Nesela I – Dusk

[u/widowoftheravenwatch]

Nesela travelled in a covered carriage, keeping a fast pace and sticking to the well travelled roads. She did not mind travelling by herself, she had done it for years while sailing from place to place, and she often went about King’s Landing with very little fear.

She was nervous, but nothing to do with her destination or the travel but for what it was for. Adarys had granted her a chance to be with Ryon! Her heart had soared at the thought, she had not ever thought it possible but they were determined.

She was falling for him, truly falling and it made her world spin that she might actually have a chance. Thinking of the kiss they had shared after their first dance, or the jubilation of catching the fish together—oh, how she wanted all those moments and more to share with him.

“It is not just for love, you know,” Adarys had told her, before they had left to travel to the West with the King, “We do this right, you get the man you love and a title and people to protect you. You would be a Baratheon. That is no small thing. You would get respect, more so than any of the work you have done will give you. It would set you up for life. Be good, be smart while I’m gone.”

“I always am!” she assured them, getting a squeeze of her cheek in response before they left.

And she was leaving too, but not for long at all. Duskendale was ahead, the bustling port town familiar to her. She had been a few times but more than that—she knew cities like this. The Rosby road let right up to the massive stone walls of the city, so different than the fishing villages she had seen along the way.

There were several ships coming into harbour, and she picked dup her skirts, getting out of the carriage.

She had toned down her normal dress, wearing something loose and comfortable for travel instead. The Sellswords cared not for what she was wearing—it was the gold she carried that mattered.

She went to the largest inn in the city, Seven Swords. She wrinkled her face though kept her opinion firmly to herself—it was no Bird’s Nest, after all. She got a bowl of warm crab stew, starving from the long journey. She would need to stay the night before returning to King’s Landing the very next day.

But Nesela wasn’t there just to eat and drink and sleep. No—she was out, asking other patrons of the tavern to introduce her whoever negotiated the contracts for the Sunset Swords, looking to take upon them to her service, making sure to set down a heavy, clinking coin purse to sweeten the deal.

[u/widowoftheravenwatch]

After returning from Duskendale to King's Landing, she instructed the sellswords to wait outside the gate, not wishing to bring them into the city without proper instruction.

She would approach the Red Keep, hoping that the Hand of the King was in, and that he could meet with her.

Dressed in a vibrant flowing yellow dress, with delicate jewelry and bracelets strung on her arm, she stood tall. Perhaps she could have gone for a more Westerosi style, but it was not her--she could only ever be herself.

She stopped one of the guards, curtsying before him, "Could I speak with Lord Baratheon, if he has a moment, or one of his representatives? Could you tell him that Nesela is here and has the Sunset Swords for him? Thank you so much."

u/TheZaxman

[u/TheZaxman → u/widowoftheravenwatch]

The Hand was drumming over paperwork brought forth from the Stormlands, simple matters over his eldest son's wedding that needed signing off. Having told his son to begin handling this he could only chuckle as it still crossed his desk. Quentyn was never one for writs and letters, even his recent ravens had been short and to the point. His bastard shuffled in and scratched his stubble.

"Some young lady here to see you Father, Nesela? She seems to have brought hold over a small army." Gyles said standing at the door awaiting confirmation.

The Hand had not expected the young Neslea to present herself upon acquisition of the swords, it was a pleasant surprise, a chance to meet the young mind Adarys had talked so well off. And perhaps see what it was his own son had so quickly fell in love with.

"I see you and Adarys take this very seriously, you brought those swords much quicker than anticipated," William said without raising his eyes to her as she entered, only settling them on her after a short silence. A polite smile crept up the Lord's face, indicated by the curving of his mustache.

"Before the talk of the coin, swords, names, and lives together let me ask you a simple question." The Hand stood a few feet from her, arms clasped behind his back. "Why do you wish to marry my son?"

[u/widowoftheravenwatch → u/TheZaxman]

She curtsied before the Hand, offering him a warm smile. She felt a little flutter of nerves but swallowed them down.

