Gara
-ooo-
Gara's eyes were blank as she stood before her father; Whykeham Bloodhelm. His eyes were dim, listless and tired. His gnarled hand was up at his stubbly cheek, he looked drained in his old age. In their house of Bloodhelm Hall, he was Lord, but he was old now, unable to sire any more children; all he had was his two girls, Gifu and Gara. Gifu was the older twin by four minutes; brash and confident, stylish and giggling. Prettier than Gara by accounts, but more biting; more demanding. Whykeham noted that the servants didn't mind doing Gara any small task, while Lady Gifu was very free with her slaps and came down hard on any one who couldn't keep up with her demands.
Whykeham loved his girls very much, there was no doubt. Gifu embodied his youthful vanity, when he had been a young man he had been very like Gifu. Gara embodied his pleasant and kind demeanour now in his advanced age, it was amazing how two beings that looked so alike could be so very different and he smiled at them both now. Gifu returned the beam, whereas Gara only continued to stare vacantly in his direction. He knew she was thinking about the raper; Horn had informed him that his younger daughter had handled the situation very well. He had been exasperated to learn that Gara had shouldered the burden for Gifu, though. Eyeing them both, Whykeham held a letter in his hand; a summons from Lord Eddard Stark of Winterfell. Being one of the Stark's bannermen, Whykeham was happy to comply with the letter's demands.
"We are to go to Winterfell, Ned commands it."
Gifu's beam only shone brighter. Gara said nothing. Whykeham's eyes lingered on Gara as he said,
"The King and Queen are riding from King's Landing to see Ned, the Starks will feast them no doubt, so I've gotten one of the septas to order some new silks for some gowns for you girls. There will be many lords and ladies there; I want you two to stand out."
"We already stand out, father!" Gifu preened and smiled prettily as Whykeham nodded and agreed,
"Yes, you do. There is something else; Gifu, I have managed to set up a marriage proposal for you."
There was silence, and then Gifu glanced up at her father,
"B-but, I don't want to be married yet, father..."
Whykeham shook his head and said gently, "It doesn't matter, and you are seventeen years old now. It is time one of you was wed! It is a good match." Gifu's eyes roamed the floor before she piped,
"Who is he?" Whykeham sighed and folded Ned's summons, "A Lannister."
Gara's head snapped up then, "A Lannister? You're marrying Gifu off to a Lannister?!" Gifu smiled thinly and hissed, "Jealous?" Gara scoffed, "Hardly! Lannisters are golden haired, silver tongued snakes; you're welcome to him – whoever he is!" Whykeham watched as Gifu thought a moment,
"A Lannister..." She pondered, "Well that changes everything," She simpered before Gara snapped,
"His gold changes everything."
"Shut up, Gara!"
Whykeham sighed again more heavily this time. "Girls, enough; we will go to Winterfell in two weeks. That should give you enough time to get things in order, and Gifu, you will meet your betrothed there. He is riding up with the King." Gifu smiled and asked, "What is his name, father?"
"Thegane Lannister, he's a good match." Whykeham said again. Gara rolled her eyes and looked away just as Whykeham turned to her, "Which means, with your sister snaffled up, you are the family goods." Gara scowled up at her father as he said,
"So take that surely look of your face; it doesn't become you."
Gara huffed as Gifu said snidely, "Nothing becomes Gara." Whykeham watched as Gara glared over to her sister. Then with a wave of his hand, said wearily,
"You have my leave to go."