The precession had worked their way up the side of the mountain since midday slowly climbing the switch-back path in clear sight of the castle that was their destination. Legends hold that Skyhold has never been taken and while Stevron doubted that there was no denying how difficult the fortress was to besiege. From the exposed path to the inner drawbridge that covered the dry moat that separated the main keep from the outer structures it was well fortified. The path that led up to the gates was only wide enough for two horses or a single drawn cart which effectively prevented the ability for any attacker to establish siege engines without them being in range of the ballistas that dotted Skyholds walls, and no catapults could be built in the space available.

Today however the ballistas were unmanned, the gates were open and the watch was small, most of the guards were in the barracks drinking and playing at dice or cyvasse or whatever games they desired to indulge in. for the people coming up the mountain were coming in peace, with a small litter in the centre of the column holding his soon to be wife. His great uncle Jon had seen to the match at the same time as negotiating that Stevron become a squire in Lord Royce's household.

That was two years ago now and a different house had sat the Iron Throne at that time, and Stevron was no longer a squire having been knighted following the Battle of the Trident.

The memory sent a dull spike of pain through his right leg where a spear had skewered his leg during the battle. It was a Dornishman, Stevron would never know his name or what became of him, but he did see Ser Lewyn Martell cut down by the brazen Lyn Corbray with Lady Forlorn. Stevron found his hand drifting to his hip and laying to rest on the hilt of his own Valyrian blade Talon, a fearsome falchion two and a half feet long, won in combat almost three centuries ago by his ancestor Lord Nathaniel, all for the hand of a Celtigar maiden.

None of that mattered now, no lives were on the line for a fair maiden. A fair maiden there was but no swords were to be raised in the defense of her honour. The sun was starting to be broken up by the mountains and the party had almost reached the approach gates at the other end of the bridge. Little more then a glorified gatehouse the approach gates could hold a score of defenders, but there twenty could hold off a thousand attackers, and Skyhold always had more then twenty guards. The gatehouse Stevron stood on was much larger and sat on the other end of the bridge, three hundred feet from the approach gates. The edges of the bridge are shielded, to prevent people on the bridge being attacked by archers on the path. Or at least preventing them from being attacked easily. The bridge would be converted into a jousting list for the wedding celebrations tomorrow. It was long and wide enough for the purpose and the raised pathways on the sides can be filled with benches.

A horn sounded from the approach gates and shortly afterwards the Royces started to file through the gate and onto the bridge. Stevron turned and made his way down to greet Lord Royce and his household. Six guards met him and the main gates in white helms with lapis details wrought in the shape of wings. They stood to attention with spears at their sides as Lord Royce came up to them. Yohn Royce was a big man, that was plain to see, and being mounted made him seem even larger and his bronze armour glowed orange in the late afternoon light. His hair had started to grey around the temples but otherwise it was raven black. He dismounted smoothly as Stevron had expected after years as his squire in Runestone, before Robert became king. Stevron did his duty but could not help but wonder who would have been the better king Robert or Rhaegar.

The two lords embraced just under the portcullis. Despite the age difference Stevron almost could see eye to eye with Yohn Royce.

'My, my lad you've grown since we last met,' he said.

'War does that to a man,' Stevron replied.

'Aye and a knighthood too,' Yohn said, 'how's the leg?'

'It hurts from time to time, doesn't stop me walking or riding.'

'That is good to hear,' Yohn said with a smile, 'I was told Ysolde prayed for your swift recovery when news of the Trident reached her.'

'Then she has my eternal gratitude, her prayers helped me through many long and painful nights.'

Yohn put his heavy hand on his shoulder and led him through his column.

Stevron stopped and turned back towards his guards, 'Make sure Lord Yohn's horses and household are sheltered and fed, they will be tired after the trip.'

Yohn led him to the covered litter and held out his hand for his young niece Ysolde to descend from the litter. She was even more beautiful then the last time he saw her, with wavy raven black hair that ended just below her shoulders and a heart shaped face and flint eyes. She nervously curtsied at Stevron and he bowed and kissed her hand gently.

'My lord,' she said with a shy smile, 'your castle is beautiful.'

'All the more beautiful with your presence my lady, but forgive me if I say you haven't seen the best of it yet.'

She smiled at that and Lord Yohn chuckled, 'Then we must see this famed beauty you speak of some time.'

