❅ Seventeen (Text)

[stonebird]

Have you ever been in love?

(This is asked late one night and it might seem frivolous with the current concerns hovering over the populace of Hadriel. Yet Sansa believes love is important no matter how long someone lives - or where they are imprisoned. Besides, she had a taste of love recently and it's a frightening - and exhilarating - change of scenery for her.)

Can it last?

Comments

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[stonebird]

(Kelson, you don't want to go down that road.)

I didn't mean to make you feel forced, my lord. Royalty is expected to produce heirs - multiple heirs to be safe. Otherwise the throne may not be secure.

I want the best for you too.

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[kingforboth]

[Oh but he does, he just fails to realize the consequences of such an action. Hormones and first love. Boy needs a talk on consent.]

No, not forced. It's nothing I have not heard before. Many, many, many times. Everyone wants the traditional heir and a spare. What I want doesn't seem to matter.

Sorry. That sounded pechalent didn't it?

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[stonebird]

What you want matters to me. I know you are in love and if you could have heirs with her, you would be delighted by the...process.

(Nope, she's not thinking about him having sex. Not one bit. Okay, a little bit.)

You are a man; expecting you to be above heartache is silly.

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[kingforboth]

[I'm a king, heartache is supposed to be irrelevent when it comes to duty.]>

[It's okay, now he was thinking about it too.]

Yes, I'm told the ...process as you put it is enjoyable. That's hardly the point isn't it? I'm more than just a body.

[And yet time and time again Kelson forgets he's a body as well. Stop ignoring it Kelson.]

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[stonebird]

You are expected to overcome it as a king; that doesn't make it irrelevant.

No, I meant the process would be enjoyable with the lady you love. Because you would be more than a body and she would be more than a brood mare.

(Being used as a brood mare is something she has experienced, unfortunately.)

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[kingforboth]

What if I don't want to overcome it. I know I have too if she wont relent. Gwynedd must have a queen. I just dont want too. What I want certainly seems irrelevent when I'm being pressured to take another queen.

[You see what his council is dealing with? An eighteen year old king pining after his first love having realized after four years of mature rule as a child thrust in an adult world that he can throw tantrums]

I would much prefer a queen to a brood mare. That's why Rothana was perfect. I cared for her, she was skilled, highly adept in politics and magic. She would have been able to share the responsibility rather than just be a royal brood mare]

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[stonebird]

We all must do things we would rather not.

(She was betrothed once and married twice against her wishes. The betrothal and the second marriage proved to be the most abusive and Sansa bears the scars under her dress.)

There are other wonderful women, I assure you. It would be tragic if you closed your heart to all others.

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[kingforboth]

I pray you are right. It's a pity we are not in Gwynedd, I'm sure you would have made a fine queen. If I cannot have love, I would much rather have friendship.

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[stonebird]

I'm not sure I am fit to be a queen, but if you asked it of me in Gwynedd, I would try.

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[kingforboth]

Why is it almost every woman I've asked that question too has given me that same answer? Why do you think yourself so unworthy, Sansa?

[At least that wasn't a complete no.]

You would have me?

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[stonebird]

I dreamed of being a queen once, but the politics of it...

I've seen too much. I would worry about not being sharp enough to protect you.

(She admits she is a slow learner, yet how can a child be blamed for missing the subtle politics of murderers?)

Yes, I would. I already care for your happiness and that is a good start.

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[kingforboth]

I would not want you unhappy.

But I agree. Building on friendship, caring and mutual respect is a good place to begin.

[Why could he safely talk about this here? Since she wasn't in Gwynedd and unless she was, this was just talk. Safe.]

You were unhappy before. At court. Understandably.

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[stonebird]

That is how my parents began. My mother was destined to marry my father's elder brother, but he passed away and so she married my father instead. It was said he loved another woman, but I don't know the truth of that. Regardless, they ended up very much in love.

Yes, I was, but your court would be different. I think I could guard you fairly well.

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[kingforboth]

[It was good this was a text, Sansa couldn't see Kelson start to scowl. Was she just passed down? Was that all they were? Chips and pawns? One was just as good as the other?]

A political alliance? She married for duty. I am glad more than just duty became of it.

I do hope that my court would not make you uncomfortable. Or unhappy. As for guarding, I think you would need not worry overly about safety.The guards I promise are quite capable. A partner though...

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[stonebird]

(Women - especially women of noble birth - are often used for political alliances. Catelyn's fate was the fate of many.)

Yes, she did, though she was fond of the Starks. Besides, my father was a good man. I think they may have grieved the loss of his brother together.

A partner looks out for the king. I can hear and see things the guards miss. The queen has more power than most realize.

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[kingforboth]

I hope they were able to find comfort together in their mutual grief. And I am glad that your mother was able to marry as was her duty to a man who was both good, kind and able as well as not old enough to be her grandfather. For those of our birth and status, what we want is often sacrificed in the name of duty.

You do, I have no doubt. The world of women is quite different than the world of men.

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[stonebird]

Her parents did care for her; they tried to make good matches for her and her sister. My parents did the same to the best of their ability. They didn't realize Joffrey was mad.

Our worlds complement one another. That is why you need a queen you can trust.

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[kingforboth]

I suppose we all do try to the best of our abilities.

I do. I thought I had one, a queen who was capable of working with me as a partner and ally as well as a mother. Unless she relents, I know eventually I will need to find another.

Or I hope you find your way to Gwynedd.

[He knew it was an empty hope, there was no way his council would ever approve Sansa as queen. Her match made no political sense, at least one of them was likely to hold events she had no control over as her fault and the one fact he couldn't argue, her virtue was no longer intact. The best he could do was shelter her and hope to find a good match for her as he was doing with the Princess Janniver, no longer welcome by her betrothed or her family for events beyond her control.]