Ser Robert looked out over the frozen river. Whirlpools were what the Slayne was known for, but in winters as long as these, the river was quiet, frozen under a thick carpet of ice. He tightened Edric's skates one last time, and he grimaced. Daena and Margeret were already on the river, playing with Grance Talslayne, and Redsanne Dross. Robert helped Edric up despite the boy's protestations, and put a chair in the young heir's hands. The way everyone learned it. With a chair and some trial and error, even a blind boy could enjoy it. And Edric wanted to.

Ser Bennes observed from a distance while his junior dutifully watched over Edric Morrigen. The boy kept avoiding Ser Robert, each attempt at dashing away and skating better than the last, but despite the boy's talent, he could not stay out of the reach of a knighted man. Luckily, Edric was not just playing catch with a Sworn Sword. The other children knew not to take pity on Edric, so when Redsanne and Margeret came to play with him, Bennes entertained a pleasant smile.

"They get along well, do they not?" Lord Dross said to Ser Bennes. Dross' Bridge, not far from the spot they had chosen for their little adventure, was the Lesser Lord's demesne. He was, just like Grance's father, one of the few vassals of House Morrigen, and, during winters, one of the few accessible noblemen. They were invited often for parties, and in return, Lord Dross invited the Morrigens to his. Lady Rhaella and her husband Cleos, a Baratheon, generally had better things to do than ride several days for some minor fête at Dross' Bridge. However, the Slayne was frozen over, and that would provide a marvelous sight for the kids, and Rhaella trusted well her knights to protect her children.

"Aye, they all do." Ser Bennes replied. "Though the little ladies keep bickering. Just like my Lady and her little sister."

"Specifically, Redsanne and the young heir, do they not?" Durran Dross said, resulting in an immediate shrug.

"My Lord, with respect, I am not going to entertain, or approve, of your ridiculous ambitions." Ser Bennes replied with a sigh.

"Hmpf. And what would smallfolk know of the ambitions of lords?" Dross grunted.

"My Lord, I've heard my Lady talk quite aplenty. The young heir is to wed, ideally, some Dondarrion or Baratheon lass, or perhaps a lady from the houses of Cape Wrath. Rain House, Weepin' Town, Broad Arch. Not the sister of the future Lord Dross." Ser Bennes said, appearing like a stoic in the face of the Lord's insult.

Having heard only the last bits of the conversation, Ser Robert appeared, after leaving Edric in the caring hands of Redsanne, who perhaps suffered from the same delusions as her father, given the way she acted towards the young heir.

"Besides, Lord Dross." Robert was quick to utter. "My companion was knighted, you would do well to distinguish a ser by his title. We've worked for it, haven't we?"

Durran Dross wanted to respond, but Robert's smile defused all conflict, and he could not find the anger to speak. That gave the young knight the opportunity to continue.

"Ah, young love." He chuckled, eyes dreamy, as he waved his hand across the scene. It was unclear if he was referring to Redsanne and Edric, or to Grance Talslayne, who was giving it his all to impress fair Daena. She, however, was on the verge of maidenhood, and considered boys like Grance little more than whelps. Girls of her age could be extremely unfair in that regard, even if they would refuse to admit having any such thoughts in the first place. No, closer to her liking were, for instance, Dander Dawlithe, another such minor lord sworn to Crow's Nest, just 17, or, she would soon discover, Mycelle Dawlithe, 15, his young wife.

Margaret, Edric, Redsanne, Grance, and even Daena really, were too young for such thoughts. But the delusions and jests of these adult men standing by the riverside, joking about the future of these children, was little different from the serious betrothals that would be the topic of the childrens' parents minds as soon as the war cooled down a little bit. Edric to a Dondarion, Margeret a Baratheon, Daena a Wylde? Who knew. For Grance and Redsanne, it was a bit less exiting. Smallfolk? Redpool? Each other? not unlikely. But were they going to have a say in the matter? Not likely.

Today, that was still far from their minds. The young Morrigens played on the Slayne with their friends, and that was all that mattered now.