Sun House

Arwyn giggled again. "Oh, I wouldn't mind, but it's such a bad example, isn't it? Can't we...say the vows in private, just between ourselves, and then we can do as we please, and have a proper ceremony in the capital?"

Leona made a face of disappointment. "Oh! But it's so much more fun watching my sister's face grow red. I bet you were whispering wicked things to her, weren't you, my lord?" She gave him a sly glance.

Arwyn shuddered and whispered to Baelon "My sweet sister likes to pretend she is more knowledgeable than she claims. I very much doubt she really knows what she speaks of. At least, I hope so!" She looked sternly at her sister. "Stay here, Leona."

She linked her arm through Baelon's. "We could go to the sept? Or would you prefer somewhere else? I know your family worships different gods."

"I would prefer that," Arwyn confessed as she led him to the sept. It was unoccupied though someone had lit tallow candles at each of the altars. Only one though, since they had little enough to spare for their gods.

"What shall we do now?" She asked.

"Umm...um...I don't know." Arwyn frowned, because she hated not knowing things. "We've not had many weddings here. I was quite young at the last one. At proper weddings there's cloaks and a septon. I think we have to say that we take each other in the sight of the gods, something like that."

"Love, mayhaps." But she flushed when she said it, knowing it was presumptuous and a maiden's dream and she wouldn't be a maiden much longer.

She looked at her hands enclosed in his then up at him with a nervous smile.

"I, Arwyn Cuy, swear to you, Baelon Waters, that i shall be you wife from this day forth. I shall care for you, honour and support you. An love you too, I hope. Your family shall be my family. I swear it by the Seven."

She leaned forward and kissed him briefly.

She was even more flushed after the kiss. She smiled and said "My bedchamber will be safe enough. I've the right to remain undisturbed in my own castle, after all. Let's hurry, before I lose my nerve."

Arwyn giggled but it trailed off somewhat feebly. "I'm a maid on her wedding day. Aren't I supposed to be nervous?"

She opened her door when they reached it, ushered him inside and barred the door. She looked at Baelon with shining eyes but there was anxiety there too.

"You know what to do, don't you? I heard the man usually knows more than the woman."

////////////////////

Aerion awoke with a scream, swinging his arm up to catch his chest only to find it still hanging uselessly in its protective sling. He swore as he steadied himself and tried to slow his breathing. Despite the coolness of the air, he rose, stark naked as the day he was born and pushed open the window. A cold breeze bit at him, but he did not care. There he saw it, taunting him over the Summer Sea. A red moon. Vermithor's moon, his father had called it. He steadied himself on the window's ledge and slowly the tears came.

He sat alone that morning, breaking his fast on a meager meal of bread and meat, when they came to him. A raven had come in the night, bearing ill tidings. Lord Baelor Targaryen was dead. Aerion said nothing, simply nodding his head as he received the account of his only living brothers' death. It was long after the messenger had left and his meal had gone cold that Aerion realized that he had never quite felt so alone.

"We don't agree often Waters, but on this we do." He called a serving girl to bring them a cup of wine each and raised his to toast. "For...uhh..." He'd never been one for words and he looked to Baelon for help.

Aerion took a long, drawn out drink. "He was good to me. I think he understood." Aerion paused to think before continuing, "He convinced me to journey to Essos when Aenar..." He sipped again. "I think he knew. What Aenar planned. What I was like." He shrugged. "Though I suppose that's what big brothers are for, no?"

Aerion nodded solemnly and took a drink. "How do you want to die, Baelon?"

Aerion grimaced at the light-hearted response. "I don't think I've ever considered that question till today. Aenar died quick and violently; Baelor, slow and painfully." He drank. "Though I suppose it doesn't matter does it? We don't have alot of choice in the matter."