[Day 4] Early Morning - Omnius Day (Closed)

[Athelstan]

Athelstan has become to like the silent Sept, for perhaps the few words he exchanges with the less scared septon of his presence as he has asked him to teach him about the seven to better understand things, but now he finds himself again alone as he septon goes about his business. He is first speaking to the Drowned God in silent prayer and then he approaches the Stranger for whom he has found some affinity for some reason, trying to seek peace of mind as the weather today is an ill omen for any ironborn. It is the Storm God who seeks his ruin, but he will do battle with courage and a steady arm against all odds.

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

Corrine had left her tent before her mother had even risen. She had hardly slept at all the whole night. Dressing for the chill in the air, and in simple black, save for her favourite sapphire blue silk scarf, she made her way to the Sept. She felt in dire need of the Seven's guidance, and she needed it before her meeting with Ellie and the trial. As she entered the quiet of that hallowed place, she looked around, seeing the place was all but empty of visitors. Save for the figure by the feet of the Stranger. She recognised it as Athelstan, and her heart lurched in her chest, the creeping dread that had plagued her all night wrapping its dark tendrils more tightly around her.

She tentatively wandered over beside him and stood silently, a pace between them, waiting for him to finish.

[Athelstan]

Filling her presence almost smelling her scent and the taste of her lips, his heart of iron begins to crack and pound his chest with vigor in her presence. He takes a moment longer to finish talking to the Stranger and turns to see her, the woman that has started to become something to strive and live for.

"
Good morning"
he moves close to her, picking her hand and giving it a gentle kiss "
I'm trying to get to know the seven so as to best serve you"
trying as hard as he can to not embrace her and kiss her just yet, he doesn't want to look more anxious more than he already does, it is all new to him, he has given her his iron heart laid crack open before her "
You seem tired Corrine, but I just find you more..."
trying not to sound weak, but then again he has nothing to lose "
I'm terrible at this aren't I?"
with a smile "
You made my iron heart crack open for you already, and yet I'm still feeling nervous like a boy in your presence, you look beautiful..."
some blush to his face, the tall ironborn might be made of iron in the outside, but inside he is a totally different thing.

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

Corrine gives him a kind but tight smile, and gives his hand a little squeeze before reluctantly letting it go.

"
Thank you, Athelstan. I appreciate that you want to learn our ways and show me respect. If only people could see not all Ironborn are brutes. Come with me, I would speak with you privately a moment."


She leads on to the secluded, dim alcove they had sat in the previous night, the deep curve of the back wall shielding occupants from all but the most prying of eyes. She sat on the bench, fidgeting with the end of her long, thick braid.

[Athelstan]

Athelstan followed suit not sure if worried or excited at her words, but he would go to her like a moth to the light.

Athelstan sits besides her noticing her fidgeting "
I may not look like it, but any man that tells you they have no fear before combat is a liar. Yet your presence soothes me, I..."
looking at her admiring her taking his time to learn his features he stretches his hand and places it on her cheek with a gentle caress in a tight smile, with loving eyes "
If I die today, I would day with a smile Corrine that I have in my life, even if it was for just a fleeting moment."
shut up Athelstan let her talk, she drag you here for a reason...

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

"
You speak so sweetly to me, Athelstan,"
Corrine began, humbly. "
If I look tired, it is because I barely slept at all last night. I could think of nothing but you, the things you said to me, and worrying about what will transpire today when you face Ser Baelon. Finding you here this morning has caught me off guard. I am struggling to think clearly. You make me feel... excited... bold... reckless... free... hopeful. I know what girlish fancy feels like, I have known that before. This is new. I feel a connection to you that is... powerful, despite the short time I have known you. It scares me so much, but I feel it consuming me, like I am drowning, but I don't want to resurface. From what you say, it seems you feel similarly. Am I correct?"


She searches his eyes with her own for answers, her expression like that of a lost baby seal.

[Athelstan]

Athelstan stands still not sure if what he is about to do is the right choice, but goes with it anyway. He uses his hand on her cheek to bring her closer gently, as he moves close enough to grace her lips with his "
I meant every word I spoke and here is my answer to your question"
putting her hand in his chest, his heart beating like a race horse and kisses her softly and passionately "
I feel more than I can find words to describe, Corrine. I have only my eyes and heart for you, you melted my iron heart and I gave it freely to you."
giving her a longer more passionate kiss.

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

She almost wriggles away from him, afraid of being walked in on, but his inexorable pull on her strips away her fear and she surrenders to his kisses, losing herself for several moments before forcing herself to pull away.

"
Then we must discuss what happens next,"
she tells him, her expression solemn and ger tone firm, steeling herself.

"
If you lose the fight, then the Gods will have judged your action unrighteous. If this is what comes to pass, then even if you survive, we cannot be together. I will not give myself to one who murders his kin in cold blood, no matter how I feel for him. Do you understand that?"

