Editing Maiden (section)

==Culture==
===Westeros===
Maidens may be [[Marriage|wedded]] and [[bedded]], but many husbands will wait until the bride is fifteen or sixteen before sleeping with them. Very young mothers tend to have significantly higher rates of death in childbirth, as noted by the [[maesters]].<ref>[[So Spake Martin]]: [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Category/C91/P210/ Age of Sexual Relations in Westeros (October 05, 1999)]</ref>

A guarantee of a woman's virginity is normally the presence of a maidenhead. Women are generally expected to be virgins on their wedding night, more so for noblewomen. However, noblewomen are more likely to lose their maidenheads during [[horse]]back riding, it is said, and proof of their maidenhead during the wedding night—a bloody sheet—is therefore not often insisted upon.{{Ref|AFFC|28}} Nonetheless, men might refuse a bride if she is no longer chaste.{{Ref|TRP}}

The loss of a noblewoman's virginity can diminish her possibilities for marriage. When Ser [[Jason Lannister (son of Gerold)|Jason Lannister]] took the virginity of Lady [[Alys Stackspear]], after which she became pregnant, his brother, Lord [[Tytos Lannister]], insisted upon their marriage.<ref>Unabridged edition of ''[[The World of Ice & Fire]]: [http://www.georgerrmartin.com/world-of-ice-and-fire-sample/ The Westerlands (georgerrmartin.com)]</ref> However, Lady [[Delena Florent]], who had been deflowered by King [[Robert I Baratheon]] and given birth to his [[bastard]] son [[Edric Storm]], was eventually offered Lord [[Tywin Lannister]]'s youngest son, the [[dwarf]] [[Tyrion Lannister|Tyrion]], as husband. While Lord Tywin himself made the offer, he considered it to be below the standards of his house nonetheless.{{Ref|ASOS|19}}

A price can be placed upon a girl's maidenhead. A maiden [[whore]] may cost double the usual price.{{Ref|AGOT|42}} [[Emma]], a serving wench at the [[Quill and Tankard]] in [[Oldtown]], determined that her daughter [[Rosey]]'s maidenhead would cost a [[Currency|golden dragon]].{{Ref|AFFC|Prologue}} Other forms of payment can also be used at times.{{Ref|TMK}}

In contrast to the rest of [[Westeros]], attitudes about sexuality are more relaxed in [[Dorne]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|Dorne: Queer Customs of the South}} Therefore, it is not expected by the [[Dornishmen]] that a woman stays a maid till marriage. Princess [[Arianne Martell]] lost her virginity to [[Daemon Sand]] when they were both fourteen years old, and their couplings had been both clumsy and ardent. Arianne recalls that it had been sweet.<ref name="twow-arianne">''[[The Winds of Winter]]'', [[Arianne I (The Winds of Winter)|Arianne I]]</ref> Although her father [[Doran Martell|Doran]], [[Prince of Dorne]], eventually learned of this, he did not react to it.{{Ref|AFFC|13}} Arianne continued to have multiple lovers over the years, including at least one of her childhood friends, as well as Ser [[Gerold Dayne]] of [[High Hermitage]].{{Ref|AWOIAF|Arianne Martell}}{{Ref|AFFC|21}}{{Ref|AFFC|40}}{{Ref|ADWD|38}}

The [[free folk]] who live [[beyond the Wall]] do not place as high a priority on a woman's virginity.{{ref|ASOS|26}}

===Dothraki===
Virginity can be held in high esteem by the [[Dothraki]]. According to Magister [[Illyrio Mopatis]], when Prince [[Viserys Targaryen]] attempted to claim his sister [[Daenerys Targaryen|Daenerys's]] maidenhead prior to her wedding to Khal [[Drogo]], he would have undone years of planning,{{Ref|ADWD|5}} implying that Drogo would not have accepted Daenerys as his bride if she had not come to him a virgin.