HoMChronCorr2

• Between Book One & Book Two
• Between Story Four: The Bladeraven & Story Five: Rivergard Feast
• Between Story Five: Rivergard Feast & Interlude: The Greysteel Knight

After Interlude: The Greysteel Knight

From Lord Fenkirk Willum, to House Graben

To House Graben

It is with greatest joy that I announce the wedding of my son and heir, Ser Brice Willum, to the good Lady Amara Blackwood of Raventree.

Please join us at the beginning of the second week of the eighth month to see Brice and Amara joined in the sight of the Seven in the small sept at Waxworth. From there, they shall lead a processional down the road to Sweet Heath that the smallfolk may greet and congratulate them along the way.

The processional shall end in the ancient godswood on the edge of Sweet Heath where - per the customs of Lady Amara's home House - Brice and Amara shall once again speak their vows before the Old Gods kept by House Blackwood. A great feast shall follow back at Threeswords.

A celebratory tourney shall be held for our guests over the next two days, to celebrate the unions of Houses Blackwood and Willum, and to wish great joy and prosperity to Brice and Amara's marriage. Pavilion space is even now being prepared for this event, and we pray that we may count on your attendance.

With joyous regards,
Lord Fenkirk & Lady Aldia Willum of Threeswords

From Lord Beric Dondarrion, to House Graben

To Lord Emeryk Graben of Marrowmont,
I sent greetings.

Please be aware that I shall finally be visiting Marrowmont, at the onset of the sixth month of this year. I beg forgiveness for keeping you waiting, but the advisory progression down the Boneway has taken longer than anticipated. I deeply regret any inconvenience this has cause, and beg your indulgence for a short while longer.

I shall be arriving with a small contingent of soldiers and household knights. We shall not tax your hospitality unduly, though I crave forgiveness for the number of them. I am not returning to Stormhaven after visiting your seat, but am instead headed directly to King's Landing to join Lord Renly's court for a handful of months there.

Penned by my own Hand,
Beric Dondarrion
Lord of Blackhaven
Warden of the Dornish Marches

From Amara Blackwood, to Brice Willum

Sealed Private
My dearest Brice-

It is done. My father and our maester have proudly announced to Raventree that the negotiations with your father have been concluded. The wedding is set for the eighth month at Threeswords, and will be done in first a sept and then a godswood (there is apparently an old godswood at the edge of Willum domain that no one really remembers all that well, though it only has an old elm for a heart-tree). I overheard father speaking of my pregnancy to the maester, as well. Any other father would have been horrified and scandalized. Not mine - apparently, he managed to actually reduce the dowry your House expects from mine, citing the impropriety of our dalliance together and the potential damage to my virtue. Infuriating man.

Speaking of my growing belly, things progress apace on that front. Though I'm not showing any signs yet physically, I am definitely with child. I've been battling bouts of hideous nausea and various unsettling other maladies that no one ever warned me about when discussing the "blessing of childhood." I suspect if they told girls what they might truly expect, mankind might die out in a single generation. Suffice to say that by the time we are reunited, I shall be very glad to be over the worst of it, and with mostly fatness to look forward to.

My dreams are strange these days. The line between dreams of the green sort and the normal kind are blurrier these days - something to do with being pregnant, I suspect. My gammer says that all women come closer to dreaming true when they are pregnant, but I don't know how much credence I put into that. I suspect they are mostly fears and the strange humors that overtake women when they are gravid: my dreams are full of dragons and war, of shadows that wear the shape of men stalking the Stormlands and myriad other unpleasantries.

I even dreamt that a great giant, terrible pale and faceless, rampaged through Marrowmont. In his rage, he kicked over walls and smashed soldiers and smallfolk. It was horrible.

Forgive the turn this letter has taken - I intended to keep it light. I do long for the time when we can be together again. The short time I had in your arms and in your bed haunt me, in that I wish nothing more than to be back there once again. I pray the gods speed these days past, that we may be once more.

With all my love and longing,
Your Amara

Response from Ser Brice Willum, to Amara Blackwood

Sealed Private
My Treasure, Amara,

News of our parents' agreement have reached here as well, and I could not have wished for better. The day that we are together again cannot come soon enough. I'm also eager to see with my own eyes our burgeoning child, and I grieve that you can't be with me already that I might help you through these early struggles. Frankly, our Maester Tolbric's arts could likely make one almost forget the struggles of pregnancy all together, and I will be more at ease with you under his care. There is no better attendant for our child.

