#rose tyrell

What do you think happiness is made of? A summer sunset? A cat purring? The smell of rain? A kiss under the stars? Maybe all those. But for James Stark happiness was the moment his blue eyes found the figure of Rose Tyrell smiling at him from the distance, because it was the moment he believed happiness existed.

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The Tourney at King's Landing organised by Amos Bolton to celebrate the wedding anniversary between him and Queen Heavenerys, reunited all Westeros in those three days were it was expected to be full of joy, gluttony and lust, disguised as a show to demonstrate the power that the seven Great Houses had.

"Wolf! You came!" exclaimed Amos Bolton with a big smile, approaching his friend when the committee coming from the North, finally arrived at the Capital. The Stark sigils flying with the wind, while a long line of soldiers wearing dark uniforms caused more than one to turn their heads to see them. The Starks were, after all, something to admire.

The three brothers wearing heavy cloaks that weren't appropriate for the warm weather in the south, dismounted their horses with elegance and they were received with courtesy by lord Bolton. But of all them, James Stark was the one with whom Amos Bolton had the most special bond. He respected the eldest one Jared, the Lord and Ruler of the North now that their father was incapacitated to make decisions about anything in his life, and he was cordial towards the youngest one, Jay with whom he barely spoke more than three words. But James Stark was different. For some reason both personalities completely opposite one from the other, fit perfectly well.

"Amos, it's good to see you again," James said. "I did come, yes."

"Thought you wanted to stay in Winterfell hiding from the world."

"That's what I wanted to do, but my brothers insisted."

"Just because your brothers insisted? Not to celebrate my wedding anniversary? I'm profoundly offended," he said pretending to be mad, but he was smiling. Amos put a hand on his shoulder "I organised all this for us, for her, and it'll be great! So, I'm glad you're here despite I know you want to return to Winterfell as soon as possible. Will you be part of the joust?"

"No, I don't think so. Jared will, he talked about it all way here. And thanks for the invitation, I'm glad I decided to come, too."

A group of girls passed by them, giggling loudly and making eye contact in a very flirtatious way. Amos smirked.

"There are plenty of these," he said "and the fact that the three of you are single, it's just a very tempting addition."

"I'm not interested."

"I know. But get used to it because, my dear friend, these days will be like that. Winning the heart of a Stark it's like winning the major prize."

In an attempt to change the subject, James asked his friends about those who was already there.

"The rest of my family," he said "even the undesirable ones and the Tullys arrived earlier yesterday. Some lesser houses did it last night. The first ones to be here were the Lannister and we expect the rest, like Martell, tonight and tomorrow morning."

"Everyone is truly here," James replied and his friend nodded.

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"I will beat them!" the voice of Lewis Tyrell filled the carriage where him and his two eldest siblings were.

"You can't even beat your own sparring," Samwell replied, rolling his eyes. "These are men not kids. Men that could eat you alive if you gave them the chance."

"You don't need to be so graphic, Sam" their sister, and the eldest of the three Tyrell children, said "he's just saying. He's not stupid."

"He's stupid if he thinks he can win against them."

"And so are you if you think he's talking seriously. Or if you think papa will allow it, honestly, Sam..."

"Thanks, Rosie," Lewis said and then added looking at his brother "as far as I am concerned, I only have one sibling and it's her."

Living with brothers wasn't easy, but Rose knew she could never trade her daily doses of them annoying her for anything.

While her brothers kept fighting, she looked through the window. Some years passed since she visited King's Landing. Last time she was there Heavenerys was still a princess and not the Queen, so, it'd been a while. She hoped to see her, even when her duties now were different from years ago. Rose remembered very well how kind was the princess with her and her family. And the dragons, oh hell, she did remember that night very well. It was the first and only time she managed to touch one briefly because the Queen ordered him to stay still. It was, no doubt, the most exciting experience until that moment and probably the most wholesome thing that will ever happened to her.

There was King's Landing with her overcrowded streets and old buildings. People yelling at eachother and sellers offering their products to all those who'd be a potential costumer, dogs running through people's legs and that particular smell that not even in thousand years was going to be part of Highgarden and yet, with all that, there was something fascinating about the city that lady Rose Tyrell couldn't explain but she liked it.

"We're close," she said to both boys, finally looking at them "and I swear to the Seven that if you don't behave right now, the one who will enjoy eating you alive it'll be me. So, you're going to start acting like humans again before I count three. Do you understand me?"

Both brothers nodded and she smiled, looking at the city again. Yes, it was good to be there again and the tourney, even when organised by Amos Bolton, seemed to be quite interesting and the opportunity to see something new.

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As Rose imagined, Queen Heavenerys was busy but she sent a note to her apologizing and saying that she was going to be there with her as soon as she could. Fortunately, she wasn't alone because the one who was accompanying her was Lucilla Bolton, cousin of Heavenerys husband, and a very dear friend of hers. One that she knew since they were toddlers.

Both ladies were walking through the land where tents were disposed and while around them bards were singing and jugglers were animating people. Sun was starting to get down and around them bonfires were being prepared. Some kids passed running next to both girls.

