"You may enter." I heard Tywin's voice from the other side of the door. Opening it, I saw him seated at the head of the table looking over scrolls.
"You called for me, My Lord." I said. I knew by now not to address him as Uncle Tywin and had a reddened cheek from the back of Cersei's hand that convinced me otherwise. I could beat the daylights out of Jaime when we were younger, but with Cersei I knew better.
"I received from our King Robert that he has took the matter of finding you a husband out of my hands." After the death of my father, Rizal, King Robert took it upon himself to help me. Apparently Rizal died defending Robert and the King has yet to forget the sacrifice. I was but an infant and my mother had died in child birth. Robert was the closest thing to a parent that I have ever had. Him finding me a husband did not surprise me whatsoever.
"Who is my newly intended if I may ask?" I questioned. "Am I the lucky wife-to-be of the Bastard Ramsay Bolton? Or perhaps I will be there to warm the bed of the Tyrell's faggot grandson."
"You will watch your tongue." Tywin snapped at me and I quickly shut my mouth. "Although you are hardly a Lannister we would not put that much shame on our family's name."
"Well who may is it?" I asked. "I'm surprised that any Lord in the seven kingdoms agreed to marry of his son to a girl that hasn't been seen in nearly a decade."
"It seems that Lord Stark remembers you of a somewhat pleasant girl and thinks you will be a proper fit." My body froze. I could feel my jaw clinch and my eyes widen.
"Lord Stark?" I questioned. "The Warden of the North? The one in Winterfell?" My heart began to flutter inside my chest. "Who am I to be wedded to?" The Bastard son that no one and everyone speaks of or his pervert ward, Theon Greyjoy.
"His eldest, Robb Stark." The bastard son would have been a better option. He was at least silent and kind. "His was originally intended to be wedded to a daughter of Lord Frey, but it seems that King Robert thought an alliance between house Lannister and Stark was a better suit for us and made the decision without telling me. We will be leaving in several days."
"Leaving for what?" I asked. "Are we making a trip to the capital?"
"We head for Winterfell before next week. Lord Stark is leaving for the capital to serve as temporary hand of the king and his two daughters are set to accompany him. I am sure Lord Stark would like to see his eldest wed and King Robert is always fond of you."
"Fond?" I scoffed. "If him being fond of me means that he marries me to a northern barbarian, then I fear what would come of me if he disliked me."
"Seem as that may, you have an obligation to your king and your family. I approve of the arrangement and so it will be done."
"And I have no say in whether or not I am okay with this?"
"And where else do you suppose you will go if you disobey?" He smirked. "I will not house you, nor will King Robert after you disrespected his orders. Your mother's family died in the war. You have nowhere to go but north. Now if you will excuse me, I have to send a raven telling Robert that we should be in Winterfell by the end of the month."
I took that as my queue to leave and left for my brother's chambers.
My brother, Edwin, held me as I cried. It was a rare thing to see me cry, but my brother was no stranger to see me weeping. He promised to accompany me to Winterfell for the wedding and stay as long as I needed, but we both knew of the forces against me. Going against the king, Lord Stark and Tywin was a bad idea and asking for a death sentence.
My ladies in waiting wasted no time in altering my mother's dress since there was little time to make a new one. It was as magnificent as anything that my seamstress could have made. My father was never once to worry about the cost of things so he spared no hesitation in his bride's dress. From what I've been told by the servants, my mother could not have cared less about her clothes or their worth. She did not love my father and the only thing that she was thankful about the marriage was me and my brother.
As promised by Tywin, we left Casterly Rock before the end of the week. I opted to ride on horseback alongside my brother which was unfortunately unpermitted. Instead, he sat in the carriage with me as we headed toward Winterfell. The journey would usually take nearly a month, but with Tywin's persistence in not stopping unless it was nighttime we should arrive in a little over two weeks.
"Are you excited to be reunited with your betrothed?" Damien teased.
