Alandria sighed as she picked up her sword from the dusty ground, taking the pose that her brother, Aemon taught her. He had been teaching her to fight in secret for some time now that rumor had spread that the Lannisters had reclaimed the iron throne.
"You're getting better, Aly. Don't be hard on yourself." Aemon tried to encourage his sister as he lowered his sword.
"Raise your sword, I'm not done with you yet." Alandria pointed her sword at him as she kept her eyes on her brother intently.
Aemon laughed, sheathing his sword.
"I'm tired, we've done enough practice for today."
"Don't be a woman." Alandria teased with a smirk, keeping her sword pointed at her brother.
"Now you've asked for it." Aemon chuckled as he pulled out his shining blade again, quickly moving towards his sister to attempt his first strike when the giant door behind Alandria interrupted the dual.
A small brown haired handmaid opened the door, making a loud creak from the wood, startling the siblings to hiding their weapons behind them.
"There you are. Come quickly, your father has a visitor. Walder is summoning his sons and daughters to welcome him." The maid said in a hastily whispering voice.
"That's you Aemon." Alandria quickly refrained from including herself. Since she was a bastard daughter, Walder didn't have Alandria beside her line of sibling in welcoming important visitors.
"Off, you go, Ser. You best hurry now." The handmaid waved her hands as Aemon rushed through the door.
"I would have won that last match anyways." Alandria called out her brother, sending him off laughing.
The handmaid then stepped closer to Alandria.
"Goodness, you're a mess, you should get yourself cleaned up just in case your father needs anything from you for his guest."
"Who is it anyways?"
"Robb Stark accompanied by his mother, Lady Catelyn Stark. They're asking your father's help for their cause."
"And what cause is that?"
"Their cause against the Lannisters."
A small smile grew on Alandria's face, then she rushed out the chamber straight to her room.
x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.
Alandria ran her fingers through her long black curls, taming any stray hairs, then adjusted her pale green dress as dark brown eyes looked nervously at the closed door she was about to step though.
Hearing muffled voices, she took a deep breath, disregarding how uncomfortable her father would feel about her presence.
She then pushed the wooden doors open, interrupting her father mid-sentence.
"My Lord." Alandria bowed her head at her father before joining the line of her siblings across the room.
Her eyes met Robb Stark's. Being distracted by her entrance, he watched her walk to her place.
Lord Walder only glared at his daughter disapprovingly before resuming his discussion with Robb Stark.
"Congratulations, you've managed to embarrass our emotionless father." Walda whispered to her Alandria.
"What did I miss?" Alandria ignored her sister's comment.
"Nearly everything. Stark is asking father for men to join him as they go towards King's Landing. Their advancements are…
"…Almost too confident." Alandria finished her sister's sentence.
"I suppose…" Walda didn't keep up on what was going on these past several weeks, not understanding the rapidly increasing heat between the houses.
"Surely he must be having a hard time convincing him." Alandria whispered back.
"He was… the deal has been settled though."
"What does it entail?"
Walda seemed to have been distracted, Alandria followed her sister's line of sight as she realized her sister was undressing Robb Stark with her eye.
"Walda." Alandria raised her whispering voice.
"I don't remember all of the terms, but he must choose one of us to marry. He promised his little sister to be betrothed to one of our family as well."
Alandria furrowed her eyebrows as she looked over at Robb Stark, he seemed nervous. She watched as the young man attempted to fill the shoes of his father. She then looked over as her siblings, wondering which one Robb would choose. She noticed Aemon roll his eyes as he noticed Walda smirk the whole time.
Marriages must be the least of Stark's worries.
x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x
Alandria watched Robb Stark speak to Theon Greyjoy from her window. Their voices nearly inaudible from the distance, but she could still not the strain in Stark's voice.
"If Walda catches you eyeing her new pet, she'll shit herself." Alandria turned around to see Aemon walk up behind her with a grin.
"Isn't Ser Aemon supposed to be doing something more important? Offering your help perhaps?" Alandria retorted dryly.
"What for, the man seems as if he has everything handled. He's even has that cold gaze his father has. He learned well." Aemon pulled off his gloves off.
"He seems troubled. What do you know of Ned Stark?"
"Imprisoned. King Joffrey intends to punish him for being a traitor. Ned Stark has his days numbered."
"Look at him, trying to seem undaunted." Alandria continued to watch Robb through her window.
"Go comfort him, then." Aemon teased with a grin.
"Walda would shit herself, remember?" Alandria looked over to her brother with a smirk.
"What are you waiting for then?"
x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.
"Is there anything that I could do you, Lord Stark?" Alandria stepped close behind him and Greyjoy.
"He's hardly a lord, but that's very kind of you…" Greyjoy chuckled, trailing off trying to figure out her name
"Alandria Fr—Alandria Rivers." She bowed her head politely.
"It was quite an awkward entrance you made there, Rivers." Greyjoy snorted. Robb rolled his eyes as he attempted to ignore his friend.
"My father failed to invite me, my apologies."
"Not necessary." Robb looked at her with the cold stare that Aemon had mentioned.
"We digress from the real issue…. Do you need anything from me?"
"Walder said a maid would show us to the rooms he'd accommodate us with, but she hasn't been sent." Theon sighed.
"Don't ask her to do their handmaid's work…" Robb spat out to Theon.
…My apologies for his lack of respect, we'll wait."
"It's fine, I have no problem to accommodating my guests." Alandria said with a soft smile.
Robb and Theon then followed Alandria into the castle. Walda crossing paths with the small group, her eyes glared at her sister. With a huff, she approached Robb and Theon, ignoring Alandria.
"I wanted to properly introduce myself. I am Walda Frey, the eldest of my sisters." Walda bowed her head politely. Alandria noticed her sister had tightened her corset to make her waist thinner and to accentuate her bust.
"Pleased to meet you." Robb nodded his head.
"Charmed… I suppose you're the most eligible contender to be Robb's new bride." Theon smirked at his friend as bright smile appeared on Walda's pale face.
"Perhaps Walda should show you around from here." Alandria began to step away.
"No." Robb quickly said, causing the other three to stare at him, perplexed.
"Father actually sent me to call for you. He wishes to speak to you." Walda broke the silence.
"Very well." Alandria began to step away, avoiding the glares she was receiving from her sister.
"If you need anything, Robb Stark. You need just ask." Robb watched Alandria walk away with her last words, his attention spread thin.