'Soon I promise my lord,' Stevron said, 'but first let me show you to your quarters. The tour and wedding can wait for the morrow.'

'Yes, yes, of course,' Lord Yohn said, 'the trip has left me quite famished.'

'My servants will have food and refreshments waiting for you, the feast will be held after sundown.'

'I look forward to it,' Lord Yohn said before turning to face his niece.

'So do I my lord,' she said bowing her head.

Most of Lord Yohn's household had been shepherded through the gates by then and were waiting by the inner gates standing opposite of Stevron's own household guard. Fifty spears with white and blue helms and blue woollen surcoats featuring the two white griffins that was the symbol of his house. Stevron and Yohn led them across the drawbridge with Stevron's castellan Terrence Stonewall and Ysolde following close behind them. Before them stood a great white weirwood in the centre of the courtyard with a jovial face carved into it. The main keep rose up beyond it, twice as large as the Eyrie on its own, but Stevron focussed on the tree.

'Legends say that this tree was here before my ancestors took this mountain as their seat, and that its roots reach down to the roots of the mountain.'

Stevron looked back to see her gasping wide eyed at the splendour of it as they passed beneath its branches thick with blood red leaves. Stevron once more fingered the hilt of Talon, the handle being carved from weirwood. As they passed the tree they came upon the great weirwood doors that led into the great hall.

'In the hall beyond those doors many First Men sought the boon of the Griffin Kings on their Mountain Throne.'

Another pair of guards stood to attention and pushed the doors open at their approach, revealing the hall beyond. Three levels of balconies rose up on either side of the hall and at the far end on the dias a table and seats had been prepared. Five hearths running down the hall between the tables were stocked with wood but as of yet unlit. Behind the table was the Mountain Throne, its armrests in the shape of griffons and their wings forming the back of the seat. Banners displaying the arms of House Griffith were hung from the lowest balcony.

Servants rushed around the hall attending to their duties scrubbing the floor and tables and delivering messages and materials around the keep, ensuring that the guest quarters are properly stocked with water, clean sheets, food, wine and firewood.

'The weirwood throne of the Eyrie and the Iron Throne are great seats but the Mountain Throne is a seat for the First Men, carved from the mountain itself and the rest of the keep was built up around it.'

Stevron led the party down the steps and in between the two long tables and the benches that the feasters would sit on.

'One day my lady your own son will sit there.'

'I know my lord, it is an impressive seat.'

'Now if you will forgive me my lords and ladies I must see to the preparations for tonights feast, my steward Byron will show you to your quarters.'

Byron stepped forward and bowed, 'If you would follow me my lords, my lady.' He bowed at Ysolde again.

Byron led them up towards the guest quarters, on the left side of the hall facing from the doors. Stevron walked up to the Mountain Throne and reclined back, thankful of the myrish cushions that were placed on the seat.

He sighed, 'I wonder if the Griffon Kings had to put up sitting on a rock all day with no cushions.'

'I doubt they were foolish enough to do so my lord,' said Terrence Stonewall.

Stevron unbuckled his sword and handed it to him, 'See that this is hung in its place in my chambers.'

'Of course my lord, shall I send the cook to you now?'

'Yes, I will see him now.'

Terrence bowed and made his leave. Stevron shifted himself on the throne still feeling the hard stone beneath the cushions.

Stevron was drumming his fingers against the arms of his throne when his household's head cook came to him.

'Apologies my lord for my delay, we have been-'

Stevron cut him off with a wave of his hand, 'Just tell me that the feast would be ready by an hour after sunset.'

Stevron looked out the windows at the far end of the hall and saw the bruised purple of evening coming fast.

'Yes my lord everything is ready for the feast.'

'Is it ready now?'

'No..no my lord,' the cook stammered, 'it will be ready at the time you asked it to be ready.'

'Then be sure to be that clear the next time.'

'Of course my lord,' the cook bowed deeply before scuttling off back to his kitchens.

Stevron got up and called for his retainers, three young men came to him and bowed their heads.

'I will be wanting a hot bath before the feast and my clothes set out, the Shadowcat cloak I think would suit well.'

'Yes my lord,' the retainers replied without delay and started to rush off to perform their duties.

