Author's Note; Firstly I want to thank everyone for their patience while waiting for this chapter! Work has been crazy for me and finding times to sit down and write have been few and far between. All your support and reviews mean so much to me and motivate me to write so thank you for that! On that note a special shout out to Bjewell55, Bella-Swan11 and ToshimiOkami for your reviews on chapter five! - this chapter is specially dedicated to you.
I do apologize for any spelling and grammatical mistakes, I am sometimes not very good at catching my one mistakes. That being said if anyone is interested in being the beta for this story I will be happy to have you! Second to that if anyone is good at making story id graphics I would be happy to speak to you about making one for this story - please just send me a message.
I won't waste too much time going on and on, but let's get right into it! Please review at the end for a quicker update!
The main doors of Winterfell burst open as a small brunette figure came stumbling out. Cool fresh air felt like it was stinging her cheeks. The stars twinkled and glimmered overhead like they had done every night before and would for many, many nights to come. The courtyard of the keep was basically empty, she heard low sounds coming from the stables as the horses were being set in for the night. Looking up to the ramparts of the outer walls encircling Winterfell she saw the night guards at their usual posts. Everything was as it should be in the keep, like nothing was wrong, like nothing had changed. But in her world, everything was different now.
In the course of a single night, everything she had ever known or course she thought her life would take was now forever changed.
Alysanne's heart was racing inside of her chest, so fast that she was almost sure it would race up her throat and jump out of her mouth. Whipping her head around she tried to find a place to retreat to, she needed some privacy – a moment of respite. She felt bad for running from the feast, but she couldn't stand having so many eyes looking at her. There had been cheering, after the stunned silence that was. The men of the North were shocked to hear that a Stark would marry a Lannister given the history between the two houses, but then excitement filled the room – even if it was polite excitement due to the presence of the King and the royal family. Celebratory wine and mead had been brought out to toast the betrothal and Alysanne had been so shocked, standing there as Sansa and some other women congratulated her on the engagement.
She had politely thanked them but inside she felt herself starting to crumble, she had to get outside before she broke down in front of all the guests that filled the Great Hall. When the Royal party had arrived in Winterfell she had known that it would change many things for the Stark family, she had just not anticipated that it would change so much in her own life. Never had it crossed her mind that the King had partly come to arrange her marriage… a marriage to Jaime Lannister no less. Her mind could barely wrap itself around the idea.
Moving down from the entryway she crossed the courtyard, her arms folded around her middle and she followed her usual path towards the Godswoods. The air was not yet cold enough for it to frost her breath, but she did regret not getting a cloak to keep her warm. It had crossed her mind to go to her rooms and hide there, but she knew someone would come looking for her there, and she just needed a moment of peace and quiet to sort through the chaotic thoughts that ran through her head.
There had been little notice given to her, her father had told her himself… until that point she had been having a lovely evening… a wonderful evening...
The feast had been in full swing, wine was plentiful and flowing. It was an amusing sight to see their Southern guests get a taste of Northern wine, which was stronger than what they made in the South. Once the courses were paraded out music started and many started to dance in the small space that separated the tables that lined either side of the Great Hall. There was lots of laughter and happy chatter, a lively occasion by all accounts. Alysanne sat with Rob and Theon at one of the head tables, just one level from the one that Lord and Lady Stark, her father as well as the King and Queen sat at. Most of the Stark children and the royal prince's and princess were seated together. Jon was sitting near the back of the hall with the squires and stable hands, it had been Catelyn's wish that he not be seated with them, as not to offend the King and Queen. She had been laughed as Theon stole them some more wine, usually they were only permitted a glass at feasts such as this, but with their being little oversight now that the feast was half done they were table to steal away a half pitcher of wine from another table without notice.
Looking towards where the dancers were she smiled, there was something just so purely joyful in the music and the movement of bodies that she could not ignore. Sipping from her newly filled cup she turned and looked to her companions.
"Figure Leila will dance with me?" she overheard Theon ask Robb as he looked across two tables over to the blacksmith's daughter who was seated next to her father and brother.
"Maybe, if she hadn't heard about your dalliance to visit Ros last night." Robb said back and Theon frowned in response.
"Ros means nothing to me." The Greyjoy heir objected.
