[Open] Light Atop the Tower

[chainedqueen]

WHO: Alicent Hightower
WHAT: Catch-all, arrival
WHEN: After arrival
WHERE: Castle Thorn, Horizon
WARNING: Nothing so far, will update

[If you want a specific prompt, you can pp me at ladylils]

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Outside Thorn Castle

[chainedqueen]

[Given the attire that seemed standard for new arrivals, it gave more ease to activities that Alicent might otherwise avoid. Riding wasn't something she often did (and was rather poor at), but it was a better way to explore than on foot. Seated side saddle, she tried to maintain her prim image despite what she was wearing. No matter where she was, she must see to her duty.

Finally riding (or rather trotting) across the trails, she felt herself ease a little. The anxiety at her arrival, the fear for her children left behind and what Viserys might think, disappeared to the back of her mind. It would likely torment her at night, but this small joy of freedom and beauty of her surroundings helped lighten her mood.

She even smiles at any who pass her, remembering her courtesies:]

Good day. I hope you are well?

[a_better_man]

[With his mood as it's been since the Heralds, Mat's taken to spending a good deal of time in the wooded grounds outside the castle proper. While at this point he's explored every inch of the land allowed to the Summoned, he still finds comfort in roaming the trails and slipping through the woods after game.

He's technically hunting, his bow and quiver are slung over his shoulder and the fur edged coat he's wearing is well made but dark green and plain. His heart isn't in it, though, and he's yet to raise the bow once today. It's just an excuse to wander around out here.

He hears the hoofbeats before he sees anything, and out of habit moves off the trail and to the side to let the rider pass. But he takes an interest when he sees it's another Summoned, and even manages to grin in greeting as she approaches.]

Well enough, lady.

[chainedqueen]

[It's a fair sight to see a hunter. The last that she had been in the woods like this was during the King's hunt, celebrating her son's second nameday. It was a sweet reminder of home, those that relied on sword or bow rather than magic. She is still learning, but it leaves her discombobulated. The woods and the fresh air were a relief, allowing her to clear her head.

The horse knickered, coming to a halt. She gave the creature a small stroke, reassuring him as she regarded the man before her. There's a measure of nobility, certainly honor and respect. It's comforting and allows her to lower her guard.]

How is the sport today?

[a_better_man]

I'd wager good, seen plenty of tracks, but I'm more enjoying the woods than on the hunt.

[Mat shrugs. No sense in denying what he's doing out here. It isn't as though he needs to hunt, he doesn't have to worry about feeding himself or anyone else here. It's purely for pleasure, and to win favor with the castle kitchens when he brings them something fresh.

But even in the castle, he sometimes feels trapped and walled in. And while the woods and hunting grounds are also walled, it's different. You can go for a good while before seeing any sign of containment.]

Nice to be out in the trees. Least before winter settles in properly - I came here last winter, it was damned cold. Much worse'n this.

[chainedqueen]

How are the creatures of this world? Are they similar to stags and easy to startle?

[He might not be hunting per say, but if he came across something, her horse might spook it away. She hadn't seen rabbit or hart, though she never expected to. The sound of horses could send any creature dashing. Unless hunting was not so common here? No, that didn't seem to be the case, given the food offered by the kitchens.

She could at least understand his sentiment, even if she was not so fond of the outdoors, at least until now.]

Last winter? How long do winters last here? [Pray gods that it was not as long as Westeros. It was better than imagining him for half a generation.] I am a bit used to the cold, but nothing close to winter.

[a_better_man]

They are exceptionally similar to stags! They are stags - and other deer. Rabbits, too, and quail. And some birds and small critters that I've never seen before and haven't the names for.

[Mat sets one point of his bow on the ground and leans against it. He remembers being newly come to this world, and all his own questions. He's happy to answer some for another poor sot who's been dragged here by forces beyond comprehension.]

And winters last a handful of months, I'd say. It was well into the season when I arrived, and started warming within a couple of months. We'll be headed back into it in another one or two, I'd say. Not too far off of what I'm used to, though our winters last a bit longer and our summers aren't as warm, not in the mountains.

