The rest of her wedding day seemed to be a blur.

Thinking of herself as a Tyrell was odd, and Eddmina wasn't sure if she would ever get used to it. She remembered the few times her mother ventured into the Godswood at Winterfell with her, telling her just how out-of-place she felt even after eighteen years of being Lady Stark. Eddmina had never felt more comfortable than she did in her own home, and the thought of never quite settling in at High Garden was a worry, though she tried not to focus on it. Maybe that was why Southerners liked such grand wedding parties, to distract the bride from just how terrifying her life had become.

Willas was a good distraction. The two of them were sat together alone while the rest of the guests were scattered about the hall as they had been the night before, and his hand rarely left hers. She wondered if they would be this comfortable had they not kissed the night before, but she daren't bring it up. Every so often guests would approach and congratulate them, and Willas introduced her to his many, many cousins and relations.

"I didn't realise families could be this big," she muttered to him after his excitable yonger cousins had rushed over to introduce themselves, the exact sort of girls Sansa would adore the company of.

"Says the girl with six siblings," Willas joked, making her roll her eyes as she sipped her wine.

"Yes, but I don't have any cousins, only my Aunt Lysa's son who we've never met," she reminded him. "Neither of my Uncles have wives or children. For the Starks it's just the seven of us, but for you Tyrells... You're all across the South,"

"That's just my father's side, my mother's family is just as vast," he told her. "One of my mother's sisters lives over in Essos as some sort of Concubine. The Tyrells might have their roots in the south but the Hightowers spread across the known world,"

As the feast continued, Willas kept subtly pointing out people around the hall to her, occasionally dropping a rumour or a story about them, which was amusing. At first it felt like gossiping, but she soon realised that he saw it as his duty to know about all the lords and ladies of the Reach, to know their backgrounds and characters, because one day he may have to rely on them.

Every so often though, her eyes would glance to the back of the hall where Amariah and her husband were sat with some other southerners. As beautiful as she was she didn't look a particularly happy woman, especially not as her husband seemed to practically ignore her to speak to some other women around them. It was a little surprising for Eddmina to see, considering in her mind she'd built an image of that woman being so carelessly happy, and seeing the truth was jarring, especially as it made her feel sorry for her. In theory she had everything, a castle, a knighted husband, servants to wait on her, two young sons to love, but the reality seemed much more grim. Eddmina felt as though she should hate her, she disrespected the Tyrells, betrayed Willas and her presence acted like a reminder of what could have been, but no one who looked that crestfallen could be hated.

She tried not to dwell on Amariah though, distracting herself by looking over at her own family. They weren't looking at her though, the lot of them caught in their own conversation. It felt like years since the last time she gathered with her parents and siblings and had dinner with them, and watching them eat and joke together felt as though life had gone on without her with them. Good, she thought, knowing she'd rather them all be happy than miss her.

She soon realised that wasn't the case as Robb glanced over to her, and she suddenly felt as though she wanted to run to her twin and the two of them sneak off together to the stables to run away back to Winterfell. Not that it was possible, since she was the bride and all eyes were on her and Willas. Hoping that Robb wouldn't notice her turmoil, she offered him a joking wink before taking a swig of wine, feeling Willas squeeze her hand gently.

"You're quiet, is everything alright?" he asked in a hushed voice.

"Yes, don't worry," she nodded, sitting back in her seat a little. "It's just exhausting knowing everyone is looking at us,"

"Isn't it just," he agreed, pouring her another glass of wine, sliding her goblet closer to her as a grateful smile flicked onto her face. "Only another few hours,"

That wasn't as reassuring as he intended, and he realised that almost instantly. It wasn't like they would just be left alone as soon as the party died down, because the party would continue through the night even once they had been carried off, the main event of the night not being the food or the dancing, but rather the bedding ceremony. As someone who was determined to explore her desires before she had to face her marital duty, Eddmina wasn't scared of sleeping with Willas, but she hated the tradition of the bedding ceremony. The thought of men carrying her off to bed, taking her clothes off and making comments about her was uncomfortable, and had been the part of the day she dreaded the most.

Thankfully though that was when Garlan approached their table, his usual smile in place as he held his hand out to her.

"Care to dance, sister?" he asked with a charming grin.

"I'm not very good," she tried to excuse herself, but knew there was no refusing so turned to Willas. "Is that alright?"

