Elizabetta, a disapproving lady-in-waiting, Lily, an aloof lady-in-waiting, 2 Grayson House Guards, Clark, an exasperated guard arrive, following Sabella.

Sam, who is a boy and definitely not a princess in disguise arrives, following Niklas.

Did everyone come hungry? Because there is so much food here if commoners ever caught wind of it there'd be a whole lot of complaining in the whites happening. Sabella is standing by the main doorway, beaming a smile at those who come in and there aren't any children to be seen which probably isn't why she's smiling. Though it might have something to do with it. "Yes, just have everything ready and on the table, people can decide if they want to start with dinner or dessert," she instructs one of the waiters before turning to greet the guests.

Merril, an Assistant Page, 3 Bisland pride guards arrive, following Lailah.

Ian comes in with Zoey, watching his feet as he walks in a way that, even walking right beside his wife, gives off a sense that he's walking alone. He looks weary and prematurely aged, but that's just the way he always looks. Maybe a little more than usual lately.

Lisebet arrives, coming in on her own. For once without her husband at her side. He has been very attentive since they got married, certainly, but today for some reason Lisebet is on her own. She comes in, pausing to look over at Sabella and offer a curtsey to the royal and whoever else might be here already. "Good evening. I'm not late, am I?" she asks, sunnily and not really too worried about it.

Representing Whitehawk, Evonleigh enters, smiling when she sees the sparkling lanterns and the mass amount of food. "Princess Sabella," she says brightly, dropping into a graceful curtsy for the princess, "how good to see you. This looks just beautiful. I hope you are well?" She laughs at the direction to the server. "Let me guess, you're starting with dessert." She knows the Grayson princess has a sweet tooth, despite looking like she diets constantly. Lord Ian is given a pat on the arm as they pass him, and Lisebet a curtsy as well. "Good evening."

Evonleigh's hand rests on Aethan's, who has been dragged along no doubt kicking and screaming. Just kidding. He's family to the hosts, after all.

Wearing robes of seatouched wool that make him for a healer, Rafael arrives without fanfare. There's a quiet hum of appreciation, perhaps for the lack of children. Sure, he's got a few nephews and a niece counted among the Graysons but Sabella not being among them, she's paid the proper respects. "Thank you so much for having us," the Mercy offers in a gentle baritone rumble.

Lailah walks in alone and quickly curtseys to the royals in the room before heading off to the side.

Aethan is, indeed, here, and with Evonleigh, as would be expected. Since he often goes places with her. "Ian, Zoey," he says as they come up to his brother and his brother's wife. He nods to Sabella as well when they get far enough in, and he says, "Sabella, always good to see you. Thank you for organizing this." So, at least he's not kicking and screaming //outwardly//. But he looks like he's happy to be here, or at least as happy as he ever looks, which is admittedly not very, but it's noticeable.

Niklas follows in after his wife, just finishing dictating something to his assistant, "...your friend, Prince Niklas Grayson, et cetera and all the rest. You know how it goes. Send copies to those we discussed." He frowns slightly, then says, "Add in the duchess. She'll help, I think. And then take off for the evening. Or stay here and eat until you're sick. That's what I plan to do!" He turns back to everyone and holds his arms open wide. "Ian and Aethan! Zoey! So good you could all make it! Lady Evonleigh, Duchess Lisebet, Lady Lailah. A rare delight to see you all!"

"What a wonderful turnout!" says Zoey, smiling. "I was so sorry to miss the last one.:

Ian looks up when Evonleigh touches his arm, and nods to her, then he nods to Aethan, his brother, here in a very similar situation. Slightly similar. Ian doesn't look happy to be here. Or unhappy. He doesn't look much of anything except tired and vaguely uncomfortable. "Prince Niklas. Princess Sabella." It's probably a relief when he's seated and can make an effort at blending in with the furniture. Where's a potted plant when you need one?

Zoey has joined the Dining Table.

Ian has joined the Dining Table.

