~~~NUALA~~~
Finally, an actual battle and not the common raiding of supply lines and caravans that had become their stock in the war. Nuala had felt a great excitement all throughout their riding towards Highgarden, and though she knew that it was strategic to take the wider path around, she longed to carve a way straight through the land to their intended destination.
--
“Let them pledge loyalty instead.” Nuala had ridden up to them on Eubha and watched Ser Edgar with dark eyes that betrayed nothing. “Many men fear death. There is little honor in abandoning your own. There is also little honor in fighting men who flee.”
It was the same with killing younglings. There was no show of skill and no worth in slaying a child who could not wield a blade as good as could a man. Nuala’s thoughts went to young Prince Raban back in the Red Keep, the boy who would have been named the heir after the events that had transpired more than two and a half months prior to the day. He was of Damian blood, as much as was his older sister and their King father, and the late Queen.
It made her wonder if Jamie was considering in killing the boy as well if they ever brought their raiding-based army to attack King’s Landing. Such a battle would be hardly fought and she knew full well that they would not come out of it unscathed -- surely, where they to attack King’s Landing, even with the amount of men they had now, they would lose. Guerilla tactics, though good for bleeding the enemy of supplies, would get them nowhere where they to lay siege and battle to a city and Keep of such size. ‘Killed like young cubs…’
Nevertheless, if they did triumph in the end, Nuala would not look well upon the possible killing of Raban. If Jamie did not have it in him to stay his blade with the boy before him, she would not be there to watch the folly.
“Whose honor will we mar today? Theirs or ours?” Nuala reached down and absent-mindedly patted Eubha on the flank, making soft series of tsking noises in the back of her throat as a comfort of sorts to the mare. Eubha had served her well so far and Nuala made sure to always take as best care of the mare as she possibly could.
~~~DANTE~~~
“In times of war, it would be a great folly for a lady of the court to go out into the country side on her lonesome to search for her mother,” Dante told her softly as he took her hand and slipped it through his arm so as to better lead her. He walked the two of them through the corridors, matching the pace of his steps to hers so as not to rush her and have her be treading comfortably.
“If you wish it, I will help accompany you.” He told her frankly and without a hint of any other intentions in his voice. Dante’s concern for her was true and legitimate in every manner of the word. It really would be very dangerous if she was intending to ride out into the countryside on her own. He doubted that she would be able to get very far with finding her mother if she resolved to send letters or messengers.
They rounded a corner and stepped outside into the courtyard, taking a turn and following a path that would take them out into the main gardens. He would much rather take her strolling out through the actual woods rather than courtly gardens (but the gardens would have to do for now).
“You could send me to find your mother, were you to give me directions,” he suddenly said as they passed underneath an archway covered in vines that sprouted delicate pink flowers. Dante thought himself more capable of being able to avoid death and lynching by enemy forces if it was him that went ought to seek her mother. He was a sneaky sort, Dante was, what with him being a criminal and a thief.
It had been for his thievery that he had been cast out from House Strake. He had had his eyes upon that lovely jeweled sword that his cousin Jane so cherished (the one that belonged to her dead father) and he had known that were he to sell it, he would have gotten himself a small fortune. Dante was rather bitter about being caught while attempting to do the latter. To add insult to his injury, Jane had cast him out. The very gall of her! Ah, well, he could see her reasons for it, still it had greatly displeased him.
Their feet took them out past a small pond which was home to delicate fish of gold and silver scales which darted about beneath large floating lily pads. Many of the lilies had bloomed and Dante momentarily stopped walking and stepped away from Nasrin. He walked over to the pond and hopped unto one of the stepping stones beside it. Crouching down, he reached out and plucked one of the large pink water-lilies and then went back over to present it to Nasrin.
“No lady should ever walk about without a flower in her hair.” He told her as he reached up to her head and carefully tucked the stem of the water-lily into her intricate hair-style where it was able to sit securely and would not fall out easily.
