Charles
Lady Anna Barrmount
Grunewald Castle, Vallen

Since the sentence of Arabella, Anna had spent the rest of the council in a bubble. She had little hopes for her speech, but now that she had seen first hand how much the council attendees did not care about the north Anna just tossed her practiced speech aside as if it was mere useless litter.

She could only keep thinking about what to do, what to say, how to not go back home empty-handed. The Lady barely heard Lady Wrenchest talking to her, and did not touch one bit of food during the break. Her body was there but her mind was not.

Then the council resumed, lord Wrenchest spoke about the Witherlands and the plague, and Anna finally came back to the present.

Once he was finished, she stood up as she cleared her throath. *Here goes nothing*

"Members of this council" She tried to call the attention of the attendees, hurt and hints of her current anger in her voice "As you have heard, this plague has come into our homes equally with no mercy; my own brother recently perished after battling the sickness, may the gods take care of his soul" She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, burying the memory deep down so she could focus and continue

"But the plague isn't the only thing trying to make the Witherlands a miserable place" She looked to one side, then to the other, looking at everyone to check if she was having any attention. At that point, she no longer cared about formalities.

"Not the eternal winter, as that we have mastered and use to our advantage as much as we can, but a vile and sadistic rat called Nathaniel" She couldn't believe the ill words that were coming out of her mouth "As villagers were mourning and trying to not get sick, he came through with his whole army and murdered the sick and the healthy, the old and the young, and put them in the piles of burning corpses or burnt their homes!" Anna's hands curled up into fists as she recalled the moment in which Vivayn told them the events at his arrival

"He did this to every village on his way to Castle Barrmount, where he crashed my late brother's funeral. He planted his army at our gates and inside our home as we tried to mourn Lord Rodrick. My sister, Lady Sibyl, head of House Barrmount, ordered me to assist this council in her place as she took care of our unwanted guest, and here I am"

*Not that any of you care* She thought to herself.

"I, Lady Anna of House Barrmount from the Iron Plaines, second daughter of Yaron Barrmount, offer our house's alliance to anyone able to assist in bringing down Lord Nathaniel Vivayn's army. House Barrmount is known for their loyalty and their fierceness in battle, as we have always produced excellent warriors. But if that's not sufficient for you, I offer our alliance and-" She swallowed hard "And my own hand in marriage"

She sat back down in her seat, having finished her new speech. She rested her lightly trembling hands on her lap and kept her head high.
Kari
Demetri Troiarus
Council Room

Demetri set his spoon down and wiped the corners of his mouth clean before rising a few inches to call out.

"The people of the Witherlands have killed each other for a thousand years, and will kill each other for a thousand more. Your dispute is a domestic affair within your own borders."
Charles
Lady Anna Barrmount
Grunewald Castle, Valen

Anna looked over at the voice and snorted a laugh.

"You fool. It is within the borders now, but do you think that Vivayn will be satisfied with only taking over the north? Cause that man doesn't stop at nothing, that rat waits until you're at your weakest moment and strikes, and I assure you don't want to have at your door such a big army of men that come from the north, who have grown enduring the harshest conditions nature can throw at you and stop at nothing, commanded by a merciless and skilled strategist as lord Nathaniel"

Anna didn't know how she had been able to keep her cool while speaking.

"But if you are so careless about your lands then go and treat it as a minor inconvenience of foreign lands, but don't you dare cry when your only options are bending the knee for him or burning alive along your villagers"
Kari
Demetri Troiarus
Council Room

Demetri couldn't help but shake his head.

"And we are to just, what? Take your word? Are there any councillors from the Witherlands not allied to house Barrmount that may give their account of the situation. I say it's rather convenient that Lord Vivayn, who has shown very little interest in the outside world these past years, yet now he appears to be dead set on world domination." Demetri laughed a little louder.

"The world is too big for one man to rule. These sound like the claims of an insignificant house trying to desperately save the acre of ice they hold so dear. Esteemed council, maybe we can stay on the topic at hand before hearing the words of everyone who came with something to say?"
Charles
Lady Anna Barrmount
Grunewald Castle, Vallen

"Oh of course you think of yourself so high up the pedestal, southerners... But if my house was insignificant we wouldn't have been invited here, keep that in mind. Be as disrespectful as you want sir, your lack of empathy and manners will be your fall"

She looked away from the man and back at the rest of the council.

