I'm trying to get the new chapters out as quickly as possible, and again thank you for your continual support. I'd just like to reiterate that some of the characters do not stay true to how they are in the actual book series, which I do not take any sort of credit for what so ever, but isn't fanfiction for allowing our minds to run wild and to imagine what would happen if this character was like this or like that?

Anyway enjoy the new chapter and please review/follow/favourite they really are very encouraging!

Take care, Slightlynerdy

With the sun streaming through the windows, the birds chirping merrily in the trees and sound of running water Tarynn was woken up by her closest confidante and friend in this god forsaken city. In Tilly's arms was her wedding dress, ivory lace and silk, Tarynn groaned and rolled over again pulling the pillow over her head.

"Tarynn you have to get up. It's your wedding day and there are still many preparations to make. One for example, is to make you presentable for the biggest and greatest day of your life."

"Postpone it, or better yet cancel it, do anything to make it go away."

She heard her friend sigh, "You Westeros people are strange. Marriage is a new, exciting adventure, one that you will cherish."

Tarynn sat up and glared at Tilly, "Marriage is a gilded cage. This time next year I will be swollen with a baby in my belly. There will be no time for adventure."

Tilly went to the wardrobe, hanging up the dress on the door, "Childbirth is an adventure in itself. I would give anything to experience holding my daughter for the first time again."

"Perhaps I just don't have that maternal instinct." She stood and reached for her bed robe, wrapping it around herself.

"Nonsense, every woman has some sort of maternal instinct. It is just up to her whether or not she allows herself to experience it. Besides I have seen how you act with your sisters. You are their second mother. You should not worry about how you will be around your own children. You will be an excellent mother." Tilly took her hands and kissed her gently on the forehead, "Now you must go and break your fast, you must be strong on this important day, your father and sisters are in the breakfast room. I will sort out your dress and adornments."

"Thank you Tilly."

She responded in Myrish, "There is no need to thank me, I enjoy your company and serving you. Eat well, you will need your strength today."

The halls were bustling with people. Ladies carrying baskets of goods, guards marching down the corridors ensuring order, workmen giving the finishing touches to the decorations. And here she was walking in a half daze towards the family breakfast room still in her bed robe. She could hear Sansa's voice lilting towards her as she pushed open the door and sat, rather ungracefully, at the table.

"…I am going to be on his arm when we walk down the aisle today at Tarynn's wedding…"

She reached for a bread roll before glancing up at Sansa, buttering the soft, doughy bread as she responded to her sister's ramblings about Joffrey, "No you won't. You and Arya will be following straight behind me, carrying my cloak, the other three will be behind you two."

"But…"

"No buts Sansa. This is after all my wedding."

There was a tug at her sleeve, "Why do you have to marry Renly, Tarynn?"

"Tarynn is marrying Renly in order to strengthen our ties to the Baratheon House. Although I admit I am still wondering why she did not choose Theon Greyjoy instead. She could have stayed in Winterfell." Ned Stark looked at each of his daughters individually, "Soon Sansa will strengthen our ties to the crown and you Arya, well I don't know, but we will find you a suitable match soon enough."

Arya stabbed a sausage with her fork, "I never want to marry."

Ned laughed at his youngest daughter, "That's what your sister used to say but look at her now. Soon to be a wife."

"Please don't remind me father." She reached for a boiled egg, gently tapping it with a spoon, until the top broke off.

Her father had recovered from his broken leg, his fever had broken two days after the incident and now he could get around through the use of a crutch. Whilst he had been recovering she had overseen the preparation of Jory's, Heward's and Wyl's bodies. Their bones will be taken back to Winterfell and laid to rest in their place of origin. It had been awful looking at Jory's lifeless face as she and Pycelle had discussed the best way to speed up decomposition.

"Anyway. Since you have both broken your fasts, off you go. Get dressed and ready for your sister's wedding."

Arya and Sansa departed from the room, a couple of guards fell in step with them as they were escorted to their bed chambers. Once the footsteps had faded once more into silence she looked up at her father who sat their appraising her, his fingers clasped together.

"I still do not understand why you need me to marry Renly father, surely one Stark wedded to a Baratheon would have been more than enough."

"This will make my ties to the south much stronger Tarynn. You know this."

"No father, I do not know anything, you have been so very secretive lately. Before your accident you kept to yourself, making trips throughout the city…"

"I was fulfilling my job as the Hand of the King."