Finally, an actual battle and not the common raiding of supply lines and caravans that had become their stock in the war. Nuala had felt a great excitement all throughout their riding towards Highgarden, and though she knew that it was strategic to take the wider path around, she longed to carve a way straight through the land to their intended destination.
--
“Let them pledge loyalty instead.” Nuala had ridden up to them on Eubha and watched Ser Edgar with dark eyes that betrayed nothing. “Many men fear death. There is little honor in abandoning your own. There is also little honor in fighting men who flee.”
It was the same with killing younglings. There was no show of skill and no worth in slaying a child who could not wield a blade as good as could a man. Nuala’s thoughts went to young Prince Raban back in the Red Keep, the boy who would have been named the heir after the events that had transpired more than two and a half months prior to the day. He was of Damian blood, as much as was his older sister and their King father, and the late Queen.
It made her wonder if Jamie was considering in killing the boy as well if they ever brought their raiding-based army to attack King’s Landing. Such a battle would be hardly fought and she knew full well that they would not come out of it unscathed -- surely, where they to attack King’s Landing, even with the amount of men they had now, they would lose. Guerilla tactics, though good for bleeding the enemy of supplies, would get them nowhere where they to lay siege and battle to a city and Keep of such size. ‘Killed like young cubs…’
Nevertheless, if they did triumph in the end, Nuala would not look well upon the possible killing of Raban. If Jamie did not have it in him to stay his blade with the boy before him, she would not be there to watch the folly.
“Whose honor will we mar today? Theirs or ours?” Nuala reached down and absent-mindedly patted Eubha on the flank, making soft series of tsking noises in the back of her throat as a comfort of sorts to the mare. Eubha had served her well so far and Nuala made sure to always take as best care of the mare as she possibly could.
~~~DANTE~~~
“In times of war, it would be a great folly for a lady of the court to go out into the country side on her lonesome to search for her mother,” Dante told her softly as he took her hand and slipped it through his arm so as to better lead her. He walked the two of them through the corridors, matching the pace of his steps to hers so as not to rush her and have her be treading comfortably.
“If you wish it, I will help accompany you.” He told her frankly and without a hint of any other intentions in his voice. Dante’s concern for her was true and legitimate in every manner of the word. It really would be very dangerous if she was intending to ride out into the countryside on her own. He doubted that she would be able to get very far with finding her mother if she resolved to send letters or messengers.
They rounded a corner and stepped outside into the courtyard, taking a turn and following a path that would take them out into the main gardens. He would much rather take her strolling out through the actual woods rather than courtly gardens (but the gardens would have to do for now).
“You could send me to find your mother, were you to give me directions,” he suddenly said as they passed underneath an archway covered in vines that sprouted delicate pink flowers. Dante thought himself more capable of being able to avoid death and lynching by enemy forces if it was him that went ought to seek her mother. He was a sneaky sort, Dante was, what with him being a criminal and a thief.
It had been for his thievery that he had been cast out from House Strake. He had had his eyes upon that lovely jeweled sword that his cousin Jane so cherished (the one that belonged to her dead father) and he had known that were he to sell it, he would have gotten himself a small fortune. Dante was rather bitter about being caught while attempting to do the latter. To add insult to his injury, Jane had cast him out. The very gall of her! Ah, well, he could see her reasons for it, still it had greatly displeased him.
Their feet took them out past a small pond which was home to delicate fish of gold and silver scales which darted about beneath large floating lily pads. Many of the lilies had bloomed and Dante momentarily stopped walking and stepped away from Nasrin. He walked over to the pond and hopped unto one of the stepping stones beside it. Crouching down, he reached out and plucked one of the large pink water-lilies and then went back over to present it to Nasrin.
“No lady should ever walk about without a flower in her hair.” He told her as he reached up to her head and carefully tucked the stem of the water-lily into her intricate hair-style where it was able to sit securely and would not fall out easily.