Re: [D4, EN] The Lady and the Dragon (Closed)

by **Lady Corrine Marsten** Fri May 15, 2015 10:17 pm

Corrine folded her hands as her expression became a little regretful.

"
Yes. I told him I had decided not to marry him. He did not take it very well. It saddens me to let him down, but I believe it is for the best, and better to do it sooner than later."

by **Gwyneth Drakeson** Fri May 15, 2015 10:21 pm

"
He'll recover,"
says Gwyn shortly. "
His feelings burn bright, but short."
She reaches up to rub her temple, and looks around. "
Still, I'll have a word with him. See if he's all right. Where did you leave him moping?"

by **Lady Corrine Marsten** Fri May 15, 2015 10:25 pm

Corrine points in the direction Baelon had gone.

"
He wandered off that way. Poor thing."

by **Gwyneth Drakeson** Sat May 16, 2015 12:54 am

Gwyn looks that direction, and quashes a sudden spike of irritation towards Corrine. Corrine who'd never had to hunt anything. Who'd never had to worry about whether or not she had a place, anywhere she went. Who took the affection of men and threw it aside with a shrug and a poor thing.

Stupid, of course, to feel that. Corrine hadn't asked to be who she was. It wasn't her fault she'd been kept under lock and key so much. Her husband would have his hands full, making up for that lost time.

"
All right...I'll check on him and then..."

And then try to convince Kevan Lyras to murder a man.

"
...and then off to bed, I expect."

She gave Corrine a wan smile, then turned to chase down Baelon before he got too far off.

by **Baelon Drakeson** Sat May 16, 2015 3:11 am

The night was dark, and Baelon heard her approach more than he saw her.
Still, he knew who it was. The rhythm of her gait, the sound of her breathing...
He had heard it so many times before, and he was not likely ever to forget.

"
Gwyn?"

by **Gwyneth Drakeson** Sat May 16, 2015 3:34 am

"
We've got to stop meeting like this,"
Gwyn said with a chuckle. "
People will start to talk."

She moved up behind him, not quite close enough to touch.

by **Baelon Drakeson** Sat May 16, 2015 5:07 am

Baelon turns around, and takes a step towards her, narrowing the gap.

"
It finally happened, Gwyn. After all these years... he summoned me... my father... and he called me his son.
He acknowledged me... do you know what that means? It means I'll never be just 'Ser Baelon Waters, hedge knight' again.
He asked me to serve him, Gwyn."

by **Gwyneth Drakeson** Sat May 16, 2015 5:32 am

Gwyn's eyes widened...and then narrowed a little.

"
Wait...he acknowledged you? But not publically. I'd have heard if he'd made it public."

She smiled then and put her hand on his forearm.

"
Even so, I have some idea what that means to you. It's a step in the right direction. And now, with you serving him directly, you don't have to play these tournament games and... Baelon, that's amazing news. What is he asking you to do?"

Her grin turned teasing. "
That is, if you can speak of royal matters to a lowly Marsten like myself."

by **Baelon Drakeson** Sat May 16, 2015 5:39 am

"
He wants me to ensure that House Marsten supports the Princess.
I had thought to do so by becoming Lord Marsten... but that was foolish.
Corrine does not love me, and I do not love her.
I almost repeated the same mistake my father made when he married Rhea Royce.
There's only one woman I've ever loved, Gwyn."

He steps forward again, placing his hand on her arm, gently.

"
When this business with the clans is done, I'm thinking about leaving again.
I want to travel more - maybe finally go back to Dragonstone and see my sisters.
Maybe travel south and see the Arbor, or even Dorne... but I don't want to go alone."

He pauses again, the words hanging thick in the air.

"
Would you come with me?"

by **Gwyneth Drakeson** Sat May 16, 2015 4:19 pm

And the jaws closed around Gwyn. An explosion of conflicting reactions ripped reactions, leaving her unable to do more than simply stare vacantly at Baelon.

She would scream in joy and catapult into his arms...she would remember that he wanted Corrine first and feel a bitter sting...she would suspiciously narrow her eyes, remembering how wandering his devotion could be...she would take his hand, feeling hope shine through the clouds she'd felt since learning of Dunstan...she would stand paralyzed by dawning despair, knowing that the choice she'd dreaded for so long was now upon her...

