Author's Note: I will just warn you ahead that since Effie and Haymitch are a different age, world and circumstance, they will be slightly ooc. But I did do my best still. I hope you still give me a chance. 3 :3 3 ~
Also I did a bit of research and Sapphire and Steel is a title an old British cop show? XD Eh, I'm keeping the name anyway XD
It had been five days since her parents left for the nearest port. She couldn't go with them for the port is too far, so she settled with waving at them from top of the wall of Winterfell. They had divided the men they brought from Tarth. To ease her parents' worries, she was left with the greater half, including Aron, Evenfall Hall's master-at-arms, with Euphemia.
Effie became restless. She tried to write a letter to her parents to send to Tarth even though they won't be arriving at about two moons, but not much happened. She was free to explore the castle but not many places were particularly interesting to her. She wanted to sketch the castle exterior- she had always loved seeing castles and towers- but eventually she lost the inspiration because Winterfell wasn't properly restored yet. She would talk to Aron sometimes, since he was the only one she knew the most from the men, but they couldn't have much topics to discuss about. The handmaidens were pleasant enough but they often laugh about things that Euphemia couldn't understand. She wished her septa was here, but she had been sick at the time, so no females but her and her lady mother went along their journey to Winterfell.
Most of the time, she just read. She read at different places in the castle, walking as much as possible, but it had been tiring, too.
Euphemia sighed. She didn't feel like reading anymore. So she just pulled out fresh paper and dipped her quill in ink, she heard a horn blow in the distance.
She wondered which noble arrived. Perhaps it was a Northerner. A Manderly, perhaps.
Outside, footsteps clattered and scuttled about. Euphemia opened the door and saw a handmaiden posed to knock on the door.
"Lord Stark and his son has arrived, m'lady," the handmaiden said after bowing. "Does m'lady need me to help her dress and wash?"
"I have already taken a bath. But I do need to wear a new gown," she told the handmaiden allowing her to enter the room.
Usually, she would have wanted to do it by herself but she might be needed soon. She chose a velvet blue gown patterned with light silver swirls, trimmed with white on the edges, tied in the middle with a white satin belt. It was heavy and layered but she endured it.
When she was done with the dress, she heard a knock on the door. She gave permission to enter and a man with dirty blonde hair entered.
"M'lady, you are needed in the Great Hall," Aron said.
"Aron, give me five minutes to fix myself,"
"Alright, my lady, but five minutes only. They are expecting you." Aron said before he closed the door.
She thanked the seven she already bathed, so she wouldn't have to be presented looking like a servant. When Euphemia was satisfied she dismissed her handmaiden. With a few minutes to spare, she stood in a mirror for the last time before opening the door and giving Aron a small nod. They locked arms as they walked toward the Great Hall.
"Aron, do you think he'll like me?" she asked out of the blue.
"M'lady, I cannot say," the forty-year-old swordsman replied. "But everyone seems to have taken a liking to you. Even Lady Sansa," he whispered the next part. "Who is as cold as the north,"
Effie stared at the man in disbelief.
"See, m'lady," Aron chuckled. "You are very respectful to everyone. I have heard servants who had seen the Lady Sansa as a child say that you remind them of her before. Perhaps this is why she had taken quite a liking to you, despite the fact that you are Lannister,"
"I am Lannister AND Tarth, Aron. I have both the lion and the moon and stars in my blood,"
Aron simply sighed and graced an amused smile.
They arrived outside the Great Hall and the guards bowed as they saw her. She curtsied back. Then the guards opened the door.
"Lady Euphemia Lannister of Tarth," the guard announced.
The first thing she noticed was how much she felt like a princess, entering a Grand Ball in King's Landing. The next thing she noticed as she walked forward were three people seated at the end of the Hall. Lady Sansa looked as ravishing as she always does, but there was a glow to her that she hadn't seen before. Next to her was a handsome dark-haired man, his hair, beard and garments flecked with snow. His grey eyes looked kind but there was something sad about it, too. Nonetheless, the man gave her an inviting smile. Effie fought to keep a blush down.
Her heart skipped a beat when she turned to the third person in attendance.
The handmaidens' words were true. He had inherited the some Stark look. The dark hair, grey eyes, but he had also inherited his mother's high cheekbones and strong jaw the Starks didn't have. He didn't have his father's solemnity, however. He seemed fiercer.
"Lord…" she paused.
"Stark, child," Jon supplied.
"Lord Stark, Lady Stark," she curtsied to each in turn.
"We may be Targaryen in name but the North is stronger in our blood. And besides, her Grace has agreed that our son shall have the Stark sigil and name once he takes Winterfell. Same with you when you wed him, child,"
With that, she spun to the third Stark.
