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( SUNSPEAR, DORNE ) LATE 284 AC
GWENDYS WAS UNACCUSTOMED TO WEDDINGS LIKE THIS, what a strange array of things they were given as gifts. They received seven snakes. She'd counted them, staring at the diamond prints that decorated their backs, tongues flickering. She didn't know what they would do with the reptiles, as they had nowhere to keep them. That, and they got bottles of spices, sandsilks, rings for her hair, peninsular broaches with snake sigils. It was all very nice, but Gwendys preferred the books (the ones with the illustrations) and fruits and gemstones that had been commissioned for her.
Her overall favourite, however, was a lance, a cruel piece of silver, from the Blackmonts; Perros and Jynessa and Lady Larra. The mere sight of it made her grin like a cat, ogling at the hilt encrusted with fine amber jewels. She swelled with joyousness, eager to use it.
Gwendys skinned a blood orange onto her platter, popping the crimson flesh into her mouth. Though the newlyweds were supposed to be surrounded by their immediate family at the banquet, Gwendys sat between Obara and her husband, as none of her close family were able to attend. The bastard girls extended from her left, Obara, Nym and then Tyene, as Sarella had become tired and Octaevia had taken her to the nursery to sleep.
"So," Nymeria smirked, munching on a strawberry that stained her lips a rosy colour, "Father told us that you joust."
"Just a little," Gwendys admitted, prying apart the segments of the orange with her fingers and popping a piece onto her tongue, fearing no bit for her wedding gown as she wiped to juice away from her chin.
"Not just a little, apparently. I can't believe you named our father as Queen of Love and Beauty," Obara snorted, rocking back and forth petulantly with her elbows on the table, "I wish I'd been there to see his face."
Nymeria remarked, "I bet he was speechless."
"Not quite," Gwendys chuckled, glancing at the girl's father, "He always has something to say."
"Mhm. Father got me a whip for my last nameday, and I'm teaching myself how to use it."
"You're teaching yourself?" Gwen quirked at an eyebrow at the young girl, who nodded eagerly.
"Father's teaching me to use a spear," Obara contended, narrowing her eyes at Nym for a moment, a gesture that told the younger sister to shut up. "At the moment, I'm not very good. He says I'm too clumsy, but I reckon I'll get better if I practice enough."