Stevron casually followed them up the stairwell towards his chambers. Rather austere for the chambers that kings once slept in it had two hearths in the centre of the room and a large, ornate bed flush against one wall with silk drapes that could be lowered to conceal the bed from view. Above his bedside table Talon hung from the wall with its scabbard just below it. Opposite the entry door was a balcony that overlooked the courtyard and the heart tree. While just next to it was a spiral stairwell that led to his solar, allowing for private dining and meetings. Just down the corridor was the stairwell that led to the rookery and the chambers of Maester Temaire and the council chambers, where his great-uncle had sat in his name as regent while Stevron was at Runestone and then fighting at Gulltown and the Trident.

The servants had brought out a bronze bath and were filling it with water heated over the hearths. His clothes, a pair of white linen pants, a blue velvet doublet with white detailing and his shadowcat cloak was laid out on his bed for him already.

'You may leave,' he said to the servants and they filed out of his chambers leaving a wool towel on a rack next to the bath.

Stevron stripped down and ran his hands over the large scar on his right thigh. The pain was going down and he limped slightly to the bath before lowering himself in. The servants has added a few drops of rose oil and he closed his eyes and let the smell wash over him and fill his nostrils.

The sky had darkened a lot by the time Stevron secured his cloak with a silver clasp in the shape of a griffin. Putting pressure on his right leg he smiled to himself as there was no pain. Maester Temaire had warned him against walking too much on the leg, but Stevron refused to allow himself to become weaker, even in his own eyes.

'Lenn,' he called out.

Lenn was his squire, the son of Lewyn Pond, the captain of his guards.

'Yes my lord?' he asked.

'Go to Byron, tell him to escort our guests down to the main hall for the feast, then go to the kitchens and tell the cooks to start serving.'

'As you wish,' he said bowing and turning to leave the room.

Stevron and Yohn's households were already seated at the long tables, with Yohn, Ysolde, Terrence and his young brother Elmo standing by the high table waiting for Stevron to take his seat. Stevron sat down at the high table directly in front of the throne, Yohn sat to his right and Ysolde to his left and Terrence to the left of her while young Elmo, who arrived a few days earlier from Snakewood as a ward, sat to Lord Yohn's right. Jugs of Arbor Gold and Dornish Red were in plentiful supply, and haunches of beef and venison were distributed among the tables. At the high table a roast boar and two swans in an apricot and dates sauce were served along with pheasant and pigeon pie. The high table also had roasted rabbit and a bowls of honey spiced locusts, stuffed peppers and pork sausages as well as Fire Mead alongside wine and watered wine for Elmo. Stevron stood up and the hall fell silent.

'I see Royce men to my right and Griffith to my left,' he said loudly to reach the entire hall, 'he are gathered here to feast and mingle but I don't see how we can mingle if one house sits on one side and the other house on the other. So I ask the Royce men nearest the hearths to stand and the same for the Griffith, and take each others places at the tables.'

The men did as they were told and now both houses sat at both tables. Smiling Stevron sat down and picked up his cup with spiced wine in it. He held out his arm and said, 'Now feast, feast and be merry.'

The men cheered and held their cups in the air as a toast. Stevron took Ysolde's plate and served her a rabbits leg and a cut of roast boar. She turned her nose up at the locusts though.

'They are quite nice my lady, as a boy I went with my grandfather to Gulltown to treat with merchants from the far east. I found them quite nice if crunchy.'

Ysolde became more confident at that and picked up one of the locusts popping it into her mouth and giving it a chew before she started to wave her hand in front of her mouth at the spiciness. He handed her her cup of Arbor Gold to take away the bite and she gladly took it and downed the cup. Stevron and Yohn laughed and Stevron offered the bowl to Yohn and he took up a handful of them. He too had to drown the spice in wine shortly afterwards.

'Woo that has some kick,' he said laughing into his beard, 'how can you eat them?'

'We Griffiths get used to it by drinking liberal amounts of Fire Mead,' Stevron said pouring a small amount of the mead into his now empty cup. Yohn sipped at it and almost gagged.

'Seven hells thats worst then the insects,' he said. He bit into a chunk of boar meat and when he finished wiping the juices from his mouth with a cloth he turned to Ysolde.

'Do not worry my lady, Fire Mead keeps us warm during the winters here, you will get a taste for it.'

'Thank you my lord, they are very sweet,' she said as she took another locust and started to eat it. Her eyes still watered but she made every effort to keep chewing.

