This is the first chapter of Reign of Winter. Thank you to those who submitted characters. I'm still accepting characters so if you want to be be a part of the story, you can. The form is on my profile. Enjoy and review.


Serena Stark sat in a cabin on the ship in the Narrow Sea headed to Gulltown watching her handmaidens and servants scurrying around; forcing her to try different dresses and different ways to do her hair. She has a long delicate looking face, soft dark brown hair that falls down to her back, soft porcelain-like skin and deep grey eyes that hold a sombreness to them. They decided on an elegant silk navy blue dress and braid her hair up into a crown.

"Why do I have to do all of this?" Serena asked, just wanting to be left alone for the rest of the trip. She hadn't had a single moment to herself since she left Barrowton. She has been surrounded by nobles, servants, and handmaidens since she started to pack for the Eyrie.

"You meet your future husband soon. You have to look your best, Your Grace", One of the handmaidens said while putting the finishing touches on her braid. She noticed Serena's sad smile while looking into the mirror, "I thought you would be more excited to see him again."

"I haven't seen him in years. Last time I saw him, he was short, had really big ears, and a bad temper", Serena replied as her handmaiden laced up her dress.

"I'm sure he has grown and for the temper; you can learn to avoid it," said her handmaiden try to reassure her that everything was going to work out.

"I just want to get this wedding over with so I can go back to Winterfell," Serena said while her pendant of a dire wolf head with two axes crossed underneath that her mother got for her on her recent sixteenth nameday. She hasn't been back to Winterfell since she was a child. Her uncle told her it wasn't safe for her to return yet, but in reality, he wasn't ready to let go of his power.

"Go back?" her handmaiden questioned, which confused Serena, "You'll be his wife, and your place will be in the Vale. You may never go back if the engagement goes through."

"If?" Serena asked even more confused than she was before.

"Make no mistake. Alliances can shift, and you need to win his heart before it does", her handmaiden said. Win his heart, Serena thought. She sees Roland as brother as they grew up together. She doesn't think she can bring herself to love him, something that makes her feels extremely guilty.

"How am I supposed to rule my kingdom if I'm not there?" Serena questioned. None of her handmaidens knew what to say in response. The door to the cabin opened, and a servant walked in. He bowed before Serena

"Your Grace. We should be in Gulltown pretty soon", he said as he made his way of out the cabin. She dismissed everyone from her cabin so she could have time to herself.


The bright rays of the morning sun shown in Roland's dark green eyes woke up him; not remembering what happened the night before. He ran his hands through his dark auburn hair right before moving to sit on the edge of his bed and pulling on his pants. As he went to stand up, a hand grabbed his arm, forcing him to stay where he was. Right then he remembered what he did and how it involved a lot of drinking and his mother's new young handmaiden.

"No, stay," she said tiredly. She then sat up on the bed with the covering her upper body admiring Roland's lean slightly muscular body. She ran her hand through her light blonde hair as she moved across the bed to kiss Roland. Roland kissed her back before pulling away.

"You know that I would, but Serena Stark is coming today, and we cannot continue this. I told you this last night", reluctantly said Roland as everything from the previous night slowly came back to him. She then hugged him from behind, placing her head on his shoulder.

"I was hoping that you change your mind. Do you really have to marry her?" She asked as she got off the bed to put on her dress.

"I do. It's my duty and speaking of duties, don't you have to get my mother ready?" Roland asked subtlety, giving her a hint that she needed to go, and he didn't want to talk about this with her anymore. She left his chambers, leaving him there still sitting on his bed. He sat there for a couple of moments before getting up and walking towards his table and pour wine into a cup. As he took a sip, the doors to his chambers opened and one of his guards, Adrian Hunter also one of his closest friends, entered his room. Adrian looked around and noticed the messy bed. The blonde laughed and shook his head.

"You look like shit," Adrian commented on the prince's current look.

"I didn't get much sleep last night," said Roland as he swallowed the rest of wine in one gulp.

"I could tell," Adrian said, pointing to the messy bed. Roland laughed at him as he went to put on a gray shirt over his black pants." Your father wants to see you," Adrian added.

"How's the mood?" The dark auburn-haired boy asked not wanting to deal with anything stressful, especially today of all days.

"In general, or the king's?" Adrian asked, and Roland just gave him a look in response. "Both are tense. Planning for Queen Stark's arrival. You know he hates outsiders."

