Chapter 4: Morgana Stark
"How could you brother?"
Morgana Stark had always been at her brother's side since the beginning. The two were the last of their family.
They lost their father, Brandon Stark, who was killed by assassins send by House Bolton. They lost their older brother, Rickon Stark, who fell to Ironborn raiders from the Sunset Sea. And they lost their mother, Linda Stark, who died in childbirth. The two were all they had left.
Jon did the best he could to maintain face for House Stark. Their family had many enemies around them. Enemies are ready to strike once they sense the sign of weakness.
Some of his decisions were questionable yet necessary. Morgana understood that. She never questioned her brother of the decision he made. He did it for the good of House Stark.
But when her brother summons her to his study that midnight and told her that she was to married Adrian Skyryder, she stares at him deeply, as if he was stranger to her.
"How could you sell me out like that, like a piece of meat?" Morgana snapped at her older brother.
"I'm not selling you like a piece of meat, Morgana," Jon responded. "I finally found a man worthy for you to call a husband."
"That is exactly what father has said when he married me off to Sigvard Glover!" Morgana pointed out.
Sigvard Glover, Lord of House Glover of Deepwood Motte was one of father's most fearsome bannermen. Father arranged for Morgana to be married to Sigvard, to tie House Stark to House Glover.
While Morgana was duty bond to follow the will of her father, her father has bad judgement in picking a man for husband for her. Sigvard is domineering, abusive, brutal, and ill-tempered. He often asserts what he sees as his power and ownership over Morgana as his wife. He would beat her when she talked back to him.
It would seem to be blessing from the Old Gods that Sigvard was killed during battle with Ironborn raiders. Now a widow, Morgana made her brother promised to never betroth her to another man again.
Jon honored that promise—until tonight he decided to break it.
"You promised me brother!" Morgana reminded him of the promise between them. "You promised to never betroth her to another man again.
"I know I promised sister and I hated to break my promise to you," Jon explained. "But this is a once-in-a-lifetime- opportunity that won't happen again. You can't deny that fact that Adrian Skyryder makes a powerful ally for House Stark."
Morgana was silent for a moment before she says "I heard stories about him brother. Stories about eh atrocities he committed down south. Why else you think he called the Bloody-Handed Demon of High Heart?"
"The stories you heard come from the Andals sister," Jon told her. "They hated and feared him for what he is capable of. And if the Greenseer is correct on his predictions, House Stark need every sword to defend the North."
"What do you mean?" Morgana responds.
"The Greenseer called Zeek told me that once the Andals are finished in the south, they're going to turn their full attention towards the North," Jon told her. "It won't happened for a long time, but before it does, we need to get ready, such making House Stark ruling all of the North, and House Skyryder and its Griffins are they key in helping us."
"What makes you think he'll served our House brother?" Morgana questioned Jon. "How do you know he won't turn on us in the last minute?"
"He gave me his word before the Heart Tree in the Godswood of Winterfell," Jon told her. "And he willing to give two of his Griffins as a sign of trust to Lisa and Bran—also you!"
Morgana looked surprise when she heard that and respond "Really?"
"He is willing to train you, Bran, and Lisa in learning how to bond and mount Griffins," Jon explained. "Those creatures were born into this world, under the blessing of the Old Gods. He is planning on populating the species through designed breeding, development, and training, creating a future order of Griffin Riders to defend the North. It will take many generations, but it will be destined to happened that will be a great benefit to protecting our homeland."
Morgana thought very hard about what Jon was telling her. She was surprised that Adrian Skyryder was willing to train her, and her niece and nephew in becoming Griffin Riders. Perhaps he was not like Sigvard Glover as she thought him to be. Still—Morgana had trouble trusting this, Adrian Skyrdyer.
"I wouldn't do this after your first husband Morgana and how you felt," Jon told her. "But I need a powerful and formidable House like House Skyryder to stay connected with House Stark through blood ties. Otherwise, another Northern House would try to beat us to the punch."
Morgana could understand the wisdom of her brother's words. House Skyryder was unique for it was capable of taming and riding the mythical creatures, Griffins. Jon was right, for if House Stark didn't try to marry a Stark into House Skyryder, then another Northern House would. It would either be a Mormont, Dustin, Karstark—or Bolton?
The idea of Bolton riding a Griffin really revolted her. If the Bolton success in marrying one of their daughters to Adrian Skyryder, they would try convinces him to their side, use their Griffins to dominate all the North, which tip the tide against the Starks. It must not happen. It should never happen!"
Jon was right. It would be very foolish for House Stark to not take the opportunity.
"Is that why you brought me her tonight?" Morgana questioned her brother. "To tells me this in person?"
"Yes," Jon replied. "That and the thing with Rhea."
Morgana stare at Jon with unhappy look and says, "You want me to end my relationship with Rhea?"
It was common wisdom throughout Winterfell that between the two women was a strong sexual and love relationship, that burn so hot, not even the Winter of the Others could freeze it.
