305 AC
"Father plans to wed us all to Northerners." Said Alissa.
"I don't see the problem with that?" Asked Anyssa. Shiera smiled seeing the little smirk on Anyssa, knowing she wasn't a blushing maid but she was still a maiden nonetheless.
"I just don't want to be married to one of those savages." Snapped Alissa.
"Savages? I would rather have one those Northern lords ravage me." Smirked Anyssa. Shiera couldn't laugh, if she did then Alissa would tell their mother.
"Anyssa stop that! You are not a common whore so don't act like one. Alissa, you mustn't say such things. We are apart of the Northern kingdom or have you seem to forgotten who our king is?"
Sheira had always loved her sisters dearly but Alissa was judgmental and uptight and Anyssa was too promiscuous and acted like a common whore most of the times. Sanya sat at Sheira's right being the quite little girl she always had been. She never talked and was always practicing her needlework. Sanya was the only one who knew how to keep her mouth shut.
"Why can't you all be like Sanya? She is a sweet girl who knows when to keep her mouth shut." Shiera carefully lifted Sanya into her lap and began to play with her hair. Even at just one and one, Sanya weighed so little although that was understandable. Sanya was a petite child and was born 2 moons too early. She was sick as a child as would still occasionally get bedridden for months for a simple illness.
"Oh please. Sanya is sweet, but she hasn't even flowered yet. She has no desire for men, but she shall soon." Said Anyssa.
"Gods already know you were chasing men as soon as you could walk." Laughed Alissa.
"Alissa stop." Shiera had to stop their bickering before things got worse. Alissa always had tendency to get too personal when it came to her and Anyssa fighting.
"Girls!" Shiera could see the horror in both of her sisters as they stood facing away from the door. They both reached for their unfinished needlework and quickly sat down. "Come along girls. Your father means to speak to you all."
Mother always had a smile on her face but as they grew up Shiera found that everyone can fake a smile. Sanya hopped off of Shiera's lap and ran pass all of them, probably wanting to be the first to see their father.
Their father sat at the highest seat with their brothers Alix and Sterlan at his side. Their mother bowed her head giving them a sign to do the same. Once Shiera looked up she looked around to see other lords from the Riverlands. Seban, their father must have a big announcement to have all these important men and their families here. "My lords! I am here today to give my daughters hand in marriage to four men!"
She dreaded the day this would come. Shiera felt a small hand grab onto hers and squeeze it tightly. "My youngest daughter shall be promised to Lord Edric Dayne of Starfall. The Blackmonts are a rich and old house. My house, House Blackmont of Harrenhal ascended from the Blackmonts of Blackmont in Dorne. I am glad to announce a Blackmont shall once again return to Dorne." Smiled father.
Her great-grandfather was a second son who fell in love with a whore from the Vale. He ran away from his home because he fell in love with a pale skinned girl who was kissed by fire. She liked to imagine that one day she may have the love her great grandfather and mother had.
Shiera looked Sanya to see she had no expression on her face, but the strong grip she had on Shiera's hand told her another story. Edric Dayne was a shy boy from the stories. Blond hair, blue eyes, and a kind smile that might make Sanya happy one day.
"My daughter Alissa shall marry Lord Brandon Tallhart." Shiera laughed on the inside about the irony in that. Alissa didn't want to go North. She had a hatred for the North for some reason that was still unknown to Shiera and everyone else Alissa knew. She hated Northerners and now it seemed that she would marry one.
"My second eldest daughter shall marry Lord Jasper Redfort." He is seperating us all. Dorne, the North, the Vale. I wonder where I shall go, thought Shiera.
"Alas my eldest daughter. Shiera, you were my first born. I have loved you with all my heart since the day you were put into my arms pink faced and crying with a full head of the black hair of yours. My beloved daughter shall marry our king, King Robb Stark of the North and the Trident." Why? Why him? Why the North? The room broke out in whispers and now Shiera was the one gripping onto Sanya's hand too hard. She couldn't move, she couldn't process the fact that she would be married. To a king no less and she shall be his queen. Why couldn't I marry someone else? Why couldn't I marry a simple lord and not a king?, thought Shiera.
