#( arya stark. thread. )

[jonsnowunemploymentera]

I really don’t think we should be treating morality as a linear thing in ASOIAF because what often happens is that we start to stray from the actual conversations that we need to be having regarding the depths of making a moral choice and even the circumstances involved. To try and blankly paint any one character as the “most morally good” isn’t really taking us anywhere. And it certainly isn’t helpful when people in this fandom want to try and prove that characters are “grey” but not moral (what does that even mean??) because they did one “bad” thing. If ASOIAF stans were to have their way, then:

Jon is not a morally good person because he threatened Gilly

Dany cannot be considered to be compassionate because she sanctioned torture against the wine seller’s daughters

Arya cant be good because she has killed people

and so on, and so on….

But this is such a draining, and oft times frustrating, conversation to have because you see just how shallow the above listed examples are? Readers are listing only singular instances across a narrative that spans thousand and thousands of pages, and there’s absolutely no context involved. Why did Jon threaten Gilly? Why did Dany resort to torture and at one point did she do it? Who did Arya kill and why? And why do those singular instances negate everything else in their arcs?

What usually happens when we have the 12847647282th unnecessary conversation about who is the “most good” character in ASOIAF is that we start getting blanket statements with no elaboration. And the only people ever considered are Ned, Brienne, and Davos, and sometimes the children like Shireen or Tommen. Mind you, Ned and Davos are not perfect or without their own faults either; much has been said about Ned’s abilities as a father and it’s implied that Davos was not entirely faithful to his wife. And based on her current arc, Brienne will surely have to make morally tough choices regarding oaths and knightly honor. Plus theres the irony of including literal children when they have not been put in situations where they actually have to make morally difficult choices and live with the consequences.

ASOIAF shows us that people who are capable of incredible kindness and compassion are also capable of doing unpleasant things.

Jon threatened Gilly….because he was trying to save another child whom he believed to be at risk of human sacrifice(!!) and was stuck between a rock and a hard place. But why does that singular instance negate the fact that his arc has been about him standing up for the “lesser than”? Why does that negate the fact that he stood up for Sam against a superior when there was nothing to gain for him? Why does it negate the fact that he went out of his way to equip Arya in a way that society would have deemed inappropriate? Why does it negate the fact that he dedicated the entirety of his time as Lord Commander to fight an institution that had upheld racism/xenophobia for millennia? Why should we filter out all those moments of kindness, compassion, and deep empathy that Jon has even without him thinking?

Dany sanctioned torture….but she was trying to solve the murder of an innocent victim AND this brought her no joy. But why does that negate the fact that when she gained unimaginable power, she could’ve high tailed to Westeros to use it to her benefit and become queen, but instead chose to stay in Essos where she has no personal responsibility just so she could fight the institutional evil that is slavery? Why does it negate Dany who went to personally treat plague victims at great risk to herself?

Arya has killed some….but it’s in self defense or in defense of others who are disenfranchised. But why does this negate that she is one of the few people in the series how goes out of her way to show kindness and friendship to those who are not as economically or politically advantaged as she is (e.g., Mycah)? Why does it negate that she took fellow slaves under her protection when she herself had little power to fight for her own survival at Harrenhall? Why does it negate that when she saw those caged soldiers whom she was angry with for their actions, instead of leaving them to die instead offered them the only kindness she could at the moment: a drink of water?

Trying to have arguments about morality but stripping everything down to ‘x character did y bad thing (regardless of context) and that’s why they can’t be good’ is, to be blunt, ridiculous. And it isn’t a particularly interesting way to engage with the text. Character journeys, especially well written ones, are rarely ever in a straight line. There’s amazing highs and terrible lows. GRRM gives us so many characters like Jon, Dany, Arya, Sansa, Ned, etc. who even in their lows, have gleams of compassion and exceptional kindness. It doesn’t do anyone any good to filter those moments out to make the books more digestible; and I’m being a little generous here, because so many readers have a very shallow level of engagement with the series and it shows in conversation. And we also shouldn’t pit these characters unfairly against those who have never been in similarly difficult situations that required them to make hard choices. Because when we do, we start to completely miss the point all together.

[ofcelestialstories]

@seccndchances || Arya & Hera

.｡.:*☆ Arya was not happy. Not only that she had been ripped away from her family yet again. Now Nymeria was gone as well. Like, she had been waking up in this strange world one day without her furry companion. So, the young woman was surely not in the mood to pretend everything would be fine. Because it was not fine. Because she was tired of others deciding what happened in her life.

So, Arya was in a sour mood. And as a result, expect the hot air and humid weather, she was beating a tree behind her apartment building with a self-made wooden sword, grunting and sweating. To let out her frustration so she could start finding a way to leave this boiling lands again before she would feel properly cooked....

[steelfyre]

closed starter ›› @ravasz , @disrcpairs

the  eldest  stark  trailing  after  one of his younger siblings was not an uncommon sight. protectiveness lived alongside blood and ice in his veins. loss of former patriarch, responsibility all resting upon his shoulders, only increased the instinct. but that wasn't the sole reason he was following them today.  ❝  are you going to tell me what this grand idea of yours is? otherwise, i'm turning around. ❞   a mostly empty threat. ice consumed him but it didn't touch the love for family that burned within. busy as he was with so many guests, theon wouldn't say no to spending time with family.

