[center][h1]Mischief for the Girls[/h1][/center][hr][hr] Gwen grinning from ear to ear turned toward the lists to see if she could find Mathias since looking for Beylee or Sasja. She composed her face but the sparkle of excitement still hung around on her smile and in her eyes. Shading her eyes she looked around. Ashe dropped down in front of her where he’d been sneaking around hoping on crates and shimming across trees.[color=silver] "My, my cousin, aren't you popular with men today? What would uncle say after he’s promised your family he’d look after and keep you safe."[/color] He chuckled, flipping a coin in one hand leaning on a tent.[color=silver] "Or are you just out here to break all their hearts when you have to choose one?"[/color] He tapped his chin unsure. Gwen raised an eyebrow at Ashe.[color=DCD0FF] "I break no one’s heart. Uncle told me I can take my time. And I intend to. There are no shortage of noble Houses that are looking at an alliance. Didn’t think you’d want to talk about marriages so soon Cuz."[/color] Snapping at Ashe giving him the reaction he wanted. She couldn’t help but smile a little at him. Their teasing had a little bite to it, always had. She’d learned to nip back early and they’d go back and forth in little sparring matches. [color=silver]“I already have a match settled. Not to mention I am not as unlearned as some, taverns are a great place to learn music and other things."[/color] He added leaning forward to tap her nose.[color=silver] "Besides, not going to hold for Gryff? Maybe see if you can win over that dour faced sword dancer?"[/color] He added getting in closer holding his hands behind his back. [color=DCD0FF]“A tavern he says!! Uncle would skin every man alive within miles of the place. I have too much love for the good people of the North than to deprive a woman of her favorite bed warmer on a cold winter night. That is after all you men are good for. I’ll pop you one if you mention Gryff again."[/color] She blushed.[color=DCD0FF] "If he hasn’t come around now then he won’t. I need options. So I am going to make it my mission to meet all the eligible young men here."[/color] [color=silver]“Oh please and where do you think my dear father learned all he did? From taverns the same as he let me. If you are going to rule, folk got to know folk!"[/color] Ashe chuckled then rolled his eyes skirting around her as looked her over.[color=silver] "Oh men are good for plenty more... Then again I suppose you wouldn’t know Beylee’s probably seen more of men than you!"[/color] He laughed then turned to head away from her heading to see what the camp grounds the Starks had set up were like.[color=silver] "Mathias and the little wolf are arguing over the tourney grounds. She wants to be his squire and he’s not having it."[/color] [color=DCD0FF]“You would say that about your sister only when she isn’t around to hear it. Give you a scar for that comment she would. Only problem dear Ashe with me being in a tavern is that I haven’t been able to pass for a boy since before I flowered."[/color] Gwen kept pace with Ashe.[color=DCD0FF] "Have you seen Sasja?"[/color] [color=silver]“Ah, Sasja, the only person able to keep up with me on the hunt. I believe she was helping Beylee if you need a hand I can track her. About the only who can with how nimble our little sprite is."[/color] He spoke then tapped his chin.[color=silver] "I dunno, I feel like you could pass for a boy if you bound those tits of yours."[/color] He spoke ducking away and jumping up onto a stack of crates.[color=silver] "Head towards the tourney grounds, I’ll take the high road and see what I can see!"[/color] He added jumping off onto a passing crate and making haste away from her no doubt perturbed self. [color=DCD0FF]“You have to come to roost at some point. Just you wait. Just you wait."[/color] Gwen muttered at Ashe as he stalked off. She turned and looked over at Mathias with Beylee haranguing him. Rolling her eyes Gwen approached the pair.[color=DCD0FF] "Will you stop shrieking like a harpy at Mathias? He said no. What more do you need to hear?"[/color] Beylee put her fists on her hips and turned to Gwen sticking out her tongue.[color=silver] "Oh lighten up, I’m not shrieking. That’s you when you see a spider!"