And his eyes bore into hers.
She sucked in her breath. The handmaidens talked about how his eyes sparked silver. They were wrong. The glint in his eyes was dark and dangerous, like steel. But for a moment, a softer emotion flashed across his face before he set his emotion to stone.
"L-Lord Haymitch," she stuttered.
He stretched his lips to what looked like a smile.
She didn't know what to say that would be memorable. "It's very nice to meet you, my lord,"
What happened next was something she hadn't expected. Her betrothed snorted.
"That's all you have to say, Lannister? If so, I shall head to my chambers,"
The lady of Tarth felt her heart drop.
"I-I'm sorry, my lord. I'm afraid that I'm unprepared for your coming. What topic interests you? Perhaps we shall talk about-"
He huffed. "Nothing. I just want to retire to my chambers. I'm tired from my journey from the Wall,"
Beside him, Sansa glared daggers at the boy.
"I will dismiss you if you apologize to Lady Euphemia," Sansa declared.
The young lord groaned.
"I apologize, my lady, for my behavior. I have been trudging in deep snow for leagues. I am exhausted and seek the comforts of my bed," the boy said stiffly.
Euphemia slowly released a breath she didn't know she was holding. She curtsied at him.
"I understand, my lord. It must have been quite a journey. Perhaps you should tell me about it next time,"
"Perhaps" was all he mumbled before leaving the Hall.
"Our son is rather… wild," Lord Jon spoke when the door closed. "It must be from all that time with Rickon and the wildlings. He is rather stubborn and speaks his mind. Whatever it is he has in his mind. He has quite a temper, too,"
"It's fine, my lord. It's still the first meeting after all. I have high hopes that we'll get along better next time," she beamed her brightest smile, yet all she felt was dread.
"I will talk to my son later," Sansa assured her. "He has been having issues, lately. You are quite a wonderful lady, Euphemia and I do not tolerate prejudices from my kin,"
Euphemia nodded, and Lord Jon dismissed her to her chambers, adding that they will call her again later for dinner. She had nothing else to do and the Lord of Winterfell also needed to rest.
The Lady Lannister and Lord Stark did not speak much for a few days. More like Lord Haymitch barely spoke to her, and if he did, it was some rude remark about whatever he fancied mocking at the day- her hair, her dress- every little blunder was scrutinized and magnified. Euphemia still met those remarks with poise and politeness. Lady Sansa always prompted his son to apologize but he never seemed sincere. Effie did not mind too much. She had heard worse from some people at Tarth and she had braved them all. Sometimes, a man tried to veil love by acting the opposite, her septa had told her. And although she did not feel too at ease with Lord Haymitch's sneers, she hoped to get used to it sooner or later. After all, her parents did seem that way.
Sansa and Jon wanted to give them freedom to get to know each other but it had been more than a fortnight and they barely spoke to each other unless Haymitch was japing at her and she'll apologize for something she should not. This was not an official betrothal. Sansa and Brienne both shared their concerns about pressuring their children into marriage, but their children are past the right age. It was a new era, but bloodlines are still important to nobles, much to Queen Daenerys' dismay. They weren't sure anymore if they trusted their bannermen anymore. Many still held a grudge against Robb, and they needed some connection to the South. Tarth was well away from the mess of the mainland and it was located near the Free Cities, they were key to trade. Tarth also has newly discovered mines which makes the House much richer. Despite her mistrust in Jaime, he was never one to care for riches or power. And Lady Brienne was an honest woman, so she trusts this alliance enough. Without Brienne and Jaime though, this was harder than the Starks had thought. So they had finally decided to take matters in their own hands.
"Lord Haymitch, what were the stories you liked to hear as a child?"
Lady Sansa and Lord Jon had told their son that he will be showing their guest outside the castle properly. Sansa had said that Euphemia hadn't been shown outside the castle walls yet, but the young lord and lady knew better. It was a way to force them to spend time together alone.
And now they are seated in the carriage without a word from either, or mostly Haymitch.
"Do you never shut your mouth?" the dark-haired youth muttered.
"If we are going to be wed, my lord, we might as well learn about each other,"
He just continued to grumble in his seat. The lady tried her best to restrain a groan.
The carriage halted and Lord Haymitch leaped down. Euphemia waited at the door.
"Has your foot been cut off, my lady?" he gave a mocking bow.
"You are supposed to help me down," she huffed.
Lord Haymitch rolled his eyes. "You have hands and feet. The carriage has a handle near the door. You know what to do,"
Effie was steaming in the midst of all this snow, but she could do nothing but what he said. She slipped and nearly fell face first, but she gripped tighter on the handle to prevent her from toppling forward. Still, she ended up banging her leg on the carriage and bruised her leg. She had to limp the rest of the way.
