BELOW ZERO: The Green Knight & The Winter Wolf VOL 3 (Cregan Stark x OC)

Chapter Four (Alana)

CHAPTER FOUR

Alana

King's Landing

After the ceremony in which I had to excuse myself causing me to miss nearly the entire thing just to tend to a whining Joffrey, who wasn't even supposed to be there on Jacerys's request by the way, I find myself sitting at a long table while the guests make their way to their assigned tables and seats. I'm seated at the main table as I am Jacerys's sister and Helaena wanted me to be closest to them.

Jacerys stood by his chair instead of sitting while Helaena was in her chair, staring up at him and gawking at him. I'd think it were adorable if she were looking at someone like that who wasn't my brother.

I admire the way their eyes do light up for the other, the way Helaena looks at him like he's the only man in the entire world, as if there isn't better out there. I mean, I could be thinking that way because I watched him wet the bed on many occasions until he was nearly double digits. And how if he laughs with any sort of liquid in his mouth it will come out of his nose. Followed by a massive snot that you do not want to be in the landing zone of when it sets flight.

Alicent and Otto approach me and I rise to my feet. Bowing my head to the queen and her father. Behind then I see a man who isn't even facing this direction. He's off looking elsewhere and when I track what he's looking at it's the fucking kitchen maids with their breasts flooding out of the top of their gowns.

Alicent elbows him and forces him to bring his attention to me but I instead look at Alicent and not the man she's brought over here with her.

"Alana," Alicent forces a smile and blinks rapidly. "This is Ser Gwayne of House Hightower, Lord of Oldtown. He is..."

"My betrothed..." I say unamused by the fact he's clearly unimpressed with me. I bring my gaze to Lord Otto and he simply forces a smile and nothing more.

The queen pinches his arm and he steps forward sloppily. I notice one side of his face is reddened but it's not from blushing... I snort at the sight and then bring myself to a quick composure.

"Ser Gwayne." My cheeks hurt from this painfully hard to keep smile. "What a pleasure it is-"

He take my hand and brings the back of it to his lips. My heart jumps feeling the tender kiss on the soft skin of my hand. The heat of his breath as he breathes out onto my skin, blue eyes that peer up at me and I start to imagine him looking up at me like that from another angle.

"Princess Alana, I do apologize for my rudeness. There is simply much going on in his hall and I find myself often distracted by noise and commotion. But seeing your face.. I will not be distracted by anything else aside from your beauty. My sister did not lie when she said you were a gorgeous creation... By the Seven you are... Fascinating."

Alicent and Otto share glances and slowly slip away. I take my seat and Gwayne sits aside me. I start to take in each feature of his. Comparing it to Alicent and there isn't much in common with them. The nose yes and certainly the smile. But he looks like the spitting image of Otto while Alicent clearly favors their late mother.

"You speak of me as a spectacle." I tell him. "I am not some side show act that you can gawk at. I am a woman and I wish to be respected as one."

He reaches for a glass and fills it with wine from the pitcher that is sitting on the table. He hands the glass to me and then fills another but he passes it down the table to Helaena who gladly accepts.

"He's a gentleman..." She whispers happily to me. "You are very lucky, Alana. But not as lucky as I am." Helaena adds a wink to that last part and if she wasn't the sweetest and most adorable person ever I'd have gagged.

Jacerys takes a step over and stands in the space between my chair and Gwayne's. He places his hands on his hips and glances from me to Gwayne and back to me then back to Gwayne. I start to drink my wine a quicker rate than I normally would which brings a new look of interest to Gwayne's face. But a look of concern to my twin brother's.

"Slow down." Jace demands. "I will not have you puking on yourself or choking and dying. No one wants death at a wedding."

I snort out a laugh and forget that Gwayne is even sitting there when I say, "Didn't Criston Cole kill a man at our mother and father's wedding? I'm pretty sure I heard mother and Alicent talking about that once."

"I heard about that." Gwayne adds. "His name was Joffrey and he was-"

"I didn't ask you." Jacerys says glaring down at Gwayne. "I didn't ask you to speak either. In fact, you did not even introduce yourself to me."

"Jace,"

He holds a hand up to silence me but I know what he's doing. Jacerys knew I was starting to have some reservations about Gwayne. So he's only trying to frighten him or threaten him into being good to me.

"Jacerys." Helaena says rising to her feet. "Have you met my uncle? This is Ser Gwayne. A chivalrous knight all the way from Oldtown. He's been fostering my littlest brother, Daeron, for a few years now.. Isn't that right, Uncle?"

Gwayne smirks and looks right up at Jacerys in the eyes.

Fearless.

"How wonderful it is to meet my newest nephew," Gwayne stands on his feet and grabs Jacerys's hand and shakes it firmly. "Soon you will be my brother by law. I hope to have you stand by me close on my wedding day."

"Oh." Jace says with no sort of expression. Helaena whispers to him and a smirk curls onto his face. "Right... You certainly will. We shall form a brotherly bond for that day and all the days after as well, Lord Gwayne."

"Ser Gwayne." I correct Jace softly.

"Right..." Jace mutters. "Ser Gwayne the Knight of Oldtown."

Gwayne continues to smile at him. "Oh before I do forget, Jacerys, I noticed upon my arrival that your stallion did not have a saddle that matched well with his hair. So I had a saddle enough for two to ride that matches the stallion much better, strapped on for you and your new wife. Helaena, you still enjoy a ride to the meadow to collect insects, right?"

Helaena nearly jumped for joy as she always does when she's excited. "Yes! I do! Thank you so much, Uncle."

"Anything for my favorite niece."

Jace and Helaena walk off to greet guests and share wine and drinks with them while I stay seated at the table with Gwayne. It's a long silence for some time until we both reach in front of us for a piece of toasted bread.

"No, Princess, go on. It's yours." He tells me.

I take the piece and although it is rather small as to be serves as an appetizer, I break it in half and give the bigger one to him. He looks at me with a smile and then takes a bite from it. I eat mine and look forward as Jace randomly spins Helaena around, catching her in his arms and the two are just so overjoyed it makes me sick.

"I do not like a flashy wedding." Gwayne tells me as he sips his wine. "Quiet with only a few family and friends. Lemon cakes and maybe some roasted tomatoes to go with this kind of bread."

"I can agree to that." I tell him as I glance over at him. "I do not care for having a big gown that everyone steps on and having people touch me over and over to tell me I'm beautiful. Just for them to return home and laugh with their friends that they actually hated my gown and thought my hair to be horrendous."

"Alicent feared that I would not like you, but I think she's wrong. I find myself already fond of you, Princess."

"Well, truth be told I think I may be fond of you myself, Ser Gwayne." Somehow my body inches closer to him. Gwayne's hand slipping over mine ever so slightly.

Perhaps this betrothal will not be too bad after all.