Allyria's new maid Meiri came in early to wake her. She was a kind young woman; she was definitely southern though not dornish. Her hair was blonde but a dusty darker color and her eyes were a light brown. She smiled a lot and she put Allyria at ease, though Allyria was still a little wary. The girl simply showed up one day and Allyria did not know who hired her. Sometimes she deluded herself into thinking her father or Jaime had done it, but neither of them would ever have thought about it let alone be considerate enough to follow through. Tyrion could have, but in her heart of hearts she knew that the queen was behind it. She had a nagging fear that she should be afraid of her highness.
Quickly and efficiently Meiri got her up, fed, bathed, and dressed, today would be the wedding. Today would be long. In truth Allyria had hardly eaten, though the table had been set with delicious fruits and sweetmeats. She felt slightly nauseous. She kept repeating in her head the mantra "I am not afraid I am not afraid." But she was, and when she would come to that conclusion she would try to counteract it with "it could be much worse, he is pleasant company and humorous and handsome." She did allow herself the belief that it would be far from the happiest memory. In the end she ate a few pieces of fruit. The maid tutted as she cleared the table.
Dressing without a maid today would have been impossible. With the two of them it still took well over an hour before all the pieces of the dress were fully assembled. The dressmaker had brought it in last night and as she showed it to the bride she remarked "a dress fit for the Lion of Lannister." Before they began Allyria stood in a light cotton robe and lace small clothes, for the wedding night, and admired the dress, a work of art to her. It was still in purple and silver, not Lannister red and gold, but it was the finest dress Allyria had ever beheld. It was light lavender silk with silver and dark purple brocade and had a lengthy train, Allyria worried she would trip on it. There was a belt of creamy freshwater pearls over purple lace, the same pattern she wore under the dress which also trimmed the veil, the pearls cascaded down the skirt in waves and ended in little silver shooting stars, a part of her house sigil. There were also pearls on the very bottom of the dress the neckline and dripping off the ends of the cap sleeves. The neckline was also a little lower then she was used to, but not so low as to be exposed in some indecent manner. Silver stars were also on the tight and corseted bodice, in the middle of each lay a small diamond. After it was finally on Allyria could not help running her hand down the sides of her body. Feeling the silkiness of it admiring the dress and the way it looked on.
After Meiri had set to work with her face and hair, which Allyria found slightly vexing. Beeswax was applied to her eyelashes and eyebrows then a comb ran through them. Some form of berry paste applied to her lips and cheeks, a darker one for her lips that tasted of cherries. She was admonished for licking her lips though; she felt shame at being corrected like some small child. The hair was combed back and three little braids had been done then woven together on the right side. A low bun formed by the left ear which gave of the impression her hair was curly. A few pieces fell out and framed her face. Allyria couldn't believe how different she looked, and was yet still beautiful.
There was a short sharp knock on the chamber door. The door opened a peak, "are you decent?" her father called in. "Yes papa, come in," she answered. Lord Alban looked very smart in dark brown twill trousers and a dark purple doublet; he walked with his ivory cane which he now leaned heavily on. "You look very beautiful," he said slightly above a whisper, and his voice broke a little too. Allyria did not study too long her father for she was afraid of crying, but if she had she would have noticed tears lined his old eyes.
She handed him the veil, which was long white tulle with purple lace. Before covering her face he gave her a short moist kiss on the mouth. Then father and daughter began the long journey to the sept.
The sept was much darker inside then it was outside, the difference made for a difficult adjustment. Far ahead she could still see the great fat High Septon with his crystal and Jaime. When she became accustomed she saw immediately the vast sea of red and gold, the sept was dripping in rich velvets and heavy woven tapestries of her new house colors, lions could be seen everywhere too. No expense had been spared for the heir of Casterly Rock and the queen's brother, Tywin had seen to that.
Allyria had met the Lannister Patriarch a few nights previously; he was every bit as scary as his reputation. He had been blunt but she had also found him surprisingly kinder then expected, though not to any of his children. It was sad, but his treatment of Tyrion did not surprise her, though she cared for the dwarf greatly. His mocking scorn for Jaime and his daughter, the queen after all, had though. For a moment she had pitied Cersei. The remark about expecting grandchildren quickly caught her off guard and his hopes for them too. It seemed daughters were not to be desired, and woe to her if the first wasn't a son.
