Thank you for reading. I really appreciate the time you take to read my stories.
Elaena's fears came true the next morning when she awoke to an empty bed. Jaime must have snuck out at some point during the night. A handmaiden was already making herself look busy around the chambers, warming a bath. Elaena silently stepped into the warm water as the handmaiden helped her wash her hair. She felt oddly sick. Part of her wanted to get to know this handmaiden, to extend her friendship but then she remembered Sara and her words caught in her throat. Once she was finished her bath, the handmaiden helped her dry her hair before styling it. She opted for a simple braid, with the majority of her hair falling down her back in a wavy fashion. Elaena's dress for the wedding was grey to represent her house, with full sleeves and lace embroidery. Once she was ready, she made her way along to her Uncle's chambers. Most of the house was there waiting. Robb looked dashing, dressed in his furs even though he was probably sweating like crazy. Arya had been forced into a dress and she looked extremely uncomfortable. The dress was a deep blue and suited her, although she seemed to have pulled all of her hair out of its style. Sansa was absent, most likely spending her time with Joffrey or his mother as was the norm these days.
"Where's Jon?" Elaena asked her Uncle, who was pulling on his shoes.
"Most likely in the Throne Room, preparing himself for the wedding."
"Or he's on the Throne, crapping himself about his wedding." Robb muttered as Arya started sniggering. Ned shot him a glance with a raised eyebrow. Robb's eyes hit the floor, but a smirk still adorned his face. Ned had firm words for them all.
"I want everyone to be on their best behaviour today. We represent House Stark today. We represent the North. Once it gets to the feast, feel free to be as rowdy or as funny as you want to be, within reason, but during this wedding, please try and maintain yourselves. I'm counting on all three of you." They all nodded their agreement. When they reached the Throne room, it was already half filled. Sansa was sat with Joffrey up front, as Ned moved the rest of the Starks into the seats behind them. Elaena sat herself at the very end of the row, so that she could get the best view of Jon when he finally appeared. The Tyrells were sat on the other side of the hall, an older woman kept looking at Elaena curiously, a small smile playing on her lips. Loras was sat next to her and Elaena couldn't help but feel nervous, she hadn't come across him since that whole fiasco at the Tourney. Elaena finally caught sight of Jon standing at the front of the hall. His hair had been trimmed and was styled away from his face. Gods, it almost looked tidy! He was dressed in Stark colours, a robe with a Stark sigil wrapped around his shoulders. Once everyone was gathered, the Septon began reciting some text before the doors at the back of the room opened. Everyone's heads tilted to look down the aisle to see Margaery. Her dress was lily white with roses spilling from the chest around to the base of her back and down the back of the dress. Her father, Mace, was at her side as he led her up the aisle to meet Jon. Elaena could see the telltale signs that Jon was nervous, he was tapping the side of his leg with one hand and rubbing the material of the cloak with the other. The ceremony was long and repetitive. The kiss between Jon and Margaery lasted longer than most would have expected, but created a loud cheer from both sides of the family. Feasting was to take place immediately afterward and would last into late in the day. Jon and Margaery found themselves sitting alongside the Royal family during the feast. Ned sat up alongside the small council leaving Robb, Elaena and Arya to their own devices.
"Where's Ser Jaime?" Arya teased, pulling at her dress as though it was suffocating her.
"Around somewhere I'd imagin-" Elaena started before Robb cut over her.
"He's over there, with his brother. Although, you probably can't see his brother from where you're sat." Robb commented. Elaena craned her neck and caught sight of Jaime, swigging heartily from a goblet. Her prayers definitely had not worked.
"I want to go and talk to the imp." Arya shouted and before Robb could grab a grip on her, she was off like a shot towards where Tyrion was stood. Elaena sunk into her seat, wishing the ground would swallow her whole. Robb looked ready to head over in that direction until it became apparent that Tyrion and Jaime were coming over to join them. What on earth had Arya said?
"Apparently, this is where the 'party' is." Tyrion commented as he flung a stumpy leg over the bench. Jaime placed himself next to him and it was crazy seeing them sat together, how different they looked.
"It doesn't look like much of a party." Jaime commented.
"That's why I've brought this, dear brother." Tyrion commented, placing a large bottle of summerwine down on the table in front of them, goblets resting over the top of it. Arya looked nervously at the wine as though she was going to be forced to drink and darted off to go and amuse herself with Tommen. Robb grabbed the goblets, handing one to Elaena. Tyrion started to pour the wine.
"I have a game I like to play. I'll talk about you, if I get it right – you drink. If I get it wrong – I drink. Fair?" Tyrion was eyeing up Robb who seemed game to take on the challenge. Elaena watched on as Tyrion got himself comfortable at the table.
