Ostara isn't necessarily the best artist. She supposes she has more skill now then she's ever had in some of her previous lives due to the fact that one of the less mundane forms of entertainment in this world comes from drawing. Ostara's been practicing more and more since she obtained the fine motor skills to actually draw with the bits of charcoal and delicate quills that are available to her. All the same, she's thankful for the skill for a number of reasons.
The journal she'd managed to find is slowly filling up with drawings of dragons and tidbits of information she's gained from observing them. It's especially important that she does this because Ostara's dragons, her children, are essentially the first of their kind.
Sighing quietly to herself Ostara very carefully sketches the sharp curve of the spikes jutting out from around Orlaith's head.
The past few weeks have been stressful to say the least. There's been a bit of a shift in the behavior of her dragons, nothing terrible, but Ostara can tell that something is off. None of the dragons have grown aggressive toward her or Rubeus, none of them have begun acting dangerously, and none of them have ever made Ostara feel threatened by their presence... But still... Something has changed.
Mother, Janus climbs into her lap and presses his snout into her belly, what are you doing?
"Taking notes." Ostara replies.
Janus twists his head to stare at the page in her journal that Ostara is currently working on. She isn't sure he can understand the words scrawled across various parts of the page but his focus isn't there anyway.
A low chirp rises from the little dragon's throat as he turns to stare up at her.
I do not understand.
"I'm drawing pictures of each of you and writing down your behavioral patterns and your dietary needs." Ostara explains as she moves to write something new in the book under Orlaith's wing.
Janus stares at her for another second or so before sliding off of her lap and making his way over to where Milren is trying to rearrange his nest.
Ostara watches as Janus' wings twitch, chest puffing out, neck curling to give the illusion of superior height.
It's a threat display. One Milren has no tolerance for.
And it only takes a few seconds for Milren to close the distance between the two and take Janus to the ground. The two dragons roar at each other, hissing and screeching at one another. They continue to act like this until Ostara manages to pry them apart and place them on their respective hoards.
"Stop that! Fighting is not appropriate! If you want more gold I can get you more gold but fighting is not an acceptable approach!" Ostara chastises the two dragons.
They avert their eyes but neither of them appear very contrite.
After a few more moments in which Ostara reprimands the two dragons the young witch gathers up her satchel and makes her way to the treasury so that she can gather more gold for her dragons. Once they're older Ostara will give them access to the treasures hidden away in various Valyrian keeps but for now she will give them gifts of gold and jewels from the treasury she has more immediate access to.
When Ostara reaches the treasury she makes sure to gather more then she needs but enough to split equally between her dragons. She also remains careful to pick object of preference for her dragons.
Milren likes gold, coins or jewelry it doesn't matter. So long as he can curl up in it and bed down.
Janus likes jewelry, rings and bracelets specifically. He likes to wear them like little crowns and necklaces whenever he can.
Orlaith prefers jewels. Rubies, emeralds, and topaz. It doesn't matter if they're laid in precious metal or raw.
They all get gold and silver and other such treasures but Ostara makes sure to pick out pieces that will please them all individually. And once her satchel is near full to bursting she makes sure it's tied shut before turning and making her way back to the laboratory.
~X~
Come North, the three-eyed crow commands.
"North? There's a lot of places North of where I am." Ostara remarks, pointedly eyeing the ramparts of Storm's End.
North, the crow says as he hops closer, Beyond the Wall.
"Beyond the Wall? What's so important that I need to travel Beyond the Wall?"
Knowledge, I can tell you of that which hides in the shadows.
"Oh?"
Yes, that and more. The crow bobs its head enthusiastically. I can show you what has been and what will come to pass.
"I didn't realize you were a seer."
The crow stills, the eye in the center of it's head blinking and dilating. Ostara almost fears that she's broken him until he shakes his feathers and hops closer.
Come North and I will show you.
"There's a lot of land once you've crossed over the Wall... Besides, I have no idea where I'd be going. It would take me weeks alone to travel wherever it is you'd want me to go."
The Heart Tree, the crow whispers, find the Heart Tree and you will find your way to me.
"How do I know this isn't a trap? That you're not the thing I'm supposed to be fighting against?"
She has the feeling that the crow is amused with her. He certainly doesn't seem annoyed in any case. Ostara shakes her head and stares out at the dark clouds gathering on the horizon. This not-quite-a-dream makes her miss Storm's End more then she has since arriving at King's Landing.
You have eyes but you do not see.
"Are you trying to tell me something?" Ostara asks, lips curling in her amusement.
This time the crow seems rather annoyed with her all of a sudden. Ostara doesn't really blame him. She's been actively evading and deflecting his demand for her to come north for the better part of what feels like an hour, perhaps more, dreams are strange things after all and time moves differently in them.
