Bedding is:
- A custom in Westeros that occurs at a wedding after the feast has taken place. The custom consists mainly of the newlyweds being carried to bed to consummate their marriage. The bride is carried by the male guests, who are charged with undressing her on the way and generally telling bawdy jokes referring to what awaits her between the sheets. The female guests do the same to the husband. Only after being bundled naked in bed are the two newlyweds left alone; at which point the guests wait outside the bridal chamber shouting ribald suggestions through the door.[1]
- A euphemism for having sex.
History
[edit]Witnesses to the bedding ceremony between Maegor Targaryen and his first wife Ceryse Hightower reported that the young prince made a lusty husband.[2]
The widow of King Aenys I Targaryen, Alyssa Velaryon, was compelled to take part in the bedding ceremony for his brother Maegor I Targaryen's third wedding to Tyanna of the Tower. The ceremony was presided over by Maegor's second wife, Alys Harroway. Unlike most other such ceremonies, Alys, who was alleged to be the paramour of Tyanna, remained behind and was said to have joined the pair as they conummated the union.[2]
After the great feast celebrating Maegor's reconciliation with Ceryse Hightower, a bedding and "second consummation" followed to prove the union true and loving.[2]
When King Jaehaerys I Targaryen wed his sister Alysanne Targaryen in secret on Dragonstone in 49 AC, a traditional bedding ceremony was not held and the marriage was not consummated for the bride was deemed too young,[3] at only thirteen years of age.[4] This lack of consummation led Lord Rogar Baratheon to believe for a time that the union could be undone, though those efforts were thwarted.[3] The pair's second, public wedding ceremony in 51 AC was following by a bedding ceremony, which Alysanne would claim in later years was at her insistence, for she was ready to lose her maidenhead and wished for no further doubts on whether she was truly married.[5]
Following Queen Rhaena Targaryen's marriage to Androw Farman in 49 AC, some questioned whether their union had ever been consummated and, if so, who had witnessed the bedding ceremony.[4]
When Prince Baelon Targaryen and Princess Alyssa Targaryen wed in 75 AC, their bedding ceremony was a source of much ribald humor due to the bride's loud sounds of pleasure. Princess Alyssa took no shame in this, instead loudly boasting of their union the following morning and declaring she intended to bed him again.[6]
In contrast to her siblings, Princess Daella Targaryen's wedding to Rodrik Arryn was not followed by a bedding, for the princess declared she would die of shame, and her husband acceded to her wishes.[6]
Following the wedding of her father, King Viserys I Targaryen, to Alicent Hightower, Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen was among the women who helped disrobe the king and deliver him to his new wife's bedchamber.[7]
The singers claim Princess Naerys Targaryen and her brother Aemon wept during her wedding ceremony to their brother Aegon, but the histories report she instead wept during the bedding while her brothers quarrelled during the feast.[8]
When Lord Ambrose Butterwell wed his young Frey bride, a bedding ceremony followed the feast, complete with the typical ribald jokes. Ser Duncan the Tall was volunteered by Ser John the Fiddler to carry the bride due to his great size.[9]
At the wedding between Tywin Lannister and Joanna Lannister, King Aerys II Targaryen made drunken japes lamenting that the lord's right to first night had been abolished and took liberties with[10] Lady Joanna's person during the bedding.[11] Aerys's actions furthered the deterioration of the relationship between king and Hand[10] and Joanna Lannister would soon after be dismissed from Queen Rhaella Targaryen's service, though a reason for the dismissal was never given.[11]
Recent Events
[edit]A Storm of Swords
[edit]The forced wedding between Tyrion Lannister and Sansa Stark was to be followed by a bedding ceremony. Though the tradition had seemed wicked and exciting to her growing up, when faced with the actual bedding with a husband she did not choose, Sansa felt only dread. Tyrion chose not to proceed with the traditional ceremony, despite his nephew King Joffrey Baratheon's protestations. When the pair were alone, he could not go through with consummating the union against her will.[1]
The feast of wedding the between Edmure Tully and Roslin Frey was followed by a bedding ceremony. Catelyn Tully mistakenly presumes the bride's strange and fearful mood was in anticipation of the bedding. After the new husband and wife depart, Roslin's Frey kin butcher their Stark guests[12] in a crime that came to be known as the Red Wedding.[13]