"You're slow," he said when she was finally beside her.
"If only you helped me," she replied. "I bruised my leg. Not very lordly of you,"
"It's only a bruise, princess, no need to sob over it,"
His jibes were really beginning to irritate her. He has not said a genuine nice word to her since they met. She was done playing the sweet lady when he would not even at least be polite.
"I suppose your head is frozen from your time in the Wall that you forget I am a lady,"
He smiled. But it was not a warm one. It was taunting.
"I suppose you're not worthy of such a title anyway,"
"Please," she scoffed. "Even you are not worthy of lordship. You are arrogant and crass,"
"I thought the same of you, my lady," he said, not backing down-his grin wider than ever. "Except, unlike me, you have sword shoved up your-"
"Do not even finish that sentence,"
"Arse,"
The young lady groaned in defeat. Her companion merely laughed at her.
"I am going to enjoy this tour," he said after the laughter.
They went to several places. Lord Haymitch constantly telling her awkward stories about lovers he caught in the middle of their passionate acts. Effie was in a constant scarlet color since he spared no detail in his story telling.
"I have not caught anyone here actually," They stood at the base of the broken tower. There was a shift in the lord's mood. "But I was told that Uncle Bran-"
"I am aware of what happened to your Uncle Bran and the history of what my father had done," she interrupted bluntly. "He told me when he made a face at the tower,"
The lord opened his mouth, about to speak.
"And no, my lord," she added hastily before he could say something. "His face looked very uncomfortable and sad,"
Lord Stark seemed to be lost in his thoughts and his mood became sourer than before. The rest of the tour seemed more melancholic. Effie was not sure if she enjoyed this side of him. He was not making fun of her anymore. He just tells her the names of the places. Lord Haymitch was distant and cold, like the North.
By the end of the tour, Lord Haymitch ignored her entirely and went to his room.
"How did the tour go, children?"
The silence was too long during suppesr, and Jon thought it was nice to start the conversation.
In her seat, Effie blushed remembering the stories Haymitch told.
"I… learned many stories, my lord. I learned a lot about what goes on within the walls of Winterfell," Effie replied politely, pleased that it what she said wasn't really a lie.
"Did you two enjoy your walk around the kingdom?" Lady Sansa asked.
"Yes, my lady, although I did bruise my leg a little. Walking was quite a pain,"
"Did you let the maester see it?" Lord Jon asked a little worryingly.
"No, my lord," she shook her head. "But it's only a small bruise. I have had worse in my youth days in Tarth," Effie assured them.
"I am sure the Sapphire Isle has such a welcoming weather to explore to," Lady Sansa mused.
"Indeed it does, my lady," Euphemia smiled,her heart swelled with pride to talk about home.
"May I inquire how you bruised your leg?" Lord Jon inquired.
"The clumsy princess fell off the carriage," Lord Haymitch muttered-but not lowly enough.
"How-"
"My lord has a notion that ladies do not struggle with stepping off the carriage with our difficult dresses," Euphemia cut in sharply.
"I think you are being theatrical, my lady," Lord Haymitch had a smirk plastered on his face. "A well-trained lady such as yourself should learn to maneuver herself in that monstrous garb you call a dress,"
"A well-trained lord," she began nonchalantly. "Does not only know the way of sword but also the way of etiquette,"
"A well-trained lady does not speak back to their husbands-to-be,"
"A well-trained lord does not taunt her into doing so. I am only in defense of myself,"
"I thought ladies wait for their lords to rescue,"
"A noble that shows weakness cannot be respected,"
And on and on they went bantering, with Lord Haymitch's smirk and Lady Effie's stiff smile. It only stopped when Effie realized how rude she sounded, and how she barely touched her food. She apologized profusely to the lord and lady of Winterfell.
"I suppose our son needs someone who could match his wits, Lady Lannister," Lord Jon told the two when it became quiet again.
Lord Haymitch seemed to sober up and ate his food in a dazed expression.
Lady Sansa did not know what to make of their display of behavior, especially Euphemia's sharp tongue.
Author's Note: I don't know why I let the Starks keep apologizing. Nor do I know why I have ended both chapters with Sansa's thoughts XD Also, Haymitch isn't a drinker in this fic. I mean he will definitely have issues but I don't really think he'll be a drinker with Sansa and Jon as parents. If he were older probably he will be. Let me know what you think please :3
Also, I've read farther into A Dance with Dragons and *inhales sharply* I'll still go with what I have despite what I read. I've come so far XD I'm almost finished actually XD I hope you still enjoy it nonetheless. 3