Chapter 7: The Weirwood Wedding

Will you still love me when I'm no longer young and beautiful?

Will you still love me when I've got nothing but my aching soul?

I know you will, I know you will

I know that you will

Will you still love me when I'm no longer beautiful?

Lana del Rey, Young and Beautiful

NAEVA

Nervous excitement fluttered in Naeva's stomach as she looked at her appearance in the mirror. All day, the castle had been buzzing with excitement over her wedding. They'd had very little time to prepare, since Robb wanted to be married before they set out on the road again. Naeva had to admit her mother had done a pretty excellent job preparing the wedding on such short notice. It was going to be small, but Naeva didn't care about any of that.

There were several women buzzing around her as they got her ready for the wedding. One was going to work on her hair, the other readying her wedding dress. Another woman was dabbing her neck with perfume. Across from her, Naeva's sister Natalie was sitting in a chair watching her with a sad smile. Naeva called for two chairs and they were brought immediately. She sat in one, and beckoned Natalie to come and sit next to her in the other one.

Natalie walked over and sat next to her sister, and Naeva extended her hand to hold her sister's hand. "Why do you look so sad?" She asked her sister as people continued to fuss over her.

Natalie looked at the ground shyly before speaking. "I'm just being foolish." She responded. "I'm going to miss you." Her sister finally said, the same sad smile on her face.

"You're coming with me, though!" Naeva responded. Both her parents, her sister and brother were coming with her when she left. Her uncle was being left in charge of the keep.

"I know." Natalie responded. "But it won't be the same anymore. You're going to be a queen."

"I will always be your sister." Naeva responded. "No matter if I'm a queen or not." She squeezed her sister's hand reassuringly. "You don't need to worry. You're going to be part of my court!"

Natalie nodded, some of the sad expression disappearing from her face.

"Now, you should start getting ready! I still haven't seen the dress you told me you were wearing."

Natalie nodded and stood, and went to fetch her dress. Naeva was glad her family was coming with her. But she was worried as well. When the announcement had been made that Naeva and Robb were going to marry, almost all of the Frey's had left Robb's host, including Robb's squire. Now that her brother was almost 12, it had been decided that he would be Robb's new squire.

Her family was slowly becoming more and more involved in this war, and she knew it was only a matter of time before something tragic happened.

Don't think like that. She scolded herself. Today is your wedding day. Today is a happy day.

Her mother had been thrilled when Robb had asked for her parents' permission to wed Naeva. As for her father, he wasn't as happy. Her father wasn't nearly as ambitious as her mother, and Naeva had a feeling he would have just rather had Naeva wed a small lord and live out her life peacefully and happily. But he agreed, nonetheless, and so today Naeva would be married.

One of the women helping her dress beckoned Naeva from her chair and began putting her dress on her. The dress was a deep purple, with beautiful patterning down the front and on the sleeves. The seamstresses had had very little time to make the dress for her, but it was stunning. By the time it was fully on her, Naeva could hardly believe how wonderful it looked. The women around her began to arrange the curls of her hair around her face, while another woman began braiding part of her hair back. When it was done, there would be two braids on each side of her head, and they would meet in the back of her head.

As she stared at her reflection, she realized that after today her life would be dramatically different. It would be her duty to bring an heir into the world for Robb. And people would look up to her, she would be a leader. It was a terrifying thought and an exciting thought at the same time.

She turned her head when the door opened to her room, and both her sister and mother walked in. Her sister was fully dressed now as well, and it seemed as though she had perked up since she had seen her last. "You look beautiful." Naeva told her sister immediately as she walked in.

"Me? Look at you!" Her sister replied, to which Naeva only smiled.

"Your fiancé is rather impatient." Her mother reported as she walked into the room. But her tone was good humored and for the first time in a long time Naeva felt like her mother seemed genuinely happy. "He's been trying to sneak in to see you for some time now." Her mother continued. "I sent him away. It's bad luck to see the bride before the wedding."

Naeva shook her head and laughed. She had a feeling Robb could care less about old superstitions.

"Everything is almost ready. We'll start soon." Her mother reported as she walked to her daughters side. "Everything is going to change." She told her daughter.

"I know." Naeva replied. "I'm ready."

Her mother nodded in response. "I hope so."

The sun was just beginning to set when the wedding began. At Naeva and Robb's request, the ceremony would not take place in the Sept, but instead in the Godswood before the Weirwood.

Naeva nervously patted down her dress as she prepared to walk down the aisle.

"You look fine." Her father told her.

She looked to her father and he smiled reassuringly. Naeva took in a deep breath and took her father's arm. They began to walk through the forest to where the ceremony would be taking place.

