Soft eyes flitted across the page as they followed the rushed scratching of a quill. In the background light wailing could be heard. The quill was quickly lowered before the screeching of a chair echoed in the room as the female figure stood and strode over to a wooden bassinet in the corner of the room. Glancing inside the cradle the woman caught her own eyes on a small baby with light lilac eyes overflowing with tears. She carefully picked up the child and began to rock the sweet infant in her arms. As she was calming the child a man entered the solar with soft footsteps. The man crossed the room and embraced both the woman and the child.
"My love, where have you been?"
The woman could feel the man smirking into her hair, "Busy, I'm sorry I have been gone all day." She pulled away and placed a soft kiss on his lips. "I am happy to be back. How's the baby?"
"Torrhen's a bit fussy, but he is very happy to see you."
A female voice brought Myria out of her deep sleep, "M'lady, it's time to get up." She blinked open her eyes and stretched in her bed as Willow opened her curtains. "It's a big day for you." She nodded her head while rolling out of her bed, placing her warm feet on the cool stone of the floor. Myria wanted to close her eyes and slip back into her pleasant dream, but she found the details of said dream slowly leaving her mind as she fully woke up. Willow poured a pitcher of water into a small bowl on her vanity while placing a towel next to it. She shuffled through the small jewelry box as Myria got up from her bed and lazily moved to wash her face. She splashed the warm water onto her face while letting Willow's words float through her mind.
She once thought she would never marry, but she was young then. She had wished to be a warrior like the Dornish Queen, Nymeria. She even had Ser Jaime and Syrio begin to teach her sword play, hoping to one day wield her own family's ancestral blade. It was a foolish thought on her part. Only one Dayne woman had become a Sword of the Morning and it was during the Age of Heroes thousands of years ago when her family members were still the Kings of the Torentine. Myria had never even seen Dawn, at least not that she could remember.
"Are you excited m'lady?"
"Willow, I told you to call me Myria." The handmaiden blushed at her Lady's words.
"Alright, are you excited Myria?"
"Quite excited, but I am still slightly worried. I think most women are." She walked over to the small circular table by her window, grabbing an apple from the bowl in the middle as she sat down in the chair next to it. "I never thought I would end up marrying an honorable man."
"The Starks are quite well known for their honor indeed, but their hearts as well." With Willow's subtle words of comfort she finished her breakfast and let the handmaiden place a soft purple dress over her shift, give her a pair of satin flats, and lightly run a brush through her hair before tying it into a quick bun. Then the two linked arms and exited her room, heading to Lady Stark's chambers to prep her for the ceremony coming up. Once they reached the room Willow knocked softly on the door and waited for it to open. The door creaked open and a wave of red hair swarmed out as Sansa dragged the pair inside giggling like the small child she was.
"Oh Myria, your dress is so beautiful! And mother and I completed the finishing touches last night, I adore your house color. Purple is so lovely, unlike boring grey." Myria thought the girl's enthusiasm was adorable and as she stepped into the room she saw the work her and Lady Catelyn had put into the dress. It was hanging on the wardrobe like a pure white silk waterfall lined on the inside with velvet. Purple stars and silver dire wolves embroidered at the high collared neckline, hem, and long sleeves. She was impressed with the added details the younger girl and her mother sewed onto it, since she and Lady Stark only finished the basic design of the dress on their own.
"Oh it is wonderful thank you Sansa, Lady Stark." The older woman smiled, but shook her head.
"You can call me Catelyn, Myria," She walked over and picked up the dress heading back to the bride. "You will be apart of the family in a few hours." The Dornish woman smiled, took the dress from Catelyn, and tilted her head in agreement. Willow and Myria began to unlace the dress to place it onto her while Sansa fluttered around her mother's vanity trying to piece together the perfect jewelry. As the women helped prepare Myria, Jon was with his brother and Theon in his own room.
The two men were helping him prepare as well, but in a different manner.
"Come on, drink Snow." Robb quirked his eyebrow at Theon.
"He's a Stark now, Theon," The Ironborn scoffed. "Jon I would not drink that, who knows what the hell he put in it."
Jon glanced at the mug in his hand, the liquid inside golden in color with frothy white pieces floating through it. Almost like a mixture of piss and...other shit. The smell of it was atrocious as well, similar to the blossoming scent of death. He passed the mug back to Theon once he was done observing it. "There is no way I am drinking this, what did you even say this was anyway?"
Theon took back the concoction taking a swig of it himself. The other men grimaced and turned away from the sight of their friend consuming the questionable substance. The blonde lad coughed before laughing at the disgusted looks on his friends' faces. "Don't worry," He raised the drink. "It's a little pick-me-up if you need to 'rise' to the occasion."
