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Face Claim for Lady Sanira Tremaine: Caitlin Stasey.
Chapter Three: Day of the Wedding.
Trying to ease her nerves as she prepared for her wedding, Sanira could not help but stare at her wedding dress and wrap that hung up for her to see. The room had been emptied of her belongs the day before and had been moved into the new living quarters that she would share with Robb after the wedding had taken place.
However, the empty room did little to help Sanira's nerves and she messed with the hem of her sleeves while Aiana worked on her hair. What would happen if she messed up? Or her new husband found her too strange to put up with so decided to have their marriage annulled?
"I heard Lord Robb has asked for the bedding ceremony to be forbidden," Aiana murmured continuing to arrange her lady's hair into the perfect style for her wedding, she had heard the kitchen maids gossiping when she collected Sanira's breakfast. It was known that Eddard Stark had also forbade the bedding ceremony at his wedding to Lady Catelyn because it would not do if he broke someone's jaw at his own wedding.
The entire castle was talking about what would happen that evening and many Lords and Ladies had arrived to watch the wedding of two Northern families. It was not every day that the hier to the North wed, Lord and Lady Stark had been married in a rather hurried manner considering Eddard was about to ride off into war and it had been a joint affair with Catelyn's sister marrying Jon Arryn of the Vale.
"One less thing to worry about," Sanira replied offering a weak smile, she had been too few weddings in her time and she had always watched the beginning of the bedding ceremony with interest until she realised it would happen to her one day. The very idea turned her stomach at the thought of drunk lords touching her like that and helping her out of her clothes until her husband would be led into the room.
Aiana laughed and nodded her head, she patted Sanira on the shoulder before continuing on with her work; everything had to be perfect for the wedding. There had been no sign of Arlenna all morning and it was clear that she had no intentions of appearing anytime soon; she had her own maids were running around like headless chickens trying to get her ready for the wedding.
Anyone would think that she was the bride with all the demands that she was making, Arlenna was certainly taking advantage of what was being offered to her. Finishing Sanira's hair, Aiana smiled to herself before remembering that Maester Luwin had dropped something of this morning; Sanira had been bathing at the time and she had forgotten. Moving to get it, Aiana knew that it had come from Beckton in the Riverlands where Sanira's grandmother now lived, she had been there for a while now and had not returned to Aeredale after the passing of her dearly beloved husband.
"Your grandmother has sent you a gift… she apologises for not being able to make it," Aiana said moving to hand the small parcel to Sanira, she was sure that Sylvina Tremaine would have been here if she could. It was no secret that the former Baratheon woman had no time for Arlenna, she hated the woman that her son had married even if she dotted on her grandchildren.
Arthur, Sanira and Deston were the future of the house that Lady Sylvina had worked hard to build up from the ground; the House of Tremaine had lost much of its former glory and was on the verge of ending when she had married her husband. Slowly opening the parcel, Sanira paused at the sight of the necklace that her grandmother had sent to her; it was the one that Sylvina had worn when she had married Ronard Tremaine. The necklace was light in Sanira's hands, the silver detailing was beautiful and the small pale blue gem that hung in the centre would complement her outfit nicely.
"It's beautiful my lady," Aiana whispered admiring the necklace that had been passed down the family, she was sure it would look beautiful around Sanira's neck especially on a day like today.
"Help me put it on?" Sanira asked turning to look at Aiana, she could not help but smile knowing that in some small way her grandmother would be with her as she married Robb Stark. It eased Sanira's mind since she would receive no comfort from her mother of any sort.
"You look beautiful," Lady Elayne Barrin gushed moving to greet her good-sister, she was so happy for Sanira and it would do her some good to be away from Arlenna. There was no denying that Arlenna was nothing more than a bitter harpy, especially with the very idea that her own daughter would soon outrank her.
It almost seemed unreal to believe that Sanira was set to marry in just a few short moments, Elayne could not help but be proud of the woman that Sanira had become in the last seven years. Arthur stood next to his wife, he felt sad to be saying goodbye to Sanira; he could still remember when they had been children and he would rip the head of her dolls. Now here before him stood Sanira dressed in her off-the-shoulder wedding dress with her wrap to keep her warm; Arthur sort of missed the old days and wished he had spent more time with her instead of off hunting with his friends.
"You make a very beautiful bride sister," Arthur murmured nodding to Sanira, he was sure that she would be incredibly happy here in Winterfell and their father had made the right choice for her husband. Having watched Robb for the last few days, Arthur knew that he would look after Sanira and he hoped that someone had at least warned him about the night terrors. It would be a dreadful shock if he was not warned especially since after tonight, they were to share a room with each other for the rest of their lives unless things went really badly like it had done for their parents.
"Where is Deston?" Sanira asked hoping to speak to her younger brother, she was going to miss him so much and she hoped that he would be okay when it came to leaving her here. The two siblings were awfully close and Deston spent more time with Sanira than he did with Arlenna, he always felt pushed aside when it came to their mother who was always too busy for him.
"With mother… she's keeping him close," Arthur replied with a shake of his head, he had a feeling that a fight was brewing for control of the youngest child of the Tremaine family. It was time to start thinking of Deston's future and Rolan had made some enquiries while they were here that had clearing upset Arlenna especially with two of their children married off.
