Return Home

In a wax sealed envelope with the Silvertongue family seal stamped in the wax a letter resided inside. In a neat and elegant scrawl composed by a Lady her self.

My Son,

I am not sure if news of that happen in our home land has reached you yet, if it has not I deeply regret having to tell you something tragic has happened. Your father and Connor were called of to war by the Crowns command and they were killed in an ambush along with most of our army.

Your brother Elias has been named the new lord of Riverstone, he is of course still young and unsure of leader ship, I am sure he will learn with time but we are in a weak spot. Our rivals are sure to take notice of this so , I wish to ask a favour of you and return home? Help your brother he needs someone he can trust at his side. Or help in someway.

Please my Son, I hope this finds you well and I that I may see you soon.
Love
Your mother,

Lady Joanna Silvertongue.

Micah shivered and drew his cloak closer as he rode his horse onward to Riverstone. Six years on the continent of Zinat had thinned his blood, making him more aware of the chill in the air of his homeland. It was either that new-found awareness, or the grave news his most recent letter from home contained. His father and elder brother dead... Elias sitting on the silver throne amidst a potential throng of rivals... Micah wanted nothing to do with becoming Lord of Riverstone, but he needed to help his family.

Leaving Zinat hadn't been easy. It wasn't that Micah didn't want to leave, but rather rivals of his own and a few people he owed money to all tried to make sure he didn't get on the ship. When that failed, seafaring sellswords were hired to try and capture him. It amused Micah that of the three forces after him, it had been the pirates that were easiest to deal with. It vaguely crossed Micah's mind that assassins would be sent after him next, but he would deal with that when or if it happened. For the time being, the desperate tone of his mother's last letter was seared into his eyes, mind, ears, and heart. He had to get home...

A familiar stone wall came into view. Micah smirked. "Home looks like it's still standing, Mum. Ya worry too much," he murmured, just quiet enough for him to hear even though no one else appeared to be nearby. Micah patted the white-and-rust horse's neck affectionately. "Come on, let's let 'em know we're here."

Micah had anticipated the portcullis to be open as he guided his horse to the main gates. To the contrary, they were closed and several guards stood at their posts along the wall. "Halt. Who goes there?" asked the guard with the heaviest-looking armor.

Micah rolled his eyes. "I am Micah Silvertongue, Son of Lady Joanna Silvertongue. I return home at my mother's request." He reached into his pocket, withdrew a coin, and tossed it to the highest-ranking guard. "Go to her and show her that, if you question my identity."

The guard looked Micah over with one of those piercing gazes Sir Therin would toss his way, then gave the coin to one of the lower ranking guards. "Take this to Lady Silvertongue, and return with her verdict."

Micah sighed as the peon of a guard took the coin and ran towards the mansion.

* * *

The guard-recruit nudged and pushed his way through a plethora of people to the Maester. "I have a message for Lady Silvertongue." The guard showed Iestyn the strange coin of Zinat.

Maester Iestyn gazed long and hard at the coin, and raised an eyebrow. "This way," he said, stood up, and escorted the guard to Joanna's whereabouts. Iestyn held up a hand for the guard to wait, and knocked on the archway to announce their presence.

Joanna was writing letters to others in her circle of alliances in her personal study, she had promised Elias to get him into contact with people who could help them rebuild their army and secure their land from those who would be tempted to snatch it from them in there current state. It was only a matter time she was sure.

She brought out of her thoughts by a knock and looked to see Maester Iestyn. She put her quill down and gracefully stood up. "Maester? How can I help you?" she asked.

She was grateful to the Maester for all his help since Elias took the silver throne, granted it was his job. But still it was a dark time for them all.

Iestyn bowed, as per the custom of greeting a lord or lady. It was clear that he had interrupted her from some business or another. "Forgive the intrusion, my lady... I have a gate guard who has come with a message." The Maester held out his hand to take the coin from the soldier and approached Joanna.

He held out the coin for her to take. It was gold, emblazoned with a three-headed dragon, and contained markings native of Zinat. "He's at the gates waiting to be allowed entry."

