Chapter Text
Oscar had yet to achieve his growth spurt, so the princess had to bend slightly to allow him to drape a Tully cloak around her shoulders. His new wife’s smile never wavered as he stretched up on his toes to kiss her. He missed her lips and kissed her chin instead, but that seemed to satisfy the septon.
As they basked in the cheers of the highborn audience, Oscar couldn’t help noticing Prince Aegon in the front row. Oscar swore the prince was glaring at him, but when their eyes met, Prince Aegon smiled like all the other wedding guests. Oscar must have imagined it.
“What are you learning in your lessons, Husband?” Princess Jacaera smiled prettily at Oscar during the wedding feast. She smiled often, and she was always pretty.
As Oscar dutifully recited the contents of his recent lessons, the princess listened raptly. He enjoyed having her full attention. Silently, he thanked the gods that his great-grandfather Grover was such good friends with the king, thus securing the princess’ hand in marriage for Oscar. Their future children would take her name, but Oscar was a second son anyway, and everyone told him that children would not be expected for several more years.
Oscar and his wife opened the dancing. She was graceful in this, as she was in most things, so it wasn’t as difficult as Oscar expected to lead a taller woman around the floor. When they finished, one of his wife’s good-brothers, Prince Aemond, escorted her away for the next dance. Oscar was left alone at the edge of the hall.
“Dearest good-nephew.” Someone slung his arm around Oscar’s shoulders. “How are you feeling this evening?”
Oscar hadn’t seen much of Prince Aegon since arriving at King’s Landing for the wedding. People seemed to think they wouldn’t get along, so Oscar and the prince were deliberately kept apart.
“Excited but tired,” Oscar answered honestly. He got along well with Prince Daeron, who was close in age. He wanted to befriend Prince Aegon too. Oscar was going to live in King’s Landing from now on, and his family had advised him to make many friends at court.
Prince Aegon arched an eyebrow. “Not too tired for tonight?”
“What else is happening tonight?” asked Oscar.
A smile slowly stretched across Prince Aegon’s face. “The consummation, of course.”
Oscar shook his head. “They told me I’m too young for the consummation. We shall have it in three or four years, they said.”
“They don’t think you’re capable of it?” Prince Aegon clicked his tongue in disapproval. “I think they underestimate you. You seem like a virile sort.”
“Thank you,” Oscar said, because “virile” was supposed to be a compliment for men. “But I am content to heed the counsel of my elders, who have more experience in these things.”
Prince Aegon looked thoughtfully at him. His smile grew. “You have married the most precious of women. You know that, don’t you?”
Oscar blushed. He glanced at the dance floor, where his wife was spinning around with Prince Aemond. “Yes. She is the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. I am fortunate to wed her.”
“Very fortunate.” Prince Aegon clapped his hand on Oscar’s shoulder. It hurt a little, but that was probably unintentional. “You will, of course, work hard to prove yourself worthy of her.”
“Of course,” Oscar agreed. “I shall treasure her for all my days.”
“Jace and I grew up together. We were close. Are close. I can give you advice about her favorite foods, favorite flowers, that sort of thing. Would you like that?”
“Please,” Oscar said eagerly. “I would be forever in your debt.”
“Excellent. You and I shall be like brothers.” Aegon patted Oscar’s shoulder again. It didn’t hurt as much this time. “Please excuse me. I would like a dance with the bride.”
When Aegon approached the princess and Prince Aemond, many of the wedding guests tensed. Several members of Oscar’s and Princess Jacaera’s families blatantly scowled as Aegon and the princess began to dance. Oscar wasn’t sure why they were unhappy. It was normal for an uncle and niece to dance.
But…there was something different about this dance. When the princess danced with Prince Aemond, they moved fluidly and flawlessly, as expected of those trained in courtly arts. Now the princess and Aegon moved just as gracefully, but they felt…
…Warmer. It was the only word that Oscar could use to describe it. As he watched them, the way they held each other’s gaze and clasped each other’s hands made him feel warm.
As there was no consummation, there was no bedding ceremony, either. Oscar settled into his bedroom in the Red Keep, his stomach full from the feast. He’d even sneaked some unwatered wine while his mother wasn’t paying attention. A man deserved to drink at his own wedding, although he felt hot and dizzy now.
Oscar was about to drift off to sleep when he heard a polite tap-tap-tap at the balcony door. Puzzled, he sat up. “Who goes there?”
“It is your wife, my lord,” answered a sweet voice.
Suddenly wide awake, Oscar threw off the bedcovers and rushed to the balcony. Before he could open the door, Princess Jacaera opened it from the other side. She quickly slipped into the room and shut the door behind her, leaving it open only a crack.
