⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀. .⠀. ⠀. ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ☽⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀
penned by STOKER .
Joined December 2025
- Tweets646
- Following201
- Followers270
- Likes359
a chess set of black and white marble —— a rare gift from the old king for his tenth nameday . a lifetime ago , it seemed , when war had been a children’s game .
black bishop is pushed across the board . night breeze from the terrace sent a quiver through candleflame .
slow steps breached the space between them , sword loose at his side . he angled his head close to whisper :
“ she has two faces , ser criston . one benevolent , the other … 𝑐𝑟𝑢𝑒𝑙 . ” a squeeze of his shoulder . “ mind which face turns towards you , hm . ”
when had it happened ? was it when they had sworn themselves to each other by blood ? or earlier . was it at harrenhal … ? when , by firelight , they had broken bread together ? who knew .
but somewhere , he had left his pride at his feet . disarmed .
…
so that words like this — words which he would have had his tongue for — seemed more like whispered secrets . affectionate and theirs alone .
he touched his hand with the tips of his fingers . “ you miss home . ” he said it strangely ,
…
forgive me , mother , if i question the prevailing order . it only seems that you yourself have tried at 𝑐𝑎𝑟𝑟𝑦𝑖𝑛𝑔 and 𝑠𝑢𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑛𝑔 mine own kingly father … to what end . but , as you say .
i well know my place . wise where he is foolish , strong where he is weak … able where he is yet 𝑢𝑛𝑓𝑖𝑡 . i wonder , will his failings fall upon me to remedy ?
if i wished to tear him down , he would surely be torn . you mistake me , mother . i wish only to serve 𝑚𝑦 𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑔 and my house . do you doubt me ?
earnestness was a rarity . its presence now was foreign and drew a pause . night stretched wide and slow between them . fragile .
he leaned close and , with the tips of his fingers , pushed his own chalice across the table . a nod towards the decanter .
…
had viserys prevailed with a brave and fearsome wife ? no , he had thwarted her , time and time again in favour of the whims of a useless daughter . his death , a final act of insufficiency .
aemond was no fool . his father was undeserving , but the throne was law .
…
he had seen his mother’s efforts , upholding the iron chair on which his father sat useless . would the same fate await him ? his blood for his brother’s crown …
it was a passing thought , dismissed quickly .
…
across the room , he busied his hands unfurling maps and parchments , flattening their curled edges . all the while , a careful eye stayed trained on illarion .
for all the keep was concerned , this was 𝒉𝒊𝒔 guest above all else .
…