Lyanna stared at her reflection with an odd empty feeling in the pit of her stomach. She was dressed of deep navy blue silk and Myrish lace decorated with an intricate pattern embroidered on the sleeves. It gave her some comfort, for while she may not feel like the happy bride, at least she looked the part of a true, highborn, lady. The king had promised a wedding worthy of his niece and he was living up to his word. She certainly looked like a royalty dressed in her gown and maiden cloak in the Stark colors of grey and white, but she barely recognized herself. And she did not seem to be the only one. When Sansa had seen her in the finished gown she had expected her gush and praise it, but all she had done was stare. Her youngest sister too had only been able to stare when she saw her on her in the dress, only their lord father had seemed able to speak, and even he had needed to take a moment to stare before words left his lips.
"A bride worthy of remembrance." He smiled, he had seemed like he had wanted to say something else but he had held his tongue as he offered her his arm ready to guide her to her Lannister lion. And ser Jaime certainly looked the part of gallant knight where he stood in his doublet of dusky rose, beneath a cloak of deep crimson velvet blazoned with the golden lion of the Lannisters. Yet she did not feel anything as she saw him or as the seven vows were made, the seven blessings invoked, and the seven promises exchanged. These were not for her gods, she was of the old faith yet there had never been any question as to which ceremony would be held. Not once. And for the first time since this engagement was decided she felt the unfairness she had not allowed herself to feel before.
Then after the wedding song had been sung and the challenge had gone unanswered, it was time for the exchange of cloaks. Jaime shifted his weight to accept the folded bride's cloak from his father and shook it out with a flourish as her own father removed her maiden cloak tenderly, in absence of a mother. Lyanna distantly noted that Jaime smiled as he draped her in the crimson-and-gold cloak and leaned close to fasten it at her throat, but like the vows the act meant little to her. But to others it meant everything and that easily she passed from her father's protection to her husband's. But who will protect her from the Lannisters, she wondered as Jaime spoke once again, following the script to perfection.
"With this kiss I pledge my love!"
And when Lyanna echoed the words he pulled her close and kissed her long and deep. After which the High Septon solemnly declared Jaime of the Houses Lannister and Lyanna of House Stark to be one flesh, one heart, one soul. But still she did not feel any different, the kiss they had shared meant nothing, not to him, and not to her. Yet she knew it had made her a lady, Lady Lyanna Lannister, and the vows would hold, her honor would allow nothing less, on her part at least.
When the wedding feast ended Lyanna dutifully followed her new husband up to their new chambers, no longer was her home in the tower of the Hand, it was with her husband. Her Lannister husband. He had been kind and gentle with her all day, but she did not trust it, not as the door closed behind them, or as his hand begun to undress her, but she would allow it. It was her wifely duty.
"You are shaking." He observed quietly, the usual amusement surprisingly absent from his voice. "Are you cold or frightened?" She didn't answer. "I will be gentle, I have no intention of make you fear my passions, wife. I want you to enjoy them."
'As my lord husband wishes.' The words were almost out of her mouth before she stopped herself, it sounded wrong. She heeded her father's wishes, but never had she been subservient to anyone. Steeling herself she made herself look at him in the eyes. He was watching her with an unreadable expression, but she saw the surprise flash in her eyes as she pressed her lips against his.
Her touch was soft, teasing in its inexperience, but as her touches grow more certain, more heated, Jaime found himself wanting to watch her. She seemed intent on her task, but while searching her face he saw the distant expression in her eyes, her mind was somewhere else. It was not him she was looking at.
"Will you not look at me?" He asked softly, before almost teasingly added. "Who are you thinking of? Your stable boy?" She smiled.
"No, I'm trying to remember what to do." She confessed.
"Someone told you what to do?" He sounded more curious now, as he once again allowed his fingers to caress her, getting to know her. She looked at his hesitantly as if to decide what do say, then spoke.
"I was ten, one of my father's knight told me all bastards' mothers were whores, and all bastard girls would become whores in turn. The next day I snuck out of the castle and to the brothel on the other side of the wall. Father was furious. But I did see some of the things the women there did… when I asked my old septa about what the women had been doing she told me, she also said it was painful, especially the first time, that there was no pleasure for the woman. But I had seen some who seemed to enjoy it. That I remember. If I can remember what they did then…" She trailed of, surprised to once again find her husband's lips on hers.
"I will teach you." He promised. "But tonight, all you have to do is feel."
When Lyanna awoke the next morning she was sore, the night before there had only been a stab of pain as he entered her but it had eased fairly quickly, as he had promised it would. After that she had thought that would be it, she had even come to enjoy his touch. But as she woke and moved the pain returned ten folded, without the need and passion to smother it, making her wish she had never woken up, and from the slightly amused smile on her husband's face he seemed to know it. Yet kissing her brow he informed her that his father would want them to break fast with him this morning, and she forced herself to move.