It was dark, but he could see by the light of the moon that his wife was clad in only a nightgown and robe. Heat filled his cheeks, rushing all the way to the tips of his ears until his face was surely as bright red as his house colors. “W-What brings you here, Princess?”
She perched elegantly on the edge of the bed. “I wished to see you, Husband.”
Still blushing, Oscar sat on the opposite edge of the bed. It seemed wrong to be so close to her when they were only wearing nightclothes. “I’m honored, Princess.”
“I also wanted to ask whether there’s a reason you don’t wish to consummate the marriage. Do I displease you?” Her face wasn’t visible in the shadows, but she sounded hurt.
Oscar hastened to assure her, “You could never displease me! You are fair and lovely and kind and clever. I was told we ought to wait. If I had the choice, I would gladly consummate the marriage tonight.”
She hesitated. Her head briefly turned toward the balcony before turning back to him. “The choice is yours, my lord. You are my husband. No one would gainsay you if you wished to claim your marital rights.”
Fidgeting, he admitted quietly, “I…I’m not sure how.”
She was silent for a moment. Then she asked gently, “Would you like me to teach you?”
He nodded, mayhaps more fervently than was decorous.
“Lie down beneath the covers, Husband.”
His heart pounded as he obeyed. The princess sat beside him, but on top of the covers. She took his hand and laid it over her heart—not quite on her breast, but close to it. He flushed with warmth again as she, in turn, laid her hand over his heart.
“Do you feel that, Husband? Our hearts are one.”
“Yes,” he whispered, mesmerized by the soft flesh so close to his hand. He was disappointed when she moved his hand away from her chest.
Then she leaned in and gave him six kisses. One on each eyelid: “Father. Mother.” One on each cheek: “Warrior. Maiden.” One on the nose: “Smith.” And a final one on the forehead: “Crone.”
“And the Stranger?” he asked hopefully.
“It would be unwise to court the Stranger, my lord.” She scooted away from him. “There. We have consummated the marriage.”
“I enjoyed it,” he said honestly. He didn’t know why his family had made a fuss about him being too young. He was definitely old enough to receive such lovely kisses.
She got out of bed, straightening her clothes as she stood. “If you don’t mind, may I borrow some blankets and lie down on the balcony? I wish to stargaze, and you have a good view of the stars here.”
“I don’t mind at all.” He started to sit up. “Should I join you?”
“No!” she said hurriedly. “It has been a long day. You ought to rest.” She took one of the sheets, a blanket, and two pillows. “Sweet dreams, Husband.”
Head still swimming from her kisses, Oscar lay down again and tried to sleep. It was difficult when he knew that his wife was so close, separated only by the balcony door.
A while later, he heard her cry out. Worried, he leapt out of bed then stood uncertainly in the middle of the room. “Princess, are you alright?”
It took her a moment to answer. “Yes.” She sounded strained. “Yes, I’m very alright. I’m trying—hard—to find one of the constellations.”
“Which one?” he asked.
She let out a little gasp. “The—the Moonmaid.”
“I know that one,” he said, eager to impress. “Beyond the Wall, the wildlings say if the red wanderer is visible in the Moonmaid, it’s a good time to steal a woman.”
Faint laughter came from the balcony. It sounded too deep for the princess’ voice.
“Is that so?” she replied, high-pitched. “I shall—endeavor not to be—stolen, Husband.”
There was the rustling of fabric, which was probably just the princess moving around on her makeshift bed. But there were also quiet grunts, which, again, did not sound like his wife’s voice.
“What is that noise?” asked Oscar.
“Just—a creature of the night, it will soon be finished with its—mm.” Her words were muffled, as if something were covering her mouth. After a moment, he heard her gasping for breath.
Mayhaps it was his tired imagination, but Oscar almost thought there were two sets of breaths outside.
“Are you sure you’re alright?” Oscar pressed.
“I’m sure.” She sounded breathless. “I am just…overcome by the stars.”
Oscar reluctantly returned to bed. He was on the verge of dozing off when he swore he heard someone—not his wife—say, “I have some ideas where the Stranger’s kiss could go…”
Shortly before dawn, Oscar stirred when he sensed someone moving around him. Princess Jacaera was adjusting the bedcovers. Her hair was an uncombed mess tumbling down her back. If he wasn’t mistaken, her nightgown was on backwards. A couple of dark purple bruises decorated her neck.
“Are you injured?” he asked, alarmed.
She smiled at him. “No, I am perfectly well. Go back to sleep, Husband. I’m merely returning your bedding.”
He watched her straighten the borrowed sheet. There were some odd stains on it, but he supposed that was normal after she spent the night outdoors on the balcony. Then she sat down on the bed, wincing as she rubbed her abdomen.
“What are you doing now?” he asked.
She sighed as she tugged down her nightgown to cover her legs. “Now we wait for someone to find us.”