[color=Coral][h2]Edmund I[/h2][/color][hr][right][b]Fallow Hill[/b], the Riverlands[/right][hr]


Edmund knew the serving girls and knew them well. From time to time he would catch glimpses of them starting at him, blushing and then scurrying away. While it did his bolster his ego but that was all that it did. The last thing he needed was a serving girl or a kitchen wench carrying his bastard around the castle. So Edmund kept his illicit activities to the brothels and peasantry outside of Fallow Hill.

Truthfully he didn't know what else to say as the two of them entered the great hall. Trying to think of anything else that might be relevant or if interest at least to Liliana. While he had been deep in thought, Edmund mistakenly returned to his normal stride. A pace that must've been difficult for his small betrothed to keep up with. Noticing only when he looked down to offer a small but subtle smile but only to notice her struggling to keep up.[color=coral] “My apologies Liliana, I didn't realise my stride had been so long.”[/color] Standing there in the middle great hall, letting his small betrothed catch up to Edmund.

Liliana had noticed that his pace had quickened to outmatch hers but she’d simple smiled and let him walk on ahead, seeing no need to rush after him.
It was more interesting to watch him stride on ahead anyway, though as he turned around she did quicken her pace a little to catch up [color=f6989d]“No need to worry. Growing up with only brothers meant that I was always running behind someone. A hazard of being the youngest sibling I suppose!”[/color] 

[Color=coral] “I will still try to remember to shorten my stride next time.”[/color] He resumed their little walk to one of the tables. Taking her hand, guiding the small woman to her prospective seat. 

Taking his seat next to her as the serving girl brought out their drinks. Brown beer for Edmund and blackberry wine for Liliana. Edmunds was a bit larger because of his size and appetite. His first sip had been long, perhaps too long as if he was wanting to forget something. Setting the wooden mug down, forgetting his own manners as he used his own sleeve to wipe the excess beer from his lips.[color=coral] “I trust my mother and siblings have treated you well?”[/color] Asking out of curiosity more than anything.

Liliana plopped herself down in the seat that was offered to her, instantly cradling the wine gratefully between her hands. It was sweet and a bit sickly, but she liked it well enough. She raised an amused eyebrow at Edmund as he wiped his mouth on his sleeve, tempted to scold him in jest but deciding otherwise.

[color=f6989d]“Well Ashton has been play-...”[/color] Liliana caught herself mid-sentence, about to blurt out about the few pranks the youngest Landry has played on herself, but thought better of it...not wanting to get the boy in trouble. Besides, it would stop her from paying him back in kind if his parents or siblings were to find out about it. [color=f6989d]“Well actually, I saw him in court today. He was very good for someone of his age.”[/color] She continued instead, taking a small sip of her wine after she had spoken. 

[color=f6989d]“They’ve been very kind though. I’m sure they’ll be happy to see you back no doubt. You must have missed your family being away for such a time?”[/color]

[color=coral] “I have missed home, the road was… unpleasant in a manner of speaking. ”[/color] Finishing the rest of his beer and as before he wiped with his sleeve. Ushing for another drink, his thirst somewhat parched and the nasty feeling of the future mildly mellowed for the time being. [color=coral] “ But I did get to see the king while I competed in the Tourney of the Hand. ’[/color] Exchanging an empty pint with a full one before he continued speaking.[color=coral] “I did fairly well but going against Ser Gregor Clegane ‘The Mountain’ was probably a bad idea now that I look back at it.”[/color]

Shaking her head at the serving girl as she offered to pour her more wine, Liliana's eyes widened at Edmunds mentioning of Gregor Clegane.
[color=f6989d]“Wait..”[/color] She continued as she leaned closer towards him, her enthusiasm only fuelled by the wine that was now running through her system. [color=f6989d]“You challenged the Mountain? As in [i]the[/i] Mountain!? He’s, well…I do always feel sorry for his poor horses.”[/color] She gestured as she spoke, raising her arms to indicate someone very tall and very wide. The Mountain was of course infamous for several reasons, most of them terribly unsavoury. Thinking back, she realised that this must have been what he‘d been hesitant to tell her about earlier. 
[color=f6989d]”You must have done well not to have been hurt.”[/color] She wondered if his mother knew about it yet, having seen enough of Lady Priscilla to know it undoubtedly would not go down well.