[caracarnn]

He doesn't answer her for a moment, before he eventually nodded his head, laughing lightly behind his hand. He truly believed that she could kill him, he had seen some of the skill that she possessed. That much was obvious but he hadn't seen enough. "I don't think that I would want to cross you." He told her with a certain and honest look in his eyes. "I also wouldn't betray your secret."

Rand lifted one of the longer sticks that he had lifted from the ground and used it to poke at the fire between them. "As for what I did...that I do not want it tracing back to my father. I found out something about myself that might be mistaken for unlawfulness, perhaps."

She couldn't help the interest in her eyes when he said that something happened that he didn't want it getting close to his father. Arya could remember all of the stories that Old Nan used to tell them before putting them to bed and now she wondered if Rand was involved in something similar. "What happened?" She pried unable to stop herself. If they were going to trust one another she needed to know exactly the kind of man she was traveling with even though he had never gave her reason to question it.

And there it was. The cat was officially out of the bag and she had told him her biggest secret. Arya looked at him quietly for a long moment the stick in her hand suddenly feeling more like a weapon she could use. "Yes." She gave him a hard look. "And if you tell a soul or trade me into the Lannisters I won't hesitate to gut you." And she fully believed that she could.

[sare11aa11eras]

“Mother…”

Part 2 of my harlaween gift for @greenbloods happy harlaween vasa!!

[Image description: a colored picture of Lady Stoneheart and Arya Stark. They are facing each other, Lady Stoneheart hunched over so she can look Arya in the eye. Her fingers are threaded through Arya’s hair. Lady Stoneheart’s mouth is open as if she’s saying something, her eyes are wide, and her mouth furrowed. A tear traces down Arya’s face as she looks at her mother. Her mouth is slightly open. Needle is extended forward at her side, its tip bloody. Both wear grey cloaks, although Stoneheart’s is lighter and has sleeves. Under her cloak, Stoneheart has a blue skirt visible. Arya wears a dark green tunic and brown trousers and boots. The background is dark green with some abstract lines indicating trees. / End ID.]

[chemtrailsoverthesun]

A thread of parallels between Elia Martell and Sansa Stark:

1. Elia is the older sister to Oberyn. Sansa is the eldest stark sister.

Art by Melrosing

2. They are both described as gentle.

"Princess Elia was a good woman, Your Grace. She was kind and clever, with a gentle heart and a sweet wit.” - Daenerys

“Was there ever a wedding less joyful? she wondered until she remembered her poor Sansa and her marriage to the Imp. Mother take mercy on her. She has a gentle soul.” - Catelyn

Art by elvishness & vesubia-jugorum

3. Both were excited to leave their home.

"Elia found it all exciting. She was of that age, and her delicate health had never permitted her much travel.” - Tyrion

“She had last seen snow the day she'd left Winterfell… off to see the great wide world.” - Sansa

Art by the-lady-rae

4. Both were betrothed to the crown prince.

“Early in the year 279 AC, Rhaegar Targaryen, Prince of Dragonstone, was formally betrothed to Princess Elia Martell” - TWOIAF

“She had to wed Joffrey, they were betrothed, he was promised to her, she had even dreamed about it.” - Sansa

Art by amaati

5. Elia and Sansa were both held as hostages by Mad kings.

“The king reminded Lewyn Martell gracelessly that he held Elia and sent him to take command of the ten thousand Dornishmen coming up the kingsroad.” - Jaime

“They have Sansa hostage, and they mean to keep her." - Catelyn

6. Cersei blames them both for taking someone from her- Rhaegar and Joffrey.

“It had to have been the madness that led Aerys to refuse Lord Tywin's daughter and take his son instead, whilst marrying his own son to a feeble Dornish princess with black eyes and a flat chest.” -Cersei

"I most certainly have not forgotten that little she-wolf…She helped murder my son.” - Cersei

7. Elia and Sansa witnessed the death of a family member in front of them, both pleaded for their loved one to be spared.

“Princess Elia of Dorne pleading for mercy as Rhaegar's heir was ripped from her breast and murdered before her eyes.” - Daenerys

“Lady Sansa has begged mercy for her father." - Arya

8. Both were romantics.

“A pretty lad, and my sister was half in love with him.” - Tyrion

“I love him, Father, I truly do, I love him as much as Queen Naerys loved Prince Aemon the Dragonknight, as much as Jonquil loved Ser Florian.” - Sansa

Art by the-lady-rae

9. Victims of the Lannisters.

“Some said it had been Gregor who'd dashed the skull of the infant prince Aegon Targaryen against a wall, and whispered that afterward he had raped the mother, the Dornish princess Elia, before putting her to the sword.” - Tyrion

“When I displease him, he has the Kingsguard beat me. He's evil and cruel, my lady, it's so. And the queen as well." - Sansa

Art by amaati

Conclusion: Both deserved better

Art by Elia illustration

[tessarionbestgirl]

You said once Hotd lacks heart. What you mean by that?

