EVERGREEN

The wind was gently whistling, making thousands of flowers dancing, the grass accompanying them. The red leaves of the heart trees seemed to hum softly an appeasing song, in an old, forgotten language. Amidst the flowers, to the ground, was laying a young woman, her honey, long, curly hair free sprawled around her head like a halo, her eyes closed, a smile gently tugging the corners of her lips.

Evergreen truly enjoyed the Reach, and Highgarden. It was certainly colder than Lys, and she couldn't swim as often as she would have liked, but there was an incredible amount of flowers there, and she always had been fond of flowers, since her childhood. It was also quieter, at least in this portion of the castle, than the always fuzzing city, where Valyrian and Common Tongue were close to Ghiscari, Dornish and summer Islands. Moreover, there were a lot more vegetation in there, and Ever slowly learnt to appreciate it (and to discover for the first time of her life the Godswood) and she found its contact relaxing.

However he father, lord Victor Tyrell, didn't like this as much as she did. Neither did lady Jenny, her stepmother. They would always say it wasn't ladylike to lie amidst the grass and the flowers, although she was a descendant of Garth Greenhands. Ever had also heard several times lady Jenny say that she went to the Godswood to perform an obscure Lyseni ritual. Fortunately, she didn't have to tell her to shut her mouth up, her father having yelled at her because he couldn't permit her to insult his daughter.

The quiet of the moment was disturbed by the sound of footsteps, and she propped herself on her elbows. It was probably Eave, her younger half-brother. He always tried to be quieter, but he lacked some discretion. Eave was around three-and-ten (she was eight and ten, almost nine-and-ten), had the same curly hair as her, except it was darker. Whereas she had green eyes, his were light brown. He had an easy and beautiful smile and he got along well with Evergreen. Except this time he wasn't smiling and looked rather concerned.

"Did you have a good time in the tourney?" she asked, afraid something wrong happened.

Her father and two brothers had gone to the tourney, and she had stayed there because her father asked her too, since he needed a reliable person to rule efficiently the castle and the each during his absence. Of course, she wasn't alone, and she would often have to negotiate with the castellan, but the arguments always turned in her favor.

"Yes…No. I don't know, and that's not the question anyway. Father wants to have a talk with you. He asked you to meet him in his solar."

"And you just arrived a few moments ago… It must be something urgent. A problem with the other kingdoms? Or with the rents, maybe?" she asked, raising and smoothing down her dress, putting away the strands of grass, the heart trees' leaves, the flowers and the dust.

Since she spent her whole childhood in Lys, born in a wealthy family of merchants, she understood quite well business and had a talent for negotiation. When she settled in Highgarden, she didn't lose it, and her father would often require her advice after she had said him what she thought about a quite critical situation with the traders that stopped at Oldtown. That was why she still wasn't wed, and why her father insisted that she taught what she knew to her brothers. Evergreen often regret she wasn't half Dornish, for she would have had inherited Highgarden after her father's death, being the elder, and she didn't doubt that the Reach would know then a period of prestige and prosperity.

"Yes, but that's not the question."

"And why did he summon me, then?"

"I can't say."

Having spending a lot of time on the run, she knew when people were lying. Eave was definitely lying, or at least, he said partially the truth.

"Yet you know something," she said.

Eave sighed, and his hazel eyes met her green ones.

"Father forbade me to say you anything. I'm sorry."

Ever didn't like it. Usually, her father always made sure to give an explanation when he called for her, to be sure she would come. She was tempted to refuse and stay there, but the fact that she had to see him so shortly after their arrival had awaken her curiosity, so she decided to follow her brother without asking more questions.

"Did Leo do bad?"

Leo was four years older than Eave, and he was the most wanted groom in Westeros, despite his age. He had everything: the good looks, the gallantry, the fine qualities of a knight, the culture, since he knew how to sing and play the lute (and it always had an effect when he declaimed the Lyseni love poems in Valyrian to young ladies).

"No, actually, he didn't. He was the third at the joust; he had been defeated by ser Natsu Marbrand. Did you know that ser Dondarrion and a Northern knight, ser Umber, made a draw during the individual fight?"

Even though Ever had smirked as she learnt about Luxus defeating her half-brother, whose haughtiness was really annoying, she gaped as she heard that someone was able to be the equal of Luxus. Being naturally tall and muscular in an unusual way, it meant that the knight that almost lost to him was at least as tall and as wide as her friend was.

"I thought there were no draws in a tourney," she said, furrowing her brows.

She had seldom seen many tourneys, so she knew the rules, but she had never attended a King's tourney. Maybe the rules were different in this case.

"Yes, that's true, but the fight went on for an hour or something like that, and the crowd loved them both, so the King stopped them before one died. Nonetheless, they were seriously wounded, especially ser Umber. Even Luxus was impressed by the Umber's resistance and determination."

They exited the forest and were now making their way in the castle, going up the marble stairs. Eave left her to have a bath, because lady Jenny would be absolutely be mad at him and his father for letting him wander around stinking and dirty when there was so many highborn lords and ladies in the castle. She slowly opened the door to her father's solar and closed it soundlessly.

Victor Tyrell, bent over a table, studying with attention the papers on his desk, had his back to her, and had noticed nothing at all.

"Father, » she eventually greeted him.

He almost jumped, turned around and smiled:

« Evergreen. You look marvelous today. »

Would you say the same if I told you I had just been in the Godswood, simply lying on the floor? she wondered, slightly smirking.

« Did you travel fine? »

Obviously he hadn't been. He had dark circles around his eyes, his wrinkles were more apparent, as the strands of grey in his curly brown hair and he wore some small, fresh scars that he hadn't as he left Highgarden. Moreover, he hadn't even stripped himself from his traveling clothes, which were still muddy and stained with blood, showing he hadn't seen Lady Jenny since his arrival. The matter was very urgent, indeed.

He sighed and ran a hand over his weary face.

« It was a disaster. That's why I called for you. »

« I don't see the point between a travel and me. »

« Sit down, Evergreen. Please, and stay calm. »

Her father had never asked her to stay calm in a political or business matter. He said it only when she was involved in person in the matter. She immediately understood what it meant.

« Who am I supposed to marry? » she asked with a voice cold enough to freeze Dorne.

"You assume too quick, dear daughter. I wish sometimes you were just a little less clever."

"Did you call for me to talk about my wedding, yes or no?"

"Yes, I did."

Evergreen huffed and rolled her eyes, crossing her arms in front of her chest. The conversation just began and it was already boring.

It wasn't the first time she had been told about her wedding. Many said she was one of the most beautiful women in Westeros, her beauty able to compete with the Targaryen's (she had Valyrian ancestors, too!), and she had countless suitors. Some were high lords, others were just knights, and she always declined, and so did her father, wanting her to make the best alliance possible and to spare her as much unpleasantness as he could. All the better, since some of said suitors were just bloody, greedy idiots, who wanted to marry her just to have a claim on Highgarden or the fertile lands surrounding the castle, and who probably would have never let her help them rule better their castle.

So he did finally found a suitable suitor? I wonder who it is. I am quite sure that's not Luxus, he is certainly worthy of me, but father never liked him.

"What did Eave already told you about the tourney?"

"That Leo was third, and Luxus and a ser Umber made a draw in the individual fight."

"Did he say anything else?"

"No, he wouldn't."

Victor Tyrell sighed, took a deep breath before resuming talking.

"Sorry, Evergreen. I know that what I'll say isn't pleasant to hear, for me as for you, but I…I have no other choice."

She gave him a cold stare. Usually, it would be considered as a proof of insolence, but her father had other things running in his mind than.

"Weren't you the one that told me once "We always have a choice?"?"

"Evergreen." Victor Tyrell warned, sounded suddenly tired. "Let me speak please."

She huffed and looked away, the conversation already annoying her.

"The late lord Umber came to talk to me the evening before the fight between Luxus and his son. He told me about the night's Watch, if I wanted to send men there. He told me about the difficulties they were facing, and how the Brothers were doing a hard work. We were walking in the ruins of Harrenhal, a mile away from the place where the tents and the arena stood. We heard a "whizz!" and a "tchak!", and lord Umber shouted in pain. Some outlaw had just shot him in the leg with an arrow. We were soon surrounded by a dozen men, wielding weapons, whereas all we had in our hands were our daggers. Clearly it wasn't enough against them. We tried to fought, took three down, but the other became only angrier, since we didn't give them our money, or we had left our purse in our tents. He grabbed a stone and crushed the skull of a man with it; I have taken hold of a big wood stick and slammed it against the neck of another. A third man tried to kill me at this moment, but lord Umber interfered. He shouldn't have."

"He died," understood Evergreen.

"Yes, they impaled him on a sword. I swear I saw it before with my very eyes: the blade entered there, above his navel, and exited on his back. That didn't stop him to fight, though. He managed to send another man bite the dust before collapsing to the ground. That was when his son, came, holding his sword. As he saw his father dying, he became mad and took down the remaining man within a blink of the eyes. Then we approached lord Umber's body. There was blood everywhere. Ser Elfman tried to push on the wound to stop the bleeding, but it was too late. We both knew that he'd die. Before he asked me "Would you send some men to the Wall?" I replied I would, and that managed to bring a smile on his lips.

"Then he said to me: "Could do me another favor?" I couldn't refuse, since I wouldn't be alive if it wasn't for him. He told me: "Could watch over him and make sure he'll marry? My son needs a wife. He's the only heir to Last hearth and since he will be soon its Lord, he needs a suitable wife, a strong wife that could support him and survive the long winter, an intelligent wife to help him run efficiently the castle. I am afraid my son has little competences in this. You do have a daughter I believe." "Yes." "I was told that you sometimes required her advice and it had been useful more than once." "It's true, my lord." "Is she married?" "Not yet." "Then could you… could you…" He was coughing and he was spitting blood. He looked at me and I couldn't say no. "Even though she's half Lyseni?" "All the better. Women of the Free Cities are used to the trade, negotiation and running houses or corporations." "When?" "As soon as possible, please. You promise?" All I could do was to agree, so I swore it by the Old Gods and the New and go away as he said his last words to his son."

She was shocked by what her father told her. It almost seemed too unusual to be true. She blinked a few times, while rage was slowly spreading in her veins. She said, her voice, her voice shaky due to her anger:

"I am getting married only because of an arrivist Northern lord who wanted so?"

"He wasn't arrivist! All he wanted to do was to protect his people and have grandchildren! I do too! Besides, it was his last words. One can't ignore the last will of a person."

"I don't want to marry him! I will never do such a thing!"

"Too late! The wedding is already planned!"

"You have no right to make me wed him!"

"Of course I have! I am the lord, and thus have all the right on my castle and its inhabitants! It's not an outlander who will tell me how to do!"

"The outlander is your daughter, and without her, the reach and Highgarden would be certainly facing hard times now!" she retorted.

« You should count yourself lucky a man even wants to wed you!" he shouted back, acting as if he didn't listen to her. "Are you only aware of the bloody reputation you have across the Seven Kingdoms? You're my natural daughter, it's true, and one of the greatest families of Westeros, but it doesn't keep them from whispering things about you, and your companions. That the shadowbinder of Asshai made you a witch, and you have the power to kill men at a thousand leagues from you. That the Tyroshi sellsword is a spy for its city, or for a company that will take down Westeros and that you've became a turn cloak, selling information to Lys. That, because your mother was from Lys, you know very well how to please a man, and especially that Dornish. »

«That's bullshit! » she retorted vehemently. « Bixlow never taught me to become a shadowbinder! And my mother was a highborn Lyseni, not a fucking cheap whore! »

She stopped, and then continued:

« You want to know the truth? They have been with me when I needed a family the most. Where have you been when I was born? Where have you been when Mother and the family caught the blue disease? Where have you been when your ten year old daughter was running from her island, with no other companion than an apprentice Tyroshi sellsword, that I met only some days ago, and a young Asshai'i shadowbinder, who was helping the Red Priest? Where have you been when, as we arrived on the shore of Dorne, we were left on our own, having nothing but our will to survive? Fortunately, lord Dondarrion was kind enough to take us as his wards, and we became the brothers and sister of Luxus! If it wasn't for them, I would be already dead now! »

"ENOUGH!" her father shouted.

