Everyone is in their best woolen garb, from the Clegane's on down to serving girls their bodices whitened their woolen over dresses stain free, stable boys who's high leather boots cleaned and shined, Maester Obyrt in new grey's, the metals of his chain even sparkling, Culla and all the kitchen help in their best aprons a bright white, the men and women at arms, their armor cleaned and polished their cloaks clean as well . It took me a few minutes to see everyone wore either yellow or grey, ( with exception the soldiers ), those who chose grey wear Ice Ferns of yellow, those who wear yellow wear the flowers of Dewmist . It warms me that our people honor my daughter so . Wedding are not so long here in the North, our celebration afterwards, well, that is a different story .
The dragons ward the skies above us, men and women still walk the walls, ever vigilant . Those that ward us during the festivities will be rewarded by two days off the next work cycle instead of just one .
This wedding is for show, Anjelae and Landon as per their request and the way of the North, asked instead to be married in the Godswood at dawn . Sansa urged Ned to do the same and they did . They will marry in front of all in Winterfell for the people . My Lord husband and I are confident that when our time is done here that Winterfell and the North are in good hands .
I gather my layers and start first with my tunic, then a quilt padded Ser coat, then my mail, then plate armor . All over leather riding breeches and thigh high, hard soled boots . I strap on my side sword, my dagger and a few more blades secreted amid my person . I will not be caught unaware . My Lady wife attaches my Stark grey cloak with a yellow liner, to my shoulders . Lastly, my Great Sword, Bane across my back .
I help Sandor attach his cloak and watch as he straps Bane about his back . He is still virile and handsome after many wedded years in my eyes . His back straight, eyes clear . I watch as he opens the box to Anjelae's wedding gift .
As if on cue she knocks and peeps in , Sandor says, " Come daughter, your mother and I have something for you ." In she steps and she is radiant . Her hair in a single herringbone braid down her back . She chooses a vivid yellow dress with sweeping sleeves with inserts that are black in honor of her Lord father . He bids her turn around and he places the jewels about her neck and fumbles with the clasp in his large hands for a few moments then secures it around her . She peers into the looking glass at her reflection and her eyes light up .
" Father, mother, thank you, they are beautiful ! " " No more than the wearer ", Sandor says . I go to my wardrobe and pull her wedding cloak from it's confines . " This is for you to wear but once, daughter ." Sandor and I place it on her shoulders jointly . " He puts his hands on her shoulders and asks, " Are you ready child ? "
" Do you have the ring ? "
" Yes . " I say, as I hold the ring for her husband in my gloved hand .
" Father ? " Yes daughter, I have yours from him . " Can I see it ? " No, you can wait a bit longer I think ", he says with a wink .
Sandor put his gloves and gauntlets on and picks up Ice . We start our descent to the wedding site . It is filled to capacity, not a bare spot to be seen large enough to contain a standing person . The wonderful smells in the air courtesy of Cull and her helpers make ones mouth water . We see both intendeds in their finery . Landon in his Captain's armor, from sabaton to cuisse to his gorget it all gleams, his great helm rests in the crook of his arm . He wears a Stark grey cloak trimmed in black fur, the lining is also blacked .
Our son Ned stands proud in his armor as well, his cloak the yellow and grey of the North's crest . We parents greet each other quietly, our respective daughters, the young women between her parents . I see many familiar faces, from near and far, some I haven't seen since we repelled the others and their spawn .
My namesake wears a dress of Lannister red with gold inserts and a cloak of black . Her hair also in a single braid down her back . her parents have gifted her with a garnet necklace . Parents look to their daughters then to each other and we proceed to the waiting intendeds
We stand atop the raised area and each presents the woman to the man . Sandor places ice between the two couples, four hands hold the hilt and four hands hold the cross guard, one for each parent and child .
" .Who from Winterfell and the North give this woman to wife ? " As one, every voice of Winterfell and the North say, We do . " " Who speaks for the groom to give say ? " And again every voice of the people say as one, " We do ." Sandor says, " Do you Captain Landon Winterfell, man at arms, man of the North take unto thee, Anjelae Clegane, daughter of their Graces' Sansa Stark~Clegane and Lord Sandor Clegane, to wife ? " " To honor and keep, love and protect, to fore sake the beds and flesh of all others save your Lady wife, till death takes thee ? " I do so swear . " He continues to Anjelae, " Do you Anjelae Stark~Clegane, Princess of Winterfell and the North take this man, Landon Winterfell, take unto thee, to love and cherish, to bear him children, to keep his his household, comfort and obey him as your Lord and husband, till death takes thee ? " " I do so swear . "
Lord Tyrion's says, " Eddard Stark~Clegane, Prince of Winterfell and the North, take to you, Sansa Targaryen~Lannister to wife, to honor, love, cherish, respect and fore sake all others, till death takes thee ? " " I do so swear . " " Do you, Sansa Targaryen~Lannister, Princess of Queen's Landing and the South, take to you, Eddard Stark~Clegane as you Lord and husband, to love, cherish, bear him children and keep his household and comfort him till death takes thee ? " " I do so swear ."
We face the gathering people and Sandor says, May I present, my daughter, now Anjelae Clegane~Winterfell and Lord Tyrion says, May I present my daughter, Sansa Lannister~Clegane . To cheers and thrown oats, bread cubes and flowers . We adjourn to the great hall to feast and celebrate .
The respective wedding cloaks are taken to be stowed for another time as the parents relinquish the seats at the head of the main table to their children on this night . Sweet child Jon starts the festivities playing his song for his brother and new sister . Sandor informed Landon and Anjelae that their seat would be Cleganes Keep, once a small tower with bad memories now a great keep, the original laid to waste by my Lord husband and his mount . They will take Winterfell upon both our deaths and the Clegane seat will go to another of our children .
Tyrion and Dany decided against the tower of the hand and instead give Casterly Rock as their new seat . Their baggage wagons left some days ago as did the wagons for Clegane's Keep . On an up note when my husband walked the interior of his former home he went into Gregor's room to piss upon the floor and saw a shimmer from the bottom of a tapestry and upon looking behind he saw a gold coin half showing, using his dagger and an old memory he gained a room stuffed to the brim with his brother's hoard . That gold went to rebuild the Land and our people .
Food is brought out by the tray fulls, all manner of fish and fowl, beef, mutton, greens, mashed, and sweets . Our youngest child has sampled much judging from her face, hands and yes, even her hair . Music and dancing for the young and old and I even got Sandor out to dance, he is surprisingly agile despite his great size . The hours tick by and us four parents decide to make for the solar .
" Four down and one to go for us ." He says with a certain amount of glee . He had a runner to collect the new weds and they come forth . Dany motions for them to come closer and hands an egg first to Anjelae, then to Landon and finally to Ned . She gives them the same instructions Sandor, Tyrion and myself heard all those years ago . The new Dragon Lord's and Lady are beside themselves with excitement and repeat their thanks . They excuse themselves to return to their guests .
I suggest hot drinks for the night is chill and say I to our friends, " Do you remember when our dragon's first hatched... "