It's unfortunate that Lord Tytos used our little joy against my father, but I'm hopeful he will not be wroth. Money is only money, after all, but the union of our Houses holds much more promise. I'm certain my father sees the value in that, if nothing else. And he doesn't even know the true gifts you bring to our House.

Minisa has had terrifying dreams of late, as well. Dead and wounded men laid out on funeral slabs, shrouded in gray or red. I'm told she awakens in extreme fright over them. It pains me to say it, but we might do well to not regard these images too lightly. It could be there is real danger ahead of us. All the more reason to have you here with me. As to my own nights, they have been blessedly undisturbed.

But enough of that. Let us instead look to our days in the sun. To see you again, and in my own lands, as well, will prove one of the best days of my life.

Ah, this does bring a matter to mind. Lady Isalaine has appealed to my mother to help place Alysa at Highgarden. They have decided, between the two of them to make a grand trip out of all it. After our wedding at Threeswords, we will travel with both Ladies to Highgarden, and from there to Oldtown. Minisa has been courted of late by Ser Garth Hightower, and besides she believes there might be much useful knowledge to be gained in Oldtown. After that, we are to sail back to the Vale.

So, I suppose this is my way of saying, come prepared for a bit of an adventure. I will ensure that Maester Tolbric accompanies us, that any rigors of the road will not pose any danger to your good health. In the meantime, I pray to the Seven, and Old Gods, too, to keep you safe in their hands.

With All Love,
Brice

Writ by my own hand

From Lord Garland Kraedmyr, to Lady Isalaine Graben

To the Lady Isalaine of House Graben,
Greetings.

The time for the Silver Festival is upon us, and with it comes a visit from your House. I would be a terrible liar if I said we weren't eager for your arrival - it has been many a year since Gryphmont has had visitors from another House.

I am sending along my brother and sister to meet you at the borders to our lands. I believe your ward has met my sister Ashei before, at the tourney. My brother Ser Hodmar has not had the pleasure of your acquaintance, however, and is eager to make it. They will guide you back to Gryphmont. We often see heavy summer rains this time of year, and the paths through the Elibara Valley into Gryphmont proper can be treacherous.

Until we meet once more in person.

~Garland Kraedmyr of Gryphmont

As scribed by the hand of Maester Ambrosine

From Lord Gulian Swann, to Lady Isalaine Graben

Lainey,
Forgive me for not having written in so long.

You know I've always been a terrible correspondent. Old Bladeraven used to handle most of my letters - that miserable bastard knew me so well, he would read our letters, compose a reply and then present the reply to me at dinner to approve. The was a traitor, but damn me if he didn't make my life easier. I do like our new Maester Edelmore, though. The man's a fine healer and plays the lute as well.

Which is excellent news because Beony is pregnant, by the Seven! Truth be told, neither of us expected to be parents again, Lainey - we simply assumed that we'd marry and live to be old together. Clearly the Seven had other things in mind for us. She is due at the end of the year, and has asked me to approach you about being with her during her lying-in month. She quite likes you, and I suspect she would love for Branna to be there, as well.

I've had news from Balon in King's Landing, as an aside. As expected, he is making quite a spectacle of himself. Having participated in some local tourneys around the Crownlands, his skills and knightly virtues have been noticed. I mention this not to brag, but to give you some of his news. He of course spends much of his time with Emeryk, and had some interesting news.

It seems that Lady Aldia Velt is in King's Landing for some reason or another - Balon mentioned that they were possibly visiting family, though to the best of my knowledge Lady Aldia doesn't have any kin in the city. One thing is for certain, however. Lady Aldia's daughter, Pramia, is with her, and according to Balon she and Emeryk have taken to spending quite a lot of time together. Balon is concerned for Emeryk's virtue (bless my poor innocent knight of a son), although he does have a point. If Pramia has set her eyes on Emeryk, it is easy enough for two young people to manufacture a reason to marry in order to satisfy propriety, as I'm sure you and your late Waltyr could well attest. Reason enough to be wary, I suppose.

I also hear that you'll be attending the wedding of Brice to a Blackwood girl. Lainey, if you must permit this marriage, that's fine. But I think it's foolhardy for you to go to Threeswords. That is outside of my reach, and beyond my protection. Who knows what kind of vengeance Lord Willum might feel like exacting for his son's captors? Even if he lets you go, who says he will permit his son to depart with you again? Let's face it: once Brice is back in Threeswords, he'd be a fool to let him go back with you, Lainey. In addition to his own House's defenses, he'll have just married the daughter of a powerful Riverlands House well known for the skill of their archers. I urge you to reconsider this course of action. Hells, we can hold the wedding in Helmport, if you like. Just don't go beyond the Boneway where I can't protect you, sister.