In Game of Thrones, the main thread, the heart of it, was the Starks relationship. You liking it or not. And that doesn't necessarily make them the main characters either. But that family love for each other is what compelled a lot of people to watch it. And was the most pure thing about the show, so you connected with it, and feel their pain. And that what brought the normies to the table.

In Hotd this is supposedly to be Alicent and Rhaenyra. They even copy the blueprint of it by establishing in episode 1 their bond and from there things go south . The thing is. This relationship is not justified enough. And what I mean by that is, when you look for what they are trying to tell with this dinamic like Sarah said in recent interview, Alicent could never forget Rhaenyra or some shit like that. Because she was her best friend in their childhood. I was thinking like, why tho? Really? I doubt 🧐

They failed in my opinion to stablish this dinamic to be this powerful thread that connects the show. They don't have a cosmic connection that would challenge the very blood connections they have and question their Ideologies.

That is what they want you to believe that this friendship of years ago was so powerful that make their hearts constantly in conflict. But nothing that was show to us on those yearly episodes make me believe was that a strong connection.

Like a silly moment of Rhaenyra tearing the book for Alicent, It was supposed to be this friendship powerful moment that years later make Rhaenyra think on the possibility of throwing her claim away? Do you know how insanely ridiculous that sounds?

Keep in constant, what this moment is supposedly to be emulating. Jon giving Arya needles. That moment was so powerful for her because, of some many aspects. But one of them is because the present is deeply connected with her wants and needs and show how much Jon knows her and loves and accept her for what she is.

"Sansa can keep her sewing needles, I've got a needle of my own."

And then of course, is given by Jon before he goes to the wall. Is farewell gift, one of the few, really happy moments she had before everyone go south. And so makes sense this very weapon becomes the manifestation of these characters she lost.

"Needle was Robb and Bran and Rickon, her mother and her father, even Sansa. Needle was Winterfell's grey walls, and the laughter of its people. Needle was the summer snows, Old Nan's stories, the heart tree with its red leaves and scary face, the warm earthy smell of the glass gardens, the sound of the north wind rattling the shutters of her room. Needle was Jon Snow's smile.”

What take a page out of a book has the same deep? What exactly represents? The freedom of acting like spoiled girls that can tear books apart and laugh about it with no consequence? Because if so, is not rooted on the relationship in it self. But freedom they had.

Every other relationship here is deeply fuck up so it can't be the heart of it. And they even take from the most pure relationship and repurposed to them to valid them. Like exemple they taking Maelor out, taking away Heleana's "Sophie's Choice" and giving to Alicent and Rhaenyra. Making Alicent ultimately choosing sacrifice her son to Rhaenyra. Something she didn't for her son when Otto himself said it was a sacrifice they need to do to save Aegon in episode 9 of the first season. And that is a wormhole of inconstancy by it self that I will not talk about here.

So that all reasons I mean by the show have no heart. Also this is enough reason to make believe the show end will suck. Because at end they will not even have that thread they stablish the show around it. So the likelihood this will fall apart at end will be big.

[steelfyre]

❝  if  lady  tyrell didn't  inform  the queen of how the ball would play out and gain her approval, then she may have greater worries than nobles not dancing. ❞   theon deemed it unlikely, the tyrells seemed as drawn to impressing her grace as flowers were to the sun, but it wouldn't be the first time a southerner had proved his low opinion of them still too high.  ❝  i intended to continue not dancing, but the north must be considered. a possible risk to myself is fine, not one to our home. thus, with great reluctance will i partake in the remaining assigned dances. ❞

“  pollen  ,  or  misguided  attempts  of  power  .  whichever  of  the  two  .  the  queen's  court  is  here  yet  she  is  the  one  telling  us  what  to  do  .  mother  does  not  care  who  i  dance  with  .  ”  at  one  point  the  southern  court  seemed  a  fun  challenge  yet  it  all  seemed  like  smoke  and  mirrors  as  nobles  tried  to  grab  for  power  they  would  never  have  .  “  well  ,  i  have  yet  to  see  you  dance  so  it  does  not  seem  like  that  is  a  threat  that  would  force  you  into  action  .  if  you  are  not  going  to  then  neither  am  i  .  ”

[nymerias-heart]

Arya Stark

Lady Smallwood's maidservants scrubbed her so hard it felt like they were flaying her themselves. They even dumped in some stinky-sweet stuff that smelled like flowers.

And afterward, they insisted she dress herself in girl's things, brown woolen stockings and a light linen shift, and over that a light green gown with acorns embroidered all over the bodice in brown thread, and more acorns bordering the hem.

My take on Arya’s iconic dress.