"Then why did he agree to the betrothal?" questioned Roland as he put on a long white doublet jacket with black boots.

"Because he hates the Hoares more," Adrian simply said as he led Roland out of his room to his parents' chambers. Servants bowed as Roland walked through the castle as he made his way to his destination. He walked into his parents' chambers and saw that they were getting dressed. Roland walked to where his parents were in the big room as he made way there, he made eye contact with the handmaiden who was in his room earlier and winked.

"Serena should be protected. Hidden", Roland's mother, Queen Clarysse Arryn, said to her husband as her handmaidens were tending to her long dark auburn hair.

"As you said. You also said she needed to be sent away for her education when we both know that she just annoyed you", King Jasper Arryn said as he is being fitted for his jacket having to choose between a bunch of them. He was a tall man with dark brown, almost black hair and blue eyes.

"You wanted to see me or should I just come back on my wedding date? When is that exactly?" Roland asked as he walked right up to them.

"When I say so," Jasper said simply while still looking into the mirror. He eventually chose to go with the black one. He turned his attention to Roland and said, "She's on her way."

"So, I've heard," Roland replied unenthusiastically.

"You don't sound too happy. You were playmates once. If you don't like her, you only have to see her on formal events and when it is time, make heirs", Jasper said bluntly as he put on his jacket.

"Her brother and a couple of her guards should be arriving too. You were quite fond of the little bastard as I remembered", Clarysse added while she was putting on her jewelry.

"He needed guidance, and he wasn't going to get it from that weasel he calls an uncle," said Jasper as he put on his rings and his crown. He quickly left the room to make sure everything was ready for the Queen in the North arrival. Clarysse watched her husband hurry out of the room before walking up to Roland.

"I may not be the king, but this kingdom relies on my money. Your wedding won't happen until I say so. I'm on your side. Always", said Clarysse as she put a hand on his cheek.

"I know," Roland replied softly as he leaned into her hand. He grabbed her hand and kissed it.

"Winter is coming," Clarysse said as Roland let go of her hand.

"Yes, she is," Roland said while walking out of the room.


The ship carrying the Queen in the North arrived in Gulltown and docked in the port. Serena stepped off the ship almost falling after losing her balance from being the ship for a long period. She took the sight of the city; seeing that nothing has changed since the last time she was here. Serena watched as the servants took her belongings off the ship and setting them down on the dock.

"Your Grace."

Serena turned to the voice and saw a man bow to her. He was tall with dark hair that fell to the bottom of his neck, dark grey eyes and a long face. He had a layer of stubble and has a fairly square jaw, with small nicks across his face. It took her a while, but eventually, she recognized him as her half-brother, Corrin Snow.

"You don't have to bow. You're my brother", Serena said with a smile.

"And you're my queen," replied Corrin also with a smile. Serena pulled him into a tight hug. She had not seen him in years since they went their separate ways after leaving the Vale.

"What are you doing here? Did uncle send you?" she asked, releasing him from the hug.

"I came here to defend you from our enemies," Corrin said bluntly. He had one goal, and that was to protect his sister from those who would cause her harm. The bloodshed between the Arryns and the Starks has lasted centuries, but one wrong move could send them to war again even when Greydon Hoare is the intermediate threat.

"They are not our enemies," Serena refuted.

"Everyone that isn't us is an enemy. It'll serve you well to remember that", Corrin cautioned. Serena thought her brother was just being very overprotective, but she knew there was some truth to what he was saying. Before she could respond, a knight wearing the sigil of House Arryn walked up to them and bowed.

"Excuse me, Your Grace. We have been instructed by King Jasper Arryn to escort you and your men to the Eyrie. If you may", the knight said leading her to the carriage.

"We also ask your men to surrender their weapons," another knight said which sounded like more of a command. Corrin and his men were hesitant to give up their weapons and be at the mercy of the knights of the Vale.

"Just do it," Serena commanded as she got in the carriage.

