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Jaime Lannister V
Red Keep, King's Landing, Crownlands, Year 284 AC
Jaime was patrolling Maegor's Holdfast which was rather quiet given that today was the day Lord Stannis and Lady Catelyn would get married in the Great Sept of Baelor. The entirety of the Royal Family would be attending and Jaime also knew that Prince Viserys would leave in the morrow to become a ward at Storm's End with the newlywed couple so everyone was frenetic.
Everyone except Cersei who for some reason was quite more joyful than the last time he saw her. Something happened, that much was obvious and a small part of him was happy because she no longer seemed as depressed but the larger part of him didn't quite give a shit about her and worried as to what caused her sudden burst of happiness.
While he was walking in the corridors he saw a familiar long dark brown haired man carrying a trunk behind him without the help of the servants. Jaime smirked as he approached the man and pulled the trunk upwards so it ceased skimming the ground. This obviously alerted the man who dropped the trunk whirled around and unsheathed his sword. "Woah, Stark calm down, I was just trying to give you a hand and make sure you do not blow my ears off with this shrill noise you making there."
Brandon inhaled and exhaled before she sheathed back the sword in its scabbard. "Next time tell me beforehand. I would hate to kill you accidentally."
Jaime smirked. "You know I'm not that easy to kill, mate." Brandon smiled a nervous smile and once again picked up the trunk and the two of them started walking. "So how come you are not at the wedding? I didn't know you were a knight of the Kingsguard on duty."
"You do know I was betrothed to Lady Catelyn since I was fourteen? I don't think they would fancy me there."
"Yes...I can guess Lord Stannis wouldn't like it much..." Jaime agreed. "Why did you break the betrothal though? Lady Catelyn is comely."
"I never wanted to marry...and after all that shit that happened with the mad cunt I didn't think I could do my job as a husband properly," Brandon explained before he sighed. "And I seem to have been right. I'm still too fucking impulsive and stupid. I keep messing up."
"Impulsive yes, stupid not so much." Jaime avowed.
"Impulsiveness in excess leads one to do stupid things which makes him a stupid man." Brandon insisted.
"And what stupid thing did you do?" Jaime asked.
"I don't want to talk about it," Brandon said in an angry tone. "I need some time at home, Winterfell. This shit-smelling city is getting the better of me and I can't let it continue."
"As long as you return with your head clear, you have my support mate."
Brandon had a very stern look when he turned back to glance at Jaime. "What if I don't come back?"
Something really bad had happened if Brandon fucking Stark was so defeated. A part of him wanted to prey for information but in the end, he did not push more. "Well then, if that were the case, I would expect a letter now and then to know what you have been up to."
Brandon's stern look was replaced by a smile. "I never thought I would make a friend of a Lannister considering how shitty your family is."
Jaime smirked. "I never thought I would make a friend of a Stark considering how they love to bury their heads in the ten feet deep snow." The two friends started laughing after that until Jaime's curiosity won over him. "How deep does snow get up there?"
"In a particularly harsh winter ten feet deep is mild. I have seen sixteen feet deep snows but I have heard some old folk saying they once twenty feet deep snows."
"No wonder your heads are buried in the snow...sixteen feet deep snow?! Fuck me! How the fuck do you even live up there?"
Brandon laughed loudly. "The North is not for southern flowers."
"I take back what I said earlier, you are an idiot." Jaime cackled. "Because only an idiot would prefer living in the snow instead of the warmth of the south."
Their banter continued until they arrived at the gates of the Red Keep where a wagon and some readied horses were waiting. Jaime helped Brandon put the trunk in the wagon. "I was expecting a carriage, Stark, I'm mildly surprised."
"Not all of us are little princesses, Lannister." Brandon retorted. "See that you don't dethrone Princess Rhaenys from being the Queen of Love and Beauty while I'm away."
"You wound me, Stark," Jaime said while faking hurt. "After all the hard work I went through to put the flowery crown on the girl's head you accuse me of attempted theft?" Brandon laughed and thus Jaime continued. "So I trust you will write back if I send you word of what's happening around these parts?"
