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[versigny]

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[versigny]

[ the wise response would be to thank him and leave it at that, or sniff about how he's artfully torn through her attempt to change the subject. instead, she shakes her head. the laughter expelled more than just air, it seems. ]

That night, I smiled because I wanted to, not because it was expected of me.

[ where she had her family to help her decompress before, there are only walls now, silent and rigid and cold. and confiding in her handmaidens when she's so vulnerable is out of the question; they're depending on her entirely and realizing how uncertain she is would terrify them.

besides, nothing Henry had said was particularly untrue or malicious. he doesn't seem capable of the latter. ]

Any judgments I would pass from that night would be from my own behavior.

[ which a few must be judging right now, as she's lingered in his company for too long. Margaery smiles at Mutt, reaching over to give a quick pat on his head before she nods at the cup in Henry's hands. ]

Are you done sparring for the day?

[swage]

[The spotty dog has good enough manners not to cringe away or growl or grumble at the unexpected hand between his floppy ears. He does turn his face a little toward his master's hip, pressing his big nose nose into the sweat stink of Henry's clothes, but his cord of a tail gives a little wag seemingly in spite of himself.]

Oh, [Henry looks at the cup again as if only now remembering he has it in his possession. He straightens his back a bit, and offers it back to her.] I am. Captain Bernard doesn't care to have me work with the rest of the guard on that sort of thing.

[Says he's too hopeless to bother drilling properly just yet. The beatings will continue until technique improves.]

You may want to ask the Captain about your brother later once he's gone back to the castle and has had himself a wash. He's more inclined to kindness when he isn't mucking about in a field.

[versigny]

[ it's an excellent tip; she files that away for later as she takes the cup. ]

I don't blame him. And you'll get there. [ she gets to her feet, dusting off her skirts and shaking out any rogue blades of grass. ] I'm sure I'll be seeing you more often if everything turns out well. Perhaps, one day soon, you may even find yourself sparring with my brother.

[ Loras is strong. and he's a Tyrell. she's watched him get beaten hundreds of times and never give up, so she trusts that this is a fight he'll endure and eventually win, as unfamiliar as it may be. still, ]

When that joyful day comes, I will cheer for you, Henry.

[ her parting smile is exactly the same one she left him with days prior, although this time, it speaks more of them sharing a secret.

if Henry does manage to hear any gossip from the higher castle, he may be surprised to hear one about a particularly brave and gallant citywatch guard who escorted Lady Tyrell back to her quarters after a nightmare kept her from sleep. ]

slaps a sneaky 🎀 on this

[swage]

[He watches her go, of course. Then he pats the spotty dog between the ears and sits for a while longer watching the Rattay men at arms go through the motions of their work while Captain Bernard hollers at them. He pretends to focus on watches their footwork and the way they handle their swords and shields. Luckily, Capon shows up and sweeps him off before the indignity that would have been otherwise inevitable had Henry stayed put until the end of the training session finds him. The questions and cajoling and general fun-making from the young men of the guard for having had the audacity to speak to Lady Tyrell will just have to wait.

They skip archery in the yard, and instead shoot their arrows in Lord Capon's favorite secret glen in the Rattay woods far from the advice of any bow master. For a time, Henry is pleasantly immune or at least unaware of gossip.

It does eventually find him, of course. Though by the time it does, some of the would-be bite has been tempered. The lady has nightmares, they say. Henry knows next to nothing about ladies (particularly mysterious and pretty ones near his own age); but he knows plenty about nightmares. Capon's favorite whore in the bath house below Rattay's walls has been making him a decoction for just that thing.

Thus, some days later a phial appears in Margaery's quarters. It sends her maids all aflutter with concern—Where did it come from? Who left it there? What if it's poisoned?—, but the note with it is blatant enough. It's reads:]

From Henry, of skalitz, in servus to Sir Radzig Kobyla
To my Lady Marjery Tyrell, of high garden

Good morneing. Apolugy for the state of this letter. I am writeing it with a lent pen which goes a long diferently from the one I am acustomed to.

In any case I won't go on and on. I have been told to take this to help with uneasy sleepeing. NOT by the parish preest. I can't say who though as it doesn't much befit a lady. But it does help. If you nede more, send one of your girls to me and I will introdoo introdues make sure she knows ware to get it.

If you nede anything else, you're welcum to ask after me otherwise. My leege has me do all kinds of work for Sir Hanush and Lord Divish and I don't see why he'd spite the Tyrells. He would shurly want me to offur.

That's all.

Henry