Winterfell is a silent castle this time of day. The only ones out and about are the servants preparing the morning meal or rousing fires. Jorunn is the only member of the ruling family to be up at this early hour, before dawn. No one saw her, though. She was sure of this, because she was inside the walls of the ancient Keep. And that was entirely to her liking. As eldest female child of the family, she was under constant scrutiny, although she was technically not heiress of anything, due to her status as bastard. She was spare to both Winterfell and Starfall, but she sincerely hoped she would never have to take up the mantle as Lady of any of them, as she loved both her cousins dearly, even if she only knew cousin Ned through his letters. It was nice to get away from prying eyes from time to time. And now that the King was coming to Winterfell in what he thought was a secretive plot, the entire stronghold was turned on its head to have everything cleaned and prepared. Of course they knew what the secret reason for King Robert to visit this far north was, at least Jorunn, Cousin Sansa, and Aunt Catelyn knew. If Uncle Ned had been informed, Jorunn did not know, as she had been employed by Aunt Cat, the official Lady of the Castle until Sansa comes of age, to help oversee the preparations, and had not had much time to talk to him in prviate. Uncle Neds fosterfather, Lord Jon Arryn, the Hand of the King, had recently passed away. It would take a fool not to guess why the entire court was coming northwards. She was not looking forward to the Kings visit, both because it would most probably mean that both Uncle Ned and Cousin Robb would be leaving, and because she herself looked like a reincarnation of her Aunt Lyanna, apart from her Lady Mothers eyes and cheekbones. She was afraid of the King, or more specifically, his advances. Everyone knew he had loved her Aunt dearly, even if she did not love him in return. Lyanna Stark had not had much say in her betrothal, even if she was to become Lady of Winterfell and Warden of the North when she came of age at sixteen. No child really had. Rickard Stark had managed the Keep for his daughter after his wife died in childbed with Benjen, and a child of three became its lady as Lyarra Stark was put to rest in the crypts, holding her end of the iron sword supposed to keep the spirits of her and her Lord Protector at bay.

"Mother sent me to fetch you." Bran interrupted her thoughts. "You are expected to break your fast with us at the high table."

"I will be there in a moment, I just have to brush my hair. You run along, you probably have to find Arya as well."

"No, Robb is getting her."

Jon let a slight smile grace her featuers.

"Does he know where to find her?"

"I do not know. Where do you think she is?"

"Easy. We have been so bussy preparing the castle for the King, there has been next to no time to practice in the yard. She will be in the Godswood, with her sword."

"There has been plenty time to practice."

"For you, yes. For us girls, having to help more with the preparations, as we need the practice, and the extra hands are needed, no. Now, run along, I need to make myself presentable for the household."

Jorunn, lovingly called Jon because her cousin Sansa could not properly pronounce her name when she was little, made her way from her hiding-place inside the walls of the keep to her chamber. There she combed and plated her hair, washed her face, an put on a simple gray wool dress with purple trimmings. As she was about to leave the room, Arya was herded in by her older brother, Robb. Arya was, as always, in a dress muddy at the hem and torn in the sleeves, her face was ful of smudges, and her hair was a birdsnest of twigs and leaves.

"You found her in the Godswood, did you not?" Jorunn asked bemusedly.

"I did indeed. Fighting her oponent, an evergreen of some sort, with the wrong sword. In the confusion when she snuck out before daylight, she took one that was too heavy. She could hardly lift it, but was too stubborn to get another one."

"Had I tried to go back for another one, someone would have stopped me and sent me to my bath, and I wanted to practice. Its not fair that you get to practice and I do not."

"Robb needs to perfect his swordsmanship to impress the Crowned Princess, wereas you will have a storm of suitors as you grow older, Heiress Tully." Jon said, mockingly curtsying. "Let us get you in presentable order for breakfast. You must sadly leave the Maiden's Wing, Lord Stark."

"As Lady Snow commands. Shall I explain why you will be running late for breakfast?"

"Oh, I imagine everyone will know exactly why we are late, cousin dearest. Now, run along. I am sure there is something your mother needs you to do. You have to carry your part of the burden, if you are to be prepared to help your future lady Wife in managing the household."

"I shall hope she is not as harsh a mistress as you my Lady." Robb countered, as he bowed his way out the door.

"Boys." Arya muttered disdainefully. Jon snorted, as she led Arya to the vanity, to start to untangle the chaos that was her hair.