[Day 2 - Early Afternoon] Hunting with Gwyneth and Ellie (C)

Dunstan laughed together with Elie as no less than ten guards surrounded them when they made their way to the stables. It was a time for a hunt and apparently Yve or somebody else thought of it as a dangerous event and tripled the escort.
Dunstan helped Elie up her horse when he spotted Gwyneth Marsten in there as well.
Helping her to climb a horse as well, he checked their saddles pretending to be an expert and climbed on Balerion the courser himself.

"
Must be my lucky day! Me and you two ladies going out hunting!"
Dunstan said as they rode out and the stone walls of the castle disappeared behind them and green fields appeared in front of them.

They seemed to enjoy each other's company. Laughing and making jokes on the guards account it is visible Dunstan considered this day to be a field trip and not a competition.

As they unmounted from their horses to sit down and have lunch next to the lake, Dunstan jumped up suddenly. Disappearing in the bushes for a while he came back with a rabbit in his hands!

OOC: Open to Gwyneth and Dunstan only. Maybe Ben can join us for rp too after he finishes his rolls?

Gwyneth clapped applause for Dunstan's feat, and scooted over to make room on the cloth that had been laid down on the ground for the ladies' benefit.

"
You know, I've never been on a hunt before,"
she said, laughing. "
I always imagined they involved a great many barking dogs and galloping horses and shouting men. I'd have gone on every one if I'd known they were like this."

Gwyneth Marsten wrote:Gwyneth clapped applause for Dunstan's feat, and scooted over to make room on the cloth that had been laid down on the ground for the ladies' benefit.

"
You know, I've never been on a hunt before,"
she said, laughing. "
I always imagined they involved a great many barking dogs and galloping horses and shouting men. I'd have gone on every one if I'd known they were like this."

"
Sometimes they are like that"
Dunstan says while standing up, throwing little pebbles in a game of stone skipping so they jump of the surface of the lake.

"
But Elie wanted to just ride and enjoy, and I would be up for that as well. Glad we ran into you my Lady! And I am pleased you enjoy it as well."

"
Yes, believe me Lady Gwyneth you would not like to be there when the men do their true hunting. Its not quite as beautiful as a peacock display but twice as pompous."
Ellie gives a slight giggle. "
No offense Lord Dunstan,"
She uses his formal title in front of their guest. "
but we women may never understand you men and your need to out do the other. I guess it is just the little boy inside you all."
She looks to Gwyn with a wink.

"
Indeed,"
says Gwyneth piously. "
Certainly we women have no urges to outmanuever one another, or gain advantage at each other's expense. Such strange creatures men are!"

"
I've never been much of the hunter to tell you the truth. Our mountains are plagued by the more savage beast than boar or deer, the mountain clans. No need to waste your time and resources on wild game when the constant and real danger is present."


Dunstan's pride is a bit hurt by the the Ladies' words, he would like to test his mettle against the best of the realm in hunting but now feels like he is missing on that by chatting with girls - so he tries to make the better of that and look like a warrior in their eyes.

Sitting down next to them he says to Elie "
Would you like to keep the bunny as a pet?"

Ellie sensing Dunstans wounded pride, gives him a large smile and bats her lashes over her brown eyes. Then slams him with a informal hug. "
Yes of course, but what should I name him-her-it."

"
I think,"
Gwyn says, "
that, while hunting is a honorable pursuit, that being a good lord is more difficult and therefore speaks better of those who can do it. A hunter must master the ways of beasts. Learn their movements, their thoughts, and how to outwit them. A lord must do the same, but with people. A much greater, and worthier challenge."


She smiles at Dunstan and nods at Ellie, perhaps holding the girl's enthusiasm up as evidence of Dunstan's accomplishments in that arena.

"
A challenge indeed."
Ellie mumbled. Her face being hidden from Dunstan by her hug, takes on a cross look. She was far from happy at being used as a pawn in someone else's games and she new when she was being used. Unless... she's dumber than stone and thought my whole show was girlish excitement instead of concern for my dear cuz feelings, but no she is to smart.

"
Never was good with names. I wanted to name my warhammer too but couldn't think of a good enough name. When you give something a name it's final, it can't be anything else. Much like being a Lord, when you become one, it's that, you are a Lord.."
Dunstan started thinking and looking to the floor.

"
But it is a privilege to help people living on my lands. I am happy to be a Lord."
Dunstan said and returned the hug to Elie.

"
How about you two? How is it being a Lady? Men yell and fight and compete, but it is often the Ladies that in fact pull the string. Or so i'm told"

Ellie face lights in a sincere smile. "
Ladies do not pull strings, but men in their pursuits happen to fall on the strings Ladies just hold the strings or so Lady Moraine says."
She gives a proud nod of her chin at remembering her Aunts words.

Gwyneth very delicately bit the tip of her tongue to stop herself from launching into an actual discussion on the relativity of power between men and women. It was interesting, but was not what Dunstan was really after, she thought. He was keeping the conversation light, and she mustn't ruin this.

"
I think being a lady is not so different from being a lord,"
she said instead, sitting back a bit. "
The court is our battleground, words and wits our swords and shields, but we do it for the same reasons and goals the men do. The protection and well being of our people."
She smiled. "
Any strings we pull must have that tied to the other end."

"
True, my Lady mother performed many duties when me and Yve were welps. She had uncle to help of course, but I imagine it was difficult."
Dunstan says, slightly opening up to the two ladies because it feels good to be outside on a day as good as this.

