The wedding

Jon POV

He stood tall and proud with his belly sticking out. As he shouted, spit spilled everywhere. I didn't understand why Lord Mace Tyrell would want the position so badly. He couldn't even rebuild the city with his gold and promises. How does he think he can take on the Hand's duties?

I wanted to shout for him to shut the fuck up. I wanted to bash his head on the table for him to remember where he was. I wanted to shove the necklace of the Hand down his throat so he wouldn't be able to say another word. Yet all I did was stay quiet as he finished his speech. He talked a lot, but I didn't hear a thing he said.

"Lord Jason Mallister," I called out to the Master of the Law as everyone else stayed silent after the passional speech of lord Mace Tyrrel. "Prepare to pass on your duties to Prince Oberyn Martell and take the position by my side as the King's Hand."

"Your Grace," Lord Mace Tyrell shouted again, but I interrupted him before he could say another word.

"Do you have any objections, Lord Mace Tyrell? Are you questioning my decision?"

"Of course not, your Grace, my apologies," Lord Mace Tyrell sat down back to his seat.

He thought too much of himself. Even if he soon would be my good father, I wouldn't trust him as far as I could throw him, and with his belly, I don't think I could throw him far. I knew very well that he would use his daughter to change my mind. Too bad for him. I needed a hand that could guide me and makes up for my mistakes, not another way around.

"Should I tell the good news to my uncle?" Princess Arianne asked.

"No, I will meet with him myself," I replied.

It was time I faced him and talked with the infamous prince Oberyn. It was long overdue. The grand wedding was upon me, and after that would be the great tourney to select my Kingsguard. Then would come the most arduous task, informing the realm's lords about the threat beyond the Wall. And even after that, I had to secure the Stormlands.

…

It wasn't hard to find Prince Oberyn. He wasn't well-behaved. Walking through silk streets, I could hear people talking about the prince's actions in the brothels. When I arrived, the doors opened for me. The girls wearing anything barely would likely crowd me if not for Ghost walking beside me. The giant white dire wolf would defer everyone to keep their distance.

"Leave," I said as I opened the doors to where prince Oberyn was staying.

"Does his grace wants to join me?" Oberyn asked as the girls and boys were getting dressed. "You don't need to be shy. I am sure they would enjoy your company as you would theirs."

"Leave," I repeated as a girl tried to lay a hand on me. "I will speak with prince Oberyn alone."

Just before the prince could say anything else, Ghost strode inside, baring his teeth at the girls and boys. Seeing the white wolf, they quickly gathered their clothes and ran away. I eyed the prince and waited for him to be dressed. He did reluctantly as he took the wine bottle he wanted to open.

"To what I have the pleasure of his grace to meet with me?"

"I have appointed you as the Master of the Law," I told him.

"And if I refused, would his grace be insulted?" He asked

"Prince Oberyn, I had enough of your childish behavior. If you don't like me, so be it. There are plenty more who don't like me too. But I am tired of your crying. Go back to the Dorne. I will find someone else to lead the host to the Stormlands. If you still want to stay, take the position and be quiet. If you want to kill me, this is the perfect place and time, but I assure you Ghost will rip you apart before you can reach me. Now choose and be done with it because I have no time nor patience for you."

…

I ate dinner alone, there were a few guards outside my solar, but that was all. Ghost was lying beneath the table. He was silent as always. The mushroom soup tasted rich, and the chicken stew was thick. The bread was freshly baked, and the wine was of the highest quality. As a bastard of Winterfell, I would never enjoy such a meal. As a King of the Seven Kingdoms, I can't enjoy the meal.

I had too many things to think about. Too many worries to enjoy anything. People already decided that Lord Edmure Tully was dead. Captured and killed by the remains of the Ironborn pirates. I couldn't accept him being dead just yet. He had been supposed to stay by my side and teach me what to do. I felt lost most of the time, wondering if I was taking the right path.

"Your Grace, Mistress of the Whispers wants an audience," A guard knocked on the door and said.

"Let her in," I replied.

Princess Arianne, Mistress of Whispers, Lady regent of the Riverlands, and mother of three children, yet her smile hid more. She might as well be the most capable member of the small council and the most dangerous person in court. She as well might be the most powerful person in the city. I had no idea how many men and women served her.

"Your Grace," She bowed. "I came to report."

"Please be quick," I replied.

"We have checked the backgrounds and chosen the people to attend the wedding. The invitations were delivered," She said. "The guards, the servants, the cooks, the musicians, and gardeners were observed and concluded not to be spies or enemies of his grace."

