The Grand Ball of the Red Keep

[Flex]

Thatcher's jaw tightened and he took a step back. "No, milady. I apologize if I have offended you." He stood back from the chair, hands by his side. "Shall I find your husband, milady?"

[Elyssa Stark]

She wondered what she might have said for such a reaction. "I'm sorry if I offended you, I truly am! I just wondered..." Her hands rose from her lap and she began to wring them anxiously.

[Flex]

"Again, there is no need to apologise," Thatcher stated. "If it would put your mind at rest, milady, I was merely admiring your features."

[Elyssa Stark]

"O-oh!" She said, her hands flying to her cheeks. The red stain of a blush was already coming across her features. Joanna was hardly considered a great beauty. She had been called pretty from time to time, if she had her hair dressed just so, and her husband seemed well pleased with her, but still, to be admired was not something she was used to. "Well, thank you, ser. You're so very kind to say."

[Flex]

Thatcher gave a stiff nod. "I am pleased you appreciate my compliment. I should return to patrolling the hall." He bowed again and walked off.

[Elyssa Stark]

Joanna nodded to him as he stalked away, trying to keep her eyes on her hands and not allowing them to follow him out. She sat there, in the chair away from the larger part of the crowd, until she could sit there no longer. She got to her feet suddenly and left the hall, keeping her eyes down as she tried not to look as though she were fleeing.

[Ollie]

Sept 7, 2013 1:05:48 GMT -5 Ser Leyton Hightower said:

Sept 7, 2013 0:50:56 GMT -5 Ollie said:

Damian's eyes narrowed slightly, unsure if he was being teased. Ser Lorren didn't seem that type of man though, and the young Royce had to admit that perhaps his lord father was sort of famous. He was Lord of the Vale after all.

"Alright, deal," Damian smiles. "But... you go first."

"Very well." Ser Lorren agreed, his face passive. He ran his fingers through his short dark hair as he thought. "What was it you wished to know? The matter of participation in the tournament? That is simple enough; I will be competing, as befits me as a knight. We're good for precious else in peacetime, you know." he smiled lightly before continuing. "The hightower is even higher than words can describe, and Oldtown is wide and mighty. It's much more...civilized than King's Landing as well. The odors are, for the most part, quite bearable. You mustn't take my word for it though, you should come see for yourself when you are older. I am sure my brother would welcome you most graciously, there has never been any cause for enmity between our houses that I can think of. As for the Maesters, I cannot say. I have been to the Citadel and have never seen them perform the magic you speak of, yet it entirely possible that they keep such skills secret." Lorren shrugged, his face as calm as ever. "So, Ser Damian, now it is your turn. What is your father like? Is his a personality you would seek to emulate or learn from?"

Damian listened with rapt attention to the knight. He hadn't admitted that the maesters learned to work magic, but he hadn't exactly said they didn't learn it either. The young Royce privately wondered if maybe Ser Lorren was keeping a secret himself. There could be dragons or grumpkins hidden away in the citadel for he knew. His Maester Aldwyn did seem to be very smart (if a little boring), who could say what he had learned?

"Oh," Damian started, coming back from his thoughts.

"Father is..." he struggled to find the words. "... the wisest man I know. He sees an awful lot, for someone who's blind." Damian wondered for a moment if he ought to speak of Lord Bayard in such a way, but he supposed it was only the truth. "He even knew about the time I snuck out and rode all the way down to the Bloody Gate by myself to watch the squire's tourney. I didn't tell anyone!"

[Ser Leyton Hightower]

Sept 7, 2013 20:36:40 GMT -5 Ollie said:

Sept 7, 2013 1:05:48 GMT -5 Ser Leyton Hightower said:

"Very well." Ser Lorren agreed, his face passive. He ran his fingers through his short dark hair as he thought. "What was it you wished to know? The matter of participation in the tournament? That is simple enough; I will be competing, as befits me as a knight. We're good for precious else in peacetime, you know." he smiled lightly before continuing. "The hightower is even higher than words can describe, and Oldtown is wide and mighty. It's much more...civilized than King's Landing as well. The odors are, for the most part, quite bearable. You mustn't take my word for it though, you should come see for yourself when you are older. I am sure my brother would welcome you most graciously, there has never been any cause for enmity between our houses that I can think of. As for the Maesters, I cannot say. I have been to the Citadel and have never seen them perform the magic you speak of, yet it entirely possible that they keep such skills secret." Lorren shrugged, his face as calm as ever. "So, Ser Damian, now it is your turn. What is your father like? Is his a personality you would seek to emulate or learn from?"

