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Post by The Smith on Sept 10, 2013 21:34:05 GMT -5
A large feast is laid for the late king, and no music plays in the near silent rooms.
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Post by Marie on Sept 11, 2013 4:58:03 GMT -5
The Hightowers arrive. Annara looked dramatic in black velvet trimmed with silver, the darkness setting off her pale skin and bright hair. Gwayne, standing beside her, was sober in a black satin doublet and plain black breeches.
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Post by Tynian Lannister on Sept 11, 2013 5:21:51 GMT -5
Lord Gerion Lannister arrives, with his wife Winifred and son Aurane Lannister as part of his retinue. The intervening 10 years have added a few streaks of silver to his cropped golden hair, and a few pounds around the waist, but he is still a stocky, well-built man of 42. His eyes scan the area and alight on Annara Hightower. The years had scarcely touched her and he smiled at her enduring beauty.
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Post by Marie on Sept 11, 2013 5:45:13 GMT -5
Annara turned to smile politely at the lord. She was curious about the Lannister lord, having recalled his former interest in her some years back. Gwayne, seeing her looking at the Lannisters, whispered a query, to which she responded briefly. She glided forward, her son at her side.
"Lord Lannister. It has been some time. Have you met my eldest, Sir Gwayne?"
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Post by Flex on Sept 11, 2013 6:33:40 GMT -5
Aurane chuckled. "If it's not a woman then my father doesn't care, Lady Hightower. Sorry if that seems blunt." He smirked. If he could embarrass his father in public, he would. But also was it the truth. Only lie when you need to.
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Post by Marie on Sept 11, 2013 7:48:53 GMT -5
Annara raised an eyebrow, but Gwayne burst out laughing. Annara frowned slightly at her son's merriment - it was, after all, a funeral. She had been intending to use the introduction as a pretext for renewing the acquaintance.
"I take no offence, ser," she told Aurane. "I was merely going to remark that your father and I have something in common now - sons grown to manhood. That is not all our houses have in common. My daughter Isabel fosters at the Eyrie. I believe your brother fosters there also?"
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Post by Flex on Sept 11, 2013 8:46:13 GMT -5
Aurane frowned. "Aye. It has been ten years since I saw him. Didn't even get the chance to say goodbye properly." He glared at his father.
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Post by Marie on Sept 11, 2013 8:54:50 GMT -5
"That is unfortunate," Annara said with genuine compassion, remembering her own goodbyes with her children. "But perhaps you will see your brother again soon? I have been hoping Lord Royce brings his fosterlings with him."
Gwayne, who hadn't met the Lannisters before, frowned as he tried to imagine a father who did not allow goodbyes between siblings.
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Post by Flex on Sept 11, 2013 10:11:40 GMT -5
Aurane swiftly pulled his arm away, not wanting to touch his mother. She would not use him as a tool.
"Perhaps I will..." His eyes scanned the hall in a predatory way.
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Post by Marie on Sept 11, 2013 10:23:30 GMT -5
"Yes, Gwayne is my eldest and heir to the Hightower," Annara repeated.
Gwayne, sensing something was not right between the Lannisters, dutifully took Winifred's hand and pressed a very gentle kiss to her fingers. "That's Ser Gwayne, Mother," he scolded lightly. "This is...Lady Lannister, I assume?"
"Yes, my love. I hope you are right about Lord Royce, Lady Lannister. I long to see my daughter again."
A glance passed between mother and son before Gwayne gently smiled at Winifred and said "Would you consent to walk with me, Lady Lannister? I am but newly knighted. A knight must have a lady, and since I've none yet, and my mother will not do...perhaps you would oblige me just for this one day?"
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Post by Flex on Sept 11, 2013 10:33:52 GMT -5
Aurane rolled his eyes and went to explore the hall.