When King Joffrey Baratheon was wed to Margaery Tyrell, nobody was permitted to leave the feast before the bedding ceremony. No such bedding would take place, for Joffrey was murdered and choked to death during the feast.[14]
A Feast for Crows
[edit]A bedding ceremony followed the wedding of Renly Baratheon and Margaery Tyrell. According to Taena Merryweather, who helped disrobe the groom for the bedding, Renly was well-made and lusty. She recalled Margaery's brother Loras Tyrell carrying her up the steps. Taena alleged to Queen Cersei Lannister that, contrary to claims that Renly was too intoxicated to perform, Margaery was surely no longer a maiden.[15]
A Dance with Dragons
[edit]At Daenerys Targaryen's request to hear more about her father, King Aerys II Targaryen, both good and bad, Ser Barristan Selmy recounted with some consternation what occurred between Aerys and Lady Joanna Lannister at her wedding to Tywin Lannister.[10]
Quotes
[edit]I made a son for House Targaryen last night.[2]
—Prince Maegor Targaryen after the bedding at his first wedding
Rogar: Tell me true, Your Grace. Was there a bedding? Did you claim her maidenhead?
Jaehaerys: “No. She is too young.
Rogar: Good. You are not wed.[3]—King Jaehaerys I Targaryen and Lord Rogar Baratheon
I mounted him and took him for a ride, and I mean to do the same tonight. I love to ride.[6]
—Princess Alyssa Targaryen after her wedding to Prince Baelon Targaryen
Oh, I could not bear that, I should die of shame.[6]
—Princess Daella Targaryen on bedding ceremonies
Tyrion: I'll have no bedding.
Joffrey: You will if I command it.[1]—Tyrion Lannister and King Joffrey Baratheon
Benfrey, see your sister back to her chambers, she has a wedding to prepare for. And a bedding, heh, the sweetest part. For all, for all.[16]
—Lord Walder Frey
Walder: Your Grace, the septon has prayed his prayers, some words have been said, and Lord Edmure's wrapped my sweetling in a fish cloak, but they are not yet man and wife. A sword needs a sheath, heh, and a wedding needs a bedding. What does my sire say? Is it meet that we should bed them?
Sons and grandsons: To bed! To bed! To bed with them![12]—Lord Walder Frey and his sons and grandsons
When she wed Lord Renly at Highgarden, I helped disrobe him for the bedding. His lordship was a well-made man, and lusty. I saw the proof when we tumbled him into the wedding bed where his bride awaited him as naked as her name day, blushing prettily beneath the coverlets. Ser Loras had carried her up the steps himself. Margaery may say that the marriage was never consummated, that Lord Renly had drunk too much wine at the wedding feast, but I promise you, the bit between his legs was anything but weary when last I saw it.[15]
—Taena of Myr to Queen Cersei Lannister
When she and Tywin wed, your father drank too much wine at the wedding feast and was heard to say that it was a great pity that the lord's right to the first night had been abolished. A drunken jape, no more, but Tywin Lannister was not a man to forget such words, or the … the liberties your father took during the bedding. I have said too much, Your Grace. I—[10]
—Ser Barristan Selmy to Queen Daenerys Targaryen
References
[edit]- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 28, Sansa III.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Fire & Blood, The Sons of the Dragon.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Fire & Blood, The Year of the Three Brides - 49 AC.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Fire & Blood, A Surfeit of Rulers.
- ↑ Fire & Blood, A Time of Testing - The Realm Remade.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Fire & Blood, The Long Reign - Jaehaerys and Alysanne: Policy, Progeny, and Pain.
- ↑ Fire & Blood, Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession.
- ↑ The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Aegon IV.
- ↑ The Mystery Knight.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 43, Daenerys VII.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Aerys II.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 51, Catelyn VII.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 54, Davos V.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 60, Tyrion VIII.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 28, Cersei VI.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 49, Catelyn VI.
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 60, The Spurned Suitor.