[But it isn't jarring, the seasons pass as he's used to them passing, and all in the proper order. This world isn't that different from his own, in many ways. It helps.]

I'm Mat, by the way. Mat Cauthon. Fellow Summoned and apprentice mage of sorts.

[ordinar]

[Wilhelm hadn't ridden in years when he first wandered into Thorne's stables. It isn't like it was ever a great passion of his; equestrianism is just one of those things that good breeding is supposed to entail. Once he got into the saddle, it came back to him quickly enough. Now he takes to the trails once a week, using it as an excuse to escape the oppressive air of the castle. In the wide open quiet of the woods and fields surrounding the town, his thoughts have more space to just float away instead of clogging his head.

At a crossroads, he halts to let an oncoming rider through. Expecting that she'll just continue down her branch of the trail, he's caught off guard when she initiates conversation.]

Yeah, I'm...doing fine, thanks. [He throws in a polite smile in return.] Nice day for riding.

[Though the air is brittle with the first hint of the oncoming winter, the sun is shining.]

[chainedqueen]

It is. [She had lived without guards once before, so it's not so wild a concept for her to be without them now. Yet it had been so long that she had to remember this feeling. The guards not at her side, able to come and go as she pleased, able to ride as long as she wished.

The man seemed familiar enough with their surroundings, as well as in the saddle. It might be rude to initiate the conversation, but it was nice to see someone else with a possibly similar upbringing.]

Though, if it was raining, I would still appreciate the day. It is a bit overwhelming inside the castle.

[ordinar]

[While he hardly looks like a prince in the unembellished clothes he favors, there's something in his carriage that, to an eye trained in the minutiae of manners, suggests a noble upbringing. Man, by the way, is a generous appellation for someone still growing out of the puppyish look of boyhood.]

Fair enough.

[Figuring it would be rude to rebuff her conversation and company, Wilhelm guides his horse into an easy pace alongside her. In just the minute that they've crossed paths, Alicent has dropped a few hints that help him piece together an understanding of who she is. The nonchalant way she describes the tense atmosphere of the castle, heedless of the suppression that characterizes Thornean politics these days, tells him that she must be Summoned. He knows a new crop of them has been harvested recently. The way she perches sideways on her saddle tells him that she must come from somewhere — somewhen? — old-fashioned.]

You must be new around here?

[chainedqueen]

[She spent her life at court, the daughter of the most powerful man in the realm. Nobility was instinctual for her. Both to recognize as well to carry for herself. It didn't matter if he seemed unassuming or wore something simple (after all, she was the same at the moment), she could see it in his stance and the way he held himself.

A small detail, but clear for a woman who spent her life observing.]

I only just arrived.

[It's ridiculous she should feel shy about that, but she was already out of place and out of her depths with magic and mages. It left her head spinning a bit.]

They told me enough for me to understand our reason for being here and comforts available. It is a bit hard to simply sit around after that.

[But she may be chattering too much.]

I am Alicent Hightower.

[ordinar]

[If anyone around here can understand the feeling of being in over your head, it's him. Arriving in Abraxas had been like plunging into the ocean without knowing the first thing about swimming. Everyone else Wilhelm has met here came in equipped with magic or combat training or some other prized skill. Then there was him, who has never been exceptional in anything.]

Wilhelm. [He gives her a little smile. No last name.] It's nice to meet you, Alicent.

[In an attempt to be welcoming and reassuring, he offers:]

It takes some time to adjust to, well, everything, but eventually...

[Eyes wandering to the branches arching over the path, he tucks his hair back behind his ear, then returns his hand to the reins. Eventually what? Half a year later, he's not sure that he's adjusted to it.]

Eventually, you figure it out.

Library

[chainedqueen]

[The library was the only place Alicent generally felt comfortable. The dining hall was as grand as the Red Keep, but feasts had only ever been enjoyable when she wasn't queen. Having eyes follow her, watch her, it had always managed to set her hair on end. Now there were different eyes and different attention, not because she was queen, but because she was a new face pulled from the fountain.

