Chapter 5

Guilt

"Father," Jon pleaded desperately. "I...I never touched Lady Arryn, I swear..."

"I'm afraid that doesn't matter," Ned sighed. "The damage has already been done."

"But... How could the King force his sister to marry someone like me? A bastard..."

"You are not a bastard anymore," Ned cut in tensely. "The King has legitimized you."

Jon stared at his father with his mouth open.

"What? How... I mean..."

"As you said, he couldn't marry his sister off to a bastard."

Ned managed to keep his voice calm although the whole thing was a nightmare. He had tried his hardest to keep Jon hidden from Robert and now the boy was forced to marry Robert's sister. How had this happened?

"But father... What about Lady Stark?" Jon murmured.

Ned sighed tiredly. He had already talked with Catelyn and she was furious. Of course she was. Unfortunately, there was nothing Ned could do. This was the King's decision.

"Jon, do you have any idea how Lady Elyse ended up in your chamber?"

Jon looked distressed as he shook his head.

"No, I swear. I left the feast and I remember feeling kind of dizzy, but after that... I don't know." He paused and looked at Ned pleadingly. "Please, you have to believe me..."

"I believe you," Ned assured. "I know you well enough to believe that this wasn't your doing."

"Thank you, father," Jon sighed. "But... Who could have done this?"

Ned pressed his lips together.

"I am not sure. It seems that someone wanted to cause Lady Elyse harm."

Jon bowed his head.

"I can't force her to marry me."

"You don't have a choice," Ned sighed. "The King ordered..."

"What if I run away?" Jon murmured. "To the wall."

"No," Ned replied firmly. "You would destroy the poor girl. Her reputation would be ruined."

"But..."

"You must do this, Jon. I know you will be a good husband and treat her well. She will see that."

"She must hate me," Jon murmured.

"You have time to settle things after the ceremony," Ned replied and patted Jon's shoulder. "Right now, I need you to get ready. Running away isn't an option, you would only harm our House as well as Lady Elyse. Do you understand?"

Reluctantly Jon nodded.

"Yes, father."

"Robert," Elyse tried one last time. "Please..."

She yelped in pain as her brother tightened his grip, bruising her arm.

"If you want to keep your tongue, you will keep your mouth shut," he snarled.

No, she couldn't give up. She couldn't let this happen. Yet she knew that she was trapped. There was no way out. Cersei had planned the whole thing perfectly. Elyse wondered had Cersei paid the boy or had the legitimation and Elyse's fortune been enough payment. The thought filled Elyse with helpless rage.

Just the thought of submitting to the boy tonight made her sick to her stomach. What would he do if she would refuse? Take her by force? As far as everyone concerned, that was his right. She wasn't going to give him or Cersei that satisfaction. She needed to numb herself in order to get through this night.

Dozens of lanterns and torches lighted the way to Godswood. Leila had brushed Elyse's hair and left it partly down, assuring Elyse how beautiful she looked. Beautiful? Hardly. She looked just as awful as she felt. The bruise on her face hurt and she now had new ones on her arm.

The light coral colored wedding gown wasn't nearly warm enough for the cold night, but Elyse didn't care about that. It made no difference if she was cold. Her face was blank as she and Robert reached the heart tree.

"Who comes before the Old Gods this night?" Lord Stark asked.

"Elyse of the House Baratheon comes here to be wed," Robert replied. "A woman grown and flowered, trueborn and noble. She comes to beg the blessings of the gods. Who comes to claim her?"

Elyse stiffened as the boy took a step towards her.

"Jon of the House Stark," he murmured, keeping his eyes down. "Who gives her?"

"Robert of the House Baratheon, the First of His Name, King of the Andals and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm."

Lord Stark looked at Elyse.

"Elyse, do you take this man?"

A pause. Robert's hand hurting her arm. She had no choice.

"I take this man," she heard herself saying.

Robert finally stepped back, giving room for Elyse's new husband. He didn't say anything, he simply wrapped his cloak around her. Was that a part of the northern wedding ceremony? Not to her knowledge.

"You seemed cold," he murmured.

"Thank you, my lord," she replied, struggling to keep her voice free from emotion.

From the corner of her eye, she saw Jaime. He looked away as soon as Elyse's eyes met his. There was no anger or disgust in his eyes, only guilt. He had known about this, probably helped Cersei and the boy. Apparently, he had truly been repulsed by the idea of marrying her. Elyse felt tears burning behind her eyes, but she wasn't going to let them out. She wouldn't shed a single tear tonight, no matter what would happen.