10. The Blooming Years - Part III
( The Rose, The Tourney, and The Prince )
[ Gained: Shield of Fyre ]
You were not uncomfortable with bearing the shield, to be honest, you'd earnt this. Much as the tourney winners earned the right to crown their infatuations Queens of Love and Beauty.
What came next is what made you uncomfortable, if bearing the sword made Daemon admirable, you'd suffered a fate as well. Now, you'd held no foolish delusions, you were not Rhaegar, nor were you the likes of Jaime or the great beauty that was your mother.
If anything, you could stare at yourself in the mirror. Your hair was no longer a tuft of blonde and black but styled in a crown, spiked and you liked it. The look of a prince, though there was not much else there.
However, the court had become lively, ladies whispered, and rumors of fostering bore flags that you wonder who'd dare to take the chance.
"Would you stop? I came to talk, not watch you gawk at the mirror like you don't believe what is happening. It was bound to happen, your mother worries. Hells, did you not think she would notice?" Asha grates on your nerves, though it is less concerning as you see her bolstering smile and how her fingers dance along the choker.
If you could be honest with yourself, no, you did not think such a thing.
"I was more inclined to worry about walking out with my ears and a less piercing cry for the Kingsguard. Why are you so cheery anyway? Did Cregan take you to that tavern again?" You lilt and sing to her, mockingly as she sticks a tongue out at you, there's something about this...
What might have been and you are no fool to think she does not notice.
"He means well enough, but with all that is happening soon, I doubt he wishes to spend time getting drunk. Sometimes I wonder what you were doing, giving him that sword." She murmurs but stands, she took graceful long strides to meet you in the mirror, the two of you side by side.
She's leaning against your rm, softly humming to you as there is something that needs to be discussed.
"You didn't answer," you chuckle but see how she looks into the mirror, how she stares at the two of you sharing a moment. "What?"
The sea mistress doesn't say anything for a long while, it's only the looks she gives to the mirror that tells you she is working up to this enough.
"You do not trust me, I understand why now. I did not come to you as a child, as someone who simply wanted to be out of it, Tom. I spoke to you like we were there again, beholden to Urthemiel. I think... I, I am of two minds and both are the same, Tom. I am Asha Greyjoy of Pyke, I will hold nothing as my grandfather rules and a reform happens over our lands..." She whispers, again, it is just you two, the only ones who understand this.
"So what is it you seek to do? You've held on to so much, been someone's plaything. what is that you emissary Greyjoy wish to do?" You prod her now, seeing how she falters and missteps, how little she seems to have something of her own.
"I do not know, I have friends, I have... all this knowledge, and yet I do not know. There's always been one thing for me, however, something that I truly want." She's in awe at the words, she's even fighting herself but she does it, with a nudge to her side...
"To see the world, from Lys to Qarth, I wish to see it all. Every single bit of it, I don't know when but I will see it all before long..." She bursts with excitement, with the greatest need to see every inch of it.
"Dare I guess, you'd need help with that? To see every bit of the world? And I, a Prince of the Seven Kingdoms, help his friend, Asha Greyjoy see the world?" You look at her with a smirk, but not without your own excitement bubbling through...
"It certainly helps to have a friend like you, but it's not necessary. If you wish to join me in these adventures, I wouldn't be saying no..."
You see how she smiles, a genuine one that only does the best but promises adventure and friendship...
[] - Set aside your former reservations, Asha means to make her own life. You are a supporter of that and more. (Relationship gains, promise to assist Asha in the future.)
[] - She means to make her own legend, that you can trust and truly give your support but a promise like that? You are not sure you can fulfill. (Relationship gains, will not promise to help Asha....)
[] - There is something about her, perhaps it is only your reservations of the past but you cannot. Trusting her is something you will never do... (???)
...
"Is that him!?" It's Dorea's cries for the blasted flowery knight that has both you and Cregan rolling your eyes, if it weren't for your copious visits today you would have managed to plaster a smile.
"Dorea, you've said that about every knight we've seen. The tourney is soon, and I really don't want to have you dragged by your cloak for squawking your head off!" Grousing, you were lounging in your seat as the hoof beats of a neighing grey mare brought all your eyes to the dashing Tyrell.
Loras, every bit the knight favored to be in stories and one that would not sooner be forgotten. Not by stories either. Handsome with hair that flowed to his shoulders and eyes that softly met you and your companions. All pieced together by the glistening Tyrell accented gambeson.
