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[mansuetus]

Audentes fortuna iuvat.

Does fortune favors us, Tranquility?

Caesar himself was quite devoted to boldness and fortune; alea jacta est he said and the goddess of fortune favored him for many years.

in the end, she did not. it is a tricky thing, fortune and quite a riddle to guess.

[ that aside ]

An assistance is needed! For baking a cake to a friend whom I favor greatly and who, I decided, celebrates his birthday today.

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action;

[elvenking]

[He rests his cheek against the top of her head.]

My father and I left the Golodhrim to live among our woodland kin. My father said he wished not to live among those who destroyed us, nor become them neither. But by then even the Golodhrim had become something different, and the sons of Fëanor were lost. Even Morgoth was chained beyond the world in the Outer Void, and in those days the only cause for ill will was that which we made ourselves. The resentment lived for so long that it estranged our nations even when a new Enemy arose. Doubtless it caused my father's death.

Love and joy are dangerous, but they are better, for while they take a chance, revenge is certain to cause suffering.

action;

[mansuetus]

Love has left me little choice here.

[ it's an honest confession, she loves more people than she should, she loves more people than Cesare would have her loving for it puts her heart at a great risk. you must keep it close, sis, keep it safe. ]

I loved before I knew I did.

action;

[elvenking]

That is sometimes the case, I think. But I am happy you have found so much love here, and with one who will give you everything you need.

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[mansuetus]

-- I am not speaking only of Robb Stark!

[ but she laughs because really, one day she has to tell them they are no longer a secret. ]

action;

[elvenking]

I know. [A soft smile.] Still it gives me joy to see you with him. He has far too many cares for one so young.

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[mansuetus]

It is the burden of his crown.

[ more king than a man with most and Lucrezia steals the boy out of him and loves him for all three; boy, king, man. They are young the both of them and this should all have been easier than it is. ]

I would ease his worries if I could.

action;

[elvenking]

His crown and his kin. His sister's estrangement bring him great sorrow.

[Yes, he's guiding the conversation in this direction for a reason.]

action;

[mansuetus]

The wild wolf-girl. I have seen her only once. Jon Snow told me of her once before, he is very fond of her. He had said she was different than her elder but I do not know if you have met Alayne.

[ she doesn't name her Sansa but she doesn't deny her being Robb's sister either nor does she speak of Jon Snow as anything but Robb's brother. ]

She was sweet and gentle, beautiful and amiable.

action;

[elvenking]

Quite her sister's opposite, then, for Arya is a troubled child. She runs quickest from those seeking to shape or control her, and Robb responds to her indiscipline by tightening his fist. This is all he knows to do, I think.

action;

[mansuetus]

[ she frowns, already beginning to understand where this is going. ]

I much doubt Robb would be hard towards a sister that was all but lost to him.

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[elvenking]

I said not so. He wishes only for her safety and happiness. The trouble is that Arya is inclined to do the opposite of what she is told she must do. [He hesitates, considering.] Has he spoken to you of the matter?

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[mansuetus]

Some children are like that, I was told.

[ she would not know; all the Borgia children did as their father told; duty and family above all. Cesare wore the robes of the cardinal against his wishes, Lucrezia was sold to a man as one would sell a sheep. ]

No. He speaks little of his worries; I imagine he does not wish to burden me with those.

[ that doesn't come to say she approves, not at all. ]

action;

[elvenking]

[That's disappointing. The whole point of the turn this conversation took was to try to get information.]

She dresses as a boy. I wonder if that is also a rebellion, though I know not why it should matter.

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[mansuetus]

I do not know that Robb knows, himself. The best I can do is ask.

[ or more, prepare a time to ask. it is not as simple as many would have guessed but that is Lucrezia's specialty. ]

And see what he has to say of her.

action;

[elvenking]

I should be grateful, for I fear for her. I would do all in my power to keep her from traveling as dark a path as she seems to venture to.

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[mansuetus]

In that I am certain you and him are united. Brothers always care for their sisters. Cesare would mind my every step were he here.

And I his.

action;

[elvenking]

You think I would be your brother?

[His care is more like a father's, but not everyone here understands how old he really is.]

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[mansuetus]

[ when lucrezia borgia thinks of brother she thinks of only one. Cesare is in her mind at all times, Cesare is her whole heart, he is her other half; her darker half, he would claim but she knows them to be the same. whatever that it is, between them, fierce love like no other, it does not repeat in anyone else. ]

No. More of a second father to my Holy One.

action;

[elvenking]

Ah. That is better.

Now. Tell me of your One God, for I am most curious. We have Eru Ilúvatar, the Father of All, but he put us in the care of the Valar and remains outside the circles of the world.

action;

[mansuetus]

God - there is one, certainly and it is He who created our world; though he did not leave guardians for us. There are his angels and some say they are guardians but they are not upon the Earth. They are more -- they act according to His will but their place is with Him, not with us.

action;

[elvenking]

On Arda there are the Maiar--half-gods, perhaps. But they do have free will, and may turn against the Valar and Ilúvatar if so they choose. In Doriath, our queen was a Maia who fell in love with our king. For him she remained in Middle-earth and returned not to Aman till his death. I know not if this is like your angels.

action;

[mansuetus]

The angels who have turned against Him are called fallen angels; they are not allowed to refuse His authority. Lucifer is the known one; they are all bad spirits, wicked.

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[elvenking]

But Melian turned not against the Valar. She loved Thingol, and after his murder she returned to them.