His lords were insistent about marriage. For Jon, there was no other thought than the war to come and he had managed to deflect questions about the future with side steps or outright ignoring it. But the clamor had started to build. It eventually came to a head during one of his audiences, where a number of high powerful lords pressed him about marriage.
They believed that chaos and calamity came when Robb had no heirs left to pass the crown to. That had there been someone else, there might have been a greater sense of security among the North. Jon wasn't quite certain of that, given how quick many surrendered to the Boltons, but it wasn't an issue for him to push. He was resistant to turning his attention away from the Others, but when Davos brought up the possibility of an alliance and armies, Jon started to become more open.
Dorne wasn't currently involved in the struggles for the throne. Their army was rested, well fed and deadly. It would be a trial for them to adjust to the North, but it was some form of hope. It would at least ease the pressure and worry until Jon could find more Houses willing to join this cause.
He hadn't really given much thought to the woman he was now betrothed to marry, not until the days wound down to her arrival. Only then, the sinking feeling of uncertainty coursed through him. This was what Robb was meant to do, not him. How would a noblewoman view marrying a bastard, even if he was king? Would she accept him or look down on him as Lady Catelyn had. Sharing his life, his bed and all other things, it gnawed at him.
Maybe that was why he hadn't bothered to wait in the Great Hall as expected. He wanted a look at her, to get an idea of the woman she was.
He certainly got that when she brushed away his hand, not realizing he was the king. His clothes didn't exactly bestow much regality. He did look like a Master of the Horse. "There's black ice there. Take my hand."
Her gaze flickered to the ground, studying it to see if she could see this black ice the man spoke of. The ground was covered with a slight dusting of snow though and so she truly could not tell. Snow was not something that she was accustomed to.
After a moment, she finally nodded her head and leaned over, her hand taking the man's outstretched one so he could indeed help her dismount. She only held onto him long enough to ensure that she was steady on her feet and then she drew back from him. She did offer him a small smile and inclined her head slightly.
"You have my thanks," she said, her gaze moving over him before she turned to speak to one of her ladies who had joined her from the carriage. Inara couldn't help but smile, obviously amused by the way the woman was attempting to burrow further into her heavy cloak.
"Be sure to unload everything and make sure the wines and produce make their way to the kitchens." Her father had sent much with her to the North. Lemons, olives, pomegranates, blood oranges, spices, and several barrels of different wines.
After a moment, she turned her attention back to the man who had helped her dismount since he was still there and no one else had bothered to approach her. She had heard that the Northmen could be leery of outsiders, but she had expected more of a welcome. She was tempted to demand to know where the King was, but she held her tongue.
"Am I to wait here, or is it possible to go inside and warm up after our long journey?"
Some of the servants were apparently amused with her failure to realize Jon was king. He spied a few hiding their grins behind their hands and frowned at them in return. She hadn't seemed to notice. He hadn't thought much about how he'd appear, but given he wasn't elaborately dressed, in leather that was no different than the Master at Arms, he could see how she might mistake him. Perhaps he should have worn something nicer, but it seemed pointless. They were to be married soon as it was and he'd only be hiding his preference in an attempt to please a stranger.
Jon glanced from her to one of the nearby servants. A young girl stepped forward and curtsied to Inara. "If you please, milady, I'll show you to your rooms?"
He cleared his throat, still uncertain and awkward. No matter how many years passed, he was still the bastard boy of Winterfell, playing at a title that was not really his. "Anything you need or want is at your disposal." That was how this was supposed to go, wasn't it? He formally handed over control of the keep to her? Was this what his father said to Lady Catelyn.
"Alys," he looked back over at the maid. "See the lady is well taken care of."
Inara had just started to turn to follow the servant girl, Alys but then froze. Your Grace? Her eyes widened slightly and for a moment she just stood there. He was Jon Snow? He'd just let her...
She exhaled slowly and then turned to fully face him, her expression serene despite the slight anger that was bubbling up. She dropped down into a graceful curtsy, pleased that she didn't slip on the black ice he'd mentioned. She already felt stupid, she didn't need to look moreso.