Corrin reluctantly gave up his dagger and his bastard sword, which was given to him on his eighteenth nameday, that resembles his uncle's Ice. He named the sword Frost and one of his most prized possessions. After handing over his weapons, he also got in the carriage with his sister. Their other men rode on horses provided to them. Corrin wanted to ride on the horses, but Serena insisted that he ride with her. During the ride, Corrin and Serena talked about everything they have experienced since they last saw each other. The ride to the Eyrie went longer than expected as the knights of the Vale had to defend them from the dangerous and deadly mountain clans. They traveled through The Bloody Gate and from then on safely through the Vale proper to the Eyrie.


Serena entered the High Hall in the Eyrie with her men. The first thing she saw was a man who she recognized as King Jasper Arryn sitting on a white throne carved from a weirwood tree and standing next to him was his wife, Clarysse Arryn. She also saw an auburn-haired boy watching from the stairs near the throne. She immediately recognized him as Roland Arryn and smiled at him. She noticed that he indeed grew and was very handsome. Serena also felt someone else watching her intensely, but she could not figure where it was coming from.

"Your Grace," said Serena as she greeted the royal family with a curtsy. The only separating them was the closed Moon Door between them.

"Welcome back. There will be a feast tonight until then; I suppose you would like to rest for a while. The guards will show you and your men to where you will be staying,", Jasper said as he signaled the guards to show them to their chambers. Corrin stayed with Serena as they followed the guard leading them to the Maiden's Tower. The guard opened the door for her, and she entered the room. It was the same one that she previously lived in during her stay at the castle.

"It is just how I remembered it, but it seemed bigger when I was young," Serena said as she sat on the bed. She felt how soft it was and how it felt like her body was sinking into it.

"My chambers were always smaller than yours, but I'm not a queen just a bastard," said Corrin quietly as he looked around the room, but Serena clearly heard him.

"You are my brother. Are you okay?" Serena asked, concerned as her brother's sudden change of mood. She got off the bed and walked over to him.

"Yes, I just want my sword back," Corrin said while staring at the ground. He felt naked without it. It was one of the few things that made him truly feel like a Stark.

"Really? What do you think is going to happen?" asked Serena.

"I don't know. Someone could try to hurt you!" exclaimed Corrin.

"The Eyrie is one of the safest castles in Westeros," Serena explained as she was starting to get annoyed with her brother's overprotectiveness.

"From outsiders. The people inside aren't the most trustworthy. People would take the North from you", Corrin said.

"I have been a queen since I was an infant. I have been away from my home since I was a child. I know to how to keep my life, my crown, and I will", Serena stated. She did not like that her brother was treating her like some fragile doll that can't protect itself, "To move forward, we must let go of the past. If you please, I would like to be alone."

"Yes, Your Grace"

Corrin nodded and left Serena's chambers. Serena sat on her bed, taking in one of the few moments that she could be by herself and pressured to be a perfect queen. That moment didn't last long as her chambers were quickly filled with guards and servants as they began to bring in her belongings. She decided to explore the castle and see what has changed since she last been here, maybe find Roland and talk, while the other people were in her chambers.


After leaving the High Hall, Roland went back to his chambers to get a bit of rest before the feast. He wanted to find Serena and talk, but he didn't know what to say to her. Roland found her beauty to be like what the North has been described to him; as cold and mysterious. Once Roland entered his chambers, he saw that the handmaiden that he was with earlier was lying on the bed, naked.

"What are you doing in here? Did anyone see you?" Roland asked, wondering how did she get in.

"No. Nothing has to change between us", she said as she got up off the bed and walked over to him. She kissed him on the lips and took his jacket and shirt. She guided him to the bed, and before anything went any further, there was a knock on the door. Roland groaned and went to open the door, still shirtless, and saw Serena standing there. She saw that he did not have a shirt on, and she immediately looked away.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I was passing by and wanted to talk", Serena said as she tried to step into the room, but Roland blocked her from entering. Serena was confused at the situation at hand.

"Well, now is not a good time," Roland said, trying to get her to leave as quickly as possible. He turned his head stared at the girl on his bed. Serena tried to see what he was looking at, but Roland blocked her view.

"Why not? Is someone in there with you?" Serena questioned. She was trying to figure out what was wrong with him and why he was acting like this.

"I only answer to my father, not you," Roland said right before he closed the door. He leaned his back on the door and sighed. This is not how he wanted to start things off again with her. Roland opened his eyes and saw the handmaiden motioning him to join her. He slowly made his way over to her figuring he should finish what they started. On the other side of the door, Serena stared at the door dumbfounded at what just happened. She shook it off and made her way back to her chambers.


