COLD HANDS (AND FEET)
Pairing: Cregan Stark x Fem!reader
Summary: You’ve just moved to the North to marry Cregan and still aren’t used to the cold.
Warnings: Suggestive jokes, Reader is shorter than Cregan, Illusions to abuse (Not Cregan and Reader), Inconsistencies in the tense it’s written in (my bad)
Notes: Happy first day of Starkmas!! Just like Flufftober, I’ve decided to start out with Cregan, enjoy!
Word Count: 1.2k
STARKMAS 2025 , MASTER POST , ASOIAF MASTERLIST
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Ever since you were a child, you were always told you would have to be wed. But you didn’t expect that you’d be forced to move to the North to marry Lord Cregan Stark. Growing up in the South you were used to the warmth, flowing dresses, and southern customs but now you’d have to get used to the cold, heavy furs, and a whole new set of customs.
You had heard many stories of Cregan Stark, some said that he was cruel, others said he could shift into a wolf at night, and one person even said that he drinks animal blood.
Cregan was none of those things. When you had first arrived in your carriage it was clear that you were scared out of your mind and also freezing. But the Lord of Winterfell had expected those things and had a fur cloak made just for you. He gave you time to adjust to the new environment and it was clear that your favorite place was by the fire in either your personal chambers or the library. He was also sure to give you space, he didn’t want to crowd you. You enjoyed the new found freedom that you were experiencing. In the North, it didn’t feel as though you were being watched by a hawk at all times… you were watched by a wolf at times though.
Today you had decided to explore the gardens, making sure that you didn’t sit down. You feared if you did, a chill would enter your bones and you’d freeze solid. Cregan had finished business with some of his bannermen earlier than expected and sought you out. He asked to go for a walk with you which you accepted.
“I’ve never been on a walk without a chaperone before,” you comment absentmindedly as you look at the winter flowers on your way out of the garden with Cregan beside you.
He raises a brow, “Never?”
“Never.”
“Would you like me to get one? It’s not my intention to make you uncomfortable.”
You stop walking, making Cregan stop as well. A genuine smile appears on your face, “No…I…” it’s then that you decide to hold onto his arm and begin to walk again, “It’s just different, but a nice different.”
He grins, “We are to be wed love, in the North, a chaperone is not necessary for those who are to be wed.”
You hum, feeling the firmness of his arm under your touch, “In the South, you always need one.”
“Even if you’re to be wed?”
“Especially then,” you say, looking up at him, “I had a friend, Abi, when she was betrothed, she and her now husband were not allowed to be alone.”
“Interesting,” he comments, as you approach the Godswood, “Do you still write to her?”
“No, sadly, her husband is…well he does not like me much.”
“I find it hard to believe anyone could dislike you.”
“Well I…” you stop yourself.
Cregan looks down at you, “Now you must tell me.”
“Oh you’ll think I’m terrible…”
“Impossible.”
“It’s…” you sigh, “He isn’t a very kind man, even when he was courting Abi…he made her cry more often than not and while Abi and I were alone, while I was dabbing her tears away I couldn’t take it…”
You look up to make sure he was still listening, which he was very intently. You hesitate for a minute before continuing your story, “I called him a toad.”
“A toad?” Cregan’s head falls back as he begins to cackle.
“It was a great insult!” you take your hand off his arm so you could cross your arms across your chest.
“Aye, it was.”
“You mock me.”
“No, no,” he laughs more before placing his hands on your shoulders, stopping you both in place, “I only think it funny you thought I would spurn you for calling a man a toad.”
“In the South you would.”
“Fuck the South, this is the North, and it is in the North that you’ll be my wife. I would never be angry with you for insulting an out of line man or woman.” Cregan says.
“Even if that out of line man is you?”
“Even if that out of line man is me,” he echoes.
“But how did he find out you called him a toad?” Cregan asks after a few seconds.
“Because Abi told him, or rather, she called him one as well and then told him.”
“I see.”
“Marriage, at least in the South, is not usually good…it is rare for a woman to get a good husband. In fact, a good husband in the South is a husband that ignores his wife. I’m afraid that Abi was not so lucky, she got a cruel one.”
“I will not be cruel to you,” Cregan says softly, taking your soft hands in his rough ones.
You smile softly before a more playful look appears on your face, “Well that is one rumor disproven.”
“Rumor? You have been listening to gossip about me?” he raises a brow, “Tell me, what do the Southern Lords and Ladies say of me? Other than that I’m cruel.”
You had worried for a moment you had angered him, but when you realized he had the same playful look you laughed.
“Well, I was told that at night you switch between a man and a wolf…that…” you trail off.
“That?” he asks, and with the teasing glint in his eye, it was obvious he knew what you were going to say.
“That… as a wolf man you’d be rough in the marriage bed…”
“And you believed that one?”
“No…yes…I don’t know! I didn’t know what to expect, I suppose I still don’t know what to expect from the marriage bed,” you laugh.
“Well there is a second rumor disproven, I will never be rough with you outside of the marriage bed… and I will not be rough in it either, unless you ask for it to be.”
Your face flushes, making him chuckle, “Other rumors?” he asks.
“Well…one man in particular told me that you drink the blood of animals…”
“Oh that one’s true,” Cregan deadpans.
You freeze, “What?”
“How else do you think I maintain these rugged good looks?”
There’s silence before he begins to laugh again making you scowl.
“Oh come on! Now that’s just mean!” you push at his chest softly but he doesn’t move a bit.
“I only jest,” he wraps an arm around your waist and pulls you close to his chest, you let out a sigh when you feel the warmth that admits from him, “by the God's woman, you’re freezing.”
He pulls away only to unclasp his cloak so he could drape it over you even though you already wore your own. His was much larger, it touched the ground and practically swallowed you whole. You sighed contently, not only was the cloak warm from his body heat but it smelt of him as well. Pine mostly but also a touch of smoke.
Cregan admires you for a moment before scooping you up in his arms making you squeal, “Back home now, I can not have you freezing…I will show you the weirwoods another day, your hands are already so cold and I would hate for you to get cold feet.”
You laugh at the double meaning of his words as you snuggle further into his chest. It was then you decided that the North and even marriage wouldn’t be so bad, as long as it was with Cregan.