"Your Grace, I apologize," she said softly. "It is no excuse, but I did not know." And he hadn't set out to make sure she'd known either. He'd had to have known she hadn't realized.
Rising back up slowly, she lifted her gaze to meet his. "With your leave, I'd like to freshen up. Perhaps if you'd like, we can talk afterwards."
no subject
Date: 2021-11-21 20:44 (UTC)They believed that chaos and calamity came when Robb had no heirs left to pass the crown to. That had there been someone else, there might have been a greater sense of security among the North. Jon wasn't quite certain of that, given how quick many surrendered to the Boltons, but it wasn't an issue for him to push. He was resistant to turning his attention away from the Others, but when Davos brought up the possibility of an alliance and armies, Jon started to become more open.
Dorne wasn't currently involved in the struggles for the throne. Their army was rested, well fed and deadly. It would be a trial for them to adjust to the North, but it was some form of hope. It would at least ease the pressure and worry until Jon could find more Houses willing to join this cause.
He hadn't really given much thought to the woman he was now betrothed to marry, not until the days wound down to her arrival. Only then, the sinking feeling of uncertainty coursed through him. This was what Robb was meant to do, not him. How would a noblewoman view marrying a bastard, even if he was king? Would she accept him or look down on him as Lady Catelyn had. Sharing his life, his bed and all other things, it gnawed at him.
Maybe that was why he hadn't bothered to wait in the Great Hall as expected. He wanted a look at her, to get an idea of the woman she was.
He certainly got that when she brushed away his hand, not realizing he was the king. His clothes didn't exactly bestow much regality. He did look like a Master of the Horse. "There's black ice there. Take my hand."
no subject
Date: 2021-11-22 16:27 (UTC)After a moment, she finally nodded her head and leaned over, her hand taking the man's outstretched one so he could indeed help her dismount. She only held onto him long enough to ensure that she was steady on her feet and then she drew back from him. She did offer him a small smile and inclined her head slightly.
"You have my thanks," she said, her gaze moving over him before she turned to speak to one of her ladies who had joined her from the carriage. Inara couldn't help but smile, obviously amused by the way the woman was attempting to burrow further into her heavy cloak.
"Be sure to unload everything and make sure the wines and produce make their way to the kitchens." Her father had sent much with her to the North. Lemons, olives, pomegranates, blood oranges, spices, and several barrels of different wines.
After a moment, she turned her attention back to the man who had helped her dismount since he was still there and no one else had bothered to approach her. She had heard that the Northmen could be leery of outsiders, but she had expected more of a welcome. She was tempted to demand to know where the King was, but she held her tongue.
"Am I to wait here, or is it possible to go inside and warm up after our long journey?"
no subject
Date: 2021-11-29 20:16 (UTC)Jon glanced from her to one of the nearby servants. A young girl stepped forward and curtsied to Inara. "If you please, milady, I'll show you to your rooms?"
He cleared his throat, still uncertain and awkward. No matter how many years passed, he was still the bastard boy of Winterfell, playing at a title that was not really his. "Anything you need or want is at your disposal." That was how this was supposed to go, wasn't it? He formally handed over control of the keep to her? Was this what his father said to Lady Catelyn.
"Alys," he looked back over at the maid. "See the lady is well taken care of."
"Yes, your grace."
no subject
Date: 2021-12-01 05:48 (UTC)She exhaled slowly and then turned to fully face him, her expression serene despite the slight anger that was bubbling up. She dropped down into a graceful curtsy, pleased that she didn't slip on the black ice he'd mentioned. She already felt stupid, she didn't need to look moreso.
"Your Grace, I apologize," she said softly. "It is no excuse, but I did not know." And he hadn't set out to make sure she'd known either. He'd had to have known she hadn't realized.
Rising back up slowly, she lifted her gaze to meet his. "With your leave, I'd like to freshen up. Perhaps if you'd like, we can talk afterwards."