"None of you care about the north, that's not news. Still, House Barrmount's offer of a marriage stands in exchange for aid against a powerful enemy. That's all I will say on the matter, do what you want with that information. Thanks for your time to all guests of this council"
John
**King Dennon Bigsby
Throne Room**

"What exactly is the quarrel between house Barrmount and house Vivayn? The steps he took to stem the plague sound a bit unnecessary, but from what you described, he sounds more like a rude, unwanted guest who arrived at an inopportune time that you want help evicting more than a world conqueror. As long as he hasn't done something ridiculous like declare himself 'emperor' Vivayn, I don't see why you think this will spread to the rest of the continent."
Charles
Lady Anna Barrmount
Grunewald Castle, Vallen

"Yes your majesty, he is indeed an unwanted guest. He has destroyed my lands the same way he has destroyed all the villages he has come across on his way there" Her voice was softer than before, less hard than with the last man "It's uncertain if he will stop there or continue, and I don't care if he keeps our lands as there is nothing left to save there. But if he does decide to continue to the south I want people to be prepared. Everyone has suffered enough with this plague, I don't want anyone else to meet death by the hands of Vivayn"
John
**King Dennon Bigsby
Throne Room**

Dennon pressed his lips together when the main question of his commentary of what exactly the quarrel was remained answered, but he was not about to ask it again. If she wanted to keep secrets while asking for an ally, that was her choice.
Robert
Queen Elsinore Romanov-Black
The Council Room

"I wonder, why is this not a matter you've taken to Lord Carter? If I'm not mistaken, you are a vassal house of his. Is the Ice Lord that unfit that you cannot bring domestic disputes to him? The north fancies themselves separate from the rest of Marin, yet you bring this Vivayn nonsense to us. The north never showed us respect or interest in our politics. Carter is not here, the true lady of your house is not here," Queen Elle said coolly, tracing her fingertips across the rim of her wine goblet. "The north is separate when it pleases them. Our burdens are not theirs."
Rosa
The Pirate King Bradai Maith
The Council Room, Vallen

"Lady Anna." Bradai placed a hand on Lord Wrencrest's papers, but was cut off by Queen Romanov-Black. "She 'as a point. Certainly Tha Ice Lord knows uff vhis. Why'asn't your Great Lord come to your assistance?" There were a list of suitors that he was considering, but none of them seemed to be able to summon up a land army sufficient in breaking a Northern siege. 

"Lord Vivayn destroyed towns as 'e moved fhrough, but vhen stopped and is currently staying in your 'ome? 'oo let 'im in?" He moved to say something further, then paused. She was just a child.

"You are a brave woman, you've come to tha Souff to solve a problem in tha Norff. Felix Carter fought a war to keep us out because 'is bruvher did what you do now. 'e killed 'is own citizens because 'e was afraid uff us. You're a braver man vhen 'im." 

"But if Vivayn is really 'oo you say 'e is..." He shook his head, "It must serve to reason vhat your 'ome is gone. Do you 'ave proof vhat your sister even still alive? Or did she send you 'ere to save your life?"
Robert
King Gregor Grunewald
The Council Room

"I know Lord Vivayn. He is a fine man. He is only looking out for you," King Gregor said, wagging his finger at her as though she was petulant child. "I have never met a citizen of the Iron Plaines who did not look on the brink of death. I think it is high time that a stronger house should take hold of that land. Someone to *Feed* Your bloody people, to keep the plague out. To protect your land from invading forces, should they come. That is not something House Barrmount has been capable of."
Charles
Lady Anna Barrmount
Grunewald Castle, Vallen

Voices upon voices upon voices. All of them saying the same thing, all of them confirming what she knew all along. She had risked it all to come for nothing, abandoned Sibyl for nothing.

The voice of the islander king took over the others asking the same thing. And she also wondered, why didn't the Carters appear at all? Why didn't the Carters do nothing to stop Vivayn on his destructive way? . All that loyalty they had sworn to the Carters had been in vain too?