Jon's grimace widened, "That is disgusting. Why you offer that to me?"
"Jon," Theon patted his shoulder, "It's your wedding night tonight."
"Okay, okay." Robb cut in. "Do not need to hear about that involving my brother."
Theon shrugged and swallowed the rest of the drink placing the mug on the bedside table. Jon sat on his bed while he pondered on the upcoming event. He had barely seen Myria at all during the past week, except when she fought Robb in the yard. He found her skill so impressive and kind of attractive, but he would never admit that out loud. He wondered if she was as nervous as he was. Or if she was excited about the whole situation. He hoped so since she seemed to fit in so well in Winterfell. She found a friend for Bran, played with little Rickon, Sansa and Arya both seemed to enjoy her company, and she could definitely hold her own against Robb and Theon. He wished she honestly enjoyed their company and instead was not using a facade to better her own life.
Jon glanced up as Theon fell onto the bed, bouncing on the mattress. "So Jon, you excited?" He wiggled his eyebrows at the dark haired man. Jon shook his head at his friend's childish antics, while Robb smirked at the two.
"Theon leave him be, he looks like he's about to pass out." Robb patted his brother's arm and Jon gave him a grateful gaze. Robb was correct about his statement. Jon felt like he wanted to throw up, pass out, even just drop dead. He never thought he would be married, he spent most of his life as a bastard until the previous week. Most of the people in Winterfell had suddenly switched from ignoring him to treating him like a high born man. It had been a vast culture shock for him, but he attempted to exist as he always had: in the shadows. He spent most of his time with Robb, Theon, and Ghost anyway so it was not difficult to remain invisible.
His thoughts were broken when the door to his chamber opened. He and the other men turned their heads towards the door to see Eddard Stark standing in the opening of the doorway. The older male smiled at the three cooped up on Jon's bed. The sight gave him flashbacks to when Theon first arrived 10 years ago, when Robb and Jon insisted on sharing a room with the young Greyjoy until he had fully settled into his new life. The boys had been inseparable since.
"As much as you three are having fun, Robb and Theon have other places to be." The two men swiftly rose from the bed and left the room as the lord of Winterfell closed the door behind them, leaving him and his son the only ones in the room. He gave a small grin to the young man while he pulled up a chair to sit in front of Jon. "I'm sure you have questions," Jon shrugged his shoulders at his father's statement. "Well, I am here to answer any you may have."
Jon took in a deep breath, his hand shook as he squeezed out his first question, "Why am I the one marrying Myria?" He looked Ned in the eyes. "I am a bastard, I've always been. Why not Robb?"
"Jon, I am not going to lie to you, King Robert personally wanted you because it would protect Lady Dayne from the Queen's wrath." He watched his son's brow furrowed with confusion.
"The Queen's wrath?"
"Aye, she had tried to send Lady Dayne to the Bolton's for marriage." He watched as Jon tensed. "So Robert wanted to marry her to a bastard to keep the Queen at bay, but I was the one who insisted he legitimize you."
Jon sniffed, "So Myria would not be stuck married to a Snow?"
Ned shook his head, "So you would have a reason to stay," He moved to sit next to his son on the bed. "Benjen told me how much you wanted to leave, but I know your place is here with your family." Jon felt a single tear trail down his face. His father wanted him here, truly wanted him in Winterfell. Ned Stark pulled him into a hug, patting him on the back. Jon clung to his father letting light tears fall from his eyes. The older man was surprised at the reaction, surely Jon knew everyone loved him and wanted him to stay.
Jon pulled away from his father, "Thank you for telling me that father, I really needed to hear it." Ned gave his son a somber smile.
"Once you are married, and before I leave for King's Landing I need to tell you and Myria something else." Jon wondered what else his father would want to say to both of them, probably nothing of importance at the moment.
He gave his father a nod of acknowledgement. Ned then rose from the bed, and motioned for the groom to follow him out of the room. Jon swept up his new wolf fur cloak onto his shoulders while grabbing the grey Stark maiden cloak off of his chair. He walked behind his father down the halls until they reached the outer yard. Ned motioned for Jon to go on ahead of him and once he was stepping into the Godswood he then turned and went back into the castle to retrieve the bride.
Jon walked through the almost silent woods, following the light din of speaking until he came upon the wedding ceremony setup in front of the Weirwood tree. There was a small crowd of people waiting by the tree with the Royal family sitting in chairs while the rest stood or ambled around. There were no decorations at all, just the trees and the Gods to witness. Lady Stark tried to decorate, but Myria had insisted there was no need. She wanted a purely Northern wedding, stating she wanted to know the Old Gods as her Gods. So the only color in the woods was the red hue of the Weirwood leaves floating in the air.