Her father would call it a blessing but it wasn't in Shiera's eyes. Her father killed Roose Bolton, wasn't that enough? King Robb gave her father Harrenhal, but it wasn't enough for him so it seems. He wanted more and he got more. He would be the good father of a king. That was the closest he could get to any throne. "My daughter shall be the first Queen in the North in over 300 years! May she blessed with many sons!"
He was wrong, Shiera wouldn't be the first queen in over 300 years. No, another women took that spot for a short amount of time. People pretended like she didn't exist but she did. She shared King Robb's bed and he named her his queen. He loved her, or at least that's what everyone else said. He loved her, but King Robb needed to keep his pact with the Frey's. He left the women he loved to marry another, and when he did, Walder Frey payed him with an arrow in his shoulder and almost with a knife in his heart that could have killed him if it weren't for her father.
The Frey's were all beheaded for treason, though King Robb never went back to his first love. She was still at the Crag while he went back to the North to rule his kingdom. The same kingdom he never wanted because he wanted his father and sisters back with him. King Robb returned with only one sister and his father's bones until his other sister returned from her small journey across Westeros some odd years later.
"Thank you father for arranging such a great match for me. I am truly blessed to bear the king's heirs. I swear to the old gods and the new I shall cherish my time as queen and give his beloved grace a son in no time." Smile, smile for everyone Shiera. Their mother prepared them all for this very moment. The moment where they gave up all future happiness.
"You shall leave by the morrow and wed King Robb upon arrival." Shiera was shocked by the suddenness of the marriage but understood why. King Robb married 7 years ago, but the girl in the Crag still lived. Once the war was won 5 years ago he planned to marry a Frey girl after the annulment was finalized. The marriage was dissolved when Walder Frey killed off his various offspring the day he tried to have King Robb killed. 5 years, and King Robb has not taken a wife. Some say because he does not trust anyone, but others say it's because he still loves his first wife. Of course if anyone would count the Crag girl as King Robb's wife.
When the feast had ended and Shiera went into her parents bedchambers to discuss the marriage. "I don't want to marry him." Shiera didn't regret her words because her words were true.
"Do you think I would let our king marry one of your sisters instead?" Asked her father.
"I don't want any of us to marry the king." Replied Shiera. She could tell her father was beginning to get angry with her, but even that could not stop her from speaking her mind at this very moment. "Please, father, I don't want to marry him. I beg of you dissolve this marriage and I'll marry someone else."
"King Robb was kind enough to agree to the marriage. Do you think I would back off of this deal? Do you not realize the power we could have when you marry the king?"
"Do you not care about my happiness? Please father let me marry for love. Let me get to know the man I'm to marry."
"Do you think you all will marry for love? You are now the daughters of the Lord of Harrenhal. I am not a simple steward anymore Shiera! Alissa shall marry Brandon Tallhart and Princess Sansa is set to marry Smalljon Umber beside you and the king. Princess Arya is to marry a Flint later on. We can't wed your brothers into the Stark family anymore. Should you bare King Robb children, every Stark to sit on the throne shall have the Blackmont blood within him. Don't you see how this will benefit us all Shiera?!"
Shiera could see the pain in his eyes. He was not lying about loving her since she was born. Growing up Shiera was the one daughter to be by her father's side. Shiera was her father's favorite until her tenth nameday and her brother Alix was born. "I have obeyed you all of my life father. I have followed you and treated your word like law since I was a little girl. I beg of you, on the love you bare me, let the marriage go away and I can help Alix become a good lord of Harrenhal."
"Shiera, my beloved daughter, you know that I can not do that. As much as it pains me to send you away we all know it is for the best."
"What if he doesn't love me? What if I never give him children?" Shiera could feel the tears starting to form in her brown eyes. Seban got up from his seat and pulled her harshly into a hug. Shiera could feel his beard rub against her forehead and laid her head onto his chest letting the tears fall out.
