My mother taught me to act properly and fulfil my duties as a Lady. My father however trained me to swing a sword and act bravely. Well, it was actually my grandfather who taught me all of this, but I saw him more as a father, then my real one. My name is Kristyna Karstark, and I am the only child of Thorren and Lysa Karstark, granddaughter of Lord Rickard Karstark and heir to Karhold when my time comes.
"My Lord, a raven with a letter from Winterfell." the guard said, handing the letter to Lord Karstark. The grey bearded man read the letter and rose from his seat. "We're riding for Winterfell in the morning, tell my granddaughter to start packing." "Yes, My Lord." the guard bowed and left the room.
Three knocks came at my door, disturbing my reading. I put down my book and went to open the door. "Yes?" I said with a soft voice to the guard standing in front of me. "My Lady, you're to pack your belongings, you and Lord Karstark are riding for Winterfell in the morning." "Riding for Winterfell, why?" I asked surprised. "That, I do not know, my Lady. Only giving orders from Lord Karstark." He said, giving a bow before he left. I started packing some clothes, a couple of books and of course my favourite sword, Snowstorm. When I finished packing, I went to ask my grandfather about our travel to Winterfell.
I opened the doors into the Great Hall and found my grandfather in his chair talking to my father, Thorren. "You must be here at Karhold, my son, ruling in my place while I'm gone." "But why are you bringing Kristyna then?" Thorren asked with despite in his voice. My grandfather saw me standing at in the back, close enough to listen to their conversation. "Well, you're not taking her anywhere, and she deserve to see other things then the walls of Karhold." "But, she's a girl!" Thorren said clenching his teeth. "Enough! Kristyna is coming with me to Winterfell, end of discussion." Rickard snarled to his son, hitting his fist in the table. Thorren turned around to walk away when he saw me. He clenched his fists and walked out, giving me a cold look. "You shouldn't care about your father, he loves you deep in even though it may not look like it." Rickard laughed, waiving me closer. "Eddard Stark wants us to come to Winterfell for a friendly visit. The reason why I want you to come as well is to introduce you to his son Robb. You are both the same age, and I think you will two will get well along together." I gave my grandfather a suspicious look. "So what you're saying is that you are going to put me up for a marriage with Eddard Starks son, Robb?" He laughed patting my head. "No, that's not what I'm saying. But you could get a new friend, and possible it will resolve in something that will strengthen our bonds even more with the Starks." "Marriage?" I said raising my eyebrows. My grandfather gave me a smile. "You should get to bed, we will be riding early in the morning."
I curled the cloak around my body. The weather was cold this morning and the summer snow was laying on the ground, covering it with a thin white veil. My black horse, Shadow, was standing at the gates, ready for a trip to Winterfell. Lord Karstark and four other guards were already ready on their horses, waiting for me. I mounted Shadow and we rode for Winterfell. It would take us three days with riding to reach Winterfell, but we would spend our first night with the Boltons at Dreadfort.
As we arrived at Dreadfort, Roose Bolton and his bastard son, Ramsay welcomed us. "Ramsay, find Lady Kristyna a chamber were she can stay the night and bring her for dinner afterwards." Lord Bolton said. "Yes, Father." Ramsay smiled at me and gave me his hand. We walked in silence until Ramsay stopped and showed me my chamber. "Feel yourself at home. I will come and get you for dinner." I only nodded and gave him a little smile. There was something about this boy I didn't like. He did not have an ugly face, but his eyes. They scared me. Grey eyes of steel. Eyes of a mad man. After I had washed my face and changed my clothes, Ramsay came knocking at my door. I opened the door and took his offering hand once again. This time we talked while walking to the dining hall, but Ramsay stood for most of the talking. At the table I took a seat next to my grandfather, Ramsay sat himself across from me, making me look at his thin face with those cold eyes. Each time I looked at him, he was looking back with lust in his eyes. I was not usually afraid of people, but Ramsay made me uncomfortable. Perhaps it was because he was Roose Boltons son, and I had heard many stories of the Boltons and their cruelty when I was young. Moreover, Ramsay certainly had the looks of a man who could do cruel things. "Excuse me, Lord Bolton, but I'm feeling tired after today's ride. May I go to my chambers?" He smiled at me and nodded. I rose from my seat and left the hall. "Why taking your granddaughter with you to Winterfell, Lord Karstark?" Roose asked. "Introducing her for Eddard Starks son." "I see. Hoping for a stronger alliance through a wedding. But what if the Starks won't let her marry their son?" "Then I must find her another suitable husband, which will also benefit our house." Roose looked at his bastard son who walked to the doors and left the room as well. "She could marry Ramsay if it does not work out with the Starks, and I will give my bastard son my family name. It would be a good match, Lord Karstark, both for the power of our houses and I think they could have it quite nice together." Roose Bolton said friendly, patting Rickards shoulder.
Few candles lit up the narrow hallways of Dreadfort, casting hunted shadows on the wall. As a child, I was told that the Boltons flayed their enemies, hanging their skin on the walls. However, now there was only banners of house Bolton hanging on the cold walls. I stopped at one banner and touched it with my hand. "You know, there used to be real flayed men hanging on these walls. Well, that's what the stories say though." Ramsay spoke up behind my back, making me jump. I turned around facing Ramsay with a racing heart. "You scared me." I sad with a shaking voice. "My apologise, my lady. I never had the intension to scare you." He smirked. "The Starks actually outlawed flaying, you know." He said after a couple of minutes with silence and looked down at me. "What do you think about flaying?" I gave it a minute or two before answering. "It is probably a good way to get information from the prisoner, but it is a messy way to get things done. Most men would also give away information in fear of losing something precious to them." Enthusiasm lit up in his eyes. "Poor man who becomes your enemy." I turned around and started walking towards my chamber in the end of the hallway. Half way there, I stopped and turned towards Ramsay. "Yes, you are right. Poor man. Goodnight Ramsay." I said smiling before walking off, leaving Ramsay standing in the hallway alone.
The next morning I woke up by the barking hounds outside my window. I slung a blanket around my body and looked curious down on the courtyard from my window. My gaze dropped on the young man with a hunting bow on his back. The young dark-haired man turned around and there was Ramsay who looked directly at me. He grinned and made a polite bow. Even though I thought Ramsay was creepy, he made me smile when trying to show some courtesy.
After breakfast, we all met in the courtyard ready to continue our trip to Winterfell. Before mounting our horses, we thanked the Boltons for their hospitality. When I was to say farewell to Ramsay, he took my hand and kissed it softly. Lord Karstark coughed, giving Ramsay a disapproval look. We mounted our horses, ready for another long day with riding. As we started walking, Ramsay shouted: "Hope to see you soon again, my friend." I pulled the rains and turned Shadow around. "So, we're friends now?" I said smirking. "Being an enemy of you would definitely be very painful, so I do think I prefer the term friends." He shouted from the courtyard. I couldn't help laughing before riding away from Dreadfort.
(Okay! This is my first fanfic and hope you like it. Would love to get some input on how things can get better, and sorry if there is mistakes with my english, cuz i'm norwegian haha!)