With books, she could focus on something else, something she loved. Even better to have a project to consume her. Alchemy had been the initial thought, but she felt a marginal curiosity to magic in general, at least wishing to understand this world better. How they were brought here, what kept them here, and what exactly the magic entailed.

She had managed a large stack by midday, surrounding herself with various tomes. The writing was beautiful, similar to what she would see at home. It was enough to stave off her loneliness and feelings of homesickness, at least long enough that when another might stumble in on her privacy, she's not annoyed or upset to be disrupted.]

Were you looking for something also?

[politicians]

[ magic, to elrond, is a strange concept. magic exists, of course. it is woven into the creation of the world, in the sun and the moon. it is woven into the trees and seas. magic can be crafted into jewels or bled into song. but this mechanisation of magic, in rote and word is new. now there are spells and it is a craft, to be hemmed and hewed by initiates.

and thus, he finds himself a little at a loss. can magic become so mundane?

the sound of alicent's voice has him raising his head with a polite smile. he is dressed in soft blues, in waves and he has fashioned a small but cheap broach of a star upon his chest to pin his cloak. ]

I'm afraid I am an unguided learner. I am merely dipping my toes in.

[chainedqueen]

So you are like me then?

[She wasn't ashamed to admit her ignorance in this area. It was the Targaryens who possessed some form of magic. Dragons, ancient blood binding, things that she could never understand or know. This was at least tangible and accessible, if not a little daunting for someone unaccustomed to it all.

She regarded Elrond, seeing at least someone kind and inquisitive. Why else would he be in the library? There was a strange look to him, something unfamiliar but gave her the same feeling as when she was around the Targaryens. An otherworldiness? Though that didn't seem the right word.

Offering out her book, she moved closer.]

This has a few descriptions of magic. They seem to be broken into three classes.

[politicians]

[ there is an ethereality that clings to him. the elves, after all, were created. shaped during a time when there was no sun and moon, merely starlight. and elrond is the progeny of powerful bloodlines.

politely, he reaches for her book, his eyes scanning the words. ]

"Classes"?

[chainedqueen]

[She sees her mistake as she handed the book towards him. Her face heated from embarrassment, not wishing to appear ignorant. But should she really be afraid of that? They were both new to this magic.

Regardless, it makes her stumble a little over her words.]

Five classes. Academic Magic, High Magic, Wild Magic- [She bit her lower lip, forgetting what she just read. She leaned over, glancing at the pages.] Oh, New Magic and Non-Arcane Magic.

I believe Thorne prefers Academic.

Horizon

[chainedqueen]

[Given how much Alicent lived in her head, crafting her thoughts carefully, transforming her piece of the Horizon wasn't too difficult. All she needed was to draw from memory, a place she hadn't seen since she was a child but had loved. It was still in need of perfecting, but the primary structure was the Hightower, larger than any lighthouse and filled with different chambers, though many were currently unfinished. The foundation was made of an oily, fused black stone, unrecognizable but eerie and magic looking. There was a flame at the very top, burning a bright green, that never flickered or went out. At the very base are two sphinx statues on either side of the door, guarding and watching any visitors.

From the balcony, one could see across the harbor, the water a clear, crisp blue. There were docks and manor houses all around, small looking and unreachable. It is the tower you will remain at. The only two rooms completed are a library filled with ancient tomes, but with nothing written inside, and a lord's bedroom with furniture befitting a Great House.

At least for now, this would have to do for Alicent. The water was also real, allowing anyone to sit and dip their feet from the edge of the dock. It is where she can be found, watching as ships come and go, faceless traders unloading their wares before disappearing down the alleyways.

She's a bit surprised to see anyone wander into her area, forgetting that other places can be visited.]

You startled me.

[theidlemaiden]

[ Hilda stumbles into this particular Horizon by accident. She hadn't picked any particular destination in mind; there wasn't enough finesse to her meditation and she certainly didn't know enough people to pinpoint a particular location. She had simply wandered from her now shared domain into another and well, there she was.

