Journey's End [TAG: Every Lannister at Casterly Rock xD]

[OOC: Sorry, I don't have time to PM everyone, because I have to leave in 20 minutes and I'm still in my shower robe >.>'' I hope everyone's been notified and that everything is fine ^^'']

The Lannisters had been quite generous in the company they had sent him. The carriage was big enough to hold four people at the least, and his books and belongings were given a carriage of their own. The amount of men surrounding him was enough to protect a king, he was sure. Even Dallben had nothing to complain about. In fact, this whole ordeal made him wish he had been fired quite a lot sooner. To think to serve for the great House of Lannister! The family, not just any bunch of Lannisters.
As the carriage approached Dallben sighed relieved. Though the journey had not been long, his bones ached as those of an old man, and he would be quite grateful when it was past. By the looks of it, that wouldn't be long now.
Slowly his tired eyes began seeing blond figures in the distance. Had he seen them closer he would have known them all by name and role, he was sure. The knowledge of the present Houses and deeds were quite interesting to Dallben. It felt like watching history write itself.
When they finally pulled up to the courtyard, Dallben gave one final thought as to how long he'd been able to live at the Crossroads Inn if the Lannisters had not given him work. His silver had been running quite short these past few fortnights. He shook the thought and opened the carriage door as soon as they came to a stop, not waiting for some servant to dismount off his holy horse just to help him.
As he stood before them he greeted them all with a warm smile, but waited for them to speak first, as per protocol. While waiting he took in the sight of the family. They were even more beautiful than his books could portray. Think to have such a chiseled face and such flawless skin.

While listening at the cheerful conversation of his daughters, the Lord of the Lannister House  was watching the bumpy road, wondering how was the Maester that he had engaged. Being the son of two warriors, he never had the occasion to benefit of the amazing knowledge of one of those men.

Unknown to most of people, his education had been under the good care of his uncle : Tyrion Lannister. Clever and inflexible, he showed to Phoebus how to be more smart and resourceful than anyone, how he could learn from the faults of others and surpass them. His daughters however, especially Olena, needed to learn from an another than him. That's why he had sent a proposition to the Maester who lived at the Crossroads Inn, hoping that he will accept his offer.

Once the carriage appeared in the horizon, he felt a little hand take his own and squeeze it gently. With his thumb, he caressed softly his little daughter's hand, trying to ease her anguish. Deep inside, he sincerely hoped that the man will be kind with his little one. His doubts went to an end when he saw the said man. He seemed to be like on those old wise man in tales, full of kindness and trustable.

"Welcome to Casterly Rock Maester." A warm and welcoming smile appeared on Phoebus lips as he bowed sighlty his head to his guest. "It's a pleasure for my family and I to welcome you in the Lannister House."

Olena didn't really understand what all that fuss was about: she had just gathered that they were waiting a guest, and apparently and important one, if the whole family had been asked to attend. But she was growing bored of the waiting, especially since she wasn't allowed in that moment to play around, she couldn't ruin her dress right before the guest arrived.
She sighed, staying in her place, for once acting as a good girl. As she noticed a carriage appearing she came closer to her dad and took his hand, looking at him with a curious expression: her dad caressed her hadn but didn't answer to her silent question and Olena resigned herself to wait a bit more.
She recognized two of their own carriages arriving with the unknown guest, but they were so beautiful and there were so many men escorting them that she started to think that they were going to host some beautiful princess.
But as the carriage opened and its guest left it, Olena's disappointment was big noticing that there was no beautiful princess: it was only an old ugly man. Why was he there? What did he want?
She made a few steps backward and hid behind her dad, grabbing one of his legs, she didn't care at all if that was rude, she didn't like strangers. She would have made an exception for a beautiful princess, and maybe but only maybe even for a charming prince, but he was no prince nor princess and he surely wasn't beautiful. "Who is this man, daddy?" she asked peeping at the stranger from behind her dad

Dallben quickly curtsied back, not to be rude, and greeted the lord with polite praise.
"Lord Phoebus, the honor and pleasure is all mine. I have heard many great tales of your House."
Dallben couldn't help but chuckle once he heard the little girl's question. He would have crouched down low to meet her level, but his old back would not allow it. He looked first from Olena to her father and then back. "I suppose this must be little Olena," he said, taking a mental note of her apparent lack of dicipline.
He then divided his attention amongst Phoebus' apparently more diciplined daughters. "Lady Rose, Lady Madeline," he greeted them with the bow of his head. "It's a true privilege to meet you both."

Madeline was waiting exited the arrival of Maester Dallben, their father often talked about the importance of knowing and learning new and old things from the wisest men around the Known World. She had never met him, but it seemed that Dallben was one of them; ready to share his knowledge with her noble family.
She couldn't help but she kept talking about how much she was anxious to finally meet him and what if he could teach her more and more things to help her with flowers and plants.
When the carriages finally arrived, Madeline's smile widened wondering how that man could be.
Her expectations weren't disappointed: Maester Dallben was exactly as she imagined. An old man that looked kind and wise.

