305 AC
Shiera never thought she would see the North. She spent little time in the Riverlands, and most of her life was spent in the Vale where she had met Ser Andrew Tollett and Ser Roland Waynwood. Stepping out of the carriage Ser Andrew offered his hand to make sure she did not fall. Shiera held his hand tighter and longer than she was suppose to, but she did not care. Ser Andrew and Ser Roland stood side by side to Shiera rather than surrounding the family.
Their allegiance was not with House Blackmont, but rather with Shiera. Many in the Vale were not shocked to hear that King Robb of the North rewarded Ser Seban Blackmont, knighted by Lord Yohn Royce himself, with the lordship of Harrenhal. When Ser Roland and Ser Andrew pledged themselves to a the eldest daughter of a simple knight raise to be a lord of a infamous castle people raised eyebrows. Though no one bothered to speak their minds.
Shiera saw the bronze crown on red curls hearing how the Stark king looked more Tully than Stark. They were not wrong, thought Shiera. Shiera stood next to her mother, while her sisters stood on the other side of Shiera. They all fell to one knee and once their mother had stood up, the rest of the family followed.
Shiera payed no attention to her mother's word, but rather to the castle she would call home in a day. It wasn't very large compared to Harrenhal. Though she only spent less than 5 years at Harrenhal nothing could compare in size. It was dark and destroyed but it still had a dark beauty about it. Winterfell seemed more lively but nonetheless small.
Alysanne continued talking to the king as Shiera looked to Ser Andrew. Her attention turned to her sworn shields rather than the king who stood in front of her. She looked between them and the king seeing how they didn't look to different beside the coloring. Roland and Andrew had brown hair while the king had red hair. Well, auburn as most would say, but Shiera would just think of it as red. The king was more built and had a more fuller beard than the others. He was a handsome man, no doubt, but a face like that meant women would throw themselves at him. Shiera couldn't recall any bastards or mistresses, but she did remember Jeyne Westerling.
"Shiera greet his grace properly." Whispered her mother. Shiera put her attention on the king, and him alone since she got here and curtsied in front of him. The smile on her face told one story, but even Robb could see it was a forced one.
"It is an honor to be you my king. Winterfell is as lovely as the stories in the Riverlands say. I am honored to marry you tonight." Spoke Shiera.
"Lady Shiera I take it you were not listening to the conversation earlier?" Asked Robb.
"I am sorry your grace I've seemed to be memorized by Winterfell that I tuned out a bit." Apologized Shiera, but Robb knew that was a lie. Living in Harrenhal and going to living in Winterfell was a bit different, but a girl several years younger than him had no use of listening to boring conversations. He noticed the small glances she made between him and the knights behind her. She wasn't making it obvious but Robb wasn't dumb that he just turned the other cheek.
"I have decided to let you and your family settle in more. The wedding shall be tomorrow. That will give you more time." Stated Robb.
Give you more time? Give me more time for what?, thought Shiera. She rather get his damn marriage over with. "Thank you your grace that is most kind." Smiled Shiera.
"I shall have my mother escort you and your family to your bed chambers. There is a feast for your families arrival and to officially announce our marriage. Lady Alysanne." Robb nodded his head and walked away hearing the sound of Lady Alysanne's daughters started talking all at once.
Shiera watched as the king walked away and disappeared into a door leading gods know where. "I don't like this place." Whined Sanya.
"Shut up! You don't want any of the princesses and princes hearing you say that do you?!" Ordered Alissa.
"Stop ordering me around!" Yelled Sanya. Shiera hoped they wouldn't make a scene in Winterfell, but it hadn't been long but they were already bickering.
"Stop it all of you! I will not have any of you embarrass Shiera in front of her future family."
"Of course we wouldn't want that mother." Hissed Sanya. Shiera couldn't help but roll her eyes at her sister.