"Lord Manderly already assured me they will keep me informed but I guess I can accept one of yours." Brandon nodded. "And if you are particularly generous, you can pass me intel on your family..."
"I'm afraid I won't have much of that. I serve the Kingsguard now." Jaime explained but refrained from saying that he would never betray his family no matter how much he despised most of it.
"It was worth a try...I didn't think you would give it anyway."
Jaime smirked. "Enjoy your time of reflection, Stark, it seems you really need it."
"Thanks, mate," Brandon said as he jumped onto the back of his mighty horse. "Oh and be sure to improve your sword skills, Lannister. If I do come back I expect to not send you to the dust immediately."
This guy... "Will do Stark. Next time we fight you will be sure to give you a taste of dirt when I wipe the floor with your sorry arse."
Brandon laughed his booming laugh before he said: "Take care."
"Likewise."
Jaime stood there for a bit until Ser Arthur approached him. "Should you not be patrolling Ser Jaime?"
"I should but frankly there is no one here but us now." Jaime pointed out. "Besides, I had to go say goodbye to a friend."
"So Lord Brandon is going back home?" Ser Arthur asked. "Will he come back?"
"I have no idea, Ser. For the time being, he will be away." Jaime explained as they both started walking away from the entrance of the castle premises. "Say, Ser Arthur, are you in for a few practice bouts after patrolling?"
Ser Arthur smiled. "Certainly but first the patrolling must be done."
Catelyn Tully V
Red Keep, King's Landing, Crownlands, Year 284 AC
"Everything is going to be alright, Catelyn." Lysa assured her with a smile. Just like Catelyn, her sister kept finding mild folds in her white satin gown and fixing them.
"I'm just nervous..." Catelyn confessed with a blush. "I have been ready for this moment my entire life but not with this man nor in the Great Sept of Baelor of all places."
"It is indeed a great honour and Lord Stannis does not seem like an awfully bad person," Lysa said but even though Catelyn knew her sister was right, she still wished it was Brandon. "Part of me wishes I had the same luck as you at marrying in the Great Sept but somehow this much attention would leave me very uncomfortable."
Catelyn smiled. "Lysa are you trying to make me at ease or get even more nervous?"
Lysa blushed and looked at the floor of the carriage in shame. "Sorry..."
The voyage to Visenya's Hill was long and arduous which was not good for her nervous mind. But once she exited the carriage with the help of her uncle and glanced at the Great Sept of Baelor, a feeling of pride and realization crossed through her for she would be married in the holiest of holy places. The only downside of marrying Brandon would have been his faith, she had no doubt he would not feel so happy to marry there...
"Are you ready Catelyn?" Uncle Brynden asked with a smile.
"Not really but it has to be done." Catelyn said as she extended her arm for her uncle to take and when he did, they began walking with Lysa and Edmure behind them.
"Everything is going to be fine." Her uncle assured her. "It's just a marriage and not a war. Traditionally, weddings do not have deaths and as far as I know, there are no Dothrakis here."
"Then how come you never married, uncle?" Edmure asked with a raised eyebrow behind them.
"Complicated circumstances," Uncle replied simply. Now that Catelyn thought about it, she wondered if her uncle did not marry just to spite her father or if there was some other reason for it. "In any case, fighting wars for me is simpler. Most commanders are idiots."
"I do not think Cat wants to hear about wars and fights." Lysa pointed out.
"You are right, I'm sorry Catelyn. The lad got me a bit carried away." Uncle said as he turned to face his younger nephews. "Lysa, go ahead and take your brother inside and find your seats as we wait for our cue to enter."
"Yes, uncle." Lysa nodded as she extended her arm to Edmure. "Come on, brother."
"Someone is eager to see her husband..." Edmure teased.
"Oh, hush you!" Lysa said while slapping the back of Edmure's head. "If you keep this up, I will put you right beside Lady Lynesse."
Edmure gaped like a trout and blushed deeply. "Hey!"
The banter between her siblings brought some easiness to Catelyn but not much as she still could not keep still. As they waited, many lords and ladies wished her their best wishes, chief among them the Queen, Princess Elia and obviously the little King and his sweet joyful sister.