"It's the wedding anniversary, so, of course he forced us to come. My father could never say no to that bastard," Lady Lucilla, or Lucy, was saying "Did you hear the expression 'you can do better'? Well, Hev could do better. What did she see in my cousin? The hell! Don't tell her I said this! She's really happy with him and even when I hate to admit it, she's everything to him. But still doesn't change the fact that he's my cousin and I hate that we're here for him."

"Well, we're here for everything but him, especially my father, if that helps," Rose said "the shows, the musicians, the tourney... That kind of things are always nice. And the fucking dragons, I'm not going to lie."

She could see the excitement on her friend's eyes at the mention of it as a clear evidence that it was a mutual feeling. Only a very bitter person couldn't be interested in dragons. Westeros was under the Targaryen's dynasty so their animals were part of them.

Not far from where both ladies were, Lord Bolton was showing his friend one of the most interesting tents around. It was made to keep safe some of the weapons that were going to be used during the tourney.

"I thought you would appreciate this," he said looking around. "Some of these cost the money we paid for them and luckily, some lords will be willing to buy them."

"You do know how to do business, Amos."

"What can I say, Stark, apart from 'you're right?' but not everything is business and money. I have something for you," Lord Bolton walked to a table where a leather box was laying on it. "Open it."

When James did it, inside found a new and expensive bow and six arrows that only looking at them you could say that were made to kill. He picked up one them and examined closed. There was a wolf engraved on them and so was on the bow.

"This is magnificent," James finally said. "Amos, thank you."

"No need. I imagined you'd like it and I'm glad you're accepting it. Do you want to try them?"

"I don't think it's wise considering it's getting dark very quickly, but tomorrow morning I will. I saw the targets coming here."

"Everything here was made to be enjoyable, so whenever you want, you can use it."

Both Northern men were leaving the tent when Amos snorted when he saw his cousin Lucilla and Rose outside the tent, even when they didn't see him.

"You're fucking lucky that your family is just you and your brothers, James, you don't know what it is to deal with members you don't like?"

"Do you really think I don't know about that? Just me and my brothers? Are you sure?"

"I'm sorry. I'm really sorry, I didn't mean that. I was referring to another kind unpleasant relatives. The other part of the Boltons that doesn't act like such and the best example is right there," he said pointing at the red haired girl "She's such a pain in the ass for someone so small."

"Who is she?" James asked finally looking in the same direction as Amos.

"My cousin Lu..."

"The other one."

Amos frowned "You don't know who she is? That's Lady Rose Tyrell, firstborn of the fucker of Lord Samwell Tyrell," he answered. "The thorny rose of Highgarden. If you get too close, she'll prick you."

It was in that moment that Rose turned around and saw him and for few seconds they stared at eachother. But it was when she smiled that James doubted about his friends words. It couldn't be true, not when she was looking at him like that.

And if it was true, the beauty of the rose worth the thorn in the wolf's paw.

NEXT

It was said that Rose Tyrell was one of the fairest maidens in all the Seven Kingdoms. Or so Emilia had been told in her lessons with Maester Koryn, who made it his mission that his young charge should know as much as possible about the other great Houses in the land, and the heirs of offspring that would be her peers across the realm. The only daughter of Lord Samuel Tyrell, it was rumoured that the Rose of Highgarden’s dowry may exceed even that of the Lannisters'.

A prize worth coveting, if you were as grasping and scheming as Lord Jared Stark, hellbent on also securing a foothold further South.

Dragging his middle son - now heir to Winterfell after his eldest son, Jared, had displeased him several year's earlier - down to the Reach, Lord Stark set about negotiating the match with the girl's father. And most importantly, securing her dowry.

But to the surprise of all - or perhaps not, given her sweetness and beauty, and his unexpectedly kind temperament - James Stark and Lady Rose Tyrell fell deeply in love in the space of his short visit to her lands. And so it was that whilst there was much fanfare and joy at their impending union across the Reach, it was with great reluctance they parted when he set off back to Winterfell to prepare for her arrival.

Although, there was one person in the Reach to whom the match was not a source of jubilation.

For many years, since he was barely more than a child, Alfred Baratheon, the young Stag of the Stormlands had been living with the Tyrell family. And as childhood gave way to adolescence, the close friendship he enjoyed with Rose Tyrell had transformed into something different. Hopelessly in love with her, he had confessed his feelings and a brief courtship had ensued. But, alas, she did not feel the same strength of attachment to him - where he longed to marry, she had come to accept that, for her, he could never be more than just a friend.

Rose was not indifferent to Alfie's suffering - in fact his distress at her rejection hurt her deeply. So in an attempt not to compound his pain she withheld the simple truth: that unless her father compelled her to make the match, she would not.

Perhaps it was the unfortunate timing of her gentle attempt to make him understand her feelings, falling, as it did, just the day before James Stark's arrival. Or perhaps he was simply not ready to face the truth. But regardless, Alfie could not accept that she was to marry another, nor the fact that she was in love with the quiet young man from the North.

But Rose Tyrell could not have known that to marry for love would bring half of Westeros to its knees in war.

The war of the Wolf, the Rose and the Stag.

*****

It was the night before the wedding when their world turned upside down.

Emilia did not feel she had been asleep for more than a few minutes, though later Annila told her it had been several hours, when a great crashing noise echoed through the castle towards her. Scrambling from bed and throwing furs around her shoulders, she hurried to the door, only to be met by one of the Stark soldiers blocking her way.

