Special Event #1 The banquet after the wedding

Jane was sitting in the place of honor next to John. She kept smiling nervously, avoiding to look at anyone in particular. She cerimony was over now, now she was officially a Tully, a wife, John’s wife. She felt so numb and slightly confused, she was barely aware how she had reached her table after they were pronounced husband and wife. After their kiss everything was blurred in her mind, it seemed like time had suddenly passed faster. It was all too fast now, somehow she was getting even more nervous, more scared, in a way she didn’t believe was possible. She was doing her best to breath normally and keep smiling, but under the table her hands were shaking.

Kayley was glad that the ceremony had gone on without a hitch.  She remembered hearing stories about weddings in the past, and how some of them hadn't turned out so well.  But this one seemed to be going on just fine.  For the moment however, she was seated with her family, glancing at Jane every so often.  Personally, Kayley thought she looked like she was going to throw up or something.  But maybe that was sometimes typical for new brides?  Marriage was a big thing after all, and some people didn't handle it too well at first.

(( Buahahah! Jeor in the house! XD XD ))

Jeor was sitting next to Anne, in the table that had been reserved for him and the rest of his family. Right in front of them there was Jane, in the place of honor with her husband.
He almost couldn't believe it. His Janey was married. Even if now it seemed like she was going to faint or something, Jane managed to finish all the ceremony and to say her vows with no problems.
He couldn't be more proud of her; and even Anne was happy about the wedding even if she didn't admit it openly.

"A toast for the happy couple!" Jeor got up from his seat and raised his glass, waiting for everyone to follow him "May the Gods be always in our favor!"
It was a simple phrase, he knew it, but said with all the best intentions.

Alyssa stayed to the side of most of the revelers.... there was no love lost between tully's and baelish's she could thank the actions of the war of five kings for that one. After all with Alyssa being the only Baelish left, and a crippled child it was more then likely the seat of the trident would fall back to House Tully especially now that the Tully heir was married. If anyone had a right to be less then thrilled at a wedding it was her. But she was polite and held up her glass with the rest of them though her words were muttered and she set the glass back down without a sip. Wondering where on earth Puck had gone off to now, gently taking out one of her books mentally checking off the list of social events she had to put up with before returning home. Just a few hours and hopefully she could slip out in peace.

In some way, finally being married had come as a relief. He no longer had to doubt and second guess and worry and dread. The day had already come, the ceremony was already over and it was too late to take back his actions now. He no longer had a choice. He was married, and that was that, no going back now. It was no longer a choice he had to make. Still he wondered if it had been the right one.
He kept his gaze on the crowd, but his mind and peripheral vision was focused on Jane. He had grown fond of her of late, there was no denying that. She was a good person, and cute in her own way. However, he was frightened that cute was not a trait he could afford looking for in a bride. He needed a wife, a partner, a helping hand and a competant player in the games of his world. Instead, he had gotten a frightened child. Seeing her tremble so next to him made his heart sink.
John had long since noticed everyone's curious stare, and he couldn't blame the people either. Jane was making him look bad. It must have seemed to everyone that this arranged marriage was against her will. Her open struggle made him look like a bad husband and a worse lord.
Carefully he reached out and laid his own hand over hers, as a way to comfort her. Finally he turned his gaze to her, and her sickened expression hit him even harder than it already had. "Please, will you try to look like you're happy? Even if it's just pretence...?"

In the moment his hand touched her she felt a shiver run through her whole body: from the outside it wasn’t noticeable, but inside of her it felt like an adrenaline rush. She immediately took his hand, tightening it like it was the only thing that matter, like a drowning person would cling to a lifebuoy. As she did so, her shaking lowered, soon it was not even visible, even if maybe John could still sense it by her hand.
As he talked, she turned a bit toward John, enough to look at him but keep facing the people in front of them as well. His words weren’t really nice, nor helpful: she already had much pressure on her shoulders and she was doing her best to handle it, but she nodded anyway and tried to smile: luckily the smile turned out convincing enough.
Pretending o be happy… did she really have to pretend? Was she unhappy? No, it wasn’t true… at least she thought it wasn’t. It was all so confusing to her, she wished to be alone with him, to be able to talk and explain herself, and in the same time she was terrified at the thought of the moment when she would be alone with him.
Trying to do as John said, she managed to take her glass and raise it at her father’s toast, smiling and looking happy, even if she still wasn’t able to take a single bite of food in her mouth.

