I'm a day early this week because of a bank holiday in the UK, but I'm sure none of you will mind that!

Maiden's Day on the wiki page is a grand total of four paragraphs on the wiki page and the most detail we actually get about it comes in the form of the Cattle Show where King Aegon III was required to choose a wife. The usual, annual festivities aren't mentioned in the books other than in a paragraph in A Feast for Crows where they mention a part of the ceremony and the fact that Margaery had to fast.

I hope you all enjoy this chapter! I own nothing but any OC's as all recognisable characters are the property of George R R Martin or HBO.

It was a tense atmosphere around the small group of travelling companions as they continued to make their way Northwards towards the Wall. Bran Stark kept switching his focus between the previously feuding Osha and Meera, whilst also trying to keep an eye on Jojen Reed who was still looking worse for wear after his vision that morning. The Reed boy must have noticed the concern on Bran's face as he stepped back to draw level with the sledge that Hodor was dragging Bran along on.

"I am fine." He stated, though his voice sounded pained.

Bran frowned. "Does that happen every time you have a vision?" He asked.

Jojen looked thoughtful for a moment. "Not every time." He said quietly.

"Will it happen to me?" Bran asked.

Jojen once again shook his head. "I don't think so. You are stronger than I am, and your powers will eventually far surpass me. I got my visions after an illness that has never truly left me, I'm sure that is part of why I fit."

Feeling like a weight had been lifted off of his shoulders, Bran smiled. "Thank you." He said softly, before leaving the Reed boy to focus on the journey. Eventually Bran drifted off into a light sleep, dreaming of stags and wolves fighting on a muddy hill.

Sansa Stark was awoken as the sun had just begun to peek out over Blackwater Bay by a knocking on her door. Beside her Jeyne Poole jumped up in alarm, and Sansa had to reach out to stroke her friend's arm. "It's ok Jeyne, it's just time for me to get ready." She whispered tiredly.

Rising out of bed she saw a pair of handmaidens enter the room, one holding brushes and bottles, while the other slightly more familiar looking to Sansa was holding a lovely pale grey gown. Without saying anything, Sansa simply allowed the girls to lead her to the dressing room to undress her out of her shift and scrub her down before having all sorts of oils and soaps rubbed over her body and hair.

By the time they had finished with that, the sky was turning blue and Sansa's hair had a number of flattering curls. They pulled on a new chemise before Sansa was turned to the darker haired of the pair holding the dress. Sansa waited for them to pull it over her and tighten it before she was able to look at her reflection.

It was beautiful, and in the style of the city despite the Northern colouring. Sansa also noticed that along the skirt of the dress in a darker shade of grey was her family's sigil. "This is lovely." Was the first thing Sansa said to the handmaids.

"Thank you, My Lady." The lighter haired woman smiled. "Mira here made it herself."

And suddenly it clicked. "Mira, Mira Forrester?" Sansa asked.

The woman called Mira grinned. "Yes, My Lady. I did not expect you to recognise me, we've only met the once as children."

"Mother made sure to always know where the noble children were being fostered." Sansa explained. "She was most surprised when you were sent to Highgarden." That brought up a thought in the red-head's mind. "Shouldn't you be helping Lady Margaery?"

The lighter haired woman scoffed, to the annoyance of Mira. "Sera, quiet." Mira whispered before turning back to Sansa. "Lady Margaery is being seen to by the royal handmaids, My Lady. She instructed us to ensure that you were well looked after."

More so that she didn't look like a prisoner, Sansa thought, but she smiled all the same. "I must thank her when I see her." She looked at her reflection again, taking note of the soft wolf fur in the neck and cuffs. "This is as close to home as I have felt in years." She admitted.

"Mira made the dress herself, Lady Sansa." Sera stated, causing Mira to look alarmed.

Sansa gave a twirl so she could see more of the back in the reflection. "That explains why it feels so homely. I truly am thankful, Mira. This is fine work."

"We just have to put a couple of finishing touches to you, My Lady." Mira quickly changed the subject. Sansa nodded, and let the girls tie a darker grey belt around her waist before powdering her cheeks to give a healthier blush just as another knock on the door was sounded. "Lady Margaery Tyrell." The door guard stated loudly, and Sansa's eyes widened in surprise. All three girls stood upright beside one another as the future Queen entered the room, and Sansa had to hold her jaw in place to stop it dropping.

