Disclaimer: I do not own Game of Thrones or the A Song of Ice and Fire series. I only own Eleanora.

"There is always one moment in childhood when the door opens and lets the future in?" - Graham Greene

"Mother, where are we going?" the young girl queried as her mother ran her fingers through her growing dark hair. As Cersei's long fingers ran out of the ends, it sprang back into its loose curly form. The little girl she had grown to love out of such circumstances had aged dramatically. She was no longer the little baby in a crib, but a young girl of six name days. She now had a Septa and was learning the ways of becoming the Lady of a great house. Her father had plans for that.

"The North, sweet child," Cersei said, shifting her eyes to one of the other children in the royal wheelhouse. Her golden headed lion was resting his head on her knee as he slept. Joffery was only four name days, born not long after his sister and tragic brother. Only, they did not share a father. Cersei kept that secret as Joffery was to become King. She would groom him for the role he was born for. It did detract time away from her other child, yes. But, she was her father's daughter. She took after him in many ways. Many more than herself. She hated it. But, her little Nora was obedient and dutiful. She always done what she was told to do, without question and was a proper little lady. Eleanora Baratheon was the Princess everyone loved. People spoke of her glistening smile lighting up the entire Seven Kingdoms. She was truly a beauty, even at a young age. Her dark hair from the Baratheon bloodline contrasted perfectly with her Lannister green eyes. But Cersei knew the fate that was to entail. It was the same fate she suffered. Marrying for power, many great houses wanted the power Baratheon name in their lineage. The daughter of a King as their matriarch. Cersei knew it couldn't be avoided and tried to persuade her husband to marry her to Willas Tyrell, the heir to Highgarden. But, King Robert had other plans for his eldest daughter. Plans would also be made for the babe, Myrcella, when she came of age.

"Why are we going to The North?" Nora asked her mother. Eleanora had commonly become known as Nora throughout the castle. Mostly because, as a young child, she could never pronounce her own name and simple called herself Nora. It stuck with her family, guards and staff and little Nora became the life of the castle. She turned her head around to face her mother. "Are we going to visit the Starks?"

"How do you know of the Starks?" Cersei questioned her eldest child.

"Lord Jon is teaching me about the great houses of the Seven Kingdoms," Nora informed her. Cersei quirked her eyebrow up. She didn't know of it. Cersei thought Nora a little too young to learn about the histories and houses of Westeros from the maester. "House Stark are Wardens of the North and Lords of Winterfell. Their current Lord is Eddard Stark. Their sigil is a grey direwolf racing across a field of white. Their saying is..." Nora paused to think for a moment. "'Winter is coming'!"

"Very good, child," Cersei praised her, making the young girl smile brightly. "Do you know any others?"

"Only a few," Nora told her. "House Lannister are Wardens of the West and Lords of Casterly Rock. Their sigil is a golden lion rampant of a crimson field. Their saying is 'Hear Me Roar'"

"Excellent," Cersei smiled proudly. "And who is the current Lord?"

"Grandfather."

"And what is Grandfather's name?" Cersei quizzed and a puzzled look ran its way over her daughters face.

"Grandfather," she said, unsure and smiled.

"Tywin Lannister," Cersei told her daughter with a chuckle.

"Tywin, that's a funny name," Nora laughed.

"Don't let your Grandfather hear you saying that," she warned her, gently. "And yes. We are going to visit the Starks. They, along with your Father, crushed the rebellion of House Greyjoy. There is a feast to celebrate."

"I love feasts," Nora said, standing up. "I can wear fancy dresses and dance all night."

"Maybe you could dance with Robb Stark," the words stuck in her mouth. Cersei wouldn't be travelling North, if it weren't for her husbands determination to establish a marriage contract between Nora and the young Stark heir. Cersei naturally disagreed, but he was on his way to the Iron Islands to fight the Greyjoys. She had no time to persuade him otherwise. But, she had to prepare her daughter for what is to come.

"Why?" she asked, curious.

"Because he is to be your husband," Cersei bitterly spat. She had hoped to one day influence her daughter's marriage. A marriage to man she approves of and sided with her family. Yes, the Starks were loyal to the Baratheons, but not to the Lannisters. Even though she didn't show it, Nora was as much a Lannister as she was a Baratheon.

"But, I am only six name days," her eyes grew wide in shock.

"Bless your naïvety, sweet child," Cersei said, bringing her closer. "No, in many years to come when you come of age you will have to marry. Your father has blindly arranged for you to marry Robb Stark. Thankfully, he's only one name day your senior. He could have married you to a much older fellow."

"So, when I am older, I will be Lady of Winterfell?" Nora asked, her long eyelashes fluttering with every blind.

