CH-2: The Bride and Boat

<><><>

Jorah felt disappointment in the end, but he restrained himself from showing it. Finishing his drink swiftly, he addressed the Hand of the King.

"Then I hope the weight of the gold can match the weight of our achievements in this war, my Lord Hand," Jorah Mormont finally voiced his thoughts before the meeting concluded.

<><><><>

Rumours of a wedding between the Lannisters and the Baratheon king are already circulating, and if Jorah's speculations were correct, it could take up to half a year before the wedding. Additionally, there would be a tourney, which is a good reason for him to come back here. But, he can't waste his time waiting for it in King's Landing.

Besides, Lord Hand must go to Dorne to end the war and Lord Stark must try to rescue his dying sister. This might end up delaying the wedding more. He can't waste so much time drinking with other lords and whoring his time around. He had wasted two years in this war and he won't spend a second more.

It was not worth it, not for his people, not for his land.

After receiving the gold chests from the treasury, Jorah divided his troops and send them to their missions. Unlike other Northern lords who are still in King's Landing or marching to some god-forsaken place, Jorah needed his men to complete three missions.

The first one, shopping!

Lannisport, Kings Landing, White Harbour and Old Town. Major ports and the places with the largest warehouses. These places are also filled with most of the shops in the whole of Westeros, which have remained vacant since the onset of the war.

Nonetheless, the war is over and most of the good might have gone bad.

To minimise their losses, the merchants would sell the goods within these shops and warehouses at remarkably low prices, and Jorah desires to acquire as much as his wealth permits.

North doesn't get a big bargain like this every year.

The second one, stealing!

Another group is tasked with secretly stealing and transporting the volatile wildfire to the docks and then to the longships from where they will sail to the Bear Islands. Wildfire is the key to burning down the squids and their ships and he would not let it be wasted on Stannis and his fleet.

He remembers clearly the effect Wildfire had when it destroyed the whole army of Stannis and along with, any hope of him ever becoming a king. If the Wildfire is used properly, it might even change Naval warfare in this world.

The third one, acting as a marriage envoy!

Personally, at nineteen years old, Jorah's sexual appetite has been growing continuously and the regular maids and village girls can't satisfy him. Plus, many times, he has to make sure the woman is not infected and he can never finish inside the woman.

Those who think these are just baseless concerns are dying of pox in some gutter rather than the enemy's sword. Plus, he is not ready to have bastards before he is married and has a true-born son.

His current priority was finding a suitable wife - a lady of Bear Island. And he had the perfect candidate in mind: the beautiful Lady Annara Farring. With her fiery red hair, piercing green eyes, and a figure that could ignite a fire in any man's loins, she was an ideal match.

Plus, the only other proposal for marriage is from Lord Frey, the old lord who refuses to die or pass his seat to his sons. No matter what people say about Freys, every Lord in Westeros is jealous of his ability in choosing wives and making sons.

He alone has given birth to an army, some would say.

<><><>

Three months later, Jorah Mormont was sailing along the southern tip of Westeros, accompanied by his newly wedded bride on his large (only) warship.

Their hasty marriage was not an impulsive decision but a carefully considered one. Jorah had no interest in marrying the girl from House Glover, who was already infatuated with a stable boy.

A mere stable boy! Either Lord Glover is too lenient with his niece or he can't control her. Who knows. He had no desire to waste his youth in a loveless union.

Lady Annara, on the other hand, possessed both beauty and nobility, despite her upbringing in modest circumstances. Her family was one of the prominent houses in the Crownlands, particularly on Dragonstone.

With Stannis Baratheon set to rule there, her family's soldiers and squires would likely fight under his banner, granting Jorah access to valuable information if he ever desired it. Furthermore, it could prove advantageous if he ever needed assistance from the royal fleet.

<><><>

"My lord, Lady Annara requests your presence for supper," a sailor informed Jorah, who was admiring the sea under the moonlight.

"Very well. I expect you and the other men will keep their eyes open during the night and keep the other team informed. We must reach the islands as soon as possible."

Jorah issued the command to the sailor, who nodded before retreating to his quarters.

This ship was the largest vessel Jorah could acquire from Stannis, who needed the gold after obtaining his new fief. While Dragonstone held considerable political power, it was barren in terms of resources.

The gold Jorah provided would be of great use to the new lord of that desolate place. Besides, Stannis owed him a debt and a large warship in exchange for three smaller ones, along with a purse of gold was a good deal. Even Stannis was not so stubborn as to reject such an offer.

Jorah Mormont entered his chambers to find minimal food but his new wife was holding a glass of wine and sitting at the table. Dressed in a thin loose white silk gown that was slightly translucent, highlighting her figure and her curves, she was like a fire inviting Jorah, the moth, to burn with her.

"Lord husband, you claimed I caught your eye with my beauty during our first meeting, yet you spend so much time on the docks?" Lady Annara inquired with a playful smile, setting her glass on the shelf before pulling the knot of her dress.

The dress fell on the table and his wife, was there in her nameday suit, waiting to be taken. Jorah, his smile equally wicked, locked the doors, and his wife moved closer, her allure captivating.

"Take me, my husband!"

Jorah required no further encouragement. He swiftly embraced his passionate wife, leaving the empty table behind as they indulged in a different kind of supper.