"You were willing to quit being the Hand of the King. What has changed your mind? What has determined that I must give up my freedom, my desires, my wants…"She raised her voice, she was angry now, tears gathering up in the corners of her eyes, "What is so important that you wished to take all that away from me? To marry me to a man that I care nothing for. Tell me father, please, do enlighten me for at the moment I have no clue," She slammed her palm down on the table as she stood up, the chair scraping back across the wood, "You have broken my heart by marrying me to Renly Baratheon. I have no more words for you."

Ned stood up, albeit awkwardly as he reached out to steady himself, with his other hand he beckoned his daughter to him. Tarynn was crying now, sobbing as she moved towards her father, allowing him to take her into a comforting embrace. He kissed the top of her head, mumbling into her hair, "Everyone must make sacrifices Tarynn. I need Renly on my side, with you as his wife he will have no choice."

She left the warmth of his arms, heading for the door, before leaving she turned back to face him, "I wish mother was here." She left the breakfast room but not before hearing her father's response.

"So do I."

As she gazed at her figure in the mirror, her eyes sweeping over her ivory dress, the pearls in her hair she almost wanted to cry. Never had she looked so beautiful and yet so sad. She was used to being plain and northern, to wearing blue and grey and having her hair braided back. She wasn't who she was before King's Landing. Of that much she was positive.

"Here are your letters Lady Tarynn."

"Thank you Bronte, you can go now." The slight girl curtseyed as she left the room.

Tarynn looked down at the thick envelopes in her hands, one was slightly bulky. Setting the other one on her desk she proceeded to rip it open. A bracelet slipped out and onto her palm, it was light silver with old engravings on the links. She held it up to the light, examining it, before turning to the letter that was tucked inside the heavy envelope.

My darling daughter,

Your father wrote to me, telling me that your wedding day is soon and I do hope that this letter will reach your hands before your day arrives, I am so proud of you Tarynn and so happy that soon you will experience all the joys that married life will bring. I am still in the Eyrie. Lysa has been very accommodating and your cousin Robert is just precious.

Enclosed is a bracelet that used to belong to your grandmother on your father's side. She gave it to me on my wedding day and it seems only appropriate that I pass it on to you on yours. Even though I cannot be there, I am there in spirit, and will be thinking about you all the time now and forever. Before I leave for Winterfell and when you have moved to Storm's End which your father says will be shortly after you have married Renly perhaps I could visit you. I have missed you so very much Tarynn.

Give my unending love to Sansa and Arya.

Your mother,

Lady Catelyn Stark.

She placed the letter gently on the table and looked at the other letter. It had a seal with a dire wolf on it but as she was opening the envelope there was a knock at the door.

It is probably Bronte or Tilly with some last minute things.

"Come in…" She heard the door open, "Could you help me with my necklaces and other bits of…" She turned around expecting to be faced with either Tilly or Bronte but the person who was standing in her doorway was neither. "Sandor… What are you…?"

He closed the door behind him, standing awkwardly as he looked her up and down, his eyes roaming over her in her wedding dress, finally after a few silent seconds he spoke, his voice gruff. Almost choked. "You look beautiful."

"I… Thank you…" She placed the letter on her desk, proceeding to pick up her necklaces and going to her looking mirror. She put on the locket that Maester Luwin, Gerta and the others at Winterfell had given her but stopped when it came to tying on the wolf pendant that Sandor had gifted to her. She looked over her shoulder at him, watching him in the mirror, "What do you want Sandor."

He moved closer towards her, "I wanted to see you. Before you made the biggest mistake of your life." She looked down at the floor, his words stinging her because she knew that he was right.

"I think you should leave."

"You've said that to me too many times, I am not leaving you."

"Go. Before someone catches you here."

"No. Let them see us. I will no longer hide from you. I love you."

She turned around, her hands going to her hips. "Love is not important. What is important is that you do not embarrass me or leave my reputation in the dirt. I need you to leave."

He took two brisk steps towards her, pulling her roughly towards him, his hands tangling in her hair. She tried to push him away but his grip was strong. Slowly he began backing her towards her bed, his hands running down her back as he undid the buttons on her wedding dress. It fell to the floor and finally she managed with all her might to push him off of her.

"What are you doing?" Her skin was flushed and heated. She stood in just her undergarments, her corset tight against her heaving breasts. Finally her brain caught up with the situation, "Sandor, no, we can't."

"Tarynn…" His voice was thick and rough as he reached up to gently trace her cheek with his thumb. She bit her lip, her mind going wild.

This could be my last chance at rebellion before I marry Renly. I could give an important part of me away to the man I love. Do I not owe myself and Sandor that much?

