Chapter 5: Castle Highgarden

Finally, after nineteen long days filled with traveling, Ailith could see the city of Highgarden. It wasa round city, which circled high up in several levels. The highest level was the castle. Just like the walls around the several levels, the castle was made of clear white walls where not one brick or stone was visible. It seemed to rise out the ground like a mountain. High. Beautiful. And majestic. Ailith thought it would look even more beautiful in Summer, when all sorts of trees, flowers and plants were growing around it. yet even in the pouring rain Ailith thought it was a beautiful city. Completely different from Winterfell. Nineteen days ago she had left it, her home. Her old home. Highgarden would be her new home. It had taken a few days longer to reach Highgarden, for the car which carried most of Ailiths baggage had been some trouble. Autumn had begun with a lot of rain, turning roads into mud pads, causing the car to be stuck more than a few times.
'Are you alright, my princess?' Mysah asked as he walked up to her. Ailith stood next to Thunder and looked to the city. She had already gotten use to the rain to notice how soaking wet she actually was. Mysah's dark beard and hair had grown long the past days. It gave him a strong, impressive look, a Northern look. Ailith took a deep breath and threw the reins over Thunders head.
'Let us not leave them waiting any longer,' she said and sat down in her saddle. Queen Amelia was known for her impatience.

Within three hours Ailith had finally reached the gate of the final wall: the Castle Wall. It was still raining and she realized how horrible she must have looked. In her very un-charming and smelly riding clothes. Her hood over her wet and messy hair. Her face cold and tired. She prayed to the gods that Queen Amelia would give her one nights rest, even though Ailith felt like she could sleep an entire week! Still, when the large with flowers and trees decorated gate opened, Ailith straightened her back and showed a small smile. There was no warm welcome when they arrived at the courtyard for her and her men. Ailith was welcomed by a few people of the council and told that she could refresh herself and go to sleep, for tomorrow she would meet the King and Queen. Ailith was as well glad as well a bit offended. There was no-one to welcome her? She was just send to her room, like a child? Not even Rowan was there. Still, she thanked the man and gave her horse to the stable boy.

The halls in Highgarden Castle were beautiful. Paintings, carpets, decorations. Especially the decorations. Pillars with flowers swirling around them. Door handles like leaves. Flowers on the ceiling. All sorts of small details. Ailith loved it, it was so different from Winterfell. It almost looked to Ailith as if she had walked into a completely different world, as she walked after her new maid Amai to her new room. At least, it would be her room until she would be wed to Rowan, but who knew how long their betrothing could still endure! As Ailith followed Amai and was followed by her two maids, someone showed up in the shadow of the wall. Ailith stopped walking, and felled her heart skip a beat as her breathing fastened.
'Go ahead,' she said, and the three maids quickly walked away. Ailith could not move, when her maidens turned around the corner and her betrothed walked out of the shadows. Somehow she could not move, but within a few large steps he had reached her. Rowan wrapped his arms around her and lifted her in the air. Ailith clung her arms around his neck and deeply inhaled his smell. When he put her down again, she could only smile and stroke his cheek. He had not shaved it and it showed stubbles. He kissed her and held her close to him.
'I'm sorry I was not outside to meet you,' he suddenly said. Ailith looked a bit surprised, she had not said a thing about it yet! She shrugged her shoulders, but Rowan shook his head.
'I should have been there,' he said, 'But, its my father.'
'Your father?' Ailith looked at him with big eyes. King Alexander the fourth had always been a very kind man with a big heart and a big mouth. Ailith had always liked him. Rowan looked to the ground, but Ailith bend a bit to look him in the eyes.
'White Fever,' Rowan said. Ailith looked at her betrothed with sad eyes and stroked his cheek. He was having such a hard time with it, she could see it in his eyes. She pressed herself close against him, but now she was holding him. She was searching for words to tell him, to comfort him, to let him know she was there, that it was alright to cry, that it would be fine. But she realized, it was best to say nothing. Sometimes thing were said best, without words.
'How are you?' she asked after a moment.
'Ohw, he's hanging on. He can still lead councils and-'
'No, how are you,' she asked again. Rowan sighed deep and lowered his head.
'You're tired, aren't you?' slowly she lifted his chin, 'Don't forget, Rowan, you're also just human.'
'You don't understand-' he snapped.
'I do,' she interrupted him, looking him fierce in the eyes, 'I lost my mother and my little brother. I had to take care of my four brothers and my father. Trust me, I know how you feel! You're the oldest, you will be King some day. Your mother has never been a person to show, or perhaps even feel, emotions. You have to be strong for your siblings and be a support to as well your family as your country.'
'…' Rowan looked at her and opened his mouth, but nothing came out. She hit a sensitive string he had told no-one about. Ailith saw it and laid one hand on his shoulder and her other hand in his neck.
'Be that strong person, for them,' she stroked his cheek, 'But with me, you can be who you are, and let all your emotions flow.'
'I love you,' Rowan whispered as his head against Ailiths neck, pulling her close against him. Ailith wrapped her arms around him. She had learned from her mother that the King would be strong to the people, and the Queen would be weak for the people. But as husband and wife, the roles were switched around. For even the toughest men needed a shoulder to cry on, or a friendly word, or an arm around them. Ailith kissed him and smiled. This was going to work, she would do everything to make it work.

