When Aurelia slipped from Jon's chambers, she made for Melisandre's rooms. The red woman was in the bath but had the guards usher Aurelia inside. Once the guards left, Aurelia moved from the outer chamber to the inner one. The room was over warm and humid from the steam. A large fire burned in a fireplace along with small pits and candles everywhere. The glow of the shuttered room seemed to reflect the red in Melisandre's eyes.
"I have had a bath prepared for you, my lady," Melisandre said, her eyes closed and head tilted back in the tub. Aurelia glanced around the room and saw another steaming bath near the shuttered, covered window. She moved to it, removing her cloak and dress and hanging them on a hook on the wall. She worked off her loosely tied stays, then her undergown and stepped into the tub The water was still hot, but not painfully so as Melisandre's prepared baths sometimes were.
"You have done the lord's work," Melisandre said as Aurelia eased down into the water. Her body ached in many places, and yet each ache was a happy reminder of how she came to be so sore. She sighed before immersing herself fully, then coming back to the surface. Melisandre had turned in her tub to face Aurelia.
"I have done what you asked," Aurelia replied softly.
"And what you desired," Melisandre said with a smile.
"That's not-"
Melisandre cut her off with a wave of her hand. "It is no matter. Sometimes our own desires and the plans of our lord align. Sometimes they do not. What we must do is try to follow his light in all things."
"It did not change his mind," Aurelia replied. "He will not break his oath any further."
"We cannot control his actions, nor his will, lady Aurelia."
"I would not try to," she countered. "I only say it so as not to disappoint you should you be expecting a different result. My sway with him is not so strong as your fires seem to tell you."
Melisandre smiled at her. For all her love of heat, it was a chilling smile. "Perhaps. Men are often manipulated by a woman, even when she is not attempting such. It takes a man of particular character to deny his desires in favor of what he sees to be his duty."
"It does. And is that not something the fires tell you?"
"Alas, no," Melisandre said, standing up. She stepped out of the tub and moved to a nearby chest, picking up a red dressing robe and wrapping it around herself.
Aurelia began to wash herself with the sponge and soap provided.
"You may be correct that this young commander is more Stark than what others perceive, but there is more to him than that."
"I know there is," Aurelia replied, scrubbing her arm with the sponge.
"I'm not sure you truly do," Melisandre returned. Before Aurelia could interject, she continued. "Your clothes will be waiting for you in my outer chambers. I must see the king. If you would be so kind as to join us for breakfast, I believe there are some matters he wishes settled before we part."
Aurelia nodded and Melisandre turned and left the room. Aurelia continued scrubbing for a moment before dropping the sponge in the water. Her hands began trembling just before the tears broke.
"Not now," she told herself, even as the tears fell.
Then when? A voice answered back. When do you acknowledge this betrayal?
No. Stop thinking that way. I did not betray him. I saved him.
You did exactly what she asked of you.
She asked me to convince him to go to Winterfell, to return home with me. I did not do that. I will not. Not while he is commander and a man of the Watch.
She also asked you to make him yours.
That was no betrayal, she cursed herself. She rose out of the tub, and moved toward Melisandre's where a second dressing gown lay. She wiped her tears on the sleeve after tying the gown around her.
How was it not a betrayal? Her mind echoed back.
"He already was mine," she murmured aloud. "And I will not lose him to her, or anyone."
Aurelia put on the undergarments and dressed quickly in a gown of deep crimson with gold trim. Stannis had had dresses made for Melisandre before their journey to the Wall, dresses for the cold. However, Melisandre had been content with her light dresses, saying the lord of light gave her all the warmth she needed. She had some of the dresses altered to fit Aurelia, of which this was one.
As Aurelia combed out her hair and braided it, pinning it up in a loose bun, she found her mind drifting to the days leading to her official betrothal to Robb.
It had been a grand celebration at Winterfell, an announcement which had been planned for years. The great hall would be filled with many of the Stark bannermen and lords. Even Catelyn's uncle, the Blackfish, made an appearance on behalf of House Tully. Though he loathed such displays, his brother had been battling an illness, Lysa was in King's Landing with her husband and young, sickly son who could not abide travel over such a distance, and Edmure was to remain with charge of Riverrun until his father recovered.
Aurelia remembered the Blackfish not only because he was the only family Catelyn had there, but because he was one of the few who saw more than others and yet maintained discretion.