"Lady Blackmont. Welcome to Winterfell. I am sorry his grace could not speak more with you and your lovely family, but unfortunately he has important matters to discuss with his council." Apologized Lady Catelyn. Cat stared upon Lady Alysanne noting she was a dull women. No smile with dull brown eyes and hair.
She remembered Lysa telling her about Corbray's and how loyalty run deep into their bones. The current lord and uncle to Shiera was Lord Lyonel. He had turned bitter in his later years and was on his third wife, seeing how the first two died in childbirth along with both of his infant sons. Ser Lyn preferred men and gold and tried to marry Lysa after Lord Arryn's death. Ser Lucas was the youngest and a bore from the stories she had been told. Shiera clearly got her looks from her father. Shiera wasn't a plain girl like her mother but she wasn't the most beautiful. Jeyne was beautiful, remembered Cat, and she made Robb smile.
"Lady Shiera I hope to talk to you after the wedding. We must discuss your role as Queen of the North and your duties to House Stark as soon as possible." Smiled Cat.
"Of course Lady Stark." She never stops smiling does she?, thought Cat.
Once Lady Stark had left Shiera in her room and returned to were ever she came from earlier Shiera was greeted with the faces of her three sisters. "The king is very handsome." Smiled Anyssa.
"What do you want to be his whore?" Smirked Alissa before she got her arm pinched by Shiera.
"Stop it the both of you. Do you really want to embarrass yourselves like how you did earlier? Do you not understand the work father put in to arrange marriages like these?" Asked Shiera in annoyance.
"Your marriage probably. We shall be simple ladies and you shall be queen."
"You act if there are a dozen queens in Westeros. There are two Alissa! Two queens and Daenerys Targaryen is one of them if she can even secure her throne from Aegon the Pretender and Shireen Baratheon! Do you think I wanted this?! I shall gladly switch husbands with you should father agree to it." Snapped Shiera.
"We use to be so happy." Mumbled Sanya.
"Why would you say that?" Asked Anyssa.
"We all know it is true! We didn't fight this often! We never fought! Father didn't even speak a word to us and didn't even tell us goodbye! Father think these marriages with strengthen our house when it's doing the exact opposite. It's tearing us apart until we no longer consider each other family." Argued Sanya.
"Your not even a women grown and you think you know everything in this damn world." Snapped Alissa.
"Still smarter than you. It doesn't take much to notice that we are growing apart. For gods sake our house words are family above all. Our great-grandfather thought of those words because when he had nothing, he had family. We take care of our own because before Harrenhal this family was nothing. Or do you not remember how we were living off the good graces of House Royce since before father was born? You act as if father has been the lord of some great castle for years. I'm smarter than all of you combined because I actually knows how this world works. I'm young yes, but that does not mean all you can treat me as if I am a child!" Yelled Sanya.
Sanya was born to be a lady a great castle. She was the one who was born to a queen, not Shiera. Had Shiera been born with the wits of Sanya she would have men crawling at her feet. Sanya always knew what she was talking about, but her anger got the best of her. If she kept it under control more people would listen to her.
"I think it's time we change for the feast tonight. Alissa, Anyssa, could you leave me Sanya alone?"
"What? No!"
"Both of you out! Or do I need to call mother?"
Shiera watched as the twins walk away a bit angry and Alissa had the decency to slam the door as they both left. Once the door shut Shiera pulled Sanya onto her lap and began to play with the ends of her hair. "If any one of us deserves to sit on a throne it is you." Whispered Shiera.
"Father would never allow it. I haven't bled yet." Stated Sanya.
"You have the mind of a queen we all know it."
"He's as old as you. Father told me that he's a sweet boy and I'll love Starfall, but he is wrong. I hate the North, I hate the Riverlands, and I'll hate Starfall. I want to go back to the Vale. I want to go back to Runestone. I hate Harrenhal. It's too big and old and scary." Whined Sanya.
"Father won't send you to Starfall until you have bled. Besides, only a queen can dismiss her lady in waiting for marriage." Smiled Shiera.