Come North, the three-eyed crow demands before unfurling his wings and taking off into the air.
~X~
Ostara rises from beneath the water with a quiet gasp and a slosh of steaming water against the sides of the tub she'd transfigured. She raises her hands to push waterlogged hair out of her face before leaning back to against the raised lip of the tub while simultaneously extending her legs out in front of her.
It's honestly too early for Ostara to be up but considering she hasn't been sleeping well the past few evenings she supposes there's no use in staying in bed when she can be doing something productive. Relaxing in the tub in the wee hours of the morning can easily be seen as productive considering Ostara hasn't been this relaxed in weeks.
See, entirely justifiable.
Early summer heat makes the air a bit stuffy but not stiffing enough for the heat of the bath to be unpleasant. It is, however, a bit too stuffy for Ostara to bother with the scented oils typically poured into her baths by the maids.
Cerys or Melisandre will come in a few hours to collect her and help her prepare for her day. It's rather important that Ostara looks presentable today as it's the day King Aerys will be well enough to spend a few hours at court. She isn't stupid enough to think that the way she presents herself today won't have any effect on her time in King's Landing.
While she won't be wearing the gaudy fabrics and the ridiculous jewelry that the other ladies of court favor she will be dressed appropriately for the occasion. But until someone comes to tell her it's time to get ready Ostara will take the few precious hours she has to relax and tend to her own needs. Which include a bath and maybe a cat nap.
With the promise of a nap Ostara finishes her bath and rises from the tub so she can vanish the soapy water. She dries herself with a simpler spell, wraps herself up in a silk robe, and returns the transfigured tub to it's original state before moving to the bed where her clothes are laid out.
Once she's dressed Ostara crawls back into bed where she curls up around Rubeus' sleeping form and allows herself to slip into easy sleep.
~X~
"You look very lovely, Ostara." Cerys tells her later that morning.
Ostara glances away from the knot she's tying to keep her dress in place and smiles at the blonde.
"Thank you, Cerys."
Her dress is one she brought from Storm's End. A swath of yellow silk cut in the typical style worn by high born girls; a full skirt that brushes the ground, bell sleeves, a well embroidered bodice that overlaps and ties at the bust and the waist. It's a perfectly acceptable dress, a bit less gaudy then what the other women will be wearing but she thinks that with the addition of an ornate belt it isn't terribly out of place.
Once she finishes tying off the last of her knots Ostara goes slips her feet into the slippers she'd set out the evening before.
Across the room Cerys is kneeling before Rubeus so that she can scratch under his chin and make soft cooing noises at him. The shadowcat seems perfectly content to let the blonde shower him in affection. Ostara looks away from the two so that she can look in the mirror as she pulls her hair into a complicated braid more often seen in the Stormlands then King's Landing.
"Are you excited?" She hears Cerys ask.
"I'm relieved to know that King Aerys is feeling well enough to attend court."
If not for herself then for Rhaegar. While Aerys may be her King he is not so close to her as to inspire true concern for his health. Frankly, Ostara is sympathetic because she understands the humiliation and pains he likely suffered at Duskendale. Rhaegar on the other hand has every reason to be concerned for his father and Ostara will not begrudge him that little bit of humanity that might otherwise be mocked by other noble men and women.
"It must have been terrible... Being stuck in one's bed for so long doesn't sound all that entertaining." Cerys remarks.
Ostara hides her laughter beneath a cough.
"I assure you the King had plenty of entertainment." Ostara comments.
No one in their right mind would have left the king to sit and stew in his boredom. Even though he was supposed to be resting Maester Pycelle and Queen Rhaella ensured he was plenty entertained in one way or another.
Sighing, Ostara smooths down her skirt and turns to Cerys with a gentle smile.
"Well, I suppose I'd best be off. Apparently I'm to attend court with the rest of the Queen's Ladies."
Cerys giggles.
"Well then," she says, "you'd best be off! Wouldn't be right to keep the Queen waiting."
"No." Ostara shakes her head. "I suppose it wouldn't."
~X~
King Aerys looks terrible.
His skin is paler then usual- pallid and almost sickly yellow in places, his eyes sunken and viciously bright with the dark bruising under them, and he's lost enough weight to appear rather gaunt even after weeks of healthy meals and rest. Ostara thinks that he probably looks several times better then he had when he'd first arrived at King's Landing.
Maester Pycelle has done a good enough job returning the king to his former state of health but physical health is likely the only thing he's focusing on. Ostara doubts he'd listen to her if she said anything to him, too concerned with his own sense of self worth to take the advice of a young Lady to heart.
