❅ Ten (Video)

[stonebird]

(Drawn to the shore again, Sansa is perched on a rock with an open book in her lap - or, rather, an open journal in her lap. She is writing fluidly, recording her experiences and her thoughts. At any point, she could disappear and leave only the journal behind, she knows, thus there isn't anything too damning on the pages.)

I should begin writing songs again. (She pauses and smiles, glancing out over the sea.) There are days that I don't feel much like singing. I can't really explain why I feel that way. My situation here is far better than it ever was on Westeros.

(But...)

I feel as if my life is on hold. (She sets her pen aside and absently examines the ink on her fingers.) What do you value in life? What makes it worthwhile for you?

(Private to Lady Jeyne.)

Would you have dinner with me? I think we have much to discuss. My brother was...is...very dear to me. What happened to him changed my life forever. (Does Jeyne feel the same way? Sansa wants to know.)

(/)

Comments

video

[so_dark_a_road]

[ Curufin is taking a break from his latest project, drinking a cup of coffee and checking his phone. ]

I really hope you do start writing songs again! We've spoken of this, I think. I am sure they would be beautiful songs.

Hadriel does tend to have that effect on people -- we're not in our own worlds and can't continue our lives there while we're here. [ Pause. ] Those of us who are not dead in our own worlds, that is. But Sansa, you can be thinking and planning what you will do when you return.

As for what I value? Love, friendship, community, and oh yes, WORK!

video

[stonebird]

They would be happier thanks to your kin, but I do not think they could ever be beautiful. (Beautiful is for...someone like Maglor, perhaps. Sansa doesn't feel worthy of it - or learned enough for it.)

What good will it do, my lord? I will not recall what I decide. Truly, it would be a waste of effort. (So maybe...) I want to build my own house, somehow.

(Not literally. She means in the sense of workers/servants/family/friends.)

I will feel established, that way, and not just as some strange guest. I am a Stark and I can do more.

video

[so_dark_a_road]

[ Curufin would disagree with that! He thinks Sansa is beautiful and courageous. She doesn't need to be learned, but then, if she wanted to be, she could probably do anything she set her mind to. ]

I wonder about that, though? Maybe you won't remember your experiences here in Hadriel, but I would not be surprised if your intentions somehow came along with you. Maybe that's just the way I want it to be, but I still would not be surprised.

You would like to establish the House of Stark again? [ He gets it. ] Of course it would be the House of Sansa Stark, a place where you could live, work, share with family and friends. And sing your songs. It would reflect you and the things you love, and the people you love. Is that right?

video;

[goodandtrue]

You...believe me, my lady? On who I am?

video;

[stonebird]

I see no reason why you would lie. You have nothing to gain that I can see and if you truly love Robb, I need to know you.

video;

[goodandtrue]

I fear there is little to know of me, my lady. I'm of little consequence, aside from having the good fortune of marrying your brother. My family is nothing compared to your own, poor nobility and a shadow of its former standing. My mother's people were spice merchants from Essos originally. My grandfather was honored by Tytos Lannister with the creation of House Spicer. Only then could their daughter marry Gawen Westerling.

It isn't so fine a story as your family's history.

Private Video

[castintofire]

{Maedhros isn't far, but he'll let her have her privacy outside of this form of communication.}

My life here is better as well. I have family, both by blood and by heart. Only darkness awaits once I leave here.

I hope, once you leave - may that be quite some time from now! Your situation improves and life treats you the way you should be. With love and respect, and protected from the horrors I have learned of your world.

Private Video

[stonebird]

Maedhros... (She immediately brightens, her affection shining through.) I do not believe only darkness awaits you. You are so loved and there will be mercy, surely. It will just take time.

(As for her situation...)

Everything is uncertain in Westeros. I feel like we are on the edge of a storm.

Private Video

[castintofire]

{Love shines from the Elf's eyes, and he smiles sadly.}

I did much harm, and little good. If mercy is shown me and my family, it will be a long time in coming.

You, at the least, have your life before you. You will weather that storm and rise above it.

v i d e o

[strikes_x_twice]

[ She has a furrow to her brow and she watches a moment before she speaks up. ] Sansa?

