Chapter One: A Shadow
Aemilius Maddeson sat beside her sister quietly and observed her surroundings. They had arrived in Winterfell less than an hour ago and already she wanted to go home. It wasn't the people or the place it was because at home nobody stared at her whereas here she could feel them watching her as if she was tonight's entertainment. Her twin, Magdalena, was the one who loved attention. It was obvious with how loudly she spoke, and tossed her hair over her shoulder. She loved to charm people, especially boys. She was chatting happily with the eldest Stark child, Robb. Aemilius knew her sister was putting her spell on Robb, she did it to all the boys. That was how they were, Aemilius and Magdalena. Mags had the Lannister looks like her mother, the long golden hair and dazzling green eyes. She was also tall and slim, and had a way of always getting what she wanted. Aemili was her opposite, her shadow. She had her father's auburn hair, she was short, especially beside her sister, curvy, and had the strangest eyes. Her left, the Lannister green, her right the Maddeson blue. She wasn't outgoing like her twin, she didn't she think was funny, and she especially did not consider herself beautiful.
"Aemili, look." Mags elbowed her sister in the ribs. "It's the basterd." She grinned. "He is terribly handsome isn't he." She whispered. "I might just need to introduce myself." She had a mischievous smile on her face; one that Aemili knew all to well.
"Mags!" Aemili called after her but she had already gone. Only Aemili knew that Mags wasn't pure, and only she knew that Mags had been with more men then she had fingers.
"Greetings my lady." A man now occupied the seat Mags had just vacated.
"Lady Aemilius, this is Theon Greyjoy of the Iron Islands." Robb introduced. Theon grabbed Aemili's hand and placed a soft kiss atop it.
"Such a pleasure my lady." He purred. "How was the journey from Neth?" He asked as he started eating Mags abandoned plate of food.
"Very long." She answered truthfully.
"I'd imagine it is a much different setting then Winterfell." Robb remarked.
"Indeed. The last time I experienced such a chilled wind was the last winter." She pushed her plate away, not having an appetite from the rough trip.
"Is it true you have an owl for a pet?" The one Aemili knew as Arya asked excitedly.
"Tis true my lady."
"Is it here? Could I meet it? Does it have a name?" She urged.
"I'm afraid I left her at home. I didn't think an owl would be a welcome house guest, and I call her Baislie." Arya frowned.
"Such a shame, I'd love to have met her." Aemili smiled.
"Sorry to interrupt, Rickon, Bran, Arya, time for bed." Lord Eddard Stark said. All three children groaned but obeyed. They followed Lord and Lady Stark from the hall.
"Aemilius, we are retiring for the night." Her father, Klaus Maddeson, called from the head table. She nodded and waved her good night. Her father guided her mother, Lisette, away. Aemili looked around for her sister but she was nowhere to be found. She noticed that Jon Snow was missing also. Poor Snow, he never stood a chance.
"What is it like in Neth, I have heard it is very beautiful." The eldest Stark daughter, Sansa asked. She had taken an immediate liking to Mags.
"It hasn't seen cold like this in years." She missed Neth already. "Wild flowers bloom everywhere and of every color. Out my bedroom window I had a view of a glistening sapphire sea."
"Sounds beautiful." Sansa replied dreamily.
"Winterfell has a different beauty. It doesn't have much color, but even then it's still interesting." She feared she was being arrogant.
"Winterfell is so boring." Sansa grimaced. "I'd love to visit Neth, or King's Landing. Have you ever been there?"
"I have not been to King's Landing." She answered.
"I'm sorry, I forgot… I didn't realize." Sansa stuttered.
"I am afraid I do no see why you would apologize?" Aemili was confused.
"You very obviously have not been to King's Landing, with your mother being a forsaken Lannister. They'd have your head if you stepped foot in their territory." Theon answered.
"It is called King's Landing, if I am not mistaken, not Lannister Landing." Aemili rose from her seat quickly. "I am turning in for the night." She left quickly, not wanting to be near the Greyjoy any longer. She did not like how ignorant he was, yes it was true about her mother but Aemili could have visited King's Landing if she wanted to, forsaken aside it didn't belong to those people, they had no right to keep her from doing anything.
"Lady Aemilius!" Someone called behind her. She didn't acknowledge him, she hoped he would go away, but it was no use. He caught up to her easily. "I apologize on behalf of my sister and Greyjoy. I was wrong to bring up such a topic."
"Do not apologize. Yes, my mother was a Lannister, yes, her family turned away from her when she married my father, and yes, her sister is the queen. The Lannister's have no power over my family; they gave up that right when they turned their back on my mother. It does not matter what they think. I can walk into King's Landing and scream at the top of my lungs that my mother is Lisette Lannister and it would make no difference. Those people do not dictate my life, they never have and they never will. So, Robb Stark, do not apologize for Sansa for asking a simple question, and do not apologize for that ignorant Greyjoy person, he should do it himself. If you'll excuse me, it has been a long day and I would like to find my room." She breezed past him.