But she isn't so worried about little men's inflated egos. She's much more interested in trying to determine the exact mental state of the King. Obviously he suffers from his time spent in Duskendale but depending on his mental state Ostara might not be able to help. She's no mind healer and altering memories can only go so far to curb the King's madness.
He is, after all, a Targaryen.
What's the saying again?
Every time a new Targaryen is born, the Gods toss a coin in the air and the world holds its breath to see how it will land.
Such a vulgar saying, true, but vulgar none the less.
Ostara grits her teeth as she watches a young couple, obviously of the common folk, come to offer gifts to the King of the Seven Kingdoms. They are not the first to do so nor are they the poorest to come before the court but this is supposed to be a time where the people may come to bring their complaints and concerns before the King... Not this parade of gifts and well wishes.
There is a time and a place for such things and now is not that time.
"You look so angry, Lady Ostara." Lady Alysanne Rosby whispers, voice full of mock worry. "Do you not think the gifts acceptable for our King?"
"I think that if our King was in true need of these 'gifts' he would find a better way to acquire them." Lady Alysanne's pretty face twists and Ostara continues, "Some of these men and women are too poor to be parting with provisions that could keep their families fed and yet we expect them to give them away."
"Yes, to show their relief to see their King well and recovered."
"That's a fool's mentality Lady Alysanne and I took you better for a fool."
There's a low choking noise coming from Lady Laena's general direction but Ostara's done exchanging barbs with small minded Ladies. There are other things she wants to be doing with her time then watching people offer unappreciated gifts or listen to women mock the common folk.
One of the things Ostara ponders over is how best to go about bringing wealth to the common folk.
Obviously she has more then enough money in Valyria to last her a lifetime but she also has an entire clutch of dragons to support. Investing her money in different businesses would likely be the best way to go. If nothing else she could go to the Iron Bank and talk to them about her...
Oh.
She's such a damned fool.
The Doubling Charm, while typically used to curse objects, would solve quite a bit of Ostara's problems.
While the jewelry and more distinct objects in Vlayria will remain safe from duplication the gold and silver will not. Possibly even some of the raw jewels as well. Anything that wouldn't be strange to have two of.
Biting the inside of her cheek Ostara thinks of where she'd like to start.
Obviously, educational systems would be best. What better way to ensure the betterment of the people then to offer them all the ability to read, write, and do mathematics? It would allow the people to develop necessary skills that would make it easier for them to obtain jobs, build businesses, and essentially create better lives for themselves. Even the women would benefit from it. If Ostara can just give them the opportunity to learn she thinks that, in time, King's Landing could become a thriving center of wealth and knowledge.
She doesn't realize court has ended until someone touches her shoulder.
It's Lady Laena Gaunt.
"You seemed very lost in thought." The blonde Lady says.
Ostara doesn't think she's ever seen the other woman so at peace.
The redness is gone from her eyes, the ghost of pain lingering but not prominent on her face, she even holds herself a bit more confidently. She looks almost like the young Lady she might have been before her brother's untimely death.
So to offer some kindness to the woman with the sad eyes Ostara simply smiles and nods her head.
"I suppose I was."
She doesn't say anything more then that.
Laena Gaunt doesn't ask her to.
~X~
"You wish to be an educator?" Melisandre inquires rather dryly when Ostara presents her idea to her most trusted companions.
It sounds as if the notion is entirely unacceptable and she can't believe Ostara would even consider something like that. Daevyn sends the woman a heated look before turning back to give Ostara his full attention. He and Cerys seem to be in full support of the idea, Ostara's thankful for it.
"Certainly not forever, but I've already taught Cerys to read and write what would a few children hurt?." Ostara tells them, fingers twisting almost anxiously around her sleeve hem.
Across from here the young woman in question beams and reaches across the table to take Ostara's hands in her own.
"I think it's a wonderful idea."
"And how, exactly, do you intend to do this? If you haven't forgotten you are Azor Ahai and you have a mission to see to." Melisandre butts in rather forcefully, causing Daevyn to groan loudly and pinch the bridge of his nose.
"Azor Ahai, she says. It is always Azor Ahai with you." his fingers drop. "Might I remind you that Ostara is a girl. She's a long way from lopping off heads and leading battle charges or whatever it is you think she'll be doing in the future."
Russet eyes burn in the sunlight filtering in through Ostara's solar window.
"You are a follower of R'hllor and as such you should not disregard our Lord's will so easily."
"My mother was a follower of R'hllor you heinous bitch."
"Enough! If you can't play nicely I will have you both escorted out." Ostara snaps which makes both adults whip around to face her.