As they entered everyone turned to look, except the queen, they all had smiles. Allyria found them infectious and began to smile too, and to hope and dream of a happy marriage.
The ceremony was short, though she was grateful. Her father removed her lavender silk maiden's cloak stiffly and then Jaime had wrapped her in his heavy crimson one. She was no longer a maid, and soon she would no longer be a maiden. When the Septon had declared them married Jaime had given her a warm but chaste kiss, moving swiftly down the aisle.
Honestly if she could have gone straight from wedding to bedding she would have done it. The feast and its tedious courses and dancing almost bored Allyria to tears. It would be a long feast, for again Tywin would show his might, though Jaime had advocated for a smaller one, a gesture that did not go unnoticed by her. It gave pause though too, what did it mean that they both desired a wedding that was over as quickly as possible and done with little fan fare?
The servants had just finished setting all the tables, again a sea of red and gold, when the couple arrived. Jaime led them to the head table sitting in the center right chair without pulling hers out. Beckoning to a servant he called for wine, which he drank quickly and received more. He also called for her wine goblet to be filled. The servant a young man with brown hair and a thin mustache had poured a dark fruity red into her cup. "I don't normally drink My Lord."
"Jaime will do, and you will tonight," he replied gruffly. With a sigh he added a bit more kindly, "you may wish to be very deep into your cups by nights end. It will make things easier." After that others filed in and the food soon followed, first always to the King and Queen and then to Jaime and then Allyria and lastly the congregation.
They ate for a while then she danced the first number with Jaime. After he returned to the table while she had been asked by the kings youngest brother, and by far most handsome, Renly. She danced quite a few numbers, including one with Kevan Lannister whom she infinitely preferred to his elder brother. She took a rest after him, he paid compliment to his nephew on his new wife, and she blushed at his niceties though Jaime scarcely nodded. Ate a bit more and then danced a bit more and then ate again, it was now quite late. Jaime had danced quite a bit too; he had danced once with his twin. Afterwards he looked as though he was suffering from some kind of ache, he had not been very pleasant company all evening, she feared of asking her favor, but she had too. In all the time she had known him he had never been so quiet. She grabbed his hand lightly, glad he didn't pull away. "I have a favor to ask, perhaps I have not earned it, but if you care at all for me my father or my family please find away to get him out before the bedding. I do not ask for me, I am not embarrassed, but."
He cut her off, "the bedding is a vulgar thing if we did not have to we would not, your father should not suffer consider it done." That was the most he had said all evening, at least to her. She also considered it the kindest thing he had ever said so far.
Petyr Baelish approached the table; she was not fond of the man, though she barely knew him. "May I have a dance," he asked Jaime though looking directly at her.
"I do not dance with men, Baelish. If it is a dance with my wife you want then ask her yourself." With a smile Allyria consented, though she was seething at the arrogance of the man whose hand she held. At the same time her heart lept with joy for her husbands actions.
She made a half hearted attempt to listen to what her partner was saying, praying she nodded at the right times. "A most fortunate match for you my dear," Allyria heard this and gave proper response. Across the room she noticed Jaime and Tyrion deep in conversation. "Then again not much respect for honor in that family or duty by the kingslayer, what would your brother say to that?" Allyria felt slapped, bringing up Arthur like that and calling Jaime by his taunting name. She could come up with no response and only just kept herself from calling him every horrible name she could think of. Though again in her heart of hearts she knew her brother would not approve of the match. If Arthur was still alive it would be unlikely Jaime would be.
She was spared from a further dancing, while she had been distracted by Baelish's cutting remark she had failed to notice Jaime coming towards them. "My wife if you please," he had said with no other pleasantries or explanation. Jaime turned them so they would be closer to where her family was dining. "If you look you will see Tyrion escorting your father." As they made a sweeping turn she craned her neck to see over Jaime's shoulder, seeing the old man and the dwarf leave the great hall through a side door.
