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

[Lady Corrine 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.

"
I think that sounds lovely. House Marsten is quite renowned for it's piety,"
Corrine smiles wryly.

She had intended to keep her hift a secret until she had something to show him, but her excitement, and the wine, got the better of her;


"
Actually, my wedding gift to you is somewhat related,"
she began, bashfully. "
I'm having a Godswood planted at Hartshorn, with Daveth's help."

[Benedict Marsten]

Ben's meandering finger on her hip halts. He turns to face her completely, a look of total surprise an awe. "
You are what!?"


He blinks rapidly trying to regain his composure. "
I ... you... how in the seven hells... for me?"


His attempt at composing himself is futile. His face reveals he is deeply moved. Every part of him fighting the moisture stirring in his eyes. Her tender gift has struck a deep chord within him.

"
You have done too much. I ... you risk the ire of many to please me. You ... do me and my ancestors much honor, my love. A huge heart you have. I ... am ... thank you."
He bows his head solemnly, in thanks, but to mask his overwhelmed emotions.

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

Corrine gives him an adoring smile.

"
Hartshorn is to be your home. I want you to feel welcome. And I want our children to know both sides of their heritage. It is not unheard of to keep the old Gods and the new."


She embraces him, partly from affection, and partly to give him the chance to hide his face and recover.

"
It is the least I can give you in return for your beautiful, gentle heart."

[Benedict Marsten]

He embraces her firmly, his face close to hers. "
Thank you, Love. It is powerful gift and I will cherish it. Along with our children and children's children."
His soft voice reflecting his sincerity.

After a few deep breaths he pushes back to look her in the eyes. His playful crooked grin returned to his face. He just shakes his head. "
You never cease to amaze me with your kindness. There is no way for an up-jumped boondock knight to top a Godswood."


He laughs. "
Would you like your miniscule gift now or later, then?"

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

"
It isn't a competition, sweetling,"
Corrine reassures Ben, squeezing his hands. "
You also hide your light beneath a bushel too often. You make me happy, and that is worth more than all the gold in Casterly Rock. I am curious about what ypu have for me though, so let's see!"
she adds with a grin.

[Benedict Marsten]

Ben smiles slyly at her. "
I had thought to give it to you in private so as to not cause a scene, but it is here. It is with the other gifts. Come I will show."


He leads her over to their wonderful gifts from friends and family. "
There in the corner with the Blackthorne cloak draped over it. Go ahead."

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

"
I won't make a scene. I'll just have a little peek, I promise."


She lifts the cloak a little and looks beneath it.

The elegant hunting bow seems almost luminescent in the dark beneath the cloak, carved from pale weirwood, fine red lines running through the grain. The grip is wound in oxblood leather, and the quiver matches, embossed with intricate thorn vines. She spots some markings carved into the bow that, to her limited knowledge, appear to be runes of the First Men.

Wide-eyes, she drops thd cloak and rushes to Ben, embracing him excitedly;


"
It's beautiful! I love it! We can hunt together when we return to Hartshorn! What do the runes say?"
she babbles happily.

[Benedict Marsten]

He squeezes her lovingly. "
Pate, has assured me they mean "
female hunter"
. I may not have trusted him if it were not for the fact I told him what the runes were for. And you know the scribe's fondness for you."


He steps back scrunching his lips and arching an eyebrow. "
I was hoping you would like it. Someone had better warn the deer of the Vale you are coming."

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

"
I love it so much, Ben. It's a wonderful, thoughtful gift,"
Corrine replies joyously. "
I hope Pate wasn't-"


"
Bed! Get them to bed!"
comes a loud, drunken shout, interrupting the various conversations around the room. The voice is joined by several others, mostly male, and drinkers begin thimping their cups rhythmically against the tables.

Corrine looks startled as several attendees, men and women, come skipping towards her and Ben, and, at a glance, she sees the same happening around Gwyneth &
Baelon. A jaunty tune is fired up by the musicians, as the guests descend to undress the brides &
grooms, and carry them to their respective bedchambers.

[Benedict Marsten]

"
I love it so much, Ben. It's a wonderful, thoughtful gift,"
Corrine replies joyously. "
I hope Pate wasn't-"


"
Bed! Get them to bed!"
comes a loud, drunken shout, interrupting the various conversations around the room. The voice is joined by several others, mostly male, and drinkers begin thimping their cups rhythmically against the tables.

Corrine looks startled as several attendees, men and women, come skipping towards her and Ben, and, at a glance, she sees the same happening around Gwyneth &
Baelon. A jaunty tune is fired up by the musicians, as the guests descend to undress the brides &
grooms, and carry them to their respective bedchambers.

Ben gets a hart-in-the-torch-light look, everyone's ill reception of his markings, the first thought in his head. His muscles tense around Corrine. His head sawing back and forth his mouth hanging ajar.