Joanna immediately knew who he was talking about as she looked at the coin and looked at the guard. "Let him in" she said in a quiet but commanding voice. She also intended to go with the guard and meet her son when he entered. "I will be there shortly"

She moved to follow the guard but looked to the Maester for a moment, "If you have a moment Maester? Could you tell Elias of Micah's arrival? I told him I contacted him.. he wasn't sure his brother would come. He might wish to know he is here" she informed. She knew Elias was still sore over his brother when he left.. though she believed Elias could forgive his brother after talking to him.. it was not like him to hold a grudge against his family.

"Yes, my Lady," The guard nodded, and made his way back to the front gates.

Ebony eyebrows twitched into attention when Joanna called upon Iestyn. He wasn't fully aware of Elias's feelings towards the exile of his elder brother, but bowed his head in response to her request. "Of course, my Lady," he said, turned, and made his way to Elias's last known whereabouts.

* * *

The guard was almost out of breath by the time he reached the main gates. "Let him in," he said to his fellow guards, who immediately began winding the pulley that would raise the portcullis.

"About time," chortled Micah, watching the old gate rise. A variety of scenarios ran through his mind about how the conversation between his mother and the guard had transpired. He particularly favored the mental scene of Joanna hitting the guard over the head with a book. Micah climbed down from his horse with the clunking noises of armor and weapons exchanging blows, and led the stallion through the gates into Riverstone.

* * *

It took Maester Iestyn little time at all to find his young lord. Much like he had done to gain Joanna's attention, the older man rapped his knuckles upon the nearest stretch of archway. "Lord Elias?"

Joanna followed the guard at a more slower pace, it wouldn't be becoming of her to be running to the gate.. Unless it was a matter of life or death of course. She slowed for a moment as she saw a familiar young man with a stallion walking through the commons of Riverstone. It had been a while since she saw him, he had changed a bit. He had grown a little more, she could tell he had seen fighting, knowing him likely more then his fair share of it to. She took a breath, since the death of Orin and Connor her emotions were closer to the surface then ever. Seeing Micah again brought them out, but only for a moment before she pulled them back again.

She went on towards him again just a little faster.

"Micah.. Welcome home, I am sorry it was not under better circumstances" she said quietly, her head still lead high, her face led a new sadness and fatigue that had not been there before.

---

Elias was playing a bit of music lute in his room and almost didn't hear the knock at his door, but he turned his head just enough to see Maester Iestyn at the door and he quickly stopped and wondered if he was late for something.

"Sorry Maester, Can I help you with something" he asked quickly putting his instrument to the side and standing up.

Micah watched as his mother approached the gates. She looked tired, perhaps a bit frazzled... he caught the brief moment of emotion before she got the chance to tuck it away again. It was something one saw only if they knew Joanna well; if you didn't know her, then you'd be none the wiser as to what was going on in the woman's mind.

Micah slowed the horse, and nodded at the quiet words from his mother. "So do I..." He looked around a moment, not entirely sure what else to say. "How's everyone holding up? Did I miss the wake?"

* * *

"It's quite alright..." the Maester said, watching Elias scramble to put his instrument aside. He wasn't certain how this news would be received, which made Iestyn hesitate slightly. "Your mother sent me to inform you that Micah has returned home."

Joanna sighed "Most are holding up as you would expect we are a stubborn bunch as always, and I have held off on a wake for your father and brother until Anna can arrange to come down as well. There was a memorial for everyone sometime ago, not long after Elias was named Lord.. it was his first act... " she trailed for a moment. It had been a cold day on the memorial.. it even started to snow out.

"Come, we will have someone take care of your horse, lets get you warmed up inside... Elias is being informed of your arrival he will need to meet with you" she said motioning for Micah to follow her.

___

Elias blinked at the news that his brother had returned, when his mother had said she invited him back he had been a little irritated that she went behind his back.. Though he understood why she did.. With the murder and reports of there rivals sending Grisons to there door step.. he needed all the allies he could get.. Even if he wasn't sure Micah would be any help to him or just make things worse.

He wasn't sure that to say for a moment, he didn't want to see him, it would be awkward.. he was only here cause their mother manipulated him to come back. But yet deep down he was happy that Micah decided to come back at this moment.. relieved even.. but only deep down. Wasn't about to admit it yet.

"Thank you Maester, I will meet with him.." he said quietly, though his hand fiddled with his tunic as he nervously imagined how the reunion would go..

If there was any good news though he was sure his sister Elizabeth would be happy with the news of Micahs return.