"I would rather be drawn and quartered to be frank." I said as peeled the ruby skin off an apple. "Hopefully he has grown since then. If I recall, I was his height when we last met."
"The last time you met him, you were my height and now you can perfectly look up my nose." He smirked. "Hopefully he has grown so your children won't be too short. We already have one too many dwarfs in the family."
"Watch your tongue, little brother, and if Stark so much as attempts to put his seed inside of me, I will see to it that he is never able to have children." I said through clenched teeth. "For all I care he can get a local whore to carry his barbaric brats because he will be lucky to sleep in the same chamber as me on our wedding night."
"I wonder if anyone warned poor Robb that he is to be married to a shrew." I narrowed my eyes at his remark to which he just gave me a lopsided smile.
"Regardless, if he expects me to be some wench to keep his bed warm and to house his children in my belly, he is sadly mistaken."
"Look," He said pulling back the fabric from the window of the carriage. "the twins." The water looked eerie as there was no sunlight to gleam off of it. "Perhaps, we can pick up a Frey girl to take your place." If only…
By the time we had reached Winterfell, night had fallen and I had fallen ill. I had not gotten much sleep since we departed from Casterly Rock so I was ready to fall asleep in something more comfortable than this cramped carriage.
Damien and Tywin had left me with my septa, a servant girl, and a guard. I could hear the commotion from the castle, most likely coming from the dining hall. I suppose they are celebrating the wedding of the eldest Stark that is to be held tomorrow. With a sickly bride and from what I overheard from Tywin, a newly crippled brother.
"My Lady, are you feeling any better?" Septa LaGrange asked.
"Hardly, Septa." I said leaning against the doorframe. "I wish I could just sleep until the whole wedding and celebrations are through." She chuckled at my remark.
"Well, I think the problem with that is that the bride cannot sleep during her own wedding." The cold wind was able to seep into the crack of the carriages and sent a chill up my spine.
"Fuck this." I said to which my septa gasped. "I will be damned if I catch ill and die then have Lord Tywin curse my name because I could not stay alive long enough to make it through the wedding." I opened the door and hopped out.
"Lady Thahera!" Septa LaGrange called out. Thankfully I was wearing a cloak and could use my hood to shield myself from the cold air giving me wind burn. Stark would have been married to a blistered bride. Septa followed behind me as did one of the guards. I spent a whole year of my childhood here and nothing had changed. The ceilings appeared to be higher back then, but I suppose it was my height that made it seem so. "And where, pray tell, do you think you are going?" The red faced Septa had questioned.
"To bed before I collapse on the castle's stairs." I said. "I haven't eaten a decent meal nor have I slept properly in nearly a month. All the while, I am also becoming flustered over a marriage that I care nothing about. If I can recall, I go to flights up and it is the first door on my left, so if you would be so kind, Septa to tell Lord Tywin that I am retiring, you are further more dismissed." Septa LaGrange was no stranger to my sharp tongue, but she stopped following me and I was free to do what I pleased; Except leave, of course.
Opening the door to what was once my bedroom, I see a boy, around the age of 9 laying in the bed.
"Oh, I'm sorry." I apologized. "I did not realize that someone was already sleeping here."
"I should hope so," he said not getting up. "This is my bedroom." He had the beady black eyes of a raven and looked as pale as milk. "I suppose you must be new. Nice dress. I don't take you for a servant. Much too young to be a septa, but we already have one of those." "No, I'm not a worker. Just here on business." I said coming closer to his bedside. "You are very sharp for a boy your age. What is your name?"
"You don't know me?" He said without arrogance. "I'm Bran Stark, second youngest son to Lord Eddard and Lady Catelyn Stark." The cripple…
"Well, my apologies, Lord Stark." I gave a mocked courtesy. "I have not been to Winterfell in my years. In fact, this was once the bedroom where they had me cooped up over the summer."
"You must be the Lannister girl my brother is to marry tomorrow."
"And what if I wasn't?" I asked.
