Chapter 5

I take this man

"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 wed 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. 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."

"But why?" Jon asked, bewildered. "She has done nothing to deserve this."

Ned shook his head. "Politics and power often lead people to commit heinous acts. Someone stands to gain from this."

Jon bowed his head.

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

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

"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."

Ned gave him a reassuring squeeze.

"Stay strong, Jon. We will find a way through this."

As Jon left to prepare, Ned couldn't shake off the feeling that there was more to this plot than they could see. He would have to be vigilant and uncover the truth behind this treachery. For now, though, Jon and Elyse's forced union was the immediate concern, and he had to make sure it went as smoothly as possible.

"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 if Cersei had paid the boy or if the legitimation and Elyse's fortune had been enough payment. The thought filled Elyse with helpless rage.

Her mind raced as she tried to think of any possible way out of this nightmare. Every option seemed to end in failure or worse consequences. She looked at Robert, her eyes pleading, but he only scowled back at her, his face twisted with anger.

"I'll make sure you learn your place," he growled.

Elyse's heart sank. She had no choice but to comply. 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 to get through this night.

Dozens of lanterns and torches lit the way to the Godswood. The maid 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 now she 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.

Ned Stark's voice continued solemnly.

"And Jon, do you take this woman?"

"I take this woman," he said quietly.

The ceremony proceeded, but Elyse barely registered the words. She felt detached, as if watching from a distance. She could feel Robert's presence looming behind her, a constant reminder of the force that had driven her to this moment.

When it was over, they were declared husband and wife before the Old Gods. The gathered witnesses, mostly Stark bannermen and a few courtiers, murmured their congratulations. Elyse barely heard them. She felt a crushing weight settle over her as if the heart tree itself had leaned down to trap her in its roots.

She startled when her new husband suddenly 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. It was a fleeting glance, but it spoke volumes. Jaime's guilt only deepened her sense of betrayal and isolation. She had once hoped he might be different from the other men in her life, but now she saw that he was just as complicit in her downfall.

As they turned to leave the Godswood, Cersei's smug smile was the last thing Elyse saw. It burned into her memory, fueling the helpless rage within her. In that moment, she decided that no matter what would happen, she wouldn't shed a single tear tonight.