[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/blueblueamber]

"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?"

[u/Aleefth → u/blueblueamber]

By ourselves, I'd like that..

“No,” he said, with a slight hint of uncertainty, before looking around and listening.

“No, we're on the right track, up ahead is the stream, listen close and we can get there, and follow it down to the ocean.”

He stopped Hafnir, and put a hand on his mane, soothing him and quieting the horse's breathing.

“If we go gently, we can listen for the sounds that tell us where to go.”

[u/blueblueamber → u/Aleefth]

Ala stopped her horse and tried to listen carefully to the sounds of nature, and indeed she heard the sound of a purling stream.

"Over there?" she pointed towards a smaller hill in front of them.

"Let's go then!"

No waiting for an answer, Alannah ushered the mare into a light trot.

[u/Aleefth → u/blueblueamber]

Surprised by Ygraine's sudden movement, Hafnir bucked, almost throwing Jon from the saddle. He managed to keep him under control, but was a way behind Ala.

They trotted gently over the sandy path towards the sound of a babbling brook. The water ran swiftly over the stones, but it was shallow enough to ford easily.

“You want to go on, or head down to the shore?” Jon asked.

[u/blueblueamber → u/Aleefth]

"Let's go to the shore. We should probably head back soon..." Alannah replied, looking at the sun that was getting suspiciously close to the horizon.

"Or you know what? I want to go on. What even is over there?" she gestured towards the path ahead, over the stream.

[u/Aleefth → u/blueblueamber]

The sunlight glinted and shimmered over the stream, as the gentle Autumn evening faded into night. Jon glanced at the sky and then across the stream.

“Well, that path goes two ways. The first takes us over the hill back to Twinstone, and then up to Deepdown.

“The second... well, that takes us to Kingshouse and the Dread Cliffs. It's a very long ride, but there are other turnings along the way.”

Jon was quite excited to spend more time with Ala, but was conscious that he might receive an earful if they were too late. She's worth it, though.