[center][h1]Reunion & Mischievous Innocent Fun[/h1][/center][hr]

[color=DCD0FF][i]Finally. I was a hair's breadth away from either pulling all Beylee's hair out or throwing myself off the horse for some peace. That child.[/i][/color] Gwendolyn thought as she dismounted her stallion. She smirked as he nosed her with enough force to make a grown man stagger. Expecting it since it was a game they played Gwendolyn was ready for it. Moving with the stallion she was not bowled over. [color=DCD0FF]"Still trying that old trick Mentyr."[/color]

Stroking Mentyr's soft nose Gwendolyn grinned as she heard familiar grumbles of stable hands. "Demon steed…" it was well known that Mentyr was a one woman horse. He bit, kicked, shoved and generally lived up to his nickname in any way he could. He only behaved if she was near. Hence why she had to tend to the beast. Not that she minded.

[color=DCD0FF]"Come Mentyr."[/color] Gwendolyn commanded softly and walked to where servants were setting up the tents. She had walked past Ashe who was headed to the lists.[color=DCD0FF][i] Sizing up the competition already with no care for his horse.[/i][/color] Gwendolyn rolled her eyes as Mathias went after Ashe. Beylee had made it back to Uncle Brandon's side with Gryffith in his wake. Glancing back she saw Mentyr was being his normal obedient self following in her wake.

Leading Mentyr to the stables Gwendolyn started to free him from his tack. As Gwendolyn pulled off his saddle, Mentyr flicked his ears at the passersby. [color=DCD0FF]"Do not even think about lashing out at anyone, Mentyr. I will relegate you to pulling a wagon. You'll be the most pompous draft horse in Westeros."[/color] 

Mentyr snorted as if to say "You wouldn't dare. You love me too much."

Looking over at him Gwendolyn raised an eyebrow. [color=DCD0FF]"Test me."[/color]

[color=DC143C]"You speak to that beast as if you were carrying on a conversation with a child."[/color] A dark haired woman with jade green eyes stated. Gwendolyn turned smiling at her Aunt Quinn.[color=DC143C] "Gwennie, are you sure that he will stay in the confines of the stall? He looks like he'd easily crash through it."[/color]

Gwendolyn turned toward the stall. [color=DCD0FF]"Positive unless he thinks I'm in danger. If I am then just stand back and let him have his head. Also he claims me as much as I claim him. I raised him so…"[/color]

[color=DC143C]"You're going to stink of horse until you get a bath. Luci and I are headed to an inn to freshen up and Beylee and you are coming with us."[/color] Gwendolyn stopped rubbing down Mentyr and had started to open her mouth to protest but was cut off.[color=DC143C] "Not a word. March."[/color]

Gwendolyn knew when Quinn got that look in her eye there was nothing you could do but what she wanted. Quinn was sweet but persistent.[color=DCD0FF] "Good luck getting Beylee. And you're only two years older than me, you tart."[/color]

Quinn's eyes narrowed. [color=DC143C]"You did not just call me that. [b]Luci![/b] Gwendolyn just called me a… a-"[/color]

[color=DCD0FF]"Tart."[/color] Gwendolyn finished smirking at Quinn as Luci came around the corner. 

[color=DC143C]"Gwendolyn Carmyne what would Grandmother say?"[/color] Luci was the peacemaker of the family. Sweet demure and soft spoken, she never seemed to get upset.

Gwendolyn sighed.[color=DCD0FF] "I'm sorry I called you a tart Aunt Quinn. Can we go now?"[/color] She nodded to the maid who picked out a teal and crimson dress from a suspicious trunk.[color=DCD0FF] "Aunt Quinn, did you have Uncle Tobias pay for gowns for me? How many are there?!"[/color]

Quinn didn't even look phased; she just shrugged. [color=DC143C]"I didn't trust that the cousins wouldn't put you in winter wear. Deliver the trunks to the inn please Roze."[/color]

[color=DCD0FF]"I have my own mind! I'm eight and ten, not eight!"[/color] Gwendolyn raised her voice about to launch into a hissy fit.

[color=DC143C]"I had them include breeches and thin tunics like the lads wear."[/color]

Gwendolyn's attitude did an about face. [color=DCD0FF]"Did I mention that I love you?"[/color]

Quinn smirked.[color=DC143C] "I know. Let's go."[/color]

The ladies and their maids trailing them converged on an inn called The Green Man. It wasn't overly expensive and they intended on haggling, Luci and Quinn putting on a good show. They mentioned if not them the next person who could very likely smell like they knew sheep. Intimately. 

They were set up with a room and a bath was ordered. As the bath was drawn and Gwendolyn bathed all three girls had a reunion of sorts. 

[color=DC143C]“And Tobias really had no problem with Luci and I having gowns made for you since you're representing us along with the cousins.”[/color] Quinn was finishing off a pear as she was speaking to Gwendolyn.