At last, after an agonizing wait, her uncle looked at her from the large doors of the Great Sept. "It's time Catelyn."
She nodded and walked towards her uncle and entangled her left arm on his right one again as they made their way inside. The Entrance Hall was known as the Hall of Lamps thanks to the suspended globes of coloured leaded glass held to the ceiling, passing the double doors, Catelyn arrived at the sept itself which was full of people, mostly lords and ladies from the Riverlands, Stormlands and Crownlands, that hid most of the beautiful marble floors but fortunately not the great windows of leaded coloured glass.
Everyone was looking at her and she grew more nervous as her uncle led her to the alter of the Father and the Mother where marriages were conducted. She spotted a very tall black-haired man clad in a yellow coat with a black stag in it. Her husband-to-be, Lord Stannis Baratheon of Storm's End.
And at last there she was...standing next to the man that would be her husband. The High Septon stood up from his ornamented chair and walked towards them with a smile on his old face. "Who comes before the Father and the Mother so that they can emulate their love in marriage?"
"I Catelyn of House Tully, a woman grown and pure as the Maiden." Catelyn replied.
"And who wishes the blessing?"
"I Stannis of House Baratheon, a knight of the Faith."
"Who gives Lady Catelyn?"
"Her uncle, Brynden Tully, a knight of the Faith."
"Lady Catelyn do you take Lord Stannis as your husband?"
"I do."
"Lord Stannis, do you take Lady Catelyn as your wife?"
"I do." And with that Lord Stannis turned to her and gently took off her red and blue maiden's cloak with the Tully trout, giving it to her uncle before picking a yellow bride cloak with a black stag nearly identical to his from the elderly Lord Morrigen's hands and placed it on her shoulders.
Catelyn turned to him, immediately seeing his serious expression though his eyes averted her gaze for a little and she wondered if he was nervous too...If he was or not, Catelyn didn't think it would matter much because she certainly was. "With this kiss, I pledge my love and take you for my lord and husband." she recited.
"With this kiss, I pledge my love and take you for my lady and wife." he replied and then she went to the tip of her toes as he lowered himself a little and they almost hit their noses onto each other before their lips connected and the sealing bond kiss was made.
She was blushing heavily when the High Septon raised his gorgeous crystal high, allowing the rainbow light to fall onto them. "Here in the sight of Gods and men, I do solemnly proclaimed Stannis of House Baratheon and Catelyn of House Tully to be man and wife, one flesh, one heart, one soul, now and forever and cursed be the one who comes between them." Now she was Catelyn Baratheon, Lady Paramount of the Stormlands...
There wasn't much happening after this. She returned to the Red Keep with her overly excited sister and although she felt much calmer, she was still nervous and worried about everything and a second carriage trip was very draining. Once she arrived, her husband came to pick her up and escorted her to the Great Hall of the Throne Room where the wedding feast was being held.
Seated by his side, Catelyn could certainly see that the feast was not lacking grandiosity or Lords. The wedding couple presided over the table with the Royal Family seated by her husband's right and her own family by her left. She wondered who paid for the feast...If she did not know her husband decently well, she would have said his very unamused look was due to the expenditures but for some reason, she thought he would be much angrier if that was the case.
She recognized all the Riverlords that came for her wedding and some of the others as well and she did not see Brandon there which both left her sad and happy.
"Is the wedding feast to your liking, Lord Stannis?" Catelyn heard the Queen ask with a smile.
"I think the expenditures could have been lower, My Queen." Her husband replied. "There was no need for these many people, half of which are neither from the Stormlands nor the Riverlands."
Catelyn saw the unsure look on the Queen's face as the woman thought about what to say next. "The Crown wanted to show how much House Baratheon is important to us and hopefully mend some wounds from the war that went through."
"The Crown should have not engaged it such a large expenditure." Catelyn saw how defeated the Queen looked behind her polite smile and thus she wondered if her life would be like this... "But alas...huh...the intention and...consideration are greatly appreciated."
The Queen's polite smile turned into surprise but quickly into a genuine smile. "You are welcome, My Lord. Congratulations once again."