The rest of the night passed well with soldiers singing bawdy songs and fondling serving wenches as they passed by while Stevron and Yohn regaled Elmo with their war stories and how the both of them, Stevron as Yohn's squire, witnessed prince Rhaegar crowning Lyanna Stark as Queen of Love and Beauty.

'She was a pretty looking maid, not as beautiful as Cersei Lannister however,' Yohn said.

'She had a very harsh sort of beauty though, not dainty and airy like Cersei, but more like a mountain its peak capped with pure white snow.'

Elmo was most intrigued by the story of the Knight of the Laughing Tree and asked Yohn if he knew who he was.

'No one knew lad, if anyone knew they have kept it a closely guarded secret.'

'Is it true that he vanished after defeating only three knights?' Elmo asked.

'As true as I am sitting right here lad,' Yohn replied, 'the queerest thing was he only asked for those knight to discipline their squires, nothing else. And that was the last we saw of the mystery knight, though someone did find his armour abandoned.'

When the feasting was done Stevron told Lewyn Pond to make sure that none of the men-at-arms fell off the drawbridge on the way back to the barracks. Back at his chambers Stevron left his clothes on a rack and had the servants stoke the fire and close the doors to the balcony to stop the cold air. As he lay on his bed he found the feeling that this was the last night he would be alone in this bed strange, while on the other side of the keep a woman lay knowing this was also her last night sleeping alone. Through the silk drapes he could see the hearths crackling away and drifted to sleep at the sound of the popping fire.

When he woke the next morning he called for stew and warm bread to be brought to his solar. His servants brought out a pair of grey pants and a blue and white quartered doublet. He fitted on his shadowcat cloak and took talon down from the wall and made for his solar. He sat out on his solar's balcony and started to clean Talon with an oiling rag. Lenn came up with the stew and bread and Stevron offered that he say and break his fast with him.

'You know our words Lenn?' he asked the squire.

'Sharp as Moonlight,' Lenn said.

'No moon last night, she didn't wish to show her face to the world.'

'Maybe she was stepping aside for your betrothed.'

'Maybe but she'll be my wife after today and if what you say is true we will never see the moon again.'

'Then maybe I shouldn't have-'

'Don't hold yourself to blame Lenn,' Stevron said, 'I know what you meant.'

'Yes my lord.'

'Come now surely you can dispense with the formalities for this meeting at least.'

'If you wish my lord,' Lenn said.

'Now you having me wondering whether you are doing that on purpose,' Stevron said looking at him, 'now don't start, as soon as you have had your fill I want you to go down to the bridge and have it readied for the jousts later today.'

'Of course my lord,' he said, Stevron ignoring the "my lord" and instead flipping Talon over to clean the other side.

'A fine blade my lord,' Lenn said as he finished mopping up his stew with a piece of bread.

'Indeed it is,' Stevron said. He held the blade up to the light to see the ripples in the steel. The ripples in the blade were the colour of blue smoke with a little amount of pearly white. Very fitting, he thought to himself.

Content with his work at cleaning it he stood up and gave the blade a few swings. He hadn't carried a sword as light and agile is this one until he became Lord of Skyhold a year ago.

'I will go with you,' he said as he watched the sunlight catching the edge of the blade.

'Pardon my lord? Lenn asked.

'I will go with you,' Stevron repeated, 'to the bridge. The servants already have everything for me set out and Ysolde will not be leaving the keep until the ceremony.'

The castle workers had been labouring away since dawn sweeping away dirt and slow and cleaning up the occasional pool of vomit from last night. On the bridge the list was being erected swiftly and tiered benches were being set up with one raised platform for himself and Lady Ysolde to be seated at. Two banners for each house were hung up, one from each gatehouse tower, with one Royce and one Griffith banner at each gatehouse. One of the Griffith pennants had been removed from the gatehouses and replaced with House Royce pennants, while above all of them flew the crowned stag of King Robert Baratheon.

Soon it was mid morning and Stevron and his squire Lenn made their way back to the courtyard. Lenn stood at Stevron's side in front of the weirwood with a heavy woollen cloak bearing the arms of House Griffith. Yohn Royce was standing among the host that also included Yohn's sons, his wife and other family members, his brother Bowen wasn't there as he was Ysolde's father and would be escorting her out. The wait seemed to last forever until Ysolde and her father came around the tree and faced Stevron. She had a bronzed veil that she had put back over her head and an orange dress cut through with black.