He quickly maneuvered through the people in attendance to stand in front of his family's sacred tree, and waited for the ceremony to begin. While Jon was waiting by the tree he noticed a strange face enter the clearing. A man with dark toned skin with ink black short hair, styled facial hair, and piercing purple eyes. He wore a yellow tunic and a brown fur lined cloak, simply speaking he vastly stood out among the crowd of Northerners and the royal court. The other thing which stood out on the already striking man was the bright purple fabric folded under his left arm. His eyes met Jon's and he quickly slipped through the crowd to approach the slightly younger man.
Jon stood straighter as the man stopped in front of him, "I assume you are the man getting married to my cousin?" The man stated in an extremely thick Dornish accent. Jon nodded his head at him and the Dornish scoffed, "No surprise. You are as stoic as any other Stark," He turned his head back to the crowd. "I suppose you would know where Lord Eddard Stark has gone."
"Last I saw he was going back into the Keep, my Lord." He smirked at the Stark.
"No need to call me 'Lord'. You can just call me Edric." Jon smiled and nodded his head before Edric turned and walked back towards the Keep.
The Dornish man swept through the hallways attempting to track down Lord Stark. He never enjoyed the cramped feeling of Northern castles, but at least this one was warm. He continued to turn corners searching for the Quiet Wolf when he bumped into a young child on older than 6. The little boy had raggedy auburn hair and a bright toothy smile. He smiled down at him before he heard a growl from next to the boy. A large black direwolf scowled at the stranger while scooting closer to his master. Before either the wolf or the man could react Lord Stark came around the corner and stopped at the sight. He grasped the nape of the wolf's neck while pulling it away from the wedding guest.
"Rickon, what did I tell you? Your wolf stays in the kennel with his brothers and sisters during the wedding." The small child pouted at his father.
"But Shaggydog was lonely!"
The father shook his head at his son before sending him and his pet on his way. He then turned to the Dornish man who was still standing with a smirk on his face. "Lord Dayne, I presume?" He nodded his head towards the Stark. "I am sorry I was unable to greet you at the gate it's been a busy day. Were you alone on your travels?"
"No Lord Stark, I brought some of my household guard on the way up. You know how the open road can be," Eddard nodded his head at the other Lord. "I was hoping I could see my cousin." The older man nodded his head and started walking back the way he came. Edric followed in silence and soon they came upon a door with soft voices floating into the hall. Lord Stark lightly knocked on the door and a middle-aged red head woman opened the door to the two men.
"Ned she almost ready like I told a few minutes ago, you can at least try to be more patient," She noticed the other man behind her husband. "Who is this?"
Eddard turned towards the Dayne and gestured to him, "This is Lord Edric of house Dayne," She curtseyed to the Dornish Lord. "Lord Edric this is my wife Lady Catelyn Stark. Cat, he wishes to see Myria." Catelyn smiled before opening the door to let the Lord into the room, and Edric smiled at the Lady as he was led inside. He observed a young girl with flame red hair talking lightly with a brunette woman as both of them were puttering around his cousin. She had midnight black hair styled in a half up/half down way with baby's breath placed in the back of it, her white dress floated around her giving her an ethereal look, and her deep violet eyes matched his own almost perfectly. He smiled at the woman his cousin had become, it had been 17 years since he last laid eyes on her as a babe in her mother's arms. Even though he was only 6 years her senior he had a slight paternal feeling over his only cousin.
Their eyes met and he noticed shock fall over her face at the sight of him. "Hello, it's been quite some time cousin." Her lip began to quiver as she rushed over to Edric and wrapped her arms around his torso. He rubbed her back before pulling her away from him.
Myria smiled while she lightly fixed her hair, "I thought no one in the family could make it." Edric shrugged his shoulders, unfolded the purple fabric in his arms, and presented it to her.
"Someone had to bring you our maiden cloak, it is a rather important tradition." Myria gazed at the cloak with awe. The fabric was faded with age, but the purple of the silk was still very prominent against the silver stitching of the fallen star over the sword of house Dayne. She carefully grasped the piece of clothing before throwing it over her shoulders. Once she had it on her back Edric took the silver clasps and attached them to her dress.
"Thank you cousin, this means more to me than you could know." Myria watched the slight smirk form on her cousin's face.
"Your welcome Myria, but please just call me Edric," His cousin nodded while wiping the small tears from her eyes. "One other tradition if you want it. I could be the one to present you at the wedding."
"I would love that Edric." She watched as the man in front of her broke out in a large grin. He stepped away as the brunette woman returned to his cousin's side to place a small silver circlet upon her head and then adjusted her hair around it.
The younger girl in the room spoke up, "Myria you look like a princess! I hope I look like this on my wedding day." Myria laughed at the girl. She was right however, his cousin would shock the soul out of her poor betrothed soon enough.