"It's not like you'll be able to dance with me," Willas joked dryly, gesturing to his bad leg before nodding his head towards his brother. "Just bare in mind I was a much better dancer than this fool back in my day,"

Garlan merely rolled his eyes, taking Eddmina's arm and leading her to the dancefloor. By that point there were a few couples already dancing, so thankfully no one was really looking at them as they began to dance. As they danced Garlan noticed her staring down at her feet to make sure she didn't move to awkwardly, desperately trying not to stumble and keep her balance, which made him laugh.

"Perhaps you were right, as usual," Garlan remarked, and Eddmina frowned up at him. "You aren't the best dancer,"

"No, but you are," she replied, laughing as he spun her around in a twirl. "I probably shouldn't have skipped all my dancing lessons as a child to shoot arrows,"

Garlan laughed again, and continued to try and lead her around the dancefloor, and though she was desperately hoping no one was watching and laughing at her, Eddmina began to relax a little. By the end of the song she was laughing with Garlan too, feeling completely at ease with him considering how comfortable he was trying to make her feel in her new family. However, she was soon reminded of her own siblings with just a glance to their table, her eyes falling to her Sansa, who was sat on the edge of her seat, clearly wanting the thrill of being asked to dance.

"Will you do me a favour?" Eddmina asked Garlan quietly before nodding her head subtly in the direction of the Stark table. "Would you ask my sister to dance with you? She's a much better dancer than me, and this is the sort of life she dreams of, parties, dances, handsome knights,"

"I'll take that as you calling me handsome," he winked, making Eddmina roll her eyes in amusement. "But don't worry, I'll go ask her,"

As Garlan headed off to the Stark table, Eddmina watched with a smirk as he offered Sansa his arm, especially as her sister grinned in delight. High Garden seemed to be the exact place Sansa would flourish, it was the exact sort of life she dreamed of in her more humble dreams, the ones where she settled to be called a lady rather than a princess or a queen. Watching her sister move elegantly across the dancefloor, Eddmina suddenly felt rather annoyed with herself, knowing that no matter how much she liked Willas, she felt as though she had stolen the sort of life her sister would thrive in while she merely struggled along, like a weed among the rosebushes.

"Do you want to dance?" a quiet voice called her out of her thoughts, and she turned to see her other new brother, Loras.

Loras was the one Tyrell sibling she hadn't spent much time with at all. He'd kept to himself in Winterfell, just as out of place in the North as Eddmina was in the South, and he was much closer to Margery than to his brothers. She'd barely seen him around High Garden, but that was probably due to her spending more time in the library while he was out training. Even with their lack of familiarity, she was glad for his presence and so quickly took him up on his offer, smiling slightly as he took her arm and they began to dance.

She'd hoped dancing would distract her from her thoughts, but she found herself more self-conscious, feeling the gaze of both Margaery and Renly Baratheon burning into her from where they were sat. She was unsure why his friend Renly would care so much about them dancing, but tried not to let it bother her, knowing she'd happily take being watched and the struggle to not stand on Loras' toes over the dark pit of thoughts she had been falling into.

"I'm sorry we haven't spoken much," Loras said after a moment, and as Eddmina attempted not to trip she tried to smile to show she hadn't taken offence. "I've not been very welcoming or sociable to you,"

"It's alright, I didn't expect to upheave everyone's lives and make everyone focus on me just because I've come to live in High Garden," she told him lightly. "Though I guess we're family now,"

"I'm glad it's you he's married," Loras said, referencing Willas, and before she had the chance to glance over to her new husband, he added, "Rather than the southern girls grandmother wasted her time suggesting to him. Since Winterfell he's not been as miserable lately, he clearly likes you,"

"Oh, well that's good," she said, trying not to smile as she felt her face turn hot. In an attempt to distract from her blush, she nodded her head over in the direction of Loras' table, where his sister and friend were sat. "I didn't realise you were friends with the Baratheons,"

"I was Lord Renly's squire," he answered, suddenly awkward as he struggled to meet her eye. "He was there when I was knighted, we kept in touch,"

It didn't take a genius to work out what Loras was so desperately trying to hide, though Eddmina knew not to say anything. She changed the conversation, silently hoping that one day Loras would trust her enough as a sister to let her in on the secret of his true self. If she had to live in High Garden for the rest of her life, she could only hope to build bonds between her new family to begin to find some sort of belonging.