She was shocked. Her father never shouted, and never against her, even when she was behaving like an awfully spoiled rotten little girl.

"Do you think it please me to send my eldest daughter, who is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful women of all Westeros, to the far North, near the Wall? Do you think it pleases me to send a woman who has such talent for negotiation and know so much about the Free cities and the Valyrian civilization to a place it won't be needed? I am as reluctant as you about this wedding, dear daughter!"

"Then why don't you cancel it?"

"Because I gave my fucking word!"

"But you have no obligation towards them! You aren't the warden of the North! You're Lord Victor of House Tyrell, the head of one of the greatest families on Westeros! If we consider it on a political and economic aspect, our house will have nothing in return! We have far more men and gold and food supplies than they ever will, and they are far too North to enable a cooperation between our Houses."

"I am a man of honor..."

"…but you are no Tully," she cut him. "Father, we can't do this! Think what the other families will say about ours when they will learn about the wedding? We will be mocked and despised, by families whose rank is far below us! Do you want that?"

"Did you care about what the other families would think of us when you're hanging around with your two Essosi friends?"

She bit her lip. Normally, she could convince her father to do everything, especially in political and economic matters. But she wouldn't make him change his mind about this.

"Do not waste your words. I don't care about the promises you made and what you said! I will never wed the man! I'd rather drown myself in the Mander!"

Her father walked towards her, grabbed her wrist and growled:

"Of course, you will. Else I will slit the throat of your two beloved companions, the Tyroshi and the Asshai'i, because they attempted to have your maidenhead. Or maybe you don't care about them either?"

Her eyes widened in shock. Not only he had raised his voice and used a foul language when talking to her, but he was threating now her friends, her brothers, closer than her half-brothers, the one she owed her life. They followed her from Lys to Westeros, just so she could find her father, just because they couldn't let her do this quest on her own. They never asked a thing. They always seemed to enjoy themselves there, but they could be missing their cities, and it would be so unjust they wouldn't be able to return to them, because she acted like the perfect egoist she was! It was unfair they had to suffer because of her! It was unfair her father used such a threat to make her accept.

"Fine," she said. "I'll wed the man. But I have one condition. I want Luxus to be there."

"Ser Dondarrion?"

"Himself. And his grandfather too. He had raised me as if I was his own granddaughter, and it would be fair if we invited him."

"I am not sure he will make it. But I will send an invitation. You may take your leave."

She walked towards the door with long strides, boiling with rage. When she was about to open the door, her father called her:

"Evergreen?"

She huffed, and turned away, almost snapping:

"Yes father?"

"If you try whatever to get away, I'll kill your companions too. Understood?"

"Yes, father."

She exited the room definitely, slamming the door shut behind her. She felt tears of rage tickling her eyes, but she wouldn't cry about her father. He didn't deserve it. How dared he to wed her without her consent? How dared he to threaten the life of her? How dared he to use like a cow or a bag of coins to settle a debt?

Evergreen didn't want to cry so she took the closest thing near her, which happened to be a big, ancient vase a Valyrian ambassador brought to Highgarden, many, many centuries ago, and she threw it with a scream of rage. It shattered against the stone wall, and she watched the pieces falling to the floor, still raging. She couldn't stop her hysteria, she wanted to scream and shout and kick and kill. She felt like she was going to explode. She needed fresh air, now.

She quickly went down the stairs not minding the people calling her name, the people she crowded. When Ever finally arrived outside she ran to the Godswood. Nobody used it, so she would be alone. The branches hit her face; she tripped in the roots of the trees and fell several times, her dress dirtier at each fall. As she was certain nobody could hear her, she screamed, as loud as she could. And she kept on screaming until her throat ached and kicking and punching the trees until her feet and her knuckles were bleeding and pulling out the grass until her hands hurt too much to continue.

Why in the first place did I want to find my father? I should have stayed in Lys, becoming the Goddess of Love's priestess. I could have had thousands of paramours, each one more beautiful and more refined than the other. Or maybe I could have worked with the alchemists, spending my days preparing poisons and tears, or granting the indebted the other specialty… But no! I wanted to find this fucking egoist old man who pretends to be my father and now he is marrying him to some brute. He's almost marrying me for a wilding! What in the seven Hells did I do to deserve that?

She curled in the grass, knees touching her chin, tears rolling down her cheeks. She hated herself for crying, it made her feel so weak. The last time she cried was when she left Lys on the Winged Sandal, and Bixlow and Fried had done their best to comfort her, a little clumsily though, as they didn't how to act when a girl cried. Now she was still crying because she was leaving the House, but not only. Of course, she would miss Highgarden, its marble towers and columns, its singers and musicians, its pleasant gardens with melons, peaches and fire plums, its fields of golden roses, the boats that sailed on the Mander, and the appeasing Godswood. However, she felt betrayed. She loved her father, and thought he loved her too, but he didn't care about her well-being. She was almost like a bastard after all. Although her parents were married at some point, many considered Westerosi-Essosi children like bastards, and even more when you were half Lyseni, regardless how highborn your mother was. And now Bixlow and Fried weren't there to comfort her…

"Found ya!" screamed a voice, bending over her.

Evergreen almost jumped as she shrieked in surprise.

"Hey Fried, come here! I found her!"

"The Others take you, Bixlow! I thought I was going to die!"

"Sorry, I couldn't resist!" said the newcomer, pulling his tongue, the burning heart of the R'hllor's worshippers tattooed on it.

Bixlow was a tall, lean man, with mischievous green eyes. He paid no mind to religion, and was recruited by the Red priests only because of his abilities. They had found in him "an incredible amount of power" and began to teach him how to become a Shadowbinder. Of course, Bixlow didn't care about the God and all that stuff, all he wanted was to discover the world, like the other boys. When he was old enough, he pleaded the Red priests to let him go to the West, to cut down the ties between those people and their false Gods. They let him go to Lys, and as soon as he saw an opportunity to go and get rid of the obligations, he did. At first, Evergreen hadn't believed him about the Shadowbinder part, and during their long travel to the Reach, he did things that were absolutely not natural, that were still on her mind and sending shivers down her spine every time she thought about it.

As a sign of rebellion, after he met Fried and their ship stopped in Tyrosh, he bought a flask of blue dye and his hair became blazing blue. As they arrived in Westeros, he reckoned it wasn't the most discreet color of hair so he began to wear a helmet since, dressing himself with blue and green clothes.

"Hey, what's wrong?" he asked, noticing the blood on her knuckles and the stains tears left on her cheeks. "Are you alright? Are you hurt?"

He helped her up, a look of true concern on his face.

"If it's a man, all you have to do is to tell a name and I will personally take care of it", said another voice.

Fried had appeared. He was a Volantene slave who had been noticed for his talent for fight with a small knife, when he was four, so he was bought by a company of Tyroshi sellswords, who trained him and taught him how to use a sword and whose seal was tattooed on his right hand. They offered him his rapier when he was ten, age when he was officially a member of the company. He still carried it around, and Evergreen had seen more than a man ending with his heart pierced by the thin blade. When he was ten, he also had to dye his hair, and chose a bright green. Now his hair was as long as Ever's, and even though he tried to tie it so it wouldn't bother him when he would fight, the tie always slipped. He was wearing a dark red coat, light brown breeches and black boots.

"What would you do if I told you it was my father?"

Fried's blue eyes widened in shock.

"Pray, do not tell me he has…"

"No! He didn't hurt me."

"Then what?"

Evergreen breathed deeply. She felt ashamed to tell them that it was her wedding that caused her to react like that.

"I'm getting married."

"You betrayer!" shouted Bixlow, grinning. "I thought that none of us was supposed to get married, that we would always stick together! Anyway, who is the unlucky man?"

She shot him a deadly glance.

"It's not a marriage of love, you dummy. My father has arranged a marriage for me."

"Yeah, my question was relevant, wasn't it, Fried?"

Fried just nodded.

"It's Lord Elfman of House Umber, Lord of Last Hearth and neighbor to the wildlings."

"You're getting married to Lord My-balls-are-freezing 364 days a year? Ha! That can't be! Ol'Victor has to be joking."

"Well, if he is, he has the worst sense of humor on all Westeros. He said I was leaving tomorrow, because I am getting married in Riverrun, where rules his childhood friend, lord Gildarts Tully. It's half the distance between there and Last Hearth."

"Wow. He wasted no time."

"Maybe he noticed he was getting old and he just wanted to be sure he would have grandchildren when he's alive."

"There is no way I'll have children with this wildling! I won't be his brooding mare! I'll drink moon tea every day if I have to!"

"A more efficient way would be to cut his balls off, so you can be sure he will never be the father of anyone. However, I must admit it's a bloodier solution."

"Are you in love with someone, Ever?"

She raised her head to meet Fried's eyes.

"I don't love him! I told you I don't even know the man, nor his life or his deeds! I have never heard of him until today!"

"I wasn't asking you if you liked your future husband, but if you loved another man."

"Or another woman," added Bixlow.

She shot him a deadly glance.

"No, I don't."

"Well, consider yourself lucky then."

Fried had a strange meaning to luck. Perhaps it was the Tyroshi meaning.

"You don't have to be separated from the one you love."

"It's true I don't give a fuck about my so-called father and his horrible wife and their unbearable son, but I don't want be parted from Eave!"

Why in the Seven Hells did I even want to find him? Her mind shouted. To look for my origins? For the sake of just having a bigger person that can watch over you and protect you, telling you it's alright whenever you are sad, saying she loves you when you feel down? The Reach wouldn't be like this now if it wasn't for me! Every time he asked my advice, I had been precise and honest, and that's how he's thanking me!

She didn't say that thoughts out loud. Bixlow and Fried never had the chance to have their parents alive and they have been teared from their homes long ago.

"And I don't want to leave you guys", she said, her voice unsure. She fought back the tears, she wouldn't cry, not before them, not because of something so unimportant to them. She was certain they didn't see why she made such a big fuss about it. "You have been watching over me for nearly ten years, half of my life! You're like my brothers! You had always been there for me. You didn't leave behind, even when I was too slow, or too sick, when I was a complete burden, to you! You can understand me way better than myself! We had been happy, sad, angry, hungry, deceived together! I can't imagine living without you!"

"Hey, calm down," said Fried in a soothing voice when he pulled her into a hug, Bixlow joining them.

Ever buried her face in Fried's coat and didn't move.

"First, we aren't going to stay there! We will be accompanying you at least until Riverrun! Second, we won't leave you; we can pretend to be your sworn shields!"

"A lady can't have two sworn shields, unless she is the Queen," pointed Evergreen.

"But you are our Queen, lovely Ever!"

"Moreover, he will take it as a personal slight! The man is able to make a draw when fighting with Luxus!"

"Ah. It won't be so easy to negotiate then. If he saw us sticking to you, he will forbid you to see us."

"I could always use…"

"Bixlow, don't", Ever cut him, fear dripping in her veins. "The people there could sentence you to death more easily than at Lys or Tyrosh."