Tears welled up in her eyes, but didn't spill just yet. "
Baelon,"
she said softly, "
don't be cruel to me. It's not the first time you've said you loved me. How can I be sure this is different?"

by **Baelon Drakeson** Sat May 16, 2015 6:01 pm

"
I have never lied to you. In that regard, it is no different. I love you. I have always loved you. I will always love you, no matter what happens."

He pulls her to him, enfolding her in his arms, his cheek against hers, whispering his feelings in her ear.

"
I wanted you to be happy. I didn't think I could give you that happiness.... and then, after I returned from escorting young Symon Templeton to the Westerlands for his squiring, you had grown so cold and distant. When we went to Joston's Rock you seemed so enthusiastic about Dunstan... I didn't want to stand in the way of that. The rumors were bad enough... oh, they hurt so badly, saying that what I wanted so much was real... but I endured it, kept my distance when I could, tried to cool my heart... I thought that if you could wed Dunstan you would finally be happy. I couldn't deny you that happiness."

His embrace tightens, then he steps back so he can look her in the eye, as much as is possible in this deep, dark, night. His hand caresses her cheek, her hair, her neck.

"
But I want you to be happy with me. I want to see your joy, share in it, revel in it. I believe I can make you happy, and I wish for nothing more than I wish for that.
My heart burns with dragonfire, and it will not be quenched."

by **Gwyneth Drakeson** Sun May 17, 2015 3:12 am

Gwyn relaxes into his embrace, then returned it with her arms wrapped around his neck.

The noise she made was something like a laugh and a sob combined into one hoarse squeak.

"
Those of us who's sin is pride,"
she quoted softly, "
the gods strike down by granting our heart's desire. Oh Baelon...what are we going to do?"

by **Baelon Drakeson** Sun May 17, 2015 4:57 am

Baelon holds Gwyn close, feeling her warmth seep in.

"
I would not have anyone decry our love a sin. Give up your hunt and marry me?"

OOC: No one has told Baelon of Corrine's negotiation with Dunstan...

by **Lady Corrine Marsten** Sun May 17, 2015 5:04 am

[ooc: I did say in the House chatter thread that Corrine would have informed everyone of the invitation to breakfast with the Tullisons, and therefore the betrothal, offscreen, with the exception of Gwyn. She likely would have told Baelon earlier in this thread, but I didn't know at the time.]

by **Baelon Drakeson** Sun May 17, 2015 5:07 am

OOC: Where's the fun in that? Also, it would have changed the earlier scene a LOT.

by **Lady Corrine Marsten** Sun May 17, 2015 5:12 am

[I know. Mea culpa. But fair enough, carry on! I shall assume that Corrine forgot to tell him because they got distracted talking about other stuff.]

by **Gwyneth Drakeson** Sun May 17, 2015 5:19 am

(OOC - Might have just been opportunity;
Baelon's been doing his own thing, and Corrine and Baelon's dialogue was pretty intense. Corrie could be forgiven for neglecting to mention under the circumstances Smile

)

"
No,"
Gwyn sighed. "
Not yet. But soon enough."

She pulled away enough to look at Baelon directly. "
Corrine had some news for me as well, you see. It seems Dunstan, with his usual grasp of subtlety and good sense, decided to visit Corrine...and I presume Isobel...and negotiate some kind of alliance on behalf of House Tullison. All by himself."

Her shoulders sagged and she looked away.

"
And Corrine took advantage of the opportunity to do her cousin a great and wonderful favor."

by **Baelon Drakeson** Sun May 17, 2015 5:50 am

For the second time in mere hours, Baelon felt his heart stop.
At the first 'No', daggers of ice lanced through him. An excruciating pain radiated throughout his chest and he could not breathe for what felt like an eternity...

And then 'not yet'. Hope! Cheer! But not 'yes'. Delay, further pretense and denial of his feelings.

"
A favor... you mean..."

He could almost laugh, if he weren't so busy trying to keep from screaming his rage and frustration. Something he and Gwyn both had worked towards, yet neither truly wanted.

"
Oh, Gwyn... what... what would you have me do? I am on good terms with Dunstan, perhaps I can talk him out of it, quietly? Does he know about Corrine and Ben? Perhaps he would be satisfied with that as the basis for alliance?"

by **Gwyneth Drakeson** Sun May 17, 2015 5:58 am

Gwyn took a deep breath. There was a raging storm of emotions inside her as well, as well as a hollow self-directed mockery. But she'd spent a long time thinking around her feelings. And now that she was thinking of this as a problem to be solved rather than a providence she was the victim of, it was easier to bear.