The pirate king paused as he looked at Anna. She saw it in his eyes and the subtle way his features softened, was it pity?

He called her brave. *Pft, brave? Look at me, unable to defend anything, being torn apart by this room full of barbarian stuck up nobles. Don't you dare call me brave*

"As a said before, your majesty" She responded to Bradai, her voice cracking at the memory of the events "We were in the middle of a funeral, in our most vulnerable time, and he just barged in with his army. He ain't no guest of ours, he's a parasite... And n-no" She tried as hard as she could to keep a straight face, but the puffness of her eyes as tears dwelled on them gave her away "I don't know if my sister is still alive, I highly doubt so. That's why, I repeat, don't care if he keeps my lands as there's nothing left to save there" A tear rolled down her cheek and she furiously wiped it away with her hand "I just want to stop him from harming anyone else"

King Gregor's, if that excuse of a man could be classified as king, nasty voice came up, his words angering the young Barrmount to her very soul.

"With all due respect" She rose once again, her small frame seeming even smaller in the middle of the immense room "The north hasn't had a famine in centuries and our economy and borders have been managed just fine. You-" She cut herself off before it was too late. Her legs were about to give out and she was exhausted. It wasn't worth it, it was a lost battle, it, was time to admit her defeat.

*He's the one to talk about what a house can or cannot do! The only things he does is eat like a pig, drink like a pig, and a barbaric and extravagant failed attemp of publicly executing a defenseless pig* She thought to herself, biting her tongue.

"To hell with this!" She was on the verge of crying. Witherlanders were right, compassion didn't exist in the south "Do what you want, burn if you want!" She said as she went away from her seat and to the door "They were right about southerners, though I still hope at least the gods have more mercy on your people than you" She said as she recalled the state of the villages on her way to the castle. 

She spun to the door, her white mourning gown dramatically moving along, and opened the door with a push
Edith
**Admiral Retto Elbaroda**
**The Council Room**

He was about to respond to his fellow bard when the Lord Wrencrest began to speak about his findings on the plague and the council proceedings began in earnest. As such, he clapped Kallophon on the shoulder and gave him a nod. "Looks like things are startin' up again. Fin' me afterwor' an' we'll 'ave a drink, aye?" He walked back to his seat and took another sip of his cup of wine, but decided not to eat the slop in front of him. *'Even Har'tack woul' be a better option than this'* He thought to himself. 

The Lord Wrencrest presented his findings, none of which shocked the Admiral. He wasn't sure if any of the information was new to anyone sitting in the council. And yet, his king invited the lord to sit with him, so perhaps there was some merit into it after all? 

Then there was the whole squabble about the witherlands, and the lady representing it. He didn't know much about those lands other than that it was cold, massive, and way too far from the southern seas. Retto admired her resolve and courage to come and ask for help from the council, but he knew it was doomed. *'Like a mainlander woul' help any soul ou' of th' goodness of their 'earts'* He thought to himself. 

He felt bad for the woman, but there wasn't anything he could do for her. He sighed and took another sip of his wine. 

More insults, and more shouting. 

Elbaroda couldn't wait to get back to his ship. He had just about enough of the mainland to last a lifetime.
Robert
King Daniel Black 
The Council Room

The king of the Northshore pursed his lips, watching as the northern woman screamed at the council room and left, her gown flowing behind to emphasize her dramatics. He was growing tired of the fits being thrown at the council that day. Large emotional outbursts, exclusively from the female members in attendance, were doing less to prove their competence than anything he had ever seen. Stabbings and door slammings.

"They should not have sent that child in here. Three words and she gave up on her people in a fit of rage. Her people are alledgedly being burned alive, yet she could not handle two people questioning her words. I suppose she simply wants them to burn as long as it preserves her emotions," Lord Aleksandr Romanov mused. "The older Barrmount should have come."

"She spent the entire time sniffling and crying, gasping and moaning," Queen Elle said, "I daresay, they would've made more of an impact sending along their dead brother in his casket rather than the girl."