"Stay inside, m'lady," he ordered, ushering her backwards but looking over his shoulder down the corridor as he spoke.

"What's going on!?" she shouted but the door slammed shut in her face and he was gone, heavy boots stomping down the hall away from her. Creaking the door open a crack, Emilia peered out into the darkness. In the distance she could hear shouting, the clashing of swords drifting towards her and her heart began to race.

Ducking back inside, she dressed swiftly and warmly, tucking her valuables into a pocket sewn into the inside of her dress like Annila had taught her. She had no sword but she had a small knife which she slipped into her belt and, hands shaking slightly, she snuck back out into the hall and towards the noise.

Turning corner after corner, the shouts of battle raising in volume with each one, she almost jumped out of her skin when a hand grabbed her from the shadows. Wriggling, she scrabbled for her knife but a familiar voice hissed in her ear.

"It's me! It's Rose!"

Turning, she saw the other girl, only a year or two older than herself, hidden in a dark fur in a niche in the wall.

"What are you doing here?"

"I could ask you the same thing," Rose said, glancing pointedly at the knife in Emilia's hand.

"I didn't want to sit and wait for whoever's attacking to get to me."

Rose smiled in the half-light, the flickering of the torches in their sconces glittering in her dark eyes.

"Me neither. But Winterfell has never fallen and it won't tonight."

"Do you know what's going on?"

A shadow passed across Rose's face. "I can guess." Boots thudded further down the corridor, closer than before and Rose clasped Emilia by the arm and dragged her into the dark with her just as two soldiers in Stark livery passed by.

"Who do you think it is?" Emilia whispered once they were safely out of earshot.

"I'd wager it's Alfred Baratheon. Though where he's got an army from I couldn't tell you."

"Baratheon..?? But why—?"

But before Rose could answer, more footsteps came hurrying towards them, and James Stark flew past. Rushing out of their hiding spot, Rose called his name and he whirled on the spot, fur cloak swishing around him as he did.

"What are you doing out here??" he hissed, clasping her to him and running a hand over her hair, only belatedly noticing Emilia over her shoulder. "What are either of you doing out here?"

"We aren't pathetic little girls who hide in our bedrooms, Jamie," Rose rebuked him, with a smile and his lips twitched for a second before he frowned.

"Well you should be. It's not safe."

"Is it him..?" Rose asked more seriously and he nodded.

"If he sees you, it'll be worse."

Nodding slowly, Rose turned to Emilia. "Come on, we should hide."

"But—"

"No buts please, Lady Mormont - it'll be more than my life is worth if my little brother finds out I let you roam around in danger," smiled James. "Róisín, please, get out of sight. We have it under control. It'll be over soon."

Emilia tried not to watch as the couple embraced, studying her fingers and the floor until Rose softly called her name.

"Come on, let's go," she smiled, taking her hand and leading them both back towards the bedrooms. "I have to be honest, this isn't quite how I imagined the night before my wedding to be," she muttered as they walked, turning down into corridors Emilia didn't recognise.

"No I expect it isn't," said Emilia, allowing Rose to usher her into a room she hadn't been in before, dark wooden furniture draped with heavy brown furs in a way that should have been somber and imposing but was in fact warm and cosy. "Where are we?"

"James's room," Rose said matter of factly, not even blushing when Emilia raised her eyebrows. "Don't look at me like that, I've seen how you and Jay look at each other."

Unlike Rose, Emilia felt herself flush a deep, burning crimson, fuelled by the memory of just the night before and the soft rap at her bedchamber door.

*****

“Can I come in?” he asked quietly, blue eyes wide.

She glanced down the dimly lit hall, seeing no one and quickly ushered him inside, wrapping a shawl around her nightgown to protect her modesty. No man had ever seen her in such a state of undress. It wasn’t proper.

“If anyone finds you here…”

He silenced her with a kiss, surprising her for a moment, before her grip on her shawl began to slip as she reached for him.

“Tell me to go and I'll go,” he mumbled against her lips, but all she could do was shake her head before she was lost again to the sweetness of his mouth.

Embers, that thus far had only ever been allowed to smoulder in his presence, burst forth into raging flames in her belly, the like of which she'd never experienced before in her young life. Hands roamed, plucking and tugging at fabric until at last their warm skin met, everything in her head screaming that this was forbidden. But as his fingers and tongue found places she scarcely knew existed, wild horses couldn’t have made her stop.

And when at last his warm weight pressed her into the mattress, kissing her slowly as sharp pain gave way to something altogether more pleasurable, she felt a deep sense of contentment she hadn't known in many years.

“I love you,” he murmured as they lay, clinging to each other, racing hearts slowly returning to steadier rhythms.

“I love you too,” she whispered, trying to ignore the stickiness that painted her belly and the strange ache between her thighs.

Laying at her side he stroked his fingers through her hair, tracing the angles of her face.

“I know we shouldn't have… but won’t be long until you are my wife.”

"I'm glad we did," she smiled but he glanced away, eyes lowered. "Jay..?" she murmured, gently running her fingers along his chin and, at last, he met her gaze again.

