Dinner later that night: 

Listening to the careful chewing, the precise placement of a cup, to the inhaled breath for a word to be spoke and then to be forgotten and a sigh instead escaping… Catrin kept her own expression solemn as she ate. Seated between Wil and Eira it was as if she too sat right on the border, and the uncomfortable, unnatural peace between her two siblings was only enforced by the authority of their parents across the table. 

Eating in one of the private rooms afforded the Hywel’s instead of the main Hall Cadi thought her parents were both avoiding the rising tempers of the knights and lords, or perhaps they knew their time with Wil and as a complete family could be coming to an end very soon. 

After all...Catrin would have to be married soon, it only made sense. She had heard mention of several agreeable matches coming to Montgomery in the next few months and surely one of them would come to an arrangement. 

And even if she remained with her family for a time longer, Wil would not. Battle was coming, England was upon them. It made her heart ache to think of her young brother off fighting for their country. So many did not back whole, or at all. 

Then there was the obvious chance that Eira could be sent off to the nunnery. 

This private joke cheered Catrin and she smiled, ducking her head demurely so no one would see her unseemly glee at the sedate dinner. 

Eira in a habit and coarse woolen clothes... Those poor sisters wouldn’t know what hit them. 

Sea green eyes darted over to the ‘sister’ in question and crinkled with an unshown smile. 

Eira shifted restlessly in her seat, picking at her food, and every so often, lifting a morsel to her mouth, however she mostly was waiting for her parents to finish their meal and dismiss the girl, really she had no interest in eating with them at all. The silence was uncomfortable, and only furthered Eira’s wish to leave, brown eyes centered on her plate, as she hoped [i]someone[/i] would speak up about something, about anything, but she would not risk the lecture she might endure if she was the one to do it. If she was next to Gwillym, she might have nudged him, to try and prod the boy into talking, but when she looked over, instead she caught Catrin looking toward her, a hint of a smile in her eyes.

That only furthered the girl’s frustration, curious on what Cadi had found amusing, but knowing that she could not just ask her. Why she had to bare this torturous formality daily, to sit and dine in silence with her family, Eira would never understand. It was the only time of the day her presence was ever mandatory, and Eira felt even that was excessive. Usually, she would sit in uncomfortable silence while her father lectured, and felt criticized  

Guessing at the reason for the pained look on her younger sister’s face Catrin straightened up a bit more and settled her fork on her plate, preparing to diplomatically change the tone of the meal. 

Folding her hands gracefully in her lap Catrin coughed softly to draw her father’s gaze. His brow twitched in consent that she might speak. 

“Will you and Wil be going on the hunt tomorrow? Perhaps I ought to prepare a basket for your travels?” 

Her lips curved sweetly into a smile and her father actually reciprocated. It was a gentle and genteel gesture of her to make, sending her father and brother off to hunt with a basket made by the Lady rather than the servants. And the topic of hunting seemed safe enough, no politics, no marriage, no rules. 

It was assumed and understood Catrin and Eira would NEVER go on a hunt with the men,and really why would they want to?!

“A lovely gesture my dear…” Her father grunted as he set down his glass. “The hunt might be cancelled however…” The way he held his lips together tightly let Catrin know she had touched on yet another sensitive subject. 

“Another time.” Their mother chimed in before the meal was resumed in silence.