"Yes," she said with a sigh. "And your son will Lord of Winterfell after Robb and your other children will become lesser lords and ladies, and even knights."

"Uncle Jaime told me the North doesn't have knights," Nora said.

"Well, your children could be," Cersei told her. "You're the Princess of the Seven Kingdoms, you can have anything you want."

"Can I have a lemon cake?" Nora asked with a smile.

"Yes, child."

The feast got under way not long after the Queen and her children arrived in Winterfell. The musicians were playing, the food smelled so good you could taste it in your mouth and the liquor was rich. The King and Queen sat central to a raised table. Lord Eddard was seated next to the King. They exchanged jokes and stories as the King drank through Winterfells supply. Lady Catelyn was beside the Queen.

"Ned tells me that our children are to be intended," Catelyn said, trying to break the silence between herself and the Queen.

"Yes," Cersei replied, hissing her teeth. "An exciting prospect, isn't it?"

"I have to agree," Catelyn smiled. "Princess Eleanora is quite the little lady already."

"She is a good thing," Cersei said, eyeing her daughter. She sat with Joffery at a lower table and ate her dinner in peace. "Dutiful; she'll make a fine wife." The words caught in her through on the way out. Her eyes moved to the dark red-headed boy across the room. "Is that your boy?" He sat on the opposite side of the room with the maester of Winterfell. Sansa, the other Stark child, was too young at only two. She was in her bed chambers, as was Myrcella in the guesthouse.

"Yes."

"He's handsome," Cersei couldn't help but think of her lost son. What he would have been like if the Gods had let him live. His little black head leaving destruction on his wake, his sister not far behind. Would they have been like her and Jaime? Would they have the same bond?

Maester Luwin rose from his seat and approach Eddard and the King at their table.

"Your grace, my Lord, I think it's time for the introductions," he suggested and they both nodded in unison. Maester Luwin stood in front of the royal table an looked to the tables at either side of it. All the other Lords who had joined them in Winterfell, fell silent. "Lord Robb, Princess Eleanora, please come forward." The two children rose and walked along the front of the royal table until they met in the centre. Cersei gave her daughter a weak smile and a nod as she passed. If it could be anyone other than a Stark, she thought. Robb looked up to his mother, who indicated for him to bow. He complied and Nora politely curtsied before her young intended. "My Lord, meet Eleanora of House Baratheon, Princess of the Seven Kingdoms. Your grace, meet Robb of House Stark, Lord heir to Winterfell. You two are intended to become husband and wife."

"You're Robb Stark?" Nora asked, fluttering her eyelashes.

"Yes," was all he said. Nora was not much shorter than the heir. There was only a year a difference. She didn't struggle to look up to his face.

"Then I shall kiss you," she said with a broad smile. The Lords and Ladies laughed and swooned at the little Princess. A look of shock ran over Robb's face and before he could protest, Nora placed her hands on his shoulder, preventing his from moving, and planted a light peck on his cheek. Nora smiled and she moved back. Robb, however, groaned and wiped his cheek on the back of his hand, as any young boy his age would. Nora's eyebrows furrowed together, a frown forming on her face, before she roughly shoved him in the shoulders. Robb fell to the ground and gasps erupted in the hall.

"Eleanora," Cersei exclaimed, a slight smile forming on her face.

"That's the Baratheon blood in her," King Roberts voice boomed, as he laughed. A little lion cub, Cersei thought. She is no stag. "Ours is fury." Nora smiled before holding out her hand to the young Stark boy. He accepted and she helped him up from his position on the ground.

"Apologizes, my Lord," Nora said, smiling softly at him. Robb gave her a small smile back.

"Nora, child," Cersei said, as she entered her daughters guest-chamber. Nora was just finished getting ready. Her handmaiden had just styled her hair nicely. Nora curtsied to her Mother. Her Septa always told her to curtsy to those of noble birth, no matter the relation. "We must go a break fast with the Starks. But, first come and sit, dear." Nora followed her Mother's instructions and sat on the bed beside her. "What do you think of Robb Stark?"

"I don't know," the young Princess shrugged her shoulders.

"Do you why you must marry him?" again, her daughter shrugged her shoulder. "Because, it is what is expected of you." She rolled her eyes. "It was expected of me too. It's a woman's duty to marry a man and give him sons." Nora wasn't stupid. She was six name days with a recently born sister. Her naïvety only stretched so far. She knew to an extent how children were to be brought into the world. "You have no choice in this. You know that right?" Nora nodded her head silently, listening intently to her mother. "But, you can control it, sweet thing. You see, when a man truly loves a woman, she becomes his weakness. She can influence him to anything at her bidding, what is it I always tell you?"

"I can get anything I ever want."