“I promise to be nothing like my father,” he said quietly, quelling the fear that had been building in her stomach.

“I don’t believe you ever could,” she replied, placing a tender kiss on his lips.

*****

"Ah yes, I thought as much," chuckled Rose at the colour painting Emilia's cheeks. "These Stark men… they have a way of making one feel like that."

"You won't tell..? We'll be married in a few weeks…"

"Tell?? Why on earth would I do that? He makes you happy, doesn't he? It couldn't be plainer that he loves you."

Warm pride rushed through Emilia. "He does… I love him." It felt strange to be talking of such things when the rumble of battle seeped under the door and around the edge of the windows.

Rose looped an arm around her shoulders and squeezed. "I'm so pleased we're going to be sisters. You have to promise not to stay shut up on Bear Island all the time."

"I promise," Emilia smiled, leaning her head against the older girl's.

*****

But there was to be no wedding. No happily ever after, the kind she had read in storybooks as a child - not for Emilia at any rate, not at that time at least. As dawn broke over Winterfell, Alfie Baratheon's army was pushed back in retreat and the Starks were victorious at home once again, but their number was diminished, and by one in particular.

James came to them, still in his armour, blood flecked across his cheek, tears tracking through the dirt of battle. Rose and Emilia hadn't slept, huddled together on the furs of his bed. For a time they had talked, making plans for their future as family, but eventually they had fallen silent, listening pale-faced to the violence beyond.

"Jamie…" Rose mumbled, stumbling from the bed to fling herself into his arms, caring not that he was caked in mud and blood. He held her for a long moment, breathing her in as if she alone could heal the hurt in his heart.

"I'm sorry," he whispered to Emilia after Rose pulled away, though she didn't move far, nimble, anxious fingers checking him for sign of injuries.

"Sorry about what..?" asked Emilia, her voice cracked and hoarse, panic plucking at her throat.

"Róisín, I'm fine, it's ok," he said gently, stilling his fiancée's hands, bringing them to his lips with a brief smile before he looked back to Emilia. Opening his mouth to speak, the door burst open and Annila came running into the room, skidding to a stop at the sight of James and Rose.

"Lord Stark, Lady Tyrell… forgive me, I was told—" She looked worriedly at her young charge who was sitting rooted to the spot on the bed.

"Sorry about what, James?" Emilia asked again.

"Come mi'lady, we should go back to your room…" Annila said gently, coming closer.

"Not until he tells me what's wrong," Emilia snapped, shivering from more than cold.

James shared a look with Rose and her eyes widened, an understanding passing between them that Emilia couldn't decipher. Rose detached herself from him and came to sit by her, taking her hand.

"I'm sorry my darling, but it's Jay."

Emilia frowned, her head cloudy with lack of sleep. "What about him..?"

"He's gone…" murmured James.

"Gone where..?"

"Emilia…" Rose said gently, wrapping an arm around her shoulders.

"No…" Her voice was barely a whisper. This simply couldn't be true. "No, you're mistaken…"

"I'm sorry," James said quietly and when she looked up she saw fresh tears beginning to slide down his cheeks and the force of the realisation it was true winded her, tears springing to her own eyes.

*****

The days that followed were a blur. There was no question that Rose and James's wedding could proceed as planned with the House in mourning. With it postponed indefinitely, Lord Stark occupied only with thoughts of vengeance, Emilia was sent home the day after the funeral. She couldn't seem to cry, an empty, hollow numbness filling her, her legs and arms and feet and hands operating seemingly without her involvement. The journey home took over a week but the days passed without her notice. Had it not been for Annila's watchful attendance, she wouldn't have remembered to eat, nor did she want to when the woman who had nursed her since childhood tried to encourage her to do so.

Incandescent with rage at the loss of his youngest son, Lord Jared Stark demanded Rose's father, Lord Tyrell, join him in making war against the young Stag. With a tearful parting, Rose and James were once again parted against their will, and he marched South with his father to make Alfie Baratheon pay for his crimes.

Next

Oh Jay 🥺 Sorry to kill your boy @justrainandcoffee - you might want to bop Alfie on the nose with a rolled up newspaper 🤭 (also, sorry for switching the order of the sigils but for the purposes of this I liked the idea of Rose in the middle of the two warring men, hope that’s ok!).

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

@novashelby @wonderlanddreamer @shelbydelrey @peakyswritings

Story:

Part 1: King's Landing

Part 2: The Forge

Part 3: Misunderstandings

Part 4: Summer

Part 5: The Dinner

Part 6: Final

WC total: 18k.

Moodboards

Direwolves of Winterfell

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Highgarden

The North

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First generation

Something wicked this way comes (I)

At your side

Darkly, delicately (I) by @call-sign-shark

When Jared II Stark decided that his days as head of the House Stark, ruler and warden of the North were over, that responsibility fell on the second brother: James Stark.

It was unexpected, Jared was supposed to rule till the end of his days but life put him to the test and he almost ended up dead. It was then when he decided to retire and enjoy his best years with his direwolves, wine and the occasional company of a man. It wasn't that bad, if he thought about it.

"The crown suits you, my love," she said smiling at him. His wife, lady Rose Stark entered the room where his husband for the last seven years was. The coronation happened near an hour ago. It was symbolic, he wasn't a king but it felt like one. The indomitable North had their own rules, despite claiming loyalty to the dragons.