"Sansa I bet your wedding to the prince will be even more grand than my own, but thank you for the compliment." The girl smiled at her. Before Sansa could speak up again her mother approached the group.
Lady Catelyn's words caught everyone's attention, "It's time Myria. Are you ready to go to the Godswood?" The Dornish woman nodded and steeled her nerves as she took Edric's arm while waiting for Willow, Sansa, and Lady Catelyn to go ahead of the pair of Daynes. Once they left the room and started to move down the halls to reach the outer yard Edric brought his other arm up to lightly run his hand over her shaking one. She gave him a grateful look before continuing onward. The bride and cousin reached the outer yard along with the entrance to the Godswood, but before Edric could lead Myria inside she pulled him to a stop.
Edric turned to his younger cousin, "Is something wrong Myria?" She looked up at him, squeezed his arm, and shook her head.
"I just, have nerves I suppose."
He pulled her into a light hug, "Every woman does when they get married, but so do the men. I saw your betrothed earlier and he looked like the was going to throw up," she giggled at his words. "I swear he looked the same way Uncle Arthur did when he married your mother. All green in the gills." The anecdote paired with his summer tone soothed the Dayne woman and she pulled out of the hug.
"Father was scared too? The great Sword of the Morning." Edric nodded his head.
"Yes he was, and so is your future husband at the moment. But all of Arthur's nerves went away the instant he saw Aunt Clara walking towards him with her brother by her side." Edric watched as a feeling of relief passed over Myria's face. She grasped his arm again and the two entered the Godswood.
They followed the path through the trees until they caught glimpses of people standing in two separate rows with the large Weirwood tree in the middle of the clearing and the royal family sitting off to the side of the tree with Jon standing alone in front holding a grey cloak between his hands almost as a lifeline. They continued onward and reached the back of the crowd and once they were spotted the clearing grew quiet, Jon lifted his head to face the path, and made eye contact with Myria's amethyst gaze. Both felt a large gust of relief when they saw the other, and Jon seemed spell bounded by Myria's appearance while Myria beamed at Jon's awe-struck face. Everyone watched on as the Daynes continued to walk up to the tree and the jaw-dropped Stark. They stopped just short of the man and he snapped out of his amazement at the beginning the ceremony.
Eddard Stark spoke up from the front of the crowd, "Who comes before the Old Gods this day?" Jon's dark grey eyes pierced Myria through every word.
Edric patted her arm, "Myria of house Dayne comes here to be wed. A woman grown, true born and noble. She comes to beg the blessings of the Gods. Who comes to claim her?" He gazed at Jon with his final words.
Jon stepped closer to the pair, "Jon of house Stark, son of Lord Eddard Stark; I claim her. Who gives her?"
"Edric of house Dayne, cousin to Lady Myria and head of house Dayne."
"Lady Myria can you take this man?" Lord Stark continued. Myria stepped away from her cousin and closer to Jon.
She smiled at her black haired betrothed, "I take this man."
Jon smiled back at her as his father spoke the next lines, "You may now cloak your bride under your protection." Jon walked gently towards Myria and stepped behind her to unclip the Dayne maiden cloak. He passed the purple cloak to her cousin and then clasped the heavy Stark cloak to her shoulders, smoothing it out before he stepped away moving to face Myria once again. They then both kneeled in front of the tree in silent prayer while the rest of the crowd did so as well. Once they stood again Jon leaned in and kissed her. Myria raised her hands to his shoulders as their lips melded against each other. Jon pulled away before the kiss became heated and the crowd's cheers were thunderous.
Jon beamed at his new wife before sweeping her into his arms and carrying her out of the Godswood and towards the Feast Hall. As he was carrying her he could hear her giggle wash through his ears like soft bells. "Jon put me down! I can walk well enough on my own." He shook his head at her request.
"I wish to carrying my wife to the feast if it pleases her," He watched as her face bloomed with a rosy blush before she lightly nodded her head.
"It pleases me, husband." They both quirked their lips at each other and shared another soft kiss before Jon entered the Keep. Once they made it to the Hall and he had successfully placed her in one of the two chairs at the high table he sat down next to her. "So we are married now, Jon. How does it feel?" Jon glanced down at his new spouse with mirth.
"I have never been happier in all my life," he turned and grasped her small hand. "I thought you were a vision when I first laid eyes on you and I still think this whole day has been a magnificent dream that I am going to wake up from at any moment."
Myria felt small tears enter her eyes once more at Jon's confession, "Then I hope neither of us ever wakes up." She then leaned up to meet his lips in a passionate kiss. As they became lost in their own world the rest of the wedding crowd entered the hall and the long festivities began.