Damian listened with rapt attention to the knight. He hadn't admitted that the maesters learned to work magic, but he hadn't exactly said they didn't learn it either. The young Royce privately wondered if maybe Ser Lorren was keeping a secret himself. There could be dragons or grumpkins hidden away in the citadel for he knew. His Maester Aldwyn did seem to be very smart (if a little boring), who could say what he had learned?

"Oh," Damian started, coming back from his thoughts.

"Father is..." he struggled to find the words. "... the wisest man I know. He sees an awful lot, for someone who's blind." Damian wondered for a moment if he ought to speak of Lord Bayard in such a way, but he supposed it was only the truth. "He even knew about the time I snuck out and rode all the way down to the Bloody Gate by myself to watch the squire's tourney. I didn't tell anyone!"

"I see." Ser Lorren nodded. "That is impressive indeed. Perhaps you needn't concern yourself with the alleged magics of the Archmaesters; your own father seems more than capable of working a little magic of his own. Yet I must allow you to go, young Ser. I have taken up far too much of your time, and I am sure there are many ladies here who seek to converse with you." Ser Lorren grinned, to show he was jesting. After a second of thought however, the grin vanished from his face, and he spoke again, in a somber tone. "But beware, young Ser, that you do not follow in my example with the damsels. The road to marriage should be one of your choosing, not that of your brother or father. I am afraid I did not appreciate that until I was shackled." Ser Lorren's face showed weariness for a moment before his emotionless mask returned. "But," he said, allowing a brief smile. "I am sure you have more important concerns tonight than those of an aged knight such as myself. Go, young Ser Damian, and be merry, for that is surely the duty of all gathered here tonight."

[The Smith]

Sept 7, 2013 2:09:15 GMT -5 Lord Gareth Hightower said:

Lothar smiled at his wife, his good humor restored. He gave the Willfyre girl a curt nod as courtesy demanded at an event such as this and then led his wife towards Lord Tyrell. As they approached, Lothar noted that Tyrell was speaking to a man clearly in his cups, whom he quickly recognised as the Lord of Casterly Rock. His top lip curled in distaste.

"Lord Bertram." he said calmly, ignoring the Lannister lord. "May I offer my congratulations to you and your family. A lovely bride."

Lord Bertram smiled at the Hightowers, "Indeed. My family has grown... large that is true."

[Lord Gareth Hightower]

"And will grow larger no doubt, when the happy couple do their duty and provide heirs to the realm." replied Lothar. "Lack of suitable heirs can cause some.....instability. On the other hand too many can pose their own set of problems."

[The Smith]

"My daughter will do her duty, of that you can have no doubt." He smiled at Lother, and raised the scented bag of rose petals to his nose. "Are you having a problem with your heir?"

[Prince Evan Martell]

Sept 7, 2013 18:08:17 GMT -5 Elyssa Stark said:

Joanna nodded to him as he stalked away, trying to keep her eyes on her hands and not allowing them to follow him out. She sat there, in the chair away from the larger part of the crowd, until she could sit there no longer. She got to her feet suddenly and left the hall, keeping her eyes down as she tried not to look as though she were fleeing.

Evan saw the young woman leaving in such a hurry. He excused himself from Lord Tully and decided to follow her. He politely to touched her arm,"My Lady, what is your hurry?"

"Is there something wrong?"

[Elyssa Stark]

Joanna tensed as the young man touched her arm. "Goodness, no," she stammered. "Nothing is wrong. I am just..." She shook her head, clearly agitated and doing her best to not seem so.

[Prince Evan Martell]

He stared at her, removing his hand. "I have sisters, I can usually tell when something is wrong with a woman." His brown eyes could see she was agitated,"I even had a wife..... Once."

"I apologize", he nodded,"I didn't introduce myself, I am Prince Evan Martell." He stood tall looking down at the young lady. The colors of her clothes and her skin tone,"she is from the North", he thought. 

[Elyssa Stark]

When he said "prince" Joanna's eyes almost popped out of her skull until she remembered the Dornishmen, so far to the south that they seemed another nation entirely, kept that title for their reigning nobility. "I am Lady Joanna Stark." Calmly, she told herself. Calmly. "I just don't like crowds, is all."