"
It's never easy, having to do things alone,"
Gwyn agrees. "
A good lord, and a good lady will complement one another. Each doing what the other doesn't do as well, or would rather not. Your mother must have been very strong to do that as long as she has. My aunt has been in a similar position in Hartshorn. I've worked hard to help, and I like to think it's prepared me for the day I have similar duties."


Gwyn shrugged. "
But I try not to worry about it. There's too many good moments to be had now, while I can. An afternoon like this, with friends, out in the countryside. For once the intrigues are far behind, and I can just relax."


She sighed contentedly.

Ellie ponders on Gwyn's words, her eyes opening slightly large as she makes mental connections. "
Yes the stories are quite similar. Making you and me play the same part and Corrine and Yve. All the same pieces except Dunstan."
She gives a puzzled look and quickly tosses the look for a cheerful smile. "
So what is Lady Corrine like?"
Surely no Yve. Ellie laughed to herself knowing the tension between the two.

"
Corrine is a remarkable young woman,"
says Gwen with a smile. "
Even younger than me, I'd hesitate to try to match wits with her. I think she'll be an excellent lady."
Then with a laugh Gwen adds, "
And she'll be more than a handful for whoever marries her. Questions about who takes who's name aside, I rather think she'll be 'lord lady' of the House no matter what. She has her mother's will and her father's wit about her."

"
"
Does she like someone? She probably has many suitors, she must be careful who is after her land and who is after her love."
Dunstan says.

"
Our two Houses live nearby, an I do consider us friends. I also talked with the bastard knight in your service about us helping you against the clans. That would be would be very neighborly of us since those savages are known to the Tullisons as well. We could help in many ways, not just martial you know."

Ellie sits with a eager look or her face waiting to hear Gwyns response. She is almost visibly bursting to ask a hundred more questions about Corrine.

"
Ser Baelon mentioned your conversation,"
Gwyn said with a smile. "
He was very impressed with you. He's brought the matter before Lady Marsten, and I can assure you that we'll be having that discussion as soon as your schedule permits."


She leaned forward and put her hand on Dunstan's forearm. "
You've no idea what it means to me to hear you say it though. The clans have been striking without mercy, over and over. We repulse them each time, but they just keep coming. We're a powerful House, and a proud House, but we have to put that aside to keep our people safe. I know the Tullisons have some idea of what we're going through."


With that, Gwyn took her hand back and sat up straighter. "
As for Corrine...she is still a young girl, with a young girl's fancies. She has my aunt and I to help look after her and make sure no one takes advantage of her though."

"
Maybe it is a strategical error on your part"
Dunstan says not aware of the notion his critics could insult Lady Gwyn, "
but it serves no purpose to only attack them and fend of attacks. Maybe you need a watchtower further away from the castle in order to know when are they coming, and in what numbers."


Dunstan starts drawing with a stick on the ground, explaining how the watchtowers work, excited at the thought of him being a military strategist.

"
... and we have the Mountaineers, scouts that roam the mountains and hit them hard, warn them away from attacking. That is why we don't have problems with the clans at the moment, but are of course wiling to help friends."
he finishes his expose.

Ellie idly draws a large dragon on the edge of Dunstans tactical diagram, in the dirt. It's fiery breath spilling onto what would have been the clans. Military strategy was extremely dull in her eyes, but Dunstan did seem to know what he was talking about. She so wished they could talk more of Corrine instead of the clans.

Gwyn listens politely, nodding and 'hmm'ing at the necessary moments, but inwardly realizes the conversation has spun away from the direction she'd like it to go. When Dunstan's lecture on tactics has paused enough for her to step in, she quickly does so.

"
By the sound of it, you and Baelon will have a great deal to discuss,"
she says with a chuckle. "
I'm curious about something else though. Tomorrow is the great feast, after all. Does your Lordship..."
she smiled as she said it, making light of the title, "
...have someone he's escorting to this grand gathering?"


It wasn't subtle, but in her experience subtlety was generally lost on Dunstan Tullison. He didn't respond to it, and didn't usually appreciate it either.

Dunstan tugs his collar nervously, "
Yes, I'm sure Ben will come, uncle too."
he knew well this was a romantic pursuit but what he didn't know was how to divert the topic away from it.

Grinning he added, "
What about you my Lady? If you want you can always come with us, we can always use more friends"
he hoped this way he could fulfill the expectations of having a noble companion and avoid the talk of romance, sticking to the idle friendly conversations.

Ellie with her face looking at the dirt gave a devilish grin. Now dear cuz you are the hare and Gwyn the Hunter. Who to help. Today Dunstan I will favor you. "
Will lady Corrine be in attendance? I would so like to meet her. I had a chance this morning in the library but missed it. If possible would you introduce me please, lady Gwyneth? Maybe she could accompany the Tullisons as well?"
Ellie did her best information overload to switch the direction of the conversation.

Gwyneth gave Ellie a laconic, knowing glance that let the girl know she knew exactly what she was up to, and found it kind of amusing. Then she pounced on Dunstan's opening...such as it was.

"
I'd be happy to accept your invitation,"
she replied with a smile. His emphasis on friends was nothing new, and if it hadn't deterred her before it certainly wasn't going to now.

Then, to Ellie, Gwyn answered, "
Corriene will certainly be there, but it would be very improper for her to go with the Tullisons. She's the heir of Marsten, after all. She'll be sitting right at her mother's side."


Isobel will see to that. And probably taste all her food for her too.

"
But I'm sure we could find a moment for me to introduce you to one another, of course. She loves meeting new people."