It was only after the celebrations and the guests had left Winterfell that Jon told her of the conversation with Brynden Tully. Jon had been practising in the yard with Theon, Ser Rodrik looking on. In the days leading up to the announcement banquet, Jon trained as often as he could. Anything to provide a distraction to the reality of what must soon come. After a particularly intense bout with Theon, in which Jon might have thrust a sword through his ribs had they been using steel instead of wood, Ser Rodrik told Jon to take a moment and catch his breath while he gave some instruction to Theon. Jon went to a well across the training yard and pulled up the bucket, taking a few sips with his hands. When he looked up, the Blackfish stood across the well from him.
"You're trained well," he said.
"Thank you, my lord."
The Blackfish waved his hand dismissively. "Gods boy, don't call me that. The Blackfish is fine for half the bloody country. It's fine for a nephew of mine, however distant our relation."
Jon had told Aurelia it was one of the few times he felt his bastardy both acknowledged, then dismissed, as though it were only of passing importance for a single moment, then necessary to discuss further.
"You're a natural, too. Some boys the technique is learned, but the spirit is never there. Others have the fight in them, but can never hold to learning the skill. You have both."
"Thank you," Jon replied. "I try to match Robb, though I doubt I'll ever have his grace."
"Grace isn't all it's made out to be. Sure you look pretty in a tournament, and being quick is just as important as being strong, but you must be prepared to be ruthless when it is called for if you're ever in a real fight. It isn't about honor then, it's about keeping yourself alive."
Jon nodded, not fully understanding then, but knowing wisdom was being imparted to him. Ser Rodrik called him back and Jon nodded again to the Blackfish. "I have to go, ser. I'll remember what you said."
The Blackfish gave a single nod in return. Jon turned to go, and stopped short. Aurelia was walking across the yard in her riding clothes. She waved to Ser Rodrik and Theon, not having noticed Jon by the well.
"Good morning, my lady," Ser Rodrik called.
"And you, Ser Rodrik," she answered. She inclined her head to Theon. "Good morning, Theon."
"It is indeed, my lady," he smiled back.
"Are you learning much today?"
"He's learning how to recover from being knocked on his backside," Ser Rodrik said with a laugh.
"Ser Rodrik," Aurelia teased. "You're twice his size. Shouldn't there be two of him?"
"I'm not the one doing the knocking, my lady," Ser Rodrik grinned, and gave a nod behind her.
She turned and saw Jon, and beamed. Jon felt his knees go weak at the site of her.
"Good morning, Jon," she called. "And you, Ser Brynden."
The Blackfish had come up alongside Jon. Jon gave a stiff bow as he called back, "Good morning, my lady."
"Good morning," the Blackfish returned.
Just then, Arya's voice echoed Aurelia's name. "Duty calls," she said, still smiling at Jon. "Arya's riding lesson."
Jon nodded to her and she strode off. His gaze followed her until she was out of sight. Ser Rodrik and Theon had already resumed talking, Ser Rodrik showing Theon some ways to dodge thrusts. Jon made to walk across to them when the Blackfish grabbed his arm.
"You love that girl," the Blackfish said quietly.
Jon froze. No one had said anything like that to him before. Not even Robb, who he suspected knew. Not even his father, who Jon was certain knew.
"I don't-" Jon tried, but the Blackfish cut him off.
"You do."
Jon dropped his head.
"I may not know much about women, or marriage, but I'll tell you this, boy. Tell her. Tell her you love her, and then, if you truly love her, do not shame her. Tell her and let that be the end of it."
There was a knock at the door and Aurelia's mind snapped back to the present with a sigh.
"Yes?" She called.
"Lady Moors," Stannis' voice echoed. "Are you decent?"
"Yes, Your Grace," she answered, moving to the door. She opened it and Stannis stood before her, two guards flanking him.
She curtseyed. "Apologies, Your Grace. I did not mean to keep you waiting."
"You did not. I was on my way to breakfast and thought to see if you would accompany me. Why did you think I would be waiting?"
Aurelia stepped from the room and took the arm he offered. "Lady Melisandre said you were expecting me for breakfast."
They walked down the corridor together, the guards behind them. "Once again, she knows my mind before I do."
"Do you not find that unnerving at times?" Aurelia asked softly.
"Yes," he replied. "Sometimes I do."