Blinking Sanira stared at Arthur, she did not know why their mother would want to keep their younger brother close; it was not like he was going to cause any trouble especially with a wedding about to happen. Deston might have been a little boisterous while he was here, Bran and Rickon were around his age and offered better playmates than his two older siblings had ever done.
"Father was talking about fostering him over to the Karstarks or perhaps the Tully's and mother is sulking," Arthur explained sure that it would do Deston some good to be away from Aeredale for a little while. Deston was nine now and he was starting his lessons with a sword soon, he would not inherit the responsibility that his older siblings would unless he made a fine match but he dreamed of being a knight.
Sanira only nodded her head, she was sure that it would be best to foster her brother out especially now that she was to live in Winterfell; she could only imagine what would happen to Deston if he were to remain with their mother. It almost did not seem fair that Deston would be left to deal with Arlenna on his own, she had never been fond of her youngest son just like she was not fond of her daughter.
Arthur, however, was the perfect child in Arlenna's eyes since he had inherited her Lannister looks more so than her other children; she always said now much he reminded her of her brothers, Lord Tywin, and Ser Kevan. While her younger children seemed more Tremaine in all manners, it was even said that Sanira's night terrors might come from her great grandmother.
Trying to settle her nerves once her brother and good-sister went to find their seats, Sanira could not help but worry that she was going to make a mess of this; she worried she would trip or fall walking down the aisle. The cold evening air entered the place where Sanira waited to marry, there would be a big feast after this and yet right now she did not feel hungry at all rather that she was going to throw up.
"You look beautiful Sanira," Rolan whispered approaching his daughter, he was sad that this day had arrived so quickly and he wished he had gotten to spend more time with her while they had been in here but he had been ever so busy.
Approaching the heart tree where everyone had gathered for the ceremony, Sanira tried to ease her mind; she could see Lord Stark waiting for her and her father to approach. There were few people gathered compared to those who would be at the celebration later.
"Who comes before the Old Gods this night?" Eddard Stark asked grumpily, his eyes taking in his son's bride and he was thankful that she did not look anything like her mother. The nerves were clear upon her face but that was to be expected, he did not begrudge her such things especially when he recalled how nervous he had been on his own wedding day. Thankfully, Northern weddings seemed to run a lot quicker than their Southern counterparts and had a lot less for those taking part to recite back during the ceremony.
"Sanira, of the House Tremaine, comes here to be wed. A woman grown, trueborn and noble. She comes to beg the blessing of the Gods. Who comes to claim her?" Rolan replied proudly, he might not have had much to do with how she was raised but Sanira had grown into a wonderful woman. He was ever so thankful that she had not turned out like her mother, though he guessed that Arlenna was even more uninvolved in their children's lives that he was at times.
"Robb, of House Stark, heir to Winterfell. Who gives her?" Robb said clearly, his blue eyes never leaving his bride and his stomach turning knowing that they were so close to being married now. It did not seem real and Robb knew that so much would change for him when this was over, he was excited to do many things and one of them would be to produce an heir that would further secure the Stark name.
"Rolan, of House Tremaine. Lord of Aeredale and her father," Rolan stated eyeing the Stark boy, he really hoped that he was prepared for marriage; he wished he'd had a second chance especially considering his great dislike for Arlenna as the years went by. It was not ideal and Rolan found himself spending more time away from his wife, she always seemed to find reasons not to be around him or their children unless it suited her and what she wanted.
"Lady Sanira, do you take this man?" Eddard asked looking to the bride, he remembered his own wedding to Catelyn and how long that had dragged on; they had been married before her Gods before he had ridden off into war. There being little time to secure the alliance before the rebellion had started and Eddard had hoped to rescue his sister who had been abducted; it had not worked out like he had hoped. Lyanna had died in the South, never to see their home again and there had been many lives lost; all because noble Rhaegar could not keep his hands off someone who was not his wife.
"I take this man," Sanira agreed trying to keep her voice steady, she allowed her father to remove her cloak from around her shoulders; it had offered her a bit of warmth into the cool evening air. Offering her father, small smile before she stepping away from him, Sanira took Robb's hand before they lowered themselves down to their knees to pray.
Their actions were copied for a moment by the rest of the gathering, and not a sound was uttered for a couple of moments before everyone looked to the newly married couple. Robb helped Sanira back to her feet before wrapping her in his cloak; there was no going back now, they were married before the eyes of the Gods. The two were still for a moment, the newness of their situation setting on them for a moment before Robb hesitantly stepped forward and kissed Sanira softly on the lips causing their audience to clap.
The kiss did not last long and linking their arms, Robb lead his new bride back down the aisle; people congratulating them as they went before everyone started to head back to the keep. Eddard watched Robb lead Sanira away, a smile forming on his face as Catelyn joined him, they linked arms pleased that the ceremony had gone well.
"He did well," Eddard mused slowly walking with his wife, they had a little while before the feast and the newly married couple would have many well-wishes to greet. It had been a long time since Winterfell had seen a Stark wedding and Eddard had no doubts that it would be celebrated with all the joy of that.
"They both did," Catelyn replied, she glanced over at Arlenna noting how bored the Lady of Aeredale looked; it was probably a good thing that the Tremaine's would not be staying long now that the wedding had taken place.
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