"Fuck it."

She pulled him close, kissing him passionately as they fell backwards onto the bed, he landed on her heavily before proceeding to draw her undergarments down.

They lost themselves with one another.

She was lying in bed, naked, her chest pressed up against Sandor as he kissed her forehead and hair. In less than an hour she would be walking down the aisle to marry Renly and yet here she was, lying in bed having just given her virginity to Sandor, in a massive state of undress and no way near ready to pledge herself to another man. Gently she traced the muscles on Sandor's stomach before tapping him.

"I have to get up and dressed. I have a wedding to go to."

He groaned rolling on top of her, she could feel him against her leg, "No, stay here."

She laughed and kissed his burn, "You know I cannot, come on, you have to help me get dressed again since you so inconsiderately undressed me." She got out from underneath him and proceeded to pick up all of her white underwear and corset that lay scattered around the room. She then proceeded to get herself dressed whilst Sandor watched her from the bed. She turned to him when it came to lacing her corset, throwing his black doublet with the embroidered badge of House Clegane on it at him. "Quick, come and help me, before one of my maidservants finds you in my bed."

He stood up, naked as the day he was born, and she gazed at his muscular body. He laughed, noticing, "No more looking, since you won't stay in bed with me."

She turned away from him as he began to lace up her corset deftly, pulling the ribbons tightly. She stepped into her dress, brushing down the creases in it, and Sandor did the buttons up. She turned to him and kissed him. "Thank you."

He took her hands and brought them to his lips, "No, thank you."

She went to the mirror, her hair was mussed but she could run a brush through it and her curls should just bounce back she would need some help with putting the pearls back in though, her cheeks were flushed as well but she could just blame it on excitement or nervousness. Suddenly there was a knock in the door.

Sandor froze in getting dressed and looked at her, she whispered hurriedly, "Quick, get in the bathroom." She then went round picking up his clothes and boots before pushing him into her bathroom and throwing his stuff in after him. She then went to open her door.

Tilly stood outside it, dressed in a deep red silk dress, when she saw Tarynn she gasped, "What has happened to your hair?"

"I… uh… had a nap."

"Come, I must fix it."

For the next ten minutes Tilly sorted out Tarynn's hair again, the dark brown curls cascading down her back like a waterfall, applied another layer of powder to Tarynn's face and nestled the white pearl clips back in amongst the curls, before helping to put the bracelet that her mother had given her on her wrist and the necklace that Sandor had given her what seemed a lifetime ago around her neck.

"There. You are perfect." Tilly put everything away, before returning to Tarynn, "Ah, I almost forgot, a gift." She handed Tarynn what seemed to be a book wrapped in beautiful blue parchment. She opened the present and looked at the leather bound, gilded notebook, "From myself, and Bronte. So that you can write down your translations and keep them in one place instead of writing them on these little scraps of paper I always find everywhere."

"Thank you, it's gorgeous." Tilly nodded, "Could you leave me for a few minutes. I wish to pray alone."

"Of course, your father and sisters are waiting for you downstairs. The wedding will be starting very soon."

Once she had left Tarynn rushed to her bathroom door, opening it she found Sandor looking at her arrangement of tonics and hair cleansers.

"Sandor."

He turned to her, "We could run away together, elope, you have the dress for it."

"You know I can't." He kissed her cheek, his fingers toying with the lowest button on her dress, he pressed his forehead against hers. His warm breath made her feel dizzy. "This isn't the end Sandor, if Renly can have Loras then I can have you."

He didn't say anything, he just kissed her one last time and gently pushed her towards the door.

When she walked down the stairs there were gasps and sounds of appreciation. When she reached her father he kissed her on both cheeks, his smile stretching across his face. "You know I never thought I would see the day, you were always so adamant that you were never going to marry, I know of the sacrifice you are making Tarynn but I promise you this will be for the best in the long run. You will live a full and comfortable life living as Lady Baratheon of Storm End."

"Thank you father." She squeezed his hand gently, if only he knew what she had been doing just an hour before. Moaning Sandor's name and allowing him to take something precious away from her.

"You look really very pretty Tarynn."

"Thank you Arya, you look pretty as well in your dress."

Her sisters were both wearing dresses of blue and gold, the Stark emblem embroidered on the skirts. They represented her leaving her family behind to join and start a new one. There was a cough and she looked up at Ser Loras who stood in the corridor.

"May I have a word, Lady Tarynn?"

"Of course Ser Loras."

