5TH BATTLE ; VIDEO

[robb]

[ the feed clicks open and there is robb, looking a tad worn and disgruntled. he's just come back from being gray and colour - colour is a shot of relief -- like the feeling of sweet summerwine down your throat. he barely remembers anything. only the war, and arya disappearing and then nothing.

he's always figured it was part of some promise to return them. that the next time he would open his eyes - he'd be on the battlefield, or the eyrie or winterfell. somewhere familiar - but he isn't. he's still here.

his voice is perhaps, hoarser then. the after effect of not having spoken for what feels like a near month. he's glad the bracelet is with him again, as is grey wind. ]

I had thought the gods kind enough to deliver me out of their service. It seems they place me back.

[ a beat. ]

Is S- Alayne Stone still of this realm?

Comments

HANDS UP AND TOUCH THE SKYYYYYYYYY!!! this is yo' fault juli.

[robb]

[ perhaps we define kindness in different ways, but what's transpired - him leaving - him going gray - he can't help but wonder if these are little tricks set upon him by the gods. robb has never been in their favour, not since he found that thor takes his face or that - they were ordered to kill on their behalf.

the man who sets the sentence, wields the sword - he remembers.

he will never, of course - understand her. for her urgency, for her faults, for her need to be enveloped in secrecy. ]

I've seen better days. Are you well?

rude! you bring out the hideous in me | p r i v a t e

[meant]

( and alayne will never expect him to understand, because robb was raised to be shielded by swords and soldiers and all of the trappings of soldiers. because men are expected to be direct and courageous, more than anything else. men like robb stark, the king in the north, were never meant to hide. )

I am well enough. ( it pains her to be so formal with him, and alayne perhaps above all yearns for the warmth of family after the chill of the vale. she has learned that above all else, it is family that would not have betrayed her as joffrey had. as the lannisters had. she trusts no one in this realm except for those of her blood. her pack. )

I feared that you were gone, brother.

you are hideous. ALSO Y O L O. (i can spell i swearrr )

[robb]

[ as sansa has known a life of songs and stories, it is robb who's known nothing else but swords and soldiers. even within his youth, he's always been groomed - assigned himself to duties and honour and never looked at it another way. ( there's only one moment in his life, where he's crossed that line of honour. for love and a girl who was worth it all - he thinks. but alayne is made of different bricks than robb, she's a structure built on lies and arbor gold; their paths have drifted away from each other then.

and he trusts no one else quite as much, either. ]

I believe this realm shall find much difficulty in being rid of me.

[ the pause is momentary, perhaps because he means it not just for this time - but the other times prior. ]

I did not mean to leave you.

sdkjfkdls it's okay, I am the latest forever | video

[meant]

No, that would never be your intention.

( she is fond of him, so much that it bleeds through everything she does. those things she does for his own protection, in this small way. the affection that leads her to gather up whatever courage she has to flick on the video feed. in the time that he has been away, she has washed the rest of the dark dye from her hair. she is dressed in a northern style, like something she might have worn before leaving king's landing. before she wanted to be like cersei in every single way.

she looks more like sansa stark than ever. )

I feel that...you should call me Sansa once more.

SHH HUSH BBY ITS OKAY I WILL MOVE AT A SNAILS PACE WITH YOU 5EVER.

[robb]

[ they protect one another. robb has his declarations, his treaties in asgard and the unyielding urge to fight for her. she protects him a shield of ignorance. if she were to say something of his marriage, of the salt he placed on walder frey's wounds - he would not take himself kindly.

robb had never seen her then. had not seen the need to fit in the girls of the south; but it comes like a quiet relief that she is taken to older and kindlier names. ]

I should not want to leave you, Sansa. Not if I can. Will you ever tell me why you took the name of Alayne Stone?

YOU MAKE ME HAPPY WHEN SKIES ARE GREY

[meant]

( she takes a breath, to steady herself. for courage. this is robb; sansa's hope. one of the only people in the world she is sure she can count on. because if she has learned anything in king's landing, she has learned that family is all she has. and she thinks about what a folly it was, to have sold her father out for a chance to marry joffrey, for all of her dreams to come true.

does robb hate her for it? she wonders, sometimes.

but she says nothing of it and checks the feed once more for privacy instead. )

Joffrey Baratheon is -- he is dead. He was poisoned at his wedding feast, and the blame was laid on my shoulders. ( she does not speak of tyrion, or her marriage to him - that is too shameful to admit. ) I swear to you, Robb, I didn't - it was not me. But the Queen would not believe me, and I could not hold the name of Sansa Stark any longer.

Petyr Baelish is Alayne Stone's natural father. That is all anyone knows in the Vale - that I am a bastard girl who was raised in a Septry.

( she looks calm, as calm as it's possible for her to be, but alayne's hands shake, and the tremor is visible in the feed as the bracelet clinks on her wrist. )

I never wanted to lie to anyone.