Maybe it would not be so bad...
Time passed and Catelyn enjoyed the conversation with her uncle and siblings despite how uncomfortable Lord Stannis looked beside her. There was a dance afterward and Lord Stannis turned to her. "My Lady, will you concede me this dance?"
"Of course, My Lord."
They both stood up and he extended his arm for her to take and they walked towards the centre of the Great Hall. Catelyn found herself blushing heavily because of all the attention she clearly saw fixed on her. They began dancing a slow song and she found herself a bit disappointed at how stiff Lord Stannis was but at least he knew how to dance.
Once their dance was finished, other pairs made their way to the centre of the Great Hall and began dancing too. Catelyn and her lord husband danced once more before he escorted her back to their seats.
"Catelyn, will you give me the honour of the next dance?" Asked her uncle upon seeing her return.
"Of course, uncle." she nodded and allowed herself to be escorted.
"So how is everything going?" he asked.
"Not as bad as I was expecting..." she murmured. "Not as good as I dreamt of either..."
"Reality hits you hard, niece," he said wisely. "In any case, I think everything is going well. I would have kicked a few dunderheads out but it's the Crown's choice to spend money...I can already imagine what the next Council will be."
Catelyn giggled. "You sound like Lord Stannis."
"Great minds think alike...or so I heard..." Her uncle chuckled. "He is not wrong though...I thank the Seven that the murmuring from the crowd is preventing me from focusing too much on Lord Rosby's coughing or Lord Appleton's seal-like laugh."
Catelyn found herself laughing at this. "Perhaps there is some merit to your suggestion..."
"Just some? Well, if my dear niece says so..." Her uncle smiled. "In any case, I'm glad you are having some fun and are not utterly disgusted by everything...many women are not so lucky."
"Indeed...Lord Stannis is a bit stiff and moody but does not seem like an awful person..." Catelyn admitted as she noticed Lysa dancing with Ser Elbert among the crowds. "Perhaps with time, some sort of unity between us can be acquired."
"And I wish for that to happen, very much." Her uncle said just as the song ended. "Let us get you back."
Following that Catelyn danced with Edmure, with Ser Elbert who found time away from Lysa, a few more Riverlords and Stormlords and, much to her amusement a joint dance with the King and the little Princess Rhaenys though calling it dancing was being very generous because all they did was whirl around her much to everyone's delight.
"It's time for the bedding!" Someone shouted and for a moment she remembered that huge Northerner that shouted exactly during her sister's marriage at Riverrun.
"BEDDING! BEDDING!" Most of the crowd demanded excitedly.
Her husband stood up and motioned her to do the same. "There will be no bedding ceremony!" he announced loudly and clearly and everyone hissed in disapproval. "I'm taking my lady wife to do my duty as her husband without anyone molesting her. I will thank the Queen Dowager and Princess Elia for the consideration given to us and thus to House Baratheon. I also thank my loyal bannermen for their presence on such short notice and to the others the free meals they are eating should be enough thanks. Good Night."
Lord Stannis extended his arm to her and she took it as they left the now-silent Great Hall amidst scandalous gazes. There was no word spoken between them as they made their way to Maegor's Holdfast where his room in the Red Keep was located, the only sound Catelyn heard were their steps and the guards that made sure everything was okay and frankly it unsettled her.
Because of this uneasiness, Catelyn did not even notice when they reached their destination. Lord Stannis opened the door and invited her in, to a room which only had a bed, a desk and a chair in front of the desk. She still did not know her husband well but at least she knew this room just felt in line with him. Simplicity and efficiency. "I asked for a spacer so that you could get undressed without problems but...it seems like the servants did not heed my request. I will...just sit down in the bed and close my eyes..."
"My Lord, if we are to consummate our marriage then...we ought to see each other naked..."
"Of course." he nodded but even she who was not that good at reading people could see he did not catch the meaning of what she was saying.
"My Lord, I meant if we are to see each other naked from the get-go, then there is no need for a spacer for me to hide in."
"Spacer...Oh...yes...forgive me..." he stuttered as he rubbed his face with his hands.