[/color] She argued as she looked back at Mathias who was stepping out from his tent wearing just a simple sack cloth shirt and a pair of britches held up by his belt. His heavy riding boots on his feet as he had the ancient version of Ice laid across his shoulder still in its massive fur scabbard. He held it over the shoulder with one arm looking down at the two girls. [color=silver]“Beylee I’m not a knight so you wouldn’t even be a squire."[/color] He answered as tried to reason with the younger girl again. Rolling her eyes at Beylee and crossing her arms under a generous bosom Gewn smirked and called Beylee the hated nickname.[color=DCD0FF] "Alright Bumblebee you heard him. Let's go find our little Sprite."[/color] It had been one time that Beylee, likely egged on by Ashe, had put a spider on her pillow. One time! Beylee was clueless about Gwen's.[color=DCD0FF] "Stop bugging Mathias BumbleBee. He's a big man, he ties his own boots and everything. Besides the minute you can handle Mentyr you can squire."[/color] Gwen smirked. She knew no one could handle Mentyr but her. He was as sweet as honey with her but with anyone else he was evil incarnate. She was proud of it and swore he had the soul of a dragon, and like in the histories only one rider could claim him. Well she had.[hr] The Freys had decided to spend some coin on libations and had made some purchases at the Stark tent. Beer. Lots of beer.[color=olive] "You seriously think that Snow boy has a chance?"[/color] [color=olive]“Eh, winter comes sometime."[/color] A handful of men laughed well into their cups sniggering about how they were sure the Tyrells would stink of roses. And who would be man enough to try for a Lannister whelp. Sasja was watching the Freys drink themselves stupider from within the tent, her hands moving down to check a little pouch at her side as she sized them up. She had bound up her hair, smudged some dirt on her cheeks and reversed her cloak of House Reed green to show only plain brown lining. Combined with her usual trousers and hunting clothes she figured she could do a fair job of passing for a serving boy long enough to get the job done. Let ‘Lee fight over helping Mathias tomorrow. Sasja was going to do something to even the odds [b]tonight[/b]. And if the champion of the hated Freys who’d been warring on and off with her family for centuries now so happened to shit his armor in public tomorrow, well, two frogs with one stab. Ashe dropped down next to Sasja with a grin on his face looking at the bag.[color=silver] "I like how you think, sister... Hey, maybe next time we slip a little itching powder into their clothes?"[/color] He spoke sling dangling from his hip looking at the kegs as he paused a second.[color=silver] "You're gonna need a distraction... Luckily I happen to be an expert at that. Watch and learn little sprite, some tricks you can’t learn from the forest."[/color] He loaded an acorn into his sling and swirled it around at his side. A moment from his strong left hand he let it fly, a tink and one very loud splash one of the knights dumping a full mug of the frothie stuff right over top of their favorite to win. While the ensuing brawl drew their attention, Sasja crept her way towards the Freys party, keeping her eyes downcast and doing her best imitation of a servant. To scum like the Freys, smallfolk were the next best thing to invisible so even if she were spotted near the drinks they’d hopefully ignore her. As she went through the motions of picking up the mug that Ashe had knocked over and sopping up the mess, she dropped a handful of powder into the Frey competitor’s drink, watching it fizzle and seemingly vanish. It was meant as a purgative in case of poisonings intentional or accidental, but in this small an amount it likely wouldn’t hit until morning. With that done she collected the spilled mug and did her best innocent serving boy shuffle back over to the tent interior. Meanwhile Beylee skipped along with Gwen, looking for the missing Sasja humming as they slowly made their way back towards the Stark tents. Yells and the sounds of fists and violence, no doubt concerning could it be a brawl or maybe some wrestling between Umber and Mormont? When they looked up, they saw the darkly cloaked Ashe bolting with a wink past two men in House Frey tunics who had tried to break up the fighting. Of course Ashe was up to his usual tricks or... Maybe Sasja’s? Her family did harbor a deep grudge with the Frey’s. [color=DCD0FF]“Oh the Crone take it!"