The Tourney at Ashford

On her way home from the clearing, Arwyn passed through the market. She wasn't really shopping, though she glanced through the few stalls still open as she went. It just happened to be the more interesting location on her way back rather than through the meadow itself. She paused near an empty stall, taking a deep breath of cool night air, a little of the chill sneaking into the air as the light started to fall. It felt a little like home... it was strange to find the cold comforting, but it was familiar, at least.

Cassana was glancing at the stalls in the market. She did not appear to be searching for anything in particular and she was being particularly stingy with her money. When she walked up to Arwyn, she stared at its emptiness. "The finest livery in the Seven Kingdoms," she mused with a wry grin.

The other voice near her surprised her, and Arwyn broke into a little laugh. "Oh, surely. They'll be singing about it for years to come," she agrees with a grin... then looks a little embarrassed, bringing a hand up to her mouth. "Pardon me... Arwyn Forrestor, daughter of Lord Forrester of Ironrath." She dips a little. "Pleased to meet you."

"Cassana Algood, sister of Lord Algood of Redwall." The blonde gave her a small curtsy. "Oh no, the pleasure is mine." She moved a stray hair back to its position. "I caught glimpse of you at the princes' arrival but I was unable to greet you properly."

"I noticed you, as well... I'm sure you made an impact on others, as well. Between your hair and your dress for it, you looked extraordinary," she says, more honest than her mask of propriety usually allowed and wondered briefly if it was too much. "Is the needlework your own? My apologies for not being able to speak to you then."

She gave a soft smile. "Thank you. But I believe another lady garnered more attention than I." The woman shook her ill vibes from her and looked Arwyn over, perhaps a bit too intently. "My family may possess lovely clothing but it does not compare to the practicality of the North. As for my apparel, no, I am afraid not. I wish I could claim such but my skills do not lie with the needle."

"No accounting for taste," she assures with a gentle smile, blushing a little under the intent gaze. "Practical perhaps, but I imagine it looks a little light for the weather down here... Even in the cooling night, it feels warm. Spring slows to a crawl as it passes Moat Cailin."

"If I may ask, where have you focused your efforts?"

The blonde woman shifted her eyes away, catching herself in the moment. "I cannot claim to have ventured to the North. My experience pertains mostly to the Westerlands."

Cassana paused and then resumed smiling. "I enjoy horseback riding when I am able to."

"Admittedly, my own experienced quite localized, as well... I've barely gone farther than Ironrath," she admits. A nod at that. "Perhaps we should ride together some time while we're here. My family traveled a good ways down, but I don't have a chance to ride as much as I'd like at other times."

"Ironrath." A pause. "I believe there is something remarkable about that holding but I cannot quite place it." She gave a wry smile. "Other than the beautiful noblewomen, of course."

Cassana then gave a more happy, innocent smirk. "I would enjoy that. I cannot remember the last time I rode alongside pleasant company."

She genuinely turns red at that, looking to the side. "Oh goodness. Perhaps you've heard of my older sister..." She clears her throat. "Perhaps it's the ironwood groves you're thinking of?"

"Has it really been so long?" She asks at the last, a small look of amusement crossing her face.

Cassana too turned a bit red and kept her eyes averted. "I cannot say I have heard of your sister," she stated as a seemingly off-hand comment. She felt the blood disperse from her cheeks and looked back to Arwyn. "Ah. I believe it was the Ironwood Groves. Your House is famed for working with Ironwood, correct?"

The blonde woman gave a nod. "I was a Ward to my liege lords, the Lannisters, for quite some time." She covered her lips, a bit shocked. "That is not to say they were not pleasant. However, one may never forget why I was there." She appeared to be even more nervous than before as she struggled to maintain eye contact. "They had to make sure I was not attempting to flee," she stated plainly.

"Ah... Well... thank you, my lady," she says, playing with her skirt a little before straightening. "Ah, yes... Ironrath itself is built of it. We... probably have the most extensive groves of it in Westeros. My brother has been in King's Landing, speaking with the Master of Ships of late because of it."

"Ah, I see..." It didn't bear getting into deeper detail, since Cassana was clearly uncomfortable. She smiles encouragingly. "I'd be honored to break that unfortunate trend with your riding partners for a much more pleasant outing, and purely for your lovely company and the joy of riding. The river might be pleasant to ride along?"

"Yes," she murmured in response and gave a small curtsy.

"I have never had the pleasure of encountering Ironwood craft. Do you have any items for me to see?"

The noblewoman of House Algood took a breath and then smiled. "The river will do well." She decided not to mention the near-naked man she had encountered in it earlier. "What time suits you most?"

"Not on me, but my brother brought his ironwood shield... I'm sure it's performance will be apparently during the tourney, but if you'd like, I can probably get him to give you a closer look?" She undoes the cloak she'd put on as the night grew cooler, sticking the broach's pin into her cloak and handing the delicately-carved circle over to Cassana, exposing her shoulders and neck more to the cool air. "This is made from it, as well." The broach is carved into a pattern like stylized branches and leaves.

"I will not claim to have any skill in appraising shields," she said, her words chosen carefully to mask the truth. She then smirked. "I suppose it may be a good opportunity to meet him, if you believe that is wise."

Cassana looked to the woman's shoulders and then abruptly turned her gaze to the night sky. She took a breath and then appraised the brooch itself. "Is that the Coat of Arms for House Forrester? Did you make it yourself? Regardless, its beauty complements you well."

"No, just a branch and leaf design in honor of the trees themselves... The wood is ironwood, though it's not my work," she says. She tilts her head and smiles at Cassana before looking down at her cloak in her arms. "I think it might be a good idea to meet him, if you're amenable."

She turns the cloth in her hands so she can show the repaired silver embroidery on the shoulder, which does show the Forrester coat of arms. "This is my work, though."

Cassana returned the smile. "If he is as courteous as you, then I will be pleased to meet him."

She looked down at the embroidery and then back up to the Forrester. "Oh my. This must have taken you awhile." She muffled a laugh and then sought to lock gazes with Arwyn. "What other talents do you possess?" she pried.

She laughed gently. "Well... it took me a while to repair, anyway," she says. Her eyes wandered up from the clothing and locked gazes with Cassana, making her turn red again, more of a soft pink this time at least. Perhaps it could be attributed to the early spring air at night. "I... ah... I suppose I'm not displaying my talents well right now, but aside from what you'd expect of a lady, I like to think I'm good at talking to people and listening. I plan and organize well, and I like doing it." She she give a soft, embarrassed chuckle. "I'm told I still retain a strong will. Or a stubborn streak, depending on who you ask."

"You are a wonderful conversational partner Arwyn. Do not sell yourself short." The blonde lass' smirk grew as the Forrester continued. "You are a woman who strives to achieve what she sets out to. I can admire that as I aim to do the same. No one has any right to tell us to do otherwise."

She smiles broadly at that and nods firmly. Her natural determination showed through in her expression and body language for a moment. "Yes... I suppose that gives us no excuse to think small. I met a girl just earlier whose ambition it is to become the greatest swordsman in the world."

Lady Cassana smiled lightly. "Would this woman be Alessia, perchance? The wanderer. Unless there are two women hoping to be the best with the sword?"

She chuckled gently. "The very one."

"Oh, I was hoping there would be another," she replied with a mock frown. "I imagine she plans to compete in the Grand Melee. I wonder how well the fancy footwork will do in such chaos."

"Sadly, I don't know enough about different sword techniques to even begin to guess," Arwyn says with a helpless shrug and smile. "It will be interesting to see how it turns out regardless, anyway."