♛ｆｉｒｓｔ ｃｏｎｑｕｅｓｔ｜｜ ｖｉｄｅｏ

[emblazing]

[ for a minute there is nothing, and then you are given the view of a girl, though young, with a particularly regal bearing. she regards the view ahead of her with shrewd, violet eyes. at a glance she is nothing more than a especially lovely young woman, silver hair and strangely colored eyes glinting under the sun.

in her lap there is a brightly colored green dragon, no larger than a small dog, curled in her lap as if to bask under the bright sun. it's slightly larger brother curls around both shoulders of the woman in question, black as night with eyes as bright and red as hot coals. puffs of smoke escape from their nostrils.

when she speaks her voice is deliberate, measured and strong:]

I am told we are to fight a war, Asgard. We are given pretty words and baubles, magic.

[ those pale brows wrinkle ]

Yet among your 'army' I see children. I met a young girl when I first arrived, a man who had his own lands to account for. Do you think pretty words are enough to buy loyalty? If so I should like to learn your trade, for there are many and more besides that I would rally to my side in my own lands.

I see some of your gods, I see how they act playing as if it were a game and we nothing but common toys for their leisure. I did not imagine war to be so simple as that.

[ her jaw clenches subtly, a ripple of muscle against her smooth cheek. ]

To them I would ask: Where is my third dragon? His scales are white, I would not think him so difficult to find. I would direct this question and more to the people trapped alongside me. I care little if you are gods or not, you do not take what is mine without recieving justice for it.

[ she takes a quiet breath, and her face smoothes, and there is an undeniably gentler expression there, in mouth and eyes. ]

To those who share my plight, I would ask you instead, if you have seen him. He is no smaller than this green one here, and more precious to me than all I own. Should you know where he is, I will repay you, I swear it.

I would also ask whatever wisdom you might offer to the nature of this place, of currency, trade and other lands--if there are any to be trusted. I am far from my home, as are you all, and the more I learn, the better I can be made to help you and myself in kind. I have no wish to fight any more wars than I must.

[ she strokes the top of the green dragon's head ]

My third question would be if any of you hail from the kingdom of Westeros, or the continent of Essos. You have my thanks for any answers or words given.

Comments

[samantha_grey]

... You're back, I see. [She doesn't recognize you nearly so much as your dragons. It makes her eyebrow raise and then she lets out a soft sigh. Another person back without memories, though at least she didn't know you too well.]

Last time you were here, you only had one of your children. Drogon. I'm guessing you don't remember being here before, do you?

[emblazing]

You are the third to say such.
[ she watches her warily. ]

No, I have no memories of this place. Only words spoken of the time I was here, if I am to believe it.
[ a pause ]

They gave my second to me, which leaves me no doubt that they are at least aware of where my third is.

[samantha_grey]

Yeah, that happens now and again apparently. I met Drogon the first time you were here. We watched fireworks at a festival they were having. Your third's back home, so don't worry about that. These guys kind of cheat time and space apparently. We've had people come back with memories of this place. When they do, they always say they got returned to the moment they were taken from, as if no time was past.

So, long as your kid's safe at home, he's safe.

...still kind of weird saying it's your kid, though. You don't look like a half breed and neither do they.

[emblazing]

He is home? That is no better. Many people wish to take my dragons. I have no doubt of my knight's skill but he is one man. They are not so trusting among others.
[ it seemed any answer would give her no comfort. the only suitable place would be among her side again. ]

Half-breed? I know not of what you speak but those dragons called to me from the flames of my husband's pyre. With grief, sweat and loss I called to them and they answered me. From those flames came life.

They are the only children I would have now.

[samantha_grey]

Theoretically, he's frozen in time along with the rest of your world. You will end up back at the exact instant you left, so nobody'll have time to grab your dragons.

Theoretically.

[Hmmm, ok, so ... wait, what?]

But, ok, so the dragons were inside your husband's funeral pyre?

[emblazing]

And you were told this by another?

[ that is hard to believe, but in this case she cannot rule out the words of another who is also trapped. ]

I placed them there, yes.
[ then i walked into the fires myself. ]

[samantha_grey]

One or two. They said that when they got home, it was the instant they'd been taken from. There's not many here who've been in this place twice and remember it.

...

You put the eggs in the fire then? Ok, if that's the case then I think I see the mother thing now.

[emblazing]

Those are comforting words, and I would like to believe them--however I feel I would be more like to once I have searched this realm thoroughly. I thank you for them just the same.

[ that really is a relief, but she wants to at least try.
there's a small smile to that. ]

I am glad my lady understands, then. They are more precious to me than all the world.

[samantha_grey]

Always a good policy. Believe it when you're certain, not just because someone said so. But, either way, I'm no lady. Might be a girl, but it's hard to go calling someone like me a lady. I'd feel... weird taking a title.

[emblazing]

What would you wish me to call you?

[samantha_grey]

Samantha or Sam works just fine, trust me. Better than some names, and I don't feel weird with that one, and really as long as you're not going all the way the other direction and calling me a harpy, we should be good.

[emblazing]

Sam.
[ she says it aloud, thinks of it. it's simple, but easy enough to remember. however she raises an eyebrow high to that commentary ]
I can assure you, Sam, that you have no appearance to a harpy. I have seen the Harpy of Ghis and you are far from it.

[samantha_grey]

Oh, I know I don't. There's only one person I let call me that anyway. They're... special that way. heh.

[emblazing]

A friend? I cannot imagine you letting anyone else but that call you such a name.

[samantha_grey]

We're complicated. Let's just leave it at that. I think the last thing I'm ever going to call him anymore is friend. It just wouldn't seem fitting.

[emblazing]

Then I am surprised you let him call you such a name at all.
[ a bit curiously ]
How long have you been here?

[samantha_grey]

Like I said... we're complicated. Heh. You could say we're, sort of involved, but it's weird. I'll explain it another time.

I've been around here for a couple months, almost three.

[emblazing]

[ dany knows when not to pry. she glances at her, nods and lets it go. ]

In a place such as this, that's a long time. Longer than I would spare, if I could. Would you tell me of how these months have been?

[samantha_grey]

Mixed. There've been attacks. A plague was dropped on us, and our own shadows tried to attack us another time. Lots of strange little happenings from time to time. We would end up in each other's bodies, perform ridiculous contests, train for battle, and a variety of other sorts of things.

Really, there are days when the gods seem more insane than anything and the giants only marginally less so. The only people really planning for war are with our ranks.

[emblazing]

[ it sounds more like some sort of joke. that doesn't cool the fury in dany's blood, the way her jaw tightens, tenses beneath the skin. ]

You make it seem as if we are only toys to them. The only trust that seems to be found is among us, as captives.

[samantha_grey]

Freyr's easier to deal with, but he's kind of a captive too. Really, they're the lesser of two evils and I trust people who've earned it.

[emblazing]

There are captives among the gods as well?
[ now that is strange. but she agrees ]
We are of like mind in that.

[samantha_grey]

Political guests in the house, if you're familiar with that sort of thing. I mostly ever ran into it in books. He's not that forthcoming, but he does at least try to be more sensitive about issues.

[emblazing]

Politics are a part of ruling or having any measure of power. They are hard to avoid.
[ said wryly, but that sounds promising ]
Is he? Perhaps I might speak with him, then.

[samantha_grey]

Good luck with that. for all the annoyance, they don't make too many public appearances as a rule. Still, maybe you'll have some luck on that.