A Chance Meeting (Mace)

[Halaevia Baratheon]

It was late when Halaevia returned from evening prayer, and yet she was not yet ready for sleep. Her thoughts had made her restless, and so while most of Dragonstone slumbered, or made ready for it, she found herself down in the kitchens, asking one of the serving girls for a good hot cup of spiced wine. This she carried in both hands through the passageways and into the hall, which was still brightly lit, with a fire burning in the heath and tall candles at each table.

There were others there, but Hallie chose to sit alone. There was something to be said for looking in, for watching. She had learned that early. As she sipped at her wine, her imaginings again strayed to the future, to the plans she needed to make. That Stannis would win the war she had no doubt, but war was still costly, and she knew that she would have to speak out strongly in favour of prudence. There was still the encroaching winter to think of, and even if she half-believed that the Lord of Light would hold it at bay long enough for Stannis to claim his victory, there was still the question of what came after.

Staring down into her cup, Halaevia looked almost mournful, the concentration evident on her features giving her a more solemn cast than she realised. There was so very much that needed deciding, and Adelaide had been right. War would be upon them soon, one way or another. They had to be ready. She let her gaze wander, scanning the room. If it were any indication, she was not the only one whose mind had much to work through before it would allow her sleep.

[mace]

"Might I join you for supping before rest?" Mace Tyrell asked, as a means of announcing his presence to Halaevia Baratheon as much as it was to ask if she would mind. He had no expectation that she would refuse, not out of arrogance but he had heard of her and to be considered a rude host was not a thing he had ever heard of her.

It had been a long day for the High Marshall of The Reach, between the final leg of his journey to Dragonstone and his meeting with Stannis. The man had a good shot at that throne with Mace at his back. A damn good shot. But it would not be easy, there would be fighting and killing. But in the end a better man would sit on the Iron Throne and that was good for Mace.

[Halaevia Baratheon]

Halaevia turned as she heard someone addressing her, and, recognising Mace Tyrell, she smiled. 'Of course,' she told him at once, indicating the chair across from her. 'I would be delighted if you would join me, Lord Tyrell. The evening will go all the better for some company.' Any irritation she felt at the interruption to her thoughts was both mild and short-lived. She had known Mace was at Dragonstone, and could only assume that the talks he was having with Stannis might well result in House Tyrell speaking out in support of the true king. There hadn't yet been an opportunity for her to find out just how well negotiations were going yet, but the fact that Mace was here at all spoke volumes.

'I hope you are finding Dragonstone to your liking,' she said conversationally. 'I must say that we were all pleased to hear of your visit.' In more ways than the pleasantry would suggest. Hallie smiled again, leaning in a little closer to him. 'I'm also glad that I have finally had the opportunity to meet you in person. I have, as you can imagine, heard much. Are your children well?' Family was close to Halaevia's heart, and that even extended to hearing of the families of others. It was a rare individual who didn't feel a little more at ease in her company once she had them chatting about their children.

[mace]

"Thank you." replied the Lord of Highgarden as he pulled up the offered seat. It was good to get the weight off his feet. Sadly the weight his feet supported had only gotten greater as he had aged. He was a man with power, but he was also rather heavy and he wasn't aging well. "Its a fine Castle, but I must confess the weather of the island isn't to my liking." His voice was polite, meaning no offense to the hostess but Highgarden was a Castle that sat in the sun with a cool breeze from the ocean, a far cry from the regular rain and howling winds of Dragonstone.

"They are well...they embody the family words greater then I. Growing Strong." His children were his greatest achievement, each one was lovely and brilliant. They brought greater pride to his heart then counting all the gold he had or watching his mighty army marching in step. "Remind me, you have a little one yourself I believe? A young child?" He was quite sure she did put perhaps he was mistaken, or had he heard it a long time ago and mayhap the child was all grown now.

[Halaevia Baratheon]

There was a twinkle of amusement in Hallie's eyes at Mace's mildly-voiced complaint about the weather. 'So many people say that when they come here,' she told him lightly. 'I suppose I am used to it.' She had no basis upon which to form a comparison, even. The only other place she had lived was Driftmark, and it wasn't as if the climate of one island differed wildly from its neighbour's. 'I suspect,' she went on, 'that if I ever had cause to visit your part of the mainland I would miss the rain. It's something of an ever-present companion here.'

She nodded as he quoted his family's words. Growing Strong. Well, that was what children did, all of them, if their parents were fortunate. 'I do,' she said in response to his question. 'Two children. Eliedt is seven now, and he's going to be a fine young man when he's grown, and my little Kirilen is four. They remind me so much of their father, both of them. I'm so lucky to have them. They do grow so quickly - but then you must know that, none of yours are really children any longer.' Margaery was his youngest, wasn't she, and she had to be in her mid-teens, at least.