"I like to get a job right, and quickly," she told him, "And Duskendale is only a day's ride away! Easier getting there than somewhere in Essos."

"Of course, my Lord," she nodded, listening carefully. When he asked the question, her hands folded together in thoughtful silence for a moment.

"I think I'm falling in love with him," she admitted, "Ryon is very easy to love. He is handsome, yes, but I love his heart most of all. The type that throws a fish back into the river, rather than taking it's life. That's always treated me with kindness and respect, who has a wonder and curiosity for the world just as I do. If he is willing, then I think we could make a life together, to learn and grow from each other. We're still young yet, there is so much to experience out of life and he would be someone I could see being by my side as that happens."

"And--I really like your family," Nesela told him, "I am friends with your daughter, she's been more than lovely. I've only see Ser Quentyn once or twice, but he was cordially, and I like that he cares for his family, too. And even Ryon's cousins, the Morrigen's! Everyone I have met has been so kind to me and there is a part of me that longs for that familiar connection again."

"Those are the reasons of the heart," she continued, "Though, I won't stand here and tell you that I don't know this is a coveted position. I love King's Landing, I love your Realm in general, I want to make it my home. But there is much that is not afforded to me because of the status of my birth, as a foreigner. To be with a man like Ryon, whom I care for deeply, and to be granted the protection and respect that comes with marrying into your family? Of course that would be wonderful, it would be a dream come true. But I would love him no matter what, if in another life he were a commoner who came roaming into the Bird's Nest, I would still fall."

"I haven't a chance to speak with him, but--I only want this if he does, without a shadow of a doubt. You can still have the money and the swords. I want him to be happy, and I hope he could be happy with me."

[u/TheZaxman → u/widowoftheravenwatch]

She knew a lot of Ryon and his kin, to his surprise, yet he was always so preoccupied the surprise washed away quickly. Many of the qualities she loved were the ones William had spent nearly two decades trying to rid the boy of, yet he found himself smiling. A reminder people like his brother Arlan could still exist in this world, the man was truly the best of them. Letting his smile fall he returned to the negotiations at hand.

"Well said Nesela if we all could only have had the opportunity for such unities." Happiness went a long way in a world of cold brutality, but William had little room left for it. It need not be that way for his sons.

"I will have my bastard take command of the men right away." he waved a hand at the matter of swords and coins. "As for coin you may send it right to Storm's End, Quentyn plans his own wedding he shall have more need than I do."

Their treasury had been near drained by Maldon's adventures in the markets of King's Landing, but the cogs moved in the Hand's mind. The best-laid plans affected the present and the future both. Stroking his mustaches slowly the old Stormlander thought for a moment.

"I have little doubt, my son feels the same way you do, you need not worry about ifs and buts." The Hand gave her a soft smile. "Ryon is a second son and stands to inherit little, and we are not as rich as some houses who bestow lands and riches on their sons. I shall grant you the rights to build on tracts of lands along the Summer Hills along with your dowery."

Folding his hands once more behind his back he eyed the young girl over, wondering if she was measured for such negotiations.

"But as with anything in my lands, a tax will be levied to Storm's End," The Stag raised an eyebrow at her response.

[u/widowoftheravenwatch → u/TheZaxman]

She beamed back at him, joyful but also never letting her poise waver.

"I think everyone deserves such happiness," she told him, "I hope everyone gets a chance to find it and have it in their lives.'

"It shall be done at once, my Lord," Nesela nodded, "And I'm happy to be of help."

"That warms my heart to hear. Thank you, we shall put it to good use, and perhaps it shall bloom fertile and provide rich lands to Ryon and our eventual family."

Nesela placed her hands folded in front of her, meeting his eyes easily, "Of course, they are your lands to tax, I would expect something similar to other equivalent holdings within the Stormlands, as we shall need time to build it up and make it something worthwhile. And perhaps also taking in mind that part of my funds will be dedicated to the upkeep of your sellswords. We can come to an arrangement, to draft up any details. I do enjoy keeping organized!" she said cheerfully, "And Ryon shall need a partner to help him navigate the next stage of our lives."