As the song finished, Loras bowed his head at her and kissed her hand, ever the knight, and before Eddmina had the chance to escape back to her seat she felt someone else grab her arm. Looking up, she saw Robb, and instead of making to dance with her, he nodded his head in the direction of the door. Nodding, she led him out of the hall quickly before anyone could notice them, and as soon as they were in the hallway, the echoes of the party calling to them, she let him pull her into a tight hug.

"I can't believe this is the first time I'm talking to you today," she breathed out as he squeezed her tightly. "Robb, gods, you're going to crush me,"

"Sorry," he apologised, putting her down as he let out a long sigh, flopping back against the walls, stonewalls like at home, except with a dozen tiny roses carved into each one. "You look lovely, by the way,"

"You scrub up well yourself," she gestured to his smart leathers with a smirk, moving to rest against the wall right next to him. "How's everyone else?"

"Theon's already left, apparently the prince of Dorne suggested an establishment to him that was just too good not to visit," Robb said as he rolled his eyes.

"Gods, Theon and the Prince of Dorne going to a brothel together," Eddmina said, desperately trying to keep a straight face before she broke down into laughter, Robb following her shortly. "What about Sansa and Arya?"

"Arya's offended that some Lord's son asked her to dance and Sansa's offended that Arya refused, so nothing new, even at your wedding our sisters can't stop arguing," Robb explained with a laugh. "Though I do believe Sansa will probably cry that Ser Garlan asked her to dance. She'll probably talk about it the whole way home,"

"You can thank me for that one," she muttered with a small smirk before she was reminded of her dark thoughts from before. "I thought it would make her happy. She'd be happy here, this is the sort of life  Sansa dreams of, and she'd be so much better at all of this than me. Maybe I should have just cut my hair and run off to the wall when I was thirteen,"

"Calm down, Danny Flint," Robb remarked, referencing the tragic song of his sister's hero. "Cutting your hair wouldn't have disguised you much, Uncle Benjen would have recognised you with one look and you'd have been sent straight home to suffer mother's rants,"

"I've suffered enough of those before," she rolled her eyes before sighing, sinking to the floor, shutting her eyes and resting her head against the wall, feeling overwhelmed by everything. "I don't think I'll be a very good wife. I want to be, I want to do right by the family and I want to be honourable like father taught us to be, but at the end of it all, I'm not Sansa and I don't think I'm right for any of this,"

"Edd..." Robb sighed, kneeling down next to her, stroking her back reassuringly. "You are right, and you are good enough. You have always been right just the way you are. Forget mother and the septa and any other shit anyone has ever said, you are strong and you are right for this. You might not even realise it, but I think if you weren't right for it you wouldn't be here, you wouldn't go along with a charade of shit, even if it would bring the family honour. You're here not just because it's the good and proper thing to do, but because I think part of you wants to be,"

"How'd you know that?" she muttered bitterly, hating just how her brother could reassure any of her worries so easily.

"Because I'm your brother but mostly because I'm not blind, to anything," he shrugged with a small flickering smile. "I think regardless of honour you're quite smitten with your new husband, and you like his family, and as different as it is to home, I think part of you likes High Garden. If you didn't, you wouldn't be here, and you definitely wouldn't look at Willas the way you do,"

Eddmina felt her face flush hot yet again, and was glad that the dim light of the corridor hid her blush. She hated just how right Robb was, that he seemed to explain everything so simply and make her see sense out of her confusion, yet she loved it all the same. He was her brother, he knew her better than anyone, perhaps even herself sometimes.

Without another word she moved position to wrap her arms around him, wishing she could be with him forever. When she was with her twin, the world didn't seem as daunting. When she was with Robb, Eddmina felt fearless.

"Robb, Eddie," a small voice called, and they both looked up to see Arya, her arms folded boredly over her chest, her hair no longer neat and tidy but instead frizzed all over out of her braids. "What're you doing?"

"Hiding from the southerners," Eddmina joked, getting to her feet and ruffling her sister's hair, making her grin. "What're you doing?"

"Mother's sent me away, she says it's impolite and not ladylike to throw food at Sansa while she's dancing," Arya told them both in an annoyed voice, and both twins attempted to bite back their laughter. "If it was that bad then why was father laughing as I did it?"

