Chapter 7 : Two Become One

Ailith laid in het bed, curled up looking through her window. For the first time in weeks, it was not raining. Together with the words of King Alexander, Ailith feared there would be barely any Autumn. All she could hear right now was the silence before the storm. Today all the guests had arrived, but according to ancient tradition none of them had seen her. not her cousin, not her brother, not her father – not even Rowan! She had been in her room all day long. Only Saya had been allowed to visit her. She had assured Ailith everything was going just fine. The Queen still did not know about the dress of the veil. Saya assured her everything would be kept a secret. The news that amazed Ailith the most was that last night King Alexander had opened his eyes and started talking. He had eaten a bit last day and sworn be would be at his son's wedding. He was far from better and this would probably be only a small pike before the final downfall, but he had sworn not to stay in bed but to raise his hands and bless his son before the gods. Standing.
All of the sudden Ailith sat straight up in bed. Her door opened and a tall man entered. Ailith pulled the blankets up to her chin, even though she was wearing a long nightgown. But when she saw the smiling face in the moonlight, she dropped them again.
'Do you always sneak into people's bedroom?' she said softly.
'Only when they're not sleeping,' the low voice of her betrothed answered. He crossed the room in a few steps, sat down beside her and wrapped his arms around her. Ailith curled her arms around his neck and kissed him. When he took her hands and kissed them, he saw the ring she wore. It made him smile. It was the ring he had given her, back in Winterfell.
'Still wearing it,' he smiled.
'Always,' Ailith smiled and looked at it, the direwolf shone in the moonlight.
'I spoke to your lord father today,' he said, stroking her hands.
'I hope he was polite,' Ailith said, knowing the nature of Northern men, especially when it came to family.
'He was,' Rowan smiled, 'he wished me luck, happiness, many sons and told me that if I ever mistreated you I would pray the Others would come for me before he would reach me.
'O dear,' Ailith giggled, 'and what did you reply to that'
'I said that should I ever mistreat you, I would go to him myself,' he said and kissed her hands. Ailith smiled and treasured the words in her heart.
'Please don't shave tomorrow,' she said as she stroke his stubbled cheeks.
'If it would please you, my princess,' he said polite.
'It would please me, my prince,' she smiled and kissed him.
'Very well then,' he said and kissed her back. But after a moment he stood up.
'I should go,' he announced, 'my mother had been checking my room the last days, to see if I'm sleeping. And if she finds me here… I think you'll be marrying a dead man.'
'…'Ailith had no idea what to say to that, and Rowan smiled at her amazed face.
'Sleep well, my bride,' he said and kissed her forehead.

'My lady, your lord father,' Inger said. Benjen walked in and looked at his daughter in amazement. His little girl had grown up. Ailith had spend the entire morning on preparing and was almost ready. She used a room in a small grey chapel to change. It stood just outside the city between the hill on which Highgarden was build and the godswood where she would wed today. The color of her dress was soft white and a mix between a Northern dress and a typical Reach dress. The opening was cut pretty deep and reached from the end of one shoulder to another. The lower part of the dress, below her waist, was made of lots and lots of fabric, making many folding, and was followed by a two meter trail. The sleeves were widening from halfway the upper arm and were cut so deep that they reached the ground. Since the sleeves were cut so deep, Ailith had tight sleeves below the wide sleeves made of lace and also covered half her hand. Just below her waist, Ailith wore an elegant belt, made of silver and metal, showing all sorts of flowers from the North. At the ends of her dress – the ends of the sleeves, the top opening and the bottom – were decorated with a ling of ivory colored flowers. Subtle and light, yet just visible. Ailiths dark wavy was almost completely loose. There were eight small braids on top of her head to keep all the hair out of her face. They were bound together with an oval silver clip, which showed a blooming tree – the sign of Spring. Ailith wore very few jewelry: the ring she got from Rowan, silver earrings her father had given her and a silver necklace her mother had given her. Ailiths black lined eyes shone when she looked at her father.
'My daughter,' he could only say and kissed her cheeks. He felt so proud, yet sad. Today he would give her away and she would no longer be 'his girl'.
'Your Grace,' Saya said as she showed the veil. It was made of lace and had a flower decoration by the edges. After Queen Amelia had lead Saya and Ailith to the chapel where Ailith was to change, Alyna had brought the real dress to them. Since Rowan and Ailith would be wed before the hearttree in the godswood, Ailith thanked the gods again it had not started raining yet again.
'Help me, if you will,' Benjen said. As was tradition, the father of the bride would cover his daughter with a veil – which would stand for her old House and family – and her betrothed would remove it before the hearttree, showing he would accept her and she would now be part of his House. The veil was a story apart. It covered Ailith to the waist on the front and reached the ground and even went on a while with the trail on the back.
'You look beautiful,' Benjen said as he kissed his daughters hand.
'My lady,' Saya quickly walked up to Ailith and handed her a bouquet of white and blue flowers : roses, lilies, and other flowers Ailith did not know the name of. Ailith was to nervous to thank the woman but did smile at her. She took the flowers and took a deep breath.
'Are you ready?' Saya asked. Ailith nodded.