"So does yours, my lady."

She couldn't help but smile. Rose walked towards him and holding his hands she kissed them "Just privileges I have because I married you. I'm nothing but your wife."

"No, that's not true," he replied forcing her to look at him by putting a finger under his chin. "You're more than my wife. I trust you more than my men. There are two thrones and not for me and Jared or me and Jay. But for you and me. So, from this day until our sun hides, the North and the South will hear our names as and they'll know we rule as one."

Losing control and mind, it was easier than people wanted to admit when someone was in a position of power. Humans were natural ambitious and sometimes everything wasn't enough. That's how most of the wars started because "I can do it." . Rose Stark was the most powerful woman in the North in that moment and if she stopped to think about that, it was a scary thought. She really has the power to do whatever she wanted, but it wasn't in her nature abuse of it. And either was in James. But she was going to act if she had to. Winterfell was her home now and if it fell, she was going to fell with it.

"As one," she repeated smiling at him. "I'm at your side as always, James."

"And I'm at yours, my lady of Winterfell," he finished, kissing her.

The whole week in King's Landing was extremely hot, but that day it felt like hell, most of people stayed in their tents, except for the dornish ones who were used to those temperatures.

As daughter of the South, Rose knew how to refresh her body in days like that one. It wasn't the hottest summer she lived, but it was a very hot one. In Highgarden the streams were always a good place to seek refuge of the sun and the trees around it, kept the water fresh and the one Lucy talked about were almost the same. She removed her dress and only kept her underskirts on, before diving into the water.

Incapable of tolerating the sun anymore, James Stark ride his mare and let her guide him in search of green pastures and fresh water that the forest could provide.

He heard the sound of the water before seeing it. He dismounted his animal and tied her in a tree. And then he removed his boots and shirt with the idea of swim a bit before returning to his overheated tent. But when he was approaching the stream, he heard something else. A voice, like someone singing and then, he saw her.

He was now hiding behind a tree, like a pervert, looking at lady Tyrell swimming almost naked in the stream. Of all people it had to be her, of course. He shouldn't be doing that, it was completely inappropriate. He was a Lord, educated to be one everywhere but overall, it was wrong because she was a lady and one that deserved his whole respect. But his mind insisted on watching her swimming in the stream behind the hills.

The night before they talked for the first time and it was really nice although not very long. Around two hours later, she said her parents were expecting her to have dinner and she had to go, yet, it was enough for him to end with a pleasant sensation inside his soul. He liked her in ways the lord didn't think it was possible.

And now she was again, but this time swimming alone and completely unaware of his eyes on her. The wet white gown over her body, allowed him to contemplate almost every inch of her and felt his own reacting at her. James grunted and hid behind the tree. He couldn't do that, not there at least. He forced his mind to think something unpleasant, like Victor Bolton or someone like him. He rested his forehead against the trunk and deeply inhale. Come on… He closed his eyes and forced his mind to forget about her. It wasn't easy but eventually he succeeded. But hiding wasn't an option either, so like a wolf waiting for his prey, James only apperead when she left the water and sat next to her own clothes and a basket he didn't notice until that moment.

Rose heard the crack of some branches and leaves and looked around only to see James Stark racing to the stream and diving in it.

The pear she had on her basket and wanted to eat fell from her hand and Rose simply lost her mind looking at the man in front of her. She didn't know he had been there for at least twenty minutes before showing himself, otherwise, probably her reaction could have been different. Instead, she contemplated at him and his broad shoulders while, on purpose, James turned his back at her pretending he didn't saw her.

He was, Rose thought, interesting to see. Or to be more specific, he was what septa Myra told her her as girl about knights. Strong, tall and attractive. Maybe septa Myra didn't use the word attractive, but the man in front of her was.

Rose cleared her throat and only then, James turned around. "My lady," he said from the water bowing his head.

"Some fruits from Highgarden, my lord?" she asked biting an apple.

Maybe she liked to play too, he thought looking at her while she cleaned the corner of her mouth with her finger. That, or the Old Gods were testing him.

"I'd like some, my lady," he replied swimming to her. James kissed her hand when he was in front of Rose.

"Do you really want some fruits?" she asked once he sat right to her.

"Of course, my lady, show me what Highgarden has."

Fucking tease, she thought and saw the little smile on his face.

"Alright, Lord Stark. I'll show you."

Maybe wanting to do that, or not, her hand brushed his tight while trying to grab another fruit. And that awaked something else on him.

"My lady," James said, smirking, "if you want something you know where my tent is."

"Don't be silly," she said and both laughed. James tried to grabbed the strawberry she had, but the girl moved her hand away. "No, my lord. It's me offering my food to you. So, come on, open your mouth."

They exchanged glances. That was a game both wanted to play so obeying, James opened his mouth and let her feed him. The northman bit the fruit and nodded "They're very tasty," he admitted.

"They're, right? I don't know if these are the ones we have in the Reach, but the ones we have there are everywhere. The rabbits and raccoons have a feast every spring, usually you see little bunnies jumping around with their mouths covered in red. It's adorable. You and your brothers should come and see Highgarden, it's a beautiful place."

