The Pact of Ice and Fire

[Dirty Chai]

[OOC: Starting this now because dragon RP takes forever, and I can't really wait on that and neither can Perry.]

One hundred and a half horsemen had made a camp on the eastern shore of the God's Eye, with staked barricades guarding the fringes.
Here, in a small wood beside a fisherman's dock, the Black Queen awaited one lord of Winterfell to appear, as agreed, to make their oath.

Rhaenyra looked out over the pallid green water, at the pale reflection of the moonlight on the still surface.
Fish jumped now and then, creating ripples in the water. Frogs and insects croaked and cricketed, illustrating the liveliness of the reed-mounted shoreside.
A dock jutted out into the lake, where a lone rowboat sat, vacated by its master. An island lay beyond, dark in the night.

She would hand everything over for this - everything beyond the Neck would really no longer be Targaryen.
Her step-daughter was to marry a Northerner - which Stark, she wasn't sure.
But the Queen wouldn't let them take Baela away completely, never to be seen again. The girl had a dragon, for the Seven's Sake.
Would they just chain Moondancer away too?

[Pericles of Athens]

In the distance the Queen could see the banners of the North fluttering in the wind, blazoned with proud pines, giants and mermen but above them all flew the direwolf of Winterfell. Lord Rickard made the short ride from his camp to the lakeside, his brother riding beside him.

Rickard was a handsome man tall and trim with long black hair, a well kept beard and warm grey eyes, the spitting image of his father Rickon who'd sworn oaths for Rhaenyra years prior. He seemed almost too young to be one of the most powerful men in Westeros. Eddard looked plain in comparison to his elder brother, with a sharp nose and a long face.

Stark dismounted his horse, the ancient valyrian blade Ice slung across his back, and his party of Northmen followed his lead. My Queen, we were starting to think you wouldn't come. He remarked with a grin.

[Dirty Chai]

The Queen eyed both of the brothers with a slight frown, but quickly inferred which was the Lord and which was a younger brother.
"We could say the same of you and yours," she said without humor.
"I'm told your men massacred the Strongs when they got here, and now there's a feud over Harrenhal."

[Pericles of Athens]

Yes.. I've come to understand things went south with my half-brother and good half-brother in command. But from what I understand most of the Strongs died in an accidental inferno in the lower levels of the keep. He remarked, he wanted to believe Brandon that the fire was just a horrid mistake. Well you're here now, to fufill your end of the bargain I assume?

[Dirty Chai]

"Yes," the Queen glanced behind her to a tent where she knew Baela waited, "we are. But we want this feud settled peacefully, Lord Stark. These kinds of things can destroy alliances.
If you can promise to work out a settlement with Riverrun, peacefully, then we will do as we agreed, here and now."

[Pericles of Athens]

The settlement will be made, I won't see any more Rivermen die by Northmen hands.. nor the other way around. He ran his fingers through his beard. Ser Vance should be here within a few days and the settlement made, together we can crush these Greens and everyone can go home to some much deserved peace. He looked about trying to see if the girl was present, before looking across the lakeside toward an island covered in weirwoods.. Perhaps the holiest place to followers of the Old Gods. We will need to cross the lake for both ceremonies, though I'll warn you the green men are a quite folk.

[Dirty Chai]

The Queen glanced at the isle as well.
"They seem more myth than man to me, but I'll swear before your gods all the same."
Rhaenyra turned, anxiety suddenly welling up her in chest as he was about to marry her step-daughter off to a Stark.
She gestured to a guard, who nodded and then went into the tent to retrieve the girl.
"I have brought Baela Targaryen with me, my daughter by law, just a woman now by a year. Who is her betrothed?"

[Pericles of Athens]

They've kept my gods alive south of the Neck, we Firstmen owe them for that much. The Old Gods were blind south of the Neck, but not here on the God's Eye and it was thanks to those quire islanders. He turned to his younger brother at the Queen's question, giving the boy a nod with an encouraging smile. I am. The younger Stark stated, with a gulp. He was eight and ten name days perhaps, his close trimmed beard making him spear older than his years. Eddard Stark, though you may call me Ned if you wish your grace. He looked perhaps a bit nervous, entice paying meeting his intended for the first time. Will she like him? Rickard mused. Will he like her?

[Roxas]

Baela did not disguise her childish disapproval of all these betrothals she has been wrapped up in to appease her step-mother, often playing petty pranks on her previous betrothed as a sign of resistance. She had been most relieved when her previous arrangement had been cancelled in light of recent events within the fractured realm, smiling with joy and brimming with a new-found sense of adventure. Yet here she was once again, shackled into something she had no say in to fulfil whatever fate lay ahead of her in the frosty climate of the North. Despite all Baela did not have the willpower to oppose her family and with a sense of apprehension and full of nerves she heeded to the sound of her introduction and gracefully made her way over to the gathered host.

