Proper Young Ladies

[Matilys Lannister]

Now that she had been in the Eyrie for a few days, Matilys was beginning to enjoy herself. There had been feasting which, if it didn't quite compare to the very lavish banquets at court in King's Landing, was still a credit to Lady Lena's skill in managing her staff. Someone in her kitchens made the most exquisite lemoncakes, at any rate. After so long on the road, Matilys wasn't inclined to be moderate. She had eaten her fill, and drunk enough wine to make her giggly. It was a celebration of the fact that Torin was going to be a father, wasn't it? She was happy for her cousin. People at court had said that it was about time he was married and had a legitimate child. Not to Matilys directly, of course, but it would have been hard not to hear.

Not only that, there was to be another wedding! Lena's cousin Luthor was to marry Ana Redwyne. Matilys wasn't sure how fortunate Ana was. There was no denying that Luthor Arryn was a very handsome man, and he was a good match for any woman. Rumor had it, though, that his last wife had run away from him, and as far as Matilys was concerned that wasn't the sort of thing that happened without reason. That a man was handsome didn't always mean that he was good; she hadn't ever been naive enough to believe that. But it wasn't enough to judge and condemn Luthor, either, only rumors. She doubted she'd ever know the truth, and knowing that, she was unconcerned by it. A wedding was a joyous occasion, she'd wear a new dress and all her best gold jewelry, and be happy for them both.

That was still days away, though, and today was quieter. Matilys walked along the passageways in the Eyrie, heading towards the hall. She intended to sit down with her fabric basket and work on a little embroidery, a lion in gold, which wasn't challenging in the slightest, given how many times she'd created variations on the same design, but it was something to pass the time. She didn't have her great loom to sit at, after all.

She had reached the hall and sat down before she noticed a dark-haired girl of about her age, an embroidery hoop of her own in hand. She had a familiar look about her - recognizing why, Matilys smiled. 'You must be Lord Luthor's daughter, is that not right?' she said brightly. 'I'm Matilys Lannister, Ser Torin's cousin.' She stood again and crossed over to sit by the other girl, wanting to take a look at her handiwork. 'Your stitching's very neat,' she commented approvingly.

[Ysmae Arryn]

Passing the time in the Eyrie was not hard as far as Ysmae was concerned, there was plenty to do in the great castle, from yard activities like archery or picnics, to inside games such as riddles or stitching. Embroidery was one of Ysmae's favorite inside activities, once a pattern was decided it took little thought other than choosing colors, this gave her plenty of time to think about her father's up coming wedding.

After the last wedding Ysmae had wondered if her father would just settle down and focus on marrying her off, but it seemed with a war on sons were in short supply, but nubile young women poured from the woodworks. Ana Redwyne was a beautiful young woman not much older than her self, but she was in for a shock as far as her husband was concerned. The young woman continued her thoughts as she was stitching a scene of a garden, tiny little cross stitches made up great patches of flowers in dyed string. Her governess had told her to keep the stitching tight and over time she'd become quite good at it.

A cheery voice came over her shoulder as the little Lannister girl Torin had brought with him entered the room, she was dressed very stylishly and had a basket and hoop of her own. "Thank you." Ysmae said latching her needle in the fabric and turning to face Matilys fully. "I am Lord Luthero's daughter, Ysmae, it is a great pleasure to meet you Matilys."
Girls were meant to be social with one another, it was a skill they'd all be taught to hone from a young age. Well, bar cousin Lena of course, she was lacking in some of the finer skills a woman should have, Ysmae often wondered how often she suffered it. "Would you like to sit down, I was told tea would be brought out shortly, I can send for another cup if you like?"

[Matilys Lannister]

Matilys smiled at Ysmae as she introduced herself. 'I am very pleased to meet you, also,' she said in response. 'I had heard that Lord Luthor had a daughter, but I imagined that she'd be a little girl, not a maiden my own age who might be good company.' Her smile widened, and then she went on: 'That's perhaps what I miss most when I'm away from court. I have my maids with me still, but it isn't the same, one doesn't get to meet so many delightfully interesting people.' Matilys had no way of telling whether Ysmae met her definition of delightfully interesting, of course, but at this point was more than willing to give her the benefit of the doubt.

She seized then upon Ysmae's other suggestion. 'You said that you were having tea? That sounds a splendid idea. Shall we send for some lemoncakes, as well? I'm rather partial to them, and I don't believe that I have ever tasted better lemoncakes than those from the kitchens here.'