Although he appreciated Jane's efforts, John feared it would be too late. Everyone had already seen Jane's horrid expression, and it would definitively be the talk of the land once the people returned home. There was no use for this extravagant music, the expensive dishes, the months of planning. No one would speak of it. They would all be talking of Jane Tully's dreadful expressions, and John resented her for it.
Trying to shift his mind onto happier things, he followed his bride's lead and raised his glass, smiling widely out into the crowd, specially sending his gratious smile towards Jane's father, the noble lord Mormont. If he had not been in front of the crowd however, the irony and the falseness in lord Mormont's statement would most likely have made him laugh. Hopefully in time, some time far in the future, those words might come to ring true. John profoundly hoped that was to be the case.

Anne was sitting next to Jeor, with the rest of the family. She kept her eyes on the “happy couple”, even if in her eyes happy was not the right word. Sure, Jane had finished the cerimony, she had done her best to cover her fear and she hadn’t even done a terrible job at it, but she hadn’t been real good at it either.
When her husband started the toast, she rose her glass as everyone else, and she nodded in approval noticing that her daughter was smiling in a way more convincing way after John talked to her. Sure, her daughter wasn’t great at it, but the broom wasn’t helping much either. She could only hope that the awkwardness between the two of them would wear off eventually and that it wasn’t too evident to other people, but she doubted it.

Jane was still pale and the butterfly in her stomach still were more similar to tiny dragons, but she surely gave the impression to be happier. The smile on her face didn’t look fake, maybe just a bit tense, but for a bride, especially for a bride in her situation, it would have been weird otherwise.
The food was still resting untouched in front of her, but she had played a bit with it with her fork so it was unlikely anyone noticed she had eaten nothing, maybe only John, since he was sitting so close to her.
When she thought John had done with food as well, she turned toward him again, still able to face the rest of the crowd. It took her a lot of focus to win the numbness of the moment and talk to him, but she manage to whisper to him
“Would you invite me to dance?”
It was a Mormont’s tradition, and she was sure that John was aware of that, she just didn’t know if he was going to respect it or not. According to her mother, he should have to, but once again, it was up to him to decide.

John looked at Jane once again, surprised by her suggestion. He knew all about their family traditions, ever since the engagement his family had made it a clear mission to teach him everything. However, he had never thought Jane would wish to dance with him. Perhaps she simply felt the pressure from her own family to withhold traditions. In any case he was pleased. Perhaps this would ease her nerves or at the very least be good for appearances.
Standing up, John called for attention and waited until the crowd quieted down, before speaking loudly, for all to hear. "My beautiful bride has requested a dance, and who am I to deny her?" He smiled blissfully to the crowd, hoping his endearment would feel more believable to them than himself. "There shall still be a feast for those who wish it, but I hope many wish to join us on the open floor." With that he turned to Jane, still smiling, and reached for her hand to guide her.

Damian walked nerviously towards to entrace of the hall where the banquet of his sisters wedding was hold. He tried to hurry since he had already missed so much but his nanny accomany him always slowed him down. "You could hurt yourself." It was always the same. Due his sickness everyone who knew about it tried to always watch over him and protect him. At least, he thought to himself, his mother was already inside and busy with the wedding so the worst she could do was sending him back to his rooms to rest.
As he finally arrived at the giant door Damians eyes started sparkling and open up wide when he saw the fancy hall with all the people inside and in the middle of their attention his beloved oldest sister about to dance with her husband. This time he didn´t want to go or even hurry anywhere. He wanted to stay right where he was so he didn´t miss any bit of this scene.

As John called for attention and announced the dance, Anne couldn’t help but smile: did Jane really ask for it? She had told her the importance of traditions, and she did tell her it was a good thing to dance at their wedding, but still she was surprised she asked for that while she was so evidently nervous. Anne could feel a sting of pride inside of her.
She politely clapped her hands, as many other did, at John’s announcement, wondering if Jeor would ask her to dance as well. She didn’t love dancing, but she knew it would be the right thing to do. She was so focused on her daughter and her son-in-law that she didn’t notice her child sneak in: she wouldn’t have been too pleased if she did, he needed to rest! Maybe staying couldn’t hurt him too much, but she could never help being overprotective with her youngest child.