[catofoldstones]

Ok so what I meant about the will was that robb goes by the assumption that bran, rickon and arya are dead and only jon and sansa are alive and thus he makes the will specifically regarding them and their status in the line of inheritance is the most affected by it. When it is ultimately revealed that bran, rickon and arya are alive, they will automatically assume their default positions because robb's will says nothing about them but for jon and sansa their original positions are reversed, as he removes sansa from the line and makes jon a stark. Sort of like sansa becoming a bastard near the time jon becomes a lord. It goes along with the theme of inheritance of winterfell mostly being associated with jon and sansa. Sansa is the Stark who is coveted the most for it, a lot of parties try to obtain her to obtain winterfell, but they also want her. For Jon, it happens once when stannis offers jon winterfell and val [like with sansa's suitors, val also wants jon himself] this action is somewhat similar to robb's, as stannis is going by the assumption that sansa is the heir, and jon declines despite deeply wanting winterfell. He declines for a multitude of reasons but what he tells stannis is that winterfell belongs to sansa. So this instance of jon potentially inheriting is linked to sansa too.

I am being so normal about this anon, you have no idea how normal I am being right, right now. You cannot even guess how nonchalant I am being about two people who don’t think of each other that many times through the books but have the narrative filled with being tied together with the red thread of fate. The narrative said sike, bitch. But yeah, so so nonchalant.

[doublehex]

Powers Greater Than Hatred

There are two passages that are often quoted of Daenerys from A Game of Thrones. The first, and most popular, are the final sentences in the novel.

As Daenerys Targaryen rose to her feet, her black hissed, pale smoke venting from its mouth and nostrils. The other two pulled away from her breasts and added their voices to the call, translucent wings unfolding and stirring the air, and for the first time in hundreds of years, the night came alive with the music of dragons.

It’s easy to see why these final lines are so often quoted within the fandom. They are poetically powerful; this is an impactful arrangement of words that have an emotional punch. The final chapter stands as some of George’s most poetic writing he has ever done. It is filled with mythology that has been lacking in the novel up to this point; for most of A Game of Thrones, the supernatural is related to long dead legends or psychedelic visions that make it hard to grasp exactly what they were meant to entail. The final chapter, the return of the dragons, turns the supernatural from vision quest into a tangible, real thing. And most importantly, this passage uplifts the book; it showcases that there is a reason to hope, that the dark turn after Eddard Stark’s execution is not what the series is about. Instead of leaving on a melancholic note, the novel ends with hope and wonder for what the future will bring.

I am not going to talk about that passage today. I want to talk about the second passage, one that I feel speaks much more closely to the themes that George is trying to hit with the series. This is from one of the final paragraphs of Daenerys IX, in the moments that build up to when Daenerys must euthanize Khal Drogo. Even when Daenerys is so full of despair, George still give us reason to hold onto hope:

She told herself that there were powers stronger than hatred, and spells older and truer than any the maegi had learned in Asshai.

The second half of the passage is directly rooted in the emotional context of the scene. Mirri Mazz Dur had used shadow magic to both rob Khal Drogo of all sentience and intelligence, as well as killing Daenerys’ son Rhaego in the womb. Most of Khal Drogo’s khalatar, his army of warriors that was the mightiest and largest in all of Dothraki recent history, had splintered and broken apart under a dozen different warlords. Daenerys is lost and alone for allies save for the exiled Westerosi knight Jorah Mormont, who has his own selfish wants in staying close to her. 

It is the first half that George establishes an important thread that he weaves throughout the series. Evil has its limits. Hatred, corruption, all of the sins of the world, there is a point where they are undone. This theme is manifested in the fourth book of the series, A Feast for Crows. Tywin Lannister has been murdered by the son he has abused for all of his life, and the Lannister regime that he betrayed and murdered to build is falling apart. The book is not just a reference to all those that have died over the course of The War of the Five Kings, but to the Lannisters. House Lannister itself is the feast for crows. It is a tower of dominos and it has started to crumble. All of the petty evils of that house is finally crashing down. Evil has limits. Evil is undone. There are powers greater than hatred. 

Paint that contrast with the Starks and the Targaryens. The swords of the North are riding to rescue “Ned’s precious little girl”. They don’t know that the little girl is not Arya Stark but Jeyne Poole who has been forced to masquerade as her to preserve her life, but that doesn’t matter. The fact that the Northern lords, even after being decimated at the Red Wedding, even after being forced to submit, will ride and fight and die in memory of Eddard Stark, that matters. Even after Daenerys flies away from Meereen on Drogon, her people are fighting against the masters in her name. It matters that they believe in her cause. It matters that the freemen will fight and die to make sure their children will never know what it means to be a slave. 

A Song of Ice and Fire is often painted as a cynical, bitter response to fantasy. It is the forefather of the grimdark subgenre. That is an erroneous attribution. The books remind us that there are powers stronger than hatred. Of course there are scenes that have grit to it, and it can be bitter at times, but the saga is never cynical. It doesn’t say that there is no meaning to the good fight.

If watching the fall of House Lannister should say anything, it would be that evil will always devour itself in time, and eventually, good and decent people will pick up the pieces. 

[dreammakcr]

Sansa frowned as she turned her gaze to her sister. "We've both been through a lot. More than I think people realize. It made us survivors," she began slowly. "Maybe one day all this fighting will end and we can just be...normal."

@dreammakcr liked here for a lyric starter from Arya! Song: teenage dream by Olivia Rodrigo, lyrics are bolded & italicized

"When am I going to stop being wise beyond my years and just start being wise?" Arya asks, it's been something she's been wondering about. So why not ask?

