u/captain_catdawg

200 AC, the shores of Estermont

"Patience Is Paramount"- the words or House Tudbury. These words echoed inside the head of one Alton Tudbury as the sails whipping in the wind began to drown them out, as his ship the Maid of Shells began to near the rocks of Estermont. As the shape of Greenstone appeared on the horizon, the sound of music began to creep across the waves, fiddles, horns, and the voices of men tried to replace the sounds of the sea. The lights of tourches on the faster ships started to illuminate the dark green eyes of young captain Alton, the Moonlight, ship of Lord Tarth, the victor, alone shined like a beacon against the dark as all 50 oars were raised, the crew basking in victory. The ships of Penrose and Lonmouth carried the spirit of a good race in celebration beside her.

Alton's Cog did not have even a candle lit as it sailed along the edge at the gravel bar of Greenstone, which became more fearsome the closer they approached.

Greenstone made Farshell keep seem tiny in comparison, the main keep rose sixty feet at the top of its square frame of mossy dark stone, while the Tower of the Green Throne was maybe seventy feet but seemed almost twice that on top of the great hill that dominated the nothern half of the islet. Greenstone could hold at least 200 men, at least five score more than all men the Isle of Tortoise could hope to even raise, not counting the keeps the line the courtyard inside of the thirty feet tall stone walls with taller moss peaked towers that make up every corner, at night when the connection to Estermont itself washes away, the only way to enter is by ferry to the main gate at the beach gate by the main keep at the bottom of the hill on the south of the islet.

When Alton was a child, his brothers and his cousins, the Estermont children, would collect seashells on the rocky connected until the tide rose and separated them again. He and his younger cousin, Rachelle Estermont, would gift each other necklaces they made until his Eldest Brother Eldon found out about the exchanges. Eldon ran straight to their late father and told him of the findings, rather than rise in anger their father sent a raven straight to Greenstone, asking if Alton could have her hand in marriage, it was rebuked the next eve. Not a surprise to most, Alton was after all the 4th son of the lesser Isle and lesser house, a man who was chosen lust over knighthood, as the whole cape found out after he was discovered in the bed of the daughter of Ser Jamie Wylde, whom he was a squire for, but not after.

Alton leaned on the railing of his meager inheritance, his tone sailors body hidden beneath his silk cloak of green with a hood of gold that covered his long brown hair. The vessel was the only thing his father had left him, Ser Tudbury gave Eldon Farshell Keep and the Title of Knight of Tortoise Isle, his second son Brendon was given a long hall and the income of the largest fishing hamlet on the western side of the island, while the third was married to the daughter of Lord Swann and established in Stonehelm. The sounds and lights of the other vessels began to fade as they drifted near the tall cliffs beneath their walls, the beacon at the top of their ancient tower glowed as bright as a star, causing the shadows of the rocks and walls to loom over the ship.

Even as he inched closer to his destination, the thought of his brother would not leave his mind. Their reunion the day prior at Farshell did not go nearly as well as he had hoped, not as bad as it could have been thought. He was never formally exiled from Farshell for what happenedat Rain House, but even as Alton stood on the beach beneath their families' walls with a hundred other sailors, Eldons gaze never left him as Eldon stood with his family and the Estermonts on the ramparts. The cold chill from his brother cut through Alton, but much of it was forgotten when his cousin Rachelle took her place at the front along with several other noble maidens from the Cape, offering themselves and the grand pearl necklaces they wore as prizes to the winners of the Great Maiden Day Race. The race was a tradition for those who live on the two islands. On the first Maidens Day, after winter returns beyond the wall, there is a great gathering of ships as each saliors, knights, and lords on them look for wives and riches. The isles gather all the women who are coming of age and of known purity, dressed in gowns of white, each with a necklace pearls, the size and quality depend on their fathers. The Estermonts counted themselves among the richest in the Stormlands so the shy Rachelle was given a grand set of pearls to make up for her lack of social grace, who, just like his brother Eldon, never looked away from him.

