Open Post

[stonebird]

I. The sun is hot - swelteringly so - but there is an impressive spread under an ornate tent, waiting for a party to begin. Brightly clothed ladies and lords are wandering about like so many colorful birds, speaking of topics that are both light-hearted and threatening. Do not be fooled by the finery around you; this is a jungle filled to the brim with predators. In fact, lions, tigers and panthers might be kinder! At least they are more straight-forward. These are political predators and they take no prisoners.

On the fringes of the party, there stands a tall young woman with hair of auburn. She is looking towards the bay, her focus reaching across the water to somewhere else; somewhere better. Will you take your chances with the party or seek an escape with her?

II. Winter winds blow stinging crystals of ice against the faces, hands and any other uncovered body part of anyone standing outside of the dark castle. There are lights in the windows - a welcoming, alluring warmth - and the front gate is unlatched. Are you daring enough to enter?

III. The mountain is staggeringly high and the air is thin. Yet, at a seemingly impossible height, there is a fortress. Within the walls of said fortress, there is far too much silence. Your footsteps echo against the stone walls and floor - an empty, lonely sound. In the distance, a door creaks and your footsteps are not alone. Do you hide or confront the stranger?

IV. Create your own!

Comments

[stonebird]

"You needn't fall out of it if you do not wish to." she gives him a smile of understanding, "Age doesn't matter."

[bythewaves]

"Maybe" He hums back. "But you need more than a brother, for now. Do you think you are up to walking some distance?"

[stonebird]

"You are right. I need a friend and an Uncle." she laughs, "I will walk for as long as it takes and not complain."

[bythewaves]

"I worry about your feet." He murmurs softly. "Your shoes are not the best. But I think we will take it slowly until we can get someplace where I can find you a horse to ride."

[stonebird]

"Sore feet seem a small price to pay." she shrugs her shoulders delicately, "I will not say no to a horse. You know the land better than I." but she has traveled to King's Landing from Winterfell and from King's Landing to the Eyrie. Those were not short journeys, though, granted, she had not walked the whole way.

[bythewaves]

"Hm. I can, at least find a cobbler, I think." He smiles at her. "But for tonight - there should be some sea caves near here that will suit for shelter, and the sea is always a good source of dinner."

[stonebird]

"Are you a talented fisherman?" she glances at the sea curiously, "I have not had much fish."

Certainly not at Winterfell and she would rather forget anything she managed to keep down in King's Landing.

[bythewaves]

"I like to think myself so! Well, I do better fishing than hunting, at any rate."

He smiles at her. "Although I have neither line nor tackle, and we will have to content ourselves with the tidepools, today."

[stonebird]

"Fishing would be more appealing to me, I think." because she isn't terribly fond of the idea of killing an animal with her hands or a weapon, "I will help you in any way I can."

She is amazed that he can survive on such ingenuity. But this is not the first time his skills have left her in awe.

[bythewaves]

"That will have to wait a little, I fear." He smiles at her.

"Come then - at this time of year there should be mussels in the tidepools. We may even snare a crab or two."

[stonebird]

"I have the best teacher when the time comes." she returns his smile, stepping along the path at his side, "What do mussels taste like?"

He may make a seafood lover out of her!

[bythewaves]

"Mm, they are quite mild in taste. Salty, a little like mushrooms, I suppose."

He leads her to the rocks, where the retreating tide has left pools of life.

[stonebird]

"They sound good." she peers down over the rocks, eyes widening at the amount of life under the water's surface, "I do not think we will go hungry!"

[bythewaves]

"No." He smiles himself. "Lord Osse has been generous today. See, those ones there, those are anenome, and there, see the small fish and crabs? But we are looking for these, the mussels. See how healthily they shine? We will not take more than a few from each pool, so that we thin out the numbers but let them continue to flourish."

[stonebird]

She kneels down, skirt and all, admiring the colors and graceful motions of the creatures. His careful harvesting of the mussels warms her and she looks up at him, smiling.

"Is there a way to tell...age? I would rather partake of those who have lived a long life."

I had to google this lol

[bythewaves]

"Probably you do not, actually, as they get quite tough! They are essentially mostly muscle, after all."

He shows her how they are different sizes. "The larger they are, the older they are. You want ones that are roughly the size of your thumb."

What? You don't know everything about mussels? I am disappointed. XD

[stonebird]

"But shouldn't they be given a chance to...live?" Sansa flushes at her silly concern, "I know it is wrong to hunt young animals."

But perhaps there is a satisfactory middle ground? She frowns, focusing on the mussel sizes.

XD

[bythewaves]

"They do, and they have! But too large and they are too tough, and often already dead."

He explains. "They keep growing as they get older, but they are not young, as such."

[stonebird]

"I see." she wrinkles her nose at the thought of gathering already deceased mussels, "Then forgive me..."

Dipping her hand into the water, she chooses one of the proper size and lifts it out.

[bythewaves]

Maglor smiles at her fondly.

"Well done, little niece. Shall we see about getting enough for supper?"

[stonebird]

"But not too many from this tide-pool lest we deplete it." she echoes his earlier words, smiling almost impishly. There are times she thoroughly enjoys retaining what is said - and oftentimes what isn't said. While she is with Maglor, such a talent is a testament to her respect for him; not necessary for her survival.

[bythewaves]

"Even so." He smiles at her, pleased. "And then we can bake them in a fire - I saw some seacaves which should be above the tide, so we will have shelter tonight, as well."

[stonebird]

"I am content wherever you choose to sleep." Sansa dips her hands into the water, choosing mussels with care, "Do you mind if... I would feel safer resting beside you if you do not mind?"

[bythewaves]

"I do not mind." He smiles at her fondly. "Although the bed will be rather harder than you are used to, I think!"

[stonebird]

"I'd rather sleep on the ground than in a palace surrounded by people who hate me." Sansa murmurs and makes a neat pile of the mussels.