Re: [Epilogue] A Proper Wedding Party (Open)

[Baelon Drakeson]

After she pulls the grape from his fingers like he wanted her to, Baelon lets himself be pulled to the dance floor with a smile.

Slipping his arms around his wife in a dancer's embrace, he takes the lead in a slow, graceful dance sweeping across the room.

"
Or we could just lock the antechamber door. I plan on giving you as much time as I can... you know, we could appoint a castellan and you could come with me and visit your family. Our new home has gone ages without any direct oversight, it won't burn down just because we leave for a few months."

[Benedict Marsten]

"
Ah, I see. Well, I am glad it is in the past now."


She smiles lovingly at him, and lets him lead her over to Ellie.

Ellie looks up from her dessert to see her brother and new good sister. She quickly wipes her face delicately and stands. She then curtsies gracefully.

"
My Lord and Lady Marsten. How are you this evening?"


Noticing Pudgy is still shoveling in his pudding, she elbows his arm. The spoon moves pass his waiting mouth and he frowns before realizing why. He stands in haste and bows, smiling uncomfortably.

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

"
Ah, I see. Well, I am glad it is in the past now."


She smiles lovingly at him, and lets him lead her over to Ellie.

Ellie looks up from her dessert to see her brother and new good sister. She quickly wipes her face delicately and stands. She then curtsies gracefully.

"
My Lord and Lady Marsten. How are you this evening?"


Noticing Pudgy is still shoveling in his pudding, she elbows his arm. The spoon moves pass his waiting mouth and he frowns before realizing why. He stands in haste and bows, smiling uncomfortably.

Corrine curtsies back, though she grins playfully;


"
You don't need to call me that, Ellie. We're family,"
she replies cheerily. "
Sorry for disturbing you. I just wanted to make sure you are happy."


She gives Pudgey a friendly nod.

[Benedict Marsten]

Ellie gives her a big grin. "
Of course I am happy I have dessert and a new sister!"


Her lips purse and eyebrow raises in thought. "
Or perhaps you mean about going to stay with Lord Krieger and Lady Gillian? Granted I would much rather be with you two, I know I have duties. Besides she is quite nice and in need of a little excitement. Lord Krieger will probably regret inviting me within a month."


She laughs slightly harder thqn etiquette would allow for, but doesn't seem to care.

Ben nods his head in agreement, laughing along with his sister. "
Oh he will think we conspired to send you there as punishment."

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

Ellie gives her a big grin. "
Of course I am happy I have dessert and a new sister!"


Her lips purse and eyebrow raises in thought. "
Or perhaps you mean about going to stay with Lord Krieger and Lady Gillian? Granted I would much rather be with you two, I know I have duties. Besides she is quite nice and in need of a little excitement. Lord Krieger will probably regret inviting me within a month."


She laughs slightly harder thqn etiquette would allow for, but doesn't seem to care.

Ben nods his head in agreement, laughing along with his sister. "
Oh he will think we conspired to send you there as punishment."

"
Oh good heavens, I hope not. It's taken a great deal of effort to sweeten him to us,"
Corrine gasps. "
Please try not to anger him. I do hope your company will help to brighten their lives though. You have certainly done thst for your brother and I,"
she smiles warmly.

[Benedict Marsten]

Ellie gives a demure smile and bats her lashes. "
Who could stay mad at this face? I do not know about making Lord Grumpy happy but I will do my best to bring cheer to Lady Gillian."


Ben rolls his eyes at her. "
Don't get full of yourself, little sister."

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

"
That would be nice. I'm sure you two will have fun. And I'm glad you are enjoying the festivities too. You and Pudgey should have a dance."

[Benedict Marsten]

She looks up at Corrine from under her furrowed brows with mild disapproval. Turning she sees Pudgy standing there with his big goofy grin and pudding stained tunic, his hand extended in offering.

Taking his hand, she leads him to the dance floor. Way to go sis. Now I have to get my toes crushed again.

