I'm happy that there are people out there who are willing to indulge my musings! I hope you continue to enjoy. Thank you. Happy reading!

Chapter 2

Arya had wanted to stay in bed a little longer then usual on the morning after the King's arrival. She, of course, knew that would not be an option, despite how tiresome the day before had been. She had spent the evening's festivities on her best behavior, after some very harsh words from her mother about how a proper lady should behave. Not to mention, her time spent with Theon practicing sword play, it had been fun, but it took a lot of her energy, and he had not gone easy on her. She had a feeling she had several bruises where he had landed some of his more forceful hits. She was comfortable in her warm bed and the thought of getting out of it displeased her, greatly.

She groaned softly as she sat up in her bed, she winced slightly and turned her attention to a sore spot on her arm. She frowned deeply as she saw the purpling bruise. She would have to get Theon back for that. Just as she was about to slip out of bed there was a knock on the door and before she could bid the visitor to enter, Septa Mordane barged into the room. "Come girl," she said in her no-nonsense way, "your Mother and Father expect you at the morning meal. I'm here to make sure you don't dawdle."

Arya muttered incoherently under her breath about needing more sleep as she slowly stood up, glaring at her Septa. The woman had an uncanny ability to make her feel like she was still a child. "Must we eat with the Royal Family, again?" She didn't want to have to be overly worried about minding her manners, it was exhausting.

The Septa gave her a withering stare, "no." Was her simple answer as she went about helping Arya ready her things. "The King and your father have already eaten with the Princes and your brothers. The Queen and her daughter have decided to break their fast within their chambers. Your Mother simply expects you to eat and ready yourself for the day. She wants you to understand that you will be spending time with Princess Myrcella and the Queen this afternoon." Septa Mordane raised her hand to stop Arya's already forming complaints. "It's no use, we are to show the royal family every courtesy and you will do the Stark name proud. And if that means sitting with the Queen and doing needlepoint you will do so. Even if you can't sew a stitch to save your life."

Arya knew it was no use, she had lost this battle before she even knew she was fighting it and reluctantly started to get herself ready for the day. But she did so as slowly as she dared, she didn't want to make it seem like she was surrendering so easily. For her part, Mordane knew Arya was being obstinate, but she said nothing of it. She was just grateful Arya wasn't being even more difficult.

"You did well last night," Mordane said grudgingly. "Managed not to offend at all." She went about helping Arya fix her hair, this time in a more northern style then the one she wore the day before. "At least not at supper."

With a frown playing upon her lips, Arya sat still while she was attended to. "Mother made it quite clear that I was already in trouble for my tardiness at greeting the King, and that if I further embarrassed the family at the feast I would forced to spend my afternoons with Sansa and Jeyne for the duration of the court visit." Arya pouted slightly at the very thought of spending too much time with the two girls. "And if last night at the feast was any indication, I would have to hear about Prince Joffrey none stop." She did nothing to hide her contempt.

"Don't be to hard on your sister, Lady Arya," Mordane said quietly, she wondered if Arya had heard any of the talk that was going on around the Keep. She wouldn't be to surprised if she had been too wrapped up in spending time with Theon to have heard the news that her sister was soon to be married to the very man she thought so little of. "And he is not all bad. I have no doubt you'll get to know him a bit better while on your way to King's Landing." The Septa eyed her charge carefully, she was testing to see how much Arya knew.

For a moment Arya sat still staring at herself in the mirror that she sat in front of. The Septa had just finished with her hair. Her eyes moved from her reflection, to the reflection of Mordane. "Excuse me, but I must have misheard you. Did you say, that I would have a chance to get to know him on my way to King's Landing?"

Mordane could tell that Arya was tensing up, she knew that the young woman would not be happy about the upcoming trip. She was Northern bred through and through, and she would not be happy about being sent away from her home. She supposed she would have to handle this delicately. "Hmmm? Oh yes," best not to sugar coat it though, Arya would react how she would react, and no sweet words would change that. "The King has asked your father to be Hand."

"Hand of the King?" Arya asked dully. Her father would of course accept. He didn't know how to say no, especially to a friend who also happened to be King.

"Aye," Mordane paused a moment. "He has also agreed to the betrothal of your sister to," she paused slightly here, "Prince Joffrey."

At this, Arya momentarily forgot that there was indeed a journey to King's Landing in her future. Her nose wrinkled as if she had tasted something disgusting. "Sansa is going to be married to that… that boy?" What a terrible awful fate, to be tied down to someone you barely knew and who seemed so arrogant. Joffrey hadn't made a move to act civil or friendly to either her or her brothers since his arrival.