Micah nodded; if it was one thing he knew and knew well, it was that the Silvertongues were a stubborn and determined family. Didn't the Maester even say that Micah had the stubbornness of three Silvertongues? He couldn't remember. Micah attempted to think of a way to express his thoughts about Elias's first act as lord, but could think of nothing that might not accidentally push his mother over the emotional edge.

He grinned at the thought of getting warmed up. "Am I that obvious?" Micah looked down to glance at his attire: leather boots and armor, and covered in a heavy fur cloak... and even then he still shivered lightly under the layers. The man chortled quietly. "Guess it is a bit obvious... but I'll get used to it again." Micah took his pack off the horse and handed the reigns to the House's horseman, then followed his mother inside.

* * *

Iestyn patiently waited for Elias's response. It was clear that the younger man was in thought about this. At the quiet response, the Maester nodded. "We'll be waiting for you in the main hall." Iestyn hesitated momentarily, then took his leave. He decided it would be best to notify the remainder of the family after the meeting, unless circumstances unfolded otherwise.

Joanna turned her glance back at her son as they walked to the family Manor "You are not too obvious, I am your mother, I can tell" she said a softly.

Upon entering the manor, she lead Micah to the main hall and had the torches lit to warm the Hall.

"Elias should be down soon" she said as the last of the torches was lit.

"How was your trip here?" she asked curiously as she didn't know to much of her Sons life Zinat nor of the dangers it took for him to come back home.

One of the stewards aids quietly stepped into the Hall with a jug of wine and loaf of bread, she left it at a table near Micah, she bowed her head to each of them before quickly exiting the Hall.
___

Elias walked down to the Main Hall where he assumed His mother and Brother were waiting for him. He still wasn't sure how he felt about his brother returning after all these years.. and to return now after all this.

He sighed as he paused at the main door, taking a deep breath and finally pushing the door opened trying to show confidence.

He saw Micah first, to him he had barely changed, "Welcome home... Brother" he said though there was a cold tinge in his voice though he tried to eliminate it.

Micah glanced around the hall as they walked inside. It was an odd feeling: some of it felt old and familiar... but something he couldn't quite put his finger on felt like this wasn't where he had spent his childhood. Perhaps it was the dark time in which he was asked to return. Micah decided to ignore the slightly foreign feeling - just the result of having been gone for six years, he told himself.

He nodded to his mother's comment about Elias, set his pack in a chair and sat on a corner of a nearby table. It didn't occur to him to do otherwise, that his father would have scolded him for such uncivilized behavior if the man was alive, that it might have irritated Joanna, or anything else of the sort. Micah smiled a little at the question about his journey home. "It was interesting. Assassins, old 'friends' with bad tempers, pirates..." Micah paused in his jovial recollections when he caught a glimpse of the steward's aide and a jug of wine. After a few moments he found himself staring at the former and turned his attention back to his mother, "... Good times. All we needed was a dragon or sea serpent to break up the monotony of trying to teach the cabin boy how to properly play Jengo without going broke." Micah snickered at the memory.

Micah turned his head again at the sound of the doors to the main hall opening. The Maester was near his father's old chair - how the old man managed to just appear without Micah noticing was a mystery he had yet to solve. That meant the person entering the hall had to be his brother; the new, young Lord of the House. Micah stood as Elias entered the hall.

Azure eyes surveyed their younger brother. He was much taller than Micah last remembered... and perhaps even a bit tired. "It's good to see you, Elias. You've grown..." he began, trying not to wince at the chill in his brother's voice. Elizabeth had mentioned Elias was angry with him for some unknowable reason, but Micah hadn't anticipated it would last the course of six years. "Wish my return was under better circumstances..."

Joanna blinked at her son as he recounted bit of his journey, she supposed she shouldn't be surprised, Zinat was a harsh place and he was sent there having to make his own way in life.. nothing even close to what he had been raised in, but still to hear him mention it so.. casually was odd to her. "I see, it seems you have many stories of you life in Zinat" she commented as Elias entered they Hall. She knew Elias was trouble when her brother left, though he refused to fully explain why to anyone.

Elias nodded to the Maester and his mother as he entered the Hall and took a seat with his Mother and Brother. He sighed at his brothers words on the circumstances... "Yes I am sure you do, Though I am not sure you would have come back if it weren't for the current circumstances" he said with a sigh as he returned the comment, though he kinda regretted it after. He supposed his brother didn't really deserve it.. "I apologize, that was uncalled for..."

