Disclaimer: I do not own Game of Thrones.
The procession was spotted and chaos ensued. Arya was forced into a grey dress that was covered in jewels on the bodice with a plain silk skirt.
"Mother, this isn't practical. It's freezing and my cloak will cover most of it." Arya fidgeted with the neck of the dress. If the dress slipped in the wrong direction, the jewels would move and reveal more than Arya was willing to reveal.
"Oh hush, the Queen and princess are known to wear lavish styles. It's what the princes will expect to see."
Arya looked to Sara, who was laying out head pieces, for help. The maid gave a sympathetic smile but remained quiet.
Arya looked at herself in the mirror. "I look awkward. I thought I agreed to something simple."
"You look beautiful." Her mother went over to the table where Sara had laid out some crowns and bands.
"Please mother, the dress already has so many jewels, I don't need anymore in my hair. It would look too gaudy."
Her mother studied her for a moment. "Hmm, It may be that you're right. We'll do your hair in a bun."
Arya sighed, as her mother found a silver ribbon to tie her hair up. Her eyes found her wolf Nymeria's. The wolf's head tilted to one side, finding her person looking strange out of her usual muddy boots and long tunics.
"Alright your done." Her mother turned her around by her shoulders. She met her Tully blue eyes.
"Try your best not to mess up my work."
Arya nodded. Lady Stark smiled and made her way out of the room to oversee the preparations of the rest of the castle.
As soon as she was sure her mother was out of reach, Arya reached behind her and tugged the ribbon out of her hair, letting it fall in waves past her shoulder.
"Oh, Arya." Sara scolded. Arya bunched up the ribbon and tossed it on the bed.
"I can only bear so much." She said.
"Arya!"
Arya turned to see her youngest brother Rickon bouncing in the doorway. She held out her arms, signaling for the young boy to run to her.
"What is it?"
"Bran said you're going to be queen."
Arya felt her stomach drop. "Maybe."
"I don't want you to be queen. We're supposed to go beyond the wall, like wildlings."
Arya patted her brother's unruly curls. "I know we always said that. You, me, and Jon. But plans change and nothing's certain. The prince may decide he prefers some blonde flower instead of me." She spoke more to herself.
"Why would he want a flower?" Rickon asked, still at the age where everything was literal.
"Is everyone decent in here?" Jon's voice floated in from the hall.
"No, but I'm never decent so get in here." Arya jokes. Jon walked into the room with an amused expression.
"The procession is moving through Wintertown know, approaching the gates. Father wants everyone down there."
Arya gestured for Sara to bring her the cloak that was draped on the bed. The maid fastened it on her shoulders.
"Oh, do you think the Imp will be there." Rickon bounced over to Jon.
"You're the Imp." Arya ruffled the young boy's hair again as passed him on her way to the door.
Jon followed, holding on to Rickon's hand.
"How do you feel?" Jon askes as they made their way outside to the battlements.
"A little like a show horse about to be put up for auction."
"A very sparkly show horse." Jon laughed, looking at her dress.
Arya shoved her brother causing him to almost step over Rickon.
"Oye, if you try to charm the prince like that, then you may have nothing to worry about."
The three of them met their other two brothers on their way to the courtyard where Lord and Lady Stark already stood.
"Rickon, come stand next to me." Her mother said, holding her hand out to her youngest. Her gaze turned cold when it landed on Jon. "Go stand behind us with Theon."
Jon clenched his jaw but bowed. Arya gave him a sympathetic smile. She stood between Robb and Bran.
"Don't you look like pretty lady, little sister." Robb whispered.
"Shut up," she elbowed him in the ribs.
"Enough,"Her father's used his lordly voice.
The rest of their men fell in line behind them. Arya felt a knot form in her stomach. She kept her eyes to the ground until she heard the creaking of the gates. Two members of the King's guard road in first wearing gold and ivory cloaks. They were followed by a man around her father's age with black hair speckled with grey. He had a strong build, only slightly overweight. Out the side of her eye, she saw her father bend to his knee. The rest of the court yard soon followed. Arya bowed her head. She could hear the procession continue to make their way through the gates. She registered the heavy crunch of boots on the snow. She glanced up quickly enough to see her father rise and rose with him with the rest of her family.
"You've gotten fat." The King grumbled at her father.
Lord Stark gave him a pointed look, before both men broke out into laughter.
Men. Arya fought the urge to roll her eyes. The King went to hug her mother and patted Rickon on the head. Arya looked behind the King to see a young man with black hair making his way to a carriage.
"And this is my youngest daughter, Arya."
Her father's voice brought her eyes back to the king. She bowed as the king breathed in.
"It's like looking into the past." He said as she rose. His initial expression was the same as any of her father's old friends when they met her, as if they saw a ghost. The king took her hand and Arya had to fight the impulse to yank her hand away. His gaze was heavy on her face and Arya bit her tongue.