Ben only smirks and pats Pudgy on the shoulder. Turning to Corrine he laughs. "
She will get get you back for that."


Watching the two dance brought more laughter. "
Their's is an awkward relationship."

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

"
I find it rather sweet,"
Corrine grins. "
I think they like eachother more than they let on."

[Benedict Marsten]

"
I guess so. He's a good lad."
Ben watches his sister with fondness.

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

"
He is,"
Corrine agrees, also watching Ellie &
Pudgey. "
Will he come with us? Or go to Mountains Reach?"

[Benedict Marsten]

Ben turns back to Corrine taking her hands into his and gives her a sly grin. "
Add one more to the list of new tenants of Hartshorn. I do hope we do not overwhelm the staff. Alert your pastry chef to keep an I out for those two."

[Gwyneth Drakeson]

After she pulls the grape from his fingers like he wanted her to, Baelon lets himself be pulled to the dance floor with a smile.

Slipping his arms around his wife in a dancer's embrace, he takes the lead in a slow, graceful dance sweeping across the room.

"
Or we could just lock the antechamber door. I plan on giving you as much time as I can... you know, we could appoint a castellan and you could come with me and visit your family. Our new home has gone ages without any direct oversight, it won't burn down just because we leave for a few months."

"
Maybe,"
Gwyn allowed. "
But I'll need to see it in operation before I know how far I trust it to run smoothly without us. There will be time to travel and visit once we have affairs in order."
She gave Baelon a smile. "
We'll just have to make up for any lost time, is all. Given our current record for that, I think we can handle it."

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

Ben turns back to Corrine taking her hands into his and gives her a sly grin. "
Add one more to the list of new tenants of Hartshorn. I do hope we do not overwhelm the staff. Alert your pastry chef to keep an I out for those two."

Corrine cannot help but laugh heartily;


"
Noted! I shall have to find him a task, to keep the cook sane. At least Willum Royce and Benjicot Blackwood will have definite roles. Are you looking forward to having your own squire and page?"

[Benedict Marsten]

Corrine cannot help but laugh heartily;


"
Noted! I shall have to find him a task, to keep the cook sane. At least Willum Royce and Benjicot Blackwood will have definite roles. Are you looking forward to having your own squire and page?"

Ben looks unsure. "
It will be a new experience. I am used to doing things myself. And not sure about training someone to be a knight. Perhaps it will be rewarding."


"
As for Paul, I mean Pudgy, he is old enough now to squire himself. If he wishes. I am sure we can find him a knight at Hartshorn willing to take him on. Maybe Ser Markus or Ser Kevan."


Ben laughs at the thought of Pudgy and gruff old Ser Markus.

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

Corrine cannot help but laugh heartily;


"
Noted! I shall have to find him a task, to keep the cook sane. At least Willum Royce and Benjicot Blackwood will have definite roles. Are you looking forward to having your own squire and page?"

Ben looks unsure. "
It will be a new experience. I am used to doing things myself. And not sure about training someone to be a knight. Perhaps it will be rewarding."


"
As for Paul, I mean Pudgy, he is old enough now to squire himself. If he wishes. I am sure we can find him a knight at Hartshorn willing to take him on. Maybe Ser Markus or Ser Kevan."


Ben laughs at the thought of Pudgy and gruff old Ser Markus.

"
I will have a word with them about it when we get there then. Either of them would be good for him to learn from. Ser Markus did a good job with you."

[Benedict Marsten]

Ben looks up curiously then smiles. "
I guess he did whip me into a decent knight. He was strict and stoic. In away he reminds me a lot of your mother. Maybe their style just has a way of producing good results."

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

Ben looks up curiously then smiles. "
I guess he did whip me into a decent knight. He was strict and stoic. In away he reminds me a lot of your mother. Maybe their style just has a way of producing good results."

"
I don't think he can chill the blood quite as well as her,"
Corrine chuckles, though not without affection. "
But I do think you are right that they have many similarities. They are tough people, but not cruel."


