( it is not politics that makes her breath catch in her throat when their eyes meet, beneath the trees. it is not obligation that softens her brows as the gaze lingers, some pin-drop precipice from which she can't look away, and tugs at the corner of her mouth before she'd watched the golden band glimmer from all the lights around them, gems like captured stars.
if this is the first of such unions, with so much promised for the strength and peace of ages to come, then let her one day be worthy of it, she thinks, much as she will one day hope to have earned her inheritance.
the rest that had followed seemed to meet more of her expectation; polite congratulations, more necessity than heart and all is as it nearly should be. on her way, her father had caught her. i had not thought this possible, he had said, this could mean peace, for generations to come and it settles like a weight and warmth both — reminders of prophecies and duties to realms and yet whatever brambles might have remained from earlier argument shed themselves readily enough when she sees the color to his cheeks; he was in better humors, a relief to witness, hands warm when pressed to hers. it had been even more relieving, to observe him speaking with elrond, a sight she'd caught onto from afar, while lingering in polite conversation elsewhere; king viserys looked more like he had years ago, life back in his eyes and a laugh that almost startles her, for how infrequent it had gotten.
it is serendipity that brings them back here and now and his laugh prompts a light one of her own. she sidles closer, much as he had and when he looks upward, the gesture inevitably makes her follow his eyes, to the great expanse of sky, untouched by all that occurs below it.
she laughs, a quick little nod. ) I'll concede, it does sound strange. But — not unwelcome. ( strange, something she will need some time to get used to, much as she imagines he will. if not simply by title (she's no intention of this being his only address), then by concept therein.
her fingers drum on the stem of her glass, occupied as they are from twisting at her ring, a small show of nerves, a tell she's never quite been terribly good at hiding. ) It finds me quite well, Elrond. ( his name sits far better on her tongue than any more formal titles might, and she finds she quite likes the familiarity. ) It is a calm affair. ( not all weddings are, is the implication, said so casually. )
I'm honored, to have been witness to your traditions, instead of my own. ( there's a quick-passing frown though, a small pinch to her nose as she considers something :) I wish I understood your tongue. I confess, I know far too little of it. ( there is hardly a book to be found on it in westeros, to be fair. )
no subject
if this is the first of such unions, with so much promised for the strength and peace of ages to come, then let her one day be worthy of it, she thinks, much as she will one day hope to have earned her inheritance.
the rest that had followed seemed to meet more of her expectation; polite congratulations, more necessity than heart and all is as it nearly should be. on her way, her father had caught her. i had not thought this possible, he had said, this could mean peace, for generations to come and it settles like a weight and warmth both — reminders of prophecies and duties to realms and yet whatever brambles might have remained from earlier argument shed themselves readily enough when she sees the color to his cheeks; he was in better humors, a relief to witness, hands warm when pressed to hers. it had been even more relieving, to observe him speaking with elrond, a sight she'd caught onto from afar, while lingering in polite conversation elsewhere; king viserys looked more like he had years ago, life back in his eyes and a laugh that almost startles her, for how infrequent it had gotten.
it is serendipity that brings them back here and now and his laugh prompts a light one of her own. she sidles closer, much as he had and when he looks upward, the gesture inevitably makes her follow his eyes, to the great expanse of sky, untouched by all that occurs below it.
she laughs, a quick little nod. ) I'll concede, it does sound strange. But — not unwelcome. ( strange, something she will need some time to get used to, much as she imagines he will. if not simply by title (she's no intention of this being his only address), then by concept therein.
her fingers drum on the stem of her glass, occupied as they are from twisting at her ring, a small show of nerves, a tell she's never quite been terribly good at hiding. ) It finds me quite well, Elrond. ( his name sits far better on her tongue than any more formal titles might, and she finds she quite likes the familiarity. ) It is a calm affair. ( not all weddings are, is the implication, said so casually. )
I'm honored, to have been witness to your traditions, instead of my own. ( there's a quick-passing frown though, a small pinch to her nose as she considers something :) I wish I understood your tongue. I confess, I know far too little of it. ( there is hardly a book to be found on it in westeros, to be fair. )