Author's Note : Welcome beloved readers! I am excited to introduce my first Game of Thrones/A Song of Ice and Fire based story. Having spent so much time reading the stories of others I felt the need to contribute my own. There does seem to be a generic story line that most tend to follow I however intend to put my own twist on things, and hopefully bring you lovelies a story you will love just as much as I am sure I will love writing it.

Now I must offer some clarification before this story starts, I do not lay claim to any of George RR Martin's original characters, stories or property. For this story I will use a mix of the events from the books and the TV show, so I apologize for any confusion ahead of time & I will do my best to offer clarity as the story progresses. Now to address the changes I have made to the backstory and pre-existing characters; in this story Benjen Stark never takes the black and instead he married during the Rebellion while she was the acting Lord of Winterfell, Alysanne Stark was Benjen's first and only child and both have lived in Winterfell since the War.

More will be revealed as the story goes on but I hope that you enjoy this first chapter!

Valar Morghulis.

There was a growing nip in the air, finally as Stark words always said; winter is coming. The signs were small, but the chill in the air that was becoming crisper with each passing night was an undeniable. Alysanne Stark didn't mind the cold though, not even as it fluttered through the open window and sent a prickle to her skin. Northern blood ran deep in her veins. Her gaze lifted and she looked round the room, taking in the other women embroiled in their sewing. Her cousin, Sansa was currently basking in the praise that was showered upon her by the Septa. However Alysanne's grey eyes landed on her younger cousin, Arya, who seemed distracted by the sounds drifting in from the open window.

Stilling her hands, Alysanne was able to hear the sounds that were tell-tale sounds of arrows being fired. No doubt all the Stark boys were out in the yard practicing their archery. Arya had all but abandoned the needlework in her hands. The youngest Stark girl hated sewing and pursuits usually deemed "appropriate" for noble ladies, instead she longed to do all that her brothers did; learning the swing a rode, fight and ride. While Sansa was the embodiment of a proper lady. However Alysanne, the eldest of the three girls stood somewhere in the middle, as adept with a bow and she was with a needle, as accomplished a rider as she was in dancing and singing.

Placing her sewing down, which was mostly finished and smirked towards Arya. Turning her head she looked to the Septa and cleared her throat.

"Septa, may I be excused? I wanted to go down to the Godswood and pray." Alysanne then said and many eyes turned towards her as she had spoken out. Septa Mordane looked to her with a careful eye.

"I suppose that would be alright." The Septa said after a moment.

"I was hoping Arya would accompany me, she had told me earlier she wanted to go to the Godswood too today." Alysanne then said as she stood, from the corner of her eye she saw Arya's mischievous grin as she realized what her cousin was doing for her.

"Oh, yes please! May I go pray as well?" the younger girl then piped in her plea. The Septa sighed but then gave a wave of her hand.

"Very well, get along the both of you." The Septa said and without any hesitation Arya dropped her needlework and bolted to the door. Alysanne had to supress her laughter but she turned and thanked the Septa before she followed her cousin out the door. Heading out into the hallway she quickly rushed after the younger girl who had run down the hallway in her excitement.

"Arya!" she called out after her as they both descended down the stairs.

"You were brilliant back there! Septa actually believed you." Arya said as she came to the bottom of the staircase and whipped around to face her.

"That's because I was telling the truth, I do indeed to go to the Godswood and pray…" Alysanne responded plainly. Arya's face fell as she started to doubt why her cousin had devised a way for them to escape the needlework lessons. "-but… I don't see why we can't go past the courtyard and she what your brothers are up too along the way." Alysanne then said with a smile that Arya quickly came to share.

Of all her cousins Alysanne had a soft spot for Arya, there was something about her young, adventurous spirit that she admired. However she was truly close with all her cousins, being raised side by side with them in Winterfell they had shared every experience in life together. Being of the same age as Robb they had a particularly close bond, but she was also close with Jon. Little Bran and Rickon adored her and would often trail after her skirts when they could not find their mother, Bran was slowly growing into an independent little man. But three year old Rickon was still very clingy as was natural for a child so young.

Making their way out from the keep they crossed the courtyard and saw where the boys were standing, lined up before the straw targets. Since none were facing them Alysanne's and Arya's approach was kept clandestine. She saw that Robb, Jon and Theon stood around while Bran held his bow up and aimed, however when he released the arrow it flew too far to the right and soared right by the target. All the boys laughed, even little Rickon mimicked the older ones from his seat on a horse pummel.