"Do you not love me anymore father? Is that why you are sending me away?"
"My sweet daughter, of course not. I love you more than life it self. I love you, your mother, your brothers and sisters, but this must be done. I may be Lord of Harrenhal, but I need to create alliances with other houses to strengthen this family." Shiera pulled away from her father and saw the pain in his eyes as she looked up at him.
"Will you be there?" Shiera hoped she would at least have her father with her.
"I'm afraid not my sweet. You mother and sisters shall be the only one's traveling with you."
"Will Andrew and Roland go with me as well?" Asked Shiera hopeful.
"Of course my sweet. How could I send you away from home without them." Smiled Seban.
"Will they stay with me?"
"They will have to return back to Harrenhal. Your mother and sisters will have to return the day after the wedding, but I allowed Ser Andrew and Ser Roland to remain for 3 moons before coming back."
"What about Alissa? Will she stay in Winterfell?"
"I don't know. Your sister might leave to Torrhen's square once she is wed." Replied Seban.
"I believe I'll start packing." Said Shiera as she started to walk to the door.
"Allow me to tell Alissa the news about her marriage. I think I'm the only one who can tell her so she won't create a scene."
"Of course father." Shiera saw the smile on Anyssa's face as she carefully placed her dresses into a wooden plain chest.
"Why are you so happy Anyssa?" Asked Shiera.
"I shall be Lady of Torrhen's Square one day." Smiled Anyssa.
"You'll never be the lady of a great castle." Mumbled Sanya getting the attention of the room and earning a snicker from Alissa.
"Why would you say that Sanya?" Asked Shiera in shock.
"None of you ever pay attention to our lessons. Torrhen's Square's leige is Lady Eddara. She is a girl of one and six. She is betrothed to one of Greatjon Umber's yonger sons. She will likely have a son and Lord Brandon shall never see himself become liege lord. She is younger than you Shiera so no doubt she shall have a son unless she is barren or Lord Umber is incapable." Explained Sanya.
"What would you know? Your just a little girl." Hissed Anyssa.
"I'm not just a little girl. I'm smarter than all you combined. Your just so caught up in your gossip to know anything." Snapped Sanya.
"Sanya calm down I'm sure Anyssa didn't mean that." Insisted Shiera.
"Stop trying to make everything better Shiera. We all know that you can't fix everything in this family so why don't you stop now!" Yelled Sanya. Everyone in the room was shocked at Sanya's word seeing that she never got angry over anything.
"Sanya stop yelling." Ordered Alissa.
"Father is sending us all away because he wants to create alliances with other great houses. We should be glad that we are not marrying fat, old lords." Explained Shiera.
"Your only saying that because you are father's favorite we all know it. You many be the oldest but that isn't the reason your marrying the king. You shall be Queen of the North and Trident and all we'll ever be is simple ladies. Father wanted you to marry King Robb because you've been his favorite daughter since the moment you came out of mother!" Yelled Sanya in anger.
"Sanya stop yelling. I've already told you once. If I tell you once more I am calling father." Hissed Alissa.
Sheira watched on as Sanya began yelling at Alissa. Sanya began to throw a tantrum and threw her dress along with the ones that belonged to her sisters. Alissa attempted to grab Sanya to calm her down and Anyssa ran to get their mother and father. Sanya began to kick and thrash around and Shiera could do nothing but watch as her sister tried to attack anyone who got near her. When Shiera saw her father grab Sanya from Alissa he began to sing her a song. The same song he sang everyone of them before bed or when we were sad. Sanya didn't calm down immediately and Shiera saw her mother pick up the dresses before she began to help her too.
"One of you girl get Sanya milk of the poppy."
"Seban the girl isn't in pain. It would not be wise to let her drink that." Explained Alysanne.
"Fine. Get the girl some dreamwine." Grumbled Seban as he continued the song.
"You know why she did this." Said Alissa.
"Why?" Asked Shiera not knowing why she said that in the first place.
