Chapter 8

In the Cold Light of Morning

Elyse sat quietly while a maid brushed her hair. She didn't know this maid who was from Winterfell. The maids from King's Landing wouldn't serve her anymore; she was a lady Stark now. She knew all the maids who had traveled with them and had hoped that at least one of them could stay with her, but Robert hadn't agreed to that. He wanted to punish her in every way he could.

She would once again have to start all over. For some reason, her new husband hadn't touched her last night, but she knew better than to be relieved. Perhaps he simply wanted to wait until Robert was gone. Not that it mattered; she felt too exhausted to care. She had tried very hard not to let her bitterness take over, but right now she didn't see much to look forward to.

Her whole life, she had been nothing more than a bargaining chip. She had been betrothed to a lord old enough to be her father before her 12th nameday. That lord had died before she had bled for the first time, and she had been betrothed again after the proper mourning period. Her second betrothed hadn't been as old as the first one, but he had been spoiled and selfish.

After he had died in a hunting accident, Robert had waited a little longer before giving her to Darius. He had been worse than the first two. He hadn't shown it right away, but she had certainly learned it on their wedding night. The whole thing had been nothing but disgusting, painful, and humiliating. He had had trouble performing, but that hadn't stopped him from trying.

That had continued throughout their whole marriage. He hadn't hesitated to take his anger out on her and had often called her barren. When she had dutifully sat by his deathbed, she had wanted to pick up a pillow and suffocate him or maybe put some poison in his soup. That had been all she could think about. After his death, she had foolishly hoped that she could live the rest of her life as a widow.

Of course, Robert hadn't agreed to that, not when he could use her for his advantage. Despite her current situation, some part of her was glad that, for once, Robert hadn't gotten what he wanted. Yes, he had again forced her into marriage, but this time neither of them was happy about it.

That certainly sounded petty, but it did give her some kind of wicked joy. Not that she had any real reason for that joy. She was just so tired. All her property belonged to her husband now; she had once again lost control of her life.

"Forgive me, what is your name?" Elyse asked after a long silence.

The maid was clearly surprised. "Nellie, my lady."

"Have you worked here for long?"

"Aye, my lady, since my 13th nameday."

"I see. Have you liked it here?"

"Aye, very much. Lord Stark is a good master."

"I am sure he is. And I am sure his sons are just as noble as him."

The maid nodded. "They are, my lady. Master Robb will be a good Lord of Winterfell."

"And his brothers?"

"Fine young lords, my lady."

"Hmm. Do you know my husband well?"

"A fine man, my lady. And very handsome, if you don't mind me saying so."

"Yes... I am sure many women find him handsome. I understand these things, I am sure he has many mistresses."

Nellie seemed confused. "Not to my knowledge, my lady."

"It's fine, Nellie," Elyse assured, smiling. "This is not my first marriage; I know how these things work."

"Master Jon likes to keep to himself. I have not heard about him courting anyone. And why would he want to when he has a wife like you, my lady?"

"Thank you, that's very kind of you," Elyse replied.

She suspected that the maid was only trying to spare her feelings or that she was fiercely loyal to her household. Either way, she could respect that.

She would no doubt learn everything there was to know about her new husband soon enough. He had been gone when she had woken up and she couldn't deny that she had been happy about that. Hopefully, she would learn more about her future today.

Her husband was a very wealthy man now and she doubted that they would stay in Winterfell. At least she would be the mistress of her own household again. Hopefully. She took a deep breath and tried to brace herself for facing her husband. And Cersei. She certainly wasn't looking forward to that. The bruise on her face still made her feel humiliated, but she was determined not to show it. She left her husband's chamber and headed to the dining hall when she heard someone calling her name.

"Lady Elyse!"

"Ser Jaime," she replied icily. "How are you this fine morning?"

"I..." He paused and cleared his throat. "I... How are you?"

"Fine, thank you. Excuse me."

"Please, wait," he murmured tensely. "I just... I wanted to ask... Are you alright?"

"Why wouldn't I be?"

"You know why."

Elyse stopped, turning to face Jaime fully. Her eyes were cold, her posture rigid.

"You mean because my own brother forced me into this marriage and bruised my face for his amusement?"

Jaime flinched at her bluntness but held her gaze. "Yes. That."

"I appreciate your concern, Ser," she replied her voice dripping with bitterness. "And I do apologize for causing you so much trouble. I must truly disgust you."

"No, no, you don't disgust me," he assured quickly. "I just want to make sure that you're safe."

"How noble of you," Elyse replied sarcastically. "Excuse me."

"Wait," Jaime sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I understand your anger. Just know that if you need anything, you can come to me."

"Thank you, Ser Jaime," she said, her tone colder than before. "But I don't think I will."

Without another word, she turned and continued toward the dining hall, her back straight and her head held high. What kind of game was he playing? First, he had helped his sister and Jon Stark trapping her and now he acted like he would care what happened to her. The funny thing was that she had always considered him as a decent man. How foolish of her.

Robert wasn't in the dining hall, but Cersei, her children, Theon Greyjoy and the Stark family was. All of them except Eddard Stark and Elyse's husband.

"Ah, there you are," Cersei said smiling. "We decided to let you and your husband get some rest since surely you had a long and hard night."