"She means a few silver coins to you." Robb stated with a grin as he too took another gulp of wine.
Alysanne rolled her eyes and shook her head. It was no secret in Winterfell that Theon was a womanizer, ever since he had figured out what a brothel was for, he had been a regular customer. Secondly he flirted with anything in a dress. Thankfully Theon feared the wrath of Robb and Jon and never tried to charm her, though his true worry would be that she would just an arrow between his eyes if he even dared to try and seduce her.
"Did you want to dance?" Robb then asked her lowly and her grey eyes blinked as she looked to him. The brunette only hesitated a moment before a wide smile crossed her lips and she rose from the table along with him. They made their way to the open area where the other dancers assembled and got in place just in time to join into a lively and traditional Northern dance. Joyful laughter flew from Alysanne as she jumped, twirled and spun around with her cousin.
Moments later cheering and clapping filled the hall as one song ended and another quickly began. This one just as lively as the last but this one was set to the tune of 'The Bear and the Maiden Fair' – which caused many of the guests to sing in chorus while the dancing occurred. Alysanne danced this one with Bran while Robb had delighted Princess Myrcella to dance with him. She and Bran danced dramatically together and both laughed jovially at their antics. Once her second dance was done she was about to return to her seat but as she turned around she came face to face with Jaime Lannister. She let out a small gasp of surprise and her eyes flashed up to meet his.
"May I have the next dance Lady Alysanne?" he then asked in an even and polite tone. The petite brunette swallowed dryly before she spoke.
"You may." She replied lowly and saw amusement seem to flash in his emerald eyes before he held out his hand for her to take. Slowly Alysanne placed her hand into his and let him lead her back into the open floor along with the other dancers that were readying themselves.
They stood across from each other, Alysanne lining along with the other women and Jaime stood opposite from her in line with the men. They stared at each other in silence as the musicians set up for their next song, a man with a lute and another with a fiddle stood to play for this song and as the music started the women and men bowed to each other. It was a slow song when compared to those that came before it, it was a song better suited for couples to dance too.
The fiddle started and Alysanne fell into step with the dance, stepping forward to meet Jaime, they turned in place and then stepped back to the opposite lines. Then the partners next to them moved and once they had switched lines Alysanne and Jaime stepped forward their hands reached out and they circle each other for one rotation and then turned away from each other and criss-crossed around the other couples that was dancing next to them. Her pace through the dance was even, slow and measured. Her heart was beating heavy in her chest, until this night she had only ever danced in lessons or with her cousins and family at other feasts… well she had once danced with Theon but with him being a ward at Winterfell it felt as if he was part of the family.
As she circled another woman and then turned to crossed paths with Jaime once again she found he was still looking at her with deep seeded amusement in his eyes. For a split second she nearly faltered in her step, once she reached Jaime then they once again joined hands and then turned to step forwards three steps and then back one.
"Are you enjoying the feast Ser Jaime?" Alysanne asked, needing to say something to her partner even as they danced.
"I am. The North has had many surprises for me so far." He replied, speaking just as low as she had. They then parted aways, stepping away and crossing around another dancing pair before they returned to reach other and circled each other once again. "You are a wonderful dancer my Lady." He then said as they rotated around each other again.
"Thank you." She said almost breathlessly. For that moment it almost felt like they were the only pair dancing, when she turned away from him her eyes sought no other and instead her eyes would return to him the moment her body faced him once again.
"I fear I may be causing some jealousy, your cousins and the young Greyjoy seem to be watching us quite avidly." Jaime then said and Alysanne had to tear her eyes away from her dance partner to notice that Robb, Theon and Jon were standing to the side of the Hall watching them intently.
"I doubt that is true." Alysanne then said as they circled each other once more. "No one has any reason to be that is…"
"You might be surprised." She heard him say from the small distance that was put between them and she had to wonder what it was he meant. The rest of their dance passed by with little more conversation and at the end they were back into their original lines and each bowed to the other once again. Clapping once again filled the hall as another dance concluded. Raising her head she looked to Jaime Lannister, neither one moved to leave their spots, that was until the brunette felt a hand upon her shoulder and she turned to see her father standing behind her. He gazed at her fondly but something seemed off with him, he seemed a little tense. Alysanne smiled to him hoping to dispel whatever it was that seemed to be plaguing her father.