"Not as beautiful as you," he said, catching her off guard, she looked at him trying to see if he was making fun of her, but he wasn't. His light blue eyes, fixed on her, matching the sky over their heads, shone with something else besides life. It was like fire and was burning her. "I'm tired of pretending that's not true, I can't stop thinking about you from the moment I saw you."

"Lord Sta- James," Rose she tried to say as she saw him leaning towards her, forcing her to lay down. He was a muscular big man, but when he put both of his arms at her sides, imprisoning her between him and the ground it was even more notorious. Laying on the grass, the young woman simply couldn't avoid his eyes and involuntary, also looked at his lips. A smiled appeared in his face before kissing her for the first time.

Alone, with only the sound of the water next to them and the trees protecting them from the ardent sun, both gave themselves in and forgetting what was morally right and what not, they kissed like no one else existed.

Rose put her right hand on the back of his neck, pushing him closer to her and he laid completely on her. She was conscious that the still wet clothes did little and nothing to cover her body but she felt safe with him, even when he had her at his mercy, despite the teasing between them. Any other man could have taken advantage of the situation, but not him.

"When was the last time someone told you how beautiful you are?" he asked pulling apart from her, but brushing his lips against her ear.

"I don't know and probably was my mother."

"Let me change that," he said, "you're beautiful, my lady. Like a little hummingbird.'

"Like a hummingbird?" she chuckled, stroking his jawline with her fingertips.

"The most beautiful one," James said kissing her once more.

Only when he decided to stop, before he'd lose the control over his own body, they sat again. They enjoyed the rest of the fruits while cuddling against the tree trunk and as they continue talking about their lives in the very opposite regions of the world they lived in.

.

"When we were kids," James said after few hours there "one of those little moments of happiness, if you want to call it that, it was when an old woman living in Winterfell was allowed to talk to us. She was a sweet person and she used to tell us different stories and in one of them it was the name Róisín. Róisín means little rose and for some reason, that name stayed with me."

"It's a very nice name, I never heard it!"

"I don't doubt it, it's just a legend in the North I don't think other regions are interested on that. But, it's indeed a very sweet name. Like you," he said and she felt her heart racing again. "You're Róisín, my little rose."

"Shut up, because I'm going to kiss you again and again if you keep saying nice things."

"And what's stopping you from doing so?"

Still sitting on his lap, she moved her head closer to his and kissed him. His arms holding her and his hands caressing her, only caused that they didn't want to move. It was only when was getting dark that they separated and returned each one to their respective tents with their families.

─────────────── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───────────────

It was night already when Jared visited his brother's tent. James was in bed with an arm under his head and holding a book with the other. Jared frowned, looking at him. There was something about James that didn't fit the man he usually was.

"What?" his brother asked, setting the book aside to look at him.

"I don't know, you tell me. I didn't see you all day."

"Jared, what do you want?"

The eldest brother chuckled after few seconds in silence. "You had sex. You bastard, you fucked a girl." Jared grabbed a chair and put it next to his brother's bed "Was it her? Lady Tyrell, right? It was her."

"I didn't."

"It was. James, who are you trying to fool?"

"I didn't fuck a girl. No Rose, no other one. Shut up, Jared."

"Rose?" Jared raised an eyebrow "All right, maybe I believe you that you indeed didn't have sex with her, but calling Lady Tyrell by her name means something to me. I'm the one who will have to deal with her father, if you really want this. So, James, be honest because negotiations between our house and hers is on me if you're going to take her as your wife. You know quite well that options are limited: you marry her or you let her go and eventually her father will find a suitor for your lady and eventually too, you're going to marry someone else" Jared said causing his brother to really look at him.

"I didn't come here looking for a wife, you know that."

"No, but it can happen. Or it happened already. James, tell me what do you want to do."

"Can you, please, give me the opportunity to talk to her first?"

"I can but clock is ticking. I know you don't want to hear about it, not in this terms, but if you marry her you're helping to build a strong alliance."

"She's not...fuck, don't you ever refer to her as just a simple deal between you and her father."

"She can be a deal between her father and a Lannister or one of the plenty Targaryens. It's your choice. Talk to her, but don't waste your time."

"...and if this doesn't work?" James asked before his brother could leave. "The marriage, this whole thing, what then?"

"Then you find a mistress like 95% of the married men we know. But what if it does work?" Jared replied.

.

"I can't let you go outside so late, my lady," the knight custoding her tent since the very first night, said to her when she tried to go out.

"Sir Horas, I'm just going to see my dear friend Lady Bolton."

"Should I doubt about your words, my lady?"

"Are you questioning me?"

"No, I'm just following your lord father instructions, Lady Tyrell. His orders were clear." Sir Horas, looked at her and then stood up straight again. "I cannot let you go. You should rest, my lady, night is warm and nice to sleep."

"Mmm. If I bribe you..."

Sir Horas repressed a smile. "That's not gonna work. You have nothing I'm interested in, my lady."

She sighed "Fine. Your loyalty to our House is more than appreciated, Sir Horas. I'll not forget this" she said turning around and returning to her tent.

Some problems needed drastic solutions. From one of her drawers she picked up a pair of scissors. What is a tent if not just a piece of cloth? She cut a hole in the opposite side from where the knight was and crawling beneath the cut, Rose made her way out. Silent as a shadow, she avoided to be seen and ran towards where James was.