Jane followed John’s movements with her glance, trying to maintain herself calm while he announced the dance. She kept smiling, looking happy and trying to look relaxed as well, but for who knew her it was evident she was still really nervous.
When he reached for her hand, smiling to her, she smiled back to him, taking his hand once more. She stood up from her chair, helping herself with his hand, ready to follow him. Her heart was beating so hard it was almost painful, she wondered if he could hear it as well, but it was her who proposed the dance after all, she wasn’t going to retreat now, she was not going to ashame him…

An awkward silence followed the couple all the way from their table to the open floor. It wasn't a comforting silence filled with joy and love. It was a strained silence, filled with things they couldn't say and fake, plastered smiles. None of this felt right.
Once on the open floor, John pulled his bride close to himself. Not indecently so, but he wanted to still her shaking urges and in this close manner he could comfort her and control her more easily if something were to happen. The act was a result of distrust, not love, but for some reason this was the only thing that had felt right all day.
With his hand on her waist, and his other hand in hers, he looked down at Jane, wondering how she felt being so close to him. "Are you ready?" he asked carefully, hoping he wasn't pushing this fragile, little thing too harshly. The last thing he wanted was for her to break down here, where everyone could see.

Jane carefully smiled while she followed in silence her husband… husband, it sounded so weird, somehow so wrong, but in the same time… a part of her found it so… so weirdly beautiful… and still and yet so scary…
She followed him, pretending to smile at the people tht were looking at us and careful in the same time not to look at anyone: she was so nervous… and the whole situation felt like a dream, unreal… she didn’t want to break that feeling, she was too scared to find out what could happen in that case…
As they reached the open floor, she felt John pulling her closer: her pale cheeks became suddenly pink: they would have been bright red if she wasn’t so pale. It was so embarassing, stay so close to him… but it was exciting too… her heart kept beating so fast he surely could feel it…
As he asked her if she was ready she finally looked at him in the eyes, she was still smiling nervously but at his question she nodded whispering to him “I am”.

John nodded and tightened his grasp on her and her hand. He dared not look at the crowd, not for his own fear, but fear of how Jane would react if he broke her glance. He did not know why, but he had the feeling he was somewhat of an anchor for her today. Both the cause of her fear and anxiety, and the comfort that kept her grounded and calmer. Her ways seemed illogical to him at best.
The first steps were heavy, but soon they were gliding across the room effortlessly, and the more he kept his eyes on her, the less he paid any attention to the crowd surrounding them, and their cold eyes watching them shamelessly. They were only here for the entertainment.
John felt himself grateful that he for once had found something Jane was not child-like with. Her dancing skills were quite extraordinary; something he hoped would be enough to satisfy the crowd's insistant need for gossip. Hopefully they would speak more of Jane's gracefulness and beauty, and not her anxiety and shyness.

As they started dancing, the world around them disappeared, or so it seemed to Jane: it was just her and John, her and this handsome and mysterious man who now was her husband. He confused and attracted her, scared her and in the same time was now the only person in the whole she felt could help her, possibly cause he was the only one who could understand her, the only one who could facing the same situation.
She kept her eyes into his, the hint of a smile evident on her face, and in that moment she looked truly gorgeous. She had always been a good dancer, and she always loved dancing: suddenly she didn’t look like a scared puppy anymore, she looked like a beautiful young woman, graceful and light on her feet, confident even. She had that in herself, grace and confidence, she was just so young, still a little more than a child, a flower that was just starting to bloom…
Jane found herself wondering if he liked her in that moment: she surely did like him. He was quite a good dancer, a good lead to her, firm and gentle in the same time… he was so terribly charming, but he felt so distant in the same time… she was both a dream and a nightmare, she was all she could ever dream for, and in the same time he was just a stranger and she was now his. The only thought made her dizzy, so she didn’t focus on that too much: focusing, after all, required too much energies, and in that moment she had to use all of them to make a good impression and make people forget of her previous anxiety.