Luci raised an eyebrow. [color=DC143C]“After you pestered him for a month I’d imagine he’d attempt to give you the Moon if you asked. Not to mention you involved Grandmother.”[/color]

Smirking, Quinn wiped her mouth delicately. [color=DC143C]“Yes well I can’t exactly get her back so I’ll spoil her when I do see her.”[/color]

Gwendolyn, done with her bath, wrung out her hair and looked over at her Aunts. [color=DCD0FF]“So however did you get my measurements?”[/color]

Quinn looked like a cat that got into the cream. [color=DC143C]“A lady never tells.”[/color]

Shrugging Gwendolyn pulled on the outfit. It was a rich teal with deep crimson lining the square neckline and was echoed along her hemline. The embroidered flowers and vines on the hands were painstakingly sewn into it. The vines were a deep green, the roses echoed the crimson trim, the thistles in a deep violet color, gold wheat heads and blue forget me nots. It was exquisite and the stitches so small that Gwendolyn knew right away this was Luci's part. Gwendolyn traced the embroidery softly and looked up as Luci said,[color=DC143C] "I did that one but Mya outdid me. There's a snow white dress that is astonishing. I honestly don't know how she talked Tobias into the thread on that one."[/color] Gwendolyn was about to question Luci who saw and held her hand up to stop interruptions.[color=DC143C] "You will have to see that dress to believe it. It… well it's indescribable. And we've already promised her that you'd wear it later, not right now."[/color] Luci giggled. [color=DC143C]"Janyce practiced her embroidery on your tunics. It is rather adorable and definitely not something a man would wear so that mollified Tobias. Very… fairytale inspired. Jarren pronounced them insultingly womanly. He is in that phase. You just have a lot of presents we are sending back to Winterfell. Now turn round so I can lace you. Then we will go get some wine and do some betting. Introduce you to some young men."[/color]

Gwendolyn narrowed her eyes. [color=DCD0FF]"Uncle put you up to this."[/color]

Quinn and Luci both laughed. [color=DC143C]"Actually it was Grandmother."[/color] They both answered. [color=DC143C]"Betting was Tobias. Collectively we are supposed to pick people that we think will win."[/color]

Gwendolyn raised an eyebrow. [color=DCD0FF]"Fair of face doesn't mean he'll win, Quinn."[/color]

[color=DC143C]"I know that but it also doesn't mean he won't."[/color] Quinn snapped. [color=DC143C]"If you're done dawdling we can go."[/color]

The three women walked back to the area where the seven kingdoms' houses were setting up. They chatted as they walked around. What they conversed about was unimportant. What was important was that they were seen. Walking about alone without a chaperone was impossible, however the three of them together was a bit more acceptable, a little daring and in some circles still unacceptable. 

They were free with their smiles at the young men that they ran across; Gwendolyn's hair and height were very distinctive. There was no way that you could miss them as they trekked the grounds pointing out people in the houses as they passed and sharing the names of those residing in that they were aware of. Starting off with familial ties they went down the list of who they were aware of and what their ages were, if they were betrothed or had married recently or sadly had died. The subject mostly consisted of the men of the houses that were bachelors and looking, or in some cases not. 

They laughed and joked with one another like sisters even after not seeing one another for ten years. The girls had kept in contact with each other by raven frequently and so knew each other as if they had been raised in the same house.

Gwendolyn bit her lip in worry. She knew that the cousins and Brandon would be upset with her at the very least, most likely all of them. Northmen were a protective bunch. Not that Uncle Tobias wasn't, he was just not from the North so things were… different. She just knew that her Uncle wouldn't be as angry as the others would be. She was about to say something to that effect but was distracted by a colorful intricate display. The excitement over rode the knot of fear as Gwendolyn watched with wide eyes the games and people drinking freely. Not that she had never seen people enjoy themselves but there was just more of a free spirit than she was used to. Joy was not scarce in the North, for this was joy just not in what her sheltered life had beheld.

While Gwendolyn was not overly shy she was a bit overwhelmed and tried to take it all in to understand the situation and where she would fit in.[color=DCD0FF][i] What exactly did one do in this situation? What did one not do?[/i][/color]

Suddenly her Aunt Luci tapped Gwendolyn on the shoulder. Gwendolyn blinked and looked down at her Aunts. [color=DC143C]“Clear your shock Gwennie you look five and ten. That look will get us in more trouble than people not realizing that we left the maids behind.”[/color]

A warning bell peeled through Gwendolyn and she cleared her expression as her Aunts pulled her over to the place where they were selling wine. Arbor gold, next to other whites, reds and an interesting assortment of blushes. Gwendolyn had a feeling that she better enjoy herself because when the cousins found them she was gonna be in a whole world of trouble.[color=DCD0FF][i] It was bad enough when I was flirting with the boy’s friends… this will probably be worse.[/i][/color] The women paid for their wine and looked around at what else they could enjoy before their cousins lowered the boom.


[hider=TLDR]
[list]
[*]Arrival at Summerhall
[*]Mentyr the stallion with a mind of his own
[*]Reunion with Aunties
[*]Bath & Presents
[*]Unchaperoned walk about where characters would have noticed three pretty young women enjoying themselves
[*]Redwyne Pavilion[/list]
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