"You are the son of Lord Eddard and Lady Catelyn." Robb looked at him suspiciously, everyone knew that. "I'm just testing the parameters. Drink please." Robb took a small sip. "You are jealous of one of your siblings?" Tyrion commented, Robb drank. Elaena looked on surprisingly. "Your younger brother has more favour with your mother?" Robb drank again. Elaena knew this well, everyone knew that Catelyn considered Bran her 'special' boy, everyone in the family that is. "You're also jealous of Jon's marriage." Robb drank once more. "You're scared Jon might succeed Winterfell." He drank. "You wanted to marry Elaena?" Robb looked outraged and shook his head.
"Drink." He muttered. Tyrion took a sip.
"You're worried about Elaena marrying into the Lannister family." Robb took a drink before slamming his cup back onto the table, it was empty. Tyrion topped it up halfway. "Speaking of the Lady Elaena, let's not leave you out." Elaena readied her goblet, relatively worried about what Tyrion would ask her. "You're the daughter of Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark." Elaena drank slightly, she was aware of Jaime's eyes burning into her. "You didn't want your brother to marry." She drank. "But you're not too bothered about having to marry yourself." She drank, keeping her eyes away from Jaime. "What else, what else." Tyrion was tapping his chin, looking at Elaena curiously. "The King frightens you, sometimes you think that he mistakes you for your mother." She drank deeply. "You-" Tyrion started but his words caught in his throat as Jon and Margaery appeared at the edge of the table, making their rounds amongst the guests. Jon's hand was resting lightly on the small of Margaery's back, causing Robb and Elaena to share a glance.
"Thank you all for coming." Margaery smiled as she exchanged her pleasantries.
"Well, we weren't going to bother but-" Robb started, Elaena quickly shoved his shoulder.
"It's a pleasure to be here Lady Margaery. Welcome to the family." Elaena smiled in unison with Jon. Their visit was fleeting, they had a lot of tables to get to.
"It's very curious that your brother doesn't share your eyes." Tyrion commented, sipping from his goblet.
"Well you don't share your brother's – stature." Robb commented, trying not to sound harsh. Tyrion pointed at Robb as though he'd hit on a good point.
"True, but Jaime is not my twin brother. I totally understand that twins can have differences, I just find it very curious how similar Elaena looks to her mother and then her eyes are just so outright Targaryen."
"Ignore my brother, he enjoys pointing out curiosities and making people squirm. It's a talent of his." Jaime and Tyrion started bickering as Robb watched on amused. Elaena's attention had been diverted by Sansa who was walking away from the high table, seemingly wiping her eyes.
"Excuse me a moment." Elaena muttered, quickly lifting herself from the table and following Sansa back into the hallways of the Keep. "Sansa!" Elaena said, as she followed her down the corridor. She didn't appear to be slowing down anytime soon. After she'd rounded a couple of corners, she found her curled up in an alcove, crying lightly. "Sansa, what's the matter? Is it Joffrey?" Sansa looked at Elaena with fire in her eyes.
"No." She growled, rubbing her eyes with the back of her hands. "I heard Cersei talking to Tywin. Talking about how she wanted you to marry Joffrey." Elaena sighed, trying to calm Sansa down.
"The King has decided that you are to marry Joffrey. It doesn't matter what Cersei wants. You are betrothed to the Crown Prince. I am betrothed to Ser Jaime."
"So you don't want to marry Joffrey?" Sansa sobbed, pushing her hair from her face. Elaena didn't want Sansa marrying Joffrey, never mind marrying him herself but she couldn't tell her that.
"Of course not!" Elaena laughed, helping Sansa to her feet. "Now dry your eyes silly girl, and go and show the Queen just how lucky Joffrey is to have you." As Sansa and Elaena parted ways, Elaena set about making her way back over to Robb. He wasn't sat where she had left him, none of them were. Placing herself back at the table, she found her goblet once more and poured the remainder of the summerwine into it. Sipping the wine from the goblet, she was startled when someone rested their hand on her shoulder, before sliding in alongside her.
Loras Tyrell.
A smile was playing on his lips as he rested his hand on her goblet, taking it from her and taking a sip himself.
"Lady Elaena." He smiled, trailing his tongue across his bottom lip to capture the droplets of wine that resided there.
"Ser Loras." Elaena exchanged the pleasantries.
"Where is Ser Jaime? I would have thought he had learned better by now of leaving you by yourself." Elaena couldn't help but feel like he was mocking her. Before Elaena had a chance to answer, she could see Lord Tywin craning a look at her and her company. His lip curled lightly at the sight of Loras and he started making his way over in their direction.
"I'm sure Lord Tywin will tell us where Ser Jaime is." Elaena smiled as Tywin reached the table.
"Excuse me, Ser Loras. May I borrow the Lady Elaena for a moment?" Elaena entwined her arm with Tywin's as he directed her towards the wall that overlooked the sea. "What do you think of the wedding?" He asked her as they skirted past the walls.
