xxi. dictated, action

[heloise]

I have a few families and children under my care.

[ She sees no need to specify that they are townspeople. Aren't they all the same? ]

We have enough food, water and other necessary supplies; the castle provides without bounds. But company and songs and stories would help ease their minds, especially the young ones, and I find I have no more happy tales to tell.

You are welcome to share a few of yours: [ insert directions to a white old house in the more preserved side of town.

The windows are broken and many of the doors jammed shut from the quake, but the walls still stand and perhaps that is enough. The survivors have set camp on the floor with whatever blankets and pillows they salvaged and a few of the children are munching on pieces of chocolate eggs. Lucrezia would be nowhere to be seen yet. ]

Comments

[heloise]

And exceedingly handsome?

[songsandstories]

[Well that just has her flushing. She never thought about it like that. Mayhaps Lucrezia has taken an interest in him.]

I would say so. Indeed he is.

[heloise]

[ He is pretty! The interest is definitely there, but she does like to play with her food. ]

I wonder if he has any flaws at all.

[songsandstories]

[She laughs softly.]

Well he is a man. Noble, they say. Like his father. [Though it did neither of them good. They say that as well.]

[heloise]

He is a man indeed, and they have their weakness.

[ Nobility is far from the one she's thinking of. ]

[songsandstories]

Do you wish to find out his? [She frowns, disliking the thought. She would not have her brother's honor questioned. Even if she tries to not be too zealous.]

[heloise]

[ She reaches to brush her fingers along Alayne's chin. ]

I can already make a guess.

[songsandstories]

[Her brows furrow. Does she mean her?]

A king has many duties.

[heloise]

[ She stops her fingers at the tip of her chin, biting back a smile. ]

His duties are the least of his weakness. But you are kind and gentle too, like him.

[songsandstories]

[Those words have more meaning than she knows.]

My thanks, but you do not think yourself kind and gentle?

[heloise]

[ She draws back her hand, her smile now only a shadow. ]

I can be. I think. [ Once? ]

[songsandstories]

Can be? I think you are very kind and generous. Look what you have down for the townsfolk?

[heloise]

[ She can try a wider smile. ]

They say, love in one direction goes too to other ways.

[songsandstories]

And you think it makes you not a gentle person? Just because one is wise does not make them unloved either.

[heloise]

Few can afford to love me.

[ She turns to walk away to distract herself with the children. ]

Have you ever loved?

[songsandstories]

[No one will love her either. It is her claim to Winterfell they will be after.]

Then they are unfortunate. You are easy to love, I think.

[Her question makes her pause.]

Once I thought I was in love. He was beautiful, and he had all the good fortunes in the world, a name and coin. I thought someone who looked like that could never be cruel. In stories monsters are ugly, horrid things. But he was a monster nonetheless.

[heloise]

Not easy to keep.

[ Trying to make light, she doesn't quite want to upset the girl, more than this conversation already does. ]

Did he hurt you?

[songsandstories]

[She looks down at the floor. Only Arya had some semblance of what happened.]

He never touched me, but he had his men beat me.

[heloise]

[ Lucrezia thinks the worst part was being touched when she didn't want it, but the beating was terrible too. It was resentment that hurt the most.

She frowns and keeps her eyes on Alayne's head, unsure if touch now, would even be welcome. But words fail her. She steps closer to slowly wrap her arms around her, loose enough that the girl can step away anytime. Her words are barely a whisper. ]

He will pay for what he did to you. A hundred, a thousand times.

[songsandstories]

[The softness, the gentle and the caring are still new things to her. Or rather they are things she has long since forgotten. It does make her look to Lucrezia and nod.]

He is dead now. [Perhaps by her own, unknowing hand.]

[heloise]

Pity.

[ She frees up one hand to brush stray strands away from the girl's face. Her fingers are gentle, her voice soft, but her words are far from kind. ]

I would have made him suffer until he wished for death.

[songsandstories]

[Her Tully blue eyes look into Lucrezia's. She is genuine, Sansa thinks.]

You would do that for me?

[heloise]

Yes. He hurt you when you would have readily loved him.

[songsandstories]

I would have. [She looks down again, hands in front of her.] He died choking, unable to breathe. At his wedding feast.

[heloise]

Was he frightened when he died?