No Godswood Here [EE, D1]

[Davelyn Sand]

"I mean, there are many stories of Sunspear. My aunt taught me to read when I was young so I have read quite a few of those stories. But then, I also have my own personal accounts of my years there. Would you prefer something from our history or something from mine?"

[Arwyn Forrester]

"Give me your favorite story... of either one."

[Davelyn Sand]

"Of course," he says with a nod. "Well then, when I was much younger, because I am a very old man now," he says with a chuckle, "I lived within the city of Sunspear, in the house of Prince Maron Nymros Martell. I was a bit of an oddity there really. Every adult Martell was either 'aunt' or 'uncle'. It was never revealed to myself or to anyone who exactly my parents were. But, it was known to a select few, one of them being uncle Maron who had decided that I should live within the palace. He apparently had a soft spot for at least one of my parents." He smiled warmly at the memory of his uncle.

"Anyway, when I was much younger... I think i must have been about 6 or 7... I was playing in the halls when uncle Maron walked through. He was alone, and looked to simply be enjoying a walk that day so I ran to him and hugged his leg to greet him. It surprised him a bit, but he smiled at me warmly. He asked me what I was doing and we had some child led back and forth about what I was playing and what I did that day. But then I also asked him for the first who my parents were."

He pauses to look at her, suggesting that this was a happy story for him, rather than something sad or unfortunate. He'd told others before and noticed that they sometimes thought it might be a sad story at this point so he remembered to punctuate there to let them know it was not.

"He told me about how bastards are often borne, at least in Dorne, between a noble and a paramour. About how a bastard, while they are born out of wedlock, are better off because very often they are born out of love. That their life was as much a reason to celebrate as those born within marriage because it was a result of passion and happiness. He explained to me that I may not be named Martell, but the love that had led to my birth was such a beautiful thing, that I may as well have been born from the love of every Martell, and everyone they had ever loved. That made me very happy and I did not ask ever again after that."

"I have viewed each member of my Martell family with the love one would share with a mother or father brother or sister after that. But that is also part of why I chose to leave Dorne. Sad as it made me to do so, Jerome Kellington gave his life to save my great uncle Oberyn Martell. And any family that would sacrifice for mine, deserves no less in return from me."

He pauses again and smiles to her once more. "And there's a bit about bastards in Dorne and myself growing up as one there."

[Arwyn Forrester]

She nods a little bit as she listened. Her expression is thoughtful, not wearing any judgment. "I see... I can understand that to a certain extent. My cousin, Gwenyth Snow, is here with us, and she might as well be a little sister to me, and she's part of our family as much as anyone."

[Davelyn Sand]

"It's a very big difference between Dorne and the northern realms," he says with a smile. "While I'm sure that bastards up here have the love and care of parents and siblings, those outside the family tend to look on them poorly. In Dorne us bastards are simply another Dornishman."

[Arwyn Forrester]

"Please forgive me, I mean no offense by my question," she prefaces shyly. "But... why regard bastards as a separate class at all, given your story? Why not... just as an example... just call your cousins within House Martell?"

[Davelyn Sand]

"Because the laws of the kingdom are what they are, and specific blood ties are still important for deciding who sits at the head of any given house," he says with a smile. "Even in Dorne that is still an important distinction, even if it means little about how we feel towards each other."

[Arwyn Forrester]

She nods a little bit. "That makes sense. Thank you. I appreciate learning more about yourself and Dorne."

[Davelyn Sand]

"Forgive me if I am being a bit forward. You are a daughter of Lord Forrester, so I wonder if you have had marriage arrangements handled yet?" he says with curiosity.

[Arwyn Forrester]

She shakes her head. "Not yet. Out of five children, myself and Marqus are yet to be arranged." A curious, questioning glance toward her companion. "My father isn't in a hurry with us because his line is secure, but I am looking to help my family while we're here..."

[Davelyn Sand]

"I don't think that I myself would be able to help," he says with a smirk. "Not that you are not a lovely young woman. I'd consider myself fortunate for such a match. But it just would not be appropriate."

He raises one finger, "However, if you are looking to try to help your family I would like to ask if you'd be interested in meeting with my lord Cedric Kellington. He currently is seeking to marry himself. I would not deem to say whether the two of you would be a compatible match, or that it would be in the best interests of either house, but I would be remiss if I did not let you know that it is a potential option for you. If you would be open to sitting down with him and discussing how the houses might be of help to each other, with or without an arranged marriage, I think that it would be well worth both Lady Arwyn and Lord Kellingtons time."

His suggestion is accompanied by a pleasantly warm smile.

[Arwyn Forrester]

"I was wondering where you were going with that..." She notes with amusement, then listens seriously. A slow nod, resting a hand gently over her mouth before moving it to speak. "I would certainly be willing to at least visit and see what we might have to talk about in terms our Houses potentially helping one another. Is there a particularly good time to visit, or would it be better for you to set it up in advance? I wouldn't wish to trouble your Lord, of course."

[Davelyn Sand]

"As it is my duty to serve him, I will arrange it. I will get back to you and we can compare times that he is available and times you are available," he offers with a smile. "And I thank you for your consideration. I hope that good things will come from such a meeting."

[Arwyn Forrester]

"Your help is much appreciated," she replies with a smile. "I hope you're well appreciated by your lord." She rises. "I suppose I should head back."

[Davelyn Sand]

Rising next to her, he smiles. "Will you allow me to escort you?"

[Arwyn Forrester]

She dips into a light curtsy with a smile. "I'd be honored." With that, she steps back to allow his horse to rise, as well.

[Davelyn Sand]

Giving a short whistle Qitam makes his way to his feet. He turns to face Davelyn and nudges him on the shoulder. "What is it?"

Qitam whinnies and shakes his head. "Really? Alright, I can ask her."

Turning to Arwyn, "He wants to know if you want to ride back.". Reaching into the saddle bag, he pulls out an apple. "And he says he'll give you that ride for just one apple." He offers it to Arwyn.

[Arwyn Forrester]

She chuckles at the little display, and offers it with a flat hand to the horse. "How generous of him."

[Davelyn Sand]

The horse takes the apple from her gently. "He is very kind. Aren't you Qitam? Are you a kind boy?" As he says that he nods his head which Qitam mimics.

"How about it?" He directs back at Arwyn.

[Arwyn Forrester]

"I would love to ride back, thank you both," she said with a smile before mounting up.

[Davelyn Sand]

Qitam was calm and easy to ride, especially with Davelyn right next to him. "I think he likes you Lady Arwyn." With that he leads the way back out of the forest... but starts heading in the wrong direction. Arwyn may need to point the way.

[Arwyn Forrester]

"I hope so..." Arwyn strokes the horse's neck and watches their direction with a smile. She didn't want to injure pride by telling him he was going the wrong way, so... "I think I figured out a shortcut on my way here, if we go through those trees over there," she says, indicating the right direction.

[Davelyn Sand]

Getting a bit of direction, he chuckles. He wasn't surprised at that. "Well, I did say I got a bit lost." Apparently he didn't mind her assistance.

"And I'm sure he likes you." He smiles up at her as they change direction. "Thanks."

[Arwyn Forrester]

Arwyn is content to guide them both back from Qitam's back.

/scene