  a  poor  host  swirls  around  in  her  mind  ,  yet  other  concerns  are that much louder , preventing  serena  from  simply  snapping  out  of  her  state  .  she  can't  be  sure  how  long  she's  absently  stirred  her  beverage  , even  after  the  sugar  has  dissolved  . but  as  she  finally reemerges  from  her  thoughts  ,  and an  unmistakable  look  of  expectation  from  @ruinovs  greets  her  , she suspects it's been a while .  "  hmm  ?  "  she  sits  up  ,  raising  her  teacup  to  her  lips  to conceal the sheepishness that blooms across her features .  "  i'm  sorry  ,  would  you  repeat  that  ?  "

it  feels  strange  ,  not  only  returning  to  the  ballroom  ,  but to  see  so  many  bustling  throughout  the  space  already .  but now  that  jory  seemed  back  to  his  usual  antics  ,  bel's  willingness  to  leave  him  in  the  care  of  his  tutor  had  returned  .  and  ,  admittedly  ,  being  able  to  blend  in  with  the  crowd  and  drink  mead  with  the  hum  of  conversation  around  him  ,  is  something  of  a  relief  .  which  is  why  ,  were  he  a  more  impatient  man  ,  the  figure  in  his  periphery  that  had  paused  long  enough  for  acknowledgement  is  necessary  ,  would  grate  on  him  .  but  he  had  long  since  learned  both  tolerance  and  patience  .  and  so  ,  the  lord  commander  regards  @qcyqoyi  a  beat  ,  nodding  silently  in  greeting  ,  before  returning  to  nursing  his  drink  .

the eyeroll prompts tobias to fix her with a look , a wholly serious one where under any other circumstances there would be a bit of amusement , or at least levity . but lately , there has been nothing that puts tobias on guard like something that has aedar at the helm . " no , of course not , " he knows better , or at least he likes to think he does , even with their time apart . and there's some part of him that agrees with the prospect being fun , though in the end , any fight with the guards wouldn't satiate his recent thirst for bloodsport . a soft sigh leaks from his lips before he continues . " but i don't trust them , and i don't want you to lose your head , " literally or figuratively .

told she can not do something and the unsettling feeling of being trapped, as many had been in dorne, myriah had no intention of simply obeying the guards. to expect her, or anyone else, to do so without question is too reminiscent of recent events for her not to say something. the familiar voice pulls her focus, determined steps slowing as she glances over at tobias. ❝ yes it can. it'll be fun. ❞ her eyes find his again, rolling as she comes to a halt. ❝ do you really expect me to just stand here, tobias? ❞ she couldn't believe anyone continued to just stand there, really.

eyebrows  rise  and fall ,  making  no  attempt  at  a  polite  smile  when  she  knows  for  a  fact  it  would  be  more  akin  to  baring  her  teeth  .  serena  nearly  asks  what  about their previous interactions would  lead her to think  that  might  be  the  case in the first place  ,  but  to  pose  the  question  (  even  rhetorically  )  would  be  to  admit  that  the  other  lady  gets  under  her  skin  —  something  serena  perpetually  refuses  to  do  .  "  why  are  you  here  then  ?  "  anywhere near her specifically , anyway , not so naive as to believe the two of them wouldn't cross paths on occasion .  but how unfortunate it is that how is one of those times . "  surely  there  are  better  ways  to  bide  your  time  .  "

for once, the sight of serena is a relief aiyla did not know was possible. defenses were at an all time high when around the lady. but if she and maika were here, rickard's sole focus would be dilan for the time being. ❝ do not worry, lady karstark. i have no intention of doing anything. ❞ their quarreling would be a distraction, but useless. should something start to happen, aiyla wanted to be well aware. on top of being trapped within the garden, it was just both their ill fates that they were there together.

torrhen  coming  into  view  is  only  a  temporary  balm  ,  though  it  is  enough  to  temper  serena  some  more  —  when  she  looks  away  from  jon  ,  at  least  .  how  nice  it  is  to  see  a  familiar  face  here  that  doesn't  also  fill  her  with  annoyance  or  trepidation  .  releasing  her  grasp  on  the  bench  ,  she  reaches  out  to  catch  the  toddlers'  hands  in  her  own  once  he  totters  close  enough  .  "  torrhen  ,  it's  good  to  see  you  ,  "  she  greets  with  as  much  outward  composure  as  she  can  muster  ,  though  thumbs  still  sweep  urgently  over  his  tiny  fingers  as  she  exchanges  a  few  words  with  him  .  only  after  ensuring  his  excitement  is  quelled  does  she  redirect  her  attention  ,  first  to  maika and her nursemaid  then  to  the  prince  .  "  where  is  alys  ?  is  she  here  ?  "  she  inquires  ,  peering  around  him  ,  as  if  to  catch  a  glimpse  .

