Chapter 26: Interlude III: The Lady of Runestone

Notes:

Two chapters, since the other was mostly catch-up

Chapter Text

The servants shuffled about swiftly as the procession filed into the courtyard of Runestone. The household guard came first, lining up and showing the colors of Royce and Coldwater. Each of them well-armed and sending a message to their foes. As did the very large bronze dragon in the back of the courtyard. Following the guards, a modest carriage made its way through the gates of Runestone. Leading up the rear of the column were some few riders, bearing the same colors as the guards.

Rhea smiled as the door opened, and her sister stepped out. Ysilla had not returned since her grandfather's death, not since her husband left for Coldwater Burn and his estates. Now she had returned, here to discuss the two's potential return to Runestone. She curtsied politely, before following behind Rhea as they departed for her solar. With a gesture, Luke followed behind her into the room.

"How have you been, sister?" Rhea asked, sitting across from Ysilla at a small table. "It has been some time." Shortly before their grandfather's death, she had brought her daughter Lorra to Runestone to meet Lucerys. Gunthor had hoped to push the match, yet it had gone nowhere. And now, even if Rhea could possibly be convinced on the matter, Daemon never would. Even now, her errant husband still held out hope for the King to grant a betrothal between Luke and the Princess of Dragonstone.

"It's been rather quiet," Ysilla responded. "After Willam left to squire at the Gates of the Moon, our halls lacked anyone running through the corridors, or dragging mud in the rugs. He's about your boy's age," she said, gesturing to Luke. "You could send him to join his cousin at the Gates." she suggested. Rhea smiled, but gave no affirmation.

"And Lorra?" Rhea asked. "I had thought you would bring her, given how your husband was all but attempting to pawn her off to Luke." Ysilla all but rolled her eyes.

"As if your damned husband would ever allow that. Anything without white hair and those eyes may as well be a sheep to him!" Ysilla exclaimed. The sound of a cup falling and rolling on the ground indicated that Luke had certainly heard it as well. A few moments later he brought filled cups of wine for the table, retreating immediately after. "Truth be told, Gunthor wished to keep her at Coldwater Burn with his cousins," she finally said. "He wants her to be one of Lady Jeyne's ladies, no chance of that after what grandfather did. Couldn't convince him otherwise. So, here I am."

Rhea resisted the urge to groan, as they finally arrived at the point she had been nudging them towards. "Yes, I am told he wishes to return to Runestone. What is he offering in return for my lifting of his exile?"

Ysilla shifted in her seat before taking another drink. "Us and our children will publicly renounce our current claims and publicly recognize you and your husband as Lord and Lady of Runestone," she said. "We would retain our household, excepting the Maester, and Gunthor requested I put in a good word with you about taking up the post of Master at Arms again, however that is not a requirement to these terms." The same as last time. And still not understanding what had led her to reject them last time.

"I already gave you my response to that," Rhea said, "and it would be acceptable so long as he publicly swore to respect my succession to Lucerys, and have his son squire under my husband." Daemon would never agree, of course, but Gunthor would never accept, stubborn mule he was. Between those two, she bet more on Lucerys convincing Daemon than Ysilla convincing Gunthor.

"He's already a squire at the Gates," Ysilla insisted. "If you need one of our children as a guarantee, couldn't you put Lorra in King's Landing under your other niece?" Ah, there it was. Putting his daughter as one of the Princess' ladies in waiting would give him a path to King's Landing, while his son sat at the Gates of the Moon, slowly gaining allies there as well. Did they really think so little of her?

"I'm afraid there is no fair trade there," Rhea said. "Unless you have another offer, that is my final answer." Her sister thought for a moment, before answering with a laugh.

"He might agree to your terms if I offer to have Lucerys squire for him. He might even be stupid enough to fall for it." Rhea stared for a moment, before laughing, being joined by her sister right after. Lucerys seemed to giggle as well, but managed to take the cups without stopping. Eventually, the sisters managed to stop laughing.

"I'll take your refusal to my husband. He'll wave his fist impotently at the sky for a few days, then return to his normal day and never mention it again," she said. With that, the doors were opened, and Rhea escorted her sister back to the carriage, as the guard mounted up and prepared to leave again. Ysilla departed in her carriage, back towards the Coldwater Lands. Wordlessly, Rhea returned to the keep. There was no time to dwell on the past, on what she felt. Still surveys to read, still finances to manage, still disputes to settle… still always more to do. Nothing her uncle did could change that.