MorningInsideMarshendGabrielHexMerivelIndex | HomePage | GameLogs | MarshendGameLogs | MorningInsideMarshendGabrielHexMerivel Morning Inside Marshend Gabriel Hex Merivel"Not just others," he said as an aside to Bree. "_The_ Others. From all those scary stories I'm sure you heard as a child." He glanced back to Mist to see how she was reacting to the prone figure. "I grew up in Braavos!" protested Bree. "We had our own nightmares!" She was looking from one to another of them. "The Others don't exist, do they? And even if they do ... we have him away. He's safe now, isn't he?" Godwyn glanced at Mist as well, clearly more willing to trust her instincts in this matter than any of the humans. Mist was scenting the air suspiciously - but she did not seem particularly wary of Josslyn. Nor was she alwarmed when Keary advanced on him. Physically, there was a deep bruise on his left temple (previously hidden by his hair), and the marks of brambles on his hands, as though he had torn his way frantically through the undergrowth. There were other scratcjhes on his face too. That was all. "Is he alive?" Godwyn asked. "He was alive when I pulled him out of the water. Didn't seem too badly injured, but he wouldn't wake up." He made no move to come any closer, and he still held his sword at guard. At this point, the cart containing Mariam, Merivel and the guards sent with them by Derron approached. "What's going on here?" Merivel called before the Septa could, as he slowed down the cart toward a stop. Keary turned his head, then inclined it in response to Merivel's and Mariam's arrival. "Nothing that can't be explained by a few days out in the swamp," he said. "This man is injured. And there's a strange girl about whose instincts... or perhaps her agenda... I mistrust." Godwyn blinked in surprise when Merivel spoke, and his gaze left the injured man lying on the ground. "Maester?" he called out questioningly. A huge smile appeared on his face. "We feared you had been killed by Wildings," he said. "Or Boltons. Or Boltons dressed as Wildings." "The rumors of my death are, fortunately, an exaggeration, Master Godwyn." Merivel replied with a smile. "However, at points, it was very nearly an accurate assessment of my fate. Mariam here can attest that I arrived here in less than perfect health for all of the slings and arrows that I have suffered on my journey." "Speaking in detail of such matters, though." he continued. "should be done in camera rather than in the open." Merivel added. "For now it is better simply to accept that I have survived to come here." He might, of course, note a certain tension in the people standing around (and bewildered apprehension on the part of the Giants) "Let's get him into a room at the inn," Keary said, seeing Mariam. "A secure one. Mariam, a girl said 'he brings the cold', when she saw this man. Then she took off." Merivel furrowed his eyebrows. Godwyn sheathed his sword, looking sheepish. "I shouldn't have believed such tales," he said, kneeling down to pick up Josslyn once more. "Only that..." he paused, then said, "We'll talk on it later." "Let us proceed." Merivel said with a nod. A room was ready at the inn - one of several that the Giants had prepared. "It seemed to me," said Anniketta, somewhat drily, "that we might need them." "Your foresight is admirable." Merivel said to Anniketta, offering her a nod. Josslyn was laid in it; it seemed he would be sharing it with Bree's brother. Bree stayed with them both after Merivel had made what preparations he could to ease their rest and healing. Once he had dropped Josslyn on the bed Godwyn showed an almost unseemly haste to get out of the room. "Shall I begin my story?" Merivel enquired, once he had seen to his latest patients. "Or is there aught else that the Septa and I should know, immediately?" Godwyn looked thoughtful. Or at least as though he was attempting to think of an answer. For his part, Keary poured himself a drink, drained it, and watched the tremors in the back of one hand. It was a long moment before he brought a second drink to a chair and sat, watching the others. He stayed silent. Merivel glanced at the Septa, and then at Keary and Godwyn. "Something here has escaped my ken." he said simply. "The Others," Godwyn said. "The Others are out there." Merivel opened his mouth to speak, and then shut it as Keary spoke. "I weep for Marshend," Keary said. "First ignored, then bled of its resources, then fought over like ripe fruit... and now, the Others are in the marsh. Who will stand for my home now?" "The Others..." Merivel breathed glancing between the two men. "I have no reason to doubt your ken, though I saw no signs of them in my own travels through the Marsh. What signs did they leave of their presence?" "And who else outside of this room knows?" Merivel added questioningly. "Most of the village have suspicions," said Anniketta. "They're no fools." Merivel looked troubled at this. At this point, one of the Knives came running towards them from the southernmost outer gate. He looked from one to another - and finally settled on Godwyn as the figure of authority. "Sir ... a messenger comes! From Winterfell!" Godwyn blinked, then said, "Have him brought here. This seems to be the closest thing we have to an audience hall." Merivel exhaled slightly and gave a nod of agreement. "We'll hear what the messenger has to say, here." he concurred. Keary put his drink down. "Winterfell. Lovely," he said. "He says that his horse went lame in the mountains, or he would have been with us sooner!" said the Knife. "Lord Stark is riding here - with a large number of men - to judge the case between Hardy and Bolton!" Merivel's eyes brightened and he looked startled. He looked at Godwyn and Keary. "His lordship will be most interested in hearing our three stories." He then looked at Anniketta. "His Lordship may even take a serious interest in that other matter as well." The Maester turned to the Knife and nodded. "You've done well in coming directly to us with this." "Tell Phelam to get the Knives ready to make a good show," Godwyn tells him. Let's make Corryn look good to Stark." He looked at Keary. "I need to talk to you before Stark gets here. Privately." "Me?" Keary looked shocked. "Unless my lord is looking to hunt pheasant for Lord Stark's welcome feast, or something..." He paused. "Allright, then. A walk outside?" "Aye," Godwyn answered. He headed out the door of the inn without looking back. Raising his eyebrows for the others' benefit, Keary followed him out. Merivel uncertainly looked at the remaining members in the room. "I never got a chance to tell them my story. And I am no storyteller to tell a tale better in the second telling than the first." Merivel said. "Some tales will find their own time," said Anniketta. Davin looked at her musingly, but said nothing. "We should return," said Mariam to Merivel. "Derron will want to know of this." Merivel seemed to consider this for a few moments. He then turned and nodded to Mariam. "Yes, Derron will almost certainly wish to be present. To speak to the Lord of Clearwater about it afterwards, if anything. It would be useful to have the Steward *and* the Maester report on their impressions of Lord Stark's doings." Merivel looked at Anniketta. "Might you tell Godwyn and Keary that we have departed, but will likely soon return?" Anniketta nodded her agreement. "I'm ready," said Mariam. "Thank you, Anniketta." Merivel said with a nod and a smile. "Until our return." He stood and lead Mariam out of the Inn and back to the waiting wagon for the trip back to the Septa's house. |
