Chapter Text
Chapter 1
Desmera Redwyne knew today was the day she would finally meet her betrothed and she was frightened but also excited. The excitement puzzled her because everything Desmera had been taught all of her life told her this union was wrong. Immoral. Unnatural. Sinful. Apparently, all of those things her Septas had taught her had changed a few weeks ago though and that knowledge confused her.
Desmera knew she should be below deck in her cabin preparing to disembark when her father’s ship made dock at the new little harbor city taking shape on the shores of the Salt Spear. However, here she stood leaning against the railing at the fore trying to get a glimpse of her betrothed.
Desmera could remember like yesterday the day almost a full moon turns ago when papa had returned from his trip, and upon greeting his family the day of his return her father had looked at Desmera’s mother with a sly smile and said, “Success my dear. The negotiations are finished and we shall be the most powerful family in the Reach. That up jumped mercenary had better enjoy Highgarden as he may for it shall be ours soon enough.”
Desmera’s brothers and mother had all begun to celebrate for apparently, they had all known exactly what papa was speaking of, but Desmera had only been able to gasp at the treason Paxter Redwyne was speaking against his own Liege Lord. Papa must have noticed her distress because he had turned to her then with a smile.
“Come kiss your papa my dear for I have just made you a Queen.”
“A Qu Queen papa? How will I be a queen?” Desmera’s thoughts had turned to the pale blank face of the crippled boy king her family had seen crowned in King’s Landing almost 5 name days ago. “Am I? I mean to say will His Grace be.....”
Desmera trailed off because in truth the thought of leaving the Arbor to go to King’s Landing to marry the boy with the intense stare frightened her very much. It wasn’t that Desmera was a coward even though her brothers teased her for her meekness. It was only that she had such hopes that her marriage would resemble more the stories and songs of noble knights good, gentle, and true with their beautiful faithful ladies. Desmera did not believe King Brandon the Broken would give her that kind of happiness, or if he would even care if his Lady Wife was happy at all.
“No, my dear His Grace has yet to find any betrothal that would satisfy each of the five kingdoms. You my sweet daughter are to be married to The Red Wolf Sansa Stark. The Queen in the North and Rivelands.” Desmera nibbled at her lip nervously not understanding what her papa was speaking of. She could not marry another Lady. It did not matter Sansa Stark was a Queen. Two Ladies could not be wed everyone knew that.
“I do not understand papa.”
Her father’s eyes had gone from smiling to flashing with irritation and disdain. It was a look Desmera was well familiar with as was the forthcoming lecture. “If you would read something besides those useless maiden’s tales or listened to anything but the silly warbling's of those sword swallowing singers then you would know things have changed in the North. Now I have travelled far and fast with little rest in order to beat all others off the mark and I would like a bath and food sent to my solar. Mina would you mind giving our daughter all of the details and make sure to schedule regular meetings with our maesters so she can learn enough not to shame us when the time comes.”
Desmera’s brothers were smirking and shaking their heads at her and her Lady mother just looked at Desmera with a mixture of sadness and something else. Something Desmera would think later might have been hope.
That night Desmera’s mother had come to her chambers before she retired for the night. Her mama had set her down and begun to brush her hair just like she had done when Desmera was younger.
“Many things will seem different for you when you go North to meet your betrothed. Your father has arranged for lessons with our maesters to teach you about their history and most importantly they will teach you about the Long Night and what happened afterwards. The Red Wolf’s kingdom has seen many changes since the Night King was destroyed and the Dragon Queen was murdered.”
“Is that why it is allowed for The Queen of the North to marry me? Because of what happened after the Wall was breached and Kingdom split apart?”
Desmera knew more about these events than her family realized. The tales about the Long Night and the Night King had been among her favorite scary tales. The events surrounding the Battle of Winterfell had fascinated Desmera just as much as Florian and Jonquil ever had.
“It has something to do with it my sweet girl. The North has completely abandoned the Light of the Seven and returned fully to the Old Ways of the First Men. Only in White Harbor now will you find a sept north of the Neck.”
“Is that where we shall be wed?”
“No, my dear. You will be wed in Winterfell in front of their Heart Tree as their old gods demand.”
This had stunned Desmera down to her very core. A Heathen wedding? Had her parents run mad? What would her septa say?
Her mother sensing her distress had wrapped Desmera in a tight hug and whispered. “All will be well my daughter. I met Sansa Stark once a long time ago in King’s Landing. She was a sweet girl even after everything that monster Joffrey Waters had put her through. I believe the Red Wolf will care for you and take care of you. She will most likely value your gentle nature much more than any man ever would have.”
“I still do not understand why me momma?”
“The Queen asked for you.”
“Me? Why?”
“The North and the Riverlands were ravaged by war for many years and the Queen has set about rebuilding and making her realm strong. She has many projects ongoing to strengthen her realm and is in need of coin to fulfill them. The maesters will explain more and better than I can. What you need to know is the Redwynes will provide the coin needed to fund Queen Sansa’s endeavors. In exchange our family will share in the spoils and we will have the might of the North and Riverlands behind us when we make our move against the usurper in Highgarden. And you my beautiful daughter will get a crown. I would dearly love to see the look on Olenna’s face if she could see this. After all the plots and schemes to make Margaery a Queen and now here you are about to be a Queen of Winter and Rivers.”
“Does The Queen not need heirs though? I cannot give her that.” Desmera knew heirs were important. Especially to kings and queens.
“The Queen in the North already has heirs. It is our understanding the Queen has adopted the three children of her cousin the Queenslayer fathered before disappearing beyond the Wall and she also has a bastard niece being fostered in Winterfell that apparently the Queen’s sister gave birth to before leaving on that ridiculous mission to find out what is west of Westeros.”