"Pff… You should know what you're asking for! One moment, you don't want to be married, and the next time, you don't want me kill him, whereas all it would take is a fire and some of his…"

"Bixlow! I am being serious."

"I am too."

Fried gave him a pleading look, and Bixlow sighed, mumbling they weren't fun people.

"Father said he would kill you if we tried to run away."

"Ah."

"Well, my offer is still up for him, if you…"

"BIXLOW!" shouted Fried, looking around, to make sure no one was around. They were talking in a mix of High Valyrian and Tyroshi, so nobody of the castle, except the maester and maybe her father, could understand them.

"This was one of the worst ideas you'd ever come up with", Ever commented. "If Leo becomes the lord of Highgarden and the Warden of the Reach, I expect the region to autodestruct the same year."

Fried hugged her a little tightly and said:

"Well, if you can make some humor now, it's not as terrible as it looks then!"

Ever grunted in disapprobation. A very unladylike noise.

"Don't worry, Ever. You're a strong woman. You have seen far worse. It's not a wedding that is going to make you afraid and freak out."

"She's freaking out because she is afraid she might eventually fall in love with the guy," added Bixlow, grinning widely.

"Please, do not serve me that crap of "Ooooh, don't worry, sweetheart, you'll see! You will fall in love with him and you will have tons of children in the end!"!" she said, rolling her eyes.

It took her a moment to fully understand what he had said and an angry "BIXLOW!" echoed in the forest as the blue-haired man was laughing hysterically.

The road to Riverrun was frankly long. Two whole months, and the more they went North, the less blue was the sky. It was the first time she left the Reach since her arrival, five years ago, and she discovered new landscapes. Well, now, she knew for sure that that part of Westeros didn't steal its name.

But only observing the landscape wasn't fun if she did it for a long time. Talking wasn't an option. Unfortunately, Fried and Bixlow weren't with her, they were outside, her father having agreed that they'd come with them, provided they would protect them. She was in the same cart as Lady Jenny and the Seven knew she would eventually rip her throat off if she had to stand her stepmother and her non interesting and empty babbling. Fortunately, she had brought a few books with her, about legends and fairy tales, in Common Tongue and in High Valyrian and she read them.

One evening, as he opened the door of the cart, her father saw her reading with an insufficient light, and he scolded her, saying she would lose her sight, would always narrow her eyes, which would make her look less beautiful, and she would be forced to hang around with huge pieces of polished glass to see better. He should have never said that. Since then, she'd been reading especially at nightfall, by a candle, wherever and whenever the light was feeble, hoping that she would be ugly enough during the wedding so the man would run away as he would see her.

Ever hardly found the time to discuss with Fried and Bixlow. Her father made them watch closely, afraid they would take advantage of being travelling to run away. Ever never made a move outside the road, except when she had to use the privy; she took her time and made sure to get deep in the forest, just so she could still see the carts. More than once, she caught Fried and Bixlow's amused looks and grins. Moreover, the two were often tired, given they rode all day.

Eventually they arrived in Riverrun. The castle was way smaller than Highgarden, Ever noticed with disdain. However, she had no choice but reckon it was an architectural prowess. Standing at the conjunction of the Tumblestone and the Red Fork, it had two of its gates by the water, enabling small and larger boats to enter the castle. Moreover, there was also a big water wheel. The splash of the water was a very delightful, refreshing sound and Ever thought the castle wasn't so ugly. Take advantage of the sight when there's still time… In two moons, you'll be stuck in a cave with a bunch of wildling people.

Truth be told, there was a part of Ever that wasn't reluctant to go to the North. It was a part of the Seven Kingdoms she never saw, and she was quite curious about it, and especially with the customs and the Wall. People said so many things about the Wall, and what laid beyond. Even though she doubted she would have the chance to cross it, there was still a chance for her to visit it. Nonetheless, Evergreen never thought about that and denied her interest: she was getting married against her will! She just couldn't be interested for the place she would live in!

They were greeted by lord Tully himself. Both her father and the Warden of the Trident were laughing as they were hugging each other. Lord Gildarts Tully was a man in the end of his forties, with thick, shoulder-length auburn hair, with streaks of grey. He was also growing a beard. His eyes were dark blue, and wrinkles appeared when he smiled, and he had high cheekbones. Tully was of medium height and well-built, although he was gaining some stomach.

He gaped when he met her eyes.

"Hang on a sec, Victor. She's your daughter? The one that's getting married in a few days?"

"Aye."

Lord Gildarts whistled.

"Whoa. She is stunning. So much not like you."

Ever heard Bixlow coughing, which was a mean to hide his laugh. Victor half smiled.

"Want to talk about your own daughter?"

"No one has the right to talk about my magnificent daughter. Come here, Cana! You remember lord Tyrell, do you?"

A young woman walked towards them. She had a tanned skin, long, dark brown locks, high cheekbones and dark blue eyes, like her father. She was wearing a ¾-sleeved dress made of purple satin and adorned with white lace. It showed off some cleavage. Cana looked annoyed, like she'd wanted to be somewhere else, and for that, Ever felt sympathetic for her. She quickly bowed before the guests.

"Lord Tyrell."

"Cana, be a dear and show lady Evergreen our castle. I'd bet she had her fair share of sitting and doing nothing for hours and she want to stretch her legs. "

Evergreen smiled, and replied:

"I would like to."

Cana smiled back, took her by the arm, and led her up the stairs, up on the murals. There was a beautiful view on the plains that stretched for miles and miles around the castle. It was the end of the afternoon, and the sun would be setting in an hour or so. In the meantime, its orange-pinky light bathed the surrounding plains and left beautiful trails on the water.

"You have a beautiful view on the near."

"Thank you. You should look happier, though."

Ever was so startled she almost jumped in surprise.

"Well, I know it's an arranged marriage and you asked for nothing of that, but here, the young women look happy when they're about to be wed."

"I know," retorted coldly Ever, glaring at the Tully.

Does she think that, because I'm half Lyseni, I am not used to the Westerosi customs?

"They're silly," she added, with a sigh. "It seems so boring to be wed. All you do of your day is sewing and gossiping and having children. Not the life we want, apparently."

"What kind of life do you want?" asked Evergreen, curious.

"Having endless olive fields, like the ones my Dornish grandmother owns. And you?"

"I want to be a merchant, to sail from port to port, drive from city to city. Meeting different people, different cultures, hearing and learning several languages, eat different meals…"

"How many languages do you speak?"

"Beside Common Tongue? High Valyrian, Lyseni, Tyroshi and Myrish. I know some words in Ghiscari too."

"No wonder you want to be a trader then," she said with a smirk. "Seems way more fun that being stuck in a castle at the gate of the Wall."

"Why aren't you married yet? Not that I find you unladylike or repulsive, but…"

"Father doesn't want me to leave him. He said he didn't want the last living thing that remained from Cornelia to go."

"Cornelia?"

"My mother. Died in childbirth when I was six."

Father loved Mother, remembered Evergreen. He had always told me so. Or at least, that's what he pretends. Otherwise, he would have done like his friend!

"What do you think about my father?" Cana asked.

"He seems nice and fun to live with. Funnier than Father, actually."

"Did you know he tried to dissuade your father to marry you off?"

"Really? Why didn't it work, then?"

"Your father wouldn't agree."

Now they were going down the stairs, and Cana was showing her the room she would stay in. She quickly prepared herself for dinner, and then went down in the hall to eat with the Tullys and important people that were there. She noticed with satisfaction that all the men's looks except her father's, her brothers' and lord Tully were glued on her. The dinner was mostly Gildarts and Victor talking about their past, laughing more and more as they gulped down more wine. Ever played the perfect lady, drinking a few wine smiling kindly and replying to every question she was asked, but she was desperately annoyed. She almost sighed in relief when the dinner was finally over.

When she made a move to her rooms, Cana whispered in her ear:

"If you're going to be bored tonight, come with me. I could show you something interesting."

Intrigued, Evergreen followed her. Once the door was shut behind them, Cana made a gest towards the bed. Ever sat right there, waiting for her to come back. Eventually, the brunette made her way towards the bed and sat face to face. She had a set of cards in her hands, and a bottle.

"Currant kir. Want to have some? Suit yourself, and don't bother with a glass", she explained, mixing the cards.

Ever took the bottle and had a mouthful. It was delicious, strong and fruity at the same time. She had a few other sips then she handed her the bottle. All the cards were put down on the bed cover.

"Are we playing a game?" Ever asked, remembering the Tyroshi sellswords playing and betting and laughing.

"Not exactly."

"Then what are we doing."

"Well, you do have a talent for languages. I have another talent. I can tell people's future, and I'm never mistaken. If you don't believe me, it will be just a game, however."

Ever knew predicting other people's future was possible. Several times, Bixlow's visions in the fire came true, although she never dared to ask him about her future, nor he told her. Maybe he knew what was happening. Maybe he knew all along that she would end in the arsehole of Westeros.

"I believe you. However, you shall never tell other people about it."

"I didn't intend to. Your real name is Evergreen, isn't it?"

"Yes."

"We shall begin then."

Cana hummed and she began tracing patterns with her fingers on top of the cards, picking and turning cards one by one.

"Hmm. Let's see. We have the Skipper, meaning a brand new start, the Moon, meaning the absence of sun, equal the North, the Lovers. Oh, the Mother too…"

"What does that mean?" asked impatiently Ever, not liking the name of the cards Cana had picked.

"You are still marrying him and going with him. Apparently, you'll fall in love with him apparently. And you'll live happy, with many children. But I can't be sure. I need to see the other…"

At this words, Ever remained still for a second, her eyes widened in shock. Then she boiled with rage and balled her fists. She stood up so quickly the table flipped down.

"That's bullshit! Stop saying what nannies repeat! I will never fall in love with a man I have to wed to repair my father's misdeeds! You hear me? Never! I thought you were different, but in the end, you're like them all! Gossipy and absent-minded and thinking you're living in a knight song! Go back to your sewing, my lady. I believe you haven't finished your children's cloth for winter" Ever spat, her eyes narrowed.

On those words, she went outside and slammed the door shut, not noticing Cana was smiling genuinely.

The following days, she stayed in her rooms, not leaving them. Everybody came to check if she was ill but she replied she was tired because of the long trip and excited about her upcoming wedding, and both were straining her. She said that with a smile so convincing everyone bought her excuse. Eventually, the Thunder tribe came to check on her.

"You are really nervous about getting married?" said Bixlow in a mocking tone.

"Shut up! I'm not in the mood!"

During the days, what Cana had said wouldn't leave her mind.

"Why don't you hang around with the Tully anymore? She's cool. Besides I thought, you got well along."

"She's just a silly woman with nothing in her brains!"

"Did she, per chance, tell you your future?" asked Bixlow.

"It's none of your business!" she retorted, her cheeks reddening slightly.

"Then she did. You should have asked. I already knew it. I knew it since the day you went in Highgarden."

"Bixlow, don't start," warned Fried in lieu of Evergreen, whose eyes were shooting daggers at the Asshai'i. "Your husband-to-be will be there tomorrow. Just in time for the wedding."

Evergreen groaned. She had hoped for something to happen, like the Green Fork flooding the Neck, or some outlaws killing the man. Luxus on the other hand still hadn't showed up. She was afraid the Gods misheard her prayers and applied it to Luxus instead of her husband to be. Bixlow approached and seat on the bed next to her and put a hand on her shoulder.

"Sorry for seeing your future without asking your permission."

She didn't even bother to answer, just a grunt.