"And which one of you was a marksman at ten?" The voice of Lord Eddard Stark echoed from above. Alysanne lifted her head and saw her uncle standing on the balcony above, looking over the lesson with his wife, the Lady Catelyn at his side. Arya rushed forward moving to where some of the extra bows and arrows were being stored. As Bran went to fire yet another arrow Arya lined hers up and released, the young female Stark hit the target gaining all the attention of her brothers - Bran especially looking startled. As Arya curtsied to them Alysanne laughed, unable to contain her mirth and then watched as Bran gave chase to his sister and both disappeared around a corner.

"You are supposed to be at your lessons." Robb stated with a smirk as he approached his cousin.

"I was and now I am not." Alysanne said simply with a shrug. "I was actually heading to the Godswood." She then supplied before she turned and looked to him.

Robb had the Tully look, with blue eyes and curly russet red curls, as did most of Lord Stark's children with the exception of Arya and Jon. Over the past summer Robb had grown tall, now hovering above her he was sure to grow at least a couple more inches. Jon was not far behind him, Alysanne had been the tall one when they were younger and she loved holding it above their heads but suddenly the boys had grown like sprouts all of a sudden. Alysanne had the Northern look, her eyes were the Stark grey, she had milky skin and warm chocolate brown hair that reached down to the small of her back.

"Did you want me to accompany you?" Robb asked her lowly she felt her lips turn up into a smile. The heat of his hand radiated against hers, but a hairs width away from each other. Her fingers curled slightly as she itched to take his hand in hers.

Robb and her had always been close, both having been born during Robert's Rebellion, they had shared wet nurses and the nursery together, as toddlers they could not be one without the other. It was often joked that Alysanne and Robb were twins born to different mothers. Once Jon had come along when Eddard Stark returned from the south, then they became a trio. Eventually the years past and the other Stark children arrived but Robb and Alysanne still had a special bond that could not be matched, they knew each other's secrets and deepest feelings. There was simply nothing they would hide from each other.

"I think I would love-" Alysanne then started to say but her voice died as she saw her uncle approach, a sombre look upon his face. The sight of it made her stomach fall.

"Father?" Robb questioned lowly with apprehension.

"Go ready your horse son, we have a deserter to deal with." Eddard then said and a silence fell over them. Looking between her cousin and uncle she knew how they both hated this, Eddard knew his duty and fulfilled it accordingly. One day it would be Robb who would swing the sword.

"Would you like me to come?" she then asked and both men looked to her with softened eyes. As much as both the men knew she did not shy away from blood and violence they also knew she was tender hearted and neither wanted to subject her to seeing the execution of a Night's Watch deserter. It was never an easy business to deal with deserter's.

"No – these matters are not for your eyes." Eddard then said and reached a hand to touch the side of her face affectionately. A soft sigh and a nod escaped the brunette, she knew not to push the matter.

"As you say Uncle." Alysanne then said gently. Turning to Robb once Eddard moved towards the stables she gave him a comforting smile.

"You'll know where to find me when you return." She then told him and he nodded to her. There did not need to be any more words between them, they just simply would know. The two stared at each other for a moment longer and then her hand raised and touched his arm, a safe little gesture while they were so out in the open. It was no secret to anyone with eyes that the two cousins were fond of each other, many suspected that eventually Lord Stark would announce a betrothal between them. It was not unheard of, both Robb's and Alysanne's grandparents had been cousins, perhaps a bit more distant but cousins all the same.

The brunette lingered for a moment longer before the horses were starting to be led out of the stables and readied before she turned and moved across the courtyard, heading to the Godswoods. Though the day was overcast it was calm and peaceful, the perfect day for spending time out of doors. She strolled slowly through the trees, the wind rustled the leaves and creaked the branches of the larger trees. Old Nan had called the sound the music of the Children of the Forest, as a child she would spend hours with Robb and Jon chasing through the Godswoods to find them, but now as a woman grown and flowered she knew such childhood stories were just fanciful tales to entertain.

Reaching the Heart Tree she turned her head up and admired the ruby leaves. The weirwood tree groan as a strong gust of wind passed, ruffling her hair as well. A smile graced her lips, in all of Winterfell this was her favorite spot. Slowly Alysanne moved to the base of the tree and let her hand brush over the bark. Grey eyes fell on the carved face of the tree and she took to her knees before the tree.

Bowing her head in that moment she felt everything was near perfect. What both she and the rest of Winterfell did not know that was wind was bringing swift news to the North, news that would change everything. However unaware of what was coming from the South Alysanne smiled happily as she bowed her head to pray to the Old Gods, perhaps if she had known she would have prayed for something different.

'Old Gods… I pray to you, please bring my father home soon. Bring him safely back so I might ask him to give me away in marriage.' Alysanne prayed and breathed in deeply, a smile on her face.

Please read and review! I will address as best I can all comments and questions!