Garth cracked an uncertain smile at Aolo as he came out of the room dressed in sensible clothing. He looked somewhat less of the barbarian, though something would have to be done about his hair. Shrugging at the man's gibberish, Garth led him back downstairs to the dinning hall.<br/><br/>The dining hall was the largest room in the fortress, arranged in the center of the first floor. Large double wooden doors stood open, looking as though they had not been closed in years. Entering through those doors, there was a long trestle table that ran down the length of the room, while another table at the opposite end of the room was raised up, perpendicular to the first. A large fireplace dominated one wall of the room, with a smaller door on the same wall. Another small door mirrored the first across the room. Nearly everyone living within the walls of the fortress took their meals in this room. The servants and other house staff first, and then the rest of the household.<br/><br/>The high table, which usually sat the Duchess, Garth, Sir Cedric and his squire, as well as any guests, was set with an extra place setting next to where the Duchess sat. Garth made note of this and left Aolo at the seat that was obviously meant for him before going down the the lower table to talk to someone while they waited for Maria to enter. The meal would not be served until she did.<br/><br/>After several minutes, the hall filled and Garth came back to the high table. Sir Cedric was not in attendance, though his squire was; two seats away from Lady Bennett's own, on the opposite side of Aolo and Garth. It seemed only those four would be at the high table that night. Finally, it seemed, the Duchess arrived dressed in a clean but simple green dress, the fabric itself being very fine rather than the cut of it. She set her hand on the squire's shoulder and murmured to him before she moved to take her seat. After she had sat, the rest of the room seated themselves and the servants began bringing platters of food from the kitchen.