Meeting the Bride (Ysmae/Shekinah)

[Lord Luthor Arryn]

Cousin Lena had taken most of the noble Lords of the Vale with her off to fight, but there were plenty of noteworthy people left so Lord Luthor Arryn could send a respectable party to Gulltown to greet his future bride and escort her and any ladies-in-waiting or the like to the famous Eyrie Castle.

He was wearing a long, sweeping robe of black with a deep velvet details, the rings of amber and garnets he always wore. His tunic was black silk and his leather breeches the same but he wore a belt with a buckle of white gold that had been polished to a mirror shine. He was waiting with several other guests, important individuals of the Eyrie. When he noted his daughter wasn't present he send Maester Luka to find her and bring her at once. Her future mother would be present.

[Ysmae Arryn]

When Maester Luka found her Ysmae had been sitting in her chambers stitching. At first he had asked if it was a gift for her new mother, but the girl had merely given him a knowing smile. "She is not my mother Maester Luka." Ysmae had informed him. "She's my father's wife, because he wants to increase his trade with Volantis." After the exchange Ysmae was polished up by her chamber maid and brought down to be presented with the party.

She was wearing a dark blue dress with light blue edging, and embroidery. "Papa." She noted her father and moved to stand at his side. her dark hair was worn silky smooth and her gaze was worn stoic and reverent. "Have you seen her before papa?" Asked Ysmae cutting her eyes at her father, knowing her new step-other would be arriving very soon.

[chessur]

After several weeks at sea, Shekinah and her party had finally arrived in the port of Gulltown. It was a long and tiresome journey, but pleasant and safe as well. Pirates had not attacked them nor did they experience any foul weather. Yet, it was still one the Volantene lady would be glad to put behind her.

As her gilded ship made port, Shekinah paced below deck in her cabin. She was dressed in a wine colored gown with gold vine-like embroidery on the hanging sleeves, and she also donned some of her finest gold adornments to display her family’s immense wealth. Her hair was piled on top of her head in bounded curls while a few curled locked were draped over her shoulder. Yet, the Volantene lady a bit nervous to meet her future husband and his family and household. Her chief lady-in-waiting, Kamaria, tried to calm her mistress with words of comfort but to no avail. Instead Shekinah just poured herself a cup of Volantene wine to cease the butterflies in her stomach.

“My lady, it is time,” said the ship’s captain, a man of aristocratic birth and who would be acting as her escort, as he knocked in her door.

‘Well, this is it.’ Shekinah thought as she moved towards the door. With her eight ladies following behind her, the foreign noblewoman exited her cabin and went up to the top deck. As she approached the gangplank, she watched her numerous chests filled with clothing, shoes, jewelry, as exotic gifts for her groom’s family. Then with poise and grace, Shekinah disembarked from her ship and set foot on to the docks of Gulltown.

Walking with the captain, she glided towards Lord Arryn with an air of indifference. Shekinah noticed a young girl standing beside him. His daughter perhaps? Honestly, she did not know. Shekinah knew very little about the man… but isn’t that always the case in arranged marriages? Then where she stood no more than a foot away from the man, the captain presented her to the Westerosi lord and his party.

“May I present Lady Shekinah Vhassar of Volantis.”

Shekinah did not say a word. No hello, how are you. She just simple curtsied like a demure child like her uncle told her to do before she departed hr homeland. Gods forbid that she upset her future husband at their first meeting by speaking too soon.

[Lord Luthor Arryn]

When Shekinah Vhassar first appeared in view at the head of her ladies in waiting, Luthor couldn't help but smile. "Isn't your future Step-Mother very lovely?" he whispered to Ysmae, having leaned slightly to do so before standing straight again. His head turned slightly in each direction to those standing with him so he could gauge their reactions. He was rather thrilled, she was very lovely to look upon indeed. Men who needed to marry off their nieces and nephews were often cursed with doing so because they were hideous things, but the man may have simply had a legion sized family.

When she approached and was formally introduced by the Captain, Lord Luthor gave a greeting smile before crossing one arm across his stomach and extending the other arm out, giving a bow and then stepping forward. "Greetings fair Lady Vhassar, I am Lord Luthor Arryn, Lord of this place and Lord of the Vale while my cousin restore peace to the Seven Kingdoms." he reached for her hand so that he might bow once more, to place a kiss upon her hand before stepping back and turning so he might highlight my daughter.

"Might I introduce my daughter, Lady Ysmae Arryn, a Maid of fourteen." The Lord of Gulltown gave his daughter a moment to curtsy before resuming. "While we will be living here on the coast in Gulltown I am, for a time, Lord of the Vale and required in the Eyrie, one of the Great Castle's of Westeros. It is some distance away but I have prepared for us a carriage, so that we might ride in comfort." he gave a wave and gestured behind the party he had assembled, a slight distance beyond the docks. The carriage was very fine, made mainly from oak and gold gilded steel it had two floors and was very spacious, requiring two dozen horses to pull it properly.