At the mention of the Queen slayer Desmera had flinched. Some people viewed Jon Snow as a Hero and others saw him as a traitor. Desmera did not think her future wife would appreciate her cousin being called Queen Slayer.
That was the moment Desmera had first thought of Sansa as Hers. My Wife. Desmera had wanted to be a wife and a mother since she had first begun to read all the old romantic tales she loved so dearly. She knew her father and brothers thought she was simple and weak but Desmera knew there were different kinds of strength and no one would see her strength coming. Desmera knew her strength was like a hands of steel wrapped inside of gloves of lace. When the gloves came off that’s when people would finally see her strength. The only problem was no one in Desmera’s family ever allowed her to take her gloves off.
The following weeks had been an endless stream of lessons to learn and scrolls to read. The maesters had taught her the history of the North beginning from the Age of Heroes, to the Hundred Kingdoms, the Seven Kingdoms, the Conquest, Robert’s Rebellion, the War f the Five Kings, the Battle of the Bastards, The Long Night, The Battle of Winterfell, The Sack of King’s Landing, The Great Conclave, and finally the Crowning of the Queen in the North. Through it all Desmera had learned two things for certain. The North Remembered and Winter was always coming.
Of course, Desmera had been denied most of these lessons for her entire life having only been given a cursory knowledge of the History of Westeros and always from a Southron perspective. Now they expected her to learn thousands of years of history in a few weeks and she had finally been given access to scrolls and books written by northern maesters. Desmera was lucky in that she had already learned much of these histories on her own. She could not count the number of times she had snuck into the family library and read the books her father had deemed unnecessary for a woman.
A woman was supposed to sew and sing. She was expected to play the high harp and learn to run a household. In truth Desmera enjoyed all of those things but they were not the only things that interested her. She wanted to learn to ride astride instead of always in the side saddle. She wanted to look over the accounts of the family’s interests to see if she could help bring more wealth to her House. She wanted to be able to converse about things other than the gossip of court. Sometimes Desmera despaired because she knew that no husband would expect any of those things from a proper wife. Perhaps a wife would have different expectation of her than a husband?
The most interesting lessons surrounded the events after the conclave in King’s Landing when the North had broken from the Seven Kingdoms and the Riverlands had declared their loyalty to the Queen in the North just as they had for her brother King Robb during the War of the Five Kings. After finding the bodies of Edmure Tully and his young child in the dungeons of the Twins the Riverlands Lords had declared Sansa to be the last trueborn heir of House Tully and chosen The Queen in the North over Bran the Broken.
The maesters had taught Desmera of the broken and beaten kingdoms Sansa Stark had been made Queen over. War had raged over them leaving widows, orphans, burned homes and castles in its wake. There was famine and there was fear when winter had descended followed so quickly by the War with the Dead. When that winter had broken in favor of spring after only four moon turns the Northerners had given the thanks to the old gods of their ancestors the first men and the Riverlands had soon followed. When summer followed after spring, then autumn, winter again, and followed by another beautiful spring each season in their own turn after four to four and a half moon turns each the northerners had taken it as a sign, they had been blessed by the old gods for their part in defeating the Night King.
A cry had gone out across the North and Rivers that proclaimed a return to the old ways and the old gods. Not that the North had ever embraced the Light of the Seven in the first place, but their beliefs had become stale more of a habit than a faith. No longer Northern men and women said. From the highest Lord to the lowliest of the small folk the beliefs of the First Men were truly restored.
The septs were closed down and the seven-pointed star ejected from nearly every corner of the newly independent land. The godswoods and the weirwood trees were once again the only places of worship acceptable. The woods witches and the green seers had come forward again to lead the people back to the old faith. It had certainly helped that the wildlings and mountain clans had played such a large role in the fight to retake the North and the defeat of the Night King. These free peoples helped the north to remember what life had been like before the Andals had brought the Faith of the Seven to Westeros.
Adding to this was the role the Starks had played in the victory over the dead. The wargs, the skin changers, and the Three eyed Raven have returned with the Direwolves and the Starks are our Kings and Queens.
It was during these lessons that Desmera’s biggest question had been answered. Apparently, the old gods of the First Men had allowed unions of man to man or woman to woman. Beyond the Wall mates were stolen and the one being stolen could fight as much or as little as they liked. Since it was impossible for man or woman to lie in front of a weirwood tree any couple who kneeled in front of the Heart Tree and pledged their lives to one another were accepted by the old gods and no one could then break them asunder.
Desmera had learned that many of the great Houses of the North and Riverlands had tried to oppose this one custom of their ancestors while accepting all of the rest. She learned that the Most Devout of the Faith of the Seven had tried to send septons and septas to try to sway the people from their heresy, but this had only enraged the majority of the people in Independent Kingdom. Finally, there had come a great gathering of the Nobles to voice their objections or support of the new practice and at the end The Queen of the North had stood to address her Bannermen.