His smile looks down upon you, his prince. His lips set in a fine line and he's adjusting himself off, slow steps he makes but soon his gauntlet reaches out to you.
"Prince Tommen, well met. We've heard much about you, the daring son of the Demon and Light. A story that would put many to shame. Are you going to be participating? A tourney is a place where many of your kind have made names, would you do the same?" He manages to sound wary but disbelieving that you'd dare and try.
You shrug. "I do not know, my age for matter, if I were to perform at my age, I may set a standard that even my elder brother would hate to stomach," You manage to keep it jovial but he sees through you, the Tyrell places a hand to your shoulder.
[] - Enter the tourney, you are a prince and so it will be done secretly. However, you mean to prove your might and skill of blade. You do this, and you will cement yourself... to everyone. (Relations Gains, ???, ???, Gold)
[] - You don't mean to enter, nor will you. This is for your nameday, to get skewered and possibly killed is not how you wish for your time as Prince to end or begin...
....
A meaningful look enters his gaze and it is not so little to realize he means to speak in private.
Cregan bows his head but passes on his way as Dorea means to give you a smile, softly and mixed with dislike. She keeps her composure as you and Loras are left alone.
The two of you walk the street, passing by the tourney grounds and soon you are on your way, you'd meant to visit the orphanage eventually. Now, it would have to be after the tourney. It was soon, and who'd know.... it might be as champion.
"In The Reach, tourneys were the talk of the city, of our people. Its why it struck me as odd, your reaction, I thought you'd heard of the news." He is goading you, that much you know, his voice is too playful like a cat playing with yarn. You doubt he even knows he is doing it, perhaps he has yet to learn of the game.
"Oh? Do tell me, what have I yet to learn, what is this?" Your voice is neutral, but there's a brute force to it. You guess Loras thinks you are a mere cub because he smiles with those pearly teeth that you'd rather knock him on his arse.
He stops and the two of you, standing in the shadows of the seedy tavern manage to give you space in the shadows with his voice coming out like a whisper in the wind. "Your brother is entering this tourney, he means to show off his own skill, the means to which proves him right. That he is the only heir his father needs-" You grip him tight before he manages to get another word out, and your growl deepens to a lion's roar...
You tire of the conversation, you mean to snap his neck and deliver back to his meddlesome parents playing their secret games.
Yet, sense wins out and you feel a calm fall over your raging storms, how your hands let Loras go as he drops to the floor and you tower over the rose.
"I am no Daemon Blackfyre, Loras. I will not play proxy, nor will this be the seeds of it. Have a great-" he stammers. Coughing and pushing himself up as he gestures you wait.
"You say that you are not, yet the realm notices, my prince. You don't think your brother has been idle, do you? You carry the shield of the Black Dragon, Cregan Stark with the sword of Rhaenys, and you mean to say you are not Daemon? You may hate me! You may do whatever you wish, but your brother is not idle, nor is he patient."
His words echo in your head and it is only so little to know that this is just the beginning. You turn to look at me, his reddening face and he looks to you, for a moment, there is only royal and vassal.
"Your brother means to put this to an end, to put to rest the means of your rise. If he wins, what little do you have but the Rykkers and a few Lannister toadies at court? If that shall come to pass, you may find the Red Keep is not your home anymore..." Loras straightens himself up, he cranes his head to meet your eyes.
He manages not to flinch but even then, there's a game in his eyes...
You look deeper, to know him and uncover what ill manner he may have cooked up.
D100 + 20 => 89
For a moment you think he stammers and a hue dusts over his cheeks, his gaze averts and you know he only manages to conceal it a second too late before he is clearing his throat.
"The Tyrells offer Highgarden as a means for you to be at ease, to have a home. A pleasure, my prince, I must be going..."
Loras skirts off and you still wonder over his words. Your brother means to bloody himself to prove himself the heir, a silly notion, did you even want the gods be damned thing?
That's a question you couldn't just yet.
[Relations Gained!]
[Relationship Gained]
Ser Loras Tyrell: N/A > Annoyance
House Tyrell of Highgarden: N/A > Neutral
....
A/N: Well that's a bit odd, isn't it Loras? But now things heat up and people take notice of your gifts, the tourney comes next and it is truly up to you! Do you enter the fire as houses start to make allegiances known and the plots underneath start to reveal themselves?
Oh, that tournament...
Good luck and see you all soon!
