Chapter Text
A sharp knock sounds at the door, making my tutor pause in her lesson on Westeros family crest history. “Well, I’m not sure who that could be. Excuse me one moment” the Septa says as she walks briskly across the room to crack open the heavy oaken door. After a few moments of hushed conversation, my instructor opens the door fully to reveal Tilly, one of the housemaids.
“Hello Lady Arryn, your mother has requested you to join her for tea in her sitting room, and I’ve come to retrieve you.” says Tilly.
Mother never interrupts my lessons. Besides, she’s been busy with trade negotiations all week. Now dismissed by my Septa, I rack my brain as I close my book and get up to follow Tilly.
Oh god, she’s found out we broke the vase when we were playing in one of the hallways last week. Trailing after Tilly through the halls I begin preparing my pleas for forgiveness in my head. I glance at the door to the rest of the schooling quarters. It wouldn’t work to blame it on Robin, even though it was technically his fault. He was the one that tripped me. I was only trying to catch myself on the table. Besides, even if it did, she wouldn’t punish Rob, just his whipping boy.
When I enter the room, she is already seated in her large armchair, awaiting my arrival.
My mother’s face is even more soured than normal, her lips pressed into a thin line.
I’m definitely in trouble for the vase.
“Sit. Please” she instructs, gesturing across from her.
I slowly lower myself on the chaise, and begin fiddling with the fabric of my dress. The soft crinkling of the linen fills the room. Tilly steps forward to pour the tea in our cups and then steps outside the room to return to her duties elsewhere.
My mother picks up her cup and takes a long, slow sip. I raise mine to my mouth and let it cool for a moment before taking one myself.
We chat for a while, little pleasantries. She inquires about my lessons and I oblige in telling her what I have been learning.
This couldn't be what she called me here to talk about though. A silence drags on after we've exhausted what little we have to talk about.
I take a breath and start to begin my apology “I really-”
“Enough” she starts sharply, frown deepening. I feel a deep pit in my stomach brewing. “I have something I need to talk to you about..” She pauses, taking another sip of her tea. “I didn’t want to tell you until anything was final. But I have secured you a most favorable position.” She says, forcing a prim smile.
“What do you mean?” I ask, not fully grasping the meaning of her words.
Mother reaches up to touch her braids, although nothing is out of its place, and her red hair is pulled so tight today her eyes look permanently surprised. Instead of continuing she gets up and walks across the room to open a drawer on her desk. Shuffling of papers echoes, until she finally finds whatever it is she is looking for. “Ah, here we are”. Her heels click hard and loud on the shined floor as she walks back over to her sitting area, holding an envelope.
“Your marriage proposal." she drops into conversation casually, not meeting my eyes. She presses the gold envelope into my shaking hands, going to sit back down. It makes it real. My fate was stamped with a seal as soon as the envelope’s was broken.
The Dornish seal had a long jagged cut through it. Torn through with my mothers letter opener I’m sure. I trace my fingers over it before rapidly opening the envelope. Slowly I pull out the thick embossed paper and skim through the words, and I see the agreement has already been signed at the bottom. My mouth dries out as I stare at it. I trace over her inked signature.
I knew this was coming. I knew it since Rob had been born that I wouldn’t be the one to inherit the throne, instead I would be married to a nobleman. I just can’t help but feel the sudden drop in my stomach. Like a heavy stone, dropping into a pool of water. I feel it ripple over me in waves. Nervousness, Disappointment, Fear.
I’ve spent my life preparing how to be a wife. Lessons in tapestry weaving, good posture, court etiquette. I know embroidery, appropriate court dances, poetry. It felt like a waste, to know what I am just valued as. Someone to bear this man’s children.
I can hear her babbling on, but it all sounds like I’m underwater. “-If anything you’re long overdue. I was wed to your father at a mere-” she says, cutting through the ringing of my ears.
“How long.” I interrupt her.
“What?”
“How long have you known?”
“What does that matter to you? "
“How long?”
“A few months.”
“Isn’t there something you can do? Can't you deny it?"