"She can delay the marriage by a few years. If she proves herself a spoiled child instead of the dutiful little girl she is she can stay at Harrenhal longer or in Winterfell with you as one of your ladies in waiting." Explained Alissa.
"She is a smart girl."
"Of course she is. She doesn't take after any of us." Laughed Alissa.
"Do you honestly think every thing she said was true?" Asked Shiera.
"Yes. Sanya has the intelligence to get what she wants. How long until father sends her to Starfall?"
"Maybe 3 years at most. Maybe Sanya will convince father to let her be a ward of Winterfell before going to Starfall to marry?"
"Going from the North to Dorne would be too harsh, but who knows, you may be right." Said Alissa.
"Alissa we have to talk. Come on, let us go to another room." Shiera turned her attention to her father knowing he was going to tell her right now.
"Father just tell me here." She will regret ever saying that, thought Shiera.
"When you all reach Winterfell Shiera shall marry the king alongside Princess Sansa and Smalljon Umber as well as you and Lord Brandon." Confessed Seban.
"What? Why father? How could you-" Alissa didn't have any more words to express her anger except her fists that began to turn white.
"You must understand that you are of age to marry. You marrying Lord Brandon sooner than later allows you to get with child faster." Said their mother. Shiera looked at Alissa's face thinking how could her mother say that?
"Is that all we are? Is that all I am? Am I to spread my legs for my husband hoping his seed will take root?" Asked Alissa in disbelief.
"That is exactly what we are Alissa. To be sold off to richest man in hopes we shall give him a son to continue on his line. Isn't that right father?" Asked Shiera.
"I love you more than life itself Alissa. You should know that. I love you all with everything I have." Pleaded Seban. There was no getting through to Alissa. She was stubborn to the bone and was prone to fits. Alissa began to scream at their parents and for a second Shiera felt that she was reliving the scene between their father and Sanya just moments ago. Alissa didn't lash out quite as much as Sanya but she had a stronger voice that got the attention of passing squires, handmaidens, and workers from the castle.
Harrenhal was quite large and a large chunk of the castle was being unused and was silent as the Quiet Isles. When Seban held Alissa down, and Alysanne forced her to drink dreamwine like Sanya she had calmed down.
Seban had returned to his wife and daughter with hurt in his brown eyes. "Will you fight me too? Perhaps Anyssa will like to fight me next?" Laughed Seban as Alysanne had began to rub her hand on his back in circles. Shiera missed when she would do that for her when she was a little girl.
"It's been an eventful day father. All of this can be just too much for a day like this. Sanya is a little girl she will grow out of her tantrums." Smiled Shiera. Smile, smile like mother always taught us, thought Shiera.
"Seems Alissa didn't grow out of them." Smiled her father. Seban did love his children more than anything and it pained him to know that he is sending all of his daughters across Westeros to be wed to men he or they have never meet before.
"Everything I have done since you and your brothers and sisters been born is for you all. I would kill every man, woman, and child in Westeros to ensure this family's safety you must know that Shiera."
"Of course I know that father. Alissa and Sanya are just angry, but even they know you love us very much. I know that father, and there is nothing to worry about." Family above all, Shiera thought, her house words were no lie. When Seban thought he had nothing left back when he was a simple knight in the Vale he had his family.
"Shiera, dear, I think it's time to go to bed. You can finish packing in the morning. You will need your rest and you will not get it in the wheelhouse." Shiera nodded at her mother once again putting a smile on her face.
"Goodnight mother. Goodnight father." Within a month she shall be a queen.
AN: So as far as who rules the south, war is still raging on while the North is trying to rebuild after the Ironborn and the Boltons. Lannister, Frey, and Boltons are all dead. Daenerys is struggling to win the Iron Throne against Shireen Baratheon who many nobles want to crown Queen of the South. Aegon is still claiming to be the son of Rhaegar Targaryen for years now and believes the Iron Throne is his by right. The Northern kingdom also consists of the Riverlands and has stayed out of Southern politics and what's been happening lately so they haven't declared for anyone.