rebirth's decline 2 | orb 2

[ladysarmour]

Gentle Mother, strength of women

[ It's chilly, dark under the cover of trees, and two nights of sleeping on the damp forest floor have frozen Sansa to the bone. Her nightdress had been pristine white when she'd gone to sleep in it, but now it's gone grey with water and brown with mud. She's shaking with cold, shaking with fear, shaking with exhaustion, but she refuses to stop moving. She'll find the way out. She will. ]

help our daughters through this fray

[ In her nervousness she's taken to clutching at her necklace, and she doesn't realize the orb has been activated and is transmitting her image. If she knew she certainly wouldn't be singing quietly to herself, voice strong but wavering at the edges. ]

soothe the wrath and tame the fury,

[ The song makes her feel stronger inside, and she misses the Hound. If he were here he'd find her; he'd save her.

But no, Sansa, no - you can't rely on anyone to help you. You must find your way out yourself. ]

teach us all a kinder way...

Comments

[brosif]

[Sif answers the orb immediately, stopping her horse without a word of warning to Thor. There is concern writ in her eyes that goes beyond duty. Her hands are tight on the reins.]

Alayne. Where are you?

[thoreal]

[Call Thor confused. He stops, backgrounded behind Sif, peering at the orb, half-whispering.] Who is Alayne?

[ladysarmour]

[ She gasps at the voices and notices the orb for the first time, reaching out to touch it. ]

Lady Sif? [ Her voice catches; she swallows and it levels out into something almost calm. ] I - I am in a forest, I know not where.

[brosif]

I have spent time enough in the forest. [She keeps her voice calm, reassuring. Thor is the only person present who would be able to tell that she is anything but.]

Tell me what you see around you.

[ladysarmour]

The trees all look alike... I see pine, and...and I think that is oak? There are acorns beneath it.

[ She breathes in, squeezes her eyes shut, then looks around more closely. ]

I'm beneath a tree that forks just above my head into three branches. A ways to my right, in the distance, I think I see another tree that's been felled. It looks...yes, it may be hollowed. There is moss growing on it.

[brosif]

That's all very good.

[It's not enough. She has not had time to track this forest. On Asgard, perhaps even in some of the lesser branches of the world tree, she would be able to find the Stone girl with that description alone.]

Listen very carefully. Can you hear water anywhere near you? A stream, a pond?

[ladysarmour]

I don't know.

[ Sansa takes another breath, then closes her eyes and tries to just listen. A breeze shivers through the trees. To her right, the sound of a small frog croaking. Her own breathing is so loud, and she forces back a sob.

There, to her left... ]

Maybe. I think so.

[brosif]

Good. Go towards the river, and wait there. It will be easier to find you if we follow the bank.

Leave your orb on.

jump ahead?

[ladysarmour]

I will do as you say.

Yes!

[brosif]

[ooc: I am wondering if Sif and Thor should hold off from now until after the wolves have had their confrontation?]

[shorterinperson]

Alayne? What are you doing in the woods?

[ladysarmour]

Lady- Ser Alanna. I am not here by choice.

[shorterinperson]

What happened? Are you alright?

[ladysarmour]

I am unhurt, I just...awoke here the night before last.

[shorterinperson]

Can you see any defining features? Anything that might lead you home? The sun?

[ladysarmour]

The sun is born from the eastern sky; and its life's journey bears always west. [ recited, like a child's rhyme ]

[shorterinperson]

Good. I want you to walk west, and keep walking until you come out of the forest. I'll wait for you.

[ladysarmour]

[ Different than what Sif told her to do, but who does Sansa trust herself to more? Neither, truthfully, but given a choice she will not walk willingly to the lion's den. ]

Thank you, Ser Alanna. I shall do that.

[shorterinperson]

Do be careful. Wretched things wander those woods.