Grand Hall: Tiras Lorn, Caemlyn

This is indeed a Grand Hall. Like the rest of the house, the walls are of white 
stone and the floor is marble. In the south wall is the fireplace whose 
companion hearth is in the foyer. A long wooden table stretches almost the 
length of the hall, with chairs set all around it. At the most eastern end of 
the hall is a dais with a stone table upon it. This is where the lady of the 
manor, her family, and honoured guests would sit for meals. The hall itself is 
two stories tall, and windows in the north wall are at the second story level. 
A long pole with a hook at its end rests in the corner until it is needed to 
open or close a window. Large tapestries hang from the walls, to add some 
colour and feeling to the room. The odor of good food is coming through the 
door in the southwest corner which leads to the kitchen.

                                           

Demonder walks through the carved stone archway and joins you in the Grand 
Hall.

Cyradelle walks through the carved stone archway and joins you in the Grand 
Hall.

Demonder arrives with Cyradelle, those light eyes gliding across the room until 
the stop at his fiancee. That's when Demonder bows most deeply before taking in 
her direction. "Renni..." he greets with a smile.

Cyradelle smiles impishly at her older cousin, "Look who I found wandering 
around the halls."

A small group of servants bustle about the room, making certain preparations 
for the dinner go as smoothly as possible. Most seem to be in a more cheerful 
demeanor, many happy that Rennar has returned. Genette, the old household maid 
and sort of 'foster' mother, is heading this evening's meal, keeping a close 
eye on everything and every one. She makes eye contact with Rennar briefly, who 
stands near the Dais table, then turns her attention back to the other 
preparations. The table is set for those members and guests of Hune that said 
they could make the dinner, with a few extra places set in case plans have 
changed and more arrive.

Rennar shares the look with Genette a moment, a knowing expression coming to 
her eyes, and something of a mischievous gesture. Upon hearing a few arrive, 
she turns her attention to the front, studying each intently for a few brief 
moments before allowing a small impish smile to touch her lips, "Good evening, 
Lord Roesone, Lady Hune. Please come in. Dinner is about to be served, or so I 
am told by Mistress Genette." Those in the family, or close to the family, 
would know that Genette is like a member of the family herself. "She's baked 
something special for us, so she claims." She glances over at Genette fondly, 
then moves to take a place at the dais table.

Impish smiles all the way around? Demonder decides to join in, and even offers 
a further formal bow. One appropriate between a Lord of his ranking as compared 
to the High Seat of a Noble House. "Lady Hune," he greets again with a smile, 
and then takes a few long strides to catch up to her as Rennar takes to her 
seat. He, of course, lifts the seat out for his wife-to-be.

Cyradelle looks from her cousin, to Demonder, and to the door. She sighs, 
consigned to her fate and mutters, "Walked into it this time." Her sigh becomes 
a smile and she struts nonchalantly across the room to her accustomed if not 
often filled seat.

Smells of food just being taken out of the oven waft through the room, teasing 
the senses in a hopefully delightful manner. Genette peeks her head into the 
kitchen, tilting her head to the side a bit as she does so, then ducks back 
into the room where the others are seated. She nods to two of the servers, and 
glasses start to be filled with water and wine.

Rennar glances at Demonder as he helps her with her seat, "Thank you." She 
comments quietly, a more fond expression replacing her impish look. "I hear 
that the Queen arrived. I've been too busy attempting to fix what harm my uncle 
has caused amonst my staff lately to have even heard of the news."

Once helping Rennar into her seat, Demonder takes a seat near. Accepting the 
wine being poured into his glass, he spins it about in the glass without 
spilling a drop, before taking a short sip of it. An odd habit of his, no doubt 
formed from tasting the wines from House Roesone's winary. "I have heard as 
well, though I'm certain her husband will take up most of her time," he notes 
quietly. "Although I am surprised he will not be joining us here today for this 
casual dinner?" he asks Rennar, clearly playing on her rather close 
relationship with the Queen. Close enough to typically call the Queen by the 
first name.

Rennar lifts a brow at Demonder, giving him a quizical look, "Why are you 
surprised? I had not invited the royal family to my home for dinner. Besides, I 
do not wish to take thier time away from their duties while the so called Tar 
Valon delegation is here." She smirks slightly, though smoothes over the 
expression, "A topic I wish to avoid this evening, among others." She sighs, 
though smiles gently.

As soon as the servers are done pouring, they return the bottle and the pitcher 
to their place on one of the other tables neary being used for storage for 
tonight's dinner. Another set of servers soon come through the door, each 
carrying small plates of bread, which they put before each seated member. 
Genette watches from the side, keeping a hawk's gaze on those working about her 
Lady and those dining with her.