The race began the next morning at first light from the pebble beaches of Tortoise island, as each ship headed south to Greenstone in hopes of winning their prize along with great honor, Alton knew he stood no change against the grander ships of heirs and lords, he knew he was not as lucky as their houses founder. Millard the Quick was a simple fisherman when he joined the race after his first love died from fever that year, the gap between his ship the Tudbury grew further and further, this distance turned out to be a blessing in disguise, as storm rolled into the race, all those in front of Millard were either rolled by the waves or simple lost their way, it mattered not Millard arrived to Greenstone first. In order to save his daughter from the live of an impoverished fishermans wife, he knighted Millard on the spot and gave him and his descendents the entire Tortoise Island for all eternity. Even if the only things that prosper there are goats and turtles, it was still much more than Millard had, he spend the rest of his life rebuilding the old keep of Farshell, a truly honest man.

Alton received no divine storm. However, only securing twelfth place a meer two hours ago. But that wouldn't stop him from his goals, Alton's sea green eyes searched the shore as his ship continues to approach, a quick flash lit the deck, a signal. His tall frame twists around to head to the row boats and, in doing so, almost collides with his second in command, Blue Dave. "For courage Cap" as he hands Alton a full wine cask. A quick sip proves it's potency, "You gave her the message at Farshell?" Blue Dave simply nods as Alton and Blue Dave lower the row boat into the sea by the ladder of the boat. Alton quickly lowers himself into the boat and begins to depart for shore, each row causing the dagger on his belt to bump slightly into the bench.

Patience is Paramount. With each swing of the oars, the blood pumps through his muscles and his head, but the words still ring through his mind. Altons boat begins to shake on the rocks, he was so distracted he didn't notice how close to shore he his boat was, but no matter, he jump into the wake and leads the boat to the beach. His thigh-high boots made of fine leather kept his simple grey wool trousers dry, while his cloak did the same for his wook vest. The only light came from the beacon on top of the great tower, Alton's deeds belonged in the dark, he thought to himself he dragged the boat onto the beach. He had scare been on dry land a moment before a rustling in the bushes captured his attention.

As the shadows parted and the distant light shined brighter, her frame became undeniable. Altons cousin, The future lady Tarth, Rachelle Estermont, her skinny frame cover in a large cloak of black silk, she lowers her hood.

"My Alton? You came." The words almost quiver out of her mouth.

" Of course, my lady, I swore I would all those years ago, win or lose, I would have you," stated the rouge fourth son.

She ran across the sand, each bare foot causing the very ground to fold beneath her small power, straight into the arms of her savior, the great pearl necklaces she took jingle with each movement against her young bossom. Leaning in for a kiss, she is met with a cheek, as Alton turns away.

"My beloved?" She stammered out.

"Forgive me, my dear, I fear that great fire has shaken my nerves, share this with me." He hand her the wineskin and lifts it high as she drinks deeply.

The lost youth looks at her home for the last, marveling at it before she makes her escape from a life she does not want. As she takes another deep gulp of the wine skin, an inner fire is lit within her. As she turns around, a sudden movement to her left leaves the fire cold as the darkness consumes her senses.

Almost as soon as it went dark, the morning sun began to creep through her vision. The sound of the tide dominated her senses, and the sound of far-off dog barking began to grow in volume. Rachelle tries to stand, but her vision begins to twist as the world's moves around her, a sharp pain begins to form on the left side of her head, her slender fingers feel the bump, it's large and tender. She begins to look around. She's still on the beach from last night, but no Alton or boat to carry them away. Did he take what she was willing to give? She reached down between her legs, but her undergarments were still in place.

The dogs and the her lord fathers men were beginning to flood the beach, catching her attention, but an unusual clatter from her chest caught her off guard. Looking down, she no longer saw her giant necklaces of pearls. No, instead, what hung below her neck were old necklaces of seashells tied by an old familiar string, with "Patience" spelled out in carvings.

Thank you guys so much for reading my tale! I'm unsure if something this long would be allowed as a post, but I have yet to find a website that saves the work that's easy and free to use.

How do you think the house became separated, was one just a cadet branch that became strong? Or were the Vances that supported the Black's awarded with a Lordship? It just seems strange to have a cadet house have a Lordship when that first houses weren't the Lord Paramount or Kings.

Out of the options above, do you best believe accurately depicts the man power of House Selmy? This is it. The last one. (Also it's my 100th post!) I wanna say thank you guys so much for humoring me on this adventure, I've had a blast debate/talking with you guys and hope to this can be of assistance to you guys or new people in the future. I plan on using the total for each and then breaking it down with know ratios or my best to use real world numbers that make sense in Westeros to divide the group even more (how many knights, archers, heavy cavalry..) So again, thank you all!

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