A Wolf and A Lion || Jaime Lannister Love Story

Chapter 14 - An Encounter with the Prince

       

When Aurelia announced her decision on when and where she'll marry, everyone was either happy or surprised, or a mixture of both. That's what Ned felt. He was happy that Aurelia chose to marry under the Old Gods, however at the same time, he isn't ready for her daughter to marry so soon. He didn't even realize how much went into planning a wedding. Ned only wanted the finest for her daughter's wedding, and Robert insisted that it'd be grand. The North may not have the resources like the South does, but Aurelia told her father that she didn't want anything big. She just wants to have a normal wedding; that's all she asks for.

Aurelia spent a lot of time with her mother. She taught her on how to walk down the weirwood tree, she taught Aurelia on what she should do during the wedding. Catelyn became emotional most nights, and Ned is always there to comfort her. She was scared as well. Catelyn never trusted the Lannisters and yet, her daughter is marrying one. Everyday she would ask Aurelia if this is what she wanted, even though deep down she already knew the answer. It's not a matter of want when it comes to this, it's a matter of what should be done. This is her duty, and Aurelia was always taught to follow her duty. The two became close over the days because Catelyn was planning the wedding, and Aurelia would always accompany her.

Catelyn decided to teach her something she never taught anyone else. The bedding ceremony was always what the guests look forwards to. Aurelia never shared the same enthusiasm, and neither did her mother and father. Catelyn told her what she should expect when it happens, whether it would be painful or not, whether she would feel comfortable or not. It wasn't a topic she ever talked about, nor did Catelyn ever wanted to talk about it with her children. Aurelia didn't say much when she discussed it, she was only worried about the pain since she's never been in pain before. Catelyn replied that the pain will eventually subside.

"Do I have to have children right away?" Aurelia asked in such a timid voice, Catelyn had to remind herself that this was her daughter speaking. She never spoke in such a way before.

"You don't have to but...it is what is expected of you." Catelyn replied her. Robb and Aurelia were conceived on Ned and Catelyn's wedding night. They were born in Riverrun, and Ned came home to be greeted by the sight of his wife holding their two babes in her arms.

"What if I'm not ready to have one?" Aurelia continued with her questions, and she was grateful always had the answers.

"You may not be ready now, but you will be when the baby comes." Catelyn told her, "I remember being frightened when I learned that I was carrying you and Robb." She said,

"You were?" Aurelia asked rather surprisingly. She never knew her mother was capable of being frightened.

"I had no idea what to expect. I had no mother to teach me what I should do, and your father was away because of the war. I was even more frightened when the master told me that not only was I expecting one babe, I was a expecting two. Do you want to know what ease my fears?" Catelyn inquired, and Aurelia nodded her head in response; her eyes never leaving her mother's.

"The thought of holding you and your brother in my arms. The thought of what you and Robb's faces would look like. I wondered every day whether they'll have my blue eyes or will they have your father's brown ones, whether they'll have brown or auburn hair, or maybe they'll have both. I cling onto the thought that I'll have you and Robb as my children, that one day you'll call me mother. I wasn't afraid anymore because I had you and Robb." Catelyn reminisced with a smile. She remember every single day her children was born as if it was yesterday.

Catelyn knew in her heart that Aurelia would be ready to have a child of her own. She had always helped her in taking care of the little ones. When she does have a child, Aurelia won't be as clueless as new mothers usually are.