[D8:MA-LA] Watching the Melee

[Benedict Marsten]

The grand stands are a little less crowded than they were for the joust. Those with a weak stomach have a tendency to stay clear. The highborn in attendance cheer loudly for their favorites and gasp at every deadly blow.

The commons area seems to team with extra activity. Those smallfolk do love to see highborn get bashed. Men can be heard laying down bets all across the crowd. The others cheer and boo with equal fervor.

OOC: Just starting a place to do some RP or small events(gambling, scheming, thieving, etc.)

[Benedict Marsten]

Ellie had arrived early with Ben and Pudgy, to make sure the two had not forgot something again. They had forgotten Ben's helmet when they were leaving the pavilion. She had caught the oversight and chastised them to no end.

After leaving them on the tourney ground she makes her way into the still barely filled stands. She quickly scans the few faces, not finding any yet worth conversing with she sits alone, hands folded in her lap.

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

Not long after Ellie has sat down, Corrine arrives at the stands, and similarly scans the area for familiar faces. She grins to see Ellie's and makes her way to the girl's side.

"
May I join you to spectate, Ellie?"
Corrine asks, with her usual warm smile.

[Benedict Marsten]

Ellie looks up with an excited smile that borders on silly. Looking quite familiar to another such smile. "
Of course you may, my Lady!"


She sweeps the seat with her hand to brush away any dirt. "
How are you today, my Lady? You look splendid as ever."

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

"
I am well, Ellie,"
Corrine replies, taking the seat and kissing Ellie on the cheek. "
More so for seeing you. How are you?"

[Benedict Marsten]

Ellie blushes at both the words and display of affection. "
I am well, if a bit nervous. The knucklehead almost forgot his helmet. He has been ... distracted lately."
She shrugs giving it no more thought.

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

"
Well, at least it was only an 'almost' then,"
Corrine replies, looking out over the grounds. "
He will be fine. He is under strict instruction not to do anything too reckless and life-threatening, relatively speaking. I'm sorry if his distraction has troubled you. I'm afraid I'm probably at least partly to blame."

[Benedict Marsten]

"
Yeah he is lucky he has us to keep him straight."
She smile warmly at Corrine before following her gaze across the tourney grounds.

"
He will listen to you I know. As long as he is smiling like he has been then I could not care what the distraction is."
Her small hand drops to her side between the two of them.

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

"
Have you watched a melée before?"
Corrine asks, watching the teams take position.

[Benedict Marsten]

Ellie quietly shakes her head. "
My family has never hosted any tournaments at Briar Hall, we don't have many knights. House Tullison has not hosted a tourney since before Dunstan's fathers passing. And you my Lady?"


Her eyes search out Ben. Once located she looks for others of interest.

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

Corrine smiles to see Ben take the field.

Warrior guide you, my love.

"
Only one, hosted by Lord Arryn. I was about your age. I loved it. It made me wish I could be a knight. Silly, really. I'm not cut out for violence,"
she chuckled. "
I admire the skills of those who do, though. Might I ask Pudgey's real name, if you know it? To which House does he belong?"

[Benedict Marsten]

Her head quickly snaps around to Corrine, a bit thrown off by the question. Quietly and more contained then her previous action she responds. "
Paul. He has no house ... well he has family ... he was born to smallfolk. The Tullisons have a close relation with their smallfolk. His father Gregor was a cook at Mountains Reach. His mother a washerwoman."
She blushes slightly at realizing she has revealed she knows a good deal about the page.

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

"
He seems a good lad,"
Corrine said, with an affirming nod. "
I'm glad you have a friend near your own age. Is he Ben's squire proper, or does he just help because he's in service to House Tullison?"

[Benedict Marsten]

In a chipper voice she replies. "
Yes he is very nice, if a bit silly at times. No he is not Ben's squire just a page to House Tullison and ... Ben took him under is wing at my request."


She looks down at her slippered feet, feeling a bit foolish.

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

"
That was kind of you,"
Corrine smiles cheerfully. "
If you like, I can have a word with Ben and Lord Dunstan, to see if we could bring Pudgey to Hartshorn. Then, you would have a friend there your own age, rather than being on your own with just Ben &
I. What do you think?"

[Benedict Marsten]

Ellie smiles brightly, letting the young girl inside show. Though it is quickly fades to worry. "
I am not sure if he would want to go, but it would be nice to have him ... around. You have already done a great deal for me My Lady. I would not ask anything more of you."


Her eyes return to the field as she hears the horn sound, signaling the start of the melee.

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

"
We'll see what happens then,"
Corrine reassures Ellie. "
I don't want you getting stressed over it. It was just a thought. Ben should probably have a squire at some point, and it should be someone he can trust. But, that is all just part of my tentative future planning."


The roar of men charging at eachother is both stirring and intimidating to Corrine.

"
So, will you just be cheering for Ben, or a certain one-eyed fellow you have taken a shine to?"
she teases.

[Benedict Marsten]

Her head turns quickly to Corrine, her mouth agape. "
I ... you are incorrigible."


Her open mouth swings into a large smile. "
Perhaps. If his axe is not aimed at Ben, I may."
Her freckled cheeks redden.

The shouting draws her attention back to the field. She flinches as Ben is swept off his feet by Lord Bracken. Her eyes riveted and hands clenching her dress.

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

Ellie's anxious gaze causes Corrine to look too, just in time to see Ben and Lord Bracken clash forcefully. She too winces, though she takes Ellie's hand, trying to reassure the poor girl.

"
He'll be fine. See, he's getting up. He'll have known Bracken would go for him, so he'll be prepared."

[Benedict Marsten]

Ellie is further reassured by Ben's accepts the proposition from Lord Bracken. She breathes and audible sigh of relief at his brief reprieve. Then a quick intake as Ben challenges Athlestan.

Shrugging her shoulders, she giggles. "
Well guess I am only cheering for one now."

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

Corrine laughs;


"
Good to know!"


She releases Ellie's hand giving her shoulder a friendly little squeeze before putting her hands in her lap.

"
Has Ben invited your family to the wedding?"

[Benedict Marsten]

"
I will dispatch a raven today. Word will likely reach them in a week or so. They would never be able to make it in time. I do look forward to hearing from them. Grandfather will be very excited and mother!"


Her face lights up at the thought of her family.

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

Corrine smiles, though there is some regret in her expression.

"
I'm sorry they won't be able to be there, but I look forward to meeting them. Invite them to Hartshorn. I'd like us all to celebrate together, albeit belatedly."

[Benedict Marsten]

He smile grows even bigger. Her chest pounding with excitement. Would they come? Surely mother.

"
I will. I will. Oh my, this will be fantastic!"

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

Corrine shares Ellie's huge, happy grin. The girl's joy is infectious to her.

"
They would be most welcome to visit. I expect they'll want to ensure my intentions towards their son are honourable,"
she laughs jokingly.

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