Re: [D3, LM] Tullison Colors (open)

[Benedict Marsten]

"
That I do not know, my Lady."
The fire flames. "
Maybe I should have not stopped Ben. Then he would not hurt anyone again."
Her lips purse and jaw clenches as she stares at the image in her mind.

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

"
While I have nothing but contempt for men who take advantage of the vulnerable, I don't think it would do any good for Ben to get himself in trouble. He's a good man, the world needs more like him, and getting himself locked up, or worse, means the good he might otherwise do is quashed. If the Gods are just, Frey will receive their divine retribution."


Corrine's eyes became steely as she felt anger at the actions of a man she did not even know.

[Benedict Marsten]

At Corrine's invocation of the seven Ellie secretly rolls her eyes. Where were they when a young boy and small girl needed them. "
My lady let us speak of something sweeter. What is it like in the vale? All Ben's stories are of Ser Markus, Leopold and the clans-and Gwyn. Nothing of the scenery or sites."

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

"
Yes, happier things,"
Corrine agrees, trying to shake off the dark clouds in her mind. "
The Vale is beautiful. Some think it a cold, grey place, but from the mountain heights, there are few views more breathtaking. Hartshorn is nestled in the high, rocky hills, near the headwaters of a gorgeous, silvery river that flows to the Corbray lands in the East. There are patches of forest and meadowland, pretty splashes of green among the hills, and there is a bridge town near the castle. Hartshorn is not as impregnable as The Eyrie, but it is very well-defended. The Eyrie, well, it is the most remarkable castle I have ever seen, though I admit I have not seen many. It is an impressive sky fortress, from which one feels the whole Realm could be glimpsed on a clear day."


She smiles to describe her home and the Vale, somewhat nostalgic for a simpler time, when she had less duty weighing on her.

"
Tell me of your home, Ellie."

[Benedict Marsten]

Ellie listen intently, "
ohhing and ahhing"
at Corrine's description. When Corrine ask of her home she looks perplexed for a moment. "
Which one my Lady, surely Lady Gwyn has told you of Mountains Reach? Or do you mean BriarHall House Blackthorne's seat?"

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

"
Tell me of both, if you like. I know little of either."

[Benedict Marsten]

"
Well Mountains Reach or as it is formally known Jostens Rock is a castle built into the mountain itself. It lies on the westernmost face of the Mountains of the Moon. So from the parapets you can see across the riverlands, that is an amazing sight. Are tiny stream called the Torrent is where we go skin-swimming on hot days."
She stops as if in thought. "
You know what, its not that beautiful and kind of boring."
She laughs. "
I don't know why Gwyn would want to be the Lady of mountains reach."

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

"
I think it sounds nice,"
Corrine said. "
And Gwyn, well, she just has a clear idea of what she wants. More than I can manage at the moment."


She shrugs, and smiles at Ellie.

"
Isn't skin-swimming frightfully cold?"


She giggles bashfully.

[Benedict Marsten]

"
Yes, but exhilarating."
she giggles back. "
Now you want beautiful, BullBriar bay, that's the port BrairHall is built on. There are rock cliffs battered by sea. A long stretch of sandy beach."
She smiles warmly. "
The sight of white sails in the distance growing ever bigger as you watch. Briarhall itself sits on a high hill overlooking the docks and tariff house. On a clear day you can see the Sisters."
A flash of sadness clouds her cheery expression. "
I have not seen the sea since I was very young. Have you ever seen the sea, My lady?"

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

"
Once, a long time ago. It was beautiful, though its sheer magnitude is somewhat intimidating, and oddly sad. I think that is because, like the sky and mountains, it is one of the very few things in the world that truly endures. When people say "
forever"
, they invoke those things."


She glanced up into the clouds with a pensive air.

"
Bullbriar Bay sounds beautiful. You both must miss it a great deal."

[Benedict Marsten]

Ellie laughs at Corrine's last comment. "
You know Ben was almost a Captain instead of a Ser. We may miss it for brief periods but the sea holds ... a sad place for us now and at BullBriar the sea is always there, the crashing waves, the smell and taste of salt in the air, the sight of moored ships bobbing."
She tightens her lips as if mulling something over. "
I think ... our leaving may have saved us. Here I go again getting the mood all down again."

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

"
It is alright, Ellie,"
Corrine reassured her, giving her arm a friendly squeeze. "
If you want to talk about what is on your mind, regardless of mood, I would gladly listen. I like to think we are friends."

[Benedict Marsten]

She perks up at hearing that Lady Corrine considered them friends. "
Well that story is one in the same with the one in the tailors. And there are many listening ears still. How about a different story?"
Ellie swells with a new found energy. True friends were few and far.