Once again feeling small in chair he sat in. One bitter part of him thought this should be Micah, he was the 2nd born son.. but it wasn't possible anymore he knew that.

Joanna sighed and looked between her sons, "Perhaps it would be a good idea for to two of you to talk in privet before we continue this meeting?" she asked. She knew Elias was having difficulty, things needed to be cleared up if they could be.

Micah grinned and nodded to his mother's comment. He did have a lot of stories to tell... stories he planned to share with anyone that wanted to listen.

When Elias sat down again, Micah once again perched himself on the corner of the nearest table. He blinked at the comment from his brother, and slowly crossed his arms. This wasn't the Elias he knew... his younger brother rarely acted like this. Micah cleared his throat, not entirely certain how to react or respond. "Ya picked up a bit of dad, I see..." What went unsaid was that, unlike Oran, at least Elias apologized. Micah didn't want to speak ill of his late father with his mother present, so decided to keep that bit for a more personal moment between him and Elias... if it ever came up.

Any other time, Micah would have teased Elias about the difference in size between his younger brother and the chair he sat in. Said teasing would only have been in good fun, of course, but this was not the right occasion for it on any level. Micah had no interest in ruling the House, but at the same time knew it had to be difficult for his younger brother. Perhaps the Maester could commission chairs as needed so that Elias didn't look quite so uncomfortable in the big chair... Again: another thought for another time.

Micah looked to his mother, and poured himself a glass of wine. "Might be best, Mum... if whatever official end of things can wait a bit?"

Elias knew exactly what Micah felt of their father so his comment back to him he knew was not meant to be a compliment, and it stung with his father death still recent, he sent a glare back to him in return. The young Lord immediately grew very tense with the tension in the air, this was different, this was his brother he was talking to and it was opening a very old hurt. Along with all the stress that was on his shoulders as of late it was becoming very hard to keep his emotions hidden.

He looked at his mother and nodded he didn't want to yell at his brother in front of the maester and her anyway. "Very well" he answered and stood up going to a side door to the hall that was apparently his own privet meeting room for these kinda things. He push the door opened to the office and waited for his brother to join him

Joanna sighed again, apparently Elias's feelings on the matter were deeper then she suspected, but then things had been difficult for the boy as of late so she sighed and touched Micah's arm for a moment. "It would be very hard to continue if you two can't work together.. Don't be to hard on him please? He is not his father Micah.. and things have been difficult" she said in silent warning she wouldn't stand for him talking to Elias as he had with his father, especially now.

Micah didn't like Elias's glare, but he supposed he deserved it and didn't glare back... which he would have done if that expression had indeed come from their father. Thinking about it after the fact, Micah realized his words may have not been the best ones for the occasion... but that was his tendencies: speak first, think later. Micah vaguely wondered if this trait was more of the Foster bloodline; his ancestral Silvertongues all seemed to pride themselves on carefully weighed words. He, on the other hand... he was different.

When Elias stood, Micah began to follow suit until their mother touched his harm. He sighed. Despite a few key differences the scenario was feeling all too familiar, but he wasn't about to say that to his brother or his mother right now. "I'll try," he said, refilled his glass of wine, and followed Elias into the side office. Once again, Micah took to sitting on the table instead of the chair and waited for Elias to speak first.

Elias watched his brother for a moment, they had never fought like this before he knew, it was just so strange. He didn't care if his brother sat on the table or on started dancing on his desk, he simply wanted Micah to explain to him what happened all those years ago.

He rubbed his face and eyes with his fingers for a moment trying to rub away the pain behind them, the pain that seemed to constantly be there lately.

"The night you left, you told father you were never coming back" he suddenly admitted. "I heard you, I was there, you choose to leave all of us, with no promise of ever coming back" he said the emotions in his voice making it clear this was what hurt him. "You abandoned us.. I half expected father to kick you out but... I thought you wouldn't listen to him.. that you would sneak back inside.. But no, it was you who chose to leave forever" he paused to catch his breath and try to stop his emotion from getting out of control.