Leaning in closer and feeling his warmth she rested her forehead on his shoulders and gave whispered thanks. "The time will soon be upon us." They finished the dance, walking towards the table again hand in hand, Allyria wore a smile. Almost as soon as they were seated they were pulled out again, King Robert announced the bedding ceremony was to begin. Allyria blessed Jaime and Tyrion's timing. There was a roar from the crowd as men rushed to her and women to Jaime. Soon they were tearing the clothes off her, damaging the lovely dress. She hated the feeling of all these men's hands on her. One had swatted her backside and another lingered over her breasts, "the lion will feast tonight won't he boys." She clenched her teeth, unwilling to show them how disgusted she was. Soon she was in nothing but the lace small clothes, whistles and catcalls came from all over. They wrapped her finally in Jaime's cloak, she was grateful for the coverage. Now they were carrying her to the room, she knew Jaime would be there and though some might lurk outside the door she was glad only Jaime would be inside of it. They tossed her inside and bolted the door, though she did not see Jaime. She wondered briefly if he had left. "I want a bath," she said loudly and angrily with a shudder trying to erase the memory of so many lingering hands. She took off the cloak, still puzzled by Jaime's absence. She took the moment to peer around her new room, it was certainly bigger. The bed was a very prominent feature. There was a desk and table, a few book were strewn here and there evidence of Tyrion's patronage. A full decanter of red wine was on the table and with Jaime's earlier command in mind she moved to pour herself another cup. She had not noticed the door to her left but the sound of movement drew her attention to it now. She thought perhaps it led to the baths. She was about to look, and perhaps run one when the door open and there stood Jaime. He wore only small breeches; hair covered lightly his chest and arms that glowed slightly in the candle light.
"Care to join me?" he asked, the characteristic smirk back on his face. A grin so many thought bespoke an underlying malevolence. She was beginning to wonder if Jaime was cruel and mean or if circumstance had made him so. He ducked back behind the door after she nodded.
The air inside the bath house was very warm and humid; Allyria liked her baths hot and it seemed so too did her husband. The heavy steam made her skin and hair slightly damp. Jaime had begun to remove his last pieces of clothing, and Allyria reached back to undo the laces on her small corset managing only the bottom two. "Allow me," Jaime reached behind her and expertly undid the bindings. It was hard not to cling to the fabric, to shrink from his gaze. He kissed the shell of her ear, leaning into her as he pushed away the fabric from her body. She felt his chest against her back as it rose and fell with his deep calm breaths. She did shiver a bit when he hooked a finger in the waistband of her small clothes. He laughed at her innocence but was not unkind. With a deft flick those to were removed, crumpled by her ankles. It was now or never; with a deep breath she decided to be brave, reminding herself it could be so much worse. She even decided to enjoy it. She turned around and let him see her fully, knowing that was what he wanted. Somehow the action gave her confidence, he looked happy, pleased with her, It gave her the courage to kiss him fully on the mouth, in what she hoped was good and passionate kiss. She didn't linger though and marched straight into the large sunken bronze tub.
The water was very hot and it almost burnt her. She adapted quickly to it, lowering her whole body in and leaning her head back to wet her hair. With a laugh she realized it was big enough to swim in, and so she did so. Resurfacing she heard a splash, Jaime had entered the bath. He had soap and a wash cloth, he began bathing her. Afterwards he invited her to do the same, her face went scarlet with embarrassment and shame Jaime laughed again.
After they had emptied the tub they dried off on a little couch in front of a fire place that was unlit wrapped in white fluffy towels. Occasionally Jaime would kiss her or touch her in some way that made her stomach twist, but twist in a good way. Eventually the time came and he carried her to bed, throwing her on it just like she had said he could.
They had bathed together lay together and eventually slept together side by side. Allyria had fallen asleep smiling surrounded in the after glow of the act she had participated in. For the moment married life had been good to her. When Jaime awoke the next morning he could not help but agree. When he had decided he could find no way out of it and gave himself over to it he had in fact enjoyed himself. Only when he realized that in the morning did he feel guilty.
Okay So I realize Jaime probably wouldn't give two fly figs about the bedding ceremony but I hate it and think it sounds horrifying so I wrote it that way. If that really bugs you I am sorry. Also I am going back and editting (slowly) some past chapters because I suck at grammar.