"Her home is reportedly being invaded. It is no surprise that her emotions are running high," King Daniel said, "However, insulting the council and stating that 'they were right about southerners' was wholly inappropriate. She came here for help and when she did not immediately get her way, she insulted an entire part of the continent. Perhaps someone should fetch her before she forsakes her people over a hurt feeling or two."
John
**Queen Lucrezia Scheer
Throne Room**

"Perhaps she regretted offering her hand in marriage after seeing the selection of eligible bachelors in the room and wanted get out of it." Lucrezia said jokingly, kicking Kirk's chair.
Charles
Lady Anna Barrmount
Grunewald Castle, Vallen

Just before exiting the hall she heard the last voices commenting on her behavior. They were right as much as it pained her.

She was a child, unable to withstand the cruelty of the nobles not even to try and save her people. But who cared anyway, there were no people left to save anyways, she barely hoped her sister was still alive at that point.

Anna felt the disgrace of the whole Barrmount lineage, only being able to cry instead of fighting, but as much as she wanted she could not fight. She wasn't made to fight, and would only get more and more negative thoughts about the house. She could do nothing to save Rodrick, she mourned while her village got slaughtered, and now she wouldn't be able to help Sibyl either. She was just a disgrace. Not even offering her hand did anything, but who would want a whiny child as spouse?
Kari
Demetri Troiarus
Council Room

Demetri couldn't help but smirk to himself as he watched the woman leave. As he sat down he grabbed a quill and marked the elaborate W in front of him with a flourished check.
Lawrence
Lord Bennard Wrencrest
The Council Room

Bennard felt his heart bunching up in his chest as he returned to his family. He saw Ivagneth hanging her head and the sad smile on his wife's face. Shortly, he would be by Adelhayd's side again, and all the pressure of the room would at least partially dissipate.

Suddenly, he felt a ringed hand grasp his wrist and flinched. He turned his startled eyes to the hand's owner: the Pirate King! From what Bennard had heard, this rough-looking man was godless and bloodthirsty. However, now that Bennard experienced his manner, he found it surprisingly kind and warm. He could not help but smile back. "Why thank you, Your Royal Majesty! This document is the combined work of the most learned physicians in Wrencrest. They are quite worldly, as you would have noticed."

He looked around, wondering where Bradai intended him to sit. The barb spat at him by the mighty-looking woman who must have been the Princess of the Isles caught him off-guard. He swallowed. Was he a ponce? He knew people saw him as reserved; that was who he was, and he was too old to worry about it anymore. But effeminate? That would be a disgrace for him, as a representative of the Witherlands of all places. He wanted to be a refined Wither, but a Wither lord was not a *Ponce.*

Still unbalanced despite the remark despite the Pirate King's words of comfort, he took Gitten's seat with ungainly motions and an unsure expression. Bennard cleared his throat and gave the man a polite nod. "Of course, Your Majesty. Read at your leisure, and if you have any questions, I will gladly indulge you."

Bennard had expected a slow, pregnant calmness to follow his speech, as those gathered digested what he had said. He had hoped that his grave words would evoke a spirit of sobriety. He had hoped that people would realise the gravity of what had befallen the continent. When Lady Anna stood up for the second time, however, he began to worry that his efforts were about to be nullified.

*Rodrick.* Pain swelled within, and he shut his eyes to contemplate the image of the Barrmount boy. So much youth and energy, all washed away. How old had he been—eleven? Poor Hulward had been only thirteen when he too had fallen under the threatening shadow of death; Bennard found that, whether that shadow manifested as war or pestilence, it spared none, neither for age nor for lineage. Though he had made the right choice for his family's safety, it pained him not to have attended Rodrick's funeral. Then again, they would all be hostages to Vivayn right now if they had gone, and the funeral had been desecrated by him anyway. Bennard knew not how clear things were in the more temperate, illuminated life of the Southerner, but for the Wither in his cold, unforgiving land, the right choice was an obscure, fleeting thing. Right now, they were all making decisions clouded by obscurity, trying to do what was right for their kin; he hoped they would not be led into ruin, but he found himself more and more disappointed by the ones from whom they were seeking help.

Lady Anna's unexpected offer to the foreign powers took Bennard aback. Could she offer herself in marriage without Sibyl's approval? Could she offer her loyalty to an outlanded house without committing treason against Marshall? Bennard sighed. He had always been loyal to Marshall; loyal enough to betray his own liege. He had told himself that it was worth the sacrifice, that he and his king had the same interests; but what had been his reward for that sacrifice? Tenacious scars struck across the hearts of people he loved.

