"You are very modest, Lord Daven," said Aksel approvingly. He chuckled at the mention of the Citadel. "Really, his pride and joy, you say? I've known Selester since we started playing cyvasse nearly forty years ago, and I'd always thought that he gave the maesters a wide berth, without much caring what they chose to do or say." May that still be the case.
"A good point, Lord Daven; by definition, love of the king is always the most convenient in its politics," nodded Aksel. "I was under the impression, still, that the Queen wished Elia to marry into one of the other great houses and make new alliances that would support their position, not strain their existing ties by making them too strong for others to bear." He frowned and gently shook his head. "Well, the deceased shall rest--may it be sweet. We all hope you are right, Lord Daven, in your more poetic assessment of the situation." He is circumspect, for one so young. Surely he must know some of these rumors, but he will not speak of them to lend any one weight.
He sighed and shifted his shoulders back in a moment's stretch as he looked out toward the west. "It is a strange life we lead, all of us, with this eternal work of puzzling and predicting and marrying off our sons and daughters. Though I suppose for you, it is marrying off your own self," he observed, looking askance at the younger man. "All the better; that way you feel less guilty at the least, if the betrothed is somewhat more suited in politics than in heart." His smile was a little sad.
*OOC: sorry, tired and had to repost a million times belgh