"Then you are wasting your time talking to a crippled boy who cannot even get out of bed to go to a wedding that my brother doesn't even want." Yes, it was the crippled…
"Well," I said changing the subject "I am glad to hear that your brother has mutual feelings in regards to the wedding. He was quite an ass last I remember him."
"Robb?" He smiled. "An ass?"
"Between him and Theon torturing me all summer, I was lucky to make it out alive." He began to straighten up.
"What would he do?" He asked, no doubt eager to hear stories of his older brother.
"Where do I start?" I sat on the bed by his feet. "He would put dead animals underneath my bed and with the sweltering summer heat, they would stink up my chambers. Your mother, Lady Catelyn, made us switch rooms until the stench had cleared. Just juvenile things such as that. Hopefully, he will not pull such devious pranks considering I am to be his wife."
"He's not like that now, I suppose." He argued.
"Well, it was many years ago and it seems as though he has not forgotten what an absolute little beast I was."
"He may have mentioned something along the lines of an ugly duckling."
"I have yet to see him so if you see him before I do, feel free to tell him how wretched I look. Of my buck, yellow teeth and untamable hair." I teased and he laughed. "We can get you to the ceremony tomorrow. I'm sure King Robert will not enjoy standing during the ceremony so there will be chairs."
The door swung open to reveal a lady with bright blue eyes and blood red hair that was in a carefully made braid. "Hello, Mother." Bran greeted.
"Lady Catelyn." I said standing and giving a courtesy.
"This is Robb's bride who he hates."
"Bran!" Lady Catelyn said shocked at her son's boldness.
"Accurate introduction, Bran." I said smiling at him.
"Lady Thahera, such a pleasure to see how much you've grown."
"Thank you, My Lady. I was weary from the trip and came to seek out my chamber, but found your son instead."
"I am sure you've had a long journey given the short notice of the wedding."
"It's no trouble." I lied. "I feel blessed to do so." Another lie.
"If I recall, the little Lady that I knew would have done anything, but been in the same room as my son, Robb, much less marry him." She was good.
"I suppose I have matured." Lie.
"Of course." She must have caught that lie too, but did not say anything. "I've just come to wish Bran goodnight and if you like, I could escort you to the dining hall. Your uncle and brother are eating with my husband and Robb."
"As much as I would love to eat a good hearty meal, I am very tired and would like to retire if it pleases you."
"But of course," she said. I did not have the energy to be poise and gracious to a man I wanted to smother in his sleep since I was a child. "If you would be so kind to excuse me, so that I may tell my son goodnight."
"But of course." I mimicked and waited for her outside of Bran's room.
She led me to a room that was a level higher than Bran's in a bedroom that was next to Robb's chambers. "In case you wish to speak before the wedding."
"Thank you for escorting me, Lady Catelyn." I said turning to her and giving her a slight bow. "I think one more day without seeing my betrothed will not be too aggravating to Robb, but after today's journey, I will soon retire. I have not had a proper meal nor a night's sleep since we left Casterly Rock."
"I completely understand, dear." She said with kind eyes and a slight smile on her face. "It was not that long ago I made the journey from Riverrun to Winterfell. I also know what it was like meeting your groom at such a young age. Hopefully those memories of your summer here as a child do not alter your opinion of Robb or this family."
"Oh, not at all, my Lady." I said with authentic worry. "I hope I have done anything to insinuate otherwise. I was a child; we both were. I, as a woman, will not hold a grudge to the things a man did to me in his boyhood. Although devious, they were not too malicious or sinister. I survived at least!" I joked. "I just wish to retire and be well rested before the wedding tomorrow." I reached out for her delicate hand. "Since my mother is no longer with us, I think she would be upset of me not having someone to help me get ready for my wedding day. If you would be as so kind as to help me, I would be grateful." She gave my hand a tight squeeze. "Plus I'm certain the queen has more pressing matters to-"
"Say no more." she interrupted. "I shall see you tomorrow morning."
"Thank you, my Lady." I said releasing her hand. "Goodnight."
