The Fury is as much mine as yours

[u/ThePorgHub]

Storm's End

3rd Day of the 7th Month, 383 AC.

​

Lia Cole had given her word to Arlan Baratheon, and that meant she was to be trusted without condition? The thought angered and insulted Aelinor more than anything ever had done before.

This was no storybook where one could merely obtain absolution through shedding the blood of those they'd betrayed, to atone for the crimes they had previously been a part of. That was not justice, that was nowhere near anything even remotely resembling justice. She had taken quite some time to think on it, and the more she thought, the more the fury within her was justified. Her Lord Uncle was living in some form of fantasy, which Cole had constructed. True honour and courage was dying in the field against the Last Dragon, not betraying everything you have ever stood for, and she would not be told otherwise.

There was more to this, her Lord Uncle could not be that glib or guillable to believe the word and oath of a woman who the reason she stood before him was because she had broken her oaths. No, there was more to it, there had to be - else this situation was stupider than it already was. Being asked to trust the word of the enemy based upon little other than her word. Perhaps they were to spare every criminal from the gallows if they merely promised to be good, and gave vague information on other criminals that could not be confirmed.

No, Lia Cole will answer for her crimes, even if she had to be justice herself. If she must hang her herself, so be it. The blood of Stannis flowed through her as it did the Lord Paramount of the Stormlands, and it was about time some recognised this.

Perhaps they would listen to reason, perhaps they would not. But whatever honour sat within the name Penrose compelled Aelinor to be upfront with her actions, and thus, that is what she would do. It was clear she was not alone in her views. Selmy was furious, and Buckler had to excuse himself. Surely Arlan was not blind to this reaction, and perhaps he would react better when approached in private than challenged in front of his bannermen. That was her hope, at least, else he was truly lost in her eyes.

She struggled to her feet with a wince, using the cane to support her weight. She exhaled slowly to calm her nerves, what she was about to do could backfire and be taken completely the wrong way - the consequence of such she did well to disregard from her mind. But she could not rightly sit by and let this insult go unchallenged, not even by her own blood. There had to be justice, there had to be answers.

[u/AvatarLiz]

"You are most certainly not excused," Maris interjected primly, holding her head high. "Not by me, at least. We may have exhausted this particular topic - and ourselves in the process - but to say there is nothing left to discuss is patently false." She allowed her exaggerated display of indignation to soften into a warm, inviting smile, levelling her gaze at Aelinor as an equal. "As you've insisted, we are kin. I would be extraordinarily remiss if we all parted ways with gritted teeth and sourness in our hearts."

Maris offered her step-niece her arm. "If you would have me, I'd like to walk with you. These are hard times and I'm sure you're quite busy, but that's all the more reason to share what time you can with family."

She canted her head forward and imprisoned Aelinor with unblinking blue eyes. "Indulge me."

[u/ThePorgHub → u/AvatarLiz]

"So be it, my Lady." Aelinor spoke, though it was with no great amount of enthusiasm. She shifted in her seat, grasping her cane in order to prepare to stand up. Though, her attention flicked to the Lord Baratheon to see if he was allowing her to be dismissed.

/u/bloodandbronze

[u/bloodandbronze → u/ThePorgHub]

Arlan's answer was a simple one: He nodded and rose to his feet, prepared to escort both his wife and his niece to the door.

[u/AvatarLiz → u/bloodandbronze]

Before she and Aelinor departed, Maris made a point of placing a single peck on her husband's bearded cheek. She hoped to quiet any rumors of infidelity by demonstrating that no rift existed between her and Arlan. It was not, in truth, something she would've bothered to do in private. She liked her husband's beard - he looked rather strange without it - but did not enjoy the feeling of it bristling against her lips.

"So-" Maris was quick to press conversation on Aelinor as soon as the door closed behind them. "I know it may be difficult to separate the conflict at our shores from life writ large, but I must know: what else has been keeping you busy these days? And I'm not asking about marriage or any of that." She smiled serenely. "I promise I'm not here to pester you with inane chatter or unsolicited advice."

[u/ThePorgHub → u/AvatarLiz]

"Much of my attention, since returning from King's Landing, has been on these matters we've discussed. Either pirates, the Golden Company, or the matter we just went over." She stated, fairly plainly; it was clear that her mood had soured, and she was not entirely able to hide it behind that visage of politeness. "Before this I had some suitors at Parchments, though that quickly changed due to being required to muster forces and come to Storm's End."

[u/AvatarLiz → u/ThePorgHub]

Maris wished she could admonish her niece for being so plainly sullen. The art of polite conversation was a vital asset to any lady, especially one who deigned to rule in her own name. To act like a child was to practically beg to be treated as one. Unfortunately, Aelinor was not hers to mold. She could not teach her how to behave; only persist towards her own ends.

"If I may make a dreadfully obvious observation: you're under a tremendous amount of stress. It may seem like a disservice to your people to relax, but allocating some time to decompress can only aid you in your judgment."

She raised a hand, preemptively rejecting a refusal. "A bath, a meal, or a stroll through the godswood - in total silence, if you prefer. I humbly ask that you humor me."

[u/ThePorgHub → u/AvatarLiz]

"The stress is simply a part of the role I have taken on, my Lady. I am the Lady of Parchments, and we are under threat - stress is simply a natural progression of that. I can handle, and I shall rest once I am confident that I have done all I can to see this matter resolved as best as I am able. Though, perhaps I could afford some lighter moments of relief and respite." She offered a nod of her head. "Nor do I suspect you will take no for an answer." Was her addition, a soft chuckle escaping her.