"What do you think?" She asks her companion.

[jackoshadows]

Earlier I had mentioned how ‘Arya’s’ marriage to Ramsay Bolton is the thread that connects all the plots in the North in ADwD and I could not help notice how it’s mentioned or is the driving force for what is happening in four different locations or about 70% of the North plot.

Reek I (Theon I) - We are first introduced to this wedding in the North in this chapter when Ramsay tells Reek that he is to be wed to Arya Stark and needs Reek to stick around in better conditions.

Davos III: Davos is brought before the Manderlys with the Freys and Lannister/Bolton spies in attendance. Lady Wylla Manderly sticks up for Lady Arya Stark by telling everyone what an absolutely rotten fellow Ramsay Bolton is.

Reek II (Theon II): Reek meets ‘Arya’ and understands what is happening. This is Jeyne Poole, not Arya Stark.

The Wayward Bride (Asha I): The Boltons send off the wedding invites. Over at Deepwood Motte, Asha Greyjoy gets one written in the blood of dead Ironborn. This is also where she learns that her brother Theon is alive.

Jon VI: An interesting parallel with Asha and Theon here when Jon also gets a wedding invite at the Wall and learns that his little sister Arya Stark is alive and to be married to Ramsay Bolton. A lot of soul searching and angst happens before he decides he can’t help.

Davos IV: Manderly reveals all and the North Remembers. Manderly and Robett Glover proclaim Ramsay evil by birth and blood and tell Davos they need Ned’s son, Rickon, to prevent the Boltons from claiming Winterfell through Ned’s daughter Arya. They promise to support Stannis if Davos gets them Rickon Stark and Shaggydog.

Melisandre I: The red priestess convinces the Lord Commander to send Mance and the spearwives to rescue Arya based on her visions of Arya fleeing her marriage and heading to the Wall.

Reek III (Theon III): The Boltons get news that Stannis has left the Wall, won Deepwood and is marching on them. They strategize and decide to wait at Winterfell because Roose is confident that the Northmen with Stannis will reach Winterfell come what may to save Arya Stark.

Jon VII: Jon prays for Arya and gets a letter from Stannis with a recap of all that’s happened, promising to do his best to save Arya and find a better match for her (Presumably after killing Ramsay). Jon makes plans to send Arya to Braavos

The Prince of Winterfell (Theon IV): The Wedding of ‘Arya Stark’, given in marriage by Theon Greyjoy to Ramsay Bolton. There’s a feast, lots of interesting dynamics and political games played between various houses. Roose is vary of Manderly and Abel the Bard is there with his ‘Die Hard’ mission to get a Stark maiden secretly out of Winterfell.

Jon VIII: Jon and Val discuss Mel’s visions in her fires. Jon hopes that her visions of Arya are true and that Arya gets to the Wall safely.

The Turncloak (Theon V): Lady Barbrey and Theon Turncloak discuss the intricacies of the alliances between the different houses and the impact of Lady Arya’s tears in galvanizing the North to unite against the Boltons.

The King’s Prize (Asha II): Asha is introduced to the bad-ass mountain clans marching with Stannis Baratheon, who make it clear that they are going to save Lady Arya Stark come what may, no matter that Winter has clearly come to the North. The Boltons were right about them.

Jon IX: Jon’s hopes are dashed when Mel’s visions of a girl in grey fleeing a marriage on a dying horse turns out to be Alys Karstark and not Arya Stark.

A Ghost in Winterfell (Theon VI): Stannis reaches Winterfell! Theon ponders on the uncertain loyalties of the lords who are only there at Winterfell because of Arya Stark. Mance’s Spearwives approach Theon.

Jon X: Jon compares Alys’ bravery to Arya and gives her in marriage to Sigorn, Magnar of Thenns, in a wedding that is clearly meant to contrast the darkness of ‘Arya’s marriage to Ramsay in Winterfell.  Melisandre warns Jon of ‘daggers in the dark’, a warning that Jon refutes because she was wrong about Alys being Arya.

Theon VII: The escape. The Spearwives approach Jeyne and tell her that they are taking her to her half-brother at the Wall, Lord Crow. Even as the Spearwives are trapped and possibly caught, Jeyne Poole and Theon Greyjoy jump the walls to freedom.

Jon XI: Jon walks the Wall, worried and concerned for Arya. He misses her and hopes that Mance succeeds in his mission and gets her home to him.

The Sacrifice (Asha III): While the king’s men and queen’s men complain about the march to Winterfell, the loss of life and lack of food and doubt if they can make it, the Northern army and mountain clans are adamant about taking Winterfell and saving Arya. Asha is then finally united with Theon (and Jeyne).

Jon XIII: The Pink Letter. Ramsay demands his bride back, along with Reek and Stannis’ family. Jon decides to go attack the Warden of the North with an army of Wildlings. This leads to mutiny, assassination and his death.

------------

And this is why GRRM considered Jeyne Poole essential to the story he was telling in the books. Without it, everything changes and story is now different on the TV show compared to the books or two different canons as GRRM puts it.

