Steffon- The duels continued allowing a warm up before the great melee. Steffon tried his best to avoid needing to drink much water knowing he'd need his strength for the melee. The day was long with clashes. The crowd excited from the first battle watched eagerly as Steffon walked out facing his next opponent. Lord Blackwood was smiling happily having enjoyed seeing his rival defeated and embarrassed. Lord Blackwood charged as Steffon raised his shield catching the axe hitting the man hard with his armored knee. Lord Blackwood rolled out of the way of Steffon's hammer before jumping up. "
I'll give ya ten gold to quit Frey." Lord Blackwood said smirking. Steffon answered him by smashing Lord Blackwood's shield into pieces breaking his arm.
The tournament went well for Steffon. The young lord took only a few minor wounds from a Bowman and a spear user from the Riverlands. It was lucky that Lord Tully had been beaten by House Stark. The fight was one they'd have had to throw. It wasn't looked on well to beat down your liege lord. Torrhen Stark was proudly beating down the other northerners. Steffon wasn't surprised by that at all. A relative of Jon Snow would by no means be an easy fight. The young man walked out happily with a small smirk on his face when Steffon was announced to be his final fight in the tournament. The two men stood across from each other panting. There had been nearly twenty rounds and both Lords were winded. Torrhen had a small shoulder wrap. Steffon had watched a young Mormont nearly break his arm. The wound would slow him down, but Steffon wasn't in much better condition. A small sigh escaped Steffon's lips as the two men charged Torrhen slicing the shield in Steffon's hand like butter. Steffon smiled shattering Torrhen's in return as the battle quickly became more about speed and skill then strength. It was unfortunate for Steffon that while skillful speed was not his specialty. Torrhen landed several shallow stab wounds slowing Steffon before being declared the winner. Steffon nodded on his knees at the Stark's feet raising a hand to concede the fight.
A cheer went up for Torrhen even Steffon clapping respectfully as his men carried him off. The young lord knew he was in no shape for the melee both needing to pick who would take there place. Steffon sent word for Mable to take his place. When he did the messenger spat in his face. "Same cowardly Frey" The squire smirked running to tell Mable. Steffon could feel his aching wounds turning to his second in command "I'll need more then bravery to stand a chance in the melee please help me to my seat. Steffon patted the men's back as the three of them not guarding Mable and Jenn walked the Lord to his chair. It was a shame the prince wasn't closer. A chat for old times sake would have been nice. Instead Steffon locked his eyes on the jousting crowd eager to see who the last of the matches were between.
Jenn- Jenn watched the Dragon's surprised and happy at there patience through out the feast. It was rare to see so many binding themselves to Rider's. The creatures were magnificent, but not house pets as the Queen had made them seem to her people. The Targaryan's, Jenn had seen have no real control over there Dragon's if the bond is not maintained. In ancient the historians claimed the Dragon's often left of there own will to become wild dragon's. A fair few had been famously lived in the Riverlands. Jenn could only hope the current Rider's would make an effort to recapture the Dragons that escaped in the future. Jenn watched as Arya approached the queen giving a report. It was impossible for her to read lips and finalize the agreement with the Tully's at the same time. Lord Tully was willing to allow a contingent of two hundred scouts to try to track down Malkor Frey.
The deal was more then she could have asked for with one obvious condition. The Tully's would be allowed through the Twin's free of charge for all Steffon's life. Steffon had already informed them of this, but the Tully's needed a guarantee in writing. Jenn handed it over gladly as well as a guarantee to aid the Tully's in there battles against the threats troubling the Riverland's. The extra men from Frey's just twenty years ago might have meant nothing, but sixteen years of civil wars meant the soldiers were elite among the Riverlands. The Frey's had seen there first true battles against each other recombining house flags until the original ran true. Jenn smiled sealing the deal for Steffon her eyes on the young lords jousting. While the young prince Rhegar had insulted her Jenn smiled cheering him on with the others happily. The young lord was a child she'd watched grow for the last four years. Jenn understood the burning desire to prove yourself that drove the boy. The Frey's left there wine untouched. When a slice of pie was offered the Frey's eyes narrowed dangerously. The Frey Pie incident having been repeated to often that Steffon's father had banned making pies at the Twin's for fear of accidentally eating his kinsmen. It was at that moment a smiling Steffon was placed next to her "Well done Jenn I've seen you've done a great job up here. I was pleased with your progress last last report."
Jenn beamed at her young Lord explaining the deal to Steffon as the two watched the jousting discussing what they should do. It was imperative to keep as many Targaryan's alive as possible. The less wild dragons in the Riverlands the better. Steffon also was nearing marriage age so Jenn with a glum look described his prospects. It wasn't looking great, but with a surge of hope Jenn slipped in that if he didn't marry by twenty five to a noble no one would blame him marrying a commoner. Steffon smiled at this "That may be the case I intend to marry off Mable if I need to and myself second. There may still be trouble from the other houses of the Riverland's though it would also do us well to try to have better relationships with the Stark's or Targrayen's. In this mind set both slipped into deep thought as they watched the battles Jenn whispering everything she'd learned to her Lord. Jenn never stopped tracking Arya though determined to keep her away from Steffon.
Mable- Mable ate veraciously next to Jenn bits of meat occasionally hitting the diplomat. Jenn wiped her face off dismissively Mable apologizing. Mable could feel the fear feeding her excitement as the jousting started. Then when she became bored Mable made her way through the crowd to the dueling Arena in time to catch the matches between the final twenty. Mable in a happy fashion occasionally fantasized that one of these men would present her with a wedding invitation. It was clear there were no takers as many avoided her on sight. A scarred woman was looked down on, but a scarred Frey woman was near repulsive. a sigh escaped her as she watched the young Lord Stark battle his way through to the top. A quick and agile man the young lord at last took down her own cousin. It was a beautiful display of swordsmanship as he moved. Mable couldn't help, but feel a spark of jealousy as the woman swooned trying to draw his attention.
The day would have been ruined if a young messenger hadn't been on his way to Mable. "Maybe I did catch someone's eye" She mused to him as the boy glared handing her a note. Mable's hear skipped, Steffon wanted her to represent the house in the grand melee? The honor was almost to good to be true. The knight Matk who was assigned to guard her smiled helping her to the tent set up for the Frey's. Matk the knight said kindly "I'll assist you in preparing as much as I can." The man moved quickly a humorous soul dressing her in a light metal armor designed for her way of combat. Mable chose to use her traditional weapons a spear for fast combat against a single opponent with her longsword for back up. The shield she bore was adorned with the symbol of the Lannister Freys a red Twins in a white background. Matk seeing this had a new shield made that would honor her allegiance to the ruling house. Matk smiled "A good symbol that you stood with the Lannisters in the cival war, but we abandoned those symbols after the war." Mable only nodded not wanting to argue. Mable had learned the design for every Frey side in the civil war. It was easier the travel through Lannister Lands if people though she was partially Lannister. Mable stood hearing the roar of the crowd as she walked into the arena head held high.
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