So, under what circumstances can a betrothal be canceled in Westeros?
Aegor had never imagined that he, who in theory should not marry or have children, would one day have to ponder such a ridiculous matter, completely unrelated to the grand strategy, before even casting off his Night's Watch vows. He knew very little about the rules of marriage in this world of Ice and Fire. Fortunately, whether out of her closeness with Arya or gratitude for Aegor's care of her brothers, Myrcella standing nearby was eager to help. She not only joined the discussion but even offered suggestions of her own.
---
Betrothal cancellations fell into two main categories: voluntary and involuntary.
In the voluntary case, one party proposed breaking the betrothal, obtained approval from the Faith as the authoritative body, and made the result public. This was what was commonly referred to as "breaking an engagement."
There were many examples. The one Aegor remembered most clearly was Joffrey and Sansa in the original plot. After the Battle of the Blackwater, the Lannisters needed an alliance with the Tyrells to maintain their rule. So, the Small Council voluntarily canceled the betrothal between the Lannisters and the Starks, allowing Joffrey to wed Margaery instead. At that time, the Faith was still under royal control, so the dissolution was only a formality, and the procedures went through smoothly.
But the one wanting to break her betrothal now was not the steward of two great houses. It was merely the personal wish of this little Stark princess, Arya. The formal path was clearly blocked, so they could only look to a side door.
...
And what was this so-called side door, or involuntary dissolution of a betrothal?
It was when certain circumstances caused the betrothal to "naturally become void."
What circumstances?
1. The death of one party. This was undeniable. Aegor certainly was not about to suggest Arya kill herself, so…
"If you find a way to get rid of your betrothed, you won't have to worry about marriage."
"What?" Arya jumped up. "I want to break the betrothal! I don't want to be a widow or a murderer. That doesn't count!"
"Hey, hey, hey, I am only giving you ideas. Whether you use them or not is up to you," Aegor said calmly. "Whether you like it or not, it does indeed fulfill your wish of 'not marrying.'"
"But if this one dies, there'll just be another, won't there? Am I supposed to kill them one by one? You're cheating!"
"Alright, alright. Since you don't want this plan, let's skip it and move to the second."
Without regard for Arya's protest, he counted it toward the goal anyway. One out of three achieved.
2. Conversion to a faith requiring celibacy.
Myrcella mentioned this one. There were examples, such as Baelor the Blessed, or Lancel Lannister in the original timeline.
But this idea had problems. Northmen followed the Old Gods, whose doctrine never included celibacy. If Arya were to run off to King's Landing or another southern city to convert to the Faith of the Seven and become a septa, her mother would likely drag her back halfway and have her legs broken.
"You could cultivate a good relationship with your betrothed, then use faith to influence him, persuading him to dedicate himself and convert to the Seven."
"Are you even trying to give me proper ideas? I don't even believe in the Seven!" Arya glared at Aegor, cheeks puffed. "Even if I did, do you think I have the ability to do that?"
"If you lack the ability, then practice! If you put half the effort into rhetoric as you do into swordplay and riding, you would succeed easily."
"You don't necessarily need to convert to the Seven," Myrcella added gently. "The Night's Watch cannot marry either, can they? Lord Aegor is conveniently the Commander. If he were to issue a proclamation calling on nobles of the North and the Vale to join the Watch to seek honor…"
"See? Maeve is even younger than you, yet her thinking is more flexible," Aegor nodded approvingly. "The Night's Watch does need young nobles, educated and trained. I will issue such a proclamation. The rest will be up to your own ability."
This was theoretically feasible. In fact, when the Night's Watch was first founded and the White Walker threat was still strong, many nobles did join the Watch for honor. Yet in all of history, heirs first in line to inherit almost never did. Usually it was younger sons with no chance of inheritance, or bastards. Aegor had never heard of any true lord's heir voluntarily taking the black.
Of course, Arya could not understand such hidden rules immediately. She lowered her head and muttered, "Fine, I'll try. What else?"
3. One party entered into a de facto marriage with another.
By Westerosi law, marriage always took precedence over betrothal. As long as a man and woman voluntarily wed with a septon's witness, it counted as a true marriage, and any betrothal involving either became void. The most famous example was Robb Stark and Jeyne West in another timeline. When the Young Wolf insisted on marrying the daughter of a minor Westerlands house, his betrothal to the Freys was voided at once, without need for declaration.
This gave Aegor some hope.
"You said you despise Harry because he has bastard children?"
"Exactly, and I heard he has more than one!" Arya said angrily. "Disgusting!"
"Disgusting perhaps, but at least it shows he is clever. He is not a fool lost in love, but a man who knows the difference between pleasure and alliance."
"What does 'seasoned player' mean?"