Her mother had done a wonderful job with so little time. The aisle was lined with small braziers, and on either side of the short aisle were seats for the small amount of people. There were white flowers wrapped around the braziers, which seemed to glow combined with the fading sunlight and the light from the braziers. The whole aisle was covered in white flower petals, and the scene seemed almost otherworldly.

Down the aisle stood Robb. Upon seeing him, Naeva felt her heartbeat quicken with nervous excitement. She was aware of the gazes of many people on her and she glanced at the ground nervously.

"Look up." Her father whispered to her. "You're about to be a queen."

Naeva immediately responded to his words, and lifted her head. She inhaled deeply to calm her nerves, and began the long walk down the aisle.

The guests were all looking at her, but she was only looking ahead at Robb. Their eyes met, and he smiled softly at her. She felt some of her nerves ease with his smile, but she was still trembling slightly. After what seemed like forever, they were finally before the Weirwood. Naeva hugged her father, and then stepped forward to stand across from Robb.

He was wearing his best, and looked handsome as always. He took both of her hands in his and smiled reassuringly. "You look beautiful." He whispered to her. Naeva was too nervous to speak, and only managed a nervous smile in return.

There was still a septon present at their wedding, and he stepped forward now to begin the ceremony.

"We are gathered here today as witnesses to the union between the King in the North, Robb of the house Stark, to the Lady Naeva, of house Fortescue. Here, in the sight of Gods and men, these two will become one.

"Do you, Robb Stark, take the Lady Naeva Fortescue to be your wife?"

"I do." Robb replied.

"Do you, Naeva Fortescue, take Robb Stark, King in the North, King of the Trident, and Lord of Winterfell, to be your husband?"

"I do." Naeva was surprised at the confidence in her voice. She had half expected herself to squeak the words out.

"Your grace, you may now cloak the bride, and bring her under your protection."

Robb placed the cloak around Naeva's shoulders. Gray and white, with the Direwolf of house Stark stitched into the back of it. The cloak itself was gray, the fur lining it was white as snow. As the cloth settled on her skin, she smiled and met eyes with Robb.

"Now, here before the Seven, and the Old Gods, say the words."

Naeva had rehearsed the words, but there had really been no need. She had been to enough weddings to know exactly what she was meant to say.

"Father, Smith, Warrior, Mother, Maid, Crone, Stranger. I am his, and he is mine. From this day, until my last day."

Robb said the words as she did, and Naeva felt a warm glow in her chest. She couldn't have hid her happiness from showing on her face even if she had wanted to.

"The words have been spoken! They have been said before the Weirwood, anm ,mmd the Old Gods have witnessed this union. And I, the eyes of the Seven, have seen it. By the power vested in me, I now proclaim you husband and wife. My King, you may now kiss your bride."

AIDEN

Aiden took another sip of ale from his mug, and kept one eye trained on the goings-on of the party around him. Those in attendance were enjoying the festivities of the wedding, and at the head of it all was King Robb, and his new queen. She looked radiant, and it was easy for Aiden to see why King Robb had fallen for her. Aiden himself had been taken aback by her beauty the first time he saw her, but he couldn't quite grasp the logic behind the King in the North's decision making. Aiden had no doubt that this blonde beauty was much better looking than any of the Frey women that Robb was supposed to marry, but he couldn't help feeling that a beautiful wife wasn't worth the thousands of troops that they had just lost.

But, as a member of the King's personal guard, it wasn't really in his best interest to question the King's decision making. But as he took another sip of his drink, he couldn't help but to notice that the King's lords seemed to be in deep discussion. He couldn't imagine that they were too happy with his decision. And by the way they were talking and glancing at the new bride, he had a feeling he was right.

But now wasn't really the time to be worrying about that. Right now, there was a feast to enjoy. He took several gulps from his mug, and turned to Cadby and Marlon, who were already quite drunk. He clanked mugs with them cheerily, and tried to ignore the bad feeling he was starting to develop in the pit of his stomach.

He had hardly finished off his ale when a barmaid came up to him and tapped him on the shoulder. He turned to look at her, and as he turned his head he felt the slight spin from beginning to feel the ale he had been chugging through the feast.

"The King requests your presence, ser." She said to him simply before she walked away.

Well, shit. Aiden thought. Of course he wants to see me after I'm already drunk. Aiden stood up from his seat, and felt the world spin again.

Seven hells. He thought bitterly.

After he gained his bearings, Aiden walked up towards the main table, doing his best to walk in a straight line and not stumble. Eventually, after running into several people and steadying himself on a few shoulders, Aiden made it up to the head table.

