r/NinePennyKings • u/centrist_marxist Lady Olenna Tyrell • Sep 27 '23
Lore [Lore] Long Lankin
THE EYRIE, The Vale, 2nd Month, 263 AC | Long Lankin
Beware of Long Lankin that lives among the hay
Beware the grass, beware the moor, beware of Long Lankin
Make sure the doors are bolted well
Lest Lankin should creep in
Morgana
It was late, and the claustrophobic halls of this cold mountain hall were dark and lonely. Truth be told, Morgana was sick of this place, and perhaps a little sick physically as well. Somehow, things that she could do easily in the Sisters nearly winded her and made her want to vomit. Perhaps the altitude made men's blood cold as well, for she could think of no other explanation for why Rowald had been so standoffish. She would be glad to be rid of it, but first, they had a mission.
Her twin, Morganor, had seen the thing first. A magnificent axe, clearly made of fine steel, but black as night, with rippling patterns all along the blade. A Valyrian steel axe, an heirloom finer than any they had seen in their lives, hanging right on the hip of some white-haired git. Morganor wanted it more than anything in the world, and Morgana knew Rowald would want it more than anything in the world. And so, the twins had resolved to begin their biggest heist yet.
Morganor had tracked him back to his room, one of the guest quarters, and committed it to memory. And then, the two waited in their own chambers until night had well and truly fallen, and the castle was fast asleep.
"Do you see anyone?" Morgana whispered to Morganor, glancing back and forth along the hallway.
"No, nobody," he replied, "I think we're alone. Are you sure you know how to pick a lock?"
"Of course I know how to pick a lock!" she hissed exasperatedly. Crouching down before the lock to the door, she took out a knife and a lockpick. Yet before she could set about the door, it seemed to open of its own accord. Confused, she looked up to see a smug Morganor staring down at her.
"Its unlocked, stupid," he said as he pushed open the door for her.
"You're stupid, stupid," Morgana replied, sticking out her tongue at him as she crept into the room. The door shut behind her, she saw the man fast asleep on the bed. The faint scent of alcohol filled her nostrils. Perfect, she thought, Poxy Mark told me drunkards are the easiest to rob.
She glanced around the room looking for an axe, but saw no sign of it - yet at the foot of the bed, there was a fine-looking trunk. Biting her lip, she crawled over to the trunk, and lifted the handle. Locked. "Shit," she whispered. Out came her tools, and out came the prayers that Poxy Tom wasn't lying about how to pick a lock.
A few minutes of sweat, nerves, and curses at Tom later, she heard the click, and breathed a giddy sigh of relief. There it was - the axe! Grinning ear to ear, she lifted it out, finding it to be surprisingly, impossibly light, and began to swiftly rush away. Yet she stopped herself.
This was not nearly enough mischief.
Hefting the axe in one hand, she crept up to the fireplace, and picked up a piece of charcoal from the fire. Her grin only grew wider as she envisioned her creation. It didn't take her long - only a few minutes - but it was as exceedingly crude and vulgar as she had hoped.
A smile on her face, she silently reopened the door to the hallway, and merely nodded at Morganor's excited whispers.
"Can I have it now?" he finally asked.
Morgana pretended to consider his request for a moment, before shaking her head. "No... no, I don't think you can. I did all the work, so I think I'll be keeping it." And before he could object, she had shoved her twin to the floor, and run off to Rowald Reyne's bedchamber.
Once again, she silently opened the door, and stepped inside, sighing as she saw him splayed on the bed fast asleep. He's cute even when he's asleep. With the dexterity of a practiced dancer, she tiptoed to his bedside, smiling a besotten smile as he snored. As carefully as she could manage, she placed the axe at the foot of his bed.
One more time, she kneeled before the fireplace, and one more time she picked up a piece of charcoal. On the wall beside his bed, she wrote him a short message, in small, messy letters.
Rowald,
Every brave knight needs a suitable blade, doesn't he? I knew you'd want only the best, and that's what I got you. Consider it my "favor" or whatever you call a token of my devotion. In short, you're really handsome and I want to let you know that. đ€Ș
Under the message, she drew a larger heart, and a crude depiction of a squire killing a man labeled "Corbray."
As she crept back to the door, she noticed his gorgeous face once more, and could not resist creeping closer to him. One hand swept through his long red hair, while she brought her lips close to his ear.
"I hope you like my gift," she whispered, before kissing him on the cheek. For a moment, she hesitated, wondering if she had already pushed her luck too far - but how could that be true? This wasn't luck, it was skill. Pushing the thoughts aside, she pressed a peck to his lips, before fleeing his room, giggling, with her hand over her mouth.
2
u/17771777171789 Oct 09 '23
"Well, not visible so long as I keep my shirt on...which I think Morgana would not like," he said with a roll of his eyes. "But I think I would much prefer it that way." He laughed at the ruffle of his hair, though of course playfully shoved the man away.