"It's a lovely affair." Elaena smiled, as Tywin looked out towards the sea.
"The Tyrells have set the benchmark." Tywin commented as though it was a competition. "Cersei will arrange with Robert for Jaime and yourself to marry in the Sept of Baelor, not in some Throne Room. I will deal with the rest. The marriage will take place ten days from now." Elaena's heart was racing in her chest. Ten days. That wasn't a long time. It wasn't a long time at all. "I've already spoken to Jaime about it, and he's agreed that it is enough time to get everything in order." Tywin looked back over to the table where Loras had been sat, and seemed satisfied that he was long gone. "I'll let you get back to the festivities."
Jaime had wandered away from Robb and Tyrion who were having some sort of hushed conversation about 'curiosities'. Jaime had little time for curiosities. Sitting himself in the sun, Jaime tilted his head back letting the warmth spread through him. Ten days. He only had his freedom for ten more days.
"I hope I'm not interrupting." Elaena had sat herself down at the table, a bottle of wine in her hand alongside two goblets.
"I never complain when there is wine and beautiful women involved." He sat himself back up, reaching to uncork the bottle. "How about we play our own little version of Tyrion's game? We'll take it in turns." Elaena shrugged. Why not?
"So, we say something that we think about the other? If we're right, they drink?" Jaime nodded.
"Exactly. Right, you're a virgin." Elaena nearly choked into her drink, before taking a sip. "Hey, I've got my priorities right."
"You're a virgin." Elaena commented. Surely he had to be, he'd been Kingsguard as long as Elaena had been alive.
"Drink again, little one." Elaena narrowed her eyes as Jaime laughed. She drank.
"You don't want to get married." Jaime smirked, holding his drink lightly.
"Drink." Elaena muttered, shocking Jaime. She was at a point now where she had grown used to it, there was no point in her kicking her feet.
"Why did you leave my room so early this morning?" Elaena asked, randomly. Jaime waggled his finger.
"Tsk, tsk. That's not how the game works."
"You left my room this morning because you didn't want to be there." She said.
"You're not very good at this game. Drink." He motioned and she drank. "I left because your handmaiden was knocking at the door. Thankfully for me, your brother was out of his room next door so I didn't shock him when I climbed across the balcony." Jaime smirked with a twinkle in his eyes.
"I hope you dressed yourself before breaking into my brother's chambers."
"I'm relatively good at keeping my clothes on, Lady Elaena. The same cannot be said…" He started. Elaena immediately hushed him.
"You're making me sound like a whore. It was warm okay!" She whispered quickly as Jaime burst into laughter.
"You're so easy to wind up." Jaime smirked, Elaena felt herself blushing as Jaime's hand brushed across her kneecap on top of her dress. His hand stayed there, his fingers extending, rubbing her knee reassuringly.
"I hope you don't keep up this behaviour for the entirety of our marriage. I might end up killing you."
"I wouldn't jest about those things Elaena, stranger things have happened." Elaena went to slap his hand, to get him to quit joking around but his hand enveloped hers, encasing it. His other hand found its way under the table as he held her one hand in both of his. "They'll be starting the bedding ceremony soon I'd imagine." Jaime finally broke the silence. Elaena shook her head.
"I doubt it. The Tyrell's will not stand for it." Jaime weighed up her response.
"But it's a vital part of tradition!" He moaned, Elaena looked at him eyebrows raised.
"We're not having a bedding ceremony." She said simply. There was no way on this Earth that she was going to allow the men of the Kingdom to strip her and analyse her body as they carried her to Jaime's chambers. She was nervous enough about being naked in front of Jaime let alone in front of the entire Kingdom.
"I think you'll find we are. I want to be stripped by the women of King's Landing!" Jaime protested as Elaena looked at him pleadingly. "I'm joking Elaena, live a little." He smiled. "Do you think Tywin Lannister would want his son and future daughter paraded around naked? Do you think Robert Baratheon would want Lyanna's living image stripped bare? Actually don't answer that!" Elaena slapped his hand under the table.
"Stop it." She hissed. Her eyes immediately sought out Robert who was sat at a table not too far aware. His face was bright red from the wine he had been consuming in mass, his beard was full of food and his hands were all over the serving girls. Elaena's skin started to crawl, she shuddered lightly.
"I didn't mean to upset you. Let me make it up to you – would you like to dance?" Jaime asked, holding out a hand. Elaena immediately put her head down.
"Ah, I'm not very good at dancing." Jaime ignored her protest, grabbing her hand and leading her from their table.
"You're going to have to get used to it!" He smirked as they joined the rest of the couples who were already on their feet.
Thank you for reading my stories, I really appreciate it!
All my love,
~Sapph
