Riverrun, 287 AC
Aylis grows up, too slowly for her liking, but she cannot do otherwise. At twelve years old, she is a now charming young girl: smiling blue eyes, chestnut-brown hair cascading down until the middle of her back, and a body looking more and more like the one of a teenager. Her breasts have started to develop all of a sudden and, at twelve, her body is not a child's one anymore. The handmaids often compliment her about them, arguing they are already bigger than her sister's, though fully grownups. She still goes hunting with Fury a lot and exercises pretty often, she then stayed thin and muscular, but not too much. Her legs are slender and her back very nicely curved. Maester Kym has told her father she should have no problem bearing children, since her hips are perfect. She takes good care of her skin and of her hair, taking long baths, brushing carefully her hair every night before going to bed and every morning after she wakes up. More and more, she thinks of her wedding night, wondering how it feels to be deflowered. She tries to ask the handmaids, but most of them refuse to answer her, without she even knows about the reasons of their denial. Cat and Lysa are too far away from her now, and all her questions remain unanswered.
One evening, not holding on anymore, she sneaks out of the castle, wrapped in a black cape, on her horse and discreetly heads to the town. She has not been here very often, it is Edmure's role to get ready to be a Lord, and it is him who visits the smallfolks. She is scared as soon as she has passed the castle but she is determined to do what it takes to be a good wife to her husband. The night is beautiful, a huge moon lighting up the path as in a bright sunny day. On her way, she rides by peasants and men staring at her weirdly. She swallows hard and keeps riding, to a big and tall house. Hearing the laughs that come from here, she knows she is at the good place. She gets off her horse and ties it by the numerous other horses which are already here. Taking a deep breath, she knocks on the door. A middle aged woman opens and stares at her:
"You're lost, little girl?" she asks nicely.
Staying as calm as she can, Aylis replies:
"I want to see someone who works here."
"Sweetheart, we don't do women… and you're not even one…"
Aylis takes a purse and makes the gold in it click:
"I will pay her. Double price."
The woman stares at her, and lets her pass:
"Come with me."
She steps in and looks around: it looks like nothing she has imagined. Of course, there are women who are walking around half naked, but she does not see any men. She notices a stair, leading to rooms and she guesses they are all here. The woman takes her to a small room, with a desk, which strangely makes her think of her father's office. What would Lord Hoster say if he saw her here? But she needs to be here, for her own sake. The woman sits down and pours two cups of wine. Aylis denies it:
"I do not drink wine", she says nicely.
"Who tells you it was for you?" the woman barks.
Aylis looks down and the woman gulps the two cups:
"Are you a Lady?" she asks.
Aylis looks back up at her and replies:
"I said I would pay. I am going to marry as soon as I have bled. I want you to teach me how to please my future husband."
"You have too much money to be a peasant girl. And you don't want to find your husband here one day, right?" she snorts.
Aylis feels herself blushing:
"I want to make him happy. How do you make men happy?"
"First, I need to know what kind of man is your hubby. Is he a virgin, like you? Is he young like you?"
Aylis is careful of not saying too much by fear of being discovered:
"He is a virgin, and he is just a bit older than me."
"Does he like violence?" she asks again.
Aylis shakes her head. She does not think he likes sweetness either, indeed.
"So he's romantic?"
Aylis shakes her head again. The idea of a romantic Stannis makes her smile.
"I think he is not very interested in sex", she whispers the last word, as if it was some shameful bad word.
"First, of all, sweetheart, never be scared of sex. Of saying it, of doing it. Sex is the most natural thing in the world. Are you ashamed of pissing, of shitting?"
Aylis feels herself blushing deep red, and shakes her head quickly:
"Not at all."
"Same thing for sex. Stand up, and turn around."
Aylis obeys, not used to be ordered around but curious of what this would be useful to the woman. She groans with approbation:
"You have beautiful tits, and a nice little butt. Forgive my language, by the way. I'm not used to talk to ladies."
"I am not a Lady, it's fine", Aylis smiles and sits back down.
The woman remains silent for a few seconds, examining her face, her body.
"If your husband is shy, you certainly are not, I can see it. You've already stroked yourself?"
Aylis reddens violently and nods fast.
"You've reached climax?" she asks again and Aylis nods.
"That's good. For your first night, don't expect to feel too much pleasure. But your husband can maybe stroke you, with his fingers or his tongue there. Try to relax, as much as you can, and not to contract because if you do, it's gonna be worse. The best is that you ride him, so you can control the penetration, and go with your own rhythm."
Aylis listens carefully:
"And for him? What can I do to please him?"
"If he's shy, don't brusque him. Try to stroke his chest, his shoulders, compliment him. When you feel he's ready, you can stroke his sex."
Aylis frowns slightly: she did not expect this.
"But, you? What do you do to men?"
"We accept things that can be bloody painful and humiliating. I will not discuss that with you, not even for money", the woman coldly retorts, then, more nicely, "You can try and make him have pleasure with your mouth. You take his sex in your mouth, and you suck it, like a lollipop."
Aylis frowns and makes a face:
"Does it not taste gross?"
"He needs to be clean for sure. If he is, it does not taste different than licking your hand or something", the woman shrugs. "You need to be clean as well, sweetheart. Get to your room ten minutes before and wash your lady parts carefully."
"Alright", Aylis nods. "And… will I bleed?"
The woman gasps loudly:
"Oh, yes! Once you will bleed for the first time, you will understand. You bleed almost as much as the first time you have your moons. Try to have spare sheets because you will not gonna want to sleep in bloody sheets" she concludes with a laugh. "You have other questions?"
Aylis shakes her head, and the woman holds her hand at her:
"Can I come back if I need to?" she asks.
"As long as your purse is full, don't hesitate", the woman smiles as she grabs the money.
"What's your name?" she asks again, standing up.
"You don't need to know that. I always open the door so you'll always see me first. Goodbye, girl, and good luck with your marriage."
Aylis smiles gently:
"Thank you…"
She walks out quickly, gets back on her horse, and reaches the castle without being seen. Her heart stops hammering only when she is in the safety of her room. She lies down in bed and falls asleep immediately, exhausted by her trek.