The next morning, Ailith was expected to attend the morning meeting, where everyone could tell there problems and difficulties to the King. As her hair was braided, she could not stop yawning and prayed she could contain herself at the morning meeting. As the betrothed of the crown prince, she would be standing on the lowest stair of the round stairway, existing of five stairs, leading to the two thrones for the King and Queen. Rowan would stand next to his father, and all the other important people and children were divided over the stairs. the rest of the square throne room would be filled with councilors, soldiers and many others. Since this was also the day that Ailith would be presented to the court of Highgarden as their future Queen, Ailith hoped she would not fall asleep.
As she walked towards the throne, she realized she was dressed as a Northener. She wore an icy grey dress, with wide sleeves which almost reached the ground. Around the edges there were light blue flowers. Just below the waist she wore a silver belt. Her shoulders were completely covered and the front of her dress was cut in a 'U'-form but still pretty high on her chest. Unlike all the women around her. They wore bright colored dresses with tight sleeves. The dresses had an opening from shoulder to shoulder and was cut pretty deep over the chest, but did not show too much. Ailith tried so hard not to look at all the whispering people around the path she had to walk, she almost did not see Rowan. Halfway the throne room, she met with her betrothed. She bended to him and he bended to her. He offered her his arm and she took it, together they walked to the throne. Now that she walked with Rowan, Ailith already felt stronger. But a few steps before the stairs to the throne they stopped. They both bended, but Rowan almost immediately stood up again and walked up to his fathers side. Rowan and another soldier helped the King to rise to his feet and kept him standing.
'Welcome, Ailith, daughter of King Benjen, first of his name, princess of Winterfell,' he said. Ailith could hear in his voice how sick he was. When she rose and looked at him she was truly shocked. His pink cheeks had turned white, he could hardly stand on his own, he looked truly gaunt and all the joy and happiness she knew had disappeared in his eyes.
'Thank you, your Grace,' she said nonetheless, 'My lord father sends his greetings and wishes you all the best.'
'Your lord father has always been a good friend of mine,' he replied, 'Stand with us, child.'
'Thank you, your Grace,' she said as she bend and walked towards the first stair step. She stood beside what looked like someone from the council and King Alexander sat down. The morning meeting could begin.

After the morning meeting, King Alexander was immediately brought to his chamber. Ailith felt so sorry for the man, he had barely said anything. Most of the counseling had come from either the Queen or Rowan. King Alexander almost had to be carried away, but his pride would not allow that. Still, everyone could see how weak their King had become. Ailith wished there was something she could do, but did not know the way at all in the castle and knew she could use some sleep. She did not expect that Rowan had all the time in the world for her – even though she did wish for it – so she decided to light the fire and read a book. She would love to get some sleep, but Ailith knew that she could never sleep at night when she had slept on the bright day. Even though the day was not truly bright. But just as Aime had the fire burning, someone knocked on the door. Ailith looked a bit surprised to Aime, she was not expecting anyone, was she? Olga opened the door and Rowan entered. Ailith immediately saw he was tensed, tired and red-eyed.
'My lord father wishes to see you, my princess,' he said, always reminding his courtesies around strangers. Ailith stood up.
'I will go with you,' she said and walked towards him. She signaled to her maids to stay in her room. When she waked out her room, she saw three soldiers were awaiting them: one to walk in front of them and two to walk behind them. Ailith took Rowans hand and he immediately took her hand tightly in his.
'How are you?' she asked soft when they were alone in the hallway. Rowan sighed and blinked a few times.
'Tired,' he admitted. Ailith pinched his hand, but did not say anything for other people were walking down the hallway now. They walked on and reached a large green door with the golden flower of the Reach on it. The door immediately opened for Rowan and they walked right in. The King and Queen's bedroom was a large square room, but it felt so cold and strange to Ailith. There were hardly any decorations. Only the bed, two chairs, a small table, a carpet on the floor and two on the wall and an ottoman. And even though there were many big windows, the room still looked dark. Still, Ailith did not have a lot of time to look at it. Rowan walked straight to his father and took her with him by her hand. Even when he stood next his father, he did let go of her hand.
'Go,' King Alexander whispered to the several doctors and counselors who filled the room, 'leave me with my son and his betrothed.'
'As you wish,' they said, knowing better than to argue with their sick King. When they were all gone, Rowan took his fathers hand.
'You wanted to see her father?' he said.
'The both of you,' King Alexander said and sat up straight in bed with a lot of trouble. Rowan knew better than to offer him any help, though Ailith could feel his grip around her hand tighten.
'You see,' the King went on, 'I want the two of you to marry, while I'm still alive. Now I may not have received any dream of vision from any gods, but I do remember your birth, son. Do you know what his name means, child?'
'Bringer of Summer,' Ailith replied and she could see a twinkle in the old mans eyes.
'Indeed,' he smiled, 'My son, you were born on the last day of the Winter more than twenty-four years ago. When you were born, the gods did speak to me and your mother. You would brings the Summer to the people when it's Winter. Now I've seen far too many Winters to count, but this one will be a harsh and long Winter, I can feel it in my bones.'
'Father-'
'No, son, let an old man say what he has on his mind,' King Alexander waved his son to be silent, but took Ailiths hand, 'You know your words, don't you?'
'Winter is coming,' she replied. She was now standing before Rowan, but could feel he was stood almost against her.
'Winter is coming, child,' he said with urging eyes, 'You have to marry in a month, for within two months the first snow will fall.'

It took a while, but ta-da!
Please let me know what you think of it!