"I was angry with you for just that night at first, then I thought maybe you didn't mean it that you would still come back when everyone cooled down. But no it took you 6 years, father and Connor to die and a letter from mother all but begging you to return for you to finally come back. Just why? Was it so terrible to you here brother? I don't understand any of it.. why did you pick exile? and why did you come back when everything is falling apart? not like things are any better then when you left. They are worse..."he looked at his brother defeated after his rant.

"Just.. just tell me what I am missing brother? Please.." he asked now that he had ranted and left his point of views on things his temper he had pent up of 6 years was rather short lived.

Micah vaguely wondered if it was pain or fatigue that his brother was trying to dispel from his eyes, or if the Maester had tried giving Elias anything for such discomforts. And then it started. That ice that had been in Elias's voice the moment he walked into the room turned into molten metal... and Micah finally learned a truth that for six years had been unknowable to their siblings, father, and even their own mother. Blue eyes blinked and his jaw dropped slightly.

"You..." Micah tried to say so much within the space of an eye's blink, but found that even a handful of words were suddenly difficult to come by. "Elias... Loads of what I said to our father was out of anger. You know that... And Oran might as well have kicked me out - he certainly didn't stop the craven emissary's men from escorting me to the shore. They made sure I spent every last coin to take the trip overseas, and took the rest to secure a place of residence for me in Zinat. I didn't have the coin to come back, and nowhere near the amount of allies to take a ship by force. If I had... I swear I would have done things differently, brother..."

Micah stood up, and set his glass of wine down. He sighed; this wasn't the reunion he had planned in his head during the trip home. "I'm sorry I hurt ya. I didn't intend for it... even less for ya to endure it for six years. Had a feeling even if I did have the coin to come back again, Oran woulda thrown me back out anyway. Suppose only the Gods know that for sure, now...

"When I heard from mum how... how bad things were... I regretted not coming back sooner. Though it coulda been that I might've died right along with 'em... and then there'd've been no one for mum to call home. Can you picture Anna flingin' a sword around?" Micah couldn't help but chortle at the mental image, though Anna was a decent shot with a crossbow. At least she was the last time Micah saw her...

The older man didn't need to bend much to get to his younger brother's height, and looked Elias in the eye. Micah knew that he was close enough and within range enough that if Elias wanted to strike him, it would have been all too easy. "I came back home, pulling in every last favor I could scrape together, to protect you and our family... just as I did before I was sent away. I know it's a dark time right now... and my showin' up doesn't make it any better... but I'm here now, and will do whatever I can to help." Micah wanted to add 'or die trying'... but with Elias's emotions as they were, it seemed doubtful that such a sincere vow would be accepted as Micah would have intended it.

Elias listened to his brothers explanation and he felt worse and worse about the feelings he had about him all these years. Here he thought his brother could have returned at anytime and simply didn't want to, When the truth was the exact opposite..

The young lord lean back on his desk and rubbed his forehead again as he absorbed all that his brother had said. He sighed looking at the floor ashamed with himself for having gotten it so wrong.. yet a small part of him was glad that he was wrong.. He didn't enjoy being angry with his brother and now that everything was off his chest is was now all gone.. Towards his brother anyway.

"I was a Fool Micah.. I saw everything a certain way.. didn't even think there might be another view... I am sorry for.. well for everything.. I should have known.." he responded quietly looking down from his older brothers gaze. They were alone, Elias didn't see the point in playing the Lord infront of Micah at that moment.

"I need whatever help you can give" he admitted in a whisper as if nervous if anyone else heard him accepting help they would judge him to be weak..

"You sure you don't want to be lord?" he asked trying to recover from all the heaviness, with a light joke. "You would fit in the chair at least" he added with a mutter.

When Elias turned his gaze to the floor, Micah followed it. Perhaps there had been something there. But no... this was the apologetic body language Micah had used towards his mother as a boy - maybe toward his sisters on occasion - but rarely to anyone else. He wasn't quite sure what Elias's use of the movement meant, and waited. Micah hated waiting...

He listened, waiting for his brother to finish - a sign of respect that Micah also gave to very few when he had something on his mind to share... especially instances in the past when he was being accused of something. At the question of him wanting to be lord, Micah grinned and clapped his younger brother on the shoulder. "Nah... Power's yours, brother," he laughed. "Doubt I'd be very good at it."