"Ever, do you trust me?"

She raised an eyebrow at him.

"Not really. But I don't have a choice."

"Hey! That was mean!"

"I know."

"Your husband is a good man."

"How could you possibly know about that?" she snapped at him. "Maybe it was your fire again?"

"Not. It wasn't the fire. It was me," replied a voice she knew too well.

She turned around and saw him. Wearing a black doublet with the purple bolt of the Dondarrions, a tall, impressive blonde man with a scar barring his right eye stood, leaning against the wall. His eyes sparkled with mischief and happiness. He pulled her onto a hug. It felt like forever since they last saw each other, a year and a half ago.

"Luxus! You made it!"

"Of course. I just couldn't miss the wedding of my almost-sister and the man that almost defeated me."

"Why must you always remind me of my wedding and of that man?" she groaned, angered they showed so little compassion.

"Cause it's tomorrow. You should have had prepared yourself mentally in consequence."

"I know I will die someday, but I am not preparing myself to that."

"You should, though," commented Fried.

Sher gave him one of her glares and he immediately cast his look away.

"Well, Ever, you're in a delicate situation. You are getting married against your will, you can't complain to a septa because she'll sermon you for a good hour, you can't talk to the young ladies because they want to marry soon, and we can't understand you because we aren't getting married against our will. But there's one thing I can say which would cheer you up."

"You can always say."

"Ser… No, lord Umber is a good man."

"How could you know that? You two fought each other!"

"Well, he had plenty of times to hit me when he sent me to the ground or when I had my back to him, but he didn't. The men I had fought against before would always do that, although not a single one managed to really hurt me. However, even with my armor, I doubt I'd be talking to you right now if he did. I didn't think he fought for glory, he wasn't blood thirsty. He looked sad to fight, like he was doing it against his will, whereas the men who are as strong physically as he is were doing it merrily. Maybe it was just for the reward. I talked to him after the fight. He told the money wasn't for him, but for his castle and his people. "Winter will be soon there," he said "and I'm afraid we won't have enough resources to pass it. Moreover, I was told that the Night's Watch needed some gold to feed and supply its brothers. I can only help; if they don't succeed, I will be the first that'll pay the price" he added with a bitter laugh."

Shit. Ever knew she should be admiring and praising the man's selflessness, but all she could think of was her. She would have a life of privation. She hadn't lived all her life in luxury; she knew what being hungry really meant. She had begged, and had used her good looks to get her and the boys something to fill their stomach. She had lived during weeks under a worn blanket and a portable roof made of leaves and branches. When lord Makarov Dondarrion had welcomed the three of them, she swore herself that she'd never know again such misery. Of course, the privation under the Umber's roof would be in nothing like the one she had known, but it felt bitter to go into a noble house and living in privation, taking only the necessary.

"Anyway, he won't make you do something you don't like."

"We'll see. Is lord Makarov there?"

"Grandfather? No, he stayed in Blackhaven. He was getting sick. But he was truly sorry to not come, Ever. He told me to say you that you and your husband and your future children would always be welcomed in Blackhaven."

"I will never have children with him!" she spat, Cana's prediction still echoing in her mind.

"Calm down, it was only his words! Plus, you know he's getting senile with age."

"He was all but senile last time I saw him."

"Let's talk about something else, then", Luxus offered, rolling his eyes. "How about your trip to there?"

They spent all the night talking and laughing, and it felt good, like four years ago, when they were still living together in Blackhaven, so much that, the following morning, she woke up rather late, alone in her room. Groaning, she ran a hand over her face. Today was the day she would lose her freedom. The day she would quit her family and her friends and probably never see them again. The day she would belong forever to another man. I'd rather die! I will never belong to him! I refuse to be his only worthy belonging! And if he tries to make a move on me, I'll make sure to cut his balls when he will be asleep!

As she moved to the door, she noticed it couldn't be opened. She tried to push, with no more success. She cursed through gritted teeth. So now, they were locking her up in her rooms, to make sure she wouldn't escape? Ha! They had to be naïve if they thought she would indeed get away, and even more naïve if they thought that just a locked door could stop her!

She quickly tied up her hair, wore a more suitable dress and opened the window, looking around. Well, there was a good depth to the splashing water, and there was no way she would try something as foolish as to jump in the water (since Tyrosh, she had always been reluctant to swim) but there was a small edge under the windows, connected to the other windows. At her left, an opened window. She smirked. She slowly put a foot over the windowsill, until it reached the small edge. She tested her weight on it, and then pulled the other foot, her arms still gripping the window's ledge.

Evergreen counted until three, then removed her hands, reaching for the protuberant stones, slowly advancing towards the other window.

It was when she heard shouts.

Holy shit! I don't need that now, I need to stay focused; else I'll end in the bottom of the Red Fork. The plan wasn't me dying, but him. She did as if she heard nothing, and kept on moving.

However the shouts were hard for a second time. What in the seven Hells is he thinking?

Eventually, she turned her head and looked where the voice came. Her eyes widened in shock. Shit, shit, shit. On the river bank, there were people on a horse, and holding a banner red or orange with something grey or brown on it. She didn't need a further indication to understand it was her husband coming there. And if he knew it was her, they probably begin their wedding on a bad note.

Just when she thought that things couldn't have been worse, the wind rose and blew her skirts, showing her legs until mid-thigh, while she struggled to not fall.

"Don't move, my lady!" shouted a very tall man in his armor. "We'll send someone to get you."

She didn't listen to him and finally reached the other window. She jumped in the room, walked to the door, her legs still shaking a little, and eventually, she found herself in the corridor leading to the main rooms, the door being fortunately unlocked.

Ever appeared in the Hall, where the nobles were breaking their fast. Everyone gaped at her, her wild, tangled hair, her bright pink cheeks but pale skin.

"Weren't you supposed to be in your rooms?" asked lady Jenny.

"I was hungry. You don't expect me to faint during the ceremony, do you?" she spat, angry. "Why was I locked anyway?"

"We thought that, since you were tired, it was better to leave you alone. Besides, it brings bad luck to see your husband the day of your wedding, before the ceremony!"

"Bullshit", she replied, taking a small piece of bread and a pear, not minding the glares that father, the stepmother and the others sent her. Cana was smiling. "I suppose it brings also bad luck to not see him at all before the wedding day, ain't I right?"

They didn't reply to that, and she bit angrily in her bread.

"But how did you get out?"

"The window", she answered calmly, sipping a cup of honeyed milk.

The eyes of the audience widened even more.

"Are you mad? Do you intend to break your neck the very morning of your wedding?" her father asked, his fist slamming the table.

"I wouldn't have done that if you hadn't locked me up without a valuable reason, or without telling me before!"

Her father exhaled slowly by the nose, and then turned towards Gildarts, who was smirking.

"Come on, say something! Do tell her it's dangerous!"

"Actually it's not that dangerous when you know how to dive or how to swim. Cana did it plenty of times, and she never fell, not even in the water!"

"You were supposed to be on my side."

"Sorry to have offended you the other day," the brunette said in her ear.

"Mhm." Was all that Evergreen could manage to say.

"My lord!" yelled a messenger, arriving in the Hall breathless.

He took a quick bow to him.

"The Umber just arrived. They are at the gates of the castle."

Victor Tyrell's eyes settled on her daughter.

"Pray, tell me he hadn't seen you escaping your room like a robber?"

"Honestly, I don't know", she answered, chewing on her bread.

It was true. Since nobody cared to explain to her what her husband looked like and since she was too far to see him correctly, she couldn't know if he had seen her or no. And even though he did, she doubted he would know it was her. Victor gave her a look and she stared straight in his eyes, not faltering a second. Finally, her father turned his gaze away and said:

"Go back to your rooms and don't move until I come this afternoon. I have to greet my future son-in-law."

Evergreen shrugged her shoulders, took the rest of her bread and another pear, and went back to her chambers. She sighed and let herself sink in the bed, which emitted a noisy protest. Now all she would do was to be bored, since he guessed no man could enter her rooms now, and only bed maids could come.

She rarely felt so alone.

After midday's lunch, brought by two servants, Beth Flowers, Lord Redwyne's bastard by a peasant, came in her room to help her for the wedding. She was four and ten, of average height. She had big, brown eyes, orange hair and freckles. Beth wasn't exactly one for Evergreen's ladies-in-waiting, being more like a servant, but Evergreen liked her because she wasn't as nosy as the other. She was actually one of the few people she considered kind, because the girl never judged her or what she did. She never repeated to her father her misdeeds. And, last detail that made Ever smirk, was that her youngest brother, Eve, who was very fond of the girl.

She arrived smiling, hauling a wood basin, followed by servants that carried buckets of tepid water. The servants put the buckets on the floor, and Beth took it, poured it in a basin and added some flowers and a touch of lavender's oil.

"I thought you would like to have a bath before your wedding. It will help you to relax."

"That was thoughtful of you" said Evergreen, smiling to her.

She stripped from her dress and entered the basin. Beth took a small bowl and began to pour water over her hair. Soon she was washing her hair, gently rubbing her scalp in the process and it was so pleasant that Ever closed her eyes and hummed. Then Beth helped her wash her body –or rather, she was destructing her skin. She was rubbing the cloth so hard on her limbs that the bride was surprised to not see a hole in them.

While Evergreen was drying herself with a towel, Beth went and brought a chest she had never seen before (probably the one that contained that goddamn dress!). The younger woman was preparing all she would need to make her beautiful. As Ever, wrapped up in the towel took one of her usual shift to put on, the redhead stopped her and handed her another one.

"You have to wear this one, it has been made specially to be worn under your wedding which is, I must say, very, very beautiful."

The Tyrell took the cloth without wanting to know more, then she noticed that indeed, the shift wasn't like the one she used to wear. The fabric itself was different (it felt like silk, but it was more transparent) and nearly her whole back was uncovered by it. Not to mention that a good part of her breast was exposed. She assumed she would be wearing a quite revealing dress. All the better. Evergreen had a body that made jealous most women, and she seized every occasion to emphasize it.

"I'll be doing your hair then we will dress you."

She sat on the chair before the mirror, and while Beth was doing her hair, Milliana Oakheart, and Kagura Tarly, two lean eighteen-year-old ladies-in-waiting, entered the room. The first had wavy light brown hair and brown eyes and wore a yellow-green dress with a v-neck and long thin sleeves, with Myrish lace, and the second had long, straight, dark hair and pale eyes a dark green, sleeveless dress, with red embroidery.

Beth did her hair quickly and not painfully (Ever felt no hairpin stabbing her scalp), then she pulled out the small box containing the cosmetics. She applied a touch of khol to emphasize her look and a touch of poppy on her full lips, to make them redder. Then she took a perfume (a rich, fragrance) and put one drop behind each ear, one on each wrist and several on her neck. Evergreen added some in her cleavage.

"Wow, you look magnificent!" said Milliana.

"Too bad he is almost a wildling. He isn't worth so much beauty!" mumbled Kagura.

Evergreen looked at her reflection and admitted with a smile:

"Not so bad."

"Time for the dress, now!" shouted joyfully Beth, running to the chest.

Kagura and Milliana helped her pulling out the delicate cloth out of its box, with a whisper of admiration. It was probably pleasant to the view, even though it was a little surprising, considering that the dress had been made by the seamstresses during the trip. Evergreen tried to turn her head so she would finally to what this buggering dress looked like. The trio lifted carefully the dress to her; she stood up to wear it. It was pastel green, with golden embroidery representing roses' stems and leaves (but the roses and thorns were made of satin and colored glass) and looked like it was made of satin. It'll be probably nice, she thought, as she stepped in the pool of fabric.