As much as Damian wanted to stay where he was, his nanny wanted to place him with his family even more. Before he could resist - not that he would actually have dared to do so at his sisters wedding or to be more precisely at her weddings banquet - the old lady pushed him closer to the middle of the room where all the other Mormonts were seated in the first row. Quietly and as undistracting as possible he had to sit down next to his mother feeling a bit frightened. It´s not like they didn´t have a good relationship but as much as he loved and cared for his mother for Damian it seemed that she did even more the other way round resulting in her being overprotective.
Even the tiniest thought of his daily "suffering" however got washed away the moment Jane and John started the dance. Everything he had heard about his brother in law has been good so far. Not just the rumours but also the talking of Jane, which of course was most important, was positive. Seeing them now just being married and in his eyes happy made Damian smile like never before. He was so glad Jane found a husband, especially a good one what John seemed to him and to even see them fullfill one of the precious Mormont traditions even filled his heart with more joy and happiness.

Anne followed with her glance Jane and John as they moved toward the dancefloor: he little Jane was evidently doing her best to look brave and happy, but she wasn’t doing well enough. She looked so tiny, so scared… sure, she could fool some strangers, maybe she could make it hard to guess how frightened she really was, but it was evident she was at least a terribly nervous little bride. For a moment Anne actually wondered if making her marry at that age was actually a good idea, if she couldn’t have waited a little longer… but that was stupid. Her daughter was old enough, she had to grow up, and beside, it was too late to have any second thoughts.
John and Jane were still walking when her attention was captured by something else… Damian! She looked at her youngest child with a concerned and in the same time upset expression: what was he doing there? She flashed an upset look at the nanny: why did she bring him here? He had to rest! “Damian go back to your room.” she whispered to her child, before her attention was stolen again by John and Jane as they started dancing: finally her daughter show all her grace and femininity! Anne felt a sting of pride, but she quickly went back to focus on her youngest kid, waiting for him to go or to explain his presence there.

Damian pouted as he noticed his mother acted again like she tend to do all the time. "But mom ..." He paused. What could he say to convince her letting him stay? So many stories have been made up, so many explanations had been done and so many times he failes no matter what he tried. In the end he went straight with honesty, his strongest wished. "It´s Jane´s wedding. I want to see her happy or at least see her at all since she won´t be with us any more from now on. Isn´t it our duty as her family to celebrate with her this important day?"

Anne opened her mouth to reply, but her child’s words really got her. Yes, it was the last time they would see Jane in a long time, could she really deny her little one to see his older sister one last time? Could she deny him to celebrate her wedding day? “How are you feeling?” she asked, procrastinating an answer, leaving open the possibility of a yes.

The young Mormont looked at his mother in suprise. Did he actually just has been able to convince her? Damian was about to smile but something told him that even though it was a success it wasn´t a good one. He didn´t "win" against his mother because he persuaded her but because he only said the obvious truth. Anne himself had taught her son like any other of her children the importance of family, duty and tradition besides many other things.
Howsoever when his mother asked about his well-being Damian took her hand and smiled up to her. "I´m fine mommy because I´m finally with you and the others."

Anne couldn’t help but smile at his child’s words: he was such a sweet boy, so good-hearted, so kind, and in the same time so frail… With the other hand she caressed his cheek and then his forehead, checking in the same time his temperature. Luckily he wasn’t hot, maybe staying a bit wouldn’t have hurt much…
“You can stay for a bit, but you’ll have to go when I tell you so.” she allowed in the end before she turned again her attention toward her daughter. She was still dancing with John, and she surely was doing a great job: they were showing in that dance a bond that she knew they didn’t share, at least not yet, but they were so good at dancing they could have fooled anyone. In that moment, just in that moment, they actually looked like a couple…

Amelia had showed up a bit late as usual, but right now nothing too bad. As a general rule of thumb, Amelia tired not go to most weddings without her husband, which was fine. Unfortunately she could not avoid the receptions or banquets that followed. Luckily, this was not going to be too bad as it was tied to her Bracken roots. John Tully was getting married and she was excited to see it happen. John was like a brother to her, even if he wasn't happy with her all the time. Amelia held a hand over her mouth both to warm her hand and keep her from chuckling. She never thought John was actually going to marry, but it was nice to know that he had somebody even if he was unsure about it. As she sat in back of the room looking around at everybody she felt relieved, relaxed, and quite happy to be here. It was actually quite nice to see the Alyssa Baelish out for a change, some of the Starks were present, and even the youngest Mormont, Damian was out in full force or at least what Mom would allow him to do. Looking up at John and Jane dance, Amelia thought they were actually quite the couple. Jane was beautiful and graceful and so was John . . . . They actually looked like a perfect pair. Amelia sat back and watched them dance.