Noah [Game of Thrones] ✓

Perseverance

Noah walks out into the cool morning air, leaving Jon to sleep in her room as she goes to enter the library. "Good morning maester.", she greets the old man kindly. He bows ever so slightly, greeting her. "Lady Mars. Preparing for another day of work?" "Yes. Would you do me a favour and help me carry together some of the old books on the first blood of Valyria?" "With pleasure." The chains around his robes ring as he speedily moves through the tower and the ceiling high bookshelves.

She had just finished placing down the last stack of books as she hears her name being called. "Lady Mars." "Yes, my queen?" Turning around to face the older woman she bows slightly before registering the three royal children before her. "What can I do for you?" "I was told I could find you here." "Indeed. To prepare for the lessons I teach I carry together books for over an hour every day.", Noah chuckles, placing down the last book she has been holding onto. "Did you let my father into your bed last night?" She stares down the blonde prince. The cruel little toad. She took intense pleasure in knowing Olenna would be there and poison him at his own wedding. "I would not even dream of doing so. The only ones I allow into my bed are cats or children." She hesitates as she so naturally called Jon her son. "My sort of adoptive son that is." "You have children, Lady Mars?", Cercei asks, clearly intrigued. "Not a single one. Amongst others the children of the other staff members come to me when they dreamt of bad things. Apparently I make the nightmares go away.", Noah laughs, but still nods. The queen nods slightly, now having lost interest. "I came to ask you to have my children join the lessons you teach." "I actually teach every child individually. But I'll gladly sacrifice my breaks to teach the young throne heirs." "Will I be able to leave them in your care now?" Noah looks at the clock, then nods. "I have another three hours until I have my first lesson. That should suffice for their first." Gesturing to the table she swiftly moves to her place at the head of it and the three inbred children make their way over to the table. More or less willingly. "Do listen well to Lady Mars. She is said to be the Best at what she does.", Cercei says, before leaving. "Well.. sit. Let us talk. How far are you with you lessons? What books did you last read? Which ones would you like to read?" While Joffree simply stares at her, while sitting down, Tommen and Myrcella immediately flock to her, throwing around information. Still she catches everything. "So. You only ever had your first few lessons and are stuck at the alphabet and you have already reached the part where you are learning to write cursive. Now. Prince Joffree.. where shall I pick up on things with you?" "Why should I care? You are the Best at this. Shouldn't you know?" "I exclusively teach the Stark families children and some children of lower status if I am asked. There are no records of what every royal child ever learned being kept, because there is no one who truly cares for it. What matters is that they can perfectly read and write for that would be a huge part in their life once they take on the duties of king or other positions in the circles of high nobility. But if you shall refuse to inform me by your good royal right, Prince Joffree, I shall simply start by testing your cursive and then head straight for the tales of the first men." "You disrespectful wench. I could have you beheaded for that." "In all honesty I would love to see someone try to cut my head from my shoulders. It would be amusing to witness." "Do you believe yourself to be immortal?" "There is no such thing as immortality. Everyone can and will die. It is the fate that every human being shares. May it be of age. May it be from poison. May it be by a swords blade. But I doubt your ability to have me beheaded on account of me actually teaching you by the standards you have set for yourself by not telling me what you were already taught, Prince Joffree."

With that she turns to Tommen and Myrcella. "Well.. let us start with you then, Tommen. Meanwhile I'd like you two to copy this page into cursive. Here is your ink and quills and here your paper."
While Joffree simply stares on Myrcella immediately starts working on her page and Tommen listens closely as Noah speaks gently to him, explaining everything to him as he writes, a bit crookedly, the letters of the Alphabet.

It had taken her two whole hours, with Joffree simply staring at her constantly, until the screaming echoes through the castle. She knew what had happened. She knew too well. Jumping to her feet she runs out of the library tower, only to see where Bran had fallen. "Sweet little child.", she gasps, quickly ushering the three royal children back into the castle. "No. No. You truly mustn't see that. Please do remain here, alright? I shall be right back." The three more or less willingly stay behind as she flies down the stairs and to the tower side. "My Lady Catelyn!" Rushing to the mother's side she quickly helps her to stabilise the unconscious boy. The woman is blinded by tears. "Lady Mars...", she gasps and Noah embraces her tightly. "He will wake. I am sure of it, my lady." She rubs the woman's back ever so gently while Catelyn clutches onto her for stability as the maester joins them and Ned and Robert Baratheon rush out to them. The Lord of Winterfell looks to Noah and his wife in fear. "My Lady. They're taking Bran to his chambers to be treated. Let us follow.", Noah gently tells her, before turning to Robert Baratheon. "I left your children in the library tower, my king. Perhaps you could allow them out. I do not believe I should leave my ladies side." The king gruffly nods and stomps away, while Noah, supporting the older woman, walks after the men carrying the poor boy. She hated herself for having to allow his fall to happen. But she hardly could change everything. It would be disastrous.
"This too shall pass, Milady. We shall persevere.", she says softly and Catelyn Stark nods weakly. "We shall persevere."