[D4, MA] Reunited (Closed-ish)

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

[ooc: This thread is mostly for Edmund and Corrine, but others may join in if they want (and if they have reason to do so)]

Wanting to stretch her legs between rounds at the jousting, Corrine steps out for a stroll. As she is admiring the surroundings, she spots a familiar face, though it had grown older and a bit rougher since she had last seen it. The sight nevertheless fills her with unbridled joy, and she scampers, childlike, over to her former partner in mischief.

"
Edmund!"
she cries happily, flinging her arms around him with more momentum than one would expect of a demure, dainty noble lady.

Squinting through the afternoon sun, Edmund shields his eyes with his hand as a soft breeze causes the banners around the tourney grounds to flutter slightly. In between tilts, there is not much for him to do, other than keep an eye on the proceedings.

Suddenly, he hears a familiar voice cry out his name, and he turns to be enveloped in a great hug. A wide smile spreads across his face reflexively when he see Corrine's face.

"
Corrie!"
he says with a start. "
By the Seven, it's good to see you."
Pulling back from the hug and holding both her hands as he looks her up and down, he is flooded with a slew of childhood adventures with Corrine. "
You haven't changed a bit. Just a tad taller."
Continuing to smile, he shakes his head, "
I can't believe I've found you, it's been devilish trying to track you down. This tourney is huge!"

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

She grins broadly, also appraising him.

"
You've gotten... beardier. Yes, the entire castle is enormous! I didn't know you would be here! It is so good to see you again!"


She calms down a moment, remembering why he went away.

"
Did you find Mikael?"

[Gwyneth Drakeson]

Right then, as if on cue, Gwyneth was passing not far off, searching the crowds of people for something or someone. She spotted Corrine across the way and brightened, giving her cousin a wave. Then she seemed to make a decision, and headed over.

"
Corrine! I know I asked already, but since then have you happened to see..."


She broke off, realizing that Corrie was speaking with someone. Coming up a bit short she lifted an eyebrow.

"
Sorry. Am I interrupting anything?"

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

Corrine turned to greet Gwyn before Edmund could answer, and smiled in greeting.

"
Hello Gwyn! Look who I've found!"
she grinned, assuming Gwyn would also recognise him.

[Gwyneth Drakeson]

Gwyneth gave Corrine a quizzical look, then approached closer to see the man she was talking to more closely.

A moment later she squealed, "
MUNDY!!"
and rocketed over to grab him in a monstrous hug! "
You're BACK!"

"
Hi, Gwyn."
Edmund said returning the embrace, his wide grin fading a bit as he let out a quiet, subdued laugh. He glanced at Corrine with a knowing, more serious look on his face before pulling back and putting his hands on Gwyneth's shoulders. "
It's really good to see you, Gwyn."
He looked back at Corrine, with a smile, "
Both of you."

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

"
And you too, Edmund,"
Corrine smiled, though she noticed the slight awkwardness in Edmund's demeanour.

Is that just because of the interruption, or does it mean bad news? she wondered.

She glanced between him and Gwyn, not sure whether to continue with her line of questioning, or let Gwyn chat with him on lighter matters first.

[Gwyneth Drakeson]

Gwyn settled back and smiled at him.

"
So how was Essos? Was it amazing? You must tell us everything."

He smiled a lop-sided grin and nodded, "
It was. Essos is a beautiful place, Gwyn."


The grin faded some and in a more serious tone, he continued, "
It is also an immensely vast place."


He looked around him, the crowds were thick with movement as people moved in between tilts. Edmund hadn't seen Baelon in a while and wasn't entirely sure where he was, but he didn't have a sense that anything was eminent. He thought, Gods. Not here, not amongst the crowds.

His eyes took in a tree not far from Baelon's tent and gear, it was wide and low and looked to provide some shade. Looking back and forth between both Corrine and Gwyneth, he motioned with his head towards the tree, trying to add some energy to his tone, "
The sun is really bearing down on me after being out here so long. What's say we go sit in the shade, where it's a bit more quiet?"

[Gwyneth Drakeson]

"
That sounds wonderful,"
Gwyn agrees...and she finally takes pity on the poor boy and puts a hand on his arm. More quietly she says, "
I know you didn't find him. I still want to hear what you have to say, but...you don't have to worry about breaking the bad news."

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

Corrine followed, and Gwyn's words to Edmund saddened her.

Well, at least it explains the awkwardness.

Once they were under the shade of the tree, away from the crowds, she broached the bext logical question;


"
Have you told Dyana?"

Leaning against the tree where he could still see Baelon's tent, he looked at Corrine, "
Yes, I told her last night. I happened across her in the Great Hall - she took it hard."
He cocked his head back to Gwyneth, "
I assume that's how you heard?"


"
I'm sorry, Gwyn."
he shook his head slightly, with a slight laugh, "
I'm so tired of saying that."


"
There was no trace once we left Braavos. We chased a half dozen rumors...and back again, and...nothing. Just nothing."

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

Corrine sighed sadly.

"
Well, you did your best, Edmund."


She patted his arm gently.

[Gwyneth Drakeson]

Gwyn nodded. There was a sadness in her eyes, but it was an old sadness;
a wound long since scabbed over.

"
It means everything that you went, and that you tried. I've made my peace with my father's fate some time ago. I miss him still, but I know I shall not see him again."


She sighed. "
I'm sure Dyana took it harder."

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

"
I'm sorry, Gwyn,"
Corrine said softly. "
If there's anything I can do, for you or Dyana, I'm here."

Edmund exhales a deep breath and lets silence sit between them for a moment. The breeze and the shade are cool, and the leaves gently sway and rustle around them. The grounds are packed with people, bustling about;
knights yelling and horses stomping. Here, for a moment, under this tree, it is simply calm.

A smile begins to cross over his face, as he is looking down at the ground, caught in nostalgia. He looks back and forth between the two, "
Corrie, remember the time I got you to lock Nan in the larder?"

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

His question awakens a memory that brings Corrine a smile through her melancholy. She chuckles at the recollection;


"
Oh Gods, yes! She was furious! She couldn't decide if she was angrier at me for doing it, or you for talking me into it. Sorry for giving you up under questioning, by the way. You know how intimidating she could be when she was angry."

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