Wind blew harshly against her face. Her cloak flew behind her, still holding onto her neck. The beast she rode ran over the hills until it came to a stop atop of a hill, where she could see Winterfell.
She smiled, breathing heavily.
Winter is coming. Summer is here.
With a howl, she kicked her creature's side and took off running ahead.
"My lord," A guard came to the table, to his lord, Ned Stark. "There is a young lady at the gates asking for entry. She has a wolf as big as a horse with her."
Everyone in the hall broke into excitement of the news.
"A direwolf?" Robb piped up excitedly, standing up.
"Well, bring her in!" Robert boomed, answering for Ned. "We mustn't let a pair of tits freeze to death!"
"Do as the king said." Ned ordered calmly.
The guard bowed and went out of the hall to fetch the mysterious lady. Several moments later, fast pacing steps could be heard and the doors were thrown open. Everyone went quiet.
A very beautiful young girl sauntered in with courage, her head held high, pink lips curled. She was tall, curvy and voluptuous, with long black hair in trembling tousled curls upon her broad shoulders and graced a crown of light-yellow blooming roses. She looked a year older than Lord Ned's sons, Robb and Jon. Her skin was pale and smooth, white as the fresh snow, her brave face was round with a prominent chin, and her eyes, her eyes, were haunting violet which appeared to be laughing and twinkling like stars. She was clad in a hot-pink dress fastened around her in a wrap-around style, the bodice tight with a crossover V-neck, fastened with round silver buttons, the wrap-around skirt falling down with a white underskirt, silver stars stitched along her shapely waist and elbows, and tight sleeves until it flares out from the elbows with white sleeves underneath. A purple velvet cloak was draped down her back. Her feet were in tall black boots and a sterling wolf's head pendant hung lay on her chest on a chain around her neck.
All eyes were on her as she walked straight for the lords' table. Robert was staring at her, deathly pale like he saw a ghost. Ned stood up and came forward, surprise clear on his face.
She bowed lowly onto her knees in front of Ned and spoke clearly. "Milord."
"My lady." Ned replied. There was a pause, an uncomfortable silence, until Ned cleared his throat. He held out a hand. "Come."
She took it and he led her out, everyone watched them go. As soon they were out of the hall and outside, the girl broke into a wide grin, breaking out of her ladylike façade and pounced on him, wrapping him up in a hug. He grunted at how strong she truly was.
"It's so wonderful to finally meet you!" She squealed.
"As it is for me, but you shouldn't have-"
He never had the chance to finish his sentence as Robert, Catelyn, Benjen and Robb came out, rushing over.
"Ned, who is she?" Robert demanded.
"How do you know her?" Benjen asked.
"Another bastard of yours?" Catelyn sneered, noting the similarities between him and the girl.
The girl narrowed her eyes, her laughing orbs glinting fiercely.
Ned sighed and put his hands on the girl's shoulders. "Please calm yourselves. This is Leve…my niece."
Catelyn, Robert and Benjen were shocked while Robb was grinning.
"Niece?!" Robert roared.
"Your niece?" Benjen gawked.
"A cousin?" Robb said excitedly.
Four pair of eyes stared at Leve who was cocking her hips and glaring back. She wasn't of Tully, so she must be Stark. She had the characteristics of Stark. But she had violet eyes…Fear stroke hearts of the idea of a Targaryen alive and in the presence of Robert.
"Who's her father? Benjen?" Catelyn demanded.
Benjen shook his head. "Not mine. A man of the Night's Watch doesn't father any children."
"She's the only child of our brother." Ned answered.
"Brother?" Benjen looked at Leve more close and noticed her strong features.
Catelyn gasped in realization. "Brandon…"
"She has the eyes of a Targaryen!" Robert roared.
"I am Dayne!" Leve suddenly shouted. "I am Leve Dayne and I'm here to learn more about the father I never met. My visit will be short so you mustn't worry, I won't be a burden for long." Her promise came out as a growl.
An uneasy silence fell. Catelyn's shock melted into anger, glaring at Leve. Ned decided to take Leve away so he gently pushed her, leading her away. Leve casted one last look of her brave face to the onlookers, mostly to Catelyn, and then went off with Lord Stark, lifting her skirts up. Robb wanted to follow, but his mother stopped him. He stretched his neck out to get a better look of Leve.
"Do you realize how much trouble you cause by just arriving?" Ned hissed at Leve, torn between whether to be angry or happy at her surprise arrival.
Leve only grinned. "I couldn't wait any longer. I have to come!"
"Why didn't you inform me?"
She shrugged. "You knew I was coming anyway."
Ned released a heavy groan, already knowing she had the wolfblood in her, like her father and Lyanna had. The wolfblood that led them to their deaths. He could see Leve's parents in her as she had her head up, the iron underneath her ivory skin. She was similar to Lyanna but different, much different. More outspoken like Brandon.
