章 2: Chapter 2

The feast was a grand affair. The entire North was inside of Winterfell; all the lords from the Neck to the Wall were drinking to the new Lady of Winterfell. She was kissed, introduced to Lords and Ladies for the best part of the evening. Much to soon one of her husband's bannermen shouted. "Time for the bedding ceremony." The men were gentle with her a few tried to grope her but Benjen Stark, her new brother in law tried to defend her honor. He was but a lad of three and ten years. She met him yesterday after he returned from the Wall. He was training there and only travelled to Winterfell for his older brother's wedding.

The women were not as gentle with Eddard his clothes were torn by the time they were in the bedchamber. "My lady."

"My lord." She replied trying to be as demure as possible. She was no maiden and would have to pretend as if she didn't know the ways of the flesh. She tried to blush when he approached her and lowered he gown. "I apologize for what's about to happen."

He led her to the bed and unburdened her from her gown. He was as gentle as could be, maybe a little too gentle. He touched the sensitive skin of her belly and lowered his hands to her core. Cersei gasped when he introduced a finger inside of her, his fingers were longer than Jaime's. Her lord husband whispered close to her ears. "Forgive me my lady. It will only be painful the first time." Cersei almost rolled her eyes but merely nodded shakily, keeping her mummer show. Her lord husband removed his small clothes; he was bigger than Jaime, thicker too. She felt a little dishonest by the comparison.

He entered her body and Cersei cried a little, it burned she didn't have to fake the tears that rolled out of her eyes. Eddard Stark did not fully prepared her for this, it would have been different if he made her come first but her husband hadn't.

"Please don't hurt me." She closed her eyes and smiled inside when her lord husband moaned and stilled inside of her. He used his fingers to touch the little nub that gave her pleasure. She wondered where this northerner had learned to touch women. He was skilled she would give him that. In less than a few minutes he had her writhing under him. He pushed and pulled inside of her until she felt that tell tale sign of pleasure. Eddard spilled inside of her; he rolled to his side. They didn't speak at all. She feigned sleep. He sighed, "Forgive me." Eddard stood up from the bed. He left her alone.

Her husband never stayed at the castle not for more than a few hours. He woke up at dawn and left for the woods or was busy ruling over his lands. Her father left the North the day after the wedding and reminded her of her duties. Cersei woke up very morning and discovered something new about her new home. Eddard was in the process of building a new Sept for her, she didn't care too much for the Gods but her lord husband was adamant. They didn't know each other; she wrote letters to Jaime, they corresponded in their secret language. They wrote about how much they missed each other. He wrote her about the gossip in King's Landing. The queen was with child. Lysa Arryn had a lover; it kept Cersei entertained. She wrote to Casterly Rock too, Aunt Genna informed her that Tyrion was at King's Landing visiting Jaime. Lord Tywin was at King's Landing too, visiting the King.

By her third month of marriage she knew she was pregnant. She wasn't exactly thrilled with the news but she wasn't indifferent about it either. She had assumed she would have children eventually. She hoped it was a boy, if she had one and then a spare father would be proud of her.

She consulted with maester Luwin who confirmed her suspicions. She was pregnant, probably conceived within the first week of marriage. She didn't know her husband, couldn't tell what his favorite food was or if he liked cyvasse or had a pet when he was child but he never failed to do his duty. He visited her chambers every night. Their couplings were satisfactory; she had no complaints. She just didn't care for her husband.

That night when he came to her bedchamber she was ready for him. He undressed her and as always fingered her. "My lord, I have something to tell you." She said trying to sound as timid as possible. Men liked timid women and Lord Stark seemed the type to like simpering, submissive women.

"I am with child." She smiled and was surprised when he kissed her a little too harshly.

She was shocked and didn't return his kiss. "Forgive me my lady. I am overcome with happiness by the news."

He didn't touch her that night but kissed her again and left her quarters. Cersei didn't mind at all. She was glad to be on her own.

Her pregnancy wasn't difficult at all but she did feel tired, she ate as much as she liked. According to Old Nan she could because she carried a boy and boys needed their strength. Father sent her congratulations while Jaime didn't write her not even when she invited him to Winterfell. She didn't let the news dampen her mood. Eddard tried to converse with her now, her belly bloomed and the baby moved. Eddard smiled whenever he saw her belly move. The baby kicked hard most of the times, by the sixth month Cersei decided that the baby would be called Joffrey.

Eddard had to go to Dorne. He received a letter from one of his old friends from battle. His face was white as a ghost when he left. He told her nothing; she was too busy preparing a nursery for Joff. He came back a two months later with a new born.

Cersei waddled down to her lord husband. "Why do you have a baby on your arms Eddard?"

"My lady, please forgive me. He's mine own son." His eyes were contrite but his stance was firm. She did not she would like this conversation at all.

"You have a bastard." Cersei didn't like this at all, not because she was jealous but because of the threat that the boy posed for her son.

Eddard tried to speak but Cersei wouldn't let him get a word in. "You broke your oath Lord Stark. You have a bastard, why is he in our home?"

"He will live in the castle, his mother is dead; she died in the birthing room. He has no mother." The babe started to cry. Cersei looked away. "Myra, get that thing, find him a wet nurse."

Cersei's fury was like wildfire, it spread quickly and before she was aware of it. "How dare you bring one of your bastards to our home? Have you no sense of propriety?"

Her husband looked at her coldly with a glint in his eyes. "I beg your forgiveness Cersei but he's mine own and I will not have him away from me without a mother."

He always called her my lady or Lady Stark never Cersei, "I do not care that he doesn't have a mother. I do not want him here. He is not a Stark. My son is a Stark, your true heir." She yelled angrily and lost her composure.

"Jon is my blood and he will remain here." The cold grey eyes left no doubt about his intent. Cersei reeled in anger. Eddard didn't refuse her anything, but it was obvious that he wouldn't surrender on the matter of Jon Snow. He would remain Snow. That little monster wouldn't take anything away from her Joffrey.