REWRITING! REWRITING! NO ONE FREAK OUT IF YOU CONTINUE TO READ THE STORY AFTER THIS CHAPTER! ALL CHAPTERS THAT HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFLLY REWRITEN AND UPDATED WILL HAVE ~~~~ (REWRITEN) ~~~~~ ON THEM!
Chapter One
Beyond the Wall
Luck is a very thin wire between survival and disaster, and not many people can keep their balance upon it.
- Hunter S. Thompson
Lyanna smiled from her perch, watching, waiting for their return. Gods knew how long her brothers and father had been gone. She rubbed her sore fingers as she waited, the string from her bow had cut her healing scabs. Anna had yet to tell anyone of her secret pastime and the bow and arrows hid like damning evidence behind the frame of her bed. She was not as good as Arya. Her little warrior sister who could hit targets with knives, arrows and, on occasion, jelly. She smiled as she remembered the moment when Jon had first started showing her. How clumsy she had been.
"Jon"
John was her father's bastard. The "stain" on her family's honor. She had never felt discontent with him. Not really. To her...to her he was a meek shy baby, he was barely old enough to have left the womb, much less be a "stain". She remembered watching him with the nightwoman. Rocking the child and holding him to her breast. Anna's father had been exhausted. His eyes low and downcast. Responsibility and grief had turned him into a man. And her mother had become mute. Shame had made her vicious to her maids and sent the young women crying from her room. Even then she knew the embarrassment her mother must have suffered through.
Anna winced as she remember the loud, vicious yelling from her father's office until her mother had stormed out. The tears and the anger those first few months. Since then she had been the one to protect him from the whispers and sneers, the hateful actions. She had been the one to wrap the bandages and tell the stories.
As Nan had said, " You took to that boy like snow to the ground."
But they had only recently become friends. She trusted him with her life though. Would trust him with her family's honor and the prestige that came with it. Even if others did not.
With a sigh she started to pace, waiting. The group had set off to behead a deserter hours ago. That thought alone filled her with dread. Anna had been against the entire thing, it was one thing she and her mother could agree on, but her father was the Lord and thought he was old enough, so he went. Little Bran, who believed that knights were heroes. He was young. To him battle meant glory and as the second son it meant a title and wealth. Things he would never have unless Rob died. She banished this thought from her mind. Praying to her father's gods to protect her family.
"Keep them safe", Anna whispered, grasping her arms.
Shouts of bannermen filled the sky and wind rushed. As if it was a chorus six howls filled the sky. Making a shiver run up her spine.
The girl hurried from the landing like a bird from its perch, her maroon skirt flapping in the wind. Lord Eddard Stark appraised his eldest daughter, watching as her face slowly turned a light pink from exertion. Her green eyes overlooking him too, searching for any wounds.
He kissed her forehead, "Hello Anna"
She awkwardly curtised. Being a lady did not come naturally to his eldest. He accepted a hug from her, before looking up. Catelyn walked poised from the castle, Sansa close by. Rickon and Arya raced ahead.
"My Lord", Catelyn said when they met.
"My Lady", he replied. He leaned forward to kiss her brow.
"Momma, look!", Rick shouted, pulling on the bundle in Robb's arms.
A squeal erupted from the bundle, and a fat black wolf fell into the snow. It barked, burrowing into Rickon's legs as it touched the wet ground. Rickon screamed in delight and Arya made a very unlady-like noise picking up the nearest wolf. The group was full of laughter and shouts of glee, as the Stark children reached for the wolves.
"She's beautiful", squealed Sansa after Theon had handed her a light gray pup. The pups were different by their very nature, shifting this way and that in their new owner's grip.
"They're ours, right Father?", Rickon called, curling the wolf close to himself. The pup was almost as big as he was.
"Yes Rickon", Ned replied.
He bent down scooping his youngest son into his arms.
"Anna", a warm voice whispered in her ear.
William. William Blackburne. He was tall. And fair, his eyes a light blue. She had grown up with him. There had never been a time when she, Rob and he hadn't been together. But growth and gender had changed all that. These days they rarely saw one another. He handed her a large white bundle, it insistently squirmed in her hold, until a small nose was revealed. The wolf sneezed. Anna laughed as she pulled the wolf to her chest. He was rather skinny, all body and a small tail. But his eyes, bright green and blue held her attention. They were warm and soft, wise and gentle. He sniffed, before licking her cheek, making her smile.
Ned smiled as he watched them embrace their wolves.
"Remember to give them names children"
He took Catelyn's hand ushering her inside, seeking counsel he knew he would not receive from friends or lords.
The news of creatures beyond the wall sent a murmur through the entire castle but barely touched the Stark children as they argued over names. The wolves were their only concern at the moment. They moved them back and forth, over and under their tongues until Robb had come up with Grey Wind and Sansa with Lady. The wolves in question lay at their feet, or on their laps.
Arya continued to wrestle between Nymeria and Tasha.
"Quiet!", Robb yelled.
The group quickly settled.
They were in the kitchen at the servants table. And although the room was stifling hot it was filled with the smell of bread and sweets. Most of the time they could grab a few as long as the Cook was not around.
Robb sat at the head, Bran to his left, Anna to his right, Rickon beside her, Sansa beside Rickon, Arya beside Rickon and Jon at the end.
"Now, we've already decided that mine would be called Grey Wind, Sansa's Lady-"
"Boo!", Arya yelled.
Rickon laughed, while Bran smiled. Sansa looked abashed, her nose turned up. She was the most gentle of the girls.
This continued on for sometime until they all fell asleep, still arguing about the braver of the wolves and the best name.
After three deaths, a crazy ex and almost failing two classes I have decided to rewrite this story!
To new comers - I apologize but hope you'll continue to read.
To old fans - thank you for your support and I hope you like the rewrite! Thank You again!
