#foolish call it slaughter i call it justice for my people (ic)

[ncumenia-archived]

«I crave violence.»

[wolfsneedles]

perhaps a small meta like thing i wanted to write and share on robb. I was thinking about that very haunting and pivotal moment in ASOS, when rickard karstark a loyal man of robb and starks killed the two prisoner/wards kids from lannister family when he realised catelyn released jaime. Catelyn releasing him is different and a very realistically emotional thing but robb acting and defending his mother when rickard says It was Lady Catelyn who was responsible for murder of the two kids....he just slaughtered in sleep and dark of their cells (reeks of bit sexism and misogyny tbh). Not realising however that jaime wasn't gonna get killed anyways that to by rickard or Robb was never gonna let them hurt him. basically so if karstark was avenging his sons...who died in battle with Robb, it is understandable but this was rickard's individualistic revenge - he was fighting for robb too. For North and for Starks and for his KING. i never understood how he killed two children but thats not the concern really. It is how robb reacts to murder of two children by karstark which is so foolish and stupid and honestly cruel considering his revenge was not gonna succeed anyways when jaime had...already escaped (and no omg cat wasn't responsible for karstark betrayal). And then Robb says, "

"I owe their fathers truth," said Robb. "And justice. I owe them that as well." He gazed at his crown, the dark gleam of bronze, the circle of iron swords. "Lord Rickard defied me. Betrayed me. I have no choice but to condemn him.

He made up his mind anyways to execute karstark not for betrayal but also for justice. Poetic Justice maybe...but the entire scene of rickard karstarks execution is very hauntingly beautiful however uneasy and eerie, and you see robb from Cats POV doing something from his own hands himself. The imagery and environmental gloom is perfect. Even weather grrm wrote like, was hauntingly unsettling.

Lord Rickard's fought at my side in half a dozen battles. His sons died for me in the Whispering Wood. Tion Frey and Willem Lannister were my enemies. Yet now I have to kill my dead friends' father for their sakes." He looked at them all. "Will the Lannisters thank me for Lord Rickard's head? Will the Freys?"

He obviously knew, the death of karstark's liege lord will earn him worse betrayals and series of more unfortunate events,, yet he still in despair asks brynden and others, that freys and lannisters will obviously not thank him for this. Infact they repaid him worse.

How then can you call this vengeance? This was folly, and bloody murder. Your sons died honorably on a battlefield, with swords in their hands.”

I wanted to describe the scene which is so poetic. But the fact that there is constant thunder and rain can highlight the fact that it was or can be synonymous to misery and death and...robbs ultimate betrayal when karstarks leave in the night same day. Catelyn described the weather outside as,

"Outside the thunder crashed and boomed, so loud it sounded as if the castle were coming down about their ears. Is this the sound of a kingdom falling? Catelyn wondered"

In the next sentence u see, robb more mature and dauntless when he decides he will execute rickard, "Robb reached down with both hands, lifted the heavy bronze-and-iron crown, and set it back atop his head, and suddenly he was a king again. “Lord Rickard dies.”

(also makes me mention how ppl criticise dany too mostly from the got show, but in books why she kills people, i think....if u put yourself in those historical framework and mentality of medieval society with loyalties and devotion tied to each other whether based on federalism or personal love, betrayal and treachery or going behind a king or queens back doesn't...go unpunished. Treason never goes unpunished when we also think of jon snow executing janos and robb with karstark. You have to realise emotions of both people. the one who carries sentence and one who dies.)

Back to the scenic description i found in this chapter. Catelyn again talks about weather and i absolutely loved contrast bw the weather and grimness of it and an execution soon to be carried in godswood,

"When day broke, grey and chilly, the storm had diminished to a steady, soaking rain, yet even so the godswood was crowded. River lords and northmen, highborn and low, knights and sellswords and stableboys, they stood amongst the trees to see the end of the night’s dark dance."