Beth helped her fixing the dress and all that stuff, but it was done in no time, the dress not needing any bodice. After that, she pulled the box of jewels and presented it to her. Ever picked up white pearls earrings, emerald pendants, a ring ornamented with a topaz.

Her eyes glanced down at the gold ring tied to a thin golden chainlet, on the table. It was one of the only things she had left from her mother, and from Lys. This was the ring her mother always had on her, because it was Victor who gave it to her. It was simple, yet she wore always wore it, and it was the only piece of jewelry she put around her neck. Ever took quickly the jewel and put it around her neck, making the broken end of the chainlet pass in the ring to close it.

When she was done, all three girls looked at her in awe, wide eyed. It made Ever happier. She liked when people were in awe before her. Beth was even smiling:

"Quite honestly, I think I did a good job, haven't I?"

"You bet you did," whispered Milliana.

"Bring the mirror, Beth. Please."

The girl obeyed and came back holding a big mirror that was almost as big as she was. Milliana and Kagura made no move to help her. Beth placed it on the wall adjacent to the windows, so Ever could look at her reflection with a good light, and she stood there, on the side, to make sure the mirror wouldn't break.

The Tyrell looked at the stunning young woman that stood in front of her. She had light chestnut hair that shone like gold in the day's light, long curls that fell until the small of her back and framing her delicate face. Her doe-eyes were emphasized by a touch of khôl, and the emerald on her ears matched the green of her own eyes.

The dress was absolutely beautiful. It clung to her body, showing her curves, fitting her like a second skin. It also showed a lot of perfect, creamy skin, including her back's. The seamstresses had done a great job. This dress was just dazzling, and it was exactly what she needed. Her physique would probably help her getting what she wanted from her husband.

She was really breath-taking, and it took a lot to ever to admit that. Since she grew up in Lys, she had seen people that were widely considered as beauties, male or female, and it was rare she admitted a person was beautiful, let alone her.

"Are you satisfied?" asked Beth, and Ever could hear the worry in her voice. Beth was very conscientious, and she hated doing something not beautiful enough. It was when the bride realized she hadn't said a word.

"Yes. Absolutely satisfied. You should go prepare yourself."

Too bad she had to be so beautiful for a man who didn't even deserve it, but it wouldn't prevent her to enjoy her beauty. What a pleasant feeling when all the looks, men's or women's, couldn't get off your pretty silhouette.

"I am not sure a woman of my rank is allowed to attend the feast."

"I am sure my younger brother insisted on you being present, and Father didn't express his disapproval."

"I have no proper clothes for the wedding."

"You shall take an old of mine, if you want to."

Beth blushed furiously as she mumbled a thank you, quickly bowed and then went to prepare.

Her father came an hour after, clad in a deep green doublet. For a moment he stayed breathless.

"You look absolutely beautiful," he eventually said.

"You don't", snapped Ever, although she secretly appreciated the compliment.

"Evergreen, I am serious. You look like the Maiden made flesh."

"I was serious too."

Her father rolled his eyes and pursed his lips, but no reproach or sermon came, to her surprise. She took his elbow and began to walk down to the Godswood of Riverrun. It was certainly a pretty Godswood, with all the flowers she didn't know and small ponds, but it was nowhere near as beautiful as the one in Highgarden. There was a single heart tree, whereas in her home, there were three of them, and they were bigger. However the elms add some charm to the place. I must enjoy this view. No doubt the Godswood in Last Hearth will be awful, with ivy and moss and dead trees everywhere.

Finally, they arrived at the place where all the invites were gathered. Evergreen took a deep breath, raised her head and put on her most seducing smile, determined to show them all she wasn't afraid at all to marry a brute and, like all those silly girls in this damn continent, couldn't be happier to be married.

Her father walked her in the path of grass that led to the heart tree, and as they advanced, they could hear gasps of surprise coming of the people who were invited, some Lannisters and some Arryns, the Tullys, the other Tyrells, the other families that came from the Reach, Tarlys, Redwynes, Oakhearts, Merryweathers (the Ashford, the house of lady Jenny's father, refused to come since they considered Ever as a bastard), families from the Riverlands, Blackwoods, Brackens, Pipers, all turned their head to look at her, wide-eyed. As she walked before the Thunder Tribe, she heard Bixlow whispering it was the day she sent countless broken hearts to the Stranger.

But Evergreen looked at none of them. She couldn't help but stare before her, where the heart tree, with his sad face, stood. Near the tree was the groom, and he seemed focused on something else than the invites or his bride, which angered Ever. How dared he not look at her when everyone else did? What angered her the most was that she felt intimidated and hells, she hadn't been intimidated by a man since she was twelve.

The first thing that Evergreen noticed about him was that house Umber didn't steal their sigil. He was the tallest man she had ever seen, being even taller than Luxus was. His shoulders were broad. He was wearing a dark red doublet with silver embroidery, grey breeches and black boots. He had silver blonde hair, due to his Lamarck ancestor, which clashed against a skin tanned by sun and the howling wind. Like Luxus, he had a scar under his right eye, which made him look more ferocious. Her future husband had the maiden cloak in his hands, and she could see he was nervous.

His eyes widened as he saw her, almost popping out of his head and his jaw was on the verge of dropping. Well, I take this is a good beginning, Evergreen thought. It's easier to control a man who wants you. It was when her father suddenly stopped, at thirty feet from the sad-faced tree, and she almost tripped on her dress. She shot him a hateful glare though she was still smiling and in response, he put his hand on top of hers and crushed it briefly, reminding her to behave. She felt humiliated to be treated like a child. And even more humiliated when she realized he had to be the huge knight in armor she had seen earlier.

"Who comes? Who comes before the Gods?" asked Lord Gildarts, who wore a blue and red doublet and grey breeches, his auburn hair shining like copper in the sun.

"Evergreen of House Tyrell comes here to be wed. A woman grown and flowered, trueborn and noble, she comes to beg the blessings of the Gods. Who comes to claim her?"

"Me. Elfman of House Umber, lord of Last Hearth. I claim her. Who gives her?"

"Victor of House Tyrell, her father. Lady Evergreen, will you take this man?"

She turned to her father and looked at him straight in the eyes. She saw the threat in it and remembered his words. I will slit the throat of your two beloved companions, the Tyroshi and the Asshai'i. Was she given the choice? Hells, that wedding shouldn't even be considered as legal! I am being forced to do this! I have been threatened by a sword for the Seven's sake!

She quickly had a look around the assembly, hoping someone would make a move for her, to relieve her form this horrible joke. But nobody spoke up. There was just a deafening silence. Evergreen had never felt so alone.

"I take this man," she eventually said, trying to sound proud, confident and happy.

She snapped her father's hand and walked towards the groom. He took her hand (his was so big, looking like a bear's paw. His big, calloused hand took hers with a delicacy she wouldn't have expected a man like him to have, and she was staring at it, porcelain skin against tanned skin) and they knelt before the tree, heads bowed as a token of submission, as they were praying the Old Gods. Or rather they were supposed to. Evergreen wasn't praying at all, not even the Seven: she was inspecting the weirwood (its sad face perfectly mirrored how she felt) and gave side glances to the man who was kneeling at her side.

Then they rose again, and he unclasped her green and gold cloak. She heard him catch his breath as he did so, exposing more of her cleavage, and Evergreen smirked. Men always had this reaction when they looked down her throat, and he wasn't an exception. It was always funny to tease them. He folded quickly the cloak, his eyes not leaving her before he fastened the horrible garish orange and sad brown and grey cloak around her shoulders. She immediately felt too hot.

It was now the moment they were supposed to kiss. Ew. As if she would willingly kiss this thing. But she needed to if she didn't want her father to hurt the one that had been her close friends for years. She looked at him straight in the eyes, he leaned in, but stopped at an inch from her face. What in the Seven Hells are you waiting for? She shouted in her head. Kiss me, and let's make this quick! But the man didn't move. Ever shot him her deadliest glance, before grabbing him by the collar, pulling him slowly towards her and kissing him. He was so tall she had to stand on the tip of her toes to reach his lips. It was just a peck, but it was enough to make his cheeks blush a little. I bet he's a virgin, though I would have never thought a man looking so menacing could still be one. Most boys of his age have already gone to the brothel by the time they marry. The guests were applauding happily.

She forced a smile (she was very good at faking smiles so radiant they look true. Actually, she was a pretty good actress, and it have saved her ass more than once) and took her husband by the crook of his arm, and they began walking down the path. Elfman was startled but then he smiled too, shyly. Evergreen almost had to run if she wanted to keep up walking at his side, since the man's stride were quick and long, and wearing a very long dress and high heeled shoes made it even more difficult.

"Slow down!" she snapped through gritted teeth, not stopping to smile and address sign of her hand to the people.

He said nothing and obliged. A giant that is easily tamed. What a shame. They walked to the Hall, a big room lit by small fires, with an entire façade not build, which enabled them to have a beautiful view on the Red Fork and the sunset. If it had taken place at Highgarden, Ever thought, we would have feasted in the garden, amidst the roses and the grass and the flowers.

As the newly wed, they had to sit at the Honor's table, at the sides of Lord Gildarts. When she arrived before her chair, at the end of the table, the Tully kindly helped her.

"Thank you, my lord."

"You're welcome! It's always a pleasure to help such a beautiful lady!"

She caught Elfman glaring at the man. Was he jealous? At the other end of the table was Cana. It was weird to see Gildarts had just one child, just a daughter as the heiress to Riverrun, since the man swore to not wed another woman when his wife, Lady Cornelia of house Martell, died. She was younger than Ever, though not married yet. She wore a blue gown made of silk. She seemed to be annoyed with him, for she rolled her eyes as she sat very unladylikely on her chair.

"Well, my friends, we are here to celebrate a wedding between the North and the South, the ice and the sun, the union of the rose and the giant. I have one thing to say: let the feast begin!"

He clapped his hands, then servants entered, serving them snails with garlic, fried mushrooms, fried onions that accompanied cold crayfish. Meanwhile, some musicians began to play. They were quite talented, and Evergreen felt the urge to dance. But she had to wait, since it wasn't the time yet, and since her husband didn't seem very keen to let her dance, if he even knew how to dance at all. She remembered the cloak on her shoulders, and felt even more hot, feeling the unpleasant sweat where the velvet fabric touched her naked skin. Hell, I can only imagine how cold it would be there!

She absent mindedly picked some little things to eat.

"You don't eat?" he whispered.

"I am not hungry," she snapped. "Truth be told, I feel very thirsty…" she added, as two servants walked, and began to serve them.

"I will drink this," she said to him, pointing the darker bottle.

"Dornish Red, my lady?" he asked, incredulous, because women preferred Arbor gold, especially when they came of the Reach. But she had drunk enough Arbor gold when she was living at Highgarden, and she really missed the Dornish red she drank when she was still at Blackhaven.

"Yes. It's exactly what I want."

He quirked an eyebrow at her, but he served her.

"Not just a little", she demanded. "Fill my cup, please."

He obliged and then, he went to serve her husband. She began to drink. She felt the sour drink burn her mouth down to her stomach, where it light a fire. Evergreen felt much better after the first glass. It gave her strength and more confidence. She would surely need more wine, to forget she was wed to a brute against her will.

"Another one, if you please!" she demanded to the servant, when he was done with serving her husband.

Elfman looked at her with eyes wide, with a spark of disapproval in the, but he said nothing. Like he could. It's my wedding and probably the last occasion for me to have fun! I come from Lys and Highgarden, and the life in Last Hearth will surely be boring as fuck! From the other side of the table, she saw lady Cana was bent over the table, looking at her with an amused face.