.

He heard his name as a whisper and first thought he imagined it, until he heard it again twice more. He untied the ropes that were tying the entrance and let her in.

"Róisín, what are you doing here? It's almost midnight."

"I escaped to see you."

"What do you mean you escaped? You really escaped?"

"Technically" she said as James lit up some candles. "From day one, my father order a knight to custody my tent, you know there are delinquents everywhere, and he's a very loyal man and he didn't allow me to go out... So I cut a hole on the opposite side and escaped."

"Wait a minute, you escaped because you cut a hole in your tent?!"

"The risk is worth," she replied as James walked to her and put his hands on her waist.

"You disobeyed your father to see me?"

"I'm learning that I could do more than that for you," Rose said.

"I can see that," he said, leaning towards her to kiss her. "And I don't know if I deserve it."

"You do," the young woman said closing the distance between them, kissing him like happened that afternoon. "That's why I'm here, I'm looking for what you promised me."

"I was just... Joking," he said, feeling her hands under his clothes and his cock hardening.

"But I'm not," she replied untying his chemise that ended over the rug.

The privacy of his tent allowed them to be more comfortable about it because no one was going to see or interrupt them. James picked her up and carried her to his bed.

The intense heat in that tent, little and nothing had to do with that summer night but with the proximity between them. She allowed him to remove her nightgown and bring her closer to his body.

"You're perfect," he whispered against her chest.

"So are you," Rose replied entangling her fingers in his hair while he kissed her body.

It wasn't correct and most girls waited for their husbands to deflowered them. Or that was what the legend said, it was true that some ladies waited for their marriage but not all of them and Rose was now one of that list.

"Just take it," she whispered in his ear.

"I'm going to marry you, I fucking promise that," he responded kissing her again as he put one of her legs around him and slowly entered her for the first time. He saw her biting her lower lip to avoid any sound.

"Are you alright?" he asked and she nodded. Her warmth was driving him crazy, but the man needed to know she was fine before continuing. Her affirmative answer allowed him to move in and out slowly, first and then faster.

Her hair smelled like flowers and James felt it more intensely as he buried her head in her neck. He had no idea how Highgarden was like, but he was sure Rose brought part of her home in her skin. All about her screamed spring and it was intoxicating. Even the soft moans he could hear beneath him.

His sweet words praising her and the intensity of his movements caused a wave of pleasure she had no idea she could feel. It was the most amazing sensation she ever had in her life.

"James... I-" she used a pillow to cover her mouth as she felt her whole body shaking with pleasure but despite the pillow, she let out a sound that in silence prayed no one but her partner has heard. He was still inside her although his thrusts became erratic.

She felt his seed on her tights not longer after as a very agitated James sought her lips to kiss her.

"I like you," he said. "A lot."

"I like you, too," she said kissing him again.

.

"Come to the North with me," he asked later while holding her, brushing her arm with his fingers "I know it's a rough place, especially compared to Highgarden but it's also nice to see. Our forest, the direwolves..."

"It is true, then. You have direwolves."

"Yes. Four and more to come, because the female owned by my youngest brother is pregnant. Probably the pups were born by now. You should see them, they're just as big as a cat when they are newborns," he commented, making her smile. "I don't want to share this with anyone else, Rose."

"Do you really want this?" she asked, propping up on her elbow to see him. "I have fears, James. What if you get bored and I'm left behind in that distant land, away from my family and everything I know? It's a possibility, don't tell me it's not. I don't want to be one of those ladies whose husbands cheat on them with every other woman they met. I don't want to wear a fake smile and eventually not wearing one at all."

"I'm not that kind of man and I don't want to be one of those. If I make a vow, then I'm going to respect it, I promise you that. Besides if I make something wrong, your father could kill me."

"He could," she agreed and the ghost of a smile appeared on her face before continuing "the North wasn't on the table, not at all. I know my days in Highgarden are numbered and I know my father is looking for a lord to marry me. But the ones I knew, they were a bunch of pussies trying to impress my father and win his sympathy. Sometimes I felt like they wanted to marry him and not me. It wasn't until this week that I felt seen for the first time. You know, besides the Tyrell name, seen as a person, as a woman, and none before you did that."

"How was that even possible?" he asked.

"There are better ladies, I guess."

"No, there are not."

"You're going to steal my heart, my lord," she said as she felt his knuckles caressing her cheek.

"Then we'll be tied, my little hummingbird," James said resting his head on hers. "Stay until the sunrise," he asked and she nodded in response.

"James..." Rose called against him, feeling his heartbeat.

"Mmh?"

"I'd like, really like, go to the North with you."

─────────────── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───────────────

"Then you will."

NEXT

102 AC.

It's Rose's 14th nameday and in Highgarden they were celebrating. The best meals were in the table along with wines, present of the House Redwyne, bards singing and several guests fooling around. Once in a while, it was good to do other things that had nothing to do with the daily duties.

All were happy, except Lord Tyrell for reasons that nothing had to do with his family. Unexpected visitors were approaching, some guards warned him.

The Frey. Nothing good came from the Twin Towers ever and to make things even worse, they didn't announce their visit.

