Homeless but looking. Cassana wants to go where her children are, though.

[motherbaratheon]

Lady Mundane:
I know that you are considering sending me somewhere, that you told me. And that there's little to none possibility that my Steffon would be there, something which is terribly saddening. But please, could it be a place where I could be with my children? Of course I know Robert is five and ten and Stannis three and ten, but no matter what anyone says, they are still children. And Renly is a little babe. As commendable as is Maester Cressen's work with their education, they need their mother.
Yours sincerely
Lady Cassana Estermont

Comments

[bruxisms]

It is. It has been— [ he swallows, attempting to erase all trace of emotion that still remains on his face ] It has been a long while and much has changed.

[ if she knew it all, would she still be proud of him? ]

Shireen is a good child, though perhaps things may be easier if my lady wife could give me a son as well.

[ but there was hardly time for that. he was fighting a war for the realm and such matters must wait. ]

[motherbaratheon]

[He is her boy. The one she would sing songs to so he could sleep. She's heard some things and might chastise him for them. But he is still her boy.]

Yes, Edric told me about a few things that happened. [If you want to tell her about the rest, you could try.]

And be patient, my dear. Children come when you least expect them. [That if you actually share your bed with your wife. Do you, my dear?]

[bruxisms]

Edric Storm? [ really, he did not want to hear the boy's name yet again but... ] If that is so, I can only assume he told you of how his Lord Father was ruler of the Seven Kingdoms. He is fond of reminding us all of such.

[ and about that... ]

I have never been a patient man.

[motherbaratheon]

Yes, that Edric. Robert's boy through and through, if you ask me. Yes, that he told me. At it quite surprised me, to be honest. He also told me that apparently you and Renly are at some sort of war to see who inherits the throne. [All this said with a tone that means "please tell me the boy has a wild imagination"]

[You will not be getting your mother any grandchildren if you don't do that. And she shall be very disappoint.]

[Still, there's an amused but strangely fond smirk.] Some things never change, despite the time that has passed.
[aka you are still her little boy and she will never grow tired to mention this.]

[bruxisms]

Some things may never change, but most things do. Westeros is a far different place than when you saw it last.

[ and now they've gotten to something that he really does not wish to speak about. ] Robert left no trueborn heir, and by rights, the Iron throne was mine. [ though a good deal of baseborn children but... he's not sharing that with his mother ] I would have had no quarrel with Renly had he proven himself to be a dutiful younger brother, as I always was to Robert.

[ had he not said he did not wish for them to fight for her sake? but what was done could not be undone. ]

[motherbaratheon]

[Congratulations, Stannis. You've done the impossible. You've rendered your mother speechless.]
For the love of the Seven... [she mutters]
What about Joffrey? [Yes, he is too blond to be a Baratheon, but well, there's also Targaryen and Lannister blood running through his veins... is it, right? IS IT?] And why are you talking about your brother in past?

[bruxisms]

Joffrey and his two siblings were abominations [ you'd think he'd find a new word by now... ] born of the incestuous liaison between Cersei Lannister and her twin brother, Ser Jaime.

[ and he's silent for a long long while before he speaks again. once, he might have been able to deny any and all involvement in his brother's death. but no longer. and he could not lie to his mother, could he? ]

The night before we were to fight, Renly— [ somehow, it is difficult to say. ] Renly was murdered in the midst of his camp by who I now know to be a woman in my service.

[ There. He's said it and... he will not mention certain other parts because he still knows not exactly what transpired and how much of it was really for the realm and... ]

Know that I did not ever wish it to come to that.

[ he had always said the punishment for treason was death. but he was speaking with his mother. ]

[motherbaratheon]

[Yes, her face is currently the Westerosi equivalent of a "GUAT DA FRAK ARE YOU TELLING ME" face]
Stop calling the children that. They have no fault of their parents' doings. [But, eugh, icky]

[Still, your mother is now a bit heartbroken.]
And how come I wasn't there to stop that madness? [This is more of a question to herself. But if you want to answer...]

[bruxisms]

[ ...well if his mother told him to he will do it but... ] Be that as it may, they have no claim to the throne. [ HE IS JUST UPHOLDING THE LAW, MOTHER.

and... onto yet another awkward issue. ]

You and father have been dead for some time.

[motherbaratheon]

[UPHOLD THE LAW, SON. But don't call the poor children that.]

[She sort of expected it. But thank the Seven she doesn't know the details, and it still makes her swallow a bit.]
For how long?

[bruxisms]

Some twenty years.

[ also yeah he totally raised Renly... ]

[motherbaratheon]

[It doesn't take her long to do the math. And is horrified to realise that her children were pretty close to the age that they have in her time.]
What happened?
[You did a good job raising him, son]

[bruxisms]

[ and yet again, he cannot lie. ]

The Windproud broke apart on the rocks of Shipbreaker Bay. There were no survivors, save for the fool.

[motherbaratheon]

[And then again> The Windproud>The ship which they are using to go back home> They are about a day of distance or so>OhSevenshewillnotseeherchildreneveragain...]

[Yes, this will be awkward. But she is crying and she gives him a hug.]
I'm so sorry...

[bruxisms]

[ He has never had any idea what to do with a crying woman, least of all one that is his own lady mother. But when she hugs him, this time he readily returns the embrace in full, with little hesitation. ]

There was nothing that could be done.

[ he could not help but wonder if they had lived... would have there even been a rebellion? Would have they betrothed Robert to Lyanna Stark or... ]

[motherbaratheon]

But still, you must have suffered greatly because of that...
[She knows you. You most surely were there, waiting for them with Robert. And you probably saw it. Robert and you are different, and even though you both surely have suffered, you two always had different ways of dealing with pain.]

[bruxisms]

I survived, mother. As did Robert and Renly. Lord Arryn took Robert, and I remained at Storm's End with Renly and Maester Cressen.

[ ...For a time. ]

I— would not have you feel as though I blame you for any of it.

[ Or for the man he became. ]

[motherbaratheon]

(ooc: Lookie what I'm doing: http://motherbaratheon.dreamwidth.org/341.html If you have any other canon fact that I might have missed it would certainly be very appreciated.)

But no child should have to go through that. [She sobs slightly, and wipes her tears.] I hoped... I hoped we could both see you three grow up, and be happy.

[bruxisms]

[ He really cannot say anything to that. After all, had any of them truly been happy after their death. Instead, he merely looks at her, moving his teeth back and forth, but finally... ]

Oftimes, I would have preferred your company.

(( ooc: oh man ilu best of luck!!! :) ))

[motherbaratheon]

[Son, don't do that, it's bad for your teeth.]
Well, I suppose the Seven gave us a new opportunity with this, didn't they? [If only they had done the same with your father...]

[bruxisms]

I do not believe this is the work of the Gods, mother.

[ He had stopped believing in them long ago. ]

[motherbaratheon]

[And now you are a non-believer... That's not good, son of mine.]
Then of whom?

[bruxisms]

[ ...so how would you feel about using some crazy eastern religion to advance the cause? :\ ]

Not the gods.

[motherbaratheon]

[Do you really believe in it, son? Oh, and btw, it was absolutely the lady mundane helped by the Seven.]
[Sigh]
Very well, then. But still, it is a new opportunity [Aka Prepare to have your mom in you life. Again. But still treating you like a boy of three and ten.]

[bruxisms]

[ :| Sorry mom, no believing in any Gods but that red woman has plenty of power to help him win the throne so... ]

Your presence would be... appreciated. [ because he is really horrible at being a single dad. ]