Margaery's dress was as pale a green as you would ever see that it closely bordered on white. The golden vines that made patterns across the bust and on the neckline sparkled in the sunlight, while also snaking down the gown towards the skirts and showing what looked like a rose field. It truly was a gown fit for a queen.

Sansa curtseyed. "Lady Margaery."

"Sansa!" Margaery greeted her warmly, giving the Stark a hug and giving her two air kisses on the cheeks. "You look divine!"

Sansa's blush was real then. "As do you… I've never seen such a fine dress."

Surprisingly, Margaery scoffed. "The green is too weak I told them, but I was outvoted." She rolled her eyes. "I need to appear as pure as possible to the faith because of my previous, unconsummated marriage." Sansa realised that was why her gown was so pale a grey at that moment and knew that she was just as much of a statement for King Lucerys' peaceful rule. "Of course Princess Daenerys is wearing her house colours though, nobody would dare question the innocence of a dragon." Sansa didn't understand the point Margaery was trying to make, but she didn't have time to ask any questions when Margaery clapped her hands together and said. "But never mind, today we must put on a show, mustn't we?"

"I suppose we must." Sansa nodded. The nerves on her face must have been telling, as Margaery smiled, placing both hands on Sansa's shoulders.

"Just follow my lead." She explained. "Mira has told me all about your Northern customs, I suppose you never truly marked Maiden's Day before now, have you?"

Sansa shook her head. "Septa Mordane would take my sister and I into our sept at Winterfell to light some candles, but it was mainly a day of Septa Mordane chastising Arya and quickly lighting candles before letting us go again." She explained.

Margaery chuckled. "Your sister sounds like a handful." She said kindly. "Well, right now we are due to meet the rest of the maidens for breakfast, as the rest of the day shall be spent without food or wine, only purified water." She sounded unhappy. "The fasting is ridiculous, but thankfully we have a pair of larger feasts tomorrow." Sansa nodded, actually looking forward to attending the Royal Wedding. "So be sure to eat as much as you can now, as you won't get much of a chance afterwards."

Sansa nodded once again, though her thoughts turned to Jeyne in the bedroom behind her. "My Lady… my friend…"

"Mira is staying with her." Margaery smiled, and Sansa should have realised that a woman as kind as Margaery would have already thought about Jeyne. "She follows the Old Gods so is staying inside the Red Keep."

"I met Jeyne once when I travelled to Winterfell for your elder brother's tenth nameday, My Lady." Mira nodded. "We are not complete strangers."

"But we must be going." Margaery stated firmly as she looked out at the rising sun. "Gluttony is frowned upon, but I need to fill my belly before spending all day in a Sept praying."

Sansa simply giggled as she nodded her agreement, and after saying a goodbye to Jeyne she departed the room together with the future Queen eager to make a good impression throughout the day.

It was a later rising for Luke than it was the girls. Thankfully he didn't need to fast or even attend the ceremonies, knowing that he wouldn't have been permitted entry as it was. He took his time getting out of bed and once his breakfast had arrived, he stayed in his bed clothes as he ate out on his balcony, watching from on high as the courtyard was bustling with activity to get the three carriages containing the noble maiden's on the move towards Visenya's Hill and the Sept of Baelor. Luke watched as the carriages soon began moving and followed them until they passed beyond buildings.

Once his food was finished he began to get himself dressed, although by the time he had put his trousers on Ser Barristan's voice sounded through the door. "Your Grace, the Lord Hand is here to see you."

"Send him in." Luke shouted again as he pulled on an undershirt before placing his arms inside a black and gold striped doublet. He was doing the buttons up when Jon entered the room. "Jon, this is an early surprise."

Jon nodded. "I wanted to catch you before you were caught up in Prince Oberyn's interrogation tactics." He explained distastefully.

"We did worse out in Essos, my friend." Luke shrugged. "Oberyn will not render Baelish incapable."

"In Essos we weren't ruling, we were mere sellswords." Jon countered. "We must be better now. Especially give the importance of tomorrow."

Luke sighed as he buttoned the top button before slipping into his boots. "I am aware of how important tomorrow is, Jon. You do not need to remind me."