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

"
Very well. I would not have you inadvertently telling someone whom neither of us trust. We will speak on that another time, for I would still like to get to know you both better."


She thought for a moment as they walked.

"
Are there things you wish to achieve during the tourney, Ellie? Are you seeking something, or someone?"


She smiled confidentially.

[Benedict Marsten]

Ellie looks at Corrine with a confused look, apparently not used to being asked such things. "
Well ... I am not sure. I got back the one thing I wanted most in this world three days ago. I ... guess I want ... well ... for Ben to ... do well for himself. He has spent a long time taking care of other peoples problems. Taking care of me, House Marstens clans, no offense,"
She raises an eyebrow in concern. 'fighting Brackens for the Blackwoods. Now hopefully Lord Dunstan will treat him well and ... he can be happy."
She smiles with a look of pride happy at her own words as if they all just came to her realization.

"
How about you my Lady?"
She stares at Corrine wide eyed.

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

"
Well, that is something we share. We both want Ben to be happy,"
Corrine smiled. "
No offence taken, by the way."


She thought for a moment.

"
Apart from that, well, I'm expected to find a husband. My mother and I are not in agreement about whom that should be though."

[Benedict Marsten]

Ellie eyes light up when Corrine mentions a husband. She smiles slyly. "
I am glad you want Ben to be happy. Cause I think he feels the same. One he cares for someone he will go to no ends for that person."
She skips for a few steps then looks back at Corrine. "
Ben has said you mother can be ... difficult."
She again raises her eyebrow hoping not to have offended her. "
Let me guess you want Prince Charming and she wants ... a toad who can count sums and run a tight house."
She giggles at the thought of a counting toad a throne.

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

"
That is pretty much exactly the case,"
Corrine giggled. "
She doesn't care for things like feelings, though I have recently discovered she is entertaining a particular man's company. She got in such a flap when I brought it up. I don't really care, perhaps it would be good if someone melted that icy husk she has for a heart."


There is both amusement and bitterness in Corrine's voice.

"
She told me "
Better to marry a competent man who wanders than a loyal fool"
, but I think she is wrong. I believe a man can be both successful and treat his wife well and with respect. I intend to find such a man, mostly for my own happiness and the stability of House Marsten, but I cannot deny spiting her would be satisfying."

[Benedict Marsten]

"
Icy husk."
She laughed. "
Ben sometimes refers to her as the ice queen."
She winces at the wandering comment, shaking her head no. "
Those good men are rare but they do exist. I know for certain."
And this one even likes you and would doubly spite your mother.

"
Perhaps your mother intends you to turn said toad into Prince charming. Maybe with a kiss."
Ellie smiles devilishly in thought. "
Do you have much experience with that? Kissing boys I mean."

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

Corrine blushed and she glanced downwards, embarrassed.

"
No, I have no experience of that at all. Unless on the cheek counts. I have wanted to kiss someone, properly, at times, but for various reasons it has never happened. I worry that, when someone does evetually kiss me, I'll make a mess of it."

[Benedict Marsten]

Ellie has an expression of shock. "
I guess between all this marriage mess and no kisses being in the direct bloodline is not all its cracked up to be. Do not fret over it. If you mess the first up it gives you a reason to try again."
Ellie's nose wrinkles in laughter. "
I guess you and Ben have even more in common. Guess that makes me the professional."
Her smirk is evidently playful.

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

"
Do you mean... Ben hasn't kissed anyone either? Surely you exaggerate!"


Corrine's eyes are wide with surprise and curiosity.

[Benedict Marsten]

"
Unless you know otherwise. I was hesitant to ask Gwyn what he did at house Marsten. My cousins in House Blackwood informed me that when he was not fighting Brackens, he was in the yard training or running errands for the Lord."
She frowns briefly. "
And in his youth I was in his care most times."
She scrutinizes Corrine's face. "
You please won't tell. He will be very cross with me."

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

"
I don't recall seeing or hearing of him with anyone at Hartshorn either,"
Corrine commented. "
Don't worry, I won't tell anyone. I think it's rather sweet, actually. Perhaps he's waiting for the right girl."


Possibly more likely to be faithful... she thought to herself.

[Benedict Marsten]

Ellie giggles in thought. "
He may try to sell you a story about a Marsh girl who sailed into Bullbriar in his youth."
She giggles again. "
but there is no truth to it. Our cousin used to hound him severely about not kissing a girl. So I helped him concoct a story so they'll leave him alone. Another that you please won't tell."
She shakes her head remembering. "
It was the least I could do for him."


"
Are you close with your cousins and family, aside form the one that wants you to kiss toads? Our family is small and we all reside in the Bay"

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