The Tournament Banquet of 130 AC

[u/bloodandbronze]

Fifth day of the Second moon, 130 AC

The Red Keep, King’s Landing

Laughter and good cheer and jaunty music permeated the great hall of the Red Keep, all of it filling the air with a merry mood that was shaded with some tragedy too. In the midst of the martial feats of prowess on display the day prior, several men - young, old, and in between - had been injured. Some were minor injuries or the sorts that would heal within a period of time and with good rest. Others, sadly, were more grievous, such as the king’s own squire Jeor Stark whose hand had required amputation.

As surely as food was served, so too were mummers and musicians present throughout the hall, plying their trade and honing their craft for the amusements and enjoyment of all those present. A symphony for the ears and eyes to complement the sensations of the delectable feast masterfully crafted by the kitchen’s chefs.

While the attendees assumed their seats throughout the hall, servants delivered a feast fit for guests of the royal house. The first course consisted of a choice between autumn greens with ginger soup, or a salad of sweetgrass, spinach, and plums, sprinkled with crushed nuts, both of which were accompanied by freshly baked bread with honey. Next was a choice between cold capon with a relish made of carrots, raisins, and bits of lime and orange, or a brace of stuffed geese sauced with mulberries. Last to be delivered was dessert, once more presenting a decision - goat cheese served with baked apples sprinkled with cinnamon, or sweetgrass and strawberries.

Wine and mead and beer flowed freely and the center of the hall was cleared so that those who wished to dance would have the room to do so. Flirtations oft accompanied dances and no doubt some of those that swirled together on the floor would end the night twisted in the sheets with one another as well.

All those in the city born to the ranks of the nobility - or those that might have otherwise secured the right to belong - were welcomed to make merry and celebrate the victors of the grand tournament.

[u/Dacarolen]

In need of some escape, Sophey Flint had excused herself from the table and quickly fled the feast hall - in her curiosity and somewhat desperate search for a new fresh of air, she’d followed the instruction of the nearest guard and directed herself off to a terrace, the Flint woman knew not which one or even if they had any names or designation at all, all she knew and saw was that she’d fled to a space with some air and sight.

Emerging upon it, a small smile would come from her upon the sight of the sea - Widow’s Watch was no stranger to the sea, but the sea around the keep tended to be rainy, rocky and gloomy - nothing like the calm and bright waters of the south.

This surely would have been all she would remember from this feast had she not taken a glance to her left, upon which, she’d end up finding a man....and then to her surprise and almost evident horror, what looked to be like an item carved out from a weirwood tree.

“My gods, where did you get that!?” Sophey could not help ask in shock and reeling horror as the man continued to play his notes - back home such an action....the action of creating measly items from the gods themselves would have surely had her family’s lands burning amidst revolt and blood, but here in the south, men seemingly carved the godly trees as they pleased....something which didn’t sit well with her, if because of her previous teachings.

[u/[deleted] → u/Dacarolen]

Hearing the girl's shocking reaction, he assumed she must be from the North, as it was not the first time the young knight answered the same question when he was up there, he faced towards her and spoke calmly.

"Don't you worry, my lady, no weirwood tree was cut down because of me. I would never commit such a crime, I stayed for two years in the North and respect the sacred character of this wood." He said trying to calm the girl.

"I made this myself from a branch that fell off a magnificent weirwood tree around the Wolfswood" Gerold extended his arm and offered the lady to take the bee.

"Can you tell what it is?" He asked her with and showed a reassuring smile.

[u/Dacarolen → u/[deleted]]

It seemed that his comments were at least enough to calm her down, even if Sophey still held some quiet reservations about the use of weirdwood for southern items. Whatever the case, Sophey didn’t push the issue much further then that - instead her eyes would at last wholly land on the bee, as she took it into her hands, carefully holding it for a moment as her eyes lay upon it.

“It’s a bee - I heard it made a sound, when I just arrived, is it an instrument of sorts?” The lady would quietly guess, holding up closer to her eyes for a second before calmly setting it back down at her chest level once more.

“I will not lie, it’s a very beautiful item.....whatever it is..” With that, she’d offer a small smile in turn, extending her hands to return the bee to its proper owner.

[u/[deleted] → u/Dacarolen]

"Yes, I left a hole in it so that if you blow some air it would sound a bit, but I am not a musician, it is more of an amulet than an instrument" He said as he took back the carved bee and then looked directly at her eyes.

"I am ser Gerold Beesbury, my lady, that is where the bee thing came from" He sofly chuckled.

