279 AC
Am I?
Rickard had been compelled to reintroduce Ellena, as a grown woman now, to his vassal lords. Taking her from table to table, Cassel, Glover, Karstark, Umber, Flint – she lost count once they reach the Hornwood brother's, smiling politely. Ellena knew all too well what her father was up to, he had not exactly been subtle in his showcasing of her.
They stopped to speak with the Knight and heir to White Harbour, Ser Wendel Manderly. Ellena was not particularly attracted to the tall man but did her role to show her father she'd comply. Her mind slowly brought forward thoughts of being hauled up in a Keep during the winter and Northern cold, as she had done so all her life, and having to ask her husband for permission to do anything. There would be no change to her circumstance, she would just be passed from father to husband, alone and away from her family.
There was roaring from a table a few strides away from them and Ellena pulled herself from the conversation with Ser Wendel, Brandon had his hand on Barbrey's behind and had slapped her playfully as she walked away from him. Rickard pursed his lips, annoyed at his son's drunken behaviour and left Ellena to speak with Wendel.
"Your brother is a wild one," Wendel laughed moving over the bench to give Ellena space to sit. Ellena sat down reluctantly, watching Rickard as he scolded Brandon for his behaviour. "Your father tells me you are to be legitimised."
"Yes, as soon as the King finds time for it of course," Ellena smiled politely.
Wendel laughed, "the King is busy finding a wife for his own son," he raised one brow. Ellena, he was speaking of the obvious fact that Rickard had intended on them seeing if they liked each other for marriage.
"Have they not yet found a woman for him?" Ellena asked, the last she had heard of the royal family – Lyanna's good father to be, Steffon Baratheon, had journeyed to the Free Cities to find a wife of Valyrian blood for the Prince. Granted
"No," Wendel shook his head, "it's said no one is good enough for him."
"Well, it's not like he'll be getting any younger," Ellena pointed out, earning a chuckle from Wendel.
They got along well enough, their conversation pleasant but Wendel was not one for flirting and Ellena was not one to beg a man to pay her compliments – even if she fed off of them from time to time.
"I am not one for pretty words or have a pretty face to attract you by my lady," Wendel had told her sometime in their conversation sensing her tone faltering as she grew bored. Ellena did not know how to respond and simply nodded her head, pursing her lips as Wendel went on to describe how White Harbour, the only city in the North, had prospered in the last few years.
As they talked the musicians around the room stopped their sweet songs and the talk quietened. Rickard ushered his children back to the high table, to which Ellena bowed once to Wendel and walked away, sitting herself at her seat. Ned sat next to her, taking the place Brandon had occupied, Lyanna on her other side, Brandon next to their father and Benjen by Brandon's side.
"My lords," Rickard's voice boomed in the quiet room, there was a chorus of cheers and applause.
He has not even said anything, Ellena thought to herself, rolling her eyes at the excitable men.
"My ladies," Rickard lowered his head, and Ellena joined in to clap for him. "Thank you for joining my family and I during this very happy time. My son Brandon is now a man grown and has come back to live with us at Winterfell. Thank you, my Lord Dustin, for his wardship, I'm sure he gave you much trouble," he laughed as Lord Dustin held his hand up in innocence, remembering the times Brandon and his son had caused him sleepless nights. "My second son, Eddard, Ned, has come from the Vale to visit us – and he has grown. You don't have to hide your daughters and nieces just yet, he's quite shy," Rickard roared in laughter, the room erupting at the jab. Ned turned beet red and Ellena patted his back in a comforting manner, trying to stifle her own laughter. "My third will be a Knight one day, protecting the realm for all his days," Benjen puffed his chest proudly at his father's acknowledgement. "My daughters, well, Ellena is yet to be betrothed," she didn't know if that was a threat or a hint, "and of course."
There was the humming of footsteps in the room, with the yellow and black Baratheon banners being brought in from the doors and placed down by the lords' table.
"Though they cannot join us, they are here in spirit," Rickard mentioned for Lyanna to stand up, and she did, half-heartedly. "My youngest daughter, Lyanna, is hereby officially betrothed to the Lord Paramount of the Stormlands, Lord of Storms End, Lord Robert Baratheon," there was cheering and chanting in the room.
Lyanna was pushed around by her brothers as their father retreated from the table to mingle once more and she brushed them all off, not wanting to think of the idea of marriage just yet.
Ellena leant her elbows on the table, laughing as Lyanna finally got her vengeance on Benjen in their father's absence and spilt a cup of ale on his breeches – making the boy look as if he had wet himself.
"Lyanna!" Benjen cried out, standing from the bench and shoving his sister as he did so.
"Should've kept your mouth shut, I'll ring your head in next time," Lyanna snickered, giving Benjen a pointed look as he left the Great Hall to change.
"That was cruel," Ellena pouted, patting her sister's hair.
Lyanna lent her head closer to Ellena, "he deserved it," she sighed enjoying the feel of foreign hands on her head. Something about it sent tingles all over her scalp and soothed her.
They both sat like that as the night continued on, uninterested in the brawling men or chittering women of the feast, wanting only to observe their Northern friends from afar. Lyanna had refused the young sons of lords who had come to ask her of dance, and Ellena had jested they were far too young for her.
The older Lord Umber staggered to the two girls and asked Ellena for a dance, but before she could even respond to the gruff voice of Brandon sounded from beside them. "Go back to your seat old man," Brandon laughed, leaning his elbows on the table and facing away from the table.
"A protective brother!" Lord Umber drunkenly exclaimed, holding his hands up in innocence and stepping away.
Lyanna laughed, picking her head up and following the older lord. "I shall dance with you, my lord." Lord Umber happily took her hand and led her to the dancing space, Lyanna was far too energetic for the man and eventually moved onto the tall son of Lord Flint, finding him a better partner.
Brandon sighed from beside Ellena, she had tried to ignore his presence, still unhappy with his earlier behaviour. He pouted, sensing her anger and placed his on her shoulder. The ale he had practically inhaled throughout the night had caused blood to rush around his body, helping him forget their earlier encounter. "Ellena," he muttered, having missed her far too much to control himself any longer.
Letters could only do so much for a man, and he had slowly begun to call out her name when he would visit the whores of Barrowton. Never around Barbrey though, she'd surely find a way to bring it back to Rickard and try to turn it into a way for Brandon to marry her.
Brandon wanted to damn all those in the Great Hall, push the food on the table aside and take her right there and then, but couldn't. Even with his famed wolfs-blood, he knew better. Firstly, they'd both be exiled, if they were lucky, for the sin of laying with one's sibling and secondly, Rickard would implode at the sight.
He called her once more, "Ellena."
"What?" Ellena eventually responded to his call, her voice sending all sorts of chills down his spine.
...
A short chapter this week/today? Sorry I've been feeling so out of it recently. I gained 6 kgs during lockdown and now none of my clothes fit plus even my uNDERWEAR is rolling down my new stomach. I will say I will exercise and eat well to burn it off ... but idk man I'm very comfortable in this beeddd. even moved my bike into my room to try and get myself to move while watching shows nope lol now I just hit my shoulder on it when I go to sit on my bed smhddddd
anywho - hope you enjoyed, sorry for my rant. happy weekend!