[D5, LA] News For Mother

Here we are. Must be brave. You know this is right.

Corrine was waiting outside the Marsten pavilions when Dunstan and Ben arrived. She offered them both warm smiles and a curtsey, though it was clear she was nervous.

"
Lady Isobel is within. I appreciate you both coming with me for this. I confess, I am rather worried."

Ben smiles back his nervousness plainly visible as well. He bows back. "
If I have my way, my lady, you will never again face another obstacle alone."

At that, Corrine cannot help but beam happily, despite the tension.

"
That is my wish too."


She inhaled and exhales heavily, steeling herself.

"
We had best not leave her waiting too long. Best to meet the matter head-on. Once greetings are made, I will broach the subject, and we will go from there."

He winks to Corrine with his crooked grin and gives her hand a quick squeeze.

Lady Isobel waited within, her hair pinned up today to artfully hides the places where dark blonde had given way to silver. She leafed through a prayer book by some long dead great High Septon, but her mind was only half on the words.

Her guardsmen announced Lady Corrine and her guests, and Lady Isobel set aside her book and waited for them to enter.

Corrine entered first, with Ben and Dunstan at her back. She offered a warm yet tight smile;


"
Mother, I'm sure you recall Lord Tullison and Ser Benedict Blackthorne,"
she said, in a stiffly formal manner. "
May we be seated?"

Dunstan was happy to be able to help Ben pursue his love interests this afternoon. Dressed for the ocassion, he sought to look as lordly as he could, in order to leave an impression to the famously calculated Lady Isobel.
Standing by Lady Corrine he gave Isobel a courteous bow as the young Lady greeted her.

Ben bows formally, pushing all nervousness into the pit in his stomach.

"
Lord Tullison, Ser Benedict,"
Lady Isobel curtsies and greets her guests properly, in order of precedence, hoping to set a good example for her daughter.

She gestures for servants to bring water, wine, bread and cheese.

"
I hope the day's endeavours have gone well for all of you."

"
Well enough,"
Corrine replied, still feeling a little crestfallen by being knocked out of the archery contest in the third round. "
It is a shame you were unable to join us for breakfast. The food was magnificent. How has your day been thus far?"


Corrine offers the food to Dunstan first, then her mother, then Ben, before taking a small piece of bread and cheese for herself with some water.

Ben returns the curtsy with a bow. Then politely declines the food and drink, that pit in his stomach already full. He waits silently for Dunstan to reply before he himself does. She loves her etiquette and tradition.

"
The day was certainly eventful my Lady"
Dunstan says with a smirk, "
I hope yours was pleasant as well"


He sits down next to Corrine and get's a cup of wine, along with some bread and cheese.

Lady Corrine Marsten wrote:"
Well enough,"
Corrine replied, still feeling a little crestfallen by being knocked out of the archery contest in the third round. "
It is a shame you were unable to join us for breakfast. The food was magnificent. How has your day been thus far?"


Corrine offers the food to Dunstan first, then her mother, then Ben, before taking a small piece of bread and cheese for herself with some water.

"
Most agreeable, in the main. Winter has been hard, but the Tullys are courteous hosts and the tourney has been most impressive, albeit unusually bloody."


Lady Isobel eats small morsels to make her guests feel able to eat, but does not over indulge.

Corrine nods slowly as she listens, hoping this is an indication that her mother is in a decent mood.

"
Mother, I have something I wish to tell you,"
Corrine began, slowly, carefully. "
I have made a decision about whom I wish to marry."


She glanced at Ben for a moment, her eyes full of anxiety, but a glimmer of hope within. She looked back at her mother.

"
Lord Tullison will not be marrying Gwyneth, as previously negotiated. Instead, he and I have agreed that I should marry Ser Benedict. I, we, ask for your blessing."


The look she gives her mother is somewhere between hopeful and beseeching, as she braces herself for the response.

He gives Corrine a reassuring nod and brief smile, but returns his face stoic to reveal nothing to Isobel.

Dunstan straightens his back when Corrine tells the news and looks Lady Isobel straight in the eyes, awaiting her reaction and preparing what to say if some problems occur.

Lady Isobel turns her attention from her daughter completely. Years of training and experience restrain her from smashing a cup in fury.

This Ser Benedict was barely more than a vagabond!

All her focus is on Lord Tullison.

"
A wilful jest from my daughter Lord Tullison? I assume the heir to House Marsten is not to marry a landless sworn sword?"

"
Mother, please don't speak about Ben as though he is not present,"
Corrine murmured softly, her request genuine, and doing her best to suppress the encroaching terseness in her voice.