[Athelstan]

Athelstan nods "
Before I answer you must know something"
he sets his back straight and sits in a proper posture "
Ironborn are a tad different, Drowned God forbids spilling blood amongst ironborn."
with a somber look "
I loved Roddric as a brother in arms and blood, I fought beside him and with him many times"
looking her straight in the eyes "
The night before and the return of Yoren has changed him, he was no longer the heir, and Leifnarr made it sound the night before like I was being also considered... insult flew, camps divided between Yoren and Roddric, and some poor souls with me"
shaking his head "
That morning in the practice he broke the law from drawing blood when he stroke a fierce blow with his axe"
pulling his shit a small cut that Yoren helped clean and some bruising around it, so it was my right to defend myself, but all to well the laws are not always just to those that follow it, and Yoren reaped the moment to best suit his claim, and now I'm back stabbed and tried for a crime I did not commit"
he shrugs his shoulders "
My crimes are breaking the peace with such commotion, it hurts me more than all to be a kinslayer, and not that anyone asks me of it, I'm just a bastard and that's enough to condemn me"
holding her hand "
Before your Gods that might have been wrong, but Westeros is full of heirs killing each other for power"
kneeling before her "
Knowing this fate placed on me unjustly, I will die before I lose, but if I win marry me, by the seven, or cast me aside if I lose and survive"
teary eyes "
One more unjust punishment, more cruel than my own death. My chest will be empty of a heart, for I'll have no need of it again"
looking away half angry, half eart broken, in love and mixed feelings and teary eyes "
I hope fate is never cruel to you, that others bend the rules to punish you unjustly"

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

She falters a moment at the display, and his request, but clears her throat and speaks again, softly, meeting his gaze.

"
I believe you, Athelstan. And I hope that you are exonerated. For that was what I wanted to discuss next. If you are victorious, then yes, I will give you my hand, my mother be damned. I need to follow my heart and be my own person, not her notion of who I should be. And so, I intend to choose my own husband, and if you are redeemed by the Gods, I will make you that man. You will become a Marsten, and be by my side as Lord Protector of Hartshorn. Your followers will become my bannermen, and I will help you in your goal of bringing the Iron Islands and the Iron Throne closer together in friendship. Would you be willing to accept that?"

[Athelstan]

He kisses her hand "
I accept that, but know that what I feel won't go away if I lose, I would want a chance for it is unfair to be judged by a crime that by my faith I did not commit, and its unfair to and you, to do that to me, its as if I was judging you by ironborn standards which would be unfair"
putting his forehead in her hands "
How unfair, but I will accept what you give me that is how much I love you Corrine, but I will rather die then lose in those conditions"
.

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

"
I cannot expect you to change your heart any more than I can expect the sea to boil. I know that these feelings cannot be struck away like they never came into being. But even though what happened with Roddric was not illegal among your people, it is among mine, and if you seek to join my House, you must be exonerated by my laws and my Gods. I am sorry that you feel it unfair, but it is the way things are."

[Athelstan]

"
This I understand, was just trying to make you see how unfair it seems to me. I will win, I will make it so"
Athelstan is decided and his face changes to that of a warrior in a moments notice "
I love you, and I will die for you Corrine I will do as you request of me and be granted pardon please don't think less of me for losing"
looking away hiding his obvious sadness and watery eyes "
It's best if I leave so I can focus on what it is to come Corrine, but know that if I lose I will be your shield always, all you have to do is call, but I will win and be by your side in bed and board"
with a faint smile to his face and coming closer to her he puts his forehead against hers "
You humble and honor me, I cannot do anything but give you my heart"

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

"
I could never think less of you,"
she murmured softly, stroking his cheek as he pressed his forehead to hers. "
Win or lose, I will keep you in my heart for the rest of my days."


She straightened up again, and tugged at her scarf, pulling free the short piece of sapphire blue silk from the high neck of her black dress. She folded it and pressed it into his hand, closing his fingers around it.

"
My favour, and a reminder that I am always with you."


She pulled another thing from beyond the neckline and showed it to him before tucking it back in again. It was the ring he had given her, threaded onto a silver chain.

"
Just as you are always with me."


She placed her hands on his shoulders, looking into his eyes sincerely.

"
Just... one last thing. Please do not be cruel to Baelon. He is a good man, and loyal. Do not kill him if you can help it. If he yields, please do not make it worse for him than necessary."

[Athelstan]

"
I have no quarrels with the man, whatever bravado we speak is natural of warriors trying to bolster their courage and strength in combat. I cannot guarantee accidents, but it will not be my intent to do so"
takes a quick look around, notices nobody watching and steals a quick kiss from her lips "
Always yours"
he nods but can't stop looking at her this close and he is not sure what to do, probably waiting for her lead after that quick kiss he stole from her.

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

She steals one right back, pulling him close to her for a brief, fierce moment, then she pulls away and gestures for him to leave her, her expression and tone full of longing;


"
Go now. I will pray for you."

[Athelstan]

Athelstan nods and puts on his fierce warrior face, bowing deeply to her and leaving the sept, looking over his shoulder to see Corrine as he walks away.

[/scence?]

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

She stays put for some time after he leaves her, taking slow, deep breaths to calm her mind. Once she is fully composed again, she makes her way back into the main chamber, kneeling at the feet of the Father, to begin her morning prayers to each of the Seven.

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