"You would keep me here? Father wanted me back at Harrenhal after your wedding. He will never allow it." Stammered Sanya.
"Well, I shall be Queen in the North by the morrow. I don't see how he can deny me this when he has forced this marriage on me." Smiled Shiera.
"Won't you have Northern ladies to attend to you. It would make sense for it." Suggested Sanya.
"Most queens pick highborn ladies or their families. We have no cousins. All we have are each other. Anyssa is marrying a Redfort, Alissa to marrying a Tallhart. They will have to leave, but your the only one who gets to stay." Mumbled Shiera.
"What if I don't marry Edric Dayne?" Asked Sanya.
"What are you talking about? Sanya, of course you have to marry him once you have bled. What he plans after that is up to him. You know that." Insisted Shiera.
"What if I marry someone else. Someone from the North. A second, third, even a fourth son and we could both stay here in Winterfell. I would get to stay here with you." Smiled Sanya.
"Father would not like it."
"He ran away with mother after he took her maiden head. Our grandmother was a milkmaid. Our great-grandmother was a whore from the Vale. They followed their hearts and ran away with the women they love. He forced us into marriages we didn't want when there are 3 generations of men who got to follow their hearts." Said Sanya in anger.
"You forget they had no title nor lands. Father is still a new lord that needs to show the Riverlands and the Northern kingdom that he is capable. He used us for marriage alliances because it would do him no good to keep his daughters in Harrenhal." Explained Shiera.
"We could run away to the Free Cities. All us, even father and mother. We could start over. It would be a new life for us all." Hoped Sanya.
"You are smart enough to know this is as best as our lives will be. The curse of Harrenhal is upon us. We will be lucky to live it out."
"Just because I'm smart enough to know when I'm lying to myself doesn't mean I don't like to dream a little bit." Said Sanya as she rolled her eyes.
"Get off. I think it's time to let Alissa and Anyssa inside we must get ready for the feast." Sanya had gotten off of Shiera's lap but she stayed in front of her looking up.
"Wait. Before they come in I just wanted to say one more thing. I know you won't like me saying this, but I need to. Tonight, and on your wedding night you must make an effort to have a child. You must give yourself to him before he can gain control over you."
"Did mother tell you that?" Asked Shiera.
"No. We must make sure we have control in our situation. Once we all provide a son we have to go back. We have to go back to the Vale. It's the only way for us to be happy. Before the war, before Harrenhal, we promised each other we would somehow all end up in the Vale and die there no matter where our life takes us. We made a promise to each other. Family above all." Explained Sanya.
"Will you do the same when you marry Edric Dayne?"
"Of course. Well, in my case, it will much easier. One child, son or daughter, will due for an heir. You three have to have a son." Smirked Sanya.
"Go get Alissa and Anyssa we must get ready, and with those two it will take a while."
All of them had pinned their hair into a long braid. All different, but similar style. Sanya was dressed in blue dress. Simple, only because Sanya had always dressed in solid colors. Alissa was dressed in the same blue with silver stars that started from the bottom of the dress and made their way up and disappeared once they reached her waist. Anyssa wore a similar dress just silver with blue stars. Alissa and Anyssa had a tendency to wear the same dress, just in reverse. They were twins and they took advantage of their situation. Their mother had Shiera in the most beautiful dress making her stand out to the king but to show she is worthy and beautiful enough to be a queen. It was a black dress and silver stars like the one Alissa wore and had a silver sword on the back where her spine was. House Blackmont of Harrenhal's banner was a black field with a silver moon and sword. Her father designed it himself since the king gave him lordship over Harrenhal. Their mother made them new dresses almost every week. Each one grander than the last.
There was a knock at the door and the girls got quiet as their mother opened the door. A Stark soldier stood there nervous to the point he couldn't look even look Alysanne in the eyes. "Is something wrong ser?"
"No my lady. The king has sent me to get Lady Shiera. He requests that he escort her in for the feast as they are betrothed and to be married tomorrow." Stuttered the knight.