The Maesters had given Desmera a copy of the transcript of Queen Sansa’s speech from that day. It had read, “My Lords and my Ladies of the North and the Riverlands we are here today to decide a matter that will show all of Westeros that we Are the North and we will live our lives as we wish. Yes, I include the people of the Rivers into the North for have we not fought and bled together these many years and have they too not descended from the First Men before the Andals came to these shores. Does the Isle of Faces not reside in the RIverlands? We have the blood of the First Men coursing thru our veins. No longer will those in the South decide our fates. What do they know of the Wall? Or the Wolfswood? What do those in the South know of the Long Night or the Night King? It was us. Our people who stood as the Shields that guard the realms of Men. It was our people who fought and died and we will never see their like again. Ever since the destruction of the Night King we have struggled to reclaim our heritage and a part of that heritage is that whoever we wish to stand before the Heart Tree and commit our lives to, the old gods will see and accept. We all know it is impossible to lie in front of the Heart Tree. So, if two men or two women stand there together and pledge their lives to one another, pledge to be each other's mates then our ancestors said if they were accepted by the old gods let no one attempt to break them asunder. I say our decision is clear. It has already been made. Are we the North? Does the North Remember?”
Apparently, the Queens words had been most persuasive because there had been a marriage between Lira Mormont and Sarra Forrester before the nobles had left the gathering at Moat Cailin to return home and no other objections had been raised since that day. The maesters told Desmera she would have to be very wary when she passed north of the neck because it had turned into a land of heathens and barbarians.
They told her the Red Wolf Queen and her people were ruthless and had proven it when the Ironborn had launched an unprovoked raid upon Northern shores. The Northern and Riverlands bannermen had lain a trap for the Ironborn and annihilated the invading Ironborn offering no quarter and showing no mercy. The Red Wolf had promptly seized all of the Ironborn vessels, set sail to the Iron Islands with her armies, laid waste to the Islands, stripped them of all their wealth and food stores, and left nothing but devastation in their wake. It was whispered the Red Wolf had fed the Ironborn prisoners to her Direwolf and as a result of the carnage her enemies would think twice about ever crossing the Queen in the North.
Another of Desmera’s questions was answered not long after when the maesters had moved from history and religion to economics. Not that they had given her more than an overview on this topic and Desmera still had so many questions. She did learn though that the ruthless Red Wolf Queen was also a shrewd businesswoman and wise steward with her coin.
The North had always been sparsely populated and resource poor and the Queen in the North sought to change that. Sansa Stark seemed to understand that wealth brought jobs and jobs brought people. The solution the Red Wolf had found to her people’s lack of resources was elegant in its simplicity. The Queen had hired engineers and craftsmen from Essos and Yi ti to connect the White Knife to the Fever River by a grand canal. The regions hot springs would be diverted into the canal to keep it ice free in winter, and a new harbor and city would be built on the Salt Spear to guard the western entrance to the canal while White Harbor would guard the eastern entrance.
No longer would merchant ships have to sail around Dorne to get from one side of Westeros to the other. There was even talk of extending a smaller canal into the Riverlands for purposes of creating a waterway capable of transporting goods from the Riverlands to the main canal and back much faster and safer than the Kingsroad. The North and Riverlands and by extension the Queen would control virtually all trade in Westeros. The only problem the Queen in the North seemed to have was finding the resources to pay for her grand canal. The wealth the North had taken from the Ironborn had helped but now they were running short on funds. This Desmera knew is where her father and the Redwyne wealth had come into play.
It seemed the Redwynes would finish paying for Sansa’s canal and harbor city in exchange for a share in the profits, (and probably other concessions as well) Northern support in the Redwyne family endeavors in the Reach, and a crown for their daughter Desmera.
Well, now everything finally made sense. Desmera was the offering that sealed the deal between her family and the Queen. She had always known her papa would make an advantageous marriage contract for her but she had never expected to be bartered in quite this manner. One question still remained though. Why her?
There were plenty of other wealthy families in Westeros that would no doubt have jumped at the chance not only to be allied with the North and Rivers, but also the chance at creating the kind of trading monopoly that would soon be available to those who controlled access to this new canal. Sansa Stark could have had her choice of wealthy suitors. So why Desmera?
Part of the answer to that question came on Desmera’s last day in her childhood home. Her brothers had called Desmera into their father’s solar and informed her they needed to talk. Not only were Horas and Hobber in the room but there was also a woman with a hood drawn up over her head so that Desmera could not see the Lady’s face.
Horas had been the first to address their reason for being there. “Father is determined the Queen find no fault in you or reason to set aside the betrothal agreements he has negotiated. So, he has asked Hobber and I to arrange for your final lesson before we leave tomorrow.”
Desmera had thought all of the lessons were finally over and had planned to spend the day saying goodbye to all of her favorite places at the Arbor. “What is there still left for me to learn?”
“Well, you had asked why the Queen had asked for your hand rather than Horas or I.” Hobber was speaking to her now with a sly grin upon his face. “It seems your betrothed is known to favor women in her bed. It is said her marriages to the Lannister Imp and the Bolton Bastard have ruined her for men.”
Desmera did not know quite what to say about this. Of course, in learning about her betrothed she had learned about Sansa’s two previous marriages. Desmera had actually witnessed Sansa’s first marriage to the Imp. When she had been much younger her family had travelled to King’s Landing for her cousin Margaery’s marriage to King Joffrey and had arrived early enough to see Sansa’s wedding to Tyrion Lannister. It had seemed to Desmera at the time she had never seen a sadder girl than Sansa Stark was on that day. Desmera just held her peace so her brothers could have their say and she could escape to think about this new development.
“Nothing to say sweet sister? Perhaps thinking about the bedding ceremony?” Hobber had given a cruel laugh at what he probably thought a witty remark.
“Well, father does not want you acting like a frightened mouse like usual around the Queen. Nor are you to deny your wife her marriage rights. This is Marra and she will tell you what to expect on your wedding night and what the Queen will probably want from you in her bed.” Desmera was sure she had blushed from the roots of her very red hair to the tips of her toes. Desmera did have questions and if this woman could really answer them then she would like to know some things about what would be expected of her but not like this.