It’s incredible how Arya Stark is not even in Westeros and yet the entire plot in the North location in ADwD pivots around her marriage to Ramsay Bolton, in terms of House Stark politics in the North.

[wulfmaed]

re: calling sansa “lady stark”. this is something that’s come up in a few threads and my brain has finally decided to delve it a bit. to her, lady stark is her mother — has always been her mother, and in truth, she’d prefer the title to remain that way. she loathes the idea of being called it given how it dredges up the fact that her mother, and in turn her father, her brothers, and arya, are no longer with her. it’s akin to reopening a wound that refuses to heal properly. festering, but manageable, though she never hesitates to correct nearly everyone to call her something else entirely. additionally, sansa doesn’t fully wish to claim anything in terms of stark name and lineage — robb named jon his heir (another wound that aches old and hot), so it isn’t as if she feels she rightly has claim to it; and with the guilt feels surrounding the deaths of her family? being the stark in winterfell is daunting and terrifying and not something she necessarily longs to undertake. it is, however, the right thing to do given the alternative leadership options (bolton rule, lannister rule, frey rule), and given that sansa is her father’s daughter through and through . . . it is something she will do out of duty to the people.

consecutively, things you should never call sansa: lady lannister. self explanatory? she’d like to think so.

[the-fiction-witch]

Duty

Media - Game Of Thrones Character - jojen Reed Couple - Jojen X Reader Reader - Y/n Stark (Red hair fitting book descriptions) Rating - Sad / Dramatic + Smut Word Count - 3185

I remember feeling as though I had been frozen solid, every inch of me shivering uncontrollably. I was wearing the most exquisite gown, made of a luxurious grey fabric that was woven with delicate threads of silver. The gown's cloak was a masterpiece, embroidered with bright red leaves that represented the heart tree and the old gods of Winterfell, in honour of my father and the Starks. The branches of blue, symbolizing the rivers and streams of Riverrun, were a tribute to my mother and the Tullys. The cloak gracefully fell into the midst of the northern snowstorm.

The intricate braids and knots weaved throughout my red hair were adorned with tiny iron beads. Additionally, a stunning crown of blue winter roses sat delicately atop my head. As the snowflakes began to fall and float around me as if the world had stopped just for me.

I stood there, my hands began to tremble. It was a moment that I knew I would never forget. My father took my hand in his my skin felt the chill of his leather glove and the fur of his cloak, I didn't turn to look at him afraid if I did my face would simply give me away.

I didn't want this, not in the slightest. But I understood my duty to my family. So I did as my parents asked even if it broke me. My father began to lead me through the snowy godswood for a moment my feet refused to move, my father sighed a moment before his hand graced my cheek forcing me to see his war-torn face, my Y/e/C eyes stared up at him and suddenly I felt like a little girl asking to go up on his shoulders one last time. His eyes were weary and tired and suddenly I felt so spoilt, so childish. I tipped my head to bow to my lord father and a smile cracked across one side of his mouth, he pressed one final kiss to my forehead.

He then squeezed my hand and led me through the godswood.

My eyes were transfixed on the horizon as the sun began to set. The sky was a canvas of colors, with hues of orange and purple that blended seamlessly together, creating a breathtaking sight. The clouds appeared as if they were lit on fire by dragons, with the colours of the sky reflecting upon them and casting a warm glow. The snow clouds seemed to be dancing in the wind as if they were alive and celebrating. The ground was covered in weeks' worth of snow the ground below was frozen as hard as stone. The godswood filled with those I had known all my life in Winterfell, the path I walked with my father lined by staff and lords I had almost known like family all of them in their dark clothes and furs to keep out the cold each of them held a torch to fight away the night. I walked without a word, without a thought knowing if I started thinking about anything I would begin to cry.

My eyes caught the visiting royals the king and his family, they all seemed to look uninterested in the proceedings the younger children bored and shivering in the cold. The king however looked at me with a distance to his eyes but a smile on his lips, I had always thought of him as an uncle so I dipped my knees as I passed them and he nodded his head to me.

As we walked on I was met by my family and I tried not to cry, to do my best to save face for them, My eyes first met my bastard brother Jon who gave me a faint smile, trying to cheer me up. Then my older brother Rob who looked angry almost avoiding my eyes, was against all of this though I was still a child and far too young for all of this. My sister Sansa looked at me with sisterly joy but also a side eye, jealous of my dress and of my wedding in the godswoods as she would be married in the sept in Kings landing in a few years. My sister Arya looked up at me almost confused, seemingly angry but I knew why she didn't want this fate for me or herself even if I'm sure one day she may learn to accept the duty of a lady as I did. My brother Bran looked at me with a tremble to him he was old enough to understand these things to an extent and he knew there was nothing either of us could do to prevent it. And little Rickon stood crying into my mother's skirt, he was not old enough to understand all he knew was that I would be leaving and there was a good chance… he might never see me again, or if he did it would be years between visits.

As I passed him I tussled his hair trying to cheer him up even if I felt like crying myself.