[/color] Gwen muttered as she watched Ashe run off with a wink. Gwen pulled Beylee behind her. Hearing the meaty sounds of fists flying and arguing. Grinding her teeth Gwen stayed out of sight and signaled Beylee with Sasja’s hand signals to ‘Wait here’. Gwen crouched and peaked around the side of the tent to see if she could spot Sasja. Scanning past the lugs that were tussling and others throwing punches or making general asses of themselves Gwen was looking for the subtle artistry that was Sasja hiding. Gwen remembered when Sasja had first come to them at Winterfell. The tiny quiet girl had been a darker shadow against Uncle Brandon. Sasja had been about ten. Only a couple of years older than Gwen herself had been when she’d been warded. But Sasja had been a fellow relation that was surprised by the warm welcome they received at Winterfell. Well mostly warm. Gwen had learned to avoid Aregelle, Torrhen, Cregard and Uncle Edric early out of necessity. She had passed on the message and lesson to Sasja without letting the girl go through it. Seeing as Sasja had already finished with her little ‘mission’ she had no problem walking right up behind Gwen, still in her servant boy disguise.[color=seagreen] "Hello cousin, can I get you an ale? I don’t recommend what they Freys have been drinking though, I’m sure they’ll regret it come morning."[/color] She gave the brawling group a pointed look, green eyes flashing as she tried to hide her self-satisfied grin. Gwen’s eyes nearly fell out of her head and she sighed softly. Sasja had startled her, like she normally did. Turning to Sasja she signed furiously. ‘Not good. Bad heart.’ Gwen didn’t know as much of the signs as Sasja and her gestures were jerky with anger and a touch of fear. So her sentences were short and not as fluid as they normally were. Sasja still couldn’t keep the smile off her face as she signed back ‘Your heart’s fine. Your eyes and ears need work.’ She often made a game of sneaking up on the other Stark children, though only Ashe could catch her every time. They had all had a lot longer to learn the sorts of lessons she didn’t have at Greywater. So, Teaching them the hand sign language she’d learned from the Reed’s Huntsmistress and sneaking up on them and the like were her own little way of showing off.[color=seagreen] "Did Lee ever settle if she was squiring for Mathias? If we can’t, what am I supposed to do tomorrow? Just sit in the stands?"[/color] Pulling Beylee and Sasja away from the brawl, Gwen headed for the Stark tent. There was no way Beylee would be quiet enough not to be noticed by the tent full of Freys. Getting far enough away so as to not attract attention she turned to Sasja.[color=DCD0FF] "Yes she did. She will not be squiring for our cousin. Yes we will be sitting in the stands."[/color] Gwen eyed the two intensely.[color=DCD0FF] “Uncle Brandon has me watching out for you both and thankfully he has not given me the task of trying to wrangle you two into court gowns. But I will not have either of you in anything that isn’t clean and stain free."[/color] Smiling Gwen stated.[color=DCD0FF] "He didn’t say we couldn’t have as much fun as we wanted today. Now we have about…”[/color] She looked at the position of the sun.[color=DCD0FF] "Possibly an hour before someone can wake him or face my wrath. So you two hoydens game?"[/color] Beylee grinned, getting an idea.[color=silver] "Can we go shoot apples out of trees? Or maybe sneak off to go hunting?"[/color] She spoke her ideas of fun clearly more like her brothers... Or her father for that matter, she didn’t have much fun wasn’t hunting, fighting, or something unladylike it seemed.[color=silver] "Oh, oh! Maybe find a stream and go fishing. I bet it’s pretty different to ice fishing."[/color] She added thoughtfully as usual her first idea involved killing something to eat, no wonder the girl got along with her brothers so well. [color=seagreen]“I’m not sure about that. The hunting isn’t likely to be very good anywhere near the pavilions or the surrounding woodlands. Too much noise and humanity frightens off the game. Anyway, what was your idea of a good time? You’re sure it’s not something that will trick us into impractical dresses?"[/color] Nodding at what Sasja said, Gwen smiled.[color=DCD0FF] "If I wanted a headache then I would try to teach a stone to hop. No dresses. You have my word. I know what I want to do but I’m open to suggestions."