Cyradelle leans forward across the table, ignoring the upset stares of the 
people around her and looks up towards her cousin and Lord Roesone, "She was 
surrounded by all those wonderful Gaidin on their majestic horses." Obviously 
she's only overheard part of her cousin's conversation.

Demonder makes certain to run down the bread with some wine as he slowly begins 
to eat. Chuckling a touch at Cyradelle's words, he nods quietly. "I do wonder 
whether the Queen had taken on a Gaiden as well?" he notes quietly more to 
himself. "Yes, I'm certain it was a most excellent arrival, though I fear much 
of the guests that have arrived with the Queen spend their time within the 
Common Room on the Inn." It is clear which inn he means by the tone. "I'll be 
certain that trouble will soon start t here." As Demonder reaches for more 
bread, the bandages around his fist are gone now to reveal a light bruising on 
the last knuckle.

Rennar glances side long at Cyradelle, "I was staying at the Tower while we 
were visiting Tar Valon..." She grows quiet a moment, something unsettling her 
briefly, "For a time." She glances at Demonder, sharing a look with him before 
continuing, "She was still studying as an Accepted before I left, though I had 
heard she was raised to Aes Sedai shortly after I moved into the Great Tree 
Inn." She smiles brightly, "A lovely place, that, and the little tea shoppe 
there." She pauses as Demonder begins to speak.

"Or the Ogier Grove," Demonder notes faintly. The place of their engagement, it 
is too far away now for them to revist for memories.

Rennar nods her head in agreement with Demonder, that smile on her face growing 
a fair bit, "Aye, yes, the Ogier Grove." The look slips a bit, "Too bad that 
there is not one here. I fear we shall have to go back to that horrid place to 
visit there if we wanted to recount memories." She sighs listlessly, then turns 
her attention to Cyradelle, "Are you finding your stay here well? I have not 
had a chance to talk with you much. Are you settling in fine?"

Cyradelle crinkles her nose with distaste as her cousin and cousin's fiancee 
wax romantic. She pulls fully back into her place and starts talking with 
another of her cousins, "The Gaidin were wonderful. They swooped into action 
protecting the queen when people in the crowd started throwing rocks and 
bottles and yelling Tar Valon Witch! It was very exciting."

Rennar's eyes widen, "They did what?!?" Her voice raises louder than it should, 
and she nearly rises from her chair. "Why....? Andor has /always/ had a good 
relationship with the Tower."

Demonder doesn't sound too impressed by the news of rocks being thrown at his 
Queen. "I am certain it was a few attempting a mockery at all Andoran," he 
notes on the subject. "Though yes, Renni, we shall need to revisit the place of 
our engagement. If only for a little while."

Rennar glances back at Demonder, "That is something I will need to consider, 
greatly. Tar Valon holds nothing for me but those memories." Her voice flattens 
once more though briefly. She absently takes up her own bread and eats a little 
of it, keeping her attention on Cyradelle as she awaits an answer.

Cyradelle turns her head slowly towards the Head of House Hune, pondering what 
she's just said, "Bottles and rocks, some people threw bottles and rocks. Many 
people seemed mad at the Queen for some reason." She shrugs her shoulders, "I 
stopped one man, but it took the guards to restore order."

Rennar sniffs. "The Queen still is the Queen. People should show no less 
respect than they did before she went to Tar Valon. Light, with all the 
clamouring about Lord Greydon being in office while she was away, one would 
only think that they'd be /happy/ rather than upset that she's returned." 
Finishing her bread, she pushes her plate away.

Cyradelle scrunches her eyebrows and bites her bottom lip, "I think someone 
said they thought those mad people were some type of plants...." She gives up 
and shrugs her shoulders again. She picks up her glass and takes a big swig of 
her wine.

As soon as Rennar pushes her plate away, that is the cue for the last set of 
servers to clear those plates that are empty. They go by each person, carefully 
working around them to clear away the dirty dishes, and leaving those that 
people still want. Genette nods appreciatively of the work, with a somewhat 
pleased expression on her features. She peeks her head into the kitchen once 
more, mumbling something that the others can not hear in this room. Backing 
away from the door, another set of servers exit, this time carrying large 
platters, one for each person, filled with spiced ham, a medley of cooked 
vegetables glazed lightly with a cream sauce, and small portion of an 
unrecognizable salad that looks to be promising.

Demonder sighs at that. "Well, yes. Considering Queens have been Tower trained 
sometime in the past, how is this any different? Raised to the Shawl, I fear 
the expect her to be an agent of the Tower." Demonder shrugs at this. 
"Regardless, I do not think this is the opinion of many. Although one would 
wonder how many would seek further ways of demonstrating this." As the food 
makes its way in, Demonder does look to it with a wild hunger. His thoughts 
changing, as he dips his fork into the ham and cuts a peice. Tasting it, a soft 
mmmm escapes his lips.