I remain, Your Loving Brother, Lord Gulian Swann, Warden of the Marchwater Vale, Lord of House Swann

By the hand of Maester Edelmore

From Lady Ravella Blackwood, to Lady Isalaine Graben

Dear Lainey-

I'm so very cross with you! I've been waiting positively ages to hear from you, and you of all people know how terrible I am at being patient.

I shall immediately rescind my wroth, of course, as soon as you tell me when you are visiting King's Landing, and when I can expect you here in Acorn Hall. I have so many preparations to make. You must have Minisa tell me which of the young men I suggested in my previous letter she'd like to meet. The more the merrier, as far as I'm concerned!

Honestly, Lainey. It's as though you don't take this whole marriage thing seriously.

With love, but a touch of frustration as well,
Ravella Smallwood of Acorn Hall

From Lana Blanchard, to Ser Brice Willum

To Ser Brice Willum, Heir to Threeswords,
I send fondest greetings and hopes for your good health and good spirits.

We have all heard the blessed news, my lord. Pray accept my deepest congratulations on your upcoming wedding from everyone at Blanchard estate. We all pray to the Seven for your continuing happiness and the fruitfulness of your line.

I spoke recently with your lord father and lady mother, my lord, and they bid me contact you directly. Your lord father mentioned that you sought a squire from your home lands. Though my own dear husband, Ser Gertyn, is dead almost five full years now, my lord, my son Tomas is quite tall and strong. I'd despaired of him being able to follow in his father's footsteps - he was too young to take to squire before his father died, though he served as a page at Threeswords since he was old enough to see over the high table there.

Your lord father has suggested that Tomas might make a good squire for you. He is thirteen years, his manners have prospered greatly under your lady mother's tutelage and the master-at-arms says he holds a blade quite naturally. I hope I am not being too presumptuous writing to you, my lord. I know it is usually the father's duty to find a knight to squire for his son, but poor Tomas has only me to do such things. If you desire to meet Tomas to adjudge for yourself his fitness, I can send him directly to you at Marrowmont. Or if you have enough to tend to at the moment, perhaps he can meet you after your wedding.

While at table with your noble parents, my lord, I also heard that you were seeking a cook well-trained in the kitchen arts of the Reach. If I may be so bold, I should like to offer you the services of my own kitchen woman Welsa. She is a fine cook and would do any household very proud. She often helps in the kitchen at Threeswords when there are great feasts planned. Once Tomas is off to serve with some knight, I will be in the Blanchard house on my own. I'm a simple woman, and have no need for the services of such a magnificent cook, and it would do my heart good to know she was in service to the heir of House Willum, my lord. Do consider it. I can send her to you as soon as you deem, of course.

I pray that you are happy and content, even so far from your right and true home, my lord.

Blessings of the Seven, Mistress Lana Blanchard of Blanchard House

From Ser Jon Fossoway, to Ser Brice Willum

To Ser Brice Willum,
I bid greetings.

Dearest nephew, I've heard that congratulations are in order. My sister, your mother, wrote to tell me the wonderful news, that the first of her children is getting married. Truly an occasion for celebration! Rest assured, I have every intention of winning the small tourney your father is throwing, and have equal intentions of crowning your new bride the Queen of Love & Beauty. I may even steal her away from you!

All jesting aside, I am truly happy for you. It was a terrible injury to your mother's heart when you were taken so cruelly from her away to the Stormlands, and it is a fine thing that you are returning for such an event. Though I bounced you on my knee when you were but a teething babe, I eagerly anticipate coming to know you as the young man you have grown to be.

In all eagerness,
Ser Jon Fossoway of Cider Hall

From Saria Balinger, to Maester Tolbric

Marked & Sealed Private Well-met once more, Maester Tolbric

It seems that between you and I, we are forever using names not our own! I think all such deceptions are behind us now, although the consequences of our actions - and the reasons for them - yet remain, I surmise.

Rest assured that though my brother Lord Raunlyr Balinger is fiery and desirous of what he perceives as a final resolution to old problems, all is well in hand here. He has of course seen that it is foolish for him to pursue the acquisition of another maester when we have a perfectly functional and supportive one already to hand.

Besides, as a lady, I fear that seeing you again would cause me terrible consternation, reminding me of old horrors and nightmares. I am content to leave the things of the past where they belong. And as long as there are no sudden reminders from either of us, there is no reason it can't remain there, all snug and safe from any harm.

Warmest Regards,
Lady Saria Balinger of Wisenwood