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Post by mark on Apr 4, 2008 21:36:53 GMT -5
Bret rose to his feet, bowed, and then retired to the hall and followed a guard who led him to his quarters.
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Post by The Stranger on Apr 4, 2008 21:58:00 GMT -5
///////////////////// That evening there was a feast. Several prominent Costayne knights were present, along with Lord Jon Costayne, his wife, Alyrie Blackbar, and their four daughters, Alyce, Alyasanne, Alys and Ameri, who are 19,17,15, and 13, respectively.
Alyce has the black hair of her mother, which is up in a bun. She is dressed in a relatively plain dress, the only splash of color is the red and green bow holding up her hair. While the other sisters are giggling amongst them selves, she is quietly surveying the crowd.
Ser Brett has been given a place of honor at her left side.
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Post by mark on Apr 4, 2008 22:00:06 GMT -5
Bret laughed and talked with Lord Costayne, but all the while his eye was on Alyce. She was even prettier than he had hoped, and appeared calm and poised even under his close watch.
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Post by The Stranger on Apr 4, 2008 22:05:41 GMT -5
She was mousey and quiet, but not unattractive. She was thin, and lithe, and held herself well. Her breasts were small, but she had a graceful neck like a swan, and long legs, along with hips which looked like they could bare children well enough. She said not a word, daintly cutting a piece of meat, and avoiding glancing at anyone in the face. One of her sisters poked her in the ribs with a soup spoon, and got an ugly look, but that was all.
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Post by mark on Apr 5, 2008 9:52:25 GMT -5
Bret had ate little but drank quite a bit. Leaning over towards Lord Costayne, he inquired as to if he could start the dancing by asking his daughter to dance.
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Post by The Stranger on Apr 5, 2008 13:31:42 GMT -5
Lord Costayne seemed delight at the suggestion, and clapped his hands with an order for the musicians to begin. As the band began to play, Alyce recoiled slightly,
"I am not much of a dancer I'm afraid ser." She says shyly.
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Post by mark on Apr 5, 2008 13:54:10 GMT -5
Bret smiled the smile only a confident, young, handsome knight could muster up. "Let me lead you, milady. You will be more elegant than any maiden in Westeros, I promise you," he said, his speech a little slurred from the wine, but taking her hand gently nonetheless.
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Post by The Stranger on Apr 5, 2008 14:06:06 GMT -5
Seemingly unsure, Alyce takes his hand, and follows him to the dance floor.
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Post by mark on Apr 5, 2008 15:22:08 GMT -5
After they had finish, Bret in high spirits. The dance had went well enough, from what he could tell; the wine was really starting to take its toll. He returned the girl to her seat and chose to sit beside her this time rather than return to the seat of honor.
"Was that so bad?" he asked Alyce, smiling.
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Post by The Stranger on Apr 5, 2008 15:27:22 GMT -5
"You are very graceful ser." she said quietly, "You must find it an asset on the battlefield. May I ask why you are here, and not with the army like my brother?"
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Post by mark on Apr 5, 2008 15:32:50 GMT -5
Bret frowned at the question. Is she insulting me? No, don't be stupid. Smiling, he jested, "What good is being with the army if there isn't going to be a fight? Oh, there may be one eventually, but not until the old men in King's Landing say their parts." Taking her hand, he said, "Trust me, if there were to be a battle coming soon, I would be there, slaying Dornishmen left and right."
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Post by The Stranger on Apr 5, 2008 16:24:15 GMT -5
"I should hope so." says Alyce, her nose raising a little bit in the air. "Perhaps I am filled with silly notions of chivalry from too many books, that is what father says, but even so, I do not intend to marry one who hangs back enjoying my father's chef, while others are in the freezing rain doing their duty."
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Post by mark on Apr 5, 2008 19:17:28 GMT -5
Bret laughed. "If you think your brother is standing guard duty in the rain, then you are a lackwit fool." He smiled to soften his harsh words and then continued, more gently. "Look, milady, where do you think the famous knights are? The great generals? The brave Lords? They are in King's Landing as we speak, feasting and drinking and talking themselves to death. There will be no battle for many months. If you wish to challenge my bravery on my account of taking a month leave to secure myself a marriage with a beautiful wife, then so be it, I am guilty." He ended by squeezing her hand and giving it a kiss.
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Post by The Stranger on Apr 5, 2008 19:36:42 GMT -5
She withdraws her hand hastily. "I am not a lackwit, or a fool. I will tell my father that I will not see you again, until you have won yourself some great honor on the field of battle." She sniffed, and turned her seat away from his.
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Post by mark on Apr 5, 2008 19:40:21 GMT -5
Bret, shocked, sat silent for a moment, before shrugging. "Suit yourself, princess. For that is what you think you are. I knew there had to be a reason that you were still not wed at your age. Oh, but don't worry, Princess Alyce. I will win some great honor, slip my sword into the bowels of some knight and watch his intestines and guts and heart fall out onto the dirty ground, watch the life go out of his eyes as he moans pitifully and asks for mercy and shits his pants, and then, just maybe, you might consider me chivalrous enough to wed." Rising, he returned to the seat of honor beside Lord Costayne, smiling and looking graceful as ever.
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