She bowed as he spoke to her and Rose "Welcome to Casterly Rock Maester." Madeline smiled.

Rose didn't particularly care for new people. Especially ones that would be in her land. Rose kept telling Madeline that it would be fine, and that she was sure he knew a thing or two about flowers. When he finally arrived, descending out of his carriage, Rise frowned. There really would be a stranger lurking around. Well, he would definitely be under her watch. She replaces her expression with a bright smile.

Her eyes fall to Olena who had decided to cling to their father. She did do that very often. Rose leans down to speak to her youngest sister, "Sometimes I believe that you hide from others and remain silent because you don't wan them to know how smart you are. But if you do that, how will you grow up to be cooler than me? Because I know you will." Rose encourages to Olena before standing straight again and curtseying, "Welcome."

Soon the sound of hooves heading towards the group, a young blonde hair male appeared to be rider of the speeding horse. As the two got closer, the male pulled the reigns and got the horse to come to a stop which was only a few paces away from the old man near the carriage. The young male's blonde hair seemed to be ruffled and a bit messy from the wind, his cheeks were flushed as well from the ride. "Am I late?" he asked out in a breathless tone, feeling still a bit lightheaded from his ride all the way from the brothel. Cale had almost forgotten that the Lannister family were meeting the new Maester, being grateful to one of the whores for reminding him. She had gotten alot more payment than the other girls for that deed of course.

His thoughts were quickly interrupted by the movement of his horse who was stamping one hoof into the ground impatiently. Cale glanced down over his Horse's head to spot the old man, flashing him a simple, amused smile. "Oh, so it seems I was right on time then." he chuckled, tilting his head at the old man. Hopefully the maester wouldn't try to lecture him or anything, it wouldn't look well if the maester disappeared so quickly. Cale didn't take kindly to those who were not lannister and still tried to tell him what to do or lecture him for his actions. "I apologize, sir. My horse nor I really take notice of strangers." Unless they looked that interesting to him, that is.

At Maester Dalben's words, Phoebus looked fondly at his youngest daughter, caressing gently her soft blond hair. "Maester, you supposed right. This is my youngest daughter, Olena." He looked at Dalben, smiling kindly : the old man will certainly be more helpful in Olena's education than him. She might be a little spoiled by his fault, but he wouldn't be able to say that he didn't liked this part of her.

As he listened to his eldest daughter's words, he suddenly caught sight of a horse heading toward them, with a blond rider on his back. As the young man and his horse stopped a few paces away from Maester Dalben, Phoebus repressed the desire to roll his eyes. Cale certainly enjoyed making an entrance from time to time... He didn't even have to look at his nephew to know that he was coming back from a brothel. Only a fool could ignore it.

A disabused smile appeared on his lips, as he walked toward his nephew who was watching him, his usual cocky smile on his lips. "I'm afraid that you always lost sight of time when you're riding, dear nephew..." Cale knew certainly what Phoebus was mentioning, after all, that was exactly what Phoebus was telling them each time that Daemon and him were back at Casterly Rock, after a night in their favourite brothel.

"May I present you Maester Dalben who's going to live here with us, in Casterly Rock." He eyed Cale with a serious look, knowing exactly how was his nephew with non-Lannister before turning to Maester Dalben, a smile of excuse on his lips. "May I introduce you my nephew, Lord Cale." Oh, how he wished that all will be well in Casterly Rock now.



(OOC : Sorry for being so late T.T Just get a new job as nanny in a hotel. I hope that you don't mind and that everything is okay with this post)

Olena listened to her sister's words but still she didn't move and instead muttered something barely understandable that soudned a lot like an "I don't care". She usually wasn't so disrespectful toward Rose, but her father's presence always made her forget the few good manners she had learnt, making her feel stronger.
She kept eyeing with suspicious at master Dalben, still hiding behind her father's leg, looking more like a wilde animal ready to run away than like a noble child. She only smiled to her father when he caressed her head, but as soon as her father looked elsewhere she stared again at the master, frowning.
She was distracted again when a horse approached but as soon as she recognized Cale her attention was once again captured by Master Dalben: she was usually happy to see Cale, but weird strangers had the priority.
As her father moved toward Cale she followd him, totally unwilling to let him go, she didn't care at all if that made it harder for both her and her father to walk.
"Daddy, when does he leave?" she asked concerned, moving one hadn from his leg to pull the sleeve of his shirt to draw his attention.

[OOC: dw, new job comes first, and congratulations for that ]

(( It's fine! :3 Don't worry! ^^ ))

Madeline frowned when she heard hooves in the distance; wondering who was coming. Who else if not Cale? He was probably in some brothel and lost the track of time, probably too many distractions.
She moved her look from him and his father to not be seen rolling her eyes, how could Cale be so rude towards the new Maester and her father?! It seemed like he didn't care for nothing.