"That was very thoughtful of you, Your Grace," Elyse replied, placing a sweet smile on her face. "Where is His Grace?"

"Still sleeping."

"Ah. He must have also had a long and hard night then."

Cersei's eyes narrowed, but Elyse didn't care about that. She had been nothing but polite and respectful to this woman her whole life and where had that gotten her? No, she was done. All the sympathy she had felt for Cersei was gone. Did Cersei honestly think that she was the only woman who was unhappy in her marriage? That was no excuse to treat other women like this.

"Dear sister," Cersei said and stood up as Elyse walked past her. "I believe I didn't properly congratulate you last night."

Elyse tensed when Cersei suddenly hugged her.

"Watch your tongue, bastard's whore or I'll make your life even more miserable than it already is," Cersei whispered in her ear and pulled away smiling.

"Congratulations to you and your husband. I am sure you will be very happy together."

"Thank you, Your Grace," Elyse replied, her voice steady.

Cersei's smile widened, though her eyes remained cold. "Please, sit. Join us for breakfast."

Elyse nodded and took a seat, noting the curious glances from the Stark family. She could see the tension in Lady Stark's eyes, the curiosity in Robb's, and the innocent levity in Sansa's. The children, Bran, Arya and Rickon, seemed more interested in their food than the politics at play.

"Your husband is probably tending to some business," Cersei remarked casually, sipping her wine. "I'm sure he'll join us shortly."

Elyse maintained her composure, though her mind was racing. "Of course. I'm sure he's quite busy."

"How are you feeling this morning, my lady?" Sansa asked, her voice kind.

"I'm well, thank you," Elyse replied, managing a smile. "And you, Lady Sansa?"

"Oh, I'm well. I enjoyed the feast last night."

Lady Stark interjected, her tone more direct.

"I hope you found your accommodations satisfactory."

"Yes, thank you. Your hospitality is appreciated, Lady Stark."

As the breakfast continued, Elyse felt the weight of the various gazes upon her. She tried to focus on her food, but her thoughts kept drifting to Jon. What was he doing? Why hadn't he joined them? And what exactly was she supposed to do now?

Cersei's voice cut through her thoughts. "You must be eager to start your new life here in the North, my dear Elyse."

Elyse met her gaze, trying to decipher the layers of meaning in her words.

"Yes, Your Grace. I'm looking forward to it."

"Good," Cersei replied. "Winterfell is a fine place, though quite different from King's Landing."

"I'm sure it is," Elyse agreed.

"If I may, I would like to offer you some advice for married life," Cersei continued smiling. "Even though, this is not your first marriage, my dear. I am sure you still miss Lord Arryn dearly, but you mustn't forget taking care of your new lord's needs. May you give him many sons." She paused and turned her smiling face to Robb. "Perhaps you could give your new good-sister some advice from a man's point of view, Lord Robb?"

Robb seemed taken aback by Cersei's suggestion, his discomfort evident as he glanced at Elyse, who maintained her calm demeanor.

"Your Grace," Robb began carefully, "I'm not sure I have much advice to offer. Each marriage is unique, and I'm sure my brother and Lady Elyse will find their own way."

Elyse appreciated Robb's attempt to navigate the awkward situation with diplomacy. Unfortunately, Cersei wasn't finished.

"Yes, I'm sure that is true. But if my dear Elyse were your wife, how would you like her to fulfill your needs?"

Robb's discomfort deepened at Cersei's pointed question. He shot a quick, apologetic glance at Elyse before turning his attention back to the queen.

"Your Grace," Robb said, his voice steady despite the awkwardness, "I would expect my wife to be a partner in all things. Mutual respect and understanding are key in any marriage. It's not just about fulfilling needs, but about supporting each other through all of life's challenges."

Elyse was grateful for Robb's thoughtful response, and she could see that Lady Stark was too. Cersei's smile faltered slightly, but she quickly regained her composure.

"Very well said, Lord Robb," she replied, her tone still sweet but with an edge. "I hope you take his words to heart, Elyse. After all, marriage is a lifelong commitment."

"Of course, Your Grace," Elyse replied, her voice calm and measured. "I intend to honor my vows and support my husband in every way I can."

Cersei gave a satisfied nod, as if she had achieved some victory in their exchange.

"Excellent. I look forward to seeing how you both grow in your new roles."

The rest of the breakfast passed in a tense silence, with everyone focused on their meals. Elyse was relieved when it finally ended, and she excused herself, eager to escape Cersei's scrutiny.

As she walked out of the dining hall, she felt a mix of emotions; frustration at Cersei's games, anger for Jaime's treachery, and a lingering sense of unease about her future. She decided to visit the Godswood, hoping the tranquil surroundings would help her find some clarity.

The path to the Godswood was serene, and as she approached the ancient weirwood tree, she felt a sense of peace. She placed a hand on the rough bark, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath. The quiet of the Godswood was a stark contrast to the tension and uncertainty she had faced at the breakfast table.

As she stood there, she reminded herself that she was stronger than she felt. She had survived difficult situations before, and she would find a way to navigate this new chapter of her life. For now, she allowed herself a moment of respite, drawing strength from the ancient tree and the peaceful surroundings.