[color=coral]Yes as in The Mountain and  it's just something I don’t plan on doing again.[/color] Recalling the incident he was incredibly brave but incredibly stupid also. Each time he’d broke a lance against Ser Gregor it was in the same spot, over and over again. The amount of raw power the man had was unfathomable, no rumor did it justice. Edmund apparently had agitated Ser Gregor for lasting as long as he did and in that slight of anger he was going to make sure that Edmund regret agitating him so. The next round had come and Ser Gregor had hit Edmund with the force of the Smith himself. Knocking him down and off his horse, luckily flat on his back but he didn’t feel right. He at least kept his composure in front of King Robert but walked away quickly and started clawing at his armor when he was out of sight. He couldn’t breathe the weight of his armor was too much. Finding out he bruised several ribs and a severe concussion, but Edmund shook his head and brought himself back to the present.

[color=coral] “Ash has always been that way.”[/color] Edmund let a small smirk loose knowing what Liliana was gonna say earlier and how his brother was still up to his old tricks. The first genuine smile he had shown since being home. He’d been the target of his little brother’s pranks  plenty of times and whenever he’d try to get revenge it ended up badly. [color=coral] “He got me so bad once that when I returned the favor our mother ended up chasing me down with a riding crop. So I’ll help you get him one of these days.” [/color] Ashton was due for some long deserved pay back. Yes he’d get scolded again but it might be worth it.

As he thought for a moment the arrival of one the castles many apprentices had come to him delivering a package. Raising his brow at the young man but he knew it wasn't the young man's fault. He would however be speaking to the blacksmith later on.

[Color=coral] “Well it seems you are to receive your gift sooner than I anticipated. I had the smith take into account your size.”[/color] Edmund unveiled his gift to Liliana two in fact. One a small dagger for personal protection, much like his sisters. The second an actual blade to fight with but considerably smaller and would be easier to swing. He had heard stories about her youth and how she played with wooden swords and with the realm in chaos it seemed more appropriate than ever now.

Liliana had been grinning at the idea of getting back at Ashton, a whole host of ideas already popping up into her devious mind, when the apprentice boy strolled over to their table. At first a look of confusion spread across her features, for she had completely forgotten Edmunds mention of a gift. Nor could not have guessed in a thousand years what he was going to give her. Clearly she had never received a gift from a betrothed before but had assumed that it would usually consist of an item of clothing or jewellery. [color=f6989d]“You had these made for [i]me[/i]..? They’re beautiful!”[/color] Her face lit up as he revealed the two weapons, moving to gently pick up the dagger between her hands. Liliana turned it over to admire its design, even her untrained eye being able to see that it was well made. She couldn’t count the number of times she has begged her father for a real weapon, though understandably as she had been a girl of only seven, he had been inclined to say no.

Realising that she had been staring at the blades for a bit too long without saying anything, she quickly turned to Edmund and placed a soft kiss on his cheek. [color=f6989d]“Thank you. Though I think you’ll have to show me how to use them...”[/color] Still smiling, she carefully wrapped the blades back up, not wanting to damage them before she’d even had one attempt at wielding one. If she was honest with herself, it was a more thoughtful gesture than she had expected, for it must have only been in passing that she had mentioned her eagerness to always be involved in her brothers swordplay. 

[color=coral] “That is what I intend to do Liliana, just try not poke someones eye out in the meantime.”[/color] Obviously joking around but serious at the same time. [color=coral] “Put them up for now though and once things settle I will show you how to use them properly.”[/color] He had to admit the kiss to his cheek was more enlightening than he thought it would be, waving back to Liliana as she was taking his gift of to her chambers. Two things lingered in the back of his mind as his betrothed left the hall. The first being on Baldric would react to giving a woman weapons, the second being on how bad his mother temperament was going to be when the finally did meet again.