"Oh of course. We would never deny the king's request." Smiled Alysanne, "Shiera, darling, come to the door."
"Yes mother?"
"This knight will escort you to the king. He had requested that he escort you to the feast."
"Of course. I shall just get my cloak." As Shiera grabbed the black cloak from the bed, but was stopped by a small hand on her wrist.
"Remember you must make an effort." Whispered Sanya. All Shiera could do was nod at her before fastening her cloak around her. She felt the wind as the walked from the guest chambers to the front of the king's chambers. When Shiera finally looked at the king everything seemed different. He held his hand out to her and she carefully placed her hand in his, but she didn't expect them to be so warm.
"My lady, thank you for agreeing to this."
"It would be rude for me to refuse an offer from my king, wouldn't it your grace?" Shiera had smiled at him and his lips had twitched a bit to almost form a smile. She counted this as a small victory for the bigger war ahead.
They started to walk into the great hall and as soon as they stood in front of the doors the noise had stopped with all eyes on them. Shiera recalled half way through their walk she had grabbed a hold of the king's arm by wrapping both of hers around it. When Shiera began to get nervous she began to pull away from him but his hand had stopped her. Once the king began to walk everyone returned to enjoying the feast and payed little attention to him.
As he sat down Shiera had moved to make her way to her sisters and mother in a nearby table. She felt him grab her hand stopping her from moving any more. "Lady Shiera please have a seat." She couldn't, that seat was meant for a queen and she no one queen. At least, not yet she was.
"Your grace that is not appropriate. I can not sit next to you in such a manner if I am not your wife." Explained Shiera.
"You are to be my wife by tomorrow are you not Lady Shiera?"
"I am, but I can not have Northerners hate me before I even become your wife."
"Then as your king I command that you take this seat next to me." Shiera saw him smile and she took the seat next to him. Once again the noise died down and all eyes were on hers.
Shiera placed her hands on her lap with her eyes staring down looking at the fact that her feet didn't even reach the ground. "They're staring." Said Shiera.
"I learned to get use to the stares, and so shall you. Once you have a crown on your head they all want to please you." Explained Robb.
"Why aren't you wearing your crown your grace?"
"I wanted to show you that I am your equal. That once we are wed you shall be my queen, my equal in all ways."
"Right now you are my king. Right now we are not equal your grace." Remarked Shiera.
He didn't reply to her for several seconds until he turned his body fully to her. "When your father protected me at the Twins I gave him Harrenhal. When your father offered you as my bride I accepted. My mother didn't want me to marry you. She suggested a Mormont, a Manderly, anybody else. There was no need for me to marry a girl from the Riverlands, but I thought after everything your father has done I could give him this. My mother has tried to get me to marry for the past 5 years so I could have an heir but I have heirs. I have my brothers and sisters so there is no need for an heir."
"Why are you telling me this?" Asked Shiera.
"I need you to know that I will never force you to share your bed with me. I will tell all the Northern lords there will be no use for a bedding. The marriage can be consummated later, until we trust each other that's all."
Shiera smiled at his words as she reached for his hand. "Is there anyway we can go somewhere private to talk your grace?"
"Once everyone has food and wine in their bellies and the dance floor is open people will barely noticed if we slipped away for a few moments." Shiera watched him smile a bit.
"Perhaps I should go with my sisters. They hate me enough as it is. Sitting here with you as if I am your equal has made them hate me more. Future queen or not your people will never love me, they will always hate me your grace."
Shiera left the table and joined her sisters. Sanya made Alissa move from her seat so Shiera could give her all of her attention. Sanya refused to talk as servants began to place plates of food in front of them. A cupbearer offered them wine, but all the girls had refused asking for water instead. Once they were in the clear Sanya turned to Shiera and made sure not to be so loud when she talked.
"I see the king has taken a liking to you so that seems good. What did you talk about?"
"He wants us to be equals. He also said that the marriage doesn't have to be consummated after the wedding."
