The runaway bride | Cregan Stark

Chapter 2

"Well, we are in deep shit."

It were not the words that Dealla wanted to hear right after sunrise but Daemon had never been known for being anything else but blunt. Her uncle had returned to Dragonstone in the middle of the night and had not taken means to wake her up. Only in the morning he, Rhaenyra and Dealla gathered around a table to discuss their next move. "How deep?" Dealla asked while propping her elbows on the wood of the table and lying her chin onto her fists. "Daemon," Rhaenyra warned as she sensed that he was about to respond with something not appropriate for this early hour or every hour a day could have.

"Viserys' state clouds his whole judgment. He won't call off the wedding."

Dealla's shoulder slacked. It was stupid to hope that maybe her father would spare her from being sold off to some Lord like she wasn't a living human being with emotions and wishes of her own. "Did he know of Alicent's plan?" Rhaenyra asked, stroking Dealla's arm as she saw the dejected expression on her face. "He knew of marriage arrangements but I don't belief he knew of Alicent's exact plan." It should have been comfort that her father didn't wish for her being married off that way but the fact that not even the King could control his own Queen was more dreadful. "Do you know? Do you know who I am supposed to marry?" Dealla asked quietly and watched Daemon nod somberly. "Cregan Stark. The new Lord of Winterfell." Dealla's breath hitched. She had heard of him, of how savage he was on the battlefield. He was a warrior, a powerful man despite only being some years older then her. It didn't help at all that the Starks were the most powerful house in the north. Where house Stark went the north followed. Her uncle had been right; she was in deep shit.

"He will kill me for this." She had left him standing without a word. He must have been furious when he heard of her escape. Dealla had no doubt that if he would get his hands on her he would make her pay for the way she embarrassed him and his reputation. "Well, you surely bruised his ego" Daemon agreed with her which made Rhaenyra glare in his direction. His little comments weren't helpful at all. "It happens not everyday that a Lord is left standing because his future wife rather jumps out of a window than meet him" Daemon continued until his wife hissed his name.

"But let's be optimistic; if he kills you he can't marry you, so I don't think that he'll go for that option."

"Daemon, enough!" Rhaenyra snapped and took her sister's pale hand into hers. "He won't hurt you" Rhaenyra tried to comfort her little sister but it did little good. The damage was done. "What I am going to do?" Dealla whispered desperate and hid her face between her hands. "I can't stay here. They will come back and search for me." And if they found her Dealla was sure that they would punish Rhaenyra's family for helping her. "I have to leave-" Dealla continued to whisper while not lifting her head from her hands.

"To Dorne?" she asked and looked up to watch Daemon shake his head. "They sell you out as soon as Alicent puts a price on your head. Same goes for the free cities." And she would probably end up as a slave there as well. Daemon was just kind enough to leave that detail out. "Driftmark?" Dealla was no true Velaryon but she shared the same blood as princess Rhaenys. "They won't help you. They were ready to marry Leana off to our father while she was younger than you are right now" Rhaenyra replied. "And even if by some miracle they would agree, its too near to King's Landing. They will search that place as well as Dragonstone" Daemon added while trying to ignore the mention of his deceased wife Leana. She had died only some years ago but some wounds never healed properly.

"So I don't have any allies but you?" What allies was a seventeen year old princess supposed to have beside her family? And not even her whole family was on her side. "I couldn't even take the black if I wanted to because I am a woman" Dealla whispered and rubbed her eyes. She would not cry but not in the presence of these two. "Let's agree for you to stay as far away from the wall as you can" Rhaenyra added quickly with a pointed look in her sister's direction.