{Day 2, Mid Morning} - Visiting the Sept (Open)

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

After spending most of her first day at Riverrun settling into her lodgings and resting, Lady Corrine went to the Sept, to give thanks for the safe arrival of herself and her family, and to pray for the future success of House Marsten. She lit seven candles in turn, one by one, making her venerations to each of the Gods. Once finished, she sat in quiet contemplation for some time, enjoying the peacefulness the place brought her. She awaited the arrival of Gwyneth, whom she had invited to join her. Lady Isobel rarely allowed them to be together without supervision, something for which Corrine saw no need, and so she subverted her mother's will when possible. Who could object to them both being at Sept together anyway?

[Gwyneth Drakeson]

A woman enters the Sept in a somber dress, wearing the veil of a mourner or penitent. She glides forward to where the candles are lit and folds her hands in silent prayer.

After a moment, Gwyn says wryly, "
Fancy meeting you here, cousin. We've come all this way, only to wind up in the one place in all the grounds that is almost exactly like the one we left."


Her smile is dimly visible behind the thin cloth of her veil.

"
It's good to see you though. I was starting to worry you'd never come out of your tent."

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

"
It is good to see you, Gwyn,"
Corrine smiled. "
I am sorry that I worried you. The journey took more out of me than anticipated. How fare you?"

[Gwyneth Drakeson]

Gwyneth smiled under her veil and lit a candle of her own. Her sense of humor was perhaps a little too dry for Corrine to pick up on. Well, no matter.

"
I fare well. The riverlands are lovely, and it's very...nice to see new faces, new places. And a few old ones as well."


She glanced over at her cousin, smirking. "
You didn't need to arrange a secret meeting in the sept to ask me that though, you know."

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

"
I did not realise I was being terribly secretive. I was hoping to hear salacious gossip you have collected, though I did not request a veil,"
Corrine replied, playfully. "
It's just, well, you know what mother is like. I don't like her and the guardsmen looming over me all the time, and if she knew I was meeting with you, that would be the case, if she allowed it at all."

[Gwyneth Drakeson]

"
Oh, without question,"
Gwyn agrees. She passes her hand over the candle flame she lit, moving it just fast enough to feel the heat without it quite being painful.

"
So...salacious gossip. Let's see. Did you know Jon Cobb, the Wrecker is present here? I think he may be considering pursuing your mother's hand. So salacious..."


She pauses, then says more seriously, "
I'd also be careful around the Longshores. The word I heard is that they're getting restless. Oh, and no fewer than three Houses in attendance are having some kind of succession crisis at the moment, and that's not even including us."
Gwyn ticked off fingers as she listed them. "
The Barthelds, though I don't know the details yet. The Coldbrooks, and the Longshores. Baelon and I have met with some of the Coldbrooks. Interesting folk, and they may be of great assistance to us with our troubles."

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

"
Jon Cobb? Have you seen them together? Are you sure he is trying to court her?"
Corrine asked, incredulous.

[Gwyneth Drakeson]

"
He approached me and delicately tried to get me to give him advice,"
Gwyn said with a wide grin. "
So I did. And while we're on the subject of suitors...you have a new one. And he's quite a charmer, so watch your step."

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

Corrine looked quizzically at her cousin.

"
Another? Who is it? Another of mother's ghastly selections?"

[Gwyneth Drakeson]

Gwyn shrugged mischievously. "
That depends on how you feel about...Ser Baelon Waters."

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

Corrine stiffened, and her brow furrowed. Baelon was charming and good-looking enough, but he was far from the sort of man she could see herself marrying.

"
Mother is always harping on about how I should be meeting more marriageable noblemen with prospects, yet she plans to throw a bastard family friend at me? Besides, he's never shown any interest before, and I hear he's an utter bounder. Surely she could only be pushing him on me out of spite or desperation?"

[Gwyneth Drakeson]

Gwyn shrugged at that. "
He has his flaws, but he's not a bad person overall,"
she said. "
But...I think a bastard has one big advantage, which is that he hasn't got a name of his own to give up. So he can easily take on Marsten's name. It's not like you can afford to marry a lord, or a noble who will insist on you taking his name, after all."


Her voice turned more sympathetic and she looked at Corrine.

"
You could do worse than Baelon, though he will require a...firm hand, if it comes to it."


Then she looked back at the candles, licked between her thumb and fingertip, reached out and snuffed out the wick of the one she'd lit.

"
There are other possibilities though. Higher risk, but...perhaps higher reward."

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

"
Oh, I don't mean to say he's a bad person, just... not the kind of man I had envisioned for myself,"
Corrine explained hurriedly. "
I had always thought... never mind. What are these other possibilities you speak of?"

[Gwyneth Drakeson]

"
Maybe I've said too much,"
Gwyn says coquettishly. "
But there are any number of handsome, well spoken men in attendance here. And some have considerably more to offer Marsten than others."
She leans closer. "
I'm going to try to meet one of them tonight. Do you think you can get away? You could come with me, posing as a handmaiden. To see him without revealing yourself to him."

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

"
When do you plan to meet him?"
Corrine asks, her interest piqued greatly. Not so much by the man in question, but by the prospect of subterfuge. "
I think I could possibly sneak away if it is at a time when mother is busy or asleep."

[Gwyneth Drakeson]

"
I'll have to see when, and if, we can meet,"
Gwyn says. "
I'll let you know as soon as I find out."

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

"
Very well,"
Corrine nods. "
At least if he turns out to be awful, I will know to avoid him."

[Gwyneth Drakeson]

Gwyneth chuckles at that. "
If I thought he was awful, I wouldn't have even brought him up."


She looks at Corrine again, this time without the subtle veil of humor she'd had between them before.

"
You know that I have my own reasons for being here, my own white stags to chase...but if you need my help, or want to talk about anything, I'll make time for you."

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

"
Thank you, Gwyn. You have always been so kind to me. I value our friendship, despite my mother's interference."

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