"Has anyone told you about your aunt Lyanna?"He asked.
Arya pursed her lips. "Yes, your grace. They say I am her reincarnate, but I wouldn't know enough about her to agree."
The King stared at her a moment longer before someone cleared their throat. He blinked as he was jerked out of his stupor by a tall, blonde woman, who Arya surmised was the Queen.
"Forgive me child, I lost myself for a moment." He dropped her hand.
She bowed as Cersei Lannister's eyes fell on her.
"Did you not have another daughter?" The woman's smooth voice was directed at her mother.
"Yes, Sansa married Loras Tyrell of Highgarden just last year."
"Oh, yes of course." The Queen smiled. Something about the woman's smile made Arya shiver.
"Gendry!" The King shouted. "Gendry, boy come here."
The young man that Arya had noticed earlier, came forward on the other side of the King to stand almost directly in front of her. He was handsome, she had to admit. She had to crane her head to look up at him. Seeing him stand side by side with the king, gave Arya an idea of what the king would have looked like in his prime. They shared almost all the same features, black hair, blue eyes, possibly the same build if the king got off the boar and wine.
"You can meet the others later, but this is my eldest Gendry." The King said, clapping his son on his shoulders.
"It is a pleasure to finally meet you Lord Stark. I have heard nothing but wonderful things about the North, I am glad to finally see it."
"Prince Gendry," Her father bowed his head. "Welcome to Winterfell. I hope you enjoy your stay here."
"I am sure I will." He said, smiling at Arya. She gave him a tight-lipped smile in return.
"Take me down to the crypts Ned, I want to pay my respects."
Her father nodded and gestured for the King to follow him in the direction of the crypts.
The queen stood in front of her mother. "If it's not too much trouble, Lady Stark, the younger children are famished. I was hoping we could find them something to eat before dinner this evening."
"Of course," Her mother smiled. "Arya, dear, would you show Prince Gendry to where he and his family will be staying for their stay."
Arya looked to Robb, who was staring down at their mother as if she had grown another head. Not that Arya cared much for propriety, but she didn't think escorting a man who she wasn't even betrothed to yet, to his bed chambers was not appropriate. Yet, no one said a thing.
She locked eyes with her mother's stern gaze.
"If it would please the prince." She replied with a raised eyebrow.
"It would please me greatly."
Arya almost jumped when she saw a hand reach out in front of her. She hadn't realized the prince was standing so close to her. She looked him up and down, taking in the charming smile that made his eyes crinkle.
She could have scoffed. Arya ignored the hand he held out to her, keeping her hands folded in front of her, which only seemed to amuse him.
"The best entrance is around the corner. It's a short walk."
"Lead the way, my lady."
"Damn, think what could have been, Ned." Robert whispered. His hand cradled the face of Lyanna Stark's statue. The king almost smiled at some memory he was able to conjure up.
"I try not to." Lord Stark kept his eyes at his feet.
"In my dreams I kill him every night." Robert growled, his hand dropping from the statue.
Ned sighed. "It's done, your grace. The Targaryens are gone."
"Not all of them."
"They are no harm to you now."
"And what about to my son." Robert turned to Ned. "Gendry will make a damn good king. I'm a shit father and a shit king, but my son deserves that throne. I'll see he gets it, that he has a peaceful reign."
Ned nodded his head."I am certain he will, Robert."
"I wish you could be down there with me Ned. We were meant to rule together. If Lyanna had lived, we would have been bound by blood. It's not too late. Gendry needs a strong queen and if your daughter is how you describe her, she'll be perfect."
Ned hesitated. He thought of his daughter, who in recent years tried to adapt to her title a bit more, but Ned could see the longing in her eyes. The longing to be left to her own devices. She would be a perfect queen, but she was not meant for it. Arya was meant to be free. "Robert, Arya. She's not… She's not meant for King's Landing. I promised her, she could choose."
"She's the one you love the most." Robert smiled. "She reminds you of Lya. We're not supposed to have our favorites, but Gendry's mine."
"I…, Ned was prepared to deny the accusation but fell short. It was true. Arya was his favorite and he couldn't bare to part with her. She did have the same spirit that his sister had, but Arya was her own person. Perhaps he indulged her too much, when he hired Syrio to train her. Yet, the pride he felt when she could best the men in the training yard, was unmeasurable. She understood things that Lyanna did not have the maturity to understand. Arya understood the realities of the world in a way many never could. It didn't mean she agreed with it, but she understood. He knew she would always leave home, one way or another, and it seemed like the day was nearing.
Robert placed his hand on his shoulder."You want her to have a choice. She'll choose Gendry. He's a good man."
Ned sighed. Who was he to argue with the King?
