The Feast for Sara and Allard's Wedding

[eytank49752]

"I'll drink to that."

[Lilith Royce]

"I'm hoping soon to be toasting to the union of the lovely Daena Targaryen and my kinsman, Lord Breyn. She is a lovely young woman and I think she will be impressed by the gentler side of his nature, something so clear in his command of the romantic poetry of Valyria and Braavos. Pretty young things do so love the babble of love."

[Deleted]

Elane Royce seated herself beside Lilith and the Targaryens.

"Auntie!" she smiled and kissed her cheek. "It has been too long. " She glanced around the ballroom. "The lions have decked the place up all golden. Where are the bride and groom?"

[Lilith Royce]

"A good question indeed, shall we wander and see where they are?"

Lilith and Elane begin the search for their kinswoman Sara.

[Lord Rhodri Arryn]

Selwyn Stone arrived with his cousin Elayne. His mood is somber.

[Lilith Royce]

"Hail kinsman," Lilith greets Stone, "have you seen our bride?"

[Lord Rhodri Arryn]

"Not since arrival. I imagine she is drowning herself in wine. I would be in her place, certainly."

[Bunny-Rabbit]

Drinking to the couple Baldwin looked back to Lord Breyn, "How goes the war in the North? Have the Starks stirred at all? Have you thought how this war is going to end? I think we should have focused on Harrenhal, with out the Baratheon Line the rebels have no cause."

[Bunny-Rabbit]

Ser Piers Bettley reenters and catches his Lord's eye, giving him a slight nod. Then looking about the grand ballroom he sees Lilith talking to several of her family members.

Licking his lips, Piers walks up beside Lilith and wraps his arm around her waist. "Greetings Royces." Running his eyes up her dress he says, "That gown dazzles me, and to be honest scares me just a little."

The little golden cat caught Piers' eyes, he reveres the necklace for several moments. "You you wore my gift." Leaning back he again ran his eyes up and down her body, "Do you have my other gift with you?" Piers' smirk was large and confident.

[mohi13]

Marten Tully arrived later than he would've liked for the feast. The task of cleaning off the dust of hasty travel, and donning the garb for his first ceremony without cousin Jon proved to be more demanding than he had thought it would at first. The young squire had arrived earlier this morning with a few Royce men, bringing crates of plundered Reach fruits for the feast, wedding gifts for the bride and groom and a report for Lord Royce. As important as this task was, it took many shouting matches and a few secret crying bouts before Marten agreed to leave the side of his beloved master. And now, more than ever, he felt the gravity of his position.

The room was full of Royces (his strange and somewhat aloof liege lords from the mountains) and Lannisters (bedecked in gold as if it was as common as grass) and all the houses great and small that have placed their futures in their hands. But no Tullys. Tully was the enemy now, he kept telling himself. Yet in moments of weakness he found himself thinking of his sisters, and praying to the Mother to keep them safe always. Marten quickly shrugged off those thoughts. Those were the thoughts of little children. He was the squire of the greatest knight in the Vale, and perhaps beyond. One day, Jon would see his merit and knight him. When that day came, Marten would never leave Jon's side and fight all his battles with him, watching his back.

For now, he would be content to follow his orders.

"My lord. My lady." Marten bowed to bride and groom, smiling politely even at Allard despite the bad blood. "May your union be ever fruitful. I bring the regards and congratulations of Ser Jon Royce. He sends his blessings and is greatly disappointed that he could not attend the marriage personally, but matters of war and furthering the place of Houses Royce and Lannister amongst the Seven Kingdoms occupy him at present. Allow me to present you with his gifts."

For Sara, Jon had sent a small box of jewelery, the best pick from the bounties of his raids. For Allard, a fine dagger. It's twin was a gift for the Worm.

Giving his final salutations, Marten retreated and waited for Lord Royce to have some free time for him to give him his report. The raids were going well, though Jon thought that a clash with Tyrell forces would be eminent. Marten had also met Jon's father with the extra men sent to relieve him, and was glad for another sane and experienced counselor to rein in Jon's wildness.

[Deleted]

"Well met, Ser Piers," said Elane. "Did you give Auntie that necklace? I'm jealous. I have been searching for a good jeweller all over the Vale, but I fear that you excel in that. You don't lack for good gold in Lannisport, do you? Tell me of your best goldsmiths, good ser. I brought no wedding gift as fine as this, and I'd be thrilled to commission jewelry for myself and my cousin Lady Sara."

[Deleted]

Elane slipped her arm through Selwyn Stone's. "Coz, go see if you can find Sara and bring her here to us. I want to ask her what kind of ornament she wants. Normally people like to make a surprise present out of these things, but the gods know I have terrible taste in things like fashion and jewelry."

[OOC: The Modify button isn't working properly :S Although it could just be my laptop acting up]

[sara]

Sara wandered back into the room by the side door, hoping nobody had missed her. She had to get out for a little while, the wine was making her fell rather sick, she suspected she'd drunk far, far too much already.
Staggering slightly, she almost walked striaght into Elane, interuppting her cousin and brother's talk.
"Elane, Selwyn, how nice to see you here. You haven't seen Rhodri have you, I could see no sign of him at the wedding? And Jon, is there any news of Jon, last I heard he was still pillaging in the Reach."

[Lilith Royce]

Lilith laughed at Ser Piers's sally and introduced him to her family. The party was obviously getting late and the excellent wine had been flowing freely as all the guests were hanging off one another. The fabric of her gown was heavier than it looked, but even through the layers, she could feel the warmth of his arm. She was indeed a weak vessel but she turned first to business.

Elane was right to be worried about their bride. Sara had agreed to go through with the marriage for the family but was obviously wretched and inebriated. Such a state could make a woman either dangerous or vulnerable, neither a comfortable state at such a function.

"Ah there you are Sara," she said, "We Royces are proud indeed of their beautiful bride. You will be a remarkable consort to young Allard," she hoped her subtext sober up, young fool was coming across loud and clear.

"Elane, why don't you keep our lovely bride company? It is always good for young women to have kin around them at a time like this." Elane was both sensible and talented, a good combination. "Sara, what would you like for a wedding present from your cousin?"

Lilith then smiled sweetly at Selwyn, hanging on to Elane, looking a bit drunker than she suspected and hope he was. "And why don't you and Martin help our bride find her groom?" She fixed a glance at Tully, another dangerous creature as he was boon companion to her beloved but wretchedly hotheaded kinsman Jon. He was no coward, though, to show his fish face amongst the lions. "And make sure the only weapon unsheathed tonight is the one appropriate to the bridal chamber."

Lud, she wished this night with all its tensions would end. Family, royal obligations and desire were an uneasy combination.

"I need to make sure of my Valyrian companions' comfort before we adjourn for the evening so I will wish you all a goodnight." She hugged Sara tightly, the world was so hard on young women raised to be gentle but with hearts that raged, "And do take this handerkerchief with lemon salts, it helps clear the heads."

She hugged Elane, touched Selwyn and Martin Tully light on the shoulder, and bid them a fond good night. She then turned brightly to Piers.

"Come help me get my golden flock off to bed. They will be impressed by my having acquired such a dashing Lannister flirt."

[Axell Lannister]

Re entering the room, Steffen catches the eye of Selwyn Stone, who turns his head away pointedly. Annoyed, he scans the room, before spotting a Royce woman he had not noticed before, standing by the bride. Approaching her, he bows,
"My lady I dont believe we have met?" Not an attractive one, the worm mused. Still, she looks intelligent