Thomas and Ella Stark had extended their invitations to all manner of lords and dukes alike to attend the Coming of Age party for their eldest son's birthday. The Stark family, a proud lot in the North, had an overwhelming number of replies to those attending.
"Even Gavrel DuBrulter is coming. I haven't seen him since our wedding day," Ella went on, affectionately turning away from the letter to her husband. "Gods.. has it truly been so long you and I have been wed?"
Lord Stark moved forward and stroked his wife's cheek.
"Aye, and you're still as pretty as you were back then you know."
"Oh... you are the charmer, always were," she went on and shook his hand from her cheek. She picked up the next scroll and began to open it. "I still can't believe how young we were when we married."
"I know.. you were only fourteen," Thomas said with a playful leer.
She feigned an exasperated sigh, but Ella Stark still looked to her husband the same way she always did. "And I never once regretted it." And they leaned forward to kiss warm, to kiss sweetly; just as their daughter walked into the room.
"Am I to expect the announcement of another baby brother? Because having two brother's isn't enough of a hastle," she teased her parents. They both turned to her, all smiles.
"You should consider yourself lucky to be a girl, Petrin," her mother said.
"Why?" Petrin asked, approaching the table full of scrolls.
"Because girls are the bringers of life."
"Yeah, but we can't pee standing up, and I want to pee standing up."
And that's when Lord Stark tossed back his head in a laugh.
"Aye, and I too am glad we didn't have all boys! We'd be out of all the fun of our quick tongued daughter!"
Petrin bowed and smiled broadly with her teeth.
"So I see there are many letters for Toma's party."
"Aye, that there is," her mother agreed. "Seems like we might have an even bigger turn out than our wedding.
"That's because we're having this so early int he spring. We're too far north.. the ice has only melted, but a lot of people around here just want an excuse to get out side," Petrin went on, fetching an apple from the fruit dish nearby and taking a bite.
"Toma is well received by everyone," her mother agreed. "And the timing is well... I think there are a lot of family's seeking out an alliance with us." She turned to her husband. "I wouldn't be surprised if Toma ends up engaged."
And at that, Petrin began to choke on her apple.