"Because father doesn't hae to be ladylike like we have to," Eddmina said dryly as Arya scowled.

"Whatever, will you show me back to my room, Eddie?" Arya asked, smiling at her favourite sister, calling her the nickname that only she used.

"I'll take you, wouldn't want you getting lost and causing even more havoc," Robb suggested, knowing that their sister couldn't leave the party yet.

Arya nodded, and as Robb bent down she quickly leapt up onto his back, wrapping her arms around his neck to secure her position. The sight made Eddmina's heart ache, wishing she could go off with her siblings and hide from the party, but as Robb squeezed her hand, she knew what she had to do.

"Don't drop her," Eddmina warned her twin. "I'll see you both in the morning,"

With that the two of them headed off down the corridor and Eddmina was left listening after their laughter, preferring the sound of it to the laughs and shouts coming over the music from the hall. She was pretty sure the band were playing some sort of song from House Lannister, one that she thought boring and dull, so took a deep breath, preparing herself to go back in, forming a plan to just head straight to the top table and refuse anymore dance requests.

A figure met her at the doorway mere seconds before she entered the hall. She found herself sighing with relief as she realised it was Willas, though her relief quickly turned to confusion as he kissed her on the cheek and took her arm, beginning to lead her down the corridor in the opposite direction Robb and Arya had just gone in. He seemed urgent and sneaky, like he was trying to hide them both from someone, ocassionally looking around his shoulder until they got round a corner and he stopped them both, letting out his own sigh before offering her a small smile intended to reassure her.

"I'm sorry for practically stealing you away from the hall, but it was getting late," he explained, making her frown. "I had Garlan distract my parents, and Margaery volunteered herself to distract some of our uncles. I saw you leave with your brother and thought it best to leave before anyone else noticed how late it was getting,"

"What about..." she began but smirked as she realised his plan. "I didn't realise you were as opposed to the blasted bedding ceremony as me,"

"Of course, it's crude and degrading," he replied. "Garlan nearly broke someone's nose at his own wedding when someone tried touching Leo, and I have to say I would proably do the same if someone suggested the ceremony,"

"What a gentleman," she joked, the two of them continuing on their way slowly.

Willas didn't respond, merely grinning at her, unlooping their arms so instead he could hold her hand properly. A silence fell between them, the only noise being the faint echoes of the party they'd left behind and the clicking of Willas' cane on the marble floor. Eddmina worried that her hand was sweating as her husband held it, but she tried not to think about it, or what was to come. Even without the ceremony she was nervous, but at least it was just the two of them, for the first time in a long time.

It was funny how after years of thinking about her marriage she could still be surprised by the reality. It felt strange to her that she was walking hand in hand through a beautiful keep with a handsome husband. It felt strange that this was to be her life now. No longer a Stark by name, now a rose of High Garden. It had been a reality she had been struggling with the whole day, but seemed a little easier once they were away from everything, the presence of just Willas without the party seeming much more comforting.

"You're thinking," Willas said, breaking the silence. "What's bothering you?"

"Nothing," she told him, shaking her head. "It's been a long day,"

"It has," he agreed, just as they reached the door to his rooms. "You must be exhausted,"

"You must be too, I'm not the only one who got married today," she pointed out, making him chuckle slightly.

Willas opened the doors, and for some reason even though she had only been in his room a few days before it felt much bigger. It looked as though he'd tidied up his books and papers and had made room for her to move in. She looked around the room as Willas shut the door, locking it behind him, giving them both their first bit of privacy all day.

"Well, Lady Tyrell," he said, putting his hand on her shoulder gently before letting out a quiet laugh. "That sounds odd still,"

"Thank you, by the way, for getting me out of there before... well, before people started to want the ceremony," she said, looking round at him as she let out a sigh of almost relief. "I wanted to say it before, but thank you. I'd been dreading it all night, practically all day even,"

"You're welcome, but trust me, I mean it that you're not the only one who wanted to avoid the bedding ceremony," he told her lightly, smiling as he examined her beauty. "Your hair's been up all day, will you let me take it down for you?"

Eddmina nodded, trying to hide her amusement that Willas wanted to do her hair, but as he led her to the dressing table he noticed her small smirk and let out a quiet laugh of his own.

