Part 2

Jon had never really thought about getting married and he certainly hadn't had any thoughts about his wedding, but if he would have, the wedding wouldn't have been anything like this. "The wedding feast" Walder Frey had arranged for him and his newlywed wife was nothing more than cruel mockery. A travesty of a wedding.

Once again Jon couldn't help but wonder what kind of a man could do this to his own daughter. What kind of a man could humiliate a scared child like this? It was painfully clear that Lady Shirei wasn't nearly old enough to get married. Jon wasn't sure how old she was exactly, but he guessed somewhere between 10 and 12. A child.

He doubted that she had even bled yet. In the north no girls were married off before they had bled. Apparently things were different here or then Walder Frey simply didn't care about any decency. Jon glanced at his bride who was sitting at the table beside him. Clearly she was still scared, but thankfully she wasn't crying anymore. Jon cleared his throat before he managed to speak.

"My lady?" he said quietly, not wanting to draw unwanted attention. "Are you alright?"

She didn't look at him, but she nodded.

"You don't have to be afraid, I swear to you."

She still didn't look at him and he really couldn't blame her for that. He couldn't even imagine how it felt like for a young girl to be in her position. Her father had just handed her over to a strange man like she would have been an object. Ironically that was exactly what Jon had wanted to save Arya from.

"So…" Jon continued after a moment of silence. "Shirei… That's a nice name."

"Thank you, my lord," she murmured.

"Please, call me Jon. May I call you Shirei?"

"Of course."

"Thank you." Jon paused, trying to decide how to continue. The whole situation was uncomfortable, especially when they were surrounded by her family, Robb, Catelyn, Theon and most of the northern lords who had joined Robb. Lord Frey seemed to be in an excellent mood, he demanded the musicians to keep playing while he enjoyed his wine and groping his young wife. People were talking, eating and drinking, although Jon didn't see any reason to celebrate this wedding.

"I…" Jon started, but he didn't have time to finish his sentence when a male servant appeared next to him and poured him more wine.

"My lord," he said so quietly that only Jon could hear him. "My lady asks to speak to you."

Jon frowned.

"Your lady?"

"Lady Derwa Frey, my lord," the servant replied.

"Where is she?"

"She… She asks to speak to you privately, my lord. Outside the dining hall."

"Alright," Jon replied cautiously. "Tell her that I will be there soon."

The servant bowed.

"Yes, my lord. Thank you."

Jon picked up his wine goblet and took a long gulp. He couldn't imagine why Lord Frey's daughter, who he assumed she was, wanted to speak to him, he hadn't even met her. It was very unlikely that she would want to congratulate him. He waited for a moment before excusing himself.

"Of course, my lord," Lady Shirei said quietly. It seemed that she wasn't comfortable calling him by his first name yet and he wasn't going to pressure her. They could talk about these things privately. Thankfully no one seemed to pay much attention to him leaving the dining hall.

"My lord?" a cautious female voice said when he reached the hallway.

Jon turned and saw a woman who curtsied at him. He had seen her earlier at the wedding ceremony, but they hadn't spoken. She was wearing a modest dark grey gown and her long brown hair was down. He wouldn't have necessarily described her as very beautiful, but she wasn't ugly either. A very average looking woman, just like most of the Frey girls.

"My lady," he greeted her. "What can I do for you?"

She blinked few times nervously; she wasn't looking at him in the eyes.

"I… I am here to plea for my sister," she said quietly. "I beg you to take pity on her."

"What?" Jon gasped.

"It is not my intention to offend you, my lord," she continued quickly. "But… Shirei is only 11, she… She is not a woman yet."

"Yes, I agree," Jon replied.

Lady Derwa finally looked at him, she was still cautious.

"You do?"

"Of course, I'm not a monster, I would never… I would never touch a child. Your sister will be safe with me, my lady, I promise you."

Lady Derwa's eyes watered up as she curtsied.

"Thank you, my lord, thank you so much. My sisters and I were so afraid for Shirei. She is a sweet and innocent girl."

"I'm sure she is and as I said, she will be safe with me."

Lady Derwa nodded gratefully.

"You are a good man, my lord."

"Any decent man would do the same," Jon replied. "As you said, she is a child."

Lady Derwa looked distressed.

"My father… He…"

"I won't let him hurt your sister," Jon assured.

"No, you don't understand. He… He will demand you to…consummate your marriage."

Jon's eyes widened.

"What? Surely he wouldn't…"

"He would," Lady Derwa replied quietly. "It's his way to show his…power."

And probably also his way to show Jon his place. The thought was nothing but disgusting, Jon truly despised the man.

"I'll refuse," Jon replied firmly.

"No, you can't, my father wouldn't accept that."

"What are you suggesting then?" Jon asked sharply.

Lady Derwa looked at him calmly.

"Let him believe that he won. It's the only way."

Jon pressed his lips together, he truly hated this. Yet he had to do this. For his father, for Robb and for Shirei.

"Alright," he muttered tensely. "I'll let him believe that he won, but no need to worry, no harm will come to your sister. I give you my word."