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Post by Marie on Sept 11, 2013 10:41:33 GMT -5
"Your daughter Isabel will have to meet my daughter, Amelia," Lady Winifred told Lady Annara. "Amelia is twelve years old, so I believe they are of the same age. Right now Amelia is somewhere else with Aurane's wife Doreah and his daughter Teirney, but they will be back presently. I am sure they will be pleased to meet Isabel when she returns to the city." Winifred looks pleasantly surprised at Ser Gwayne's courteous offer. "Well, I shall be happy to take a turn around the room with you, ser." She slipped her arm into his and began to walk with him. "I will look forward to introducing our daughters," Annara informed Winifred. "I have not met your son's wife either. I am sure both she and your own daughter are very charming." She broke off as Winifred accepted Gwayne's arm and looked to Gerion "My lord, now that my son has offered himself as escort to your wife, perhaps you might take a turn with me?" Gwayne smiled down at Winifred. He couldn't say why but he wasn't happy about his mother's evident wish to speak to Lord Lannister, and thus vowed not to stray too far from them. "My lady, are you quite well? Your son did not seem very solicitous of your well-being. I would be ashamed if I could not take good care of my own mother." |
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Post by Tynian Lannister on Sept 11, 2013 11:00:56 GMT -5
"Your daughter Isabel will have to meet my daughter, Amelia," Lady Winifred told Lady Annara. "Amelia is twelve years old, so I believe they are of the same age. Right now Amelia is somewhere else with Aurane's wife Doreah and his daughter Teirney, but they will be back presently. I am sure they will be pleased to meet Isabel when she returns to the city." Winifred looks pleasantly surprised at Ser Gwayne's courteous offer. "Well, I shall be happy to take a turn around the room with you, ser." She slipped her arm into his and began to walk with him. "I will look forward to introducing our daughters," Annara informed Winifred. "I have not met your son's wife either. I am sure both she and your own daughter are very charming." She broke off as Winifred accepted Gwayne's arm and looked to Gerion "My lord, now that my son has offered himself as escort to your wife, perhaps you might take a turn with me?" Gwayne smiled down at Winifred. He couldn't say why but he wasn't happy about his mother's evident wish to speak to Lord Lannister, and thus vowed not to stray too far from them. "My lady, are you quite well? Your son did not seem very solicitous of your well-being. I would be ashamed if I could not take good care of my own mother." "I am...sorry for my son's comments" Gerion replied with a frown, as he offered his arm to Lady Annara, as they walked off together though near his wife & her son. "He has all the vigour and energy of youth, without the wisdom and experience that age brings and can often speak out of turn, without thinking. He will learn, as we all do" he said stiffly as he looked back at his heir. After the briefest of glances he returned his gaze to his companion and allowed it to linger appreciatively. "May I say, my lady, that the intervening years have only added to your beauty. I can scarely believe you have born 3 children, or that your oldest is now a man grown. Each one seemed of my own seemed to take it's toll on my wife. I think she lacks your...fortitude" he continued. "Lord Lothar is a fortunate man indeed" he replied, his hand lingering a little on her own as he brought her arm to link his his own. |
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Post by Marie on Sept 11, 2013 11:02:18 GMT -5
If Winifred was bothered by Annara walking with her husband, she did not show it. Perhaps the last decade had brought about a cynicism that the younger Winifred had not possessed. She laughed lightly at Ser Gwayne's question. "We are quite well, thank you, my dear ser. It is gallant of you to ask, but really we are a terribly unemotional family, I'm afraid. To outsiders we appear cold, but that is just our culture in the west. We are not very demonstrative. Aurane is a good and dutiful son who takes tender care of me. Of course, I have no doubt you are a very good son as well, though Far Reach customs differ from our own. Are you the only son in your family?" The young knight smiled. "Not at all, my lady. My mother gave my father three sons and three daughters, all of them younger than me. Gareth is squiring for Lord Tyrell. It will be time to find Lancel a lord or knight to squire for soon enough, but he remains at the Hightower with the girls for now, and several of their cousins too." He paused to halt a servant and took a cup of wine from the man, who hovered as he waited to see if Winifred would take a cup as well. "My family is perhaps a little more demonstrative than your own, my lady. Mother seems cold in public, sometimes, but that is her pride. She has a great deal of it, unfortunately, and it grips her hard. She is much warmer in private. I hope you will not think badly of her - I believe she has an eye towards fostering one of the younger children with your lord husband. But such matters are not my concern, fortunately." He saluted her with his wine glass. "Shall we drink a toast?" |
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Post by Marie on Sept 11, 2013 11:06:13 GMT -5
"I am...sorry for my son's comments" Gerion replied with a frown, as he offered his arm to Lady Annara, as they walked off together though near his wife & her son. "He has all the vigour and energy of youth, without the wisdom and experience that age brings and can often speak out of turn, without thinking. He will learn, as we all do" he said stiffly as he looked back at his heir. After the briefest of glances he returned his gaze to his companion and allowed it to linger appreciatively. "May I say, my lady, that the intervening years have only added to your beauty. I can scarely believe you have born 3 children, or that your oldest is now a man grown. Each one seemed of my own seemed to take it's toll on my wife. I think she lacks your...fortitude" he continued. "Lord Lothar is a fortunate man indeed" he replied, his hand lingering a little on her own as he brought her arm to link his his own. "He in indeed," Annara agreed with a private little smile. "And he knows it. But I am fortunate too, very much so. I shall not forget it. I thank you for your kindness," she said easily. "But you are mistaken. I have six children now. I have been lucky, indeed, to keep my figure." She looked after Winifred. "I have seen many women who handle their years worse than your wife, my lord. I am sure you are lucky to have her. She seems a gentle soul." |
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Hope you all are well and happy.
Feb 9, 2021 15:35:26 GMT -5
Hope you all are well and happy.
Feb 9, 2021 15:35:26 GMT -5