John

I look around the ancient cedarwood table at my small council members, analysing them as they walk in. Sitting closest to my left was maester Aurelis, a blunt faced yet kindly man with short cropped chestnut hair. As usual he wore his maester robes and his chain adorned with iron, copper, silver, gold and even emerald links that shone brightly in the candlelight when he moved. Closest to my right sat lord Undersee, one of my bannermen and beside him sat his wife lady Dahlia Undersee.

Lady Dahlia had been my wife Ivy's handmaiden when she was just a girl at Wisteria Crossing. She had been married to Lord Undersee for twelve years and they have one child, a daughter named Madge. Lord Undersee had been my loyal bannerman for more then ten years. Ivy had insisted that Madge be handmaiden for one of our daughters. The twelve year old girl now served our eldest daughter Katniss but theres always been something about Dahlia that didn't seem right, she always seemed to be paranoid about something. Currently she was sitting silently like an inanimate object, I wasn't even sure if she was breathing or not but suddenly she flinches her head slightly as if panicking and I knew she was okay, well as okay as she could be.

Sitting beside maester Aurelis was the castles castellan, ser Aldin Cray. I made ser Cray castellan after I took away his position as head of my household guard and awarded it to ser Darius, to this day he still loathes ser Darius for my decision. Ser Cray was a middle aged man with a droopy wrinkled face and a thinning grey hair line, his stern blue eyes make contact with mine as he lowers himself into his chair. The next person to enter the council chamber is ser Darius himself, his red hair tied behind his head in a ponytail like fashion. He takes his seat across from ser Cray and beside lady Dahlia who was now scratching irratically at her wrist, but lord Undersee starts stroking her sandy coloured hair and she slowly stops. The only person missing was lady Lavinia, the master of coin.

''I hereby call this small council meeting to order.'' I say loudly to seize everyone's attention, it works as they all focus there eyes on me like a herd of deer anxiously watching a hunter.

''what shall be the topic of this small council meeting, my lord.'' Maester Aurelis asks in a plain yet almost eager voice.

''Well, as you know we have the usual topics. Finances, protection. I would also like to discuss the probability of adding more men to my household guard.'' I can almost feel ser Crays anguish from here, although he says nothing. Instead he stares blankly at the ancient table and clenches his fists.

''My lord, if you do not mind I'd also like to discuss possibly arranging a marriage for your son, if it please you.'' Maester Aurelis looks at me, his eyes hopeful. Every small council meeting since Gales thirteenth name day he has been quite enthusiastic about betrothing him to someone and most meetings I tell him he's too young, but Gales fourteenth name day was in two months and it wouldn't be truthful to say he wasn't nearly a man. I can't really say that he isn't old enough for much longer

''Perhaps, if we have time. But first we shall deal with finances.''

''As you say, my lord.'' Maester Aurelis sits back down, smiling contently as if he'd succeeded at something.

'' where in twelve hells is Lavinia?'' Asks ser Cray, aggravated.

''I am unsure.'' I respond justly, but ser Cray had the right to be annoyed. Lady Lavinia was late to nearly every small council meeting and occasionally didn't even show. Last time she was late I threatened to replace her if she was ever late again, but truly speaking I had no replacements for her which was an issue

'' Shall I go retrieve her, my lord?'' Just as lord Undersee says that Lavinia walks in the door, her long auburn hair completely tossled by the wind.

''I apologise for my belated arrival, my lords.'' Says Lavinia apologetically. Lavinia takes the final seat beside ser Cray, avoiding eye contact with everyone by keeping her eyes focused on the tome she'd brought with her.

''My lady.'' I say in a slightly agitated voice.

''Ye…Yes my lord.'' Lavinia replies, her voice trembling as if frightened. Lavinia brings her head up to look me in the eye and I see the amount of fear in her hazel coloured eyes, like she was a baby deer being chased down by a wolf. Face. Aside from her small stature each one of Lavinias features was as striking as the last. She had a slender sharp nose with opal shaped eyes and snowy pale skin. Her eyes were filled with fear and she looked as though she may cry. She was only nineteen after all.

''We are discussing finances and we need….'' I am quickly cut off by ser Cray

''NO! I apologise milord but this woman has been late to every single council meeting AND I'VE HAD ENOUGH OF IT! TWELVE HELLS WENCH! I told you milord it was a bad idea to have some stupid little lady on the council!'' At that moment I expected Lady Lavinia to be in tears but no. instead she held a stern look on her face as she raises out of her seat, shaking nervously like a leaf. Her head only reaching up to ser Crays chest.

'' My lord.'' Lady Lavinia says in a surprisingly firm voice. Her eyes now focused on mine.

''I realise I have been late many times and that is inexcusable.''

''Inexcusable? You don't belong here you stupid wench! Why don…'' Ser cray tries to continue by is cut off by Lavinia who continues to look at me.