Lisebet inclines her head, politely. "Prince Niklas, how lovely to see you as well. It has been a little while, hasn't it?" She includes Sabella as she adds, "This is wonderful and smells delicious. Thank you for organizing. I'm quite certain Harlan would rather be here than at home, but alas, he's feeling a bit ill today and decided not to risk upsetting his humors further. I think that's what was said, at any rate."

"You know me too well, Lady Evonleigh," Sabella laughs, gesturing to the table, "So, I suggest you also start with the cakes as well, before I get to the table. Aethan, Ian, Zoey! I'm so glad you could make it. Are you here to scout out ideas for Octavia's dinner? Don't worry, I won't tell her and will even send along some non-fish dishes if you'd like. Like cakes! And thank you so much for coming," is the reply to Rafael, with a smile to Lailah as she comes in. "Duchess, I don't think we'd ever count anyone late to this gathering, least of all you. I should probably add extra nanny service for this evening and then the children could all play together! That's something to note for next month."

"Lady Zoey, Lady Lailah, Lord Rafael," greets Evonleigh next, each getting a smile and a nod, before she turns to turn a bright one on Niklas. "Thank you for having us. I'm sorry that the rest of my house couldn't make it tonight, but I'll talk more than enough to make up for them, I'm sure." Her house is small, of course, these days, though she still counts the sisters and cousin as Whitehawks, no matter their surname. "It's been a few months since I've been here. It's always so lovely and you are always so welcoming, though, that it feels like coming home each time," she tells both Graysons. She glances at Aethan to see if he's ready to move to the table, and then goes to take a seat herself.

Evonleigh has joined the Dining Table.

Lailah moves to take a seat at the table, smiling at Niklas and Evonleigh as they mention her name. Otherwise, she mostly focuses on the food before her, as if trying to determine the best course of action.

Finding a seat, Rafael pauses to look down at the place setting before him. His expression remains neutral as he daintily plucks up one of the outlier utensils and casually returns it to a passing steward over some imagined smudge. "A nannying service would be novel. Too bad mine has taken to smacking people's shins with wooden swords. Wouldn't THAT be a fun diplomatic incident to navigate." His gaze finds Lailah and giving her an amused nod of acknowledgment, he jokes: "I blame your brother and father for that, entirely."

Lailah has joined the Dining Table.

Aethan has joined the Dining Table.

Niklas looks to Lailah and offers a quick sketch of a bow. "It has been some time since we've seen you, Lady Lailah. Though I'm glad you've returned to the city. Not the least because of your role in the Crownlands." He pauses, realizing that may have been a touch rude, then steamrolls on. "It is good to have you back." He wheels on Ian. "Do you remember our brief conversation from a while back? I'll be bringing that up at our dinner next week. Things are in motion!" He looks quite pleased with himself as he says this, then turns to serve himself up a plate piled high with autumnal roasts and root vegetables, which makes him even more pleased. Eventually he looks to Rafael. "Ah, my lord, I do not believe that we have met. I am Prince Niklas Grayson, and I would offer my hand were it not carrying a plate populated with seven animals worth of dinner."

Ian gives Niklas a flat look with a distinctive lack of enthusiasm, and shakes his head. In fact, there might have been a slight wince in there somewhere. "Should be interesting," is all he says. But he says it in a careful tone that leaves a LOT of words in the spaces between.

Lailah smiles softly at Niklas and nods in acknowledgment, but she doesn't say anything for the moment other than, "Thank you, Your Highness."

"Lady Evonleigh, good to see you again," Lisebet says, as she moves to take a seat. She smiles at Lailah and everyone who is near. Sabella gets a particularly gentle smile, for her sweet comment on folks not being late. "It is good to see everyone," Lisebet adds. "I keep trying to come out and socialize, but I find time flies so quickly with little children. Mine are perhaps still a little young to be playing with the others. It is a good idea to have perhaps a children's play area where they can play with each other once they are old enough, and not trying to whomp each others' shins with wooden swords." The last with a sidelong glance at Rafael, teasing.

