[D8, LM] Forking Paths (Closed)

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

Corrine sits in her tent, writing a letter to Gareth Stone, informing him of her ascent, and of the guests that would be coming to Hartshorn with her return. She idly nibbles on a piece of sharp white cheese, thoughtfully staring at the words she has written. Looking up to reach for her pear juice, she notices it is later in the morning than she thought.

Where are Baelon &
Gwyn? I thought they were coming to see me this morning. I hope I didn't misunderstand the arrangements.

[Baelon Drakeson]

Ser Baelon is announced and enters the tent.

"
Good Morning, Lady Corinne. Gwyn isn't here yet?"


[OOC: Many apologies for the delay!]

[Gwyneth Drakeson]

As if by Providence, that's when Gwyn poked her head into the tent.

"
Sorry if I'm late,"
she said on seeing Baelon already there. "
I stopped off to see Kevan and congratulate him on his progress with Sofia. And it had been ages since I last spoke with him so..."


With a sigh, Gwyneth entered and took a place beside Baelon.

"
Anyway. Hopefully I'm in time for the big news!"


She gave Baelon a wide smile.

[Baelon Drakeson]

"
You haven't missed anything, I just got here myself. I was... firming up some details."

[Gwyneth Drakeson]

She looks over at Baelon quizzically.

"
Oh? Without me? Anything I should be aware of?"

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

Corrine looks between the pair with a raised eyebrow, their oddly animated exchange confusing her. However, she opts to try and settle them;


"
He only just arrived, Gwyn. Nothing has been discussed yet,"
she states, gesturing to the seats prepared for them. "
Please, sit."

[Baelon Drakeson]

"
Nothing we need discuss right now."

Baelon takes a seat.

"
Oh? Without me? Anything I should be aware of?"

[OOC: I'm refering to a thread that doesn't exist yet and may not ever actually exist, so I can't really answer this - timey wimey issues]

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

Corrine folds her hands in her lap and looks at them both with a calm curiosity;


"
Right, so, what is on your mind?"

[Baelon Drakeson]

"
Concerning your offer... I'm afraid we have decided to decline. We are going to take Daveth's offer and found a new house in service to Lord Tomas."


OOC: This is still technically pending the result of Daveth's EM thread...

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

Corrine gave a single nod, calm and passive;


"
Very well. Thank you for telling me promptly. It is sad to see you both go, but I wish you great success and happiness."

[Gwyneth Drakeson]

Gwyn glanced quickly at Baelon, then back at Corrine.

"
Is...that all?"
she asked, unable to mask the little stab she felt. Even so she managed a smile and scooted closer. "
So formal, cousin. So stoic. You've been studying at your mother's knee, I see."

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

"
I'm hardly going to burst into tears and beg you to stay,"
Corrine laughs, with a small but warm smile. "
I had accepted that you two leaving was a possibility. It's fine. I'm happy for you both. Just don't forget your loving cousin. I hope our houses will be friends."

[Baelon Drakeson]

"
Before I came to Hartshorn, I didn't really know what it meant to have a proper home or family. I will never forget that. We may be leaving House Marsten's service, but I see it as more expanding the family more than splitting it."


He takes Gwyn's hand.

"
I think I can speak for both of us that we will always be your loving cousins."

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

Corrine's smile broadens;


"
Good. I'm very glad to hear that. Do let me know if there is anything Ben &
I can do to help while you're getting set up. Have you a house name in mind? I imagine you'll be thinking about that a lot, along with words and a device."

[Gwyneth Drakeson]

Gwyn laughs. "
It's all we've been talking about."


She leans forward and takes Corrine's hands, her eyes a little moist.

"
You don't ever have to worry about me. You're as much a sister to me as a cousin. We grew up together, as much as we were allowed to. You will always be welcome in my hall. And of course, once we have smoothed out any bumps and gotten the place into some semblance of order, you and your advisors will all be sent an invitation to visit."


With that Gwyn sat back and quickly wiped the back of her hand over her eyes.

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

Corrine squeezes Gwyn's hands, still smiling;


"
You will always be welcome in mine too. I will be honoured to visit once you are settled. So, where are your lands to be? Will you be near Daveth?"

[Gwyneth Drakeson]

"
Not far. The Coldbrook lands are more central in the Neck, and we're off to the east side of it. But we have the King's Road passing through, and some highlands and lowlands both, as well as a stretch of coast."


She smiles. "
I've always wanted to to be somewhere I can see the sea."

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

"
That sounds lovely. Being by the Kingsroad too will be useful. Better than being tucked away in the mountains, I'm sure."

[Gwyneth Drakeson]

Gwyn nods eagerly at that, and her eyes shine.

"
I have such ideas,"
she gushed. "
We're right in the center...with some work, some development...we can build a center for trade. A gateway between the North and the Riverlands and beyond. With a port to bring in goods from overseas even! I can just see a great bazaar, teeming with people, stalls and carts and stores as far as one can see."


She breaks off and manages a shrug. "
I know it won't be easy, and there'll be a lot of obstacles in the way, but...as far as dreams go, it's not a bad one."

[Baelon Drakeson]

"
Of course, it will take some time to get there. There's not much there right now - just a little undeveloped corner of the map. I gather that it had been part of the Darry properties that were abandoned during the war against the Faith Militant, and it's stood empty since."

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

"
How near is it to the Blackthorne lands?"
Corrine asks, a little warily. "
They may become concerned about port conflicts. It would be wise to have it in mind if you are to be neighbours."

[Baelon Drakeson]

"
From what I understand, the rest of the Bite is too inaccessible by land to serve as a good point of distribution to the Riverlands. From other ports on the Bite, goods would either have to travel through the Neck past us or cross over the Mountains, risking clan attacks. If anything, ports on the Bay of Crabs would be our primary competition. Indeed, there are several possible mutually beneficial arrangements we could come to with House Blackthorne - the plan is not to get into the shipping industry, but rather serving as a profitable port of call."


[OOC: I'm assuming that much of the information above is being parroted from an earlier conversation with Daveth... a conversation that has not actually happened 'on screen'.]

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

[ooc: I mistyped. I meant Blackthorne. Please adjust.]

[Baelon Drakeson]

[OOC: Easily done... and done.]

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

"
That sounds fair. I would just like to avoid being caught in any dispute between yourselves and my in-laws,"
Corrine replies with a wry smile. It sounds unlikely though."


She nods to herself, as though settling an internal dialogue, then looks back to Baelon &
Gwyneth;


"
So, just as a matter of planning, do you intend to return to Hartshorn with us after the wedding, or will you go directly to your new home?"

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