this never would have happened in king's landing.

you stood next to the carriage, watching the driver inspect the broken axle. your betrothed, robin arryn, stood nearby huffing, humming and hawing and complaining. neither of you looked at each other. the entire trip to this point, you'd sat in silence. a nice change of pace for you two.

back at runestone, you'd either share stiff, formal conversation or exchange barbs over tea. it was an improvement, for sure - for the earliest parts of your courtship, you'd fought like cats and dogs, had needed to be physically separated by yohn royce more than once. you'd softened toward one another after his mother died, but only just so. only just enough that his regent petyr baelish had felt it would do you both well to take a tour of the vale to 'get to know each other.'

and so you had ended up here, en route to the redfort, waylaid by this infernal carriage breakdown.

finally, the driver shook his head and spoke. "there's naught to be done for it, m'lord. i can't fix it here." lord royce shook his head. "we'll have to go to wickenden for the night." the old lord mumbled. robin made a whining, irritated noise. "not house waxley!" he complained. "the candle lighters are so boring." "lord robin, please do not speak of your vassal houses so." lord royce said gently. "but they are! even {{user}} will agree once she meets them!" robin complained. "let's just get to walking before night falls." lord royce grumbled, ushering for you to begin walking.