#jay stark

“We cannot,” she giggled, glancing earnestly around the deserted corridor. “It is not allowed.”

“In a little more than a month you shall be my wife? Who can tell us what is and isn’t allowed?” he chuckled, drawing her back into a kiss that stole the very breath from her lungs, his fingers tangling in her long dark hair.

It was fair to say that when Emilia’s father had informed her of her impending marriage to the youngest of the Stark sons, she had been less than impressed. Jay Stark might be a seemingly sweet young man but she hardly knew him! They had played together occasionally as children, back before her mother died and visits from the world beyond the Island were still a frequent indulgence. But, she argued, this was hardly enough of a bond on which to form a life together.

But according to Lord Joran Mormont, this was far from sufficient grounds for a refusal. Lord Stark himself had insisted on the match many years earlier, and Emilia’s father wasn’t about to start a war over something as trifling as his daughter’s future happiness. Besides, he had thought in his private moments, the boy had accompanied his father at Mormont Keep for Emilia’s nameday celebrations, and he seemed harmless enough. Little like his father, but in truth, that could only recommend him to Joran.

And so, whether she liked it or not, Emilia was to marry the young wolf, and now it was her turn to repay the honour of their visit by journeying to Winterfell and their engagement be made official. And as Jay's elder brother James was set to marry in a few weeks, as a future Stark bride herself, Emilia was expected to attend and assist in the preparations.

Not used to travel or large audiences since childhood, Emilia tried not to shrink as she was announced, forced to walk the length of the Stark’s great hall to where the family waited, seated behind a heavy wooden table.

Here we stand.

She chanted her House motto in her head as she travelled the long length of the room, channelling her inner Bear as she reached the row of waiting faces. The Stark sons offered warm, if somewhat contained, smiles of welcome, and Jay even dared give her a brief, encouraging nod, and it bolstered her spirits enough to lift her chin defiantly under the the piercing glare of the father and the cold, haughty gaze of the mother.

It was an open secret that Lord Jared Stark was a brute with a vile temper, and even at her distance from the table, Emilia could make out a line of black and purplish bruising, barely hidden behind the high collar of Lady Stark's dark dress. There was a reason she was nicknamed Purple Alysse, her maid Annila had told her on the journey.

She tried not to shiver, and clasping her hands more tightly behind her back, Emilia stared them down with quiet determination. Let them find fault with her, if they dared. She would show them why her family’s sigil was a Bear.

In the short weeks leading up to the wedding Emilia was often with Lady Rose Tyrell, James Stark's future wife. A year or two older than her, beautiful and charming, with a sharp wit and mischievous twinkle in her eye, Emilia liked Rose on sight. There was much to be arranged for the wedding celebrations and whilst it was rare that she and Jay Stark were left unattended without the watchful eye of Annila, or in the company of James and his future wife, the pair had grown fond of one another.

In fact, she thought, as she pulled back to catch her breath, his wide grin echoed on her own face, fond might be an understatement for the feeling that presently danced in her stomach.

NEXT

Oof, it’s just coming out of my brain too quickly today besties 😂 Thank you again to @justrainandcoffee for letting me borrow her OCs in the family Stark - check out her own GoT AU works here!

Tag list: @mischievouslittlecreature @justrainandcoffee @evita-shelby @call-sign-shark @peakyswritings

@novashelby @wonderlanddreamer @darklydeliciousdesires @shelbydelrey

If you want to be added to the tag list for this departure into insanity just let me know! 🤭

Living in an era when direwolves are easy to find, these animals are frequently seen around the Starks lands and forests. And the brothers have their own pack. These are siblings and the father of them still lives in Winterfell but it's an old direwolf, who spent his days eating and sleeping. His name is Atlas and for years accompanied Lord Jared I, around his lands. Legend says that more than once tasted human flesh.

Atlas helped to create numerous puppies in his life, but these are the last ones.

Rasalas, the dark grey, belongs to Jared. His name means head of lion.

Alphard, the black one, belongs to James. His name means solitary.

Ara, the brownish, belongs to Jay. While her brothers were named after stars, she was after a constellation. She's the only female of the litter. And one day she'll escape and will return with puppies inside her. Don't tell Jay.

All three are quite aggressive so please don't pet them, no matter how fluffy they look, until their owners allow it.