Winter arrives as it frequently does in Salisbury with a touch of frost and chilly temperatures but not the cold of more northern climes.  There are several events going on in Earl Robert's county in this usually bleak season.  There is a feast and two weddings.

During the feast, Sir Robert announces that the King is sending a large force north in the Spring and it will probably be gone until late Summer.  Salisbury will be providing protection within Logres while many other lands send their forces north with Arthur.

In addition, Earl Robert will be holding a tournament in the Spring and expects all of his knights to show their true colors.  A number of notable guests will be attending, including Queen Guenevere, Princess Gwendollyn, and many other fine ladies.

Earl Robert is also planning another foray against the Saxons, who continue to raid the southern edges of Salisbury and many of their neighbors.

The weddings are lovely affairs held on successive days so that each bride gets their day but guests need only make one journey.  The Countess Fiona of Hereford arrives as Sir Perin's date, a move that sends the gossips into a frenzy.  Fiona is dressed very conservatively for the occasions, clearly not wishing to draw attention from the brides.  She seems to know both Aritte and Ellowyn, as she is seen talking to each privately.

Sir Garym, however, does not make the festivities as he is off with Sir Sagramore of the Round Table at an event in Essex.

Feel free to chat among yourselves if you like or post private conversations to your personal threads.

OOC: Okay I will get the thread started then :)

---

Sir Gracian had faced foes both mortal and unnatural yetbut nothing had made him so nervous as his wedding. Oh, he had thought about marriage often, but mostly just as a way to strengthen his position and secure his finances.

This was different.

He had come to love Ariette with all his heart and he had never imagined that he would find someone like her. Some would say he placed her on a pedestal but in his world that was where she belonged. King Arthur may have his Guenevere, but he had his Ariette and life was perfect.

Except right now he was the center of attention and he hated that. As a barstard son to a Roman he was all to used to people looking at him and talking about him and rarely for the better. But right now people smiled and laughed and those present were people that he loved and trusted. Noble Sir Dalan that had been by his side from the moment they were knighted and had shared the hardship of both campaigns and quests. Brave Sir Perin that he had ganged up with as a child as protection against the bullies that hated both Roman and Saxon blood. Honorable Sir Sejanus that he had campaigned with against the Saxons. And two of his friends had fair Ladies by their side - Sir Dalan with his Lady Ellowyn and now also Sir Perin with Countess Fiona. Cupid had been busy lately.

And the sight of his friends make him think of those absent. Valiant Sir Garym away on duties with Sir Sargramore but at least he was alive. Sir Tyngyr and Sir Caradwg's faces were missing in the crowd of people attending the wedding and had it not been for Sir Tyngyr's brave and noble sacrifice Sir Gracian would not have lived to this day.

But those thoughts were all pushed away when Lady Ariette entered the Church. Never had a woman looked so beautiful and magnificient and Sir Gracian felt humbled by her presence. The rest of the day seemed almost dream-like and he felt invincible. The world was his and the future was bright.

 During the months of Nature’s slumber, Sejanus, accompanied by his trusty squire Casca, would take to the road, to pay his respects to the two brides, and raise a goblet or two with his Knightly comrades during the feasts afterward.

 And while during these social gatherings, a funny thing took place, the usually reserved Sejanus, actually seem to attempt social intercourse with the other guests. While his attempts where crude as compared to many, he did make conversation, and actually reigned himself up short, when he entered into a near debate with the Priest, something to do with Saint Paul, and his Letter to the Romans.

 During the social gatherings, Sejanus hoped to spend time with the Lady of his courting, Galeria, Daughter of he that spits, upon the mere thought of Sir Perin. The young Knight had a gift for the Lady Galeria, for when Yule Tide came upon them. It was a few Poems by the Roman Poet Ovid, written upon Vellum in the form of a scroll with wooden rollers of oak.  The lines where in his hand, hardly a Latin scholar, but he had done his best.

 Sejanus had to copy the verses from an Scroll located in the Abbey near his Manor. The Abbot flatly refused to part with such a treasure,and short of storming the place, a copy was the best the Knight could do.

Sir Perin's winter has not been going well.  To say that the harvest was poor would be quite the understatement.  Still, you couldn't tell it by the way he dressed, as the young knight looks nothing like he did when his fellows saw him last.  His clothing is of the highest quality, and even his squire is adorned in fine cloth.  Something had obviously happened in the intervening months, as there was no way the young knight should have been able to afford such luxuries.  That something became readily apparently when they noticed the gorgeous woman on Perin's arm.  It was none other than the Countess Fiona of Hereford, which immediately sets tongues to wagging.  However the chattering wasn't able to last long as the ceremony soon started.

Once complete however, the first thing Perin did was to make a beeline for Sir Gracian.  Ignoring propriety, he crushes his longtime friend in a hug "My friend, I am most happy for you!"  Releasing the smaller man, he smiles and bows to the newly wed Lady Ariette.  "My lady, please accept my congratulations, as Sir Gracian is among the finest men I've ever had the pleasure to know."
This message was last edited by the player at 21:37, Fri 13 Oct 2017.

Sir Gracian laughed (once he had regained his breath) "This gentle giant is Sir Perin ... and I doubt he has ever been as smartly dressed as he is today." he added with a grin before leaning closer to him and whispering into his ear.

"... are you trying to impress a certain lady over there - or are you mad and trying to get yourself killed?"

Sir Gracian knew well that his friend had a rival that would not take Countess Fiona's presence lightly and frankly he was worried.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:04, Fri 13 Oct 2017.

"The clothing?  A gift from an admirer actually.  And worry not about me my friend, worry more about those who might wish me harm." Perin's tone is warm but quickly gains an edge to it that Gracian had only ever seen on the battlefield.  In truth Perin wasn't overly that concerned with the Praetor.  While the man might rage and throw a fit, there was little he could do, at least overtly.  And if he did attempt to resort to something underhanded, Perin would find a way to handle it... and make the man regret it.

"That reminds me my friend, I should introduce you to my lady love sometime.  But I don't wish to get between you and your throngs of admirers and well wishers, so perhaps when you're free later?" he asks.
This message was last edited by the player at 09:28, Sat 14 Oct 2017.

Sir Dalan was delighted to support his brother knight on his wedding day, and of course Lady Ariette was as charming and fair a woman as any might have wished but truthfully his mind was on someone else and something else.

As a boy he had never dreamed he'd meet someone as far above him as Lady Ellowyn. The daughter of an Earl! He could hardly think of it, or of the awesome responsibilities that now awaited him in Dover's Crossing. It made him more afraid than facing another giant... yet one look into those sea-blue eyes of his beloved calmed his nerves. Not just beauty, but a woman of thought and of heart. Had any bold knight had so wise and compassionate companion at his sides?

He was prepared to go on this greatest adventure he had yet undertaken - at least he hoped so!

Just a point of clarification re: attendance.

The feast and weddings during the winter are mainly attended by people from Salisbury, Cardiff, and Stonewall.  The main exception being that Sir Perin invited Countess Fiona, who accepted said invitation as his date.

Lady Galeria is not there, either because she was not invited or because her Father refused to allow her to go to Salisbury (up to Sir Sejanus as to whether or not he invited her).  The Duke is not a fan of Salisbury, apparently.

For the Spring Tournament, which will be coming up shortly, there will be attendees from all over, with a far more diverse-than-usual crowd due to Arthur's campaign.  No knights from Dorset, however, will be attending despite being neighbors.  Should he wish, Sir Sejanus can probably get Lady Galeria to attend.