Chapter 1
"A letter has arrived for you my Lady, it's from your father."
"Thank you Maester, Do you know where my husband has disappeared off to?"
"I believe he is in the court yard training with the new recruits."
"That would explain it, thank you." With that Measter Bernard nodded his head and left.
Lady Helena Stark moved to her armchair by the window to read her father's letter. After re-reading the letter she carefully folded it up and placed it in the hidden fold in the right sleeve of her dress. Standing up she gazed out of the window overlooking the courtyard to watch her husband.
Helena Sark was the eldest child of Eddard Stark and Catlin Tully and for the past 3 years had been wife to Lord Samuel Cavill. Just as the Starks were Wardens of the North the Cavills have been Wardens of the South for hundreds of years. They had met at the age of 12 at 'The Great Gathering', this is where representatives for all the major houses in Westeros gather together to in Helena's words 'show off'. Unlike the majority of marriages amongst the major families in Westeros, Helena and Sam really loved each other it had been a perfect match.
As Helena gazed out the window she was reminiscing about the first time she had met Sam, suddenly the sound of a baby crying brought hr back to the present. "The boys are awake" she mused to herself, with a smile she turned and headed towards the noise.
"Hello there little one, what's all the crying for, mummy is here now. Ssssshhhhh. There now that's better isn't it." Helena picked up her youngest son Michael and cradled him in her arms rocking him as she hummed a soft tune. "Oh my little lamb was waking up so terrible, but look today is a new day and the sun has come out to warm you face. That's better a smile, now shall we see if your brother is awake?" "Good morning Oliver and how are we today?" Helena carried Michael over to his older brother Michaels cot. "There now my two boys are back together, what a perfect pair you make." At that moment Sara walked into the room, "My Lady I'm sorry I didn't realise you were in here I was just coming in to wake the little Lords."
"No need to apologise I heard Michael crying and I couldn't resist, I will leave them in your very capable hands." Helena kissed Michael on the forehead and then handed him over to Sara, she then bent over and kissed Oliver on the head. "Be good my little ones and I will see you both later." With that she left the room to find her husband.
As Helena walked out into the beauty summers morning she was hit by an array of smells from summer flowers to the smell of the sea. She took a deep breath, she couldn't imagine how her live could be more perfect. She was married to the man she loved, she had two beautiful sons and everything was right in her world. Her thoughts drifted back to the letter she had received and she shivered, it was as though a dark cloud had covered up the sun. "Helena, Helena are you alright you have gone very pale?"
Blinking twice she looked around and smiled, "Sorry Sam I got lost in a thought, how are the new recruits shaping up?"
"I think we have the makings of some very fine household knights." Sam winked and flashed his famous boyish grin. "Saying that I think you could still take them."
Helena laughed "Well I am not just a pretty face you know."
"Yes I do, it's why I married you." Sam kissed his wife gently, "What's the matter? You look like something is troubling you, beneath that smile you look a little sad. Shall we take a walk?" Sam took Helena by the arm and they headed off towards the walled gardens.
After about 10 minutes they reached the winter gardens, this was Helena's favourite place to come and think because it reminded her of home. The garden was filled with flowers from the north including her favourite the Winter rose, it was also home to a weirwood tree. They sat together on a wooden bench nestled in amongst the roses. For a few minutes they sat in silence before Helena broke the silence,
"I received a letter today from my father, he has been made hand of the king by King Robert. He is ravelling down to Kings landing with the royal party and Sansa ad Arya are going with him."
"Is that not a good thing, it is a great honour to be made hand of the king?"
"I have a really bad feeling about this Sam, a really bad feeling. I just can't shake the thought that this will all end badly."
"Come now are you not just being paranoid? Besides he is Robert's closest friend and a honourable well respected man he is more than capable of looking after himself and your sisters"
"That's the problem my father is too honourable for kings landing, he tends to believe that others stick to the same honour code as him, that they all think and behave the same. The Lannisters certainly don't."
"He will be fine try not to worry my love. Besides I will have my friends at court keep an eye on him for you"
"That is very kind although it will not be necessary."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean that our presence is also required at court. Robert believes that our sons are now old enough to travel and he would like us to make an appearance. My father said that Robert has insisted upon this, so I am afraid there is no escaping this."
They sat in silence for a moment, Sam reached across and held Helena's hand. "Well let's just hope that your feeling is wrong although I must admit it doesn't happen very often."
"I am sure I am wrong however we better make sure we are prepared for anything and everything."