Corrine glances across the room at her mother, feeling an odd pang of sadness and pity. Lady Isobel had lost the glimmer of future hope with Jon Cobb, and now she was losing her daughter and her station as Head of the House.

"
We must look after her, Ben. My mother is half of who I am. She has endured much to keep our House afloat. She mustn't be neglected."

[Benedict Marsten]

Ben looks struck. "
She will certainly be looked after. She may have her flaws, but she is a decent woman."


His faces takes on a hesitant appearance as he stumbles across his words. "
Do you think ... she would ... be interested in a ... companion?"

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

Ben looks struck. "
She will certainly be looked after. She may have her flaws, but she is a decent woman."


His faces takes on a hesitant appearance as he stumbles across his words. "
Do you think ... she would ... be interested in a ... companion?"

Corrine looks somewhat relieved, and a little embarrassed.

"
Well, I think she genuinely had feelings for Ser Jon Cobb, so yes, I think she might be open to a companion. I think she will need some time though. She mourned my father a long time, though she hid her heart often. Jon was the first man she seemed to have hope for, and his death hit her harder than she will ever let on. Just as she had begun to open her heart to the possibility of someone new, he was taken away by a stroke of bad luck. Though, perhaps that was for the best, since his heart belonged to another. His passing saved her from a more humiliating form of heartache."


She takes a deep breath and exhales heavily, unconsciously taking Ben's hand.

"
I digress. I would like to see her find someone to make her happy. No-one can truly replace my father, but to see her cared for as she deserves, that would be nice. I don't want her to be lonely."

[Benedict Marsten]

Ben is surprised to hear Isobel's affection for Jon Cobb and even more so that is heart was given to someone else. As far as Ben knew the rest of Jon had been given to the girls at the Painted World.

"
Then we shall give her time. And we will give her grandchildren to fill her time if she does not wish a another companion."
Ben smiles cheerfully at the thought that even Isobel's icy demeanor could be broken by baby, especially a heir.

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

Ben is surprised to hear Isobel's affection for Jon Cobb and even more so that is heart was given to someone else. As far as Ben knew the rest of Jon had been given to the girls at the Painted World.

"
Then we shall give her time. And we will give her grandchildren to fill her time if she does not wish a another companion."
Ben smiles cheerfully at the thought that even Isobel's icy demeanor could be broken by baby, especially a heir.

"
I do hope that finally becoming a grandmother will bring her some joy. None of my brothers lived long enough to give her grandchildren,"
Corrine replies, her tone a little sad until she looks up at him;


"
And, with such fine starting material, I'm sure she'll be pleased with the quality of our children,"
she grins, a little bashfully, but mostly with hope and anticipation.

[Benedict Marsten]

Ben laughs gingerly. "
Fine starting material indeed."
He squeezes her hand and then lets his index finger trace small circles along her hip over her dress.

"
I am sure the first thing she will do is read them the seven pointed star."
He laughs again. "
To make sure they grow up good seven-following children."
His tone is light and jovial. His smile endearing.

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

Ben laughs gingerly. "
Fine starting material indeed."
He squeezes her hand and then lets his index finger trace small circles along her hip over her dress.

"
I am sure the first thing she will do is read them the seven pointed star."
He laughs again. "
To make sure they grow up good seven-following children."
His tone is light and jovial. His smile endearing.

Corrine laughs light-heartedly;


"
I think she'll wait until they can actually read. You'll have a few years to instill them with your good tree-worshipping values,"
she adds playfully.

[Benedict Marsten]

"
It will be hard to teach them about the wierwoods without wierwoods. Maybe I can take them on pilgrimages to House Blackwood. Even BrairHall does not have a Godswood."
The thought of instilling values and tradition makes him feel inspired and buoyant. His face is alight with the idea.

"
What do you think, sit beneath the Heart tree and read to them from the seven pointed star. They will be full of faith."
He snickers.

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