Chapter 481: The Wedding

Before leaving, Lady Catelyn Stark of Winterfell took great pains to instruct her eldest daughter Sansa, emphasizing the importance of Viserys' wedding.

Having learned of a public trial through her husband's and father's old connections, she saw a glimmer of hope for her husband's life. Catelyn used every available means, ran around to various contacts, hoping to send a message to Viserys that might spare her husband's life, whether it meant taking the black or imprisonment.

However, the surprise was far greater when Viserys himself, through the Master of the Court, approached the wolf-girl Sansa Stark, asking if she would like to be the flower girl at the wedding.

Upon hearing this, Catelyn clung to the news like a desperate drowning person clinging to a piece of driftwood, seizing this last hope with all her might.

Thus, Lady Stark personally took charge, running around planning the wedding's ceremony, ensuring her daughter Sansa would make no mistakes, hoping to win the favor of the king and queen.

Of course, Catelyn's notion of 'favor' had nothing to do with romantic affection, as Sansa was too young, even younger than the young princess Daenerys.

But among the Seven Kingdoms' nobility, it was customary to take on foster children or squires, and Catelyn's husband Ned had once been a ward of Jon Arryn, the Warden of the Vale.

If Sansa could become a lady-in-waiting to the queen, or Robb a squire to the king, it would be worth it to secure her husband's freedom.

This practice among nobility, though akin to holding hostages, was also a win-win means of emotional bonding.

For instance, Tywin once wished to send his son Jaime to King's Landing as a squire to Prince Rhaegar, and Tywin's wife Joanna had been a lady-in-waiting to Queen Rhaella, Viserys' mother.

"Sansa, your father's life depends on your performance this time," Lady Stark tearfully embraced her daughter, imploring her to perform well.

Catelyn was undoubtedly a good mother, but love confounded her reason. She couldn't accept her husband being beheaded or hanged, unaware of the immense pressure her words placed on her daughter Sansa.

The red-haired beauty followed the king and bride with her mind blank and cheeks flushed, struggling forward like a wooden figure.

"Your Grace."

"Your Grace."

The wedding was crowded, the Baelor's Great Sept filled with murmuring like a sea, falling into silence as Viserys emerged.

Noble guests wore their family crests, standing at the front on either side of the red carpet.

For known reasons, Viserys and Arianne's parents could not attend, so Viserys invited Maester Aemon as an elder representative, while Arianne's uncle, Prince Oberyn, was to represent the bride's family but had already left the capital with his army.

But the bride's family was still present.

"Hey, sister," a clean-faced black-haired boy called softly from the edge of the red carpet, making a face, and was sharply glanced at by Arianne.

Arianne had left Dorne for a year or two, transforming from aspiring to be a great queen of Dorne to a virtuous queen of the Seven Kingdoms.

Quentyn had no idea his sister once wanted to compete with him for the inheritance of Dorne.

Without conflict of interest, there was no discord, so they were still close as siblings.

Now, Egon and Quentyn, two boys, stood on either side of the red carpet, holding petals, and as Viserys and Arianne passed, they threw the petals into the air.

Viserys took Arianne's hand, climbing the steps to the statues of the Father and Mother, as the fat High Septon, with a huge crystal crown, read the solemn vows.

Westerosi wedding ceremonies were elaborate and lengthy, with the couple making seven oaths, receiving seven blessings, and exchanging seven promises.

In the end, the High Septon asked if anyone questioned this holy matrimony, but the hall was silent, a custom of Westerosi weddings.

Finally, the fat High Septon announced under the gaze of the gods and the witness of the lords that King Viserys Targaryen and Princess Arianne Martell of Dorne were officially wed.

Thunderous applause erupted below, and the bells of the Great Sept rang again over King's Landing, the second time in a month, and the people outside cheered.

"Your Grace."

"Your Grace."

The ceremony ended, and Viserys stood with his queen under the statues of the Father and Mother, receiving blessings and gifts from numerous nobles.

A banquet awaited him that night, but he canceled the bedding ceremony, ordering anyone who dared to disturb it to be cut down by Mira.

The overall wedding ended, but outside the Sept, a white-haired old man who had just watched Viserys and Arianne was now in an inconspicuous corner, surrounded by ragged men and women, their faces filled with righteous indignation.

"Unwed and pregnant!"

"The queen lost her maidenhood before the wedding! She cannot receive the Mother's blessing!"