The betrothal and the wedding preparations had been made with frightening speed, as such it has been with no more than three days to spare to the wedding that Lyanna had found herself introduced to Lord Tywin Lannister for the first time. Initially he had been fairly uninterested as they were introduced, seeming to look at her as a breeding mare for his son than anything else. But when their eyes met something had sparked his interest. Her husband had said it was no doubt the defiance that never seemed to leave her eyes when she felt under attack or scrutiny, but Lyanna doubted it. Something about her eyes had silenced both Ser Barristan and Lord Varys when they had met her too. She was certain it had something to do with her mother, after all her brother had their father's eyes, so her dark lilac ones must have come from somewhere different and it seemed to be enough to shock even the most powerful of men in the realm. But who had she been? Her mother? Lord Tywin had treated her with utmost courtesy ever since, Ser Barristan always had a kind word to say, and the Spider always had his little birds watching her, or so Barristan had cautioned her.
"Jaime." Tywin greeted as they entered the hall, food already adorning the table, and on Lord Tywin's and the queen's own plates. "And the new Lady Lannister. Come, join us." He gestured to the table and Lyanna was embarrassed to find herself bite back a yelp of pain as she tried to walk normally. She could ride a horse for a month without any pain, yet it seemed she could not be with her husband once? She refused to show it as she forced herself to curtsy. But the Queen seemed to have noticed the stiff movement, and unlike her father, if he had seen it, she did not fully ignore it. She seemed almost offended by it, though the emotion was gone so quickly Lyanna thought she might have imagined it.
"Lord Tywin. My Queen."
"Please, you are now my sister." The Queen reminded. "Call me such. Or at least call me by my name."
"You are too kind sister." Jaime said, seeming amused by his sister's forced sweetness.
"You honor me, Cersei."
"Good." Tywin said. "Now, I am afraid I will have to cut my visit short and return to Casterly Rock, some unsuspected news is forcing me to return early. I beg your forgiveness, my lady Lyanna. I would much have liked to make your acquaintance better."
"I will be sad to see you go, my lord." She replied. "I hope everything is well? Does it concern Lord Tyrion? He was expected back here some days ago, I admit I am a little concerned not having heard from him, even if he warned me he might be late before we parted ways."
She was slightly taken aback by the look of pure loathing that flashed on Tywin's face as the mentioning of his youngest, though he quickly hid it, quicker than Cersei ever been able to hide her flashes of undesired emotions.
"I am sure Tyrion is in good health. I know he is sad to have missed the wedding. This is another matter. Do not worry."
"I shall try, my lord." She said, though her eyes watched him quizzing as she made a decision. "If I may be so bold, could I ask to speak with you in private before you leave?"
"Of course." He said, though he looked as surprised at the others in the room at her words. "Perhaps you would join me for a stroll after you have eaten?"
She mentally winced at the idea of walking around, but her face showed nothing but a pleasant smile as she agreed.
As she walked next to her husband's father she could not help but look at him and, as she had done with Joffery, looked for her husband in him. He was tall, slender and broad-shouldered, his head was clean-shaven but his side-whiskers were the same golden blond that all Lannisters seemed to possess. He was a handsome man for his age and she could suddenly imagine Jaime at the same age, giving away their daughter on her wedding. Would she have the same golden hair, or would her Stark features defeat those of the Lannisters, she wondered. She did not know which she would prefer… either would be fine.
"What do you wish to talk with me about?"
"My eyes, my lord." She said, watching him carefully. He showed nothing.
"Your eyes?"
"All my life people have reacted and commented on my likeness to my aunt, yet since I came to King's Landing you are the third to react to my eyes. Eyes no one have ever seemed to notice before, eyes I imagine must be my mother's."
"I was merely taken aback by the color, I expected grey eyes. As I imagine you would imagine green on a born Lannister."
"Forgive me, but I do not believe you. Since I arrived there are three who have followed my every move in this city. The same three have at one time been shocked silent by eyes. You, Lord Varys, and Ser Barristan. Lord Varys I would have dismissed, based on Lord Tyrion's tales, but Ser Barritan's, and your own, reaction to me I can not."
"What are you asking, child?"
"Do you know who my mother is?"
"I have my suspicions. But I do not know."
"Will you share them?"
"Do not worry yourself with such matters anymore. You are now my daughter."
"Which only makes me wonder more why I made the leap from broodmare to daughter when you saw my eyes. Who is my mother?"
"You are asking the wrong question." Tywin finally told her, though he seemed even more curious now as he took her in. "My daughter said you were willful, my son that you had more sense than most, but I think we have only seen the surface of you, Lyanna. If I am correct, you are safer not knowing, for now. But you better keep that dagger with you at all times."
TBC…