She did not want to be in this room having this conversation with her brothers present just waiting to shame her as much as possible. Horas was laughing again as if he thought this was the funniest subject on earth, and Hobber was just sitting behind her papa's desk looking like he couldn’t wait to embarrass Desmera further.
The woman Marra must have seen her discomfort because as she pulled her hood back to reveal golden blonde hair and delicate features, she turned to Desmera’s brothers to say. “If you will excuse us my Lords your Lord father has commanded me to explain some things to your sister about her upcoming wedding, and it will go much easier if this conversation be had in private.”
Desmera’s brothers had not liked that. Of course, they had been looking forward to torturing Desmera as much as possible about her upcoming marriage. They had not missed a single chance to make rude comments and vile accusations about Desmera’s betrothed and the nature of her wedding in general. Desmera had not understood most of them but she knew they were vile and meant to shame her.
At the same time neither brother had stopped talking about what they intended to do with what they considered to be their interest in the new city being built on the Salt Spear and how much coin they would make when they took over the trade concession on the new canal. The way they spoke about it one would think they were marrying the Queen in the North and would be the ones overseeing all merchant operations on the new canal.
However, when they tried to object about being sent from the room Mara had just asked if she needed to call for Paxter Redwyne to inform him of his son’s interference with her task. After they had left the pretty blonde had given Desmera a reassuring smile and invited her to have a seat.
“I’m sure you have many questions and that is probably the best place to start rather than me just lecturing about what may happen between two ladies when they lie together.” Mara had given her a reassuring nod so Desmera had begun at the beginning.
“Do you think the Queen will actually wish to lay with me?” That had been buzzing in Desmera’s mind since she had learned about the North’s new marriage customs and that her marriage would be a true marriage just like a union between a man and a woman. Desmera had suitors plenty over the last few years and they had all told her she was pretty but she was not sure if a woman would also think her pretty or if that was just men.
“If the Queen truly does prefer the company of women over men, then yes, I think she would probably wish to bed you. You are a beautiful woman. Hair kissed by fire, skin like fine porcelain, your freckles add to your charm rather than distract from it. Yes, I think the Queen would very much wish to bed you. One can never tell though. Some women look for pretty girl's, others would rather a woman look almost like a pretty boy, while still others look for the exotic. There are as many different preferences for women to be attracted to as there are for men.”
“Daven Lannister said I was pretty when he was courting me, but then later I overheard him complaining to one of his bannermen that I had no breasts or hips and it was almost hard to believe I had a woman’s body at all under my gowns.” That had just burst forth from somewhere and Desmera was mortified upon hearing her words, but it had been a worry she had held in for some time.
“Well, Daven Lannister must be as big of a cunt as the rest of his family. I would not be surprised if he had been fucking Queen Cersei along with every other male named Lannister.”
This last was said with such calm aplomb that Desmera could not help the laughter that burst from her nor could she stop the laughter once it started. Marra was laughing too and this seemed to break the ice enough that Desmera had been brave enough to ask some other things that came to mind about what would be expected of her.
“My mother had explained to me how a man and a woman lay together, but how do two women lay together when neither of them has a... well when neither has a you know?”
“When neither has a cock, you mean?” Desmera had squeaked an affirmative.
“I’ll not go into specifics for I’d say your Lady Wife would like to have that pleasure but I will say this. You may use your fingers, your mouth, or your tongue to pleasure your wife and neither of you needs a cock to ride the other to your peak. Those are just a few of the things two women might do together.”
“Peak?”
“Yes, my Lady when you lay with your Lady there can be such pleasures you may never have imagined possible. May I ask my Lady have you ever touched yourself there where your womanhood resides?”
Desmera blushed and she was sure the other woman could tell by her reaction that she had done exactly that before so she pulled her courage together to answer. “Yes, on a few occasions. I had heard some of the women of the court talking about such when I was at King’s Landing and when I asked my cousin Elinor about it, she told me it was perfectly fine to do and would not make me wanton.”
“I will say your cousin Elinor told you true and I would add that the things you learned about yourself from those times of exploration will help you direct your Lady Wife to the things you enjoy best. Did you never reach your peak when you touched yourself in that manner?”
“As I said I’m not sure what you mean by that.”
“Hmmm how to explain? When you were trying these things, you had heard about it felt good yes?” Desmera could only nod. “It probably felt like something was building inside. A tension building low in your belly like everything was getting tighter and tighter and something was about to break free?”
“Yes, that is almost exactly what it was like and I got scared because everything was so hot and I did not know what was about to happen.”
“So, you stopped? Just like that?”
“Yes but it was almost impossible to get to sleep after that and I was terribly cross all the next morning it seemed.”
That had made Marra laugh. “I so wish I could be there to speak to you the morning after your wedding night after you find out what would have happened if you had not stopped.”
“I am sure your brothers are probably complaining to your father now about being shooed from the room by a whore so we had best get to the important parts. If your future wife is not an idiot, she will treasure you Lady Desmera. Know that nothing you and she will do together that is wrong or wanton or wicked or any of the other nonsense your septas may have taught you. Your wife will want to kiss you and she may wish to kiss you other places beside your lips such as your breasts or your cunt and she may wish the same from you. As I said before the Queen may wish to use her fingers to go inside you to take your maidenhead and while it may be uncomfortable in the beginning that first time it should not hurt if she knows anything about how to pleasure a woman. She may also wish for you to use your fingers to pleasure her or she may wish for other things as I mentioned there are ways for women to ride each other to their peak. Make sure to tell your wife the things you like and the things you do not enjoy for your times together will always be better if you are honest and speak your mind.”