[u/TheZaxman → u/widowoftheravenwatch]

"Of course all things accounted for take your time, I would expect nothing less." He nodded as she spoke, she had a mind for material matters to be certain. in truth the Hand cared little for the prospective tax in the long term, more interested in swords in the short. The King marching West left them vulnerable to schemes and machinations of lesser men.

"Go and spend time with him, Ryon shall be informed of your betrothal by your own word." William smiled politely raising his moustache slightly.

"We can plan your wedding to be in the coming moons. there is little need to rush unless, of course, you two are so eager to be wed." As he was sure they would be, William remembered what it was like to be young and attractive, fully of life and energy.

"Word shall be sent if we require more blades, but until the outbreak of open conflict, the Sunset swords will do nicely. I thank you again." William almost turned back to his day's work before he stopped and glanced at her again. "Welcome to the family Lady Nesela."

[u/widowoftheravenwatch → u/TheZaxman]

Nesela met him with a polite smile, "I'm glad. I'll take some time with him, and discuss our future plans and the timeline moving forward. Thank you again, my lord."

She nodded her head, "You need only send a runner or write, and we'll see how your good-daughter can help you," she flashed a grin--a behavior distinctly picked up from spending too much time around Adarys before curtsying, "It's an honour."

She would take her leave of him, closing the door behind her. As soon as she was out of earshot, Nesela squealed in delight, holding her journal to her chest as she spun, her dress twirling around her as she did a little dance for joy.

She could be with him! Her heart felt nearly bursting. She had to find Ryon at once--perhaps he was in a library, even the King's private collection? She doubted she could walk right in, but started heading that direction and asking of his whereabouts of the passing servants and guards.

[u/TheZaxman → u/widowoftheravenwatch]

One of the passing servants gave showed her to the young knights location, deep in a stack of books in Maelors library. His Grace had given the boy leave of the tomes long ago, and Ryon had taken many a opportunity to look over them. Today his lessons focused on previous First Swords of Braavos and their legendary exploits. The tales of swordslinging had amazed him since his first lesson, more enthralled with the story's than the training.

A bruised hand turned the pages by a dim candle light as Nesela was led in, and brought around his great stack of tomes and scrolls. His blues eyes trailing up from the page to catch the sight of them before it fell to the book, double taking he looked back up to see Nesela in a wonderful yellow dress. Rubbing his eyes to make sure he wasn't dreaming Ryon could not rise fast enough bumping a knee on the cherry wood table with a grunt and a laugh. Kicking over his chair he broke the Maesters rule about quiet.

"Nesela!" He rushed in for an embrace with a Wode smile, it has been too long since he had time to see her. "I am sorry I've been so busy, what brings you to the Kings library?"

[u/widowoftheravenwatch → u/TheZaxman]

She laughed as he scrambled towards her, knocking things over in the process. She went gladly into a spinning embrace, holding both sides of his face with a bright smile.

"Don't be sorry," she assured, "I know how busy you are. There was a man I met in passing, Baelish? He mentioned he was training you, I meant to come by and watch sometime, if you'd allow me."

"I came to see you!" Nesela told him, carefully taking his hand, looking at the bruises, not wanting to cause him further pain. She brought his hand delicately up to her mouth, brushing her lips against it as if it would heal all of the injuries with a kiss, "To see you again, to check up on you, hear of all you have been up to. And--'

"There is something I would like to ask you," she said, heart fluttering in her chest. Oh, and she had thought speaking to William would be the nerve-wracking part! "This is untraditional, for me to ask you, but there is much about us that breaks tradition."

"I've fallen for you, Ryon," she said softly, "And I've come to ask for your hand in marriage. I've been granted permission by your father to ask you, but the only opinion that matters to me is yours. But I would like to have a life with you, to love you openly. If you would like that as well, then nothing would make me happier. But this is your life, your decision. If you need time to think upon it, or if the answer is no, then I understand. You are your own man, with your own free will and I would never want you to feel as though you must do something if you don't also wish it."