She glanced back Jaime and saw him smile at them both before he turned and moved off, presumably back to his table. Turning back to her father she continued to grin at him as he took her hand and they took their places for the next dance. After the dance with the golden Lannister she was relieved to be dancing with her father, this was easy and comfortable. The musicians struck up a slow waltz rather than a large group dance. Taking her father's hand she stepped close to him and they started to move in time with the music.
"You look beautiful tonight… so much like your mother. She would be proud of the woman you have become." Benjen Stark murmured and Alysanne looked up to him. He never denied her information about her mother, but she knew even all these years later that he was still heartbroken over the death of her mother.
"I do wish she could see me grown now." Alysanne whispered lowly.
"She does, the Gods let her see through the Heart Tree every time you pray. She has seen." Her father responded with confidence. She was struck with the need to ask her father what it was that seemed to be bothering him but before she could her father spoke again; "There is something that will happen tonight… something you need to know before it happens."
A knot formed in her stomach and her breath hitched in her throat.
"I am so sorry my daughter… I had wanted to give you choice in your destiny, but that is just not how the Gods meant for it to be." Benjen then said in lament. The tone of his voice put her further off, realizing that something was terribly and horribly wrong.
"Please, father, just tell me." Alysanne said, her voice felt the strain as if it was about to crack or waver. However she managed to keep her resolve even as she was having a growing sense of dread creep over her.
"The King has arranged a marriage for you Alysanne." He then told her. "It is to Jaime Lannister."
The news had been shocking, Jaime was after all in the Kingsguard. It had been the first question that she had raised to her father, that was when she had found out that King Robert was releasing Jaime from his vows so he could be the heir to Casterly Rock once again. But even hearing that did not make it seem real. Jaime Lannister was just under twice her age, while it was not the largest or the worst age difference that could occur in a marriage. Walder Frey had had many wives that could have been young enough to be his daughter… or even his granddaughter.
The fallen leaves on the ground crunched under her feet as she walked speedily through the Godswoods. Frost quickly appeared by her side, her silver head nudged against her calf in a form of greeting. Her deep, quick breaths visibly whisped out of her mouth but then she heard the sound of another pair of footsteps rushing up behind her. Her head quickly turned and she saw Robb rushing through the trees to reach her. As he came before he quickly swept her into his arms.
"I won't let him take you." Robb said suddenly and firmly into her ear. One of his hands was buried into her long brown hair. Alysanne felt her throat ache as she did want to burst into tears. In one night everything in her left had changed.
"Robb…" she said lowly against his shoulder.
"Marry me." He then suddenly stated and pulled back to look at her. Her eyes widened and she gasped slightly. "I mean it, marry me. Tonight. I'll get Jon, Theon and even Jory… they will witness us as we go to the Heart Tree. By morning there will be nothing any of those Lannister's can do." Robb told her.
As much as his offer was tempting… and romantic even. But she knew that she could not allow him to do this with her, there was so much on the line. "We can't..." she said once then again louder when she realized that he had not heard her.
"Robb…. I cannot." She said as tears came to her eyes and she looked to him.
"I don't understand-" Robb started but Alysanne shook her head she couldn't listen to him plead to her.
"The King himself made this match… if I refuse we'd start another war. Your father, our family… we can't put them through that." Alysanne said as she stepped backwards and pulled herself out of the comfort of Robb's arms. She wiped at her eyes trying her best to pull herself together, she had to be strong.
"What are you saying?" he then asked her his voice reflected his pain. Blinking her eyes before she lifted them, grey meeting blue and both were swimming in tears.
"I love you Robb…." She breathed. "But I can't marry you, I'm to marry Jaime Lannister in two days."
Well hate to leave it at such an emotional spot but this is where I shall end it for today, please don't hate me! Hope you guys liked the scene between Alysanne and Jaime, it will get more focused on them in chapters to come, never fear. If you want or would like a visual for what the dance was that they did go to; you tube /watch?v= ykf0dtw8OYc (just remove spaces). I adore that scene from Pride and Prejudice and thought it was such a beautifully choreographed dance that I had to use it as the dance for this scene, since I obviously have no idea about any 14th century dances.
As always please leave reviews, they help inspire me and every review will receive a preview for the next chapter!
Until next time dearies!