"Oh, I don't think Sansa thinks it's so bad." Mordane clucked.

"Of course, she wouldn't!" Arya exclaimed, "she's perfectly happy because he looks pretty! She doesn't see how he seems to turn his nose up at us."

"I suspect you're right, my lady." The Septa concluded. "But she will be well taken care of, and she is happy."

"We mustn't forget that she will also be Queen." Arya muttered.

At this Mordane chuckled, she did suppose that little fact would make Sansa a bit unbearable at first. The girl always did have a haughty streak in her, her eminent marriage to a Prince would only add fuel to the fire. "I suspect you are right. But perhaps she can calm herself while on the road, and I also have a feeling you won't let her get away with anything." Mordane betrayed an amused smile.

And there that was again, this promise of King's Landing. Arya stood up abruptly and whirled around to face the Septa. "You keep saying that! What is this about?" Her gray eyes clouded over in fury.

Her septa sat down easily on the edge of Arya's bed. However her face betrayed weariness at being the one to break the news to the youngest Stark girl. "With your Father having to go with the King to fulfill his duties as Hand, and your sister needing to learn the ways of the Southron court before her wedding, your parents have deemed it a good idea to send you along as well." She looked at the fuming girl before her with a small sigh before going on, "your mother seems to think being there might gentle your spirit. And I'll be going to look after the two of you…" She trailed off as she watched Arya storm from the bedroom, no doubt to try and find her parents. If Mordane was honest with herself, she hoped the girl would get her way, she had a feeling Arya would not survive long in the South. The North, it was in her blood, she would not adapt the way that Sansa would.

—

Arya was not hungry, and all thoughts of breakfast and food were erased from her mind when her Septa had informed her that she would be ripped away from her home, to be paraded around the Southron court. She wondered if she would be put on display to find her a suitable match, the same way that Sansa had been. Her face reddened with even deeper rage as she stormed through Winterfell looking for her parents. Of course they were no where to be found within the walls. There was really only one place to look for them. She knew her father well, and she knew he was probably feeling as overwhelmed as she was, having to entertain the Baratheons. That meant that he would seek solace in the same place that she did.

The Godswood was much the same as when she had left it the previous afternoon. It was quiet and peaceful, and even though she was angry, she stopped a moment to take in it's calming affect. She knew she had to force herself to be less confrontational if she was to talk some sense into her parents. She quietly made her way towards the pool of water where her father would most likely be. Maybe, if her mother wasn't there she would have a better time of getting her way. Her mother was always the harder one to convince when it came to something that Arya wanted.

But when she came upon the spot she was looking for, she heard the hushed voices of both her father and her mother. They seemed not to have noticed her yet, so she quickly hid behind a tree, hoping to over hear any important information they had to talk about.

"I don't like this Ned," Her mother sat beside her father on a downed tree. "Lysa speaks of…"

Ned couldn't help but let out a gentle chuckle. "Lysa just lost her husband, and doesn't know of what she speaks. She is lucky she sent that letter to you and no one else intercepted it. It is nearly treason to speak of the things she did."

"She sounded so frantic." Catelyn said quietly.

"My dear Cat." Ned said quietly as he rested his hand on Catelyn's. "I don't want to go, anymore then you want to send me. But my King calls, and I must answer."

"But if Lysa's accusations are…" Arya watched as her mother struggled with the words that she wanted to say. What was her mother so worried about?

"I will be careful." Ned said firmly.

"And the girls?" Catelyn asked.

"Sansa, I have no doubt will flourish in King's Landing." Ned replied and his wife nodded in agreement. "I believe she was born for the role we are about to thrust her in."

"It isn't her I worry about." Catelyn said, her voice showing signs of resignation. These were arguments that had already been visited, and still they hadn't brought her husband any closer to rejecting the King's offer of being Hand.

"I know it is Arya that has you so unsettled." Lord Stark agree. "Me as well. She is wild, much like Lyanna. I fear there is nothing that can tame her. I loathe to even try it. But I know that she has to be checked at some point. Perhaps being around other Ladies of the Court will help. I think sometimes she resents having to spend so much time with her sister."

"I know what you speak makes sense. She wishes to spend most of her time with Robb and Jon. Even Bran is too tame for her." Catelyn agreed.

Ned let a fond smile grace his lips. "I noticed how you left Theon out."