Cyradelle laughs softly after her stomach rumbles loudly. She eyes the ham 
somewhat sadly, but dives into the salad furiously, 'Yum, this tastes great."

Rennar nods her head in agreement, "The only thing that is different is that 
Aislynn..." There she goes again, speaking the Queen's name informally, "... is 
an Aes Sedai. If I remember my history right, she is the first." After a few 
moments of quiet thought, she too begins her meal, though pauses now and again 
to look between the others, "So... you never did say how you were settling 
Cyradelle..." Rennar tries to bring up that topic again, "You are not finding 
Uncle Jeffrin too disruptive, I hope." THere is a rather wry expression on her 
features as she mentions Jeffrin."

Cyradelle stops chewing her salad, a bit of green hangs out of the side of her 
mouth, "I like it much better here than with my parents." Her nose crinkles 
slightly at the word parents. "Thanks for letting me work in the stables. I 
like it there." She chews more of her salad and then remembers there was more 
to Rennar's Question. "I like Uncle Jeffrin. He makes me laugh." She turns back 
to her meal, relishing it.

A House Roesone Guard sneaks his way in through the door of the room, lead by a 
servant from House Hune. He seems to be eying Demonder nervously and hoping the 
man would gain his attentions. When Lord Demonder does, the guard makes his way 
to Demonder and whispers a few words in his ear. Demonder nods and sighs at the 
whisper, standing from his seat. Leaning over to Rennar, he kisses her lightly 
on the cheek. "House Roesone is in need of their troublesome Lord, it seems. 
Thank you for the hospitality and meal, my love."

Rennar seems to take Cyradelle's eatting and speaking in stride, unlike some 
others who might not. She nods her head and starts to answer, her expression 
thoughtful, but stops when she notices the entrance of the Guard near Demonder. 
She smile slightly, nodding her head, "I do hope you get something to eat, 
despite their interruptions. You are welcome, and you have a good evening." She 
returns.

Cyradelle notices Demonder get up to leave, she waves non-decorously and turns 
to the vegetables on her platter.

Demonder nods quietly to that. "Lady Rennar, Lady Cyradelle," he bows to each 
before reluctantly taking his departure.

Demonder walks through the carved stone archway out into the entry hall.

Rennar turns her attention back to Cyradelle, stodying her a moment longer 
before finally responding. She seems somewhat reserved as she does. "I am glad 
that you and Jeffrin are getting along."

Cyradelle nods and smiles at cousin. She turns back to her food, not noticing 
the change in her cousin's manner. Her eyes are twinkling and a twinge of a 
smile plays on her lips. She appears to be enjoying herself.

"How are your studies progressing?" Rennar asks of the young woman sitting at 
her table. She continues to eat her own food, giving Cyradelle a curious 
expression.

Cyradelle looks at her cousin quizzically, "Studies?" Her eyes go wide with 
understanding, "Oh! They don't seem like studies. I'm learning a lot about the 
horses here." She chews on her food more and swallows. "A new colt was born 
this morning. He's midnight black and has a beautiful white four pointed star 
on his forehead."

Rennar smiles gently, chuckling faintly at Cyradelle's expression, "I bet he's 
beautiful. I haven't had a chance to visit the stables just yet." She sighs, a 
touch of sadness rimming in her eyes, "Though I hope to do so soon. Jeffrin has 
been keeping me rather busy here, what with his attempts and all." With Jeffrin 
billowing about who the rightful heir is, it's hard to not know what Rennar is 
talking about.

Cyradelle tilts her head slightly picking up on something from her cousin. She 
smiles reassuringly, "If you like, I can take you down to visit the stables...

Cyradelle :takes a breath and continues, "Maybe Uncle Jeffrin will still be 
there and you can help each other so that you are not so busy."

"If I want his help in matters around Tiras Lorn, I will ask him. However, that 
will be a cold day in Shayol Ghul before I do." Rennar responds cooly, "His 
trip here will be brief, if I have anything to say about it." She sighs gently, 
"But I'd rather not talk about this further and spoil dinner."

Cyradelle looks uncomfortably blank at her cousin. She look around the table at 
the other people around unsure of how to repond. She gives up and turns back to 
her food and takes a few steadying bites.

Rennar sighs faintly, "Genette will serve the dessert. I am afriad that I need 
to retire this evening. I've an early day tomorrow if I wish to see the Queen 
before Mistress Maggae nad her.... faction, go to see her." She rises from her 
chair delicately, "A good evening to you all." She prepares to make her exit.