I looked over the list, but I trusted her enough to dismiss it. I wanted to ask if she had heard anything about Lord Edmure, but if she didn't bring it up, she had not, and asking would only bring out her wounds. After princess Arianne left, I finished eating, giving chicken bones to Ghost I went to sleep. Tomorrow would be a long day.

…

Red and black were the colors of House Targaryen, and I had to wear them at the wedding. Still, I hid some grey of House Stark beneath the garments. First, I needed to attend the breakfast. I could already predict how the lords would try to get closer to me with their presents and sweet words.

The royal wedding was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the lesser lords and ladies to get closer to the royalty. I did not doubt that lady Margaery Tyrell would be fine with the people surrounding us. Sometimes I felt like she was born for such on occasion. Well, from what I heard, she was preparing from little for her marriage. While I never thought I would marry anyone.

While lady Margaery broke her fast with her attendants from House Tyrell, I ate with the other lords and ladies. Gifts were brought before me. Some gave me swords or daggers; others brought jewelry, boots, saddles, and rare books. Even Oberyn gave me a silver scorpion ring. Princess Arianne had told me that Oberyn wasn't trying anything funny. After accepting my offer to join the small council, he behaved himself, for now at least.

After breakfast was time for the main event, the marriage ceremony would usually be held in the Great Sept of Baelor, but as it didn't exist anymore, it was held just outside the Red Keep so low born could still see the binding of two houses. Even though it was midday, it wasn't burning hot as I thought it would be.

The new High Septon performed the ceremony. After what happened to the servants of the Faith of the late, he didn't dare to misspeak or do anything that might ruin the ceremony. Margaery wore a beautiful green dress adorned with flowers. When we spoke our marriage vows, she said them in a soft and sultry voice.

Finally, the time came for the feast. By the time the ceremony ended and people could take a look at their king and queen, the sun started to set. I took only one bite from each of the seventy-seven dishes brought to us. I could tell people were surprised, and even Margaery sat straighter with Ghost by my side. If there were any poison in the food, Ghost would smell it.

Even though the musicians did their best to entertain me, I got my fun from looking at the proud lords and knights shaking in their boots when they tried to approach me. Of course, I hid my smile. Princess Arianne would have some words with me later, that is for sure. But it was the only way I could calm myself down.

"Ghost is well-behaved," I said to my wife. "Even if you pet him, he wouldn't mind."

"Thank you for your concern, your grace," Margaery replied.

"You look beautiful today. If Ghost makes you uncomfortable, say a word."

It was my mistake not trying to get closer to my wife. I always saw the wedding as being in the far future. It was decided it would be held on the new turn of the century, yet it has been three months since the year turned. I couldn't postpone it any further as I had to use the occasion to bring the grave news from beyond the Wall to be shared with other lords.

"Ghost is lovely. I just need to get used to him to feel comfortable. You don't have to worry about me, your grace," Lady Margaery replied.

"Please forgive me for my rudeness to you and your family for not trying much to get closer to you. We are married and family now, so tell me if you feel uncomfortable. I want you to trust me even if I can't ask for love."

"Do you trust me?" She asked.

"Even if it is hard to believe for you, I do. I never thought I would marry or have a family all my life. I thought it was above me. A bastard like me doesn't deserve such a thing. I thought I should only serve as a knight to House Stark for the rest of my life to atone for my sins. Yet there I am with the lords of the realm celebrating my wedding to the most beautiful woman in the known world."

"Forgive me if I am wrong, but you don't look that happy," Margaery said.

"Don't get me wrong, I am happy."

"But."

"But I would like it if my father had been here. I mean lord Eddard Stark. I would like it if he celebrated with the rest of the lords, telling me how proud he was of me. Yet the only family I have left is far in the North or somewhere in the Essos."

"I am sorry to bring it up," Margaery gripped my hand and said.

I only smiled at her. I wondered how my aunt Daenerys Targaryen was doing. Was she safe or trying to survive in the deserts, starving to get to a new day? The news from the Essos travels slowly, even though I asked Princess Arianne to look for her. It might take a few more months before I get any information.

"Time for the bedding," I heard a shout after the feast was almost at its end.

Even though they were pretty drunk, the men didn't dare to do anything else but shout. Ghost stood before lady Margaery as a brave knight deterring anyone from getting close to her. I laughed at the scene, took lady Margaery into my arms, and stormed out of the feast to my chamber. I could hear the laughter from behind me.

A.N. As always, If you want more, up to five advanced chapters, you can support me on pa treon. com \ ironwolf852