She sighed and observed Olena, who kept following their father clinging to his leg.
"Olena!" she whispered scolding her little sister "Don't be so rude. Why should he leave? He just arrived."

[OOC: I'm so sorry I'm so late! I'm here now! D: And you thought you were late, Phoebus xDD]

Dallben was quite frankly taken aback by the wreck of a family that stood before him. Common courtesy suggested they should be lined up, disciplined, quiet and respectful, and most important of all; on time. This family seemed to do anything but. He had quite truly expected more of such a highborn, famous family. He could only hope his disappointment in them didn't show on his face as he prepared for the greatest workload of his life.
"It has been quite he honor meeting you all," he said, whilst unintentionally sending a quick, disapproving glance towards the young Lord Cale. His distaste for his lack of selfrespect was clear, though it only lasted for a split second.
"I was hoping on a word with you, Lord Phoebus, regarding my tasks and duties." It was the most essential information he needed if he were to settle down at Casterly Rock, and truly he wished to get away from this mess. There was no way he could learn anything or get to know them while in a group, they had made that quite clear.

Cale grinned in delight to see disappointment flash upon the old man's expression. It was hilarious if this man thought more of the Lannister family due to being high born. Well that little vision of his seemed to be slice in half. Someone needed a splash of reality in the face right now. He couldn't help but snicker at Olena's question of the old man leaving, silently agreeing with her. What was the need of a Maester, Cale thought to himself in a bit of irritation. He gave the old man a quick amused glance before looking over at his uncle. "You know me so well, Uncle." he sarcastically remarked before getting off the horse, who was soon taken away by one of the students.

The young lannister headed over to his family, standing beside Phoebus lazily. He glanced down at Olena, sighing heavily as she clung to her father's leg. She was very spoiled, although Cale had no right to say anything about that. But at least, he had hugged the leg of his grandfather or father when young. He did admire her for speaking her mind though. Cale then cast his gaze over Madeline before rolling his eyes. "Leave her be, Madeline."

Madeline bit her lips, she could clearly see the disappointed look on Dallben's face. The only thing she could hope was that it was only addressed to Cale and not the other members of her family, especially Rose. They were Lannisters, not a simple peasant family! But at the moment it seemed like they were just abashing themselves.

She turned to Cale frowning "Leave her be?" she whispered back at him "You shouldn't encourage her behavior."

Phoebus repressed an almost desperate sigh. The look of disapprobation on Master Dalben's face was clear enough and Cale as Olena weren't doing anything to help... He stared at his nephew, secretly hoping that the young man wasn't thinking about a way to make the Maester leave Casterly Rock already.

Hopefully, Rose and Madeline were polite, acting like perfect ladies. Well, it could have been worse, thought Phoebus while staring at Olena. His face becoming as serious as he was during negociations, his authoritarian voice came out his throat, a voice that sadly, he didn't use often. "Olena, Maester Dalben will stay here as long as it necessary and I count on you to act as a proper lady with him."

Sensing more than seeing the smirk on Cale's lips, Phoebus ignored it and turned back to his visitor, a look of apologize on his face. He was almost seeing the look of disapproval of his uncle, Lord Tyrion Lannister, in the eyes of the old man in front of him. "Of course, Maester Dalben. If you will follow me, I'll conduct you to my office where we could talk about your different duties..."

Turning his face toward his oldest daughters, he let go of Olena's hand and pushed her softly toward her sisters. "Rose, Madeline, could you please watch your sister for me ? Oh and Cale..." When his nephew looked straight at him, Phoebus let a playful grin appear on his lips. "Don't cause too much troubles..." Once he finished, he started to walk toward the castle, the Maester by his side.



[OOC : I'm really really sorry for my lack of presence on the roleplay recently ! Life has been difficult for me, especially with my boyfriend who had been cheating on me with one of my best friends... I'm really sorry and I hope that you'll understand. But now, I'll be more present for all of you <3]

As Madeline scolded her for her rude words, Olena just turned toward her and sticked out her tongue: she was really a little savage but the uncomfortability that the presence of strangers gave her made her more rude. She wasn't a bad kid, after all, she was usually really nice, even being a little savage and a bit of a troublemaker.
But, if her rudeness was forgiven if not appreciated by Cale, her dad didn't share his cousin's feeling.
He didn't scold her often, actually, he almost never did, and when he did in that occasion she felt really hurt. He didn't even do anything to her, but his hard tone was enough to make her wide open her eyes in a frightened and hurt expression and as he pushed her toward her sisters she had to lower her glance to hide the tears in her eyes. She wasn't going to cry, she knew how to stop the tears as well as she knw how to cry on command, but she had to take a few minutes to calm herself and she didn't want to show herself weak.