126/3 Ayleth's Reflections

[Ayleth Bartheld]

Ayleth was a woman shaped for happy times. She was at her best laughing, smiling and teasing. She chatted with a few ladies after the wedding, but she was not quite as social as she might have been, with her spirit dampened by her melancholy and distracted by her reflections.

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

Ayleth's pensiveness did not go unnoticed. A particular Vale hawk spotted her and swooped down. Corrine glided to Ayleth's side and sat beside her.

"
Greetings, Lady Bartheld. Are you alright? I could not help but notice you have been by yourself for some time."

[Ayleth Bartheld]

Ayleth turned to regard Corrine with surprise. She had not expected a supporter of the Princess to show such concern for her. "
Lady Marsten, a pleasure to see you."
she began politely. "
I... am not unwell, although being with child can be fatiguing at times. It's just the emotions of this event are making me melancholy. It reminds me of my own maidenhood, and how things have changed"
she said softly to Corrine. Ordinarily, she might not have been so open, but she could really use the company at the moment.
"
You married for love, didn't you, lady Marsten?"
she asked curiously.

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

Corrine gives a sympathetic smile at Ayleth's allusion to motherhood, and she glances affectionately in her husband's direction for a moment.

"
I was indeed fortunate enough to marry for love. Not that Ben is politically inept. He is a fine Lord and protector. But it was not my primary reason for choosing him. I suppose being able to choose for myself was the more unusual thing, actually. As for the tolls of pregnancy and motherhood, I completely understand. I have a daughter, and a second child due in a few months. It can be exhausting at times, but nothing can match the great love one feels for one's child."

[Ayleth Bartheld]

"
I would never have been allowed to do that. My lord father is a very wise and practical man. And my marriage with Davain has worked out wonderfully."
Ayleth hesitated a moment before she continued.
"
When I was a maiden, I could be quite foolishly romantic."
That was an exaggeration;
while Ayleth certainly had a romantic side to her, she had been level-headed even then.
"
Ser Tullison was very gallant during that time. He was very kind to me, at a time when I needed it. If I could have chosen... I might have chosen him. So to see him marry... it reminds me those days are gone."

"
At least he and lady Floreta look happy. I wonder if I was ever quite so innocent and untroubled."


"
I hope the Mother blesses you with many more children, lady Marsten"
she added, her voice friendly.

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

Corrine smiled warmly.

"
Thank you, my lady. My husband &
I hope for a large family. I lost all my siblings, and it threatened the security of my House. I do not wish that to happen to my children."


She glanced over at Ser Theomore, then to Lord Davain.

"
It can be tempting to dwell on the path not travelled, but the Gods guide us to where we need to be in the end. I was briefly courted by two others, but neither would have been wise matches. Between you and I, Ser Theomore has no lack of charm, but I think Lord Davain a better match. I am sure that a deep and real love will grow between you, with time. Had you married Ser Theomore, you would have to get used to sharing, and I've yet to meet a woman who is comfortable with that."

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

CIt certainly seems it was a good thing I wasn't allowed to choose for myself. I suppose the Maiden watched out for me. When I was a maiden, I would have thought Davain was terribly staid. And yet, Davain is as loving a man as I have ever met, and he has a truly romantic soul. A very special man is my Davain. I love him dearly"
Ayleth smiled softly. "He even jousts for me... if I hint a little."

She sighed "I wonder if I should have come at all. It would be terribly rude for me to avoid the marriage of a good friend like Ser Theomore. Still, maybe it would have been best not to dredge all this up again. I can only hope I'm not distressing him on this happy occasion." She hesitated for a long moment. "And yet, for him to have forgotten me so totally my presence or absence affects him not at all would be pain of a different sort."

Ayleth laughed gently when Corrine said she had never met a woman who was comfortable sharing. "Our monarchs would have you believe otherwise."