Taking the offered seat besides Ysmae, Matilys swept back her hair so that the length of her blonde curls tumbled down her back, and then retrieved her own embroidery. 'I think I shall have time to finish this lion this afternoon,' she commented, pointing out her design. Then, before Ysmae had the opportunity to send for more tea, she turned to her again. 'Tell me, do you have a great loom here? Weaving is my real passion, at least so far as handicrafts are concerned, but asking my cousin to cart my loom up to the Eyrie was quite obviously out of the question,' she said lightly. Naturally she would never have made such a bizarre request of Torin, but her intent was to put Ysmae at ease, try to make a friend of the girl if she could.

[Ysmae Arryn]

When the servants arrived with her tea Ysmae sent them away with the request for lemon cakes and another cup before returning her full attention back to Matilys. "A great loom." She placed a finger to her lip and traced the outline of it for a moment before finally coming to a conclusion in her mind. "I am afraid I have not seen one that we might use. Cousin Lena is not fond of such crafts, the best we've been able to get her to do is shoot archery with us on the lawn." Ysmae would never understand how she spent all day walking and talking like a man, it just wasn't proper, hadn't Uncle Jon taught her anything? "If we were in Gulltown in my father's villa, I might have a loom that would suit you, though it may not be anything to the scale and grandeur of Kings Landing."

The daughter of Luthor Arryn knew all the tricks to lady like conversation, complement make your self less than at least when you were trying to impress some one. If some one was quite certainly bellow you then they should be treated as such- unless it was in your husband's political favor to be kind to them. Ysmae wasn't sure why her father hadn't married her off yet, but at least the fact that he hadn't gave her more time to practice her charm and etiquette. "Do you have any of your work from your loom with you, lady Matilys?" The dark haired girl set down her hoop and began to serve the tea as any good host would. "I would very much like to see your work."

[Matilys Lannister]

While Matilys was disappointed that there wasn't in fact a loom for her to work at, she did her best not to let it show. She was a guest here, and guests who picked faults were soon found to be unwelcome. Even if it meant that her stay here would be that bit more dull. She didn't care for archery. That Lena would have a talent for it didn't surprise her. Matilys liked Lena, but she also thought her strange. It was good that Torin didn't plan on taking her to court in King's Landing.

Turning her attention back to Ysmae, Matilys shook her head. 'I haven't anything here to show you,' she admitted. 'Perhaps someday I shall visit Gulltown and I might see your work.' It was unlikely, she knew, but it was the sort of polite remark one could make regardless. She sipped at the tea which Ysmae had poured for her then, and smiled. 'This tea is wonderful. It tastes a little like a blend which we import to King's Landing from a trader in Norvos. One of my favorites.'

After drinking a little more tea, Matilys came to a sudden realization just before she was about to pick up one of the lemoncakes from their plate. Instead, she gestured towards Ysmae. 'Oh, how forgetful of me! I do have some of my handiwork that I can show you, only it's on my dress that I shall wear for Lord Luthor's wedding. My seamstress put it all together, but I did weave some of the cloth myself. It's so very exciting - I know!' Matilys beamed at Ysmae. 'Will you let me have my maid do your hair, on the day? There's this style that's the fashion in King's Landing. The Queen favors it, and I think it would suit you so well.' Despite her enthusiastic attitude, Matilys knew that Ysmae's feelings towards her father's remarriage had to be conflicted at best. She didn't know her nearly well enough to make such an observation, though, it would have been impolite, and so unless Ysmae gave her an indication that it was alright to do otherwise, she would treat it as an uncomplicatedly joyous occasion.

[Ysmae Arryn]

Ysmae watched as Matilys beamed. "It must bring a great sense of accomplishment to wear a dress adorned with your own work. " The girl commented when her companion spoke of the dress she'd wear to her father's wedding. The subject changed again- only slightly though; "If it would bring you happiness I would be honored to have your maid fix my hair on the day of the wedding." Ysmae had never worn the style's of Kings Landing, it would be nice to be in high fashion for once especially on a day so important to her father.

