Riverrun, 285 AC
Aylis is sitting on her chair, smiling hugely at her father and Edmure, watching the servant bringing a cake to her with a smile. Today is her tenth nameday, and she blows the candles happily. The day has started when she received a letter from Stannis, wishing her a happy nameday, and Edmure has jumped on her bed yelling with joy. Ten years old… it sounds a lot to her, and still, she cannot wait to celebrate her next namedays, knowing that each of them will bring her closer to Stannis. He has told her in his letter about life at court, in King's Landing. He is the Master of Ships and, thus, is an important member of the King's counsel. Every time she thinks about it, she feels so proud of him. She loves her family, of course, but she cannot wait to live with him, to share his everyday life. She will not have to wonder when he wakes up, what he has for breakfast, what he does in the morning, if he hunts, or writes… She knows he will have a busy life and she probably will as well, but she will be with him, at least. But she also knows she will have to wait, three or four more years. It sounds like an eternity to her: Stannis will not break his vow; she knows it, but what if he suddenly stops writing, what if he hates her when the time comes to marry her? She cannot help sighing in front of her cake and blushing when her father frowns at her. She eats her piece of cake silently.
Lysa and Catelyn could not come, but they both sent gifts to her, with messages. Lysa is still not pregnant, and Catelyn talks feverishly about Robb, not mentioning Jon once. Robb, who was running around Winterfell, following Jon in everything he does or says. Aylis would like so much to see them, but visits are too expensive and too complicated in Westeros. She knows she probably won't see them again before her marriage. Robb would be a little child at this moment, when he was a baby last time she has seen him. Lysa's letter is way shorter and cooler; she can feel it just by the words she uses. She sends with her letter some jewelry, and Cat has sewed for her sister a beautiful hat. Then comes Brynden, who has added a letter to Lysa's one, talking about life at the Eyrie and hoping she and Stannis could visit them once they are married. She answers them all, keeping her answer to Stannis for the night, when she will be at peace and alone.
Aylis spends the afternoon with Edmure, despite a violent storm breaks out suddenly and soaking them before they can reach the castle. Riverrun's rain is mostly warm and pleasant but this one is heavy and lashes their faces painfully. They run back, slipping in the mood, and Aylis falls back on a big puddle, ruining her dress, her face and her hair. When they reach the warmth of the Great Hall, their father shouts at them for being in such a pitiful condition, and orders that they have a bath. Aylis's favourite handmaid takes care of it, and grumbles as she sees the dress stained with mud:
"I am sorry, Bess", Aylis whispers, knowing that the stains will be hard to wash off.
The middle-aged woman, slim and strong, with brown eyes and blond hair, turns to her and smiles:
"You are a child, my Lady. You have to play in the mud, and have dolls to cuddle. Do not worry, I will take care of it."
She stands naked by the tub, and Bess asks:
"Is the water okay, my Lady?"
Aylis nods silently and slips in the hot water when Bess leaves. She washes her body and her hair, and leans against the hard wood with a sigh of contentment. She could almost see Stannis here with her, if she tries really hard. Her hand strokes her skin, slowly, going up on her chest. She can feel her breasts starting to develop. Lord Tully has been worried about it when the servants have told him so, but Maester Kym ensured it just means they will probably be well developed, later. She has not understood right away, but seeing her father blushing deep red has cleared things up. She uses a special soap to wash her intimate parts and does so, quickly, but brushes a spot that makes her gasp pretty loudly. She bites her lip with shame, and sits back in the water, but explores her intimacy. She has never done this but she is safe, in the privacy of her room, with the candles burning as only witnesses. She feels how different her sex is inside and outside, how sweet the skin here outside, how weird it feels inside. Her finger slowly looks for some bumps, and she finds two: one sounds like a piece of flesh hanging here, and she does not know what it is. The other feels like a button, hidden under flesh as well, and making her jolt every time she touches it. She has never felt this, and she strokes herself, her legs spread, leaning on the tub. She feels how wet she gets and she knows this: she has woken up numerous times feeling this, this weird sensation between her thighs, and has felt the need to wash it off every time. She doesn't, now. She lets pleasure overwhelming her, stifling her moans by biting her tongue or her lower lip. Aylis wonders if she will have that much pleasure when Stannis will first take her. She imagines his strong hands in place of theirs, and her pleasure increases suddenly, reaching his peak. She cannot know she has just come, but she guesses as she feels herself contracting, and a weird pain replacing the pleasure. She curls up, sweaty, her heart beating hard in her chest, and she rinses herself before stepping out of the bathtub. She watches herself, naked, after she dried her body, turns around to try to see the shape of her butt, wondering if it is fine or not. She stares at the milky skin, the pink nipples on her breasts, and the crooks of her ribs. A knock on the door makes her startle violently and Bess's voice says:
"Are you done, my Lady?"
"One second", she grabs quickly her nightgown and slips it on. "Come in!" she says and gets in her bed.
Bess gets in and empties the bathtub, before wishing a goodnight to Aylis. The girl, cuddled up in the sheets, her heart still hammering against her chest, tells her good night in turn, before closing her eyes and joining her betrothed in her dreams.