"Stannis Baratheon is out there in the North gaining victories and alliances and only the Seven know what Lysa Arryn is doing in the Vale." Jon reported. "This alliance with the Tyrell's is vital…"

"I know." Luke snapped, pinching the bridge on his nose before sighing. "I did not mean to snap, I am sorry."

Jon sat down beside Luke and poured him a wine. "Stress is natural before an arranged marriage."

"Have you summoned Shireen to attend?" Luke asked.

"I have not." Jon shook his head. "She is better served in Storm's End, learning to rule it in my absence."

Luke sighed. "Jon. The whole reason of wedding her was to combine her own claim to the castle to our cause. If you do not put children in her…"

"I will." Jon was the one snapping now. "Just… Luke, she is a child." He was almost pleading. "I cannot bed her, not until she is older."

A small part of Luke admired his restraint knowing how much Jon hated any and all of the Usurpers friends and kin, but the larger part of him was annoyed. "Stannis Baratheon is married. Varys tells me he has taken the Northern whore with him on his campaigns, despite the sourness of the man he knows he needs a son to cause trouble in the Stormlands. I have no wish to put down petty rebellions when entire regions remain out of my grasp."

"If he has a son there will be war no matter what I do." Jon countered. "And whatever the case, we shall win."

"And how many then die? How many then resent my rule and turn on me that are currently following my banner?" Luke asked. He shook his head and took a sip as he thought. "I'll give you until the turn of the year. After that she will be of a better age and then at the very least you will spend time at Storm's End trying to get her with child."

Jon didn't look happy, but he nodded his head anyway. "It is your marriage we need to focus on, not mine." He changed the subject slightly. "The Throne Room is all set up for the wedding feast with the head table beneath the Iron Throne and all the decorations are being installed as we speak. Lord Tyrell has also taken charge of the garden decorations for the breakfast. I will have a dozen servants on hand to take the gifts you receive away." Luke nodded. Each region had different wedding customs and the Reach in particular pushed a great deal of importance on the wedding breakfasts, where gifts would be given to the groom for the wedded couple to enjoy. "We are also expecting the last of the guests today, Lord Mudd is due to arrive this evening."

Luke grinned. "It will be good to see the old crowd again."

"It will." Jon agreed.

Luke sighed contently, leaning back and sipping his wine as he and Jon continued to chat for a little while about both the past and what they expected for the future. He had missed these moments with his mentor and father figure and silently vowed that no matter the stress that ruling placed upon both of their heads, he would try and do better to set aside moments for Jon and not take the man that had saved his life all those years ago for granted.

Even to a man as stoic and harsh as Stannis Baratheon could be, the fact that sound of his wife retching and throwing up actually gave him joy was a little conflicting. The camp Maester had confirmed Alys Karstark's theory that she was finally with child. It was a rare occasion where the Baratheon's goblet was filled with an ale as he celebrated the news with Melisandre and Cregan Karstark.

"The Lord of Light is pleased." Melisandre stated as she stared intently at the dancing flames in the brazier "An heir to Azor Ahai is a great occurrence."

A boy was vital to Stannis. He nodded. "I am still cautious." He stated bluntly. "Selyse had multiple pregnancies and only one babe was born."

"Alys is fine stock, Your Grace." Cregan boasted. "Northern stock, Karstark stock."

"And yet we are still marching in a war camp." Stannis countered. "I am of a mind to send her back to Karhold to gain the best care to birth the babe."

Cregan nodded. "I shall have a party gathered."

"No need." Stannis countered quickly. "I will send my own men."

The reasons for Stannis arranging it himself were twofold. Firstly, despite leaving a handful of his own men back at the Northern stronghold he could always do with solidifying the castle's support to himself. Secondly, the Red Woman had seen a vision of Robb Stark moving Northwards and so he wanted all of the Northerners in his force close by to ward off any threats of treason against him.

Cregan however didn't know about the latter and began protesting. "Your Grace, I'm sure my cousin would be more comfortable…"

"Ser Patrek and Ser Brus are already making arrangements, Cregan." Stannis stated bluntly. "I need you to instead focus on the assault at Moat Cailin, we are barely two days away and you have more knowledge of the fortress than any of my vassals from the South."

Cregan was frowning angrily, but he still nodded. "Aye, Your Grace." He muttered. "If you'll excuse me, I'll join the generals."