“It's already final. You’re so ungrateful, I did this for us!”
“You mean you?”
“Please, you think I had a choice when I was wed to your father? You suck it up and bear the weight. This will be beneficial for the whole family. It was really quite a generous offer, but you’re being stubborn as always. You’ll be a princess, you most of us should consider yourself lucky. ” Rolling her eyes.
I shut my mouth and let her talk.
At some point I must have left. I don’t even remember getting up and walking out until I’m in the hallway.
“Lady Arryn, may I walk you back to resume your lesson?” Tilly says, scaring me. I didn’t even notice she had stayed standing outside the doors.
"No. No, I don't think I feel so good. I feel very faint. I’d like to go lay down now.” I murmur, walking ahead of her towards the wing my rooms are located in.
“Perhaps I could escort you to the healer if you are feeling ailed?” she says, following along behind me now.
“No. It’s fine, really Tilly. I am just tired.” I say, forcing a small smile.
Tilly wrings her hands in her skirts, and reaches up to put the back of her hand on my forehead to check for a fever. I jump a little at the contact. “Oh right. sorry Lady Arryn, I do that with my own children. Please excuse me, I stepped out of line” Tilly apologizes quickly and frets her lower lip.
“It’s ok. No harm done.” I say and pat Tilly’s shoulder. I realize I’ll miss her too. She’s worked at the castle my whole life. I want to give her a hug, but if anyone sees I’d get myself in even more trouble than I already was. Instead she ends up escorting me on the walk to my quarters in silence.
My brother cracks open the door to my rooms, knocking only as an afterthought. At least he closes the door behind him.
“Go away Rob” I say into my pillow
“I thought you might want something to eat, since you didn’t show for dinner.”
Slowly I sit up, my stomach voicing its interest in the plate before I could. He passes the warm plate to me, a peace offering.
“Did you know?”
“No-”
“And you better tell me the fucking truth.”
“No, swear to god I didn’t.” Rob stops to chew his thumb, a nervous habit. “Maybe he won’t be that bad?”
“C’mon, don’t be so naive. You’ve heard the stories.” I say in between bites of potatoes. Rob’s always been too much of an optimist, an effect mom spoiling him too much.
“Well maybe you’ll like Sunspear.” Robin suggests, resuming his attempt to cheer me up. He starts chattering about the markets, and begging me to send him all sorts of things once I get there.
Eventually I walk Robin back to his chambers before anyone decides he’s gone missing, and retire to bed back in my own.
My lady’s maid wakes me in the morning, ushering me out of bed half asleep to help me get changed and fixed to join my family for breakfast.
It’s only until I’m walking down the hall alone that I recall yesterday’s events. It makes me a little sick to my stomach thinking about the awkwardness that will likely occur.
I stall for a few minutes outside the doors to the Morning Hall, until I finally decide to enter.
Robin and my mother are already here and seated. Good, she won't say anything while Rob is present. My slow walk here had made me a little late, and breakfast was already on the table. If mother is bothered by my tardiness, she doesn’t address it.
One of the scullery maids quickly plated my breakfast of oatmeals and various fruits, before rushing away to return to the kitchen below.
Robin is telling my mother about the dream he had last night. Apparently he was a knight fighting a huge dragon. Or maybe he was the dragon. It’s a little hard to follow, and my berries are much more entertaining.
Eventually I look back up, realizing her attention has shifted to me, flicking over my appearance. “Well, I see a good night's sleep has perhaps made you come to your senses.”
I had tried to think of an escape plan all last night, but I knew I would never make it. If I even made it out of Eyrie unnoticed, there was no chance to escape the Vale. And when I was caught, I would likely face a beating so severe the wedding would have to be postponed, or worse the whole thing called off and perhaps mother would sentence me to one of the sky cells for my conspiracy to shame my family so.
I continue eating for a bit, itching for my mother to continue ignoring me once more. Robin makes sure of that, starting in on some kind of other game or story.
Once I finish eating, I manage to excuse myself without rousing any other remarks from my mother, to go to my daily lessons.