By the end of this speech Desmera was sure her entire face was about to catch fire as she could feel herself blushing hotter by the second. She could also feel the ghost of an ache between her legs thinking about the things she was hearing and picturing Sansa Stark as she had seen the northern girl in King’s Landing all those years ago. Desmera rubbed her legs together to dispel the ache and was surprised by the feeling the friction caused in her belly so she did so again. The feeling was deliciously wanton and made her wonder about what she might do later tonight when she was alone in her bed. That thought made her blush again of course.
Seeming to read Desmera’s mind Marra had added one last bit of advice. “Tonight, when you are alone if you feel like knowing yourself a little better then you may use your fingers to find what my first lover called my pearl. You needn’t go inside yourself to find it only to trace open your outer petals and then move to the top just under the hood of flesh there at the top of your flower. You’ll know when you find it believe me.”
There was no time to reflect on this though as her papa and brothers entered the solar soon after. She saw her papa hand Marra some golden dragons and the older woman left with a wink and a smile.
Desmera’s brothers teased and tormented her the rest of the day asking what she had learned and if the whore had demonstrated any “techniques” for her. They laughed at Desmera making fun of all the songs she used to sing about the Dragon Knight Aemon and his beloved. They asked her if her songs now would be about Jonquil and Jonquil since she would never have a Florian.
By the day’s end Desmera had been too exhausted to try anything she had learned that night and the next morning she had departed for her new life.
Now, here she was at the fore of her papa’s largest war galleon waiting to get a glimpse of her betrothed. Hoping the Queen in the North would be there waiting to greet her when her family’s vessel docked. The rest of the Redwyne family was below deck in their respective cabins but Desmera was too nervous (excited?) for that.
The large galleon was easing into the docks which was a process that could take a while considering how large the vessel truly was and the unfinished nature of the harbor and docking yard. Desmera could tell even through all the construction and half-finished structures that the harbor and city being built around it were meant to send a statement. This would be the newest city in all of Westeros and it seemed the Queen in the North was determined it would also be one of the most influential as well.
Then suddenly Desmera caught site of the Queens banners with the snarling Direwolf sigil and the small group of people gathered under the banners. Mostly Desmera could only see guards and men at arms but behind them all she caught a flash of dark red hair and Desmera held her breath waiting to get a better look but the guards never moved out of the way and eventually she had to breath. That was when her father appeared at her elbow and ordered her below decks. “Go make yourself look presentable. I’ll not have you shame me or our House today and I’ll definitely not allow you to ruin this chance for us.”
Upon reaching her cabin Mina Redwyne took one look at her daughter and called her handmaids to bring in the slipper bath and hot water. They rushed through the process of getting her washed, dried, dressed in her finest gown, perfumed, and hair braided intricately and worn up in a Southron fashion.
They had barely finished when her father arrived and said it was time to disembark. He looked at Desmera and instructed, “You will be taking the last name Stark but never forget you are a Redwyne. It will be your duty to be our eyes and ears inside the Queens court. We’ll be leaving you a detachment of our own guards from the Arbor and they will know how to get messages through to us without the Queens knowledge.” Paxter Redwyne had never looked so threatening to his daughter as he did now. “The Wolf bitch may have agreed to many of our terms but I do not trust her fully. She is ruthless and we will need to press our rights here from the start to ensure this barbarian Queen does not forget who is providing the finances to accomplish her little schemes. Come it is time to introduce you to the Queen in the North.”
Desmera’s mother and father led the way with a contingent of House guards in front. Horas and Hobber were next with Desmera in the rear followed closely by more guards. As they left the ship Desmera tried peaking around all of the bodies in front of her to attempt a look at her betrothed and the rest of the northern welcome party.
Finally, they had stopped and she heard her father, “Your Grace you are even more beautiful than last we met.”
A womans voice low and cultured, “Greetings Lord Redwyne it is my pleasure to welcome you back to the North.”
“Allow me to introduce my wife Mina.” Her mother curtsied and said “Your Grace”
“My sons Horas and Hobber,” they both bowed and tried their hands at flattering the Queen but that smooth voice that rang almost like a bell was deflecting their attempts at flirtation in a way that made Desmera smile.
Then at last her father motioned Desmera forward and she got her first look at Sansa Stark the Queen in the North. She immediately thought if I am pretty then this woman is beyond beautiful. Is there a word for beauty such as this? The Queen had dark red hair the color of a lovely Arbor Red Wine but when the sun happened to reflect across it one could see hints of a lighter red. Sansa’s skin was ivory perfection almost as if she were carved from the palest marble. High cheekbones combined with a beautifully curved jaw line that gave the Queen such a regal look Desmera thought this woman would still look a Queen even if she was a washer woman. Finally, the Queens Tully blue eyes looked straight into Desmera’s green eyes and the Red Wolf’s expression softened to a smile.
The Queen in the North was wearing a black gown in the northern style that covered her shoulders with a black leather armored bodice. The only adornment beside the wolf crown on Sansa’s head was a long chain like necklace with a circle at the top resting above her breasts where the other end of the chain looped through and hung at the Queen’s waist. It appeared almost like the chain had a dagger like needle on the end of it.
Desmera barely registered hearing her father introducing her, “May I make known to your Grace my daughter Desmera.”
“Your Grace, I am happy to meet you at last. Thank you for taking the time to meet our ship and escort us to Winterfell.”
The Queen’s glance had strayed to Desmera’s father for a moment then quickly back to her. “My Lady Desmera, you have grown into an even more beautiful woman than I could have anticipated from the girl I remember seeing in King’s Landing so long ago. It is my hope you will grow to love the North and Winterfell as much as I.” Sansa took Desmera’s hand and raised her from her curtsy and then kissed her knuckles before turning to Desmera’s father.