As Ailith walked to the hearttree, there was almost an entire parade before her. The very first were three Northern men on horses, carrying her banner. Next came a small group of soldiers. Behind them her brothers. After them came her father with Gunnora and after them came Ailith. After her came more soldiers and she was escorted by soldiers around her. Ailith was so nervous as she walked to the hearttree, she had to tell herself to breath in and out and keep on walking. Ailith had not even heard what her brothers had said to her when she walked out of the chapel. Before they entered the godswood – where all the lord, ladies, Kings, Queen, princes, princesses and other important people were standing – Ailith had to stand still and make sure she would not faint!

Finally she could see Rowan before the hearttree. His father and mother behind him. Queen Amelia looked with her mouth open from amazement, but Ailith did not see it. Rowan removed the veil from her head and gave it to King Benjen. She only saw her betrothed and walked towards him. Ailith heard nothing from all the words the High Septa said. She only looked at Rowan, in full armor. She could feel their hands be bound together with a white cloth and lifted in the air. That was it, they were married. And she had not noticed one bit of it, Ailith realized when the crowd cheered applauded. She was helped on her horse and together with her husband she rode through the streets up to the castle, followed by all their guests. The people waved, cheered, gave her flowers. Ailith smiled, waved back, accepted the flowers and smiled at Rowan.

Ailith had hoped she would have moment alone with her husband, but there was no such thing. A large feast meal was prepared for them. There was food a plenty: duck, goose, boar, deer, pigeon, turkey, fish – name it and it was there! Ailith sat along side her husband at the large table at the end of the hall, accompanied by their families. Rowan's parents and siblings on his side and hers on her side. There were musicians, gifts, wishes, jugglers, dancers, sorcerers and so much more. Every now and than another lord would waggle towards them, raise his glass, murmur something and drink all his wine. Halfway the evening Rowan took Ailiths hand again and pinched it as he winked. Ailith was getting tired, but did not want to seem rude towards her guests. Neither Queen Amelia or anyone of the Lannister family had spoken to her, only to Rowan. But Ailith was too happy to say something about it. Ailith thought she had shown Amelia that she was no longer in control, Ailith would be. King Alexander managed to keep present and smiling, even though his face turned pale again and he did not speak nor did he touch food. Ailith thanked the gods he was at her wedding, but thanked the gods even more for her healthy father.

Finally, after hours and hours, when the moon already stood high in the sky, Rowan stood up. He thanked everyone for their gifts, wished and presence. He took Ailith by her hand and accompanied by a guard formed by his and her men they left the room. As soon as the doors closed behind them the feast went on and Ailith realized where they were going. To his room. Together. Of course together, she immediately thought, they were married now! Still, she could not help but to get nervous again. Neither of them said a word as they walked the hallways towards his room. Only after Rowan had closed the door behind them and lit a few candles that they spoke.

'You look amazing,' he said softly and walked up to her. She had no time to reply, for he took her in his arms and kissed her passionately. Ailith wrapped her arms around his neck and let him lift her up and carry her to his bed. She did not even look around to see what his room looked like. She only cared for him. She had once heard the Dothraki called their husband their sun-and-stars, their everything.
'I love you,' she heard Rowan murmur as he laid her down on his bed and kiss her neck. Ailith laid her hands on his back and bit her lip. Gods, she was nervous. Rowan seemed to notice for he stopped and looked at her. Gently he touched her cheek and looked her in the eyes.
'Are you scared?' he asked. She did not know why, but suddenly Ailith sat straight up in bed, turning her back to him. She had not been naked within the presence of a man since she had been seven – and that had been with her brothers. Gently Rowan sat down on his knees behind her and moved his hands from her shoulder down her arms and up again. He moved her hair over her shoulder, kissed her neck and slowly began to open her dress. When he was done, he slowly slid it down her shoulder. She was almost naked now, but somehow cared less. Rowan turned her chin towards him and kissed her. Ailith turned her body around and moved on her knees towards him, slowly loosing more of her dress. She could feel his warm hands on her naked back and slowly began to unbutton his tunic – thank the gods he had already removed his armor. As she pulled of his tunic, he gently laid her down on the cold blankets. He sat on top op her and looked at her. Her cheeks had turned red, but she looked him in the eyes. Gently they played with each others fingers as they just looked at each other for a moment. Than Rowan bend towards her, kissed her and made love to her.

The next morning Ailith awoke by the sound of raindrops against the window. When she took a deep breath she smelled the sweet smell of Rowan, of her husband. She laid curled up against him, head on his chest, his hand around her waist. When she lifted her head, she saw he was already awake. He kissed her and stroke her naked back. She moved a bit up and kissed him. As he wrapped his other hand also around her, Ailith rolled on top of him. Slowly she could feel his manhood rise and they made love again. And again and again and again. The first three days of their marriage Rowan and Ailith were one.

And there it is: Chapter 7 !

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