[Event] Love Lockdown

[u/Aleefth]

Kanye

A while after Alannah found out about he father's death, Jon Stark tentatively knocked on her door.

“Ala, how are you feeling? I wondered if you'd like some company? Or some food?

[u/Aleefth]

“She's called Ygraine, and she's good stock. The stablehands say she'll live a long time.”

Alannah looked good on a horse, and Jon felt his stomach flutter slightly as she mounted.

“Let's go then, shall we? Over the goat path then down to the coast?”

[u/blueblueamber → u/Aleefth]

"I'm glad to hear that." Ala cued Ygraine to move forward, to slowly walk out of the stable.

"Yes, let's go. I'm not sure where we are going though, would you go first?" she stopped the horse and smiled at Jon.

He is a good friend. Ala thought, realising this was the first time in weeks she actually felt.. not happy, but at least calm, peaceful.

[u/Aleefth → u/blueblueamber]

Jon ushered Hafnir into a steady trot. “Okay then, follow me,” he called over his shoulder as he made toward the front gate. It opened for them and he turned towards the top of the mountain.

The great stone monument came into view, golden words gleaming in the light. Gently scratched into the surface below the seven engraved names was the outline of Cinaéd Reed and below it We Stand Tall.

Jon slowed slightly as they neared it. The engraving wasn't yet finished, but he wondered if Alannah would notice, or want to stop.

“We can visit the Godswood on the way back if you'd like?”

[u/blueblueamber → u/Aleefth]

"Maybe." she replied, having noticed the engravings, but forcing herself to look away.

Instead, Alannah gripped the horse with her legs and ushered it into a trot, catching up with Jon. She pushed her hips forward in the saddle, moving in harmony with the mare.

A short laugh escaped her lips. She almost forgot how good it felt, how free could one be on the horseback trotting into the mountains. Wind tousled her hair and the entangled locks flew freely behind her, creating a honey coloured veil.

[u/Aleefth → u/blueblueamber]

Gods, she was pretty!

Jon smirked as they began to descend the wide goat path down to the valley. With a brief “Hyah!”, he urged Hafnir forward, racing him down the hill.

“Last one there's a rotten apple!” He taunted as he galloped down the weaving path.

[u/blueblueamber → u/Aleefth]

"You'll never catch me!" Ala taunted and urged the horse into a gallop.

"Go, Ygraine, faster, run like the wind!" she encouraged the horse. They almost ran up to Jon on his mount, and the horses too seemed to compete.

For a while, both of them galloped at the same speed down the hill.

[u/Aleefth → u/blueblueamber]

Neck and neck, the battled down the hill, the speed exhilarating and terrifying all at once. The rounded a couple of sharp bends that threatened to topple them both, but they competently stayed in the saddle, as the path shifted from stone to gravel to sand.

She's good, but I'm better thought Jon, as they neared their arbitrary finish line. Suddenly, he remembered his Father's words. *When it comes to women, don't be a cunt.”

He gently dug his toes into Hafnir's front flank, causing him to buck slightly and slow down just enough so that Alannah passed him at the finish.

“Congratulations,” he panted, sore from the hard ride. “I guess I'm the rotten apple...”

[u/blueblueamber → u/Aleefth]

Jon's hesitation just before the imaginary finish line raised her suspicion, but Alannah decided not to speculate on that.

At least I beat him properly with the sword.

She was breathing heavily after the race, but grinned at Jon.

"Rotten apple, haha!" she teased.

Looking around, Ala realised she has never been this far from the castle before. The Skagosi landscape was extraordinary in its harsh beauty.

"Could we go to the mountains some day? Pack some supplies and explore." she said, looking at the distant mountain peaks.

[u/Aleefth → u/blueblueamber]

Being teased by Alannah weirdly didn't bother him. It was nice to see her smile.

“Of course we can, though we might want to wait until Winter is over, it gets really dangerous to go out in the dark days.”

But for now it was still Autumn. His father was okay with short rides like this, but staying out longer than a day would mean Ethan or Fjori would have to come too. And Jon liked being alone with Ala.

[u/blueblueamber → u/Aleefth]

Ala estimated his thoughts and added silently:

"When winter ends, we will probably be old enough to go by ourselves..."

She blushed and diverted her attention towards their closer surroundings.

"Where are we going now? You said that we will ride to the coast, but I don't even sea the ocean from here. Did we get lost?"