ғɪᴠᴇ ♚ so take another breath

[wolfskin]

[ Like before Robb writes, his hand feeling heavy as the quill produces the words. Take heart in the knowledge she is safe in the Vale, take heart─ if only it were so simple. ]

I regret to inform that Alayne Stone is no loner within the walls of the castle, she has been returned to Westeros. My condolences to those who have lost a friend, she shall be missed.

─ Robb Stark, King in the North and of the Trident.

[ It is signed the same way as before, direwolf symbol and all. With that he closes the journal, designing not to open it again for some time. ]

Comments

[wolfchild]

[ on the floor, arya cleans needle with a gentleness she rarely shows anything else. ]

Which of us will be next, do you think?

[ she bets on robb. she's the one who loses. ]

[wolfskin]

[ Snap.

He does not realize how hard he holds the quill until it breaks loudly between his fingers. ]

Neither of us, Arya.

[wolfchild]

[ the sound has her head snap up. guilt has her look away. arya turns needle over, not saying a word. she rubs the cloth over the blade until she can see her face in the blue sheen. ]

Do... Do you want to go out with me? We can go to the tree. We can spar if you like.

[wolfskin]

[ Robb seems to brood over his quill for a moment before sitting it down and standing. ]

Let us go to to the tree.

[wolfchild]

[ arya bites down hard on her lip so she doesn't say anything else. needle slides into the gray leather scabbard, her thumb rubbing one of the wolf etchings. climbing to her feet, she waits for him to lead. ]

Robb

[heloise]

[ Lucrezia had meant to console the girl for her mother's departure. Then this. The hardest blow is on Robb, of course, but it seems timely now to at least honor their relation. ]

Your sister. [ And it's not a question. ]

Lucrezia

[wolfskin]

[ It is hard, it stings, he had hoped to mend wounds before this happened. To embrace her as sister again. ]

Her true name was Sansa. [ What point is there in denying it now? Not when she already knows. ]

Robb

[heloise]

Even prettier than Alayne.

Lucrezia

[wolfskin]

There was a time when nothing but smiles graced her face. [ A time when they all smiled more often, and laughed too. ]

Re: Lucrezia

[heloise]

I wish I could have met her then.

[ But she understands. She sees herself in Alayne, no, Sansa. ]

[assassino]

[Well, then... there's a trip home that burns. Few do. He really liked that girl.]

In her mother's footsteps, no less. At least she is happier with Westeros these days.

[wolfskin]

Aye. [ There is not much else to say on that, so he moves on. ]

You have my thanks for all you have done.

Robb Stark

[assassino]

There was conflict between us initially, Stark, but we are believers in family in my homeland. I swore myself to your sister, so in her absence, my services are available to you, should you need them.

Ezio Auditore

[wolfskin]

[ It takes time for Robb to reply, time for him to turn over Ezio's words in his head. There was conflict, yes, that seems to have passed. ]

What services would that be? You are not knight.

Robb

[stormborned]

Another from Westeros, then?

I had thought you and your sister to be the only ones, here.

Daenerys

[wolfskin]

A girl from the Vale. [ The sound of rustling leaves can be heard when he finally answers this. ]

She must have missed the opportunity to announce herself.

Robb

[stormborned]

[ Dany is only vaguely familiar with the Vale in maps and texts, so she says little about it.

But: ]

She was an ally of the North, this girl from the Vale?

Daenerys

[wolfskin]

She had none other to turn to in this place, I took her under my protection.

King Robb Stark, to end

[savethedarkness]

[first Catelyn, who she'd meant to send condolences for before it all went pear-shaped... and now Alayne, too. Catelyn had never confirmed it with her words, but M had seen and heard enough to be almost certain that daughter had followed mother home. she knows Arya to be strong, and is sure her brother is, as well, but even the strength of bridges can be nothing in the face of grief, and two blows so close together cannot have done them well. she sighs, softly, cursing under her breath. damn it. they themselves barely know her, how can she explain that she felt a sort of kinship with both women? that of the strong widow, and of the silent secret keeper... in having known them both, she feels connected to those who remain. but to keep such a connection is not her decision. she knows that it may hurt more to be reminded. so after carefully deliberating, she writes back in an even, elegant hand:]

Your Highness,

My condolences to you upon your losses, as well as to your dear sister. Though I did not know either of the women you have written of overwell, they were my colleagues, and I valued their company and their thoughts. I strove to be good counsel and an ear to both, and would be honored to extend the same to both of you, should you need it.

I have no doubt that you both make your lady mother proud: she told me so, herself. As much of a hole was left in the castle fabric by their departure, you still enrich it with the threads of your own presence.

Respectfully yours,
Olivia Mansfield, also called Emma.

Olivia Mansfield, to end

[wolfskin]

[ It surprises Robb to read this, for he had not heard from her in a while, but also the knowledge of her true name. Sansa softened him to this it seems, for he does not think first that she thought to play him false. She has her reasons, he is certain, as do they all when they do such things.

Did his mother speak of him to Emma? Thought fills him with grief as much as it does warmth, the wound not yet properly healed. He pens a reply much later, after spending hours in front of the weirwood; praying to the old gods. ]

My Lady,

I thank you for your kind words, they are a gift in such trying times. Thank you, also, for your offer and know that should the need ever to arise I may surely seek you out for that same counsel my mother and sister both received.

Your words are kind and great comfort is taken in them, perhaps they will balm the wounds left behind.

─ Robb Stark, King in the North and of the Trident.

[savethedarkness]

[she's tidying up at the Death Match, so her own reply takes a while, as well. when she comes back behind the bar to dump the soapy water down the sink, the fresh writing on her open journal catches her eye, and she can't help but smile. good.

it's almost like serendipity - she and Bond seem to have fallen out of favor with their own monarch, but another still desires her counsel. it doesn't change her allegiance in the least - she will always be Britain's woman until the day she dies - but it's good to know that she can still be useful if need be... and not just in the scope of her original job, either. knowing she can help her friend's children is a comfort. she finishes cleaning up, and dries her hands before writing back, so that she doesn't drip water all over the journal and inconvenience him]

Your Highness,

My words and my offer are the least that I could do: you need not thank me for something which comes so naturally. I am glad that they were both well-received, and will look forward to when we should speak again. My best to you and Arya, as you help each other through.

Sincerely,
Olivia

[there. that's polite, yet succinct enough to convey her consideration, and that she will wait for him to contact her. she'd hate to intrude upon them, after all - she remembers how it was when she lost her husband and people kept banging on the door and ringing at all hours.]

Dictated

[chenwho]

I take it you knew her, then.

[wolfskin]

Aye, I did.

[chenwho]

Must've been close. The Queen only writes personal letters to people when they turn 100 where I'm from.

And even then you have to apply for it.

[wolfskin]

She was under my protection.