She left her father and sisters, and went to where Loras stood, his brown hair was perfectly styled, his green eyes were sad as he looked over her dress. "You look beautiful."

"Thank you, you are very kind to say so." Her heart panged with guilt, she wished that she could give Renly to Loras, she wished that she could be with Sandor. They were both in the same situation, her and Loras, they were both having to go against their hearts' desires. Loras took her hand.

"I just wished to apologise that I could not go through with the request you made of me back at the Tourney. Renly refused to reject the idea of marrying you, and… Well to say the least it has left my heart broken. He is infatuated with you and I don't quite know why, I mean that of course with no disrespect," She nodded, watching his face intently, "He told me he had never felt this way about a woman before and I…" Tears began welling up and Tarynn's heart clenched.

She reached out and touched the young man on the arm, "I am sorry too Loras, seeing the person you love marrying another must be heart wrenching," Her mind drifted to Sandor, "I bare you no ill will if you should wish to carry on your liaisons with Renly."

Loras looked up, evidently shocked, "You would allow your husband to lie with another man?"

She smiled a sad smile, "I do not love him Loras, not as a wife should, I see him more as an older brother. But you… You love him. I can see that whenever you look at him and I never wished to come between true love so yes, I give my consent to you continuing to be by his side and to give him the love that I will never be able to give him."

"I… I am speechless Lady…"

She held up her hand, her gaze becoming steely, her mind worrying over the damage that the words she was about to speak would cause, "Just if you hear of any affairs that I may conduct in the years that I am married to Renly, you must not speak of them, you must keep them to yourself."

Loras nodded, his face a mask of determination, "I will not allow dishonour to fall upon you Lady Stark."

She hesitantly smiled, clasping Loras' hands, "Thank you Ser Loras."

"No. Thank you."

There was a tap on her shoulder and she was faced with Sansa, her auburn hair was pinned back delicately from her unblemished face, her blue eyes sparkling with excitement. In her arms was the grey cloak embellished with the sigil of Stark, the white direwolf.

As she gazed at the direwolf she was reminded of another one, of Tome and wherever he may be, she knew that he would be twice the size of what he had been when she had been forced to give him up and she hoped that one day she might be able to be reunited with her wolf.

"Father says that it is time."

She took a deep breath, "I guess I should go and get married then."

As she walked down the length of the circular hall in Baelor's Sept on her father's arm she could see familiar people in the sea of faces. Varys was there, as was Petyr Baelish, Tilana was also there in order to help should something on her go awry. But she could not see Sandor, and to be honest she could understand why he would not want to be in attendance and watch her marry another man, even she did not want to be at her own wedding. In her mind she was reliving those precious moments in which she gave herself to Sandor earlier on until she was knocked out of her reverie by her father's voice. "We are almost at the altar. Look up my darling."

She clung to her father's arm as he did his best to walk without hobbling down the aisle, they were fast approaching Renly who stood smiling at her as she walked closer to him, she did her best to smile back but it was forced and not genuine.

When they reached him he held out his hand to take hers. His grasp was strong, warm and confidant. In his other hand was a cloak of yellow with the Baratheon stag embellished on it. He took off her other cloak, handing it to her father, and with a quick flourish laid the cloak that symbolised her joining the House Baratheon across her shoulders. They then turned to the High Septor as he blessed their union, wrapping their hands together with a piece of gold cloth.

"You are now to be one flesh, husband and wife, Lord Renly and Lady Tarynn Baratheon."

The crowd cheered as Renly swept her into his arms, his kiss felt like poison spreading across her skin, in the back of her mind she was pleased that Sandor was not here to witness her wedding take place. She had no idea what he would have done if he had been here. His temper was a volatile thing.

The bells began to ring as she and Renly walked back down and out into the bright morning light. They were faced with the common folk. Over and over they chanted Lady Baratheon. She felt like throwing up. Her stomach twisting and turning as she realised that she no longer belonged to herself she belonged to the man standing beside her who was gripping her hand tightly.

As she looked up at Renly, up at his shiny jet black hair and strong powerful jaw a sense of overwhelming sadness fell over her.

No longer was she a Stark. Now she was a Baratheon.

She sat sandwiched between her new husband and her new brother-in-law, both were enjoying the arrays of wines and alcohols a little bit too much but somehow she managed to muster up the strength to laugh at their jokes and respond to Renly's compliments and words of love.

"Welcome to the family sister." Robert leant forward, his breath stinking of dornish red, "You will make a fine Baratheon. Our women are known for being strong of mind, heart and also legs." He guffawed and Renly laughed too whilst the blood rushed to her cheeks. The presentation of gifts was soon to start, and then the bedding. Her stomach manifested into a nervous wreck as she contemplated what would happen on her wedding night.

