6. Your end of the bargain.
"Lady Stark, I helped you get your daughter back. Now you have to help me get my throne. I need the North. I held up my end of the bargain. Now I will marry your daughter and get whatever remains of your army." Stannis told Lady Stark the morning after they had returned to Dragonstone.
"She's too young. I still hold the title of Lady of Winterfell and my name still rings in the Riverlands. You marry me and you get both the Starks and the Tullys. You help me free my brother and reclaim my Father's House and I'll get you the Northern army and the Riverlands. I may also be able to get you my sister's men from the Vale. Then we march on to King's Landing with an army more than twice their men."
"Sounds like a feasible plan. We'll marry tonight and make plans in the morrow."
"What of your wife?"
"I have already spoken to her" interrupted Lady Melisandre "and she has agreed to have the marriage annulled if it helps us get to the throne. She will stay here at Dragonstone with her daughter Shireen. You will marry at the Shrine to the Lord of Light and I will officiate the ceremony"
"I pray to the Seven" Catelyn said looking at Stannis. "Will we say our vows to the Seven?"
"We could add that if it pleases you" replied the Red Priestess.
"No bedding ceremony" said Lady Stark as she turned to Stannis once again. "I really have no wish to be disrobed in front of men I do not know, not at my age. Do we have to consummate the marriage?"
"It does not have to be an unpleasant experience, Lady Stark" replied Melisandre. "People here place too much value in honor and traditions and forget about the simple pleasures. I'm sure you enjoyed lying with your husband. This will be no different."
"I loved Ned. And yes, it will be different!"
"I can help you if you wish" insisted Melisandre.
"No! Every time I speak to Stannis you reply. You are saying the vows and marrying us. Will you be in our marriage bed as well?" snapped an exasperated Catelyn.
"Lady Stark" Stannis interrupted "Melisandre will officiate the ceremony and then we will retire to our chambers. Whatever takes place in the chambers she will learn because I will tell her, but she will not be there. I assure you. Now I suggest you retire so you can get ready for tonight"
.
Lady Stark found Sansa in the gardens. She sat down next to her daughter and explained the situation to her.
"Do you really have to marry him?" Sansa asked her mother.
"I made a promise and I intend to keep it. Your brother Robb broke a promise and the consequences were dire."
"And do you have to ..? You know.. do that thing with him?"
"That thing" Catelyn laughed. "Do you know what that thing is?"
"Cersei explained a bit to me when I bled for the first time and when I was still marrying Joffrey"
"That should have been me" Catelyn said ruefully. "I'm sorry I wasn't there. That thing is called making love. It could be a beautiful experience if it's between two people who love each other, like your father and I. When you married Tyrion, did he force himself on you?" she asked her daughter dreading the answer.
"No! He was very sweet. He never did anything to me."
"I'm glad to hear it" she said relieved. "As for Stannis and I, well, I don't know. I guess we'll have to. A marriage needs to be consummated for it to be valid. But it will not be the same with another man who is not your father"
.
The ceremony was a small one. It was held at the beach under the light of the moon and the bonfires. Lady Melisandre chanted as offerings were made to the Lord of Light. After the vows were pronounced Stannis and Catelyn retired to their chamber.
"My Lady, we have a duty to perform" said Stannis as he took off his cloak.
"Yes, we do" she replied. "Do you mind if we blow out the candles?"
"Did you use to lie in the dark with your husband?" he asked surprised.
"No, it's just that … I'm a bit uncomfortable. I've only been with Ned, and I feel a bit self-conscious. I know I don't have the same body I had when I married Ned. I'm no blushing maid and I have no illusions about this marriage, but …" her voice trailed off. She was just postponing the inevitable.
"I have seen you naked, my Lady, when we first brought you back" he said.
"I know" she said fumbling with her robe. Catelyn found him hard to read. His impassive face showed no emotion at all; she could detect neither desire nor pity, just responsibility and duty.
"It does not have to be uncomfortable" he said softly as he took her hands in his. He saw her eyes getting wet and gently wiped a tear off her face. "Do you miss him?" he asked genuinely concerned.
"Yes, but, as you said, we have a duty to perform" she replied coldly and started to remove her clothes.
I love you, Cat. I know what you're doing, and I know why you're doing it. I don't hold it against you. "Please, Ned, don't look. I love you and I miss you. Go away. Turn around. Just don't look. Please."
TBC