The Winter Queen

Chapter 8

Three days before the Royals were set to arrive and the Silver Wedding was set to take place, the banners for House Arryn were spotted.

Soon, Lady Jeyne arrived, was greeted and ushered into Lord Rickon’s solar.

“My Lady, please sit as I believe we have much to discuss regarding your young cousin," began the elder Warden.

"Well, I already know my late aunt’s husband has proven himself to be quite the fool. First by marrying his daughter’s servant and now by insisting she marry already, no offense to House Stark, by the way.”

“None taken. Now, do you know of any of the particulars of what our Queen has demanded in regards to this union or marriage?"

"No, I don’t, though it should not surprise me that she had a hand in making this union. Having my cousin so far from King’s Landing makes her easier to be forgotten about, especially now that she’s finally carrying a child.”

“If only that were all it was," muttered Cregan.

Jeyne looked at him quizzically. "I do not understand your meaning, My Lord.”

“Your cousin is three and ten. While I’ve heard she is a great beauty, she is also very young. However, the Queen has decided that I must deflower her before witnesses immediately following our marriage ceremony so that the bloodied sheets may be displayed at our wedding feast. My Lady, please know that I had not intended to bed your cousin and consummate our union until she was at least six and ten but this is an order from the Queen and the Lord Hand as is the order to seed her womb and get a child on her straightaway.”

Lord Rickon then passed Lady Jeyne the message that proved his son’s words were truth.

After reading the letter, Jeyne stood up.

“This is utterly appalling! The gall of that woman to insist that a child bears a child after suffering humiliation on her wedding date! I pray that the Gods' show mercy upon my cousin and curse that wicked woman. My Lords, what is it that you wish to do as I know you requested to meet with me for more than just this." 

Lord Rickon then spoke, "Help us protect your cousin. I know our people’s have long suffered grievances with one another but it is my wish that we set those aside for our young dragoness. In just a few days time, she will join my House as my new daughter, meaning she will fall under the protection of House Stark. The one main benefit of the public consummation is that it will make it hard to deny or for her to be taken from us. A similar benefit will be reaped when she delivers my son a child as the child will be a legitimate born Stark and she is its mother. I know your claim to her is weaker but I have also heard that before your poor aunt perished, you had considered naming her your heir. If this is in fact truth, then I know you consider her your kin.”

“That is true. His Grace barely paid any attention to his daughter as he was always so busy listening to his Hand’s prattling and forcing babes into my aunt to really mind his only living child. He only really minded her when his brother was in the capital spoiling her or when he wanted to use her as a prop. Speaking of our King’s brother, Daemon will not be pleased when he learns that his brother married his beloved niece off at three and ten. I would advise you to keep all correspondence from the King, Queen and Hand for when he returns from the Stepstones war so that he may know you are also on her side and so he can see just how depraved the Queen and Hand truly are. As for your request for an alliance, our King butchered my aunt for the sake of a child who barely lived and then replaced her with a servant girl merely three moons after she was set upon her pier. Yes, he did name my aunt’s only surviving child his heir but he has done NOTHING to support her claim. If anything, he’s weakened it. I do not want my cousin to be forgotten about in the annals of history. If you truly plan to protect and support her, then I will support you, especially in this.”

Lord  Rickon looked directly at his heir who nodded at his father solemnly. Upon seeing his son’s nod, both Lords turned to look at Lady Jeyne.

“Well then, my Lady, it seems as though we will have to speak more about our alliance. If you are able to stay, I would open Winterfell to you and yours even after the King and his retinue begin their journey South in a week’s time as I would also like to have your cousin here and able to participate if you desire it.”

“I will take you up on your hospitality, my Lord and agree that my cousin should have a place in our discussions. It seems as though much of her life’s decisions have been made without her input and this would be a good start at remedying some of that."