'' But I must argue that as you know my bedchamber is situated at the opposite end of Firecress and these winds make it very difficult to travel. Also I found this outside of the armoury and thought you should see it. It think it belonged to lady Primrose.'' Lavinia reaches a small gloved hand into her light grey cloak and pulls out a few broken sticks with a string attached to the end of it, at first I don't realise what it is until Darius blurts out.

'' that's Prims practice bow, I saw her using it today. Aye the winds must of got a hold of it.'' Lavinia hands the mangled remains of Prims practice bow over to ser Darius who examines it thoroughly before discarding it on the floor beside him. I thought that bow would break soon, it had been in use for thirty odd years since I was just a boy.

''Aye I knew this bow wouldn't last much longer.'' Ser Cray glances around the council chamber, humiliated while Lavinia stands with a triumphant look upon her small oval shaped face. Ser Cray looks as though he is trying to say something else but instead he lowers himself back into his seat, defeated

''My lord I am deeply sorry please forgive me for my mistake.'' Says ser Cray in a quiet, embarrassed tone. I say nothing to either of them for a moment as I'm not sure what I should say, s I turn towards Lavinia.

''Lavinia, what is the current financial situation?'' I can hear everyone start to breathe again as Lavinia opens up the hard covered tome in front of her. After the ordeal is over the meeting goes on as normal. First with finances which Lavinia clarifies as quite stable, then with the castles protection. Ser Darius informs me that my household guard consists of one hundred and six personal guards that protect my family and I. the rest were stationed in protecting the citizens of Firecress against reavers, raiders and rapers. They were twenty four thousand strong which was plenty enough to keep Firecress safe ser Darius assured me, meaning we not need search for new recruits.

By the time that was all done and dusted , an hour had passed and the winds had grown so strong I could hear them whistling through the closed shutters, lady Dahlia was drowning the sound out by humming a random tune of notes that I wasn't sure could be called a song. I was unsure on why I agreed to allow her into this meeting, but Lord Undersee was very insistent about it.

'' Now my lord, if it please you we should discuss your son.'' I know instantly what he means. I wanted to say no but there was still plenty of time left, so instead I say.

''Yes, so there is.'' Before we continue on. I dismiss ser Cray, ser Darius and lady Lavinia. I couldn't think of any helpful input they could put into this. They each egress quietly from the ancient council chamber one by one. Ser Cray makes a snarling face at lady Lavinia as they each walk out the door.

'' Now, my lord. As you know Gale is less then three years away from manhood with his name day in…'' Maester Aurelis trails off trying to remember Gales name day, using his fingers to count the days.

''It doesn't matter when his bloody name day is.'' Lord Undersee interjects sternly.

''What matters my lord is that your son is nearly a man and will one day become lord, and every lord needs a lady to sire children.'' Lady Dahlia turns her head up and looks first looks at her husband, then Aurelis, then me. A slightly unstable look in her watery blue eyes.

''he's r…right.'' Dahlia stutters nervously before focusing her attention back on her hands which were shaking visciously.

''forgive me my lord, do we have your leave to go?''

''You may go.'' Lord Undersee grabs his wife's trembling hand in his and they both gradually arise from their seats. Lady Dahlias hair falls in a curtain when she stands, obstructing my view of her face. I watch as they both make their leave and sigh. I won't be allowing Dahlia to attend another small council meeting anytime soon.

''My lord, we need make no final decision about your son today. If I recall you were seventeen when you took lady Ivy as your wedded wife.'' Maester Aurelis arises from his seat, his chain rattling with every movement.

''I understand my lord that you are not prepared for one of your children to wed anytime soon, but there are many eligible ladies in the twelve kingdoms that would be honoured to marry the future lord of Firecress. Perhaps I could even obtain a list of suitors.''

''No, my son shall not be wed. at least not for now. I will decide when he is ready.'' I state firmly to push my point. Maester Aurelis sighs in defeat. A look of shattered hope brushes over his face. I can tell he is dismayed to hear my decision, yet he says nothing.

'' Do I have your leave to go, my lord.'' Asks Aurelis with a hint of dismay in his voice.

''You do.''

'' Thank you my lord, and please I beg you to reconsider.'' On that note he takes his leave. I watch maester Aurelis stumble out of the council chamber, I listen to his chain rattle as he descends the steps. But after less then a moment he is too far away for me to hear and I am left alone with nothing but the whistling winds howling outside the chamber. I stand, my legs had fallen asleep from sitting for so long as they always do. As I shake out my aching legs and walk towards the chamber door I take a moment to reflect on the meeting, is Gale really old enough to marry? I think to myself. Before I exit the chamber I also take a moment to admire the orange and gold tapestries that adorn the walls, the sigil of house Everdeen. Our sigil was a golden mockingjay with an arrow in its beak emblazoned on a field of orange. I push on the heavy spruce wood door, blowing out the melting beeswax candle beside the door before exiting.