Then a huge wolf trotted up to the uncle and niece. Ned was taken aback by the wolf but Leve dropped to her knees, never minding the ground dirtying her dress, taking the wolf's head in her hands and touched foreheads. The great wolf had brown fur and silver eyes. A saddle was strapped on its broad back, with a bag attached.
"You have your own direwolf?" Ned gasped. How could a southern girl get hold of one?
"Moon, my direwolf. I got him from the trading market as a pup two years ago."
"Is House Dayne good to you?"
Leve looked up from Moon to him, smiling in fondness of House Dayne. "Yes. I love them. Lord Allistar raised me alongside his son, my good cousin, young Lord Edric of Starfall. For some reason, I always call him Edric and not Ned."
"There must be a reason." Her uncle Ned chuckled.
She smiled, standing up. "It really is wonderful to finally meet you. The Daynes told me all they know about your house but it wasn't enough."
Ned smiled and looked to the wolf's head resting on her chest. "You wear your father's pendant often?"
She grabbed the pendant in her hand. "Always. Ever since Allistar gave it to me for my 5th nameday. Before he died."
Ned graced her one last smile before he led her into a free guest quarters.
"I wish to see the family crypt."
"I'll show you in the morning. Good night." He closed the door on her and walked off.
Leve fumed in her new room.
Lord Eddard was bombshelled with questions of his niece as soon as he returned to the feast. All complimented her beauty. Ned brushed these questions aside and sat next to his wife and old friend.
"Tha was quite a show you gave us!" Robert boomed, slapping him on the back.
"It was a surprise for me also, your grace."
"She looks so much like Lyanna..." Robert's roaring voice turned down, his tone turning sad at the thought of his beloved maiden.
"She looks like a Stark." Ned corrected.
"Just what we need. Another bastard." Catelyn remarked bitterly, already possessing a hatred for the girl.
"She's not a bastard. She is legitimized."
"That changes nothing. She is Brandon's child. He was the original heir, which makes his daughter heir ahead of Robb."
"The Daynes took custody of her after her mother died. Besides, she's uninterested in inheriting Winterfell. She wants to know it. She'll be gone by tomorrow evening or the day after tomorrow."
Catelyn turned away in a huff, making her husband sigh again.
Benjen sneaked up behind Ned and grabbed his shoulder, making him jump. Ned swatted at his brother but Benjen only laughed at him.
"She is definitely Brandon's daughter. She has his strength. She is not like Lyanna like Arya is. When father told Lyanna she was to marry Robert, she locked herself in her room and cried. When you told Leve she has to stay in her room, she climbed out of her window."
"What?!" Ned leaped from his chair, leaving Benjen laughing behind and running out to see Leve climbing out of her window as Benjen had said.
"LEVE!"
Leve turned her head over her shoulder, her dark hair flipping about with her. Her eyes shone like stars even from in the dark from a distance and a high height. She dropped down, flat on her feet, smiling cheekily at an unamused lord.
Ned held his niece's hand as he led her down into the crypt of Winterfell. Leve went strangely quiet, nervous even. He let go of her hand, letting her approach Brandon's statue by herself. Her twinkling eyes stared up at her father's statue. Although the statue wasn't the exact likeness of Brandon, it was the closest she ever has in actually meeting him in her life.
"He's so tall and strong." She whispered. She reached up to her crown and took out a rose, placing it at her father's feet. She was still staring when she asked her uncle a question. "Did my father love my mother?"
"I cannot say. He had the honour to marry her in secret when he learnt she was pregnant."
"But she was Dornish. Wouldn't she be capable of raising a bastard herself?"
"Yes, but Brandon won't have it. Even though he was betrothed to Catelyn Tully."
"Your wife?" She pursed her lips tightly together. "I have a feeling she's not gonna like me very much." She reached out to touch her father's statue. "I wish I knew him. I wish he and mother didn't have to die." Her eyes swell up in tears, her and no sooner than a second she lashed out angrily. "Why did my mother have to throw herself out to sea!? Did she love me?"
"She was heartbroken over the loss of her brother." Ned's tone went sad, remembering when he came to Starfall to return Ser Arthur's greatsword and, with a heavy heart, delivered the unhappy news to Ashara, Arthur's sister and the woman the Stark brothers were infatuated with. Ashara didn't take it very well. She ran away from Ned in a swung of her dress, running up to the towers, the Palestone Sword. He ran after her and made it in time to watch her jump, falling into the sea. Her body was never recovered. It was then he noticed a cradle, where a baby was crying. It was her 'stillborn' daughter, a Stark and a Dayne. Leve Dayne. But then Allistar stormed in, took little Leve into his arms, and demanded Ned to leave.
"Not good enough." Leve retorted.
"She was impulsive." Ned came beside her, laying a hand on her shoulder. "Much like her husband and daughter."
Leve choked out a sob and then ran off, leaving him behind. The lord looked to the stone figures of his late brother and sister quite sadly before he walked off.