"Don't let your guard down. Don't loose control. Those are just sweet words and you can not let your guard down Shiera. Besides, the marriage must be consummated., you know that."
"I've asked to speak to him alone later on." Replied Shiera after taking a sip of water.
"Good. Keep his interest and the rest will fall into place. While you were with the king I met a very special man." Smirked Sanya.
"Need I remind you that you are betrothed Sanya. Speacial, how?"
"Jon. The king's half brother."
"What do you want with him?" Asked Shiera.
"He is my way of staying in Winterfell. I plan to convince father to dissolve the marriage between me and Lord Dayne in favor for a marriage between me and Jon." Replied Sanya.
"Jon will never hold the Stark name, nor any lands and titles you know that. You will be a Snow and so will your children. Father would never agree to that. Besides, you are a child and the honorable Jon Snow will never wed and bed a child." Snapped Shiera.
"Father will agree to it because I say so. How do you think you got your marriage to a king? It was either the King in the South or our King in the North and a marriage to the south would bring nothing to this family. The south is still fighting and they have yet to choose a ruler. Daenerys, Mother of Dragons, Aegon the Pretender, or the last trueborn Baratheon. Do you honestly believe that father is smart enough to arranged such marriages? I was the one who helped. When the time comes and father talks to our beloved King in the North about a marriage Jon will have to agree." Hissed Sanya.
"If you helped, than why were you so angry with me when father announced the marriages and after we left Harrenhal?" Asked Shiera.
"Unlike you and the rest of our family I do what I need to get what I want. A fit and a few tears are the easiest way to manipulate any man or woman."
"So he is just a way to never leave Winterfell that is all?" Asked Shiera more calmly.
"Yes. He's an honorable man and a marriage with him wouldn't be so bad. It could be worse and despite the large age difference I know that I can trust him. He is a kind man."
"You tell me to not to let my guard down, but it seems that you have done the same." Hissed Shiera.
"If you think I ever let my guard down you are dumber than you think Shiera. You know me, you know who I am."
"Sanya one of these days you will make a mistake. You will get yourself killed, or worse you'll get this family killed."
"Our family holds much power now. To kill a Blackmont, I would think would anger a lot of people. Family above all, isn't that right Shiera. No matter what name we bare after marriage, no matter what heirs we produce we will always be Blackmonts Shiera. Family above all will always be our words. We promised each other a long time ago that we would protect each other. No matter what happened in our lives we would return to the Vale and die there as when we were born. Do you plan to take your word back now Shiera?" Asked Sanya.
"I need some air." Shiera stood up abruptly and walked out of the great hall into a passage way leading to gods know where.
After a few heavy breathes the cold finally hit her as she forgot her cloak on her chair. She rubbed her arms looking around to see if she could find her way back. When she turned around she found herself crash into another body, her hands feeling furs between her fingers. "Oh I'm so sorry." Her eyes looked up to see bright blue eyes and she stepped back fixing herself. "You grace I am so sorry."
He smiled at her and she found herself smiling back. "I saw you leave so I decided this was a good time to talk."
"Won't they wonder where you are?" Asked Shiera.
"My mother will keep them busy. I just told her I was going to my chambers to lay down for a bit. It's been a busy week so she understood that I need my rest." Explained the king.
"I don't want to talk your grace." Confessed Shiera.
"I don't understand."
Shiera forced herself on her toes in order for her lips to reach his. She placed her hands on his chest for balance as she kissed him. She felt his hands wrap around her waist pulling her closer. Shiera pulled away placing small kisses on his cheek, jaw, and neck.
"When you said you wanted to talk, what that just a cover for you wanting to kiss me?" Shiera had laughed a little as she continued to kiss his neck and jaw. She ignored him as she moved her hands around his chest. Once one of her hands began to rub him through his beeches he grabbed her hand to make Shiera stop.
"You don't need to do this." Shiera looked up at him with the same smile on her face.