"Goodnight."
3rd POV
"You are to take this plate to her chambers and speak with her." Lady Catelyn said pushing a plate toward Robb. Who sat sandwiched between his father and a snickering Theon. "She has been traveling for a month and has not had a proper meal. You will go, give this to her, and check on your bride to be. If I have to say another word, it very may be the last words you hear. Now go." Although he was a man, Robb knew better than to argue with his mother. Picking up the plate, he bid his parents and Theon goodnight and headed toward his bride-to-be's chamber.
He gave three light knocks on the door with hopes for her to either be asleep or not able to hear him.
"Who is it?" The voice did not sound like the shrill whine of the little girl he would harass.
"It is Robb Stark, my Lady." He answered. "I was hoping to see you before the-"
"I am indecent and ready for bed." She interrupted, her tone of respect gone.
*Yet, still a little fire within her* Robb smiled at the challenge awaiting him behind these doors. "I am your husband, my Lady." He said clicking the door handle. "Indecency is no bother to me."
Hearing the turning of the door handle, Thahera abruptly ran to the door and pushed her body against this. "You are not my husband yet, Stark." He could hear her hiss. He could imagine what the frizzy-haired child looked like with her nostrils flaring and teeth clenched. "If you wish to be alive during the wedding, your best hope is not trying to come through that door."
"I think I can hold up my own." He said barely pushing on the door. He could hear an audible gasp from the other side of the door. "I hope you don't hold up this sort of modesty through our marriage."
"Fuck you, Stark!" She spat. "I could climb out of this window and-"
"And what?" He questioned with delight. "Leave? Where would you go? You would be stopped at the gate before you could even leave." His comment was met with a laugh.
"I've been kept in Casterly Rock since that summer, you idiot." She said cockily. "No one outside of Tywin's orders has seen me since then, with the exception of your mother and Bran."
"Are you really that horrendous looking?" He said then regretted his words almost immediately. "I must offer my apologies for that last remark."
"No apologies needed." She sitting down, her back pressed against the door. "I was a troubling child. After returning from Winterfell, I would sneak out and not tell anyone; cause an uproar and panic in the whole castle with the guards and staff trying to find a little girl that liked to hide in small spaces."
"Really?" He asked unknowingly mimicking her by sitting down. "So it wasn't because of your unnatural beauty?" He teased.
"Oh, I don't know. They were scared you would call off the wedding so they whisked me up here in this room before you could see me." She lied with a smile plastered on her lips.
"Is that so?"
"It is."
"Well I heard that you were so impatient to get into my arms that you left the carriage unwarranted and stormed the castle."
"Actually it was because I was freezing outside and no one seems to care about my opinion in any of this, so I decided to just take care of it myself."
"So it wasn't because they feared I would be a runaway groom."
"No, but they are afraid you might get a whore once we're married. We all know how welcoming Northern girls can be."
"Yet, not nearly as cold as the ones from Casterly Rock." There was a pause before they either of them spoke. "Was it really that remark that put you in silence?" He joked, but in the pit of his stomach had some concern that he may have made her cross.
"No." She answered somewhat offended. "I am just wondering as to what the real reason was as to why you came here. I know you would rather be lashed than carry on a conversation with me so I am wondering why you came here in the first place." She knew that the feud between them so many years ago did not die out and he would not willingly come here to see her; betrothed or not. "Was it your mother?"
"She told me to bring you a plate."
"I'm not hungry."
"She said you were hungry from the journey."
"I'm tired from the journey."
"She didn't say anything about you being too stubborn to open up a damn door." He said aggravated now that he would have to return the plate to the kitchen.
"I'm indecent."
"I don't care."
"Give the food to your damn pup and leave me alone. Your voice is giving me a headache."
"Get used to my voice, my dear." He said standing. "You will be hearing it for the next 40-odd years."