Lord Tyrell guessed why.

His black and white horse galloped across the green lands followed by five of his men. Indeed, the Frey banners and flags could be seen from the distance. Samuel clenched his jaw.

If someone could ruin his daughter's day that was Frey.

The figure of the Lord of the Reach and his horsemen in middle of the way, stopped the march.

In his early 40s, tall, with cold blue eyes and beard, Lord Lawrence Frey left his horse and walked towards the other man.

"It's an honour to be received by you, Lord Tyrell, " he said smiling. "My sweet mother and me, were here to greet your sweet daughter in her nameday."

"I appreciate the long journey from the Twins to here, Lord Frey. But it wasn't necessary."

"We have presents for her, Lord Tyrell, the Riverlands is a quite beautiful place and have plenty of things that are worthy of a delicate flower like your daughter."

Samuel didn't replied. His eyes were in the chariot were a knight was opening the door to an old woman, physically fragile but mentally strong. And a viper, according to what he heard.

"I really appreciate the gifts, Lord Frey, but..."

"We're here because we're going to join our houses, Lord Tyrell," the woman, Mildred Frey, said without greeting him first. "Tonight. I decided it."

"with all respect, my lady, we aren't not going to join our houses. Lady Rose is only 14."

"Old enough to procreate."

"No, my lady. Until I decide when it's the most convenient time, then my daughter will stay here with me. My wife agrees and, in any case, I'm planning to talk with another lord who has a boy who is the same age as she is."

"Are you telling me," Lady Frey continued, "that you are rejecting my boy because he's older than your daughter? He's a nobleman, he can give your daughter what she needs..."

"I said no."

"Your little girl is just a whore," lady Frey said not disguising her disgust. "My son deserves someone better."

"And I hope he finds it, before his seeds become useless" Lord Tyrell said, coldly, ignoring the woman's words. "You're not welcome here, Frey. Not if your intentions involve my family, especially my daughter. I'll send a messenger to Hewett, they will host you until you're ready to return to your lands."

"Not in your castle?" Frey asked.

"Never. The Seven bless you two."

Lord Tyrell spurred his horse and turning around he and his men returned to Highgarden.

In the future, the Frey were going to be a powerful ally for the Starks because if anything, the Frey never forgot. Nor forgave.

Next

It was beautiful!

James was never the one between Alfie and Rose as villain because there's no way he can be a villain. Both were part of noble families and things were meant to be that way. James was the one between them because their fathers decided to (and Lord Baratheon was sleeping, so, if there's one to blame for the impossible love between Rose and Alfie there he is.)

Rose genuinely loved James and he was completely in love with her. She's just 18 here and in front of her it's her husband that's not only handsome but also a sweet young man who treated her like a queen. If course she's going to fell in love with him. That doesn't mean she forgot Alfie because she'd never! But that was her life now. She had two options crying all her life or let him to heal her heart. And she chose the second one because Alfie eventually, wanted him or not, was destined to marry some noble lady too, and Rose knew that.

It was very common to see them together walking through the lands, chasing each other playfully, riding horses and basically being in love.

But the villains here are his parents, especially his mother (Jared sr is a fucker but also has a political mind and Rose was a very important link to the South. If something happened to her, it was over.) But Alysse...

She's a jealous bitch that knew that the presence of a young woman in her territory meant her reign was under threat. Rose was going to be the future Lady of Winterfell and the North, sooner than later, and she didn't want that.

The war as such started when during a tourney (couple of years after the marriage), where all nobles were invited , Alfie found Rose in one of the tents more death than alive because her mother-in-law had been poisoning her slowly. And Alysse's idea was Rose dying there as an accident or probably blaming some servants, if she died in Winterfell meant problems but in neutral territory...

But Alfie discovered it thanks to Emilia (@cillmequick ) and the night Alfie kidnapped/rescued Rose he also killed Alysse in that same tent and it was very clear that was him. (Emilia was his accomplice, because she was the one who distracted the Starks so he'd help Rose -she didn't know Alfie was going to kill Alysse-)

Once they knew that Alfie "kidnapped" Rose, everything went to shit. There started the rumours of Alfie raping Rose because Jared sr refused to tell the truth about his late wife poisoning her (once he knew it, of course, because no one knew)

After the war, James survived and Jared too -he killed his father obviously- (RIP Jay). Jared stayed in Winterfell ruling along his cousin and true heir, Aron (and Tina because aron married her @call-sign-shark ) But if Rose and Alfie wanted to be together, James needed to be death but no way she was going to allow that.

They (Rose, Alfie, James, Jared and Aron) faked his death. James "died" in the eyes of Westeros. But sparing his life meant that he couldn't return to Winterfell ever again. So, he swore loyalty to the Baratheons forever and Alfie in exchange gave him some lands in the South to rule and James Stark became... Lord Thorne. James Thorne 🤧.

(a loyal house to the Baratheons even during Robert's reign)

James stepped aside to let her be happy with Alfie 😭😭 and that's something she never forgot. If that isn't true love 😔.

So, the one to blame for everything is his mother. Without her and her bitchness, her own son and Rose could've been happy forever because she learnt to love him. And they were very cute together the time it lasted 🤧❤️.

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