Stannis nodded, waving him away before taking another sip of ale, grimacing at the taste. He then turned to Melisandre. "I want you to hang back at the camp when we take Moat Cailin." He ordered.

Melisandre moved her gaze from the brazier flame to his eyes. "Your Grace? I can be useful…"

"You are too valuable." Stannis insisted. "I need you alive when I go on and take my Throne more than I need your magic to cleanse this area of Ironborn."

The Red Woman had a blank expression on her face, but she nodded her head the once. "Then grant me a request." She said, rising to her feet. "Look into the brazier and tell me what you see."

Stannis really didn't want to, but he rose to his feet and joined the Red Woman at the fire. He felt the heat on his cheeks, and he saw the flickering of the fire, but deep inside himself he also saw something else. "I see the Crown of Winter laid at my feet." He explained, enraptured in the flames. "I see my wife on the birthing bed in King's Landing…" He actually smiled. "I see victory."

As the eldest current maiden of House Targaryen Daenerys led the procession into the Great Sept of Baelor holding the hand of a growingly independent Visenya who had insisted on walking once they had risen the steps and began to make their way towards and through the Maidens door. A large crowd had gathered inside filled with the unmarried daughters and sisters of the noble wedding guests along with their maiden households, as well as a number of the city's residents who had been allowed entry providing they met the strict requirements for the holy day.

As they entered, Daenerys noted the choral singing that filled the room with a harmonic atmosphere, the septa's all singing a hymn about the purity of the maiden. They were funnelled through the crowd towards the great statue of the Maiden, where a second, smaller statue of natural height had been placed for the day. The High Septon was stood next to the statue, alongside a table filled with parchment garlands and tall, white candles similar to the bell towers of the Great Sept.

"Princess Daenerys." The High Septon bowed. "Princess Visenya. Welcome to the Great Sept of Baelor on this holy day." He bowed at the pair before reaching down and handing Visenya a parchment garland. "In light of your purity and innocence in the site of the Maiden, please place this around the Maiden's neck in a show of your innocence." Visenya gripped the garland, and looked up at Daenerys expectantly, allowing the Targaryen princess to pick her up to be at a height to drape the garland around the deity's neck. Daenerys put the young girl back on the floor, before the High Septon continued. "Now, please take a candle and light it at the Maiden's feet, washing away all fleeting thoughts of sin with the flame."

Nodding, Daenerys took both a candle and a lit spill from the High Septon. She wasn't a particularly pious woman having spent the majority of her childhood hiding in different cities all of whom celebrated and prayed to different Gods, but as she stood in front of the topless and naked statue of the Maiden, her thoughts returned to that night a couple of weeks prior and for the first time since, Daenerys felt guilt.

Kneeling down at the Maiden's feet Daenerys lit the candle, and in her head prayed for both forgiveness and guidance before she rose to her feet again, grabbing Visenya's little hand and making her way to the area set aside for the royal maiden's. From there Dany felt like she could relax more as eyes turned instead to Margaery Tyrell and Sansa Stark to perform their rituals, and for the first time Dany actually felt glad of the overexaggerated performance of the Tyrell woman, as she noticed the awed whispers of the crowd as Margaery sank to her knees after lighting the candle and kissed the Maiden's feet before rising gracefully and flattening her skirts.

The day then continued exactly as had been planned out, with songs and hymns of innocence filling the Great Sept, and while Daenerys began to feel more relieved that she had asked for forgiveness in front of the Seven, in the back of her mind as she sung the hymns and looked at the High Septon leading the service, her thoughts were turning to the next day and the moment that her brother would be joined in matrimony with a woman that Daenerys would never bring herself to be able to trust completely.

Stannis' final war camp was quiet. The warriors had all marched off to take Moat Cailin from the Ironborn leaving Melisandre and a handful of guards to protect her and keep Theon Greyjoy imprisoned. The Red Woman was uneasy, however. Stannis' visions from a couple of nights earlier had stuck in her mind for reasons the Baratheon likely wouldn't enjoy, for she also saw some of the same things, but differently. She stared into the brazier in Stannis' tent intimately, watching as the baby birthed to Alys Karstark was being held by a woman with silver hair. She then saw that baby grown up, joined under the sheets by a person their age also with silver hair. Sighing, Melisandre shook her head.