Gods help me.

From some unknown place, a singer began to sing sweetly the Rains of Castamere, the words drifting across the feast whilst various members of the Royal Court came forth with their gifts to the newly wedded couple. Baskets of fruits, flowers from distant lands, an array of books and weapons, the King gifted an antique dagger to his brother. The handle glittered green as Renly brandished it deftly before slipping it back into its scabbard and laid it gently on the table. Her sisters came up to her together, she walked around the table in order to hug them individually as they presented her with the gifts that they had made for her to commemorate her wedding. Sansa had embroidered her a beautiful handkerchief adorned with a direwolf, a book, and the Stark words whilst Arya had bought her a book, The History of the Old Gods.

She kissed her sisters on the cheeks. Trying not to cry as she thought about having to leave them for Storm's End before the month was out.

"Thank you. My darling sisters."

She returned to her seat next to Renly, he reached out to take her hand drawing it up to his lips in an affectionate manner. Her father came up to them and gifted a joint present, a tapestry with the Starks and the Baratheon words both on it, representing their joining. He also handed over a white painted rattle, the words 'Winter Is Coming' etched onto the surface. Renly picked the rattle up and gazed at it before turning to her, "I am sure we will be needing this shortly to entertain our little one." The crowd laughed and the people at their table tittered politely. Her cheeks flushed red, her hand going to her stomach. She tried to imagine what it would be like to be bloated with Renly's child.

She leant over and took her father's hand, he kissed her gently on the forehead. "Thank you."

*Sandor*

He watched from afar with the rest of the guards, his arms crossed over his chest as he watched the Hand of the King present Tarynn the last of wedding gifts, soon the bedding ceremony would begin and he bristled with every ounce of hatred directed at Renly. She looked beautiful in her wedding dress, serene and graceful, every bit of the bookish girl he had first met at Winterfell had evaporated, in her place was a determined young woman who he knew could hold her own.

His eyes turned to the skies, it was heading towards dusk and his heart clenched, soon Tarynn would be chased upstairs by the men. They would attempt to unbutton her dress, herding her towards the room where Renly would take her, Sandor clenched his fists at the thoughts. The only thing that he could find solace in was that Tarynn had given herself to him first and no one was going to take the memory of that away from him.

When the cajoling started he closed his eyes and looked away, he could hear Tarynn's shrieks as she ran away from those trying to undress her and the laughing of the men, the insinuating shouts that Renly was emitting. He opened his eyes and met Ned Stark's gaze, he was sat with his remaining daughters, his face was sullen, a mask of stone. Somehow Sandor knew that he hadn't wanted to force Tarynn into marriage but had had no choice. Is that not how it always is? Father's rarely wish to give up their daughters, especially when they know that the marriage they will be forcing them into will be loveless.

Sandor turned and stalked off into the castle. The shrieks and laughter fading away as he disappeared into the thick walled corridors of the Keep.

*Tarynn*

She ran through the hallways, her skirts hitched up, her breathing laboured. She was herded down the hallways, every time she rounded a corner a man would appear and chase her down another, they were leading her to her marriage bed.

She tripped, her hands connected with the cold stone floor as the men descended on her, a man picked her up and carried her. She turned to face him, to see who it was that was going to deposit her in Renly's bed and her stomach dropped.

"S-sandor?"

"Hush wolf." His voice was quiet, his eyes a cold grey.

"Look the Hound has her."

"Go on dog. Always knew you liked the idea of taking virgins to their deflowering's."

The men began to disperse as Sandor dropped her down to the floor in front of the door that led to her new bed chambers.

She reached up and slowly caressed his scar, her voice tight as she whispered, "It's going to be alright."

He placed his hand over her own. "No. It's not."

"I love you."

"I love you." A tear flowed down her cheeks and Sandor wiped it away with the pad of his thumb. "Go. Do your fucking duty."

He gave her one last look before stalking off down the corridor. She watched him leave and her heart shattered into a thousand pieces.

With trembling hands she opened the door to find Renly standing by the window, shirtless, his hair gleaming in the setting sunlight. He turned to her as she entered and smiled faintly until he saw her face.

"You're crying." He went to her and gently gripped her shoulders, "I know you must be nervous. This is a daunting night. For both of us." She nodded and he slipped off the shoulders of her dress, "The start of our new life together, Lady Tarynn Baratheon."