"I would rather you cut my ears off." She spat now back in her defensive mode. "I think it would just be best if you leave me alone so that I can go to bed. If I am going to have to deal someone as intolerable as you all day tomorrow, I am going to need all the energy I can muster."
"My dear, you will have to tolerate me the rest of your life." Robb said standing. "If you are lucky, I may come to tolerate you as well and your life will go along much more smoothly. Goodnight, wife." He said sarcastically and walked into his chambers.
"Fuck." Thahera mustered underneath her breath. She was not known for her even-temper and with a prick like Robb Stark, she was certain she would show her shrewdness to her new family.
Thahera POV
The consistent knocking on my chamber door was the only thing that finally got me up. "Coming, coming." I muttered as I put on a rob. "Who is it?" I asked not wishing to have another wonderful conversation with the eldest Stark.
"It is your septa and Lady Stark, My Lady." I could hear an aggravated Septa LaGrange say through most likely a clenched smile. I opened, but hid behind the door.
"I apologize. I had a late evening speaking with your son, Lady Stark, and I appreciated the food, but I was already indecent and ready to retire when Robb came to my door."
"So you two have not seen one another yet?" She asked puzzled.
"I'm afraid I have not, Lady Stark."
"Well never the matter, it's too late for introductions, he has went ahead along with his father and the king for a hunt this morning." She waved her hand. "And feel free to address me as Catelyn, you'll be Lady Stark soon enough." If there was one positive thing about marrying Robb, it was gaining his mother. She seemed more pleasant than any noble woman I've met. "Let's start by getting you bathed," She said. "Let's get you dressed and you can use my bathing quarters and we shall get ready with your sisters-to-be."
I was not given much privacy throughout the day and as the hours approached closer to the ceremony, I became more anxious. By the King's orders, the Queen came to join us as we prepared for my wedding. She made everything worse by suggesting my breasts be pushed farther down and to tighten my corset. Septa LaGrange obliged and had me place my hands against the wall and began to tighten it. It took nearly three times before Cersei was satisfied with a simple "I suppose that is as good as it's going to get." I wanted to snap back with 'some of us had child-bearing hips!', but I knew for the sake of my head remaining attached to my neck, I said nothing.
I was ready to lie down and rest when it was time to do my hair. Lady Stark volunteered to do this, dismissing my septa, the servants and her daughters from the room to give us a moment alone. "Have you spoke with anyone of what to expect of your wedding night, my dear?" She asked as she combed put some oil on her fingers and used them to gently comb through my hair.
"When he and I retire, you mean?"
"Yes."
"The Queen gave me some instructions as to what to do." I said. "I should just do as my husband says. Know that it will hurt. A lot. Overtime, I've been told it gets easier, but initially it hurts and there will be blood. A lot of blood. That men become angry when you cry so it's better to be on your knees, if you feel the need to cry."
"If Robb does such a thing, I will hang him from the tower by his toes!" She said shocked. I would have turned to look at her face, but my corset limited my movement. "Forget whatever sick ideas have been planted in that poor head of yours." She cooed as parted my hair, causing some of my curls to fall in my face; tickling my nose. "It will not be all sunshine and daisies, but it will be pleasant if you let it be. Robb is new to this as well; His father and I have made sure of that. I don't know what rumors you've heard being near the south, but the men of the north are not what they seem." She gathered most of my hair and tied in in a tight ribbon. These women and having the need to make everything tight. "When Ned and I first met, we were children, like you and Robb, although we got off to a better start, we still were not intended for one another. I was meant to marry his brother, but the gods had other plans." I could practically feel her beaming smile. "Are wedding was a nightmare to be frank. It rained, I was soaked and freezing on the way back to the castle and the banner men became so drunk and boisterous that one of them picked me up and a mob practically formed and carried the two of us to our wedding chamber. I was so embarrassed I could have cried and Ned was so angry I thought he would have done some beheading, but when he saw me so upset; he laughed. He apologized and we talked. Nothing more. He did not make any advances or try to do anything I was uncomfortable with. Do not mistake me, my dear, as a wife, it is expected of you to eventually bed your husband and carry his heir, but as a Stark, we do not expect you to welcome a man inside of you that you are not acquainted with, husband or not." I could feel her begin to twist my hair and use a somewhat sharp hairpin to hold it into place. With the amount of discomfort, I was almost did not mind Robb removing my clothes.