"Well met, your highness," Rafael lifts a hand at Niklas, dismissing the idea of a proper greeting with a flick of his wrist. "Lord Rafael Bisland. I have the honor of being Lady Zoey and Lady Lailah here's paternal uncle. I actually did have the opportunity to glimpse one of your plays once. I was told at the time that it was about your best friend or something? Either way, lots of fun!"

Aethan takes a seat next to Evonleigh, a little smile flashing across his face when Niklas comes in as well. "Good to see you, Nik," he says, and he leans back, looking from Niklas to Ian with raised eyebrows. He doesn't ask anything further about it, though, and instead just takes a glass of water, taking a sip.

Ian leans over and says something in a low voice to Aethan, conveniently catching his brother mid-sip.

"It is," agrees Evonleigh about the return of Lady Lailah to the city. Her brows lift at the talk between Ian and Niklas about meetings, but she doesn't dig deeper. "My little cousins are quite good at the shin thwacking as well," she says, with a rueful smile, but that's about all the single Whitehawk lady has to say on the topic of children. She puts some things on her plate, seeming to be of a mind of 'try a tiny bit of a lot of different things' mentality -- which still fills her plate more than she's likely able to finish.

"You'll find no reprieve from shins and wooden swords here I'm afraid," Sabella replies as she too takes a seat at the table, "Princess Reese is determined to teach all of my children to walk early so that she can get them into training. It's all ribbons and swords around here. But for those of you that have not been to a dinner in some time or perhaps this is your first, allow me to introduce you to a game we play in order to stay better connected with each other. I will start and share something interesting that has happened to me recently--it could be something I'm working on or planning to work on or just something surprising or interesting that has come up in the past few weeks! And then you choose the next person to share. So for me, I am planning an Arx-wide scavenger hunt that I hope to inflict on the public before the winter completely sets in. I hope that it will help those new to the city come to know it better and of course help those who have lived here for quite awhile. I may link it to some sort of fundraiser, but I haven't quite decided on that detail yet and there's so many to be worked out! Now..." She looks around the room, "Lord Ian! What have you been up to lately?"

Ian, caught in the middle of whispering in class, Ian clears his throat. "Uh." A pause. He looks to Zoey, as though she can save him now. "Well, we got back from that trip a few days ago."

Zoey sips her wine after an apologetic look to her husband.

"And that trip was too...?" Sabella prompts with a smile, lifting her wine glass to have a sip, "And don't forget to pick the next person after you're done sharing, Lord Ian!"

Sabella has joined the Dining Table.

".... Stormward," Ian supplies unhelpfully. "Uh. And farther out." A pause. "Zoey did more than I did. I was just there in case someone tried an ambush." So that means he's probably picking Zoey.

"There are SO many good causes," Rafael comments with vague approval at Sabella's mention of fundraisers.

"And similarity to myself and Master Bastien in The Playwrights is entirely coincidental," says Niklas as primly as one can be while holding a plate containing your average commoner's weekly diet. "But yes, that work of unparalelled brilliance was one of mine." He glances to Ian. "If you'd like her to stop trying to get details out of you you need to call on someone else to say what they've done recently that is interesting."

Zoey picks up Ian's story and carries on with it. "We were working to incorporate one of the Island tribe into the fold. They were actually very agreeable to it. They are good folk. Keepers of the Water, I think they called themselves?" She looks to Ian for confirmation.

"Something like that," Ian confirms-ish. "It was a couple tribes, but I think they were the biggest." He pushes his food around a little bit on his plate with that clack-clack of silverware on porcelain that can drive people nuts. "It was mostly talking, and I didn't talk to any of them much." Thus displaying the good sense of his family.

Lisebet listens to the conversation as she eats quietly. There's a thoughtful look on her face, as she considers recent events and what she might have learned that fits the criteria.

Lailah quietly listens while eating some of the cheeses, meats, vegetables and fruits, a thoughtful expression on her face.