"You like it?" asked the brunette.

"Better than sweet Arbor gold!" she replied.

Cana's grin widened.

"Then you should try the ale! Here, in the castle, we do the finest ale in Westeros!" she claimed proudly, smiling, then she stood up and snapped her fingers. "Oy! You, over there! Bring the bride some ale!"

The person she had called walked towards the table. Ever downed her drink in one sip and handed it to the servant.

"Come on, try it and tell me what you think of it!"

She made sure the foam wasn't going to stay around her mouth and she slowly swallowed the drink. She had never drunk ale before, and she regretted it. Cana hadn't lied, it was very tasty. It looked like arbor gold, but it was certainly stronger.

"Not bad," she said.

"I knew you'd like it. You should try too, lord Umber."

"She is right, you know."

Just to tease him, she took her cup and held it to his lips. He made a move back, before taking it and sipping it. His cheeks were slightly red, and it made Ever smirk again. Oh, it was so funny to tease him! She could probably do it the whole evening.

"Boy, a glass of ale," he ordered, as he put the cup back to the table.

He hadn't drunk it all, so she took it and finished her drink, putting her lips where his were. Meanwhile, she made sure he was looking at her and she gave him one of her most seductive glance. He turned back his head, while Ever was mentally bursting with laughter as his cheeks were turning red. Really, how could someone so big (and able to make a draw when fighting against Luxus) be so shy?

She didn't let him take his cup, and took it instead. She had a sip, and looked him over the border of the glass. When she handed him the cup again, she licked her lips, not breaking eye-contact and this time his whole face went bright red. He turned his head away and drank his cup, almost choking on it, looking at the Red Fork.

Alcohol and the bloody maiden cloak made her feel too hot, so she took out her fan garnished with Myrish lace and began to fan herself.

"Don't you think it's too hot there, my lord?" she asked him, leaning back in her chair, pushing softly her breasts forwards. "It must be too warm for you, compared to Last Hearth."

"Hum…" He seemed really embarrassed, and she smirked. He hadn't seen a thing, the poor boy. "Aye, you're right."

"Please, could I take out the cloak? It's not that I don't like it, it's quite finely made and very pleasant to the touch, but I am so warm I think I could melt at any instant…" she whispered in his ear, using her most seductive tone.

He looked at her wide-eyed, blinking several times, his face so flushed she could feel the warmth emanating of his body and his face.

"Yes. Yes, you can take it off."

Finally she would get rid of this horrible too-warm cloak! She quickly unclapped it, and pushed it back against her chair.

"Thank you, my lord", she said with her biggest smile, sitting straight.

Ever felt his eyes roam over her body and especially over her torso and her shoulders.

"You're welcome," he mumbled, turning away, redder than ever.

"Oy, musicians! Play something happier! This is a wedding, not funerals!" shouted Cana to the players.

I am not so sure. I will soon be mourning my pleasant life in the South, so I'd better enjoys this night when I can.

The musicians began to play a dance, and she suddenly wanted to get on the dancefloor.

"Do you dance?" she asked the giant, using her special pleading voice.

"A little. But I'm afraid I will end up crushing both your feet."

She laughed, like he just said the funniest thing in the world and she suddenly spotted Fried before the table. He bowed before Elfman and said:

"My lord, my lady, congratulations. May the Old Gods and the New grant you happiness."

"Thank you, ser."

"I would like to ask your beautiful wife to dance with me. May I?"

He looked at her, then at him. Please, please, please, do it! I will be boring myself to death otherwise.

"Yes, you may."

"Thank you, my lord", they both responded.

Evergreen did her best to not seem too hasty to finally move from her seat. Fried took her by the hand and led her before the table, where a few couples were already dancing. He bowed, and she curtsied, then they began to dance.

"I saw what you did with the poor man. He will soon explode. The man is head over heels for you since he laid eyes on you, and you're torturing him, and he's totally harmless before you. You should be ashamed."

"Stop talking like this. You sound like a sour, old septa. He seems so boring, so I took the liberty to have some fun with him…"

She quickly had a look at the table, where he was sitting. He was looking at them with a grim look. Could he be jealous of Fried? Or was he boring himself to death too? Not minding what Fried just said, she winked at him and he turned his head away, making her smirk.

"Ever, you haven't been listening!" said Fried. "You will have plenty of time to tease him! Leave him alone!"

"I am just preventing him from dying of boredom! Since he can't dance, I don't know how he will have fun during the wedding!"

Fried huffed and rolled his eyes. Then he looked surprised and smirked.

"What now?"

"Looks like your brother takes a great interest in lady Cana…"

She turned around and noticed that indeed Leo was dancing with the Tully girl.

"She's beautiful. You should invite her to dance too, you know. I am afraid my brother will annoy her with his egoism and boastfulness."

"No, I won't."

"Why? Is it because you're like my husband? Afraid of beautiful women?"

She leaned in and whispered:

"Or is it because you want to stay… faithful to lady Mirajane?"

"It's not that!" retorted Fried, his cheeks slightly pink, like every time they talked about a certain Dayne.

"Whatever."

There was a soft breeze that entered the hall thank to the big window, and Ever closed her eyes, liking the welcome freshness.

"Did you gather some intel about my beloved husband?" she asked him in a whisper.

"Not much, I am afraid. His grandmother is a Lamarck, and I believe he has wildling blood in his veins. His mother died on child birth and his father a few moons ago. One of his uncles is in the nights' Watch, the other is the castellan of Last Hearth. He had a younger brother who died as an infant during last winter. He also had a younger sister, and she is deceased in mysterious circumstances, involving the man himself. Apparently, he doesn't like talking about her."

At this moment, the music stopped, and she noticed Luxus had approached them.

"May I dance with the bride?"

"Of course you may", she answered with a smile.

"You look radiant tonight."

"Beth had done a good job, hadn't she?"

"Certainly. You could achieve the poor man just with a flutter of your eyes if you wanted. He's already head over heels for you."

"I'd rather say he's shy of women", she retorted, taking his hand.

"I do think he's experiencing love at first sight. If he ever dares to do something to you, just send a crow, and I'll cut him to pieces. Though I trust you to deprive him of whatever part you deem."

"Then why didn't you do it during the wedding?"

"Well, I am not a Bolton. I do not kill people at a wedding where I am invited."

"Ser Dondarrion?"

The deep voice was unmistakable. It was Elfman's. They turned their head to look at him. He's definitely taller than Luxus, she noticed, with some intimidation and respect. A good half-head taller, I'd say.

"May I dance with my bride?" he growled, shooting him a deadly stare.

"Of course," answered Luxus, after gauging him.

He went away, not minding the tone the umber used with him, after looking at her, half-smirking, while he mouthed "I told you so". Before Evergreen could respond with an obscene sign, he had turned away, and was asking Cana to dance with him.

"I thought you couldn't dance" she said on a reproachful, cold tone that meant clearly I won't let you prevent me from having fun tonight.

"Actually, I think I am able to move without stepping on your feet or your dress."

She burned to ask him if he was jealous of Luxus, but she didn't want him to think that she and Luxus had a secret relationship or something like that. They began to move and she noticed to her surprise that he wasn't bad at all. His hand on her bare back wasn't too low, and sent a shiver up her spine, although she was very hot.

He danced with her until servants brought a giant pie with crushed almonds, sugar, cinnamon and chicken. They went back to their places. She took another cup of Dornish red as she was being given her part of the pie. She didn't even bothered with a fork, knowing it was useless and ate the pie like that, not paying attention to the reproving looks she was getting from her father, her stepmother and Fried. She caught however Luxus and Bixlow smirking, and, at the other end of the table, Cana was doing the same. At her side, Elfman still hadn't touched his, and was side glancing at her.

"The pie isn't going to eat you, you know" Ever joked. "You don't like salty-sweet meals?"

It was practically everything she had eaten in Lys, and most of the meals she'd had in Blackhaven and in Highgarden.

"Er… I never tasted something like this before. Spices are a lux we can't afford often in the North."

Ever pouted. It sounded like Northern food would taste like shit, if they didn't use spices in their meals.

"Then you should taste it. It's delicious really, and it would be a shame to put it to waste."

Before he could have a chance to answer, she took a morsel in her plate and held it to his mouth. The Northern moved a little backwards, gaping at her, his cheeks reddening, not knowing what to do. Ever decided to pout, just to see the reaction he would have had next.

"You wouldn't refuse what your wife gives to you?"

He replied nothing, swallowing soundly.

"No…" he eventually croaked.

"Eat it, then."

The huge man hesitated for a moment, before obliging and eating the morsel, his lips brushing against her fingertips. He has soft lips, Ever noticed. Hey, get a hold on yourself! Why are you thinking that? You're not supposed to fall in love with him! She closed her eyes, and leaned back in her chair. I should definitely drink less. Easier said than done. The pie was indeed delicious, but so sugary she felt constantly thirsty, and she just couldn't drink water on the day of her wedding.

"So?" she asked him, turning in his direction.

"It's very good, indeed. Thank you."

She smirked against her cup, as she wondered if he would still thank her when he would have lived with her a little. She finished her part, took some more, and then went to dance with Bixlow, this time ("don't worry lord Umber. I won't steal your bride away. Priests must live in abstinence.").

"The mother hen wouldn't stop bickering how you acted so seductive and torturing the poor thing."

"The mother hen?"

"Fried."

"Ah, I should have known," she said with a giggle.

"If I didn't know you better, I'd say you're drunk."

"Maybe I am."

"How many cups did you have?"

"And you say Fried is the mother hen?"

"Nah, I just wanted to know if you drank more than I did," he replied with a grin.

"Won't tell you. Can't tell you. I don't even remember how many cups I've drunk."

"You know for the bedding… We won't participate."

She furrowed her brow, and gave him one of her coldest stares.

"Why did you feel the need to remember me about this barbaric customs?"

"I didn't want to remember you an upcoming unpleasant moment. I was just saying this because it would be too awkward if we did it. You're like our sister after all."

"Leo is my real half-brother, and it won't prevent him to participate," she replied.

"Speaking of the devil."

Her brother had come, grinning as ever. His cheeks were a little red. He was already drunk, she noticed. She forced on a smile.

"Dear sister, would you do me the pleasure to dance with me?"

She pondered his proposition, and decided to accept.

"Just put a hand in an inappropriate part of my body and Highgarden shall find another heir to ensure the Tyrells' descendants."

He nodded and he danced with her without a notable incident, even though his legs were a little shaky.

"You look very beautiful tonight."

"Thanks. You do too."

"Sorry I couldn't prevent this."

"Prevent what?"

"The wedding and everything else."

"You never cared for me, Leo. Why must you begin, now?"

"Because you're my sister after all. Too bad it didn't notice it sooner, ne?"

She half smiled. She never especially liked Leo, but however his last sentence was somehow heart-warming. So much heart-warming she suspected something bad to follow, like an insult or an inappropriate gesture. But neither of them came. When the music ended, he released her and Eave came to dance with her. Ever gave side glances to the guest's table to gauge Elfman's reaction. At first, he didn't seem to mind, and then he had disappeared. Impossible, she thought. Had the Gods listened to her prayers and did something to prevent the wedding?

However, nobody seemed to be shocked by his sudden disappearance. Evergreen admitted reluctantly that he could have as well exited the room to take a piss. However, she spotted him a few steps further, dancing with Cana. So he wasn't so shy if he danced with the Tully girl. Or maybe he was, she corrected, when they turned a little and Ever saw the unmistakable red color on his cheeks.