The scenery momentarily takes her aback. She's never seen anything like the lighthouse that is both awe inspiring and mildly unsettling at the same time the longer she stares at it. She's quick to turn away to see what else this place has in store and it isn't long before she stumbles upon the docks and the figure standing at the end of it.

She offers an apologetic laugh at her own expense. ]

Oops, sorry! I still don't have the hang of this. [ She makes her way towards the young woman with a friendly smile. ] Is this your domain? It's incredible.

[chainedqueen]

[The woman possesses different colored hair, similar to the Targaryens though a different shade. She is quite fair in that uniqueness, lovely in a way that was hard to explain. Having her solitude disturbed often perturbed Alicent, though being alone unnerved her (a strange paradox). At this moment, she was content, eager to share her memories of home and to let others see the grandeur.]

It is, though it is unfinished. There is much I do not remember and I worry about simply creating something new.

[She offered her hand, gesturing for Hilda to come closer.]

This is Oldtown, my childhood home.

[theidlemaiden]

[ Now that she's drawn closer, Hilda spots a familiarity in the way that the young woman holds herself: shoulders drawn back, posture straight, and a gentle regality to her that is both inherent and taught. Couple that with the clothing she's wearing, and Hilda has to assume that she was probably in a place of high position from her world. It's all noted, tucked away for later, but none of that changes Hilda's ease especially with the offer. ]

I never would have guessed it was unfinished if you hadn't told me. This all feels so real. [ There's a breeze coming off the water carrying the smell of salt water and the sun feels pleasant on her skin unlike how it beat down on her in the Free Cities deserts. Hilda casts a glance towards her as they stand together at the end of the dock. ] May I ask how long you lived in Oldtown?

[chainedqueen]

[She gave a relaxed grin, pleased with the compliment. She had seen a few other places in Horizon and they were so different and detailed. Meanwhile the walls in the Hightower were bare and the rooms lacked full detail. It was a painted canvas more than anything, but there was at least something that others could appreciate.]

I do not recommend you venturing far inside the tower. You will find the reality disappears and the unfinished details are more clear.

[It is a warm region, but nothing resembling tropics or deserts. Oldtown had always been fertile, lush and green. There might be a bit of humidity, but nothing overpowering. The water was a bit cooler, but still inviting for a swim.]

Oh, I cannot really say. We were at court shortly after my mother's death. I was 8, I believe.

[aquilus]

[Given the malleable nature of the Horizon, Altaïr has no organized method of exploring and mapping the strange plane. Instead, he's allowed his path to be dictated by what catches his attention and interests him.

The tower definitely does; it puts him in mind of his home in Masyaf, though the architecture is different. Perhaps it's merely enough to be high. He wanders without hurry, only to be faced with the apparent crafter of this domain.]

It wasn't my intention. [He raises both hands a little, as if to show he's unarmed (though of course he is.)] I saw a newly-formed domain and came out of curiosity.

[chainedqueen]

[She would understand that sentiment, feeling drawn to any that seemed even a little similar to home. Something about their nature, their familiarity with an old world aesthetic (as it seemed to be to others). Perhaps magic existed or it didn't, but the sense of home was enough to make her happy to meet them.

He was, perhaps, more similar to those in Dorne, though she could not say as she had never visited. It may be he was closer to the Rhoynar, but she based that off of stories written long after the fact. More than likely, she was simply seeking any connection to home in a stranger's face.

She smiled in a reassuring manner, hoping to put him at ease.]

I fear it is very new. There is much unfinished, but I am working from a memory that is not very strong.

[aquilus]

[He doesn't obviously relax, but he doesn't appear especially tense either. Mostly, he is accustomed to maintaining a measured demeanor.]

It's impressive work if it's as new as you say.

[He'd have guessed at least a few weeks.]

What drew you to create the space like this, if you don't have a strong memory of it?

[chainedqueen]

[It's not very off putting to see a measured demeanor. She had the same habit after years of living at court.]

Thank you. It might be a bit excessive, but the others I have seen are very beautiful.

[She has little to occupy herself with. Spending all day on this at least held her attention and quieted her mind.]

It was my home when I was a girl. I have not seen it since then and I- I suppose I wanted to remember how it felt to live here.