Clearly, she was not the only inexperienced person in the room. That made a smile come to her face as she took off her wedding dress revealing her nakedness to her husband, something that also made her blush deeply. He did not look at her and she felt bad wondering if she was not comely enough...she knew she had decently large breasts and that according to Lysa, men liked them large. Brandon always complemented her blue eyes and her auburn hair too...
Resigning herself, Catelyn crawled to pick her wedding dress. She was quite thankful that there was no bedding ceremony because in these ceremonies she knew the brides usually had their dresses torn apart by lusty men and this way she could keep her beautiful dress for the future. Maybe it could serve a daughter of hers if the Seven were kind to her and gave her one.
When she stood up, she noticed that her husband had been gazing at her but as soon as he saw her gazing back at him, he turned his gaze away. Catelyn felt a weight being pulled off from her shoulders. Lord Stannis Baratheon who held the Siege of Storm's End for a year against the entirety of the Reach was just shy and uncomfortable around women but he seemed to appreciate them. "You can look if you want, My Lord..." she murmured shyly but she meant it as a bit of a tease.
She did see his gaze shift to her for a couple of seconds before it was averted again. "Are you ready?" he asked uncomfortably.
"Yes."
He nodded and stood up and walked past her with the red cheeks. "Lay down and..." Then she heard his teeth grit. "Just lay down." She did as she was told and laid down on his bed, waiting for him. He took off his clothes and Catelyn saw how thin he was courtesy of his time under siege though he seemed to have regained some muscle. "I know I'm not by late brother in looks but I did swear I would treat you right."
He did save her from being somewhat molested by a wedding ceremony and she knew quite well that he took his word very seriously so she did not doubt that he would treat her right. Naked as she was, Lord Stannis turned towards her, his manhood seemed erect and she was quite thankful it was that way because she knew not how to get it like so if it was not. She blushed of course before she replied: "And I will do my duty as your wife, My Lord."
Lord Stannis moved towards and while doing so, she so his manhood waggling about with every step he took and Catelyn found herself blushing and breathing even harder. She looked to a side wall to compose herself but she could feel the heat down in her womanhood, anticipating what was coming.
When he was on top of her, he began making weird movements below their waists, she quickly understood why and so she picked his hand and moved it to the spot she had heard from Septa Jocelyn's last lesson as being the spot. "For...forgive me..." he murmured uncomfortably.
"There is no problem, My Lord," she said with a weak smile, just as uncomfortable as he was. "We all must learn...I know little too..."
"Indeed..." he murmured, averting his blushing face away and gritting his teeth.
"I believe...you must...rub this part here..." Catelyn said as she took his hand down to her clit.
"Rub it?!" he asked aghast his dark blue eyes fixed on her lighter blue ones. "Fine...I...will do it..." And so he began rubbing the spot and she began feeling a weird sensation...pleasure...it felt really good and her wetness began increasing. "Is it...enough?" he asked after a little while and she nodded believing herself to be ready. "Then...let's do what we must."
This time she took action sooner and made sure everything went as it should, it didn't take much until she felt a huge pain down in her womanhood that forced her to screech and shed some tears. Her husband saw it and almost pulled out but she stopped him by touching his chest. "Please continue...it always hurts the first time..."
"Are you sure?" he inquired looking at her straight in the eyes after looking down at where they were consummating the marriage. "There is blood here..."
"The blood...is...my...maidenhead being broken," she confessed shyly. "You must continue."
"Fine...Seven Hells." And so her husband thrust once more...twice, thrice and the pain was mixing with pleasure until the pleasure overtook the pain and she felt no pain anymore. Soon both of them were...comfortable? She didn't quite know how to describe it but she knew she was feeling good enough to moan quietly as if she was having some massaging her shoulders when they were sore.
She noticed his thrusts become more erratic again and his expression weirder as well. Catelyn felt something enter her insides after hearing him grit his teeth once more, something she never felt before, and it seemed they had done what they must. "I'm sorry..." Catelyn heard while she saw him pulling his manhood from inside her, taking a seat in the bed just as he once more rubbed his face with his hands. "But it seems the consummation is finished."