"Take a seat," Willas gestured to the stool in front of the mirror. "Do you know how many times Margaery used to make me brush out her hair for her when we were younger? It was enough times to know having such a complicated braid in all day hurts and if you leave it, it can knot. I'd hate to think of you being uncomfortable,"

He was so caring, and Eddmina tried to hide just how amazed she was at his kindness. She obliged his request, sitting down in front of the mirror and taking off her crown of roses. He stood behind her, his reflection in the mirror showing him frowning in focus as he began to carefully unpin her hair. As soon as the first few pins were out the braid fell from its secure place, making her let out a long sigh of relief. She'd not realised just how tight the halo braid had been, and at her relief Willas smiled softly, running his fingers through her long curls, combing his hands through until it was all free of the braid, tumbling down her back in dark waves.

He lent round and picked up the hairbrush on the dresser, the one that had clearly been put there specifically for her, and as he brushed through all her curls she realised just how comfortable she was in his presence. For a moment she shut her eyes, relaxing as she stretched her shoulders slightly, not understanding until that moment just how tense she had been all day. Before then the two of them had been constantly watched, their families expectations baring down on them, but now they were both just free to be themselves and relax.

As soon as Willas finished brushing her hair she rose from the stool, taking hold of his hands as he put the brush down. She lent close and kissed his cheek, offering him a smile as she pulled away. 

"Thank you," she told him quietly.

"You're welcome. Would you like a drink? I've some wine, or rum? Or just water?" He offered, but she knew he was trying to distract her from the inevitable, so she squeezed his hands tightly, reminding him of what they had to do. "Eddmina, I just want you to know... We don't have to do anything at all if you don't want to. We don't have to do anything until you're sure you're ready,"

That was unexpected. She thought he would want her, she thought it would be her who was the hesitant one. She'd never experienced such behaviour, as she was used to Theon who was much too centred on his own desires to truly worry himself over her comfort, but Willas was not Theon. Willas was kind and courteous, and Willas was someone she cared about more than any other man save her brothers and father.

"Willas..." she sighed before leaning forward and kissing his cheek again, her lips feather light against his stubbled skin. "I am ready. Can we at least try? I'd like to try,"

"Of course, but nothing has to be rushed," he told her, moving his hand to hold her face. "Promise me the moment you feel uncomfortable you'll tell me, and we'll stop. I only want to be good to you, Eddmina, I will never hurt you or make you feel unsafe, I promise,"

She nodded, and with that he pushed a kiss to her lips. It was slow and gentle at first, but the passion quickly grew between the two of them. It wasn't a soft kiss of affection like they had given each other to seal the marriage vows, more like a continuation of the kisses from the night before, where both of them finally expressed their feelings and desires. Clearly they had left much untold the night before, as soon Eddmina felt completely and utterly overcome in her lust for him, a feeling she'd never truly felt before. With their mouths moving in sync, his tongue running along her bottom lip before entering her mouth, both of them felt completely dependent on the other. Before either of them knew it they were breathless, and as they pulled away to catch their breath, Eddmina had a moment of bravery, turning her back to Willas and exposing the ties of her dress to him.

"Will you help me with my dress?" She asked, looking over her shoulder to him.

He seemed a little shocked at her question at first, as if he wasn't sure what to do, but he quickly began to undo the buttons and unlacing the ties. Soon the rich fabric fell away into a pool of lace on the floor, and as Eddmina stepped out in just her corset and underdress, she realised this was the most naked anyone had ever seen her, though there was no one she trusted more than Willas.

"I don't know how to undo corsets," he confessed with a defeated laugh, though his hands still moved to attempt the tight fastenings.

"Here," she put her hands on top of his, helping him work it off her, and as it dropped to the floor she took in a deep breath. "Thank Gods,"

Eddmina made to take off her underdress next, but Willas stopped her, taking hold of her hand and squeezing it gently. He lifted her hand to his lips and placed gentle kisses against her knuckles, making her sigh as she relaxed a little more. With her free hand, she began to unlace his shirt, working it off him as he laughed at her determination. He dropped her hand and instead moved his to cup the back of her head, bringing her in for another kiss. It deepened and became passionate much quicker than their last kiss, the pair of them getting lost in each other.

