[D5, LM] Spouses who needs them? (Closed-ish)

As the group departs from Daveth's meeting tent, Ben bids the group farewell. He gives Corrine a quick embrace before telling Yoren he would meet him after his visit to Warrior's Seat. Then hurries to catch Lady Gwyn.

"
Gwyn."
He winces at his lack of formal title. "
Lady Gwyn."
He drops his head, eyes closed, in further disbelief of yet another oversight. He raises his chin with a small chuckle. "
Lady Drakeson, may I escort you where ever it is you are going? I thought we might have a word."

"
Yes, best to start with words. Entire sentences seem to be giving you troubles at the moment,"
she jested lightly in reply, then offered him her arm. He really was rather adorable...still a boy, trying hard to be a man. "
Benedict..."
she said his name, sans title, with none of the self-consciousness he had, "
...it's only a scandal if you act like it is. Otherwise most people will assume you have your reasons and move on to something more interesting."


"
Now, what words can I possibly offer that would tear the very busy Lord Marsten away from his many duties?"

He blushes slightly at both her words and arm being intertwined with his. It was the closest they had been since his own secret wedding.

"
Well, on my behalf its hard to remember to separate the curious young woman I knew so long ago at Hartshorn from the beautiful new Lady of house Drakeson."


With a bit of his composure regained he manages to garner a playful grin.

"
I believe these people could care less of any scandal our meeting might present, given their current situation. But it is not their situation I wish to talk of.

It seems your Lord husband and my own Lady wife have come to a struggle of egos and failure to see their common ground. I thought perhaps we may ..."
he pauses admiring her attentive look. "
... help them find that common ground again."


Even if I had not married Corrine and she not Baelon, she would still have not been mine.

Gwyn nodded slightly to herself as Benedict talked, her own thoughts skewing off on their own. She and Baelon had already had words on the subject, though she wasn't sure if it would have much effect just yet. The situation was more complicated than just clashing egos. But she was curious to know Ben's take on things before she went and muddied the waters.

"
You speak as one who already has the beginnings of a plan in mind,"
she remarked. "
What's your idea?"

"
Plan?"
He laughs lightly. "
This battlefield is not my area of expertise."
he runs through the numerous failed ideas in his mind.

"
I can speak with her and we could move on. But we need to mend not bandage this wound or it will fester like this very one we deal with now."
And I feel you and Corrine will lose the most from that. Without knowing and sharing each others minds we can never have a commonality to work towards. Shall we establish where the problem lies before solving it?"

"
It's easy enough. The problem is trust. The forces working here are deep, and subtle, and devious. These are qualities Baelon doesn't entirely believe Corrine has the experience and mindset to see through. He's very concerned that, in her quest for justice, she will fall prey to the many manipulations being used. Similarly, Corrine doesn't trust him not to put his own ambitions and politics above the truth of the matter, and the pursuit of justice."


Gwyn sighs. "
And it doesn't help that he's being a bit of an ass about it, I admit. I've spoken to him about that."

One brow rises as the other falls in an inquisitive look. "
I rather assumed Baelon's problem ran as deep, and while I admit the thought of Baelon putting his ambitions and politics ahead had occurred to me, I never voiced it to Corrine and she has not expressed those thoughts to me. Though after what Bruce has told us that may have changed."


Shaking his head he continues. "
This is why I felt it best we share our input first. Trust may be a tentacle of this beast we need to cull, but not the head or heart for house Marsten. That lack of trust in Corrine's abilities has been evident in both attempts of support and defense. If it is evident to us it is evident to other houses. Leading them to think Corrine incompetent."


"
The lack of experience and mindset may have some merit, but she does not rule without advice and council, apart of which you were both to have roll in, in the past. His doubt extends to all of those who serve as her advisors still. What makes him think she would not seek his council when needed is another problem."


Ben sighs the stress showing through. He smiles weakly but sincerely. The last thing he wanted to see happen was these two loving cousins become estranged over misunderstandings.

"
I can tell you she would have have sought your advice and Baelon's before any final or major decisions in the end, until most recently."

"
To his mind, it's better simply to avoid the problem entirely...discover the truth that lies beneath, and THEN present it to her. Even if doing so means he may need to frustrate her some in making her wait."


She pauses for a moment, assembling words in her head. "
I don't always agree with how he does things,"
Gwyn finally says, "
But...there is reason behind what he does. It's not all about lacking faith in Corrine, nor you. It's not necessarily about thinking she'll make bad decisions, or not consult with us first. It's that she is simply too trusting in her eyes and ears. I tell you, Ben, what we've seen...someone who knows how investigation works, someone who understands how people think when they seek the truth of things, has laid traps for us. Information that seems incontrovertible, facts carefully placed to lead to a conclusion that seems foregone. In looking deeper, some of those certainties melt away, but if it was all brought to light too soon, the damage would be done. We are carefully being led, like cattle to a slaughterhouse. And Corrine, in her innocent and beautiful desire to keep the peace, plays straight into the wiles of the one who laid this path out before us."


Gwyn looks away and put a hand on Ben's arm. "
We need more time. We have leads, and it's going well enough. We'll have the information ready before the time comes to make our final presentation to the crown. What we've found isn't like the wildfire in one important respect. It's not a looming emergency. It won't become one until the wrong person starts spreading the wrong words. Stopping that before it begins is paramount, which is why we're being so careful."


"
If you can't trust Baelon...can you trust me?"

DAMN IT! The one thing he feared from this endeavor to set things right. Of course I trust you.

"
Yes."
Casually spoken as if to confirm her trust or possibly agree with her statements, but surely she knew. "
I did not wish to argue the rights and wrongs. I am sorry if it appeared so. My only goal was to reconcile our houses, before it is to late."


Tick. Tick. Tick...

Ben wished to tell her how Baelon's word frustrated him, especially those to Bruce. They way Baelon's arrogance pricked at his simple soul. How there obessive scheming and shadows was driving them from the hearts of those who loved them. But he knew they had a chance to find the hand that set these peices even if it came at a high price.

"
Before today, I'd have told you that you were worrying too much,"
Gwyneth sighed. "
That passions of the moment may run high, but that it was nothing more than a passing thing. But Corrine today surprised me with her venom."


She thought, then nodded. "
You and Corrine, and Baelon and I need to meet. Privately. Corrine and Baelon need to have this out, and you and I need to be on hand to try to keep the peace. In the process, I hope to put some of your fears about us to rest. And perhaps you can put some of our fears to rest as well?"

(ooc: Waiting on some outside guidance. I am having problems reconciling my ooc and IC and not in the usual way. Perhaps a ooc conversation between us all may right the ship. We can lay out what goal we intend to reach if any and then figured out how get there IC if possible.)

"
A meeting is only logical, but still has potential to backfire. I fear our emotional attachments to our spouses may also lead to problems."
As well as other attachments. "
I would suggest a neutral party, but as things have played out I find that there is no such thing. So roll the dice. When and where?"


Ben is clearly irritated with the situation.

(ooc: I find Ben's actions slightly ooc, but if others are willing to flex and push through this I am.)

"
Well, we're not going to get anywhere not meeting,"
Gwyn points out wryly. "
Come to my pavilion sometime tomorrow. Lets say...for breakfast? Sharing food and drink often helps defuse things, I find."

"
Aye, we will be there."
with a rushing exhale Ben releases his frustration.

His jaw unclinching as it moves to look on Gwyn, he smiles. "
These last few years have been like sailing unknown waters. Discovering fantastic new things, but facing the many dangers of the uncharted waters."