"Robb flung the poleaxe down in disgust, and turned wordless to the heart tree. He stood shaking with his hands half-clenched and the rain running down his cheeks. Gods forgive him, Catelyn prayed in silence. He is only a boy, and he had no other choice"

I think the rain is perfect thing. the way it is pouring down and then previously it was mentioned how remaining men who took part in killing young boys of lannisters with karstark were hung from trees ...but their faces were darkened and washed and grrm mentions this a lot everytime he mentions a depressing scene with death and ppl hanging from trees esp when lady stoneheart or brothers without banners or brienne and pod encounter people hanged. Its also sooo haunting how karstark was executed in front of heart tree and godswood...by hands of Robb as well (similar to what ned said that man who passes sentence will swing the sword so he knows what he feels too and robb did it last moment too)

" That was the last she saw of her son that day "

This line by catelyn also describes horror of war and how young people like robb in this case are dragged into the lords game of thrones, sometimes half-heartedly sometimes intentionally she describes how war is affecting her son who is after all a boy.

".....rain continued all through the morning, lashing the surface of the rivers and turning the godswood grass into mud and puddles"

This weather is same as it was described and was on the day or eve of when Catelyn and robb along with edmure were making for the Twins and and something more horrific which was about to unfold there as well ( red wedding ) and on their way to twins the rain is mercilessly beating and falling too.

Last i wanna mention is day when robb and his men with Catelyn made for the Twins for wedding and weather was same miserable since last time it was when karstark was executed...which I was thinking DOES point to robbs failure and demise in the end as weather has a lot of impact on story and so does the ice and fire contrast that has always been made where winters and cold winds welcome the coming of darkness and enemy force in this case the Others, and fire reflects passion, warmth and hope for me in passages. prob why i love mention of dany and her dragons because they do represent an entirely different aura and hope against the dread that is building on the Wall and beyond it for coming of the actual-evil-forces the Others.

This is how perfectly the differences bw robbs victory in Whispering wood taken as sign of pride and hope is mentioned with --> emphasis on how warm the weather was, and now their travel to the Twins for red wedding as --> rain, mud, puddle, banks overflowing, their stark banners flooded and hanging down (another excellent indication for how house stark did have their back and strength broken after the wedding hence banner hanging low, or when arya later travels to twins and sees the banners on fire due to the massacre taking place...)

"..As the gods would have it, their route took them through the Whispering Wood where Robb had won his first great victory. They followed the course of the twisting stream on the floor of that pinched narrow valley, much as Jaime Lannister’s men had done that fateful night. It was warmer then, Catelyn remembered, the trees were still green, and the stream did not overflow its banks. Fallen leaves choked the flow now and lay in sodden snarls among the rocks and roots, and the trees that had once hidden Robb’s army had exchanged their green raiment for leaves of dull gold spotted with brown, and a red that reminded her of rust and dry blood"

[ncumenia-archived]

|| continuing from 🌒 || || @kazeton ||

Oh, no. Had he just avoided... That question? Or, was that just the Lunari’s impression? Anyway, she looked elsewhere, utterly clueless about what to do.

«It wasn’t... Regarding social matters... It was mostly about my... Uh... Appearance...! My physical appearance...?»

She blinked a few times, sighing.

«I mean... Does my appearance look... Acceptable, in your opinion? Like... Do I look... Okay...? Uh...»

[ncumenia-archived]

🌟 tear him apart if you must u.u

Yeets him away.

[ncumenia-archived]

|| continuing from 🌒 || || @rancxrxus ||

Well, it was known Targonian attires were made with high-quality material, perfect to deal with harsh environments like her home ones. Still, Nefja wore peculiar clothes as well, so she wondered what she found so interesting in what the Lunari was currently wearing.

Definitely curious, Ernye mused.

«Oh, really? You know, my mother used to be a weaver, thus Targonians are widely known for their skills regarding this ancient art! So, do tell me...»

 Spinning once, to make sure she could have a better look at her outfit -especially her behind-, Ernye gave her a warm smile.

«What do you like the most about it? The look, the color... The fabric? If you want I can let you touch my pants!»

[ncumenia-archived]

|| continuing from 🌒 || || @askyorick ||

Had she just made him feel uncomfortable around her, after that question? Social situations have never been her forte, after all.

Musing for a few seconds, the woman sat on a musky pit, her cerulean hues quickly glancing at the massive figure before her, following his hand fixing his hood as he replied.

«I’m ready to listen. I like listen to other people’s stories... Always way better than hearing to a boring Solari sermon.»

Then, Ernye paused. Did he even know what Solari were, after all? That wasn’t the main focus of the whole situation, but whatever.

«If talking about it can help you, I’ll listen.»