“My Lord I believe we have many things to discuss. If your family would follow my guards, they will escort them to the keep. Unfortunately, it is still very much under construction just like the rest of my city but we will all be indoors and warm. We will follow them after finishing our talk.” The Queen had then turned back to the whole Redwyne family, “You are welcome to our bread and our salt. Please join us and take your ease after your long journey.”
Desmera could not help but look back as she climbed into the wheelhouse sitting ready to carry, she and her mother to the keep. She strained her neck back and followed her betrothed with her eyes as the Red Wolf and Paxter Redwyne disappeared back aboard the galleon.
After seeing the Queen in the North’s beauty Desmera’s brothers became even more crude in their japes. They made sure to speak under their breath so only she could hear them though Desmera knew they were jealous of her that she would be wedded and bedded by this woman they so obviously desired. Well, let them jape and make fools of themselves she would not be shamed by them for much longer.
At least she hoped that after the wedding they would no longer be able to reach her with their taunts. Would Horas and Hobber not return to the Arbor with her parents while she and her Queen remained in the North? Maybe she should ask The Queen about it. Would she be allowed to ask things like that or would she be expected to run the household of Winterfell and keep quiet on all other matters. She knew that is what most husbands required in a wife. Be pleasing, manage the household, birth the heirs, and tend the children. What would a wife require of her?
When finally, the keep came into site her mother despaired at its simplicity and unfinished nature while her brothers japed some more with Hobber boasting, “Leave it to a woman to be so far behind on construction of her castle. While her craftsmen and masons are out building homes for the smallfolk her keep lies half-finished and woefully undefended.”
“It seems we arrived just in time brother. This Queen will need a firm hand to bring these lazy bastards under our guidance and whip them into shape. Tis no wonder they take advantage of her for you remember what this Queen was like in the capitol. I pretty bird brought to heel by the Lions. I still remember watching her marry the Imp. I wonder did he need climb a step stool to mount her on their wedding night?” Both her brothers had laughed cruelly at that. Her mother had heard them this time but said no words of rebuke but Mina Redwyne did look at the Direwolf guards nervously though.
A dark-haired young woman who looked no older than Desmera wearing a simple a grey dress with furs draped across her shoulders greeted them in the half-finished courtyard. “Greetings I am Sarra Forrester and I am the Steward here while my Lady Wife oversees construction of Ice Harbor and the Wolf’s Den. Please excuse the work going on around us but the Queen refuses to halt work on the city, the harbor, or this fortress for any reason.” Sarra Forrester was a small woman in height but she had a pleasantly plump form.
Desmera knew many high-born ladies in the South would have probably think the northern woman too heavy because they strove to keep their waistlines spannable by a man's hand and anything more was considered undesirable. Desmera liked the way Sarra’s eyes shined with mirth and kindness. The northern woman was leading the Redwyne party up a set of stairs leading from the courtyard into a hall and trying to explain which parts of the keep were finished and which parts were under construction still.
“Of course, the Kitchens across the courtyard are finished and the Great Hall just ahead. There is a family wing with the Queen’s solar that connects by covered walkway to the armory, a guest wing where your Lordships and My Lady Redwyne will be housed, the library tower has just been completed and is awaiting furnishings, and of course the servant’s apartments have been finished.”
“Where will my daughter be housed?”
“The Queen has arranged for Lady Desmera to be installed in the family wing in the Lady of the Keep’s Solar.” Her mother looked as if she approved but Desmera’s brothers were realizing that she was being given more comfortable accommodations than they as a more honored guest for the first time in their lives and both seemed as if they were about to begin launching complaints when Lady Sarra’s wife Lady Lyra Mormont arrived before they could begin to complain.
This Northern Lady had raven black hair with a long rather plain pale face and the blackest eyes Desmera had ever seen. Lady Mormont’s mode of dress though was the true shock as she was not wearing a gown but a northern gambeson, leather breeches, with a fur lined cloak thrown over all, and a sword on her hip. She looked far more fearsome a warrior than either Horas or Hobber ever had. Lady Mormont's youth was also a surprise. Desmera thought the fierce warrior before her could not have seen more than sixteen name days. Lady Lyra greeted the Redwynes before walking to her wife and giving her a quick kiss in greeting. Desmera’s brothers both had sly looks upon their faces and she knew they were thinking something cruel.
Lyra Mormont then turned to inform them, “The Queen has nearly finished speaking with Lord Redwyne and she enquires if Lady Desmera is not too tired from her long journey if she would like to accompany the Queen on a ride through and around the city. The Queen says that handmaids have been assigned to see to My Lady’s needs while she is here and they can get The Lady’s things situated and unpacked in her rooms while the Queen and her betrothed tour the city and oversee some of the construction.”
Desmera looked to her mother for a moment before she realized there was no need to ask permission. She was a woman of twenty name days long since flowered and now betrothed to a Queen if Desmera wished to accept the Red Wolf’s offer then she was free to do so.
“I would be honored to accept Her Grace’s generous offer. Shall we go now?”
Lyra Mormont had looked Desmera’s southron gown and cape over before asking, “Does my Lady have a warmer cloak to wear? Although this morning began as a warm spring day the winds are beginning to bring a chill in the air and I believe we are in for a spring snow this evening or tomorrow.” Desmera did have a heavier cloak and coat but they were packed with all the rest of her clothes. The Lady Mormont replied it was no matter and she had asked her wife to find some furs for their Queen’s betrothed.
