Mary
Batten Estate

Entering into the gate the wind died down, blocked by stone walls causing its mournful howl to fall to a dull whisper, easily forgotten over the sounds of wheels hitting cobbled stone and the beating of hooves. Despite the wind no longer slamming into the carriage as it had while traveling up the Iron Planes, the gray skies that promised more snow than what was already piled up on the roofs of houses and pushed off roads into alleyways shattered all hope the weather would take a turn for the better. 

Despite this, the people of Riverbreak still head about their daily lives. Plenty of people stopped as they walked down the sides of roads to stare at the carriage, attempting to see inside the frost covered windows. It was a strange sight to see people bundled up so tight, various furs and leather wrappings made it so as little skin was exposed to the elements as possible, and instead of walking outside for leisure it was clear the people all hurried from one destination to another. 

Looking past the people and into the area around them, the main courtyard of the Batten estate was strangely plain. No greenery decorated archways to various buildings, the uniforms of the guards were dark and colorless, and no statues or works of art were in the courtyard, making it feel empty and lifeless. Lamps were hung above walkways, unlit in the dreary gray light that managed to make it through the clouds.

-
Walking out from one of the archways was a group of men slightly more finely dressed then the others. The pelts that adorned them had streaks of black and blue dyed into it, and despite the cold their heads were unadorned by headwear. About half a dozen of these folk stepped towards the cart, and it was the one who seemed to have slight forms of engravings carved into a breastplate fitted perfectly over his winter attire that stepped forwards. His dark black hair was cut short, and his eyes met the cart drivers with confidence and the assurance of someone who is used to being listened to. 

"I have been sent to meet with Lady Evangeline Luronsque so as to show her around the estate while Lady Cornelia Batten finishes up her duties for the day." He spoke with a thick Withic accent, and he motioned towards the carriage as he awaited a response.
Stephen
Lady Evangeline Luronsque
Batten Estate

The Lady looked through the thick curtain, just a gap, making certain the people on the outside couldn't see her poor and frozen attitude as she shook in the coach. She already missed flowers as they lurched across the frozen wasteland, noticing the barren courtyard and grey exterior. Before her whole disappearance, she was the type of Lady to be enthralled in fashion and uniquity, but now, being so far from her comfort zone, and already looking so separate from everyone else, all she wanted to do was lock herself up in a nice warm closet with a good book, away from the drab scenery that she would have to gaze at for the rest of her life. 

As the carriage stopped, she peeked out to the group of rugged men, and she felt fear crawl up her throat. *Are you kidding me?* She thought to herself, shaking her head as she leaned back, letting them sit in silence. She then realized once more that she was without help or servants, and had to zone herself. She put on a mask of elegance as best she could, taking a deep breath and exhaling, seeing her breath linger in the air like a puff of smoke. She reached out, and unlatched the door herself, and exited unassisted. 

It must have been odd, to see a woman without many furs, warm skin, and fiery hair, hop out of the carriage like a simple commoner rather than a Lady to be married. She swallowed the frog in her throat as she faced the entourage with a straight back, meeting the man who spoke with her eyes that seemed to be a blue too bright and welcoming for a Withic. She curtsied, trying to still her trembling bottom lip as she felt this sad little greeting of hers undignified to meet a new noble family. She clasped her bare hands together, swallowing again. "Ahem, I am Lady Luronsque." She said into the cold and dry air, trying to still her aching for warmth by pressing her hands together stiffly.

"Forgive me, I don't usually do my own introductions... I'm the... The... Betrothed."
Mary
Batten Estate

As the lady stepped out of the carriage, he looked towards it waiting for others to accompany her. He was expecting to see several, or at least one servant make their way out of the cart to join her. When none stepped out he glanced back to his fellows, several of which responded with shaking heads and shrugged shoulders. 

Looking back at her as she approached, the man saw what little she had for protection against the elements. And with no layers to keep her warm he could already see her nose beginning to match the color of her hair. Not wanting to embarrass her, he simply thought to himself it might be best to get her inside. 

The fumbled introduction he pushed to the side of his mind, thinking it must have been more from the distraction of the cold to anything else. 