"There are so many aren't there?" Sabella nods in confirmation to Rafael, "On the one hand I'd rather there weren't so many because if everyone had everything they needed then there would be no cause for charity. On the other hand I realize how impossible that sort of thing would be and so I think it's a good thing that there are nobles in this city that turn their minds to the less fortunate and work to help them in what ways they can. I heard that Sister Juniper is looking to expand her hospice to all the corners of Arvum. Such a thing would be so wonderful, a place where veterans who did not have much could die with dignity, cared for by those with training to ease their final moments. It's such a fantastic idea and nothing I would have thought of because honestly, I've never actually seen a battle and my thoughts stray towards those in the midst of life rather than those at the end," When Zoey and Ian share a few more details of their travels she looks interested, "I'd heard that Kennex has been doing great work and that's wonderful news! I am not at all surprised to hear that you two had a hand in things there." She pauses then leans towards Zoey, "Now you must pick the next person to share!"

Whatever Ian whispers to Aethan has his eyebrows raising, and he looks toward Niklas briefly, but again, eh does not comment, and instead just nods, taking a piece of bread and tearing off the end as he listens to those who are sharing their recent experiences.

"Hm," Zoey considers. "How about my dear uncle?" she says with a smile and a pointed glance toward Rafael.

Niklas just smiles to Aethan, eyebrows raised, then moves to drop down into the large throne which no one has been able to, or bothered to, remove. "That all sounds like a good time, Zoey. I hope to hear further good news from the march. After the past three years I think we could use it."

"That's a wonderful cause," Evonleigh says with a not to Sabella. "Sadly there are too many good causes, as you say -- but it does help to see the good side of humanity coming together to help those less fortunate. The Refugee charity is a good one as well." She quiets to listen for Rafael's contribution to the discussion, returning to quietly eating and politely listening.

"I have a cousin, or--" Rafael's eyes narrow playfully as he corrects himself, "Or a cousin's son, rather, who does work with wartime battle fatigue. A pity he's returned to Pridehall, it probably would have been an excellent connection." At Zoey choosing him, Rafael clucks at her. "Betrayed," he announces, body softly jolting as if taken down by an arrow.

A smile crosses Lisebet's face, as she glances over to Zoey and then to Rafael. She quietly contents herself with enjoying the spectacular meal.

Ian shrugs to a question Zoey asks him. He pours some more whiskey into a glass and takes a drink.

"What was the prompt? Just anything surprising or interesting?" Rafael wets his bottom lip, chewing on it in thought before releasing it with a pop. "Well, I'd share a weird medical malady story but that wouldn't be appropriate for the dinner table! You'll have to find me after. Suffice to say, Crownlands nobility get up to some pretty questionable activities when they're bored and far from Court. Anyway, since we're on the topic of causes, there are talks of expanding the Mercies beyond Blancbier. We have plenty of local chapters, but few places devoted soully to teaching. That's what's occupied my recent days, anyway. -- I choose to speak next... the Lady Whitehawk."

"All's fair at a Grayson dinner," teases Evonleigh, before stealing a bit of something off Aethan's plate that she had failed to put on her own with a quick dip of her fork." Her brows lift at the mention of 'Crownlands nobility' and she glances around the table at those who fall into that category. She can't look at herself, of course. She is about to comment on the topic of the Mercies when she is called upon to talk about herself or her house. "Oh," she says, setting down the fork with the pilfered bit. "Well, I was with the Kennexes, and our house is also planning a trip to do much the same, but... more excitingly -- to me -- I found an old play that I'm thinking of restaging about a forgotten hero from the days of the Reckoning. I'm looking forward to seeing her tale told... and not having to worry about what society thinks of my writing, this time." She flashes a grin at that. "I don't know how you stand it," she adds to Niklas.

"Oh," Evonleigh, says, before smiling at the studious Lailah. "Lady Lailah, I choose you next."

Niklas pipes up between forksful of something that once lived and loved. "If my eight months spent at Bastion told me anything it's that when Crownland nobility get away from court they're so dreadfully bored there's absolutely nothing you could tell me they got up to that would surprise me." To Evonleigh he gives a nod. "Mistress Gianna," ow, "told me a bit about it. It sounds quite interesting. Though you may want to be circumspect with certain references. You never know who might be in attendance."