"
If I know Dunstan, the marriage was never his idea to begin with. I'm sure he just bounced in, announced he wanted to help us, and offered whatever terms he thought was fair right away. Which means that all we have to do is talk to him, and talk to Corrine, explain the situation...and hope neither is too proud to consider other terms. She was only doing it because she thought I wanted it...and he was only doing it because..."

Abruptly Gwyneth's face went slack as something Baelon said wormed its way past the noise of all the cogs in her mind whirling overtime.

"
Wait, did you say Ben is marrying Corrine? Benedict? OUR Benedict?"

by **Baelon Drakeson** Sun May 17, 2015 6:20 am

"
She didn't tell you? I'd have thought you were the first she would tell. Yes, she has decided that he holds the key to her heart.
Apparently he feels the same about her. I hardly know him, we've only met in passing. Would he be an ally to us, do you think?
He serves the Tullisons now, so he may take it as an affront to them..."

by **Gwyneth Drakeson** Sun May 17, 2015 3:19 pm

Gwyn shook her head in confusion. Ben loved Corrine? But...

"
I thought... I thought he..."
Again she wagged her head, trying to focus herself. "
He promised to help me marry Dunstan, as long as I swore not to hurt him. He looked so sad as he did it. But I think if can be made to understand the full story, he will want to help find an answer where Dunstan and myself can be happy."

She sighed unhappily. "
Everyone is going to think me some fickle, uncaring bitch over this."

by **Baelon Drakeson** Sun May 17, 2015 3:56 pm

Does Ben's heart shift as quick as Corrine's has? Gods I hope not, or that marriage is doomed.

"
I have gotten the sense that he does not like me, but I have resolved to seek him out tomorrow to make peace;
as I hope to be his good-cousin, it seems best.
As for not hurting Dunstan... I would say sparing him from a loveless marriage is a kindness, not a hurt. Hopefully Ben will see that as well."

The darkness of the night manifests itself in the expression on Baelon's face.

"
If anyone speaks an unkind word, they will answer to me for it. Beyond that - I learned long ago that there will always be those who hate me for things I cannot control.
Let them think what they will;
if you are happy, what matters it what they think?"

by **Gwyneth Drakeson** Sun May 17, 2015 4:59 pm

"
I spent a long time telling myself that,"
Gwyn says with a sad smile, "
but it matters. It always matters. The only question is what matters more."

"
All I know is how I felt when I learned Dunstan was going to marry me, and how different it was from how I feel now. I can't promise we'll be successful, or even happy...but I know I want to try. If I went with Dunstan now, I'd always wonder what we might have been. And I'd come to hate him, and all the comforts of his House as fool's gold I took as payment for what I truly wanted."

She breathed in and squared her shoulders. "
So now we know what we want, and for whatever reason we now have determined to pursue it. Are there obstacles? Yes. We will simply have to deal with them, as they come."

by **Baelon Drakeson** Sun May 17, 2015 5:55 pm

Baelon smiles.
"
I could face any obstacle, with you by my side."

He sighs.
"
We shall have to think on what we will say. Dunstan is a friend, and I would not hurt him, if I can prevent it."

He laces his fingers with hers, an embrace of the hand.
"
In the meantime, we should probably get some sleep. Tomorrow could be a very long day."

He pulls her closer and kisses her, his silver hair cascading down his face and mingling with her golden tresses.

Time stops, yet passes far too quickly anyway.

Fighting against his passions, his enflamed desires, he steps back a half pace. Now is not the time to press for more.

by **Gwyneth Drakeson** Sun May 17, 2015 6:37 pm

Gwyn melts against him into the kiss, and she clings to him for a heartbeat as he steps back, but she does let him go.

She nods wearily. "
I do need sleep."
And I've one more difficult discussion left before I can.

"
Good night, Baelon."

Oh, Seven, I haven't even said it yet.

Words were important. Said and unsaid.

"
I will marry you. And I do love you."

She smiled, and with some will she turned to continue on to the Lyras tents. Lack of sleep, and too many wild emotions...she had some concern that she'd fall over before she arrived.

(/scene? Smile

)

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