This has been a rather heated debate between the two for some time now. Ostara isn't exactly sure when Melisandre went to Daevyn, because who else would have gone to him, but for several days now the two have been butting heads about Ostara's future and the like. Thankfully Cerys had accepted Melisandre's idea of Ostara being a mythical savior without so much as batting an eye, as if she'd somehow suspected it and was just waiting for someone to confirm her thoughts.
Noticing the heated glares both adults are sending her Ostara raises an eyebrow and levels each with a sharp look before returning to the previous matter of discussion.
"I think that starting in the orphanages would be best as children's minds are more malleable and I'd be able to monitor their living conditions as well."
"What will you teach them?" Cerys asks.
"Anything that I'm able to." Ostara drums her fingers against the smooth top of the table. "I'm aware that I won't be able to educate them forever or that I'll see them every day. At some point I'll have to hire an educator of some sorts, perhaps a Bravossi?"
"Why a Bravossi?" Melisandre inquires.
"There's said to be kind people by and large. I'd like to ensure that if nothing else the children being educated are being treated well."
The red haired woman sighs dejectedly and says, "If this is what you want to do then I shall support the decision."
"I think it's a good idea," Daevyn finally says, "especially once they've grown. An educated business owner is not so likely to be swindled as those that cannot read or notice the errors in their inventory."
Something sweet bubbles in Ostara's chest.
There will be no badges this time around, no knitted hats, no enraged declarations in corridors about elvish welfare. This time Ostara will simply go to the orphanage and educate the masses as she sees fit. If anyone tries to stop her or tell her that her place is in the Red Keep Ostara will deal with them accordinly. She is magic, after all, and even if no one knows it she's the most dangerous thing in King's Landing.
"Excellent, we'll start tomorrow." Ostara looks at her Dornish friend. "Are you too busy to accompany me to Flea Bottom?"
"Of course not, but why Flea Bottom?"
"It's the poorest part of King's Landing."
"I've made no plans for tomorrow. If you'd like to go to Flea Bottom then we shall go to Flea Bottom." Daevyn says after a long moment.
That warm bubbly feeling gets a lot warmer and bubblier.
"I'd like that." She says and for the first time in a week her smile feels entirely genuine.
They discuss plans for tomorrow and what Ostara will be doing before the sun dips low enough in the sky that Ostara decides to dismiss them so that they can go about their own business. Soon after all but Melisandre and Ostara are slipping from the room. Once the two are alone Ostara pours herself a glass of water and sips at it slowly as she figures out how best to approach the topic of the three-eyed crow and her dreams.
Ostara picks at the skin around her thumb nail before turning to look at Melisandre.
"I've had more dreams." Ostara says at last.
"About the Others?"
"About a three-eyed crow that tells me to go north, past The Wall."
Melisandre purses her lips for a long moment fore asking, "Why do it ask this of you?"
"I don't know. It claims it will tell me things, what's happened and what has yet too, secrets."
"And you believe it?"
"I don't know if I do or not, I thought it best to seek your counsel." Ostara admits.
Across the room Melisandre glances toward the fire place. There's no fire burning but even so Melisandre looks as though something is casting a sort of orange-golden glow across her skin. It makes her eyes appear something close to amber in their color. Ostara allows her time to sit and think as she's always hated when someone's interrupted her train of thought.
While Melisandre ponders over the information Ostara's given her the young witch finds herself becoming lost in thought as well.
Once, many years ago in a past life, she'd been lured into a trap alongside her friends. They'd been tricked with dreams and visions and no one had thought to question how odd it was that if Harry could see into Voldemort's mind then perhaps Voldemort could do the same.
Wetting her bottom lip with her tongue Ostara returns her attention to Melisandre and finds the woman staring at her through dark eyes.
"I would be very careful of this three-eyed crow, my Lady. The Great Other works in mysterious ways and it could be a trap set to bring about your doom."
"What do you suggest I do?"
"Nothing, yet, I'll pray to R'hllor for guidance." Melisandre says.
"Thank you."
The woman smiles kindly, or as kindly as she can when her eyes are narrowed and her brows furrowed.
"Of course."
Ostara watches as Melisandre turns in a sweep of billowing red robes and disappears from the room.
After she'd gone Ostara remains in the solar and ponders over their conversation. It is possible that her dreams are nothing more then dreams, Ostara's never been one to put much stock in dreams so it could be that her own stress and being in King's Landing has caused her subconscious to concoct a three-eyed crow that beckons her north. But it's also possible that something else is to blame for the dreams and if that's the case then she needs to be very, very careful about how she proceeds to deal with them.
With a tired groan Ostara rises and makes her way into her bedroom so that she can splash some water on her face and perhaps even lay down.