Seventeenth House of Westeros ♛ Dictated ♛ Of Losses

[songsandstories]

[She's been quiet for days now, contemplating what she knows and what she's been through here.]

I know what this place has taken from me, but for a short time, it took something else. I am almost envious of those that the castle has taken memories from. To forget, to have never experienced horrors, love, family even.

I know I should not be. I am lucky to have those I have here, but still for those days, it was like a weight was off my shoulders.

Comments

[heloise]

Is family such a burden?

[ino]

[oh, it's that girl she talked to before ...]

Sometimes memories can be a tough burden to bear. But what doesn't kill us makes us stronger, right?

[3nterprising]

It must have been nice to have a clean slate for a while.

[songsandstories]

I already know what I can live through. I have the memories well enough.

[songsandstories]

My father is not here. [She is holding onto the lie so strongly it must be truth.]

[songsandstories]

There is no such thing as clean. Simply there was less blood upon it.

[3nterprising]

But if you don't remember, it's almost like it never happened.

Right?

[ino]

Would you really rather forget your family, though?

[songsandstories]

I did not forget him. [Baelish, but the Starks? They are all dead back home, and while she does hold Winterfell dear in her heart, the memory of them hurts her more than she can even say.]

[songsandstories]

I remembered some of it. [Just not the worst of it.]

[ino]

Well, you said you envied people who had ...

[3nterprising]

Then that's the only part that matters.

[lordoflhant]

The castle took something from you, Alayne? I understand if you don't want to tell me, but, can I ask what it took?

[songsandstories]

It takes something from everyone. [She however was on a loss at the time she met him.]

[songsandstories]

I am more envious of the loss of memory.

[lordoflhant]

It...does? Huh. I don't feel different or anything.

[ he still has no idea she was on a loss. ]

[songsandstories]

It took most of it.

[songsandstories]

How would you if it took something you cannot remember?

[3nterprising]

What about looking forward instead?

[ladywinter]

[This...hurts. Much more than the loss itself had. It was one thing to be forced to forget. It was beyond her control. But to wish to?

The only way the family would live on was through memory. If those who remained had no desire to remember what would become of them? Winterfell empty, banners abandoned, the Stark name forgotten. Her family forgotten. Everything she had spent her life building torn down. Gone.]

Does family mean so little to you?

[ino]

I dunno, if it's forced on you it doesn't seem like such a blessing.

[but she sighs]

In any case, I guess it's good to meet you ... normally?

[songsandstories]

If you never know what you are missing, then you never know how you've changed.

Normal is relative. I still am Alayne Stone. [To those who did not know her, she hasn't changed. Even those who do know her. Sansa feels it though.]

[songsandstories]

To being trapped here? Is that supposed to make me feel any better?

[ino]

I guess, but then if someone else shows up and you don't remember them ... well, that can really suck. Both for you and the person who was forgotten.

Well, it's nice to meet you, Alayne. I'm Ino.

[songsandstories]

Family, Duty, Honor. Words spoken from your House, my Lady. [She falls quiet for a moment. She doesn't wish to isolate her mother or sister, but everything she does simply makes it worse.]

Tell me. If you could never feel loss or sorrow again, would you? It was the first time in some years that I forgot what it was like to not feel grief or loneliness. Even here.

[She isn't blaming anyone for it. Simply that she knows she's separated from Arya and Catelyn emotionally. It doesn't mean it hurts any less.]