Your life on hold... Does it feel like dread? Like you're afraid to start something because you may not be able to finish it? That those who you care for will disappear.. or you might leave again to return to those other worlds you've been?

v i d e o

[stonebird]

Hello, Lightning. (She considers the description and nods.) My situation isn't ideal at home. I only recently returned to my home, actually. My brother and I have so many enemies that wish our deaths. We will need to prepare to fight.

To make matters worse, I realize I can be taken from Winterfell at any moment on a whim.

video;

[laststartofall]

[He recognises her name. They've spoken before, though not face to face.]

I'd say... you don't need a reason to feel like you don't want to sing. Being in a better situation isn't all there is to making you feel good about things.

[Jet has a lot of feelings on that topic, but for now, he just smiles slightly.]

What made life worthwhile for me was being free.

video;

[stonebird]

(She recognizes his voice and accepts his wisdom. He has provided her with good advice before.)

I do not wish to seem ungrateful or greedy. Happiness comes and goes for me and I cannot always explain why.

(She blinks curiously.)

How do you define freedom?

voice;

[uptightness]

[What makes it worthwhile to her?]

My family.

[Another pause.]

Not necessarily blood relations, but they're family to me anyway.

voice;

[stonebird]

I understand what you mean. I too have made a family that is not related to me by blood. I do not think such things matter much when it comes to the heart.

[bythewaves]

I would love to hear you sing again, little firebird. Are you alright?

[stonebird]

I will always sing for you, Uncle. (She smiles, but it fades.) I am overthinking again.

video

[am_i_a_monster]

I value my freedom and just being alive. And I value the connections I have with people here.

Are you alright?

video

[stonebird]

Those are fine choices. I think I must agree with you - especially on the latter point. (She knows she would be contemplating death without the support of her new family.)

I suppose I am a bit sad. I am remembering a brother I lost.

video;

[smoketendrils]

I can certainly relate to that feeling of a life on hold, though I don't know that it's better, nor will it ever be. I need to get back to my city, my friends.

[He needs to defeat the last three dragons and save Exandria. His life is not his own since his revival- it belongs to all of them, and they need him to fight.]

video;

[stonebird]

You will soon enough. Whether or not you stay amongst them is another matter entirely. (Her life too is very much needed at Winterfell. Winter is coming, there are monsters approaching the castle from the North and there are enemies wishing to silence them from the South.)

Do you like music?

video;

[knockthemdead]

[Ah!! A fellow song writer! Maybe this wasn't the part of the video that Sansa intented for folks to latch onto, but here we are.]

If you would ever care to share your writings with someone, or bounce around ideas, I quite enjoy writing music.

Oh, and, er... to answer your question, I suppose that has changed quite recently for me. It used to be entirely my work that drove me. Lately, I... have found other sources of motivation. Things to value.

[How completely infuriatingly vague! He seems to realize this seconds later, and adds:]

People I- care about.

video;

[stonebird]

(This is probably the easiest part to discuss, so she doesn't mind.)

Have you spoken to Lord Maglor? He is my teacher and I have improved much under his guidance.

(She nods, secretly wondering if her work concerning Winterfell will ever be done.)

I have too. I think we should commemorate our discoveries with our songs. What do you think?

video

[kingforboth]

Music is not something I ever studied much of, although I do appreciate it. I would love to hear you sing when you find your voice again.

{He paused, trying to collect his words, find out what he meant to say before it came spilling out of his mouth.]

I too feel my life on hold here. It's not home, no matter how better or worse the situation. It's simply too far removed. Perhaps that is what you feel?

Life is about shaping the world and making it better than when you came into it. That is what makes it worthwhile for me. There are so many changes I want to make and wrongs that have been done to my people, in my family's name. I can't change that here, but I can keep it with me until I can.

video

[stonebird]

(Her face warms at the thought of singing for him. It seems like such an intimate thing, but perhaps it isn't? Maybe she is overthinking it.)

I am not a professional; I imagine you have heard far better.

(She considers the many places she has resided since leaving Westeros the first time. She had lived in an abandoned house for a time - with her father and brother. Then they had disappeared and she had lost hope. The Elves had come to her rescue, then, and she had moved into the forest, living with them for over a year.

Then she had come to Hadriel... The cave, the heat and now the sea...)

I want to stay. But I feel guilty for considering that possibility. I am not a coward, but by leaving all my problems on Westeros behind, that could be seen as cowardice.

(She gives him a weak smile.)

You are a good King and you are in a prime position to do a lot of good. I understand why you feel impatient.