"He can't be any worse than Jace...." She sighed with a sense of resignation, "Perhaps they might not be so bad..."

As she grew close her combative spirit turned into nervous tension as she prepared to judge the character of her newly betrothed, she had not met many men from the north and the few she had the opportunity to meet were nothing like the snakes and vipers that made up the nobles of Dragonstone. She had wore her favourite scarlet dress with golden embroidery in the menacing patterns of fearsome dragons which laced around her figure, a constant reminder of her heritage.

Baela raised her head to assume a more confident posture as she came to a halt beside her step-mother before continuing with the common courtly procedures by giving a swift curtsies to the Starks. She remained silent as she awaited permission to speak,

[Pericles of Athens]

Rickard thought of his brother's plight, even as the Lord Stark he'd taken the easy way out and married by choice while his younger brother would be force to marry a targaryen girl he'd just met. It's for the good of the family, he assured himself. They'll learn to love one another in time, I'll make sure of that. My lady, its good to finally meet my good sister to be. He stated with a cutting smile and a quick laugh, it was a sweet laugh that warmed the heart like a bowl of sisterton stew on a cold winter's day. This is Eddard. He gestured toward his younger brother.

It's good to finally meet my intended. Eddard stated in a reserved fashion. He gave a small grin to his betrothed his pale grey eyes looking her over. Ned was a distant man contemplative and quiet. He never wore his emotions on his sleeve, some said he was a cold man because of it.

[Roxas]

Baela's eyes flickered with a slight interest as she gave the Lord Stark and her new betrothed a look over. "Well he already beats marrying Jace..." She murmured very subtlety under her breath before responding in kind with her own smile which contained a small glimmer of genuine interest and affection, she knew from prior experiences that fighting this fate would prove fruitless and so had taken to accepting the arrangement with a small amount of enthusiasm.

"It is a pleasure to meet the men of the noble house of Stark..."

She was bursting full of questions which she wished to ask the Lord Stark, mainly concerning her personal freedom and 'Moony', yet she knew better than to talk amongst the adults who treated her as a naive child unable to express coherent and sensible opinions.

[Dirty Chai]

Rhaenyra eyed Baela's nervous posture with what could be seen as a bit of worry, concerned for her daughter.
She had no choice, she reminded herself repeatedly.
"Lord Stark," the Queen began, gesturing towards the boat on the dock, "Shall we begin then?"
They could leave the two betrothed to speak to each other, here.

[Pericles of Athens]

Aye, let us. He patted his younger brother on the back, giving him an encouraging wink. Have a nice chat with your betrothed, we'll be back before you know it. Eddard nodded mutely. Rickard made his way into the boat offering a hand to help the queen in as well. As they took to the water and set out across the God' Eye Rickard couldn't help but notice how eerie the lake really was. It seemed almost too quiet, too peaceful as if some kraken would reach a tentacle up out of the water at any minute and drag them under. Rickard coughed to interrupt the silence of the journey. So how goes the war, your grace? The Lord Stark questioned. I know little of the war beyond the victories at Harrenhal and Kingslanding, where would the Northmen serve best?

Eddard looked around for something to comment on, he wasn't exetly sure how to speak with a southron, let alone a southron girl. Uh.. Baela, is it? You look beautiful in that dress. He remarked pointedly, he didn't wish to cause offence.

[Dirty Chai]

Aye, let us. He patted his younger brother on the back, giving him an encouraging wink. Have a nice chat with your betrothed, we'll be back before you know it. Eddard nodded mutely. Rickard made his way into the boat offering a hand to help the queen in as well. As they took to the water and set out across the God' Eye Rickard couldn't help but notice how eerie the lake really was. It seemed almost too quiet, too peaceful as if some kraken would reach a tentacle up out of the water at any minute and drag them under. Rickard coughed to interrupt the silence of the journey. So how goes the war, your grace? The Lord Stark questioned. I know little of the war beyond the victories at Harrenhal and Kingslanding, where would the Northmen serve best?

The Queen and the Lord Paramount sat fairly close now, in a small boat with a few men behind their backs, dipping oars towards the island.
She was silvery woman, apparently soured and embittered by this conflict - "Realm's Delight" was certainly from a time gone by.

"Not quickly enough," she said, looking out over the water, her mind drifting to the stalemate along the Blackwater.
"The Reach and Stormlands defy me ever onwards. But with your added swords, it shouldn't be much longer."
Another year, at most, she hoped. She was tired, truth be told, but that did not diminish her unwavering hatred and anger.

[Roxas]

Baela felt slightly more at ease when it was apparent she was not the only one who was finding this situation awkward in nature, giving a small and earnest smile upon receiving the compliment.