Eddmina was completely enthralled in him, thrilled that she was married to someone she liked so much. She was so lucky, most couples were shy around each other for months and go on to hate each other for years, but not Willas. She felt foolish for liking him so much so quickly, but he seemed to share her feelings. In fact they were so lost in their kisses neither of them had really noticed that they had worked off Willas's outer garments, leaving him stood shirtless in just his trousers. At the realisation he seemed to flush pink, pulling away from her and biting his lip.

"You're... Oh Gods, I never thought about this part," he muttered a little bitterly as if desperately trying not to sound embarrassed. "I'm sorry, you're going to have to see my leg,"

"Why're you sorry?" She frowned, taking hold of his hand once more. "If anyone should be sorry it's me, are you in pain?"

"No, no, it only aches a little now and again, but..." he explained but trailed off. "It's a blessing the Maesters could save it after the accident, but they weren't overly concerned with making it look nice. I'm surprised you've never asked about it,"

"I never thought you'd want me to," she told him honestly, squeezing his hand. "I thought you'd care more about what I thought of you as a person than what I thought about your bad leg,"

"You're very kind," he offered her a small smile before laughing nervously. "The maesters recommended me to keep it straight through the daytimes, hence the brace, but if we're married now it's only right you see it. It is a part of me, after all,"

With that, still hand in hand he led her to the bed. He gestured for her to sit, and as soon as she did he carefully took off his trousers, his lower half now only covered by his underwear and the brace that fixed his right leg into correct position. Sitting down next to her, he carefully propped his cane against the bedside table where he usually placed it, and began to unlatch the buckles that kept the brace tightened. Being the heir of the Reach meant his family had spared no expense where his health was concerned, and he knew he was lucky to have such a contraption to make his life easier, but he knew Eddmina had never seen anything like it, her curious gaze watching him closely. The passion they'd previously experienced seemed to evolve into quiet understanding  as Eddmina's hand rested on his, helping him with the stiffer buckles, but as soon as it was loose and dropped to the floor with a clatter, his bad leg was exposed for her to see.

It wasn't as bad as he made it out to be, but she could tell just how painful it must have been. The skin of his leg below the knee was scarred from the bone breakages, whilst his whole leg looked bruised, light red and purple splotches gracing his leg up and down, and though his ankle was swollen and twisted the worst part was his knee. No amount of work from maesters could hide the fact his knee cap had been crushed, and she instantly understood his remarks about his struggles with stairs. Though the leg seemed to contradict the left one next to it, battered and bruised while the other remained perfectly intact, Eddmina knew just how brave he must have been to sustain an injury like that.

"Gods, Willas, that must have hurt so badly," she breathed out carefully before her hand reached out, taking hold of his cheek, making his face move so he would meet her eyes. "But it is a part of you. It's a mark of how brave you are, and I do not think it is anything to be embarrassed of,"

"Surely when you thought of your future husband you never thought of one who would struggle to walk up a flight or stairs, or one unable to walk without a cane?" He pointed out, though Eddmina sighed at his pessimistic self-depreciation.

"When I thought of my future husband, I thought of a man who would probably bore me or attempt to be cruel to me, when I thought about marriage it was always to someone for the benefit of my family and the north," she told him firmly. "This marriage might have been for our families, but I like you, Willas, I like all of you,"

She lent over and kissed his cheek softly and though Willas made to kiss her properly, she pulled away. Before she could regret it, she rose from her position and walked around to the other side of the bed. Willas shifted his position, moving so he was sat properly on the bed, his back against the headboard and his legs stretched out in front of him, though his gaze was fixed firmly on his wife, who smirked at him slightly. Her confidence soaring, she undid the ties of the underdress and it fell to the floor, leaving her completely naked.

Willas stared at her wide eyed, taking in the sight of her. At first he felt as though he was invading her privacy and looked away, though Eddmina cleared her throat, clearly wanting him to look at her, and so as he glanced at her face and saw her nod with an encouraging smile, he took in the sight of the rest of her body. He'd always thought she was beautiful, but seeing all of her he realised she was actually magnificent. He was in awe of her, not just her figure but her confidence, which seemed to increase as she climbed onto the bed, leaning over and taking his hand as she moved closer to him.

"You're... Gods, Mina..." he breathed out, though before he had chance to tell her how beautiful she was, her mouth was on his once more and the two of them gave in to their passions.

***

Word count:5753

***