The Other Stark girl

The wedding

                          Eve  stared at the ivory silk dress she was to don.It was a fine dress.She remembered how she once had eyes for a boy in Winterfell.She was fourteen and he seventeen.He had the most beautiful smile Eve had ever seen.His hair was dark and curly, his nose slightly long.Philip was of heavy built for his age.He sold arches, cross-bows and swords.He had visited Winterfell several times.Her eyes would watch him as he'd converse with her father.A day before her fifteenth name day, she decided to tell him how she felt.She waited for him and Ned to be done talking so that she could tell him.As Philip spoke to Ned, he peeped up at Eve.She blushed and looked away.Their conversation had come to a halt and Eve raced down to meet him.She dropped a note as she went outside.The northern boy picked it up."Meet me under the weirwood tree".The boy smiled.They were both under the weirwood tree.It had felt like a dream.I felt like one of the stories Old Nan would always tell them.

           "Hello, my lady" he said in his baritone voice.Eve would at times doubt if Philip was seventeen."Hello, my lord" she said with an innocent smile."I am no lord, my lady.I just sell cross bows, arches and—" She interrupted him "I know.I also know your name is Philip.Your not being a lord doesn't bother me" she could not stop blushing as she spoke to him."What is it you asked me here for, my lady?".She walked towards him until there was almost no distance between them "I love you, Philip.You're so kind and strong.I watched you the other day when you saved a child from drowning—".He cupped her face "My lady, your words touch me.Truly.But I am a bastard.Lord Stark would never let you marry a bastard".
          She thought about how she might have been Philip's bride and not Baelish's, but Westorosi society would not allow such a union.

Eve got up, looked at the dress one more time before she'd have to put it on.A few chambermaids poured into the room, without so much as knocking on the door.They gave her a lukewarm bath then put her in the ivory silk dress.They had put her hair up in a northern style.One of the chambermaids had put rouge on Eve's somewhat full lips and on the high points of her cheeks as well.She looked beautiful.Perhaps I could use this union to my advantage.My marrying Baelish does not mean the end of my life.She was the daughter of Eddard Stark and Catelyn Tully.She could overcome any challenge that came her away.She could overcome this too.

There was nobody to give her away.Joffrey then strode towards her "As Father of The Realm, I will be giving you away" he said to her.She walked down the aisle at the Sept of Baelor, her arm linked with Joffrey's.She felt everybody's eyes on her.Every single person glared at her.She was afraid to look up.As she walked up the aisle, she lifted her head to look at Petyr Baelish who was clad in a burgundy doublet and his mockingbird pin was in his collar as it had always been.His gaze was piercing.He smirked at her "My lady, let me help you up the steps" he spoke exclusively out of the side of his mouth and lent her a hand.She reluctantly held it as she walked up the steps.The Septan cleared his throat "We stand here in the sight of gods and men to witness the union of man and wife:one flesh, one soul, now and forever" She thought about the words.She thought about how romantic they were."Let it be known that Eve Stark of Houses Stark and Tully and Petyr Baelish of House Baelish are one heart, one flesh, one soul".They were to exchange vows.That's the part Eve dreaded the most.Littlefinger and Eve said simultaneously "Father, Smith, Warrior, Mother, Maiden Crone, Stranger, I am hers and he is mine".She let out a breath, shuddering at how she said those words for him.Lord Baelish leaned forward to give her a peck on the lips.She had not kissed him back.

At the feast, she was seated next to her groom.Cersei was sitting next to her "You haven't touched your food, darling" she said to Eve."I am not hungry".The Queen pinched the small of her back "I was ready to have men rob you of your virtue and then killed, to have your pretty head on a spike, but this man saved you from such a fate.Consider yourself lucky" she hissed.Eve held her tongue.It was best not to say anything at this point."You may be right, Your Grace, but I really am not hungry.I suppose I am quite nervous" she said.She really was nervous.She always thought her marriage to anybody would be more of an alliance than a marriage, but she preferred her father to pick somebody for her.He would have known what was best for her.Cersei eyed her "Well, I was nervous when I was marrying Robert.If you're worried about the bedding ceremony..." Eve hoped she said it would not take place "Just lay back and have it over and done with.Let Baelish do all the work".

