(first gallop) | accidental video + action

[wolfwild]

...Benjen? [ when lyanna stark pushes herself into a sitting position a few twists and turns away from the maze's centre, her instinct is to call for one of her brothers: the youngest, first, and with a lilt of concern. with a groan, she brushes detritus off her palms and straightens her skirts (simple; in the northern style). and she tries to figure out why she might have been preparing her palfrey to ride in one moment, and sitting in dirt the next.

not that she minded the dirt -- not really. but she did mind the conspicuous absence of her kin. panic mounts: ] Brandon? Ned?

[ she scrambles to her feet and finds the strange small brick only a few feet away. lyanna picks it up and can now be seen peering suspiciously at its every angle. ] You're a funny thing. [ she mutters, tapping it gently and fingering (but not pressing) the buttons. but then she holds it loosely in her fist and raises her voice. ] By all the named gods and the unnamed gods -- Brandon Stark! If this is some trick or a mummer's game, I will have your hide. And without it, you can hardly hope to woo any pretty --

[ she stops abruptly because the brick chirrups like some odd precise bird. surprise catches the breath in her throat and she's forced to ask -- staring straight at the device: ] ...Are you alive, little brick?

[ grab her attention on the funny little brick-bird or else find her wandering the maze and the gardens. ]

Comments

[dashingdignity]

Unfortunately.

The Lady would not have me give up my honor would she?

[wolfwild]

The Lady is here; your King is not.

[ once again, all in playfulness. ]

[dashingdignity]

[He chuckles, enjoying the game as much as she is.]

And should my King appear? What then, My Lady? This place gives no care for title or station and could drag him here. You would not have me have to choose between a beautiful woman and my king would you?

[wolfwild]

I would hope the choice isn't so difficult.

[ at least, she knows what she expects a proper knight to choose -- and that's how she thinks of this man. a knight. ]

[dashingdignity]

Difficult, no. I owe my honor to my king. But it would break my heart to have to deny a lovely lady my company.

[And Porthos doesn't play fair at all. Because he stops just inside the maze.]

Having trouble solving the maze, my Lady?

[wolfwild]

Only a little bit of trouble, ser--

[ and with that truncated sentence, she finds herself turning a corner. introduced, all at once, to the maze's exit. but also to the exit's new guard: porthos himself. she cracks a smile, lets the hand holding the brick fall loosely to her side.

and rather than say her greeting (or indeed say anything at all) lyanna drops into a bobbing curtsey. ]

[dashingdignity]

[Porthos folds over into a deep bow, coming up, his hand on his sword. He'd be stupid not to. Women are far more dangerous than men - a man will only kill you, after all.]

My Lady Lyanna, I am Porthos of the King's Musketeers. where shall I escort you?

[wolfwild]

[ where indeed? where does one ask to be taken when one doesn't know the very land? she brushes her skirts with the palms of her hands and straightens -- trying to remain as nonchalant as she can. though there is still a twinkle of dismay and discouragement. he is still, after all, a stranger. some other king's man. ]

To a place, perhaps, where we might get a drink of water. Or watered wine, if water alone can't be had.

[dashingdignity]

Both are to be had at the mansion, my Lady, shall we?

[He offers his arm to her and then steers them both out of the maze and toward the mansion.]

And after that, shall we explore?

[wolfwild]

I would like that very much -- [ she told him, hooking her arm a little stiffly around his. of course, she would like even better to find her family, but in their absence she supposes she could do with a distraction. and now that she was free of the maze?

ah. well. what a distraction it might yet prove to be. the mansion itself captivates her attention. lyanna can be seen looking up at it -- wondering at its shape. ] Provided you really do know your way around.

[dashingdignity]

A beautiful sight is it not?

[He sees her looking at the mansion.]

It isn't Versailles, my King's palace, but it is very nice. And watered wine is rather easy to come by.

[wolfwild]

...Whose palace is it?

[dashingdignity]

That is a question I cannot answer. According to others who have been here longer than I, there is a Duchess and a Queen, but neither are accessible by those of us who have been brought here. A frustrating situation to be sure.

[wolfwild]

A Queen? I did not know queens could rule. [ not since the dance of the dragons, at least. ]

[dashingdignity]

Apparently, here they can.

[He holds open the door for her, ushering her into the darker interior.]

I do not claim to understand it.

[wolfwild]

Perhaps it's not such an awful land after all -- [ she speaks lightly, but as if distracted. indeed, she glances back over her shoulder. she's a creature who would rather be outside in the world than hidden behind walls. and yet she takes that wide step into the mansion all the same. sometimes, practicality must rule even the wilder hearts. ]

[dashingdignity]

Do not say so too loud. I doubt that we want many to hear such a thing. They might attempt to make it more interesting.

[wolfwild]

Would you prefer it dull, Ser Porthos?

[dashingdignity]

Duller than this place would have it, lady.

[He fetches them both wine, watered down for her tastes and because he's not looking to drink.]

Your wine, my lady?

[wolfwild]

[ she takes an exploratory sip -- eyes still roving 'round the room and 'round the doorways. if anyone walks by, she lets her attention follow them. sometimes even while drinking. this kind of casual attention has its own kind of poise, though it's a presence born more in confidence than in courtesy. ]

The lord of this house does not mind?

[dashingdignity]

[He's watching her, watch everything else. It's interesting to be on the other side of the newly arrived. He sips his own wine and shrugs at her question.]

As I said, there is no lord, only a queen and a duchess and they, in fact, seem not to care for us or what we do one whit.

[wolfwild]

Marvellous.

[ at least -- for now. some day, lyanna might come to tire of such an implication. she'll miss the comfort and preference afforded to her by her family name. but at the moment, she sees only opportunity and adventure. ]

Absolutely stunning. We really are far from the North, aren't we? [ it's almost rhetorical. ]

[dashingdignity]

[He raises his eyebrows and puts his wine down.]

It is unfortunate that you find yourself so far from your home, my Lady. I wish I could do something to help. Perhaps a tour so that you can find your rooms?

[wolfwild]

You've already tried to forbid me from speaking to your...friend about his horses, ser. Aside from recanting it, I don't suspect there's much you can do. Unless you know from where I might send a raven.

[ as for her rooms? well. she waves her empty hand. almost as if she thinks his tour is too quick. too efficient. she wants to spend her time leisurely. this is the first real few hours she's ever spent out from under the careful eye of her father and her brothers. ]

[dashingdignity]

Buckingham is no friend of me, mine, or France, my Lady.

[There's a vehemence and a hatred in his tone. He hates Buckingham for what he's done to Athos and to France. He's sure the smarmy bastard will attempt to seduce the young lady before him and that makes his gut churn. He picks up his wine, sipping it.]

I have not seen ravens, but there might be a way to find you another horse.

[He's not sure it would work. At all. But Buckingham got those horses from somewhere.]