[D7, EN]Nightly Stroll[Closed]

[Theomore Tullison]

Once again, Theomore waited in the godswood for a certain fine lady to appear, he had done as she had asked, and now it was time to report on the findings. That and to see her again, without a septa if he was lucky. They always put a certain damper on things.

The moon and stars were hidden behind a cover of clouds, threatening to turn the morrow's melee into a rather muddy affair, hopefully the heavens would stay it's wet embrace of the land below until he were back in his tent, at least that long.

[Reader]

Lady Ayleth approached, greeting Ser Theomore with a graceful curtsey, but also a friendly smile as the greeting allowed her to shield her face from her attentive Septa.

She offered an arm to Theomore, and bid her dutiful Septa to stand watch at the Godswood's entrance.

[Theomore Tullison]

"
I hope that the last few days have been kind to you, my lady."
Theomore replies to her curtsy with a deep bow before dealing with the fact that *she* offered her arm rather than signalling for him to do so with as much improvisational panache as he could muster. He starts leading down a path close enough to the walls that they might be observed by the guards, difficult as it might be with no moonlight, incidentally choosing what a man of chivalry would, as well as the old predator, they could always steer off to a path heading into the trees later, after she had been eased into his grasp...if that was what he wanted, this lady was not just another hare to be devoured, even if she might be the most satisfying morsel he had laid his eyes upon. He actually cared for her well-being, a frightening thought, but then again, her well-being and his appetite may not be in conflict.

[Reader]

"
Kinder than they've been to some I fear. The singing contest was a joy - House Bartheld should ring to similar solars. Queen Alicent is a woman of distinction and taste. Has my knight ever been to Oldtown? I hear wondrous things, some even claim to prefer it to the capital."

[Theomore Tullison]

"
That I have, my lady."
Theomore had been there once, some grand occation, with the king and all his court coming to visit. "
It is more spacious and it is cleaner, it lacks the courts with all their splendor, but the starry sept with all it's marvels does not have it's like in Westeros, and the Citadel and the Hightower are sights to be seen as well."


"
There's something alluring with all things in the Reach, Highgarden is a must see, perhaps the wall is more impressive, but I have yet to venture that far north."

[Reader]

"
You can keep your wonders Ser Theomore, if I can but be safe. Give me my harp and actors and I'll see all of Westeros in my mind's eye from the safety of Hart House. Did you hear that matters at House Bartheld are resolved? I am to marry the lordling Davain."


She watches Theomore closely, curious of any reaction.

[Theomore Tullison]

"
I have indeed heard as much, my lady."
Theomore seems more interested in her own thoughts on that matter than having an opinion one way or the other. "
A little bird told me that master Nathan pulled some very impressive tricks to outmaneuver my old comrade, yet it appears nobody really knows what he did to make it so."

[Reader]

"
I do not know what was said or done Ser, but I have eyes to see and ears to hear. Davain Bartheld is now graced with high visitors from the Queen's camp each night, and I sense his aide Nathaniel's hand in this somehow. I cannot say I am troubled by this development - better to have firm friends than be cast adrift in this turbulent times, no?"

[Theomore Tullison]

"
I can hardly argue with my lady's wisdom"
Theomore agrees, but she deserved his true opinion, not the words more likely to make his desire her own. "
Though I would advise some degree of caution, will these friends remain firm if put to the true test? And such visits from one side of the camp may well attract attention from another, sometimes, being deemed unimportant by everyone is safer than having important friends."


"
But what can I say, my lady? We live in exciting times, nobody is truly safe, anyone can be killed, Queen Rhaenys and Meraxes were felled by a few Dornishmen who's names we do not even know, Harren burned within the grandest castle known to man. And I think that it is meant to be so"
Theomore pauses, recalling a line, a particular favorite of his, actually. "
I shall tell my lady a secret. Something they don't teach at the sept. The Gods envy us. They envy us because we're mortal, because any moment might be our last. Everything is more beautiful because we're doomed. You will never be lovelier than you are now. We will never be here again."

[Reader]

Themore's remarks on avoiding notice seem to strike a nerve.

"
True words Ser, scant reward and little security in drawing the attention of great powers. It is the tallest, proudest flower that is pruned, no?"


At Theomore's sentiment she sighs and grasps his arm firmly.

"
Oh Theomore, the end of the tourney draws near. Promise me you will write and visit us at Hart House? I will recruit the finest singers and musicians to put your latest deeds to song."
She looks at Theomore with heartfelt sincerity - Lady Ayleth is well trained and strong willed, but she is still only young and her marriage a political one. Despite herself, she finds her heart wandering. Strangely, Theomore have have developed feelings for one of the few women present with the willpower to resist him, despite her desires.

And a Green no less....

[Theomore Tullison]

"
My lady should know that I fear that I might become incredibly busy in the times to come"
Theomore's tone is rather teaseful, as if hoping for a fake feelings of being hurt in response. "
All this pressure, marriages all around, trials, feuds not exactly looking like this tourney helped put any to rest..."


"
You know, I have flirted with the idea of abandoning it all and set sail for Pentos..."
That, too, seems a jest, but a very skilled reader of men would be needed to judge that.

[Reader]

Ayleth is astute, but too wrapped up in her need for safety to bring her full capabilities to bear on Theomore's remarks.

"
Too bold for me Ser. Promise me you'll bring back a singer from Pentos for me? Or at least songs and stories? It would be the perfect excuse to call at Hart House,"
she implores as they near the end of their loop of the gardens.

As the make ready to depart, Ayleth leans in to kiss Theomore on the check, lingering for just a second too long over what her training tells her she should not, must not, have.

[OOC: let's wrap this up as it's a D7 scene with the tourney about to end!]

[Theomore Tullison]

"
Oh, unless your husband to be shuts down all of House Bartheld's famous hospitality, my lady, I will keep my habit of paying a visit every time fate conspires to have me pass by..."
Theomore promises, instinctively letting his hand stroke down her side, though stopping himself from having it seek to come to rest upon her hip...she was not some girl to be swept off her feet and onto her back in the grass with his easy charms, no. She was special, too special to even make the attempt, well restrained to be sure, but receptive...would he have succeeded if he tried? No, this one did not deserve to be just another notch on his blade as the prince had called it.

Interestingly, it was not her body he desired, not a brief moment of passion, as much as he enjoyed those, as much as he would enjoy this. Oh stop lying to yourself old rogue!

You want her, but you do not wish to hunt her like the rest.

You want to win her, have her give herself without being lured into a trap you set.

For a brief moment, Theomore wonders if it might be possible to shatter the wedding agreement between Swann and Bartheld. He was sending the furious frey to the wall, all he needed to do was to....Get rid of Nathan...and Fendrel, both of those would notice something was going down...and once he had started down that road...

No, Theomore decides, this one time, he will not pursue what he wants. She deserves better than the man he would have to turn into for that.

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