          The wolf felt sick to her stomach.She nodded.She looked around the hall.Her eyes rested on Petyr Baelish who was downing several glasses of wine.She looked down at her hands.You just have to lay back and think of Winterfell.She breathed out.The people in the hall started clamoring.Oh no.It was time for the bedding ceremony.Many ladies started swarming about Eve.Before she knew it, the women lifted her and began to undress the Stark.She had not cared what Littlefinger was doing.The same was probably being done to him.Sansa shot her a worried glance.They were not allowed to speak to one another.Back in Winterfell, there were no bedding ceremonies.Her mother and father had not engaged in this abhorrent practice.She wanted to scream, but she could not.She was ushered into his chambers.Eve sat on the edge of the bed, and wrapped a sheet around her curvaceous body.The room was richly decorated, with deep red drapes and beige and gold furniture.Suprisingly, Petyr Baelish sauntered into the room, fully clothed.Eve looked down.He walked towards her."I am sorry they did this to you.They started to unrobe me but I objected".She simply nodded, not knowing what to say.He sat on the bed, making it dip."I could have a dress brought up" he eyed her shoulders and then her face."I imagine you're not comfortable being..." his words trailed off.She would have to get him to trust her."No, my lord" she said , with a clenched jaw "I am quite..comfortable, my lord.We are man and wife now".There was a playful glint in his eyes.He tucked a stray strand of her brown, wavy hair behind her ear."Yes, we may be man and wife now, but..." his grey-green eyes remained on her face "I don't know.I just can't bed you, my lady..not tonight" he said, bringing his lips to hers.She wished not to kiss him back.He pulled away, his hand still caressing her face "Well, in that case, my lord I should like to get dressed" she said, trembling.As she slipped out of bed, clutching the bedsheet to her breasts and navel, his eyes followed her.She kept looking down."I'll have someone get you a dress, my lady" he hollered as she went aside the dressing room.She could not stand to be here.She felt as if this was a nightmare she would soon wake up from.As she sat naked, in the dressing room, Petyr Baelish barged in there.He looked away "Oh I do apologize.I-I just came to give this dress to you.Put it on" he stretched his arm out, with the dress in his hand.Eve snatched it, making sure their fingers would not brush."Thank you".She looked in the mirror, with the emerald green dress on.She fixed her hair by herself as she would do back in Winterfell.She went back to be with Littlefinger.A man she never thought of in a romantic way.She did suppose it was strange for her mother's admirer to be her husband."Eve.My oh My.Aren't you a vision in that gown?" he said, his smile making her ever the more nervous "You flatter me, my lord" she said back, hesitantly making her way towards the bed."Eve" he leaned in, taking her porcelain hand.She thought it best not to swat it away this time "You're much more beautiful than she ever was" he remarked, a lustful look on his face.Eve turned her head to look at him."Than who, my lord?" she asked, perplexity in her tone.He chuckled "You know who, Eve.Your mother".The words stung, stirring an awful feeling in the pit of her stomach "I do not know what to say to that, my lord.You are both complimenting me and insulting my mother" she said, earning a vexed look from her husband "No" he said, apologetically "I am not.I apologize if I have caused you offense, Eve".She took to looking at the floor again "It is quite all right, my lord" she said, wanting to just go to sleep.He seized her waist and brought her close to him "Eve..." his words trailed off, while his other hand slid up her arm "You smell exquisite".There was that sick feeling in her stomach again.Her eyes began to water.I have to endure this.I have to.I have to survive."Thank you my lord" she said, feigning a sweet tone as she spoke.Her hand touched Baelish's face, his beard pricking her hand "My sweet husband.You have been showering me with your affection since my arrival here in King's Landing.I am most grateful".Deep down, he knew the girl's remark was not genuine."Oh is that so? Is that why you made an attempt to escape?" he said, his arms surrounding her this time.Eve's eyes widened "My lord.I was nervous, and with my father dead, I was in a rather poor state.Do try to understand" she said, holding the hands that enveloped her "I do hope I haven't betrayed your trust, my lord" she said, his mouth still near her ear."I made a vow in The Sept.I will love and honor you now".Every single thing she said to him was a lie."Good" he said, nuzzling her ear "You are my wife now".He planted a kiss on the nape of her neck."It's been a tiring day.We ought to rest" he blew out both the candles.