Before I could take my hand away my mother took it in hers, and our eyes met. And for a moment there were a thousand words between us, we had so rarely seen eye to eye on anything in this life but for a moment it was as if we had always agreed. She squeezed my hand and pressed a small kiss to it, she curtsied to me slightly before she let me go. I did so back and continued the walk the tree now all of my view with its snow-white branches, blood-red leaves, and the face with eyes that seemed to watch my every move.

Beside the tree stood my betrothal, the boy I had known I was to marry since the moment I was born, neither of us had a choice, an opinion or an option in this matter. It had been decided far above our heads, but it is our duty whether we like it or not.

My father squeezed my hand and handed it over to this boy, I froze up feeling the warmth of his skin, and for the first time, I looked at him.

He was taller than me, with a short mess of blonde and brown hair, he had a youthful face and brown eyes, he wore clothes of marshy green and black a cloak of fabric leaves and moss as if a creature of the mud that had crawled out moments before our wedding.

Without another word our wedding began, I felt like crying but I had no choice, our hands were bound and the words were spoken.

"I- I take this woman," he nodded his voice sounded sweet,

"I take this man," I forced the words from my lips,

We knelt in the cold snow and I bowed my head low trying to hide my shivering tears, moments later we rise we met eyes again and he seemed somewhat remorseful, he pulled my cloak from me and left me for a few moments to shiver before it was replaced with another, the marriage cloak woven with the signs of both our families a true fabric of our union. A link in the tree branches between the Starks and Reeds.

Applause erupted from the godswood. But I Had never felt so alone. I felt as if everything I knew had been taken from me, all the history of my family now seemed like memories, knowing I was not a Stark. Not anymore. I was Wife to a Reed, I would be Lady of Greywater and the marshes, my children Reed's blood of moss and mud.

But I pushed such thoughts away and just did my duty, he looked at me nervously and fearfully as unsure about the future as I was, but I think his concerns were of a closer future as his hands trembled and shivered, his lips opened and his voice made a sound of confusion and concern before he finally moved his hands first went to my waist and he tried to lift me over his shoulder however that wasn't going to happened he was not strong enough to even get me off the floor, the second try he attempted to grab me from under my thighs wrapping both his arms there and trying to lift me up which did work but he soon dropped me again before we even took a step his hands, unfortunately, snapping away given as I fell his hands went from under my thighs to my ass

"sorry." He quickly said,

I could hear people snickering and holding back their laughter,

"Just lift her boy!" The king yelled, causing many to break their laughs,

I sighed and took his hands helping him putting one hand on my waist and the other under my knees, he nodded and quickly lifted me into his arms, he let out a breath as he held me his arms already trembling as everyone began to applaud and celebrate.

Jojen quickly walked through the snow, rushing as he was struggling to hold me in his arms. And the moment we got inside he dropped me down again.

The feast went off nicely people often came to give us sweet words and gifts I did most of the thanking and such and Jojen merely sat without much of a word. Often I watched our fathers, both our fathers and the king sat at a table sharing ale and wine talking of their days as boys together like brothers and how they thought side by side in the rebellion. It occurred to me that, the rebellion sparked many things in this world, how much of the course of events was forever changed by it. Without it, Robert wouldn't be king, without it families and alliances would be different, and without it, Jojen may never have married. Our union was placed on the table after their war, the idea to join the families together so they may be as true brothers. At first, it was planned for the king to marry my aunt but such things were not to be.

The deal now stood that Howland Reed's son Jojen and I a daughter of Ned Stark would be married, in a few years once both were of age My sister Sansa would marry King Roberts's son Joffery. And the plan was that our children would in some way be joined depending on how the genetics fall and the world at the time.

As the night grew later my concerns only grew more intense. I knew what tonight would bring and I was getting scared.

"It is time, for the newlyweds to head their way to bed." The king laughed very drunk as he raised his glass, the hall erupted with cheers as all knew what was to come next. "Now for the final question, shall the newlyweds walk to their bed or shall they be carried?!" he laughed and more cheers erupted, I looked to my father and I pleaded with him but he knew there was little he could do if the king demanded it, I looked to my mother to plead but she was busy with my younger siblings who all wanted to get to bed, so in my desperation, I looked to Jojen. To my new husband. And I pleaded with him.

"Jojen, please."

He met my eyes and he nodded, he stood up and adjusted his clothes, "I- I thank you my king for your aim to savour in tradition… However I- I would like to… engage in such joys myself."

"Good boy!" Howland cheered,

Many were disappointed but I was thrilled, jojen offered his hand so I took it and we said goodnight before we sheepishly left the hall.

I sat on my bed trembling nervously, I wore my nightie as I sat on the bed waiting knowing what was to happen, Jojen changed and came over in only a pair of dark green leather pants laced up tightly.

"Ughhhh hi…" he spoke up,

"Hello," I tried to smile,

"So… we need to uhhh…"

"Yes, it is our wedding night. I will do my duty to you Jojen."

He nodded, "Our duty," he sighed and ran a hand through his hair, "Let's just get this over with."