Everyone got back at their seats as the servants arrived with the dessert, which consisted in waffles with sugar and orange flower's water, with hydromel. Even though she wasn't hungry, she took a waffle and bit into it, trying to stop the orange flower's water to run down her chin. Meanwhile, Elfman hadn't touched his waffle, his eyes focusing on Ever's lips. His dark blue orbs followed a forgotten drop down her chin and down her chest, until it disappeared under the fabric of her dress. He quickly turned away then and gulped down a glass of hydromel. He has drunk less than me, she realized, as she just admitted herself she felt a little tipsy and little too hot. She took back her fan and began to fan herself again. She just couldn't sweat. Sweating was ugly and unladylike and it didn't smell good. Moreover, it would plaster her hair to her skin, and she absolutely hated having her hair plastered to her skin.

"And now, the time for the bedding has come!" a drunk lord Tully eventually shouted.

Everyone began to bang their cup against the wooden table, while they were shouting "THE BEDDING! THE BEDDING!". Cana's expression was unreadable. She seemed like she was embarrassed because of her father or amused at once.

Shit. She had managed to forget the thing since Bixlow brought it up. Maybe it was because she hoped they had different customs in the North. And she really, really didn't want to be touched by all those drunk men.

Elfman raised his hand.

"There will be no bedding."

All the assembly gaped. Hope sparkled in her eyes as she quickly looked at him. Perhaps, he realized it was a wrong thing and he wants me to be free since he knows I am not interested in him. Or perhaps he realized that everybody is too drunk to do it, myself included.

"But you cannot not bed the bride!" whined lord Gildarts. "A sword needs to be sheathed, and if you don't bed the bride, it isn't gonna be a wedding anymore!"

From the other end of the table, Cana ran a hand over her face, looking away.

"I have never said I wasn't going to bed her."

Evergreen gritted her teeth. Once more, she had hoped for a miracle, and once more the Gods played with her. Suddenly she was lifted up in the air and she yelped in surprise. Two muscular arms were holding her.

"I just want to keep her for myself," he replied with a grin and a wink to their host.

"Oooh… I bid you a good night, then!" said Cana's father, answering with another wink.

Elfman smirked even more then he left the room, still holding her. Ever did her best to look happy and absolutely not afraid, but she was about to throw up everything in her stomach. They went up the stairs in silence, and she was breathing deeply, trying to fight her nausea.

As they arrived before their room's door, he kicked it open, stepped inside, and kicked it close. He then put her down on the bed, for which she was grateful. Her stomach finally stopped moving.

Elfman was taking off.

"What in the Seven Hells do you think you're doing?"

"I am taking off my doublet."

"I am not blind, thanks. Don't think I am interested in you. All I did was to keep appearances. I have never wanted to marry you. You're such a freaking monster! I will never bed you! I will never be yours."

Evergreen stood up from the bed, and almost fell, her head spinning terribly. Immediately he rushed up to her, lifting his hand to check on her.

"You've been drinking way too much," he simply said.

She shot him a glance.

"Don't you dare give me orders!" she spat, despite the bile that slowly going up her throat. "Do you think you're my septa or what?"

"I am just your husband. I swore to the Old Gods that I would protect you and make your life as pleasant as I would be able to!"

"Then maybe you shouldn't have showed up in the Godswood!"

"But…"

"I hate you! I absolutely fucking hate you! And your sweet words and attempts to play the rescuing knight with me will get you nothing!"

Ever's voice was incredibly deep by now, since she was still fighting the urge to vomit. She saw shock on his face, but the only thing this dork found to reply was:

"A woman shouldn't swear like that."

Not wanting to fight her nausea anymore (and not being able to prevent it any longer), she leaned in and emptied her stomach not on the floor, but mostly on him, so as to show him how despicable she found him and how she couldn't give a fuck about what he would say to her.

After that the world began to twirl around her and blackness filled her vision.

Next morning, Evergreen woke up with a horrible headache, like someone was hitting her head from the inside. She found herself in the featherbed, wearing nothing more than her shift. Moreover, her hair had been unpinned and quickly braided. The young woman sighed, as she remembered that she was a wedded woman now and to that oaf. Where is he?

"Good morning, Ever."

She turned her face towards where came the sound of his deep voice. He was sitting on an armchair, wearing his shirt that clung to him and enhanced his muscles. She realized he was at least as muscled as Luxus. Evergreen didn't even bother to reply and retorted drily:

"Do not call me Ever. You can't. Only Luxus and the Thunder tribe can call me so."

She saw him flinch, but he didn't say a thing.

"How I should call you?"

"Don't call me. If you must, my lady will be fine. Or Evergreen, if it pleases you."

"Fine. I hope you feel better than yesterday. I'll leave you to prepare. We are leaving in two hours."

"So soon? Weren't we supposed to depart after midday?"

"We will. In less than an hour, they will be serving lunch."

She was boiling with rage. How could I have slept this long? Her heart tightened and she felt guilty, because it was the last day she would spend with the Thunder Tribe and Luxus, probably the last of all her life, and, in the end, because she acted so light-mindedly the previous night, she wouldn't be able to have some time with Bixlow, Fried and Luxus.

"Leave me alone, please. I must get dressed."

Her voice was a little broken, as if she was to cry.

"Of course."

She had already made a move to get out of the bed, when she noticed a bloodstain on the sheets. She became pale realizing she had lost his maidenhead. But when? How? I can't remember a thing. Then realization hit her. He had raped her during her sleep, taking advantage of his strength and her drunkenness. Ever felt tears welling in her eyes. She didn't want to give her maidenhead to that big pile of meat, that monster! She had survived among most horrible men, and they didn't manage to touch her, and now she felt so humiliated!

"May I know the meaning of this?" she asked, in a trembling voice, pointing the red stain, as her husband was leaving the room.

He sighed, shut the door and came back to her. Evergreen felt quite helpless, since she had to crane her neck if she wanted to look at him straight in his eyes.

"I haven't done a thing to you, I swear it by the Old Gods and the News."

"Then why…"

He cut her:

"I just figured that it would be less shameful for you if everyone believed that I bedded you rather than what really happened yesterday evening. I already told you. I won't force you to do something you don't want."

"If it's not my blood, then whose it is?"

"Mine," he replied, rolling up his sleeve, and she saw there was a bandage at his wrist. "I thought it was necessary to make it more believable. But I believe you need to prepare yourself."

On those words, he exited the room, shutting the door behind him, leaving Evergreen raging. As she violently opened the chest that contained her dresses, she was couldn't stop but thinking of what he had done. Although she behaved very unladylikely towards him, puked on him and probably ruined one of his best suits, he didn't leave her on the ground. Instead he had stripped her from her dress. He removed the jewels and all the pins that held her hair in place, and braided her hair, so it would be easier for her to comb it on the morrow. He hadn't slept in the bed; she knew it, for there was no pleat in the pillow, showing that his head rested there, and no pleat in the sheets next to her. And the armchair seemed comfortable, but he probably felt sore in his neck, his back and his legs. To sum it up, he had avoided her humiliation and embarrassment, to the detriment of his own comfort. He had been kind to her whereas all she did what to snap at him (and staining his finest clothes with vomit).

Evergreen didn't feel well. She felt something she hadn't in a long, long time.

She felt indebted, and she absolutely hated to feel indebted. It made her feel weak. But hell, she was no weakling! She had survived on her own as a young maiden with two young men in a continent she knew absolutely nothing, except some words in its tongue. She knew how to seduce men to get what she wanted without compromising herself. She knew how to defend herself. She was one of the strongest woman in the world, Luxus, Bixlow and Fried had told her so, and so many times!

She caught herself almost hoping he had raped her.

Because then, she would have had a good reason to hate him.

Eventually, she dressed more quickly than usual, and quickly tied her hair into a braid, since it was more practical for travel. As she arrived in the great Hall,

At first, she bid her farewell to her stepmother giving her such a glance lady Jenny couldn't stand it. Then Leo hugged her tightly for a brief moment, and she was so shocked she didn't move. She hugged properly Eave, however.

"Don't make anything stupid. And continue practicing your high Valyrian, else you'll forget it. It would be too bad, since you have very little accent when you speak it. You'll be a great knight one day, I swear."

"Thanks! I'll miss you, Evergreen. Really. Please take care of yourself. Do not stay in the Godswood as long as you did in Highgarden's, for you'll catch a cold. I don't want to receive a raven announcing your death because of a silly cold."

"It won't happen, I promise! It takes more to kill me! I have survived the blue mare, a shipwreck and the swamp's fever."

The next one was Cana, smiling as ever.

"You know, I have been delighted to meet you. If you need some company near the Wall, send a raven," she said with a smile on her lips. "I hope my father will agree to let me go, though."

"Sorry for the other day."

"Bah, it was nothing. Really."

"I too have been delighted to meet you."

"In another place and another time, we could have been partners in business, you know. Or working in the same corporation. Anyway, we would have been way more important and way stronger."

Evergreen smiled at what the Tully girl said, and then turned around to meet Cana's father. She quickly bowed and thanked him for everything he had done for her and the wedding. He tried to remain humble; he made her laugh and wished her a good trip and a good wedding.

Finally, there was her father. She truly hesitated to bid him farewell. But before she could do whatever, he hugged her tightly.

"I'll miss you. You're everything a father could wish to have as a daughter. Not only beautiful, but also witty, intelligent, curious…"

She didn't answer, but she didn't pulled him back either. Eventually, he released her, and she went to the cart. Elfman was waiting at its' door, humming a Northern lullaby. She took a quick glance across the yards and then she spotted them. Luxus, Bixlow, Fried, looking at her and smiling sadly. She felt horrible for having forgotten them and the travel would be a hell if the guilt perpetually chewed her from the inside.

"May I speak to them, before our departure?" she asked Elfman, putting on her most sincere smile.

"Yes, you may," he groaned.

"I meant in private" she added, a little coldly, as she saw he hadn't made a move.

"You aren't leaving the yard," he responded through gritted teeth, before adjusting something on his horse.

She huffed and then went straight to the Thunder Tribe.

"I am so sorry, guys! I overslept, and I couldn't make most of the last hours we had together…"

"It's alright, Ever, no need to fret."

"Yup! You must be tired after spending a night with that husband of yours…"

"Bixlow, don't." warned Fried.

"You are like family to me. It will hurt to leave you behind, knowing that I will probably never get to see you again."

"Don't say bullshit, Ever. We'll see each other again. I promise."

"Yes, but nothing will ever be like before."

"Things are bound to change, Ever. It's time for you to change from home. I thought you didn't like Highgarden that much."

"True."

She liked just a few people and its architecture very unique. Oh, and the landscape too.

"Then it will do you some good to go there."

"I really love you, guys. I don't know what I would without you."

There was a lump in her throat and she fought the urge to cry.

"You would do fine, Ever. You have showed us more than once that you were very able to manage on your own," said Luxus, quickly pulling her onto a hug.

The contact was too brief. They didn't have a choice; there were just too much people in the yard and they couldn't let them think she was on another man on the morrow of her wedding.

"We have gotten you wedding presents. Here", said Luxus, giving her a folded shawl.

"Thank you. I guess I'll need that in the North," she grinned.

"But it's not everything. Open it."

She opened it, and found a small dagger in it. In its guard were carved thousands of little flowers. It wasn't very heavy, which would allow her to use it more easily, yet it looked dangerous. She quickly checked nobody saw this, then she met up Luxus' gaze.

"I allow you to use it, whenever you deem it is needed. I believe you will make good use of it. Do you like it?"

