Just a short little follow up to chapter 1 as amygummmustdie tumblr asked for an unrequited feelings fic and I thought it was a good opportunity to revisit this 'verse.
Sansa crushed the kernel of guilt that seemed to currently reside in her chest. She had not forced Jon into this, he had offered. But he offered because he felt sorry for you, the voice in her head whispered, causing her steps to stutter and Rickon to look up at anxiously.
It's too late now, anyway, she hissed back to the voice. And it was. For better or worse, she and Jon were getting married and she was walking towards the heart tree, past all the household retainers and those bannermen who had been able to come, towards Jon.
But what if he hates you for this? What if he falls in love in a year or five years and instead of being able to marry her, he is tied to you? The persistent voice asked.
Sansa shook her head slightly, determined to get rid of the doubts. They did no good right now anyway. There was no turning back from here.
Before Sansa was aware of it, she was stood in front of the heart tree, it's red eyes appearing to glisten with tears, as she pledged her future to Jon, and he to her. Then his black and grey cloak was swung around her shoulders and she was officially his wife.
As he closed the clasp on the cloak, Jon squeezed her shoulders gently before pressing a quick kiss to her lips to seal the marriage. The crowd behind them cheered and Jon smiled before he said, "Are you ready, my lady wife?"
Colour rushed into her cheeks at his words, but unlike her previous marriage, there was no accompanying rush of fear to swamp her with the use of the words.
"Just a moment please, my lord," Sansa murmured, before placing her hand onto the heart tree, next to the tears of sap that ran from it's eyes.
Please bless this marriage, she prayed, Please give Jon no reason to regret this day.
A warm feeling spread from her fingers, down her arm and into her chest, relieving her worries and chasing her fears away.
She turned to face Jon once more, and for the first time since he had proposed their match in this very spot, she felt hope.
We will be fine, she thought, as she grasped his arm and her led her towards the Great Hall for the feast.
Far away, in a cave to the North, the boy felt the tears slip down his cheeks as he pulled his mind back from the heart tree of his home.