"You have not to be sorry, My Lord," she assured as she got used to the new sensation. She knew she was on her fertile days so perhaps she just got pregnant... "I shall pray that My Lord's seed quickens and we are blessed with a child to continue House Baratheon."
"Aye." Lord Stannis agreed while sighing. "Just do not get obsessed with it. Now...hum...let us have a good night of sleep. My Lady must be tired."
"I am, thank you very much, My Lord." Her husband nodded and laid down, covering himself in bed and she followed suit. Now Catelyn was officially no longer a maiden but a true woman, a wife and hopefully soon, a mother.
Rhaella Targaryen V
Red Keep, King's Landing, Crownlands, Year 284 AC
The whole Royal Family was at the port of King's Landing to say their farewells to Lord Stannis and his now wife Lady Catelyn but most importantly, to Viserys who would serve as a ward to the Lord Paramount of the Stormlands per Rhaella's proposition to accommodate the Councils who were growing increasingly more troublesome.
And she hated every bit of it.
"Do you have everything in your trunk, my dear?" she inquired after isolating her son and herself from the main crowd.
"Issa, Muñus." (Yes, Mother.) Replied Viserys in High Valyrian. "Zān, Lady Felicia se Lady Nysah beldis nykēla tolvȳn gōntan." (Yesterday, Lady Felicia and Lady helped me with everything.)
"Drējī Sȳrjes." (Very good.) Rhaella replied proudly. "Let us speak in Common Tongue for a while."
"Okay." Her son nodded somewhat meekly.
"Are you nervous?" The question was stupid but sometimes stupid questions were needed.
"Yes...I never left the capital without you before..." Viserys replied, his gaze focused on the ground.
"If it were up to me, you would stay every single day by our side, Viserys." And she meant it. Her children and grandchildren meant the world to her. Years of a poor marriage that turned to an outright abusive one made the little ones her only consolation and with Rhaegar's unfortunate passing, the more she was reluctant to let any of them go. "But you must do this for our family's sake."
His lilac eyes met her own. "Because Kepa and Rhaegar messed up, right?"
"Right." Rhaella nodded sadly. "In reality, it was not just them who messed up, our family has been messing up quite a while over the years, sometimes minor messes, most of the time big messes. That is why you need to keep studying hard and learn as much as you can from Lord Baratheon so that one day you might become Aegon's Hand and make sure our family no longer causes messes."
"Viserys the Second was the Hand of the King for many reigns..." Her son proclaimed. He was a studious boy who despite not being as smart as his deceased older brother was still quick-witted.
"Indeed he was. And he was a great Hand and King as well, one that you should strive to emulate and one that your Muña is sure you will successfully do."
"I will try, Muña. I want to make you proud and I do not want to mess up."
Rhaella smiled and cupped her only remaining son's cheek. "The good thing is that Lord Stannis agreed to bring you to see us every time he comes for the Council Meetings so we will see each other before the end of the year."
"I wish I could see you more often..." Viserys murmured as tears began forming in the corner of his pale lilac eyes.
"Oh, my dear son...I'm sorry it came to this..."
"I cannot cry...Kepa said crying was for the weak and the women." Viserys said as he rubbed his eyes. She was glad that Aerys was no longer poisoning their youngest's mind with his nuisance at that he was at last becoming a normal child. "I will be strong for us."
"But before you do just that, you ought to say your farewells to your sister, niece and nephew." He nodded and went to do as he was told while Rhaella approached Lady Catelyn who was talking amicably with the other Ladies-in-Waiting. "Lady Catelyn, a word please."
"Certainly, My Queen." The two of them isolated themselves from the crowd to speak freely. "Is something amiss?"
"No...well, aside from my only remaining son leaving me to fulfil his duty to our family, everything is rather fine." Rhaella chuckled nervously. "I'm trusting you to keep an eye on him as you have been doing. He means the world to me."
"I will, have no worry, My Queen." Lady Catelyn assured. "I will try my hardest to make him feel less lonely and happy."
"And do try to do the same for yourself. You are going to a castle you have never been to, it will be hard to adapt so please find some female friends to talk with should you need to." Rhaella urged. "If you wish, you can send me letters too. I have grown fond of you and so did the King himself."