"R'hllor show me the way." She whispered in her native High Valyrian. "Tell me I haven't been so wrong."

Her vision then changed once again and she was looking at the top of the Wall. A group in roughly sewn together furs were stood there triumphantly, and she felt a pull towards a curly, dark haired man currently lip locked with a red-headed woman. As she stared at the pair of lovers Melisandre felt clarity for the first time since she had stepped foot in the North, and then a deep pain of regret.

Knowing what she needed to do, Melisandre briskly made her way back to her own tent, packing essentials and throwing her possessions into a satchel before she walked out into the cold air once again. Ensuring that the guards were more focused on the Greyjoy prisoner than herself she quickly mounted her horse, before giving one cursory glance to the South where she knew Stannis was about to begin his battle. Sighing, she steeled herself with her new purpose, riding away up the Kingsroad heading further Northwards.

It had been fierce riding for Robb to from Riverrun to a league south of Moat Cailin in under ten days, finding the place where Lord Umber had set up his camp, blocking off the Kingsroad to the North. After a quick debrief with all of his Lords letting him know about numbers of Ironborn as well as the lack of knowledge about the Northmen that had journeyed through the Neck led by Lord Glover, Robb was escorted to a tent so that he could have a rest and a sleep.

He was awoken less than two hours after shutting his eyes however as the camp around him seemed to spring loudly into action. Rising to his feet and rubbing his eyes, Robb downed a flagon of ale that had been put on the side unit to perk himself up before strapping his sword to his hip and leaving the tent. While outside he noticed that Lord Umber was barking our orders about formations and riders, and so the Stark went to go and see what was happening.

"Fighting at the Moat." The Greatjon explained loudly. "I don't know if Glover has simply gotten antsy or not, but two scouts have confirmed a battle has begun to the North. We need to move, Your Grace."

Robb nodded, wishing that he had gotten more sleep before fighting but knowing that they simply couldn't wait. "Sound the charge." He ordered, looking up the Kingsroad to fortress being propped up on the marshy mound in the distance with a determined glare. "Today we finish this."

The Bran scene is after the actual show scene in Season 3 Episode 6.

It's not really a secret that I quite like the Forrester family and I include Mira quite a lot… and it's a bit of a shame that she was a game creation because the addition of a Northerner in King's Landing to go along with Sansa would have been a nice dynamic.

I don't feel like I've done a one-on-one Luke and Jon Connington chat for a while so that was a nice scene to do. Jon is still uneasy about being forced to marry Shireen for multiple reasons but Luke's main focus there is still to simply stick it to House Baratheon.

He has reason to be uneasy though as Alys Karstark is pregnant… I wonder if anyone will guess at what his vision means… Melisandre's vision too…

Maiden's Day being such a big part of this chapter is to show a few different things. There's the guilt that Dany feels in front of the Gods knowing what happened with her and Luke a couple of chapters ago, as well as the point that Margaery has to show in front of the Gods her purity as she's due to wed the King. I did it from Dany's point of view because that guilt was more interesting to write.

And finally, Robb is back with his army! A league is generally three miles for those (like me) who didn't know.

I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. Please let me know your thoughts.

Next Time: The Battle of Moat Cailin.

Reviews:

pronick857: Visenya hasn't actually bonded to Rhaegal yet, but as far as Luke knows she's the only other Targaryen and Rhaegal is the only unbonded dragon, so he's put 2 and 2 together. Your other points are very interesting however, though of course that all depends on Visenya's personality growing up and if the Dany/Luke dalliance continues…

Anaconda: No harem's in this story I'm afraid.

Trueborn JonSnow: I tend to go down the polygamy route rather than annulment unless I'm strictly following the show. This time I'm not, so Rhaegar married both Elia and Lyanna.

suppes1: Why would Daenerys or Margaery agree to share?

Guest (hornyposting): At least someone gets it! Yeah the Vale is one of those with genuine reasons to mistrust Targaryen's given the deaths they suffered in the Rebellion, but then there's a question of what's better in the long term which Yohn is thinking about. Does he keep his stance from the Rebellion or does he put that to one side and ally with Luke to give the Vale a better future. Baelish will be out of sight for a while so you can imagine how much Oberyn will get… As for Robb's army, next chapter…

RHatch89: Thank you!