"Baela Targaryen, Daughter of..." She paused, "Actually.....just call me Baela..."

She gave a meek laugh in response to her own, diverting her eyes from Eddard in slight embarrassment in an attempt to ease some of the tension between the two.

"I have a feeling these kind of dresses are ill-suited for the north. Tell me, what is the north like?"

[Pericles of Athens]

In winter yes.. but you could pass with it in the summer, I think. He advised her. Summers can be cold back home, winters are.. much colder. He thought for a moment, Eddard loved his home but he wasn't sure if a southron would understand. She's a harsh mistress, Baela, but every Northmen loves her without a thought. He smiled a bit, his grey eyes filled with wistful thoughts of home. You'd think us quire for it and perhaps there's a bit of truth to that statement, but she's home. He wanted her to understand. There are endless rolling hills and forests that could swallow entire southern kingdoms, frozen shores that stretch for miles and mountains that stretch to the heavens, with an impassible swamp that has guarded my people for ten thousand years. And at the end of it there's the Wall, the largest manmade structure in the world, a sheet of sheer ice and home to the Night's Watch.

[Roxas]

In winter yes.. but you could pass with it in the summer, I think. He advised her. Summers can be cold back home, winters are.. much colder. He thought for a moment, Eddard loved his home but he wasn't sure if a southron would understand. She's a harsh mistress, Baela, but every Northmen loves her without a thought. He smiled a bit, his grey eyes filled with wistful thoughts of home. You'd think us quire for it and perhaps there's a bit of truth to that statement, but she's home. He wanted her to understand. There are endless rolling hills and forests that could swallow entire southern kingdoms, frozen shores that stretch for miles and mountains that stretch to the heavens, with an impassible swamp that has guarded my people for ten thousand years. And at the end of it there's the Wall, the largest manmade structure in the world, a sheet of sheer ice and home to the Night's Watch.

OOC: Do I get to keep Moondancer btw? And If so, do you mind if I summon her here just to show Eddard?

Baela took in the vivid description, painting a vague picture of a 'frozen paradise' within her thoughts. She knew that her new home would be one vastly different to the nest of vipers that she had been raised in throughout her childhood, a terrifying yet exciting proposition. 'Moondancer would love it there....' ,She mused to herself.

"Perhaps you will honour me with a tour once we appease the will of our elders with our marriage?"

Baela's earlier apprehension was slowly thawing out as they conversed and it could be noted that her natural self was beginning to radiate out once more.

[Pericles of Athens]

Rickard nodded, breathing in-between each row of his oar. His father had always told him never to ask a man to do something he wouldn't do himself, no Northmen not even the Lord Stark was above working with his own hands. We'll help you put an end to their defiance right quick your grace, you'll see. They were getting close to the island now, pulling toward its silent shores with only the sound of oars running through water to break the silence. Rickard was the first off the boat, he was the only Firstmen there after all a place like this didn't mean anything to andals or dragons. The trees were silent sentinels, just as they were the day the children birthed them. Their braches were white as snow and their leaves scarlet as a man's life blood, they looked on with unfeeling eyes.. watching in perpetual silence, just watching. These were the eyes of the Northmen's gods of the Old Gods of the First Men. Come on now, we've got oaths to speak. He led them into the forest, as they marched along a strange rustling could be heard in the distance and the party could feel distinctly human eyes upon them. The Green Men were a reclusive bunch to be certain, guarding the trees, no guarding the gods from the shadows. Soon he found a particularly shapely and large weirwood with a decently size space before its face. Rickard knelt before the weirwood with no regard for the mud he'd get on his own clothing, he lightly patted the ground beside him indicating that the queen should kneel as well.

[Dirty Chai]

The Queen followed Stark, hesitating before the tree. She clenched her jaw, and then held back the folds of her dress before kneeling down into the dirt before the tree.
Her narrow eyes looked up at the face upon the tree, and she frowned at it, pausing long before speaking.

"I, Rhaenyra of House Targaryen, hereby swear before the Old Gods, and the New, that henceforth the House Stark, ruling in Winterfell, Wardens of the North, will rule North of the Neck by their own customs and laws without intervention from the Iron Throne."

She outstretched a hand, expecting a small knife be put into it - to draw blood from the palm..

OOC: The other stuff doesn't need to be sworn, I think. I'll just give you a bunch of money at the end of the war for the grain debt, and Baela and Eddard are about to marry.

[Pericles of Athens]

Rickard handed her a small knife. It looked old, ancient even. Like some kind of Stark heirloom from the earliest days of the First Men. May the countless gods of the wood hear your word. The mirthful young lord who'd met her on the banks of the God's Eye wasn't here, replaced by a true Stark solemn and devout. He waited for her to draw blood before speaking his own words.

OOC: Agreed.