Lady Gwendolyn's Pavilion was erected in short order with the help of squires and House Lychester's servants.

The Pavilion itself was not an ornate affair, but bore House Blackfin's colours, and was large and easily warmed. As well as a privacy barrier for the sleeping of Lady Gwendolyn and her immediate handmaids, there was a secondary chamber for hosting audiences.

At Ser Adham's insistence, the Blackfin party was offered both refreshment and privacy before the the hunt and falconry would begin.

Within the bounds of Lady Gwendolyn's splendid and spacious tent, Alyssa took charge of the liquid refreshments and poured all who wanted it a mixture from matching flagons of cool water and the fine wine House Lychester had provided.

Once all had their drink of choice, she looked to Lady Gwendolyn and Ser Thoren to set the course of events, while she kept to the background.

Flashing Ser Mathers an apologetic quirk of his eyebrows, Berion quickly followed the others into the pavilion set aside for Gwen and her retainers.  Seeing his sister busying herself with drinks, he gave the young woman an approving smile and nod before quickly turning his attention towards Lady Gwendolyn and Ser Thoren.  "Well I imagine we'll be going the traditional route then?  Men to the boar hunt, and ladies with the birds?"

Gwen took some water with thanks, then addressed the question from Berion. "I expect that is likely to be the course we plot, Ser Berion, but I'm willing to listen to any contrary suggestions." The Blackfin heiress took a drink and smiled. Her hazel eyes scanned those gathered to see if any wanted to offer an opinion.

Jenny tided up the pavilion as they spoke. "I wouldn't mind being on the boar hunt, sounds enjoyable, but I should really stay with Lady Gwendolyn." She did not have any intention of proving to be a bad handmaiden now that she was serving Gwen.

"I wouldn't know what to do with a boar - other than run from it," Alyssa laughed quietly from the background.

"If you'd like to hunt boar though Jenny, and my Lady is amenable to it, the three of us should be able to tend to her needs for a few hours. It's not as though Lady Gwendolyn is that demanding a mistress," she gave a quick impish smile that cracked through her ladylike manner, inviting mistress and maid both to share in her joke.

"I can probably handle a second falcon as we ride, if someone else would like to fly them."

Gwen smiled slightly at the discussion of the hunt. "Perhaps I should be more blunt. I think that the menfolk would enjoy some time away from us ladies so that they can do and say whatever it is they do when there are no women around. My initial inclination is to provide that opportunity unless there is very good reason for us to push for a different arrangement."

She paused and smiled slightly. "And idle curiosity does not rise to the level of very good reason."

Alyssa's eyes went to her brother and she smiled subtly, then nodded at Lady Gwendolyn's words and returned to her side.

It was settled then, unless Ser Thoren was determined to persuade Gwendolyn otherwise. And he didn't seem inclined to disagree from his previous words.

His mouth quirking upwards slightly, Berion flashed his sister a bemused looking wink before turning back to Gwen as she ended the debate before it could go any further.

The knight's smile quickly widened to engulf the entirety of his face as he spoke once more "Then it seems we're decided!  Off we menfolk go to get gored by boars while you ladies enjoy a leisurely afternoon!"

"Indeed. Not so much that we need time away, but that there may be something to be gained in us attending the hunt. My preferred style of hunting is with a harpoon in hand and aboard a coast-hugger, but I'll make do with this overland business. I'll keep some of the men here with you, however," he said, indicating House Blackfin's guards.

Jenny blushed. "Yes, Lady Gwendolyn, I will remember." It was all rather awkward for her; mostly raised with the Blackfins, she thought of Gwen more like family than a superior and it was a significant adjustment. "I just didn't know what it would be like. The Isles are not noted for their game" she added apologetically.


"Best of fortune on the hunt, and I hope the company is entertaining. Nothing ruins a boar hunt faster than a bore" she joked to Berion.

Raised on the Isles, dear Jenny probably had more opportunities to hunt with harpoon than boar-spear Alyssa reflected with a smile. Then her expression darkened as another thought occurred to her before the storm passed and a calm smiling Knollwood shot a glance Thoren’s way.

“Best of fortune in the hunt, Ser - the Lychester boars may not dive as deep as leviathans and sharks, but they’re every bit as ferocious when they erupt from their green frothy ‘waves’.”

Her gaze went to her brother and she smiled whimsically as her eyes danced. “Enjoy proving yourselves good knights - yet not too much. I shouldn’t like either of you to be gored anywhere you can’t afford to lose; it would put such a damper on the festivities later on.”

Gerhart stood on the far side of the outer entryway of the pavilion, maintaining a polite distance from the nobles and gentlemen of the House, as he called within "My Lady, I have spoken with your squires and guardsmen, and your mounts and beasts are accounted for. Ser Adham and I have discussed recent sightings within the woods, and I am prepared to lead whichever of your folk will accompany him.'

Gwen nodded at the report from Gerhart. "Thank you for your diligence." She took one more drink of the water, then stood. "Let's be off, then."