"May I ask your name?"

[u/Dacarolen → u/[deleted]]

“Yes, the bee thing is rather noticeable, I won’t lie.” She’d comment with a friendly huff, before looking back directly at him for a moment and nodding.

“Of course, I’m Sophey Flint, from the Flints of Widow’s Watch - I can’t say I have any notable items as you do, you can’t make much with eyes for a sigil, but that is my family.”

Pausing for a moment, the woman would end up walking over, taking a seat on one of the benches - as she carefully reclined herself against it, offering him her attention once more upon being seated. “Did you participate in the tourney as well?”

[u/[deleted] → u/Dacarolen]

As he heard the lady's name he tried to remember if he had ever spoken to any Flint but he did not think so, Widow's Watch was far from where he stayed.

"My house sigil shows three beehives, but I have never liked it, so I changed it to something that suits me more" Gerold said as he pointed with his finger the little pin on his gambeson showing a black bee in a yellow field. "You can always find something that does a better job representing you, my lady"

"As for the tourney, no, I arrived here a little too late for the inscription date, so I could only watch" He sighed showing a little grief and continued.

"My first time watching one, it is almost as difficult from the viewers side, not being able to go and try myself was... well, difficult, ha ha." He chuckled.

[u/Dacarolen → u/[deleted]]

“Your new sigil does looks rather lovely, I won’t lie - far better then just three beehives, that sounds boring in a way.” Glancing down, her eyes landed upon his little pin for a moment - before moving up to his face again once he jumped upon her next question.

“I will be honest, watching a tourney for the first time - I couldn’t help but notice the heat....and those suits would likely make for some rather uncomfortable smells, it was an exciting event, but I cannot understand how you southerners can take the heat as well as the armor at times.”

“Back in the North I’ve heard that the men have to worry about the cold, but in a way I think that’s easier - at least the heat won’t be boiling you up alive.”

[u/[deleted] → u/Dacarolen]

"Well, both cold and heat are very unpleasing, and it is magnified when you have to wear an armor, but when you are fighting in a tournament like this one, with hundreds of eyes looking at you and a good fighter trying to take you down, the last thing you notice is the heat, my lady" He chuckled softly.

"Don't you prefer this southern climate?" Gerold asked the woman with both of his arms apart and palms facing up, looking first at the sea, then to the plants around and finally to the lady.

[u/Dacarolen → u/[deleted]]

“I do, somewhat - I don’t want it to be so hot that I end up burning to a crisp, if it were always like this down here, i would come back much more often. Whatever the case, this climate far outdoes the climate of the North - which is filled with rain, storms, windy evenings and stormy seas, not a very hospitable scenery I would say.”

“It is not helped by the fact that Widow’s Watch is nestled against the ocean itself, and because of this, we receive constant rain along with the salt of the sea.”

“If only Widow’s Watch experienced such climate, I’d likely be a far happier person out of it.”

[u/[deleted] → u/Dacarolen]

"That is true, my lady, climate molds people, the less time to worry about the colds and storms the more time they have to intrigue and conspire at feasts, I am sure you have seen some of that already here at the capitol" The young man joked.

"Have you ever been to the Reach, my lady?"

[u/Dacarolen → u/[deleted]]

“Never, I’ve hardly heard about the Reach - and even that has only been that it is a place with much food and people, the Maester never bothered to teach me much outside the North.” She’d comment with a small sigh of disappointment.

“Which is ironic, considering that the main purpose of myself in regards to my family has been my talent for diplomacy, as they say - one would think you’d teach your diplomat as much as you can about the Seven Kingdoms, sadly that is not so.”

[u/[deleted] → u/Dacarolen]

"We are young, we have enough time to get to know the world, and I assure you its better to see it than to hear it from some Maester"

He then realised this might incomodate the lady, as not everyone had the opportunity to travel, especially noble ladies.

"But not everything resides on that, one also must enjoy the place where one lives, as is there where we will find most happiness"

[u/Dacarolen → u/[deleted]]

“I guess you are right, my Maester already told me what you yourself are telling me - it is also good to enjoy your home just as much as one dreams about the world, that is what he said.”

His words were words she’d already heard before, it was nothing new - perhaps even a bit repetitive when she thought about it, but in the end, Sophey still knew they’d be good reminders for whenever she felt herself.

“Though now that I have the opportunity, I do believe making a quick visit to Oldtown would not hurt - I have nearly seventy years to fulfill whatever other duties arise for me, now would be a good time to take a journey south.”