"Lady Luronsque, I am Remus Cavan, a knight in Lady Batten's service. I've been sent to show you to your quarters if you'd like, or show you around the estate if you wish. I can't help but notice your absence of servants, if you'd like I can have some of my men take your belongings up to your rooms for you?"
Stephen
Lady Evangeline Luronsque
Batten Estate

Lady Evangeline felt her shame only grow as they just stood there and stared at her, expecting more. She bowed her head, closing her eyes as she stood there with a deep feeling in her chest. She looked back up, her eyes a little wetter than before, as she nodded quietly at his offer. "I... Yes. I was... Accompanied with one, but... She was too cold." She said. It sounded so childish when she said it, which made her even more embarrassed. "I allowed her passage back." She said with a small nod as she looked down. At least she was kind, in regards to subordinates. She took a step forward carefully, feeling her foot slide over ice, making certain she didn't tumble her way into the castle. She did, though, reach out for him partway through, not knowing how to truly handle the snow and ice around them. 


"Ap... Apologies, again, Mr. Cavan. I warn you, I've... Never been in winter, before." She did seem a tad lonely on her own, her body sending shivers up her spine as the cold hit her again. "I don't mean to be so unofficial and unprepared, I had only an evening to leave the Todt Estate, I couldn't dress or pack to the proper level." She explained, shaking her head a little as they walked. 

"Excuse me... Is... Is it always this cold?" She sounded a little sad, a little desperate, looking up at him with nervousness in her gaze. At least in the frigid temperatures, she couldn't focus too heavily on her impending marriage to a stranger.

She remembered as a young girl, she had heard barbaric rumors about Withic men, stealing women like common bears, but since travelling to the land, she found that the people were just reserved. She had told herself weeks ago that she would try and tear away her prejudice, as it would do no good to carry them when she was expected to bear Withic children, if she seemed as nasty and hate-filled as her cousin who sent her here as punishment for coming back alive, she could expect the same paranoia to fill her when they stared at her with distaste for her uncouth beliefs. "Perhaps my quarters, sir..." She suggested. "I feel unwell from travelling so long in weather my body is not used to."
Mary
General Servants and Knights of House Batten
Batten Estate

At the comment of the servant being too cold he almost chuckled, but when he saw the look in her eyes he tried his best to hide it. 

"Truly a nice thing to do, the weather can be harsh on travelers. Perhaps you have more tolerance to the weather than you think, you managed to make your way across the Iron Planes after all." He made sure to keep her steady as they walked towards an entranceway made of arched stone and a door stained with slush. 

He considered the question about the cold with a deep frown. As he looked at her he saw how she looked at him and his men with a nervous glance. Such a delicate lady sent so far north only to be greeted by men who had put no thought into appearance, their unshaven features making them look closer to briggands than proper men. He cursed himself, wishing he had fetched one of the female servants in the estate to accompany them. If he told her too much he worried he'd scare her, and didn't have the heart to tell her the snow never truly melts, and the water always has flows of ice.

"It is not always quite as cold as this, Lady Luronsque. In the summer the fields of the Iron Planes grow quite a harvest, and grass can be seen beyond Riverbreak. The days do grow longer, and while I'm sure it never gets as warm as you are used to, eventually the weather allows for warmth while within the city proper."

-
He led her into a hallway fitted with decorative windows and lavish curtains. The windowsills seemed to have carvings of fish and elk, and the windows themselves had been shaped so as frost gathered it made beautiful sharp lines in the design of snowflakes. Moving up a long flight of stairs they approached another hallway, this one with a red and gold trimmed rug that lay from beginning to end of this longer passage. Paintings of ships, official looking people all seeming to share the same lineage and looks, and the occasional piece of art for nothing but vanities sake. Multiple doors of polished redwood and pine ran the length of the way, but near the end a particularly nice door set with flower inlay was their destination. 

"This is to be your quarters, at least until arrangements for a proper marital living space can be made. The doors down the hall are for various servants, and if you need anything they will come to your aid as you wish. I'm sure Lord Caius will be around to meet you as soon as he returns from his... Expedition." He said the last part with a hint of hesitation, unsure of how to fraze the sudden disappearance of Cornelia's youngest son. He had not been around when the Lord had left, and the rumors about his strange mumblings before his sudden departure had become harder to ignore as news of his marriage spread. 

"If there isn't anything else I will have my men leave your belongings and be on their way. If you need me, I'll be at the end of the hall, or one of my men taking over the watch can get me."