"Uh Aemilius?" He called her attention.
"My parents call me Aemilius, please call me Aemili." She stopped and said over her shoulder.
"Do you knew where you are sleeping?" He asked.
"I fear not, but I am certain if I wander aimlessly I will find it eventually." She started down the hall again.
"Would you like me to show you to your room?" He had once again caught up with her.
"How very kind but I won't burden you. Go ahead and join the festivities." She was starting to be annoyed with the Stark boy. He simply would not leave her alone.
"It would be my honor." He offered his arm to her, which she refused.
"No need for formalities Stark. I can walk without having someone attached to me." Robb laughed, he was beginning to like this girl.
"This way." He smiled as he turned a corner. "Your room is right next to your sisters." Aemili was not happy by the thought of having a neighbouring room to her sister; at home their rooms were far apart, something that came in handy when she had a gentleman stay the night. She had no doubt in her mind that being in Winterfell would be no different.
"Where did you get off to last night?" Mags asked Aemili as they walked the halls of the castle.
"I could ask you the same question. Had a pleasant time with Jon Snow?" Aemili raised her eyebrow at her sister.
"Unfortunately not. I pretended to be so interested in his horse, I even touched the damn thing." She shuddered at the thought. "It was as if he did not see me. How is that possible?"
"I do not know Mags, you are very hard not to notice." Aemili said it with a grimace.
"Fortunately my night was not completely awful, after I left Snow I ran into the handsome Theon Greyjoy." She winked at her sister.
"I find that Greyjoy fellow to be a jerk." Aemili was still sour from last night's confrontation.
"A jerk who is an amazing kisser." Mags replied dreamily.
"Please tell me you did not sleep with him." Aemili whispered.
"Of course not, what kind of girl do you think I am?" Mags had a mischievous twinkle in her eyes as she replied. "Besides, I have my eye on Jon Snow, and I always get what I want." Mags waltzed away with a jump in her step in search of the poor lad.
"He never stood a chance." Aemili shook her head as she followed after her slowly. She found Robb, Jon, and Theon practising archery in the courtyard. Mags leaned against the fence, ogling Jon. Aemili walked past them, she didn't care for boys or her sister's games.
She found Bran and Rickon having a sword fight with two very long sticks. "Well hello. I wasn't aware you two were trained swords men." She smiled at the boys.
"We are knights." Rickon announced proudly.
"Knights you say? When was your coronation, my invitation must have been lost in the wind." She decided to play along.
"We are not real knights, it is only pretend." Bran pointed out.
"I see two very skilled men before me, yes it is true you are not real knights, but I will change that. Might I borrow your sword Master Rickon?"
"Of course." He handed her his stick, which was heavier then she thought it was.
"Would you both please kneel before me." She commanded. Rickon obeyed quickly, Bran however looked unsure of what to do. "If you do not wish to be a knight then stand and watch as I knight your brother." Bran kneeled quickly. "I, Lady Aemilius Maddeson, of Neth, hereby declare, Lord Rickon Stark and Lord Brandon Stark, knights of the land of Winterfell and the Fonwick Circle." She tapped the sword/stick on each of their shoulders. "You may rise brave and noble knights, and take your first steps as new men." She watched as both boys rose looking proud. "Knights of the Fonwick Circle are the secret protectors of my land." She handed Rickon back his sword.
"Robb!" Rickon greeted Robb, who had been watching the whole affair in the shadows. "Did you hear, Aemili knighted us." He boasted.
"Knights?" He bowed slightly. "What an honor to be in the presence of such valiant and courageous knights." Bran felt a little silly by the whole thing but did enjoy how special Aemili and Robb were making him feel. "What is your first order of business as knights?" He came and stood beside Aemili now. "I have heard rumours of a Turwicket causing trouble in the dining hall. Perhaps our new knights could take care of it?" Both of them ran off quickly, swords held high.
"A Turwicket?" Aemili asked. "I don't believe I have heard of such a thing."
"Oh, it's a very fearful beast." Robb grinned. "They hide under tables and bite the feet of anyone who sits at them. I have also heard they hide under beds, and steal your shoes when you take them off."
"Well, it is a good thing Ser Bran and Ser Rickon are on the job. I have faith they will scare the Turwicket away."
"If not then I will protect you."
"I am afraid that is a job for a knight of the Fonwick Circle, which you are not." She teased.
"My broken heart." He held his hands to his chest. "Shall we go and make sure they don't cause too much trouble?" He offered her his arm, which she took happily, her previous annoyance with him evaporating.
They walked to the dining hall, passing by a love-struck Theon, an annoyed but still-trying-to-win-her-prize Mags, and an oblivious Jon.
They found Bran and Rickon crawling under the long tables. "Have you found him yet?" Aemili asked.
"We fear we have failed you." Bran bowed.
"He must have gotten away before we came." Rickon sat atop the table and swung his stick at his feet.
"He heard two fearless knights were coming for him and fled the grounds. That is a job well done. Shall we celebrate with some tarts?" Rickon and Bran's faces lit up as they both nodded frantically. "Wait here while I go and steal some."
