Four

Pretty girl

Merryn's eyes flew open when the sound of a loud knocking startled her out of a deep sleep. The first thing she realized was that she wasn't alone; she felt strong arms holding her tightly against a muscular chest. A man's chest. There was a man in her bed. The realization almost made her panic until she remembered where she was and who the man was. Lord Stark. Her husband. She felt him waking up as the knocking continued. He didn't seem to be pleased at all.

"What…" he murmured before opening his eyes.

She had been staring at him, but now she quickly looked away.

"Hello, my wife," he greeted her and touched her cheek before getting up. He was naked, so she didn't really dare to look at him. Quickly he put his pants on and marched to the door. He glanced at Merryn, making sure that she had covered herself with the blanket before he opened the door.

"Lord Frey," he stated. "What brings you here this early?"

Merryn froze when she heard her father's voice.

"Good morning, Lord Stark. I apologize for waking you up, but I want to see that the marriage is consummated."

"It is," Lord Stark replied. "And my wife is still resting…"

Lord Frey entered the bedchamber and smirked as he looked at Merryn. Her heart was pounding like a drum as she pressed the blanket tightly against her naked body. She was desperately trying to shield herself from her father's spiteful gaze.

"Get up, girl," he ordered.

She obeyed as quickly as she could, knowing perfectly well what would happen to her if she would anger him. Thankfully he looked pleased as he observed the blood on the sheet.

"Very good," he stated and glanced at Lord Stark. "Did she please you?"

Lord Stark crossed his arms, he seemed irritated.

"Yes, she did."

"Good. There is nothing quite like a virgin cunt, but the good thing is that you can teach them all kinds of tricks after they learn how to please a man."

Merryn shivered when her father chuckled.

"I shall see you at breakfast, Lord Stark," he added and walked out of the room.

Lord Stark closed the door behind him and looked at Merryn.

"Are you alright, my lady?" he asked. "Are you hurting?"

Merryn was standing next to the bed, keeping her eyes on the floor and the blanket wrapped tightly around her. She was hurting, but not nearly as much as she had expected, so she shook her head.

"Good. That's good. Would you like to wash up before the breakfast?"

She nodded.

"I thought you might." He paused and grabbed his tunic. "I'll call a maid for you."

She nodded gratefully and curtsied. Thankfully he seemed to be pleased with her so far, although she hadn't been very compliant last night. She had tried her best not to move, but she hadn't been able to control herself. His touch had felt so strange and confusing. Her stepmother had told her that she should only expect pain. She had felt pain, but also something she couldn't understand. That something made her very nervous.

She had felt the moisture between her legs and feared that her bleeding had started. His fingers had been touching her down there and just the thought of him seeing her bleeding had been mortifying. She would have been so ashamed. But she hadn't been bleeding; the moisture had been something else. Was there something wrong with her body?

Maybe Lord Stark hadn't noticed it yet, but what would happen when he would? Troubled by these thoughts, she went back to her own bedchamber, accompanied by Jana who had brought her a new gown. There was a bath ready for her; she flinched as she sat in the bathtub. She was very sore down there. Jana gave her a sympathetic look.

"Are you hurting, my lady?"

Merryn tried her best to smile as she shook her head. Last night hadn't been nearly as bad as she had expected, Lord Stark hadn't treated her violently. Of course that didn't mean that he wouldn't do that later. Perhaps he simply didn't want to lay a hand on her in her father's house. Not that her father would have cared. Merryn sighed and bathed as quickly as she could, she needed to be ready for breakfast. She had just finished getting dressed when someone knocked on the door. Jana opened it and curtsied quickly.

"My lady. Good morning."

Merryn looked up and saw Catelyn Stark.

"Good morning," Lady Stark replied calmly and looked at Merryn. "May I come in?"

Merryn nodded quickly and curtsied. Lady Stark looked nothing but dignified and graceful as she entered Merryn's bedchamber and politely asked Jana to leave. Merryn had no idea why her husband's mother was here, but she was glad. They had been introduced last night and she had heard that Lady Stark would travel with her son.

Merryn had always been grateful for the company of other women, in her home the women comforted and looked after one another. She had always been able to count on her sisters, stepmothers and nieces and she was hoping that things would be like that with Lady Stark as well. They were both women and they both understood what it was like to be afraid of men. At least so she thought. She had never been anywhere else; her father's house had been her whole world.

"How are you?" Lady Stark asked politely after Jana had left.

Merryn smiled at her, hoping that would answer her question. Sometimes she also used signs, but Lady Stark wouldn't understand them.

"Ah yes, forgive me," Lady Stark stated. "Are you well?"

She nodded.

"I am glad to hear that. Everything went well last night, I trust?"

A flush was rising in Merryn's cheeks, but she nodded.

"Good."

Lady Stark observed Merryn for a moment before continuing.

"I suppose I can see why my son chose you," she stated. "You are a very pretty girl."

Merryn was happy that she thought so; she smiled at her new mother warmly.

"Yes," Lady Stark sighed. "Unfortunately men can't always think clearly when they see a pretty girl."

Merryn was confused now, what did Lady Stark mean?

"I am sure you are a nice girl, but not the kind of wife my son would have needed."

Merryn was even more confused as Lady Stark stepped in front of her.

"What is done is done, but I need you to understand few things. First of all, my son doesn't need any inconvenience right now. I don't want you to bother him; he has enough to worry about. Do you understand?"

It took a moment before Merryn managed to nod.

"Good. Then there is the matter of Winterfell. As my son's wife, you should be the Lady of Winterfell and I will try my best to train you when the time comes, but I believe it is best for everyone, if you let me take care of things. I am sure you will have plenty of other things to do."

Merryn picked up the coolness in Lady Stark's voice and she understood what the problem was. Lady Stark didn't think that Merryn was good enough for her son. What had she done wrong? Had Lord Stark said something to his mother? Merryn felt nothing but ashamed. What if Lord Stark would tell her father? What if he would refuse to take her with him? She needed to somehow fix this, if she could. The problem was that she had no idea what she needed to fix.