The Docks at White Harbor

[Elyssa Stark]

Where the men who bring commerce to the north moor their vessels.

[Elyssa Stark]

Elyssa Stark and her escort from Winterfell waited for the ships to return from the wars. Her brothers had been gone a long, long time, but she and Torrhen had done well enough on their own. Winterfell was still standing, at least. She smirked at the thought. Of course it still stood.

Garbed in a well-tailored dress of Stark grey, sewn with thread of silver on the white silk guarding at the neck and sleeves, she watched as faraway ships grew steadily larger and larger. She squinted and shaded her eyes against the sun, shifting her feet impatiently and trying to make out the sigils flying from the tops of the sails. Was that them?

[Erik]

The banners do indeed fly the direwolf of House Stark. The returning soldiers crowd about the bows as the ships pull in. Eirek is the first off, wrapping his sister in a bear hug. "Elyssa! You've grown. How have the last few years treated you?"

[Flex]

Ser Damon was a short while behind, waiting at a respectful distance. He wore simply clothes in dark red and has placed his bags beside him. He looked at the Stark sister and quickly glanced away, shy about how pretty she was.

[Tallahar]

Damin disembarks of the ship and follows Eirek down to his sister chuckling as he seizes her in a great bear hug, "Take care you'll crush the girl Eirek."

[Elyssa Stark]

Elyssa grinned girlishly as she embraced her brothers one after the other. "It's you that'll crush me, Damin!" she gasped when he set her down. "I've been well. You'll find Winterfell just as you left it, if not better. I'm glad you made it back safely, brothers!" She eyed the walkway connecting the ship to the dock, noticing the man in red. "Where is Edric?" she asked, her heart growing heavy with worry that he hadn't made it back from the war. "And who is that?"

[Edric Stark]

Edric's direwolf followed soon after Eirek and Damin, looking very grumpy either from the journey or the fact that he'd been abandoned. He looked around and went over to Elyssa for the lack of a better place at the moment.

[Elyssa Stark]

Elyssa greeted the wolf, scratching behind his ears just so. A gnawing feeling grew in the pit of her stomach. Edric never went anywhere without the wolf. "Well?"

[Erik]

"Edric has chosen to go to King's Landing for a time. I'm not sure how long. This," Eirek gestured to their Lannister guest, "Is Ser Damon Lannister, son of Lord Aurane. He wishes to see the beauty of our lands." In a low voice, he added, "And his father seems to think you two would make a fine match."

[Elyssa Stark]

"Oh," said Elyssa, feeling relieved. Her eyes rose again to the man in red, then darted back to her brother.

She spoke softly and furtively to her brother, so that her words were unlikely to be overheard. "So you went to war and brought me back a husband?" There was a hint of acid in her otherwise pleasant tone. She didn't bother to hide the fact that she was looking Ser Damon over. He could easily assume that the lowered voices and hushed conversation concerned him. "And a Lannister. You would give me to that family?"

[Erik]

"It would have been taken as a slight if I did not at least give him a chance. I'll not marry you off to any man you hate, have no fear."

[Flex]

Damon waited patiently, not looking at the siblings as they reunited. It would be rude to stare, and if anything he had been taught good manners. He would wait until introductions were made, though his hand already held the necklace.

[Erik]

"But where are my manners?" Eirek says in a louder voice, turning toward the knight. "Elyssa, this is Ser Damon Lannister, heir to Casterly Rock, and as brave a knight as any. Ser Damin, this is my sister, Elyssa Stark."

[Flex]

Ser Damon walked forward and gave a respectful bow and a smile to Elyssa, though it was a little nervous.

"I am honoured to finally meet you, my lady," He said, holding out the silver lion necklace. "I... I brought you a present."

[Elyssa Stark]

Elyssa could accept that. Maybe the young nervous-looking knight would have all the qualities the rest of his family lacked. He did have the usual Lannister good looks, and that had to count for something.

She curtseyed. "Well met, Ser Damon. I hope you will find the North to your liking."

As he presented her with the necklace, she could not restrain herself from smiling. "Thank you for the present. It's very pretty." She hesitated to take it, wondering if wearing the sign of his house would be entirely appropriate.