[ncumenia-archived]

|| continuing from 🌑 ||

|| @vilefeather ||

Mesmerized by Crow's moves and mannerism, the woman utterly forgot what she asked him afterward, getting a closer look of his clothes. The fabric looked pretty much expensive and exquisite to her eyes.

«Have I already told you my mother was a master weaver? She made me so many dresses. And, I still have some of them! It's such a shame I don't have stuff that could suit you...»

Since the size difference between the two was noticeable, the Lunari tilted her head a little.

«Who made your clothes...? They look so well done, Crow!»

[ncumenia-archived]

Under the disguise of a black cat, the Lunari stretches her paws as she mrrrps, resting next to Goosestav. Resting was truly needed.

[ncumenia-archived]

|| continuing from 🌒 || || @hamartio ||

Her cerulean hues narrowed in pure concerne as the sour scent of blood reached for her nostrils. She felt guilty, she couldn’t care less about his own strenght. She had to help him somehow, the Lunari thought.

Slowly, she sat next to him, her head cocked as Ernye silently examined his bruises -she clearly had seen worse. Some Rakkor soldiers even broke their bones while training-, yet she was worried about his well being.

«Please, Laqueus. Let me help you. I... Don’t like seeing you in pain...»

Calmly muttering, she held some of his bandages, helping him to covered some of the injuries the man got while “training”. That’s what he said, right? As her fingertips delicately pressed on the tissue to make it better adhere, always making sure not to cause any pain by doing so, she slowly lifted her gaze, letting her eyes meet his silver one.

«Have you used some antiseptic, yes? It’s important to do so.»

Nodding to herself, ironically, she recalled of all those times, when she was a kid and grazed her knees more than once, where her grandmother almost bathed her in a homemade herbal antiseptic, which burned like hot iron and always made her cry like a baby. Still, it worked pretty well nonetheless.

«My grandmother always used to pour on my scrapes this lotion that smelled of musk. It burned to much my eyes watered anytime and I sobbed like a brat. Some people of my village still make it. Not as strong as hers, but it still works, you know, Laqueus...?»

[ncumenia-archived]

After playing her lyre for a while, Goosestav got closer to her, honking a few times to get the woman's attention.

As her fingertips stopped plucking the strings, the Lunari placed the wooden instrument next to her, patting her lap to encourage the animal to jump and perch on it.

As Ernye's feathery friend landed on the designated spot, Goosestav happily ruffled its grey feathers when she began to pet it.

[ncumenia-archived]

|| continuing from 🌒 || || @kazeton ||

Oh, right.

She hasn’t told him yet about how Lunari lovers used to call each others. My light, Moon of my life, My evening star, Light of my life, Light of my soul...

She couldn’t help wanting to refer to Dusk in the same manner.

«Lunari use to call someone they deeply love in this way. Even my father called my mother “Moon of my life”, and viceversa. Would you... Like being called like that as well, Dusk...?»

[ncumenia-archived]

The Lunari is followed by a bunch of fluffy, cute ducklings.

Apparently, she’s mama duck now.

[ncumenia-archived]

|| continuing from 🌒 || || @embers-and-ink ||

«Please, stay still. Or it might get worse.»

Softly speaking as she was currently bandaging his wound, the Lunari took a quick glance at the man before her. He was pretty busted up, but the most important thing was his safety regardless. Going through her pouch, she then gave him what it looked like to be a herby-exilir, commonly used by her people to recover after an accident.

«It’s quite bitter, but it will help ease the pain. Tell me what happened. You’re bleeding!»

[ncumenia-archived]

She's combing her hair. The teeth were covered in perfumed oils, perfect to make her hair shiner and healthier.

She hums a Targonian song.

[ncumenia-archived]

|| continuing from 🌒 || || @snowghcst ||

«I had, indeed. Have you, young man...?»

Crossing her arms close to her bosom as she slowly tapped her foot on the ground, she created a shadow clone of herself behind the Freljordian, who immediately hugged him, giving him a quick peck on his cheek.

«Regardless of your answer, we have prepared a few goods for you, Bori! You shouldn’t wander with an empty stomach!»

“No, you shouldn’t!”

The shadow clone parroted, pouting a little as she grabbed his human arm, followed by the Lunari who grabbed his icy one, both hellbent on taking him with them to eat a decent meal.

[ncumenia-archived]

|| continuing from 🌒 || || @vilefeather ||

«... Have you eaten today?»