[Ysmae Arryn]

Her father leaned in close mentioning how pretty his new wife was. She gave her father a practiced smile and then returned her gaze to the proceedings. It was then that they introduced the woman as Lady Vhassar. While the woman was very pretty she looked very foreign to her, and she wasn't sure she'd be able to settle easily into the life style of a wife to a minor Lord.

When introduced Ysmae curtsied as she was expected to and then looked at her father's new wife. She was very polite. "Pleased to make your acquaintance Lady Ahassar." Her father had always told her ladies should been seen and not heard. Out side of their private times together Ysmae rarely spoke in her father's presence unless he spoke to her first.

Soon her father was hoping to usher them back to the carriage. He was ever eager to get back to the Eyrie. Ysmae thought he was far to excited to spend his days in the Eyrie where his uncle Jon had so disapprovingly admonished him during his lifetime.

[chessur]

"Greetings fair Lady Vhassar, I am Lord Luthor Arryn, Lord of this place and Lord of the Vale while my cousin restore peace to the Seven Kingdoms."

“It is an honor to become acquainted with you at last, Lord Arryn,” remarked Shekinah rather formally and decorously, as she dipped into a curtsy in return. Then when he kissed her hand, a flattered smile rose on her rosy lips. The lady could not say that she was not enjoying the attention that she was receiving. Her first impression of her future husband was that he was a gallant man used to luxury and refinement. At least she would not be living below her accustomed lifestyle. The fact that he wasn’t an old man with a hunchback was a comfort too. Shekinah could not imagine herself with a man old enough to be her grandfather.

Then Lord Luthor introduced the young lady beside him as his daughter, Ysmae. Courteously, the Volantene lady beamed at the young maid and bobbed a quick curtsy to the lord’s daughter. Ysmae was a pretty little thing and reminded Shekinah of herself when she was a young girl; though the Arryn girl seemed to be a bit more reserved.

“It is also a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Lady Ysmae. You are a very pretty young lady.” Shekinah stated her words as sweet as honey, as she smile amiably at the future step-daughter.

"While we will be living here on the coast in Gulltown I am, for a time, Lord of the Vale and required in the Eyrie, one of the Great Castle's of Westeros. It is some distance away but I have prepared for us a carriage, so that we might ride in comfort."

Shekinah did not like the idea of traveling again so soon, although she did not show it. She had just gotten off a ship for R’hllor’s sake. However she had very little choice but to grin and bear it. When she caught sight of the great wheelhouse, Shekinah couldn’t help but being a bit impressed. She has palanquins the size of a bedroom, but this thing was like a little house on wheel. If it was as impressive on the inside as it was on the outside, then the lady supposed she could bear travelling a bit longer.

“Of course, my lord,” replied Shekinah obediently, as if she was already Lord Luthor’s wife. “Where you lead, I shall follow.”

[Lord Luthor Arryn]

Lord Arryn led the way to the carriage, it was a splendid thing indeed. As they passed through the Lords and Ladies, Luthor was sure to make introductions so his betrothed would be sure that he had assembled a fine group to greet her. Everyone from Lord Corbray to Ser Waxley had managed to attend.

When they reached the carriage a guard opened the door and unfolded the steps so they may step up comfortably. Lord Luthor entered first and then offered his hand from inside to guide Shekinah inside and lastly his daughter. The Carriage was large enough so one could stand comfortably without risk of hitting ones head and wide and long enough for one to take a few steps about. "I do hope you enjoy wine, I have a fine Red from the Arbor and some lemoncakes for us to enjoy." The Lord of Gulltown took a seat on the soft blue cushions before revealing the bottle of wine in a bucket of ice and the lemoncakes from a drawer to keep them cool against the sun. "Would you like a lemoncake Ysmae? And maybe half a cup of wine?" one couldn't give much wine to a child or they were prone to sickness.

"Have you ever seen snow my Lady? Its snowing at the Eyrie now, the garden is simply beautiful. The Castle itself is very warm of course. Thick walls and we have plenty of fine furs." But sometimes a little cold was good, all the more reason to snuggle up and get close.

[Ysmae Arryn]

Taking her seat in the carriage Ysmae sat on the same bench as Lady Vhassar across from her father. She nodded politely very happy when he asked if she wanted a cup of wine and a lemon cake. Ysmae loved lemon cakes, and it wasn't every day she got to have such treats. Usually her father made sure she ate food that was less likely to cause stomach aches or sweets that would cause her to get fat.
He often made the comment that men didn't like fat women, and fat women didn't get husbands. Since her only use in life would be to marry she surly couldn't indulge in sweets and copious amounts of food.