He was getting angry now, and his temper was often said not to exist. What question could there be of Vivayn's motivations? Bennard had mentioned them in the speech just a moment ago; the man was a bloody zealot, likely eyeing Crakefall and wanting to conquer the Iron Plaines on the way there! And then, the absurd idea of contacting Marshall first. Did these ignoramuses not understand how difficult long-distance communication be in the Witherlands? Not to mention the possibility that the Ice Lord could have already been in motion towards Taemar when the invasion happened. Even the Pirate King, despite the warm first impression, made Bennard's blood boil with his questions. What did it matter if Sibyl was dead or alive? What did it matter even why his liege had sent Anna? All those questions would serve to do would be to excite the young Barrmount's tumultuous emotions.

Soon, he was proven right. Lady Anna stormed off, vehemently conceding to Felix's philosophy. Bennard was starting to follow her in that regard, though decided not to follow her in her act of protest. It was not his place to intervene, and he was deeply reluctant to try and deal with any of these shady souls anyway. He deflated and put his face in his hands. "What will become of us?" He muttered.

He heard Adelhayd hissing pleas. Looking aside, he saw Ivagneth trying to pull away from her mother, tears rolling down her cheeks. "I must stand by my liege house!" She protested. Much like Anna, Bennard figured, present circumstances had her in a stormy disposition. He could not blame her, of course, and felt no inclination to stop her. Since Adelhayd was slightly more concerned about maintaining a stately image than keeping her daughter under control, Ivagneth had little trouble breaking free of her grasp. Bennard winced with embarrassment as he watched her thrust Jade into Feineth's arms and run for the door to catch Anna. By the gods, the girl could run like a courser—even in those riding boots.
Charles
Lady Anna Barrmount
Grunewald Castle, Vallen

All the emotions boiling inside her had her swiftly walking back to her chamber, not wanting to cross anyone in her way. When her arm was grabbed to stop her she nearly jumped.

"WHA-" She was starting to angrily cry out, but stopped when she saw who went after her "Oh" She dried the tears on her face with the back of her hand "Ivagneth what are you doing here, go back to the council"
Lawrence
Ivagneth Wrencrest
Grunewald Castle, Vallen

Ivagneth shook her head as she took Anna by the shoulders. She did nothing to dry her own tears; her eyes bled sincerity. "I know where I want to be, and it's not in there with those dolts. My parents can try whatever they want. It won't do any good. But I'm going to stay by my lady's side." She clasped Anna's hands between her own. "We both have siblings who are at risk. Whatever it takes to save Sibyl and Hull, I'll walk with you."

She wasn't sure what their options were, besides either trying to hire mercenaries or simply heading home and throwing themselves into the fray. Her parents would be paralysed. Though poor Baldur was the steward, Uncle Lackner would probably be the one to take command of their bannermen. He probably hated Vivayn for poisoning Felix's forces at the Siege of Grand Stead, and Hulward was like to be the same. Then again, Lackner and Hulward both had reasons to hate Marshall even more, and if Vivayn was coming to the Plaines "Diplomatically", there was a chance he'd try to persuade them into joining him. Uncle Lackner probably didn't have the motivation to follow him; Hulward was a different story. If they could hold out both strategically and morally, then the two of them would have a chance of getting back in time to try and avoid disaster.
Charles
Lady Anna Barrmount
Grunewald Castle, Vallen

Anna looked at her hands being held and sighed.

"As much as I appreciate your loyalty, I did enough today to bring shame to my house. I don't want you doing the same..." She softly pulled her hands free after giving a squeeze to Ivagneth.
Lawrence
Ivagneth Wrencrest
Grunewald Castle, Vallen

"But Anna, I-I'm not shaming my house by supporting my liege lady. I don't care if coming here was total folly—I'll be there with you, whatever comes next. I don't think my parents will have a clue what to do, but ... Surely there's some way? We can ..." She looked off for a moment, then shook her head. "It doesn't matter. I'm with you. We'll all be with you."