"Do you have any advice?" I asked. "From what I heard from some of my family you and Ned are quite happy as a couple, even after all these years."
"It is a partnership." She stated as she continued to twirl and pin. "I believe we became a stronger couple once I bore him a child. We had just wedded and he was off to war. He had no knowledge of how I was doing and was not present at the time of Robb's birth. I was nearly heartbroken. When he came home and saw me holding his child, the look on his face that I bore him a son was all worth it. Making him happy has made me happy. He has given me five beautiful children and a life any girl could dream of. For you and Robb, my best advice would make it a competition seeing as you two enjoy like to outdo one another. See who can make the other person the most happy; that is what will make your marriage better. Love did not just happen to us. We built it slowly, stone by stone, over the years."
"Thank you, My Lady." I said as she began braiding my hair near my temple so tightly I felt fresh tears in my eyes. "Do you know who is to walk alongside me?"
"I think it is presumed that your uncle, Tywin will be the one to walk you down." She said. "Do you have another request?"
"If it were not too much trouble, could you perhaps ask that my brother be the one to do it?" Walking with Uncle Tywin would just make my current emotions worse. "Not to show any disrespect, but Lord Tywin is not necessarily the joking type. At least with Damien he can make a joke of some sort to ease my nerves."
"But of course." She said. "I will speak to him when the party gathers in the great hall and send your brother up to retrieve you shortly after we depart."
"Thank you, Lady Catelyn."
Luckily, Tywin accepted my request and sent my brother. He had to aid me to stand up seeing as the corset was still so tight. "Wow, sister, might I say… You actually look like a girl for once."
"If this corset was not so restricting I would punch you in the face right now." I said with narrowed eyes.
"You should have chosen Tywin to escort you." He said. " At least he is so well in age, if you decided to make a run for the hills, he could not chase after you."
"Well, if being Lady Catelyn's new daughter by law is the best thing that comes out of this marriage, so be it." I said. "Help me put my veil on. I felt too hot when Lady Catelyn left to wear it."
"Glad you are seeing the brighter side of things." He said holding out his arm for me to take. "Shall we?"
"Unfortunately." I replied taking his arm and headed toward the godswoods.
"I feel as though I'm going to be sick." I said feeling slightly feverish in this cold weather. "Not being able to hardly see isn't help either."
"It's just nerves." He said giving my hand a light squeeze. "Don't throw up until after you drink then you can blame it on the wine instead of you being so scared. Plus, if you look sick then no one can't tell. I can barely see you through that black sheet you're wearing."
"I am not scared and its called a veil." I hissed.
"Is that so?"
"It is."
"Then prove it." He whispered as we positioned ourselves from what I could make out as the beginning of the aisle.
The was an uncomfortable silence as we made our way to my blurred groom. When my hands were put into Robb's, his felt comfortable cold and dry compared to my sweaty palms. I listened to the septon speak and repeated my vows almost as if under a spell of some sort. It was not until I had to turn for Robb to put his cloak over my shoulders, making me feeling even hotter. "Let it be known, that Lord Robb Stark has symbolized his oath of protection by placing his cloak on the shoulders of Lady Thahera of the house Lannister." We get it, move on! "With that, Lord Stark, you may remove your new bride and symbolize your oath of love and affection and kiss her."
I could not help, but notice that this whole time, I had been looking at down at my feet. When I felt Robb beginning to lift up my veil, I could feel the cool wind of Winterfell touch my cheek and the savory feeling made me close my eyes in satisfaction. I was so entranced by the feeling; I did not know my eyes were still closed until I noted the veil was completely removed. I tore my eyes away from the ground and finally looked at my new husband.