When Desmera was properly attired she bid her mother and brothers good day for now and followed Lady Mormont outside where horses awaited. One a shaggy sturdy Northern Horse not much bigger than a pony had been fit with a side saddle Desmera noticed but still she thought it prudent to mention. “I’m not wearing riding breeches under my gown.”
“Forgive me my Lady but some of the streets are not ready for a wheelhouse. Surely the side saddle will be enough to protect your Southron modesty.”
Desmera began to think perhaps this northern Lady did not appreciate her Queen marrying a Southron Lady but she kept the thought to herself and stepped up to the mounting block. She did notice Lady Mormont sitting her horse astride and wished that she had thought to wear riding breeches today just in case even though her gown was not designed to accommodate such.
It was a mostly silent ride as Desmera followed this stern northern Lady through the streets surrounded by signs of building all around her. They finally made it out of the work area after turning up a slight hill and arriving on the edges of a wooded area where the Queen and her guards were waiting. Desmera noticed Sansa dismount and after greeting Lady Mormont said, “I thank you Lyra for escorting my betrothed here.”
“It was my honor your Grace. The North remembers all of your sacrifices and we stand behind you always.”
“You humble me with your loyalty and remind me more and more everyday of your dear sister Lyanna.”
“Thank you, your Grace.”
Sansa turned to Desmera and gave her a small smile. “May I help you to dismount my Lady?” The Queen stepped over beside Desmera’s stirrup and reached up to take hold of her waist and assist her from the saddle. Sansa’s hands burned Desmera where they gripped her waist and she noticed her breathing had quickened. Desmera had been helped from the saddle before by countless men trying over much to be chivalrous, but this was the first time it had ever felt natural like the Queen actually wished to be of service to her Lady.
“I hope you do not mind walking through the godswood with me. I would like to show you the heart tree where we shall be wed.”
“That sounds lovely my Queen.”
Sansa offered Desmera her arm and after only a moment's hesitation she tucked her arm through the Queens and they set off together through the woods.
Desmera was not sure exactly what she should be doing. Again, the thought crossed her mind that a wife was meant to be pleasing to her husband but what was a wife meant to be towards her wife?
It was Sansa who broke the silence. “We should not have much further to walk my Lady before we get our first look at one of the newest weirwoods to be grown in the North in a thousand years. Do you know much about our connection to the weirwoods and the old gods?”
“My father hired maesters to instruct me about my new home and they taught me some about your gods, your Grace.”
Sansa stopped them walking then and looked over at her, “Sansa, call me Sansa when we are alone. There will be no need for formalities between us when we are wed.”
“Yes your.... I mean Sansa. Of course, you should call me Desmera, your Gr. I mean Sansa.” Desmera could not stop the blush creeping up her face.
“This is good Desmera. I should like there to be only good things between us.”
“I as well Sansa.”
They continued their walk and the trees seemed to be thinning somewhat around them.
“Just a little further. I think my Direwolf Jenny is waiting there for us. Should you like to meet her?”
Desmera thought for a moment about what would be the appropriate answer. “Yes, Sansa if it pleases you, I should like to become acquainted with your wolf.”
Sansa stopped them again and this time when the Queen looked at her the Red Wolf had a bit of a frown on her lovely face. “No, I do not wish for you to do anything only to please me. If you do not wish for something you must always tell me please. Sweet Desmera I want there to be honesty between us always.”
That caught her off guard a bit and she did not like the thought that maybe she had angered her future wife so she decided to be honest as Sansa had asked her to. “Forgive me your Grace but I thought. Well, I was taught a wife should be pleasing and I was told to be what you wanted me to be as a wife.”
Now the look on her betrothed’s face was positively thunderous. “I know young girls from noble Houses are taught those things all of their lives in Westeros but that is not what I want for my wife. To be only a mirror of my own desires and to have no thoughts or wants of her own. That is not what I want for you Desmera. I would like for you to be your own person and feel free to say no and to have your own opinions. In fact, if you do not wish for this marriage to happen, I would like you to tell me so. I will not be angry or hold it against you. You are free to choose to marry me or not.”
The thrill that ran through Desmera at these words was unlike anything she had felt before. She had dreamed about being able to speak her mind. About being wed to someone who would value her for herself and allow her to be who she wished to be. Desmera had always hoped there would be someone out there like Aemon the Dragon Knight or Florian or one of the other heroes from her stories. To potentially find that in the woman beside of her was confusing but thrilling. Perhaps this marriage could be a good thing. Perhaps it could be more than what she had thought or been taught. Perhaps it could be what she hoped.
“I think Sansa that I should like to be married to you.” Then another thought jumped up to the front of the crowd of thoughts always running through her head. “Will we be.... what I mean to say is will our marriage be a real marriage?”
“Of course, sweetling. In the North marriage is allowed between the same sexes now. When our people took back their First Men heritage it became allowed to take whomever you would as a mate and I legitimized the unions by royal decree.”
“Yes, my maesters taught me that and I read your proclamation. What I meant to say is the way men and women are married. Will we be married like that?”
Sansa seemed to finally understand what Desmera was asking about because her mouth curved into a generous smile. “If you are asking if I intend to share your bed when we are married? Yes, I will bed you after our wedding. Again, though if that is not something you wish to happen you are free to refuse our betrothal.”
Desmera blushed again and she was sure her face would always be red after this thinking of Sansa in her bed with her. “I still believe I should like to be married to you.”
They continued on after that with Desmera stealing glances at Sansa every so often and wishing she was able to find something to speak about and then they came to an open glade with a pool and a small white tree standing beside it. The tree no taller than Desmera herself and then she caught site of the direwolf stalking towards them almost as big as a pony and Desmera drew up short with a gasp and a frantic look thrown at her Queen.