"My King. My Queen." He mumbled out as clearly as he could, dipping his head to the young wolf and then to the woman beside him.

As he looked up, Aiden took a moment to study his queen. He felt his heartbeat quicken as he looked at her, and he kicked himself mentally. She is your queen, you fool. Don't look at her that way.

But it was hard not to. With flowing blonde hair that fell in soft ringlets down her back and skin as fair as milk, she truly looked like the embodiment of the Maid. Her eyes were a bright green, and reminded him of the start of summer. Her wedding dress did wonders for her body, and didn't hold back on any of her assets. It made complete sense to Aiden why the King had decided to marry this girl over the Frey girl.

"This is the man I was telling you about, Naeva." King Robb said to his wife. "He saved my life outside of Lannisport. I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for him."

Aiden was taken aback by the King's praise, especially to hear that he was telling the new queen about him.

"You must be a fantastic swordsman, Aiden. My husband speaks so highly of you. I must thank you for being there for him in that battle. I owe you a debt." The Queen spoke to him, and Aiden felt his heartbeat quicken even faster at her praise.

"My Queen," Aiden began, trying desperately not to slur his words. "It was my honor to protect my king."

The Queen nodded in approval at his words, and turned to look at her husband. The King met her gaze for a moment before speaking.

"Aiden, I trust you with my life. But now I'm going to trust you with something I value even more than my own life. We have a long march ahead. We've already been ambushed once. My wife will be with us on the journey back to Riverrun. I want you to be the head of her Queensguard for the journey to riverrun. Once we're back there, I will take you back into my personal guard."

Aiden felt his mouth fall open, dumbfounded, and had to remind himself mentally to close his mouth again. Head of the Queensguard? It would be his sole job to make sure that this woman stayed alive, no matter what. King Robb was trusting him with this job. He could hardly believe his ears. Wasn't there someone more qualified? Surely there is. But he trusts me. Aiden realized. He looked up to make eye contact with the Queen, who was looking at him expectantly. Aiden stayed silent for another moment, and then finally found his ability to speak again.

"It would be an honor, my Queen." Aiden said, stumbling over his words.

"It's an honor to have such a brave warrior defending me." She replied. As she said the words, she reached over and took her husband's hand.

King Robb met his Queen's eyes for a moment before looking back at Aiden. "Thank you, Aiden. Now, go enjoy the rest of the feast."

Aiden bowed in response, and righted himself as he stumbled slightly when he stood up. With that, the King and Queen began talking again, and Aiden walked back over to his seat, where Cadby and Marlon were waiting wide-eyed.

"What in seven hells just happened?" Marlon exclaimed.

Aiden plopped down at the table, grabbed a mug full of ale, and clanked mugs with the other two men. "A toast!" He declared. "To myself, the new head of the Queensguard for the journey to Riverrun."

….

ROBB

Robb was feeling decently drunk when he and his new wife made it back to their room that they now stayed in together. He had fore-gone the bedding ceremony. The thought of other men undressing his wife had made his blood run hot, so he elected to abandon that part of the tradition.

He opened the door to their room for Naeva, and gave her a dramatic bow. "My Queen." He declared as he bowed. Naeva laughed in response and walked into the room, a smile still on her face as Robb shut the door behind them.

He watched as she walked into the center of the room, and then turned to face him. Her cheeks were flushed from the wine she had been drinking, and her hair was no longer in the perfect ringlets it had been in during their wedding, but he didn't care. He could hardly believe that he was looking on her as his wife. His chest filled with warmth at the thought, and he felt the warmth spread into his face and become an almost boyish smile as he looked at her. She tilted her head sideways and returned his smile with one of her own, and giggled just slightly as she did so.

"What are you looking at?" She asked him, the smile still on her face.

Robb crossed the room to her and placed his hands on her hips. He lifted one hand to her face, and pushed her hair over her shoulder, and then leaned forward to kiss her forehead. He pulled away from her, and met her fiery green eyes as she looked up at him. "I'm looking at you, my love." He responded. Then he leaned forward to kiss her nose, and then her cheek, and then her lips.

He pulled her toward him so that there was no distance between them, and Naeva giggled slightly as he did so. He felt himself grinning like a fool, but he couldn't help it. He couldn't recall a time when he had ever been happier. He kissed her again, and again, and again, until his head was filled with clouds. He felt the gentle tug of her pulling on the strings on his doublet, and he returned the favor by tugging the strings on her dress loose.

…

A/N: And there's chapter seven! Now it's off to Riverrun after this! Please, R&R!