Winter's Fire → Game of Thrones

ix. Friendships

Today I am expected to go and see Alios. Well, Illyrio expects me to go and see him. I am not sure if I wish to speak to him just yet, as I am awfully confused about everyone. Alios must not be used to rejection. I mean, who would reject a prince as handsome as he is? Apart from me, of course, and I kissed him and I got angry and it all just spiralled out of control. I did not actually reject him though.

We sort of made up, but at the same time there is still animosity between us. I just hope that he will not be too angry today, as he knows that I am visiting him. It was actually the idea of the magisters, which worries me a bit. What could they possibly get from me visiting Alios?

As I rode up to the gates, I was the guards opening the gate for me. I was unaccompanied for once, which was nice. I really needed this time alone to clear my head and just go for a ride, and if Alios is willing to let things go back to normal then we can talk. He did not kiss me because he wanted to, and I know that.

The servants took my horse, and one led me through the palace so that I could speak to Alios. He was apparently in his study, which was rare for him. I know that because the servants told me that. They actually speak to me here, unlike at Illyrio's manse. Then again, I know that Illyrio forbid them from talking to me.

No one was in Alios' study when we reached it, so I was told to take a seat and wait for him. I did as I was told and looked around, taking it all in. This whole palace is filled with so many expensive things, including Alios' chambers, which I have been in when we were talking once. It makes me wonder if the magisters know about the simplicity of this room.

In one corner was a bookshelf filled with books, and next to that was a window that let quite a lot of light in. The walls were just plain with nothing on them, and there was a short table with two arm chairs on one side and a longer couch on the other. Apart from that, there was a sword hanging on the wall and a harp in the corner.

I heard the door swing open and one of the servants told me to follow her. I did so and was led into the next room, which was Alios' chambers. Has anyone else been shown that room apart from a few choice servants? I mean, it is clear that the magisters do not know about the simplicity of it, or they would get in there and decorate it themselves.

When I entered Alios' chambers, the first thing I could smell was sex. He was trying to cover it up with candles, but it was obvious. There were two pretty, naked women in his bed and Alios looked incredibly dishevelled. There was a look of panic in his eyes when he saw me and he swore to himself, lacing up his breeches as quickly as he could.

"Uh, good morning, Alessia," Alios greeted. "Please excuse the mess. I lost track of the time." He looked over at the girls and ran a hand through his hair. "Excuse the women as well."

"By the looks of it, you all had a fun time," I observed, smirking slightly. "Do not worry about it. I have two older brothers and my father's ward was worse than you. You did have fun, did you not?"

Alios just laughed, sprayed some perfume on himself, and led me out of the room. We walked through the palace and outside, heading in the direction of the gardens. The gardens in the palace are not as nice as Illyrio's, but they are much nicer than the ones in King's Landing. Winterfell had gardens, but they were in a glass room so they could actually grow. It was always uncomfortably warm in there.

We sat down on a bench in the gardens that overlooked a small pond. There were ducks swimming around, and it was cute. Ducks can be vicious creatures, but they never really bothered me. It was too cold for them in Winterfell most of the time anyway. Even in summer, my home was cold and there was snow.

There was a silence between us, and it was not an awkward one, but it was not entirely comfortable either. Alios watched the clouds as I watched the ducks, neither of us willing to speak first just yet. We could not even look at each other, and it was only like this between us when we first met. That was a while ago now.