Sabella waves a hand at Rafael's medical teases, "I have no stomach for any of that. I once thought that perhaps I could be a Mercy, but it was after I read this very inspiring novel about a young Mercy that tended to a Prince who was wounded on the battlefield and, well, you can imagine how that all went and I'm told that's not at all how things usually play out. Also I'm married," she adds quickly, reaching out to pat Niklas' hand, "So, why bother? I mean, besides the saving of lives and everything, which of course is very important!" She turns to listen to Evonleigh next, "That sounds riveting! I'd ask you for spoilers, but I want to be able to go in fresh to be surprised! Or to be able to give you a clean reading should you need any actresses for the performance."

Lailah finishes a piece of broccoli and then looks up at Evonleigh, realizing she's next. She clears her throat and says, "Oh... I recently returned from Pridehall and just before that, I received a book on the flora and fauna of the Gray River and it's tributaries. So, I decided to sail down the river this time and read it on the way. I even prepared an excerpt, just in case." She reaches into her cloak and pulls out a thick scroll and starts to unroll it, seemingly filled with pages of her tiny, delicate writing.

"Ambition in the arts is a wonderful thing," Rafael praises Evonleigh's share before blinking dumbly at Sabella, "Oh, no. It's been my experience that it plays out that way all the time! But there's no escaping the messier realities, so I think you made the right choice." Of course, when his more introverted niece takes the floor, Rafael quiets and listens with a smile.

Niklas' comment draws a nod from Evonleigh. "Yes, I agree. It's a tricky thing, but... the challenges make it interesting. It has been performed in the past, so hopefully it's not a surprise to anyone who might... be bothered by it. We can speak later on it, if you like." To Sabella, she smiles. "I'd be thrilled if you'd like to be in it, either of you, of course." She turns to listen to Lailah speak, and her eyes widen ever so slightly at the long and thick scroll filled with tiny writing. "Oh, lovely," she says brightly, as she picks up that fork to finally eat her stolen tidbit.

"Have you spoken with Lady Olivia Ashford about what you found?" Sabella asks Lailah curiously, "I'm quite sure she'd be very interested! That sounds like a lovely journey--except the part about the boat. I get terribly seasick even if it's a river voyage. Enough that I am quite fond of the Great Road even with its hardships," she laughs at Rafael's correction, "Perhaps I missed my calling then! Although I do think I'm more suited to just about anything else. Except perhaps being a sailor of any sort. And I do believe that leaves only Lord Aethan or Prince Niklas for you to pick on, Lady Lailah," Sabella gestures to them both, "The decision is yours!"

Lisebet arches a brow at Sabella's comment, but doesn't disagree with her. "Indeed, Lady Olivia would very likely be much interested in your book, Lady Lailah. I agree entirely with Princess Sabella." She finds dessert now, enjoying it, and quietly listening.

Lailah slowly starts reading the title, "The Grey River Salmon..." only to stop and let the scroll close, saying, "Oh, yes... pick." with a blush. She lets the scroll close and turns to look at her options. "Ah... Lord Aethan, perhaps?"

Octavian, a silken spaniel arrives, delivering a message to Evonleigh before departing.

Rafael appears to have both started his meal with dessert, as prompted, and ended with it.

Niklas looks to Lisebet, "Ah, I do believe the duchess also has yet to be chosen. My apologies, duchess, but this is Grayson family dinner and nobody gets out without the discomfort many feel about talking about themselves." He sits back and starts pondering which desserts he will have. As if there's any chance of him just choosing one. "Fortunately I was born without whatever it is that makes one reluctant to talk about themselves so I spend the better part of my life waiting for everyone else to start talking about whatever and I can just go on about how great I am."

Aethan has been mostly quiet throughout the tellings -- though he has been listening, his gaze moving from one to the other as they speak. It settles on Evonleigh when she speaks of the play, and while the small smile that had been on his face fades at that into a more thoughtful look, he just says, "It will certainly be interesting."