[/color] [color=silver]“Oh oh idea! Let's go join in the feasting at the Stark camp. Maybe see about some new furs or maybe some of the wares brought down?"[/color] It was hard in the north to shop for goods if you didn’t travel hundreds of miles so having them all here was a good opportunity.[color=silver] "Or maybe we will get you a new knife Sasja? Or presents for the boys?"[/color] Sasja grinned at the mention of new wares [color=seagreen]“Well, I could use a new knife or two. Maybe one that’s decent for throwing, all I’ve got is a hunting knife right now. I want some things to make any jumped up boys in armor think twice before they mess with me!"[/color] Sasja knew from her family’s stories that Southroners especially could be less than kind towards Crannog folk, even compared to some of the ruder Northerners she’d encountered before. Grinning Gwen motioned for the two younger cousins to lead the way.[color=DCD0FF] "I was thinking Northern things are great but they can get those any time. I say we branch out in ideas and get something as special as they are."[/color] [color=silver]“Like what? You want to look at Lannister jewels and gold perhaps?"[/color] Beylee rolled her eyes.[color=silver] "Baubles such as that aren’t worth anything but the price men pay to appease others."[/color] She muttered with a nod looking at Sasja.[color=silver] "You forget we aren’t much for southern finery... The only thing I’ve heard they have here that we cannot get in the north is weirwood bows... Though it’s profane to chop down the gods' sight they do it here. Apparently the wood conducts magic rather well; they have arrows and bows made from it in some scarcity."[/color] Rolling her eyes Gwen shook her head.[color=DCD0FF] "Well you can look in the Northern camps but I am going to find something that is different. I want it to be as special as they are."[/color] Gwen crossed to the stalls that her Uncle had set up with the wares. She knew there wasn’t anything here that Ashe, Gryffith or Mathias couldn’t make or buy on their own. She wanted something that they would treasure. Maybe some black swan fletched arrows for Ashe. Maybe an oiled deerskin shield cover for Mathias. Gryffith’s gift was intangible. She was going to go to Lady Redwyne and speak to her. She was going to fix what she messed up. Gryffith was going to be happy and she was going to have a hand in it. That would be the end of this one sided infatuation. [color=seagreen]“Gwennie has a point. Let’s look at the Southron stuff! Besides, Weirwood bows and spearshafts aren’t exactly sacrilege. The Children used Weirwood in their weapons, provided it was deadfall or excess off a tree. It’s stronger and more flexible than any other wood and it won’t rot to pieces in the swamps of the Neck! It might be neat to have one!"[/color] [color=silver]“I’ve heard a few traders from Essos have set up here as well... Maybe see if we can find something from far beyond? That would be good for gifts right?"[/color] Beylee added, tapping her chin.[color=silver] "Maybe even a trinket or something from the free cities!"[/color] She spoke knowing they had many strange and wondrous creatures there. [color=DCD0FF]“See now that sounds more exciting than things they can get anywhere in the North. Ohhhhh maybe they have a Summer Isles bow!! Ashe would love that!!"[/color] Gwen was getting excited and thinking about the assortment of stalls that the girls could go to. She pulled the cousins along as they chattered all the way to the stalls that had items from across the sea. Gwen was able to find black swan feathers and a very nice set of oiled waterproof white doeskin shield covers. Paying attention to both Beylee and Sasja while they were walking around looking at things so that she could get things for them after they walked off. They ranged from a buckler to a massive tower shield size. Her Uncle was the hardest to buy for. She eventually ran across a very smart looking cloak pin that was cast in silver and the jewel was a deep black that when the light caught it stripes of silver made it look as if there was a star caught in the jewel. [hider=TLDR] [list] [*]Gwen and Ashe lovingly squabble [*]Gwen drags Beylee away from Mathias [*]Sasja and Ashe cause trouble for the Freys [*]Sasja scares Gwen [*]The girls into shopping [*]The group gets items for family[/list] [/hider] [hider=Credit & Tags] Credit[list] [*][@Apollosarcher] [*][@Espada Emi] [*][@Almalthia][/list] [/hider]