"Yes papa, I would very much like lemon cake." She sat patiently waiting for her father to divvy up the treats, he knew how much each would need or be aloud to have. Perhaps he didn't want his new wife to partake in to much either, he may want her to look a certain way and be a certain size.

[chessur]

As Lord Arryn presented her to the other nobles of the Vale, Shekinah smiled sweetly and kindly thanked them for coming to greet her. She thought it a fair turn out given that she assumed a handful of lords has gone with her betrothed’s cousin to restore peace, as Lord Luther had mentioned before. The Volantene lady presumed that there would be a much larger turn out for the actual wedding, and then she would be introduced to the rest of the men of the Vale as well as Luthor’s cousin.

When she and the Arryns stood before the carriage, the gilded doors were open for them and the Lord of Gulltown stepped on first. Then she placed her delicate, pale hand in his and allowed him to help her board the magnificent vehicle. ‘The carriage is just as magnificent on the inside as it is on the outside. It seems my future husband does not skimp on luxuries,’ thought Lady Shekinah, quite pleased as she took a seat on one of the soft blue cushions across from her husband-to-be and beside her future stepdaughter.

"I do hope you enjoy wine, I have a fine Red from the Arbor and some lemoncakes for us to enjoy."

The Volantene aristocrat’s bright hazel eyes lit up as the lord said the word wine. Oh this was simply fantastic! A goblet of the fine wine from the Arbor would certainly alleviate the extension to her travels… Okay maybe two cups. Then perhaps a bite of lemoncake. The lady did not want to seem rude by refusing the dish, but she did not want to eat too much. Shekinah most certainly did not want to get plump off of sweets, and besides food always diminished the more pleasant effects of alcohol.

“Oh yes, my lord. It is essential for every member of my family to enjoy wine for my uncle has numerous Volantene vintages.” She said lightly, with humor lacing her voice. “And, I did have the pleasure of tasting the Arbor’s wine on board the ship, and I am please to say that I have taken a liking to it.”

"Have you ever seen snow my Lady? Its snowing at the Eyrie now, the garden is simply beautiful. The Castle itself is very warm of course. Thick walls and we have plenty of fine furs."

Snow? Lady Shekinah had never heard of such a thing, and she was not so familiar with the Westerosi climate that she could take an educated guess. As her wide doe-like eye blink a few times, the lady tilted her head to the side, a tab bewildered. “I must confess that I have not the slightest idea as to what snow is, my lord,” replied the Volantene noblewoman honestly. “Would you mind terribly to elucidate me on the matter? I would like to know every aspect of your great land.”

[Lord Luthor Arryn]

Lord Luthor handed out lemon cakes on fine plates and poured a cup of wine for himself and a cup for his betrothed before pouring half a cup for his daughter. She was old enough for half a cup, but no more. "The wines from the Arbor are excellent, if currently running out. The Arbor is controlled by rebels. I'll ask my cousin to take it for us, so we might have more wine." That would be very pleasant if she could do that. Perhaps he might send her a raven and suggest she try bring The Reach to heel, he didn't have to point out they needed the Arbor in particular.

"Never seen snow? You are in for a treat." he replied as he sat back into his seat, one hand holding his cup of wine as he sipped while the other hand rested on Shekinah's knee. "It is water that is so cold is has gone solid, but it is still very soft. Soft but cold. Still, wrap up well in furs and it'll not bother you. I'm sure you'll see many children playing in it. Quiet the sight." There was something magical about the snow, especially when at the Eyrie and it would fill the gardens without turning black by mud.

[Ysmae Arryn]

Ysmae sipped her wine passively, taking measured bites of her lemon cake. If she'd not been a well bred lady she'd have sighed and rolled her eyes when her father mentioned his cousin taking the arbor. Her father for all his talk to her about duty and honor to House Arryn cared very little for either.
She'd long ago leaned of his lecherous ways, and how little he cared for her mother. Her mother had been a duty and a burden to her father, and Ysmae often felt that she was also a burden to her father as well.

She gazed out the window at the cool and dewy landscape as her father talked about snow. He talked so light and airy of children playing in the snow. She rarely saw him this way except when trying to charm some servant girl or merchants daughter into his bed. She took another bite of her cake and then blotted her mouth gently on the cloth napkin provided along side the plates.
"Yes Lady Vhassar, you will find great joy in the snow." She said passively turning her face back into the conversation. "The Eyrie is like a fairy land in the snow."
Ysmae had no idea what a fairy land would be like, and she had little care to find out, such whimsy was not to her liking, but it was the sort of thing expected of Ladies.