Catelyn furrowed her brow. She had left him out on purpose. She wished not to think about him, if she was being honest with herself she was worried about him and her daughter. "I'm afraid to acknowledge him. I guess that is something, at least she will be getting away from him."

"He is harmless." Countered Ned dismissively.

"Is he?" Catelyn asked, "just yesterday they spent hours together. Alone I might add. I don't have to remind you how inappropriate that is."

This time Ned couldn't help but let out a loud chuckle. "He kept her out of trouble, for that alone I would think you would be grateful to the boy." He held up his hand to forestall any comment she might have had. "I understand your worry Cat, but this is Arya, I doubt he sees her as anything other then a little sister and I doubt she sees him as anything more then a teacher."

"I still can't help but worrying… you know what he does in his free…" Cat started before she was interrupted by a figure that jumped out from behind a tree.

Arya was not one hundred percent sure what they were so worried about, when it came to Theon, she just knew that she did not like the way her mother spoke of him. And their words made it seem as if the time she spent with her friend would be taken away. So before her mother could speak any more ill of him she had to make herself known. "I don't want to go!" She simply exclaimed.

Her father looked at her with a surprised expression, one eyebrow raised. "So you know of our plans I take it? How much of our talk did you overhear?"

"Not much." Arya admitted, knowing she couldn't lie to him about spying. "And anyway, don't I get a say in what happens to me?"

"No, I don't believe you do." Catelyn put in.

"That's not fair!"

"Life rarely is, Little One." Ned said, not without a hint of amusement.

Arya looked to her father in hopes that she could appeal to him. "I will not fit in at King's Landing, you know that!"

"How do you know, if you don't at least try to." Catelyn said in a quiet tone.

Arya huffed out in frustration. "Because being around Lords and Ladies… that's not me. That's Sansa, she'll be happy there, I won't. I don't belong there."

"You would be good company for Sansa, she will know no one there at first." Her father seemed to be pleading with her. He had not looked forward to this conversation at all.

With a cant of her head Arya gave him a confused look. "Are we talking about the same girl? If anything I will only get in her way. 'Arya, you always ruin everything!'" she said in a perfect imitation of her sister. "Those are her words exactly."

Catelyn let out a small sigh, knowing that her daughter was probably correct, but she said nothing, she simply looked at her husband.

Arya, it seemed, was not out of reasons for her not to go. "Not only that, but I would only embarrass you." She knew this was true, she often embarrassed her mother, while her father seemed to be only amused by her antics. Despite being an embarrassment to her parents, she knew they did love her. "You don't have to try to deny that," she looked to her mother with reassurance. "I know I do Mother. I'm not the perfect little girl who likes dresses and tea parties. And I embarrass you enough when I'm here, it will only be worse in King's Landing. I'll be watched even more closely then I am here!"

Her parents said nothing, and she could not read their reactions. Sometimes they could be so closed off with their expressions. So she simply forged on with her argument. The next one didn't sit well with her, but she had a feeling it would go a long way. "And if I put on a poor showing there, then who would you get to marry me!" She shuddered at the very thought of being forced into a marriage to someone she didn't even like.

"I wasn't aware that would be a problem for you." Ned said, his eyes twinkling in amusement at what his daughter had said. It showed him that she desperately wanted to stay at Winterfell.

"It's not," She answered defiantly. "I just thought it might be a problem for you!"

"I must say Arya," Her father said carefully. "You have indeed given us some reasons to rethink our stance on you accompanying me to King's Landing. I shall give your arguments some thought." He waved his hand in the direction of Winterfell. "Now go, eat, I hear you have a busy day with the Queen and Princess Myrcella."

Arya frowned, knowing this was the best she was going to get from her father. She had said her piece and that was all she could do. She was being dismissed and she knew it. She stomped away from her parents a bit disheartened that she hadn't changed their minds right away.

Catelyn watched as her daughter exited the wood in the most unlady like fashion. She gave a tired sigh and turned to look at her husband. "You're going to let her get her way, aren't you, Ned." It wasn't a question.

—

Theon's day hadn't been going much better, maybe even a little worse. He had heard rumblings of the rumors of Sansa's betrothal at the feast the night before. Robb had confirmed the truth of them that morning at breakfast. He had filled Theon in on the plans that had transpired the previous day. That Lord Stark would be going to King's Landing, and with him, Arya and Sansa. The latter would be preparing herself for her upcoming nuptials with the Prince. Once Theon realized what that meant, his heart constricted tightly. The future that he often daydreamed about, him marrying the oldest Stark girl, had in one sentence been taken away from him.

