PROLOGUE
❛ a raven from king's landing. ❜

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130 AC ⸻ House Blackwood   ⸻

THE BLACKWOODS were known to live in the heart of the riverlands, along the banks of the red fork at the trident. They resided in raventree hall, led by none other than Lady Basalia Blackwood.

The Mad Lady, they called her. It was because she was known to mumble to herself more often than not. That, and she had cruel tendencies. But for today, Basalia was just a girl scribbling on parchment. Often there were times she took a break from her duties to just do simple things like drawing. Sometimes what she drew would be repetitive, other times not even her best friend could decipher the scribbles.

"Cousin." Jahaena smiled, entering the damp room to find Basalia perched by a window. It was as if Basalia was trying to use the window for light, even if their gray skies made it nearly impossible.

"Yes?" Basalia answered; her eyes never made it up from her parchment.

"I'm just checking in on you." By this time, Lyria had entered the hall as well, bearing news for her lady.

Basalia nodded, an unwavering look upon her face, "the dragons dance will make the sky red."

To Jahaena, this sentence was nothing. She knew that her cousin was a bit off of her rocker. It made her more sad than anything. as children, basalia was a force to be reckoned with. Now, she seemed as mindless as an old person, awaiting their death.

To Lyria, she knew it meant more.

Lyria knew that the sentences she muttered meant something if you knew how to decipher her words.

A sigh escaped Jahaena, looking at her cousin before turning to Lyria, "yes?"

Lyria nodded, "right," her eyes briefly moved to Basalia, who now seemed to be staring off, "your father is calling upon you two, it seems important."

Jahaena nodded at the information, taking her leave. She never knew where she stood with her cousin. Honestly, it felt as if Lyria was more a Blackwood than her. Basalia preferred her more, in truth. Before Lyria, Jahaena's relationship with Basalia wasn't as strained. Once Lyria came into the picture, Jahaena was practically a forgotten thought. As time passes, the cousin's relationship only becomes more estranged.

Basalia stood from where she sat, dusting her hands off on the mid of her dress. "Lyria." she officially greeted, meeting the eyes of her handmaiden.

Lyria only smiled at her, knowing if she started a conversation Basalia would only get off of the task at hand. The two often had conversations that seemed to last for days on end, consuming them. Perhaps it was because Lyria had such an intellectual depth within her... that or the fact that Basalia is known to have thought provoking questions.

Basalia led the way towards her uncle, Lyria following in her wake.

The room they were soon to enter was where the Blackwood's would whisper behind closed doors. All important meetings were held there, and the room was also no stranger to detrimental secrets.

"Uncle." Basalia greeted, taking her seat at the head of the table. Jahaera and her uncle sat on either side of her.

"Niece." Uncle Blackwood deadpanned.

Lyria noticed the odd shift between the Blackwoods; it was as if darkness had fallen upon them. Noticing that, she decided to stand in the corner with the other servants.

Jahaena kept silent, already being brought up to speed as she was first to enter.

"Now, we've received a raven from—"

"Nonsense." Basalia cut off, her stare slowly making its way towards her handmaiden. She held out a finger towards the empty seat next to Jahaena.

The servants shifted were they stood as Lyria's breath hitched. "Right." The word was soft and hesitant, as she currently was as well. Lyria listened to her lady and took the seat that she usually does. Today felt different... Basalia was different. Something just didn't feel right.

Uncle Blackwood's tongue clicked against his teeth, a little peeved that a handmaiden sat with them as he was announcing the most important news they'd ever received.

"The raven, uncle?" Basalia questioned, her dark eyes fixed on the stone table.

"It comes from King's Landing."

"King's Landing?!" Jahaena nearly choked on her spit.

Lyria took a deep breath, her anxious fingers fiddling with the skin by her nails. King's Landing rarely ever wanted anything to do with them, as they were off in the Riverlands doing things pretty much their own way. It's more peaceful that way.

Basalia held no reaction. All she did was open the parchment. As she read, the others were eagerly waiting to hear what it said.

Viserys was a dumb, yet peaceful ruler. Surely, whatever they wanted with their house couldn't be so bad . . . right?

Basalia slowly put the piece of parchment down, her pupils seemingly growing darker and slightly . . . vacant. "The dragons will paint the sky red."

Basalia's uncle groaned, snatching the parchment from her fingers to read it. He held little patience for Basalia's ramblings. He truly thought her mad.

"We've been invited to King's Landing." A sigh escaped his lips as Jahaena bit her lip from the nerves. Lyria's eyes remained on her lady. It was as if her soul wasn't present anymore. She always seemed to be like that whenever she . . . had an episode. "Prince Aemond is to be betrothed to our Basalia Blackwood." After that, he crumpled the paper with a vacant look upon his face.

"The greens just want us so they can control the riverlands." Jahaena clarified.

Jahaena looked at her father, "What do you make of all of this?"

Her father shrugged in response.

Jahaena nodded at her wisdom, "We can't ignore it." Her eyes flickered to her cousin who sat in the same position, rambling the same sentence about dragons. No true thoughts about the betrothal coming out. Jahaena must speak for her cousin as she is unable to currently speak for herself.

"I agree. If we do not go, it could mean trouble for our people." Uncle Blackwood added. It was dumb to go against the king, they knew it.

"Then it's settled." Jahaena nodded, standing up with her fingers resting on the stone table. "Us women will go while you stay and run things while Basalia's out."

"What will they do when they see her... mad?" Uncle Blackwood whispered, knowing it was no question.

"She is the head of this house." Lyria nodded, "Have you forgotten that?"

"Their spiders know the whispers. They must know of her... condition." Jahaena added.

He merely huffed, a servant wheeling him off in his wheelchair. He couldn't stand to be there anymore.

Jahaena looked to Lyria, "We can leave at daybreak. I'll help Basalia back to her chamber."

Lyria nodded with a smile, watching Jahaena help Basalia up and walk out of the room.

⸻

Later, anxious  feet padded against the wet ground quickly as Lyria navigated the servants halls. "Lyria, dear, calm down." a servant soothed, placing their palm against the woman's shoulder.

"I can't." Lyria concluded. "You saw Lia."

The woman nodded, "Yes, but—"

"Then you know it is true. Think about it. Everything she says comes to pass."

The elderly woman scrambled in her words, knowing the truth about it all. Basalia's episodes always held truth— no matter how disturbing it would be. The higher lords and ladies never saw it, but the servants knew.

"Death is coming for us all."

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