"It's… it's really beautiful, thank you."

It was Fried's turn, after. He produced a canvas bag, which was pretty heavy.

"It's about your family. You do have a Valyrian ancestor named Aeveran?"

"Think I already heard his name before."

"He's the little brother of the man that got to Lys when the Valyrian need Valyrian people to settle on their new colonies and founded your family. He was a famous sailor and I manage to get a hand on the books where he tells about what he saw, heard, did, felt. A very interesting book. I got it years ago. Did you know that he had traveled to the bay of Seals?"

"He did?"

"So you're not the first one of your family to go so far up North."

"Thank you, Fried."

Bixlow came last. He gave her just one book.

"Lyseni special love poetry in high Valyrian. I thought you would like it."

She couldn't believe it. He was offering her a book of erotic poetry. Not that she was easily shocked, but it was rather the hidden meaning behind this too-Bixlow gift.

"Idiot. I'd kill you if it wasn't the last moment I spent with you"

"And I have something else that might interest you. Do you remember this?" he said, pulling out a fan.

Evergreen's eyes widened. Of course, she remembered this fan, in purple Myrish lace and adorned with feathers on its top. It was her mother's fan. Munha's fan.

"How did you get it?" she said, incredulous.

"The day when the priests were healing you, I sneaked to your house and snatched the fan."

"You came to my home and you stole something?"

"Hey, it was only for you! I intended to give it you when you woke up, but you look too sad to be reminded of what happened the day before."

"Thanks, Bixlow. Thanks, Fried. Thanks Luxus. And sorry for not being able to give you a gift. If I'd have known…"

Luxus stopped her, raising a finger to her mouth.

"Hey! You're the one getting married! It's the least we could do! And don't worry about that. It doesn't matter to us, as long as you're safe, and happy."

"However, we expect you to do the same with us when we will marry."

"As if someone would marry you a day, Bixlow," she replied with a slight grin.

"Well, if you married, I don't see why I couldn't. I pity the man, though. He'll be shown the colors of the Seven Hells!"

She smacked him playfully on the arm with the fan, while he was laughing. Behind them, they heard someone clearing his throat. Lord Umber. She had to bid farewell, now.

"I'll miss you when I'll be in Last Hearth. Even you, Bixlow."

Suddenly, the blue-haired man pulled the three of them onto a hug.

"I'll miss you too, Ever, even though sometimes you're really an annoying spoiled brat."

"You will be fine, Ever. If not, just send a raven to us."

"Promise me you won't get yourself involved in much troubles", said Luxus.

"I promise. Promise you'll do fine, and won't provoke too much people."

"I'll try my best."

Bixlow released them, and she stood there a little awkwardly, struggling against her tears.

"Good bye," she finally croaked.

"Good bye, Ever."

She turned her back, her head bowed. She took a deep breath and then walked towards the cart.

"What's that?" asked Elfman, a little wary.

"Wedding presents for me. On behalf of the men that had been my brother for years. He helped onto the cart, where Beth, who would accompany her, was already sitting. At least, she wouldn't ask her questions about her wedding night and would do fine just by knitting.

And so they began their road to the North.

It was at least as boring as the trip from Highgarden to Riverrun. They had to spend three moons in the roads, maybe more. If that kept on, Ever's ass would become flat, to her greater annoyance. She liked her ass, and she knew for sure her husband did too. So many times, as she was talking before him, she felt his eyes linger on her bottom, and she would always exaggerate the sway of her hips, just to drive him insane.

He remained true to his word. He never tried to touch her, although they had to sleep in the same room. He didn't even try to sleep at her side. He let her have the mattress for her, and she didn't have to say a word, and we would sleep on a blanket thrown over the floor. Neither of them really spoke if it wasn't to say "Good morning", "Please", "Thanks", "Good night".

On her name's day, on top of feasting in the inn and managing to get the cook make her one of her favorite meals, he even got her present. A pale grey fur-lined coat, made with ermine fur. She had never seen one before, since she had never needed one, but she knew for sure that it was a rarity. Ever was gaping when she ran her hand over the soft black-spotted white fur.

"Does it please you, my lady?" Elfman asked shyly.

She wanted to answer "of course!", but something (her pride or her resentment, most probably) prevented her to do so.

"It'll certainly be useful, come winter," she answered. "And thanks by the way."

"You're welcome", he mumbled.

She put the cloak on, and tried to see herself in the small mirror in their room at the inn. It looked definitely good on her, and she noticed.

"I didn't ask you your age", he realized.

"It was probably a good thing, my lord. Have you never been told a lord doesn't ask a lady's age?"

The man blushed furiously, and groaned a "sorry".

"How old are you?"

"Seven-and-ten since a few weeks."

"You're younger than me?" she asked, incredulous.

"Uh, aye."

"Do you know your growth isn't ended?" she told him.

Luxus had taken three inches since she last saw him, and the man was almost three-and-twenty.

"Aye. Guess I'll take a few more inches", he said, forcing a smile and a laughter.

"I'd rather not. I hate craning my neck to talk to people,' she retorted coldly.

His smile immediately fell, he muttered something about using the privy and left abruptly the room. Ever stood alone in the room, still gaping. It was the first time where she asked herself if she was being too mean with him. After all, he wasn't the only responsible in this. She'd better blame her father and his father. However, he could have had refused. His father was dead, so there was no need for him to oblige his demand. And moreover she hated him; she had to be mean with someone she hated, no?

She hated him because he kept on being nice to her even though she was horrible with him. She hated him because he did everything he could to make her feel at ease (Beth had recently confessed Elfman asked her if she knew what Ever needed or what she preferred). She hated him because he had stolen her liberty. She hated him because he was taking her far away. And, most of all, she hated him because she found herself more and more thinking about him, and his body, more especially.

He would never sleep with a shirt on (and she was sure that he'd sleep naked if they weren't sharing a room). She had already seen him shirtless, when he thought she was already sleeping. And she had to admit, she peeked more often than she should. Of course, she had seen shirtless man, her brothers shirtless, but frankly, it never happened to her to not be able to avert her eyes and to be suddenly too hot and have her mouth dry, not even when she saw Luxus half-naked form. So why was she feeling like that?

He had also beautiful hands, she thought. Big, strong, rough hands. Not to mention his hair looked exactly like her mother's, except it was wilder and fairer. Munha's hair was as soft as silk, and, as a child, she had always liked to run her hands through her hair. For Ever, Munha had the most beautiful hair she'd ever seen, but Daeliyah told her she had the luck to have silky curly hair, while hers were straight. Therefore, Ever wanted to run her hand through Elfman's hair.

But she did none of that. She hated him, and the more she found herself unable to give valuable reasons to her hate, the more she hated him.

They spent a week at Winterfell (finally a bit of comfort!), under the roof of the Warden of the North, Lord Gray Stark. Even though he had the characteristics of a Stark (dark hair, grey eyes and a long, narrow face), she had to admit he was rather handsome. He was married to Juvia Manderly, a pretty woman with blue eyes who had her braid dyed in blue. She wasn't older than evergreen, and she was already married, had a son, Romeo, and was expecting a second child. Evergreen did her best to be nice to her, trying to not think about Cana's prediction. As a girl, Juvia had also travelled, having hid in the ship of her uncle, who had stopped in Whiteport before going to Myr and Tyrosh. By the time he noticed her on the ship, it was too late to go back. He sent a raven, however, and Juvia got to see the Free cities. Juvia also told her about her wedding with Gray Stark, how it was a love marriage, and she was lucky lord Silver, Gray's father, had accepted the wedding.

"How many months?" she eventually asked, talking about Juvia's unborn child.

"Five", answered the young woman, radiant. "And you?"

Ever shook her head vigorously, and she must have put on a weird expression, because the next instant, Juvia had a hand over her shoulders and looking at her.

"Oh, I am so sorry that you can't have…"

"No! I can, as far as I know. It's just that's a bit early between Elfman and I, that's all."

"We conceived Romeo on our wedding night," said Juvia, her eyes suddenly shining, while a smile was tugging at her lips.

"You must be blessed by the Old Gods."

"I am, indeed. Don't worry, Evergreen. It'll come eventually. You would be a great mother."

"Thank you," replied Ever, forcing a smile when all she wanted was to make the woman shut up and tell her she would never have children with this man.

Juvia told her that because of her son. It was true, Romeo had taken a liking to her, especially when she was singing Lyseni lullabies or telling stories. But Ever found that deducing how she would act with her children just from how she acted with the young Stark was a little far-fetched.

"You know, you're lucky to have such a husband. I understand that you expected better, given your origins, but, even though he is rather young, he is extremely responsible and caring, on top of being one of the most skilled knight in the North and in Westeros. Lord Gray values him. And I value lord Gray even more."

They resumed their travel. The weather was getting undoubtedly fresher. Although it was summer, it felt like it was early spring or late autumn in Highgarden or winter in Blackhaven. The landscapes were changing too. It was greener with taller trees and some mountains on the horizon. The river water was cooler too. Not to mention that, since there weren't any more inn past Winterfell, they began to live under tents for a moment. She didn't complain much about that (she had seen and known way worse). However, she grew tired of the travel and really wanted to be in the castle.

A moon later, they finally arrived, so she exited her cart, not unhappy to finally stretch her legs. Then she turned away to see the castle.

Surrounded by a forest of Northern pines, it was standing in a land covered of little flowers and small tufts of grass, and some moss on the floor, too. It wasn't a big castle, being only the third of Riverrun's size. It was like in nothing to any castle she'd ever seen. The building was made with several materials. At the front, it had two small houses made of stone and wood, the front one being smaller, with sloping roofs made of wood and straw. The exposed beams were ornamented with heads of Northern animals, she supposed.

Behind those two houses, there was a bigger building made of stones, slowly recovered by ivy and moss, like she had predicted (which gave the place a certain charm, though she would never admit it). It had arches on the outside, a few, long windows, and on top of the walls, there was a tower, probably the maester's if they had one. On this building too, the extremity or the exposed beams were carved head of animals. It was probably a gloomy, dark castle, with little sun light.

The Godswood wasn't even in the castle, unlike Winterfell, unlike Riverrun. It was standing down below the hill. Far behind the castle, she could see something that looked like a chain of mountains. Or perhaps it was the wall?

"So, uh, this is my castle," he said, having moved towards her.

"I have noticed, thank you. A gloomy castle for a gloomy lord." She commented.

"This is your castle too, now", he replied, a little wounded.

"I wish it wasn't. Guess I'll have to do with it."

She stepped forwards, feigning happiness and curiosity. She refused to get back on the cart. Damn, this is really the arsehole of Westeros! I will be living in Westeros' arsehole! I am far away from anything from the merchants, from the books, from the refined culture, from my true family! All of that because of my father! Why couldn't he defend himself properly with a mere dagger? Why must I pay for his debts?

Ever was on the verge of tears, but she didn't shed one. Come on, you are strong. You can live through that. Never seem weak, it's the North, and the weak are unwanted and looked down and considered as useless mouths to feed. I am a Southron, I had lived where the sun shines most of the year, and they won't consider me as their lady if I don't show them what I am able to do. I'll be strong and act like everything is fine to gain the respect they owe me. I will never let them think of me as a silly Southron who has no idea of how to manage a Northern castle. I'll run Last hearth, and I'll make it as good as any other castle. I'll manage it so we can pass winter with as less casualties as possible. And if the big dork doesn't want you to, it's up to him. After all, it will be his life and his people's you'll be improving.

She took a deep breath, and it was with her chin up she passed the gates of the castle, full of determination, leaving a part of her life behind.