We want this to be as amicable as possible. Don't enrage her. She doesn't have to like it, but you do want her to accept it. Try to stay calm. Dunstan has the matter in hand.

Dunstan stays calm, partially because he expected a similar reaction.

"
Ser Benedict is much more than a simple landless sworn sword."
he says and looks her straight in the eyes.

"
Besides being my own kin, a cousin, he provided extremely valuable council to house Tullison in our affairs, and proved to be wise every single time. If he is to take your noble family name I assure you he would provide the same to your House. No one would Lady Marsten benefit more from than him. Besides, not many landed nobles tend to take on a name of another noble House "
he continues with confidence in his voice.

"
I am going to reveal a little secret my Lady"
Dunstan says and leans toward Isobel, "
House Tullison is in preparations to establish a banner House of our own right now. Opportunities to lead such House attracted every single noble man who heard of it. I, on the other hand, never doubted whose hands such responsibility should fall in, and quickly asked him to lead such a House. After I proposed that very thing to him, he rejected, all in order to be able to love your daughter and stay by her side, providing assistance to her, as he did to me in the past."


Dunstan smiles and looks to Ben and Corrine, right before taking on a serious demeanor again and saying

"
There is one more reason to accept this offer other than Ser Benedict's formidable personality and the love that grew between him and Lady Marsten."
Dunstan leans back into his chair

"
You, my Lady Isobel, are a famous diplomat. You were also here when I agreed to marry lady Gwyneth. Since that particular agreement did not, and will not become reality, the marriage between Ser Benedict and Lady Corrine would be a condition for the military assistance and alliance of House Tullison. For the sake of future of both of our noble Houses in this troubled times, I urge you to accept this agreement."

Ben tenses at Isobels negative connotation. Then releases it knowing anger will not help. He is calmed by Corrine's interjection. Do not provoke her I can take name calling. He put his hand up to her arm to let her know it was okay.

When Dunstan speaks he can see the true Lord he will become. A good man. A just man. His affection for his cousin is strengthened by the kind words and praise he gives him. He sits a little straighter. His gaze to Isobel becoming more unwavering. Gods help Yve and Theomore watch over him.

Lady Isobel listen politely as Lord Tullison speak, impressed by the young man's poise.

"
My thanks Lord Tullison for appraising me of the situation."


She is restored to her customary stillness, addressing Ser Benedict for the first time.

"
Ser Benedict, it an an honour to meet such a puissant and wise knight. For the first part, your progress from the first day of the tourney stands testimony, while for the second quality, you will forgive me if I say that pursuing a Marsten testifies to wisdom."


A "
Marsten"
. Not Corrine. Not my daughter.

"
Your Lord spoke of names and lands. I would hear this tale your your own lips, if Ser would be so kind."


She continues to completely ignore Corrine, not even glancing in her direction. For the moment, it is as if she discusses the marriage of a distant cousin or niece.

Ben places a mask of indifference on. What games is she playing? "
My lady, I have come to where we sit now, not by pursuing lands or a name, but a heart. I know that this means little in the world of Lords and Ladies. I would willing give up any and all even name to be with"
he looks to Corrine his mask slipping to reveal his warmth for her. "
Lady Corrine. I am sure that matters little to you as well."


Ben clears his throat. "
As for lands, Lord Dunstan wishes to establish a bannerhouse to help keep Tullison lands safe. Much like the tower he proposes to help build to help keep Marsten lands safe.
It was brought to me and I gladly would have served my Lord as he saw fit, but after a chance meeting and more following, my charge was made clear. I spoke with my Lord and sought his council. Being the caring and just Lord that he is, he has done what he feels right."
He looks to Dunstan nodding his agreement of his own words.

His gaze falling back to Isobel. "
If there is more you wish to know,my lady, you have but to ask. I will not spout praise of my self or deeds. If you wish to know of my character and Lord Dunstan's words are not enough, which I understand, you may speak with your own Ser Markus. "

"
Are you content to give up Blackthorne, Ser? To have no sons to bear you name?"


Given House Marsten's current situation, but devotion to tradition, it seemed hard to tell from Isobel's tone what she made of a man who would give up his own name. Was it a virtue or a vice in her eyes?

Did it matter?

Ben takes slight offense to her phrasing, but does his best to hide it. "
Content? No it is with a heavy heart I would do so. But I would do so none the less, for Lady Corrine. I have three brothers who will bare me nephews to carry on the name Blackthorne. That will be enough for me."
His words are spoken in truth.

Subtly, Corrine takes his hand and squeezes it gently, giving him an approving nod.

Have heart, Ben. You are so brave.