"Exactly," the Queen said, tapping Nora's nose gently. "But, first the boy must trust you, if he were to fall in love with you. You must formally apologize to him for your behavior last night before you leave. Once we leave, you will not see him for over ten years. And heed this for years to come, love." Cersei took her daughters chin between her finger and her thumb, forcing her to look her straight in the eyes, green blending into green. "Never fall in love with the boy. Just as the woman a man loves is his greatest weakness, a man a woman loves can be just as deadly. They can hurt you in a whole manner of ways, little thing."

The courtyard of Winterfell was must chillier than the rose gardens of the Red Keep. Even now, during the summer. In her warmest dress and cloak, Nora still felt a chill rise up through her body as she sat and watched the boys spar with their wooden swords. Robb held his ground against the Greyjoy boy, who was at least two years his senior. The other boy, the bastard Jon Snow, sat and watched them, a chuckle erupting from his mouth every so often. She could hear a faint chatter coming from them on the other side of the courtyard.

"Are you cold, Princess?" a familiar voice spoke behind her. Nora turned her head to see her golden headed uncle, Ser Jaime Lannister, standing behind her. He leaned his arms on the wooden railings, while she sat on the bench in front of it.

"Slightly," she turned her body back to continue watching the young boys. Jaime looked up from his niece and eyed what she had been glued to. "My Mother says I am to apologize to him before we are to leave."

"And will you?" he looked down to see the child narrow her eyes.

"Maybe," Nora said. "I must do as my Mother wishes, but..." She hesitated.

"But, what?" Jaime questioned.

"But, he's a boy," Nora admitted, scrunching up her face, making Jaime chuckle.

"He is your betrothed, Nora," he reminded her. Her shoulders fell as little at his words. Even at her age, Nora knew how it worked. Her Septa told her that its a woman's job to provide heirs for her husband. 'But, what if I don't take a husband?' Nora once asked her, being the curious little six year old she was. 'You have nothing to worry about, Princess. Your father will find you a suitable boy to marry. The entire Seven Kingdoms will be fighting for your hand by the time your five and ten.' She told her. Nora expected that she would be five and ten name days before she would be faced with the prospect of betrothal and marriage.

"But, I am merely a child," Nora said, sighing slightly.

"You have nothing to worry about," Jaime said, patting her gently on the head, ruffling her black locks slightly. "It will be years before you and the Stark boy will marry. Perhaps he'll even suffer an accident hunting before your marriage."

"That's mean, Uncle Jaime," Nora said, diverting her eyes to the ground.

"You're not happy about the match, are you?" he asked his niece. She rose her head again to look at him. Her large green eyes pierced through his.

"I don't know," Nora shrugged her shoulders. Nora truly didn't know what to think of the arrangement. Her six year old mind had been tossed into chaos since her mother told her the news. Mostly, she had just been quiet. She had snapped at her brother thrice in the past day. Then, there was the incident with Robb Stark. "What if he doesn't like me?"

"Why wouldn't he not like you?" Jaime asked. It was obvious his niece was troubled by the whole prospect. He had doted on her, unlike Joffrey or Myrcella. His own children, secretly. Nora was a sweet young girl, who you couldn't help feel warmed by in her presence. She melted the coldest of hearts in King's Landing many's a time.

"He may think me ugly."

"He would be stupid to think you ugly, Princess," he told her, giving her a weak smile.

"Joffrey says I'm ugly," Nora said, thinking on the many cruel words her brother had called her, despite his 4 name days.

"Joffrey's your brother," Jaime said. "Brothers are supposed to be mean to their sisters."

"But, I pushed him down," Nora said, her eyes growing wider. "He may dislike me because I was stronger than him."

"Thats because you're of Lannister blood," Jaime told her, looking her straight in the eye. Cersei never hid her Lannister influence on her children. "Lions are stronger than wolves."

"But, I'm a stag too, uncle Jaime," Nora said, tilting her head to the side.

"Then that is a deadly combination."

"Should I apologize to him, uncle Jaime?" She asked.

"I wouldn't argue with your Mother," Jaime told her and she gently rolled her eyes, breathing a heavy sigh.

"Fine," she groaned and rose from her seat. Nora walked over to where the young boys sparred, lifting her skirts as she would not dirty them, or embarrassingly trip on its hem. Jon was the first to notice the Princess approaching and dropped down into a bow.

"Princess," he said, notifying the other two. They both stopped and mimicked him.

"My Lords," Nora kept her back straight as she curtsied, like her Mother taught her. She looked straight up at Robb. "I've come to bid my apology for last night. It was very un-ladylike, or so my Mother says."

"You have nothing to apologize for," he told her.

"No, but it was humorous," Theon chuckled, earning him a whack in the stomach from Robbs wooden sword. Rodrik still wouldn't trust them with sparring swords. Nora smiled.