Leliana
As Merek recounted some of the adventures with his fallen friend, Leliana found it difficult to focus on the topic at hand with her brother's death so recently called to mind. The hem of her cloak whispered behind her with each step as the two made their way into the tree line. "Yes, there must always be a Stark in Winterfell, otherwise I know he'd be here with us to celebrate the occasion," she remarked distractedly at the mention of her twin brother. Not wanting to let her melancholia spoil the day, Leliana did her best to put thoughts of her lost brother to rest.
The future Lord of Storm's End was proving to be uncannily intuitive. Leliana glanced cautiously over her shoulder at Merek, admittedly surprised by his confessed intent to let her remain in touch with her family. Her heart swelled in her chest, nearly overjoyed by the notion though she did not wish to let her hopes get the better of her. It was one thing to say something and another to put a deed to action. Words are wind, or so the saying went. "Do you mean it, truly?" Despite not wanting to seem too eager, the hope was evident in her tone and she even smiled. Not one of courtesy but one that was for once genuine. Merek was smiling too and Leliana found herself comparing him to his brother in spite herself once more. The elder Baratheon hardly ever smiled. He was far too dour, too stern. Yet it came to her in that moment that the smile seemed to bring a little life to the face of the younger brother. Smiling suited him quite well, she decided.
"Lady Rosamund's love of storytelling is fabled even in The Red Keep," Leliana admitted with a soft chuckle. "It is said her library still remains in the Tower of the Hand." It was the largest King's Landing boasted from a time when Lady Rosamund Baratheon had still been Lady Rosamund Tully, daughter of Lord Axyl Tully, Hand of the King. "I imagine there was never a dull moment whenever your lady mother was around. She probably told you many a story before bed every night."
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Woman? Is that meant to insult me? I would return the slap, if I took you for a man.
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