'Who comes before the gods,' Stevron said loudly.

Bowen answered, 'Lady Ysolde, of House Royce. Who come to claim her?'

'I do, Stevron of House Griffith, Lord of Skyhold. Who gives her?'

'Bowen of House Royce, her father,' Bowen said before addressing his daughter, 'Lady Ysolde, do you take this man.'

'I take this man,' she said.

Lenn handed Stevron the cloak and he stepped forward to drape it over Lady Ysolde's shoulders. Bowen and Stevron's mother Alysanne came forward to wrap ribbons around their wrists binding them together. A mix of Andal and First Men customs. Thus bound Stevron leant in to give Ysolde a long kiss on her lips. When they broke apart after what seemed like a season every attendee was applauding until it seemed to Stevron that their hands would fall off. Hand in hand they led the precession to the bridge were the lists and stands were set up for people to watch the jousts. At their elevated stand Stevron and Ysolde sat next to each other in matching seats with wine and figs on the table before them.

First into the list was Lewyn Pond and Bowen Royce. Lewyn wore a suit of shining steel and Bowen bronze. After two lances Lewyn fell onto the sand that covered the stone bridge.

Next came Ser Corlyn Griffith, one of Stevron's cousins, and Ser Rollard of Ninestars. Corlyn knocked out Ser Rollard with a single lance.

Well into mid afternoon the competitors kept coming until Ser Corlyn came up against Bowen Royce. They broke eight lances until Ser Corlyn narrowly came out on top, barely managing to stay in the saddle when struck by Bowen Royce, while Bowen was sent sprawling in the sand. Stevron and Ysolde stood up and commended the skill of the competitors and with the ceremony and jousts done the time had come for the feast. And after that the bedding.

When they entered the great hall the previous nights feast was massively outshone by the one they had now. Two roasted aurochs lay on the long tables, and pickled onions and eggs, alongside duck rabbit, boar and swan. The drinks were even more abundant then before and charred sausages were piled high. At the high table there were salted fish and shellfish in a cream sauce with herbs and crabs and lobsters in butter and honey and platefuls of grapes. Veal with pickles and figs were there and venison in a stewed date sauce with honey and juniper berries. And behind the high table where the once were fives seats there was instead four, and Stevron and Ysolde settled into the large double seat that now sat in front of the carved throne.

Jugglers danced around in front of the high table with brands and axes as dancers, fools and fire breathers made their way around the hall displaying their skills and abilities. Singers led the revellers in songs such a "Bear and the Maiden Fair" and "Two Hearts That Beat as One". All through the night servants brought our fresh dishes and more drinks until almost every man and woman in the hall was well and truly drunk. Stevron and Ysolde only partook in a few cups as soldiers wrestled on the tables or tried to find a darker corner to engage in carnal pleasures with a serving wench. At least a score of men were already passed out and Lewyn Pond already had those men quietly removed from the hall and given beds somewhere.

Bowen leaned to whisper a few words into Yohn's ear. Yohn who was quite drunk at that point grunted in agreement before pushing back his chair and standing up with his cup. After clearing his throat a couple of times the din in the hall died down and everyone who was still awake turned to face the high table and waited for his words.

'Now,' he said, 'as much as I want to sit here and drink the night away like some of us here,' the drunken men and women chuckled their agreement, 'we are here for a wedding, and we have plenty of time to drink and sleep after the bedding ceremony,' at that the feaster cheered and slammed their cups on the tables, 'so I think we should get this done while I can still stand.'

Yohn, Bowen and the feasters laughed at that and started to make their way up to high table. The men came up first and Yohn and Bowen picked up Ysolde from the double chair before handing her over to the revellers. At least once piece of her garments was gone by the time she had left the hall and the rest would be scattered through the halls before she would be left in his bed. Among them Stevron spotted Corlyn and his brother Rupert, along with Teague Stonewall. The women came up next, led by Stevron's mother Amellia, Yohn's wife Gisele and Ysolde's mother Taena. After being scooped up by the revellers Stevron had to endure their jokes, including once embarrassingly told by his mother about how he always had a large member ever since he was a babe. Eventually the torment ended when he was tossed into his bed with his new wife who was covering herself with the sheet and the door slammed shut.