[Loreia]

"
Aye, to bed, go!"
Loreia shouts with the others, lifting her voice but once.

Ben gets a hart-in-the-torch-light look, everyone's ill reception of his markings, the first thought in his head.

[url=Benedict's funny face - Proper Wedding][/url]: 4d6k3 17

Loreia catches this look, and can't hold back laughter in spite of herself. When his face is absent of blush, pale as a weirwood, she loses her humor. He seems a touch more panicked than one ought to be... Mayhaps getting them alone together as soon as possible would be best.

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

Ben gets a hart-in-the-torch-light look, everyone's ill reception of his markings, the first thought in his head. His muscles tense around Corrine. His head sawing back and forth his mouth hanging ajar.

Corrine looks him in the eye, realising why he looks so panicked.

"
Ben, look at me,"
she states, firmly, but with a gentle tone. "
It's alright. Let them look. It doesn't matter what they think."


A gaggle of giggling young ladies swarm around him, sweeping him through the room, towards the hallway that led to the chambers, tugging at his laces as they went. Similarly, some of the knights carried Corrine alongside Ben's group, undoing the fastenings of her dress with much whooping and cheering.

[Septon Arlyn]

[url=Notice Bens fear (awareness)][/url]: 2d6 4 (OOC Septon Arlyn continues his claim to be the least observant person in westerous)


Caught up in the festivities Septon Arlyn does not notice Ben's reaction to the bedding ceremony. "
Here is to the happy couple!"
Septon Arlyn shouts in encouragement. "
Why this hapy union bring about many strong and healthy Heirs!"

[Loreia]

In an attempt to take part, Loreia joins the ladies herding Ben along. After the buttons are undone, while one fiddles with his belt buckle, she reaches for the collar of his tunic and pulls down as the belt is taken away. Scars poke from beneath the collar of his shirt, and removal of the tunic reveals more along his arms, which catches her by surprise. Feeling like she's done her part, she takes a backseat as the other bolder women continue unabatedly disrobing Ben, watching as his scarred form is revealed to all. Ah, so that's why...

By this point, he is lifted up, his shoes, trousers and drawers coming down to the ground each in turn on the way to a private room. Once the bride and groom reach a noble guest bedroom, they've just barely finished being stripped down, each covering their bare forms in(mock?) embarrassment of the gathered gaggle of ladies and knights.

"
Alright you lot, let's leave 'em to it!"
she shouts, just above the whooping and naughty chatter.

"
We've done our part,"
says one Tullison knight, not to be outdone(in any capacity of leadership/authority) by the tree-worshiping shieldmaiden. "
We'll let them handle the hard parts, eh!"


How original, Ser Mushroom.

"
Let them get better acquainted, no excuses you two!"
pipes up one of the ladies, in the final, rarest of times the minor nobles need not watch their tone or apply honorifics to avoid offense, a condition that will change on the following day.

The noise of the revelers dies down as they take their leave, the more tipsy ones being mildly intimidated by the noble participating knights to follow suit. Their carousing picks up modestly as they rejoin in the great hall to top off on food and drink.

Feel free to add roleplay(or intrigue!) in the interim of Ben and Corrine's half of the bedding ceremony - participating or observing(or in Baelon/Gwyn's for that matter)! Any participation or observation ends at the door and goes back to the great hall with the rest of the revelers, and fade-to-black when the bride and groom are alone together, so no funny business! Let's keep it PG.

[Benedict Marsten]

In an attempt to take part, Loreia joins the ladies herding Ben along. After the buttons are undone, while one fiddles with his belt buckle, she reaches for the collar of his tunic and pulls down as the belt is taken away. Scars poke from beneath the collar of his shirt, and removal of the tunic reveals more along his arms, which catches her by surprise. Feeling like she's done her part, she takes a backseat as the other bolder women continue unabatedly disrobing Ben, watching as his scarred form is revealed to all. Ah, so that's why...

By this point, he is lifted up, his shoes, trousers and drawers coming down to the ground each in turn on the way to a private room. Once the bride and groom reach a noble guest bedroom, they've just barely finished being stripped down, each covering their bare forms in(mock?) embarrassment of the gathered gaggle of ladies and knights.

The scars and markings are numerous. The curious and excited ladies range from fearful to awe. With his tunic removed the most prominent being crudely cut stars on his front shoulders, and a large wide cut running from the right star to a circular brand on the left ribcage and a crude hash mark over his right ribcage. As he is turned about to remove his breeches the masterpiece is revealed. An enormous and intricate web of scars lace and cross to form the raised and pink image of ship.

As his breeches slide downward 3 claw like marks curve over his one hip and a cattle brand of some sort on the other. Little untouched skin can be seen anywhere except the area most important to this part of the ceremony. Audible sighs of relief can be heard from some of the woman as the former is revealed.

(ooc: Feel free if to add any notable scars as I have a lot of canvas to fill in.)

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