Morgana's love for Rhea was described as obsessive, noting that she could very well kill someone just for looking at Rhea the wrong way. Rhea was madly in love with Morgana, completely loyal and devoted to her. It has been noted that Rhea is adventurous and has a wild sexual imagination, which Morgana thinks she "had utterly corrupted her".
"I want you to do what is best for House Stark Morgana!" Jon answered.
"Funny," Morgana says bitterly. "Those are the same words father says when he has me connives to married Sigvard Glover."
0o0o0
Morgana finally returns to her bedroom. In the room, and lying in her bed was Rhea Snow, who was entirely naked.
"What do your brother wish to see you, Morgana?" she asked with a relaxing and seductive tone.
Rhea was a bastard daughter of Wuton Cassel, the Captain of the House Stark Guards. Her father has an illicit relationship with a wanton Traven wrench. Despite her standing as a bastard
Rhea is a beautiful young woman with slim figure and brown curly hair. A lot of people describe her as pretty and think she would be any man's dream, were she not a bastard. Morgana thinks her the most beautiful woman in the world.
Rhea and Morgana were close friends since childhood due to their similar personalities. People describe them as "a wild and boyish beauties of adventurous spirit", who enjoy archery and horseback riding. Due to the likeness, they share, they preferred each other's companionship.
The friendship between Rhea and Morgana grew stronger through the years. On the day Morgana married Sigvard Glover, the two realized that they're in love with each other. However, there was nothing any of them could do now that Morgana was married to Sigvard Glover.
Yet, after Sigvard's death and his son Ike Glover, Morgana's stepson, became the new lord of Deepwood Motte, Morgana was allowed to return to Winterfell. It was at that moment the two developed a strong intimate relationship.
Morgana didn't respond as she sat next to Rhea. Rhea noticed something was wrong and asked "What is it Morgana? This something happening?"
Morgana struggled to make her answer, which seemed to take forever to reply. Yet it was the hardest answer she ever gave in her life.
"Jon wants me to marry Adrian Skyryder," Morgana revealed to her lover.
Rhea look very unhappy and respond "You're joking?"
"I wish it was a joke Rhea," she says in a convincing tone. "But it's not!"
"But—But—your brother promised to never betroth her to another man again!" Rhea reminded her.
"He did but gave me a good reason of breaking that promise!" Morgana explained.
"And what good reason is that?" Rhea snapped. "Having you suffered enough to be sold as cattle to satisfy your House's ambitions. What if this Adrian Skyryder is brute and womanhater like Sigvard?"
"Jon is not like Father Rhea," Morgana told her. "He always judges people of their actions which revealed their true characters!"
Morgana felt Rhea hugs tight from behind and hear he says "I know that Morgana, it's just that—I—"
"What is it, Rhea?" Morgana asked, sensing something Rhea was holding back.
Rhea hesitated for a moment until she finally said "The day you married Sigvard I finally realized I loved you! You were meant to be mine! And mine alone!"
"As you were meant to be mine alone!" Morgana also confessed. "I remember the night we may love after I return to Winterfell following Sigvard's death. It was the most beautiful thing I ever experiences in a lifetime."
"Yes, I know," Rhea admitted. "After the night we made love, I never wanted a man to touch you again as long as we both lives!"
"I know, Rhea," Morgana says. "I never wanted any man touching you either."
"Then why now leave this place!" Rhea tries to convince her. "Leave Winterfell! Leave the North! We can somewhere far away, free and unbound to anyone's orders to tell us what to do!"
"Like where?" Morgana asked, turning around to face her lover. "The Free Cities of Essos? Even if I wanted to, you know I can't Rhea! Jon—"
"—and you all you had left, yes I know," Rhea finished her words. "Yet sometimes—sometimes I wish you were never a Stark! A bastard like me! That way no one will ever tells who married and who spend their lives with!"
"I don't think it about noble blood, common blood, or bastard blood Rhea," said Morgana. "We lived in a man's world, where those in power has cock between their legs! Women like us must bend by the rules of man, and Jon is forced to go along with it."
"What makes you think any man would force Jon is to make you married against your will?" Rhea asked her.
"Jon had been keeping men away who tries to ask him for my hand in marriage," Morgana explained. "Some of these men that he turns away are vassal lords that sworn fealty to him. House Stark needs allies to maintain their power Rhea, and House Skyryder is powerful ally that Jon can't ignore."
There was silence between the two women. Then Rhea says "So that it! You made your decision?"
"I do!" Morgana responded reluctantly.
"And your brother wants you to end this between us?" Rhea asked that dreadful question.
"He did!" Morgana replied to her dreadful answer.
Again, there was silence between the two women. Then Rhea stood up and says, "Then I guess I better be leaving now!"
"Can't you stay with me a little longer?" Morgana pleaded.
"No," Rhea responded as she begins to get dressed. "It will be difficult for me as well as it's difficult for you! It's best we stay away from each other!"
"I don't want you go Rhea!" Morgana tearfully begged. "I love you!"
"I love you too Morgana," Rhea responds with tears of her own. "But this had to be done! It be too cruel for both of us if we try to make love! Good night Morgana!"