Later that night, most of the castle was in the Morning Hall enjoying the feast celebrating not only the beginning of spring but also the return of Queen Serena Stark. While Serena was eating her food, she noticed Roland staring at her and it looked like he wanted to say something but couldn't find the right words. When Roland saw that Serena noticed his staring, he looked back to his plate, trying to hide his embarrassment as he did not realize he was staring for that long.

"Is everything to your liking?" Jasper asked, seeing that she barely touched her food.

"Yes, Your Grace. If you excuse me", Serena said as rose to find somewhere to be alone.

From across the Morning Hall, Corrin watched Serena sit and with the royal family at the great table while he sat with his soldiers. He saw Serena get up and leave and as he was getting up to go after her, he pulled down by someone who put their arm over his shoulders.

"Bastard of Winterfell," the person said making Corrin clam up at the mention of the word bastard. He took the arm off of his shoulders and saws who it belonged it to.

"Adrian Hunter," Corrin said in an annoyed tone.

"I have missed you around here," the blonde said, touching Corrin's hair seeing how long it has gotten since they last saw each other.

"You missed me beating you every day?" Corrin joked. When Corrin previously lived here, Jasper had Adrian and him train together as they were the same age and roughly around the same build. When they would spar with each other, Corrin would always win.

"I let you win. I have heard great things about you and how you repelled so many Ironborn attacks. I'm actually impressed. Since you're staying a while, possibly forever, we could use someone like a part of the knights of the Vale", Adrian offered. Corrin could tell that Adrian was sincere in his praise, which something that Adrian doesn't often do.

"I'm not a knight," Corrin simply stated.

"Simple, I can just knight you. Think about it", Adrian said patting Corrin on the shoulder before leaving.


On the balcony on the Maiden's Tower, Serena stood looking over the Vale and thinking she would be ruling this kingdom one day, but not her own. She felt someone walking up to her and standing next to her. She didn't turn to see who it was, but she could guess it was Roland.

"Serena"

Serena turned her head and saw that she was right.

"Roland", Serena said in a monotone voice.

"You always loved this view. I remember when we were younger, you always used to sneak off and you would always be standing right here", Roland said, smiling trying to lighten the mood.

"And you used to have bigger ears," Serena joked making Roland laugh.

"I have grown into them," Roland said, owning the fact that he used to have big ears. He fully turned to her and went to straight to the point as to why he came to talk to her. "When you came to my room, I shouldn't have said what I said. It's wrong of me."

"I know you had a life before I got here, but I don't appreciate being lied to or talked down upon," Serena stated.

"I understand," Roland said

"We're going to be married, and you should at least try to treat me with respect," Serena said. She noticed the change in Roland's face once she mentioned marriage.

"You don't want this?" Serena asked though it sounded like more of a statement.

"Neither do you. An alliance with the North could destroy us. I have to think about what is right for my people," Roland claimed. Serena was baffled as Roland acting like only one kingdom is at stake because of this betrothal.

"Well, it's not up to us on what we want. It's your father's decision", Serena said.

"You don't see him pushing for a wedding, do you? He believes that we might need the North against the Hoares, but I think that we can find support elsewhere,", said Roland. Serena just scoffed and shook her head.

"You're not the only with a kingdom to think of," Serena refuted as she walked away to retire for the night, leaving Roland standing there by himself.


Clarysse was making her way to her chambers when she approached by Cley, her most trusted advisor,

"Your Grace," Cley said as he bowed. Clarysse noticed the worried look on his face and knew it meant bad news.

"You look distressed. What is it? Did you have another vision?" questioned Clarysse. Cley had the ability of greensight, which meant he dreamt of what is to come. Clarysse uses these visions to help her family survive and is the reason Jasper has been able to weed out traitors to the kingdom, although he doesn't believe in the visions himself.

"Yes, Your Grace," Cley said quietly.

"Tell me, or I'll have you hanged," Clarysse said in the tone that could make even the most ferocious mountain clans fear her.

"It's about Roland. I saw death, and it wasn't until Serena arrived that I was able to piece it together. This marriage will lead to your son's death,", Cley stated.


There you go, the first chapter laying the groundwork for the rest of the story. I will introduce the other kingdoms over the next couple of chapters. What do you think of the characters so far?