Catelyn smiled brightly. "That is good to know right? That you already carry the King's favour."
"Depends on the King..." If it had been Aerys... "But I assure you that Elia and I will make him a proper one."
"I wholeheartedly agree, My Queen. I shall miss tending him and the Princesses. It was a pleasure to do so these past months."
"If the Gods will it, you have your own children to care for so at the very least, you already have some experience." Said Rhaella.
"Indeed. I'm praying for a strong son to be my Lord husband's heir to come quickly."
"My best wishes for a good voyage."
"Thank you, My Queen."
Rhaella said goodbye to Lord Stannis next. The man had been so overwhelming with his bluntness and lack of interest in the wedding ceremony and feast she and Elia struggled so much to make happen in hopes of rebuilding the tarnished relationship with House Baratheon, that they forgot this was neither Steffon nor Robert Baratheon they were working it. Nevertheless, it did feel good that he thanked them. A thank you from a stern man like Lord Stannis meant a lot.
Her son was just leaving Elia's side and joined her once more. "Aunt Elia told me to write to you. I think it is a good idea."
"I think so too and you can be sure I will patiently wait for your first letter."
Viserys nodded and hesitated for a few seconds before he hugged her, making her almost cry but she kept her composure. She had years of practice thanks to Aerys but it was far harder with someone you loved dearly. "Nyke ñuha muña ozmijīlun..." (I will miss you, mother...)
"Nykēla sepār, trēsy." (Me too, son)
"I will see you at the end of the year."
"I will be waiting for you."
He nodded once more and waved at all of them before he followed Lord Stannis and his entourage to the ship that would take him to the Stormlands. Rhaella stood there watching and waving in a trance until Licia came by her side. "Rhaella...the ship is far away already..."
"It is?" she asked giggling. "I should think Viserys can still see me..."
"He might but it's time to go."
"Really?" Rhaella turned towards her oldest friend, glancing at her as if her wits had dissipated in thin air.
"Yes."
"Oh bugger..." Licia being an experienced mother and a good friend knew it was time to hug her and as she did, Rhaella broke down and began crying. "My son...my son..."
"He will come back, Rhaella and you will be here to receive him properly," Licia assured as she patted Rhaella's back. "You know he will."
Rhaella wanted to believe that but after Rhaegar promised the same before he never came back, she was always afraid. I don't want to lose another child...please Gods have mercy on me...
Thank you for all the reviews:
Hebb6919: Yes, Ashara is the heir since Arthur joined the Kingsguard. That means if Arron Dayne dies childless, Ashara can inherit Starfall but most likely she abdicates in favour of Allyria who could very well marry Gerold Dayne to "keep it in the family".
DarkJon: I'm not sure what you mean but if you are asking if Brandon and Jaime are still friendly, the answer is they are.
King Mern: Brandon has been getting quite a bunch of fans lately...
Radomir's Renegades: Balon knows the Crown is already suspicious of the Ironborn so if they were to conquer the Stepstones, someone (The Crown, Dorne, Lys, Tyrosh, etc.) would do something and their whole plan would go down the drain. Their plan involves controlling the Sunset Sea, raiding ports in the Narrow Sea is counterproductive. I have no clue about your second question. I live in a country of known sailors but I know nothing of how ships are built. It seems like Westerosi and Free City ships are like European ships so they would be built the same way.
I'm proud that I succeeded in having this chapter finished for Christmas Eve so even if you don't celebrate Christmas, you get a present from me.
As you can see, we are in for the first time skip. I honestly didn't think I would make some 30 chapters just for 284 AC...it does seem like I will have to split Part 2 into two stories...
I recycled the Stannis/Catelyn scenes from my deleted story and hopefully improved them. I know a lot of readers hate Catelyn but she is still a character in the story and will be important though not as much as in canon. Will Brandon return? Will Viserys be a good lad? Will Lord Rosby keep coughing and enraging the Blackfish?
Thank you for spending time reading, I hope everyone has a nice day, stays safe, has a good Christmas and a good entrance in 2024.