by chance , he encountered torrhen and his septa in his pursuit for answers or a path that did not lead him into the arms of a red and black clad guard . with the squirming toddler held safely in his embrace , murmured words spoken soothingly with hopes that his son would calm jon is at once thwarted when torrhen lays gaze upon serena . wiggling renewed once more he places him gently to his feet to watch as he begins to toddle over , half babbled words already leaving him while brown hues meet serena's stare . steady , he stares back far used to the icy pools that make alys' gaze , unconcerned entirely with those of her family as it is not their opinions nor validation he seeks .

as  a  small  figure  blurs  past  ,  it  immediately  sets  off  alarm  in  serena's  mind  ,  rattling  off  the  first  excuse  that  comes  to  mind  to  capture  the  child's  attention  .  "  that  gown  is  a  lovely  color  .  did  you  choose  it  yourself  ?  "  much  as  the  lady  tries  to  conceal  it  ,  the  nervous  edge  to  her  voice  makes  itself  apparent  .  but  either  the  young  girl  doesn't  notice  ,  or  doesn't  care  ,  for  the  question  appearing  to  divert  her  from  her  intended  path  regardless  .  beckoning  the  girl  closer  with  her  free  arm  while  balancing  maika  on  the  other  ,  she  prepares  to  continue  her  feigned  interest  in  the  girl's  attire  ,  even when  it's  the  last  thing  on  her  mind  .  mercifully  ,  she  doesn't  have  to  do  so  for  long  . she  shakes  her  head  stiffly  at  the  lady's  words  ,  muscles  remaining  taut  even  after  the  girl's  name  is  called  .  still  ,  serena  sinks  back  ,  returning  to  sitting  with  her  legs  folded  underneath  her  .  "  no  need  to  thank  me  .  i've  only  done  what  i'd  hope  someone  would  do  if  she  were  my  child  ,  "  thankfully  her  own  daughter  couldn't  run  just  yet  . 

open stater (@reignrbs), the private garden

joanna had only come out to the gardens to give rhea and steffon some fresh air, and to let rhea run without fear of her breaking something precious within their rooms, but she had never wished so greatly that she had kept them indoors. steffon, shy as she had been at his age, had clung to her skirts when startled by the guards, but rhea had slipped from her grasp and vanished amongst the collection of corralled nobles.

rhea had always been a boisterous girl, bold and energetic. it was not surprising for her to run ahead to see what new and exciting thing was happening, but it always panicked joanna. she swung her son up into her arms and pushed through the crowd, searching for daughter’s dark hair, and the clinking of her bronze bracelets.

joanna’s heart was hammering in her ears by the time she found her, thankfully not in the custody of some southron guard, but instead being held away from them by another of the nobles trapped here.

“rhea royce,” she hissed, pulling her daughter back close to her, before smiling up at the person who had kept her daughter safe, “i thank you for looking out for her. she’s too curious for her own good sometimes.”

another person might retort , remind them that a whole army surrounding them prevents just that . that he has no plans to leave again until he sees his plans through . but knowing what they actually refer to , tobias' gaze merely falls to his feet . he nods almost imperceptibly , watching his sister for a moment from the periphery of his vision . " it looks like the stalls are still open . if you need anything , " he says after a beat , having noticed a continued activity from the merchants . though with so many outbursts from fellow visitors to highgarden , and even more on - edge , he doubts they're making many sales .

" you left before, no one is stopping you now. " slipping one of their shoes from their feet to rotate her ankle gently in one direction and then the other, calla looks up to place an amethyst gaze onto tobias. there is still hurt that has settled in the pit of their stomach, unresolved and aedar's chaos around them would not make it dissipate into the floral filled air around them. still, they know that they can't remain upset with him for long and that in trying times it is family that one has to depend on, relenting with a soft sigh. it's times like these when the worst comes out of her, and it doesn't need to be taken out on tobias. " you don't have to leave. "

" so literal , " a scoff leaves him , " i did not say running about overwrought is wise either . far from it , " he clarifies . panicking now meant a loss of focus , to have far less awareness to notice a shift in the atmosphere while concentrated on finding a means to escape . for that reason , belthasar has long since switched his intent when he came to the ballroom — to have a tankard of ale — to water , finding a place at the edge of the room to observe . to wait . though overhearing the pleas of parents wanting to reunite with their children hardly puts him at ease , reminding belthasar that he , too , is apart from his own child , ignorant as to whether he's alright .

        while  those  around  fretted  and  panicked  in their own ways, kieran was leaning back in his chair, feet kicked up and resting on a table, eyes, bright with delight, jumping from one scene to the next. he almost didn't even spare his uncle a glance. his fun would not be ruined by the other man being a perpetual stick in the mud. when he finally did, kieran took a bite out of the apple in his hand before answering.   ❝ but i'm not running about like a chicken with no head, ❞   he retorted. if everyone had expected something like this then neither would they. but so many of the people in this room were fools and others too cowardly to do anything.