"Robb, as knights I don't think we should allow you to steal, as much as I want a tart, it would simply be against everything we stand for." Bran said seriously.
"He will ask nicely then." Aemili patted Robb on the shoulder. He couldn't keep himself from smiling, as he left the hall to the kitchen.
"What is a Turwicket anyhow?" Rickon asked as the three of them sat at the table, Rickon to her right, and Bran across from her.
"Tricky little creatures. Robb tells me they hide under tables and nip at your toes." Rickon pulled his feet up quickly. "Do not fear, you both have scared him away, and he will not come back."
"Do they have them in Neth?" Bran asked.
"Though, I did not know what to call them before today I have encountered one before. He was terrible, bit my tiniest toe."
"What were you doing at the table with no shoes on?" Rickon asked.
"That month my feet grew very fast and none of my shoes fit. It's a shame you boys weren't there to protect me."
"I have returned, and I come bearing, not stolen, blueberry tarts. One for each of us." He sat beside Bran and handed the treats out.
The boys consumed them greedily, whereas Robb and Aemili ate theirs slowly. Rickon had blueberry jam covering his mouth and cheeks by the time they finished. "Come along, let's wash you up before mother sees." Robb let Rickon jump on his back and led him from the hall.
"I know it's just pretend." Bran said as he picked scratched at the table.
"What do you mean?"
"We are not real knights, and there is no such thing as a Turwicket."
"Just because you do not wear the armour does not mean you are not a knight, and someplace, somewhere in the world there could be a toe biting Turwicket."
"I want to be a real knight, with the armour."
"I have faith that you will be when you are old enough, for now, you will be Ser Bran, a knight of the Fonwick Circle." Bran smiled at her, a smile that made her insides melt. She had only known this boy for a day and already she loved him like a brother.
Robb returned with a freshly cleaned Rickon on his shoulders. Robb helped Rickon off his shoulders. "Let's go tell father that we're knights!" Rickon grabbed his sword and ran from the dining hall. Bran followed behind but with less enthusiasm.
"Thank you." Robb said.
"For what?" Aemili followed him from the hall and into the courtyard.
"For making them smile like I haven't seen in months."
"I did nothing." Aemili hid her face hoping Robb could not see her blush.
"Robb, your mother would like a word." Theon announced as he came over.
"Thank you. I will see you later." Robb kissed Aemili's hand then walked away.
Aemili turned back towards the castle. "Lady Aemilius." Theon called after her. "Walk with me?" He asked with a flirty smile.
"I think I will pass." She started walking faster, wanting to put as much distance between herself and Greyjoy.
"Why do you resist me?" He pushed her against the wall. "Your sister enjoyed my company last night."
"There are many differences between my sister and I. This is one of them." She pushed him away and started for the courtyard quickly. The dark halls of the castle were too intimate to have Greyjoy following her.
"Is it an apology you seek?" He was still following her. "I am sorry for speaking the truth last night."
"What you said is so far from the truth. I have been to King's Landing and as you can see, I still have my head." She breezed past him towards the stable. She didn't know why she came here, she was just thankful that Greyjoy had left her alone.
"I don't believe we've met." The voice startled Aemili. "I did not mean to frighten you." Jon Snow came forward. "My name is Jon." He bowed slightly.
"I am Aemili Maddeson." She curtsied. "I believe you have had the honor of meeting my sister."
He laughed. "Yes, interesting girl. Not to sound full of myself but she seems to have some kind of fascination with me."
"And here I thought all men bowed to her feet, oblivious to her charms." Aemili giggled.
"She is not one for subtle." He sat on the fence that Aemili was now leaning upon.
"My sister is many things, charming, outgoing, beautiful, amusing, but subtle is not one of them."
"I suppose I am just immune to her allure."
"You must be the first."
"Not every man will fall to their knees for beauty, my lady."
"At the end of the day what is left?"
"So, you are saying that beauty is all that matters?"
"In the beginning, yes. You see a girl, like Mags, and she is beautiful, that draws you in. Whereas you have a less attractive girl, not even ugly, just not as dazzling as Mags, and you wouldn't notice her, therefore never getting to know her."
"I have a suspicion we are not talking about some unforeseen girl."
"I do not follow." Aemili wasn't sure of what he meant.
"I think you are speaking of a girl who is equally as beautiful as Mags, but in a much different way." He fell to his feet and stood in front of Aemili. She knew what he meant now, and she didn't mean to do it, not intentionally. "This girl with a rare shade of hair, she has such magnificent eyes." Aemili looked away. "But she hides them." He places his hand under her chin and gently races it to make her look him in the eyes. "You do not see yourself clearly. I imagine it is hard when you are standing next to Mags. It is not your fault thought, it is everyone else's." In that moment Aemili realized that her and Jon had something in common, they both can't help who they are, someone who is never good enough. He is Jon Snow, the basterd of Lord Eddard Stark, and she is Aemili Maddeson, not her sister Mags Maddeson.