I nodded and did my best not to cry, he leaned over me his hands on the bed as I laid down on my back, he loomed over me for a moment our eyes unable to move from one another. We both trembled and shivered. His hands move to the hem of my nightie sliding his hands across my skin as he pushes it up until it reaches my mid-thigh and he stops and gets off the bed pacing around the chamber.

"what is it?"

"I- Forgive me my lady but I-"

"Jojen," I began taking his hand and softly pulling him to sit beside me on the bed, "I am your bride, please… what is wrong?"

"I- I feel like I can't do this."

"Why not?"

"I know, I must do my duty to you. To be your husband and be an honour to our families I- I simply feel as if I am incapable of doing so."

"I see." I nodded, "Is it… me?"

"No! No no no!" He said squeezing my hand, "It is not you, Y/n, it's me it's anxiously me. You are very sweet, and you've been very kind, and you are very, beautiful it is not that I feel incapable of doing my duty to you… because of you."

"Then, is it… your preference?"

"my preference?"

"Well… when at a feast, there are those who most enjoy roast duck, and there are others who most enjoy roast pig. I enjoy roast pig, but most men greatly enjoy roast duck… but do you perhaps prefer roast pig? as I do?" I asked delicately,

"I… I do not have a preference" he said, "I think it's simply that I… have not tried anything at the feast."

"Ohh I see," I nodded, "I must be honest, neither have I. I have not tried anything at the feast however I know my preference is for roast pig even without trying the duck."

he nodded, "I uhh I do admit the duck seems most preferred to me too even without trying it,"

"Is it then… that you, simply are not hungry? to have never sampled anything of the feast?"

"No. No, I uhhh I am… very much… Hungry." He nodded,

"As am I." I nodded, "Then what is it?"

"It is simply never having… tried anything." he explained, "My father insisted given my betrothal to you that… such things could not be tried. So… this is my…"

"I understand," I nodded, "You do… know how the act is done?"

"I… I know. just… a bit nervous to us do so."

"I admit, I am nervous too Jojen."

"I uhhh… I don't want to hurt you."

"You must do your duty," I nodded, "as I must do mine."

He nodded and helped me to lay back down, he leaned over me and I could see how scared he was, but I imagined I didn't look much better.

"Please Forgive me, Y/n…" he whispered,

I nodded and he very quickly pushed my nightie up to my waist, his hands trembled as he unlaced his trousers, I didn't look I just stared at the stone ceiling and opened my legs, he took himself in his hand and tried for a good minute or two to make himself hard but it wasn't really working, causing him to grunt a little in frustration.

"Here. I'll help." I sat up a little and replaced his hand, immediately I panicked… ohh no. That's uhh bigger than I expected. But I did my best to smile and stroke him gently with my hand which seemed to get him hard enough,

"Thank you, Y/n,"

"You're welcome," I blushed laying back down,

he moved closer before he began to guide himself in, I did my best not to say anything given how much it hurt, he had to stop halfway to pull out and spit on himself for some kind of lubrication which when he went back in made it hurt much less, he began to move without a word and I did my best not to think about it much at first, it was strange and painful and awkward I knew I was bleeding as he took my maidenhead, in my mind I merely kept thinking that this was my duty. It's all it was just duty as his bride. That this will be my life until I push out an heir.

Slowly I became content with this as the pain slowly faded as I got more used to it,

"I- I'm not sure how much longer Y/n -"

"It's okay," I nodded,

"Are you sure? You don't seem… happy… or comfortable… I'll stop if you-"

"No, no we… must do our duty,"

"We must…" He nodded, "But… I do not want to be cruel Y/n."

He gently helped me to wrap my legs around his waist letting us move at a slightly new angle and I admit it felt a little better, he moved a hand down to rub on my clit softly with made my eyes wide and I gasped,

"Oh…"

"That okay?"

"Yes…" I nodded, "How uhh how do you-"

"I uhhh… I listen to a lot of the lords in the neck talk about stuff like this."

"Good you listened then," I chuckled,

He did too and got a little faster the bed creaking under us I struggled not to make any noise as it became somewhat enjoyable and pleasurable until he suddenly bit my neck and his hips stopped I felt the strange sensation of his seed filling me for a few seconds before he pulled back from my neck gasping hard, "Uhhh I uhh sorry I-"

"It's okay," I nodded,

He nodded and pulled out laying down beside me, for a moment we lay in silence until he spoke. "our duty is done for tonight,"

"It is." I nodded, "For tonight, I shall continue to do my duty until I can provide you an heir."

"…thank you, Y/n, I know this… isn't what either of us really wanted but, I swear I will do my best to be a good husband to you,"

"Thank you Jojen, I will do the same in turn."

"I admit… I am excited to have a child with you,"

I blushed a little, "I admit, I think it will be sweet,"

"Do you think… you could ever learn to love me?"

"I am sure I could," I nodded stroking his cheek and connecting our lips, his eyes went wide a moment before he melted into the kiss and began to kiss me back, we kissed sweetly and softly for a good while until he wrapped his arms around my waist and pushed himself closer, his hand slipped down to tap on my hip, I nodded and he moved back to being ontop of me he squeezed my thighs as he wrapped them around his waist once more…