Who: Oswald, ? When: Day 67 Where: Anywhere in the Red Keep Rating: PG Status: Open to anyone
The night was approaching but the candlelight in Oswald's study knew not when to cease its merry dance. Being a Master of Coin was a thankless job in comparison to the time it took up, yet it was a task which Oswald took up with honour, diligence and even a degree of enjoyment. It was certainly a far more productive spending of his time than being subject to the prattling of the latest court intrigue. In the still of dusk interrupted only by the soft muttering of numbers and figures, a shadow filled the crack of moonlight shining beneath the heavy wooden door, unnoticed by the sole occupant within. Three gentle taps. Another set of three, this time louder. Only with a timid but urgent call of "Master Tyrell?" was the maid able to solicit the attention of a man hard at work.
"What is it?" Lord Oswald answered, visibly irate. A rush of frigid midnight air filling the corridor replaced the warmth of the chamber as he invited the girl inside. She did, curtsying as a show of respect.
"Forgive my intrusion Your Grace," she spoke. "But Her Ladyship has yet return'd. She bade to be left alone in her chambers earlier this afternoon, an ache of the head m'lord. The Maester offered his examination but she insisted on rest and solitude.
"She seemed most distressed," the girl added after a hesitant pause, her tone suggesting that Celia's excuse had not been convincing. "And now she is nowhere to be found, her bed untouched. We've looked most everywhere in the castle, even the towers and the dungeons but…"
What was the meaning of this? It seemed that lately his lady was giving him naught but trouble. Likely another attempt at commanding his attention, he thought. It was partly his fault. She had always felt slighted by his divided affection between marriage and fraternity. Circumstances had taken a turn for the worse at King's Landing with the throne calling upon his services. Now it was Oswald beginning to suffer an ache of the head. He rubbed his temple.
"The children?" he asked.
"Asleep, milord, though they asked for their lady mother for some time before exhaustion set them apeace."
No doubt they would be equally distressed should they find their mother absent still come morning. Yet, there was no point in alarming the castle. An embarrassing affair on the whole. Why did she have to torment him so? With a heavy sigh, Oswald turned around, taking a ginger step or two to make up his mind before facing the maid again.
"Send out a search party if she has not been heard from by dawn. Make sure the resolution is discreet and say nothing of this to anyone."
"But m'lord, it is terribly late and if something should have happened to—"
"You will do nothing until dawn. Do you understand?"
The girl reluctantly nodded, quietly submitting to that effect before withdrawing. Oswald remained standing for some time, pacing slightly before slamming his quill down on the desk. Something about this whole thing wrecked his nerve. He glanced down at the parchment, the ink lifted mid-writing. Damn that woman, how could he concentrate on his work if she pulled this sort of stunt on him? More to the point, why was he so concerned all of a sudden? He cared for her, that much he would concede, but this hadn't been the first time she'd disappeared without telling—and why should she? She was a grown lady who could do as she pleased. It was the air in this godsforsaken castle with all its bloody history etched into the very stones. Damn this castle. Damn her.
He snatched up his cloak and made for the stables.