To the comment about the chair, Micah nearly roared with laughter. "You'll grow into it! You're what... fifteen? Give it a couple of years. Though, I suppose if it really bothers you, the Maester might be able to find someone to make a smaller copy for ya..." Micah grinned cheekily, both kidding and not about the suggestion. If Elias didn't ask, Micah had plans to ask for him... maybe even have the chair switched out some night once it was done.

"Shall we go do the boring, official stuff now and get it out of the way?"

Elias was glad Micah was willing to hear him out and forgive him it seemed.. it was hard for all of them..

He laughed at Micah suggestion of a smaller chair, he wasn't sure actually getting a smaller chair would help.. It wasn't just the fact he hadn't gown into the the chair of the house's Lord yet it was that inside he didn't feel like Lord yet either.. he still felt like a kid in a place he didn't belong. It was in his mind mostly.. he felt like he didn't belong in the seat of the lord.

He sighed at the suggestion to get on with the official meeting and nodded reluctantly.. "Yes.. sooner the better.. After that I think Elizabeth will really like to see you..." he said as he opened the door back to the Hall..

A small smile lined Micah's face upon hearing Elias laugh. It was clear the young man hadn't had a good laugh in a while. It somewhat surprised Micah that the Maester hadn't concocted some tonic or potion to give Elias that would bestow the confidence so sorely needed during a time like this. That had always seemed to be the case when anyone in the family came down with an illness or some other discomfort.

Micah grinned at hearing his younger sister's name, "And I'd very much like to see her, and the rest of our siblings." He grabbed his glass of wine, clapped Elias on the shoulder, and walked out of the room. He was half-tempted to ruffle Elias's hair, but in the presence of those assembled Micah decided better of it. The formalities of his little brother being a Lord... Micah hoped the meeting would end as swiftly as it had begun before their intermission, so they could once again behave as brothers.

Once more, Micah resumed his seat beside his mother. "Let's see... where were we?" he asked, wine glass pressed lightly into his bottom lip. His trademark cheeky, playful smirk was stretched across his lips and splashed into his voice.

Elias smirked at the thought of Elizabeth and Micah meeting again, his sister had matured much in the years since he left it is hard to say if he would even recognise her.

He took his seat once again, looking more comfortable then he had since his brother had arrived yet he looked to his mother if she wished to start the meeting since it was she that invited Micah home. "I believe you had a suggestion on this matter mother?" he asked.

_

Joanna was glad her sons seemed to be getting along better now and nodded to Elias, " Of course, given the situation.. Micah I was thinking you could be a candidate to be Elias's sentinel.. The Frosts the house that betrayed Orin and Connor on the battlefield... are sending an envoy here as we speak.. Elias you need someone you can trust at your side when they get here" she said with a firm but calm voice.

With the doubt the other military captains had in her son she didn't want them being her sons sentinel, of course it wasn't her choice.. but at least Micah could be trusted to have his brothers interests at heart.

Micah watched Elias settle back into the Lord's seat. He seemed a bit more at ease this time... perhaps not comfortable, exactly, but better than before. When his brother deferred the lead to their mother, Micah followed his brother's gaze.

He listened as Joanna explained the situation. Micah's eyes narrowed at mention of the Frosts... His family had been rivals of theirs for ages, but knowing it was them who had caused this mess only made things worse. Not only that, but Micah had his own personal issues with the heir of House Frost. "If that's what my brother needs and wants of me, I'll accept," he said, glancing back to Elias so his brother knew he was being talked to, instead of being talked about.

A thought forced a smirk to split Micah's face. "Don't suppose they'd send their daughters in the envoy instead of Richard, by any chance? At least a few of his sisters are mildly attractive..." he snickered.

Elias listened to his mothers plan, it made sense really with a murderer out there and then not yet knowing who did it. His mother was smart to even if he and Micah hadn't managed to work things out between them he had feeling she would have convinced Micah to stay anyway.

So he nodded to his brother, " Yes, I would be honoured to have you at my side" he responded, remembering to do so as the lord should. He did however roll his eyes in amusement at Micah's comment about the Frost sisters coming instead of Richard knowing the reaction it would get from their mother.

"Micah" she said exasperatedly and lightly swatted his arm. Joanna for some reason or other always became comically uncomfortable with she heard her sons talk about the attractiveness of women. Connor loved to do this alot when he was home, just to have a little fun.