A bastard's tale

She rode with the king's party; they could just see the mighty walls of Winterfell. It had been almost five years since she had been inside. Though she was barely clinging to life at the time it was still one of her fondest memories, she thought of the friends she had made. She had changed so much in the time that had past.

Anastasia had hated the journey although it was nice to flee north away from the sun; she had been shackled to her true born half-brother Joffery. He was an annoying brat when in the best of moods, along the road Joffery was not in the best of moods he'd made it his personal agenda to annoy Anastasia to an inch of beating him. Anastasia spent most of her time when not with the royal brat, accompanying the hound. She wasn't sure of the hound, he was an excellent warrior but he had no heart. Anastasia had modelled herself after the hound when she changed everything.

It wasn't long before they were entering the gates of Winterfell. Anastasia was left in shock, there stood the Stark family, and they'd grown since she'd last seen them even if it was only from the shadows. It wasn't the beautiful heirs standing in front of her, that Anastasia admired it was him Jon Snow, he was just like her. A bastard child kept as a pretty little pet by their high born fathers.

Anastasia had always loved the north it was big and wide and pure. You could so easily lose yourself in it, you could be free. Anastasia felt this way whenever she was near snow. Things were less complicated in the north you didn't have to hide everything you felt or thought, you could just exist. She never understood those silly northern girls who left this wonderful white place for the soul destroying south. They came as wide eyed girls and they left as bitter old women. Once the south got you never get out.

After the pleasantries were exchanged, "Ned I'm sure you've heard of my family before. But this one I've been hiding in the south. Anastasia come here."

She made her way towards her father and the Stark family. She tried to look important with her sword at her side. "Lord Stark it's a pleasure to meet you and your family."

"May I ask why your daughter is dressed like a man?"

"I don't if you have ever tried wielding a sword in skirts, but I can assure you that it is not a pleasant experience."

"Quick one isn't she. Ned take me to your crypt."

"My sweet, we've been traveling all day, surely the dead can wait."

"Anastasia accompany the queen."

"As you wish your grace."

As the day drew on Anastasia wanted to scream she had been, left in the hands of the ever cold Cersei Lannister and Catelyn Stark, Lady Stark wasn't so bad, though Katherine got the feeling she resented her.

"Is this your first time in the north your grace?"

"Why yes it is but it comes highly recommended by my husband's bastard. Isn't that right girl." She basically sneered at Anastasia.

"Yes I do love the north, seeing it I can't imagine why anyone would head south."

"Well some people find it too rough."

"Well I have no problem with rough my lady."

"Ha, I don't imagine so, have you ever heard how the men found this one after her mother died?"

"No I don't believe I have your grace."

"It is a strange yarn, she was out in the woods with that bastard brother of hers, covered in animal blood. The little savage had been hunting king's deer."

"Oh my, that is quiet strange."

"I'll take my leave now your grace." Anastasia said as she bowed to her wicked step mother.