He might have said something else about it -- or maybe not -- but it's his turn now, and despite the fact that he could have guessed it was going to be his turn eventually, he doesn't seem to have prepared anything ahead of time. "Well," he says after a moment, "the biggest thing has already been spoken of by several people." The Kennex trip, presumably. "But it was good to be able to take the fleet somewhere that didn't have to do with fighting, or at least where the main goal wasn't a battle. And we ended up mostly unscathed." He turns to Lisebet then, gesturing for her to go next.

Lisebet's smile is sweet and guileless, as she shrugs, giving a slightly apologetic look to Sabella. "It seems most have had far more adventures than we have. But certainly, we're looking to do a little remodelling at Ashford Manor, here in Arx." To accomodate the new children, no doubt, and the new duchess. "And we've been working to keep our forests safe, as well as to increase our productivity. I'm fairly sure you are all familiar with the new type of gourd that Lady Olivia has invented? Or discovered, I'm not quite sure which." She pauses, and then adds, "I do believe that might leave Prince Niklas to finish up the storytelling, yes?

"

"I got a blister because of boots." Evonleigh grins at Aethan, clearly some sort of inside joke. "But really, you should be very proud of yourselves. It's wonderful to see Kennex flourishing. You all deserve the success you've earned." She quiets to listen to Lisebet, nodding at the mention of the gourds. "Clever girl with green thumbs... I can't even keep a weed alive." Her gaze moves to Niklas to listen to his tale.

"Well, I do have a number of projects on which I'm working. I've two historical figures I believe are deserving of being added to the Hall of Heroes. So there will be a lot to do with that. And of course I'm always working on my next play, except for currently when I'm working on four and have no idea what I'm going to do with anything." Niklas leans forward to serve himself up some tort and some cake and some cobbler and some pie. "My youngest sister is finally back after too long in dreary Stormward. That's rather exciting. Somewhere along the way over the past few months Sabella and I stumbled over two more children and decided to keep them. Huh. Well, that's about it. Maybe I'll have more exciting news next month."

"I don't know how Lady Olivia does it, honestly," Sabella notes while working her way through a slice of cake whose ganache might as well just be a chocolate bar, "She knows about plants the way I do about tiaras. It's just kind of innate. Although her contributions are quite above and beyond mine in that area," she reaches up to adjust her tiara, which is definitely not a coronet, "And is that everyone? I do apologize if I ever overlook someone, I get so caught up in everything that gets shared! And I am so glad that you've all taken the time out of your no doubt busy schedules to stop by for this. I think it's important, especially these days, to keep up our personal connections. Especially across fealties, so I do thank you Kennexes for coming out."

Evonleigh is overheard praising Grayson.

"I haven't the energy back from writing the last one. I don't know how you do it," says Evonleigh with another envious look toward Niklas. "Though as mentioned, this one will take some rewriting as it is. Also maybe puppetry, so if you have any ideas..." she says, trailing off with a thoughtful look in her eyes that probably means she's getting Ideas. But she returns to the present. "Thank you for having us. It's always lovely to share a wonderful meal with good company."

"Cheers," Rafael says after Sabella's speech, lifting his glass to a reasonable height, "To our gracious hosts." He tips the beverage in the direction of each Grayson present before taking a sip.

Niklas perks up at puppetry. "Forward me the script?"

Lisebet smiles, inclining her head. "I do not know how she does it either, your highness, other than to say it is a talent she has." She arches a brow at Niklas, but subsides for the moment. "Indeed, thank you. It's been a lovely evening." She raises her glass to join in Rafael's toast.

Evonleigh nods to Niklas, as she lifts a glass. "To House Grayson," she says. "None Greater."

"Yes," Aethan says after Evonleigh's thanks, looking over at Sabella, "thank you. It's good to see everyone." And he does sound sincere in that, culminating in a raise of his own glass when Evonleigh offers the toast.

Ian lifts his glass a little bit on the late side, mimicking the toast. Then he says something to Aethan in a low voice.

Lailah raises her glass of water, joining in the toast quietly.