"I am sure you've heard tell that this is my father's third marriage." Ysmae offered the information. "He is most pleased that he's the opportunity to show his support for the south with this marriage, between Cousin Lena's marriage to your Torin and now my father to lady Redwyne the Vale will be very much connected to the outside world, it will be very nice in the coming months to see how this will change things for the better here." Ysmae though wasn't sure how long she'd be in the Vale to see it, she was at the age when her father would be finding a suitable husband for her and who knew when the day would come that she'd be shipped off for her own marriage.

[Matilys Lannister]

Matilys nodded as she heard Ysmae agree to let her arrange her hairstyle for the wedding. It would enhance her looks, Matilys was sure of it. Ysmae was pretty enough - not in the fair Lannister fashion, but she had her own charm. The trouble was that to her eyes, any young woman who didn't look as if they'd just stepped out from some court function or other lacked some essential sophistication. It would please her to introduce Ysmae to some of the latest styles.

'I knew that it was his third marriage, yes,' Matilys confirmed when Ysmae had finished speaking. 'Marriage to Lady Redwyne is a good connection for both your father and the Vale, I'm sure it'll bring changes just as you predict. It's a good thing. The Vale is lovely, but a place ought not to be isolated...and we can see already that your cousin and mine have benefited from their decision to marry.' That was the real purpose of a marriage, a mutually beneficial arrangement for the families involved. Lena had the Eyrie, and Torin had the support of the Vale, something that would continue even past the day that he inherited Casterly Rock.

'I do love weddings,' she went on after sipping at her tea again. 'They are always the very grandest events, and all the people with whom it would be good to be acquainted attend. Moreso than at the balls and dances, even. All the lords and ladies of the realm, and-' the beginnings of a teasing smile came to the young Lannister's lips, 'all their eligible sons.' It was the sort of remark one young woman could make to another, it meant nothing. Matilys knew better than to ever do more than only play at affection, courtly charades.

[Ysmae Arryn]

"I have only ever been to one wedding." Ysmae informed quietly. "It was my father's second wedding, though it was a small event, only the courtiers of Gull Town were there and a few of the surrounding nobles, not anything like the wedding being thrown at the Eyrie."
The size of the castle usually depicted the size of the wedding, which made Ysmae wonder how grand cousin Lena's wedding at Casterly Rock was, for if a wedding at the Eyrie was so elaborate imagine what Lannister gold behind it.

"But you must tell me of these young eligible sons." A coy smile that rarely showed it's self creeped upon Ysmae's lips. "Are they usually good dancers?" Ysmae her self was not a practiced dancer, but she was certainly some one who loved to dance, and play instruments, but dancing was her favorite party activity. She hoped at her own wedding she'd have a husband that loved to dance as much as she did, she hated the idea of him sitting in a chair talking with all the other men while she was bored beside him, even if marriage was a political game she wanted to at least enjoy her wedding.

Setting down her embroidery hoop Ysmae took up her tea and one of the lemon cakes, they truly were some of the best she'd tasted, but unlike Matilys she'd not had the traveling experience to know how good they really were. Other than in her infancy traveling in the Essos with her parents Ysmae had never left the Vale. Though she knew of other cultures by the people they hosted as the noble family of Gulltown she never had the opportunity to see- or at least remember seeing- anything of great exotic value.

[Matilys Lannister]

'Some of them,' Matilys replied, sly amusement creeping in. 'Some dance very well, and know all the steps. The trick with the others is to try not to howl when they step on your toes.' She giggled at the thought. 'I shall warn you if I spot any of those young men at the wedding, and we can try to avoid them. The trouble is that being a fine dancer doesn't always make one a good conversationalist. I'm not sure which is worse, to be clumsy or to be boring.' She said with the self-assurance of someone who knew herself to be neither.

'Of course, you mustn't let them know that either,' she went on, like an elder sister dispensing advice. 'If you can convince each of them that they're just fascinating and you adore spending time with them, they'll speak very highly of you to others.' Matilys spoke as if this were simple fact, and then sighed and sipped at her tea again. 'I do so love to dance,' she told Ysmae. 'We have dances all the time in King's Landing, not just at weddings.'

She smiled at Ysmae again. 'I'm sure your father's last wedding was perfectly wonderful, but of course it's only fair to his new bride that he has to outdo it with this one.' She considered it briefly, and then told the dark-haired girl: 'I hope that when I'm to be married it will be at Casterly Rock.' She would be assured of a very grand wedding then, and she had spent all her childhood there, it was only fitting. She was a Lannister.