"You said it yourself your grace you need your rest. Why don't you let me take care of you for a night?" She had kissed him expecting him to continue there heated moment, but he pulled away. He immediately grabbed her hand leading her away from the open view and into a room. She watched as he locked the door for more privacy before turning back to her.
"I always heard about Stark honor. Does this count as honor your grace? Having a women in your chambers when you are to be wed in the morrow?" She had smirked at him which caused him to smile.
He pressed his lips on hers as she began to take off his cloak. "You are to be my wife aren't you? You came to me didn't you? I won't bed you, but that doesn't mean we can't bring each other pleasure."
"Is that what you say to all the maidens who throw themselves at you your grace?" There she went with that smile of hers that made him smile too.
"To be fair I've never done this before." He confessed.
"Good. Neither have I." Shiera had began to unlace his breeches and had her hand find it's way in his breeches as she continued to kiss him. Finding him already hard for her only made things better. When she removed her hand he left out a small groan that made Shiera smile. Gods that smile could melt that wall, he thought. "Don't you worry my king. I can assure you I am not a tease." She left out a small laugh as she led him on the edge of his bed. Robb leaned back using his arms for a bit of balance as Shiera had gotten on her knees. Oh how Shiera was thankful that her mother choose to make all of them wear braids. She wrapped one hand around his cock while the other rested on his thigh. Shiera worked with her hand a little, smearing the little bit of his arousal over the rest of his cock before slowly placing it in her mouth. Shiera felt the king lift his hips forward, but she pushed in back completely on his back. She continue to suck his cock using her hand to move up and down on the rest of him that couldn't fit in her mouth. It didn't take long for the king to spill hisself in her mouth. He didn't think she would continue to suck him but the sight of her swallowing his cum aroused him. Shiera gotten up as he laced up his breeches smiling at her. "How was that your grace?"
"I think you and me will be very happy my lady." Before Shiera could reply to him there was several knocks at the door. Shiera didn't seem in freak out as much as he did.
"Robb, why is your door locked? Are you alright? Is something wrong?"
"Mother please come back later."
"Robb open this door now." He sighed and slowly opened the door, being carefully to not let his mother see Shiera.
"Robb why did you leave the feast. It is rude to our guest."
"Mother please don't be so loud." He pleaded.
"Robb what is going on? Is there someone with you?"
"Gods no mother! I was resting that is all." Shiera watched as his mother slammed the door to reveal her.
"Resting was it? Lady Shiera would you please leave me and my son to talk alone."
"Of course. Good bye your grace. Goodbye Lady Stark."
"What was she doing in here, and alone at the matter?" Asked Catelyn as Robb closed the door.
"We were simply talking mother. I'm getting to know my future wife that is all."
"When you gave Blackmont lordship over Harrenhal I did not object. That man saved your life by killing Roose Bolton before he could stab you in the heart. He is a loyal man, though I was weary of where his alliances were in the beginning. Now you have accepted a marriage between you and his eldest daughter? Soon he will want a marriage to Bran or Rickon. We don't now his intentions and I think it was foolish to accept." Explained Catelyn.
"You have wanted me to marry for years now mother. You wanted a Riverlands match in the first place and after rejection I've accepted one."
"Not to a Blackmont! They've spent less than 5 year in the Riverlands. They are more Vale people than anything else. All Lord Blackmont and his children have known is the Vale. The match could easily be undone. Perhaps you can marry a Manderly or Karstark." Suggested Catelyn.
"Mother I shall marry Shiera Blackmont and that is the end of it. She seems very capable." Remarked Robb.
"Did she offer herself to you? Was that all it took? Her spreading her legs to you before the wedding."
"I will forget you even insulted my betrothed. Lady Shiera did no such thing mother. She is kind and she shall make a good Queen in the North."
AN: Want to start off by saying this is an AU. The way I write these characters will be how I see them after 5 years and a war. If characters you like are to OOC then I won't do anything to change that and there are other stories to read.