For the rest of the morning he could be seen stalking around Winterfell with a surly expression upon his face. Almost everyone that he came across gave him a wide berth. Which was just as well, he was in no mood for company. He could have chosen to be angry with Lord Stark and the King, he even cursed them under his breath when he was certain he was alone, but mostly he was upset with himself. He should never have entertained the notion of Sansa and himself. She was far too great a prize for a mere Greyjoy, was a thought that came to his mind bitterly. He was often reminded of his station within the Stark household. He loved Robb like a brother, and he even recognized that Eddard Stark raised him and treated him better then he had a right to. But in the end, he was a mere hostage, something to hold over his father's head. He should have known better.

Then there was the pang of loss that came when Robb had mentioned that Arya would also be leaving. That had surprised him. He hadn't realized that during the time they had spent together over the past few weeks a friendship had started to grow between them. He would miss the near daily archery lessons and the sense of pride he felt when she actually took his advice and improved because of it. She was not one to listen to most people, but some how Theon managed to get through to her. She actually made him feel like he could at least do something right.

These thoughts, and more, plagued him and eventually he found himself in the brothel of Winterfell's outlying town. It was a place he was familiar with, he had been frequenting it for the past few years. It was really the only place he could take out his sexual frustrations. He was certain it was an activity that the honorable Lord Stark would disapprove. Just another thing that would mar his already subpar character in the eyes of all the Starks. And at the moment he didn't care.

He was seated at one of the grungy tables that littered the small common room. He knew that one of the girls would be more then willing to accommodate him, and usually he was more then willing to pay for their services, but today he just wasn't in the mood. He thought that coming here would take his mind off what was going on back at Winterfell, but for some reason being among these people just made him feel worse about himself.

Theon was still wallowing, when a few moments later the door to the brothel burst open and the frame was filled with Jaime Lannister. The tall man looked around the room with a bored expression. When his eyes reached Theon, he raised an eyebrow and there was an amused half smile playing upon his lips. Theon had the distinct impression that the man was laughing at him. That just made Theon's mood even darker, and as Ser Jaime made his way to where he sat, Theon just glared at him.

Jaime ignored Theon's mood and simply asked in a bored voice. "Have you seen my brother? I figured this would be the only place to find him."

Theon should have figured that would be the reason for Jaime being there, it wasn't as if he had expected the man to be there for his own urges. However, he didn't feel like talking to him so he simply nodded his head in the affirmative. He had seen the Imp only an hour earlier make his way to one of the private rooms with one of the girls. It had been Ros, one of Theon's favorites. Maybe that was why he wasn't so keen on getting a room of his own, the girl he preferred was already engaged elsewhere. That seemed to be happening to him a lot lately.

Jaime looked at him expectantly, a trace of annoyance in his eyes. "Could you perhaps elaborate and tell me where I might find him?"

Theon gave him a glare that might have made a lesser man run in the opposite direction. But Jaime had faced down men that were far greater than Theon Greyjoy and was not intimidated. When Theon realized that Jaime wasn't leaving he gave a frustrated sigh and motioned to the rickety stairs near the back. "He went up there about an hour ago. If the stories of his stamina are true at all, I doubt he won't be done for awhile yet." His tone portraying anything but friendliness.

With a chuckle Jaime clapped Theon on the shoulder, "of that I have no doubt. But I have to collect him as we have yet another feast to enjoy at the Stark's expense." He looked pointedly around the room where several girls seemed to be lounging around, just waiting for someone to pay for their services. "Now, will you be needing any of these girls before you have to make your way back to Winterfell?"

With a glare at Jaime, Theon shook his head.

"Excellent!" Then Jaime turned to the remaining girls, held up small leather pouch, shook it gently to show that there was plenty of coin inside. "I have a feeling I'm going to need your help ladies. I have to talk my brother into leaving this establishment at a decent hour. Let us not see if you can entice him to do so." Then he looked back to Theon. "You should probably make your way back if you're done here. I cannot imagine you frequenting this place would endear you to your guardians. I imagine a Stark would not be caught dead in a place like this." He said in a tone that seemed to mock Theon

"I'm not a Stark," muttered Theon.

Jaime couldn't help but egg the young Greyjoy on. It seemed to be so easy. "Exactly, you just wish to be like them." And with that said motioned for the girls to follow him and started up the stairs. In his mind Jaime had already forgotten about Theon.