"It means a philandering rogue," Aegor said without pause. "A man like that, having tied himself to the great tree of House Stark, would never dare—unless Stannis offered him a princess again—to risk it all for another woman. So the only way is from your side. Find someone you like, and form a de facto marriage with him."
"Ah? That's too much trouble. I don't want to marry anyone!"
Ignoring her, Aegor went on. "Remember, it must be a marriage. Simply sleeping together is useless. The boy you choose must have some status and a family name, not some nobody your brother can brush aside. Best to choose from Northern, Riverlands, Vale, or Crownlands lords. As long as they are loyal to King Stannis, they are allies of your brother. Once you marry, even if your brother and mother are angry, they could not deny it."
He stressed this because there were plenty of counterexamples. When Littlefinger was young, he took Lysa Tully's maidenhead and got her pregnant. But without forming a marriage, Lord Hoster easily sent him packing, and from then on, Littlefinger twisted down his path.
Or Tyrion and the peasant girl. They did marry, witnessed by a septon, though simple. It was valid. But Tywin, enraged, called her a whore, had his guards take her by force, and then disposed of her. In this world where might makes right, who would stand for a peasant girl?
Powerful lords could break their children's or vassals' marriages by force. Without protection from equal or greater power, even a true marriage could be denied.
Arya groaned, "Why is it all so complicated?"
"There are other ways, with similar thinking," Myrcella offered again. "I once heard a story of a noble girl who fell in love with her sister's betrothed. One night when he visited, she 'lost her way' into his chamber." Myrcella's face flushed pink. "The next day she became his fiancée, and since her belly was growing, the families hastily wed them."
"How vile! Who was that?" Arya wrinkled her nose. "But my sister doesn't even have a betrothed. And even if she did, I couldn't sneak into his bed at night."
"Hasn't Sansa chosen another match yet?" Aegor asked, puzzled. Then he recalled: Joffrey had only joined the Watch less than a year ago. The Starks would not replace him so soon. "Maeve doesn't mean for you to do that literally, but as a reference. Make it a fait accompli. If you can arrange for your betrothed and your sister Sansa to grow close, and they lose control and do something improper… For the Hardyngs, Sansa is also a Stark, even the eldest daughter. And for your family, to cover the scandal, they would have no choice but to marry her to him instead."
Arya tilted her head, considering. It was still troublesome, but far easier than secretly marrying someone herself. "Hmm... it might work! Sansa is prettier than me. If I create opportunities for Harry, he'll definitely fall for her!"
"There are no ugly women, only lazy ones." Aegor ruffled her messy hair. As she grew into a young woman, the height difference between them had narrowed, and this gesture already felt out of place. "Do you think you can just not comb your hair and hope your fiancé is repulsed into canceling? What did I tell you? If you aren't tidy, don't come see me."
"It's not that, I was just so happy to hear you were here."
Aegor withdrew his hand. "Alright, you wanted three ideas. Now I've given you four. Satisfied?"
Not entirely. And the fourth had clearly come from Myrcella. Arya pouted, eyes darting as she thought, then decided to try that last option first. If it failed, she would think again.
"Mhm, I guess I'm satisfied for now. But Master, Winterfell is boring. Stay two more days for my nameday. Afterward, take me to Crown Town, alright?"
Is the Gift so attractive? If I had not found a way to drive off Littlefinger, and if your brother had not met his current wife, you would likely still be barred from returning home. Yet now, safe in the warmest place, you call it boring.
Aegor rolled his eyes, biting back the "dream on" that nearly slipped. "The Gift is closer to the front than Winterfell, full of danger. Do you think it's fun? Stop daydreaming, behave here, listen to your brother and mother, and don't provoke the septas. When they allow you to come to the Gift again, I will welcome you."
"They'll never let me! You don't know how hard I tried, how many days I pretended to be good, just to get Robb to agree to take me to the Wall last time!"
"Why wouldn't they? Listen, I have an idea. Remember that great weirwood at Nightfort? I plan to build a pilgrimage site there, open to all descendants of the First Men who worship the Old Gods." Aegor spoke casually, coaxing her. "If you behave here, you'll have the chance to go north with your family to worship. When that time comes, I'll show you more wonders."
"Really?"
"When have I ever lied to you?"
The matter was real enough. Pilgrim inns at Nightfort and Crown Town were already being built. But not for Arya's sake. In the long term, it was laying a foundation for tourism at the Wall. In the short term, it was a relief project, and also a small source of income. For the devout Old Gods followers who came to pray to the glowing weirwood, offerings would be expected. In this age, travelers were wealthy or noble. Perhaps this could even help support the Gift's economy.
To fund its military industries, the Gift's administrators had truly exhausted every possible idea.
(To be continued.)
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