"Their customs ars not ours. Like the Dornish, they have different ways. Some, I agree with. Others, I do not. I am glad you are happy with Lord Davain though. I do not think Ser Theomore bears you any grudge. Best not to make anything public of any worries, or feelings."

[Ayleth Bartheld]

"Which do you agree with, Lady Corrine?" Ayleth asked curiously. It might be interesting to know the viewpoint of a Targaryean supporter.
"And I am very glad you are happy in your marriage" she responded genuinely. She had seen enough unhappy marriages to appreciate one that worked out well.
"Theomore has no reason to bear me a grudge. I just don't want to bring up old memories on this happy occasion. His mind should only be on one person today"
She smiled sadly. "I am well versed in keeping my feelings private, Lady Corrine." She brightened a little as she added "But it is a relief to be able to speak to someone about them."

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

"It's quite alright. I am not the sort who will ignore someone over their politics," Corrine replied. "As for what i agree with, I think the Dornish have a fairer society in some ways, in that they embrace female leadership. I would like my daughter to live in a world where her abilities and achievements are not valued less than those of a man. I had to inherit my House out of duty and necessity. She should inherit it because it is her birthright."

[Ayleth Bartheld]

"Well, what an interesting pair we make" Ayleth said with a smile.

"I sympathize, although I do not agree." Ayleth responded. "It is natural to want the best for your daughter. I certainly want the best for my child-" Ayleth glanced down at her belly. "-whether that child is a son or a daughter. "
"But, as you say, their customs are not ours. I cannot make a better world for my daughter, if such I have, by spurning the ways of her fathers. What use would it be to make one child a leader if I must destroy the legacy of a thousand ancestors to do it? I want her to be happy, but she will be happier following Andal ways in Andal lands than trying to play the Rhoynar. I certainly am. It will do her better to learn the ways of the Mother and the Maiden, as the Seven would have her, as her mothers did."

"Is fairness why you support the Princess, Lady Corrine? I must admit, it was not what I expected from the Blacks."

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

"Why do you not expect fairness from a Black, Lady Ayleth?" Corrine asks, genuinely surprised.

[Ayleth Bartheld]

"Fairness as your reason to support the Princess, I mean, not personal fairness in other matters" Ayleth clarified. She lowered her voice so no one could overhear and stated "Quite honestly, I expected most Blacks to be supporters of arbitrary royal power. 'The King has decided on Rhaenyra and so it must be right, thousands of years of tradition be damned'."

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

"Would it not be also treasonous to deny our King's will? I believe that the eldest child should inherit, simple as that."

[Ayleth Bartheld]

Ayleth nodded in agreement, but there was sadness in her eyes. "Of course, one must obey the King. But that doesn't necessarily mean that he is making the best decision. Else no man would need to give him council"

She stood, and smiled at Corrine. "You are certainly an interesting woman, Lady Corrine. Walk with me a moment?"

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

"Oh, he is not infallible. No-one is. But neither is tradition."

She stood, and gestured for Ayleth to choose their direction.

"Certainly. Lead on."

[Ayleth Bartheld]

Ayleth lead Corrine away from the wedding party, so they could talk alone.

She looked over at Corrine and sighed. Her voice was as genuine, her expression unusually open for Ayleth "Do not think me unsympathetic to your ideas, Lady Corrine. I too am a woman. I feel the need to ensure a better world for my child. And I am aware that not all our traditions are perfect.
But we Andals have already lost our kings and our Faith is ailing. I dare not lose our traditions, too. What would be left of us?  
Perhaps someday there will be a time to change. But this is not that time."

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

"Perhaps the Faith is ailing in the Bartheld lands, but it is very much alive in the Vale, my lady," Corrine replied, an eyebrow raised. "And if the time for change is not now, when will it be? Do you think that those who wield power will respect our traditions, as the Andals did to the First Men?"

Her voice was still calm and soft, but there was now a firmness as Lady Marsten stood her ground.

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