Arthur was jostled awake as the carriage cam to a stop. He sat up quickly. He had not meant to fall asleep. He didn't even know how long he was out. He glanced out the window of the carriage. Oh, shit! He had forgotten about the "get-together" tonight. He fussed with his hair and adjusted his clothes. He just hoped it wouldn't be obviously that he's fallen asleep in the carriage. He became aware that his footmen was standing there, waiting to let him out. The guards on the stops and the greeter near the door were waiting for him. he cleared his throat.<br/><br/>Arthur stepped out of the carriage as confidently and coolly as he could. He tried to make it seem like he didn't care how long it took him to get out and go inside. Maybe they would think the pause was intentional. He made his way up the marble steps to the palace. He was a little curious who was going to be here tonight. He was nervous. He was not the face of the family, so he was less familiar with the local noble families than his parents. He spend most of his time in Caham. When he did see them, it was on the battlefield. However, they were in armor and their faces were covered. He knew them by their coats of arms. He would never have the luck of the families wearing them at royal functions. The best he could do was learning names and memorizing little things about them.<br/><br/>Arthur was not disappointed as he entered the hall were the party was. The palace staff had certainly delivered on the decorating and planning. The hall looked wonderful. It spoke to the upcoming grand celebration while also remaining simple for this "intimate" party. He stopped and waited for the herald to announce the nobles in front of him as he entered.<span style="font-style: italic">Count and Countess Gerald Edinhower.</span>Arthur mouthed the name to himself a few times. He looked the man up and down.<span style="font-style: italic">Okay, gold and gray outfit and obvious blonde toupee.</span>Glances to the wife, he noted her overly-tight red dress and gaudy diamond-ruby headdress. They continued down the steps.<br/><br/>The herald focused his attention on Arthur. "How may we address you, my lord?"<br/><br/>"Lord Arthur Harrington." Arthur said professionally.<br/><br/>He opened the cover on his signet ring, revealing the stamp seal of his family crest. He pressed it into the ink box the herald provided. He then pressed the family seal onto the parchment, next to where the herald jotted down his name. The herald smiled and turned to face the assembly. He stamped his golden staff.<br/><br/>"Presenting Lord Arthur Harrington!" The herald proclaimed in a booming, authoritative voice.<br/><br/>The nearby nobles casually turned to glance in his direction while the servants bowed. Arthur nodded. He started descending the stairs into the crowd. A serving boy paused to offer him a glass of champagne. He made an approving face and took one. He slowly made his way through the crowd. If he could only find his parents, he would be okay. Mother would be sure that he meets the appropriate people to meet. He smiled as he remembered a joke his father told him.<span style="font-style: italic">We men never know what protocol is. Its the women that maintain that. We just listen to them, but never tell them that.</span><br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">Ah! There they are!</span>His mother's face lit up as she recognized her son coming through the crowd. She waved him over. They appeared to be in a conversation with a very important looking man. Father looked very serious and actually a little nervous. Arthur moved a little quicker through the crowd.<br/><br/>((OOC: By the way, as an amusing side note, this is not the character I imagined originally. His personality is already going in a different direction. The good news is that I like this one better.))