In The Godswood
On the night of Winter Solstice, the longest night, Jon stood in the Godswood. Tormund stood beside him. The path from the castle to the Godswood was lit with flickering candles. Snow was just beginning to fall in large flakes that hung in the air and glimmered in the candlelight. Jon paced in front of the tree. What if she changed her mind? What if she saw the madness in this or….
Then she was there. At the entrance to the Godswood in a grey dress embroidered with a red wolf on the bodice surrounded by white snowflakes. There was Sansa, escorted by Ser Davos. From behind the tree, someone thrust a new white fox cloak into his hands. He heard a young but forceful voice.
“Did you forget the words? You forgot the cloak!”
“Who comes? Who comes before the gods? “Jon asked.
Ser Davos began. “Lady Sansa of House Stark, Princess of Winterfell, Wardeness of the North, The Red Wolf, comes here to be wed. She is a woman grown and flowered, trueborn and noble, she comes to beg the blessings of the gods. Who comes to claim her?”
“I, Jon Snow of House Stark, Bastard of Winterfell, King in the North, Lord of Winterfell, Warden of the North, The White Wolf. I claim her. Who gives her?”
I, Sansa of House Stark, a woman grown, do give myself freely to this man, Jon Snow of House Stark.
Jon stepped forward. In accordance with the ancient ritual they chose to follow, he placed the white fox cloak over her shoulders, his hands trembling. Sansa took his hands in hers. She met his gaze and they stepped forward to the heart tree and knelt in front it. This was when they were supposed to pray, but instead Sansa spoke aloud.
“What I desire is your desire. Love, each for the other is a rare thing in this world. Let me lay my hand on your heart to know its beating. Let me hold your soul.”
“You hold my soul in your hands, given freely. Let my arms encircle you steady and strong. Let me keep you in safety, every day of your life. Know that winter is here, and we stand in this sacred place to bind ourselves to each other. I am yours. I can belong to no other. You are mine, if you will have me.” Jon replied sensing they were making their own ceremony.
“I will have only you and keep faith with you alone. I am yours, with all my sorrows and scars, if you will have me. You are mine, you are my home, my comfort and my love beyond the bounds of reason.
“Know that I would tear the kingdoms of this world apart for you. I would pull the stars from the sky and I would bend the course of time, just to kiss you.”
“Will you please kiss your queen, Your Grace!” giggled Lady Mormont from behind the tree. “I’m freezing!”
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