Sansa laughed softly and took her arm from Desmera’s to wrap around the younger woman's waist and draw her closer. “There is nothing to fear sweetling. Jenny is as sweet as her namesake and almost as sweet as Lady before her.” The Queen’s face took on a faraway look that appeared as if she was remembering something very sad.
Desmera wanted very much to put the smile back onto the Red Wolf’s face so she asked, “Who was your wolf’s namesake my Queen?”
Sansa snapped back to the present. “Why? Jenny of Oldstones herself gave my sweet girl her name.”
“Truly! Oh, I love that song and it is so sad what happened to Jenny and her family.”
“Does my betrothed enjoy sweet songs and tales?” Sansa was looking at her with an indulgent smile and continued to hold her close.
“Yes, my Queen I love to listen to songs and read stories about knights and their ladies. I always thought a true knight might come to the Arbor one day but they never did.”
“I would have thought a southron Lady like yourself would have been surrounded by knights at your father’s court, at tourneys, or when you visit other castles. I know there were knights at King's Landing when we were both there. Of course, you were very young then.”
“Your Grace, I mean Sansa. It's true there were many men who called themselves knights who I encountered at different times but none of them resembled anything I know a knight should be.”
Sansa turned fully to look at her then while keeping a hand on Desmera’s waist that she was very much aware of.
“Aye, you are correct my Lady. Very few of those who call themselves knights remember the vows they swore or even try to live up to the duties they accepted upon themselves. It is why I longed so badly to return to the North when I was held captive in the South. Even without knighthood The North remembers, and although greed can still overcome men even in the North there are far more who remember their oaths than there are those who do not.”
“Now come allow me to introduce you to Jenny. I think she will see how special you are just as I do.”
Desmera could not stop blushing in the Queen’s presence. It seemed she was destined to have an eternally red face when Sansa looked at her like this.
Jenny the direwolf walked up to Sansa and rubbed her head against her Queens middle. Then Desmera felt Sansa take her by the hand and guide her to Jenny’s head to stroke through the fur there. Jenny pressed her furry head into Desmera’s hand.
“You see sweetling I think she is starting to love you already.” Sansa continued to guide Desmera’s hand in petting Jenny from her head and stoking down her neck to the wolf’s fur covered back. It was not long before her Queen removed her own hand and allowed Desmera to pet Jenny on her own. She quickly brought her other hand to the wolf’s head and scratched behind her ears the way she knew some dogs enjoyed. (Even though a direwolf was definitely not a dog)
Desmera was soon laughing at Jenny’s antics trying to get closer to the young woman giving her so much scratches and love. “She is so soft your Grace and her fur is so lovely. You are right Jenny is the sweetest ever.” Desmera happened to look up at Sansa then and the look the Red Wolf was giving her then made her gulp a breath and feel something tighten in her belly. She quickly looked down but the felt the Queen’s fingers under her chin tilting her face back up to look Sansa in the eyes.
Desmera had thought the Queen’s eyes had been the pale blue of a frozen lake but now they were a deeper and brighter blue than the most beautiful sapphires. Sansa’s hands cupped Desmera’s cheeks as they looked in each other's eyes, blue eyes to green.
“May I kiss you, my Lady?”
“Yes, my Queen I think I should like that.”
Sansa’s lips were so light and gentle when they first touched her own that Desmera wondered if their lips were actually touching at first. Then Desmera realized her betrothed was giving her the chance to step away or refuse the kiss so she leaned forward pressing her lips more firmly against Sansa’s and she heard her Queen moan slightly. Desmera had just enough time to realize this was her first real kiss for she did not count those times Daven Lannister had pushed unwanted kisses upon her that had bruised her lips and made her feel vile afterwards. Her Queen’s kisses were lovely.
Then she felt Sansa’s mouth open a bit and her Queens tongue trace the edges of her lips so Desmera opened her own mouth a bit and then Sansa’s tongue had moved into her mouth and all thoughts fled far away.
Desmera was vaguely aware of her betrothed’s tongue stroking her own tongue again and again while licking into her mouth over and over. Then she had gathered her courage enough to touch her tongue to Sansa’s mouth and felt how the Red Wolf drew Desmera’s tongue out and into Sansa’s own mouth and how Sansa caught Desmera’s tongue in her mouth and sucked back and forth in a manner that Desmera knew was incredibly erotic even though she did not really understand yet what erotic truly meant. She only knew a fire had begun to be stoked low in her belly and the fire was making its way throughout her body to every part of her. Desmera could also begin to feel an ache between her legs and a strange dampness there so she rubbed her thighs together as she stood in her Queen’s embrace and shuddered with the feeling.
When Sansa finally drew back and looked upon her Desmera realized her Queen’s arms were wrapped around her holding Desmera very close while her own hands had travelled up to wrap around her Sansa’s neck and she had her hands buried in Sansa’s hair.
“Forgive me my Lady. I had not meant to attempt to take you right here in the woods. I only wished to discover just how sweet you might taste.”
“There is nothing to forgive my Queen. I enjoyed that and would quite like to do it again.”
The Queen smiled. “As my Lady commands.”
Desmera was not sure how long they stayed there kissing but by the time Sansa said they should be heading back before anyone sent a search party out for them. By the time they drew away though Desmera knew her lips were swollen (but in a good way) and her skin felt so hot she was sure she had a fever. As she and her betrothed walked back through the woods holding hands and followed by Jenny the direwolf, Desmera could only think that she had found her way into a song at last.